初中英语阅读理解

阅读下面短文，根据短文内容完成句子。

Dogs are the best pets of humans. They come in all sizes. Some dogs are as small as a football, and others are as tall as a desk. Dogs’ fur(毛) is different, too. It can be long and soft, or smooth and hard. People don’t mind the kind of fur, because all dogs are good to hug.

Dogs need to be taken care of. Short-haired dogs are the easiest to look after. But all dogs need a bath once in a while. Giving a dog a bath is a lot of fun. After you give a bath to your dog, it shakes the water off its body. Be careful, or you will get wet!

Dogs like to make their owners(主人) happy, so dogs are easy to train. They can follow simple orders.

Dogs are really amazing animals. Some dogs pull sleds(雪橇) across icy places. Some save people who fall into the river. Other dogs do tricks(表演绝技) in movies. A dog has even flown in a rocket(火箭) to space.

Why not keep a dog as a pet?

(1). Some dogs are ________ a football, and others are as tall as a desk.

(2). People don’t mind the kind of dogs’ fur, because ________.

(3). When you finish giving a bath to your dog, it ________ its body.

(4). Dogs like to make their owners happy, so dogs ________ to train.

(5). The writer advises people to ________ as a pet.

根据对话内容，从下面选择恰当的句子将对话补充完整（选项中有两项是多余的）。

A: Hey, Daming! How was your holiday?

B: ___(1)___ I went to Shenzhen.

A: ___(2)___

B: Well, it’s on the coast near Hong Kong. It was a small village many years ago, but today it’s a very big city.

A: ___(3)___

B: Yes, it’s a new city.

A: ___(4)____

B: It’s over ten million, I think. That’s larger than the population of many other cities in China. Its streets are much wider and cleaner too.

A: I’d like to go there one day.

B: ____(5)___ It’s taller than many other buildings in Shenzhen.

A．	When did you go there?
B．	Remember to visit the Diwang Tower.
C．	Welcome back to school!
D．	Where’s Shenzhen?
E．	Pretty good!
F．	So it’s a newer city than Hong Kong?
G．	What’s the population of Shenzhen?

Tea and coffee are two of the most popular drinks in the world. However, people usually like one more than the other. These drinks also have very different uses.

Tea drinking started in China over 4,000 years ago. Tea is made from leaves. These days, some people drink tea for health, using it to help with stress(压力) or losing weight. However, most people in tea-drinking countries think of tea as more than just a healthy drink. In fact, tea drinking in some countries is a part of the culture. In Turkey(土耳其), tea is always there when people meet. Whether in someone’s home or a company, tea is always offered as a way of welcoming. In the UK, homes and offices usually have tea time. Tea and other dishes are served at tea time in the afternoon. It is a way of relaxing with friends or co-workers(同事).

Coffee came much later than tea, just over 1,000 years ago. Coffee is made from beans. Something in the coffee beans makes a person feel active. Most people do not drink coffee to relax. Instead, they drink coffee to get going. Many people drink coffee in the morning to help them wake up. Others will also drink coffee during short breaks in the afternoon to keep going through the working day. Some people may visit coffee shops just to meet and talk with friends. However, many people in coffee shops drink coffee while working on their computers.

Is tea or coffee more common in your country? Between the two, which do you like to drink more?

(1). Where did tea drinking start?

A．

In Japan.

B．

In China.

C．

In Turkey.

D．

In the U

E．

(2). We can learn from Paragraph 2 that people in the UK ________.

A．	drink tea to get fat	B．	offer tea to say goodbye
C．	think of tea as a bad drink	D．	have tea to relax themselves

(3). What is coffee made from?

A．

Leaves.

B．

Sugar.

C．

Dishes.

D．

Beans.

(4). Which of the following is NOT true according to Paragraph 3?

A．	Coffee came much earlier than tea.
B．	Many people drink coffee to wake up.
C．	Many people work on their computers in coffee shops.
D．	Some people meet and talk with friends in coffee shops.

(5). What is the best title of the passage?

A．	The Smells of Tea and Coffee	B．	The Prices of Tea and Coffee
C．	The Different Cultures of Tea and Coffee	D．	The Different Ways of Making Tea and Coffee

People in the office usually sit for most of the day when they work. But this is bad for a person’s health. When people sit for too long every day, they don’t move very much. So it is easy to start getting fat. Sitting too long is also bad for their work because it makes them want to sleep. When this happens, people may make more mistakes in their work or spend more time finishing their work. Companies need workers to be healthy, so how do they fix the problem?

Some companies have different types of desks to help their workers. The first type of desk is the standing desk. The desk can be taller when a person wants to stand. It can also be shorter when the person wants to sit. Another type of desk is the walking desk. This desk is made so that a person can work while walking at the same time.

Workers in the companies like the different types of desks very much. They think these desks are quite useful.

(1). When people in the office work, they usually ________.

A．

sit

B．

move

C．

run

D．

sing

(2). What does the word “fix” mean in Paragraph 1?

A．

Cause.

B．

Solve.

C．

Bring.

D．

Discuss.

(3). How many types of desks are mentioned in Paragraph 2?

A．

2.

B．

3.

C．

4.

D．

5.

(4). What do the workers think of the different types of desks?

A．

They are cheap.

B．

They are traditional.

C．

They are useful.

D．

They are expensive.

(5). The purpose of the passage is to ________.

A．	tell us the reasons for sitting	B．	show the advantages of standing
C．	introduce desks that help people work better	D．	compare companies that provide different jobs

Steve is James and John’s big brother. One day, when their mum left for work, James and John started crying. They didn’t want her to leave. Steve tried to stop them crying and said, “Let’s play hide-and-seek (捉迷藏). You hide and I’ll count to ten. Then I’ll try to find you.” Steve found James under a chair and John behind a door. They played over and over again. Each time, the two boys hid in the same places. Finally, Steve felt too bored with the game. “Let’s take the dog for a walk,” he said.

When Steve walked the dog, he found James and John were running in the street. He thought it was so dangerous. Then he had an idea. “Anyone who walks back to the house with me can have some snacks!” Steve shouted.

At home, the boys ate some cookies and got ready for a sleep. James and John wanted a story. Steve told them the story about the little red hen. When their mum returned home, she was pleased to find the three sleeping boys.

(1). James and John started ________ when their mum left home.

A．

crying

B．

running

C．

reading

D．

sleeping

(2). Where did James hide during the game?

A．

Under a table.

B．

Under a chair.

C．

Behind a door.

D．

Behind a box.

(3). Why did Steve feel bored with the game?

A．	Because he was not good at it.	B．	Because he didn’t know where to hide.
C．	Because his brothers made the room dirty.	D．	Because his brothers always hid in the same places.

(3). What were James and John doing when Steve walked the dog?

A．

Staying in the house.

B．

Shouting at Steve.

C．

Running in the street.

D．

Eating some snacks.

(4). How did their mum feel when she found the sleeping boys?

A．

Angry.

B．

Pleased.

C．

Afraid.

D．

Sad.

Most people agree that honesty is a good thing. But does Mother Nature agree? Animals can’t talk, but can they lie with their bodies and behavior? Animal experts may not call it lying, but they do agree that many animals behave dishonestly to fool other animals. Dishonesty often helps them survive（生存）.

Many kinds of birds are very successful at fooling other animals. A bird called the plover sometimes pretends （假装） to be hurt in order to protect its young. When an enemy gets close to its nest, the plover pretends to have a broken wing. The enemy follows the “hurt” adult, leaving the baby birds safe.

Another kind of bird, the scrub jay, buries （埋） its food so it always has something to eat. Scrub jays also steal food. They watch where others bury their food and steal it. But clever scrub jays seem to know when others are watching them. So they get back later, unbury the food, and bury it again somewhere else.

Chimpanzees can also be sneaky. After a fight, the losing chimpanzee will give its hand to the other. When the winning chimpanzee puts out its hand, too, the chimpanzees are friendly again. But an animal expert once saw a losing chimpanzee take the winner’s hand and start fighting again. When chimpanzees find food, it’s natural for them to cry out. Then other chimpanzees come running. But some clever chimpanzees learn to cry very softly when they find food. That way, other chimpanzees don’t hear them, and they don’t need to share the food.

(1). Why does the plover pretend to be hurt?

A．

To show its friendliness.

B．

To save its young.

C．

To catch the enemy.

(2). What do clever scrub jays do with their food?

A．

They bury the food deep.

B．

They watch the food.

C．

They bury the food twice.

(3). What will the chimpanzee probably do after crying softly?

A．	It will eat all the food it finds.
B．	It will share the food with others.
C．	It will fight again with the winner.

(4). According to Paragraph 4, in which picture can we find a sneaky animal?

A．

B．

C．

(5). What is the best title of the passage?

A．

Do animals lie?

B．

Honesty or dishonesty?

C．

How do animals protect lives?

a Teens help students in remote areas Luo, Chinese university student, only turned 18 in January, but he’s already made a big difference to the lives of many poor young people living in China’s remote（偏远的）areas. His online English lessons have offered them a chance to know a world they could only imagine before. Many have achieved university dreams.

b Luban Lock: magic Chinese puzzle 2,000 years ago, a famous Chinese carpenter named Luban created a magic Chinese puzzle called “Luban Lock”, which he used to test how smart his son was. Watch as Rachel learns to make this Chinese puzzle and tries to solve it! Do you want to have a try?

c First picture of the black hole The first picture of the huge black hole at the heart of the Way was shown on Thursday, thanks to the Thursday, thanks to the efforts of astronomers（天文学家）from around the world, including17 from China. Shen Zhiqiang says that the future purpose of the Event Horizon Telescope（EHT）is to get video pictures of the black hole at the center of the Milky Way.

d China’s healthcare China has made progress in public health over the past years. In 1949, average life expectancy（平均寿命）was 35. It reached nearly 77 in 2019, much higher than the world average of 72. In 1949, there were just 3, 670 medical and health organizations in the whole country. The number increased to nearly 1 million at the end of 2018. Health insurance（保险）has also benefited over 95 percent of the population.

(1). What did Luo do for the young people in the remote areas?

A．	He improved their living conditions.
B．	He gave them online English lessons.
C．	He helped them choose dream universities.

(2). What does Rachel want to know?

A．	How Luban Lock works.
B．	Why Luban created Luban Lock.
C．	Whether Luban’s son was clever.

(3). Who took the first picture of the black hole?

A．	A foreign astronomer team.
B．	A Chinese astronomer team.
C．	An international astronomer team.

(4). Why are the numbers given in Passage d?

A．	To introduce the govermment’s plans.
B．	To show China’s progress in healthcare.
C．	To describe the present situation of China’s healthcare.

(5). What’s the theme of the four passages?

A．

East meets West.

B．

For a better future.

C．

Great Chinese, great China.

More than 1,000 schools across the UK have signed up（报名）to a project with the aim of helping schools become carbon neutral（碳平衡的）by 2030. Carbon neutral means cutting down carbon emissions（碳排放）to zero or balancing them out in other ways. Carbon emissions are gases such as carbon dioxide（CO2）that come out into the atmosphere, where they make climate change worse. This has also caused the temperature rise.

Emissions are caused by all sorts of human activities, such as burning fossil fuels（coal, oil and gas）to make energy, cutting down forests and some types of farming. Becoming carbon neutral includes cutting the amount of carbon emissions a school produces and balancing those that are left by taking some carbon out of the atmosphere.

The project also shows how small changes can make a big difference. These might include thinking carefully about energy use, cutting waste, growing food closer to where it's eaten and walking or cycling to school if it is possible. Ways of balancing out the carbon emissions that a school still makes include planting trees and plants that take in CO2 as they grow.

Ysgol Bro Dinefwr Secondary School in Wales has promised to run entirely on renewable（可再生的）energy（such as wind and solar power）within the next three years. At Down High School in Northern Ireland, the students are looking after their own bees. So when flowers and crops produce food, that helps. Other schools have projects to cut food waste by weighing it after each meal to know how much is not being eaten. Some put the waste into a system that can turn this waste into useful things. They will be put on the garden to help plants grow.

Climate change is seen as a major global challenge. We can see it all around us. So join together, find out ways your school can put efforts to, and talk to a teacher about signing up.

(1). Which statement would the author most probably agree with?

A．	Human activities influence the environment.
B．	The fight against climate change will not succeed.
C．	More UK schools should be introduced to the world.
D．	We could deal with the climate change without changing our behavior.

(2). How could the schools reduce carbon emissions?

A．	By moving to the countryside.	B．	By cutting waste and planting trees.
C．	By providing more spaces for students.	D．	By burning coal instead of gas to make energy.

(3). Why does the author give examples of the schools in paragraph 4?

A．	To praise these schools.	B．	To show the difficulties in the project.
C．	To call for more schools to take action.	D．	To explain the efforts made by the government.

(4). What is the best title for the text?

A．	How to Help Plants Grow	B．	Schools Sign Up to Help the Planet
C．	Carbon Emissions in the UK Schools	D．	Our Planet, a Wonderful Living Place

When we think of the most respected awards in the world, the Nobel Prize（诺贝尔奖）must be on the list.

Created by Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel in 1895, the prize recognizes achievements in sciences and the people behind them. Every year in October, the announcement of winners catches the world’s attention.

But what is the importance behind this award? According to founder Nobel himself, the prize is for people who have provided “the greatest benefit to humankind”.

A number of Nobel Prizes have rewarded discoveries that have led to cures for diseases and health problems. A lot of parts in telephones, computers and telecommunication systems are also the fruits of Nobel Prize—awarded work. Other prizes have recognized those who have helped to create a more peaceful world.

The individuals selected and the contributions they made show how science, literature and peace efforts improve and change the world and better our lives.

In the series of books about the Nobel Prize, the author says, “many everyday things would be impossible without the work of the winners of the Nobel science prizes”.

Think about the plastic bags. Plastic wouldn’t have been invented without Friedrich Wilhelm Ostwald’s research. The German scientist won the Nobel Prize in 1909.

In recent years, Chinese people have paid more attention to the results of the Nobel Prize. Chinese scientists and writers are known to the world by their achievements, such as 2012 Nobel literature prize winner Mo Yan, and Tu Youyou, China’s first Nobel winner in physiology or medicine in 2015. It’s an uplifting thing. Not only for the individual achievements, but also for the national confidence.

The Paper noted that the prize can encourage the young generation to do scientific research. Do you have any ideas about this?

(1). What does the underlined word “uplifting” in paragraph 8 probably mean?

A．

Encouraging.

B．

Rising.

C．

Clear.

D．

Right.

(2). What is the main idea of the text?

A．	Introduce the history of the Nobel Prize.
B．	People pay more attention to the Nobel Prize winners.
C．	The Nobel Prize changes the world and benefits humankind.
D．	The Nobel Prize is for people who help to create a peaceful world.

(3). Where is the text probably from?

A．

A guidebook.

B．

A notice.

C．

A novel.

D．

A newspaper.

(4). Which one of the following is most probably to be discussed next?

A．	The introduction of Mo Yan and Tu Youyou.
B．	How to put the scientific fruits to the market.
C．	Inventors should be respected and rewarded.
D．	Ways the young could do scientific research.

I looked at my blank page. All I’d written was the title “What I Want to Be When I Grow Up”. The rest of the class were all busy writing.

“You have five minutes to finish.” Ms Clark announced.

“I want to be a teacher when I grow up because…” I just wrote a few lines when the bell went. My friend Lisa told me she wanted to be an astronaut. I laughed as I pictured Lisa floating in space. After school, I told my grandpa my real dream. “You promise not to laugh. I didn’t write it on the school paper.” I said, “I want to be an actor.” He didn’t laugh. Instead he asked, “Why?”

“I just do, that’s all, more than anything in the world. I’d be really good.”

“OK. Angela, I once dreamed to be a reporter. We’d better find out if you’ve got any talent then, hadn’t we?” He looked up a number in his phone. “You need drama lessons, and I know just the right person—Jane Rozzi, a friend of mine.” Fantastic! I couldn’t believe my luck. I gave him a big hug.

“I’d better check with your Mum and Dad first to make sure they don’t mind their daughter taking Jane Rozzi’s acting class.”

No problem there. Next evening, sitting in my grandpa’s car, my stomach felt tight and my mouth was dry. He was driving me to my first acting lesson. “She is kind and gentle. Don’t be nervous.”

He was right. I liked Jane immediately. She told me I was talented and my voice was good. Just needed to get louder. After that we did some breathing and voice exercises. I practised day after day…

“You have a natural talent and, with hard work and luck, you will make it.” I always bear Jane’s words in my mind. Now I am an actor on the stage.

Wow! How my life has changed since I first stared at that blank piece of paper!

(1). Which of the following is Angela’s dream job?

A．

Teacher.

B．

Astronaut.

C．

Reporter.

D．

Actor.

(2). Why didn’t Angela write her real dream at school?

A．	Ms Clark didn’t like it.	B．	Her parents wouldn’t support it.
C．	She was afraid of being laughed at.	D．	She couldn’t decide it when she was at school.

(3). What does the underlined part in paragraph 7 probably mean?

A．

Angela felt sad.

B．

Angela felt nervous.

C．

Angela felt proud.

D．

Angela felt interested.

(4). Which of the following could best describe Angela?

A．	Skillful and caring.	B．	Patient and helpful.
C．	Talented and hard-working.	D．	Clever and beautiful.

Most schools offer different kinds of subjects and activities for students, but some schools offer additional training in certain areas, such as the performing and arts. In this way, schools can help students develop their artistic talents from an early age and have greater success in their future profession.

THE ROYAL BALLET（芭蕾舞）SCHOOL

For ballet dancers, one of the best training centres in the world is the Royal Ballet School, in London, England. The school only accepts the most talented dancers, who must complete eight years of full-time training. There are 225 students, aged 11—19, and most of them live together in boarding houses.

THE IDYLLWILD ARTS ACADEMY

Located in the mountains about 100 miles from Los Angeles, the Idyllwild Arts Academy is a boarding school for young artists. It offers training in arts, like drawing, painting, photography and cinema, along with programmes for the performing arts. The school’s quiet, rural location also makes it a very peaceful and beautiful place to learn.

THE NATIONAL CIRCUS（杂技）SCHOOL

If you’d like to join the circus, you should come to the National Circus School in Montreal, Canada. The school has offered training in theatre, dance and other circus arts. After finishing the programme, many students find work in circus companies such as the Cirque du Soleil. That’s the dream of every circus artist!

THE ACADEMY OF ART UNIVERSITY（AAU）

Located in San Francisco, AAU（Academy of Art University）provides high school students with the Pre-College Art Experience（PCAE）a tuition-free art and design education programme. It’s a great opportunity to jump—start your art in San Francisco or online in advance. Students there will be trained strictly and only 60 percent students could graduate.

(1). Which of the following requires eight years of full-time training?

A．	The Royal Ballet School.	B．	The Idyllwild Arts Academy.
C．	The National Circus School.	D．	The Academy of Art University.

(2). What is special about the Academy of Art University?

A．	It offers training in arts.	B．	It is a boarding school.	C．
D．	It only accepts the most talented dancers.	E．	It provides high school students with PCA	F．

(3). What do the listed schools have in common?

A．	They are located in peaceful places.
B．	They help students develop their artistic talents.
C．	Few students could graduate from these schools.
D．	They provide good work chances for all their students.

阅读下面短文，根据短文内容回答问题。

Do you know the self-driving bullet (子弹) train just for the Beijing Winter Olympics? Is there anything new on the train? Let’s have a look!

The train links (连接) Beijing and Zhangjiakou, the co-host cities of the Games. With a top speed of 350 kilometers an hour, the train can run the 174-kilometer journey between the two cities in around 50 minutes, while a regular express (特快的) train takes three hours.

It is said to be the world’s first high-speed train with a 5G live broadcast studio (现场直播演播室). It can carry 564 passengers each trip in its eight cars (车厢). It has business, first-class and second-class cars. Besides, for the needs of media (媒体), it also has special working cars with 12 tables and international electric sockets (电源插座).

The train is painted in white and blue colors and there are 24 snowflakes (雪花) on the outside of the train, showing this is the 24th Winter Olympic Games. Inside the train, there are winter sports photos on the walls and paper snowflakes on top.

The Beijing Winter Olympic Games opened in February, 2022. The high-speed train provided transportation services for the 2022 Winter Olympics and the Paralympics (残奥会) from January 21 to March 16. Up to 40 pairs of trains traveled between the two cities every day.

(1). Which two cities does the train link?

______________________________________________________________

(2). Can the train run faster than a regular express train?

______________________________________________________________

(3). How many kinds of cars does the train have according to the passage?

______________________________________________________________

(4). What do the 24 snowflakes stand for (代表)?

_____________________________________________________________

(5). What does the passage mainly talk about?

_____________________________________________________________

It’s often said, “You can’t live only on air.” But now the Chinese scientists can tell you: Maybe you can.

Recently, some Chinese scientists have made a big breakthrough (突破). They turned CO2 into starch (淀粉).

Starch is the main part of rice and corn that we eat every day. Usually, it’s created by plants with CO2, water and sunlight. According to the team’s director Ma Yanhe, it takes the plants nearly sixty steps to produce starch. But now, the team, after six years of hard work, has found a simpler way to do this, with only eleven steps.

“Our study shows that creating something like starch is possible in a laboratory, and this technology may be helpful in many areas,” said Ma.

The scientists first turned CO2 and hydrogen (氢气) into methanol (甲醇). Then they made these methanol molecules (分子) into bigger and more complex (复杂的) molecules. Finally the starch came out.

This method makes it possible to produce food in factories instead of traditional farming. This will not only help make plenty of food, but also save water and land. It may also help recycle CO2 to deal with climate (气候) change, according to China Daily.

The study can be helpful in space, too. Astronauts may no longer need to worry about their food as they travel in space. They may simply turn the CO2 they breathe out into the food they eat!

(1). What achievement have the Chinese scientists made recently?

A．	They created starch with CO2.
B．	They grew corn in space.
C．	They turned O2 into starch.
D．	They improved traditional farming.

(2). How many steps do the scientists need to produce starch now?

A．

3.

B．

6.

C．

11.

D．

60.

(3). What did the scientists do first to make starch?

A．	They recycled CO2 in space.
B．	They produced rice and corn on the farm.
C．	They turned CO2 and hydrogen into methanol.
D．	They made methanol molecules into bigger and more complex ones.

(4). The technology may be helpful in the following areas EXCEPT ________.

A．	making food
B．	putting sunlight to good use
C．	saving water and land
D．	dealing with climate change

(5). What’s the best title of the passage?

A．	How to Deal with CO2
B．	The Advantages of Making Starch
C．	How to Make Food in Space
D．	China’s First Step in Man-made Food

Now, more and more people have difficulties in falling asleep. “In fact, we can train our brain to fall asleep,” says sleep expert Michael Grandner. Here are his top ways.

Make a plan and stick to it.

Melatonin (褪黑素) is produced by the body to control when you get sleepy and when you wake up. As night falls, the levels of melatonin rise, telling the body that it’s time for bed. And the levels naturally fall as daylight comes near, getting you ready to greet the day.

The release (释放) of melatonin needs to be at regular (有规律的) times. So if your bedtime and wake-up time change from day to day, your body doesn’t know how to respond (回应). So it’s important to have a regular bedtime and wake up time, even on weekends.

Don’t lie in bed awake.

In fact，this way is very helpful. Whether it’s the beginning of the night or the middle of the night, if you’ve been awake for 20 or 30 minutes, get up. Maybe you just need five minutes to get sleepy, or maybe an hour, but don’t spend that time awake in bed.

Change your attitude (态度) about sleep.

Many people regard sleeping as the final thing in a busy day, so they would rather delay sleeping to do housework, schoolwork or others. That thought needs to be changed. Make sure your sleep time is enough in order to work better the next day. It may sound like a small change, but it’s an important one.

(1). Michael Grandner gives us ________ ways in this passage.

A．

one

B．

two

C．

three

D．

four

(2). When do the levels of melatonin rise?

A．	When you’re tired.	B．	When night falls.
C．	When you feel sleepy.	D．	When daylight comes.

(3). Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．	A rise in melatonin levels tells the body it’s the bedtime.
B．	Enough sleep time can’t make you work better the next day.
C．	It’s not necessary for us to sleep or wake up at a regular time.
D．	It’s best to stay in bed if you’re awake too long during the night.

(4). What does the underlined word “delay” mean in Chinese?

A．

暗示

B．

督促

C．

调理

D．

推迟

(5). What is the passage mainly about?

A．	The importance of sleeping well.
B．	The change of bedtime and wake-up time.
C．	When to go to bed and wake up.
D．	How to train your brain for better sleep.

A Chinese knot (中国结) is woven (编织) with a single rope (绳). It has different shapes. Each shape has its own meaning. People can use ropes of different colors to weave a Chinese knot, but they usually use red because it means good luck.

The Chinese knot, a folk art, has a long history. People first made them to record information and send messages before they started to use words. The knots were used for decoration (装饰) and to express thoughts and feelings in the Tang Dynasty. They were later popular in the Ming and Qing dynasties. But this art wasn’t really accepted by the common people until the Qing Dynasty.

Even today, Chinese knots still hold the value of feelings when they are sent as gifts. For example, lovers may give a knot to show their love. The “double happiness knot” is given and used at weddings (婚礼) to express each other’s love and wishes for growing old together.

Knots are also used when people make traditional clothes in China. They can play the role of buttons (纽扣) and now silk is widely used to make these clothing knots.

Many tourists including foreigners like to buy Chinese knots as gifts during their trips. There are many shopping streets for people to buy Chinese knots. Yiwu Commodity Market in Zhejiang Province is a good place for that. There are many different kinds of beautiful Chinese knots there. They are popular with customers.

(1). ________ of a Chinese knot can show its own meaning.

A．

The size

B．

The weight

C．

The color

D．

The shape

(2). Why do people usually use red ropes to weave the Chinese knots?

A．	Because they look nice.
B．	Because they mean good luck.
C．	Because they show love.
D．	Because they mean growing old together.

(3). When did Chinese common people really accept the folk art?

A．	In the Tang Dynasty.	B．	In the Song Dynasty.
C．	In the Ming Dynasty.	D．	In the Qing Dynasty.

(4). What is widely used to make traditional clothing buttons now?

A．

Wood.

B．

Metal.

C．

Silk.

D．

Plastic.

(5). Which of the following is NOT true?

A．	Only Chinese people like to buy the Chinese knots.
B．	Today people use a “double happiness knot” to express love to their lovers.
C．	Tourists can buy many different kinds of Chinese knots in Yiwu Commodity Market.
D．	People used Chinese knots to record information and send messages before using words.