--- The world has changed rapidly after the ________of the computer and smartphone.

--- I can't agree more.

A. discovery B. invention C. creation

--- Susan often goes to school without breakfast

--- Really? No wonder she ___________ in the PE class this morning.

A. passed out B. passed by C. passed away

--- Are you going to do a part-time job during the summer vacation?

--- Yes, I think I shouldn't always ________ my parents.

A. fight against B. argue with C. depend on

--- I hear you are going to Beijing for a trip. When will you __________?

--- I'm not sure. I am not _________ because I haven't booked the train ticket and hotel yet.

A. get off, convenient B. set off, prepared C. take off: satisfied

--- Huawei Mate X has many new powerful uses. I’d like to have one but I can't _________ it.

--- Although it ________ you a lot of money, it's very fashionable.

A. afford: costs B. imagine: spends C. suppose: pays

--- Peter, have you _______ the life in Canada?

--- I think so. I no longer feel ______ among the local people.

A. been used to; out of shape B. used to; out of date C. got used to: out of place

My mother was a ballet dancer and I wanted nothing more than to be like her, but after messing up during my first class, I felt like I wanted to _______ right away. As it was only my first day, however, I told my mom I couldn't wait to _______ again.

Weeks passed and my dancing didn't get any better. So when my dance teacher announced that we were to perform in a show, I feared_______over in front of hundreds of people, and disappointing my mom. Even though I practiced hard, I never quite got the hang of it. Finally, feeling _______ and ashamed, I went to my mom for help. As I cried, I told her how _______ dancing was for me. My mother simply laughed and told me that she would teach me all she knew about ballet. She wiped my tears, and I smiled. My mom quickly discovered how bad at ballet I was, but she still taught me with the greatest _______, love, and understanding. When I jumped and fell, she was there to _______ me. When I lost my balance, she held me up.

By the time the show arrived, I was as_______ as I could be. Then, the music started. I began moving to the music without _______ a step. After the show, my mom gave me a huge hug, telling me how proud she was. I looked my mom in the eye, and told her that nothing could have happened ________ her. Through this all, I realized that my mom will always be there to catch me if I fall.

1.A. give up B. make up C. pick up

2.A. drop B. succeed C. dance

3.A. standing B. falling C. acting

4.A. lonely B. satisfied C. nervous

5.A. important B. difficult C. interesting

6.A. patience B. imagination C. ability

7.A. believe B. catch C. push

8.A. prepare B. excited C. confident

9.A. watching B. taking C. missing

10.A. to B. without C. for

Facing so many changes and challenges, our world is stepping from a traditional one to a brand new one.

There’s no doubt that the future is coming.

1.What can shoppers do in Tao Cafe?

A. Shoppers can only do their shopping during the day.

B. Shoppers need the cashiers' help to check out after shopping.

C. Shoppers can even check out without taking goods out from bags

D. Shoppers can steal goods easily because there is no staff at all

2.What can you learn about the electric cars from the passage?

A. Electric cars can help reduce greenhouse gases.

B. About 60% of the cars will be electric by 2025.

C. Only Audi and Volvo can make electric cars now.

D. All the countries support people to use the electric cars.

3.How smart will the city be in the future according to the passage?

A. People will have to collect the information by themselves.

B. High technology will both serve the citizens and learn from them.

C. The bus stop will show you all the bus lines and the arrival times.

D. There will only be connections between people and things.

4.What may the life in 2025 be like according to the passage?

A. Everyone may prefer the self-service stores.

B. More families may own the electric cars.

C. Clean-energy cars may take the place of ordinary cars.

D. The world will be smarter and problems will be fewer.

I was going back to work to finish a few things one evening, and my two children were busy sewing (缝纫) things on the sewing machine. My 11-year-old daughter was going to help her older brother make a little cushion (抱枕). I left and in a few hours returned to find a mess in the kitchen and front room while both children were sitting in front of the television. Having had a long day, I was very short with my greeting to them. But then I noticed the material they had used for the cushion. I had bought it to make a blanket. Not stopping to listen to them, I shouted at the children and explained how angry I was at what they had done.

My daughter listened to me timidly, not trying to say anything for herself at all, but the pain could be seen on her face. She went to her room quietly and spent some time alone before she came out to say good night and once again apologize for the mistake she had made. A few hours later, as I was preparing to go to bed, there on my bed lying a beautiful little cushion, with the words “I LOVE MOM”. Next to it was a note apologizing again.

To this day, I still get tears in my eyes when I think of how I reacted and still feel the pain of my actions. I then went to my daughter and apologized for my actions. I display the cushion on my bed with great pride and use it as a reminder that nothing in this world is greater than a child's love.

1.Why did the woman leave home for a few hours?

A. Because she needed to buy gifts for her children.

B. Because she was angry with her children that night.

C. Because she needed to finish her work that night.

D. Because the children broke her sewing machine.

2.What's your understanding of the underlined sentence?

A. I stayed with my children for a short time.

B. I didn't greet my children with a lot of patience.

C. I gave my kids a warm greeting when I got home

D. I didn't say hello to my children at all.

3.How did the daughter feel when the woman got angry?

A. She was angry because she disliked her mother's behavior.

B. She felt painful, but she felt sorry for her mistake.

C. She didn't care about the mother's anger at all.

D. She shouted and cried a lot.

4.What's the main idea of this passage?

A. Remember to clean the mess after using the sewing machine,

B. If the children did something wrong, they should apologize bravely.

C. Parents should always remember that nothing is better than a child’s love

D. If the children want to cut something at home, ask the parents about it first.

“A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day/ The mourner’s heart is going to break on his way”, it is from a poem about Tomb Sweeping Day, also known as the Qingming Festival. It falls on April 5th this year. It's the traditional Chinese festival to remember the dead. Chinese people visit the tombs (墓) of their parents,

grandparents and ancestors (祖先). They will sweep the tombs and clean away the grass around them. Then they burn paper money and put flowers and fruit in front of the tombs. They hope the dead can enjoy them and bring the family good luck.

However, not only Chinese remember the dead. People in other countries also have festivals for the dead.

In Japan, O-Bon Festival (盂兰盆节) is one of the most important festivals. It is held from August 13 to 16. It is also a holiday that serves as a family reunion. During O-Bon, Japanese people return to their hometown and visit their ancestors’ spirits return home to be reunited with their family. People perform a “bon odori” dance (盆舞) to welcome the spirits. On the last day of O-Bon, they put paper lanterns in a river to send off the spirits.

In Russia, people remember their ancestors on the Day of Rejoicing (欣喜). It's usually in late April or early

May. The name of this festival means birth and happiness. Russians believe that people shouldn’t feel sad for the dead because death means birth in another world. On the Day of Rejoicing, Russian people draw beautiful pictures on eggs and put them in front of tombs. After that they have a picnic together. They hope for a good life for both the living and the dead.

1.What do we know about Tomb Sweeping Day?

A. It's a day to remember the dead. B. People grow grass beside the tombs that day.

C. It falls on April 4 every year. D. It's said that people can see the dead that day.

2.We know the following about O-Bon Festival EXCEPT that ______________.

A. it is a Japanese festival B. it lasts four days in August

C. it's also a family reunion day D. people send off the spirits by dancing

3.What do Russian people think of death?

A. It's a sad thing B. It means birth in another world.

C. They feel happy about it. D. It means a good life for the dead.

4.What does the story mainly talk about?

A. How to remember the dead. B. History of Tomb Sweeping Day.

C. Festivals to remember the dead. D. Meanings of death in different countries.