For Sparky, school was all but impossible. He failed every subject in the eighth grade. He didn’t do much better in sports. Although he played for the school’s golf team, he lost the only important match of the season.
Sparky was a loser. He, his classmates…everyone knew it. Sparky never asked a classmate to go out in high school. He was too afraid of being refused.
However, one thing was important to Sparky – drawing. He was proud of his artwork. Of course, no one else appreciated it. In his senior year of high school, he sent some cartoons to the editors of the Yearbook. Although the cartoons were turned down, Sparky was so confident about his ability that he decided to become an artist.
After completing high school, he wrote a letter to Walt Disney Studios. He was told to send some samples of his artwork, and the subject for a cartoon was suggested. Sparky spent a great deal of time on it. Finally, the reply came from Disney Studios. He had been rejected（拒绝）once again. Another loss for the loser.
So Sparky decided to write his own autobiography（自传）in cartoons. He described his childhood – a little boy loser and underachiever. The cartoon character would soon become famous worldwide. For Sparky, the boy who had little success in school and whose work was rejected again and again was Charles Schulz. He created the Peanuts comic strip（连环漫画）and little cartoon character – Charlie Brown.
【小题1】We can know that Sparky was ________ from the first paragraph.

One day after school Mr. Tillman found Philo Farnsworth making drawings on the blackboard in the school-room.

“What are you doing?” Mr. Tillman asked with interest. “ What are these drawings?”

“I want to invent things,” Philo answered, “and these are drawings of my first inventions.”

Mr. Tillman smiled to himself, “What is your invention?”

“I have an idea for a way of sending pictures through the air,” The boy answered. “Please just let me tell you about it. You are the only person who can understand what I have done.”

In 1922, even radio was new. The United States had fewer than 30 radio stations. But in 1922, a boy of 16 showed his teacher drawings for television!

In 1926, Philo worked as an office boy in Salt Lake City. Many important businessmen came into the office where he worked. One of these, George Everson , was from San Francisco. Like Mr. Tillman, Everson soon became interested in Philo. The shy, hard-working boy was like other office boys who Everson had known.

One evening Everson asked Philo to have dinner with him. After the meal, Philo began talking about his idea for Television. At first, Everson was not much interested in the invention. He listened only to be polite.

Many years later, Everson wrote a book telling about that evening with Philo. “As Farnsworth talked, he seemed to change,” Everson wrote, “His eyes lighted up , and he was no longer shy.” Talking freely about his invention, Philo Farnsworth was no longer an office boy--he was a scientist.

At the end of the evening, Everson was more interested than ever in Philo. And he was also interested in Philo’s idea for television.

After talking with Philo , Everson returned to San Francisco. There he brought together a number of important businessmen . Philo told them about his invention. The men became so interested in the young inventor that they gave $25,000 to help him work on his idea. Philo was only 20 years old, but here was his chance.

1.What kind of drawings was Philo making on the blackboard one day?

       A. Drawings of his school-room.        B. Drawings of his invention.

       C. Drawings of his interest.            D. Drawings for Mr. Tillman.

2.Philo’s new idea was to _______________.

A.tell his teacher all about his invention 

B.show Mr. Tillman about his idea by drawings

C.send pictures through air  

D.make other people see things by pictures

3.George Everson first became interested in Philo because he ________________.

       A. did his work well as an office boy     

B. was quite different from other office boys

C. was shy and did not work hard        

D. was also interested in Philo’s drawings

4.When talking about his invention, Philo ____________.

       A. listened to Mr. Everson politely    

B. became more interested in the businessman

       C. seemed to change his idea        

D. looked like a scientist

5.Which of the following is true?

A.Philo made his television only four years later.

B.Mr. Everson helped Philo to invent the television with his own money.

C.Mr. Everson himself was an important businessman.

D.The businessmen in Salt Lake City gave Philo the money for his invention. 

请先阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从方框中所给的词中选出最恰当的10个，用其适当形式填空，并将答案填写到答题卷的相应位置。每个词限用一次。(每小题1分)

Spring is a good time for kite flying -- a popular activity in China. On a sunny day with a good breeze(微风), you'll see hundreds of colorful kites flying in the sky. They have all kinds of shapes like swallows and peaches. Some of the shapes have special meanings. For example, swallows mean good luck and peaches bring you a long life.

    The city of Weifang in Shandong is the home of the kite. The city holds an international kite festival in April every year. There are competitions for kite-flying skills and new styles of kites. The most famous is the competition for the "Kite King ". Thousands of kite fans from more than 30 countries visit the city to take part in the competitions, or to just enjoy this colorful event(事件).

    The largest kite in the world is a big "octopus (章鱼)". It's about 1,100 square meters, twice as big as a basketball court. Li Jingyang, a kite fan in Jilin, spent eight months making it in 2008.

    The kite was invented by Chinese people over 2,000 years ago. According to historical (历史的) record, kites were first used by soldiers to send news to their friends. In the Tang Dynasty, flying kites became a popular game played by everyone.

    As it was introduced to the West in the ll00s, the kite brought a great influence(影响) on Western life.

    In 1782, the lightning rod (避雷针) was invented with the help of a kite. Modern aircraft came from kites, too. At the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, a board reads: "The earliest man-made aircrafts were the kites and missiles (投射武器) of ancient China."

1. What activity is very popular in spring?

   A. Eating peaches.   B. Feeding swallows.    C. Flying kites.        D. Going to competitions.

2. What do people hope for when flying kites shaped like swallows?

A. Good luck.        B. A long life.         C. A lot of money.      D. Good health.

3.Why do thousands of people visit the city of Weifang in April every year?

A. Because they enjoy this colorful event.              

B. Because of the beauty of Weifang.

C. Because they have new styles of kites.

D. Because they are the winners of the “Kite King”.

4. When did Chinese people invent the kite?

A. In 2008.      B. In 1782.         C. About 1000 years ago.  D. Over 2000 years ago.

5.Which of the following sentences is TRUE?

A. The largest kite is three times as big as a basketball court.

B. In the Qing Dynasty, flying kites became a popular game played by everyone.

C. People invented kites to help swallows fly.

D. People got the idea of inventing the lightning rod from kites.