Which day is the most important for you? Your birthday, the first day of your work or the day you win a prize. Many teenagers may think their birthday is the happiest time because they can receive many wonderful presents and have much fun with their friends. Others may regard the starting day of their work as the most meaningful. They think it’s the first big step in their life and they can depend on themselves. They like to deal with challenges rather than to ask for the help of adults.
According to a survey, more than half of the Chinese people, certain ages and birthdays are especially important. One hundred days after a baby’s birth has special meaning. On that day, relatives(亲戚) and friends come to bless the baby. In northern part of China, like Inner Mongolia, a child’s 12th birthday is a big day. This is when a child becomes a teenager. Eighteen is another important age, which means you must be responsible(负责任的) for what you have done in laws. As for adults, maybe the anniversary of their marriage(结婚周年庆) is the most important. For some old people, the 60th or 70th birthday is also very important. They like to be cared about by all his family and friends, and the big family get-together can provide them a good chance to recall(回忆) the past.
【小题1】 Which is not regarded as the most important day for teenagers?

Once I spoke at a high school. After the speech, the principal asked me to see a special student. An     1   had kept the boy home, but he had expressed an interest in meeting me, and it would mean a great deal to him. I agreed.

He was Matthew.   2  he was born, the doctor told his parents that he would not live to see five, then they were told    3  would not make it to ten. Now he was thirteen. He wanted to meet me because I was a gold-medal weight lifter.

I spent over an hour talking to Matthew. He spoke about   4  and succeeding and seeking（追寻）his dreams.

When we finished talking, I went to my    5 and pulled out the first gold medal I won and put it around his neck. I told him he was more of a winner and knew more about    6   and overcoming obstacles（克服障碍）than I ever would. He looked at it for a while, then took it off and handed it   7  to me. He said, “You are a champion. You earned that medal. Someday when I get to the Olympics and win my own medal, I will show it to you.”

Last summer I got the news that Matthew had   8   and a letter Matthew had written to me a few days before:

Dear Rick,

My mom said I should send you a thank-you letter. The doctors are   9  to tell me that I don't have long to live any more. But I still smile as much as I can.

I told you that in the future I was going to the Olympics and win a gold medal. But I know now I'll      10   . I know I'm a champion, and God knows that too. When I get to Heaven, God will give me my medal and when you get there, I will show it to you.

Thank you for loving me.

Your friend

Matthew

1.                A．excuse         B．effect          C．operation D．illness

2.                A．While          B．When          C．Although  D．Because

3.                A．they           B．he             C．she  D．I

4.                A．winning        B．teaching        C．playing   D．working

5.                A．home          B．desk           C．classroom D．bag

6.                A．failure         B．success         C．luck D．smile

7.                A．around         B．in             C．back D．down

8.                A．went away      B．passed away     C．stayed away   D．moved away

9.                A．surprised       B．brave          C．sorry D．happy

10.               A．never          B．ever           C．often D．seldom

阅读理解

When we think of Hollywood, we think of movies and famous movie stars. They are part of Hollywood’s history. Today people make movies in other places too. Not all famous movie stars live in Hollywood. But Hollywood is still a very special city in Los Angeles, California.

You can easily see where Hollywood is in Los Angeles. There is a big sign on the hills. It says “HOLLYWOOD”. The white letters are fifty feet tall. You can see the sign from far away. The Hollywood sign is a famous landmark in Los Angeles. Many postcards show this famous Hollywood landmark.

In the hills of Hollywood, there is also the Hollywood Bowl. This is an open-air theatre. It is one of the largest open-air theatres in the world. It has seventeen thousand seats and a very special stage. The stage was designed by the great American architect（建筑师） Frank Lloyd Wright. You can listen to all kinds of concerts at the Hollywood Bowl.

1.Today Hollywood is _______.

2. You can see where Hollywood is in Los Angeles because _______.

3. The Hollywood Bowl is _______.

4. Which is not mentioned about the Hollywood Bowl?

5.What special things can we see in Hollywood?

A. The Hollywood hills.                   B. The Hollywood landmark.

C. The Hollywood Bowl.                    D. Both B and C.

Once I spoke at a high school. After the speech, the principal asked me to see a special student. An     1   had kept the boy home, but he had expressed an interest in meeting me, and it would mean a great deal to him. I agreed.
He was Matthew.   2  he was born, the doctor told his parents that he would not live to see five, then they were told    3  would not make it to ten. Now he was thirteen. He wanted to meet me because I was a gold-medal weight lifter.
I spent over an hour talking to Matthew. He spoke about   4  and succeeding and seeking（追寻）his dreams.
When we finished talking, I went to my    5 and pulled out the first gold medal I won and put it around his neck. I told him he was more of a winner and knew more about    6   and overcoming obstacles（克服障碍）than I ever would. He looked at it for a while, then took it off and handed it   7  to me. He said, “You are a champion. You earned that medal. Someday when I get to the Olympics and win my own medal, I will show it to you.”
Last summer I got the news that Matthew had   8   and a letter Matthew had written to me a few days before:
Dear Rick,
My mom said I should send you a thank-you letter. The doctors are   9  to tell me that I don't have long to live any more. But I still smile as much as I can.
I told you that in the future I was going to the Olympics and win a gold medal. But I know now I'll      10   . I know I'm a champion, and God knows that too. When I get to Heaven, God will give me my medal and when you get there, I will show it to you.
Thank you for loving me.
Your friend
Matthew