For hundreds of years, artists have used cartoons to criticize bad rulers or landowners. As early as the 19 th century, people produced and read books of drawings. In many ways, they were similar to modern comics（漫画）. They contained stories of naughty children and playful animals. The owl and the elephant were usually wise animals, ready to give advice. The lion and tiger were brave. The fox and wolf were cunning, greedy and dangerous.

    A century ago, an American newspaper published the first-color comic strip. It was so popular that sales of the newspaper, Morning Journal, increased quickly. Since then, newspapers throughout the world have included comic strips.

    In modern time, comics are popular in China, Japan, the USA and almost everywhere. Not even video games or CD-ROMs have reduced their popularity. Names such as Snoopy, Woodstock and Garfield are well known in dozens of countries. The Peanuts comic strip appears in over 2,000 newspapers and in more than 25 languages.

    Perhaps one day, you may like to create your own comic strip and become a millionaire. First, you must think of a good plot. It should be funny, exciting or interesting in some way. It should have plenty of action. Moreover, the language must be realistic and simple. The words should suit the characters in your story.

    Furthermore, the characters in your story must be clear to readers. They should be obviously good or bad. In many comic strips—especially those showing crime of adventure—there should also be a hero or heroine. This will attract the reader to keep on reading the story. 

1. Which of the following is NOT the name of a cartoon character?

  A. Snoopy             B. Garfield         C. Peanuts        D. Woodstock

2. We can know from the first paraphaph that rulers ________.

  A. asked the artists to draw cartoons           B. probably did not like cartoons about them.

C. often drew cartoons many years ago.        D. used cartoons to give people advice.

3. According to the passage, what makes a popular and successful comic strip?

 A. Good plot         B. suitable language      C. clear characters      D. All of above

4. The underlined word “plot” is similar in meaning to ______.

 A. places              B. stories            C. events               D. characters

He could have been president of Israel or played violin at Carnegie Hall, but he was too busy thinking. His thinking on God, love and the meaning of life grace our greeting cards and day-timers.

Fifty years after his death, his shock (蓬乱) of white hair and hanging mustache still symbolize genius. Einstein remains the foremost scientist of the modern time. Looking back 2,400 years, only Newton, Galileo and Aristotle were his equals.

Around the world, universities and academies (研究院) are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Einstein's "miracle year" when he published five scientific papers in 1905 that basically changed our grasp of space, time, light and matter. Only he could top himself about a decade later with his theory of relativity.

Born in the age of horse-drawn carriages, his ideas launched a technological revolution that has made more change in a century than in the previous two thousand years. Computers, satellites, telecommunication, lasers, television and nuclear power all owe their invention to ways in which Einstein exposed a stranger and more complicated reality underneath the world．

He escaped Hitler's Germany and devoted the rest of his life to human rights and peace with an authority unmatched by any scientist today, or even most politicians and religious leaders. He spoke out against fascism (法西斯主义) and racial prejudice. His FBI (美国联邦调查局) file ran 1,400 pages.

His letters expose a disorderly personal life -- married twice and indifferent toward his children while absorbed in physics. Yet he charmed lovers and admirers with poetry and sailboat outings. Friends and neighbors fiercely protected his privacy.

The first paragraph implies that Einstein _____.

       A．had the gift for politics and music

       B．had run for president before he worked at his research

       C．was an excellent violinist

       D．was more a political leader or a musician than a thinker

When you think of Einstein, what typical appearance was formed in your mind?

       A．Funning and humorous, with an air of a musician.

       B．Wearing very wide trousers, a moustache, with an image of an actor.

       C．Rough untidy mass of white hair and hanging moustache, with an image of thinking.

       D．Black long hair and moustache, with his eyes deep set.

Why was 1905 called Einstein’s “miracle year”?

       A．Because he topped himself with the theory of relativity.

       B．Because he made important discoveries of space, time, light and matter.

       C．Because he published five papers on his theory of relativity.

       D．Because he wrote five important articles to help people better understand space, time, light

and matter.

Which of the following is not true about Einstein according to the passage?

       A．When he was absorbed in his research, he didn’t care for his family.

       B．He tried to amuse his family and friends in his spare time.

       C．He was so busy with the physical research that he showed no interest in politics.

       D．His theory led to much improvement in many technological fields.

In today's world of cell phones, mini laptops and MP3 players, most people have at least one time-telling tool with them. Since these devices are so common, is time running out for the 500-year-old watch? According to some consumers, yes. New Jersey teenager Charlie Wollman says a watch is "an extra piece of equipment with no necessary function." Many young adults agree ─ and use their cell phones to tell time. Louis Galie, a senior vice president at Timex, said that fewer young people wear watches today than five years ago. As a result, some people claim that the watch industry is at a crossroads.

However, watchmakers optimistically say that watches regain popularity when consumers reach their 20s and 30s. By then, they are willing to spend money on a quality timepiece that doesn't just keep good time. Fifty years ago, watchmakers boasted(自夸) about their products' accuracy. But in recent years, the watch industry has transformed itself into an accessory(附件，配件) business. And for many today, the image(外形) a watch communicates has become more important than the time it tells.

"Complications" ─ features that go beyond simple timekeeping ─ are an important part of a watch's image. Today's watches offer a host of features that suit almost any personality. These features include altitude trackers(追踪器), compasses(指南针), lunar calendars, USB drives, and even devices that measure the effectiveness of golf swings!

   Creativity is also a key element in today's watches. For example, Japanese watchmaker Tokyoflash makes watches that don't even look like watches. The company's popular Shinshoku model uses different color lights to tell the time. It looks more like a futuristic bracelet(手镯) than a watch. Another Japanese watchmaker, EleeNo, makes a "handless" watch. Using a ring of circles to keep time, this watch makes an excellent conversation piece.

   Whether a watch communicates fashion sense, creative flair or a love of sports, consumers want their timepieces to stand out. Nowadays, everyone has the same kind of gadget in their bags, so people want to make a statement with what's on their wrists(手腕). Will this interest in wrist fashion last? Only time will tell!

1.Why aren’t watches popular with young people as before?

  A. Because watches cannot keep good time as cell phones, mini laptops and MP3 players.

  B. Because watches are featured by the disadvantages of simple function

  C. Because watches are too expensive to afford.

  D. Because watches don’t have beautiful appearance as other modern time telling tools.

2. What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 1 mean?

  A. Watching-making is facing a survival crisis challenge.

  B. Watching-making is faced with the developing opportunity.

  C. Watching-making becomes the sun rising industry.

  D. Watching-making has a specific development target.

3. It can be implied that ____________________.

  A. people will gradually lose interest in watches as they grow older

  B. watchmakers hardly change the development strategy for watches

  C. today’s watches are better than those in the past in quality

  D. customers used to be more concerned with the quality of a watch than with its image.

4.The following qualities can make a watch popular EXCEPT _________.

  A. multifunction   B. accuracy   C. nice design   D. low price

5.What’s the best title of the passage?

  A. Watches and Teenagers     B. The History of Watches

  C. The Accuracy of Watches   D. Watches Tell More Than Time

请认真阅读下列短文，并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单词。注意：每个空格只填一个单词。请将答案写在答题卡上相应的横线上。
The Chong Yang Festival is celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, and it is also known as the Double Ninth Festival.
The festival began as early as the Warring States Period (475BC-221BC). According to the yin/yang dichotomy(二分法), yin represents the elements of darkness and yang represents life and brightness. Among Chinese numbers, nine belongs to positive numbers and it is regarded as yang. The ninth day of the ninth lunar month is a double yang day; hence people start to say Chong Yang Festival. The ninth month also predicts the approach of winter. It is a time when the living need warm clothing, and Chinese sons and daughters extended this to make the festival a time for providing winter clothes for their ancestors. The Double Ninth Festival, therefore, also became an occasion to visit the graves of dead family members. Clothes made of paper would be burned as offerings.
The Double Ninth Festival sees various activities. On the Double Ninth Festival, people usually climb mountains, appreciate chrysanthemums (菊花), drink chrysanthemums wine, and eat cakes. Ancient people thought climbing a mountain on this day could help them avoid misfortune and prevent disasters, and this gradually evolved into a relaxation and exercise.
Ancient people used to wear cornel (山茱萸) and admire chrysanthemums. Cornel is a kind of plant with edible(可食用的) fruit, while its stem and leaves have medicinal value. To prevent plague(瘟疫) and drive off smelly smells, people wear cornel and chrysanthemums on the Double Ninth Festival, and drink tea and wine made from the flowers.
Nowadays many people will still climb mountains, admire chrysanthemums, appreciate the beautiful scenery of autumn and eat cakes. In recent years, new contents have been added into this ancient festival, which has become a time to show respect for the elderly. People hold various activities in honor of senior citizens, wishing them good health and a long life.
The Double Ninth Festival is also a time for family get-togethers. It is an occasion to remember one’s ancestors, the sacrifices they made and the hardships they underwent. Often, family outings are organized during which people search to renew their appreciation of nature and to reaffirm(重申) their love and concern for family members and close friends.

Title	The Double Ninth Festival
Time	●People often   76 the Double Ninth Festival on the ninth day of the lunar month of a year. ●It’s a traditional festival with a   77 of more than 2,200 years, beginning from the Warring States Period.
Origin	●The number nine is considered as yang,   78 life and brightness. ●The ninth day of the ninth lunar month is a double young day, which makes the name Chong Yang Festival come into being. ●The approach of winter in the ninth month means a time wearing warm clothing for both the   __79 and the ancestors.
80  and Meanings	In   the   81	●To help avoid   82 and prevent disasters by climbing mountains. ●Ancient people wore cornel, admire chrysanthemums and drank chrysanthemums wine to prevent plague and drive off   83  smells. ●They also eat cakes in the festival.
	In modern time	●To improve health by climbing mountains as a   84 of relaxation and exercise. ●People still admire chrysanthemums, appreciate the beautiful scenery of autumn and eat cakes. ●It’s a time for people to   85  senior citizens. ●To reaffirm love and concern for family members and close friends by family get-togethers.

请认真阅读下列短文，并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单词。注意：每个空格只填一个单词。请将答案写在答题卡上相应的横线上。

The Chong Yang Festival is celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, and it is also known as the Double Ninth Festival.

The festival began as early as the Warring States Period (475BC-221BC). According to the yin/yang dichotomy(二分法), yin represents the elements of darkness and yang represents life and brightness. Among Chinese numbers, nine belongs to positive numbers and it is regarded as yang. The ninth day of the ninth lunar month is a double yang day; hence people start to say Chong Yang Festival. The ninth month also predicts the approach of winter. It is a time when the living need warm clothing, and Chinese sons and daughters extended this to make the festival a time for providing winter clothes for their ancestors. The Double Ninth Festival, therefore, also became an occasion to visit the graves of dead family members. Clothes made of paper would be burned as offerings.

The Double Ninth Festival sees various activities. On the Double Ninth Festival, people usually climb mountains, appreciate chrysanthemums (菊花), drink chrysanthemums wine, and eat cakes. Ancient people thought climbing a mountain on this day could help them avoid misfortune and prevent disasters, and this gradually evolved into a relaxation and exercise.

Ancient people used to wear cornel (山茱萸) and admire chrysanthemums. Cornel is a kind of plant with edible(可食用的) fruit, while its stem and leaves have medicinal value. To prevent plague(瘟疫) and drive off smelly smells, people wear cornel and chrysanthemums on the Double Ninth Festival, and drink tea and wine made from the flowers.

Nowadays many people will still climb mountains, admire chrysanthemums, appreciate the beautiful scenery of autumn and eat cakes. In recent years, new contents have been added into this ancient festival, which has become a time to show respect for the elderly. People hold various activities in honor of senior citizens, wishing them good health and a long life.

The Double Ninth Festival is also a time for family get-togethers. It is an occasion to remember one’s ancestors, the sacrifices they made and the hardships they underwent. Often, family outings are organized during which people search to renew their appreciation of nature and to reaffirm(重申) their love and concern for family members and close friends.