Three boys and three girls were going to Fort Lauderdale and when they boarded the bus,they were carrying sandwiches and wine in paper bags,dreaming of golden beaches as the gray cold of New York vanished behind them.
As the bus passed through New Jersey,they began to notice Vingo, He sat in front of them,dressed in a plain,ill-fitting suit,never moving,his dusty face masking his age. He kept chewing the inside of his lip a lot,frozen into some personal cocoon of silence.
Deep into the night,outside Washington,the bus pulled into Howard Johnson's,and everybody got off except Vingo. He sat rooted in his seat,and the young people began to wonder about him,trying to imagine his life:perhaps he was a sea captain,a runaway from his wife,an old soldier going home. When they went back to the bus,one of the girls sat beside him and introduced herself.
"We're going to Florida,” she said brightly, “I hear it's really beautiful.”
“It is,”he said quietly,as if remembering something he had tried to forget.
"Want some wine?" she said. He smiled and took a swig.  He thanked her and once again returned to his silence. After a while,she went back to the others,and Vingo nodded in his sleep.
In the morning,they awoke outside another Howard Johnson's.And this time Vingo went in.  The girl insisted that he join them.  He seemed very shy, and ordered black coffee and smoked nervously as the young people chattered about sleeping on beaches. When they returned to the bus,the girl sat with Vingo again,and after a while, slowly and painfully,he told his story. He had been in jail in New York for the past four years,and now he was going home.
“Are you married?”
“I don't know.
“You don’t know?” she said.
“Well,when I was in jail I wrote to my wife,”he said. “I told her that I was going to be away a long time,and that if she couldn't stand it.if the kids kept asking questions,if it hurt too much,well she could just forget me, I'd understand. Get a new guy,I said she's a wonderful woman,really something and forget about me. I told her she didn't have to write me for nothing.  And she didn't.  Not for three and a half years.”
"And you’re going home now,not knowing?”
“Yeah,”he said shyly. “Well,last week,when I was sure the parole (假释) was coming through, I wrote her again.  We used to live in Brunswick,just before Jacksonville,and there’s a big oak (橡树) tree just as you came into town. I told her that if she'd take me back,she should put a yellow handkerchief on the tree,and I'd get off and come home,  If she didn't want me, forget it, no handkerchief,and I'd go on through.”
"Vow,” the girl exclaimed. "Wow.”
She told the others,and noon all of them were in it, caught up in the approach of Brunswick,looking at the pictures Vingo showed them of his wife and three children. The woman was handsome in a plain way,the children still unformed in the much-handled snapshots.
Now they were 20 miles from Brunswick, and the young people took over window seat on the right side,waiting for the approach of the great oak tree. The bus acquired a dark,hushed mood,full of the silence of absence and lost years. Vingo stopped looking, tightening his face into the ex-con's mask, as if fortifying himself against still another disappointment.
Then Brunswick was ten miles, and then five. Then,suddenly,all of the young people were up out of their seats,screaming and shouting and crying,doing small dances of joy. All except Vingo.
Vingo sat there stunned,looking at the oak tree. It was covered with yellow handkerchiefs,20 of them,30 of them,maybe hundreds,a tree that stood like a banner of welcome billowing in the wind. As the young people shouted,the old rose and made his way to the front of the bus to go home.
【小题1】Which is right about Vingo?

A.He was a sea captain.
B.He was a runaway from his wife,
C.He was an old soldier going home.
D.He was a prisoner.
【小题2】 The underlined word "`exclaimed" probably indicates that the girl was“______”
A. surprised        B:  angry         C:  embarrassed     D.  puzzled
【小题3】 From the story,we know that
A.the young people and Vingo loved New York
B.Vingo dressed himself decently
C.Vingo's Wife didn't write to him because she didn't miss him
D.the young people were happy for Vingo because he could went home
【小题4】What is the best title for the story?
A.An Unexpected ReturnB.Forgiving My Absence
C.Going HomeD.The Old Oak Tree


C
On December 22, 1775, two of Washington’s soldiers brought a prisoner to his headquarters (司令部). Washington thanked the soliders, then gave an order that the prisoner was to be left alone and that the soldiers were to shoot if the man tried to escape. But when the door was closed, Washington smiled.
The man standing in front of him was John Honeyman, one of the general’s most trusted men. In early November, Washington had given Honeyman orders to travel with the British army as a servant and to stay with it until he had something to tell. Honeyman now had important information. He described the situation in Trenton, giving the exact number and position of the troops there.Trenton was held by several companies (连队) of Hessians(雇佣军). The Hessians were not English soldiers.They were Germans who had been hired by the British to fight in America. According to Honeyman, the Hessians fought only for money. They had done nothing to build up their defences in Trenton. Now they were busy planning a big Christmas celebration.
Washington immediately made a daring plan. He chose Christmas Day for an attack on Trenton. At ten o’clock next morning, the attack was over. The Americans won a great victory.
64. Why did Washington smile when the door was closed?
A .Because he was glad to catch the prisoner.
B. Because the man was one of his most trusted men.
C. Because he had caught the most dangerous spy.
D. Because he knew the man very well.
65. For what did Washington send Honeyman to stay with the British army?
A. Honeyman could make peace with the Brilhish soldiers .
B. He could let Honeyman have a pleasant trip.
C. He could catch more prisoners from the British army.
D. Honeyman could get important information for American .
66 .Which countries did the war break out between?
A. America and Britain.
B. America and Germany
C.Britain and Gennany
D.Arnerica, Britain and Germany
67. What’s the reason that Washington chose Christmas Day for an attack on Trenton?
A. It could be that it was a lucky day.
B. It might be that it was the best Christmas gift for Britain.
C. It must be that after the day the enemy was to escape.
D. It could be that the enemy would enjoy their holiday but not prepare to fight.


B
Deep into the night, the bus pulled into a Howard Johnson’s restaurant and everybody got off the bus except Vingo. The young people began to wonder about him, trying to imagine his life:perhaps he was sea captain; maybe he had run away from wife; he could be an old soldier going home. When they went to the bus, one of the girls sat beside him and introduced herself. After a long time, slowly and painfully, he began to tell his story. He had been in prison in New York for the last four years, and he was going home.
“Well, when I was in prison I wrote to my wife. I said, Martha, I understand if you can’t stay married to me. I said I was going to be away a long time, and that if she couldn’t stand it, if the kids kept asking questions, if it hurt her too much, well, she could just forget all about me. I told her she didn’t have to write to me, and she didn’t. Not for the three and a half years.”
“Last week, when I was sure freedom was coming through, I wrote to her. I told her if she had a new young man, I would understand. But if she didn’t, if she would take me back, she should let me know. We used to live in this town, Brunswick, and there’s a great big oak tree just as you come into the town. I told her if she could take me back, she should put a yellow handkerchief on the tree, and if she didn’t want me, forget me, no handkerchief and I’d keep going on through.”
Soon all the others were in it. When they were 20 miles from Brunswick, the young people took over window seats on the right side, waiting for the approach of the great oak tree. Vingo stopped looking, tightening his face into the ex?con’s mask. Then it was 10 miles, and five, and the bus became very quiet.
Then suddenly all of the young people were up out of their seats, screaming and shouting and crying, doing small dances. All except Vingo.
39.In the story, the yellow handkerchief probably means_______.
A.happiness     B.sadness         C.I hate you         D.I still love you
40.The bus became quiet when it came near the town because all the passengers_______.
A.got tired after a long journey        B.got too sad to say anything
C.were anxious to see the oak tree      D.were touched by the story
41.The underlined part “All except Vingo” probably implies_______.
A.he found no handkerchief on the oak tree
B.he feared that his wife was playing a joke
C.he felt he could not match his wife any longer, afraid to face her
D.he had complicated feelings at the moment:guilty, grateful as well as excited
42.What is the best title for the passage?
A.Going Home                       B.A Handkerchief and an Oak Tree
C.A Long Bus Journey                  D.A Story of an Oak Tree

C
On May 8, last Thursday morning, the Olympic flame was lit on the top of Mount Qomolangma! It was a historic moment for China exactly three months ahead of the Beijing Games.
Tibetan female climber Cering Wangmo reached the summit with a special extreme-altitude Olympic torch. This event is what China has promised to the world as the high point of the torch relay, the longest and mostchallengingof all time.
Five torchbearers(火炬手) finished the highest relay ever—three of the climbers are Tibetan athletes.
Team members said “Beijing welcomes you!” in Chinese, English and Tibetan, as they stood at the summit celebrating, with the event broadcast on national television.
“I finally fulfilled the last dream of my husband,” said Gyigyi with tears in her eyes. She was the first torchbearer. Her husband lost his life in an attempt to climb all 14 mountains in China more than 8,000 meters three years ago.
“We are on top of the world! One world, one dream,” shouted Nima Cering, at the top of his voice. He said that although he had climbed the peak(峰顶)several times, this was the most significant ascent(登高). “As a Tibetan and a Chinese I pray for the success of Beijing 2008,” he added.
The special torch is different from the one currently touring the Chinese mainland, after an around-the-world relay. Officials organizing the trek up the peak had earlier set an April 26 target to begin the ascent, but high winds and heavy snow had delayed the mission.
The Xinhua News Agency said that the Qomolangma leg of the torch relay represents the Olympic motto, “higher, faster and stronger,” in practice and will promote unity among all 56 ethnic groups in China.
【小题1】It was a historic moment because ______.

A.some Tibetan torchbearers took part in it
B.it was lit three months before the Olympic Games were held
C.it was the first time that the Olympic torch had been lit on the top of Mount Qomolangma
D.it was the longest attempt in history
【小题2】Which is RIGHT according to the whole passage?
A.All the five torchbearers are men.
B.Only the five torchbearers reached the summit.
C.Team members said “Beijing welcomes you!” in their native language.
D.At least two of the five torchbearers are females.
【小题3】 What does the word “leg” underlined in the last paragraph refer to?
A.One part of a journey or race.
B.One of the long parts that connect the feet to the rest of the body.
C.The leg of an animal, especially the top part, cooked and eaten.
D.The part of a pair of trousers that covers the leg.
【小题4】 What would be the best title for the text?
A.One world, one dream
B.Torch relay reaches its highest point
C.Qomolangma, the highest summit in the world
D.A special torch
【小题5】 Where can you read about this passage?
A.In the English textbook.
B.In the newspaper.
C.In the science report.
D.On the street wall.

Art theft is an ancient and complicated crime. When you look at some of the most famous cases of art thefts in history, you see thoroughly planned operations that involve art dealers, art fakers, mobsters, ransoms, and millions of dollars. Here you can read about some of the most famous cases of art theft in the history.

The First Theft:  

The first documented case of art theft was in 1473, when two panels of altarpiece of the Last Judgment by the Dutch painter Hans Memling were stolen. While the triptych was being transported by ship from the Netherlands to Florence, the ship was attacked by pirates who took it to the Gdansk cathedral in Poland. Nowadays, the piece is shown at the National Museum in Gdansk where it was recently moved from the Basilica of the Assumption.

The Most Famous Theft:

The most famous story of art theft involves one of the most famous paintings in the world and one of the most famous artists in history as a suspect. In the night of August 21, 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen out of the Louver. Soon after, Pablo Picasso was arrested and questioned by the police, but was released quickly.

It took about two years until the mystery was solved by the Parisian police. It turned out that the 30×21 inch painting was taken by one of the museum employees by the name of Vincenzo Peruggia, who simply carried it hidden under his coat. Nevertheless, Peruggia did not work alone. The crime was carefully conducted by a notorious con man, Eduardo de Valfierno, who was sent by an art faker who intended to make copies and sell them as if they were the original painting.

While Yves Chaudron, the art faker, was busy creating copies for the famous masterpiece, Mona Lisa was still hidden at Peruggias’ apartment. After two years in which Peruggia did not hear from Chaudron, he tried to make the best out of his stolen good. Eventually, Peruggia was caught by the police while trying to sell the painting to an art dealer from Florence, Italy. The Mona Lisa was returned to the Louver in 1913.

The Biggest Theft in the USA:

The biggest art theft in United States took place at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. On the night of March 18, 1990, a group of thieves wearing police uniforms broke into the museum and took thirteen paintings whose collective value was estimated at around 300 million dollars. The thieves took two paintings and one print by Rembrandt, and works of Vermeer, Manet, Degas, Govaert Flinck, as well as a French and a Chinese artifact.

As of yet, none of the paintings have been found and the case is still unsolved. According to recent rumors, the FBI are investigating the possibility that the Boston Mob along with French art dealers are connected to the crime.

1. How long did it take to put back the stolen Mona Lisa in Louver ?___

A.Thirty six months                        B.Thirty months

C.Half a year                             D.Around two years

2.What does the underlined sentence, “he tried to make the best out of his stolen good” mean?

A.Chaudron wanted to sell the stolen painting.

B.Peruggia thought he didn’t need to work for Chaudon any more and wanted to market the painting.

C.Valfierno was tired of waiting.

D.Peruggia wanted to study the painting carefully.

3. Which case among those mentioned in the passage is still a mystery?

A.Mona Lisa case

B.Last Judgment case

C.Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum thirteen paintings case

D.none

4.People from the country of _____ is not involved in the passage.

A.China            B.France            C.Dutch            D.Vantican

5. Which statement is WRONG according to this article?

A.Picasso was ever considered a art theft suspect.

B.Art thieves normally not work alone.

C.The first documented case of art theft was conducted by pirates.

D.The mastermind of Mona Lisa was an art faker who wanted to sell copies.

6. The passage is not finished, which subtitle could be the next?

A.The Economic Value of Art Theft            B.The Loss to Art Lovers

C.The Most Sought After Painting             D.Boston Mob and French Art Dealers

 

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