nickname is a shortened form of a person's name. A nickname also can be a descriptive name for a person, place or thing. Many American cities have nicknames. These can help establish an identity, spread pride among citizens and build unity.
A few years ago, some marketing and advertising experts were asked to name the best nickname for an American city. The winner was the nation's largest city, New York. The top nickname was The Big Apple.
You might wonder how New York got this nickname. In the early nineteen seventies, the city had many problems. The number of visitors was falling. So a campaign was launched to give the city a new image. The head of the New York Conventions and Visitors Bureau decided to call the city, The Big Apple.
There are several explanations for where this name came from. Language expert Barry Popik studied the question and wrote about it on his Web site. He says John Fitz Gerald, a writer for a New York newspaper, used the name The Big Apple to mean New York in the nineteen twenties. Mister Fitz Gerald wrote about horse races. He heard the name used by men who worked at a racetrack in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Mister Fitz Gerald wrote: "The Big Apple. The dream of every lad that ever threw a leg over a thoroughbred and the goal of all horsemen. There's only one Big Apple. That's New York."
In horse racing, the expression meant "the big time," the place where large amounts of money could be won. The Big Apple became the name of a night club in the Harlem area of New York City in nineteen thirty-four. It also was the name of a popular dance and a hit song in the nineteen thirties.
But it is not the only nickname for America's largest city. Barry Popik's web site lists almost one hundred nicknames that describe New York. The best known are The Capital of the World. Empire City. Gotham. The City So Nice They Named it Twice. And, The City That Never Sleeps. You can hear about the city in the song, "New York, New York," by Frank Sinatra.
【小题1】Why do many American cities have nicknames?（回答词数不超过15个）
【小题2】What did John Fitz Gerald write about for the New York newspaper?（回答词数不超过5个）
【小题3】Besides “The Big Apple”, how many best known nicknames that describe New York are listed according to Barry Popik's web site?（回答词数不超过2个）

---How well did John do in the match?

   --Wonderful. I think we can’t have a ______ player in our football team.

A. good         B. well          C. better        D. best

— How well did John do in the match?

— Wonderful. I think we can’t have a ______ player in our football team.

A. good              B. well              C. better            D. best

On a summer day, John was sitting on a beach in Hawaii with his parents. The six-year-old child suddenly said he was so lucky because he had so many toys to play with at home.

His surprised parents replied that he was lucky, since a lot of kids didn’t have any toys at all. “How can that be?” John said, confused, but then he said that he would like to get toys for those children. His parents naturally thought their son was just kidding. But as soon as they returned home, John began using his pocket money to buy toys for other kids and asking his friends to do the same. His parents responded by organizing pizza suppers for other families interested in helping other children that can’t afford to buy toys. John thought that he just wanted to cheer those kids up.

John’s parents started to find a place that would allow children as young as six and seven to volunteer. They finally find a day care center for disabled children to let John and his friends visit. They went and played with these kids, playing around the room as if they belonged there.

John and his friends named their work Kids Cheering Kids. John and his friends visited kids at some childcare centers, helping out with a party they organized. They also prepared a performance for children with disabilities. Their activities have drawn public concern.

The spirit of helping is as fresh as it was that day in Hawaii. “The whole purpose,”

John says, “is to make the kids feel better.”

1.Why did John get toys for the children who didn’t have any toy at all?

A．Because he wanted to make them happy.

B．Because he wanted to show off his toys.

C．Because he wanted to share his toys with them.

D．Because he wanted to make friends with them.

2.What was John’s parents’ attitude towards his plan?

A．Positive.          B．Critical.           C．Doubtful.          D．Puzzled.

3.What do we learn about Kids Cheering Kids?

A．It’s a children’s game enjoyed by John and his friends.

B．It’s a project started by John to help other kids.

C．It’s a program performed by John and his friends.

D．It’s an after-school activity planned by John’s friends.

4.What would be the best title for the passage?

A．An unforgettable vacation                 B．A valuable experience

C．Let kids cheer kids                      D．Let kids learn to share

—How well did John do in the match?

—Wonderful. I think we can’t have a ________ player in our football team.

A. good　　　B. well　　　C. better　　　D. best