The Wife-carrying World Championship has been celebrated in a small town in central Finland since 1992. In 1992, the people of the town decided to restart some long-forgotten traditions. Back in the late 1800s, there was a robber called Rosvo-Ronkainen in that area. He was said to only accept men as members of his gang who proved their worth in challenges. At that time, it was also a common practice to steal women from neighboring villages.
This event is becoming increasingly popular. A large number of competitors, people, and journalists from Finland to Canada attend the Wife-carrying World Championship every year.
The event is famous for its warm and humorous atmosphere. The Wife-carrying World Championship is held on a 253.3 meters long official track. The track has two dry obstacles (障碍物）and a water obstacle, about a meter deep.
There are a few basic rules and the winner is the couple who complete the course in the shortest time. The wife to be carried may be your own, or your neighbor’s. The minimum weight of the wife to be carried is 49 kg. If she is less than 49kg, the wife will be given a heavy bag to carry. Each time a competitor drops his wife, that couple will be fined 15 seconds.
Alongside with the Wife-carrying World Championship, there is also a team competition. The distance is the same but three men in the team carry the wife in turns. At the exchange point the carrier has to drink official “wife-carrying drink”. Then he may continue the race. A special prize is awarded to the team with the best costumes.
While the Wife-carrying World Championship is being held, there are bands playing music, a wife-carrying dance and other forms of entertainment. The Wife-carrying World Championship is famous because ________.
| A．it is held on a 253.3 meters long official track |
| B．many competitors take part in it |
| C．it has a pleasant atmosphere |
| D．the winner will be awarded a lot of money |
If a husband drops his wife 3 times in the competition, he will be fined ________.
| A．15 seconds | B．30 seconds | C．45 seconds | D．60 seconds |
Compared with the Wife-carrying World Championship, the team competition ________.
| A．is more exciting | B．has a special prize |
| C．has a different track | D．has three teams altogether |
The passage is written mainly to ________.
| A．warn people that the competition is dangerous. |
| B．attract more visitors to the Wife-carrying World Championship. |
| C．introduce how the Wife-carrying World Championship has become popular. |
| D．tell us something about the Wife-carrying World Championship. |
Peanuts to This
Proudly reading my words，I glanced around the room，only to find my classmates bearing big smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes.Confused，I glanced toward my stonefaced teacher.Having no choice，I slowly raised the report I had slaved over，hoping to hide myself.“What could be causing everyone to act this way？”
Quickly，I flashed back to the day Miss Lancelot gave me the task.This was the first real task I received in my new school.It seemed simple：go on the Internet and find information about a man named George Washington.Since my idea of history came from an ancient teacher in my home country，I had never heard of that name before.As I searched the name of this fellow，it became evident that there were two people bearing the same name who looked completely different！One invented hundreds of uses for peanuts，while the other led some sort of army across America.I stared at the screen，wondering which one my teacher meant.I called my grandfather for a golden piece of advice：flip(掷) a coin.Heads—the commander，and tails—the peanut guy.Ah！Tails，my report would be about the great man who invented peanut butter，George Washington Carver.
Weeks later，standing before this unfriendly mass，I was totally lost.Oh well，I lowered the paper and sat down at my desk，burning to find out what I had done wrong.As a classmate began his report，it all became clear，“My report is on George Washington，the man who started the American Revolution.”The whole world became quiet！How could I know that she meant that George Washington?
Obviously，my grade was awful.Heartbroken but fearless，I decided to turn this around.I talked to Miss Lancelot，but she insisted：No redos；no new grade.I felt that the punishment was not justified，and I believed I deserved a second chance.Consequently，I threw myself heartily into my work for the rest of the school year.Ten months later，that chance unfolded as I found myself sitting in the headmaster’s office with my grandfather，now having an entirely different conversation.I smiled and flashed back to the embarrassing moment at the beginning of the year as the headmaster informed me of my option to skip the sixth grade.Justice is sweet！ (2012·北京，B)What did the author’s classmates think about his report?
| A．Controversial. | B．Ridiculous. |
| C．Boring. | D．Puzzling. |
Why was the author confused about the task?
| A．He was unfamiliar with American history. |
| B．He followed the advice and flipped a coin. |
| C．He forgot his teacher’s instruction. |
| D．He was new at the school. |
The underlined word “burning” in Para.3 probably means “________”．
| A．annoyed | B．ashamed |
| C．ready | D．eager |
In the end，the author turned things around ________.
| A．by redoing his task |
| B．through his own efforts |
| C．with the help of his grandfather |
| D．under the guidance of his headmaster |
Who give us life，raise us and are our constant support and wellwishers？Our mothers.That’s why millions of people across the world take Mother’s Day as an opportunity to express thanks and send best wishes to their moms.
However，the celebration of Mother’s Day is not the recent thing that many believe it to be.It was the ancient Greeks who started the tradition by celebrating their annual spring festival in honor of Rhea，the mother of many gods and goddesses.
Later，in the 1600s，Mothering Sunday came to be celebrated in England.On the fourth Sunday of Lent (大斋期)，children brought flowers and special fruitcakes to show their respect for their mothers.It may be the root of the modern Mother’s Day.
Thanks to the great efforts of Julia Ward Howe and Anna Jarvis，Mother’s Day became an official festival in the US.It is celebrated on the second Sunday in May.Later，many countries began to celebrate this day as Mother’s Day.
Today，Mother’s Day is an international festival honoring mothers.It is celebrated all over the world in different ways.In Western countries，the most common way is to treat mothers with breakfast in bed.Kids often allow their mothers to sleep till late in the morning while they prepare her favorite breakfast with their fathers.Some also make handmade gifts or buy beautiful carnations (康乃馨)．It is the day when you acknowledge your mothers contribution in your life and pay a tribute (礼品) to her，often with flowers and gifts.It complements Father’s Day，the celebration honoring fathers.
Today，Mother’s Day is a day celebrated on various days in many places around the world.Why do people across the world celebrate Mother’s Day?
| A．Because they want to express thanks and send best wishes to their mothers. |
| B．Because they want to express thanks and send best wishes to Rhea. |
| C．Because Mother’s Day is an official festival in the US. |
| D．Because Mother’s Day is an international festival. |
The modern Mother’s Day came from________.
| A．Greece | B．England |
| C．America | D．China |
From the passage we can learn that________.
| A．Rhea is the mother of many gods and goddesses of England |
| B．many people wrongly believe Mother’s Day has a short history |
| C．in America Mother’s day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent |
| D．on Mother’s day fathers have to get up early to prepare breakfast |
The passage mainly wants to tell us________.
| A．how to celebrate Mother’s day |
| B．what to do on Mother’s day |
| C．the historical change of Mother’s day |
| D．the meaning of Mother’s day |
Japan Earthquake and Tsunami(海啸)：How to Help
For readers interested in contributing to help victims of the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan and the Pacific region，here is a list of contact information and links for some agencies that plan to provide relief.
THE JAPAN CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE
The Japan Center for International Exchange has set up the Japan NGO Earthquake Relief and Recovery Fund.Half of the money raised will go to support six Japanese NGOs currently at work in the disaster area and half will be retained to support the longer term recovery.
AMERICAN RED CROSS
Red Cross officials say donors can text REDCROSS to 90999 and a $10 donation will automatically be charged to donors’ phone bill，or donations can be made directly on its Web site.
B’NAI B’RITH INTERNATIONAL
To help the victims of the Japan earthquake and tsunami，donate online on the group’s secure Web site.
Or，by mail to：B’nai B’rith International Disaster Relief Fund，Attn：Japan Earthquake,2020 K Street，NW,7th Floor，Washington，D.C.,20006.
Or by phone：8005739057
CARE
CARE is one of the world’s largest private international humanitarian organizations.Their offices in Asia are on high alert(警戒) and have ensured that staff are informed of the tsunami warnings and other related developments.(Updated information on CARE’s work in Japan is available here.)
GLOBALGIVING.ORG
GlobalGiving is working with International Medical Corps，Save the Children，and other organizations on the ground to disburse(支付) funds to organizations providing relief and emergency services to victims of the earthquake and tsunami.Donors can text JAPAN to 50555 to give$10，and larger donations can be submitted on GlobalGiving’s Web site.
THE SALVATION ARMY
The Salvation Army has been providing food and shelter to Tokyo commuters(每日往返上班者) who were stranded when public transportation was interrupted by the earthquake.They are to send a team to Sendai，a city about 250 miles away from Tokyo，to assess the situation there.Text JAPAN or QUAKE to 80888 to make a $10 donation.(Make sure to respond “YES” to the thankyou message you receive.) Donations can also be made on the organization’s Web site or by calling 1800SALARMY.If you want to make donations to the victims by phone，you can text REDCROSS to ________.
| A．90999 | B．80888 |
| C．50555 | D．20006 |
What do we know about CARE from the text?
| A．It opened a Person Finder Page online. |
| B．It is the world’s largest humanitarian organization. |
| C．It raised much money to support six Japanese NGOs. |
| D．It warned its staff in Asia of the danger of tsunami. |
Which group can provide food and shelter?
| A．THE SALVATION ARMY. |
| B．GLOBALGIVING.ORG. |
| C．B’NAI B’RITH INTERNATIONAL. |
| D．AMERICAN RED CROSS. |
The underlined word “stranded” in the last paragraph can be replaced by “________”．
| A．abandoned | B．seperated |
| C．crashed | D．delayed |
Jack Benny was one of the most famous names in show business.He was born in Chicago，Illinois，on February 14th,1894.His parents，Meyer and Emma Kubelsky，were religious Jews.They had moved to the United States from Eastern Europe.Benny was a quiet boy.For much of the time，his parents were busy working in his father’s store.As a child，Benny learned to play the violin.After finishing his school，he joined the Navy.He continued using his violin to perform for sailors.In one show he was chosen more for his funny jokes than for his skill with the violin.That experience made him believe that his future job was a comedian.
Benny developed a show personality that had all the qualities people dislike.He was known for being so stingy—he refused to spend any money unless forced to do so.On his shows Benny often spoke of his appearance，especially his baby blue eyes.As he grew older，he always claimed to be 39 years old.Benny rarely made jokes that hurt other people.Instead，he would let the other actors on the show tell jokes about him.
In real life，he was very giving and he was a person people liked having as their employer.Benny entered the new media of television in 1950.Five years later，he dropped his radio programme to spend more time developing his television show.At first his appearances on television were rare.By 1960 the Benny Show was a weekly television programme.It continued until 1965.Benny appeared in about twenty films during his life.A few became popular.But most were not.In 1963 Benny returned to Broadway for the first time since 1931.
Benny received many awards during his lifetime.Perhaps the one honour that pleased him most was that his hometown of Waukeegan named a school for him.This was a special honour for a man who had never finished high school.
Benny continued to perform.He died of cancer in 1974.At his funeral his friend Bob Hope said，“Jack Benny was stingy to the end.He gave us only eighty years.”Benny was determined to be a comedian after he ______.
| A．left high school |
| B．joined the Navy |
| C．performed in a show for the sailors |
| D．left the Navy for Broadway |
The underlined word “stingy” in Paragraph 2 can be replaced by “________”．
| A．clever | B．mean |
| C．outgoing | D．hardworking |
According to the text，on Benny’s shows，he ________.
| A．developed a good personality |
| B．played the violin skillfully |
| C．often referred to his appearance |
| D．said funny things that hurt others |
Which of the following statements is TRUE about Benny?
| A．He did a good job in show business. |
| B．His first appearance on TV was very successful. |
| C．Most of his films became wellknown to Americans. |
| D．He treated all his awards as nothing. |
The way people hold to the belief that a funfilled，painfree life equals happiness actually reduces their chances of ever attaining real happiness.If fun and pleasure are equal to happiness，then pain must be equal to unhappiness.But in fact，the opposite is true.More often than not，things that lead to happiness involve some pain.
As a result，many people avoid the very attempts that are the source of true happiness.They fear the pain inevitably (不可避免地) brought by such things as marriage，raising children，professional achievement，religious commitment and selfimprovement.
Ask a bachelor (单身汉) why he resists marriage even though he finds dating to be less and less satisfying.If he is honest，he will tell you that he is afraid of making a commitment.Certainly，commitment is quite painful.The single life is filled with fun，adventure，and excitement.Marriage has such moments，but they are not its most distinguishing (显著的) features.
Couples with infant (婴儿) children are lucky to get a whole night’s sleep or a threeday vacation.I don’t know any parent who would choose the word fun to describe raising children.But couples who decide not to have children never know the joys of watching a child grow up or of playing with a grandchild.
Understanding and accepting that true happiness has nothing to do with fun is one of the most liberating realizations.It liberates time：now we can devote more hours to activities that can genuinely increase our happiness.It liberates money：buying that new car or those fancy clothes that will do nothing to increase our happiness now seems pointless.And it liberates us from envy：we now understand that all those who are always having so much fun actually may not be happy at all.According to the author，a bachelor doesn’t want to marry mainly because________.
| A．he is unwilling to take family responsibilities |
| B．he believes that life will be more cheerful if he remains single |
| C．he finds more fun in dating than in marriage |
| D．he fears it will put an end to all his fun adventure and excitement |
Raising children，in the author’s opinion，is________.
| A．a moral duty |
| B．a thankless job |
| C．a rewarding task |
| D．a source of inevitable pain |
To understand what true happiness is one must________.
| A．have as much fun as possible during one’s lifetime |
| B．make every effort to liberate oneself from pain |
| C．put up with pain under all circumstances |
| D．be able to distinguish happiness from fun |
What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．Happiness often goes hand in hand with pain. |
| B．One must know how to attain happiness. |
| C．It is important to make commitments. |
| D．It is pain that leads to happiness. |
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