The Young Pop King He is quiet and shy. He likes to hide his eyes behind his hair. He doesn’t smile very often. However,if you talk to him about music,he’ll have a lot to say.

   This is Jay Chou,the 33-year-old Taiwanese pop king (天王) . His fans are so excited because he will sing songs on November 30 ,2012 in Wuhu,Anhui Province.

Many pop stars will come,too.

   Chou grew up just with his mother. He did not talk much and did badly in many school subjects. His mother noticed the boy's special interest in music and sent him to learn piano when he was only three years old. He loved it and kept on practicing.

   Chou is not very handsome. He does not speak clearly when he sings or talks. But the singer has a lot of fans. “He is really good at music. It makes him attractive (有魅力的) to me”’ said Liu Jiajun,a Junior 2 student in No. 101 Middle School in Beijing. “He is true to himself. He never follows others”’said Zhang Yujie,a Junior 1 girl at No. 23Middle School in Nanjing,Jiangsu Province.(江苏泰州)

() 11. From this passage,we know that Jay Chou .

   A. is very handsome   B. has a bright smile

   C. often makes too much noise   D. is a pop music star

() 12. His fans are so excited because .

   A. he is quiet and shy   B. he will sing songs in Wuhu

   C. he can play the piano very well   D. many famous stars will come to Wuhu

() 13. When he was a little child,he .

   A. talked a lot every day   B. did well in his study at school

   C. started to like music   D. had a lot of fans

() 14. According to one of his fans,Jay .

   A. is a good student   B. has long and beautiful hair

   C. is a well-known pianist   D. is very attractive to him

() 15. The sentence “He never follows others” in the last paragraph means .

   A. he always has his own style   B. he likes to walk alone

   C. he doesn’t like other people's songs at all   D. no one can catch up with him

  American schools begin in September after the long summer holiday. There are two terms in a school year,the first term is from September to January,and the second is from February to June. Most American children go to public  schools.

   High school students study only four or five subjects at a time. They usually go to the same classes every day,and they have an assignment (课外作业) for every class. After class they have many activities.

   After high school,many students go to college. They can go to a small one or a large one. They usually have to pay a lot of money for college education (教育) . But there are scholarships (奖学金) for good students,and many college students work part-time in order to get money for their education.(江苏泰州)

() 6. How long do American students study in school every year?

   A. 8 months. B. 9 months. C. 10 months. D. 11 months.

() 7. High school students take subjects at a time.

   A. all   B. four   C. five   D. B or C

() 8. can get scholarships.

   A. Many college students   B. All the students

   C. Good high school students   D. Good college students

() 9. Many college students work part-time because .

   A. they have many activities

   B. they have a lot of free time

   C. they like doing things

   D. they have to pay a lot of money for their education

() 10. According to the passage,which sentence is Not true?

   A. American schools have long summer holidays.

   B. There are two terms in the USA.

   C. American students don't do exercises after class.

   D. They do part-time job to get money to pay for their education.

  My mother was telling me about how she and her family got their first television when she was a teenager. Of course it was black and white. She said she only watched it at night. She doesn't remember over watching it in the morning or afternoon. When she was young she had only about 3 or 4 different channels (频道) .Her bothers,sisters and she would sometimes fight (打架) about which channel to watch. But we usually enjoyed the same shows.

   Now we can get hundreds of channels on TV. I can't believe it!There are channels with old films,cooking,fishing and so on. It's surprising!There is a channel for everything. I wonder how much my bothers,my sisters and I would fight if we had hundreds of channels when I was a child. Of course we had only one television set. These days I find families with 2 or 3 or more television sets in their homes. I guess it stops people from arguing (吵架) about which channel to choose from.(江苏泰州)

() 1. In those days,how many television sets did people have?

   A. More than one. B. One. C. 3 or 4.    D. More than 4.

() 2. Now how many channels can we get on TV?

   A. 3 or 4 different channels. B. Only one channel.

   C. Hundreds of channels. D. Less than 10 channels.

() 3. What kind of TV channels do we have now?

   A. Channels with cooking. B. Channels with old films.

   C. Channels with fishing. D. A.B&C

() 4. When my mum was a teenager,her brothers,sisters and she usually enjoyed.

   A. different channels   B. the same shows   C. different shows   D. all the shows

() 5. Which of the following is NOT true?

   A. My mum’s brothers and sisters would fight about which channel to watch when she was a child.

   B. These days,there is only one channel with old movies,cooking and fishing.

   C. People have many channels to choose from now.

   D. Family members will not fight for the television set.

  We were getting ready for the game over the weekend when I had an interesting conversation with one of the teammates I really didn't know H quite 1 .

   “So what do you do?” he asked. “Well,we work for 2 ,and we run a computer company”，I replied.

   “Oh,really? That's great!I work for a company,3 you know I always want to get into cartoon design and work for myself. It is my 4 . But I never work for it. ”

   “You aren’t dead yet,are you?” I thought,trying hard not say that 5 He continued “You know,IVe wanted to do this for 10 years,but once you have a 6 ,it's very hard to do anything else. ”I couldn’t 7 any more,so I said “That's great,if you really want to do that,maybe you should take up some cartoon classes. That would be a good Start. ” “It's very 8,with family. I would love to,but I can't”’ he said.

   I didn't know him very well at the first place,so I chose to just 9 and leave it at that. But it made me think. Why do people 10 to do something to follow their dreams? If not,why do we feel sorry for them later? It is our duty to try to make our dreams come true. (2013 新疆阜康、米泉)

() 1. A. well   B. good   C. bad   D. badly

() 2. A. us   B. ours   C. ourselves   D. our

() 3. A. and   B. but   C. or   D. so

() 4. A. work   B. family   C. lesson   D. dream

() 5. A. slowly   B. alone   C. aloud   D. low

() 6. A. family   B. friend   C. wife   D. child

() 7. A. see   B. know   C. understand   D. stand

() 8. A. easy   B. busy   C. difficult   D. free

() 9. A. shout   B. smile   C. cry   D. fight

() 10. A. agree   B. want   C. refuse   D. continue

根据短文内容和所给首字母，在空格内填入一个适当的单词，使短文意思完整。

   After I left school,I didn't go to university (大学) . I 1 ，I spent a year t 2 around the world.

   I started my t 3 in London'the UK. I saw the Big Ben and visited the amazing churches. From there,I f 4 to Paris,and went down to the south of France,which is f 5 for its lovely beaches.

   Next,I flew to India,and travelled round the country for about three months. The cities in India were very crowded (拥挤的) ，but the countryside was beautiful. I stayed in a small fishing village b 6 the sea and it was the h 7 time of my life.

   I then came to China,a country I always wanted to visit. I saw Beijing,of course,and climbed up the Great Wall. I also took a trip to see some villages where I learned a lot about Chinese local c 8 .

   Then,at last,I flew all the way home. It was a great experience (经验) ，but it was good to be home. (江苏省无锡市新区2013 — 2014学年八年级下学期期中考试英语试题)

1. 2. 3. 4.

5. 6. 7. 8.

     The best way to show gratitude to your parents 

   Wherever we are today,whatever we are,we owe (感激) it to our parents who have given and taught us so much. We have only one set of parents,and we should show them how grateful we are for everything that they have taught us. Whatever we do to express our thanks,the important thing is that they know how much we love them. Let's see how some people show their thanks to their parents.

   JETT PANGAN： I like making my mom proud of me. My mom is a widow and retired,so I'll always be around her. I won’t make her feel lonely.

   MIGUEL MENDOZA： The best way I can show my gratitude is to write a song for them and sing it. 

   NAR CABICO： I will thank my parents by doing well in school in order not to make them worried. 

   RAJO LAUREL： My parents taught me that the best way to reward them is to help those in need. So I will become a man for others.

   YANAH LAUREL： By showering my parents with lots of hugs and kisses. By telling them I love them. (广东省汕头市同平中学2012—2013学年八年级下学期第二次阶段考试英语试题)            

                      Information Card 

1. 2. 4. 5.

   Many people like to travel by plane,but I don,like it because an airport is usually far from the city. You have to get there early and wait for hours for the plane to take off (起飞) and it is often late. You can't open the windows. You can’t choose the food. Planes are fast but it still takes much time to go out of the airport and into the city.

   I like traveling by train. I think trains are safe. Railway stations are usually in cities. When you are late for a train,you can catch another one. You can walk around in the train and open the windows . You can see many interesting things on your way. I know it takes a little more time.

   I also like cars. You can start your journey whenever you want to,and you don't need to get to a railway station or a bus stop. Also you can carry many things with you in a car. But sometimes there are too many cars on the road.(江苏省苏州市2012 —2013学年八年级期中模拟考试英语试题)

() 11. Why do many people like to travel by plane?

   A. Because it is fast. B. Because it is safe.

   C. Because you can walk around in the plane. D. Because it is cheap.

() 12. Which is not the good thing about the train?

   A. It is safe. B. It takes a little more time.

   C. You can open the windows. D. You can walk around in the train

() 13. What is the bad thing about the car?

   A. You needn’t go to a station.

   B. You can start your journey whenever you want to.

   C. There are too many cars on the road.

   D. You needn’t go to a bus stop.

() 14. What does the writer think of the plane,train and car?

   A. He thinks it takes a lot of time to go to and get out of the airport.

    B. He likes to take a train because it takes a little more time.

   C. He likes to take a car because he has a car.

   D. He likes to take a plane because it's fast.

  Sam was a fifteen-year-old boy living with his little sister,Julie. Their parents passed away long ago. Sam took care of Julie by himself.

   One day,Sam woke up at three in the morning as usual. When Julie was sleeping alone,Sam left their little house to send newspapers. When he found an old man sitting in front of their house,Sam was so surprised that he stopped to look at him closely. It was an icy (冰冷的) morning and he looked very cold.

   The poor old man didn't have anything to cover himself with. Sam went into his house to get the old man a blanket. However,there were no extra blankets,so Sam thought hard and took his father's coat. It was the only thing of his father's that he had left. Sam wrote a short note. “Sir,I found you sleeping in front of my house. This is my father's coat. I hope it fits you well. ”He put the note in a pocket of the coat,and covered the old man with the coat. Then he went to work. When he came back three hours later,both the man and the coat were gone. Sam thought that it was the best thing he could have done with his father's coat.

   That afternoon,Sam hurried home after school because Julie was at home alone. However,Julie and the old man were standing in front of the house,and Julie shouted to Sam ,“Brother!He's our grandfather!” 

   The grandfather smiled and said ,“Sam. Thank you for giving me the coat and letting me know how good my grandson is. This coat was the one that I gave my son a long time ago!”(江苏省无锡市新区2013 —2014学 年八年级下学期期中考试英语试题)

() 6. How was the weather when Sam saw an old man in front of his house?

   A. Hot and sunny   B. Rainy   C. Icy and cold   D. Windy

() 7. Sam's morning job was to.

   A. take care of his ‘sister   B. go to school

   C. send newspapers   D. look for his grandfather

() 8. “Their parents passed away long ago” means “Their parents long ago”.

   A. died   B. went on   C. left home   D. passed by

() 9. Sam covered the old man with his father's coat because .

   A. his father's coat fitted the old man well

   B. the coat was the only thing that his father had left

   C. he knew the old man was his grandfather then

   D. he had no extra blanket

() 10. What's the story mainly about?

   A. Father's coat was missing.

   B. Sam found his grandfather through an act of kindness.

   C. An old man was too cold to live on.

   D. Sam took care of his sister by himself.

  Henry was an office worker in a big city. He worked very hard and enjoyed traveling during his holidays. He usually went to the seaside,but one year he saw an advertisement in a newspaper. “Enjoy country life. Spend a few weeks at West Hill Farm. Good food. Fresh air. Horse riding. Walking. Fishing. Cheap and interesting.99

   “This sounds like a good idea ,” he thought. “I'll spend a month at West Hill Farm. I think I will enjoy horse riding,walking and fishing. They’ll make a change from sitting by the seaside and swimming. ”

   He wrote to the farmer. In the letter he said that he would like to spend all of July there. Then on the first of July,he left for West Hill Farm.

   But four days later,he returned home.

   “What was wrong with West Hill Farm?”His best friend,Ed ,asked him. “Didn’t you enjoy country life?”

   “Country life was very good ,” Henry said ,“but there was another problem. ”

   “Oh. What?”

   “Well ,” he said ,“The first day I was there a sheep died,and we had roast mutton (烤羊肉) for dinner”. “What's wrong with that?” Ed asked. “Fresh meat is the best. ”

   “I know,but on the second day a cow died,and we had roast beef for dinner. ”

   “Lucky you!”

   “You don't understand ,” Henry said. “On the third day a pig died and we had roast pork for dinner. ” “A different meat every day ,” Ed said loudly ,“and you are complaining! ”

   “Let me finish ,” Henry said. uOn the fourth day the farmer died,and I didn't dare (敢) to stay for dinner!”(江苏省无锡市新区2013 — 2014学年八年级下学期期中考试英语试题)

() 1. How did Henry find out about the farm?

   A. He saw it in a newspaper advertisement.

   B. His best friend told him.

   C. He wrote to the farmer.

   D. He learned it from the radio.

() 2. Henry came back home several days later because .

   A. he didn't like the country life at all

   B. the farmer wasn’t friendly to him

   C. his holiday was over

   D. he thought he might have to eat the farmer

() 3. “…and you are complaining!” The word “complain” means “ ” in Chinese.

   A. 夸奖   B. 说三道四   C. 抱怨   D. 故弄玄虚

() 4. Which of the following sentences is TRUE?

   A. Ed could eat a different kind of meat every day.

   B. Henry thought he could enjoy a change on the farm.

   C. Henry couldn’t think of anything else to do,so he went to the farm.

   D. The farmer died because of the bad meat he ate.

() 5. Which is the best title for the passage?

   A. What a beautiful farm! B. Have a good time.

   C. A 4-day holiday. D. Henry and the farmer.

  Daniel began to learn Chinese when he was three. He could read and write after half a year. He could 1 newspapers and books 2 a dictionary (字典) .

   He began to learn English when he was five. Now he is seven years old. He can 3 with foreigners in English. He went to school last autumn. He didn't like 4 homework and he didn't listen to the teacher carefully in class.

He was the first in the first exam (考试) . He was the second in the second exam. And he was the third in the third exam. His teacher worried about him.

   “Do you know the story 5 the rabbit and the tortoise?” asked the teacher.

   “Yes,I know it very 6 ” answered Daniel.

   “Why did the rabbit fail at 7 ?” asked the teacher again.

   “Because the rabbit is very proud (骄傲的) ”’answered the boy quickly.

   “Yes,you are right. If the rabbit wants to win the game,8 would he do it?” said the teacher.

   “Oh,it's very 9 . You can let a wolf (狼) 10 the game instead of the tortoise,I think ,” said the boy with a smile.(江苏省苏州市2012—2013学年八年级下学期期中模拟考试英语试题)

() 1. A. look at   B. read   C. see   D. watch

() 2. A. from   B. for   C. in   D. with

() 3. A. speak   B. talk   C. tell   D. say

() 4. A. do   B. did   C. doing   D. does

() 5. A. about   B. to   C. off   D. from

() 6. A. good   B. well   C. nice   D. interesting

() 7. A. home   B. school   C. first   D. last

() 8. A. when   B. where   C. which   D. how

() 9. A. hard   B. easy   C. full   D. fine

() 10. A. join   B. to join   C. joined   D. joining