One day an American called Simon went to London to visit his friend, Rick. Rick told him that his flat was on the first floor. When he arrived, Simon went straight to the first floor of the building. But he was told that there was no Rick on that floor. Do you know why?
In fact, the British call the first floor of a building the ground floor. The floor above the ground floor is the first floor, which Americans would call the second floor.
The story shows that there are a few culture differences between Britain and America, though the British and Americans both speak English.
The British usually hide their feelings. They seldom start a conversation with strangers. For example, on the train the British often spend their time reading newspapers or books. But Americans are quite different. They're more active and easier to talk with.
The British and Americans may use different terms for many things. The British usually use football, rubber and post while Americans prefer to use soccer, eraser and mail.
1.Simon went to London to ________.
A. visit his friend B. spend his holiday
C. study English D. have a meeting
2.According to the passage, the British usually spend their time ________ on the train.
A. playing cards B. talking loudly
C. doing some reading D. singing and dancing
3.What's the best title for the passage?
A. Differences in culture B. Simon's funny story
C. Information abroad D. Hiding the feelings
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
As a young adult, Noah Webster was a teacher. At this time, the colonies were fighting for independence from Britain. Yet the books that American children used in school all came from Britain. The books were all about British people and British places. Webster wanted books that would mean more to American children. So he wrote three books that used American examples — a grammar book, a spelling book, and a reader. These books were very popular, and millions of them were sold.
Webster was interested in changing the spellings of words. He wanted words to be spelled the way they were pronounced. For example, he thought the word “head” should be spelled “hed”, and the word “laugh” should be spelled “laf”. People liked Webster’s suggestions.
However, few words were actually changed. One group of words that were changed were words in which an unpronounced “u” followed an “o”. That is why Americans write “color” and “labor”, and the British write “colour” and “labour”.
With the money he made from his books, Webster was able to write. It was the first American English dictionary, published in 1828. Webster’s dictionary had over 70000 words and gave the meaning and origin of each. To this day, Webster’s work is the example that most dictionaries of American English follow.
1.Which of the following statements is right?
A. Noah Webster had to borrow books from Britain when he was a student.
B. Noah Webster had his own government when he was very young.
C. When Noah Webster taught at schools, he wrote some story books.
D. As a teacher, Noah Webster wasn’t satisfied with the books he used.
2.The third paragraph mainly tells us that ________.
A. Webster spoke English in a different way
B. American people didn’t write English as exactly as English people did
C. Webster was good at correcting mistakes in textbooks
D. American people didn’t like speaking English
3.In American history, Noah Webster is famous for ________.
A. his teaching methods
B. his dictionary
C. his fighting for freedom
D. learning foreign languages
4.The last sentence of this passage means ________.
A. most dictionaries in the world are the copies of Webster’s
B. most dictionaries in American English have the characteristics of Webster’s
C. most American people followed Webster’s advice on writing
D. Webster’s dictionary is the only one used in the United States
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Learning a Second Language
Some people learn a second language easily. Other people have trouble learning a new language. How can you help yourself learn a new language, such as English? There are several ways to make learning English a little easier and more interesting.
The first step is to feel confident about learning English. If you believe that you can learn, you will learn. Be patient. You don't have to understand everything all at once. It is natural to make mistakes when you learn something new. We can learn from our mistakes.
The second step is to practise your English. For example，write in a diary every day. You will get used to writing in English，and you will feel comfortable expressing your ideas in English. After several weeks, you will see that your writing is improving. Besides, you must speak English every day. You can practise with your classmates after class. You will all make mistakes, but gradually you will become comfortable communicating in English.
The third step is to keep a record of your language learning. You can write this in your diary. After each class, think about what you did. Did you answer a question correctly? Did you understand anything the teacher explained? Perhaps the lesson was difficult, but you tried to understand it. Write these achievements(成就) in your diary.
You must be active in learning English and believe that you can do it. It is important to practise every day and make a record of your achievements. You will enjoy learning English, and you will feel more confidence in yourself.
1.The underlined word “communicating” in the third paragraph means ________.
A. getting information
B. sharing or exchanging ideas, news, information，etc.
C. speaking
D. expressing the reason and the result
2.When you learn English, you do not need to ________.
A．be patient
B．make mistakes
C．express your ideas in English
D．understand everything at once
3.What is not helpful for you to enjoy learning English?
A．To communicate in English.
B．To worry about making mistakes.
C．To think about what you did after each class.
D．To make a record of the achievements.
4.What is the main idea of this passage?
A．It is very important to learn a second language.
B．Some people learn a second language easily while other people do not.
C．There are ways to help you learn a second language more easily.
D．Don't worry about making mistakes when learning a second language.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
One of the most important things in the world is friendship. In order to have friends, you have to be a friend. You have to be with them in both good and bad times. In return, they will be there for you. But how can you be a good friend?
Listen. Listen when they are talking. Keep eye contact. Don't say anything unless they ask you a question. Sometimes you're not required to have anything to say; they just need someone to talk to about their feelings.
Help them. If your friends are ever in need of something, be there to help them. You should try to put them first, but make sure you don't become their slave (奴隶). Try to take an extra pencil or pen with you to classes as they may forget to take one. Have a few extra dollars in your pocket in case they forget something they need.
Be there for them. Try to make something for your friends to help make them feel better in hard times. Making cards and baking things are among the nicest things you can do for a friend when they are in hard times. Marilyn Monroe once said, "I'm selfish, impatient (急躁的) and a little insecure. I make mistakes, and I am out of control and at times hard to deal with. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you surely don't deserve (值得) me at my best. " Always remember this! If you don't want to deal with your friends when they're depressed, then you don't deserve to be with them during those parties where you have a good time!
Try to make plans with your friends. Go shopping, go for an ice cream, have a party, go to a movie and so on. Make time to know each other even better by doing something you both enjoy. These are the things you'll remember once you're all long graduated when looking back on your life!
1.We can learn from the passage that ________.
A. we must be careful when we choose our friends
B. friends should share happiness as well as problems
C. keeping long friendship is not easy
D. everyone can be a good friend
2.What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 3 probably mean?
A. You should help your friends just as a friend.
B. You should help your friends anytime anywhere.
C. You should do whatever your friends ask you to do.
D. You should always put your needs before your friends'.
3.Marilyn Monroe's words are mentioned to tell us that ________.
A. everyone has ups and downs during their lifetime
B. we should just share our happy times with our friends
C. we should be there when we are needed by our friends
D. we should learn to forgive our friends when they are wrong
4.What are we mainly advised to do in the last paragraph?
A. To spend time with our friends.
B. To look back on the happy times.
C. To get to know more friends.
D. To know what is worth doing.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
根据短文内容，从短文后的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。(E=AB F=AC G=AD)
If you want to be happy you must take responsibility and stop expecting things or people to make you happy. You are the source of your own happiness, so stop looking elsewhere. 1. . Here are a few ways for you to follow:
Be thankful to others. 2. It is too easy to take those around us for granted. Show them the same consideration you would like shown to you.
3. This goes beyond(超过) politeness; it is a form of giving. Treat everyone you meet as if they have a big sign on their chest saying “make me feel important.” If you do this you will discover a hidden source of joy.
Perform acts of kindness. Don’t wait to be asked. 4. It doesn’t need to be a big thing, hold the door for a stranger, or smile at anyone you make eye contact with. Look for chances to make others feel good.
Make a decision to be happy. This is the most important step on the road to a happy life. 5. You are the key to your own happiness, so go ahead, unlock it once and for all.
A. Respect other people.
B. Be polite to other people.
C. Instead of looking for happiness, start creating it.
D. You can change your feelings by acting the way you want to feel.
E. If you see a chance to do something nice for someone else, do it!
F. Simply make up your mind to be the happiest person you know, and you will be.
G. Be grateful to the people in your life, and practice saying thank you for any politeness they show you.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项中选出可填入空白处的最佳选项。
You Did More Than Carry My Books
Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed a boy ahead of him had dropped all of the books he was carrying, along with a baseball bat and several other things. Mark ________ down and helped the boy pick up these articles. ________ they were going the same way, he helped to carry some of them for him. As they walked Mark ________ the boy's name was Bill, that he ________ computer games, baseball and history, that he was having a lot of ________ with his other subjects and that he had just broken ________ with his best friend.
They arrived at Bill's home first and Mark was ________ in for a Coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed ________ with a few laughs and some shared small talk, and then Mark went home. They ________ to see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, and then both ended up from the same high school. Just three weeks before ________, Bill asked Mark if they ________ talk. Bill ________ him of the day years ago when they had first met. “Do you ________ wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?” asked Bill. “You see, I ________ out my locker(橱柜) because I didn't want to leave a mess ________ anyone else. I had planned to run away and I was going home to ________ my things. But after we spent some time together ________ and laughing, I realized that ________ I had done that, I would have ________ a new friend and missed all the fun we would have together. So you see, Mark, when you picked up my books that day, you did a lot more. You ________ my life.”
1.A. fell B. sat C. lay D. knelt(跪)
2.A. Although B. Since C. After D. Until
3.A. discovered B. realized C. said D. decided
4.A. played B. loved C. tried D. made
5.A. questions B. ideas C. trouble D. doubt
6.A. up B. out C. off D. away
7.A. called B. helped C. invited D. allowed
8.A. peacefully B. willingly C. freely D. pleasantly
9.A. continued B. agreed C. forced D. offered
10.A. graduation B. movement C. separation D. vacation
11.A. would B. should C. could D. must
12.A. demanded B. reminded C. removed D. asked
13.A. ever B. usually C. even D. never
14.A. checked B. took C. cleaned D. put
15.A. over B. into C. with D. for
16.A. find B. pick C. pack D. hold
17.A. talking B. playing C. reading D. watching
18.A. before B. if C. while D. as
19.A. forgotten B. passed C. left D. lost
20.A. helped B. recovered C. improved D. changed
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
读句子，在空白处填入适当的内容或括号内单词的正确形式。
1.The most __________ (frequent) asked question concerns the relationship between teenagers and their parents.
2.It is recognized that reading the original work is better than seeing the film __________ (base) on it.
3.Father sometimes goes on a picnic with us although he dislikes __________ (go) outdoors.
4.Don’t reply to any e-mails requesting personal information, no matter how __________ (office) they look.
5.Because of the heavy snow, there was a series of __________ (accident) on this highway at dusk.
6.It was the second time that we __________ (see) her.
7.I don’t think the way __________ you speak to her is polite.
8.At present, how to get along well with other classmates is __________ major concern for many students.
9.Many young men disagree __________ their parents __________ most things because of generation gap.
10.__________ he is very old, he managed to live by himself.
11.__________ (信不信由你), there is no such thing as standard English.
12.I stayed awake __________ (故意) until half past eleven in order to have a good look at the moon by myself.
13.I wonder if it’s because I haven’t been able to be outdoors for so long that I’ve __________ (变得如此疯狂) everything to do with nature.
14.These new settlers enriched the English language and especially its vocabulary. So by the 1600’s Shakespeare was able to __________ (充分利用) a wider vocabulary than ever before.
15.At that time, two big changes in English spelling happened: first Samuel Johnson wrote his dictionary and later Noah Webster wrote The American Dictionary of English Language. The latter __________ (给予不同的特色) to American English spelling.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
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处语言错误，每句中最多有两处，每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线(＼)划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，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。
I love camping. It’s my favorite way to spent the summer vacation. Last year, my family and me went camping in the countryside. It was one of the most excited experiences I had never had. We slept in a tent and went for a long walk every day. We cooked over a fire and the food always tasted wonderfully. For a whole week, I appreciated lovely mountain views or breathed fresh air. At the night, I heard the gentle wind blowing in the tree, and I felt so peaceful. It doesn’t cost many to camp. I believe it’s the best way to get close nature and enjoy its beauty.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假如你是李华，最近收到了你的美国朋友Jenny的来信。她在信中说，由于刚进入高中，还不能适应新的环境，不知道如何去结交新朋友，因而情绪低落。请根据以下内容给她回信。
1 向Jenny表示问候和慰问。
2 针对她的问题提出以下建议：
①放学后邀请同学一起参加活动；
②你的同学遇到麻烦时，你去帮助他们；
③你遇到困难时向同学求助。
注意：1.词数100左右。
2.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
3.信的开头和结尾已为你写好，不计入总词数。
Dear Jenny,
I am really sorry to hear that you feel bad after entering the high school. _______________________________________________________________________________
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Best wishes!
Li Hua
难度: 中等查看答案及解析