We now think of chocolate as sweet, but once it was bitter. We think of it as a candy, but once it was a medicine. Today, chocolate can be a hot drink, a frozen dessert, or just a snack. Sometimes it's an ingredient (配料) in the main course of a meal. Mexicans make a hot chocolate sauce called mole and pour it over chicken. The Mexicans also eat chocolate with spices (香料) like chili peppers.

    Chocolate is a product of the tropical cacao tree. The beans taste so bitter that even the monkeys say "Ugh!" and run away. Workers must first dry and then roast the beans. This removes the bitter taste.

     The word "chocolate" comes from a Mayan word. The Mayas were an ancient people who once lived in Mexico. They valued the cacao tree. Some used the beans for money, while others crushed them to make a drink.

     When the Spaniards came to Mexico in the sixteenth century, they started drinking cacao too. Because the drink was strong and bitter, they thought it was a medicine. No one had the idea of adding sugar. The Spaniards took some beans back to Europe and opened cafes. Wealthy people drank cacao and said it was good for the digestion.

     In the 1800s, the owner of a chocolate factory in England discovered that sugar removed the bitter taste of cacao. It quickly became a cheap and popular drink. Soon afterwards, a factory made the first solid block of sweetened chocolate. Later on, another factory mixed milk and chocolate together. People liked the taste of milk chocolate even better.

     Besides the chocolate candy bar, one of the most popular American snacks is the chocolate chip cookie. Favorite desserts are chocolate cream pie and, of course, an ice cream sundae with hot fudge sauce.

1.The main topic of the passage is _________.    

A. the different tastes of chocolate        

B. the origin of the word “chocolate”

C.  the medical effects of chocolate                         

D. the production and development of chocolate

2.The Spaniards think that cacao was a medicine because_____   

A. it was strong and bitter.                          

B. it was good for digestion.

C. it cured man's diseases.                           

D. it was a kind of drink for good health.

3.Which is the right time order of the events regarding chocolate?_______

a. Chocolate became a cheap and popular drink in England.

 b. A factory made the first solid block of sweetened chocolate.

 c. The Spaniards started drinking cacao.

 d. It was found that sugar removed the bitter taste of cacao.

 e. A factory mixed milk and chocolate together. 

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

4.It can be inferred from the passage that _____.    

A. Mexicans like chocolate very much

B. chocolate can be a hot drink, a frozen dessert, or a candy bar

C. chocolate is a product of the cacao tree

D. people liked the taste of chocolate mixed with milk

阅读下面短文，根据所读内容在表格中的空白处填入恰当的单词。

注意：每个空格只填一个单词。

From its energetic samba music to its die-hard soccer fans, Brazil has long been known as a nation of passion. But the country also offers amazing scenery and rich culture. Since Brazilian Culture Month is being held in a tour exhibition in China in September, let’s take the opportunity to explore this wonderful place.

  Brazil is the largest and most populous country in South America. The Amazon in its north is the world’s largest jungle. The country’s wilderness is home to a variety of plants and animals. The great Iguazu Falls are the pearls of this natural paradise (天堂).

  But the great landscape is not the only thing Brazilians take pride in. The colors green and yellow might make most people think of Brazil’s soccer team rather than the national flag. Soccer is more than sport; it’s a way of life. The World Cup brings Brazilians together. Interestingly, the general elections in Brazil are usually held during the same year as the World Cup Political parties try to take advantage of the patriotic(爱国的) enthusiasm(热情) created by soccer to inspire enthusiasm for politics.

   For the next couple of years, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s second largest city, will grab the world’s attention. It will host the World Cup in 2014 and two years later, the Olympics. For the first time in their 120 years, the Olympic Games will be held in South America when they come to Brazil.

  Of course, no Brazilian celebration is complete without the samba. The most traditional dance of the country stands out every February at the Rio Carnival, which is one of the world’s biggest.

  “Brazil has left its second-class nation status,” former Brazilian President said in 2009 after Rio was awarded the 2016 Olympics. “Brazil’s growing economy, supported by oil and aircraft factories, has made it more than a nation of samba and the beaches and the emotional soul of soccer.”

假定你是李华，亚洲冬季运动会将在你居住的地方举办，现在正在招募志愿者，你希望成为其中一员。请按要求用英文给组委会写一封申请信，内容应包括：

个人情况：年龄、性别、学历

个人条件：英语好、爱好体育、善于交往、乐于助人、熟悉本地情况。

承诺：提供最佳服务

注意：

词数100左右，开头语已为你写好;可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

生词：申请 apply（v.）,application (n.);志愿者 volunteer

Dear Sir /Madam,

My name is LiHua. I would like to work as a volunteer for the Winter Asian Games.

Reading provides quiet, peaceful time alone and can be a good _______ from your busy life.

A. shelter                          B. escape                             C. absence                        D. departure

Although I majored in English, language _______ became a challenge when I set foot in the USA for the first time.

A. luckily                            B. naturally              C. surprisingly                   D. gradually

I have a big dream — I want to go into space, _______ will take some time to realize, I guess.

A. which                            B. it                                     C. what                      D. where

The TV show, “Daddy, where are we going?”, _______ across China, especially popular on the major Chinese websites.

A. exploded                 B. slipped               C. leaked                          D. trembled

— Who has done that again?

   — _______ you ask? Little Tom, of course!

A. Might                             B. Can                       C. Would                            D. Need

The new education system is said to be _______ to the successful development of the country.

A. apparent                          B. central                           C. allergic                           D. generous  

 At the bottom of her bed _______ many decorations that my daughter made for the coming new year.

A. hangs                            B. hang                              C. is hung                           D. are hung