Ex 1: There are two kinds of tea: black tea and green tea. Black tea is fermented(发酵). In the process, the tea loses almost all of its healthy qualities. But green tea retains its healthy qualities because it’s steamed(蒸炒) right after the leaves are picked.
☆The underlined word “retains” means “______”.
A. keeps B. makes C. produces D. loses
Ex 2: During the first few hours of climbing, I enjoyed the flowers and trees, and the bird’s singing, but as time passed, I got a pain in both of my legs. I wanted to quit climbing. In fact, I hated it at that moment.
☆The underlined word “quit” in the passage means “______”.
A. go on B. put off C. give up D. pick up
Ex 3: One mother drives on Monday, taking her own children and her neighbors’ as well. Another mother drives on Tuesday, another on Wednesday and so on. So people say they form a car pool. Men also form car pools: three or four of them take turns to drive to their working places.
☆“To form a car pool” refers to ______.
A. placing their cars at the same place.
B. putting their money together to buy a car
C. building a pool for people to wash their cars in
D. taking turns to drive themselves or the children to a certain place
Step 1
Ex 4:Doctors and other scientists who study the human mind and try to explain why people behave in the way that do, called psychologists, are starting to believe it. You know that your brain is connected to every part of your body through your nervous system. Now scientists have proved that how you think and feel can have an influence on the health of your body.
☆A psychologist is a person who may help you with your ______.
A. illness and abilities
B. thoughts and behavior
C. mind and nervous system
D. physical activity and daily exercise
Ex 5: Don’t give your password to anyone else, and never leak out the following information---your real name, home address, age, school, phone number or other personal information.
☆The underlined phrase “leak out” may mean “______”
A. send for B. break out C. give out D. put away
Step 2
I’ve loved my mother’s desk since I was just tall enough to see above the top of it as Mother sat doing letters. Standing by her chair, looking at the ink bottle, pens, and white paper, I decided that the act of writing must be the most wonderful thing in the world.
Years later, during her final illness, Mother kept different things for my sister and brother. “But the desk,” she'd said again, “is for Elizabeth.”
I never saw her anger, never saw her cry. I knew she loved me; she showed it in action. But as a young girl, I wanted heart-to-heart talks between mother and daughter. They never happened. And a gulf opened between us. I was too “emotional (易动感情的)”. But she lived “on the surface”.
As years passed, I had my own family. I loved my mother and thanked her for our happy family. I wrote to her in careful words and asked her to let me know in any way she chose that she did forgive (原谅) me.
I posted the letter and waited for her answer. None came.
My hope turned to disappointment, then little interest, finally, peace. It seemed that nothing happened.
I couldn’t be sure that the letter had even got to Mother. I only knew I had written it, and I could stop trying to make her into someone she was not.
Now the present of her desk told me, as she’d never been able to, that she was pleased that writing was my chosen work. I cleaned the desk carefully and found some papers inside-a photo of my father and a one-page letter, folded (折叠) and refolded many times.
Give me the answer, my letter asks, in any way you choose. Mother, you always chose the act that speaks louder than words.
1. The writer began to love her mother’s desk _____.
A. after Mother died B. before she became a writer
C. when she was a child D. when Mother gave it to her
2. The passage shows that _____.
A. Mother was cold on the surface but kind in her heart to her daughter
B. Mother was too serious about everything her daughter had done
C. Mother cared much about her daughter in words
D. Mother wrote to her daughter in careful words
3. The word “gulf” in the passage means _____.
A. deep understanding between the old and the young
B. different ideas between the mother and the daughter
C. free talks between mother and daughter
D. part of the sea going far in land
4. What did Mother do with her daughter’s letter asking for forgiveness
A. She had never received the letter.
B. For years, she often talked about the letter.
C. She didn’t forgive her daughter at all in all her life.
D. She read the letter again and again till she died.
5. What’s the best title of the passage
A. My Letter to Mother B. Mother and Children
C. My Mother's Desk D. Talks Between Mother and Me
Passage 1
Passage 1(★★)
Bill was fourteen years old and in the ninth grade. He had a part-time job which got him up at five o’clock. He was a newspaper boy.
Each morning, Bill left the house at five fifteen to go to the center. The newspapers were delivered there by a truck at midnight. He carried them on his bike.
In the winter it was still dark when he got up. But during the rest of the year it was bright. Bill had to deliver the newspapers to his customers’ houses in all kinds of weather. He tried to put each paper in the box where it was safe from wind, rain and snow. His customers thought he did a good job. Sometimes they gave him tips.
Bill made about $ 70 each month and he was saving some of the money to go to college. He spent the rest on tapes and clothes. Once a month he had to collect the money from his customers. Since many of them worked during the day, Bill had to get the money at night. Sometimes when Bill was ill, his elder brother had to deliver the newspapers. Once his father had to help him.
Bill has 70 customers now, but he hopes to get more soon. Some day, when he has many more customers, perhaps Bill will win a prize for being a very good newspaper boy. He wants to win a visit to Europe, but he would be happy enough if he won a new bike. (252 words)
Bill did part-time job as ______.
A. a waiter B. a driver C. a newspaper boy D. a salesman
In the passage, the underlined word “delivered” means ______.
A. 收集 B. 印制 C. 分发 D. 制造
Bill had to collect money from his customers once a ______.
A. month B. week C. year D. day
From the story we know the customers like ______ people.
A. clever B. hard-working C. young D. poor
According to the passage, if Bill worked really hard, he could possibly win ______.
A. more friends B. more money
C. more newspaper D. a visit to Europe or a new bike
Passage 2
Once there was a baby eagle living in a nest on a cliff (悬崖). The baby eagle loved his nest. It was warm, soft and comfortable. And even better, he had all the food and love that his mother could give. Whenever the baby eagle was hungry, his mother would always come just in time with the delicious food he liked.
He was growing happily day after day. But suddenly his world changed. His mother stopped coming to the nest. He was full of sadness and fear. He thought he would die soon. He cried, but nobody heard him.
Two days later his mother appeared with some nice food. The baby eagle was very happy. But his mother put the food at the top of the mountain and then looked down at her baby. The baby eagle cried out, “Mum, why did you do this to me I’m hungry. Don’t you know I will die if I have nothing to eat ”
“Here is the last meal I give e and get it by yourself.” his mother said. Then she flew down and pushed the baby eagle out of the nest.
The baby eagle fell down, faster and faster. He looked up at his mum. “Why do you abandon me ” He looked down at the earth. The ground was much closer. Then something strange happened. The air caught behind his arms and he began to fly! He wasn’t moving to the ground any more. Instead, his eyes were pointed up at the sun.
“You are flying! You can make it!” His mother smiled. (266 words)
When the baby eagle was hungry, he ______.
A. lived in a nest in a park B. got food from his mother
C. was always cold and hungry D. lived happily with his friends
The baby eagle felt ______ as soon as he saw his mother coming again.
A. sad B. happy C. afraid D. angry
When the baby eagle’s mother came the last time, she ______.
A. put some food in the nest
B. came to see him again.
C. shouted at her baby eagle and flew away.
D. pushed her baby eagle out of the nest.
The meaning of the underlined word “abandon” is similar to “______”.
A. feed B. born C. leave D. raise
We can infer(推断) from the story that ______.
A. The baby eagle lost his mother.
B. The baby eagle fell down and died.
C. The baby eagle could get food himself.
D. The baby eagle was still angry with his mother
Passage 3
Elena jogged with her dad in some empty lots (小块地) at the edge of town. These out-of-the-way lots were good places to jog. But the lots were full of rocks and rubbish.
One day, Elena saw a sign on the lots. It said, “New City Park.” Elena was excited. Maybe the park would have a jogging trail!
Elena told her parents about the sign.
“I read about the park in the newspaper,” said Elena’s father. “The city wants volunteers to help clean the area. Then the city will build a soccer field and a playground.”
“Will they build a jogging trail ” Elena asked.
“No, the paper didn’t mention a jogging trail.”
“Well, perhaps if I help clean up the lots, they’ll put in a jogging trail,” said Elena.
On Saturday Elena went to the lots. Many adults were working there. Some were picking up rubbish. Some were moving rocks.
“I want to volunteer,” Elena told a man. “What can I do ”
“This is not a job for children,” said the man. “You’d better go home.”
Elena looked around. She could carry rubbish. She could move rocks. A lady was pulling a bag of rubbish. Elena saw a box of rubbish bags. She took an empty bag.
“I’ll take this bag to the Dumpster,” said Elena. “Here’s a new bag.”
“Thanks,” said the lady. “Keep those new bags coming.”
Elena dragged rubbish bags. She told everyone she was glad to help build the park. She said that she hoped the park would have a jogging trail.
Elena went to the area every week. Soon everyone knew her and she told everyone how wonderful a jogging trail would be.
Soon the volunteers cleared the lots. The city could start building. The mayor(市长) gave a speech. He showed a drawing of the new park. He told them about the park. There would be picnic tables. There would be a playground. The park would even have basketball courts. There was no sign of a jogging trail.
The mayor thanked the volunteers. Then he asked if they had any suggestions. The volunteers said they wanted to build a jogging trail around the park. They told the mayor how helpful Elena had been and how she wanted a jogging trail. The mayor said, “A jogging trail won’t be hard to build. Let’s do it!” Everyone clapped and cheered. Elena cheered loudest of all.
The mayor thanked the volunteers. Then he asked if they had any suggestions. The volunteers said they wanted to build a jogging trail around the park.
They told the mayor how helpful Elena had been and how she wanted a jogging trail. The mayor said, “A jogging trail won’t be hard to build. Let’s do it!”
Everyone clapped and cheered. Elena cheered loudest of all. (469 words)
1. Elena feel ______ at the beginning of the story．
A. happy and proud B. sad and shy
C. excited and hopeful D. unhappy and disappointed.
2. Elena knew the city needed volunteers to help clean the lots from ______.
A. her father B. newspaper C. a sign D. her friends
3. The underlined word “volunteer” means “______”.
A. pick up rubbish B. build a park
C. help without being paid D. help for give suggestions
4. The volunteers tell the mayor they wanted to build a jogging trail because ______.
A. they needed a park to jog around.
B. they wanted to thank Elena for her help.
C. they thought it was a good place for jogging.
D. they hoped the mayor could jog with them every day.
5. Which of the following statement is NOT TRUE
A. The city would build a soccer field and a playground.
B. Elena hoped the park would have a jogging trail.
C. The park would even have basketball courts.
D. Elena volunteered to build a jogging trail
6. What can be the best title for the story
A. Elena and a Mayor B. Elena and New City Park
C. Elena and Some Volunteers D. Elena and a jogging Trail
Shah Jahan built the Taj Mhal in Agra, India, in the 1600s. He wanted to make a beautiful place where he could bury his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
Mumtaz Mahal was only one of Shah Jahan’s wives, but he liked her the most. After Mumtaz died, the Shah built the Taj Mahal. It took twenty-two years to complete all of the work. The main building is made of white marble and the main roof is white and round. It is one of the most famous things to see in India.
The Taj Mahal is beautiful. The Jumna River flows beside the north wall, but inside the walls, a smaller river runs through a pretty garden.
Some people who study history think that Shah Jahan was also cruel man. They say that after the Taj Mahal was completed, Shah Jahan killed the man who made it. He did this because he did not want the man to build anything more beautiful than the Taj Mah. That was not all they found out. Stories also say the Shah cut off the hands of all the artists who took part in building the Taj Mahal.
As for Shah Jahan, when he died he was also buried in the Taj Mahal, next to his wife. (210 words)
Shah Jahan the ruler of the Mughal Empire in India, from 1627 to 1658 沙贾汗（印度莫卧尔帝国皇帝）
Match each word with the best meaning
________ beside a. the study of things that happened in the past
________ bury b. the covering on top of a building
________ cruel c. next to something
________ history d. causing pain to other people
________ marble e. a beautiful stone used in building
________ roof f. put a dead person in the ground
Choose the best answer
Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal because ______.
A. he needed a new place to live B. he liked beautiful gardens
C. he wanted to bury his wife there D. his wife wanted to live in a beautiful building
Mumtaz Mahal was ______.
A. one of Shah’s wives B. a person who studied history
C. the man who made the Taj Mahal D. An artist who worked on the Taj Mahal
You can not see ______ when you visit the Taj Mahal.
A. the Jumna River B. a pretty garden
C. a round bell tower D. the place where Mumtaz Maha is buried
Shah Jahan killed the man who made the Taj Mahal because ______.
A. Shah did not like the Taj Mahal
B. the man made a mistake
C. the Shah did not want him to make another building
D. the man did not finish the building
People thought Shah Jahan was a cruel man because ______.
A. he buried his wife B. he cut off the hands of the artists
C. he built the Taj Mahal D. he killed one of his wives
A. Circle the letter of the word or phrase that best completes the sentence.
The cat jumped from the tree onto the ______ of the house.
A. bell B. cage C. roof D. history
I like to ______ festivals. My favourite is New Year’s Day.
A. take part of B. take part in C. take part D. take out
Some people think it ______ to keep a bird in a cage. Birds should fly free in the sky.
A. intelligent B. popular C. successful D. cruel
The dog ______ the toy in the garden.
A. completed B. buried C. surprised D. found out
The ______ of this building is very interesting. A famous researchers worked here.
A. history B. belief C. message D. marble
______ my new apartment, it is in a great location ______ the park.
A. As for…beside B. Beside…around C. As for…around D. Besides…as for
B. Complete the passage with items from the box. One item is extra.
buried cruel find out history roof take part in
Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal for his wife, Mumtaz. He (1) ____________ her inside the Taj Mahal. This building is famous for its beautiful round white (2) ____________. People who study Indian (3) ____________ are not surprised to (4) ____________ that Shah Jahan killed the man who made the Taj Mahal. They know Shah Jahan was sometimes very (5) ____________.
C. Decide which word or phrase means the same as the underlined word or phrase. Circle the letter of your choice.
My sister loves to read books about things that happened in the past.
A. beliefs B. festivals C. history D. translation
Birds can often be seen standing on the top of a building.
A. roof B. glove C. bell D. file
When Martn learned the exam results, he was very happy.
A. turned out B. took part in C. gave up D. found out
Tom Sawyer looked for money and treasure that was put into the ground.
A. sunken B. buried C. improved D. invented
In fairy tales, witches are not kind and hurt other people.
A. cruel B. intelligent C. popular D. successful
D. Read the passage and decide if the statements are true, false, or unknown. Circle the letter of the best answer.
End of Taj Tourist Project
Agra, India, June 24 A huge tourist project near the Taj Mahal has been stopped. Workers are not taking part in the 33-million-dolldar project any more. The shopping mall with shops, restaurants, and cinemas was designed to give visitors everything they needed near the Taj. They would not need not to shop in the city of Agra. Now the government has called off all work on the project because it could hurt the famous building.
Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal 400 years ago as a tomb for his favourite wife. It is beside the Jumna River. Conservationists, people who protect the environment, say that the project would move the river away from the Taj. This would hurt the base or bottom of the famous building. The marble building might fall apart and then tourists would not come to visit it. The Taj Mahal is the most important tourist attraction in India. India’s economy would be badly hurt if the Taj is damaged.
True False Unknown
□ □ □ Work continues on the Taj Mahal tourist project.
□ □ □ The project would cost more than $30, 000, 000.
□ □ □ Agra city is five miles away from the Taj Mahal.
□ □ □ Changing the river could make the Taj Mahal fall apart
□ □ □ Tourism is the most important part of India’s economy.
