India has many festivals, with some celebrations that last for weeks. However, none of them come even close to Holi, India’s most colorful and fun festival. Celebrated on the day following the full moon, this year’s festival happens to be on March 19th.
As with most Indian festivals, this one also has many different folk stories. Most of them center around the success of good over evil. The most popular one is about a king, who hates his son Prahlada for loving the creator of the Universe—Lord Vishnu. When every attempt to stop him fails, his sister, Holika believed to be immune(免疫的) to fire, joins in the effort by inviting the young boy to sit with her inside a huge fire. Helped by the power of Lord Vishnu, Prahlada escapes safely, while the evil Holika is burned to death. To remember this event, huge outdoor fires are lit in the night before Holi in order to clean the air of evil spirits and to celebrate the death of the evil.
So what’s so great about this day? While there are some fun parades(游行) and folk songs and dance performances, the most fun of all is walking to the streets and splashing(泼洒) people with water guns and dry colors and even covering them with entire buckets of colored water. On this day, everybody is fair game, no matter how old or how young.
At about midday, the splashing comes to an end and people living close to oceans or rivers usually take a bath in the water to clean themselves before going home to a delicious home-made big dinner and a well-deserved short sleep, following this full day of fun and activities.Why does the king dislike his son Prahlada?
| A．Because Prahlada doesn’t love him. |
| B．Because Prahlada is rude to Holika. |
| C．Because Prahlada loves Lord Vishnu. |
| D．Because Prahlada concentrates on his own success. |
Prahlada gets out of danger __________.
| A．with the help of Lord Vishnu |
| B．because of his good luck |
| C．by beating his aunt Holika |
| D．using his amazing talent |
The underlined phrase “fair game” in Paragraph 3 refers to a person who __________.
| A．fights against others fairly |
| B．enjoys splashing people |
| C．plays a trick on others |
| D．is the aim of splashing water |
After the fun activities, people living close to oceans or rivers often take a bath because __________.
| A．they have got dirty with dry colors and colored water |
| B．going home with colored water means bad luck |
| C．they believe clean water will bring good luck |
| D．taking a bath shows their true love for Lord Vishnu |
Scientists in Mexico have just begun a new study of one of the world’s biggest pyramids: the Pyramid of the Sun, north of Mexico City. They’re putting lots of small, high-tech machines under the pyramid to try to unlock some of its secrets. For thousands of years, people have tried to uncover the secrets of the pyramids.
The people who built the pyramids made lots of secret doors and rooms to stop robbers from finding the treasures inside. However, there always have been some smart thieves in history. Now, almost all of Egypt’s pyramids have been robbed, including the Great Pyramid of Khufu, which is the largest pyramid in the world. It is the only one of the ancient wonders of the world that is still standing.
In AD 820, an Arab king named Abdullah AL Manum got a group of workers to dig their way into the Great Pyramid and have a look. Inside the pyramid, they found three rooms—the Queen’s Chamber, the Grand Gallery and the King’s Chamber. But to their surprise, the men didn’t find the treasures they wanted. The Queen’s and King’s Chambers were both empty! Where were the King’s mummy and his treasures? Had someone already taken them away? The huge stone doors at the pyramid’s entrance were still closed when AL Manum’s men went inside. How had the thieves got in and out?
Since then, many people have gone inside the Great Pyramid to have a look or to try to take things. But still, no other chambers or walkways have been found.
In 2002, an American team made the most recent visit to the Great Pyramid. Scientists sent a robot into the pyramid, but they only found a mysterious locked stone door. The first two paragraphs were written to show that ____.
| A．ancient Egyptian emperors were cruel |
| B．the Pyramid of the Sun is an unusual historic building |
| C．construction workers led a hard life in ancient Egypt |
| D．the secrets of the pyramids remain to be uncovered |
What is the purpose of making some secret doors to the pyramids? _______.
| A．To try to unlock some of its secrets |
| B．To stop robbers from finding the treasures inside |
| C．To refuse some visitors all over the world into it |
| D．To tell the truth to the people in the future |
Which of the following is NOT true to the Great Pyramid of Khufu? ______.
| A．It is the largest pyramid in the world. |
| B．It is the only one of the ancient wonders that is still standing. |
| C．Abdullah AL Manum took the King’s mummy and his treasures away |
| D．Scientists found a mysterious locked stone door to the Great Pyramid |
What would be the best title for the text?
| A．The Pyramid of the Sun |
| B．The Great Pyramid of Khufu |
| C．A Mysterious Locked Stone Door |
| D．Unlocking the Doors of History of the Pyramid |
“Yes, I’ll be ready at nine in the morning. Goodbye, dear, and thanks again.” It had not been an easy telephone call for Mrs. Robson to make. Her daughter had been very kind, of course, and had immediately agreed to pick her up and drive her to the station, but Mrs. Robson hated to admit that she needed help. Since her husband died ten years ago, she had prided herself on her independence. She had continued to live in their little house, alone.
This evening, however, she was standing at her living-room window, staring out at the SOLD notice in the small front garden. Her feelings were mixed. Of course, she was sad at the thought of leaving the house, as it was full of so many memories. But at the same time she was looking forward to spending her last years near the sea, back in the little seaside town where she had been born. With the money from the sale of the house, she had bought a little flat there. She turned from the living room window, and looked round at the room. One or two pieces of furniture remained, covered with sheet. All her pictures had been taken from the walls. There was a small fish tank, with two goldfish in it. When asked why, her husband used to say: “It’s nice to have something alive in the room.” Since he had passed away, she had always kept some goldfish, and always had “something alive in the room”.
The next morning, as her train was pulling out of the station, Mrs. Robson called to her daughter, “Kate, you won’t forget to collect the goldfish, will you? The children will love them. It’s…”
“I know,” Kate interrupted gently. “It’s nice to have something alive in the room.” But in the little house, the two goldfish had stopped their circling. They were floating on the water, in the room with silent walls.According to the passage, we know that Mrs. Robson ________.
| A．was a person who liked to be alone |
| B．was not able to help herself |
| C．did not like asking people for help |
| D．wanted to live without her husband |
On her last night in the house, Mrs. Robson was feeling __________.
| A．a bit sad but not totally unhappy |
| B．happy but unable to help herself |
| C．proud and sad |
| D．in poor spirits |
Mrs. Robson was going to __________.
| A．be in hospital | B．live with her daughter |
| C．meet her husband | D．live where she was born |
The little house meant a lot to Mrs. Robson because________.
| A．it was full of pets and plants |
| B．many friends and relatives visited it |
| C．it had a long and unforgettable history |
| D．an important part of her life was spent there |
The parents of a troubled teen may feel unsure as to whom to turn to in order to find help for their child. They may feel as if they have exhausted all of their options, and sometimes they are on the verge of giving up. But there is hope. Schools for troubled teens offer discipline and in some cases, drug treatment programs that can provide important life skills, and more importantly, a fresh start.
The following is a list of the most effective types of schools for troubled teens. Not every facility is a match for every child, but by knowing the differences between them, parents can make a better educated decision about where to send their teenager.
Boarding Schools
When a child is unable to deal with the relative freedom of a standard school day, boarding schools might be a good choice. At boarding schools, the child lives in a dorm setting, where almost every minute of the day is scheduled by school administrators.
Treatment Centers
When a teenager has an addiction to drugs or alcohol, a residential center that specializes in young people is an outstanding way to help them break the cycle of addiction. Treatment centers feature individual and group counseling to help identify the root causes of the drug problem and help develop the life skills needed to stay clean when the program is over.
Wilderness Programs
Designed to help improve the discipline and self-reliance of the child, wilderness programs send kids back to nature. By placing them in a foreign and sometimes uncomfortable setting, wilderness programs hope to improve children’s behavior. Programs generally include hikes, exercise programs and team building exercises.
Boot Camps
Boot camps are the most extreme style of school for troubled teens. These facilities are modeled after actual military boot camps, where the individual must get into shape, work as part of a team, and follow a long, hard set of rules and regulations. However, boot camps might not be the best choice for a teen with a drug addiction.Who would be the intended readers of the passage?
| A．Teachers. | B．Parents. | C．Students. | D．Experts. |
As the author suggests, schools for troubled teens______.
| A．can be a good choice for some desperate parents |
| B．can completely help and change troubled teens |
| C．are becoming popular with teens in trouble |
| D．care more about discipline than life skills |
According to the passage, boarding schools_____.
| A．provide children with more freedom |
| B．have their students’ time managed carefully |
| C．pay much attention to team building exercises |
| D．can make children feel safer |
What’s the purpose of this passage?
| A．To introduce schools for troubled teens. |
| B．To show some problems of troubled teens. |
| C．To teach parents how to educate their children. |
| D．To remind parents to care for their children. |
I was parked in front of the mall wiping off my car．I had just come from the car wash and was waiting for my wife to get out of work．
Coming my way from across the parking lot was what society would consider a bum．From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no money．There are times when you feel generous but there are other times that you just don't want to be bothered．This was one of those “don't want to be bothered times”．
“ I hope he doesn't ask me for any money,” I thought．
He didn't．He came and sat on the edge of the pavement in front of the bus stop but he didn't
look like he could have enough money to even ride the bus．After a few minutes he spoke．
“That's a very pretty car,” he said．
He was in rags but he had an air of dignity around him．His badly-grown blond beard kept more than his face warm．
I said, “thanks,” and continued wiping off my car．He sat there quietly as I worked．The expected plea（乞求） for money never came．As the silence between us widened, something inside said, “ask him if he needs any help．” I was sure that he would say “yes” but I held true to the inner voice．
“Do you need any help?” I asked．
He answered in three simple words that I shall never forget．We often look for wisdom in great men and women．We expect it from those of higher learning and achievements．I expected nothing but an outstretched dirty hand．He spoke the three words that shook me．
“Don't we all?” he said．Why did the writer parked his car before the mall?
| A．Because he wanted to pick up his wife． |
| B．Because he wanted to show off his car． |
| C．Because he wanted to wipe off his car． |
| D．Because he wanted to do some shopping． |
Which has the closest meaning to the underlined word "bum" in Paragraph 2?
| A．dustman | B．driver | C．beggar | D．robber |
Which is the best title for this text?
| A．A good husband | B．Didn't he need help? |
| C．Don't we all? | D．One should be generous |
American Watersports Tuesday-Saturday
Located on the beach of the Sea Gardens Beach Resort, there are fun things to rent for the whole family. They offer rentals for kayaks, jet skis, and even parasail! Enjoy the water up-close or from a bird’s eye view! No matter what activity you’re enjoying, be sure to protect yourself and your family from the sun’s powerful rays and apply plenty of sun block!
15th Street Boat Company Monday-Saturday
15th Street Boat Company offers rental boats of all kinds. They’re sure to have what you are looking for, whether it’s a small boat for a quick and simple outing or an extravagant boat with comfortable seats with a stereo and high tech navigation. You can rent a boat for half a day or a couple of days, or even weeks at a time. If you want it, they’ve got it. It’s fun for everyone!
Coconut’s Watersports 9am-5pm Monday through Sunday
Coconut’s Watersports is open 7 days a week for your convenience and offers tons of water fun for the whole family. Jet Ski activities last 30 minutes or 1 hour and can make stops along the way. You must be at least 14 years of age to ride alone and can be as young as 3 to ride along with an adult. Everybody is required to wear a life jacket and a license is required to operate the Jet Ski. Bathing suits and shorts are recommended.
Jet Ski Tours of Miami Thursday-Sunday 10am-7pm
Jet Ski Tours of Miami includes onsite parking, indoor restrooms, lockers, and life jackets for participants. You may choose a one or two tour and each Jet Ski can hold up to 3 people. You must be at least 18 years old in order to ride. As long as you are accompanied by an adult, there is no age limitation for any passenger. There is a restaurant nearby to eat at. The tour visits 6 different islands and passes by Bayside and Hard Rock. You may even catch a glimpse of dolphins or a manatee resting in these fabulous Florida waters.You should especially protect yourself from sun burnt while visiting______.
| A．Jet Ski Tours of Miami | B．Coconut’s Watersports |
| C．15th Street Boat Company | D．American Watersports |
Which of the following can help you enjoy sailing a boat?
| A．Go to the Sea Gardens Beach Resort. |
| B．Visit 15th Street Boat Company. |
| C．Choose Jet Ski Tours of Miami. |
| D．Visit Coconut’s Watersports. |
What’s a necessary requirement to ride alone in the Jet Ski activities?
| A．One must be at least 14 years old. |
| B．One must wear bathing suits and shorts. |
| C．One apply plenty of sun block. |
| D．One must stay with parents. |
What will you do to satisfy your son’s curiously about marine animals?
| A．You would like to rent a boat to ride with him. |
| B．You prefer a luxury boat with comfortable seats with a stereo. |
| C．You’d like to choose American Watersports. |
| D．You prefer the tour to Bayside and Hard Rock. |
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