I'm glad you showed great interest in what is happening in China. You are right. I am very 21 of the great achievement that the Long March-2F carrier rocket successfully sent China's manned Shenzhou-9 spacecraft into space on June 16, 2012. Now, China is the third country in the world to use its own 22 to send a female into space.
I agree with you that if we work together and 23, the future will be ours, the two old civilizations will rejuvenate(焕发青春). The last thirty years has 24 great changes that have taken place in both India and China. We are lucky we are living in this great period.
You wanted to know more about Xi’an. Let me tell you: Xi’an is the biggest city in the 25 of China, with a population of over 9 million. Xi'an 26 the capital of China for over 13 dynasties. It was perhaps the most 27 and culturally advanced city in the entire world. 28 this place silk roads went westwards through Asia to Europe and Africa. Along one of the silk roads, over 1300 years ago, a great thinker called XuanZang 29 all the way from Xi'an to India with the 30 of getting true spirit of Buddha(佛). He succeeded after many 31 difficulties. After that, some new ideas from India spread over China, Japan and Korea. A 65-meter-high 32 called Dayan Pagoda was built for him for what he had done for the nation after he died, which 33 stands in the south of Xi'an, the most famous 34 of the city.
Xi'an is a city with splendid 35. A lot of historical interests attract millions of visitors from both China and all over the world, 36 which the Terra Cotta Warriors and the Old City Walls are the most well-known, whose details you can 37 find through the Internet.
Today's Xi'an is modern and even more beautiful, 38 to film-makers, IT experts, and business people of every description. Here in this city, famous for calligraphy(书法), a new chapter in China's history is being 39
I think you may have some idea of where I'm living. If you want to know more, come to China, I'll be your 40.
Tell me more about your city. Maybe my next long journey is India.
Hope to get your reply.
Liu Shaowen

I'm glad you showed great interest in what is happening in China. You are right. I am very 21 of the great achievement that the Long March-2F carrier rocket successfully sent China's manned Shenzhou-9 spacecraft into space on June 16, 2012. Now, China is the third country in the world to use its own 22 to send a female into space.

I agree with you that if we work together and 23, the future will be ours, the two old civilizations will rejuvenate(焕发青春). The last thirty years has 24 great changes that have taken place in both India and China. We are lucky we are living in this great period.

You wanted to know more about Xi’an. Let me tell you: Xi’an is the biggest city in the 25 of China, with a population of over 9 million. Xi'an 26 the capital of China for over 13 dynasties. It was perhaps the most 27 and culturally advanced city in the entire world. 28 this place silk roads went westwards through Asia to Europe and Africa. Along one of the silk roads, over 1300 years ago, a great thinker called XuanZang 29 all the way from Xi'an to India with the 30 of getting true spirit of Buddha(佛). He succeeded after many 31 difficulties. After that, some new ideas from India spread over China, Japan and Korea. A 65-meter-high 32 called Dayan Pagoda was built for him for what he had done for the nation after he died, which 33 stands in the south of Xi'an, the most famous 34 of the city.

Xi'an is a city with splendid 35. A lot of historical interests attract millions of visitors from both China and all over the world, 36 which the Terra Cotta Warriors and the Old City Walls are the most well-known, whose details you can 37 find through the Internet.

Today's Xi'an is modern and even more beautiful, 38 to film-makers, IT experts, and business people of every description. Here in this city, famous for calligraphy(书法), a new chapter in China's history is being 39

I think you may have some idea of where I'm living. If you want to know more, come to China, I'll be your 40.

Tell me more about your city. Maybe my next long journey is India.

Hope to get your reply.

Liu Shaowen

Two weeks before Christmas, Mother told me we were going to my grandmother’s house for the holiday. Grandma and Uncle Henry lived on a farm some 15 miles out of town. They had no electricity or running water and 26 what I considered the “good things” in life. They 27 made no plans for Christmas. When Christmas Eve arrived, Mom told me in her best “I-mean-it” voice to 28 all the decorations from our tree. She packed those up 29 all the materials for a 30 turkey dinner.

Christmas morning 31 perfectly with the sun shining brightly across a fresh blanket of snow. 32 　I was angry silently in the backseat of the car as we made our 33 to grandma’s. This was going to be the 34 Christmas ever! Grandma was 35 to see us as we walked up to her door. “What on earth are you doing here?” she said.” We weren’t expecting 36 . It’s Christmas, and I don’t even have a turkey to cook for you.” “I knew 37 .” Mom said as we set boxes of goodies on the kitchen table. “That’s 38 we brought all with us.” “We 39 have a tree,” Mom insisted. “ 40 , what will we do with all these decorations?” Uncle Henry quickly caught Mom’s spirit. He called me to join him, and we found a perfect Christmas tree in the woods. Soon the house 41 fresh and piney as we decorated the pine tree, and the day 42 a festive air. The turkey dinner was very good, too. I was actually beginning to enjoy this unusual Christmas day!

Dessert was almost forgotten 43 Mom came out with the final surprise—a flaming pudding! “Merry Christmas, mother,” Mom said. “Dear me!” Grandma said with her mouth wide open. “I haven’t seen a flaming pudding since I left England before I was married.” Tears of 44 filled her eyes. I could not keep the tears 45 my eyes, either. I knew then that Mom had also given me the best Christmas present ever.

She had taught me what a beautiful thing it is to give.

26. A. wanted　　 B. lacked　　　 C. refused　　　 D. prepared

27. A. also　　　　　 B. still　　　　 C. never　　　　 D. hardly

28. A. replace　　　 B. collect　　　 C. remove　　　 D. cover

29. A. instead of　　 B. by the side of C. along with　　 D. in spite of

30. A. normal　　　 B. complete　　 C. fresh　　　　 D. separate

31. A. dawned　　　 B. passed　　　 C. broke　　　　 D. happened

32. A. But　　　　 B. So　　　　　 C. And　　　　 D. Then

33. A. decision　　 B. way　　　　　 C. wish　　　　 D. plan

34. A. last　　　　 B. busiest　　　　 C. best　　　　 D. worst

35. A. expected　　 B. crazy　　　　 C. surprised　　 D. ready

36. A. anyone　　　 B. others　　　　 C. someone　　 D. no one

37. A. you　　　　 B. it　　　　　　 C. that　　　　　 D. this

38. A. how　　　　 B. why　　　　　 C. where　　　 D. what

39. A. may　　　　 B. will　　　　　　 C. can　　　　 D. must

40. A. In short　 B. Therefore　　　 C. However　　 D. Or rather

41. A. improved　　 B. smelled　　　　 C. became　　 　D. changed

42. A. went on　　 B. put on　　　　 C. took on　　　 D. tried on

43. A. until　　　　 B. after　　　　　　 C. because　　　 D. unless

44. A. sadness　　 B. joy　　　　　　　 C. regret　　　 D. worry

45. A. inside　　　 B. back　　　　　 　 C. away　　　　 D. From

完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）

阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、Ｂ、Ｃ和Ｄ）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该选项涂黑。

Once upon a time there was a group of tiny frogs that held a running competition. The 21___ was to reach the top of a very high tower. A big crowd had  22__  around the tower to see the race and cheer on the  23__ .

The race began,  24__ , no one in the crowd really  25__  that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower. You heard  26__  such as, “They will never  27__  it to the top.” or “There is no  28__  that they will succeed. The tower is too high!”

The tiny frogs began  29__ , one by one, except for those who were climbing  30__ in different paces.

The crowd continued to yell, “It’s too difficult!  31_  will make it!”

32__  tiny frogs got tired and gave up,  33__  one continued higher and higher.

34___ , everyone else had given up climbing the tower, except for one tiny frog. After a lot of  35__ , he was the only one who reached the top! Then all the other tiny frogs  36__  wanted to know how this one frog  37__ to do it?

A competitor asked the tiny frog how he had found the  38__  to succeed and reach the goal. It turned out that the winner was  39__ !

Never listen to other people’s tendencies to be negative or pessimistic…because they  40__  your most wonderful dreams and wishes away from you--- the one you have in your heart!

A. wish       B. goal     C. plan     D. idea

A. looked     B. walked       C. turned  D. gathered

A. competitors    B. holders      C. actors       D. performers

A. Generally      B. Probably     C. Actually     D. Basically

A. wondered  B. believed     C. guessed      D. hoped

A. statements B. conclusions      C. arguments    D. explanations

A. achieve   B. spot     C. encourage    D. make

A. problem   B. chance       C. doubt    D. favor

A. giving up      B. cheering up      C. escaping     D. settling down

A. faster and faster             B. higher and higher  

C. farther and farther           D. stronger and stronger

A. No one    B. Everyone     C. Anyone  D. Someone

A. Fewer      B. Less     C. More     D. Larger

A. and   B. but      C. so  D. or

A. At the same time   B. At each time     C. At no time  D. In the end

A. step       B. attempt      C. effort  D. jump A. naturally      B. weightlessly       C. sadly    D. strangely

A. managed     B. planed       C. intended     D. started A. energy      B. force   C. strength    D. power

A. deaf  B. violent      C. foolish      D. religious

A. send       B. pass     C. keep     D. take 

完形填空（共10小题；每小题２分，满分20分）

阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从21－30各题所给的ABC和D项中，选出最佳选项．

The finest and most sought-after violins were handcrafted by an Italian violin maker over 250 years ago. The man’s name was Antonius Stradivarius. He was born in 1644 and began his career   21   a violin maker’s apprentice (学徒). Working on his own by 1680, he became determined to make   22   that could reproduce tones as rich as those produced by the human voice. He  23    several shapes and styles for his violins until he arrived at a design that pleased him. During his career he crafted 1,100 violins. Those in   24   have become treasured possessions.

    Unfortunately, the secret of the Stradivarius violin died with its maker. During his lifetime Stradivarius kept his notes safely   25  , even his two sons, who helped him in his workshop, did not know all the steps involved in each violin’s construction.

    Through the years, many experts have offered    26   explanations for the unique tone of a “Strad”. Some say it is due to the violin’s shape. Others suggests that the secret    27   the special properties(特性) of the wood, which Stradivarius obtained from native Italian trees that no longer exist. The most widely accepted explanation is that it is created by the varnish（清漆） that the    28    used to coat his violins. Chemists have analyzed as closely as possible the varnish and have found its    29    has improved the sound of many violins.   30   , no other violin maker has been able to fully reproduce the tone of the Stradivarius’s violins.

21.  A. with                B. as               C. for              D. from

22.  A. Instruments    B. facilities             C. equipment     D. tools

23.  A. investigated     B. surveyed      C. tested           D. experimented

24.  A. fashion              B. existence         C. possession      D. use

25.  A. protected         B. buried        C. hidden         D. covered

26.  A. possible      B. accurate              C. detailed        D. persuasive

27.  A. brings in     B. takes in       C. results in      D. lies in

28.  A. master       B. violinist        C. expert           D. user

29.  A. attention             B. application    C. invention             D. foundation

30.  A. Additionally          B. Luckily         C. Therefore     D. Still