If an American is satisfied with you，he will put his thumb and forefinger into a circle．That means OK．But in Brazil，the very sign is considered to be rude．In Poland，a guest usually presents flowers to his hostess．The number must be an odd（奇數(shù)）one．Besides，the hostess isn’t expected to remove the cover of the bunch of flowers．And usually，the red rose is a sign of love．
Usually we nod to express our agreement and shake our heads to show disagreement．To our surprise these body movements mean the opposite in Bulgaria．
The differences in customs and cultures in the world are really noticeable．We should learn more about them to avoid embarrassment（窘迫）．Then，would you please remember：When in Rome，do as the Romans do．
【小題1】In Poland，if a man gives some odd red roses to a woman as a present，it means that he ____．

A．will invite her to a dinner party

B．has not been in love with her

C．will invite her to a party

D．has fallen in love with her

【小題2】If an American puts his thumb and forefinger into a circle，it shows that he_____ you．

A．will be friends with

B．is not been in love with

C．is willing to help

D．is satisfied with

【小題3】In Poland，it is _____ for the hostess to remove the cover of the bunch of flowers somebody has presented to her．

A．impolite

B．polite

C．strange

D．popular

【小題4】In Bulgaria，if a man nods， it means that he_____ with you．

A．will have a talk

B．disagrees

C．will shake hands

D．a(chǎn)grees

【小題5】The sentence“When in Rome，do as the Romans do．”Means that______．

A．we should learn from the Romans

B．we should work as the Romans do

C．we should obey its customs when we are in a foreign country

D．we have been Romans

Long long ago, an old scientist made a few tests on different animals to find out which was the cleverest of all the animals.

   In one test the old scientist put a monkey in a room. In the room there were many boxes. Some boxes were inside other boxes. The smallest box had some food in it. The scientist wanted to watch the monkey and to find out how long it would take the monkey to find the food. The scientist left the room. He waited for a few minutes outside the door. Then he put his eye to the keyhole(鑰匙孔). What did he see? To his surprise, he found himself looking into the eye of the monkey. The monkey was on the other side of the door and looked at the scientist through the keyhole.  

1.The scientist wanted to know ____.

   A. if the monkey came into the small box          B. if the monkey would sleep

   C. which animal was cleverer than other animals   D. if some boxes were inside other boxes

2.After the scientist left the room, the monkey _______.

A. looked at the scientist through the keyhole          B. began to look for food   

C. came into the boxes one after another               D. began to eat the food 

3.To the scientist's surprise, _____.

A. the monkey went out of the room  

B. the monkey looked at the scientist through the window

C. began to look for food 

D. put its eyes to the keyhole.

 

       When I was seven years old, my family made me an ant farm. First, we put clean sand in a thin glass box. Then we waited for the ants to arrive.

After the ants were in the glass farm, they started to make tunnels（地道）. I was amazed that each one knew exactly what to do. Each had its own job.

On the fifth day a tragedy（悲�。﹉appened. I put my face so close to the glass farm that I knocked it over. All the tunnels fell down. Although the ants remained alive after their earthquake, one by one they began to die. I was scared as I watched them give up building their tunnels to carry the bodies to a corner of the farm.

My mother said that the ants were dying of sadness. They simply could not stand that their tunnels were gone.

Although much time has passed, I still think of that ant farm. Mom had hoped it would teach me about the natural world, but it taught me much more.

Over the years, I came to realize the importance of teamwork. Working together, the ants were able to make an amazing world for themselves. I also learned that they should be admired（欽佩）for their hard work.

But there was an even larger lesson that I did not realize until recently: Adversity（逆境）is a natural part of life, and must be accepted. Unlike the ants, we cannot give up when we are sad. We have to realize that if a tunnel is gone, we must build another.

Giving up, I say, is not a good choice.

1. What did the writer’s family do for him when he was seven?

A．They built a farm of ants.	B．They bought a few ants.
C．They caught a lot of ants.	D．They found an ant city.

2.Which statement is WRONG according to the passage?

A．The writer knocked the glass box over because he put his face so close to the glass farm.

B．The ants didn’t die one by one after the tunnels were destroyed.

C．Like people, teamwork is very important for the ants.

D．Giving up isn’t a good way when we meet trouble.

3.Among the following events, which one happened first?

A．All the tunnels fell down.	B．The ants died one by one.
C．The ants got into the glass box.	D．The ants began making tunnels.

4.What did the writer learn from the ant tragedy a few years later?

A．Working together is useless.	B．Teamwork is important.
C．He can’t accept adversity.	D．Working alone is amazing.

5.What is the best title for the passage?

A．Ants Fear Adversity	B．My Family and Ants
C．Giving Up in Adversity	D．Don’t give up anytime

 

Some students, parents and teachers in Shanghai were surveyed last month. According to the result of the survey, the generation gap(代溝) between students and parents as well as teachers is becoming wider. Here is what they said.
Voice of the students:
“Our parents hold too high expectations which put us under lots of pressure. They care too much about our lives and studies,” one student said.
“It’s impolite that some students’ parents read their children’s diaries without permission!” one student said angrily.
“Some of our teachers are so serious that we can’t make friends with them at all,” another student said sadly.
Voice of the parents:
One mother said, “After school, my daughter usually locks herself into her room and spends lots of time talking with others on the phone. And I can’t stand her clothes and hairstyle!”
“I thought my son was doing very well in his studies. I didn’t realize I was being cheated by him until I got a call from his teacher,” said a father.
Voice of the teachers:
An English teacher said, “Today, the role of the teacher is to put knowledge into students’ brains. The power of teachers has kept students away from them.”
“Some parents pay too much attention to their children’s grades instead of creating a lively and colorful environment at home,” another teacher said.
“In the past, teachers and students often played games together or talked with each other. Today, only studies and grades are talked about,” said a teacher. “A school should be a place where students can learn not only knowledge, but also how to face failure and frustration bravely enough.
【小題1】What can we know from the students’ voice?

A．They hope to be free don’t want their parents to be very strict.

B．The higher expectations their parents hold, the better they will do.

C．Teachers like making friends with students now.

D．A warm and happy family isn’t expected.

【小題2】The underlined word “expectations” in the passage means “­­­­___________” in Chinese.

A．表揚(yáng)

B．期望

C．夢想

D．責(zé)任

【小題3】What can we infer from the teachers who were surveyed?

A．Teachers feel what they are doing for students is good.

B．Parents, teachers and educational rules all influence students greatly.

C．Now teachers and students communicate better than before.

D．Teachers should care more about excellent students.

【小題4】Which of the following could be the best title for the passage?

A．Unhappy teenagers	B．Serious parents
C．Educational rules	D．The generation gap

The Story of a Broken Bowl

Henry is a boy of nine. Three years ago he began to go to school. He studied hard and does well in his lessons. His parents like him very much.

Henry’s grandpa is a single man. But once he lost a leg in a traffic accident. And now he can’t work. He often tells the boy all kinds of interesting stories. Sometimes he makes a kite or a cage. And he teaches the boy how to catch the singing birds and how to give them food. The boy admires him very much and always stays with him when he’s free. But Henry’s mother didn’t like the old man. She always thought him useless and dirty, and didn’t let her son play with him but the boy didn’t listen to her. When they sat at table, she put some food on another table and filled a broken bowl with rice and porridge. The old man was very sad but he dared not say anything. Henry was angry with his mother about it. One day he saw a broken bowl on his way home. He picked it up and put it into his bag. His mother found it and asked, “ Why have you brought a broken bowl home, dear?” “ I keep it for you.” said Henry, “When you’re old like my grandpa, I’ll fill it with rice for you !” Having heard this, the woman began to cry. Since then she’s been good to the old man.

1. His parents like Henry because _____________.

A．He’s good to his grandpa

B．He’s a polite boy

C．He does well in his lessons

D．He’s learned to catch singing birds

2.Henry admires his grandpa because ____________.

A．he tells him a lot of interesting stories

B．he knows how to catch singing birds and give them food

C．he can make kites and cages

D．he’s very able old man

3. __________, so she didn’t let her son play with him.

A．The woman hated the old man

B．The woman hadn’t enough food to give the old man

C．The old man did nothing at home

D．The old man lost a leg in the traffic accident

4. Henry brought the broken bowl home to _____________.

A．play with it                            B．frighten his mother

C．beat his parents                        D．fill it with rice

5.The woman was afraid _________, so she’s good to the old man.

A．her husband wouldn’t love her

B．the police would know about it

C．her son would be bad to her when she was old

D．the old man wouldn’t leave her any money