The tradition of birthday parties started a long time ago. There are some traditions that you can find almost anywhere, anytime, such as sending birthday cards, blowing out the candles(吹熄蜡烛) on a birthday cake and singing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song. Others are only found for certain ages and in certain countries.
In China, on a child’s second birthday, family members put many things on the floor around the child. According to Chinese tradition, the first thing that the child picks up tells you what job the child will choose later in life.
For Japanese children, the third, fifth and seventh birthdays are especially important. At this age, there is a special celebration(庆祝) Shichi-Go-San (seven, five, three in Japanese) when children go to the temple wearing a new kimono (和服). The priest (僧侣) gives them special sweets, and the parents usually organize a party for their friends in their home.
In Argentina, Mexico and several other Latin American countries, girls have a special birthday celebration when they reach the age of fifteen. After a special ceremony (仪式), the girls dance a waltz with their father and other boys.
Eighteen is the traditional ‘coming of age’— the age when (in many countries) you have the right to vote (选举权), join the army （参军）and (in Britain) drink alcohol （酒）or buy a house.
In many English-speaking countries, a twenty-first birthday cake often has a key on top, or the cake itself is sometimes in the shape of a key. The key means that the young person is now old enough to leave and enter the family home at any time they want to! 
【小题1】Which of the following birthday traditions can you find almost anywhere, anytime?
A. Putting many things on the floor.
B. Sending birthday cards.
C. Dancing a waltz.                         
【小题2】Mexican girls have a special birthday celebration at the age of       .
A. five           B. seven              C. fifteen 
【小题3】In many countries you can ___ when you reach the age of eighteen.
A. join the army    B. have a key    C. have a special ceremony  
【小题4】Which of the following sentences is NOT true?
A. The tradition of birthday parties started a long time ago.
B. Some birthday traditions are only found in certain countries.
C. You become the owner of your house at the age of fifteen.
【小题5】Which is the best title of this passage?
A. Birthday Traditions around the World 
B. The Drinking Age in Many Countries
C. Japanese Special Celebration

A group of adults, highly succeeded in their jobs, went to visit their old professor. Soon they began to __31__ the stress in work and life.

       The professor went to the kitchen and returned __32__ a pot of coffee and all kinds of cups — crystal (水晶的), glass, plastic; some nice looking, some plain looking; some __33__, some cheap. And he told them to help __34__ to the coffee.

       When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said, “I’ve noticed that all the nice looking expensive cups were __35__, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is __36__ for you to take only the best for yourselves, that is the root of your __37__ and stress.

       You know that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee, __38__ you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, __39__ you consciously went for the best cups.

       Now consider this: Life is the coffee. The jobs, money and __40__ in society are the cups. They are just __41__ to hold life, and the type of cup does not change the quality of our life. Sometimes, by __42__ only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee that God has __43__ us. God offers us the coffee, not the cups. Please enjoy your coffee!”The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They just make __44__ of everything.

       Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak __45__. And leave the rest to God.

1.A. think of                B. thank for                 C. complain about        D. drop out

2.A. for                    B. at                       C. in                   D. with

3.A. expensive              B. ordinary                 C. strong                 D. serious

4.A. them                  B. themselves               C. him                  D. everyone

5.A. mixed up              B. left                      C. taken up               D. refused

6.A. normal                B. important                 C. impossible             D. necessary

7.A. thoughts               B. failure                   C. questions              D. problems

8.A. Who                  B. How much               C. What                  D. That

9.A. and                   B. but                     C. so                     D. or

10.A. position               B. age                     C. health                  D. purpose

11.A. cups                 B. tools                     C. bags                   D. bowls

12.A. putting               B. getting                   C. turning                  D. concentrating

13.A. taught                B. provided               C. returned         D. bought

14.A. fun                  B. use                    C. the best          D. the worst

15.A. kindly               B. sadly                   C. rudely           D. seriously

I grew up in a small town. When I was in the third grade, I was chosen to be the        in the school play. My mother helped me practice my lines for weeks. But once I stepped onto the stage, I was too nervous to        the words. Finally, my teacher asked me to         the role to a storyteller. I didn’t tell my mother        had happened when I went home for lunch that day. She knew that I was        from my look. She asked if I wanted to go for a walk in the yard.

      It was a lovely         day and the grass was turning green. We could see a lot of yellow dandelions(蒲公英）in the grass. I watched my mother walking towards a dandelion and         it up by its roots(根茎). “From now on, we’ll have only roses in this garden.” she said. “But I like dandelions,” I said. “All        are beautiful _—— even dandelions!”

“Yes, every flower gives pleasure in its own way. And that is true of       too. Not everyone can be a princess. You will be a beautiful storyteller,” my mother said, reminding me of how much I        to read stories to her. “The storyteller’s part is just as       as the part of a princess.”

The big day         came. A few minutes before the play, my teacher handed me a      . I looked at it and thought of our        talk. It made me        .

After the play, I took the flower home, and kept it in our family dictionary.

1.A. king                  B. snowman             C. princess               D. witch

2.A. forget              B. remember                   C. find              D. write

3.A. act                    B. play                       C. change                D. take

4.A. which              B. what                       C. that               D. this

5.A. energetic        B. unhappy              C. excited      D. dishonest

6.A. spring              B. summer                   C. autumn                  D. winter

7.A. putting             B. pulling                      C. setting                   D. looking

8.A. seasons           B. rainbows              C. flowers      D. scenes

9.A. animals            B. plants                       C. people                   D. food

10.A. hated             B. loved                             C. tried                     D. planned

11.A. interesting    B. common              C. important           D. cheerful

12.A. suddenly       B. finally                       C. usually                   D. slowly

13.A. rose               B. dandelion                  C. present                 D. hairclip

14.A. breakfast time B. lunchtime                      C. suppertime         D. teatime

15.A. imaginative   B. generous              C. confident             D. humorous

The tradition of birthday parties started a long time ago. There are some traditions that you can find almost anywhere, anytime, such as sending birthday cards, blowing out the candles(吹熄蜡烛) on a birthday cake and singing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song. Others are only found for certain ages and in certain countries.

In China, on a child’s second birthday, family members put many things on the floor around the child. According to Chinese tradition, the first thing that the child picks up tells you what job the child will choose later in life.

For Japanese children, the third, fifth and seventh birthdays are especially important. At this age, there is a special celebration(庆祝) Shichi-Go-San (seven, five, three in Japanese) when children go to the temple wearing a new kimono (和服). The priest (僧侣) gives them special sweets, and the parents usually organize a party for their friends in their home.

In Argentina, Mexico and several other Latin American countries, girls have a special birthday celebration when they reach the age of fifteen. After a special ceremony (仪式), the girls dance a waltz with their father and other boys.

Eighteen is the traditional ‘coming of age’— the age when (in many countries) you have the right to vote (选举权), join the army （参军）and (in Britain) drink alcohol （酒）or buy a house.

In many English-speaking countries, a twenty-first birthday cake often has a key on top, or the cake itself is sometimes in the shape of a key. The key means that the young person is now old enough to leave and enter the family home at any time they want to! 

1.Which of the following birthday traditions can you find almost anywhere, anytime?

A. Putting many things on the floor.

B. Sending birthday cards.

C. Dancing a waltz.                         

2.Mexican girls have a special birthday celebration at the age of       .

A. five           B. seven              C. fifteen 

3.In many countries you can ___ when you reach the age of eighteen.

A. join the army    B. have a key    C. have a special ceremony  

4.Which of the following sentences is NOT true?

A. The tradition of birthday parties started a long time ago.

B. Some birthday traditions are only found in certain countries.

C. You become the owner of your house at the age of fifteen.

5.Which is the best title of this passage?

A. Birthday Traditions around the World 

B. The Drinking Age in Many Countries

C. Japanese Special Celebration

完形填空

Look at the picture. It’s a picture __1___ a park. __2__ the tree ___ 3__ some birds. Are there __4__ boys under it? Yes, there are. They’re __5__ English books. __6__ girls are there near the river? There’re six. Are they __7__ games? Yes, they are. __8__ that girl behind the tree? That’s Kate. She’s __9__ a red skirt. She’s __10__ tea.

1.about  B. of  C. to  D. at

2.A. Away   B. Down C. At   D. In

3. A. have   B. are  C. there’re  D. there’s

4. A. a  B. any  C. some  D. the

5. A. reading  B. seeing  C. looking at  D. watching

6. A. Who’re   B. How much   C. How many  D. What about

7. A. running  B. think  C. playing  D. makes

8. A. What’s  B. Who’s  C. How is  D. Where’s

9. A. putting  B. having   C. wearing  D. putting on

10. A. eating  B. cleaning  C. drinking  D. like