Ireland has had a very difficult history. The problems started in the 16th century when English rulers fried to conquer (征服) Ireland. For hundreds of years, the Irish people fought against the English. Finally, in 1921, the British government was forced to give independence to the south of Ireland. The result is that today there are two “Irelands”. Northern Ireland, in the north, is part of the United Kingdom. The republic of Ireland, in the south, is an independent country.
In the 1840s ,the main crop, potatoes was affected by disease and about 750, 000 people died of hunger. This, and a shortage (短缺) of work, forced many people to leave Ireland and live in the USA, the UK, Australia and Canada. As a result of these problems, the population fell from 8.2 million in 1841 to 6.6 million in 1851.
For many years, the majority of Irish people earned their living as farmers. Today, many people still work on the land but more and more people are moving to the cities to work in factories and offices. Life in the cities is very different from life in the countryside, where things move at a quieter and slower pace.
The Irish are famous for being warm-hearted and friendly, Oscar Wilde, a famous Irish writer, once said that the Irish were “the greatest talkers since the Greeks”. Since independence, Ireland has revived (复兴) its own culture of music, language, literature and singing. Different areas have different styles of old Irish songs which are sung without instruments. Other kinds of Irish music use many different instruments such as the violin, whistles, etc.What does the author tell us in Paragraph 1?
| A．How the Irish fought against the English. |
| B．How Ireland gained independence. |
| C．How two “Irelands” came into being. |
| D．How English rulers tried to conquer Ireland. |
The last paragraph is mainly about____.
| A．the Irish character | B．Irish culture |
| C．Irish musical instruments | D．a famous Irish writer |
We learn from the text that in Ireland _____.
| A．different kinds of old Irish songs are all sung with instruments |
| B．people are moving to the cities for lack of work in the countryside |
| C．it is harder to make a living as a farmer than as a factory worker |
| D．food shortages in the 1840s led to a decline in population |
What can be the best title for the text?
| A．Life in Ireland |
| B．Ireland, Past and Present |
| C．A Very Difficult History |
| D．The Independence of Ireland |
When newspapers and radio describe the damage caused by a hurricane named Hazel,girls named Hazel are probably teased by their friends.To keep out of trouble,the Weather Bureau says,“Any resemblance between hurricane names and the names of particular girls is purely accidental.”
Some women became angry because hurricanes are given their names,but many other women are proud to see their names make headlines.They don’t even care that they are the names of destructive storms.Because more women seem to like it than dislike it,the Weather Bureau has decided to continue using girl’s names for hurricanes.
In some ways a hurricane is like a person.After it is born,it grows and develops,then becomes old and dies.Each hurricane has a character of its own.Each follows its own path through the world,and people remember it long after it gone.So it is natural to give hurricanes’ names,and to talk about them almost if they were alive.
1.What happens to girls named Hazel according to the passage?
A.They suffer from hurricanes.
B.The Weather Bureau look for them.
C.Others often make fun of them.
D.They can’t find boyfriend.
2.The underlined word“resemblance”probably means ______.
A.trouble B.difference C.sameness D.success
3.According to the passage,which is more reasonable?
A.Some women feel unhappy because hurricanes are given their names.
B.A lot of women complain of the Weather Bureau.
C.Many women want to be known.
D.All the hurricanes are caused by women.
4Public opinions make the Weather Bureau ______.
A.consider the disagreement of some women
B.go on naming hurricanes after women
C.name hurricanes after men
D.look for a new method to name hurricanes
5.It is natural to give hurricane names because ______.
A.they become old and die
B.all of them should be remembered
C.each hurricane has its own day to come
D.each hurricane has its own character
It was Mother's Day. John was so busy with his work that he couldn't go back home. When he passed by a flower shop in the evening, an idea came to his mind, “I'll send Mum some roses(玫瑰).”While John was picking his flowers, a young man went inside. “How many roses can I get for only five dollars, madam?” he asked. The assistant(店员) was trying to tell him roses were as expensive as forty dollars a dozen(一打). Maybe he would be happy with carnations(康乃馨).
“No, I have to have red roses,” he said. “My mum was badly ill last year and I didn't get to spend much time with her. Now I want to get something special, it has to be roses as rose is her favourite.”
After hearing it, John said he would pay the rest of the money for the young man. Moved b
y both of them, the assistant said, “Well, lovely young men, thirty dollars a dozen, only for you.” Taking the roses, the young man almost jumped into the air and ran out of the shop. It was well worth twenty－five dollars that John paid to see the exciting moment. Then John paid for his dozen of roses and told the assistant to send them to his mother.
As he walked out, he felt nice. Suddenly he saw the young man crossing the street and going into a park. But soon John realized it was not a park but a cemetery(墓地). Cryi
ng, the young man carefully put down the roses, “Mum, oh, Mum, why didn't I tell you how much I loved you? God, please help me find my mum and tell her I love her.”
Seeing this, John turned and quickly walked to the shop. He would take the flowers home himself.
46. The assistant tried to ask the young man to buy carnations instead of roses because_________ .
A. carnations were nicer than roses
B. roses were saved for John
C. roses were more expensive than carnations
D. carnations were special flowers for Mother's Day
47. John spent _________ altogether(总共) in the flower shop that day.
A.$5 B.$25 C.$30 D.$55
48. The young man cried at the cemetery because he
A. had spent all his money on the roses
B. wasn't able to tell his mother he loved her himself
C. felt sorry to ask John to pay for his flowers
D. hadn't got enough money for his sick mother
49. At last John changed his mind and went home because he wanted to
A. tell his mother he loved her himself
B. ask his mother for more money
C. tell his mother the young man's story
D. ask his mother if she liked roses
50. The writer writes the passage in order to tell us
A. Buy roses for your mother when she is ill
B. Let your mother know how much you love her
C. Work hard to get more money for your mother
D. Send your mother flowers on Mother's Day
III. 阅读（共两节，满分40分）
第一节：阅读理解（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、
B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Man has invented four kinds of satellites. The first kind of satellites studies the geography of the earth. They are used to make maps. They also help countries to see where they can find oil or gold. The second kind of satellites is used to guide ships and planes. A ship or a plane can send a message to the satellite and the satellite can find out where it is. The third kind of satellites studies the weather. These satellites watch clouds and strong winds moving across the earth. They warn countries to make preparations when very bad weather is coming. They take photos of the earth from miles above it and send the photos to weather stations on the ground.
The last kind is used for communication. Telephone calls between countries can be sent by these satellites. S
ome can carry hundreds of calls at one time. The call is sent to the satellite and then the satellite send it to the station in the country which is being phoned. These satellites also carry pictures, they can send about eight programs at a time.
1. If a ship is lost, ___________________, and the satellite will help it.
A. it can send a message to the satellite
B. the captain of the ship call the station
C. it stays there waiting
D. the satellite will take a photo of it
2. What can’t a satellite do according to the passage?
A. Tell the weather B. Send a message
C. Tell the position D. Show the time
3. Which of the following is true?
A. A satellite can dig out oil and gold.
B. A satellite can stop a plane.
C. A satellite can take pictures.
D. A satellite can stop storms.
4. Many countries send up satellites into space mainly because______.
A. they are helpful B. they are fashionable
C. they show how strong a country is D. they make the country beautiful
5. Which can be the best title for this passage?
A. Where to find a satellite？ B. How many kinds of satellites?
C. What can a satellite do? D. What is a satellite?
It’s only 4 hours flying time from Sydney, but a world away. What better place to rest than a country where the only place people hurry is on the football field and things are done in “Fiji time”?
Viti Levu – Great Fiji – is the largest island. Here you’ll find the capital Suva and the international airport at Nadi. On the other hand, Vatoa, is a tiny island in the farthest part of Fiji. Then there are 331 other islands, many of them with places to stay.
With less than a million people living on islands, you’ll never feel crowded. And with a climate(气候) that changes only for five degrees between seasons, there’s never a bad time to come.
From cities to villages, from mountains to beaches, from water sports to wooden artworks, Fiji can give you more adventures and special experiences than you could find almost anywhere in the world.
Whenever you come, wherever you go, you’re sure to see some unforgettable events. From war dances to religious(宗教的) songs. From market days to religious days. It’s not just staged for tourists; it’s still a part of everyday life in Fiji. And any one of us can enjoy Fiji’s spirit by being part of the traditional(传统的) sharing of yaqona, a drink made from the root of a Fiji plant.
So why not join us for the experience of a life-time?
1. Where is the international airport of Fiji?
A. In Suva. B. In Sydney.
C. On the island of Vatoa. D. On the island of Viti Levu.
2. What does the text tell us about Fijian people?
A. They invented “Fiji time” for visitors.
B. They stick to a traditional way of life.
C. They like to travel from place to place. D. They love taking adventures abroad.
3. One of the things that make Fiji a tourist attraction is _______.
A. it’s comfortable hotels B. its good weather all year round
C. its exciting football matches D. its religious beliefs
4. Where can we most probably read this text?
A. In a personal diary. B. In a science report.
C. In a travel magazine. D. In a geography textbook.
Brian arrived at the San Francisco airport two hours before the flight to Paris. He was wearing three shirts, a jacket, two pairs of socks, a pair of shorts, and two pairs of jeans. He was carrying one small backpack, which was very full, but he didn’t have any other luggage. Brian needed to meet a man named Tony before he checked in for his flight. He found Tony near the Air France counter. Tony gave him a round-trip ticket and a small package.
“Give this package to Jean-Paul at the airport in Paris. He will have a sign with your name on it. I think you can find him easily ,” Tony said, ”You don’t have any luggage, right?”
“Only this backpack,” Brian answered. ”You said I could bring one carry-on bag. ”
“That’s right. One carry-on bag is fine. Have a good trip. ”
“Thanks.”
Is Brian a criminal(罪犯)? Not at all. He is an air-courier. And he paid only $110 for the round-trip ticket to Paris. Air couriers get cheap airline tickets because they take important packages and papers to foreign countries. Businesses sometimes need to get packages and papers to people in foreign countries by the next day. Often, the only way they can do this is to use an air-courier company. It is not cheap for a business to send a package with an air courier, but it is quick.
Every year about 80,000 people worldwide travel as air couriers. The number of tickets for courier travel is growing by about 10 percent a year. However, air-courier travel isn’t for everyone. But if you have very little money, can be flexible(灵活的) about your travel plans, and don’t mind wearing the same clothes for a week, it can be a great way to take a vacation!
1. Why was Brian wearing so many clothes for his travel?
A. Because they were the uniforms for air couriers.
B. Because that made him easier to be recognized.
C. Because his backpack had no room his clothes.
D. Because he did not have any luggage with him
2. An air courier is a person who_________
A . manages a business company in foreign countries
B. organizes international flights for tourists
C. travels around the world with cheap tickets
D delivers papers and packages to foreign countries.
3. Business choose the air-courier service because_____.
A. it costs less B. it is flexible C. it saves time D. it grows fast
4. The author of the text mainly______.
A. describes the activities of a law-breaker B. suggests an ideal way to travel
C. argues against the air-courier travel D. tells us about a developing business
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