Early one morning, more than a hundred years ...

Early one morning, more than a hundred years ago, an American inventor called Elias Howe finally fell asleep. He had been working all night on the design of a sewing machine but he had run into a very difficult problem: It seemed really hard to get the thread(线) to run smoothly around the needle(针).

Though he was tired, Howe slept badly. He turned and turned. Then he had a dream. He dreamed that he had been caught by terrible soldiers whose king wanted to kill him and eat him unless he could build a perfect sewing machine. When he tried to do so, Howe ran into the same problem as before. The thread kept getting caught around the needle. The king flew into the prison and ordered his soldiers to kill Howe. They came up towards him with their spears(矛) raised. But suddenly the inventor noticed something. There was a hole in the tip of each spear. The inventor awoke from the dream, realizing that he had just found the answer to the problem. Instead of trying to get the thread to run around the needle, he should make it run through a small hole in the center of the needle. This was the simple idea that finally made Howe design and build the first really practical sewing machine.

Elias Howe was not the only one in finding the answer to his problem in this way. Thomas Edison, the inventor of the electric light, said his best ideas came into him in dreams. So did the great physicist Albert Einstein. Charlotte Bronte also drew in her dreams in writing Jane Eyre.

To know the value of dreams, you have to understand what happens when you are asleep. Even then, a part of your mind is still working. This unconscious(无意识的), but still active part understands your experiences and goes to work on the problems you have had during the day. It stores all kinds of information that you may have forgotten or never have really noticed. It is only when you fall asleep that this part of the brain can send messages to the part you use when you are awake. However, the unconscious part acts in a special way. It uses strange images(图像) which the conscious part may not know at first. This is why dreams are sometimes called“secret messages to ourselves ”.

1.According to the passage, Elias Howe was _______.

A. the first person that solved problems in his sleep

B. much more hard-working than other inventors

C. the first person to design a sewing machine that really worked

D. the only person at the time who knew the value of dreams

2.The problem Howe was trying to solve was _______.

A. what kind of thread to use

B. where to put the needle

C. how to design a needle which would not break

D. how to prevent the thread from getting caught around the needle

3.Thomas Edison is spoken of because _______.

A. he also tried to invent a sewing machine　　 B. he got some of his ideas from dreams

C. he was one of Howe's best friends　　 D. he also had difficulty in falling asleep

4.What does the underlined phrase “secret messages to ourselves” mean?

A. Strange images are used to communicate ideas.

B. Images which have no meaning are used.

C. We can never understand the real meaning.

D. Some specially trained people can know them.

九年级英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

One morning more than thirty years ago, I entered the Track Kitchen, a restaurant where everyone from the poor to the most powerful came for breakfast. I noticed an empty chair next to an elder, short man, whose hair was disorder. He was wearing an old hat and was alone. I asked if I might join him. He agreed quietly and I sat down to have my breakfast.

We carefully began a conversation and spoke about a lot of things. We never introduced ourselves. I thought that he might have no money and not be able to afford something to eat. So as I rose to go back to the counter and buy a second cup of coffee. I asked, “May I get you something?”

“A coffee would be nice.”

Then I bought him a cup of coffee, we talked more, and he accepted another cup of coffee. Finally, I rose to leave, wished him well, and went to the exit. At the door I met one of my friends. He asked,

“How did you get to know Mr. Galbreath?”

“Who?”

“The man you were sitting with. He is chairman of the Board of Churchill Downs.”

I could hardly believe it. I was talking, buying coffee, offering a free breakfast, and feeling pity for one of the world's richest and most powerful men!

My few minutes with Mr. Galbreath changed my life. Now I try to treat everyone with respect, no matter who I think they are, and to meet another human being with kindness and sincerity.

1.What does the underlined word in Paragraph 1 “disorder” mean?

A. unfriendly　　 B. untidy　　 C. gentle　　 D. kind

2.The author bought coffee for the old man because ______.

A. he thought the old man was poor　　 B. he wanted to start a conversation

C. he wanted to show his politeness　　 D. he would like to thank the old man

3.How did the author probably feel after he talked with his friend?

A. Proud.　　 B. Excited.　　 C. Surprised.　　 D. Angry.

4.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The writer entered the restaurant to have lunch.

B. The old man was one of the world's richest and most powerful men.

C. The writer and the old man introduced themselves.

D. The old man had no money and couldn’t afford something to eat.

5.What is the best title for the passage?

A. To see is to believe　　 B. Success doesn't come easy

C. A wise head makes a close mouth　　 D. Don’t judge a person by his appearance

九年级英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

One morning more than thirty years ago, I entered the Track Kitchen, a restaurant where everyone from the poor to the most powerful came for breakfast. I noticed an empty chair next to an elder, short man, whose hair was disorder. He was wearing an old hat and was alone. I asked if I might join him. He agreed quietly and I sat down to have my breakfast.

We carefully began a conversation and spoke about a lot of things. We never introduced ourselves.I thought that he might have no money and not be able to afford something to eat. So as I rose to go back to the counter and buy a second cup of coffee. I asked, "May I get you something?"

"A coffee would be nice."

Then I bought him a cup of coffee,we talked more,and he accepted another cup of coffee.Finally, I rose to leave, wished him well, and went to the exit. At the door I met one of my friends. He asked,"How did you get to know Mr. Galbreath?"

"Who? "

"The man you were sitting with. He is chairman of the Board of Churchill Downs."

I could hardly believe it. I was talking, buying coffee,offering a free breakfast,and feeling pity for one of the world's richest and most powerful men!

My few minutes with Mr. Galbreath changed my life. Now I try to treat everyone with respect, no matter who I think they are, and to meet another human being with kindness and sincerity.

1.The writer bought coffee for the old man because ______ .

A.he thought the old man was poor B.he wanted to start a conversation

C.he would like to thank the old man D.he wanted to show his politeness

2.How did the writer probably feel after he talked with his friend?

A.Proud. B.Excited. C.Angry. D.Surprised.

3.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A.The writer entered the restaurant to have lunch.

B.The old man was one of the world's richest and most powerful men.

C.The writer and the old man introduced themselves.

D.The old man had no money and couldn't afford something to eat.

4.What is the best title for the passage?

A.To see is to believe. B.Success doesn't come easy.

C.A wise head makes a close mouth. D.Don't judge a person by his appearance.

九年级英语阅读单选中等难度题查看答案及解析

More than seven hundred years ago, the Prince（王子）of Wales had a very big and brave dog called Gelert.

One day the Prince wanted to go hunting with his men. He told his dog to stay at home and look after his baby son. The baby was in a small wooden bed.

When the Prince came back from hunting, Gelert ran out to meet him. He wagged his tail and jumped up to put his paws on the Prince's chest. Then the Prince saw the blood on his head. He rushed into his house and found the bed lying on its side on the floor. The clothes were torn and there was blood on them.

The prince thought the dog had killed his son and took out his sword, killing the dog. Just as Gelert was dying, he managed to bark. Then the Prince heard a baby call to the dog. The Prince ran out of the house and saw his son lying on the ground unhurt. Near him was a dead wolf.

The Prince ran back into the house but it was too late. Gelert was dead. The Prince was very sad indeed. Tears ran down his face when he realized he had killed his faithful friend. The Prince carried the body of his brave dog to the top of a mountain and buried him there. After this, the Prince never smiled again.

If you go to Mount Snowdon in Wales, people will show you where Gelert is buried. There is a sign by his grave. It reminds people of a brave and faithful dog.

1. The Prince told the dog to 　　　　　　 when he was leaving.

A. watch the door　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. take care of his baby at home

C. welcome his friends　　　　　　　　　 D. stop the strangers

2.. The dog was very　 　　　　　　 when his master came back from hunting.

A. glad　　　　　　 B. sorry　　　　　　

C. afraid　　　　　　 D. upset

3.. The underlined word “faithful” in Paragraph 5 most probably means 　　　　　　 .

A. 友好的　　　　 B. 温顺的　　　　　

C. 忠诚的　　　　　 D. 聪明的

4. The Prince never smiled again because 　　　　　　 .

A. the wolf was killed by Gelert

B. he had buried the dog on the top of mountain

C. Gelert had killed his baby son

D. he had killed his faithful friend Gelert

九年级英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Twenty years ago, I drove a taxi for a living. One early morning, I ______ a call for a taxi. When I arrived at the building, it was 2:30 a.m. and I found the building was dark except for the only light in a first floor window.

Many drivers would just shout once or twice and then drove away, but I thought this ______ might need my help. So I walked to the door and knocked, “Just a minute,” answered a _______, elderly voice. After a long time, the door opened. A small old man showed up before me, ______a small bag. He kept thanking me for my ______. “It’s nothing,” I told him.

“Oh, you’re such a good man.” He said. When we got into the taxi, he gave me a (an) _______, and then asked, “Could you drive through the city center?”

“But it wasn’t the ______way.” I answered quickly. “Oh, I’m in no hurry.” He said. “I’m on my way to a hospital. I don’t have any family left. The ______ says I don’t have much time left.

I ______ started the taxi and shut off the meter(计程器). For the next two hours, we drove through the city center. He showed me the building where he once worked. We drove ______ the church where he got married. He would never forget that happy moment. Sometimes he’d ask me to slow down in front of a building and would sit ______the darkness for a long time, saying nothing. When the sun began to rise, we drove in silence to the address he had given me. When we arrived, ________ without thinking, I gave him a big hug. “You gave an old man a little moment of ______. Thank you!” He said with tears in his eyes.

I was completely lost in thought for the rest of the day. What would happen if I had refused to do ________ I did? We always think that there are no ______ moments in our lives, but great moments are just in what others may think small and unimportant ones!

1.A. made　　 B. received　　 C. accepted　　 D. gave

2.A. driver　　 B. policeman　　 C. guide　　 D. passenger

3.A. strong　　 B. loud　　 C. weak　　 D. sweet

4.A. carrying　　 B. taking　　 C. wearing　　 D. fetching

5.A. difference　　 B. kindness　　 C. happiness　　 D. surprise

6.A. order　　 B. address　　 C. idea　　 D. promise

7.A. busiest　　 B. longest　　 C. quietest　　 D. shortest

8.A. teacher　　 B. policeman　　 C. doctor　　 D. neighbor

9.A. easily　　 B. noisily　　 C. luckily　　 D. quietly

10.A. from　　 B. through　　 C. in　　 D. past

11.A. looking up　　 B. looking through　　 C. looking after　　 D. looking into

12.A. hardly　　 B. almost　　 C. ever　　 D. usually

13.A. pleasure　　 B. disappointment　　 C. sadness　　 D. pain

14.A. how　　 B. what　　 C. why　　 D. when

15.A. awful　　 B. bad　　 C. great　　 D. peaceful

九年级英语听短文回答问题中等难度题查看答案及解析

Twenty years ago, I drove a taxi for a living. One early morning, I ______ a call for a taxi. When I arrived at the building, it was 2:30 a.m. and I found the building was dark except for the only light in a first floor window.

Many drivers would just shout once or twice and then drove away, but I thought this ______might need my help. So I walked to the door and knocked, “Just a minute,” answered a _______, elderly voice. After a long time, the door opened. A small old man showed up before me, ______a small bag. He kept thanking me for my______. “It’s nothing,” I told him.

“Oh, you’re such a good man.” He said. When we got into the taxi, he gave me a (an) _______, and then asked, “Could you drive through the city center?”

“But it wasn’t the ______way.” I answered quickly. “Oh, I’m in no hurry.” He said. “I’m on my way to a hospital. I don’t have any family left. The ______ says I don’t have much time left.

I ______ started the taxi and shut off the meter(计程器). For the next two hours, we drove_______ the city center. He showed me the building where he once worked. We drove past the church where he got married. He would never forget that happy moment. Sometimes he’d ask me to slow down in front of a building and would sit ______the darkness for a long time, saying nothing. When the sun began to rise, we drove in silence to the address he had given me. When we arrived,_______without thinking, I gave him a big hug. “You gave an old man a little moment of _______ Thank you!” He said with tears in his eyes.

I was completely lost in thought for the rest of the day. What would happen if I had refused to do ______ I did? We always think that there are no ______ moments in our lives, but great moments are just in what others may think small and unimportant ones.

1.A. made　　 B. received　　 C. accepted　　 D. gave

2.A. driver　　 B. policeman　　 C. guide　　 D. passenger

3.A. strong　　 B. loud　　 C. weak　　 D. sweet

4.A. carrying　　 B. taking　　 C. wearing　　 D. fetching

5.A. difference　　 B. kindness　　 C. happiness　　 D. surprise

6.A. order　　 B. address　　 C. idea　　 D. promise

7.A. busiest　　 B. longest　　 C. quietest　　 D. shortest

8.A. teacher　　 B. policeman　　 C. doctor　　 D. neighbor

9.A. easily　　 B. noisily　　 C. luckily　　 D. quietly

10.A. from　　 B. through　　 C. by　　 D. past

11.A. looking up　　 B. looking through　　 C. looking after　　 D. looking into

12.A. hardly　　 B. almost　　 C. ever　　 D. usually

13.A. pleasure　　 B. chance　　 C. sadness　　 D. pain

14.A. how　　 B. what　　 C. why　　 D. when

15.A. awful　　 B. bad　　 C. great　　 D. peaceful

九年级英语完形填空极难题查看答案及解析

This story happened about a hundred years ago in a small village . One day , there was an earthquake . A huge rock fell from a nearby 　　　 . The rock 　　　 on the main road in the village .

When the earthquake stopped , many of the villagers came out into the road and saw the 　　　 rock . They decided to try to move the rock 　　　 it was in the middle of the road . Some of the 　　　 men in the village came to try to lift the rock out of the road . no matter how 　　　 they tried , they couldn’t move it . “well ,” they 　　　 , “there is nothing we can do for the rock . We will have to change the course of the road .”

All the while a young boy about 12 years old was watching the men trying to move the rock . “Excuse me , sir ,” he said , “but I think I can help you 　　　 the rock .” “You ?” they shouted . “What are you 　　　 about ? You can’t move this rock . All of us have just tried , and even 　　　 we can’t move 　　　 .” The men all 　　　 at the boy .

The next morning some people came into the street . One of them shouted , “The rock is gone .” It was true . The 　　　 wasn’t in the road anymore . In fact , no one could see it anywhere . “This is impossible ,” they said , “Where did it go ?” The twelve – year – old boy stood in the street , 　　　 . “I buried it last night ,” he said , “You see , I dug a deep 　　　 next to the rock and then I dug a small incline（斜坡）up towards it . Then I covered it with dirt .”

1.A. mountain         B. corner            C. tree             D. table

2.A. walked            B. stopped            C. pulled            D. cleaned

3.A. small            B. large                C. tiny            D. fine

4.A. while            B. though            　　 C. if                D. since

5.A. smallest            B. fattest             C. strongest        D. weakest

6.A. carefully            B. quickly            C. hard            D. heavily

7.A. said                B. chose                C. answered        D. asked

8.A. feel                B. shake                C. push            D. move

9.A. caring            B. talking            　　 C. hearing        D. worrying

10.A. towards         B. around            　　 C. together        D. besides

11.A. at most            B. at least            　　 C. at last            D. at all

12.A. rushed            B. laughed            C. threw            D. called

13.A. box                B. bridge                C. rock            D. hill

14.A. smiling            B. appearing            C. playing        D. begging

15.A. wall            B. farm                C. hole            D. field

九年级英语完型填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

No one knows when the first kite was made. The first record of a kite was more than 2,000 years ago in China. Han Xin, the leader of an army, wanted to bring down a king. He decided to dig a tunnel (隊道）into the king’s palace. He flew a kite over the wall of the palace to make sure the length (长度）of its string (线).In this way, he could determine how long the tunnel should be.His men in the tunnel took the kite string with them. When they reached the end of the string, they knew to dig up.

Kites have been flown in Japan for hundreds of years. In the 1700s, kites were flown in autumn to give thanks for a good harvest. They were also flown to send good wishes to couples who had their first son. Today in Japan, kites are often flown as part of a celebration, such as the beginning of a new year. And kite festivals are held each year in many parts of the country.

Kites have been used for scientific purposes in the western world. In 1752，Benjamin Franklin tied a key to a kite and flew it in a storm to find out that lightening was a form of electricity. In the 1890s，Lawrence Hargrave invented the box kite to test ideas about flight. From 1898 until 1933，the United States Weather Bureau (气象局） used box kites to collect weather data. The Wright brothers also experimented (试验）with kites. What they learnt helped them make the first airplane flight in 1903.

1.Why did Han Xin want to dig a tunnel?

A. To pull down the palace.　　 B. To fight against the king.

C. To search for the king’s treasure.　　 D. To find out the length of the kite string.

2.What does the underlined word “determine” in Paragraph 1 probably mean in Chinese?

A. 测定　　 B. 选择　　 C. 了解　　 D. 考察

3.One of the purposes of flying kites in Japan is_.

A. to give thanks for a good harvest in summer

B. to express good wishes to the first-born daughter

C. to celebrate the beginning of a new year

D. to hold kite festivals all over the country

4.When did the United States Weather Bureau begin to use box kites?

A. In 1752.　　 B. In 1898.　　 C. In 1903.　　 D. In 1933.

5.What would be the best title for the text?

A. The History of Kites　　 B. The Experiments of Kites

C. The Invention of a Kite　　 D. The First Record of a Kite

九年级英语阅读单选困难题查看答案及解析

Hundreds of years ago, no dandelions (蒲公英) grew in North America. Then people

came from Europe.They had dandelion seeds on their clothes. The seeds fell from their clothes onto the ground. Since then, dandelions have spread all over.

Most people believe that dandelions are weeds. They do not want them in their gardens. But some people think that dandelion flowers are pretty. And others think that dandelions taste good. They cook dandelion leaves or put them into a fresh salad. The leaves must be picked before the flowers come out or they will not taste good. Some people make dandelion flowers into wine.

Dandelions do not die easily. If the winter is not very cold, their leaves may stay green.

When the spring arrives, their flowers come out. Each night their bright yellow flowers close

up. When the sun shines the next day, they open up again. Dandelion flowers are very unusual. They do not have to get pollen (花粉) from another dandelion flower in order to form seeds. So after several days, the yellow flower turns white and soft. A tiny brown seed forms at the bottom of each white petal (花瓣). When the wind blows,　 the petals float away.

Each white petal carries a seed away. This lets the dandelions spread their seeds all over.

New dandelions grow where the seeds land.

1.The underlined word “weeds” means　　　　 .

A. pretty flowers　　 B. fresh vegetables　　 C. wild plants　　 D. green trees

2.When is the best time to pick dandelion leaves to eat?

A. After their flowers come out.　　 B. After their flowers turn white.

C. Before their flowers come out.　　 D. Before their flowers close up.

3.What is the best title for this passage?

A. The History of Dandelions　　 B. Dandelions: Flowers or Food

C. The Use of Dandelions　　 D. How to Grow Dandelions

九年级英语阅读单选困难题查看答案及解析

The first chocolate was eaten by people in South America hundreds years ago. In those days, the people didn’t really eat chocolate. They used the coca bean(可可豆) to make a chocolate drink and they enjoyed it very much. Many years later, the coca bean was brought to other countries and people came to love the taste of chocolate.

In 1824, John Cadbury opened a small shop in British. One of the things he sold was chocolate drink. In 1831, he opened a factory to make chocolate drink. He wanted to encourage people to drink chocolate instead of other drinks. A few years later, a man called Joseph Fry found a way to make chocolate bars(条状巧克力), and so for the first time people had the chance to eat chocolate instead of only drinking it. But at that time chocolate was very expensive and only the rich people could buy it. Later, as more and more chocolate bars were produced and sold, it became cheaper.

However, at first only plain chocolate (a kind of chocolate without milk and with very little sugar) was produced and sold. Milk chocolate came later and this was made by adding milk to the chocolate. The first milk chocolate bar was made in Cadbury’s factory in 1897. Their most famous chocolate, Cadbury’s Milk Bar, was made in 1905. It has been the most popular chocolate in Britain and around the world for over 100 years. The Cadbury factory is still in Britain and the chocolate produced there is eaten all over the world. Every year, thousands of visitors visit the factory in order to see how chocolate is made.

1.Hundreds of years ago, people first began to drink chocolate in __________.

A、South America　　　 B.South Africa

C.Britain　　 　　　　 　 D. Australia

2.John Cadbury opened a factory to make chocolate drink in ________.

A.1824　　　　 B.1831　　　　 C.1897　　　　　 D.1905

3.People had the chance to eat chocolate instead of drinking it for the first time _______ .

A、when chocolate was cheaper.

B.when more and more chocolate was produced

C.when John Cadbury started to make chocolate drink

D.when Joseph Fry found a way to make chocolate bars

4.At first, not many people bought chocolate _________ .

A.because it was expensive

B.because people didn’t like the taste

C.because they wanted to have other drinks

D.because there was no chocolate sold in the shops

5.Cadbury’s Milk Bar _________ .

A.was first made in 1897

B.is a kind of plain chocolate

C.is famous neither in British nor in America

D.is popular not only in British but also around the world

九年级英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析