I grew up in a house where the TV was seldom turned on and with one wall in my bedroom entirely lined with bookshelves, most of my childhood was spent on books I could get hold of. In fact, I grew up thinking of reading as natural as breathing and books unbelievably powerful in opinion by creating worlds we could step into, take part in and live in.

With this belief, I, at fourteen, decided to become a writer. Here too, reading became useful. Every writer starts off knowing that he has something to say, but being unable to find the right ways to say it. He has to find his own voice by reading widely and discovering which parts of the writers he agrees or disagrees with. He cannot write without loving to read, because only through reading other people’s writing can one discover what works, what doesn’t and, in the end, together with lots of practice, what voice he has.

Now I am in college, and have come to realize how important it is to read books. Reading reminds me that there is life beyond my own. It allows me to travel across the high seas and along the Silk Road, all from the comfort of my own armchair, to experience, though secondhand, exciting experiences that I wouldn’t necessarily be able to have in my lifetime.

21．What can be inferred about the author as a child?

A. He never watched TV.            B. He considered reading part of his life.

C. He found reading unbelievable.     D. He read what he had to.

22．The underlined word “voice” in the second paragraph most probably means “________”.

A. a belief     

B. a sound quality    

C. a way of writing 

D. a world to write about

23．What effect does reading have on the author?

A. It helps him to realize his dream.

B. It opens up a wider world for him.

C. It makes his college life more interesting.

D. It increases his interest in worldwide travel.

24．Which of the following can be the best title of this text?

A. Why do I read?      B. How do I read?

C. What do I read?       D. When do I read?

In Eastern Europe, blue jeans stand for American culture and “the good life”. In Spain they are known as “cowboys”. “cowboy trousers”, which means they are connected with the American West cowboy culture and outdoor work.

The earliest known cloth for jeans was a thick cotton cloth from the Indians. At first they were working clothes. They became popular among teenagers in the 1950s. Today jeans are a very popular form of casual wear around the world and come in many styles and colors.

Jeans were first made in Genoa in Italy. The trousers were made for the Genoese navy (海军) because they needed trousers which could be worn wet or dry, and whose legs could be easily rolled up while the men were cleaning the ships.

In the 1850s Levi Strauss, a business man living in San Francisco, was selling blue jeans under the “Levi’s” name to the coal workers of California.

During World War II, the coal workers liked jeans very much because they were strong and did not tear easily. In the 1950s, jeans became popular with young people in the United States. Wearing of blue jeans by teenagers was the symbol of rebels (反叛者) in TV programs and movies. Some cinemas and restaurants refused to let people in if they wore blue jeans. In the 1980s, jeans finally became high fashion clothing, when famous designers started making their own styles of jeans, with their own labels on them. Sales of jeans went up and up.

25. From the first paragraph we know that ______.

A. cowboys wear jeans only

B. cowboys live a good life

C. American culture is cowboy culture

D. cowboy culture is usually related to the West of America

26. Jeans were first made in ______.

A. Italy                  B. America                  C. Spain        D. China

27. From Paragraph 4 we know that “Levi’s” was______.

A. the name of a worker                           B. the name of a kind of jeans

C. the name of a kind of cloth                D. the nickname of a businessman

28. Why the people who wore blue jeans were refused to go into the cinema in the 1950s? ______.

A. Because jeans were made for workers.    

B. Because jeans were made of denim.

C. Because it was during the time of war.     

D. Because wearing jeans was the symbol of rebels. 

Green is an important color in nature. It is the color of grass and the leaves on trees. It is also the color of most growing plants.

Sometimes, the word green means young, fresh and growing. Sometimes, it describes something that is not yet ripe or finished. A greenhorn is someone who has no experience. who is new to a situation. But in the fifteenth century, a greenhorn was a young cow or ox whose home had not yet developed. A century or so later, a greenhorn was a soldier who had not yet had any experience in battle. By the eighteenth century, a greenhorn had the meaning it has today--a person who is new in a job.

Someone who has the ability to grow plants well is said to have a green thumb. The expression comes from the early nineteen hundreds. A person, with a green thumb seems to have a magic touch that makes plants grow quickly and well. You might say that the woman next door has a green thumb if her garden continues to grow long after your plants have died.

The green-eyed monster is not a frightening creature from outer space, It is an expression used about four hundred years ago by British writer William Shakespeare in his play Othello." It describes the unpleasant feeling a person has when someone has something he wants. Green-eyed monster may affect your friend if you get a pay raise and she does not.

In most places in the world, a green light is a signal to move ahead. A green light on a traffic signal means your car can continue on. In everyday speech, a green light means approval to continue with a project.

29 . How many expressions including "green" are mentioned in the passage?

A. Three.       B. Four.             C. Five.                D. Six.

30. What does "a greenhorn" mean now?

A. A person who has rich job experience.       

B. A soldier who has not yet any experience in battle.

C. A young cow or ox whose horns have not yet developed.

D. A person who is a green hand without any experience.

31. Which expression can be used if your friend is good at growing plants?

A. A green thumb.      B. A green light.    C. A greenhorn     D. The green-eyed monster.

32. What will make you suffer from the green-eyed monster?

A. You meet a frightening creature.            B. You watch the play "Othello";

C. Your have a trouble                        D. You get a pay raise.    

Scottish Dancing

Scottish dancing is nice and easy to learn. The wonderful dance from England will be given.

Shows－－Anhui Museum

There are 12,000 pieces on show here. You can see the whole of Chinese history.

Your pen-friend is coming from Australia to your city for a holiday. You send him this E-mail to tell him something about the hotels.[Z-x-x-k.Com]

TEL: 4686788         E-MALL: Li Hong @ 163.com

33. If you want to watch dancing, you can call ______.      

A. 4858749        B. 4983084      C. 4467834         D. 4686788

34. You can see the whole of Chinese history at ______ in April in Anhui Museum.

A. 3 p.m. every day          B. 9 p.m. from Monday to Friday

C. 7 a.m. at weekend         D. 7 p.m. every day

35. SUN HOTEL and ROSE HOTEL are open for _______ months of the year.

A. nine               B. ten        C. eleven                  D. twelve

How to Survive High School

High school can be a terrible phase if you get it all wrong. Find out how to survive high school with a few easy tips.

1. Be Yourself.

High school is a fun time to make new friends, meet new people, date and socialize. Make friends with all kinds of people and not just a group which you are comfortable with. Most peer pressure cases are because of the weak image created by freshmen.   36   Don’t give into anyone’s wants.

2.   37 

Choose your friends carefully and make sure you won't get influenced by anyone. Socialize, but by judging who you can connect to. You will find friends, but stay away from the ones who don't want to be your friends as a bad company is tempting, but the good one is true.

3. Be Optimistic.

There is nothing better than having a smile on your face whenever you can.   38    Don't be afraid to make friends, don't get aggressive or personal with anyone and treat others the way you want to be treated. Respect your teachers and classmates and try to be helpful if you want the .same in return.

4. Be Confident.

When you believe in yourself, others believe in you. Talk, walk and address people confidently and this will create a strong image about you.   39  Be creative and unique and learn to set trends. Confidence is one quality you grow with, and people respect you for that.

5. Love High School.

  40   Make the most out of it, and you will never get those moments back. Come up with prank ideas, get a detention, top your class, make the best friends, drink, go to a prom, party, but just make as many memories as you can!

With these tips to survive high school, you will surely be proud of graduating as an all-round approaching adult.

A. And always wear your smile.

B. Keep Good Company.

C. Just be yourself and create a strong self image.

D. Practice positive thinking.

E. Do your thing, and don t imitate others.

F. Fall in love with it.

G. Study as hard as you can in your spare time.