阅读理解。
Proudly reading my words, I glanced around the room, only to find my classmates bearing big smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes. Confused, I glanced toward my stone-faced teacher. Having no choice, I slowly raised the report I had slaved over, hoping to hide myself. “What could be causing everyone to act this way?”
Quickly, I flashed back to the day Miss Lancelot gave me the task. This was the first real talk I received in my new school. It seemed simple: go on the Internet and find information about a man named George Washington. Since my idea of history came from an ancient teacher in my home country, I had never heard of that name before. As I searched the name of this fellow, it became evident that there were two people bearing the same name who looked completely different! One invented hundreds of uses for peanuts, while the other led some sort of army across America. I stared at the screen, wondering which one my teacher meant. I called my grandfather for a golden piece of advice; flip (掷) a coin. Heads—the commander, and tails—the peanuts guy. Ah! Tails, my report would be about the great man who invented peanut butter, George Washington Carver.
Weeks later, standing before this unfriendly mass, I was totally lost. Oh well, I lowered the paper and sat down at my desk,burningto find out what I had done wrong. As a classmate began his report, it all became clear, “My report is on George Washington, the man who started the American Revolution.” The whole world became quite! How could I know that she meant that George Washington?
Obviously, my grade was awful. Heartbroken but fearless, I decided to turn this around. I talked to Miss Lancelot, but she insisted: No re-dos; no new grade. I felt that the punishment was not justified, and I believed I deserved a second chance. Consequently, I threw myself heartily into my work for the rest of the school year. Ten months later, that chance unfolded as I found myself sitting in the headmaster’s office with my grandfather, now having an entirely different conversation. I smiled and flashed back to the embarrassing moment at the beginning of the year as the headmaster informed me of my option to skip the sixth grade. Justice is sweet!
1.What did the author’s classmates think about his report?
A. Controversial. B. Ridiculous.
C. Boring. D. Puzzling.
2.Why was the author confused about the task?
A. He was unfamiliar with American history.
B. He followed the advice and flipped a coin.
C. He forgot his teacher’s instruction.
D. He was new at the school.
3.The underlined word “burning” in Para. 3 probably means _______.
A. annoyed B. ashamed
C. ready D. eager
4.In the end, the author turned things around _______.
A. by redoing his task
B. through his own efforts
C. with the help of his grandfather
D. under the guidance of his headmaster
A Spanish company Siesta&Go has opened the first public napping (小睡) space in Madrid. It promises people a quiet rest in the middle of the city’s business center.
Napping spaces are nothing new; places to rest are already set up in other big cities in the world. But the idea would appear to work well with the culture of Spain, where people traditionally take an afternoon nap, called siesta.
The Madrid nap space recently opened with 19 beds. People can use them by the minute or by the hour, and they can also choose either a private or shared room. An hour of napping inside a private room costs about $15.
Siesta &Go provides all bedding, clean nightshirts and other materials. Nippers can request to be woken up when their time is up. It also offers areas to work, with armchairs, newspapers and coffee for those not wishing to sleep.
Philip &Go is one happy customer. Marco says he gets tired during the day because of hard work. He says a siesta is the perfect way to build up energy. “I come for about 30 minutes or something like that. That is usually enough for me to be full of energy.”
While many Spanish people love their naps, others like Carlos Villarroja say they are just too busy to keep the tradition. “It’s a Spanish tradition, but I think it’s more of a legend (传说) than a tradition. Because of the lifestyle and the working hours, we have very little free time for a siesta at least during the week.”
But many health experts believe there is evidence that taking a short nap can be very good for the body and mind. Scientific studies show that taking a siesta can also prevent illness and lower blood pressure.
1.What is not allowed for customers to do?
A. Sleep for free B. Choose a private room
C. Use it as an office D. Share a room with others
2.What does Philip Marco think of the Madrid nap space?
A. Costly. B. Helpful.
C. Comfortable. D. Convenient
3.What’s Carlos Villarroja’s opinion on siestas?
A. It is not necessary to take a nap.
B. They can treat high blood pleasure.
C. People have no time to take a nap.
D. It’s not true that Spanish people like naps.
TALENT ON PARADE
It is time for the Smithdale Student Activity Club’s yearly talent show. In the past, the club has had performers sing, dance, and play the violin, guitar, or piano. This year the show will be called “Talent on Parade”, and we are looking for performers with great new ideas. In addition, we have planned two important changes for this year’s show.
Two Shows Instead Of One
First, “Talent on Parade” will be held on two nights. Performers in the Wednesday night show will include students in Grades K-5. Performers in the Friday night show will include students in Grades 6-12.
Smithdale High School Hall Wednesday, May 11, 6:30 P.M. Friday, May 13, 7:30 P.M.
No Tryouts (预选)
The second change is that this year’s performers will be chosen in a new way. No tryouts will be held. The first twenty acts to sign up for each show will be accepted. Others will be put on a waiting list in case someone has an act that is not allowed. You’ll be told by telephone or e-mail if your act is included.
If you do not wish to perform but would enjoy helping backstage with lights or sound, print “stagehand” in large letters at the top of the permission slip (同意书).
Rules For Acts
1. Each student chosen to perform must turn in a permission slip signed by a parent or guardian(监护人).
2. All performers must be at the school one hour before the show time.
3. Performers must provide their own transportation to and from the school.
4. Each act is limited to three minutes.
5. No act may have more than five people in it.
6. Performers must provide their own music (tapes, CDs, or instruments) and costumes.
7. Singers may sing with or without musical accompaniment, but they may not sing along with a recorded voice on a CD or tape.
1.The twenty-first act to sign up will be allowed to be performed only if____.
A. a performer is unable to attend B. a performance is shortened
C. the performance is original D. the performer is approved
2.Each person performing in the talent show is required to turn in a____ .
A. telephone number B. musical recording
C. costume drawing D. permission slip
3.When should a second grader show up at school on the show night?
A. Before 6:30 P.M. B. Before 5:30 P.M.
C. After 6:30 P.M. D. After 5:30 P.M.
4.Where is this passage most likely to be found?
A. In a city evening paper. B. On an entertainment website.
C. On a school news board. D. On the wall of a music store.
阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。
An 80-year-old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45-year-old highly educated son. Suddenly a crow（乌鸦）perched（栖息）on their window.
The father asked his son, “What is this?” The son replied, “It is a crow.”
After a few minutes, the father asked his son for the second time, “What is this?” The son said, “Father, I have just now told you, it’s a crow!”
After a little while, the old father again asked his son for the third time, “What is this?”
At this time some expression of irritation（恼怒）was felt in the son’s tone when he said to his father with a rebuff（生硬回绝）. “It’s a crow, a crow.” A little while later, the father again asked his son the fourth time, “What is this?”
This time, the son shouted at his father, “Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again, although I have told you so many times ‘IT IS A CROW’. Are you not able to understand this?”
A little while later the father went to his room and came back with an old tattered（发皱的）diary, which he had maintained since his son was born. On opening a page, he asked his son to read that page. When the son read it, the following words were written in the diary:
“Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa, when a crow was sitting on the window. My son asked me 23 times what it was, and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question. I did not at all feel irritated but I rather felt affection for my innocent son,
注意：
1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2. 应使用5个以上短文中标有下划线的关键词语；
3. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
4. 续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph 1:
After reading the diary
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Paragraph 2:
Feeling ashamed, the son got down on his knees before his father
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假定你是李华，准备在暑假赴美国进行短期旅行，请你用英语给美国网友Tom写一封邮件。内容包括:
1.写信目的:请他提供参考意见；
2.旅行要求:体验生活，参观名校；
3.其他事项:……
注意:
1.词数80左右；
2.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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根据提示，将下列句子补充完整。有首字母的空格只能填写一个单词，有提示词的空格则用所给单词的适当形式填空，并将单词的完整形式写在答题纸的相应区域。
1.It makes s____________ to set aside some money monthly for a rainy day.
2.New words have been added to the vocabulary as the English language is changing ______(constant).
3.The medical team c____________ of 3 doctors and 5 nurses were appointed to help people in the quake-affected areas.
4.Despite the fact that he failed to gain ____________ (admit) to college, he didn’t lose heart.
5.You, rather than I,____________ (blame) for the accident.
6.To his c____________, Dave stayed calm in time of danger.
7.____________ (expose) to too much violence has a negative impact on the development of children’s character.
8.His p____________ experience working as a salesman 3 years ago gives him an advantage over his colleagues in his present job.
9.The first i____________ he left on me was that he was a guy with a sense of humor.
10.Nowadays media like the Internet keep people ____________(inform) of what’s going on worldwide.
11.Only a m____________ of the students in the class supported his suggestion, so it didn’t get through.
12.Foods ____________ (preserve) with salt can keep long.
13.The kids were playing happily in the yard, ____________ (delight) laughter filling the air.
14.Many women were faced with a d____________ of choosing between work and family members.
15.Daniel s____________ out of the room when no one was watching.
