The London Underground is one of the best transport networks in the world with around 24 million journeys made each day, so it is important that everything runs smoothly. Remember the following to travel like a Londoner.

Keep right on escalator(自动梯）

London Underground asks that you stand on the right when using the escalators and leave the left free for others to walk down. If you are traveling in a big group, or with lots of shopping bags, stand and stay right and let others pass you---it will speed up the process and be a more pleasant journey for everyone!

Remember the “rush hour”

  The tube network is very busy during the rush hour. You can expect the trains and stations to be overcrowded between 7:30 and 9:30 in the morning and between 17:00 and 19:00 in the evening.

Move down the platform to find more space

  As you enter the station platform, you will often find more room if you walk down to the end of the platform. Here, the train carriages are usually the emptiest as well.

Carry a bottle of water in warmer moths

  The London Underground is over 150 years old and although the trains have been modernized, many still lack air conditioning and cooling units. Make sure you take a bottle of water with you, especially in the summer, as the long tube journeys can get very hot.

Keep your personal belongings safe

  Like any large city be cautions of pickpockets operating in the busy stations and tubes. Carry a bag with zips and keep your personal belongings and valuable items in it to avoid becoming the victims of theft.

  Plan your journey on the London Underground in advance with a free tube map. Click here to download.

1. What can we know about the London Underground from the text?

  A. It is used by about 24 million people every week

  B. Its rush hour is around 10:00 am on weekends

C. It has a history of more than one and a half centuries.

  D. It is enjoyable for people to travel on it all year round..

2. What should we do when taking the London Underground?

A. Avoid taking water along with the ride. 

B. Standing on the right when using the escalators

C. Avoid taking a large number of shopping bags

D. Walk to the middle of the platform to find more space.

3. In order not to be stolen, you are advised to__________.

A. avoid traveling in a big group

B. avoid traveling during the rush hour

C. keep your valuables in a zipped bag.

D. stay away from busy stations and tubes

4. Where would you be most likely to find the text?

A. On a website.                       B. On a city map.

C. On a notice board.                   D. In a business report.

The first full choir rehearsal of the school year took place in the school hall. All the students joined together to sing. I watched as my elder sister and her grade came in and took their places next to us on the stage. Meanwhile, I could hear laughing. Some students were pointing at a girl standing next to my sister. I had never seen this girl before. A girl whispered in my ear,“Did you know she’s wearing diapers(纸尿裤）？”

After school that evening, I asked my sister about the girl I had seen. She told me her name was Theresa and that she was a very nice girl. “Why were those kids being mean to her?” I asked. “Because they are stupid,” she said.

One day, I was walking home from school when I heard voices behind me. “There is the little idiot’s(白痴的) sister. Does your sister wet her pants too? ” I walked a little faster and then I felt a stone hit me in the back. When I got home, I ran down to my sister’s room.

I pushed my way into her room, screaming at her. “Why do you have to be that girl’s friend?  I don’t see anyone else being nice to her. ” Janelle yelled back, “Because she is a wonderful person and she is dying!” I will remember those words as long as I live. Theresa wet her pants because she had an illness which was killing her. My sister was the only one nice enough to be her friend and stick up for her. A few months later, Theresa passed away.

I felt proud that Janelle was my sister. Throughout the years I watched her, and she always made friends with everyone. It didn’t matter if they were fat, thin, brilliant or not. She never left anyone feeling isolated or alone. It was she who changed me and taught me to never look at anyone in the same way again.

5. Why did other students make fun of Theresa?

A. Because she was dying very soon.

B. Because she was not good at singing.

C. Because she behaved in an unusual way. 

D. Because she was usually dressed poorly.

6.How did the author feel at first when she knew her sister was Theresa’s friend?

A. Moved                    B. Annoyed

C. Interested                  D. Anxious

7. What was the turning point of the story?

A. Janelle became a friend of Theresa.

B. Theresa suffered from a serious illness.

C. The author lost her temper to her classmates.

D. The author was told the truth about Theresa.

8: What is the message conveyed in the story?

A. We shouldn’t look at anyone shallowly.

B. Making friends teaches us more things.

C. Disadvantaged people need our sympathy.

D. Understanding is important among friends.

When her five daughters were young, Helene An always told them that there was strength in unity (团结). To show this, she held up one chopstick, representing one person. Then she easily broke it into two pieces. Next, she tied several chopsticks together, representing a family. She showed the girls it was hard to break the tied chopsticks. This lesson about family unity stayed with the daughters as they grew up.

Helene An and her family own a large restaurant business in California. However, when Helene and her husband Danny left their home in Vietnam in 1975, they didn't have much money. They moved their family to San Francisco. There they joined Danny's mother, Diana, who owned a small Italian sandwich shop. Soon afterwards, Helene and Diana changed the sandwich shop into a small Vietnamese restaurant. The five daughters helped in the restaurant when they were young. However, Helene did not want her daughters to always work in the family business because she thought it was too hard.

Eventually the girls all graduated from college and went away to work for themselves, but one by one, the daughters returned to work in the family business. They opened new restaurants in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Even though family members sometimes disagreed with each other, they worked together to make the business successful. Daughter Elisabeth explains, "Our mother taught us that to succeed we must have unity, and to have unity we must have peace. Without the strength of the family, there is no business."

Their expanding business became a large corporation in 1996, with three generations of Ans working together. Now the Ans' corporation makes more than $20 million each year. Although they began with a small restaurant, they had big dreams, and they worked together. Now they are a big success.

9. Helene tied several chopsticks together to show ______.

A. the strength of family unity         B. the difficulty of growing up

C. the advantage of chopsticks          D. the best way of giving a lesson

10.We can I earn from Paragraph 2 that the An family ______.

A. started a business in 1975           B. left Vietnam without much money

C. bought a restaurant in San Francisco         D. opened a sandwich shop in Los Angeles

11.What can we infer about the An daughters?

A. They did not finish their college education.

B. They could not bear to work in the family business.

C. They were influenced by what Helene taught them.

D. They were troubled by disagreement among family members.

12.Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

A. How to Run a Corporation             B. Strength Comes from Peace

C. How to Achieve a Big Dream           D. Family Unity Builds Success

Today, we are told, children don’t spend enough time in the fresh air. Many of them are addicted to screen on a computer or a TV---they seem to be living in a virtual world. They have lost touch with nature.

   But now 400 organizations in the UK, from playgroups to the National Health Service, are encouraging children to have some “wild time”. They want kids to swap at least 30 minutes of watching TV or playing computer games for time playing outside. Activities such as building dens, climbing trees, rummaging for conkers and playing hide and seek are just some of the things kids can do. Even if they live in a city, they can go on adventures in the garden or the park.

Children often need a helping hand from mom and dad. They need to be shown what to do and where to go. Andy Simpson from National Health Service says, “We want parents to see what this magical wonder product does for their kids’ development, independence and creativity, by giving wild time a go”.

   So despite the complicated world that young people grow up in now, it seems that going back to basics and experiencing “nature’s playground” is what modern children need. David Bond from Project Wild Thing says, “We need to make more space for wild time in children’s daily routine, freeing this generation of kids to have the sort of experiences that many of us took for granted”.

   This might sound a bit old fashioned to you or maybe, like me, it’s made you think about sticking on your boots, getting outdoors and reliving your childhood. There is no age limit on enjoying yourself!

13. What is the best title of the text?

A. Wild time for children

B. Benefits of wild time

C. More space for children 

D. Adventures of children

14: Children are encouraged to do the following activities except____________.

A. building dens                        B. climbing trees

C. playing hide and seek                D. watching TV

15. According to Andy Simpson, we know that_____________.

A. wild time is hard to design

B. wild time is beneficial to children

C. parents know the importance of wild time

D. parents like keeping their children indoors.

The holiday season isn’t just about shopping and gifts.____16_____ However, holiday travel can be more expensive than the gifts. Fortunately, the following tips will help keep your travel spending under control.

   ● Plan ahead. The earlier you book your travel, from airfare to hotels, the easier it is to find good deals. _____17____Your best prices on airfare come when you book three weeks before the plane leaves for domestic flights. For international flights, consider booking 30 days in advance. Many experts point out that you should book travel between  one month and three months out for high-traffic holidays.

   ● Book your air travel on cheaper days. Traveling by air on Tuesdays and Wednesdays often costs less than traveling on Fridays and Sundays. During the holidays, it is not just about a specific day of the week. You also need to consider the days surrounding the holiday but days immediately before and after a holiday can be expensive. One of the best ways to save is to plan your air travel on the Day of the holiday.____18_____

   ● Consider traveling overnight. Red-eye flights and overnight flights often cost less than those at more convenient times.______19______Traveling overnight can help you avoid a night in the hotel, as well as save your money on travel to your destination.

   ●_____20______ You can’t bring liquids with you on the airline, but you can bring sandwiches and other snacks. When you are on the road, you can buy food at local groceries to make your own meals. If you are staying in a hotel long-term, consider cooking your own food, especially if you have access to a microwave.

A.     Bring your own food.

B.     Consider affordable accommodations.

C.     Traveling by plane is not the best choice.

D.     Plus, booking earlier can save you money.

E.     For instance, traveling on Christmas Day might be a great deal.

F.     A great deal of travel also takes place during this time of year.

G.     Other alternatives include sleeper trains, as well as overnight ferries.