Thanksgiving Day is a special holiday in the United States and Canada. Families and friends gather to eat and give thanks for their blessing.
Thanksgiving Day is really a harvest festival. This is why it is celebrated in late fall, after the crops are in. But one of the first thanksgivings in America had nothing to do with a good harvest. On December 4, 1619, the people from England landed near what is now Charles City, Virginia. They settled down and thanked God for their safe journey across the Atlantic.
The first New England Thanksgiving did celebrate a rich harvest. The people landed at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620. They had a difficult time and the first winter was cruel. Many of the people died. But the next year, they had a good harvest. So Governor Bradford declared a three-day feast. The people invited Indian friends to join them for their special feast. Everyone brought food.
In time, other colonies（殖民地）began to celebrate a day of thanksgiving. But it took years before there was a national Thanksgiving Day. During the Civil War, Sarah Josepha Hale persuaded Abraham Lincoln to do something about it. He declared the last Thursday of November in 1863 as a day of thanksgiving. Today, Americans celebrate this happy harvest festival on the fourth Thursday in November. Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving Day in much the same way as their American neighbors. But the Canadians Thanksgiving Day falls on the second Monday in October.
55. Who declared the last Thursday of November in 1863 as a day of thanksgiving ?
A. Governor Bradford B. the American Indians
C. Sarah Josepha Hale D. Abraham Lincoln
56. Which of the following is true?
A. Thanksgiving Day was a holiday to celebrate a good harvest at the very beginning.
B. Abraham Lincoln was the first to decide on thanksgiving celebrations.
C. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated to express the American and Indian people’s thanks to God.
D. There’s little difference between the American way and the Canadian way to celebrate Thanksgiving Day.
57. The passage mainly tells us________.
A. how Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in the USA
B. how Thanksgiving Day came into being and the different ways it is celebrated
C. that Thanksgiving Day is in fact a harvest holiday
D. how the way to celebrate Thanksgiving Day changed with the time and places
Why should mankind explore space? Why should money, time and effort be spent exploring and researching something with so few apparent benefits? Why should resources be spent on space rather than on conditions and people on Earth? These are questions that, understandably, are very often asked.
Perhaps the best answer lies in our genetic makeup (基因构成)as human beings. What drove our ancestors to move from the trees into the plains, and on into all possible areas and environments? The wider the spread of a species, the better its chance of survival. Perhaps the best reason for exploring space is this genetic tendency to expand wherever possible.
Nearly every successful civilization has explored, because by doing so, any dangers in surrounding areas can be identified and prepared for. Without knowledge, we may be completely destroyed by the danger. With knowledge, we can lessen its effects.
Exploration also allows minerals and other potential (潜在的)resources to be found. Even if we have no immediate need of them, they will perhaps be useful later. Resources may be more than physical possessions. Knowledge or techniques have been acquired through exploration. The techniques may have medical applications which can improve the length or quality of our lives. We have already benefited from other spin-offs including improvements in earthquake prediction, in satellites for weather forecasting and in communications systems. Even non-stick pans and mirrored sunglasses are by-products (副产品)of technological developments in the space industry!
While many resources are spent on what seems a small return, the exploration of space allows creative, brave and intelligent members of our species to focus on what may serve to save us. While space may hold many wonders and explanations of how the universe was formed or how it works, it also holds clangers. The danger exists, but knowledge can help human beings to survive. Without the ability to reach out across space, the chance to save ourselves might not exist.
While Earth is the only planet known to support life, surely the adaptive ability of humans would allow us to live on other planets. It is true that the lifestyle would be different, but human life and cultures have adapted in the past and surely could in the future. Why does the author mention the questions in Paragraph 1?
| A．To express his doubts. |
| B．To compare different ideas. |
| C．To introduce points for discussion. |
| D．To describe the conditions on Earth. |
What is the reason for exploring space based on Paragraph 2?
| A．Humans are nature-born to do so. |
| B．Humans have the tendency to fight. |
| C．Humans may find new sources of food. |
| D．Humans don’t like to stay in the same place. |
The underlined word “spin-offs" in Paragraph 4probably refers to ________ .
| A．survival chances |
| B．potential resources |
| C．unexpected benefits |
| D．physical possessions |
What makes it possible for humans to live on other planets?
| A．Our genetic makeup. |
| B．Resources on the earth. |
| C．The adaptive ability of humans. |
| D．By-products in space exploration. |
On March 8,a big spelling mistake was made at the Selma Unified School District's Spelling Bee (拼字比赛)，in Selma, California. The mistake was made not by one of the competitors, but by the judges. Even though 12-year-old Sierra Shoemaker spelled her final word correctly, she was disqualified (淘汰)because the judges thought she had it wrong. "I didn't want to say anything because if the word master tells you you've got a wrong word, you don't really argue with him, "Sierra told local California news station KMPH.
The word Sierra was told to spell was "braille", referring to the written Language for people unable to see. Sierra spelled it out correctly, but the judges' master sheet had the word written down as "b-r-a-i-l-e", with one '1' missing. The audience immediately recognized the judges' mistake. So did Sierra. “I looked around at the audience, half of them were looking at each other, complaining quietly, "said Sierra, speaking to KMPH. She went home with a second place prize, but was frustrated, realizing that perhaps she could have won first place prize.
Determined to move on to the next level* Sierra appealed her disqualification. At first, the county rejected her appeal. Fortunately, the school community got behind her. Her school supported the appeal and won. Sierra will now advance to the Fresno County Spelling Bee. If she wins Fresno, she will then go on to represent her county in the California State Spelling Championships.
Beyond each state’s spelling bee is the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Winners from state championships move on to compete against each other, as well as against students from countries outside the United States. With her spirit of determination, we believe we will see Sierra on the stage of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. At the Selma Unified School District's Spelling Bee, Sierra ________ .
| A．was disqualified |
| B．made a big mistake |
| C．argued with the judges |
| D．had her final word wrong |
Why did some of the audience look at each other according to Paragraph 2?
| A．They felt sorry for Sierra's mistake. |
| B．They wanted to know how to spell the word. |
| C．They wanted to make friends with each other. |
| D．They thought that the judges had made a mistake. |
Sierra will advance to the Fresno County Spelling Bee because ________ .
| A．the county accepted the appeal finally |
| B．she asked the news station KMPH for help |
| C．she was given the first place prize after her appeal |
| D．the audience forced the judges into changing their decision |
Which of the following shows the author's attitude towards Sierra?
| A．She is tolerant. |
| B．She is hard-working. |
| C．She is open-minded. |
| D．She is strong-minded. |
Pierre de Coubertin was born on January 1，1863，in Paris, France. As a child of a noble family, he received a good education and developed a strong interest in literature and history. He refused the military career planned for him by his family, as well as giving up a political career in order to serve his people better.
Coubertin was a very active sportsman and practiced the sports of boxing, fencing (击剑)，horse-riding and rowing. He believed that sport was the tool for moral energy and he defended his idea with rare tenacity (坚初).
His study of history made him wish the Olympics could still be held. He thought it was the ideal that everyone should try to reach. He was sure that bringing athletes together would make friendly relations between the countries. It was this idea that led him to announce at the age of 31 that he wanted to revive the Olympics.
He made this announcement in a meeting at the Union of French Societies of Athletic Sports, for which he was Secretary General (秘书长). No one really believed him and his statement was greeted with little passion. Coubertin, however, was not discouraged and on 23 June, 1894 he founded the International Olympic Committee(IOC)in a ceremony held at the University of Sorbonne in Paris. Demetrius from Greece became the first president of the IOC.
Two years later, in 1896, the first Olympic Games of the modern era was held in Athens. On that occasion Coubertin was elected the second president of the IOC and he remained president until 1925. Due to the 1st World War, Coubertin requested permission to establish the headquarters of the IOC in Lausanne, Switzerland, which was a neutral (中立的)country, Coubertin withdrew from the IOC in 1925 to devote himself to his pedagogical (教育学的)work, which he called his "unfinished symphony(交响乐)".
Coubertin suddenly died of a heart attack on September 2，1937, in a park in Geneva, and thus his "symphony" remained unfinished. The city of Lausanne had decided to award him honorary citizenship (荣誉市民)of the city, but he died just before the ceremony.
In accordance with Coubertin's last wish he was buried in Lausanne, although his heart was buried separately in a monument near the ruins of ancient Olympia. Pierre de Coubertin was not interested in ________ .
| A．literature |
| B．history |
| C．military |
| D．sports |
Coubertin wanted to revive the Olympic Games because ________ .
| A．he thought bringing athletes together would make friendly relationships between the countries |
| B．he knew he would be the 2nd president of the IOC |
| C．he loved history and sports so much |
| D．he thought everyone should try to reach the ideal that the Olympics could still be held |
"unfinished symphony(交响乐)" refers to ________ .
| A．the work Coubertin did for the IOC |
| B．the pedagogical work |
| C．the ceremony of awarding Coubertin honorary citizenship |
| D．the fact that Coubertin's heart attack never got well |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．Coubertin was awarded honorary citizenship by the city of Lausanne before he died. |
| B．Coubertin worked as the president of the IOC for less than 20 years. |
| C．Coubertin devoted all his life to the sports career. |
| D．Coubertin's heart was buried in Greece. |
Every two years, cities around the world make bids to the International Olympic Commission (IOC)to host the Olympic Games. Today, cities are selected through a much more rigorous (严格的） process.
Any city that wants to host the Olympic Games puts in its name to the IOC and is considered an “Applicant City”. For the next ten months, the IOC investigates the city on several points：
1. The city must prove that it is big enough to handle the Olympics. They also need to show that they can handle the high level of security needed at the games.
2. The city needs to convince (使明白）residents that the expenses of covering the Olympics (which may be covered by raising taxes)are worth it in city improvement and new jobs.
3. The city needs to maintain a highly positive media exposure to carry the games.
If the IOC decides that a city has fulfilled the three points above, the city is considered a “Candidate City” and goes into the second phase of the process. After submitting an application and an application fee, the IOC makes a final judging on which city is the best candidate for the coming Summer or Winter Olympic Games.
The costs for bidding for the games are incredibly high. Bid committees must pay an application fee to the IOC. Following these fees, the cities generally need to begin large construction projects like building the “Olympic village”， new sports arenas(竞技场） and stadiums, and transportation systems.
If the Olympics are so expensive, why do cities want to host the games? Cities bid for the Olympics for a variety of reasons ： the desire to show pride in their city and their country, the eagerness to be in the international spotlight for two weeks, the opportunity to bring new jobs into the community, and to build up tourism to that city. The point that the city must be big enough to handle the Olympics is probably because __________
| A．it makes sure that there will be enough people to watch the games |
| B．a huge number of tourists, athletes, journalists. and politicians will come with the games |
| C．there will be enough money to build sports arenas and stadiums |
| D．the Olympic Games was never held in small cities before |
Which of the following is the correct order to be a city to host the Olympics?
a. To build large construction projects.
b. To put in its name to the IOC.
c. To fulfill the IOC's points for bidding.
d. To succeed in getting the final judging from the IOC.
e. To pay the application fee to the IOC.
A. a, e，b, c，d
B. b, a，c, e，d
C. c, b，a, d，e
D. b, c，e, d，a Which of the following is NOT the result of hosting the Olympics?
| A．Raising the position on the international stage. |
| B．Promoting the development of tourism. |
| C．Creating more employment opportunities. |
| D．Strengthening the citizens' physical body. |
What is the best title for the passage?
| A．History of the International Olympic Commission |
| B．How the Olympic Locations are Chosen |
| C．How Expensive to Bid for the Olympics |
| D．Advantages of Hosting the Olympics |
Bored? Lonely? Out Of Condition? Why Not Try Camden Sports Centre TENNIS
Indoor and outdoor courts(球场）. Coaching from banners to advanced, every day～not evenings.
Children only—Saturday mornings
SWIMMING
2 pools 1 heated.
Olympic length.
Lessons available.
Women ： Tuesday and Thursday
Men ： Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Children ： Saturday
Family day ：Sunday
GOLF
9-hole practice course.
Professional coaching ； lessons must be booked in advance in the daytime. Evening practice. Minimum age(最小年龄）：9 SKIING
Dry slopes(斜坡）：3 levels. Instructors at weekends and Fridays. Daytime practice. 8 years upward. GYMNASTICS Maximum age(最大年龄）：18 Children aged 5-10，Mondays and Wednesdays 4:00 pm-6 ：00 pm
10-18-year-old, Friday evenings. In the Camden Sports Centre, you can do the following sports in the evening EXCEPT __________
| A．golf |
| B．tennis |
| C．gymnastics |
| D．swimming |
The Smiths want to go swimming in the Camden Sports Centre. They had better go on __________.
| A．Sunday |
| B．Saturday |
| C．Monday |
| D．Tuesday |
If you're 19 years old, you can't take part in __________ practice in the Camden Sports Centre.
| A．golf |
| B．skiing |
| C．swimming |
| D．gymnastics |
According to the passage, we can learn that __________
| A．an 8-year-old can take golf practice in the Camden Sports Centre |
| B．swimming pools in the Camden Sports Centre are smaller than the ones in Olympics |
| C．children can play tennis in the Camden Sports Centre on Saturday mornings |
| D．you needn't book them in advance if you want to take golf lessons in the Camden Sports Centre |
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