An Englishman was showing a foreign visitor around London. "What's that strange building?" asked the visitor. "That's the Tower of London." "I see. How long did it take to build it?” “About 500 years." "In my country we can build it in five months." said the visitor. A short time after that, they come to St. Paul's Cathedral (大教堂)."Very interesting, "said the visitor, "How long did it take to build it?  Nearly forty years." said the Englishman. "In my country we can finish it in forty days." said the visitor. This went on all day. They visited most of the best known buildings in the city. Every time they saw a new one, the visitor asked what it was and how long it took to build it. Then he said that they could do the same things much faster in his country. At last the Englishman got angry with the visitor though he tried not to show it. A few days later they came to the House of Parliament(议会大厦) and the visitor asked his usual question. "What's that?” The Englishman answered, "I've no idea. It wasn't there last night."

1.The Englishman showed the foreign visitor around____________.

2.The visitor said that in his country it would take them ____________to build St. Paul's Cathedral.

3.The Englishman was very angry by the end of the day, but he______________

4.The Englishman's last answer showed he______________.

5.The best title (标题) for this passage is_______________.

A poor farmer had a friend who was famous for the wonderful apple tree he grew.

     One day, his friend gave the farmer a young apple tree and told him to plant it. The farmer was pleased with the gift, but he did not know where to plant it.

     He was afraid that if he planted the tree near the road, strangers would steal the fruit. If he planted the tree in one of his fields, his neighbors would come at night and steal some of the apples. If he planted the tree near his house, his children would take the fruit. Finally he planted the tree in his wood. But without sunlight and good soil(土壤),the tree soon died,

     Later the friend asked the farmer why he had planted the tree in such a poor place. "What's the difference? " the farmer said angrily and then told what he had thought.

     "Yes," said the friend, "but at least someone could have enjoyed the fruit. Now you not only have robbed everyone of the fruit, but also you have destroyed (毁掉) a good apple tree !"

1.What gift did the farmer get from his friend one day?

2.How many people are there in the story?

3.Where did the farmer plant the apple tree at last?

4.Why did the apple tree soon die?

5.Who destroyed the apple tree?

A girl complained to her father about her hard life. She didn't know what she had to do and wanted to 36 . She felt tired for fighting and fighting. One problem had been finished but another came.

Her father,  a cook,  took her 37 the kitchen. He poured water into three pans(锅)and boiled(煮)it. When the water was boiling,  in the first pan he put some carrots,  in the 38 he put some eggs and in the last he put some coffee. He     39      them for a few minutes without any words.

The girl closed her mouth and waited impatiently,  not knowing   40   her father was doing that. After about 20 minutes,  her father turned     41   the stove,  took out the carrots and put them in a bowl. He took out the eggs and put 42    in another bowl. After that the   43   was poured into a cup. Turning back to his daughter,  he asked,  "What do you    44   ?" "Carrots,  eggs,  and coffee, " she answered.

Her father told her to 45 her eyes and let her touch the carrots. She did and felt that the carrots were soft. After that he asked her to take the eggs and 46 them. Then,  she got the eggs,  cooked and hard. At last,  the father asked her to smell the coffee. "What's the meaning,  Father?" He 47 that each had suffered the same unlucky experience— the boiling water,  but 48 had a different reaction(反应). The strong and hard carrots had become soft and weak after being in the boiling water. The eggs became hard 49 being cooked. The coffee was very special and it changed the wa­ter. "Who are you?" asked her father,  "When calamity(厄运) 50 your door,  what's your reaction? Are you carrots,  eggs,  or coffee?"

1.A. grow up       B. give up          C. set up            D. pick up

2.A. into           B. within           C. out of            D. away from

3.A. first          B. second           C. third              D. fourth

4.A. looked for     B. searched for      C. waited for          D. called for

5.A. that          B. what            C. where             D. why

6.A. on           B. over            C. off                 D. in

7.A. it            B. its              C. them              D. themselves

8.A. eggs         B. carrots           C. coffee             D. water

9.A. hear         B. taste              C. smell              D. see

10.A. close        B. open             C. wash              D. drop

11.A. keep        B. protect           C. break               D. drink

12.A. complained  B. explained          C. told                D. expected

13.A. every      B. all                C. each               D. either

14.A. before      B. after              C. behind              D. under

15. A. lies in     B. comes across       C. meets with           D. knocks at

Once upon a time there lived a poor farmer called Smith. He didn't like to share things with others. Smith had a friend who was famous for the wonderful apples he grew.

One day, his friend gave Smith a young apple tree and told him to take it home and planted. The farmer was pleased with the gift, but when he got home, he did not know where to plant

He thought and thought. Finally at night he planted the tree in his wood where no one could see it. But without sunlight and good soil, the tree soon died.

Later the friend asked the farmer why he had planted the tree in such a poor place.

"What's the difference?" the farmer said angrily. "If I had planted it near the road, strangers would have stolen the fruit. If I had planted it in one of my fields, my neighbors would have come at night and stolen some of the apples. If I had planted it near my house, my own children would have taken the fruit,"

"Yes," said the friend, "but at least someone could have enjoyed the fruit. Now you not only have got nothing, but also you have destroyed a good apple tree."

1.Was Smith happy about the gift?

2.When did he plant the apple tree?

3.Where did Smith plant the apple tree in the end?

4.Why did the apple tree soon die?

5.What would probably happen if the farmer had planted the tree near his house?