For many people, the story of cottages — small vacation homes away from the city — is a deeply personal one. For some families, cottages have been the scene of reunions, vacations and family adventures for generations.
In North America, “cottaging（去乡间别墅度周末）” really began during the 19th century. At that time, crowds of people were moving from family farms to cities. Naturally, these people often felt a longing for the natural beauty of the countryside. Frequently located near lakes, in the mountains of woods, cottages provided a perfect solution.
Traditionally small and rustic (乡下风格的)，many cottages were once simple log（原木） homes without bathrooms, water or electricity. While in most cases that is no longer true, people still go to cottages in large numbers to escape the city and to enjoy “cottage life.”
Despite the peaceful setting, there is always plenty to do at a cottage. If you enjoy outdoor activities, try hunting, boating or hiking. Many cottages are located near a lake, so you have opportunities to go swimming, boating or sunbathing around. Enjoy a picnic with your family, or build a campfire to roast hot dogs. On rainy days, curl up(蜷曲) on a comfortable chair inside and read, or enjoy board games （棋类游戏） with your friends and relatives. Want to get out and explore? Take a tour of the lake in a motorboat, or visit one of the many small villages located nearby.
Many families rent cottages instead of owning them, but for those who do, there’s always work to be done. Wood must be chopped for the stove. Leaves need to be gathered and gardens taken care of. Since many cottages are old buildings, there’s usually something that needs to be fixed or painted.
The story of cottages is one of families, traditions and memories. Are you ready to try cottaging with your family?
1.The underlined word “longing” in Paragraph 2 probably means “_________ ”.
A．horror B．need C．disappointment D．excitement
2.What do we know about a cottage?
A．It is far from lakes.
B．It is not popular now.
C．It was probably built of wood.
D．It was built in a short time.
3.Which of the following does NOT belong to the activities mentioned in the text?
A．Sunbathing and swimming.
B．Hunting, hiking and boating,
C．Having a picnic and roasting hot dogs.
D．Playing football and watching games on TV.
4.Which of the following words can best describe the author’s attitude towards“cottaging”?
A．Critical. B．Doubtful. C．Positive. D．Bored.
Many animals recognize their food because they see it. So do humans. When you see an apple or a piece of chocolate, you know that these are things you can eat. You can also use other senses when you choose your food. You may like it because it smells good or because it tastes good. You may dislike some types of food because they do not look, smell or taste very nice. Different animals use different senses to find and choose their food. A few animals depend on only one of their senses, while most animals use more than one sense.
Although there are many different types of food, some animals spend their lives eating only one type. The giant panda eats only one particular type of bamboo(竹子) . Other animals eat only one type of food even when given the choice. A kind of white butterfly(蝴蝶) will stay on the leaves of a cabbage, even though there are plenty of other vegetables in the garden. However, most animals have a more varied(多样化) diet . The bear eats fruits and fish. The fox eats small animals, birds and fruits. The diet of these animals will be different depending on the season.
Humans have a very varied diet. We often eat food because we like it and not because it is good for us. In countries such as France and Britain, people eat foods with too much sugar. This makes them overweight, which is bad for their health. Eating too much red meat and animal products, such as butter, can also be bad for the health. Choosing the right food, therefore, has become an area of study in modern life.
1.We can infer from the text that humans and animals _________.
A．depend on one sense in choosing food
B．are not satisfied with their food
C．choose food in similar ways
D．eat entirely different food
2.Which of the following eats only one type of food?
A．The white butterfly. B．The small bird.
C．The bear. D．The fox.
3.Certain animals change their choice of food when ___________.
A．the season changes
B．the food color changes
C．they move to different places
D．they are attracted by different smells
Happy April Fool’s Day! In celebration of the day, we have put together a list of some of the greatest hoaxes (恶作剧) in history. They are the lies that have been designed for innocent people who are ready to believe them.
INSTANT COLOR TV
In 1962 there was only one TV channel in Sweden, and it broadcast in black and white. The station’s Kjell Stepson, appearing on the news to announce that thanks to a newly developed technology, all viewers could now quickly and easily transform their existing sets to display color reception. All they had to do was pull a nylon (尼龙) stocking over their TV screen, and they would begin to see their favorite shows in color. Reportedly, hundreds of thousands of people, were taken in. Actual color TV transmission only started to appear in Sweden on April 1, 1970.
SAN SERRIFFE
In 1977 the British newspaper The Guardian published a special seven–page supplement(增刊) in honor of the tenth anniversary of San Serriffe, a small republic located in the Indian Ocean. A series of articles affectionately asked for more information about the beautiful holiday spot. Few noticed that every thing about the island was made up.
NIXON FOR PRESIDENT
In 1992 American National Public Radio’s Talk of the Nation program announced that, Richard Nixon, in a surprise move, was running for President again. His new campaign slogan was, “ I didn’t do anything wrong, and I won’t do it again.” Accompanying this announcement were audio clips(片断) of Nixon delivering his election speech. Listeners responded immediately to the announcement, flooding the show with calls expressing shock and anger. Only during the second half of the show did the host John Huckleberry reveal that the announcement was a practical joke. Nixon’s voice was copied by comedian Rich Little.
1.Which of the following countries is NOT mentioned in the text?
A．India B．The UK C．The United States D．Sweden
2.Who worked as a host on the radio?
A．Kjell Stepson B．Rich Little C．Richard Nixon D．John Huckleberry
3.When did the small republic San Serriffe come into being?
A．In 1962 B．In 1977 C．In 1992 D．Never
4.Where can we probably read this article?
A．In the ad. B．In a magazine C．In a novel D．In a news report
Before India gained independence (独立), a few young men from the villages wanted to free India from the foreign rule; they wanted the British to quit India. They needed material wealth to 36 the British out of India, so they started collecting 37 in the Indian villages.
One day, they got encouraged to collect 38 things as well. They went from door to door carrying a huge bag, which gradually was 39 with money and gifts. As they went, a one-legged beggar kept 40 them. The young men did not mind.
At the 41 of the day, they entered a house to see 42 they had collected. The beggar also wanted to enter, but since he was not a member of the group, they did not 43 him in. The beggar said to them: “I walked such a 44 distance right behind you. You want freedom; I also want freedom. India is not only your motherland. It is also my motherland.”
45 , the young men got mad and told the beggar to go away. Then one of the men felt 46 for him, so they decided to 47 him the things they had collected. 48 the beggar was looking at the gifts in their bag, most of them were showing no 49 for him. Then suddenly the beggar opened up the bag that he had been carrying. It 50 a few coins and some rice. He threw all the contents into their bag at once.
At the 51 of this, immediately all the members of the revolutionary group started dropping 52 of gratitude (感激), because he had 53 all that he had to their cause. On that day, they had gone to visit so many rich families, who had given them next to 54 ; but this beggar had given them everything that he had! They were deeply 55 by the beggar’s contribution.
1. A．drive B．grow C．help D．pick
2. A．food B．money C．papers D．seeds
3. A．military B．material C．mysterious D．cultural
4. A．tired B．satisfied C．filled D．covered
5. A．following B．cheating C．calling D．beating
6. A．beginning B．end C．front D．middle
7. A．how B．what C．where D．when
8. A．stop B．drop C．allow D．promise
9. A．short B．near C．long D．little
10. A．At last B．At first C．At a time D．In that case
11. A．necessary B．patient C．thankful D．sorry
12. A．trouble B．serve C．show D．excite
13. A．Since B．While C．If D．Although
14. A．interest B．courage C．respect D．disappointment
15. A．included B．consisted C．held D．contained
16. A．thought B．sight C．sound D．moment
17. A．laughter B．difference C．truth D．tears
18. A．taken B．given C．wasted D．lost
19. A．something B．nothing C．everything D．anything
20. A．moved B．removed C．excited D．surprised
—Mom, I don’t know which song to choose in the singing contest.
—Why not ask your friends？You know .
A．every man his weak side
B．easier said than done
C．four eyes see more than two
D．every man is the architecture of his own fortune
seems strange to us he can sing the English song beautifully.
A．It; that B．what; that C．That; how D．It; why
