Like schools in China, American schools begin in September after a long summer vacation. The first term is from September to January and the second is from February to June. Usually American children begin to go to school when they are five years old. Most students are seventeen or eighteen years old when they finish high school.
But unlike middle school students in China, high school students in America take only four or five subjects each term. They usually go to the same classes every day and have homework for every class. After class they do all kinds of interesting things.
After high school, many students go to college. They may go to a small or a large one. They usually have to pay a lot for their higher education. So lots of students work after school to make money for their studies. In America, summer vacation lasts（持续）___________________.
| A．one month | B．two months |
| C．three months | D．more than three months |
The underlined（下划线的）word “college” means _________________ in Chinese.
| A．大学 | B．公司 | C．研究院 | D．高中 |
Many American students work after class, because they ___________________.
| A．want to see interesting things |
| B．have to help the other people |
| C．want to make more friends |
| D．have to get money for their studies |
Good afternoon, everyone. My talk for today is “Early Money”. I’m going to tell you something about money used in the early days. To tell you the truth, we know little about how early people came to use money, but we do know some of the things which have been used as money. In early times in some European countries, salt was very difficult to get, so it was used as money. In some places of Asia, tea was used as money. The American Indians used nuts and other things. Perhaps the most common money of all was an animal of some kind. In some places today, cows are still used as a kind of money. So you see, things highly valued by everyday may serve as money. The Chinese were the first people to use coins as money. Oh, here are some coins of past. You can come over and have a look. 
We know about the development of “Early Money”.
| A．much | B．little | C．few | D．a bit |
Which is NOT referred to in the passage that was probably used in the past?
| A．cows | B．nuts | C．tea | D．silk |
Why was salt used in Europe?
| A．It was used every day. | B．It was cheap. |
| C．It was common. | D．It was difficult to get. |
Which one is still used as money nowadays?
| A．nuts | B．salt | C．cows | D．tea |
This passage may be a .
| A．news | B．message | C．speech | D．notice |
Nelson Mandela, the first black President of South Africa, passed away at his home. He is one of the greatest people in the 20th century. The whole world mourned the father of new South Africa. His life is full of stories.
| Nelson Mandela’s Life |
|
| Time |
Events |
| July18, 1918 |
Was born in a rich family in South Africa |
| 1944 |
Became a member of ANC |
| October15,1962 |
Was put into prison for opposing the white only government |
| February10, 1990 |
Was set free---got out of the prison |
| 1992 |
Visited China for the first time |
| 1993 |
Won the Nobel Prize for Peace |
| May9, 1994 |
Became the first black president of South Africa |
| December5, 2013 |
Died at his home |
Nelson is the first president of South Africa.
| A．white | B．Asian | C．woman | D．black |
Nelson was born in a family.
| A．poor | B．rich | C．kind | D．white |
How long was Nelson in prison?
| A．nearly 28 years | B．18 years | C．over 30 years | D．20 years |
Nelson won the Nobel Prize for in 1993.
| A．Physics | B．Medicine | C．Chemistry | D．Peace |
Nelson has been dead for about .
| A．one year | B．5 months | C．4 months | D．7 months |
These days when you go on vacation, you spend most of your money just getting there. Travel is expensive, but don't stay home only because you are short of money! Here is some advice:
* Travel during off-season if possible. Flights and hotels are very cheaper when tourism is low.
* Choose a hotel that's a little farther from popular attractions. If you're staying several days,
check out prices on vacation homes — it can end up being cheaper than a hotel.
* Take public traffic, such as buses or subway, instead of taking a taxi.
* Plan your meals, and eat like locals. Don't waste money at expensive hotel restaurants or
fast-food chains. Depending on where you stay, it may be cheaper to make food on your own.
* Check online for special discount （折扣） — if you're a student, the old or the parents
traveling with children, you could get discounts! A little research could save you a lot of money.
Whether you're backpacking alone or going on a family vacation, your trip doesn't have to break the bank. The key is to plan ahead and write down what you spend. Then put the money you save toward your next trip!Is travel expensive now?
How many suggestions are given to save money?
Which is cheaper, staying at a hotel or a vacation home?
Who could get discounts?
What is the passage mainly about?
Working Christmas Day
It was unusually quiet in the emergency room （急诊室） on December25.
I didn't think there would be any patients, complaining about having to work on. Just then five people showed up at my desk, a pale woman and four small children.
"Are you all sick?" I asked doubtfully.
"Yes," she said weakly and lowered her head.
But when it came to descriptions of their problems, things got a little unclear. Two of the children had headaches, but I couldn't find any normal body language of holding the head or trying to keep it still. Two children had earaches, but only one could tell me which ear was hurting. The mother complained of a cough but seemed to work to produce it.
Something was wrong, but I didn't say anything but explained that it might be a little while before a doctor saw her. She replied, "Take your time; it's warm in here."
I checked the form after the admitting clerk had finished her work with the family. No address — they were homeless. The waiting room was warm.
I looked out at the family standing by the Christmas tree. The youngest one was pointing at the television and shouting something to her mother. The oldest one was looking at the colorful Christmas tree.
I went back to the nurses' station and mentioned we had a homeless family in the waiting room. The nurses, complaining about working Christmas, turned to pity for a family just trying to get warm on Christmas. The team went into action, much as we do when there's a medical emergency. But this one was a Christmas emergency.
We were all offered a free meal in the hospital dining hall on Christmas Day, so we prepared a big one for our Christmas guests. We needed presents, too. We put together oranges and apples in a basket. We collected from different departments candies, crayons and other things that could be presents. As seriously as we met the physical needs of the patients that came to us that day, our team worked to meet the needs, and beyond the expectations, of a family who just wanted to be warm on Christmas Day.
Later, as the family walked to the door to leave, the four-year-old came running back, gave me a hug and whispered, "Thanks for being our angels today."Why did the family come to the hospital?
| A．They were sick. | B．They were cold and hungry. |
| C．They wanted to visit friends. | D．They got all their money lost. |
How did the writer and her workmates help the family?
| A．They offered a free meal to them. |
| B．They bought some presents for them. |
| C．They sent for a doctor for them. |
| D．They asked them to stay overnight in the hospital. |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．The mother was seriously ill. |
| B．The family were driven out of the hospital. |
| C．The writer and her workmates always liked to work on Christmas. |
| D．The family thanked the writer and her workmates for their kindness. |
Dogs can also go to school to learn how to help people who cannot hear. If a person cannot hear, we say he or she is deaf.
Dogs who help deaf people must learn many different sounds. Then they must be able to show the deaf person what is making the sound. When they hear a visitor at the door, dogs learn to walk to the deaf person and then walk to the door. And if a telephone rings, they walk to the deaf man or woman and then walk to the telephone. These dogs can also help deaf mothers. If a baby is crying in another room, dogs walk to the mother and then to the baby. These dogs wear a yellow coat to show that they are special dogs that are helping a deaf person. There have been many times when these dogs have saved a life. You may see in a newspaper that a dog heard a fire alarm and lay down near the deaf person's feet. That is the sign for danger. The person knows that something is wrong and can go away from the fire.
Special dogs can also help people who are disabled in various ways. For example, dogs can pull off their gloves or socks! Think how difficult your life would be if you were blind, deaf or disabled! But if you had a special dog like this to help you, your life would be much easier.Dogs who help deaf people must learn
| A．different sounds | B．different languages |
| C．different colors | D．different faces |
According to the passage, the special dogs can NOT
| A．care for babies | B．talk to people |
| C．realize the danger | D．pull off socks |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．Special dogs can do what people cannot do. |
| B．Special dogs can only help people who are deaf. |
| C．Special dogs can help people in every part of their life. |
| D．Special dogs can make some people's life much easier. |
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