8、Erik Weihenmayer was born with an eye disorder. As a child his eyesight became worse and then, at the age of 13, he lost his sight completely. However, he did not lose his determination to lead a full and active life.

       Erik became an adventurer. He took up parachuting, wrestling and scuba diving. He competed in long-distance biking, marathons and skiing. His favorite sport, thought, is mountaineering.

       As a young man, Erik started to climb mountains. He reached the summit of Mount McKinley in 1995 and then climbed the dangerous 1000-metre rock wall of EI Capitan. Two years later, while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya with his girlfriend, they stopped for a time at 13,000 feet above sea level－in order to get married. In 1999, he climbed Aconcagua, the tallest mountain in South America. And then , on May 25, 2001, at the age of 33, Erik successfully completed the greatest mountaineering challenge of all. He climbed Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world.

       Erik invented his own method for climbing mountains. He carries two long poles: one to lean on and the other to test the way ahead of him. The climber in front of him wears a bell to guide him. Erik is a good team member. He does his share of the job, such as setting up tents and building snow walls.

       Although he could not enjoy the view, Erik felt the excitement of being on the summit of Everest. He hopes that his success will change how people think about the blind. “When people think about a blind person or blindness, now they will think about a person standing on top of the world.”

1. When was Erik born?

       A. In 1968.                   B. In 1995.                   C. In 1967.                   D. In 1969.

2. What was unusual about his wedding?

       A. He got married on the summit of Mount McKinley.

B. He got married when climbing Mount Everest.

       C. His wedding was held after he prepared a lot.

D. His wedding was held at 13,000 feet above sea level.

3. What is Erik’s special method for climbing a mountain?

A. He takes his girlfriend with him.

B. He does his share of the jobs.

C. He uses two long poles to help himself.

D. He keeps a good team around him.

4. Which of the following shows the right order of what happened?

a. He topped Mount McKinley.

b. He became blind.

c. He challenged Mount Everest.

d. He reached the peak of Kilimanjaro.

e. He climbed the rock wall of EI Capitan.

A. b, e, d, c, a   B. b, a, e, d, c    C. a, b, e, d, c    D. b, d, a, c, d

7、Farmers might think the idea of growing food for fun sounds strange. But there are some people who do it all the time.

    They grow some vegetables because their natural color or shape is pleasing to see. They grow others because scientists have developed new colors or different sizes for traditional vegetables.

    One example is the bell pepper. Seed companies sell seeds for several different kinds of bell peppers. One pepper is a weak yellow color when it begins to grow. Then its color changes to white. As it grows, it changes color two more times -- to orange, then red.

    If you are not interested in peppers that change colors as they grow, you can grow some that remain one color. You can try chocolate-colored peppers. Or purple. Or lavender ones. Each kind of pepper has its own special taste.

    For the best possible taste, however, peppers should be left on the vine for two or three weeks after they appear ready. This gives them full flavor and greatly increases the vitamins they contain.

    Another unusual plant is known as the yard-long bean, asparagus bean, dow ghok or snake bean. It grows up to one meter in length. It is an important part of the food supply in areas of Asia. American farmers like it because it is different, yet tastes very much like the green beans they traditionally grow. Each bean has from ten to twenty seeds. The outside or pod can be eaten. Some of the very long beans are green outside but have black-and-white or red seeds.

    Gourds are plants that people like to grow because of the many different shapes. They also have many uses. Some round gourds are dried, painted and made into containers. Others have long necks and big bodies. These are dried, cut and made into containers to pour drinking water.

    A kind of gourd called the luffa is used to make sponges. When it is fully grown, it is removed from the vine and permitted to dry for a few weeks.The gourd is placed in water for a few hours. The outer shell is then removed. The gourd is placed in the sun to dry. When it is fully dry, it is cut into pieces for use as sponges. Luffa sponges have a rough surface. They can be used to clean away dead skin cells, which makes them a popular skin-care product.

1. Which of the following about the snake bean is not true?

   A. Its another name is yard-long bean.

   B. It grows up to one meter in length.

   C. American farmers like it because of its different tastes.

   D. Its outside can be eaten.

2. People grow the bell pepper mainly to enjoy its ____ .

   A. shapes  B. colors   C. flavors   D. vitamins.

3. Which of the following can be used to make sponges?

   A. The bell pepper  B. The snake bean  C. Any kind of gourd    D. The luffa.

4. Which is the best title for the passage?

   A. Growing unusual Vegetables for fun.

   B. Growing food with different purposes

   C. Bell peppers showing different colors

   D. Farmers strange idea of growing food.

6、Buying tickets from the Fringe Box Office…

Counter:                                                                  

180 High Street, Edinburgh

Open from Monday 18th June 12:00-15:00 Monday-Friday,

Then from Monday 23rd July from 10:00-19:00, 7 days a week.

Web:                                                                    

Click on: www.edfringe.com

Order tickets securely on-line, 24 hours a day.

Call:                                                                    

Call us on: 0131 226 0000

Telephone bookings begin from Monday 18th June:

10:00-18:00, Monday to Saturday(June-July)

09:00-21:00, 7 days a week (July-27 August).

Mail:                                                                        

Mail us at: BOX YQ, 180 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1QS

Postal bookings start from Tuesday 5th June.

Other sales point around town…                                             

Waterstone’s, the booksellers-83 George Street, Edinburgh

Counters open from Friday 27th July, Monday-Saturday, 10:00-19:00.

2 for 1 ticket offer         Hot deal for fringe 2006!

For the first two days of Edinburgh Festival(5-27 August, 2006), the Fringe is giving away over ￡500,000 worth of tickets. Buy one ticket and get one free for any show on the 5th or 6th of August, marked with a chili.

1. In how many ways can you buy tickets from the Fringe Box Office?

    A. Three.          B. Four.                 C. Five.                 D. Six.

2. The festival will probably last for __________.

   A. 47 days.          B. three weeks.         C. two months         D. one year

3. If you want to book a ticket at 8:00 on 25th July, you’ll have to ___________.

   A. go to 180 High Street             B. call 0131 226 0000

   C. book one on-line                  D. mail at Waterstone’s

4. One ticket for a one-man concert “A MAN, A MAGIC, A MUSIC” costs ￡9. You and four friends want to go to this concert on 5th August. The five of you will have to pay ￡__________.

   A. 9             B. 18                   C. 27                  D. 45

5、    Buster Brown was a thief—and a good one, too ,he thought. He’d never been caught by the police because he never took chances .He was always prepared for any unforeseen event or emergency.

       Confidently, he stood outside the house of his intended victim（受害者）and read the sign on the front gate of the house . “Don’t worry about the dog—be aware of the owner!” it said .Buster smiled and found his way in.

       The house looked quite normal outside ,but inside it was very exotic with fascinating objects on display. As he began putting them into his bag ,a dog came into the room .It stopped when it saw Buster ,then wagged its tail madly and went over to him ,licking his outstretched hand.  “Good boy ,” Buster whispered. “What a great guard dog you are –trying to lick me to death.”

       Satisfied he’d made friends with the dog ,Buster began to wander round the house ,choosing items to put in his bag .His skilled eye picked out only the best antiques（古董）: a pair of silver candleholders, a silver tea-and-coffee service ,etc.. His new friend, the dog ,sat and watched ,as if wondering what was happening.

       “Well ,boy,” Buster whispered finally. “That might do. Any more and I won’t be able to carry it!” He swung the heavy bag into his shoulders, just as the lights on, nearly blinding him. He shielded his eyes with his hand.

 “You’re a very silly person,” the figure in the doorway said, his voice dry as dust. As the man came closer, Buster could see he was well dressed. His face seemed familiar, but Buster couldn’t quite place where he had seen him before.

“You should have taken more notice of the sign outside,” the man rasped. “I knew about this attempted robbery last week and I also know you will end up behind bars for 20 years. Fancy trying to rob the house of the world’s greatest fortune-teller!”

1．Why was Buster so confident?

A．He was not afraid of dogs.

B．He knew the owner of the house lived alone.

C．He had never been caught by the police.

D．The house had no security alarm.

2．How did Buster decide which objects to take?

A．He took those that were easy to carry in his bag.

B．He took only the best antiques.

C．He took those that be knew be could sell easily.

D．He looked for silver objects.

3．What punishment waits for Buster Brown?

A．A prison sentence with hard labour.       B．A long prison sentence.

C．A heavy fine.                        D．Community service for 20 years.

4、     How to protect children Web fans from unsuitable material on line while encouraging them to use the Internet has long been discussed in U. S.

     For some parents the Internet can seem like a jungle, filled with danger for their children. But jungles contain wonders as well as hazards and, with good guides, some education and a few precautions (预防措施), the wilds of the Internet can be safely marching on, “kids have to be on?line. If we tell our kids they can’t surf on the Internet   we’re cutting them off from their future.” said an expert.

      Most kids have started to learn to use search engines. Many of them are great for finding tons of interesting Internet sites, and they can also locate places where you might not want your kids to go. There are search engines designed just for kids. A certain software contains only sites that have been selected as safe. But the most popular that was to limit access would be to use what is known as a “content screener (过滤器)”. But this can’t be wholly reliable, and the best thing parents can do is to talk to their kids and let them know what’s OK or not OK to see or do on the Internet. Another way is that mum or dad is nearby when the child is surfing the Internet.

      A few other tips:

     ●Don’t put the PC in a child’s room but keep it in an area where mum or dad can keep an eye on things. That also makes the Internet more of a family activity.

     ●Ask your child what he or she has been doing and about any friends they make on?line.

     ●Tell your child not to give on line strangers personal information, especially details like address and phone number.

     ●And tell your children never to talk to anyone they meet on?line over the phone, send them anything, accept anything from them or agree to meet them unless you go along.

1. The passage is mainly about the subject of.

   A. children’s going on line.      B. Internet in America.

   C. appreciating Internet           D. opposing Internet

2. The best way to protect children from improper materials is?

   A. to install a content screener in the computer   

   B. to buy some search engines for the children

   C. to be nearby when they are surfing the Internet  

   D. to talk to the children and persuade them to tell right from wrong

3. Which of the following is right according to the passage??

   A. Surfing the Internet is the best method of educating children.

   B. Children’s not having access to Internet may have effect on their progress.

   C. Using a content screener is most reliable for keeping children having access   

      to Internet.

   D. Search engines can help children to select materials fit for them.

4.The passage tells most about?

   A. software         B. good guide       C. precautions         D. Education

5. According to the passage, we can infer that.

    A. soft wares fit for children want programming    

    B. a child who is on—line is in danger

    C. Internet is a jungle full of danger        

    D. Internet contains lots of harmful sites   

3、1. Many types of cancer can now be c                  .

2. F          the letter before putting it into the envelope.

3. He did steal the famous painting, so he is g              .

4. She broke that beautiful vase d               , which made me quite angry.

5. Take three t             with water before meals every day.

6. She always has an o            attitude, so he is always smiling.

7.She was e              lucky because she had a very understanding mother.

8. Please state your name, age and o          in the spaces below.

9. David is a c          of mine and we always have lunch together after work.

10.Eliza clears her t              and begin to talk.

2、There were a football game on TV last Saturday evening.                 1. _________  

The game was among a Spanish team and an Italian team.           2. ________

I sat in the front of the TV at 7o’clock, when the game just 　         3. _________

began. An hour later, my wife came in to join in me. She    　           4. _________

seemed be absent-minded while she was watching the game.          5. _________

As the clock showed one minute forty-two seconds leaving                   6. _________

in the game, she began cheering excited. “Come on--get going!”       7. _________

Since she has never been a football fan, I looked at her                            8. ________

with surprise and asked which team she was cheering for.                      9. ________

“Neither.” she replied, “I’m cheering the clock on.”                       10. ________

1、请以future houses 为题，充分发挥你的想象，写一篇120词左右的短文。