Her story p_______ me; I find it hard to believe.

Don’t let me i__________ your decision. I know you’ve made up your mind.

Don’t let me i__________ your decision. I know you’ve made up your mind.

The British isles is made up of two large islands①: One is called Ireland and the other 1 . Britain, or Great Britain, is the larger of these two islands, and it is 2 into three parts: Scotland , Wales and England.

The United Kingdom is that 3 of the British isles ruled over by the Queen. It is made up of Scotland, Wales and England, that is, the 4 of Britain, and also about one sixth of Ireland, the Northern part. The 5 of Ireland is self-governing. The 6 name of the United Kingdom is 7 “The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland”.

8 is larger and richer than Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and has the most 9 of the United Kingdom, so people often use the 10 “England” and “English” when they 11 “Britain” and “British”. This sometimes makes the Scots and the Welsh a little 12 . The Scots in particular are very 13 of their separate nationality. The Welsh too do not regard 14 as English, and have a culture and even a 15 of their own.

Ireland became part of the United Kingdom in 1801, but for forty years the “Irish 16 ” was the greatest headache of the United Kingdom. 17 , Ireland is divided into two: Northern Ireland still 18 to the United Kingdom, and in 1922 the rest of Ireland 19 to found an Irish Free State, later called Eire and now the Republic of Ireland.

　　The Republic of Ireland does not regard itself as part of Britain②, and is not now even a supporter of the Commonwealth of Nations (英联邦). Unlike the major Commonwealth countries it did not lift a finger to 20 British in the Second World War and now wants the whole of Ireland to be a republic.

A Tour City ------- Pompeii

Every year thousands of tourists visit Pompeii (庞贝，意大利那不勒斯附近一座古城) , Italy. They see the sights that Pompeii is famous for ------ its stadium (运动场) and theatre, its shops and restaurants. The tourists do not, however, see Pompeii’s people. They do not see them because Pompeii has no people. No one has lived in Pompeii for almost 2000 years.

    Once, Pompeii was a busy city of 22,000 people. It lay at the foot of Mount Vesuvius (维苏威火山) , a grass-covered volcano (火山). Mount Vesuvius had not erupted (爆发) for centuries, so the people of Pompeii felt safe. But they were not.

   In August of AD 79, Mount Vesuvius erupted. The entire top of the mountain exploded, and a huge black cloud rose into the air. Soon stones and hot ash began to fall on Pompeii. When the eruption ended two days later, Pompeii was buried (埋藏) under 20 feet of stones and ashes. Almost all ot its people were dead.

  For centuries, Pompeii lay buried under stone and ash. Then, in the year 1861, an Italian scientist named Ginseppe began to uncover (发现) Pompeii. Slowly, carefully, Ginseppe and his men dug. The city looked almost the same as it had looked in AD 79. There were streets and fountains, houses and shops. There was a stadium with 20, 000 seats. Perhaps the most important of all, there were everyday objects, which tell us a great deal about the people who lived in Pompeii. Many glasses and jars had some dark blue colour in the bottom, so we know that the people of Pompeii liked wine. They liked bread, too; metal bread pans were in even bakery (面包房). In one bakery there were 81 round, flat loaves of bread ------- a type of bread that is still sold in Italy today. Tiny boxes filled with a dark, shiny powder tell us that women liked to wear eye-makeup (眼部化装品) .

  Ginseppe has died, but his work continues. One-fourth has not been uncovered yet. Scientists are still digging, still making discoveries that draw the tourists to Pompeii.

16．Why do large numbers of people come to Pompeii each year?

A.     To visit the volcano.                                    

B.       To shop and eat there.

C.      To watch sports and plays.                            

D. To see how Pompeiians lived

17.Why had so many Pompeiians remained by volcanic Mount Vesuvius?

A.The city nearby offered all kinds of fun.         

B The area produced the finest wine in Italy.

C Few people expected the volcano erupt again.

D The mountain was beautiful and covered with grass

18.Why did the city uncovered look almost the same as it had looked in AD 79?

A.Because Ginseppe and his men dug it slowly and carefully.

B Because the city was buried alive and remained untouched.

C Because scientists successfully rebuilt the city with everyday objects.

D Because nobody had lived in the city ever since the volcano erupted.

19.What’s the meaning of the underlined word “ exploded” in the third paragraph?

A.爆炸                    B.震动                         C.倒塌                         D.开裂

20.What do we know about the Pompeiians who lived 2000 years ago?

A  They lived more or less the same as Italians now do.

B They liked women wearing all kings of makeup.

C They enjoyed a lazy life with drinking and eating.

D They went back to Pompeii after the eruption in AD 79.

A Tour City ------- Pompeii

Every year thousands of tourists visit Pompeii (庞贝，意大利那不勒斯附近一座古城) , Italy. They see the sights that Pompeii is famous for ------ its stadium (运动场) and theatre, its shops and restaurants. The tourists do not, however, see Pompeii’s people. They do not see them because Pompeii has no people. No one has lived in Pompeii for almost 2000 years.

    Once, Pompeii was a busy city of 22,000 people. It lay at the foot of Mount Vesuvius (维苏威火山) , a grass-covered volcano (火山). Mount Vesuvius had not erupted (爆发) for centuries, so the people of Pompeii felt safe. But they were not.

   In August of AD 79, Mount Vesuvius erupted. The entire top of the mountain exploded, and a huge black cloud rose into the air. Soon stones and hot ash began to fall on Pompeii. When the eruption ended two days later, Pompeii was buried (埋藏) under 20 feet of stones and ashes. Almost all ot its people were dead.

  For centuries, Pompeii lay buried under stone and ash. Then, in the year 1861, an Italian scientist named Ginseppe began to uncover (发现) Pompeii. Slowly, carefully, Ginseppe and his men dug. The city looked almost the same as it had looked in AD 79. There were streets and fountains, houses and shops. There was a stadium with 20, 000 seats. Perhaps the most important of all, there were everyday objects, which tell us a great deal about the people who lived in Pompeii. Many glasses and jars had some dark blue colour in the bottom, so we know that the people of Pompeii liked wine. They liked bread, too; metal bread pans were in even bakery (面包房). In one bakery there were 81 round, flat loaves of bread ------- a type of bread that is still sold in Italy today. Tiny boxes filled with a dark, shiny powder tell us that women liked to wear eye-makeup (眼部化装品) .

  Ginseppe has died, but his work continues. One-fourth has not been uncovered yet. Scientists are still digging, still making discoveries that draw the tourists to Pompeii.

16．Why do large numbers of people come to Pompeii each year?

A.     To visit the volcano.                                    

B.       To shop and eat there.

C.      To watch sports and plays.                            

D. To see how Pompeiians lived

17.Why had so many Pompeiians remained by volcanic Mount Vesuvius?

A.The city nearby offered all kinds of fun.         

B The area produced the finest wine in Italy.

C Few people expected the volcano erupt again.

D The mountain was beautiful and covered with grass

18.Why did the city uncovered look almost the same as it had looked in AD 79?

A.Because Ginseppe and his men dug it slowly and carefully.

B Because the city was buried alive and remained untouched.

C Because scientists successfully rebuilt the city with everyday objects.

D Because nobody had lived in the city ever since the volcano erupted.

19.What’s the meaning of the underlined word “ exploded” in the third paragraph?

A.爆炸                    B.震动                         C.倒塌                         D.开裂

20.What do we know about the Pompeiians who lived 2000 years ago?

A  They lived more or less the same as Italians now do.

B They liked women wearing all kings of makeup.

C They enjoyed a lazy life with drinking and eating.

D They went back to Pompeii after the eruption in AD 79.

A Tour City ------- Pompeii

Every year thousands of tourists visit Pompeii (庞贝，意大利那不勒斯附近一座古城) , Italy. They see the sights that Pompeii is famous for ------ its stadium (运动场) and theatre, its shops and restaurants. The tourists do not, however, see Pompeii’s people. They do not see them because Pompeii has no people. No one has lived in Pompeii for almost 2000 years.

    Once, Pompeii was a busy city of 22,000 people. It lay at the foot of Mount Vesuvius (维苏威火山) , a grass-covered volcano (火山). Mount Vesuvius had not erupted (爆发) for centuries, so the people of Pompeii felt safe. But they were not.

   In August of AD 79, Mount Vesuvius erupted. The entire top of the mountain exploded, and a huge black cloud rose into the air. Soon stones and hot ash began to fall on Pompeii. When the eruption ended two days later, Pompeii was buried (埋藏) under 20 feet of stones and ashes. Almost all ot its people were dead.

  For centuries, Pompeii lay buried under stone and ash. Then, in the year 1861, an Italian scientist named Ginseppe began to uncover (发现) Pompeii. Slowly, carefully, Ginseppe and his men dug. The city looked almost the same as it had looked in AD 79. There were streets and fountains, houses and shops. There was a stadium with 20, 000 seats. Perhaps the most important of all, there were everyday objects, which tell us a great deal about the people who lived in Pompeii. Many glasses and jars had some dark blue colour in the bottom, so we know that the people of Pompeii liked wine. They liked bread, too; metal bread pans were in even bakery (面包房). In one bakery there were 81 round, flat loaves of bread ------- a type of bread that is still sold in Italy today. Tiny boxes filled with a dark, shiny powder tell us that women liked to wear eye-makeup (眼部化装品) .

  Ginseppe has died, but his work continues. One-fourth has not been uncovered yet. Scientists are still digging, still making discoveries that draw the tourists to Pompeii.

16．Why do large numbers of people come to Pompeii each year?

A.     To visit the volcano.                                    

B.       To shop and eat there.

C.      To watch sports and plays.                            

D. To see how Pompeiians lived

17.Why had so many Pompeiians remained by volcanic Mount Vesuvius?

A.The city nearby offered all kinds of fun.         

B The area produced the finest wine in Italy.

C Few people expected the volcano erupt again.

D The mountain was beautiful and covered with grass

18.Why did the city uncovered look almost the same as it had looked in AD 79?

A.Because Ginseppe and his men dug it slowly and carefully.

B Because the city was buried alive and remained untouched.

C Because scientists successfully rebuilt the city with everyday objects.

D Because nobody had lived in the city ever since the volcano erupted.

19.What’s the meaning of the underlined word “ exploded” in the third paragraph?

A.爆炸                    B.震动                         C.倒塌                         D.开裂

20.What do we know about the Pompeiians who lived 2000 years ago?

A  They lived more or less the same as Italians now do.

B They liked women wearing all kings of makeup.

C They enjoyed a lazy life with drinking and eating.

D They went back to Pompeii after the eruption in AD 79.

In today's Ireland, it seems hard to imagine the grim days of the 19^th century when so many of the population starved, or that, in those days, many poor people had no clue how to prepare any food other than boil a potato. Nowadays, it is quite possible to eat both well and heartily all over the island.

Tourism has made a vast difference to the standards of cooking in Ireland. Until recently there was hardly any tradition of eating out in many districts, except perhaps on very few occasions at a local hotel. Patterns of diet were old-styled, based firmly on 'meat and two vegetables' (somewhat overcooked), potatoes (of course) and large quantities of dairy produce. Now things are very different. Tourist demands for predictable, inexpensive fast-food are met, as everywhere, with hamburgers and pizzas - a better bet being fish and chips. But more sophisticated tastes have introduced wholefoods and vegetarian restaurants (almost unheard of before), and a vast number of new restaurants, often French in style, have opened in the main tourist centres. Food 'events' such as Kinsale's Gourmet festival or Galway's Oyster Festival attract large numbers of visitors and reflect the new interest in food.

Whatever Irish cooking lacks in finesse（精细）, it nearly always makes up for in plenty, and ingredients(成分) are of a high quality. Home-grown produce includes rich dairy foods, beef, lamb and pork, and a great variety of seafood. One of its great specialities is soda bread. It is made with buttermilk and is served fresh and warm with every meal. Recently there has been a return to simple Irish foods such as stews（炖菜）and potato dishes.

One of the best-value meals in Ireland is breakfast. A 'traditional Irish breakfast' is a plateful of bacon and eggs with soda and potato breads. Accommodation rates are nearly always quoted with a full breakfast included, so you might as well eat enough to keep you going all day and get your money's worth!

1．What was Irish food like until quite recently?

A. It was very conservative and uninteresting.

B. It was influenced by French cooking.

C. It was very unhealthy.

D. It was plentiful

2．  How has Irish food improved in recent years?

A. There are more French restaurants. B. Food produce is fresher.

C. There is more kinds.            D. Food is more expensive

3．What is the main reason for this improvement?

A. People have more money to spend.

B. The development of tourism.

C. People have more tastes today.

D. Young people dislike traditional food

4．How does the passage describe Irish cooking today?

A. It is exciting and interesting.  B. It is boring and overcooked.

C. It is plentiful and simple. D. It is good-looking and tastes bad

5.    Which of the following statements is true according to the text?

A. Eating out at weekends is traditional in most parts of Ireland.

B. Today most Irish people prefer fast-foods to the traditional Irish cooking.

C. Nowadays French-style restaurants are quite common in tourist centres.

D. Many Irish people are vegetarians and grow their own vegetables.

　 　Hundreds of years ago, a Roman army came north from England to make war on Scotland. The Scots, a brave people, love their country. They fought hard to drive the enemy out of Scotland. But there were too many of the Romans. It looked as if the Romans would win.

　　One night, the leader of the Scots marched his soldiers to the top of a hill. “We will rest here tonight, my men,” he said, “Tomorrow we will fight one more battle①. We must win, or we will die.”

　　They were all very tired. So they ate their supper quickly and fell asleep. There were four guards on duty, but they were very tired, too, and one by one, they fell asleep.

　　The Romans were not asleep. Quickly they gathered at the foot of the hill. Slowly they went up the hill. Closer they came to the sleeping Scots. They were almost at the top. A few minutes more the war would be over. Suddenly, one of them put his foot on a thistle (蓟). He cried out and his sudden cry woke the Scots. In a minute they were on their feet and ready for a battle. The fighting was hard, but it did not last long. The Scots wiped out the Romans and saved Scotland②.

　　The thistle is not a beautiful plant. It has sharp needles all over it. Few people liked it. But the people of Scotland liked it so much that they made it their national flower.

　　1. Hundreds of years ago, the Romans ____ .

　　A. came from the north through England to make war on Scotland

　　B. came to the north Scotland from England to make war on Scotland

　　C. came from the north of England to fight the Scots

　　D. came to the north from the south of Britain to fight the Scots

　　2. At the shout of a Roman soldier, all the Scots who were asleep at the hill ____ .

　　A. began to fight the Romans hard

　　B. stood up without putting on their shoes and began to fight

　　C. woke and rose immediately, ready to fight

　　D. put their feet into their shoes at once and were ready to fight

　　3. The result of the war is that ____ .

　　A. the Romans killed all the Scots

　　B. the Scots were defeated

　　C. the Scots were driven out of Scotland

　　D. the Scots defeated the Romans

　　4. The Scots made thistle their national flower because thistle ____ .

　　A. is lovely, though not beautiful

　　B. gave them happiness

　　C. is a kind of useful plant

　　D. helped the Scots in wiping out the Romans

　　Did anyone find the names of “Great Britain”, “the United Kingdom”, “England” and “the British commonwealth” which have the same meaning? Strictly speaking, these names all refer to something different①. None of them are exactly the same as any of the others.

　　The British isles refer to the main islands and several thousand small ones as well, which you can see on the map②. Great Britain, or Britain, refers to the larger of the two main islands. But the word “Britain” is often used as a short form for the United Kingdom or you call it the UK .

　　Now as for England, it refers simply to the largest of the three countries on the island of Great Britain. The United Kingdom is the name of the state and the official name of the country, which many people popularly refer to England.

　　Finally, the Britain commonwealth is the usual name for what is left of the British Empire (帝国). This change shows the weakening of British Empire and the rising of the national liberation movements throughout the world today.

　　1. According to the passage, we know that ____ .

　　A. Great Britain has the same meaning as Britain

　　B. the United Kingdom has the same meaning as Britain or England

　　C. all the names in the first paragraph have the same meaning

　　D. all the names refer to England

　　2. It is clear that the British isles refer to ____ .

　　A. Britain, England and the UK.

　　B. the two main islands and thousands of small ones

　　C. three countries and several islands

　　D. Great Britain or the United Kingdom

　　3. Which of the following shows the right relationship (关系) between the British isles (BI), Britain (B) and England (E)?

　　A. B>BI>EB. BI>E>BC. E>B>BID. BI>B>E

　　4. If you want to write to someone in Edinburgh that lies in Scotland, you should write the address as ____ .

　　A. Edinburgh, England

　　B. Edinburgh, Great Britain

　　C. Scotland, Edinburgh, England

　　D. Great Britain, Scotland, Edinburgh