American cities are similar to other cities around the world: American cities are changing, just as American society is changing. After World War Two, the population of most large American cities decreased; however, the population in many Sun Belt cities increase. Los Angeles and Houston are cities where population shifts (转移) to and from the city reflect the changing values of American society. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, city residents became weathier. They moved out of their apartments in the city to buy their own homes. They bought houses in the suburbs (郊区).

     Now things are changing. The children of the people who left the cities in the 1950s are now adults. Many, unlike their parents, want to live in the cities. They continue to move to Sun Belt cities and older ones of the Northeast and Midwest. Many young professionals are moving back into the city. They prefer the city to the suburbs because their jobs are there; or they just enjoy the excitement and possiblilies that the city offers.

     This population shift is bringing problems as well as benefits. Countless poor people must leave their apartments in the city because the owners want to sell the buildings or make apartments for sale instead of for rent. In the 1950s, many poor people did not have enough meney to move to the suburbs; now many of these same people do not have enough money to stay in the cities.

     Only a few years ago, people thought that the older American cities were dying. Some city residents now see a bright, new future. Others see only problems and conflicts. One thing is sure:many dying cities are alive again.

What does the author think of cities all over the world?

    A. They are alive.                                      B. They are hopeless.  

C. They are similar.                    D. They are different.

Why did American city residents want to live in the suburbs after World War Two?

   A. Because older American cities were dying.

   B. Because they were richer and needed more space.

   C. Because cities contained the worst parts of society.

   D. Because they could hardly afford to live in the city.

According to the 4^th paragraph, a great many poor people in American cities             .

   A. are faced with housing problems                     B. are forced to move to the suburbs

   C. want to sell their buildings             D. need more money for daily expenses

We can conclude from the text that            .

   A. American cities are changing for the worse

   B. people have different views on American cities

   C. many people are now moving from American cities

   D. the population is decreasing in older American cities

People say that a mother’s love knows no boundaries (边界). This is true when it comes to my mother. She has given up many things so that my sisters and I could live a better life.

My mother comes from a large family and her parents died when she was quite young. She dropped out of school when she was fifteen because no one could afford to pay her studies. At the age of 19, she married my father and when they had my sisters and I, they moved to the United States so that we could have a better life. My parents did not know English but somehow they communicated with other people. My mother stayed at home and raised us while my father was working. There were so many dangerous incidents that happened where we lived that my mother finally decided that we all moved to Texas when I was seven.

My mother has worked so hard to give us everything. She always tells us that all she wants is for us to be happy.

As the saying goes, “You don’t appreciate (意识到) something until it’s gone.” Well, I finally had a chance to experience it. My mother went to Mexico this winter because she needed to have an operation. It was the first time in my life that my mother was not there to hold and comfort me. Those two weeks when she was away made me realize how much I love her. All she has done for me is incredible (难以置信的). When I suffer she suffers with me. I have to show her how much I care about her. She means the world to me.

Which is the RIGHT order of the following events?

a. My mother married my father.

b. My mother went to Mexico to have an operation.

c. We all moved to Texas.

d. My mother dropped out of school.

e. They moved to the United States.

f. My mother’s parents died when she was young.

A. a, b, f, c, d, e           B. d, e, a, c, f, b       C. f, d, a, b, e, c           D. f, d, a, e, c, b

What does the underlined word “it” refer to in the fourth paragraph?

A. My mother’s experience.               B. My mother’s care for me.

C. The meaning of the saying.             D. My mother’s love.

The writer didn’t realize that he loves his mother very much until ______.

A. they moved to Texas    B. his mother told them all she wanted was for them to be happy

C. his mother left home for an operation        D. his mother died

According to the passage, we can infer that the writer writes the passage in a(n) ______ mood.

A. affectionate (挚爱的)            B. humorous        C. serious           D. bitter

One evening after dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Tisich called a family meeting. “We’ve had to make a difficult decision,” Mr. Tisich announced. “You see, your mother has been offered a post as co-director of a television station in Chicago. Unfortunately, the station is not here. After thinking long and hard about it, we’ve concluded that the right decision is to move to Chicago.” Marc looked shocked, while his sister Rachel breathlessly started asking when they’d be moving. “It’s surprising, but exciting!” she said. Marc simply said, “We can’t go—I can’t leave all my friends. I’d rather stay here and live with Tommy Lyons!”

The Tisichs hoped that by the time they moved in August, Marc would grow more used to the idea of leaving. However, he showed no signs of accepting the news, refusing to pack his belongings. When the morning of the move arrived, Marc was nowhere to be found. His parents called Tommy Lyon’s house, but Mrs. Lyons said she hadn’t seen Marc. Mrs. Tisich became increasingly concerned, while her husband felt angry with their son for behaving so irresponsibly.

What they didn’t know was that Marc had started walking over to Tommy’s house, with a faint idea of hiding in Lyons’s attic(阁楼) for a few days. But something happened on the way as Marc walked past all the familiar landscape of the neighborhood: the fence that he and his mother painted, the tree that he and his sister used to climb, the park where he and his father often took evening walks together. How much would these mean without his family, who make them special in the first place? Marc didn’t take the time to answer that question but instead hurried back to his house, wondering if there were any moving cartons(纸板箱)the right size to hold his record collection.

1.The conflict(冲突) in this story was caused by_________.

A. Marc and Rachel’s different attitudes

B. a quarrel between Tommy Lyons and Marc

C. Marc’s disagreement with his parents about their move

D. Mr. And Mrs. Tisich’s comment of Marc’s irresponsibility

2.Marc and Rachel’s reactions to the move were similar in the way that both were________.

A. surprised                     B. angry and upset

C. anxious for more details         D. worried about pacing

3.The reason for Marc’s going home was that_________.

A. he did not want to be left behind

B. he realized his family was important to him

C. he hoped to reach an agreement with his parents

D. he wished to be a more responsible person

4.What would most likely happen next?

A. Marc would bring his records over to the Lyons’s house.

B. Mr. and Mrs. Tisich would call the police.

C. Marc would join his family for house moving.

D. Mr. and Mrs. Tisich would start searching for Marc.

根据中文提示写出正确的单词形式.

1.The _______ （质量） of their life has greatly improved when they moved to France.

2.This mistake was caused by her lack of ______（判断）about the situation.

3.All people are _______ (平等的) as we are living on the same planet.

4.Old people prefer the ________ （平静的） life in the countryside to the noisy life in the city.

5. The woman returned to the shop the following morning _________ (穿着) in a fur coat, with a handbag in her hand.