I will never forget the year I was about twelve years old. My mother told us that we would not be Christmas gifts because there was not enough money. I felt sad and thought, “What would I say when the other kids asked what I’d ?” Just when I started to that there would not be a Christmas that year, three women at our house with gifts for all of us. For me they brought a doll. I felt such a sense of that I would no longer have to be embarrassed when I returned to school. I wasn’t . Somebody had thought of me to bring me a gift.
Years later, when I stood in the kitchen of my new house, thinking how I wanted to make my Christmas t
here special and memorable, I remembered the women’s visit. I decided that I wanted to create that same feeling of for as many children as I could possibly reach.
So I a plan 
and gathered forty people from my company to
help. We gathered about 125 orphans (孤儿) at the Christmas party. For every child, we wrapped colorful packages filled with toys, clothes, and school supplies, with a child’s name. We wanted all of them to know they 
were . Before I called out their names and handed them their gifts, I them that they couldn’t open their presents every child had 
come forward. Finally the they had been waiting for came as I called out, “One, two, three. Open your present
s!” As the children opened their packages, their faces beamed and their bright smiles up the room. The in the room was obvious, and wasn’t just about toys. It was a feeling – the feeling I knew that Christmas so long ago when the women came to visit. I wasn’t forgotten. Somebody thought of me. I matter.
1.A. sending B. making C. receiving D. exchanging
2.A. got B. prepared C. found D. expected
3.A. doubt B. hope C. accept D. suggest
4.A. broke in B. turned up C. settled down D. showed off
5.A. achievement B. loss C. relief D. justice
6.A. blamed B. forgotten C. loved D. affected
7.A. enough B. little C. poorly D. highly
8.A. present B. recent C. first D. previous
9.A. hardly B. occasionallyC. regularly D. instantly
10.A. importance B. independenceC. strength D. safety
11.A. kept up with B. came up with C. caught up with D. put up with
12.A. none B. few C. each D. some
13.A. fine B. normal C. helpful D. special
14.A. convinced B. guaranteed C. reminded D. promised
15.A. until B. after C. when D. since
16.A. chance B. gift C. reward D. moment
17.A. took B. lit C. burned D. cheered
18.A. atmosphere B. sympathy C. joy D. calmness
19.A. such B. it C. something D. everybody
20.A. from B. till C. for D. by
Every year, thousands of students choose to study in another country for a semester, the summer, or a year. Studying overseas can be an exciting experience for many people.
1.
Living in another country can help you to learn a language, and about another culture. 2. Overseas study may also look good on your future resume. Many companies today want employees who speak a second language, or have experienced living or working in another country.
Making the right choice
Once you decide to study overseas, you have to make some choices. To choose the right country or school. Ask yourself: Where do I want to go and why? How much do I want to pay? 3. Do I want to live with a host family, with roommates, or alone?
Getting ready to go
Get your passport and visa early! 4. Learn about the money. Bring some of it, and a credit card, with you.
Once you are there
After the first few weeks overseas, many students will feel a little homesick. They may miss their family, friends, and familiar ways of doing things. 5. When you feel sad or homesick, try to talk to others, or write about your feelings in a notebook.
A. You should improve your mother tongue before you go.
B. Why do it?
C. large number of students can’t afford to study overseas.
D. How long do I want to study overseas?
E. Remember that it takes time to get used to a new place, school, and culture.
F. You will see the world in a new way, and learn more about yourself.
G. Before you go, learn some of the language, and read about some common customs in your host country.
Hillary Diane Clinton arrived at the White House after
serving as First Lady of Arkansas （阿肯色州）for twelve years. During that time she worked as a full-time partner of a
law firm, chaired an education committee that set public school standards in Arkansas, managed a home, and cared
for her husband and child.
Hillary Diane Rodham, daughter of Hugh and Dorothy Rodham, was born in Chicago, Illinois, on October 26, 1947. She and her younger two brothers grew up in Park Ridge, Illinois, as a close-knit family. As an excellent student, she was also a Girl Scout and a member of the local Methodist youth group. Hillary also enjoyed sports and was always interested in politics. She entered Wellesley College in 1965. Graduating with high honors, she moved on to Yale Law School, where she served on the Board of Editors of the Yale Review of Law and Social Action. While at Yale, she developed her special concern for protecting the best interests of children and their families. It was there that she met Bill Clinton, a fellow student.
In 1973, Hillary became a lawyer for the Children’s Defense Fund. In 1975 Hillary left Washington and followed her heart to Arkansas, marrying Bill Clinton. The couple taught together in the University of Arkansas. Their daughter, Chelsea, was born in 1980.
As First Lady of Arkansas, Hillary continued to work tirelessly on behalf of children and families. In addition to chairing the Arkansas Education Standards Committee, she founded the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. She introduced a pioneering program called Arkansas Home Instruction for Preschool Youth, which trained parents to work with their children in preschool preparedness and literacy. Hillary also served on the board of the Arkansas Children's Hospital. In recognition of her professional and personal accomplishments, Hillary was named Arkansas Woman of the Year in 1983 and Arkansas Mother of the Year in 1984.
Women’s International Center proudly presents the Living Legacy Award to Hillary Rodham Clinton for her vast contributions in so many fields, especially honoring her work for women and children.
1. Hillary did all the following things before going to college EXCEPT
A. joining the local Methodist youth group
B. taking an active part in sports
C. showing great interest in politics
D. beginning to care for the interests of children
2.The topic sentence of the fourth paragraph is .
A. sentence 1 B. sentence 2
C. sentence 4 D. sentence 5
3. What is the main reason why Hillary won the Living Legacy Award?
A. Her being Arkansas Woman of the Year in 1983.
B. Her tireless work for woman and children.
C. Graduating with high honors from Yale.
D. Being a per
fect wife and caring for her child
4. What do we know about Hillary from this passage?
A. She and Bill Clinton were schoolmates at Yale.
B. She was in her thirties when she married Bill Clinton.
C. She has been a full-time lawyer for more than 20 years.
D. She once worked as a doctor in the Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
Happy birthday
The China National Opera (CNO) will give a concert to celebrate its 50th birthday.
Different generations of CNO vocalists, like Li Guangxi , Yao Hong and Ma Mei, will present the concert which will feature both songs from famous Chinese operas like “The White-haired Girl” and “The Hundredth Bride”, as well as, arias (咏叹调) of such Western opera classics as “Madame B
utterfly”, “La Traviata” and “Rigoletto.
Time/ date : 7:30 pm , September 7, 8
Location : Tianqiao Theatre
Tel : 6551-4787, 8315-6170
Tickets : 60—500 yuan (US $7.2— 60.2)
Folk music
A concert will be held to feature some recently composed traditional Chinese music works.
The concert, given by the Folk Orchestra of the China Opera and Ballet Theatre, will include such pieces as “Memory of Childhood ”, “Memorial Ceremony for God ”and “Wine Song”.
Time/date: 7:30pm, September 13
Location: Concert hall at the National Library of China
Tel: 6848 –5462, 6841-9220
Tickets: 30-200 yuan (US$3.6-24.1)
Moon music
A concert of tr
aditional Chinese music will be given on the eve of the Moon Festival which falls on September 21st this year.
The concert will feature a number of famous pieces centered on the theme of the moon, such as “Moonlight”, “Spring night on a Moonlit River” and “Lofty Mountain and Flowing River.”
A number of established traditional Chinese music performers like Zhou Yaokun and Fan Weiqing, will play solos as well as collaborate (合作) with the folk music orchestra.
Time / date: 7:30 pm, September 21st
Location: Grand Theatre of the Cultural Palace of Nationalities
Tel: 6606—8888, 6606—9999
If interested, please book the tickets as soon as possible.
1. If you want to buy tickets for listening to the music “Memory of Childhood”,
you will dial ______.
A．6551—4787 B．6848—5462
C．8315—6170 D．6606—9999
2.From this passage, we can learn the purpose of the writer is ______.
A. to praise the musicians
B. to celebrate its 50th birthday
C. to advertise for the three concerts
D. to express his interests
3.In which column of a newspaper can we find this article?
A．Entertainment. B．People.
C．Culture. D．Sports.
The Carnival of Brazil is an annual festiva
l held 46 days before Easter, especially famous for the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. Carnival celebrations are believed to have roots in the festival of Saturnalia, which, adapted to Christianity, became a farewell to bad things in a season of religious discipline to regret and prepare for Christ’s death and coming back to life. Modern Brazilian Carnival dates back to Rio de Janeiro in 1641. It originally copied the European form of the festival, later taking in elements of Native American and African cultures. In the late 19th century, the strings (弦乐器) were introduced in Rio de Janeiro. These were pageant (游行) groups that paraded through city avenues performing on instruments and dancing. Today they are known as blocks, consisting of a group of people who dress in costumes or special T-shirts with themes or logos. Blocks are generally connected with particular neighborhoods; they include both a music group and a lot of revelers(狂欢者). Block parades have become an expressive feature of Rio’s Carnival. Today, they number more than 100 and the groups increase each year. Blocks can be formed by small or large groups of revelers with a clear title. Before the show, they gather in a square, then parade in sections of the city, often near the beach. Carnival time in Rio is very interesting, but is also the most expensive time to visit Rio. Hotel rooms and other lodgings (住宿) can be up to four times more expensive than the regular rates. There are big crowds at some locations and life is far from ordinary in many parts of town.
1.What can we infer from the first paragraph?
A. The Carnival of Brazil is often held after Easter.
B. The Carnival of Brazil comes from Easter and Saturnalia.
C. The Carnival of Brazil is mainly to celebrate the birth of Christ.
D. The Carnival of Brazil is a festival to regret and begin a new life.
2.How long is the history of the peoples celebrating modern Brazilian Carnival?
A.About 100 years. B. Less than two centuries.
C. Over five centuries. D. About 370 years.
3. We can infer from the fourth paragraph that_______
A. block parades become bigger and bigger. 
B. block parades can only be formed by big groups of revelers.
C. the theme of blocks must be serious.
D. blocks always parade only on the beach
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A. The famous carnivals in the world.
B. How the carnival was introduced in Brazil.
C. The happy life of the people in Rio de Janeiro.
D. The carnival in Rio de Janeiro.
I fell in love with England because it was quaint(古雅)—all those little houses, looking terribly oldfashioned but nice, like doll's houses. I loved the countryside and the pubs, and I loved London. I've slightly changed my mind after seventeen years because I think it's an ugly town now.
Things have changed. For everybody, England meant gentlemen, fair play
, and good manners. The fair play is going, unfortunately, and so are the gentlemanly attitudes and good manners—people shut doors heavily in your face and politeness is disappearing.
I regret that there are few comfortable meeting places. You're forced to live indoors. In Pairs I go out much more, to restaurants and nightclubs. To meet friends here it usually has to be in a pub, and it can be difficult to go there alone as a woman. The cafes are not terribly nice.
As a woman, I feel unsafe here. I spend a lot on taxis because I will not take public transport after 10 p．m. I used to use it, but now I'm afraid.
The idea of family seems to be more or less nonexistent in England. My family is well united and that's typically French. In Middlesex I had a neighbour who is 82 now. His family only lived two miles away, but I took him to France for Christmas once because he was always alone.
1.The writer doesn't like London because she________.
A．is not used to the life there now
B．has lived there for seventeen years
C．prefers to live in an o
ldfashioned house
D．has to be polite to everyone she meets there
2.Where do people usually meet their friends in England?
A．In a cafe. B．In a restaurant.
C．In a nightclub. D．In a pub.
3. The underlined part “it” (in Para. 4)refers to________.
A．a taxi B．In a r
estaurant
C．a bomb D. public transport
4. The writer took her neighbour to France for Christmas because he________.
A．felt lonely in England
B．had never been to France
C．was from a typical French family
D．didn't like the British idea of family
