Alex knew colors and shapes．He learned about 150 English words．With his language ability he made himself known as perhaps the world’s most famous talking bird．
But Alex，a parrot，died two weeks ago when he was 31．Irene，a psychologist(心理学家) at Harvard University，studied and worked with the parrot for nearly 30 years．
In 1977，Irene，then an excellent student in chemistry at Harvard，bought Alex from a pet store．At that time，scientists were not quite sure whether birds could learn to communicate with humans．
But using the methods of teaching．Irene helped Alex to learn about 150 words，and to count small numbers，as well as colors and shapes．
In experiments，Irene would give Alex a small reward，like a grape．Alex learned to ask for the grape by watching what the trainer was doing to get it．The researchers then worked with the bird to help him with pronunciation．
Alex showed a surprising ability to learn．For example，when he was shown a blue paper circle．he could tell what color the paper was．what shape it was，and after touching it，what it was made of．
Like other parrots，he also picked up some words when staying in the lab，like“calm down”and“good morning”．He could also show his happiness and sadness．
Even before the week he died，Alex was working with Irene on difficult words．As she put him into his cage for the night that Thursday，Irene said that Alex looked at her and said，“You be good．See you tomorrow．I love you．”
He was found dead in his cage the next morning．
1．Alex is the name of ________．
A．an excellent student B．a clever bird
C．a trainer D．a psychologist
2．How did Irene get the parrot?
A．A friend gave it to her． B．She caught it in a forest．
C．She bought it from the market． D．The passage doesn’t mention it．
3．The underlined words“picked up”in the seventh paragraph mean ________．
A．捡到 B．挑选 C．举起 D．学到
4．The passage is probably taken from a ________．
A．history textbook B. novel C．newspaper D. dictionary
第三部分 阅读理解(共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分)
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D) 中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
1. If you’re interested in music, you can read “_______”.
A. National spots B. Sad movies
C. The planets D. Weather service
2. You can learn something abut weather in _______.
A. Unit 1 B. Unit 2 C. Unit 3 D. Unit 4
3. Words about ______ are in Unit 5.
A. music stars B. weather conditions
C. sports tools D. space news
第二节 完形填空(共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分)
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36—55各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
I was only eight years old when the Second World War ended, but I can still remember something about the 36 celebrations in the small town where I lived on the day when the war in Europe ended. We had not 37 much from the war where, though, like most children of my age, I often saw 38 houses in the streets and the very big 39 lorries(卡车) passing through. But both at home and at school I had become 40 to the phrases “before the war” and “when the war is over”. “Before the war”, obviously, 41 had been better, though I was too young to understand why, 42 there had been no bombs then, and people had eaten things like ice cream and bananas, which I had 43 heard of. When the war was over we would go back to London, but this meant very 44 to me. I did not remember what London was like.
What I remember now 45 V-Day(victory day) was the afternoon and the evening. Some boys and girls were collecting 46 and building an enormous bonfire(篝火). We stood and watched them for a time, and then I went home and 47 myself in with my key and waited for my parents to come back from work.
It was May and still broad 48 when my mother arrived, and my father came in about an hour later. After dinner I said I wanted to 49 the bonfire, so when it got dark my father took me to the end of the street. The bonfire was very 50 , and somehow people had collected some old clothes to 51 “Hitler” with the moustache(胡子) they had put on top of it. Just as we arrived, they set light to it. The flames 52 soon. Everyone was cheering and shouting.
I stood beside my father until the 53 started to go down, not knowing what to say. He said nothing, either. He had 54 in the First World War and remembered everything he had experienced. At last he said, “Well, that’s it, son. Let’s hope that this time it really will be the 55 one.”
36. A. war B. victory C. Christmas D. birthday
37. A. suffered B. learnt C. heard D. read
38. A. crowded B. rebuilt C. bombed D. enlarged
39. A. modern B. old C. railway D. army
40. A. used B. devoted C. engaged D. related
41. A. food B. things C. houses D. news
42. A. except that B. now that C. for fear that D. in order that
43. A. never B. hardly C. only D. already
44. A. much B .little C. great D. important
45. A. about B. on C. for D. during
46. A. money B. wood C. information D. clothes
47. A. showed B. allowed C. let D. called
48. A. early B. daylight C. dark D. warm
49. A. see B. light C. find D. put out
50. A. high B. hot C. dangerous D. far
51. A. draw B. paint C. write D. dress
52. A. disappeared B. happened C. rose D. came
53. A. sun B. moon C. fire D. noise
54. A. fought B. worked C. grown D. changed
55. A. best B. worst C. first D. last
Sometimes the best and most beautiful things in this world ________．but can be felt with the heart．
A．can see B．cannot see C．can be seen D．cannot be seen
—Please tell me ________ for the meeting yesterday．
—Sorry．The traffic was bad．
A．why you came late B．why did you come late
C．when you came late D．when did you come late
．We should give a hand to the people ________ need help．
A．who B．whose C．whom D．when
