In England, people often talk about the weather because they can experience (经历) four seasons in one day. In the morning the weather is warm just like in spring. An hour later black clouds come and then it rains hard. The weather gets a little cold. In the late afternoon the sky will be sunny, the sun will begin to shine, and it will be summer at this time of a day.
In England, people can also have summer in winter, or have winter in summer. So in winter they can swim sometimes, and in summer sometimes they should take warm clothes.
When you go to England, you will see that some English people usually take an umbrella (伞)or a raincoat with them in the sunny morning, but you should not laugh at them.
If you don't take an umbrella or a raincoat, you will regret (后悔) later in the day.
1.Why do people in England often talk about the weather?
A. Because they may have four seasons in one day
B. Because they often have very good weather
C. Because the weather is warm just like in spring
D. Because the sky is sunny all day
2.From the story we know that when _________come, there is a heavy rain.
A. sunshine and snow B. black clouds
C. summer and winter D. spring and autumn
3."People can also have summer in winter." Means "it is sometimes too ______in winter."
A. warm B. cool C. cold D. rainy
4.In the sunny morning some English people usually take a raincoat or an umbrella with them because ____.
A. their friends ask them to do so
B. it often rains in England
C. they are going to sell them
D. they are their favorite things
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Peter loved to shop used articles（物品）. Almost a month ago, he bought popular word game that used little pieces of wood with different letters on them. As he was purchasing it, the salesgirl said, “Uh, look, the game box hasn’t even been opened yet. That might be worth some money. ”
Peter examined the box, and, sure enough, it was completely covered in factory-sealed plastic. And he saw a date of 1973 on the back of the box.
“You should put that up for auction (拍卖) on the Internet, and see what happens.”the salesgirl said.
“Yes, you’re right. People like something rare.” Peter agreed, “I can’t imagine there being very many unopened boxes of this game still around 40 years later.”
“Don’t forget to tell me if you sell it.” the salesgirl smiled.
“No problem.” Peter said.
After he got home, Peter went online to several auction websites looking for his game. But he couldn’t find it. Then he typed in the name of the word game and hit Search. The search result was 543 websites containing information about the changes of the game. Over the years, the game had been produced using letters in different sizes and game boards in different colors. He also found some lists of game fans looking for various versions of the game. Peter emailed some of them, telling them what he had.
Two weeks later, Peter went back to the shop.
“Hello. Do you still remember the unopened word game?”
The salesgirl looked at him for a second, then recognized him and said, “Oh, hi!”
“I’ve got something for you,” Peter said. “I sold the game and made $1,000. Thank you for your suggestion.” He handed her three $ 100 bills.
“Wow!” the salesgirl cried out. “Thank you, I never expected it.”
1.Which of the following best describes Peter’s word game?
A. It was made around 40 years ago.
B. It had game boards in different sizes.
C. It was kept in a plastic bag with a seal.
D. It had little pieces of wood in different colors.
2.What did the salesgirl probably think of Peter’s word game?
A. Old and handy.
B. Rare and valuable.
C. Classic and attractive.
D. Colorful and interesting
3.What happened at the end of the story?
A. Peter gave the girl $300 as a reward.
B. The salesgirl became Peter’s friend.
C. Peter returned the word game for $ 1,000.
D. The salesgirl felt confused to see Peter again.
4.What is the main theme of the story?
A. It’s important to keep a promise.
B. It’s great to share in other people’s happiness.
C. We should be grateful for the help from others.
D. Something rare is worth a large amount of money.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
What’s your opinion on spicy food? Some people cannot handle even the smallest amount of chili(辣椒) in their dinner while others can’t get enough of it.
Scientists have long been puzzled by why some people love chili and others loathe it. Plenty of research has been done on the subject, dating back to as far as the 1970s. Previous results showed that a love of chili is related to childhood experiences, and cultural influences affect our taste buds, too. But the latest study has found that a person’s love of spicy food may be linked to his or her personality more than anything else, CBC News reported.
“We have always assumed that liking drives intake---we eat what we like and we like what we eat. But no one has actually directly bothered to connect these personality traits with intake of chili peppers,” said Professor John Hayes from Pennsylvania State University, who led the study.
But before you look at the study, you should first know that “spicy” is not a taste, unlike sour, sweet, bitter and salty. It is, in fact, a burning sensation that you feel on the surface of your tongue. This got scientists thinking that maybe a love of spicy food is brought about by people’s longing for thrill, something they usually get from watching action movies or riding a roller coaster.
In the study, 97 participants, both male and female, were asked to fill out questionnaires about certain traits of their personality, for example. Whether they like new experiences or tend to avoid risks. They were then given cups of water with capsaicin(辣椒素), the plant chemical that makes chili burn, mixed into them.
By comparing the answers to questionnaires and what participants said they felt about the spicy water. Researchers found that those who most tended to enjoy action movies or take risks were about six times more likely to enjoy the spicy water.
Interestingly, we used to believe that the reason some people can withstand spicy food is that their tongue have become less sensitive to it. However, this latest study has found otherwise. It’s not that it doesn’t burn as badly, it’s that you actually learn to like the burn,” Hayes explained.
1.What’s the meaning of the underlined word “loathe” in the second paragraph?
A. dislike B. fear
C. put up with D. adapt to
2.What did Professor John Hayes and his team discover from their study?
A. what we eat actually helps to develop our personalities.
B. Males are more likely to enjoy spicy food than females.
C. Those trying to avoid risks tend to be less interested in spicy food.
D. People are wrong to treat spicy as a kind of taste rather than a feeling.
3.Why do some people like spicy food according to the recent study?
A. Because their taste buds have become less sensitive.
B. Because they love the burning sensation.
C. Because they want to challenge themselves.
D. Because the more they try spicy food, the less it burns.
4.What’s the main idea of the passage?
A. What he or she likes to eat mainly decides on his or her personality.
B. That a person enjoys spicy food depends largely on the personality.
C. His or her childhood experiences decide on his or her personality.
D. His or her cultural background decides on his or her personality.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Tech-Camp
No.6 Devon Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong a technology day camp for students 12-17
About Tech-Camp
Tech-Camp is a day camp with a focus on computers and electronics technology. We offer 2-week summer programmes for students of 12 to 17 years of age. We have a computer lab with the latest and fastest equipment, an electronics lab, and a video production studio. Our staff are special, too. They are experts in computers and electronics, of course, but they are also people who care about children and enjoy working with them.
The benefits of Tech-Camp
In all of our programmes, we show students how to work in teams and how to solve problems by themselves. We encourage them to think creatively.
What students will do at Tech-Camp
Each day Tech-camp is filled with useful, interesting and challenging activities. For example, in the Computer Programme, students learn the basic computer programming, and how to use the Internet. In the Tech-Camp Programme, they make radio-controlled model cars and produce their own short videos.
Programme Session 1 Session 2 Session 3
Computer Programme 15 June-26 June 15 June-26 June 15 June-26 June
High-tech Programme 29 June-10 July 27 July-7 August 15 June-26 June
Fee: HK $2,000 per student
(10% discount available for groups of 10 or more students.)
For more information about Tech-Camp, please contact Director of Summer Programmes, Ms Julia Brown, by phone, fax or e-mail.
Telephone: 26548898
Fax: 26948850
E-mail: [email protected]
1.What would you probably like to ask about if you phone Ms Julia Brown after reading the brochure?
A. The activities the students will have.
B. The fee each attendant should pay.
C. The e-mail address of Tech-Camp.
D. The deadline for application.
2.From the brochure we can infer that _______.
A. the Camp offers students accommodation during their two-week stay at the Camp
B. high school teachers are in charge of the Tech-Camp all the time
C. students can learn about the hi-tech through lectures given by the experts
D. students can learn how to think and solve problems creatively and learn teamwork
3.According to the passage, how much will they pay if a group of 20 students enter for Tech-Camp?
A. HK $36,000. B. HK $35,000.
C. HK $3,600. D. HK $40,000.
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
根据短文内容，从短文后的七个选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
A major source of teen stress is school exams, and test anxiety is not uncommon. When you recognize your teen is under stress, how can parents help your teen stay calm before an exam? Be involved. Parents need to be involved in their teen’s work. 1._ What they look for is your presence — to talk, to cry, or simply to sit with them quietly. Communicate openly with your teen. Encourage your teen to express her worries and fears, but don’t let them focus on those fears.
Help them get organized. 2. Together , you and your teen can work out a time—table in which she can study for what she knows will be on the test.
Provide a calm setting. Help your teen set up a quiet place to study and protect his privacy. Give them a nutritious diet. It is important for your teen to eat a healthy, balanced diet during exam times to focus and do her best. 3. If this happens, encourage your teen to eat light meals or sandwiches. A healthy diet, rather than junk food, is best for reducing stress.
4. Persuade your teenager to get some sleep or do something active when she needs a real break from studying. Making time for relaxation, fun, and exercise are all important in reducing stress. Help your teen balance her time so that she will feel comfortable taking time out from studying to spend time with friends or rest.
Show a positive attitude. 5. Your panic, anxiety and blame contribute to your teen’s pressure. Make your teen feel accepted and valued for her efforts. Most importantly, reassure your teen that things will be all right , no matter what the results are.
A. A parent’s attitude will dictate their teen’s emotions.
B. Exam stress can make some teens lose their appetite.
C. They will only make the situation worse.
D. Encourage your teen to relax.
E. The best thing is simply to listen.
F. Help your teen think about what she has to study and plan accordingly.
G. Your teen may also make negative comments about themselves
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
完形填空
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A, B, C 和D)中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Maggie was assigned to a public school in the middle of the year, and the headmaster asked her to teach Class 4-B right away. She heard that the former teacher had _________ suddenly, but the headmaster didn’t tell her_________ . All he told her was that this was a class of “_________ students”.
First day, she walked into the classroom, spitballs (纸团) _________through the air, feet on desks, the noise deafening. She walked to the front of the classroom and _________ the attendance book(考勤簿). Next to 20 names on the list were IQ scores: 140,141...160. “Oh,” she thought to herself, “_________ they are so high-spirited. These children have exceptional IQs.” She _________ and brought them to order, _________ that she could teach such high-quality students.
At first Maggie found the students _________to turn in work, and that assignments that were handed in were done _________, full of mistakes. She spoke to everyone, “ With your IQ, I _________ nothing short of (除…之外) the best work from you.”
The whole term Maggie continually _________ them of their responsibility to use all the extra intelligence God had given them. Things began to _________. The children worked hard. Their work was creative and excellent. At the end of the term, the headmaster _________ Maggie into his office. “What magic have you done to these kids?” He asked _________ . “ Their work has surpassed (超过) all the regular classes.”“It is just _________. They’re smarter than regular students! You said yourself they are special students.” Maggie was _________ .“ I said they are special because they are the special need students—behavioral disordered.”“Then why are their IQs so _________ on the attendance sheet?” Maggie pulled out the sheet and passed it to the headmaster.“ Those aren’t their IQs. Those are their locker _________at the gym. Sorry, Ms. Maggie, your kids are not geniuses(天才).”Maggie paused a bit, and smiled, “ If someone _________ himself to be a genius, he will become one. I’m teaching them as geniuses again next year.”
1.A.left B.dismissed(解雇) C.disappeared D.stopped
2.A.how B.when C.who D.why
3.A.naughty(淘气的) B.common C.special D.poor
4.A.throwing B.going C.flying D.coming
5.A.closed B.opened C.checked D.found
6.A.No wonder B.No doubt C.No problem D.No way
7.A.wondered B.smiled C.angered D.waved
8.A.grateful B.angry C.pitiful D.doubtful
9.A.disliked B.managed C.tried D.failed
10.A.skillfully B.carelessly C.carefully D.attentively (认真地)
11.A.suppose B.expect C.imagine D.suggest
12.A.reminded B.warned C.scolded(责备) D.told
13.A.turn B.happen C.change D.end
14.A.led B.showed C.ordered D.called
15.A.angrily B.excitedly C.patiently D.slowly
16.A.natural B.right C.fine D.possible
17.A.disappointed B.encouraged C.surprised D.pleased
18.A.low B.much C.high D.many
19.A.numbers B.scores C.doors D.names
20.A.wishes B.believes C.trains D.helps
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
语法填空
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（不多于3个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
O.Henry was a pen name __1._ (use) by an American writer of short stories. His real name was William Sydney Porter. He was born in North Carolina in 1862. As a young boy he lived an exciting life. He did not go to school for very long, but he managed to teach _2.__ (he) everything he needed to know. When he was about 20 years old, O.Henry went to Texas, _3. _ he tried different jobs. He first worked on a newspaper, and then had a job in a bank. When some money went __4.__ (miss) from the bank, O.Henry was believed __5.__ (steal) it. Because of that, he __6.__ (send) to prison. During _7.__ three years in prison, he learned to write short stories. After he got out of prison, he went to New York and continued writing. He wrote __8.__ (most) about New York and the life of the poor there. People liked his stories, because simple __9.__ the tales were, they would finish __10._ a sudden change at the end, to the readers’ surprise.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
短文改错
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。
修改：在错的词下画一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Li Ming went to the park in last Saturday afternoon after he had already finished his homeworks. He saw several boys skating in the pond happily. Suddenly he heard a cry for help. Looked ahead, he found one of the boys had fell into the water. Li Ming jumped into the icy water immediately and manages to pull the boy to safe. Then the boy was given the first aid but soon came to myself. The boy’s parents came soon after they received the phone call. They were very grateful Li Ming, who was trembling there with cold.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
书面表达
英国某教育机构寒假期间在伦敦举办国际高中生交流活动(international high school students’ exchange project),现征集参加人员。假定你是高中生李华,对此很感兴趣,请根据以下写作要点用英语给活动的负责人写一封申请信。
要点如下: 1.表示对该活动的兴趣;
2.简要介绍你具备的能力(爱好英国和中国文学，擅长交流，帮助理解中国，生活自立等等）。
注意:1.词数100左右; 2.可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。
Dear Sir or Madam,
.
Yours,
Li Hua
难度: 中等查看答案及解析