In the West, some people believe that personality can be predicted according to the time of the year the person was bor. From China comes the belief that the year of birth influences one’s personality. In the past century, a new belief ahs arisen: the idea that personality is related to one’s ABO blood type. People with blood type A, for example, are considered more likely to be serious, hard-working, and quiet, while people with blood type O are likely to be popular and outgoing, yet often unable to finish what they start. Though this belief continues to be strong, some people question whether it is true.

The blood-type personality theory(理论) started in Japan in 1927 when Furukawa Takehi noticed personality similarities and differences among his workers. This idea soon went out of fashion, but was brought back by a Japanese television host named Toshitaka Nomi in the 1970s. The belief is still strong in Japan and is increasingly popular in neighboring countries. Some young Koreans have taken to the theory. A recent study showed 76 percent of Koreans aged between13 and 64 believing in the blood-type personality connection. Though most Asians might believe in the blood-type theory, for many it seems harmless and not something to be taken too seriously.

         Is the belief true? The scientists in Asia largely think the belief as a modern-day superstition(迷信). Most studies have failed to find any strong connection between blood and personality. Generally, scientists are against making predictions or important decisions based on this questionable theory.

1.The writer uses blood type A and O as an example to explain ________.

         A. the difference between the two blood types

         B. the relationship between the two blood types

         C. the influence of blood type on one’s behavior

         D. the connection between personality and blood type

2.What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 mean?

         A. They don’t believe it.

B. It was brought back by them.

         C. They liked and accepted it.

D. They stole the idea from others

3.Which of the following is true according to the passage?

         A. Most scientists in Asia don’t believe in the theory.

         B. The blood-type theory began in Japan in the 1970s.

         C. The blood-type personality theory is about blood type.

         D. People don’t change their personality to match the theory.

4.What is the best title for the passage?

         A. Is the blood-type theory changeable ?

B. Is the personality changeable?

         C. Is it in your blood?      

D. Is it in you mind?

A small ,white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree and it has been there for the past ten years or so.
It all began because my husband Justin hated Christmas—oh, not the true meaning of Christmas.Overspending was one thing, but compared to the difficult experience of choosing gifts—running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and a pair of gloves for Grandma…,spending money is nothing. I felt too tired to think of any special gifts.
Knowing Justin felt the same way, I decided one year not to buy the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so on. I reached for something special just for Justin. The inspiration came in an unusual way.
Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling （摔跤）at the junior level at the school he attended; and shortly before Christmas, there was a match against a team sponsored (赞助) by an inner-city church.These youngsters, dressed in such worn-out shoes that shoe strings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, while our boys were in their blue and gold uniforms and new wrestling shoes.
As the match began, I was shocked to see that the other team were wrestling without wearing helmets (头盔) to protect their ears. Well, our boys ended up defeating them. We took every weight class.
Justin, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, “I wish just one of them could have won,” he said. “They have a lot potential (潜力) , but losing like this could take the heart out of them.” Justin loved kids—all kids, and he knew them, having coached little league football and baseball. That’s when the idea for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought different kinds of wrestling helmets and shoes. I sent them to inner-city church without leaving my name.
On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Justin what I had done and that was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and since then the envelope has become the highlight of our Christmas.
【小题1】Justin hated Christmas because _____.

In the West, some people believe that personality can be predicted according to the time of the year the person was bor. From China comes the belief that the year of birth influences one’s personality. In the past century, a new belief ahs arisen: the idea that personality is related to one’s ABO blood type. People with blood type A, for example, are considered more likely to be serious, hard-working, and quiet, while people with blood type O are likely to be popular and outgoing, yet often unable to finish what they start. Though this belief continues to be strong, some people question whether it is true.

The blood-type personality theory(理论) started in Japan in 1927 when Furukawa Takehi noticed personality similarities and differences among his workers. This idea soon went out of fashion, but was brought back by a Japanese television host named Toshitaka Nomi in the 1970s. The belief is still strong in Japan and is increasingly popular in neighboring countries. Some young Koreans have taken to the theory. A recent study showed 76 percent of Koreans aged between13 and 64 believing in the blood-type personality connection. Though most Asians might believe in the blood-type theory, for many it seems harmless and not something to be taken too seriously.

    Is the belief true? The scientists in Asia largely dismiss the belief as a modern-day superstition(迷信). Most studies have failed to find any strong connection between blood and personality. Generally, scientists warn against making predictions or important decisions based on this questionable theory.

1. The writer uses blood type A and O as an example to explain ________.

    A. the difference between to two blood types

    B. the relationship between the two blood types

    C. the influence of blood type on one’s behavior

    D. the connection between personality and blood type

2.What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 mean?

    A. It was lightly believed.             B. It was brought to them.

    C. They liked and accepted it.              D. They stole the idea from others

3. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

    A. Most scientists in Asia don’t believe in the theory.

    B. The blood-type theory began in Japan in the 1970s.

    C. The blood-type personality theory is about blood type.

    D. People don’t change their personality to match the theory.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

    A. Is the blood-type theory poplar?     B. Is the personality changeable?

C. Is it in your blood?                 D. Is it in you mind?

Frank Smithson woke up and leaned over to turn off the alarm clock. “Oh，no!”he thought to himself.“Another day at that office；a boss who shouts at me all the time.”

?? As Frank went downstairs his eyes fell on a large brown envelope by the door. He was overjoyed when he opened it and read the letter inside. “Bigwoods Football Pools would like to congratulate you. You have won half a million pounds.”

?? Frank suddenly came to life. The cigarette fell from his lips as he let out a shout that could be heard halfway down the street.

?? At 11：30 Frank arrived at work.“Please explain why you're so late，”his boss said.“Go and jump in the lake,” replied Frank. “I've just come into a little money so this is goodbye.Find yourself someone else to shout at.”

?? That evening Frank was smoking a very expensive Havana cigar when a knock was heard on the door. He rushed to the door. Outside were two men，neatly dressed in grey suits. “Mr Smithson,” one of them said，“We're from Bigwoods Football Pools. I'm afraid there’s been a terrible mistake……”

1.What do we know about Frank? ____________________________________.

A. He was a lazy man.            ??????????????? B. He was a lucky person.

C. He made a lot of money.       ????????????? D. He didn't get on well with his boss.

2.When Frank said,” Go and jump in the lake”, he probably________________.

A. told his boss to drop dead.          ?????????? B. asked his boss to swim in the lake.

C. celebrated with his boss by the lake .??????? D. wanted to go fishing with his fish.

3.When he heard the knock at the door, Frank probably thought ___________.

A. someone had come to make an apology

B. his workmates had come to comfort him .

C. his neighbours had come to ask about the football pools.

D. his friends had come to congratulate him on his luck.

4.On hearing“…there's been a terrible mistake…”Frank was most likely to be________.

A. disappointed.       ???? B. worried.       ???? C. nervous.       ????  D. curious.?

5.The story tells us the truth that ______________________.

A. good luck is always against a lazy fellow.

B. don’t count your chickens before they are hatched(孵化)

C. never quarrel with your boss until you find a new job

D. the chances of getting rich quickly always lie in the Football Pools