This Monday，the nation will start to celebrate Presidents’ Day，just seven days before George Washington’s birthday．Everyone agrees that day is a holiday，but is it just to celebrate George Washington’s Birthday? What about Abraham Lincoln? Some government offices call it Presidents’ Day．Others say the holiday is officially Washington’s Birthday．Confused yet?
George Washington was elected the country’s first President on April 30，1789．Soon after，Americans began publicly celebrating his birthday．Presidential historians say the actual date of George Washington’s birth is February 11，1732．But a change in the calendar system 20 years later shifted all dates，making Washington’s birthday February 22，which is now well accepted．In 1879．Congress made Washington’s birthday an official federal holiday．It was the first federal holiday to celebrate an individual’s birthday．In 1968，Congress passed the Monday Holidays Act，which moved the holiday to the third Monday in February．The new law did not change the holiday’s name．It was still called Washington’s Birthday，even though some lawmakers wanted to call it Presidents’ Day to include Abraham Lincoln，whose actual birthday is February 12．
Many people argue that the holiday should celebrate all past Presidents．They feel Lincoln should be honored for his role in preserving the nation during the Civil War and helping to free slaves．Others feel the holiday should only honor Washington．the country’s first President．They say shifting the focus away from Washington would mean future generations of kids would not know about the Father of Our Country．
Laws have been introduced in Congress over the years to require use of the term “George Washington’s Birthday．”but none of those laws have been passed．Meanwhile，many state governments and school districts now use the term “Presidents’ Day．”Many stoles also use it to promote holiday sales．
Should the holiday honor Washington，Washington and Lincoln，or all past Presidents? Write to emailbag@timeforkids．com and tell us what you think．
1.The President’s Day was originally designed to honor______．
A．George Washington B．Abraham Lincoln
C．all presidents D．the Civil War
2.What can we infer from the passage?
A．Washington’s Birthday is the same as Lincoln’s．
B．The change in the calendar system was not wise．
C．The new act changed the holiday’s name．
D．This Monday is the third one of this February．
3.What’s the main argument about this holiday?
A．When to celebrate the holiday．
B．How to celebrate the holiday．
C．Which president to honor．
D．Where to celebrate the holiday．
4.What’s the best title for this passage?
A．Why people celebrate President Day.
B．The history and debate behind Presidents’ Day
C．To celebrate Presidents’ Day or not
D．Colorful activities on Presidents’ Day
“I honestly have no idea how that cat got up there．It’s a hundred—foot—metal pole．There’s no way he climbed that thing，”Jim said to the worried woman．It wasn’t even her cat，but she was passing by and saw it．immediately calling the fire—station to come to save it．Jim saw a lot of strange things as a fireman，often sad or upsetting things，but this was new.
“I suppose we could get the blanket and see if we can convince the poor cat to jump down· But he doesn’t really look too scared…”Jim said to the woman．
“Dave，get over here!” Jim called over his shoulder to the fire truck driver．Dave walked over and looked where Jim was pointing．
“How’d he get up there?”
Jim shrugged，similarly puzzled．“Do you suppose we could get the blanket and convince him to jump?”
Dave shrugged in response．“I don’t see why not．”
Jim looked up at the black mass on the top of the flagpole，the American nag waving proudly beneath him．It was definitely a cat，and he regarded the people gathered below as if they were his subjects(臣民)and he their king，his yellow eyes scanning his surroundings with apparent disinterest．
When the blanket was spread out below the cat，Jim and Dave began striking the flagpole．The cat looked down，and then gazed into the sky as if it were looking for something．Jim and Dave followed his gaze．Suddenly，out of the clear sky，appeared a dark figure．The figure swooped(俯冲)low toward the flagpole．It was an eagle! As it got closer，the cat leaped down the pole swiftly onto the ground，and then got lost in the bushes．
Jim，Dave，and the old woman were left with their mouths open．They all agreed it was the best way to get it down．
1.Why did the woman call the fire station ?
A．Because the pole was on fire．
B．Because her cat was missing．
C．Because she felt it was strange．
D．Because she wanted to save the cat．
2.What does the underlined word “him” refer to?
A．The cat． B．Jim． C．The king． D．Dave．
3.What did the firemen plan to do at first?
A．To strike the pole． B．To spread the blanket．
C．To shout at the cat． D．To shrug helplessly．
4.Who saved the cat?
A．An eagle． B．The firemen．
C．The cat itself． D．The people around．
If you can’t wait until the summer for your sunshine fix，why not fly off on a winter break? Here are some great deals for all budgets．
1．ST LUCIA
The beachside resort(度假胜地)of St James’s Club in Morgan Bay is fairly quiet—the local market is nearly 5kin away—but it has six bars，six restaurants and four outdoor pools. There are plenty of watersports，you can travel through the rainforest，go on a jeep trip or enjoy dolphin-Spot-ting. Average temperature in March is 27℃．
THE DEAL：A seven-night stay with flights from Gatwick for 1，429pp．From March 1.
2．GOA
With an average February temperature of 26℃，scenic Goa makes for a warm winter get away. In the village of Arpora，the Resorte Marinha Dourada is a 10-minute walk from the clear beach—the hotel provides transfers for guests．Alternatively，relax by the outdoor pool and have a drink at one of the hotel’s two bars. A visit to Arpora’s lively Saturday night market is also recommended. Go bird-watching，beating on the lake，or fishing．
THE DEAL：10 nights’ bed and breakfast with flights from Manchester for 1，157pp．From February 18.
3．DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Bayahibe is a beautiful fishing village on the shores of the Caribbean and it is also the Dominican Republic’s premier scuba-diving destination．There are around 20 dive sites just off its coast. Enjoy golf，spas，watersports and large outdoor pools．If you simply want to relax，the Catalonia Gran Dominicus hotel is right on a pure white sandy beach，complete with palm trees. With average February temperature of 28℃，it’s the perfect escape．
THE DEAL：A seven-night stay with Gatwick flights for 1，403pp. From February 20.
4．SOUTH AFRICA
February is summer in South Africa，with average temperatures in the mid-20s℃. If you fancy chilling out in the sunshine，the Southern Sun Waterfront hotel has a large outdoor poo1. But it is also in the heart of the city，which makes it easy to explore its many historic attractions. Take a cable car ride up Table Mountain，or a short boat trip to Robben Island，where Nelson Mandela was held prisoner.
THE DEAL：10 nights for 1，662pp，with Heathrow flights. From February 18.
1.If you are only available in March，which resort should you choose?
A．ST LUCIA B．GOA
C．DOMINICAN REPUBLIC D．SOUTH AFRICA
2.What’s the price for the deal including underwater exploration?
A．￡1，429pp． B．￡1，157pp．
C．￡1，403pp． D．￡1，662pp.
3.What do these resorts have in common?
A．The same average temperature．
B．The outdoor pools.
C．The local markets．
D．The clear beaches．
书面表达
假定你是一位即将毕业的高三学生，学校将为高一新生举办主题为“What to learn in senior high school？”的英语沙龙活动，特邀你谈谈自己的体会。请根据以下提示准备一份英语发言稿。
1. 学习：有效地学习，学习习惯等；2. 做人：与人友好相处等。
注意：1. 词数100左右；2. 发言稿开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
参考词汇：efficiently(高效地）effective(有效的）
Good morning, everyone! It is my honor to be here to share with you my opinions on what to learn in senior high school.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Thank you!
短文改错
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处，每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均限一词。2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
My summer travel started terribly. I was at the Shanghai Railway Station buy a ticket to Hang Zhou. I was going to visit a friend here and after that I would go to Xiamen for long holiday. I bought my ticket but turned around to pick up my bag from the floor and then I realized that someone has stolen it. Unluckily, I had all my money in my pocket, but the only clothes I had was those I had on. It was very strange to travel without any luggages. When I finally arrived at my friend, he lent me lots of clothes. I felt very happy about that I could change my clothes at last.
语法填空
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
Once a year, a race __1.__ (hold) for old cars. A lot of cars entered for this race last year and there was a great deal of excitement just before it began. One of the most handsome cars was a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. _2.__ most unusual car was a Benz __3._ had only three wheels. 4.__(build) in 1885, it was the oldest car taking part. After a great many loud explosions(轰响），the race began. Many of the cars __5._ (break) down on the way so some drivers spent __6._ time under their cars than in them! A few cars, __7.__, completed the race. The winning car reached a speed of forty miles an hour ----much faster than any of _8.___(it) rivals. It sped downhill at the end of the race and the driver had a lot of trouble __9.__(try) to stop it. The race gave everyone a great deal of pleasure. It was very different from modern car races but no less _10.___(excite).
