This summer I was ten, my mother decided to bring us to the world of art. My brother and I were not very excited when we realized what my mother meant. What she meant was not that we could take drawing classes or painting classes but that we would have to spend one afternoon a week with her at the Fine Arts Museum. Before each visit to the museum, she made us read about artists and painting styles(风格). It was almost as bad as being in school. Who wants to spend the summer thinking about artists when you could be with your friends at the swimming pool?  

First we had to read about ancient Egyptians(古埃及人) and their strange way of painting faces and then go to look at them at the museum. My 12-year-old brother thought this was so funny, but I was not interested. Later we had to learn about artists in the Middle Ages who painted people wearing strange long clothing. We had to look at pictures of fat babies with wings and curly (鬈曲的) hair and with no clothes on flying around the edges of paintings. I certainly couldn't see what was so great about art.

On our last visit to the museum, something happened when I saw a painting by a woman called Mary. In it, a woman was reading to a child. The colors were soft and gentle, and you could tell by the mother' s expression how happy she was just to be with the child. I couldn't stop looking at this painting ! I wanted to see every painting Mary had ever made! It was really worth looking at so many paintings to find a painter who could interest me so much.

21. The aim of the mother' s plan was to _________.

A. take them to visit the museum          B. introduce to them the world of art

C. ask them to read about artists           D. show them different painting styles

22. What was the writer' s experience in the museum before the last visit?

A. She came to feel her mother' s love.     B. She liked many paintings.

C. She hardly enjoyed herself.            D. She could understand the pictures of fat babies.

23. What made the writer go through a change that summer?

A. One of Mary's paintings.               B. A strange way of painting.

C. Artists in the Middle Ages.             D. Her mother' s instruction.

24. From the text, we can see _________.

A. the importance of curiosity             B. the effect of art

C. the value of learning                  D. the power of family education

Talking plants might sound like characters in a fairy tale. But recent scientific studies have shown that plants communicate with each other and with other living things in a surprising number of ways. To understand them, scientists say, we just have to learn their language. Farmers are especially interested in what plants have to say.“Plants are able to communicate with all sorts of organisms (有机体).They can communicate with giant bacteria, with other plants and with insects.

“They do this chemically.”said Cahill,an Ecology Professor of the University of Alberta in Canada. Plant scientists are just beginning to understand this chemical “language”.Cahill says studies have shown, for example, that plants can evaluate conditions in their immediate environment and take appropriate actions. Plants have an ability, for example, to signal pain or discomfort caused by anything from temperature extremes to an insect attack. Jack Schultz, a professor of chemical ecology at the University of Missouri, says when a plant senses that it's being eaten, it cannot walk away from trouble; on the contrary, it will release a chemical vapor that alerts other plants nearby. “Their language is a chemical language, and it involves chemicals that move through the air that are easy to be changeable, and most of all are smells that we are familiar with,”Schultz explained. “All plants responded to the attack by changing their chemistry to defend themselves.”Schultz recalled. “But we were quite surprised to find that nearby plants also changed their chemistry to defend themselves, even though they were not part of the experiment.”

Studies have also shown that plants under attack release pleasant chemicals. Those chemicals attract friendly insects that attack the pests eating the plant. In the end, plants' ability to communicate their needs—and our ability to understand them—could help farmers reduce the use of poisonous chemicals, cut operating costs and limit damage to the environment.

25. The recent scientific studies have shown that plants can ______.

A. communicate with other living things in a chemical way

B. hardly react to any sudden change in temperature

C. use a very special chemical language which is familiar to us

D. respond to the attack by giving off poisonous chemicals

26. When being eaten by an insect, the plant will ________.

A. walk away from trouble          B. change its chemistry to kill the insect

C. release a chemical vapor to“ask”other plants for help

D. give off nice chemicals to attract friendly insects killing the pest

27. The underlined word “alert” most probably means “______”．

A. warn　    B. protect      C. threaten      D. allow

When I was 4, my parents decided they could no longer live together. That same year, my mom moved to Los Angeles (L.A.) and a therapist (治疗师) was hired to decide where I would live. Playing with a dollhouse in her office, I showed her the mother’s room on one side and the father’s room on the other. When she asked me about the little boy’s room, I told her the little boy didn’t know where to sleep.

   The therapist finally decided I would stay with my dad during the school years and visit my mom on long holidays and for summers. I began flying between two cities and leading two different lives. I remember my last school day in Grade Six. My friends made plans to go to the beach together, but I couldn’t join them because I had to fly to L.A. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to see my mom and step-dad; I just didn’t want to leave my friends. It wasn’t easy to put up a wall, and pretend I didn’t hate saying goodbye to them. In the morning, my dad drove me to school with my packed bags, and after school, my friends went together, and I went to the airport.

   What has come of this in the end is that I’m always missing somebody. When I’m in northern California, I miss my mom and step-dad, while in L.A. I miss going out with my friends, my dad, and my little brother and sister. But after so many flights, I’ve learned that it’s also fun traveling between two cities and experiencing different lives. Other children may not have the opportunity to experience so much.

28. The dollhouse game showed that the boy _______ .

   A. didn’t want his parents to stay together        B. was very independent

   C. had no feeling of belonging                 D. didn’t like his parents

29. Why didn’t the author like traveling between two cities at first?

   A. Because the traveling separated him from his friends.

   B. Because he hated saying goodbye to his mom.

   C. Because the traveling made it difficult for him to meet his parents.

   D. Because he wanted to spend his summers with his dad.

30. We learn from the text that the author _______ .

   A. stayed with his mom during the school years  B. finally accepted his traveling lifestyle

   C. enjoyed traveling more than others did       D. never enjoyed staying with his family

31. What would be the best title for the text?

   A. Always Miss Somebody                  B. Travel on My Own

   C. My Divorced Parents                     D. My Lonely Life   

Disneyland calls itself the happiest place in the world. In order to keep visitors happy in its locations across the globe, every theme park in the world is changed slightly to satisfy local cultures and tastes.

   Opened in 1983 and larger than the original California Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland is the third most visited of any theme park in the world after the two Disney parks in the US. Like Walt Disney World in Florida, Cinderella’s Castle is located at the centre of the park.

   But like karaoke, which originated in Japan and is a country-wide obsession (痴迷), Disneyland gives the often-reserved (矜持) Japanese people a place to show their noisy side. In Tokyo Disneyland, even adult visitors will sing, clap and dance along to the internationally themed live shows, which is a rare sight in the US.

   After excitedly entering Disneyland Paris, which opened in 1992, visitors can see an arcade  that features a small copy of the Statue of Liberty – a gift from France to America in 1886, making it a perfect introduction to this Europe’s only Disneyland theme park.

   Unfortunately, the French stereotype of a smoking wine drinker is supported in Disneyland Paris. Many visitors complain (抱怨) that although the theme park is equipped with special smoking areas, most smokers seem to puff away (吹气) in all the open areas, including in queues for rides. Besides this, it is also the only Disneyland in the world where you can enjoy an alcoholic drink with your meal; a French meal without a glass of wine would make for the unhappiest place in the world.

32. What can we learn from the second and the third paragraph?

   A. Tokyo Disneyland is the third largest theme park in the world.

   B. Tokyo Disneyland is meant only for adult people.

   C. There is no Cinderella’s Castle in Tokyo Disneyland.

   D. Tokyo Disneyland is more visited than Disneyland Paris.

33. What are most visitors unhappy about when in Disneyland Paris?

   A. No live shows there.               B. No smoking areas in the park.

   C. Much smoking smell in the air.       D. Having to line up for a long time.

34. What can we infer from the underlined sentence?

   A. Drinking alcohol is not allowed in other Disneyland in the world except Disneyland Paris.

   B. If you want to be happy, go to Disneyland Paris and enjoy a glass of wine there.

   C. The alcoholic drink is forbidden in Disneyland Paris.

   D. Disneyland Paris is the unhappiest place in the world.

35. What is the main idea of the text?

   A. The reason for building Disneyland across the globe

   B. The introduction to Disneyland theme parks in Japan and the US

   C. The difference between Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disneyland

   D. The simple analysis of Disneyland’s popularity in some parts of the world

    Whether you' re a child, teenager, young adult or are middle-aged, respect for your parents is an important value. Your parents are the people who raised you, devoting time, energy and money to your development.    36    No matter your age, there are 5 ways to show respect.

● Respect their belongings.

    One important way to show respect is to show regard for the things important to your parents. For younger children, this may mean not touching jewelry or other valuable things.  For grown children, respect may mean returning a borrowed tool in good condition and on time. Lack of respect for a parent's belongings is a violation of personal boundaries.    37    And never borrow things without asking first.

● Punctuality .

     38    Therefore, always be on time. For teenagers, showing up on time means coming home by curfew（宵禁）.Adult children should show up on time for family dinners or events, or to pick a parent up for a medical appointment. Call if you're going to be late because parents worry about children, no matter their age.

●_39    

    Remembering birthdays, anniversaries and other special days is a sign that you honor your parents. Make plans to take them to lunch or dinner or bake a cake or cookies. Most parents don't expect expensive gifts, but a handmade gift is always appreciated .A phone call from a grown child who lives too far for a visit is a welcome sign of respect.

● Be kind.

    Kind words and affection are simple ways to show respect. Tell your parents you love them. Listen and allow your parents to speak without interruption. Show a sincere interest in what your parents have to say. Be patient with your parents and don't rush them. Never talk back or be rude or disrespectful. Acknowledge your parents' achievements.    40

A. Be a good listener.

B. Celebrate with them.

C. Lateness indicates a lack of respect.

D. Treat your parents the way you would like to be treated.

E. And they love you unconditionally throughout your life.

F. Being respectful helps build positive relationships with others.

G. Don't take advantage of your parents' kindness and generosity.