This Christmas, maybe different from previous years, a strong desire drives me to make my own Christmas gifts. Honestly speaking, I’ve promised myself this more than once. As a crafter (工匠), I’ve frequently thought I am supposed to turn it into action. However, this year I really plan to stick to it. It’s partly because I run short of money. More importantly, I’ve recently returned from an inspiring trip around Britain, collecting some information about crafting for BBC’s Newsnight.

    Actually I planned the trip couples of months ago. The idea of traveling the country — making things as I went, meeting artists and craftspeople — sounded perfect to spend the summer. I’d pack a tent and a sewing machine and I’d set off. But by the time I determined my plans and hit the road, leaves made a sighing sound under foot. It seemed crazy to camp with winter on the way; Luckily, Newsnight viewers offered me accommodations in return for help with a craft task.

My tasks ranged from sewing worn-out clothes to making trousers. Textile students in Harpenden offered to pay for my petrol in return for a talk about hats. In Derby, Amy needed help to change an old pair of curtains.

I was really struck by people’s increasing enthusiasm for making things. When I asked some people if they could sew, only a few raised their hands. But when I asked who wanted to learn, nearly everyone responded positively, hoping to learn something practical.

Craft is definitely popular at the moment. But besides fashion, we’re learning to appreciate effort and quality again. Perhaps once people rediscover the pleasure to be gained from making something unique, it may stick.

Sue is director of quilts at the V&A, where next spring she’ll be putting on the museum’s first major quilting exhibition. Sue believes the return to crafting is related to how we rethink ourselves. “People, especially women, are beginning to think about the way they live their lives. It’s 40 years since the first women’s liberation(解放) conference was held in Oxford. Since then we’ve been in the workplace, and we’ve had the opportunity of choice. Now we’re carefully choosing to go back into the home.”

Whether you agree with that or not, there’s something about Christmas that brings out the artistic flavor(气息) in everyone. Whether it’s baking bread or pies or decorating the halls or rooms, we’re all prepared to have a try at any time. So if you fancy having a different and joyful party or holiday and making a few presents, try these really simple ideas, each inspired by my recent journey there. They make small and interesting gifts, and take no longer than 30 minutes each. Enjoy Christmas songs and settle down with a cup of hot cocoa, and the cold is gone. You’ll save yourself a small quantity of money and spread a little bit of love, too!

1.Why did the author promise to make herself a Christmas gift this year?

A. She wanted to enjoy a different Christmas.

B. She wanted to make more money.

C. She was inspired by her trip for a BBC TV program.

D. She hoped to present herself with a surprise.

2.The author had her plans carried out and set out for Britain in ______.

A. spring                      B. summer                            C. fall                            D. winter

3.What happened during the author’s trip to Britain?

A. She met many artists and craftspeople on her way to Britain.

B. She spent a whole summer in Britain making crafts.

C. She was asked to sew clothes, and curtains and made much money.

D. Many people showed great interest in making things themselves.

4.According to the passage, people learn to ______ through crafting.

A. be grateful to what they have gained

B. keep up with fashion

C. stick to something interesting

D. know more information about craft

5.What is the author’s opinion on homemade Christmas presents?

A. Making Christmas presents can only convey a bit of your love.

B. People can find their artistic talent in making Christmas presents.

C. A cup of hot cocoa can inspire you to make a creative present.

D. It would take a long time to prepare a homemade Christmas present.

B

South Korea has offered about 10,000 tons of corn to North Korea, in what would be the first official aid to its hungry neighbor for almost two years．The South also offered 20 tons of milk powder and medicine for children, pregnant women and other vulnerable people, its unification ministry said．The proposed shipmen would be through the Red Cross．It would be the first official one since a conservative government came to power in Seoul in February 2008．The South Korean administration of President Lee Myung-bak has linked major assistance to progress on denuclearisation．

However, after months of bitter hostility, the communist North began making peace overtures（提议，提案） to the South in recent months．Persistent media reports have also said the two sides have held preliminary talks about a possible summit．

The amount of food aid on offer is tiny relative to the needs in what the United Nations recently described as the famine-hit North．A third of North Korean women and young children are malnourished（营养不良的） and the country will run short of almost 1．8 million tons of food this year, the United Nations World Food Program said in a report last month．The unification ministry admitted it was far less than needed but said the North must mend relations before shipments could be increased．

"We cannot say 10,000 tons is sufficient in view of North Korea's food shortage and other conditions," said ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-Joo．"We are providing purely humanitarian aid," she said．

"There is no change in our position that massive food aid depends on how relations between the two Koreas develop," she said．North Korea has yet to respond to the latest offer, made through the Red Cross．But Yonhap news agency said it was likely co-ordinated in advance before the announcement．

Last year the South offered 50,000 tons of corn, but the North rejected the shipment amid high tensions．

North Korea has relied on food aid from China, South Korea and aid agencies to feed millions of its people since a famine in the 1990s resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands．

50．How would North Korea be offered about 10,000 tons of corn from South Korea?

A．North Korea would buy corn from South Korea．

B．North Korea would exchange with South Korea．

C．The offer would be through the Red Sea．．

D．The offer would be through an international organization

51．About whether South Korea would go on offering assistance, we can infer from the passage that________________．

A．they would go on without any condition

B．they would go on if there was a famine in North Korea

C．it depended on how their relation would develop

D．it depended on whether North Korea needed it

52．How did North Korea survive since a famine in the 1990s?

A．They depended on the international aid from all other countries

B．They developed their agriculture to increase the production

C．They expanded the agricultural land

D．They relied on food aid from China, South Korea and aid agencies

53．What is the main idea of the passage?

A． It’s about the aid to South Korea from North Korea

B．It tells about the help between South Korea and North Korea

C．It’s about the help to the Poor

D．It tells about an action of the Red Cross

—Every now and then I get hungry for Chinese food. Let’s dine out tonight.

—Forget it. My money_______.

A. has run short                   B. is running short 

C. runs short                      D. was running short

Cold weather can be hard on pets, just like it can be hard on people. Sometimes owners forget that their cats are just as used to the warm shelter (住所) as they are. Some owners will leave their animals outside for a long period of time, thinking that all animals are used to living outdoors. This can put their pets in danger of serious illness. There are things you can do to keep your animal warm and safe.
Keep your pets inside as much as you can when the weather is bad. If you have to take them out, stay outside with them. When you’re cold enough to go inside, they probably are too. If you must leave them outside for a long time, make sure they have a warm, solid shelter against the wind, thick bedding, and plenty of non-frozen water.
If left alone outside, dogs and cats can be very smart in their search for warm shelter. They can dig into snow banks or hide somewhere. Watch them closely when they are left outdoors, and provide them with shelter of good quality. Keep an eye on your pet’s water. Sometimes owners don’t realize that a water bowl has frozen and their pet can’t get anything to drink. Animals that don’t have clean and unfrozen water may drink dirty water outside, which may contain something unhealthy for them.
【小题1】What do we learn about pets from Paragraph 1?

B
South Korea has offered about 10,000 tons of corn to North Korea, in what would be the first official aid to its hungry neighbor for almost two years．The South also offered 20 tons of milk powder and medicine for children, pregnant women and other vulnerable people, its unification ministry said．The proposed shipmen would be through the Red Cross．It would be the first official one since a conservative government came to power in Seoul in February 2008．The South Korean administration of President Lee Myung-bak has linked major assistance to progress on denuclearisation．
However, after months of bitter hostility, the communist North began making peace overtures（提议，提案） to the South in recent months．Persistent media reports have also said the two sides have held preliminary talks about a possible summit．
The amount of food aid on offer is tiny relative to the needs in what the United Nations recently described as the famine-hit North．A third of North Korean women and young children are malnourished（营养不良的） and the country will run short of almost 1．8 million tons of food this year, the United Nations World Food Program said in a report last month．The unification ministry admitted it was far less than needed but said the North must mend relations before shipments could be increased．
"We cannot say 10,000 tons is sufficient in view of North Korea's food shortage and other conditions," said ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-Joo．"We are providing purely humanitarian aid," she said．
"There is no change in our position that massive food aid depends on how relations between the two Koreas develop," she said．North Korea has yet to respond to the latest offer, made through the Red Cross．But Yonhap news agency said it was likely co-ordinated in advance before the announcement．
Last year the South offered 50,000 tons of corn, but the North rejected the shipment amid high tensions．
North Korea has relied on food aid from China, South Korea and aid agencies to feed millions of its people since a famine in the 1990s resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands．
50．How would North Korea be offered about 10,000 tons of corn from South Korea?
A．North Korea would buy corn from South Korea．
B．North Korea would exchange with South Korea．
C．The offer would be through the Red Sea．．
D．The offer would be through an international organization
51．About whether South Korea would go on offering assistance, we can infer from the passage that________________．
A．they would go on without any condition
B．they would go on if there was a famine in North Korea
C．it depended on how their relation would develop
D．it depended on whether North Korea needed it
52．How did North Korea survive since a famine in the 1990s?
A．They depended on the international aid from all other countries
B．They developed their agriculture to increase the production
C．They expanded the agricultural land
D．They relied on food aid from China, South Korea and aid agencies
53．What is the main idea of the passage?
A． It’s about the aid to South Korea from North Korea
B．It tells about the help between South Korea and North Korea
C．It’s about the help to the Poor
D．It tells about an action of the Red Cross