For many years, parties have been an important social event. When 25 people or more gather at a certain location in order to have fun and engage in conversation, it can be considered a party. Parties usually have different drinks and food choices, and music is a large part of the event, very often.
Birthday parties are held in honor of an individual who is having a birthday, and presents and gifts are usually brought by attendees(出席者).The song “Happy Birthday to You” is very often sung by partygoers for the person who is having a birthday.
There are different kinds of Birthday parties. Adults may have birthday parties in restaurants or nightclubs, while children usually have parties at home or at funhouses. Sometimes children may have parties at water parks or amusement parks as well.
Birthday parties may also happen in the manner of a surprise party, where the person having a birthday is not told about the birthday preparations. Surprise parties include guests hiding in a location where the party is to take place, then shouting “surprise!” when the guest of honor enters.
Sporting event parties usually take place around a specific sports happening, such as the Super Bowl, the World Cup or the World Series. People gather and eat, drink, and laugh as they talk about the happenings of the games within that sporting event. These types of parties are very lively and usually loud.
Nightly socialization parties include house parties and dance parties. House parties sometimes are held by teenagers and young adults of college age in a set location; private houses are often the location of choice. People who manage the music are hire
d to provide musical entertainment. Usually alcohol is included, resulting in trouble for the attendants of the party.
Dance parties include energetic music like disco or pop. People gather at these parties to dance, drink, and have a good time. Usually people at these parities will be of younger ages between 18-28.
Title: 1. | ||
Definition | 25 people or more gather to have fun and engage in conversation. Different drinks, food choices and 2. served | |
3. | Activities | Honor the individual 4. Give presents and gifts. 5. “Happy Birthday to you” for the individual. |
Location | adults: in restaurants or nightclubs children: at home, funhouses, water parks or amusement parks | |
A surprise party | 6. the person having a birthday about the birthday preparations Hide in the party Shout 7. at the guest of honor. | |
Sporting event parties | People gather or watch a specific sports event happening with food, drink and laughter. The parties are 8. | |
9. | House parties: teenagers and young adults of college age Dance parties: adults between 10. | |
One day I heard that one of my dear friends had lost his mother. This made me sad, for my friend was very close to his mother. He had been by her side as she traveled through her long and hard journey with cancer. At this time, many memories about my loved ones that had passed away came back to me. Finally these memories passed, but it was really sad to think that my friend would have to go through the pain. Three times I tried to write an email to my friend and three times words failed me. I am not the one that is often lost for words and I decided to have a sleep. Upon waking up，I could hardly wait for my computer to work；the words I needed were there. I was still left with a heavy heart although I had sent the email. They say that everything in this uni
verse is balanced (平衡的) and indeed it is.
Three days later, I received his reply letter. I was happy to hear that he’d been admitted (被录取) to Cambridge University. It served as a
gentle reminder for me that my friend would be okay and that life would go on. Everything in life is balanced；the lowest feelings change places with the highest feelings. Without the lows, we would never appreciate the highs. No matter how dark the clouds seem to be, sunshine is always there and you just wait for the opportunity to shine through.
1.After the author learnt her friend had lost his mother, she ______.
A. gave him some money
B. wrote an email to him
C. went to visit him
D. went on a journey with him
2.What good news did the author’s friend receive?
A. He received the author’s email.
B. He was told that life would go on.
C. He would go to Cambridge University.
D. His life would go back to normal again.
3. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The author wrote four emails to her friend.
B. The mother of the author’s friend died of cancer.
C. The author’s friend is a teacher in Cambridge University.
D. The author became relaxed after sending the email.
4.From the passage, we can learn that the author is ______.
A. sincere and warm-hearted B. proud and confident
C. serious and friendly D. funny and responsible
5.The author aims to tell us that ______.
A. life is fair to everybody
B. time waits for no man
C. everyone has good and bad times in life
D. on sunny days it doesn’t often rain
Most of us know about the Nobel Prize, especially the Nobel Peace Prize, but few of us know anything about the man who set them up. His name was Alfred Nobel. He was a great scientist and inventor himself. Besides, he had a big business. His business may surprise you. He made and sold explosives(炸药). His companies even made and sold weapons. Isn’t this something that surprises you? The man who made money from weapons should set up the Peace Prize?
Though Alfred Nobel had a lot of money from weapons, he hated war. He hoped that there would be no war in th
e world. He was one of the richest in Europe. When he died in 1896, he left behind him a lot of money and his famous will. According to his will, most of his money was placed in a fund(基金). He wanted the interest(利润) from the fund to be used as prizes every year. We know them as the Nobel Prizes. The Nobel Prizes are international. Alfred Nobel wanted the winners to be chosen for their work, not the country they came from.
Alfred Nobel had given his whole life to his studies and work and to the benefits of mankind. He made money all by his own efforts, but he left the world share his wealth. His inventions and wealth stay with the world for ever.
1.Alfred Nobel did the following EXCEPT ______________
A. choosing the winners of Nobel Prize
B. making and selling weapons
C. setting up the Nobel Prize
D. making and selling explosives
2.Nobel wanted to set up the Nobel Peace Prize because _____.
A. he made enough money
B. he hated war
C. he wanted to get more interest from the fund
D. he liked to live in a peaceful world
3.Nobel Prizes come from _____.
A. all Nobel’s money in the fund
B. all Nobel’s money in his company
C. all the interest from the fund
D. some of the interest in the fund
4.Nobel was a (an) _____ person in the world.
A. interesting B. unselfish C. cold-hearted D. richest
5.Which statement of the following is Right according to the passage?
A. Nobel set up his company to sell clothes.
B. Most of Nobel’s money was used for the world Wars.
C. Nobel Prizes are only for some people from some special countries.
D. Nobel worked hard in his life and saved lots of money for the world to share.
A World of Color
No matter where you go, colors are everywhere! And while the colors may be the same, their meanings change depending on the country.
Colors | Different Meanings | |||
Green | Green means “hope” in Ecuador. In the U.S., it’s a symbol of money and concern for the environment. | |||
Purple | Purple is worn by kings and queens in Europe, while in Thailand, it’s worn by women whose husbands have died. | |||
Black | Black is the traditional color of mourning(哀悼) in the West. But on the Pacific islands of Melanesia, it’s a symbol of beauty and speed. | |||
White | White is considered a pure color and is worn at weddings in America. In parts of Asia, however, white is worn to funerals(葬礼) as a sign of winter, when everything is dead. | |||
Red | Red means “beautiful” in Russia, but in South Africa, it’s the color of mourning. In the United States, a bride would be criticized(批评) for wearing a red gown. In India or China, though, brides often wear red as a symbol of good fortune. | |||
Colors mean different things in different countries. No matter what the meaning is, color adds interest to our lives and makes them brighter.
1.In the US if you prefer the color_____, it will probably show that you are concerned about the environment.
A. green B. purple C. black D. white
2.How many colors mentioned in the passage can be used as a sign of mourning?
A. Five. B. Four. C. Three. D. Two.
3.If a bride is wearing a red gown in the wedding, she must come from_____.
A. Thailand B. America C. India D. South Africa
4.Which is true according to the passage?
A. White stands for purity in China.
B. An American bride will wear a red gown on the wedding.
C. Black is a symbol of beauty and speed in the west.
D. Purple is worn by kings and queens in Europe
5.What can we infer from the p
assage?
A. All the colors have different meanings in different countries.
B. From country to country, people view colors differently.
C. All the brides from China prefer to wear white gowns.
D. White is considered a pure color and often worn to funerals.
A proverb says, “Time is money”. But in my opinion, time is even 1. precious than money. Why? 2. when money is spent, we can earn it back. However, when time is gone, it will 3. return. It is known to all 4. the time we can use is limited. Therefore we should make full use of our time to study hard so as to serve our country in 5. future. But it is a pity that there are a lot of people who do not realize the value 6. time. They spend their precious time smoking, drinking 7. playing.
In a word, we should form the good habit of saving time. Do not put off 8. can be done today till tomorrow.
For years I wanted a flower garden. I would spend hours thinking of the different things I could that would look nice together.
But then I had five lovely children: Matthew and Marvin, the twins Alisa and Alan, and then Helen. I was too raising them to grow a garden.
Money was tight (紧的) ，as well as time. When my children were little, if they wanted something that too much I’d have to say, “Do you see a money outside? Money doesn’t grow on trees, you know.”
Finally, all five got through high school and college, and started living on their own. And I started thinking again about having a .
One spring morning, on Mother’s Day, I the window and was surprised to see a new tree in my yard. I put my glasses on and I couldn’t believe what I was looking at. There was a money tree in my yard!
I went outside to look. It was true! There was as much as one hundred on that tree. All I could think of was all the garden flowers I could with that money! There was also a(an) attached(附上): “ Love, Marvin.”
My other had bought me tools, ornaments(装饰物) and gardening books.
That was three years ago. My garden is now very , just the way I 
wanted.
I’m still not sure whether money on trees. But I know love does!
1.A. sellB. catchC. plantD. feed
2.A. stressedB. excitedC. boredD. busy
3.A. costB. tookC. spentD. paid
4.A. pocketB. treeC. boxD. market
5.A. gardenB. dream C. presentD. yard
6.A. looked afterB. looked for C. looked out ofD. looked over
7.A. dollarsB. flowersC. butterfliesD. lights
8.A. seeB. solveC. design D. buy
9.A. DocumentB. SuggestC. NoteD. excuse
10.A. friendsB. childrenC. volunteers D. members
11.A. prettyB. oldC. usualD. small
12.A. decoratesB. hangs C. grows D. puts
