I had been in London for three years. During the time I was staying there, my strong wish was to go back home (16)____staying in the city I didn’t know very well.(17)_____when the day came for my leaving, I had a strange feeling and my mind was (18)_____many beautiful things in London: the tall trees around my house, the clean streets, the school library ,the old church near the school and so on. I was for the first time not sure whether I really wished to go. I was becoming good at spoken English and interested in the different ways of living in London. Most important of all , I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to (19)____ my friends who were near and dear to me during the three long years. I (20)_____ like running into the headteacher’s office and telling him that I really didn’t want to go home, but on the second day I stopped myself changing the plan. My parents are quite(21)____ and I might have no (22)____to see them again if I gave up this plan.

    At the airport, most of my teachers and friends came to (23)____and quite a few gave me presents. Many group photos were taken and before long the final moment came. Everyone shook hands with me and said(24)_____ to me .Their eyes were filled with tears and I knew they were(25)____at the time.

(  ) 16.A.instead of      B. while         C. before            D. for

(  ) 17.A.So            B. And          C. But               D. Or

(  )18.A.interested in   B.thought of      C.pleased with       D.full of

(  )19.A.join           B.make          C.leave             D.find out

(  )20.A.seemed       B.felt            C.looked            D.became

(  )21.A.old           B. strong         C. well              D.lonely

(  )22.A.excuse       B. time           C. way              D. money

(  )23.A.bring me in    B. get me back   C. see me off         D. send me back

(  )24.A. yes          B. hello          C. good night         D. goodbye

(  )25.A. sad          B. happy         C. worried            D. terrible

   There are different houses at my school in Australia. These houses are student groups. You will understand what I mean if you are a Harry Potter fan. The Hogwarts School is divided (分成) into four houses.

   We have six houses at my school,St Paul's Grammar School. My teacher put new students in different houses in the first week of this term.

   I am in Cornwallis. The logo of our house is a dragon on a yellow background. Unlike in Hogwarts,students of the same house at St Paul's do not live on campus,but we do activities together.

   Each house is divided into several tutor groups. Since different houses and different tutor groups are made up of students from different grades,I can make friends with students in different grades.

   Every morning we go to our tutor groups to register (登记) .We have a nice chat together for about half an hour before classes begin. We talk about the most boring teachers and the most popular students in the school.

   Sometimes we sell and buy cakes for charity events. This month our tutor group decided to make a short film. So far we still do not know what kind of film we are going to make,but we will discuss that later.

   Last week,they celebrated my birthday and bought a birthday cake for me. We also play handball together. I am not good at it now. But I am still learning. I like the house system. It is interesting and helps me fit into school life in Australia.

1. We can infer (推断) from the passage that .

   A. the writer learns in the Hogwarts School

   B. Harry Potter lived in the Hogwarts School

   C. Cornwallis is one house of the Hogwarts School

   D. The Hogwarts School is in Australia

2. How many student groups are there in the writer's school?

   A. Two. B. Three. C. Four. D. Six.

3. Which of the following about the writer's house is NOT true?

   A. His house is named Cornwallis,with a dragon as its logo.

   B. His house is quite similar to the one in Hog warts.

   C. There are students from different grades in his house.

   D. There are different tutor groups in his house.

4. What activities did the writer's tutor group do?

① Raised money for charity events.

② Made a film by themselves.

③ Chatted happily before classes.

④ Celebrated the writer's birthday.

⑤ Played a ball game together.

   A. ①②③④   B. ④⑤

   C. ①③④⑤   D. ②③④⑤

5. What does the writer think of the house system in his school?

   A. It is boring and not helpful to his study.

   B. It takes up too much time for him to fit into it.

   C. It helps him get used to life in Australia.

   D. It isn’t easy to get along with students in other grades.

It wasn’t too long ago that I was in high school trying to balance hours of homework, dance team practice three days a week, taking voice lessons an hour a week, rehearsals for the drama show, holding down a weekend job and at the same time trying to have a social life. Colleges and employers have put an emphasis on the importance of being involved in school activities, most kids these days are trying to do more than they can. If it doesn’t seem possible, trust me, even though I learned the hard way, I somehow managed to make it due to serious Time Management.

When I was a freshman in high school I tried to do it all without making sure that I had time for myself. Well, I learned quickly that it was impossible to do everything and remain the same. I was rushing everywhere; I was skipping lunches to have meetings and do homework; I barely saw my family, much less to talk to them; I accidentally made dates to hang out with separate groups of friends on the same night; and, as if it couldn’t be any worse, I was barely sleeping. Getting sick was out of the question for me because it would mess up my schedule. This seemed to work until I noticed that I was falling asleep in class, arriving late to school, and calling in sick to work more often than not. I realized that I needed to brush up on my Time Management skills and work fast.

So I sat down with my mom and organized all the activities that I wanted to be involved in, next I prioritized; I decided what activities were most important to me. Schoolwork came first, second time with friends, and then my after – school activities. By doing this I even realized that I wasn’t enjoying playing a sport; I much preferred to spend that time hanging out with my friends. All of a sudden I saw what was important to me and time went to doing that rather than wasting it on activities that just sounded good to me.

1．Many high school students are quite active in different activities mainly because        .

       A．they have a lot of free time

       B．they want to have a good record for college

       C．they are required by their schools

       D．their parents wish them to do so

2．How did the writer solve the problem?

       A．She scheduled all her activities with her mother’s help.

       B．she asked her mother to organize everything for her.

       C．She cut out some activities so as to get involved in those she enjoys.

       D．She gave up everything except school work and being with friends.

3．From the passage we can infer that the writer is a (n)       person.

       A．determined but disorganized                  B．very intelligent and capable

       C．organized but weak – minded                D．active and organized

4．What would be the best title for the passage?

       A．Involving in School Activities.               B．Time Management

       C．Time Management   D．Getting Ready for Jobs

This is my world now; it’s all I have left. You see, I’m old. And, I’m not as healthy as I used to be. I’m not necessarily happy with it, but I accept it. Occasionally, a member of my family will stop in to see me. He or she will bring me some flowers or a little present, maybe a set of slippers—I’ve got eight pairs. And then they will return to the outside world and I’ll be alone again. Oh, there are other people here in the nursing home. Residents, we’re called. The majority are about my age. I’m 84. Many are in wheelchairs. The lucky ones are passing through—a broken hip, a diseased heart, something has brought them here for rehabilitation(康复). When they’re well they’ll be going home.
The help here is basically pretty good, although there’s a large turnover of staff. Just when I get comfortable with someone he or she moves on to another job. I understand that. This is not the best job to have. I don’t much like some of the physical things that happen to us. I don’t care much for a diaper(尿布). I seem to have lost the control acquired so diligently as a child. The difference is that I’m aware and embarrassed, but I can’t do anything about it. I’ve had three children, and I know it isn’t pleasant to clean another’s diaper. My husband used to wear a gas mask when he changed the kids. I wish I had one now.
Why do you think the staff insists on talking baby talk when speaking to me? I understand English. I have a degree in music and am a certified teacher. Now I hear a lot of words that end in “y”. There is little need for anyone to position their face directly in front of mine and raise their voice with those “y” words. Sometimes it takes longer for a meaning to sink in; sometimes my mind wanders when I am bored. But there’s no need to shout.
I’d love to go out for a meal or travel again. I’d love to go to my own church, sing with my own choir. I’d love to visit my friends. Most of them are gone now or else they are in different “homes” of their children’s choosing. I’d love to play a good game of bridge, but no one here seems to concentrate very well. My children put me here for my own good. They said they would be able to visit me frequently. But they have their own lives to lead. That sounds normal. I don’t want to be a burden. They know that. But I would like to see them more. One of them is here in town. He visits as much as he can.
Something else I’ve learned to accept is loss of privacy. Quite often I’ll close my door when my roommate—imagine having a roommate at my age—is in the TV room. I do appreciate some time to myself and believe that I have earned at least that courtesy(礼貌). As I sit thinking or writing, one of the aides invariably opens the door unannounced and walks in as if I’m not there. Sometimes she even opens my drawers and begins searching around. Am I invisible? Have I lost my right to respect and dignity? I am still a human being. I would like to be treated as one.
Back to my semiprivate room for a little semi-privacy or a nap(午睡). I do need my beauty rest; company may come today. What is today, again? The afternoon drags into early evening. This used to be my favorite time of the day. Things would wind down. I would kick off my shoes. Put my feet up on the coffee table. Pop open a bottle of Chablis and enjoy the fruits of my day’s labor with my husband. He’s gone. So is my health. This is my world.
【小题1】Which of the following statements can be inferred from the passage?

This is my world now; it’s all I have left. You see, I’m old. And, I’m not as healthy as I used to be. I’m not necessarily happy with it, but I accept it. Occasionally, a member of my family will stop in to see me. He or she will bring me some flowers or a little present, maybe a set of slippers—I’ve got eight pairs. And then they will return to the outside world and I’ll be alone again. Oh, there are other people here in the nursing home. Residents, we’re called. The majority are about my age. I’m 84. Many are in wheelchairs. The lucky ones are passing through—a broken hip, a diseased heart, something has brought them here for rehabilitation(康复). When they’re well they’ll be going home.

The help here is basically pretty good, although there’s a large turnover of staff. Just when I get comfortable with someone he or she moves on to another job. I understand that. This is not the best job to have. I don’t much like some of the physical things that happen to us. I don’t care much for a diaper(尿布). I seem to have lost the control acquired so diligently as a child. The difference is that I’m aware and embarrassed, but I can’t do anything about it. I’ve had three children, and I know it isn’t pleasant to clean another’s diaper. My husband used to wear a gas mask when he changed the kids. I wish I had one now.

Why do you think the staff insists on talking baby talk when speaking to me? I understand English. I have a degree in music and am a certified teacher. Now I hear a lot of words that end in “y”. There is little need for anyone to position their face directly in front of mine and raise their voice with those “y” words. Sometimes it takes longer for a meaning to sink in; sometimes my mind wanders when I am bored. But there’s no need to shout.

I’d love to go out for a meal or travel again. I’d love to go to my own church, sing with my own choir. I’d love to visit my friends. Most of them are gone now or else they are in different “homes” of their children’s choosing. I’d love to play a good game of bridge, but no one here seems to concentrate very well. My children put me here for my own good. They said they would be able to visit me frequently. But they have their own lives to lead. That sounds normal. I don’t want to be a burden. They know that. But I would like to see them more. One of them is here in town. He visits as much as he can.

Something else I’ve learned to accept is loss of privacy. Quite often I’ll close my door when my roommate—imagine having a roommate at my age—is in the TV room. I do appreciate some time to myself and believe that I have earned at least that courtesy(礼貌). As I sit thinking or writing, one of the aides invariably opens the door unannounced and walks in as if I’m not there. Sometimes she even opens my drawers and begins searching around. Am I invisible? Have I lost my right to respect and dignity? I am still a human being. I would like to be treated as one.

Back to my semiprivate room for a little semi-privacy or a nap(午睡). I do need my beauty rest; company may come today. What is today, again? The afternoon drags into early evening. This used to be my favorite time of the day. Things would wind down. I would kick off my shoes. Put my feet up on the coffee table. Pop open a bottle of Chablis and enjoy the fruits of my day’s labor with my husband. He’s gone. So is my health. This is my world.

1.Which of the following statements can be inferred from the passage?

A. The staff at the nursing home mistreated the elderly people.

B. Nursing home workers sometimes stole items from her drawers.

C. Her children did not often visit because they felt guilty for having put her in the nursing home.

D. The staff used baby talk with her because they assumed her mind had aged as her body had.

2.The author concluded her essay with a tone of ________.

A. dignityB. sadnessC. disappointmentD. confusion

3.How will the author’s son most probably feel after he reads this essay?

A. Sympathetic.B. Regretful.C. Angry.D. Relieved.

4.The best title for the passage would be ________.

A. The Disadvantages of Growing Old

B. If Only I could be getting better

C. The Elderly: A Forgotten Generation

D. The Place That Changed My Life

My husband is a born shopper. He loves to look at things and to touch them. He likes to compare prices between the same items in different shops. He would never think of buying anything without looking around in several different shops. On the other hand, I’m not a shopper. I think shopping is boring and unpleasant. If I like something and I have enough money to take it, I buy it at once. I never look around for a good price or a better deal. Of course my husband and I never go shopping together. Doing shopping together would be too painful for both of us. When it comes to shopping, we go our different ways.
Sometimes I ask my son Jimmy to buy some food in the shop not far from our home. But he is always absent-minded. This was his story.
One day I said to him, ” I hope you won’t forget what I have told you to buy.” “ No,“ said Jimmy. “I won’t forget. You want three oranges , six eggs and a pound of meat.”
He went running down the street to the shop. As he ran, he said to himself over and over again, “three oranges , six eggs and a pound of meat.”
In the beginning he remembered everything but he stopped several times. Once he saw two men fighting outside a clothes shop until a policeman stopped them. One of them was badly hurt. Then he stopped to give ten cents to a beggar. Then he met some of his friends and he played with them for a while. When he reached the shop, he had forgotten everything except six eggs.
As he walked home, his face became sadder and sadder. When he saw me he said, “I’m sorry, Mum. I have forgotten to buy oranges and the meat. I only remembered to buy six eggs, but I’ve dropped three of them.”
【小题1】The husband likes shopping because _______.

My husband is a born shopper. He loves to look at things and to touch them. He likes to compare prices between the same items in different shops. He would never think of buying anything without looking around in several different shops. On the other hand, I’m not a shopper. I think shopping is boring and unpleasant. If I like something and I have enough money to take it, I buy it at once. I never look around for a good price or a better deal. Of course my husband and I never go shopping together. Doing shopping together would be too painful for both of us. When it comes to shopping, we go our different ways.

Sometimes I ask my son Jimmy to buy some food in the shop not far from our home. But he is always absent-minded. This was his story.

One day I said to him, ” I hope you won’t forget what I have told you to buy.” “ No,“ said Jimmy. “I won’t forget. You want three oranges , six eggs and a pound of meat.”

He went running down the street to the shop. As he ran, he said to himself over and over again, “three oranges , six eggs and a pound of meat.”

In the beginning he remembered everything but he stopped several times. Once he saw two men fighting outside a clothes shop until a policeman stopped them. One of them was badly hurt. Then he stopped to give ten cents to a beggar. Then he met some of his friends and he played with them for a while. When he reached the shop, he had forgotten everything except six eggs.

As he walked home, his face became sadder and sadder. When he saw me he said, “I’m sorry, Mum. I have forgotten to buy oranges and the meat. I only remembered to buy six eggs, but I’ve dropped three of them.”

1.The husband likes shopping because _______.

2.They never go shopping together because_______.

3.Jimmy can’t do the shopping well because _______.

4.Jimmy didn’t buy what his mother wanted because_______.

My husband is a born shopper. He loves to look at things and to touch them. He likes to compare prices between the same items in different shops. He would never think of buying anything without looking around in several different shops. On the other hand, I’m not a shopper. I think shopping is boring and unpleasant. If I like something and I have enough money to take it, I buy it at once. I never look around for a good price or a better deal. Of course my husband and I never go shopping together. Doing shopping together would be too painful for both of us. When it comes to shopping, we go our different ways.
Sometimes I ask my son Jimmy to buy some food in the shop not far from our home. But he is always absent-minded. This was his story.
One day I said to him, ” I hope you won’t forget what I have told you to buy.” “ No,“ said Jimmy. “I won’t forget. You want three oranges , six eggs and a pound of meat.”
He went running down the street to the shop. As he ran, he said to himself over and over again, “three oranges , six eggs and a pound of meat.”
In the beginning he remembered everything but he stopped several times. Once he saw two men fighting outside a clothes shop until a policeman stopped them. One of them was badly hurt. Then he stopped to give ten cents to a beggar. Then he met some of his friends and he played with them for a while. When he reached the shop, he had forgotten everything except six eggs.
As he walked home, his face became sadder and sadder. When he saw me he said, “I’m sorry, Mum. I have forgotten to buy oranges and the meat. I only remembered to buy six eggs, but I’ve dropped three of them.”

1. 1.

   The husband likes shopping because _______

   1. A.
      he has much money
   2. B.
      he likes the shops
   3. C.
      he likes to compare the prices between the same items
   4. D.
      he has nothing to do but shopping
2. 2.

   They never go shopping together because_______

   1. A.
      their ways of shopping are quite different
   2. B.
      they hate each other
   3. C.
      they needn’t buy anything for the family
   4. D.
      they don’t have time for it
3. 3.

   Jimmy can’t do the shopping well because _______

   1. A.
      he is young
   2. B.
      he is absent-minded
   3. C.
      he often loses his money
   4. D.
      he doesn’t like shopping
4. 4.

   Jimmy didn’t buy what his mother wanted because_______

   1. A.
      the shop was closed that day
   2. B.
      the policeman stopped him
   3. C.
      he forgot some of them
   4. D.
      he gave all the money to the beggar

任务型阅读（共10空；每空1分，计10分）（每空一词）

Hi, everyone! I will graduate from high school in June. Some of my foreign friends have asked me about the process of entering an American university(综合性大学), so here I will tell you how it works.

First you have to choose which university you want to go to. This is not easy, as there are over 3,000 universities and colleges in the USA. Do you want to stay near home, or do you want to go far away? What do you want to study? Once you have decided what is important to you, I would suggest choosing about five schools to apply to (申请). This way, if one or two schools do not accept you, you still have a chance of being accepted by the others.

After you have chosen which schools you would like to apply to, you have to finish an application form for each one. You also need to ask two or three of your teachers to write letters to the universities explaining why you would be a good university student. For many people, the worst part of applying for university is taking tests. Depending on which college or university you want to go to, you have to take either the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), which tests your language, math and writing skills, or the American College Test (ACT), which tests your knowledge in English, math, science and history.

After you have been accepted to a university, you need to be able to pay for your study there. To help students pay for their education, the government offers loans（贷款）which students do not have to repay until after they graduate. Scholarships（奖学金）are also available to students who have excellent grades, who are good players or who have financial（财政）needs. Because university tuition is so expensive, many students also work part-time while they are at university.

University courses are quite different from classes at high school. You only go to each class two or three times a week, you have to study a lot more outside of class. Classes are much bigger too and some can have as many as 200 students in them. There will be many new things to learn, but I think I will enjoy university.

My husband, Tom, is a born shopper. He loves to look at things and to touch them. He likes to compare prices between the same things in different stores. He would never think of buying anything without looking around in several stores. I, on the other hand, am not a shopper. I regard shopping as boring and unpleasant. If I like something and can afford it, I buy it immediately. I never take a time to look around for a good sale or a better deal (交易). Of course my husband and I never go shopping together. Doing shopping together would be too painful for both of us . When it comes to shopping, we go our separate ways.

    Sometimes I ask my son Jimmy to buy some food in the shop not far from our home. But he is always absentminded. This was his story.

    One day I said to him , “ I hope you won’t forget what I have told you to buy.” “No,” said Jimmy. “ I won’t forget . You want three organs, six eggs and a pound of meet.”

    He went running down the street to the shop. As he ran , he said to himself over and over again , “ Three organs , six eggs and a pound of meat.”

    In the beginning he remembered everything but he stopped several times. Once he saw two men fighting outside a clothes shop until a policeman stopped them. One of them was badly hurt. Then he stopped to give ten cents to a beggar. Then he met some of his friends and he played with them for a while. When he reached the shop, he had forgotten everything except six eggs.

    As he walked home, his face became sadder and sadder. When he saw me he said, “ I’m sorry , mum . I have forgotten to buy oranges and the meat . I only remembered to buy six eggs , but I’ve dropped three of them.”

The husband loves shopping necause_________________.

A. he has much money                     

B. he likes the shops

C. he likes to compare the prices between the same items

D. he has nothing to do but do shopping

The wife doesn’t like shopping because___________________.

   A. she has no money

   B. she has no tome

   C. she doesn’t love her husband

   D. she feels it boring to go shopping

They never go shopping together because_____________________.

   A. their ways of shopping are quite different

   B. they hate each other

   C. they needn’t buy anything for the family

   D. they don’t have time for it

Jimmy didn’t buy what his mother wanted because_____________________.

   A. the shop was closed that day

   B. the policeman stopped him

   C. he forgot some of them

   D. he gave all the money to the beggar

My husband, Tom, is a born shopper. He loves to look at things and to touch them. He likes to compare prices between the same things in different stores. He would never think of buying anything without looking around in several stores. I, on the other hand, am not a shopper. I regard shopping as boring and unpleasant. If I like something and can afford it, I buy it immediately. I never take a time to look around for a good sale or a better deal (交易). Of course my husband and I never go shopping together. Doing shopping together would be too painful for both of us . When it comes to shopping, we go our separate ways.
Sometimes I ask my son Jimmy to buy some food in the shop not far from our home. But he is always absentminded. This was his story.
One day I said to him , “ I hope you won’t forget what I have told you to buy.” “No,” said Jimmy. “ I won’t forget . You want three organs, six eggs and a pound of meet.”
He went running down the street to the shop. As he ran , he said to himself over and over again , “ Three organs , six eggs and a pound of meat.”
In the beginning he remembered everything but he stopped several times. Once he saw two men fighting outside a clothes shop until a policeman stopped them. One of them was badly hurt. Then he stopped to give ten cents to a beggar. Then he met some of his friends and he played with them for a while. When he reached the shop, he had forgotten everything except six eggs.
As he walked home, his face became sadder and sadder. When he saw me he said, “ I’m sorry , mum . I have forgotten to buy oranges and the meat . I only remembered to buy six eggs , but I’ve dropped three of them.”

1. 1.

   The husband loves shopping necause_________________.

   1. A.
      he has much money
   2. B.
      he likes the shops
   3. C.
      he likes to compare the prices between the same items
   4. D.
      he has nothing to do but do shopping
2. 2.

   The wife doesn’t like shopping because___________________.

   1. A.
      she has no money
   2. B.
      she has no tome
   3. C.
      she doesn’t love her husband
   4. D.
      she feels it boring to go shopping
3. 3.

   They never go shopping together because_____________________.

   1. A.
      their ways of shopping are quite different
   2. B.
      they hate each other
   3. C.
      they needn’t buy anything for the family
   4. D.
      they don’t have time for it
4. 4.

   Jimmy didn’t buy what his mother wanted because_____________________.

   1. A.
      the shop was closed that day
   2. B.
      the policeman stopped him
   3. C.
      he forgot some of them
   4. D.
      he gave all the money to the beggar

My husband, Tom, is a born shopper. He loves to look at things and to touch them. He likes to compare prices between the same things in different stores. He would never think of buying anything without looking around in several stores. I, on the other hand, am not a shopper. I regard shopping as boring and unpleasant. If I like something and can afford it, I buy it immediately. I never take a time to look around for a good sale or a better deal (交易). Of course my husband and I never go shopping together. Doing shopping together would be too painful for both of us . When it comes to shopping, we go our separate ways.

    Sometimes I ask my son Jimmy to buy some food in the shop not far from our home. But he is always absentminded. This was his story.

    One day I said to him , “ I hope you won’t forget what I have told you to buy.” “No,” said Jimmy. “ I won’t forget . You want three oranges, six eggs and a pound of meet.”

    He went running down the street to the shop. As he ran , he said to himself over and over again , “ Three oranges , six eggs and a pound of meat.”

    In the beginning he remembered everything but he stopped several times. Once he saw two men fighting outside a clothes shop until a policeman stopped them. One of them was badly hurt. Then he stopped to give ten cents to a beggar. Then he met some of his friends and he played with them for a while. When he reached the shop, he had forgotten everything except six eggs.

    As he walked home, his face became sadder and sadder. When he saw me he said, “ I’m sorry , mum . I have forgotten to buy oranges and the meat . I only remembered to buy six eggs , but I’ve dropped three of them.”

41. The husband loves shopping because _______.

A. he has much money           

B. he likes the shops

C. he likes to compare the prices between the same items

D. he has nothing to do but do shopping

42. The wife doesn’t like shopping because _______.

   A. she has no money            B. she has no tome

   C. she doesn’t love her husband   D. she feels it boring to go shopping

43. They never go shopping together because _________.

   A. their ways of shopping are quite different   B. they hate each other

   C. they needn’t buy anything for the family    D. they don’t have time for it

44. Jimmy didn’t buy what his mother wanted because _________.

   A. the shop was closed that day   B. the policeman stopped him

   C. he forgot some of them       D. he gave all the money to the beggar

阅读下列短文，根据短中的信息完成文后表格。（每空一词）

Hi, everyone! I will graduate from high school in June. Some of my foreign friends have asked me about the process of entering an American university(综合性大学), so here I will tell you how it works.

First you have to choose which university you want to go to. This is not easy, as there are over 3,000 universities and colleges in the USA. Do you want to stay near home, or do you want to go far away? What do you want to study? Once you have decided what is important to you, I would suggest choosing about five schools to apply to (申请). This way, if one or two schools do not accept you, you still have a chance of being accepted by the others.

After you have chosen which schools you would like to apply to, you have to finish an application form for each one. You also need to ask two or three of your teachers to write letters to the universities explaining why you would be a good university student. For many people, the worst part of applying for university is taking tests. Depending on which college or university you want to go to, you have to take either the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), which tests your language, math and writing skills, or the American College Test (ACT), which tests your knowledge in English, math, science and history.

After you have been accepted to a university, you need to be able to pay for your study there. To help students pay for their education, the government offers loans（贷款）which students do not have to repay until after they graduate. Scholarships（奖学金）are also available to students who have excellent grades, who are good players or who have financial（财政）needs. Because university tuition is so expensive, many students also work part-time while they are at university.

University courses are quite different from classes at high school. You only go to each class two or three times a week, you have to study a lot more outside of class. Classes are much bigger too and some can have as many as 200 students in them. There will be many new things to learn, but I think I will enjoy university.

阅读理解

A

    Suppose you are reading a book. Suppose, too, you suddenly close your eyes. Can you still see the book? “Of course not,” you will say. But can you tell why? You would probably say, “When I close my eyes, my eyesight cannot get out of my eyes to get to the book.” But this explanation is wrong.

　　You cannot see any object unless light from that object gets into your eyes. Some of the things you see give off light of their own. The sun, the stars, a lighted lamp are examlpes that can be seen by their own light. Such things are luminous. Most of the things you see are not giving off light of their own. They are simply reflecting（反射的）light that falls on them from the sun or some other luminous body. The moon, for example, does not give off any light of its own. It is nonluminous. You see it because sunlight falls on it and some of it reflects in your direction. So moonlight is only secondhand sunlight.

　　When you look at a book, it sends to your eyes some of the light which falls on it, and you see the book. If light could be kept out from where you are so that there would be no light for the book to reflect, then you could not see the book even with your eyes wide open.

　　Light travels so fast that the time in which it travels from the book you are reading to your eyes is so short as if there were no time at all. Light reaches us from the moon, which is about 380, 000 kilometres away, in only a little more than a second.

　　56．You can not see the book when you close your eyes, because________.

　　A. your eyes are too close to it

　　B. closed eyes are out of sight

　　C. your eyesight cannot get to it

　　D. the light from it cannot get into your eyes

　　57．The word “luminous” means________ .

　　A. visible                      B. lighted

　　C. giving off light                D. sunlight

　58．Light travels about ________ kilometres per second.

　　A. 380,000     B. 300,000     C. 400,000     D. 190,000

　　59．Which of the following is TRUE? ________.

　　A. All the things you can see give off light.

　　B. Light from the book is much shorter than that from the moon.

　　C. The moment you open your eyes the light from the book travels to your eyes.

D. Light travels so fast that there is no time for you to read.

B

   I was shopping in the supermarket when I heard a young voice.

   “Mom，come here！There's a lady of my size！”

   The mother rushed to her son；then she turned to me to apologize.

   I smiled and told her，“It's okay.”Then I talked to the boy，“Hi，I'm Darry Kramer.How are you？”

   He studied me from head to toe，and asked，“Are you a little mommy？”

   “Yes，I have a son，”I answered.

   “Why are you so little？”he asked.

   “It's the way I was born，”I said.“Some people are little.Some are tall.I'm just not going to grow any bigger.”After I answered his other questions，I shook the boy's hand and left.

   My life as a little person is filled with stories like that.I enjoy talking to children and explaining why I look different from their parents.

   It takes only one glance to see my uniqueness.I stand three feet nine inches tall.I was born an achondroplasia dwarf(侏儒)．Despite this，I did all the things other kids did when I was growing up.

   I didn't realize how short I was until I started school.Some kids picked on me，calling me names.Then I knew.I began to hate the first day of school each year.New students would always stare at me as I struggled to climb the school bus stairs.

   But I learned to smile and accept the fact that I was going to be noticed my whole life.I decided to make my uniqueness an advantage rather than a disadvantage.What I lacked in height，I made up for in personality.

   I'm 47 now，and the stares have not diminished as I've grown older.People are amazed when they see me driving.I try to keep a good attitude.When people are rude，I remind myself，“Look what else I have－a great family，nice friends.”

   It's the children's questions that make my life special.I enjoy answering their questions.My hope is that I will encourage them to accept their peers(a person of the same age，class，position，etc.)，whatever size and shape they come in，and treat them with respect.

       60．Why did the mother apologize to the author?

       A．Because the boy ran into the author.

       B．Because the boy laughed at the author.

       C．Because the boy said the author was fatter than him.

       D．Because the mother thought the boy's words had hurt the author.

       61．When did the author realize that she was too short?

       A．When she grew up.

       B．When she was 47 years old.

       C．When she began to go to school.

       D．When she met the boy in the supermarket.

62．Which of the following word can best replace the underlined word“diminished”？

       A．Dismissed.       B．Increased.        C．Decreased.       D．Discriminated.

       63．How does the author feel about people's stares?

       A．Angry.            B．Calm.              C．Painful.           D．Discouraged.

C

Canada is one of the few nations in the world to have two official languages：English and French.There are 10 provinces in the country but only one of these—Quebec is known as“French Canada”.This is because it was founded by French explorers while British adventures discovered the rest.

Canada left the British empire(帝国） in 1867 to become an independent country,and English and French have been recognized as the official languages ever since.

Most people speak English as their first language and the two national television networks broadcast in English throughout the country.Apart from in Quebec and a few places on the east coast,French television is very rare.

The same goes for traffic signs and menus,for example.Outside of Quebec,there are only a few places where you’ll see traffic signs in French.In restaurants,it’s almost impossible to find French on the menu unless you are in the heartland(中心地带）of French Canada.However,all products sold in Canada must,by law,have labels(标签）and instructions in both languages.

In Canada’s English speaking provinces,official bilingualism(双语）means that students can choose to complete a special French language course.Under this programme,they are taught most of their subjects in French.

If a student begins the course in kindergarten(幼儿园）or Grade One,it is likely that all their lessons will be in French.However,if they start at junior high school,25 per cent of the teaching will continue to be in English.

64.How many provinces are there in Canada?

A.Ten.                   B.Nine.                 C.Eleven.                     D.Two.

65.Which country controlled Canada before its independence?

A.France.              B. Britain.             C.America.            D.Germany.

66.Which of the following sentences is right?

A.English is the only official language,though French is also spoken there.

B.The two national television networks broadcast both in English and French.

C.All products sold in Canada must,by law,have labels and instructions in both English and French.

D.The lessons in kindergarten or Grade One are likely to be only in English.

D

    English is fast becoming the language of science around the world, but what is its future among everyday speakers? One expert points out that the percentage(比率) of native English speakers is declining(降低) globally while the languages of other rapidly growing regions are being spoken by increasing numbers of people. But English will continue to remain widespread and important.  

   However, British language scholar David Graddol says English will probably drop in dominance(主导) by the middle of this century to rank, after Chinese, about equally with Arabic, Hindi, and Urdu. “The number of people speaking English as a first language continues to rise, but it isn’t rising nearly as fast as the numbers of many other languages around the world, simply because the main population group has been largely in the less developed countries where languages other than English have been spoken,” he says. 

   In a recent article in the journal Science, Mr. Graddol noted that three languages that are not near the top of the list of the most widely spoken now might be there soon. These are Bengali, Tamil, and Malay, spoken in south and southeast Asia.  

   David Crystal, the author of the Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, says about 1.5 billion of the world’s six billion people speak it as a second tongue compared to the 400 million native speakers. But another expert on the English language says Mr. Graddol underestimates (低估) the future of its dominance. “Nobody quite knows what’s going to happen because no language has been in this position before. But all the evidence (证据) suggests that the English language snowball is rolling down a hill and is getting faster,” he said.  

67. In David Graddol’ s opinion, English will _______. 

     A. remain widespread and important     

B. be more important than any other language 

     C. lose its dominant position            

D. die away in the near future 

68. The underlined sentence in the last paragraph implies that ______. 

     A. snowballs will roll down faster than language balls 

     B. the English language snowball is rolling down faster than any time in the past 

     C. English language will soon drop in dominance 

     D. more and more language users will choose English 

69. How many experts does the passage mention who express their ideas about the future of English? 

     A. 2.           B. 3.       C. 4.          D. 5.   

70. What should be the best title for the passage? 

     A. English Remaining the Dominant Position    

B. The Future of English? Who Knows? 

     C. Opinions from Different Experts        

D. The English Language Snowball Rolling Down 

E 

   In many parts of the world, cars play an important role in daily life and many societies would not exist without them. So the idea that in 20 years’ time, no one will own cars may be hard to believe. But this is the prediction made by a team of transport researchers who are taken seriously, not only by government but also by car manufacturers.

   The Human Science and Advanced Technology Institute at Loughborough in the UK is part of an international research program. The team there believes that by 2020 all cars will be computerized, which will mean much saving, no accidents and better use of roads. The super-intelligent car of the 21st century will drive itself, and it will not be owned by one individual. Instead, we will have a choice of cars and change them as frequently as we change our clothing.

   According to Dr. David Davis , who leads the research team, these predictions are based on the rising cost of the car culture, which had blocked up our cities, polluted our air , and caused more deaths than both world wars put together.

   Davis says, cars will be fitted with some intelligent devices to regulate the distance between one car and another. The car will automatically speed up, or slow down, to match the speed of the car in front. Computers are much safer drivers than people, so cars in a road train will be able to drive much closer together than cars driven by people.

By 2010, Dr. David Davis believes, car technology will give motorists a clear view of the road, whatever the weather conditions, by projecting an image of the road ahead on to the car’s windscreen. And by 2020, cars will travel in convoy, linked to each other electronically. Cars will be connected by an electronic tow bar to the car in front to form “road –trains”. “The front vehicle in such a train burns the normal amount.” says Davis. “But all the others in the train would burn about ten percent of the normal amount, and so produce about ten percent of the pollution.”

71.We know from the passage that governments and car manufacturers _______

A. do not believe the prediction that no one will own cars by 2020

B. are devoted to the technological revolution in car industry

C. consider the predictions seriously

D. have put the super-intelligent car into mass production

72. Which of the following will be the characteristic of the cars of 2020?

The car will speed up out of control

We will own as many cars as we want

All cars will be driven by computers

Cars will produce more pollution than present ones

73. The leader of the research team believes that the present car culture will change because_________

cars play a very important role in daily life

many societies would stop functioning without cars

cars should not be owned by one individual

it causes many deaths to human society

74.The expression closest in meaning to the phrase “in convoy” in the last paragraph is________

A. in line        B. sidelong     C. side by side      D. shoulder to shoulder

75. What will happen if cars are joined to each other electronically in 2020?

Motorists will get a clear view of the road

The weather condition will not have effect on motorists

There will be less pollution caused by car

All trains will burn less fuel than present

阅读下面短文，根据短文内容完成表格中所缺信息，每空一词。

Dear Jenny,

I hoped that you are well. We have arrived at our new home in Australia. The house is very nice. It has big windows in each wall. The bright sunshine comes into every room. The weather is much better than that in England.

I have started at my new school. Everyone is friendly, but I do miss my friends at home, especially you! Australians all seem to be very good at sport, unlike you and me. I find it quite difficult to fit in during break time, because all the other girls are busy running around playing netball or basketball.

My new classmates are all different. Yesterday at lunchtime I saw three girls. One girl has ginger hair, and comes from Ireland(爱尔兰). Another girl has long, straight, black hair, and is from Vietnam(越南). The third girl is short, and has a wide, flat face. Her family comes from Peru(秘鲁).

There is a Dancing Club here, a bit like the one you and I went to. I have been to the club twice now. The teacher looks a bit like Mrs. Jackson! They are both tall and very thin. They both have their hair pulled back into a ponytail, and they both walk about like the Queen! I’m enjoying the club. I am sure I will meet some new friends there.

Please write to me soon because I miss you!

Sarah

（改编于《初中英语读本9A》）