Coffee is a necessary part of Italian culture and since arriving here over six months ago, I have definitely drunk a lot of it!

Of course, coffee is also very popular in the UK but coffee culture in Italy is a completely different story. In Italy, when you order a coffee in a cafe or a bar, you are presented with a tiny, bitter espresso(蒸馏咖啡). This is "normal coffee" for Italians and they are not so interested in the huge coffees that we drink in the UK. In addition, while take-away coffee is extremely popular among Englishmen, it is not very common at all in Italy especially in non-touristy areas. Generally, Italians prefer to drink their tiny coffees while standing at the bar and, for many, this short break is an important part of their day.

Typically, breakfast at a bar in Italy includes a coffee and a pastry(油酥糕点). I have been spoiled for choice with lovely cafes in the Italian town I'm living in these cafes sell a series of mouth-watering pastries-either plain or filled with cream, chocolate, jam or Nutella-as well as delicious coffee. Cappuccinos are very popular at breakfast time and, for me, a creamy cappuccino and a pastry is the perfect way to start the day. I think it's a nice way to head to bar to buy a coffee and a pastry for breakfast before working and it's relaxing to take more time to enjoy such breakfast at the weekend.

Finally, I have found that coffee in Italy is so much cheaper than coffee in the UK. Of course, this means that in Italy it is possible to go out for coffee regularly without breaking the bank.

1.Which of the following do Italians like better?

A.Takeaway coffees. B.Huge coffees.

C.Creamy coffees. D.Tiny, bitter coffees

2.What does the word "they" in Paragraph 2 refer to?

A.Italians. B.Britons. C.Coffees. D.Cafes.

3.Why can the writer often go out for coffee in Italy?

A.Because coffee is a part of Italian culture. B.Because there are so many cafes or bars.

C.Because Italian pastries are very delicious. D.Because Italian coffee is very cheap.

Duke loves eating like a horse. Every day he lets his men do all the housework, so he has enough time to chat ( 聊 天 ) with others.

One afternoon, his friend Bruce invites ( 邀 请 ) him to his birthday party. Duke keeps on chatting at table. At 15:00 o’clock, all the other friends leave, but he doesn’t notice it. Bruce is worried because he must go to the station to meet his sister. But Duke still doesn’t say goodbye to him, and he goes on chatting.

At that time, Duke’s wife comes in and asks her husband, “Would you like a roast (烤制的) bird, dear?” “Of course,” Duke answers, “but where is it?” “I hear a bird singing in the big tree outside now.” says the woman. “I want it to be the last dish. I’ll cut the tree down...” “But I’m afraid it will fly away when you begin to cut the tree,” says Duke. “Don’t worry about it, dear.” the woman says with a smile. “It’s a stupid (愚蠢的) bird. It doesn’t know when to leave.”

1.Duke likes________.

A.doing housework B.riding a horse C.eating and talking with others

2.Bruce invites Duke to his house because________.

A.it is his birthday B.he also loves chatting C.he cooks a bird for dinner

3.The underlined word “it” in paragraph two means “________”.

A.the time B.Bruce is worried C.all the other friends leave

4.Bruce wants________at 15:00 o’clock.

A.to stop chatting with Duke B.to go on chatting with Duke C.to meet his brother in the station

5.From the passage, we can know________.

A.all the friends stay for the roast bird

B.Duke’s wife is a smart woman

C.there is a stupid bird in the tree outside

A Special Delivery (快递)

Ben and Sally lived in California with their two daughters. Ben liked traveling. 1., but sally stayed home with the girls. Ben and his friends owned a company. People at the company liked to play jokes on each other. One day, Ben’s friends wanted to play a joke on Ben and Sally. 2. The letter said,

Dear Sally.

I’m having a great time here in Africa. I’m sending a special gift to you.

I hope you like it. Please take good care of it until I get home.

Love to you and the kids,

Ben

On the same day, Sally also got a phone call. The caller told her that a delivery was coming. At one o’clock, a truck stopped in front of Sally’s house. The truck driver gave Sally a rope. An animal was tied to the rope. It was a baby elephant! 3., and it began eating grass.Then the driver drove away. Sally stood there and held the rope to the elephant. She asked herself, “What can I feed an elephant with? Bananas?”4. He said, “It’s illegal (非法的) to have wild animal here.” Then the policeman gave Sally a ticket.

Ben’s friends were hiding in the backyard and laughing. 5. They had rented (租借) the elephant from a zoo and asked the policeman to write the ticket! Ben’s friends also made a film of everything. They wanted Ben to watch the film.

When Sally learned about the truth, she couldn’t help laughing.

A.So they sent a letter to Sally

B.After a while, a policeman came

C.The elephant ran into Sally’s yard

D.One summer, he went to Africa on a trip

E.They had planned everything perfectly.

"Why do I live? Why do I wish for anything, or do anything? Is there anything in my life that will not be destroyed by my death?" Like Leo Tolstoy, the famous Russian writer, many people ask these difficult questions. Tolstoy spent his whole life trying to answer these difficult questions.

As a young man, he thought people could achieve perfection if they tried hard enough. So he worked very hard to be the best in everything. He thought that he would find meaning and truth in success.

In 1850s. Tolstoy wrote his first stories. He wrote about his life in the army. He also told stories about his childhood. These works were published and Tolstoy became a well-known writer.

He earned the respect he always wanted. Many rich and smart men met and talked with Tolstoy. Some of them were writers like him. They talked a lot about faith ( 信仰) and the meaning of life. But soon Tolstoy recognized that these men were not perfect. Now he knew they could not answer his questions about faith.

So in the 1860s, Tolstoy tried a different way to find the meaning of life. He opened a school for the children of his serfs-the people who worked on his land. These workers were very poor. He wanted to help them because he thought they were more honest than the rich people he knew.

Tolstoy learned a lot from his workers. He understood how they worked hard to support their

families. He began to believe that marriage and family would give his life meaning. So in 1862, Leo Tolstoy married a young woman named Sonya Behrs.

The next 15 years were the best years of Tolstoy's life. It was during this time that he wrote his most famous books-War and Peace and Anna Karenina. Many experts say that War and Peace is one of the greatest books ever written. In these books, Tolstoy believed humans should live a simple life and take care of their families. Tolstoy thought this would satisfy him and bring him happiness.

Leo Tolstoy is still a very respected writer today. His faith and writings have influenced many

people all over the world.

1.Which is the correct order of the following events?

① Tolstoy served in the army.②Tolstoy got married.

③ Tolstoy wrote War and Peace.④Tolstoy opened a school.

⑤ Tolstoy became a well-known writer.

A. ①⑤③②④ B. ⑤①③②④ C. ①⑤④②③ D. ⑤④①③②

2.Why did Tolstoy want to be the best in everything when he was young?

A. To prepare for his books. B. To achieve perfection.

C. To make a lot of money. D. To show his wisdom.

3.Tolstoy thought he would learn a lot from his workers because they were ____________.

A. poor B. honest C. friendly D. patient

4.According to the passage, which of the following is the most important to Tolstoy?

A. Family. B. Success. C. Wealth. D. Fame ( 名声) .

5.What does the passage mainly talk about?

A. Leo Tolstoy: Living for writing.

B. Leo Tolstoy: Influencing the world.

C. Leo Tolstoy: Being the best in everything.

D. Leo Tolstoy: Searching for the meaning of life.

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