Have you ever asked yourself why children go to school? You will probably say 1        they go to learn their own language and other languages,math,geography,history,science and all the other 2.       . That is quite true,but why do they learn these things? And are these things all that they 3        at school?

  We send our children to school to prepare them for the time 4        they will grow up and will have to work for themselves. They learn their own language 5        they will be able to tell others what they want and what they know,and 6       what others tell them. They learn foreign languages in order to be able to benefit 7        what people in other countries have written and said and in order to 8        people from other countries understand what they themselves mean. They learn math in order to be able to measure and count things in their 9        life. They learn geography in order to know something about the world around them. And they learn history to know 10        about human beings. 11       everything they study at school has some practical use in their life,12       is that the only reason why they go to school?

  No. 13       is more in education than just learning facts. We go to school,above all,to learn 14        to learn,so that when we leave school,we can 15        to learn. A man who really knows how to learn will always be successful.

(   ) 1. A. what   B. where   C. when   D. that

(   ) 2. A. languages   B. ways   C. subj ects   D. things

(   ) 3. A. play   B. learn   C. give   D. leave

(   ) 4. A. when   B. where   C. what   D. which

(   ) 5. A. so that   B. because   C. enough   D. for

(   ) 6. A. learn   B. understand   C. forget   D. want

(   ) 7. A. with   B. for   C. from   D. of

(   ) 8. A. ask   B. take   C. tell   D. make

(   ) 9. A. daily   B. friendly   C. lively   D. really

(   ) 10. A. everything   B. anything   C. nothing   D. something

(   ) 11. A. Finally   B. Nearly   C. Fairly   D. Mainly

(   ) 12. A. but   B. and   C. or   D. so

(   ) 13. A. It   B. That   C. There   D. This

(   ) 14. A. why   B. how   C. what   D. when

(   ) 15. A. go   B. talk   C. continue   D. take

 Are you bored with your daily life? Here are some things you should try before you are 18,1       after that it's too late. 

  Learn to swim

  Seriously,this is so important 2        it can save your life. If you can't swim well,you 3       (not be) able to do water sports like waterskiing,surfing and diving. Even taking a boat trip will be 4        for you. Make sure you do it.

  Try at least one kind of team sports 

  Being a good team player is 5        important skill in life. You can't just think of yourself,6       have to work well with other people. Other advantages of team sports like basketball,football and baseball are that they keep you fit,and they are also great fun. Teams 7       (usual) have a good social life too―you'll go to lots of parties and make many friends.

  Collect something

  One of the best 8       (hobby) for under-18s is collecting things. You could collect all kinds of stamps or things that make you 9       (remember) what you have done,like cinema tickets for films you have seen or emails from friends. The best way to collect is to have a special album 10       (put) your collection in and to write what each thing means to you. In that way you won't forget.

1.         2.         3.        4.        5.         

6.        7.        8.        9.        10.       

1.      

The Sydney Opera House is in Sydney,Australia. As one of the world's most special 20th century buildings used for performing arts,its buildings and surroundings (周围的环境) are one of the bestknown symbols ofAustralia.

2.      

Its one of the largest parks in central London,England. People can get into the 360-acre (英亩) park through Rotten Row,Speakers' Corner and Park Lane. You can often see people make a speech freely in the Speakers' Corner when you are touring Hyde Park.

3.      

The Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster is one of London's most famous buildings. The hour bell was probably named after Benjamin Hall. The Big Ben clock was the largest in the world.

4.      

National Gallery inEnglandis one of London's most important museums. It has a large collection of paintings,including the period（时期) between 1260 and 1900,with works from all famous artists in history.

5.       

Uluru is considered (认为) as one of the great wonders of the world and one of Australia's most famous natural sights. Ayers Rock is a large sandstone rock in centralAustralia.

   A. London's most important museum

   B. The most interesting clock in the world

   C. An art palace inAustralia

    D .Australia's most famous natural wonder

   E. The largest park in central London

   F. The biggest clock in the world

  Astronauts inAmericawho fly into space,need special training. First they go to Houston,Texas. That is the home of the Johnson Space Center. There they are tested to see how strong and smart they are.

  The first test is for the heart. The people walk or run,then the space doctors see how fast their hearts beat.

  Another important test is performed. In this test,the person must curl (蜷曲) his body up in a ball. When he is in that position,he is put into a round cloth bag. The doctors give him no idea how long he will have to stay in the bag. If a spaceship broke down in space,the astronauts would get into bags like this. Then they would have to wait and curl up in darkness until help could arrive. You can see that an astronaut must not be afraid of tight space or darkness.

  After the tests,only the best people are chosen to start astronaut training in a training center. The astronauts in training learn many other things. They learn how to jump out of a moving airplane. They learn to blow up a lifeboat and get into it while they are in the ocean. The astronauts also have to learn how to get lifted out of the ocean by helicopter (直升机) .That seems fun,but it can be dangerous.

  After they finish training,the astronauts continue to work. They stay in good shape by running and doing exercise. They read about their special jobs. In this way,they can learn new facts about space travel.

  Then the big day comes. The astronauts are told to go to work on a flight into space.  The crew members get to know each other first. Then they can learn what job each will do.

(   ) 1. What do the doctors test first in the Johnson Space Center?

   A. Space knowledge. B. Fears of tight space. C. The eyesight. D. The heart.

(   ) 2. The astronauts DON'T know how long they will stay in the bag in the test because         .

   A. the doctors need to know how strong they are

   B. the astronauts need to show how smart they are

   C. good astronauts mustn't be afraid of darkness or tight space

   D. nobody knows when help will come if the spaceship breaks down ：:

(   ) 3. The astronauts don't learn how to        in the training center.

   A. walk or run in space

   B. jump out of a moving plane ,

   C. blow up a lifeboat

   D. get lifted out of water by helicopter

(   ) 4. Which is the correct order according to the passage?

   a. Doctors do tests on the astronauts.

   b. The astronauts go to the Johnson Space Center.

   c. The astronauts learn new facts about space travel.

   d. The best people are chosen for training.

   e. The astronauts go to work on a flight into space.

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

(   ) 5. Which of the following is NOT true?

   A. After the tests,only the best people are chosen to start astronaut training in a training center.

   B. The crew members get to know each other after the tests.

   C. One of the first tests is for the heart.

   D. An astronaut must not be afraid of tight space or darkness. 

  At present,a Chinese company,Xiaomi,took the No.1 position inChinas competitive market and became the world's third largest phone maker.

  Xiaomi was founded in 2010 as a company to sell smartly designed phones at cheap prices over the Internet.  A clever social media strategy and a business plan helped the company build support from young and trendy Chinese people. With people inChinaexpected to buy 500 million smart phones in 2015,Xiaomi plans to solidify (巩固) its position as one of the most powerful phone makers in the world's most important market.

  The company's founders,including the Chinese Lei Jun and the former Google manager Lin Bin,hope that they will make Xiaomi famous all over the world. Although the phones of Xiaomi are already sold internationally,next year will be the true test of whether it can continue its rise beyondChina. Avoiding markets like theUnited Statesand Europe,Mr Lei and Mr Lin are looking at huge developing countries likeBrazilandIndia. And they hope to use ecommerce networks to sell cheap and highquality phones,and create their Chinese success.

  Xiaomi fans have a high level of organization. They love Xiaomi. Han Yu,a 24-year-old boy studying for his master's degree,is one of those lovers. He helps Xiaomi test its user interface by looking for bugs and offering suggestions. Mr Han has several pages on the company's online meeting,which averages 200,000 posts a day and is the place where fans interact with the company. Much of his personal life turned around Xiaomi and he said he was honoured when his suggestions on creating private photo folders were accepted by Xiaomi.

  Although Xiaomi makes some money on phone sales,the company's plan is to increase success by selling services like entertainment and apps through the phone. The company has also started to sell other machines,like a smart television,a tablet and a fitness band.

(   ) 1. The underlined word "trendy" in Paragraph 2 most probably means "        ".

   A. rich   B. fashionable

   C. selfish   D. beautiful

(   ) 2. From the passage we know that         .

   A. when founded,Xiaomi sold cheap smart phones in supermarkets

   B. Xiaomi expected to sell 500 million smart phones in 2015

   C. Xiaomi smart phones are not available beyondChinaat present

   D. Xiaomi's strategy and business plan worked

(   ) 3. We can infer from the passage that         .

   A. Xiaomi set up an organization of its fans

   B. Han Yu made lots of money by helping Xiaomi test its user interface

   C. Xiaomi prefers to develop its foreign market in advanced countries

   D. Xiaomi has got a lot from its fans

(   ) 4. From the last paragraph we know       .

   A. Xiaomi will focus on producing mobile phones

   B. Xiaomi will become the world's largest phone maker

   C. Xiaomi plans to earn more money besides phones

   D. Xiaomi is faced with great challenges because of single product

(   ) 5. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

   A. The rise of a new smart phone gianl ： China's Xiaomi

   B. The development of the company Xiaomi

   C. The future of the company Xiaomi

   D. The secret of Xiaomi's success

  You have waited 45 minutes for the valuable 10 minutes' break. But when the bell for the next class rings,you can't believe how quickly time has passed. If you have this experience,you'll know how time flies when you are having fun and drags when you are bored. Now scientists have come up with a reason why this happens.

  They have found that the brain changes its way to work according to how we direct our attention to a task. When we are bored,we pay more attention to how fast time is passing. And this makes our brains think the clock is ticking more slowly.

  Recently some researchers who wanted to understand the conditions carried out an experiment. In the experiment,twelve volunteers watched a picture when researchers monitored (监控) their brain activities.

  The volunteers were told to first notice how long a picture appeared,then the color of the picture,and thirdly,study the both. The results showed that the brains were more active when the volunteers paid attention to more subjects.

  It is thought that if the brain is busy noticing many aspects (方面) of a task,it has to spread its resources,and pays less attention to the clock. Therefore,time seems to go by quickly. If the brain is not so active,it puts its full energy on the passing of time. As a result,time seems to move slowly.

  Next time you feel bored in class,perhaps you should concentrate on what the teacher is saying.

(   ) 1. The underlined word "drags" probably means "         ”.

   A. passes slowly  B. runs quickly  C. moves actively  D. passes quickly

(   ) 2. What have the scientists found?

   A. Time goes by fast when we have nothing to do.

   B. The ten minutes' break is important to students.

   C. The brain works in different ways in different situations.

   D. Time goes by very slowly when we have something to do.

(   ) 3. How did the researchers do the experiment?

   A. By inviting the volunteers to have a long class.

   B. By asking the volunteers to pay attention to a clock.

   C. By monitoring their brain activities while volunteers are watching a picture.

   D. By asking the volunteers to play a game.

(   ) 4. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

   A. We will be full of energy if we're busy.

   B. Concentrating on things is a way to make people less bored.

   C. Time goes by slowly when the brain is noticing many things at the same time.

   D. Time goes by slowly when we concentrate on things.

(   ) 5. Which is the best title for the passage?

   A. The best way to save time

   B. The importance of planning time

   C. The reavson for time flying and dragging

   D. The importance of saving time

  A strong wind was blowing hard,thunder was rumbling,and lightning flashed across the dark sky. Rain was 1        down.]t looked as if heaven had been broken.

  Gleam of light (微光) appeared from windows of faraway houses,2       like jewels in the dark. A(n) 3       woman dressed in old and wornout clothes and trembling（哆嗦) in the cold was 4        on a lonely road while the heartless rain was beating her without a pause.

  She knocked on a door,and a 5      answered it. She begged him to let her stay 6        for a while. The boy then let her go into the living room and 7        her sitting by the fire.

  The woman 8        old and tired under the bright electric light,9       she was only in her early thirties. She sat still for a moment,and then her eyes began to look around the 10       ,When her wandering eyes rested on the picture of a young man,she 11      up,looking thunderstruck.

  Then,the boy came to the living room with his 12        The man at once recognized the woman was his wife. They had 13        touch with each other during the war,and he thought he had lost her forever.

  No words needed to be said. They ran into each other's arms while the boy stared at them,14       

  The storm was over and the sky cleared. Feeling very 15       . the couple stood face to face with their child between them.

(   ) 1. A. pouring   B. .standing   C. dropping   D. flooding

(   ) 2. A. blowing   B. breaking   C. shining   D. flying

(   ) 3. A. rich   B. beautiful   C. poor   D. ugly

(   ) 4. A. crying   B. shouting   C. struggling   D. calling

(   ) 5. A. girl   B. woman   C. man   D. boy

(   ) 6. A. out   B. near   C. inside   D. outside

(   ) 7. A. left   B. made   C. asked   D. told

(   ) 8. A. became   B. appeared   C. showed   D. sounded

(   ) 9. A. so   B. though   C. however   D. and

(   ) 10. A. house   B. picture   C. room   D. fire 

(   ) 11.A. picked   B. came   C. stood   D. looked

(   ) 12. A. brother   B. mother   C. friend   D. father

(   ) 13. A. kept   B. got   C. made   D. lost

(   ) 14. A. excited   B. puzzled   C. interested   D. amazed

(   ) 15. A. disappointed    B. sorry   C. happy   D. sad

  Easter Day,which fell on April 5th this year,dates back to 325 A   D. It Ls celebrated by hundreds of millions of people around the world. In my family,it is considered as the greatest holiday of a year.

  Every Easter my brothers and I wake up early and,like on Christmas morning,run downstairs to see what surprises are waiting for us. We are always excited when the Easter Bunny (兔子) ，who is like Father Christmas,comes and leaves us a basket of candy. It's wonderful. It is like there is a miracle every Easter morning.

  Our mother,however,doesn't let us eat chocolate as much as we want. The chocolate bunnies and candy eggs have to wait. Instead,we have to get dressed in our new clothes.

  Then my family go to church. After that we go to an elder family member's house for a feast (盛会) . My mother's family is from Eastern Europe,so we often eat many traditional European dishes. My favorite is ham and a special potato salad. We usually have 20 or more family members at the dinner.

  After dinner,my cousins,brothers and I go outside. While we are sleeping the night before Easter,our parents have hidden plastic eggs in the backyard. We always have a contest to see who can find the most eggs. The winner will get a prize. It is our annual Easter Egg Hunt. Sometimes,in summer,we may discover an egg we missed at Easter.

(   ) 1. When did Easter come this year?

   A. On April 5th. B. Last Sunday.

   C. In 325 A   D. D. A month ago.

(   ) 2. Who does the writer expect to come every Easter?

   A. Father Christmas. B. The Easter Bunny.

   C. His cousins.    D. His relatives from Europe.

(   ) 3. In what order do the following things happen?

   a. We have a big gettogether.                                 

   b. We go to church.

   c. We dress ourselves in new clothes.

   d. Our parents hide plastic eggs in the backyard,

   e. We have Easter Egg Hunt.

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

(   ) 4. Which of the following is NOT true about Easter?

   A. Easter falls on March 31st every year. 

    B. Children usually get a basket of candy on that day.

   C. People often have a family dinner. 

    D. Traditional food is served.

(   ) 5. What does the passage mainly talk about?

   A. An introduction of the Easter Bunny. B. Easter traditions.

   C. A moving story.               D. Easter Egg Hunt.

  Several months after I was badly hurt in a car accident,my father sent me to a blind school.

  That morning was the new beginning. I went to this school and I heard lots of children. My new teacher took me to the class where we 1       (teach) to write and type in Braille (盲文) .I found it quite difficult.

  "Dear,how is school going?" asked my father.

  "Daddy,I can't do this. I try and try but I just don't get it. I don't know how to learn to read Braille. It's too difficult," I cried.

  Daddy just held me in his arms and said, "Do you remember that we went to the temple 2        is on the top of a mountain? When we were climbing the mountain,my legs started aching,I sat down and said, 'I can't see the temple. You can't see it because it is covered 3        fog. Although you can't see it,I know it is there. I am sure you will climb up to it."，

  "That day you showed me that even you can't see something,it does not mean it is not there. So although 4        the mountain was difficult,I knew I would get to the top."

  I was clear about what my dad wanted me 5       (understand) .

  I went back to school and started with new energy. Very soon I could read.

  One of my 6       (classmate) said, "You are lucky,you know,at least,you 7       (see) the world. I have just heard it. I have been told there are many colors in this world 8        I don't understand what color means."

  After listening to her for the first time in two years,I felt 9       (luck) . And on that day I learned that although the light in my eyes is gone,I 10       see the world with the light in my heart.

1.        2.        3.        4.        5.       

6.        7.        8.        9.        10.       

  A. He walked towards the restaurant and saw the notice. "American people are really strange. They even eat dinners on the house!But how can I get up to the top of the house?" he said to himself.

  B. "Doesn't your notice say ⁶Meals on the House for Three Days'? Is it just a joke?" the foreign student answered.

  C. When they heard this,both Mr. Smith and the policeman laughed. "Don't you know what ⁶ on the house' means? Look it up in the dictionary," the policeman said.

  D. A foreign student who didn't know much English happened to pass by the restaurant on the second day. It was lunch time and he felt very hungry. He thought, "Well,here is a restaurant. I am going to have something to eat."

  E. He looked around and found a ladder against a tree nearby. He was very glad. But as he reached the top he heard someone shouting at him. "Hey,what are you doing up there?" Mr. Smith was looking at him angrily and beside him was a policeman.

  F. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have just opened a small restaurant. In order to attract customers,they put a notice in front of the restaurant,which said "Meals on the House for Three Days."