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We celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s birthday(February 12) and we should.Lincoln was one of the few great men who really was great. Before he became ______, Lincoln spent twenty years as an unsuccessful Illinois lawyer--at least he was unsuccessful in ______ terms(方面）.But when you ______ the good he did, he was really very rich. Legends are often ______, but Lincoln was the real thing. George Washington never chopped down a cherry tree, but Abraham Lincoln was ______. During his years as a lawyer, there were hundreds of documented examples of his honesty and decency(体面).
For example, Lincoln didn’t like to charge(索费）people much ______ were as ______ as he was. Once a man sent him twenty-five dollars, but Lincoln sent him back ten of it, saying he was being too generous. He was known at times to ______ his clients(客户) to solve their problem out of court(法庭),saving them a lot of money, and ______ himself nothing.
An old woman in ______, the widow(孀妇) of a soldier, was charged $200 for getting her $400 pension(养老金). Lincoln sued (起诉）the pension agent and ______ the case(案子) for the old woman. He didn’t charge her for his ______ and, in fact, paid her hotel bill and gave her money to buy a ticket home!
He was a ______, perhaps, by certain standards. He didn’t have much, and it was his own ______. But he was a good human being by anyone’s standards and I’m glad we ______ his birthday.
______ makes you feel good about yourself and creates ______ in others. It ______ your relationship with yourself and with others. It’s not much in ______ these days to talk about the advantages of honesty and decency, but the advantages are there and they are valuable and ______ the trouble.
1.A.lawyer B.president C.soldier D.teacher
2.A.financial B.healthy C.personal D.political
3.A.guess B.value C.tell D.weigh
4.A.impolite B.interesting C.untrue D.harmless
5.A.rich B.honest C.foolish D.poor
6.A.who B.which C.whom D.they
7.A.generous B.kind C.intelligent D.poor
8.A.permit B.persuade C.force D.expect
9.A.taking B.offering C.earning D.costing
10.A.treasure B.illness C.poorness D.weakness
11.A.won B.lost C.got D.advised
12.A.pension B.problem C.suggestions D.services
13.A.lawyer B.politician C.businessman D.fool
14.A.fault B.ability C.character D.disadvantage
15.A.remember B.respect C.celebrate D.congratulate
16.A.Pension B.Honesty C.Birthday D.Service
17.A.chance B.love C.feeling D.trust
18.A.matches B.compares C.improves D.builds
19.A.fashion B.time C.return D.name
20.A.above B.worth C.without D.beneath
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Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky on February 12, 1809. When he was a small boy, his family moved to Indiana. Here, his mother taught him to read and write. Lincoln had very little formal education, but he became one of the best-educated men of the Great West.
When Lincoln was a young man, his family moved to the new state of Illinois. Lincoln had to make a living at an early age, but in his spare time he studied law. He soon became one of the best-known lawyers in the state capital at Springfield, Illinois. It was here that Lincoln became famous for his debates with Stephen A. Douglas on the problem of slavery (奴隶制度).
In 1860, Lincoln was elected President of the United States. He was the candidate of the new Republican Party. This party is against the creation of new slave states. Soon after his election, some of the Southern states quit from the Union and set up the Confederate States of America(美利坚联盟国). This action resulted in the terrible Civil War which lasted from 1861 to 1865.
On January 1,1863, during the war, Lincoln published his famous Emancipation Proclamation(解放宣言). In this file, Lincoln announced that all the slaves were to be free from that day. In 1865, after the war ended, another file was added to end the slavery everywhere in the United States. Early in 1865, the Civil War came to an end with the defeat of the South by the North.
Only a few days after the end of the War, Lincoln was shot by an actor named John Wilkes Booth. The President died on April 14, 1865. In his death, the world lost one of the greatest men of all time.
1.Who taught Lincoln to read and write in his childhood? (no more than 10 words) (2 marks)
2.When did Lincoln become the president of the U.S.? (no more than 3 words) (2 marks)
3.What does the underlined phrase “this action” in Paragraph Three refer to?
(no more than 20 words) (3 marks)
4.How did the Civil War come to an end? (no more than 10 words) (3 marks)
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Though he wore his whiskers (颊须) only four years, today we can hardly think of Abraham Lincoln without them. He often talked about the little girl in Westfield, New York, who suggested in a letter that he grow the famous whiskers. And he would add, “Sometimes a small thing can change our lives!”
Grace Bedell sat in her room looking at a picture of Lincoln. Her little lamp threw shadows on the picture. A frame (框) of small shadows lay around the thin face and covered the hollow cheeks (面颊). “Whiskers!” she thought.
“How nice!” she said to herself. “There will be more people to elect him President if he lets his whiskers grow. Somebody ought to tell him.” She reached for a pen and began to write the letter.
On February 16 of the following year a special train carried the newly elected President Lincoln to the White House. The train stopped briefly at a station near Grace’s town. At the station Lincoln was speaking to a large crowd, among whom were the Bedell family.
Lincoln continued his speech, “I have a little friend in this place,” he said. “That little lady told me how to improve my appearance, and I want to thank her. If she is present, I would like to speak to her. Her name is Grace Bedell.”
Grace’s father led her forward to Lincoln. She looked and laughed happily, for up there on his face were the whiskers.
If you visit Springfield, Illinois, today you will see the house in which Abraham Lincoln used to live. On the wall of a room hangs a piece of paper covered with a child’s handwriting: “Dear sir...”
1.Which of the following is the best title for this passage?
A. Why Lincoln Grew Whiskers
B. A Little Girl’s Letter to Lincoln
C. How Lincoln Becamse President of the U. S.
D. Lincoln’s Great Kindness to Children
2.Grace suggested Lincoln growing whiskers because she supposed ______.
A. he looked terrible without whiskers around his face
B. he would look better with whiskers around his thin face
C. no one would elect him President if he had no whiskers
D. he would be famous with whiskers around his thin face
3.Grace’s idea that Lincoln should grow whiskers came from ______.
A. the lamp B. Lincoln’s hollow cheeks
C. the picture of Lincoln D. the shadows on the picture
4.When Lincoln said “Sometimes a small thing can change our lives”, what he really meant was that ______.
A. his whiskers had helped him to become President of the U. S.
B. one should pay attention to small things in one’s life
C. a little child’s advice had helped to improve his appearance
D. a child could play an important part in politics
5.Which of the following did Grace most likely tell Lincoln in her letter?
A. Her school. B. Her problems. C. Her age. D. Her friends.
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In England, we look forward to our birthdays for 364 days a year! We invite special people to celebrate it with us.
The Presents
Presents are opened as soon as the children are awake. They can’t wait for the birthday cake later in the day!
The Cards
Friends and family send birthday cards. Sending birthday cards is a custom that began in England about 100 years ago.
The Party
The birthday child will have a party to which friends and family are invited. Visitors to the party bring presents for the birthday child. The children play games such as Musical Chairs and Pass the Parcel.
The Cake
The birthday cake is decorated on a theme(主题). A candle for each year is lit and placed on top and the child blows out the candles making a wish. We don’t put objects inside the cake as shown on many websites.
The Bumps
It used to be traditional for the birthday child to have the bumps. Friends would hold the child by the child by the legs and under the arms and lift the child up and down bumping them gently on the ground. The number of bumps given is the age of the child plus one for extra good luck. As this can be dangerous, clapping is often done instead.
The Sweets
Some children do take sweets into school to share with their classmates on their birthdays.
1.1n England, the birthday present is opened .
A. before the child goes to sleep B. immediately after the child wakes up
C. as soon as the child gets up D. when the birthday party is going on
2.What is mentioned on many websites?
A. Making a wish. B. Lighting a candle.
C. Putting objects inside the cake. D. Placing the candle on top.
3.What can be done to avoid the danger of bumps?
A. Bumping less. B. Decorating cakes.
C. Clapping instead. D. Taking sweets.
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---- What ______great fun it would be if we could light candles to celebrate his birthday!
---- Forget it! The teacher in _______charge of our dorm won’t be happy to see that.
| A．/; / | B．/; the | C．a; the | D．a; / |
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People love to celebrate. Whether it’s a birthday or a wedding, we enjoy having a reason to relax and have a good time. This is especially true for festivals that welcome spring and summer. Here are some celebrations you may not know about.
Carabao is a buffalo(水牛) found in the Philippines, and the Carabao Festival is a day of dancing and revelry(狂欢)in May that celebrates the strong animal that plays such an important role in Filipinos farming economy. The animals are cleaned before a parade in which 20 or more of them—many decorated with paint and colorful ribbons—walked through the streets.
Cooper’s Hill is a steep, grassy knoll(圆丘 ) near Gloucester, England, which is longer than a football field. Cooper’s Hill is a late May event in which participants race one another to beat a nine-pound cheese round to the bottom of the hill. The event attracts lots of contestants but is harder than it sounds. Lots of contestants bite the dust before they reach the finish line. The winner gets the cheese.
The Boryeong Mud Festival takes place each summer near Seoul, South Korea. Tons of mud are trucked from the Boryeong mud flats to a beach area near the event. People participate in lots of activities, including a mud pool, mud skiing and mudslides. By the time the celebration is over, anyone coated in soft or dried mud can take a short walk to the beach for a quick bath.
La Tomatina is an organized tomato fight that takes place in Bunol, Spain, every August.The festival’s origins are unclear, but that hasn’t lessened anyone’s enthusiasm.The battle lasts for about an hour, and participants have to throw squashed(挤烂的) tomatoes to reduce the risk of injury. After the fight, both the people and the streets are covered with tomato guts. Fire trucks then begin the difficult task of washing everything.
1.In which celebration can people compete with each other?
A.The Carabao Festival. B.Cooper’s Hill Cheese-rolling Festival.
C.The Boryeong Mud Festival. D.La Tomatina Festival.
2.When will you go if you want to participate in La Tomatina?
A.In May. B.In March.
C.In July. D.In August.
3.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A.An unforgettable celebration. B.Exciting activities.
C.Different customs of celebrations. D.Different festivals in Asia.
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---- What ________ great fun it would be if we could light candles to celebrate his birthday!
---- Forget it! The teacher in ________ charge of our dorm won’t be happy to see that.
A. /; / B. /; the C. a; the D. a; /
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---- What ________ great fun it would be if we could light candles to celebrate his birthday!
---- Forget it! The teacher in ________ charge of our dorm won’t be happy to see that.
| A．/; / | B．/; the | C．a; the | D．a; / |
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On a February morning 13 years ago we pulled into the driveway, excited and proud, and lined up our kids for photos. It was a big day, but back then we had no idea how it would shape our lives.
That van (旅行拖车) is linked to so many great memories - soccer games, camping trips, and a 24-hour journey to Florida to visit grandparents and one three-week holiday to the east coast, full of long conversations and classic rock played on cassette tapes. In that van, I laughed my head off while going out with friends, and cried my eyes out at the death of a loved one. I've dreamed and planned and moved homes while traveling on those four trusty wheels.
There were days when it drove me nuts, too. On cold winter mornings, the sliding doors would freeze shut. Anyone who wanted to sit in the backseats had to climb in through the front. Still, we've held on to our van for as long as possible. It never ever let us down, even as the repair bills got a little bigger each year and we faithfully fixed whatever was needed to keep it on the road safely.
Yesterday we finally made the decision. It was time to find a newer, smaller, more energy-efficient (高效节能的) replacement. The van was telling us it was time.
Saying goodbye is never easy. As we close the minivan chapter（篇章）of our lives, my heart sinks -- not just for the much-loved metal box on wheels that we've driven for more than a decade, but for the days, months and years that passed by so quickly. The story of our minivan is the story of our family.
1.Why does the author mention their journeys to Florida and the east coast?
A.To share the fun they had with their van.
B.To prove that the van is convenient for travel.
C.To show how much her family loved traveling.
D.To stress the importance of keeping cars in good condition.
2.The underlined phrase “drive someone nuts” probably means .
A.make someone excited
B.make someone crazy
C.make someone confused
D.make someone amazed
3.How did the author feel when they decided to buy a new car?
A.Relieved B.Happy
C.Disappointed D.Sad
4.What could be the best title?
A.Our Trips on the Road
B.Our Much-loved Minivan
C.Memories of Our Family
D.Nothing Stays Forever
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Although we were away from the coast and the busy environment, we were able to celebrate Christmas in a traditional Portuguese (葡萄牙的)way! This was the reason why we ____to Alte, a small mountain village 35 kilometers away from the coast of Armacao da Pera. It seemed a ____ place to spend Christmas.
It was the day before Christmas that I drove my family to Alte. At 8:30, we ___ and then walked up to the ____. There was a bonfire (篝火) ____ in front of the church, and people were already starting to arrive. We went inside and ____ a nice place to sit down. ____, the church was also full during the celebration!
Villagers ____around the bonfire and someone was ____away a small piece of cake and a glass of wine. We are so glad to __ this traditional activity that we stayed a little longer, ____the Christmas Eve by the bonfire, together with the villagers of Alte.
It was a cold, yet beautiful morning when we ____up at Christmas day! I took over the ___ of preparing breakfast. I made a great one with bread, fried eggs, sausages, tomatoes, cucumber and some ____fruits. Anyway, it's Christmas! After a fancy breakfast, we ____about 10 minutes walking down the hill and spent some moments taking ___ at the waterfalls. It was a very nice ___ and we have totally enjoyed ___ and peace. Later that day, many Portuguese people went down to ___ the falls too.
After that, we drank a cup of coffee together, admiring the beautiful views before us! What a wonderful Christmas morning and an ____experience!
1.A.moved B.flew C.drove D.saw
2.A.nearby B.separate C.lonely D.perfect
3.A.came B.arrived C.stayed D.stopped
4.A.hospital B.house C.school D.village
5.A.set B.lit C.caught D.put
6.A.chose B.designed C.prepared D.examined
7.A.Hopefully B.Surprisingly C.Luckily D.Briefly
8.A.gathered B.listened C.looked D.turned
9.A.taking B.giving C.carrying D.bringing
10.A.sort out B.get over C.care about D.join in
11.A.introducing B.expecting C.enjoying D.containing
12.A.stood B.shut C.opened D.woke
13.A.position B.life C.task D.space
14.A.fresh B.extra C.artificial D.suitable
15.A.risked B.got C.won D.spent
16.A.ideas B.paintings C.pictures D.suggestions
17.A.view B.dream C.performance D.wonder
18.A.attention B.quietness C.power D.imagination
19.A.see B.build C.protect D.find
20.A.illegal B.unfair C.unforgettable D.unexpected