I wish there would be a way to describe China in simple terms but that’s impossible. For the most part Chinese people are friendly, easy-going and optimistic. They are curious and unusually patient and they are also the hardest-working people I have ever met.

In China, family is everything. In my English classes when the students were asked what they would do if they only had a few hours to live, most students told me how they would spend their last few hours with their families and parents. Many times the subjects in the classes center on families and friends. I teach many students a year, talking to them freely.

The cost of living here is very low compared with that of the US. The city of Xiang Fan I live in isn’t large and I live better. Non-imported(非出口的) foods are very cheap, so are clothing and articles of everyday use. The cost of public transportation is very low, too. Chinese value education. However, it is reported that many children can’t afford the expenses of schooling and are forced to leave school in some poor area in China. But they organized Project Hope many years age. It creates conditions for the poor children to go back to school. In my opinion, Project Hope is of great importance to the development of the rural education.

When we read news of China in the west, rarely, if ever, will we see anything mentioned of the positive changes China has gone through. While it is true that economic miracles have not reached many areas of China, but we also have the same problems.

When I am asked which country I consider better. China or the US, my answer has always been the same, “We are not worse or better than each other, we are only different.”

1.What does the author think of Chinese people?

A. He thinks most Chinese people hardly work.

B. He thinks most Chinese people are proud.

C. He praises most Chinese people a lot.

D. He dislikes most Chinese people.

2.What is the author doing in China?

A. He is visiting the places of interest.

B. He is teaching English in a school.

C. He is studying in a college.

D. He is on business.

3.What are not cheap in China in the author’s opinion?

A. Clothes and shoes made in China.        B. Local foods

C. Public transportation tickets.            D. Imported foods

4.We can infer from the passage that the author thinks________.

A. the westerners have got to know China well

B. China’s economic miracles have appeared everywhere

C. the progress of China is seldom reported in the US

D. the education in rural areas is never cared about in China

5.In the author’s eyes,________.

A. China is different from the US

B. China is better than the US

C. Americans are richer than Chinese

D. China bears great similarities to the US

Americans hope Two-Thousand-Two will be happier than Two-Thousand-One. New York suffered terrible losses in the terrorist attacks on September Eleventh. However, the city is continuing with its New Year's Eve traditions in Times Square for the ninety-seventh year.

The tradition began in Nineteen-Oh-Four. That year, the owners of the building at Number One Times Square held a party on top of the building. Today, the New Year's Ball falls from the top of the same building. The ball contains thousands of pieces of lighted cut glass. It looks like burning stars as it falls through the darkness. When it reaches the ground, people in Times Square dance and sing. They throw tiny pieces of colorful paper into the air. Many people in the United States also watch this event on television.

Other cities also have New Year celebrations. For example, Chicago has a fireworks show. The fireworks are launched from the Navy Pier, a land area that extends into Lake Michigan. Some people like to watch the fireworks from a boat on the lake. The boat serves a special meal on New Year's Eve. People drink a special wine called Champagne to celebrate the clock striking midnight.

Many young people in Chicago celebrate New Year's Eve at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Children wear funny hats as they wish the animals a good New Year.

Many other Americans celebrate New Year's Eve with parties at home. Or they celebrate at public eating and drinking places. These events are usually noisy. People shout and sing. They often blow on small noise-makers when the New Year arrives at midnight. They kiss their husband or wife or the person they are with. They dance to broadcast music, records or live bands.

Some people drink too much alcohol at New Year's Eve celebrations. This can lead to tragic results if a person drinks too much and then drives a car. The National Safety Council says hundreds of people die in road accidents during the holiday.

In recent years, the danger of accidents has resulted in a new tradition called the "designated driver." One person among a group of friends drinks little or no alcohol during New Year's Eve celebrations. Then this designated driver can safely drive the other people home. Many American cities also offer free taxi service on New Year's Eve to take people home safely.

Other Americans observe the coming of the New Year at events without alcohol. More than two-hundred American cities hold these First Night celebrations. Artists in Boston, Massachusetts, started the tradition of First Night celebrations in Nineteen-Seventy-Six. They wanted to observe the coming of a New Year. But they did not want to hold noisy drinking parties. So they organized music, art and other events to observe the holiday.

66.What does the tradition refer to in the passage?

A. The celebration of New Year’s Eve.        B. The New Year’s Ball.

B. The fireworks show.                    D. The parties at home.

67.Why does the New Year’s Ball contain pieces of lighted cut glass?

A. To attract people in the square.            B. To light the Times Square

C. To give people atmosphere of a festival     D. To make people interested in the festival.

68. What is the passage mainly about?

A. To hope people remember the terrible suffering in the terrorist attacks

B. The colorful life of Americans.

C. The hopes of Americans in the coming new year.

D. The celebrating activities on New Year’s Eve in America.

69. How do Americans feel to the coming new year after the terrorist attacks?

A. sad, excited and hopeful             B. sad, excited and happy

C. happy, excited and hopeful           D. complicated, excited and hopeful.

70. The change people hope most to see in their tradition is __________

A. Less noise                        B. Drinking less alcohol

C. Fewer road accidents                D. Less tragedy

I wish there would be a way to describe China in simple terms but that’s impossible. For the most part Chinese people are friendly, easy-going and optimistic. They are curious and unusually patient and they are also the hardest-working people I have ever met.
In China, family is everything. In my English classes when the students were asked what they would do if they only had a few hours to live, most students told me how they would spend their last few hours with their families and parents. Many times the subjects in the classes center on families and friends. I teach many students a year, talking to them freely.
The cost of living here is very low compared with that of the US. The city of Xiang Fan I live in isn’t large and I live better. Non-imported(非出口的) foods are very cheap, so are clothing and articles of everyday use. The cost of public transportation is very low, too. Chinese value education. However, it is reported that many children can’t afford the expenses of schooling and are forced to leave school in some poor area in China. But they organized Project Hope many years age. It creates conditions for the poor children to go back to school. In my opinion, Project Hope is of great importance to the development of the rural education.
When we read news of China in the west, rarely, if ever, will we see anything mentioned of the positive changes China has gone through. While it is true that economic miracles have not reached many areas of China, but we also have the same problems.
When I am asked which country I consider better. China or the US, my answer has always been the same, “We are not worse or better than each other, we are only different.”

1. 1.

   What does the author think of Chinese people?

   1. A.
      He thinks most Chinese people hardly work
   2. B.
      He thinks most Chinese people are proud
   3. C.
      He praises most Chinese people a lot
   4. D.
      He dislikes most Chinese people
2. 2.

   What is the author doing in China?

   1. A.
      He is visiting the places of interest
   2. B.
      He is teaching English in a school
   3. C.
      He is studying in a college
   4. D.
      He is on business
3. 3.

   What are not cheap in China in the author’s opinion?

   1. A.
      Clothes and shoes made in China
   2. B.
      Local foods
   3. C.
      Public transportation tickets
   4. D.
      Imported foods
4. 4.

   We can infer from the passage that the author thinks______.

   1. A.
      the westerners have got to know China well
   2. B.
      China’s economic miracles have appeared everywhere
   3. C.
      the progress of China is seldom reported in the US
   4. D.
      the education in rural areas is never cared about in China
5. 5.

   In the author’s eyes,______.

   1. A.
      China is different from the US
   2. B.
      China is better than the US
   3. C.
      Americans are richer than Chinese
   4. D.
      China bears great similarities to the US