To the Editor,

    I have been reading your newspaper, the Hometown Gazette, for the past two years, ever since I moved to Smithville. We moved here from New York City, so I am accustomed(习惯的) to reading excellent newspapers such as The New York Times . In fact, we still have the Times delivered on Sundays. The entire family enjoys reading the recipes（食谱） in the magazine, as well as the Styles section.

The Times is great, but the Gazette is another story. I’ve never read an article that doesn’t contain at least three or four spelling or grammatical errors. For instance, in last week’s issue you misspelled the word “secretary”, used a singular verb with a plural noun, and used “it’s” as a possessive (所有格). And that was just in the lead story! In case you never went to elementary school, “it’s” means “it is ”.It’s also a possessive adjective!

It’s a pity that this tiny little hick(乡下) town has only one newspaper, because I’d like to have an alternative(替换物) to the rag you publish. I find it hard to believe your news stories. If you can’t spell correctly. How can you get your facts right?

I’ve been meaning to get this off my chest for some time. Please cancel my subscription(订阅). And buy yourself a dictionary.

                                                    Sincerely,

                                                    Jane Z, Jones

Which phrase from the passage shows the writer’s prejudice(偏见)?

   A. get this off my chest

   B. three or four spelling or grammatical errors

   C. tiny little hick town

   D. reading the recipes in the magazine

The author’s tone in this passage can best be described as                 

   A. happy        B. angry       C. sympathetic(同情的)         D. objective

Which statement of the following is not true according to the passage?

   A. The writer once lived in New York City, so he was used to reading the Times.

   B. The entire family enjoys reading the Styles section in the mafazine.

   C. The writer has long been planning to express his dissatisfaction with the local newspaper

   D. It is obvious that the editors of the newspaper are not very careful about their work.

第二节：任务型阅读：

阅读下列材料， 从所给的六个选项（A, B,C, D, E, F）中， 选出符合各个小题要求的最佳选项，选项中有一项是多余选项。

(   ) 76. Ray and three of his friends would like to spend a whole weekend driving around in nice scenery and enjoying some local food.

(   ) 77. Phil and Adam want to go on a comfortable trip which takes them quickly to an interesting city. Then they want to enjoy at least two days sightseeing.

(   ) 78. Mike, Kathy and their three children don’t have much money, but they want a special day out this Saturday. They must be back home at 7 p.m.

(   ) 79. Kirsten is a Dutch student who is studying in Scotland. She doesn’t drive, but wants a day trip to see some beautiful scenery and spend a little time by the sea.

(   ) 80. Clare and Robert want to enjoy some good food, but would also like to give their two young children a day to remember. They don’t mind if they spend a lot of money.

A

Marine Life, France

The chance to experience the oceans of the world. Children will love the observatory, with water all around them and big fish swimming above their heads! Afterwards you eat at a world-famous local restaurant before boarding the ferry at 9 p.m. Not cheap, but a great day out!

B

Amsterdam

Sail out in the evening and enjoy 12 hours in the Netherlands, returning the following night. After a good Dutch breakfast you travel by train directing to the heart of the wonderful city of Amsterdam. The sightseeing and the places to shop will make this a day to remember. Weekends only.

C

Ireland by Car

Once you arrive in Ireland you are quickly on beautiful country roads, with friendly villages where you can stop for a delicious bite to eat. The special price allows you to take up your car and up to five people away for 48 hours, and two nights’ hotel accommodation can be arranged for a little extra.

D

French Hypermarket Day Trip

Whether you want to buy or just look, you will love this tour. The large Darney shopping center is a shopper’s dream! You will find a great number of local goods on sale, and clothes and kitchen goods are of excellent value. Free children’s entertainment all day. Leaves at 10:00, back at 19:00.

E

Belgium by Hydrofoil

A four-day trip. From England you cross to Belgium in just 100 minutes by hydrofoil (水翼船)! You are served food and drinks during the crossing, then continue your journey to Brussels, or another beautiful city, on the fast Belgium railway network.

F

Northern Ireland

Explore the Northern Ireland countryside, including the amazing Mountains of Mourne and the small seaside holiday town of Newcastle. Their ferry leaves the port in Scotland at 7:30 and arrives back at 22:00. Transport in Northern Ireland is by air-conditioned bus.

第二节 读写任务（共1小题，满分25分）
阅读下面的短文，然后按照要求写一篇150词左右的英语短文。
Once upon a time some tiny frogs held a competition. The first to reach the top of a very high tower would be the winner.
A big crowd gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer them on.
The race began. No one in the crowd really believed that any of the tiny frogs would reach the top of tower. “They will never get to the top! They will never succeed!” someone said.
One by one, the tiny frogs began to collapse (退下).
The crowd kept shouting, “It is too difficult! No frog will make it!”
More tiny frogs got tired and gave up, but one continued climbing, higher and higher. This one wouldn’t give up.
In the end, he was the only one left—the only one to get to the top. The other frogs naturally wanted to know: How did the frog make it？
One frog stepped forward to ask the winner. It turned out:… that the winner was deaf.
He had won because he was able to keep his own mind. He was able to keep trying. He couldn’t hear criticism; neither could he hear praise.
[写作内容]
(1) 以约30个词概括寓言故事的大意。
(2) 然后以120个词就“坚持就会成功”这个主题发表你的看法, 并包括如下要点：
a) 叙述着个寓言给你的启示；
b) 以自己或朋友、家人的经历说明“坚持就会成功”或者不坚持导致失败；
c) 你自己的感受或思想。
[写作要求]
(1) 可以使用实例或其它论述方法支持你的论点, 也可以参照阅读材料的内容, 但不得直接引用原文中的句子；
(2) 标题自定。

一、填空（每小题1.5分，共30分）

（根据汉语提示填空并完成句子或短语。每空一词，请将答案做在答题卡上）

1．This was the moment when Spielberg’s career really ­_______off.      （成功，腾飞）

2．Books are made _______ paper and paper is made _______ wood.  （由……制成的）

3．The house where he once lived has been turned ______a museum and is visited by thousands of people every year.                                        （变成）

4．If we reuse something, it will not end up ______waste.              （以……告终）

5．Keep in ______                                               （保持联系）

6．the  other  way  _______                                         （相反）

7．They will ______ down the old building .                              （拆毁）

8．a _______graduate student                            （一个有前途的研究生）

9．What does the UK______ ______ ?                                   （代表 ）

10．A storm  is  just ______ the corner .                   （就在附近,即将来临）

11． keep up with the high ______of modern life      （跟上现代生活的快节奏 ）

12．The twins have a lot  in ________ with  each other.       （与……有相同之处）

13．come to _______ with                                        （甘心忍受）

14．________ one’s goals.                                   （达到自己目标）

15． He ______ about  to lock the door when the telephone rang .            （正要）

16．We tie the  boat _____a tree.                             （把……拴在……）

17．Share happiness  and _______                                （同甘共苦）

18．­­­­____ number of the  sdudents in our class is 56.                 （……的数量）

19．learn from  the best _______ in the world                  （向世界顶尖人物学习）

20．The weather turned _____to be fine.                            （结果是……）

Angela Chang(张韶涵) didn’t know it would be so hard to turn singing into a career. She went to many different record companies. But she was always turned down for looking too young and small.
“I’d never had such difficulties before,” Chang said. But Chang’s talent was finally accepted in 2002. When she got a piece of work, she cried.
She soon became a star. Her first album Over the Rainbow sold very well. She won many awards.
“You wouldn’t believe such a beautiful voice could come from such a small body,” said one musician after hearing Chang sing. “She has a special voice. You can’t forget it.”
But the 25-year-old girl has other talents too. Chang is also an actress. She has played a role in the popular TV plays, My MVP Valentine and At Dolphin Bay. Many people remember her common-girl parts in the plays. But acting is difficult. Chang once acted so badly that she was nearly fired. Another time it took her 27 tries to get a scene right.
“I cried when I got back home,” Chang said. “But I knew that I wouldn’t always fail. You only fail when you give up.”
Now with four albums behind her - Over the Rainbow, Aurora, Pandora and Flower in the Wonderland, it’s clear that Chang and music were made for each other. As she sings in one song, “I have a pair of invisible wings. They fly me to the sky and give me hope.”
【小题1】The word “invisible” in the last paragraph means “________________”.