The first working airplane was invented and flown by the Wright brothers，Wilbur Wright（1867—1912）．And Orville Wright（1871—1948）Their “Wright Flyer” was a biplane with a wooden frame．The power was supplied by a 12-hoursepower engine．

Orville and Wilbur Wright were raised in Dayton，Ohio．Although they did not go to college，the brothers had great technical ability．Before building their airplane，they had built a printing press and lain a bicycle repair and sales shop．They made their own bicycles and the money earned from their bicycle business funded their airplane-building．

The brothers' first glider（滑翔机），tested in 1900，failed to fly．A second trial in 1901 was better，but they went on improving the design．Later that year，the brothers tested over 200 wing and airframe designs，which resulted in a successful glider model．They also designed a 12-horsepower engine to power the flight of a two-propeller（双螺旋桨）plane．The machinist Charles Taylor helped them build a new plane which would use this engine．

They began test flights in 1903．After days of trials，the plane finally flew into the air，staying up for 12 seconds，it flew 120 feet．That day，the brothers took turns flying the plane．On the last flight that day，Wilbur flew 852 feet in 59 seconds．

During the next few years，the brothers developed more planes．They later formed the Wright Company，which built and sold their airplanes．Wilbur Wright died in 1912；Orville died in 1948．The Wright brothers' famous airplane，the “Wright Flyer” is on show at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington，D．C．USA．

1．What is this passage mainly about?

A．When the Wright brothers flew their first plane．

B．How the first working airplane was invented．

C．The Wright brothers as great inventors．

D．A brief introduction to the life of the Wright brothers．

2．How did the Wright brothers get the money to build airplanes?

A．By selling printing machines．                  B．By repairing machines for others．

C．By making and selling bicycles．                  D．By collecting money from others．

3．According to the passage，all of the following statements are correct EXCEPT that ________．

A．both of the Wright brothers flew the “Wright Flyer”

B．the Wright brothers designed a 12-horsepower engine to power a two-propeller plane

C．the Wright brothers’ first flight lasted for nearly a minute

D．the Wright brothers had great technical ability

4．We can learn from the passage that ________．

A．the Wright brothers were well educated

B．Charles Taylor was also a great inventor

C．the “Wright Flyer” is on show around the world now

D．the Wright brothers’ flying trials didn't succeed at first

5．We can infer from the passage that ________．

A．the Wright brothers lived a very poor life when young

B．Wilbur Wright died in a plane accident

C．the Wright brothers had good business sense

D．the Wright brothers were the first people to dream of flying

Five years ago, I was sent to a better middle school. For me, everything there was new and strange. After I had been there for two months, there was an important test in the middle of the term. It covered all my courses. In that test, I didn’t get a good grade, but most of my classmates got an A or A’.

   It made me upset for a long time. I felt everything in the world was changing. I thought my classmates were all better than me. During those days I was very unhappy.

   One day, my aunt, after talking with my teachers, talked to me. She told me to think about what I had done in the past and what I should do in the future. I was shocked by her words. I thought about what I had done during the past months, and I found I had done nothing to improve my grades. I thought I should work harder.

    After that, I paid more attention to the teachers’ talking in the classes, and I asked my teachers or my classmates when I didn’t understand something. I studied very late at night when I met with difficult problems. Most of all, I came to understand the importance of taking notes in class. As a result, I did better in some tests.

    About three months later, the most important test came at the end of the term. This time, I stood out not only in my class but also in the grade. From then on, I have tried to do my best when I do something because I know if I want something, I should work hard for it.

Why did the writer fall behind in the new middle school?

A. Because the teachers didn’t treat him well enough.

  B. Because the subjects were becoming more difficult.

C. Because he hated the life in the new school.       

D. Because he didn’t put his heart into study.

What did the writer’s aunt do to help him out?

A. She punished him for not working hard.

B. She helped him find out the reasons for his poor performance.

C. She forced him to work harder.

D. She asked his teachers to talk with him about his problems.

Which of the following studying methods helped the writer most?

A. Asking teachers for help when in difficulty.       B. Working deep into the night every day.

C. Making notes in class.                        D. Listening to every word his teachers said.

What does the underlined sentence in the last paragraph mean?

A. The writer failed again in the exam.              B. The writer did very well in the exam.

C. The writer became the cleverest in the class.       D. The writer was very proud of his progress.

Five years ago, I was sent to a better middle school. For me, everything there was new and strange. After I had been there for two months, there was an important test in the middle of the term. It covered all my courses. In that test, I didn’t get a good grade, but most of my classmates got an A or A’.
It made me upset for a long time. I felt everything in the world was changing. I thought my classmates were all better than me. During those days I was very unhappy.
One day, my aunt, after talking with my teachers, talked to me. She told me to think about what I had done in the past and what I should do in the future. I was shocked by her words. I thought about what I had done during the past months, and I found I had done nothing to improve my grades. I thought I should work harder.
After that, I paid more attention to the teachers’ talking in the classes, and I asked my teachers or my classmates when I didn’t understand something. I studied very late at night when I met with difficult problems. Most of all, I came to understand the importance of taking notes in class. As a result, I did better in some tests.
About three months later, the most important test came at the end of the term. This time, I stood out not only in my class but also in the grade. From then on, I have tried to do my best when I do something because I know if I want something, I should work hard for it.
【小题1】Why did the writer fall behind in the new middle school?

Five years ago, I was sent to a better middle school. For me, everything there was new and strange. After I had been there for two months, there was an important test in the middle of the term. It covered all my courses. In that test, I didn’t get a good grade, but most of my classmates got an A or A’.

   It made me upset for a long time. I felt everything in the world was changing. I thought my classmates were all better than me. During those days I was very unhappy.

   One day, my aunt, after talking with my teachers, talked to me. She told me to think about what I had done in the past and what I should do in the future. I was shocked by her words. I thought about what I had done during the past months, and I found I had done nothing to improve my grades. I thought I should work harder.

    After that, I paid more attention to the teachers’ talking in the classes, and I asked my teachers or my classmates when I didn’t understand something. I studied very late at night when I met with difficult problems. Most of all, I came to understand the importance of taking notes in class. As a result, I did better in some tests.

    About three months later, the most important test came at the end of the term. This time, I stood out not only in my class but also in the grade. From then on, I have tried to do my best when I do something because I know if I want something, I should work hard for it.

1.Why did the writer fall behind in the new middle school?

A. Because the teachers didn’t treat him well enough.

  B. Because the subjects were becoming more difficult.

C. Because he hated the life in the new school.       

D. Because he didn’t put his heart into study.

2.What did the writer’s aunt do to help him out?

A. She punished him for not working hard.

B. She helped him find out the reasons for his poor performance.

C. She forced him to work harder.

D. She asked his teachers to talk with him about his problems.

3. Which of the following studying methods helped the writer most?

A. Asking teachers for help when in difficulty.       B. Working deep into the night every day.

C. Making notes in class.                        D. Listening to every word his teachers said.

4.What does the underlined sentence in the last paragraph mean?

A. The writer failed again in the exam.              B. The writer did very well in the exam.

C. The writer became the cleverest in the class.       D. The writer was very proud of his progress.