An evergreen tree is a Christmas tradition in many American homes. The tree is usually a pine or fir（冷杉） dressed with lights and other colorful decorations.
Families might buy a cut tree or go to a tree farm and cut one down themselves. Some people bring a live tree in a pot into their home for the holidays and then put it back outdoors. Some people rent a Christmas tree. Companies might bring the same live tree to the same family year after year. Or the tree might get planted in a park or someplace else where it could help the environment.
There are some trees that can be reused year after year because they are made of plastic or metal. Or, instead of a tree, some people have a small, sweet-smelling rosemary（迷迭香） plant, cut to look like a little Christmas tree.
Another popular evergreen this time of year is the mistletoe（槲寄生） plant. It has small white berries and leaves that feel like leather. The traditional Christmas mistletoe is native to Europe. Ancient Druids believed mistletoe had magical powers. Mistletoe is a parasitic（寄生的） plant. It connects itself to a tree and steals nutrients and water.
And the poinsettia（一品红）is also one of the plants that many people connect with Christmas. Poinsettias __________ Mexico. They can be white or pink, but most are bright red. They are named after the first American ambassador to Mexico. Joel Poinsett liked them enough to send some back to the United States. Babies or pets that chew on poinsettias might get sick. But experts say the plant is not as poisonous as some people think.
1.What is the main idea of the text? (no more than 8 words)
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2.Please list at least three kinds of color that Christmas trees may have? (no more than 4 words)
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3.Fill in the blank in Paragraph 5 with proper words. (no more than 4 words)
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4.What can be used as Christmas trees according to the passage?(no more than 10 words)
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5.What does the word “it” (Line 2, Paragraph 2) probably refer to? (no more than 3 words)
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It was reported last week that developers could take photos from Apple mobile and Google Android devices without the phone owners knowing that the images were being taken. In Apple’s case, developers can also obtain the location information for each photo.
Senator(参议员) Charles Schumer said in a telephone interview that his office had spoken with officials at both Apple and Google on Monday.
“We asked them if they could find a way on their own to prevent Apple from having access to private information,” Mr. Schumer said. “They were friendly and open to the idea that this ought to be changed.”
On Sunday, Mr. Schumer said that he planned to send a letter to the Federal Trade Commission asking the agency to investigate Apple and Google after the privacy concerns came to light. Claudia Bourne Farrell, an F.T.C. spokeswoman, said the agency had received the letter but she could not comment further.
“It worries people to think that one’s personal photos, address book, and who knows what else can be obtained and even posted online without permission,” Mr. Schumer wrote in his letter to the F.T.C. “If the technology exists to open the door to this kind of privacy invasion（入侵）, then surely technology exists to close it, and that’s exactly what must happen.”
Mr. Schumer said if Apple and Google could not come to an agreement to fix the problem, then he would be forced to take the issue further.
He said other companies had been willing to work with his office to fix issues. “I’m optimistic that we can get this changed without any regulation,” he said. “If it’s not changed, then we’ll turn to the F.T.C., and if that doesn’t work then we’llconsider legislative approach.”
The F.T.C. has warned companies to try to be more vigilant(警醒的) in their efforts to protect consumers when it comes to privacy.
1.The senators spoke with officials at both Apple and Google___________.
A. to discuss whether it is illegal to have access to private information.
B. to urge them not to invade consumers’ privacy.
C. to stop them from developing the technology of taking photos.
D. to keep them from obtaining the location information for each photo.
2.Which of the following statements is true?
A. Privacy invasion from Apple has existed for a long time.
B. Privacy invasion from Google has existed for a long time.
C. Mr. Schumer takes the privacy concerns caused by Apple and Google seriously.
D.Apple and Google have decided to make a change.
3.Mr. Schumer’s letter to the F.T.C. mainly shows that the technology to open the door to privacy invasion___________.
A. causes privacy invasion to happen frequently.
B. can be used if permitted.
C. causes personal information to be posted online without permission.
D. causes people to worry about the safety of their personal information .
4.If the privacy concerns can’t be solved with the help of the F.T.C., ___________.
A.The senators will turn to legislation.
B. The companies will be closed.
C. The companies will be fined.
D. The senators will force the companies not to invade privacy.
5.Where can we read about the passage?
A. In a science report. B. In a magazine
C. In a newspaper. D. In a textbook.
Many people influenced various aspects of my life, based on their personal characteristics, accomplishments, and values. I have been fortunate to have had numerous teachers and professors who I respect for their patience and intelligent. There are artists that have inspired me by their natural talents and original creativity. I value many political leaders, who have inspired me by their contributions to society, and their ability to change our futures. But of all the people I have known in my life, the person I admire most is my father.
As the youngest girl in my family, I always considered myself to be “Daddy’s little girl”. While I grew up, it always made me sad to see so many of my friends and neighbors without a father or father-like figure around. This helped me appreciate how my father always takes an interest in his children’s lives. In every aspect of my life my father continuously pushes me to excel, so I could accomplish my work outstandingly among my people. Whenever I feel like giving up, or have a question or a concern, I know I can always call on him for advice. From him I have also learned that sometimes you have to put others’ needs ahead of your own, but you should make sure you are not taken advantage of by others. His strength seems to be unbreakable during hard times, and he is extremely determined to accomplish anything he sets his mind on, no matter how tiny it is. I highly respect him for how he stands up for what he believes in, and will never back down. I have always admired his open mind, compassion for people, and sense of understanding. He is a very reserved man, but to everybody’s surprise, he has a great sense of humor, and always knows how to put a smile on the faces of his wife, his children and his friends.
Living in his affection and instruction, I am very proud of my father. He also professes how proud he is of his children, and is still there to support us in whatever we are involved in.
1. What is the best title for the passage?
A. How my father loved me
B. My father—the one who influenced me most
C. I am the apple on my father’s palm
D. My father—the person I admire most
2. Which of the following could not be used to describe the author’s father?
A. Knowledgeable and sociable
B. Affectionate and open-minded
C. Considerate and humorous
D. Energetic and helpful
3.Which of the following can best explain the underlined word “excel”?
A. Be cleverer than others. B. Show off.
C. Do better than others. D. Keep healthy
4.According to the underlined part, the father was telling the author to ___________.
A. try to be good to those who were worth making friends with
B. think about others and help them, but not to be made use of in a negative way
C. think about others and help them, so that she could make them serve her
D. try to take advantage of those who were friendly to her
5.What can we infer about the author?
A. She had sympathy for the fatherless.
B. She considered her father humorous and was often made to laugh by him.
C. She appreciated her father because he solved all the problems for her.
D. She was outstanding in work because her father pushed her hard
In the United States, when one becomes rich, he wants people to know it. And even if he does not become very rich, he wants people to think that he is. That is what ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ is about, It is the story of someone who tried to look as rich as his neighbors.
The expression was first used in 1913 by a young American called Arthur Momand. He told this story about himself. He began earning $ 125 a week at the age of 23. That was a lot of money in those days. He got married and moved with his wife to a very wealthy neighborhood outside New York City. When he saw that rich people rode horses, Momand went horseback riding every day. When he saw that rich people had servants, Momand and his wife also hired a servant and gave big parties for their new neighbors.
It was like a race, but one could never finish this race because one was always trying to keep up. The race ended for Momand and his wife when they could no longer pay for their new way of life. They moved back to an apartment in New York City.
Momand looked around him and noticed that many people do things just to keep up with rich life—style of their neighbors. He saw the funny side of it and started to write a series of short stories, He called it ‘Keeping up with the Joneses’ because ‘Jones’ is a very common name in the United States.’ Keeping up with the Joneses’ came to mean keeping up with rich lifestyle of the people around you. Momand’s series appeared in different newspapers across the country for over 28 years.
People never seem to get tired of keeping up with the Joneses. And there are ‘Joneses’ in every city of the world. But one must get tired of trying to keep up with the Joneses because no matter what one does, Mr. Jones always seems to be ahead.
1.Some people want to keep up with the Joneses because they ________.
A. want to be as rich as their neighbors
B. want others to know or to think that they are rich
C don’t want others to know they are rich
D. want to be happy
2.It can be inferred (推断) from the story that rich people like to ________.
A. live outside New York City
B. live in New York city
C. live in apartments
D. have many neighbors
3.Arthur Momand used the name “Jones” in his series of short stories because “Jones” is ________.
A. an important name
B. a popular name in the United States
C. his neighbor’s name
D. not a good name
4.If a person who keeps up with the Joneses, he would _________.
A. do as the poor persons around him do
B. do everything he likes to do
C. do as his neighbors do
D. do as the rich people around him do
5. According to the writer, it is ___________ to keep up with the Jonese.
A. Good B. correct C. interesting D. impossible
Most musicians agree that the best violins were made in Cremona, Italy, about 200 years ago. They even sound better than violins made today. Violin makers and scientists try to make instruments like the old Italian violins. But they aren’t the same. Why are these old Italian violins so special? Many people think they have an answer.
Some people think it is the age of the violins. But there is a problem here. Not all old violins sound wonderful. Only those from Cremona are special. So age cannot be the answer.
Other people think the secret to those violins is the wood. The wood of the violin is very important. It must be from certain kinds of trees. It must not be too young or too old. Perhaps the violin makers of Cremona knew something special about wood for violins.
But the kind of wood may not be so important. It may be more important to cut the wood in a special way. Wood for a violin must be cut very carefully. It has to be the right size and shape. The smallest difference will change the sound of the violin. Musicians sometimes think that this is the secret of the Italians.
Size and shape may not be the answer either. Scientists make new violins that are exactly the same size and shape. But the new violins still do not sound as good as the old one. Some scientists think the secret may be the varnish（清漆）, which covers the wood of the violin and makes it look shiny. It also helps the sound of the instrument. Since no one knows what the Italian violin makers used in their varnish, no one can make the same varnish today.
There may never be other violins like the violins of Cremona. And there are not many of the old violins left. So these old violins are becoming more and more precious.
1.What would be the best title for the passage?
A．The Secrets of Cremona Violins
B．The History of Italian Violins
C．Special Musical Instruments
D．How to Make the Best Violins
2.The main purpose of the first paragraph is to_______________
A．list some facts B．raise a question
C．give an opinion D．offer an answer
3.What is still unclear about Cremona violins according to the writer?
A．The shape． B．The size． C．The wood． D．The varnish．
4.Which of the following words can best describe Cremona violins?
A．Light． B．Shining． C．Valuable．D．Modern
5.What can we learn from this passage?
A．Modem things are always better than ancient ones
B．Ancient things are always better than modem ones
C．Once a cultural relic is lost．it Can never be recovered
D．Varnish for violins will become more and more precious
Last January I was given a chance to work in another country. At first, I lived a 36 life, but soon I met a group of new friends and they were really nice.
Then something 37 happened. One of our friends suffered from kidney stones (肾结石), which had to be 38 surgically as soon as possible. But it was not as 39 as that! Our friend could not 40 the operation, which put him into deep 41 . I didn’t know how to help him because I didn’t have any money either. 42 , I never lost hope. Instead I tried to think of other 43 and told him not to worry because everything would be all right.
Before I left the hospital, I talked to the surgeon and asked him to do the surgery, saying I would pay the expenses the next day 44 I had that kind of money. Well, I must have been 45 because the surgeon agreed to do it! But how was I going to get that much money?
All I knew was that I needed to help my friend! Although it could be 46 to deal with this kind of situation, I decided to make some efforts. I tried to borrow money but failed. I tried 47 my things but no one wanted them. Then I had the idea of talking to my 48 . I asked him if I could have my next two months’ salary in advance—without even thinking on how I would 49 for two months with no money. He was surprised and asked me the reason. I told him that I had a friend who was really in need. 50 I convinced him too and then he gave my two months’ salary without any 51 !
Upon getting the money, I ran to the hospital and paid all the bills. My friend didn’t know how to thank me. I just said, “Come on! Give me a 52 !”
Friendship may not only be found at the happy moment but sometimes you can find it on the 53 time in your life! I’ve done a good thing by being a (an) 54 friend and I think it is well worth the 55 .
1.A. private B. lonely C. colorful D. normal
2.A. strange B. wrong C. unexpected D. unfair
3.A. removed B. reduced C. examined D. lifted
4.A. terrible B. painful C. simple D. special
5.A. stand B. consider C. perform D. afford
6.A. anxiety B. confusion C. embarrassment D. dissatisfaction
7.A. Thus B. Otherwise C. However D. Therefore
8.A. reasons B. choices C. symptoms D. expectations
9.A. even if B. as if C. so that D. in case
10.A. encouraging B. annoying C. astonishing D. convincing
11.A. challenging B. disturbing C. amazing D. scaring
12.A. saving B. handling C. donating D. selling
13.A. colleague B. relative C. boss D. surgeon
14.A. adapt B. survive C. continue D. wander
15.A. Luckily B. Slightly C. Constantly D. Occasionally
16.A. analysis B. dignity C. hesitation D. remark
17.A. favor B. hug C. promise D. reply
18.A. best B. longest C. strangest D. toughest
19.A. supportive B. sensitive C. aggressive D. attentive
20.A. tolerance B. sympathy C. pressure D. effort
