In Britain, many theatres put on shows for children at Christmas and many theatres have a theatre-in-education team working there. This team, made up of actors and teachers, writes plays for children, usually performing them in schools. They do different plays for different age groups and the children often take part in the play in some way.
Pantomime is a special kind of Christmas show for children. It is loved by people and also allows the audience to join in. “Pantomime” was the name of the Roman actor who performed shows without speaking — this is where the English word “mime” comes from.
A pantomime is always based on a well-known children's story. But there are always certain types of characters in the show and certain situations and events. For example, a pantomime must always include a hero, known as the “principal boy” and this principal boy is always played by a pretty girl wearing a short costume. Then there is the comic older woman, known as the “dame” who is played by a man. There is always a group of men and women who sing and dance and often there is a pantomime horse. The horse is played by two men who form the “front” and “back” ends inside a “horse” costume. It is funny and it usually kicks the dame when she isn't looking.
Members of the audience have to shout a warning to one of the characters and argue with the character (usually the dame) when she does not believe them. When she shouts, “Oh no, it isn't,” the audience always responds with “Oh yes, it is!” The audience also learns and sings a simple song and a few children are sometimes invited to help one of the characters during the show.
1.The theatre-in-education teams _____.
A. are made up of famous local actors
B. write plays for the same age group
C. often give plays in their own theatres
D. usually allow children to join in a play
2.According to the text, a pantomime _____.
A. is designed to make people laugh
B. is made up of three characters
C. is especially popular with grown-ups
D. can be watched all year round in Britain
3.When the dame says, “Yes, it is”, the audience should _____.
A. follow her and sing
B. stand up and dance
C. repeat what she says
D. disagree with her loudly
Sundays, I walk to the supermarket. Mother hands me the grocery list and puts money in my pocket, hoping it will be enough. She's had a hard day, and I've had a hard week. Nothing out of the ordinary happens when I get to the store. I grab the bread, some milk, and other things on the list. As I turn to head out, I see a beautiful dress in the window. I turn away, bitter that I could never own such a dress.
Outside, I cannot stop thinking about that pretty dress. It's not fair that I can never have what I want. I work so hard to help my family and yet I get nothing in return, just another list to do. In my anger, I fail to realize the apples are rolling across the road. Suddenly, I see a pair of hands, offering me an apple. Looking up, I see the tanned (晒黑的) face of this stranger. His clothes are mismatched, borrowed or stolen. But his eyes are soft and kind.
“Thanks,” I say. No other words are spoken as he continues to help me. I tell him “thank you” one more time and am on my way because I have many other things to finish. Suddenly, he says, “Have a good day, ma'am.” And then he gives me the biggest smile I have ever seen. Right then, he looks years younger — and I feel a fool.
Look at me, feeling sorry for myself because I don't get what I want! Do I not think others are in the same boat, or worse? There are worse things than not having a beautiful dress.
My mother will hand me the list today. I will make the same journey and probably see something I want but cannot have. But before I start to feel sorry for myself, I will remember the kind stranger with the big smile, and I will grab the last item, and check out.
1.What can we learn about the author from the first paragraph?
A. She is rushing to get home.
B. She comes from a poor family.
C. She never buys herself new clothes.
D. She enjoys doing the family shopping.
2.Why does the author feel angry as she walks home?
A. Her apples drop on the road.
B. She gets nothing for her effort.
C. She is expected to do too much.
D. Her family pay little attention to her.
3.The author speaks very few words to the man because _____.
A. she thinks he is a bad man
B. she has never met him before
C. she is in a hurry to do other work
D. she doesn't like the way he's dressed
4.What's the best title for the text?
A. A difficult daily job
B. Learn to understand
C. My greatest influence
D. Save money for the future
Most buildings are built to stand up straight, but these look as if they might fall over!
The church tower of Suurhusen
Built in 1450, the 27-metre-high church tower lies in Suurhusen, Germany. It was built in wet land on foundations of oak tree trunks (树干). When the land was drained (排水) later, the wood broke down, causing one side of the tower to be a little lower than the other. In 1975, the tower became a real hazard and people were not allowed to enter until the foundations were made strong again. The lean of the tower is now about five degrees.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
The work of building the tower began in 1173, and was finally completed in 1372. In fact, it began to lean after just a couple of floors were built. And this condition continued in the centuries after its completion. The tower was finally closed to the public in 1990 after people failed to stabilize (使稳固) its foundations. In 2001, it was reopened after engineers removed soil from underneath its raised side. Now it leans just an angle of 3.97 degrees.
Capital Gate of Abu Dhabi
Completed in 2011, the Capital Gate tower in Abu Dhabi was designed to lean eighteen degrees. The building stands next to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre and contains, among other things, a fine hotel with wonderful views of the harbour. Also known as the leaning tower of Abu Dhabi, the tower is one of the tallest buildings in the city.
Big Ben of London
The building leans 0.26 degrees to the northwest. This was mainly caused by the engineering projects that have been carried out in the ground below it since the late 1800s. The tower, which has been continuously open since it was completed in 1858, has nowhere near the lean of the Tower of Pisa and is still completely safe to enter.
1.The underlined word “hazard” in Paragraph 2 probably means “_____”.
A. danger B. church
C. castle D. treasure
2.What can we learn about the Leaning Tower of Pisa?
A. It didn't lean until ten years after its completion.
B. It took almost two hundred years to complete.
C. It was built on foundations of oak tree trunks.
D. It has been open since it was completed.
3.Which of the following towers leans the most according to the text?
A. The church tower of Suurhusen.
B. The Leaning Tower of Pisa.
C. Capital Gate of Abu Dhabi.
D. Big Ben of London.
4.What would be the best title for the text?
A. The history of towers
B. The art of building a tower
C. The leaning towers of the world
D. Top four tallest towers in Europe
假设你是李华,准备参加在你市举办的国际青少年文化节志愿者招聘活动。活动主办方要求能够熟练运用英语。请你用英文写封信,推荐自己。
内容包括：1.你的自荐理由
2.你对活动的理解。
注意：1.词数100左右;
2.可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯
3.开头和结尾已为你写好,不计入总词数。
Dear Sir,
Thank you for reading my letter.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。错误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：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仅限一词； 2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
A lecture will be hold in the lecture hall of our school from 3:00 to 5:00 in the afternoon of May 23rd, 2018. The lecture is about the difference and similarities between China and American education. They will be given by Professor Steve, that is now teaching at Beijing University. Anyone interesting in this subject will be warm welcome to attend the lecture. Please do remember to arrive on the time. In addition, it is suggested that you take a notebook or a pen with you.
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。
1.Lucy has many positive personality ____________ that make her popular at school.
2.Red is a __________ (象征) of good luck in many cultures.
3.Being a public __________ (人物) today，however, is a lot more difficult than it used to be.
4.The new railway station being built in our city will be three times the size of the _____________ (以前的) one.
5.We haven’t discussed yet where we are going to place our new ____________(家具).
6.Last month, part of Southeast Asia was ___________ (袭击) by floods.
7.The development of industry has been a gradual _________(过程) throughout human existence.
8.Would you rather __________ (抱怨) than do anything about it?
9.Do you have any idea why the engineer __________ (辞职)？
10.What made the school __________ (自豪) was that more than 90% of the students had been admitted to key universities.
