Mr. Brown is pleased with his new phone, because it runs much ________ than the old one.

A. fast B. faster C. fastest D. the fastest

The Changjiang River is ________ river in China.

A. long B. longer C. longest D. the longest

—Dad, ________ I watch my favorite TV programme at home tonight?

—I’m afraid you can’t. We are going to the teahouse.

A. can B. should C. must D. need

The teacher asks us ________ English loudly in class, so that everyone can hear.

A. to speak B. speaks C. speaking D. speak

—What happened to Alice?

—She ________ the horse and broke her leg.

A. picked up B. fell off C. took away D. lifted up

I usually go to bed early, but I ________ up late to watch a football game last night.

A. stay B. stays C. staying D. stayed

—Where is Tony? Mr. Li is looking for him.

—He ________ basketball on the playground.

A. play B. played C. is playing D. plays

—What did she say just now?

—Sorry, I don’t know. I ________ an email at that time.

A. write B. will write C. wrote D. was writing

The Faces of Christmas

“ Oh, Sally! Christmas is going to be so terrible this year,” my best friend Laura said to me on the school bus. “ Mom and Dad have to be out of town on Christmas, and I have to stay with my Aunt Jane. She always treats (对待) me like a five-year-old! I wish I had a ______ family like you, so I could go somewhere else.”

I do have a big family: Mom, Dad, Mary, Jim and I, as well as lots of aunts and uncles. Every Christmas, the whole family get together at our house to have dinner.

Later that day, I told Mom about Laura’s ______ .

“ Why don’t you ask Laura to spend Christmas at our house? ” Mom offered.

“ Oh, Mom, that would be great! I’m sure Laura would love to come.” I was so excited.

“ There will be an extra (额外的) place at the table anyway, because Mary has a chance to go to France with her teachers.” Mom went on while washing dishes.

“No! Mom, she can’t go, or she’ll ______ Christmas with the family. We’ve always spent it together…” When I wanted to say more, the telephone rang. It was my brother Jim calling. He asked if Mom and Dad wouldn’t ______ too much if he didn’t come home for Christmas, because he wanted to go skating with friends. Of course, Mom and Dad said Jim could go, but I had wanted them to say no.

On the afternoon of Christmas Eve, Laura came over, which cheered me up a lot.

“Where are Mary and Jim?” she asked me.

“They’ve made other ______ , so they aren’t coming home,” I said. “Christmas just isn’t going to be the same this year ______ them.”

“Of course,” Mom went over and said. “No two Christmases are ever the same. People ______ —children grow older, new members are added (添加) to the family, and sometimes people die. Do you understand that, Sally?”

“ Yes, Mom,” I said. “ I think I do.”

Next evening, all my relatives (亲戚) arrived. As I looked around the dinner table, I really began to ______ what Mom had tried to tell me. I saw the new faces of babies, my aunt’s boyfriend, and my best friend, Laura, and I saw the old familiar faces that would always be there. No, I thought. No two Christmases are ever the same.

1.A. big B. happy C. rich D. usual

2.A. accident B. advice C. difference D. problem

3.A. follow B. miss C. forget D. spend

4.A. ask B. speak C. mind D. think

5.A. conversations B. plans C. suggestions D. mistakes

6.A. against B. around C. between D. without

7.A. change B. appear C. improve D. move

8.A. imagine B. remember C. understand D. show

The Best Classes for Kids

1.Which class can you join if you want to learn something about art and culture?

A. Kids’ Cooking. B. Makerspace. C. Painting Party. D. Kids’ Silks.

2.When does Kids’ Cooking start?

A. On Monday, Oct 22. B. On Tuesday, Oct 23.

C. On Thursday, Oct 25. D. On Saturday, Oct 27.

3.How much do you need to pay for Kids’ Silks if you want to join it?

A. $ 40. B. $ 45. C. $ 50. D. $ 75.