One of the traditions which is now a necessary part of Christmas is that of Father Christmas, or Santa Claus. According to the modern legend, he is a magical figure who visits all the children of the world during the night before Christmas Day, leaving presents which they find the next morning. He flies through the night sky in a sledge pulled by reindeer, and enters houses by climbing down chimneys. This strange legend is based on the life of a man called Nicholas, but in fact we know very little about him. Historians think he was a Christian bishop(主教) in Turkey in about 285-350 A. D. One of the stories about him is that he helped three poor girls. No one would marry them because they were so poor. To provide them with money for their weddings, Nicholas secretly dropped some gold coins down the chimney of their house. After Nicholas died, he was made a saint(圣人) by the church. (The name Santa Claus thus comes from St Nicholas.) His feast day was celebrated in December, and parents started giving their children secret presents from St Nicholas. Over the years, this custom became part of our Christmas traditions.
Recently, a psychologist has claimed that Father Christmas is “the perfect fantasy” for children. According to Professor Anthony Clare, children love the character of Father Christmas because he is like an ideal father: he loves children and gives them presents, but he never criticizes them, is never angry, and children do not even need to thank him for the presents. Other writers, however, point out that Father Christmas can be a frightening character to some children. Jane Bidder says that some children are terrified of this fat, bearded old man. It can certainly confuse many children. As parents, we warn our children to be careful of strangers and never to let them into the house, and yet we tell children that a strange man will come into their bedroom at night! Some children can become very worried about this idea and fear that he is a kind of burglar.
Most children, however, understand from their parents and from the media that Father Christmas is basically a benign character, and look forward to his annual visit with joy and excitement.
46. The main point of the first paragraph is that ________.
A. Father Christmas is an important part of Christmas 
B. the tradition of Father Christmas is a modern idea
C. Father Christmas is a magical figure who can fly   
D. the legends about Father Christmas are not true
47. The writer mentions details such as Father Christmas’s sledge, the reindeer and the way he climbs down chimneys because he/she ____________.
A. wants to make it clear that these things are impossible   
B. is describing the history of St Nicholas   
C. wants everyone to believe that Father Christmas is real
D. is explaining the modern legend of Father Christmas
48. Why does the writer mention the story about St Nicholas helping three poor girls?
A. It shows us that historians know very little about him.
B. This story explains why parents give secret presents to children.
C. It supports the writer’s main point that Father Christmas is based on an untrue story.
D. This story explains why we celebrate Christmas in December.
49. In the last paragraph, the word “benign”means _________.
A. religious           B. friendly
C. frightening        D. unreal
50. The best title for this passage would be __________.
A. Is Father Christmas Dangerous?       B. The True History of St Nicholas
C. The Legend of Santa Claus       D. The Traditions of Christmas  

Mark was walking home from school one day when he saw the boy in front of him fall over and drop all of the books he was carrying, along with two sweaters, a basketball and a walkman(随身听). Mark stopped and helped the boy pick up these things. Since they were going the same way, he helped to carry some of his things. As they walked, Mark knew that the boy’s name was Bill, that he loved computer games, basketball and history, and that he was having lots of troubles with his other subjects and that he had just broken up with his girlfriend.
They arrived at Bill’s home first and Mark was invited in for a Coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed happily with a few laughs and some small talk, and then Mark went home. They often saw each other at school, had lunch together once or twice, and then they both finished middle school. They ended up in the same high school where they sometimes saw and talked with each other over the years. At last just three weeks before they finished high school, Bill asked Mark if they could talk.
Bill asked Mark if he still remembered the day years ago when they had first met. “Did you ever think why I was carrying so many things home that day?” asked Bill. “You see, I cleaned out my locker(锁柜) because I didn’t want to leave anything for anyone else. I had put away some of my mother’s sleeping pills and I was going home to kill myself. But after we spent some time together talking and laughing, I began to understand that if I killed myself, I would have missed that time and so many others that might follow. So you see, Mark, when you picked up those books that day, you did a lot more. You saved my life.”
【小题1】When Mark met him the first time, Bill was going _______.

A.to have a basketball gameB.to his classroom
C.to see MarkD.back home
【小题2】 From what Bill was carrying, we can know that he _______.
A.was a good studentB.liked sports and music
C.liked all the subjects in schoolD.was a good friend
【小题3】Mark and Bill _______.
A.were in the same middle school and high school
B.were in the same middle school but not in the same high school
C.often had lunch together at school
D.had known each other before they began to study in middle school
【小题4】In this passage, the phrase “break up” means _______.
A.相处很好 B.和好如初C.关系破裂D.保持联系
【小题5】When Mark helped Bill to pick up some of his things, he _______.
A.knew he could save Bill’s life
B.knew who Bill was and wanted to help him
C.didn’t know why he was going to help him
D.didn’t know what he was doing was very important to Bill

New archaeological discoveries suggest that trade between Europe and Asia along the Silk Road probably began in some form many centuries earlier than once thought. The findings, coupled with a widening range of scientific and historical research could add a fascinating new page to the epic (史诗) of the Silk Road.
The most surprising discovery is pieces of silk found in the hair of an Egyptian mummy from about 1000 BC, long before regular traffic on the Silk Road and at least one thousand years before silk was previously thought to be used in Egypt. Other research may extend human activity along this route back even further, perhaps a million years to the migration of human ancestors into eastern Asia.
The official origin of East-West trade along the road is usually placed in the late 2nd century BC when an agent of the Chinese Emperor Wu-di returned from a dangerous secret mission(使命)across the desert into the remote high country of Central Asia. The agent, Zhang Qian, travelled as far as Afghanistan and brought back knowledge of even more distant lands such as Persia, Syria and a place known as Lijien, perhaps Rome. Historians have called this one of the most important journeys in ancient times. His journey opened the way for what have been thought to be the first indirect contacts between the ancient world’s two superpowers, China and Rome. Chinese silk, first traded to central Asian tribes for war horses and to the Parthian for acrobats and ostrich eggs, was soon finding its way through a network of merchants to the luxury (奢侈品) markets in Rome.
But the new discoveries show that Chinese silk was apparently present in the West long before the Han emperor started organized trade over the Silk Road. The research could change thinking about the early history of world trade and provide insights into the mystery of just how and when Europe and the Mediterranean lands first became aware of the glorious culture at the other end of Eurasia.
【小题1】The word “coupled” in the first paragraph could best be replaced by        .

A.combinedB.contributedC.doubledD.produced
【小题2】The silk thread found in the hair of an Egyptian mummy suggests that         .
A.Egyptians had probably travelled to China to buy silk
B.new light can now be thrown on ancient trading practices
C.historical research often achieves fascinating results
D.trade along the Silk Road began earlier than once thought
【小题3】Until recently historians mostly believed that trade along the Silk Road       .
A.began a million years ago
B.primarily benefited the Egyptians
C.originated in the 2nd century BC
D.extended human migration into eastern Asia
【小题4】Historians have always considered Zhang Qian’s mission important because they believe       .
A.he discovered the Silk Road
B.he helped establish East-West trade
C.he travelled as far as Afghanistan
D.he brought back knowledge of Rome to the emperor

When he took office, George W. Bush, son of former president George Herbert Walker Bush, became the first son to follow his father into the White House since John Quiney Adams followed John Adams in the early 19th century.
Bush was born on July 6, 1946, in New Haven, Connecticut, the first child of George Herbert Walker Bush and Barbara Pierce Bush. Although George Herbert Walker Bush began his career in the oil industry, he finally served as a congressman(国会议员), and vice(副) president and president of the United States.
At the age of two,Bush moved with his parents from Connecticut to Odessa, Texas, where his father took up the oil business. After a year in Texas, the family moved to California for business reasons. A year later, the family returned to Texas and settled in Midland, where Bush lived from 1950 to 1959.
In 1959, again for business reasons, the family moved to Houston, Texas. In 1961 Bush left Texas and went to Andover, Massachusetts, to attend Phillips Academy, aboarding school(寄宿学校) that his father had also attended.
At Phillips, Bush played basketball, baseball, and football. He was best known for being head cheerleader. In 1964 he enrolled at Yale University in Connecticut.His father and grandfather had also attended Yale. At Yale, Bush was considered an average student, but he was popular with his classmates.
Bush graduated from Yale with a bachelor’s degree in history in 1968. Then he joined the Air National Guard and remained in the Guard until 1973. After earning his MBA from Harvard in 1975, Bush returned to Midland. Like his father, he first entered the oil industry as a “landsman(新手)”. However, Bush’s oil companies never enjoyed great success. He took more interest in politics. He helped his father to become president and in 1994 he himself was elected governor of Texas.
In the summer of 1999, Bush began to run for the president of the USA and on January 20, 2001, George W. Bush, hand raised, took the oath(宣誓) of office to become the 43rd president of the US.
【小题1】What does the writer intend to tell us in the first paragraph?

A.George W. Bush is the first son in American history to follow his father into the White House.
B.George W. Bush is the first son of former president George Herbert Walker Bush.
C.John Quincy Adams and his father were both former American presidents.
D.George W. Bush is the second one in American history to follow his father into the White House.
【小题2】We may learn from the text that young Bush ______.
A.got on very well at the universities
B.was very good at basketball, baseball and football
C.did everything as his father had done
D.was a very successful politician like his father
【小题3】Which of the following is NOT true about George W. Bush?
A.Young Bush lived with his family in Texas from 1948 to 1961.
B.He once studied at a university that his father and grandfather had also attended.
C.He once ruled over an American state before he entered the White House.
D.He once served at the Air National Guard for about five years.

Dr. Glenn Tisman, a cancer specialist, knew his young neighbor, Ray Bateman, had an unusual mind. But he had no idea at the time that 12 - year – old Ray had the ability to become his partner in cancer research.

Ray’s parents remembered that at age four, Ray surprised them by fixing a broken vacuum cleaner(吸尘器). When he was ten, he speedily constructed the family color television from a kit. Later, he succeeded in assembling(组装) a complex stereo system after two experts had failed to do the job.

When Ray was ten, he convinced his parents to buy him a computer. In a short time, Ray was able to do amazing things with the computer. Ray shared his enthusiasm for computers with Dr. Tisman, who used a computer for his research. The two discussed computers and medicine frequently. Amazingly, Ray understood the biology and chemistry related to Dr. Tisman’s medical research without any previous instruction.

Ray then worked with Dr. Tisman after school. He helped conduct research with the equipment and kept it in working order. The purpose of the research was to test the effectiveness of mixing an old cancer drug with certain vitamins. Ray analyzed patient test results by computer, while Dr. Tisman handled all patient contact. Together, they came up with solid research that helped advance cancer treatment.

In 1988, 14 - year - old Ray went with Dr. Tisman to a meeting of the American Federation for Clinical Research(AFCR), where Ray presented their initial research findings. Using terminology(术语) beyond the grasp of most kids his age, Ray told the scientists how the new drug mixture caused fewer and milder side effects for cancer patients.

A year later, Ray returned to the meeting to update the findings of his and Dr. Tisman’s research. By then, he had become well - known for his devotion to finding cures for sick patients. Stories about him appeared in hundred of newspapers around the world. He appeared on television newscasts and talk shows.

Ray continued to spend most free hours working with Dr. Tisman. The two began studying the effects of vitamins on babies inside the womb(子宫). However, Ray’s main interest remained cancer treatment, and he continues his research today.

1.According to the passage, Ray______.

A. is a boy of many gifts                                      

B. is very helpful to his parents

C. learned fast under Dr. Tisman’s instruction

D. stopped working with Dr. Tisman after his success

2.What do we know about Dr. Tisman?

A. He succeeded in finding cures for cancer.

B. He made a new discovery in cancer treatment.

C. He convinced Ray to become a partner of him.

D. He taught Ray knowledge related to his research.

3.What made Ray first known to the medical world?

A. His presentation at AFCR.             B. His great skills in computer.

C. His devotion to cancer research.      D. His appearance on television newscasts.

4. Dr. Tisman’s research is aimed at ______.

A. providing different cancer treatments

B. proving the effects of vitamins on babies

C. finding the side effects of a cancer drug

D. testing the effectiveness of a new drug mixture

 

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