The air bag is a piece of safety equipment in cars. It was first designed by John W. Hetrick in 1952. Like many inventions, he came up with the idea as a result of an event that had occurred in his life. He says:
“In the spring of 1952, my wife, my seven-year-old daughter, Joan, and I were out for a Sunday drive in our 1948 Chrysler Windsor. About three miles outside Newport we were watching for deer jumping across the road. Suddenly, there was a large rock in our path. I hit the brakes and we went into a ditch(壕沟).
“As I applied the brakes, both my wife and I threw our hands up to keep our daughter from hitting the car. There was soft mud in the ditch, so the car wasn’t damaged, and no one was hurt.”
“During the ride home I couldn’t stop thinking about the accident. I asked myself,‘Why couldn’t some object come out to stop you from striking the inside of the car?’As soon as I got home that night I drew some sketches(草图). Each evening for the following two weeks, I’d add or reduce something from the sketches.”
Hetrick applied an event he had observed while in the Navy to the design of the air bag. He was repairing a torpedo(鱼雷) which had a cloth covering. When the compressed（压缩的） air that was in the torpedo was let out, the covering was suddenly filled with air and was shot to the ceiling.
With this knowledge, he developed his design until he was able to obtain a patent on the invention on August 5, 1952. The idea was similar to the air bag designs of today. Compressed air is stored in a container and when a traffic accident occurs and the car slows down at a rapid enough rate, the air will be released into the air bag. The idea was ingenious, but Hetrick’s air bag never would have functioned properly. It was really a breakthrough, but it would require years and years of designing and testing by some top car designers before it could be used.The car accident Hetrick was involved in ________.
| A．damaged his car | B．happened in 1948 |
| C．was caused by a deer | D．caused no harm to his family |
Hetrick’s experience in the Navy________.
| A．turned out to be dangerous | B．was helpful to his invention |
| C．involved designing torpedoes | D．inspired him to design an air bag |
The underlined word “ingenious” in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to _______.
| A．creative | B．ridiculous | C．crazy | D．complex |
What do we know about the air bag Hetrick designed?
| A．It came into use in the 1950s. | B．It performed perfectly in car accidents. |
| C．It prepared the way for air bags nowadays. | D．It took Hetrick about two months to develop it. |
The text is mainly about ____.
| A．the great inventor Hetrick | B．The invention of air bags |
| C．a terrible car accident | D．road safety in the 1950s |
Parents often believe that they have a good relationship with their teenagers. But last summer, 
Joanna and Henry noticed a change in their older son: suddenly he seemed to be talking far more to his friends than to his parents. “The door to his room is always shut.” Joanna noted.
Tina and Mark noticed similar changes in their 14-year-old daughter. “she used to cuddle up（拥抱） with me on the sofa and talk.” said Mark. “Now we joke that she does this only when she wants something. Sometimes she wants to be treated like a little girl and sometimes like a young lady. The problem is figuring out which time is which.”
Before age 11, Children like to tell their parents what’is on their minds. “In fact, parents are first on the list.” said Michael Riera, author of Uncommon Sense for Parents with Teenagers. “This completely changes during the teen years.” Riera explained. “They talk to their friends first, and then maybe their teachers and their parents last.”
Parents who know what’s going on in their teenagers’ lives are in the best position to help them. To break down the wall of silence, parents should create chances to understand what their children want to say, and try to fi
nd ways to talk and write 
to them. And they must give their children a mental break, for children also need freedom, though young. Another thing parents should remember is that to be a friend, not a manager, with children is a better way to know them. “The door to his room is always shut” suggests that the son__________.
| A．is always busy with his studies |
| B．doesn’t want to be disturbed |
| C．keeps himself away from his parents |
| D．begins to dislike his parents |
What troubles Tina and Mark most is that__________.
| A．their daughter isn’t as lovely as before |
| B．they can’t read their daughter’s mind exactly |
| C．they don’t know what to say to their daughter |
| D．their daughter talks with them only when she needs help |
Which of the following best explains “the wall of silence” in the last paragraph?
| A．Teenagers talk a lot with their friends. |
| B．Teenagers do not want to understand their parents. |
| C．Teenagers do not talk much with their parents. |
| D．Teenagers talk little about their own lives. |
What can be learned from the passage?
| A．Parents are unhappy with their growing children. |
| B．Parents have suitable ways to talk with their teenagers. |
| C．Parents should be patient with their silent teenagers. |
| D．Parents should try to understand their teenagers. |
Many English learners have difficulty deciding what kind of English accent they want to have. A US accent, perhaps modeled on the way a Hollywood star speaks? Or maybe you want to imitate（模仿） the British accent of a BBC news reader?
Young British people find the US accent attractive while young US people like a British accent. Especially when the person speaking is of the opposite sex! Let’s listen to what they have to say.
Stephen Yang, 17, from London, UK
A US accent is cute, especially when a girl speaks it. Whether it’s Jessia Alba speaking or the girl- next-door, the way US girls speak has a sweet tingle that is really sassy(时髦). A girl from Texas recently moved into our neighborhood. Her Texan twang（鼻音） had all the boys here on their knees within seconds of meeting her.
To me, accents reflect the attitudes, characteristics and lifestyles of the people.
Jennifer Sun, 16, from New Jersey, US
From watching English actors like Daniel Radcliffe, my friends and I have developed a soft spot for British men. Some are attracted to the qualities of English males, while others admire their sense of style.
Everyone, however, agrees that the most appealing aspect of an English man is his accent. For example, many American gir
ls watch Harry Potter movies over and over again just to listen to the actors speak.
The English accent seems almost like art.In Stephen Yang’s opinion, accents
just show__________.
| A．the beauty of the language | B．how the language is spoken |
| C．the cultural differences of the speakers | D．the fashion of the day |
The underlined word “cute “probabl
y means__________.
| A．strange | B．exciting | C．attractive |
D．fashionable |
Many American girls watch Harry Porter again and again in order to __________.
| A．learn the acting skills of the these stars |
| B．learn the magic performed by Harry Potter |
| C．imitate the actors’ accents |
| D．know more about British English |
What is probably the best title for this passage?
A．British English and Am erican English |
| B．British Accent or American Accent |
| C．American English Accent is Most Accepted |
| D．The difference between British Accent and American Accent. |
The first English week at our school started on May 4th, 2009. The whole school was filled with an English learning atmosphere. A series of activities was held. There were handwriting activities, story writing, English songs, role playing in English, and so on, all the teachers and students were very happy. They spoke English, sang English songs and enjoyed all the activities.
Handwriting was for the students in lower grades. Although most of them couldn’t write so well, they were all very careful about it. In the show window, there were a lot of colorful handwritten papers. They copied some articles from books or newspapers. And then they decorated them with pictures in different colors, and some even put their own photos on them. How cute and lovely they looked!
Story writing was for students in Grade 7 and Grade 8. These students are always fond of cartoons, so they got interested in this activity. Reading the stories they made up, all the visitors couldn’t help speaking highly of them.
The most important event was the English show on the last day. The students and teachers presented(上演) a lot of English songs and English operas. Each program won storms of applause.
One week is not very long, but all the students and teachers learned a lot. Just as the headmaster said, “It is a helpful week. It will certainly lead us to enjoy and learn more from our English studies.”In this passage, the English week is described as__________.
| A．surprising | B．boring | C．enjoyable | D．serious |
Which of the following is Not true?
| A．All the students took part in the handwriting contest. |
| B．The story writing contest was for students in Grade 7 and Grade 8. |
| C．The English show was the most important event. |
| D．Teachers also took part in the English week. |
What does the underlined word “applause” probably mean?
| A．Noise | B．Cheer | C．Sound | D．Music |
What does the writer probably want to tell us at the end of the passage?
| A．The activities are a good way to learn English. |
| B．Students usually don’t like English. |
| C．The activities last longer. |
| D．Learning English in the classroom is invaluable. |
KISSI HEALTH-BEAUTY CENTER
With a busy life and job, pressure can make you look tired and aged. Kissi Health-Beauty Center gives classes, makes training plans according to your physical conditions, and sets up an individual file. All these things will help you to get to know your body and the way to keep it fit.
1）BODY-BUILDING
Imported gym equipment will help you build up your body’s muscles, making you look full of energy and strength.
GYMNASTIC EXERCISES
A bright and large exercise room with excellent equipment and music will give your body a chance to enjoy movement with rhythm.
3）SPECIAL “LAZY-BONE” FITNESS CENTER
“Lazy-bone” fitness equipment is the first bodyshaping set of seven beds in Houston. Designed according to human anatomic (解剖学的) and kinematic（运动学的）theory， the seven special beds will help you to exercise your waist, abdomen（腹）, hips（臀）or legs. In the relaxing hours you may try them to strengthen your muscles and lose weight.
*Tuition: “Lazy-bone” fitness card, 1000 dollars /month （gymnastic classes included）.
*Open Time: 10:30 a.m.—10:30 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
*Tel: 59185700
*Address: 16 Johnson Street, Houston The purpose of this passage is to ______.
| A．give advice on health |
| B．introduce new ways of body-building |
| C．ask you to go to the center |
| D．introduce ways to lose weight |
If you want some exercises as well as relaxation after a busy day, you’ll go to the center and ______________.
| A．learn anatomic and kinematic theory |
| B．sleep on the special beds |
| C．join in the gymnastic exercises |
| D．buy a special card |
Tom Everest who keeps a “Lazy-bone” fitness card can go to the center ______ this week.
| A．11:30 a.m. Monday | B．11:30 p.m. Monday |
| C．10:00 a.m. Tuesday | D．10:00 p.m. Tuesday |
According to the passage, the center wants to show it is _____ .
| A．the most convenient | B．the largest |
| C．the newest | D．the most advanced |
Australia －a huge island continent that lies to the south of Asia．Australia－more than two hundred years old, a nation that is still growing．
Its big cities lie on the southeast coast, this is where most Australians live．Australians prefer to own their own houses, though some live in apartments．Australians are a suburban people．The suburbs surround the cities for many miles, and so efficient transport is of great importance．As the economy grows, so do its industries- a higher level of production, a wider range of products．
The Australian works hard, but he likes his leisure．The climate makes outdoor activities the most popular．
Canberra, the capital of Australia, is a planned modem city located inland．Australia is governed by a parliamentary democracy．The representatives of other countries have their embassies here．Australia wants to strengthen relations with her neighbors．
Australia is a strange land, a land of vast expanses- fertile valleys, snow fields and deserts- also a land with unique animal, many that can not be found on any other continent in the world today．
Much of the continent is dry, but man has utilized the land, made it productive, with its tools, with its technology．This is the driest continent of all, and water is a precious possession, more precious than all other natural resources．Large dams are built to collect the water, there to irrigate the fields of pastures and crops． But Australia is changing．The land of wool and wheat is now a land of large-scale industry and mining．The costs of developing the new mineral discoveries are enormous, but the rewards are great too．
Australia — a young and developing nation．Australia — a nation that wants to communicate with its neighbors．Australia is an island located ______ of Asia and its big cities lie ____ of the coast．
| A．to the south; on the southeast |
| B．to the north; on the southwest |
| C．to the east; on the northeast |
| D．to the east; on the southwest |
We can infer from the passage that the Australian likes outdoor activities for the _____ climate．
| A．dull and wet |
| B．fine and shiny |
| C．gloomy and rainy |
| D．wet and cold |
____ is the most precious source in Australia．
| A．Mineral resource | B．Animal | C．Desert | D．Water |
Which of the following statements about Australia is wrong?
| A．Australians are a suburban people |
| B．Australia is governed by a parliamentary democracy． |
| C．Australia prefers to live in the downtown of big cities． |
| D．Wool and wheat used to be the main products of Australia． |
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