阅读理解。
     How words came into being is unknown. All we assume is that some early men invented certain sounds,
in one way or another, to express thoughts and feelings, actions and things, so that they could talk with each
other. Later they agreed upon certain signs, called letters, which could be put together to show those sounds,
and which could be written down. Those sounds, whether spoken or written in letters, are called words.
     The power of words, then, lies in their associations-the things they bring up to our minds. Words become
filled with meaning for us by experience; and the longer we live, the more certain words bring back to us the
happy and sad events of our past; and the more we read and learn, the more the number of words that mean
something to us increases.
     Great writers are those who not only have great thoughts but also express these thoughts in words which
have powerful effects on our minds and feelings. This clever use of words is what we call literary style. Above
all, the real poet is a master of words. He can express his meaning in words which sing like music and which
by their position and association can move men to tears. We should therefore learn to choose our words
carefully and use then correctly, or they will make our speech silly and common.
1. We learn from the text that language might have begun with _____.
A. expressions
B. actions
C. signs
D. sounds
2. What is mainly discussed in Paragraph 2?
A. The power of new words
B. The importance of old words
C. The relation of human experience with words
D. The gradual change and development of words
3. In the last paragraph, what does the author suggest that we should do?
A. Use words skillfully
B. Make musical speeches
C. Learn poems by heart
D. Associate with listeners
阅读理解。
     The Yungang Grottoes (云冈石窟) lie on the north cliff of Wuzhou Mountain, Datong.
They occupy 1 km from east to west, and hold 53 caves and over 51,000 stone statues.
As excellent examples of rock-cut architecture(建筑学), in 2001, the Yungang Grottoes
became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to UNESCO, they are a masterpiece
of early Chinese Buddhist(佛教的) cave art. 
     During the Northern Wei Dynasty, Pingcheng, now called Datong, was made capital city,
and Buddhism was treated as state religion. Through the ancient North Silk Road, Buddhism
arrived in Pingcheng (Datong). The Yungang Grottoes absorbed Indian Buddhist art, and
combined with traditional Chinese art. They were China's first major stone carved grottoes,
and have a history of over 1,500 years. During the rule of Emperor Xiao Wen in Northern
Wei Dynasty (386-534), a monk named Tanyao was responsible for the construction of the
Yungang Grottoes. The most important work on the grottoes was completed during 460 to
the early 490s. The move of the Northern Wei capital from Pingcheng (Datong) to Luoyang
in 494 ended the construction and carving. Some repairs continued during the Sui and Tang
dynasties, and important restorations (修复) were carried out in the 11th and 12th centuries.
     The Yungang Grottoes include a variety of vivid religious figures. Moreover, there are a
lot of different shaped wooden constructions, statues of the Buddhist story, and carvings of
ancient musical instruments.
1. The passage is mainly about _____.
A. the brief introduction to the Yungang Grottoes  
B. the situation of the Yungang Grottoes
C. the way to protect the Yungang Grottoes        
D. the importance of the Yungang Grottoes
2. The Yungang Grottoes became a UNESCO World Heritage Site mainly because______.
A. they are a masterpiece of modern Chinese Buddhist cave art
B. they are excellent examples of rock-cut architecture
C. they lie on the north cliff of Wuzhou Mountain, Datong
D. they are China's only major stone carved grottoes
3. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. Pingcheng and Datong are the same place in different names in different dynasties.
B. During the Northern Wei Dynasty, Pingcheng was made as capital city.
C. Buddhism was treated as state religion from Tang Dynasty.
D. Buddhism arrived in Pingcheng through the ancient North Silk Road.
4. Who was in charge of the construction of the Yungang Grottoes?
A. An Indian monk.  
B. Xiao Wen.  
C. The emperor.  
D. Tanyao.
阅读理解。

     The world is getting smaller and smaller, but gaps between people have always existed and
will continue to exist for the foreseeable future. Different sets of cultures, belief systems and
values have shaped today's world. To avoid misunderstandings, we need to learn not only
other languages, but the cultures behind the languages as well. To understand English-speaking
people, we first need to understand their culture, history and way of life. British and American
Culture Reader
will give students a good general idea of life and culture in the United Kingdom
and the United States.
     The articles in this series vividly describe the structure of Western society from the
perspectives (视角) of ordinary people - and their own experiences of life. As an American
living in the United Kingdom, I am in a better position to know what's best about American
culture through the eyes of my British friends. Actually, all the articles in this series are written
by native English speakers who have lived in the West for a significant period. This ensures
that the text presents an accurate picture of life in the English-speaking world.  
     As a children's publisher, I know that young students in particular need lively lessons that
will engage their curiosity and desire to learn. Therefore, topics have been carefully chosen to
include those of greatest relevance to children, including games, schools, clothes and festivals.
    The series also provides an interesting contrast of British and American culture, which gives
young Chinese readers an insight into the differences between them and therefore enables the
students to better understand the two countries. Being aware that the teacher will pass on the
information to students, the authors have made sure to present the text in a light-hearted and
fun way, with interesting stories inserted where appropriate.  
     British and American Culture Reader is a reflection of our society. Readers of this series
will shake off the bad stereotypes (旧框框) that they hold about Westerners and may be
surprised to find how similar Westerners' way of life is to their own in many ways. I hope
you enjoy reading the articles as much as I have enjoyed writing them.

阅读理解。
     People need to relax and enjoy themse1ves.One way they can have a good time is to
watch a baseball game or another sports event.Even thousands of years ago,groups
of people gathered to watch skilled athletes(运动员).
      Over 2000 years ago in Greece,certain days in the year were festival days.These
were holidays when people stopped work and enjoyed themselves.They liked to watch
athletes take part in  races and other games of skill.
     The most important festival was held every four years at the town of Olympia.It was
held in honor of the Greek  god Zeus(Zus).For five days,athletes from all parts of the 
 Greek  world took part in the Olympic Games.At the Olympic Games,people could
watch them box,run,jump and so on.There was a relay race between two teams of
men in which a lighted torch(火矩)was passed from runner to runner.The Olympic
Games were thought to be so important that cities which were at war with one another had
to stop fighting.People were allowed to travel to the games safely.Thousands of people
came to Olympia from cities in Greece and from her colonies(殖民地)in Africa,Asia
and Italy.They met as friends to cheer their favorite athletes and to enjoy themselves.
 1.What happened in Greece over 2000 years ago?______
A.People stopped work and enjoyed themselves.
B.The cities there were often against one another.
C.People watched baseball games.
D.People didn’t go to any games at all.
 2.What were those countries in Africa?_____
A.Friends.    
B.Enemies.
C.Colonies.    
D.Other cities.
3.What did people do at the games?______
A.They fought.       
B.They just talked to friends.
C.They cheered for good athletes.  
D.They tried to find friends.
4.Greek cities then were fighting so they_____.
A.were weak                  
B.were strong
C.couldn’t go to other cities freely  
D.could see each other
5.The best title for the story is“_____”.
A.Greece at War      
B.Together for the Games
C.Stop Fighting            
D.Sport
阅读理解
认真阅读下列短文,根据所读内容在文章后表格中填入恰当的单词。注意:表格中每个空格只填1个词。
     The history of Chinese calligraphy is probably as long as that of China itself.Calligraphy is a special
category in China’s world of fine arts.Through the centuries Chinese characters have changed constantly
and are mainly divided  into five categories today:the seal script(zhuan shu),official script(li shu),regular
script(kai shu),running script(xing shu)and cursive script(cao shu). 
     Calligraphy involves a great deal of theory and requires many skills.Among the most outstanding
calligraphers in ancient China were Wang Xizhi,Ouyang Xun,Yan Zhenqing,and Liu Gongquan,who are
known for pioneering their own styles.
     In writing calligraphy,one will need a brush,paper,an ink stick and an ink stone,commonly referred to
as the “Four Treasures of the Study”.There are different types of brushes.White goat hair,black rabbit hair and yellow weasel hair brushes are the main ones.According to their function,brushes are classified into
three groups:hard,soft and medium.Brush sticks are usually made of bamboo,wood,or porcelain;ivory or
jade sticks are rare and precious.
     The ink stick is a unique pigment used for Chinese traditional painting and calligraphy.The most famous
ink stick is hui mo(Anhui ink stick),made from pines that grow on Huangshan Mountain in Anhui Province.Clean water is needed to grind the ink stick.Press the ink stick hard and rub it lightly,slowly and evenly
against the ink slab to make thick,liquid ink.
     While paper comes in many varieties,Xuan paper, produced  in Xuanzhou(today’s Anhui Province),is
considered the best for Chinese calligraphy.The paper is soft and fine textured,suitable for conveying the
artistic expression of both Chinese calligraphy and painting.With a good tensile strength and moth proof
quality,the paper can be preserved for a long time.
     Ink stones or ink slabs have been classified into three categories:Duan,She and Tao.Features common
to all three are hardness and fineness.Although the stone is hard and fine,it is not dry or slippery.Using a
hard and smooth stone,liquid ink can be produced easily by rubbing the ink stick against the stone.
     By handling the brush and ink skillfully and carefully,the artist can produce an infinite variety of
calligraphic styles and forms.
阅读理解。
      Napoleon, as a character in Tolstoy's War and Peace, is more than once described as having
"fat little hands". Nor does he "sit well or firmly on the horse". He is said to be "undersized", with
"short legs" and a "round stomach". The issue here is not the accuracy of Tolstoy's description-it
seems not that far off from historical accounts but his choice of facts: other things that could be
said of the man are not said. We are meant to understand the difference of a warring commander
in the body of a fat little Frenchman. Tolstoy's Napoleon could be any man wandering in the streets
and putting a little of powdered tobacco up his nose-and that is the point.
        It is a way the novelist uses to show the moral nature of a character. And it turns out that,as
Tolstoy has it,Napoleon is a crazy man. In a scene in Book Three of War and Peace,the wars having
reached the critical year of 1812,Napoleon receives a representative from the Tsar (沙皇) ,who has
come with peace terms. Napoleon is very angry:doesn't he have more army? He,not the Tsar,is the
one to make the terms. He will destroy all of Europe if his army is stopped. "That is what you will have
gained by engaging me in the war!" he shouts. And then, Tolstoy writes,Napoleon "walked silently
several times up and down the room,his fat shoulders moving quickly".
      Still later, after reviewing his army amid cheering crowds,Napoleon invites the shaken Russian
to dinner."He raised his hand to the Russian's... face," Tolstoy writes,and "taking him by the ear pulled
it gently. . . ". To have one'-s ear pulled by the Emperor was considered thegreatest honor and mark
of favor at the French court."Well,well,why don't you say anything?" said he,as if it was ridiculous in his
presence to respect any one but himself, Napoleon.
     Tolstoy did his research, but the composition is his own.
1. Tolstoy's description of Napoleon in War and Peace is__________.
A. far from the historical facts
B. based on the Russian history
C. based on his selection of facts
D. not related to historical details
2. Napoleon was angry when receiving the Russian representative because__________.      
A. he thought he should be the one to make the peace terms
B. the Tsar's peace terms were hard to accept
C. the Russians stopped his military movement
D. he didn't have any more army to fight with
3. What did Napoleon expect the Russian representative to do?      
A. To walk out of the room in anger.
B. To show agreement with him
C. To say something about the Tsar.
D. To express his admiration.
4. Tolstoy intended to present Napoleon as a man who is__________.  
A. ill-mannered in dealing with foreign guests
B. fond of showing off his iron will
C. determined in destroying all of Europe
D. crazy for power and respect
5. What does the last sentence of the passage imply?   
A. A writer doesn't have to be faithful to his findings.
B. A writer may write about a hero in his own way.
C. A writer may not be responsible for what he writes.
D. A writer has hardly any freedom to show his feelings.
阅读理解。
     Lunar New Year has long been the most important cultural celebration on the Chinese calendar. And
even for those who scoff (嘲笑) at superstition (迷信), Chinese New Year customs can  bring a welcome sense of renewal to a seemingly endless winter.
1. Clean Your House
     The Chinese make sure to sweep every corner of a room to rid their homes ghosts and bad luck
associated with the old year. If negative spirits don't hide in your living room, chances are a layer of dust
and grime (污垢) from dry heat and slushy (有泥有雪的) boots does. Get a jump on your spring
cleaning while the weather outside's still frightful enough to keep you stuck indoors
2. Get a Mini Makeover
     In China, it's customary to get a haircut and new clothes for the new year. The idea is that with a new
look, bad spirits won't recognize a person and follow them into the new year.
3. Make Apologies
     Carrying grudges (怨恨) into the new year is a no-go according to Chinese tradition, so differences
with family, friends, and associates must be settled before New Year's Eve. If your shoulders are
sagging(向下凹,下陷) from the weight of a grudge or two, take the initiative to resolve them.
4. Pay Off Your Debts
     Like grudges, old debts are a bad omen (预兆) for a new year. No matter which calendar you follow,
there's no time like the present to settle any outstanding accounts and repay loans from friends and
relatives.
5. Spend Time With Your Family
     In China, offices and stores close down for Chinese New Year and people spend days travelling to
their hometowns to reconnect with family, feast, and simply enjoy the company of their loved ones.
1. According to the passage, Chinese New Year customs          .
A. are foolish acts associated with superstition      
B. bring happiness to Chinese people
C. imply the ending of the winter                
D. are neglected by many people
2. Traditionally, the purpose of cleaning the house is to          .
A. get rid of evils and misfortune                
B. find out the bad spirits in the rooms
C. clean up all the dust and grime                
D. keep away the bad weather
3. Customarily, what may happen if you began a new year without a new look? 
A. Your friends will not recognize you.            
B. You will be looked down upon.
C. You will be seen as lack of good luck.          
D. You will be followed by a bad guy.
4. According to the passage, which of the following is also Chinese tradition?
A. Exchanging gifts.    
B. Have family union.    
C. Share debts.    
D. Set goals.
     Room for Revolution: George Washington and His Philadelphia Friends
     March 16,2007 August 30,2007
     Charles Wilson Peale's George Washington at Princeton is on view(展览) at the museum which 
was lent from a private collection. This visually striking and finely made life-size portrait(肖像)records
Washington's 6-foot-2-inch figure in a pose highlighting strength, composure(沉着), and elegance 
(高雅). It is put up in a room neighboring to the Powel House parlor(客厅), a period room from one 
of Philadelphia's greatest eighteenth-century private homes, where Washington was frequently
entertained by his friends, Samuel and Elizabeth Powel. Both spaces contain important examples 
of furniture by Philadelphia's finest craftsmen, such as Thomas Affleck and Aitken. Among these is 
a side chair specially ordered by the Washingtons when living in Philadelphia.
     Painted in Philadelphia in 1779, Peal's painting was immediately sent to Europe to promote 
Washington's reputation as a leader and the cause of the American Revolution, then in progress. Later, 
during Europe's Napoleonic Wars, a Spanish duke(公爵) with strong sympathies with American 
Revolution owned the picture. At that time he added the complicated carved caption(标题) to it,
which describes Washington as "a liberator of his country who abandoned absolute power."
Curators馆长,监护人
American Art Department Staff, website commentary by Carol Soltis
Location位子
Galleries 286 and 287, second floor.
1. This passage is mainly about_____.  
A. the information of a portrait on view    
B. the cause of the American Revolution    
C. the friendship between Washington and his friends    
D. the description of the life of George Washington
2. what is the name of the portrait?    
A. Charles Wilson Peale.        
B. Room for Revolution.    
C. George Washington and His Philadelphia friends.  
D. George Washington at Princeton
3. what happened in the Powel House  parlor?    
A. Washington entertained his friends.    
B. Washington made a chair on his own.    
C. Charles Wilson Peale finished the portrait.    
D. Samuel and Elizabeth Powel met Washington a lot.
4. according to the passage, Washington______.    
A. lived between 1741 and 1827      
B. ordered the portrait painted in 1779    
C. was sympathized by a Spanish duke    
D. was a great man not greedy for power
5. The passage tell us that _____.   
A. when the portrait was finished, America was at war    
B. the portrait was originally hanging in Samuel's room    
C. the portrait was sent to Europe to gain support from Napoleon    
D. the caption of the portrait was carved by Philadelphia’s finest craftsmen.
     Many Americans have been leaving their cars at home and riding to work on bicycles. They are
doing this because of gas prices, a slowing economy and concerns about the environment. Andy
Clark is the executive director of the League of American Bicyclists. His group supports bicycling
for fun, fitness and transportation.
     Mister Clark says this is good news for the environment. He says riding a bicycle to work does
not burn fossil fuel or create dangerous pollutants. Experts say the effects are the most important on
short trips. The Department of Transportation says fifty percent of Americans drive eight kilometers
or fewer to work. Shorter car trips release more pollution into the air for each kilometer driven. This
is because the device in a car that produces the harmfulness of emissions needs to warm up before it
can work well.
     Last year, the Pacific Northwest city of Portland, Oregon, had the highest percentage of bicycle
commuters(通勤者) in the United States. Portland has been doing progressive city planning for many
years to create special paths for bike riders.
     Andrew Land is one of Portland's citizens who bikes to work every day. Mister Land is thirty-three
years old and has never owned a car. He has biked to work for twelve years. Before moving to
Portland six years ago, he lived in Washington D.C. But he was hit by a car twice while biking to
work there. That has not happened in Portland where there are special; roads for bicycles. Mister
Land bought a house near these special bike lanes. He rides almost five kilometers to work each day
. He also uses the sixty-four kilometer bike path around the city.
     Andrew Land rides a cyclocross bike. He says it combines the best parts of a racing bike and a
mountain bike. You might say that Andrew Land is " into bikes". He recently attended a show of
handmade bicycle frames (结构). It was organized by thirty bicycle frame builders in Portland. And
he attended a legal rights workshop for bicyclists.

阅读理解。

     You may have heard the term "the American Dream". In 1848, James W. Marshall found gold in
California and people began having golden dreams. That 19th century "American Dream" motivated
the Gold Rush and gave California its nickname of the "Golden State".
    The American Dream drove not only 1800s gold-rush prospectors(采矿者)but also waves of
immigrants throughout that century and the next. People from Europe, and a large number of Chinese,
arrived in the US in the 19th century hoping that in America they would find gold in the streets. But
most, instead, worked as railroad laborers. They created the oldest Chinatown, in San Francisco, and
gave the city a Chinese name "the old gold hill".
     In the 20th century, some critics said that it was no longer possible to become prosperous through
determination and hard work. Unfair education for students from poor families and racial discrimination
almost made the American Dream a nightmare(噩梦).
     Then, in the 1990s, California saw a new wave of dreamers in Silicon Valley. People poured their
energy into the Internet. This new chapter of the American Dream attracted many business people and
young talents from China and India to form start-ups and seek fortune in America. Better pay, a nice
house, and a rising standard of living will always be attractive. However, the new American Dream is
no longer just about money. It encourages Americans to consume wisely to protect the environment,
improve the quality of life, and promote social justice.
    The Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger has become the model of the new American
Dream. After years of hard work, he grew from a poor young man from Austria into a super movie
star and then a governor. Many people hope his story can save the American Dream and give California
a brighter future.
1. The "American Dream" was appealing to _______________.
A. Americans only.              
B. Chinese and Indians .    
C. Europeans.                  
D. people all over the world
2. It can be inferred that ____________.  
A. America's golden dream could never be realized
B. different times have different themes of the American dream
C. America's golden dream brought great fortune to Chinese immigrants
D. determination and hard work are the best way to realize the American dream
3. Why did most of the early immigrants work as railroad laborers?
A. Because they could earn more money as railroad laborers.
B. Because they thought railroad was the first step to find gold.
C. Because railroad laborers were greatly honored at that time. 
D. Because they had to make a living by working as railroad laborers.
4. The underlined sentence in the last paragraph indicates that ___________.
A. most of the immigrants to America don't reach their previous goals
B. the dream of seeking fortune in America is easy to realize
C. the success of Arnold Schwarzenegger is a common example of the immigrants
D. the immigrants have made great contributions to California
5. Which may be the best title of the passage?
A. Waves of Immigrants to America            
B. Hard Work Leads to Success
C. Changes of America's Golden Dream        
D. Make Fortunes Abroad
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