1、

How often one hears children wishing they had grown up, and old people wishing they were young again. Each age has its pleasures and its pains, and the happiest person is the one who enjoys what each age gives him without wasting his time in useless regrets(悔恨).

Youth(青年时期) is a time when there are few things to make life difficult If a child has good parents, he is fed, looked after and loved whatever he may do. Life is always showing new things to the child-things that have lost their interest for older people because they are too well-known. But a child has his pains: he is not so free to do what he wishes to do, he is continually being told not to do things, or being punished(惩罚) for what he has done wrong.

When the young man starts to make his own living, he can no longer expect others to pay for his food, his clothes, and his room, but has to work if he wants to live comfortably. If he spends most of his time playing about in the way that he used to as a child, he will go hungry. And if he breaks the laws of society as he used to break the laws of his parents, he may go to prison(监狱). If, however, he works hard, keeps out of trouble and has good health, he can have the great happiness of building up for himself his own position(地位) in society.

【1】Who is the happiest person?

A. The old people who wish they were young again.

B. The children who wish they had grown up.

C. The person who enjoys what each age gives him.

D. The person who wastes his time.

【2】When people were young, they used to ___________.

A. face a lot of difficulties   B. have easy lives

C. deal with many businesses   D. look after their parents

【3】Children may feel pain when they are ___________.

A. not allowed to do everything that they like

B. given too much

C. looked after whatever they may do

D. too well-known

【4】If a child breaks the laws of his parents, he will ___________.

A. be sent to prison   B. be punished

C. work hard   D. go hungry

【5】When the young man starts to make his own living, he should ___________.

A. not build up his own position in society

B. spend most of his time playing

C. not keep out of trouble

D. pay for everything himself

2、

"Can I see my baby?" asked the happy new mother. When the baby was in her arms, she couldn't believe her eyes. The baby was born without ears.

Time proved that the baby's hearing was perfect though he had no ears. He got on well with his classmates. But one day, he said to his mother, tears in his eyes, "A big boy called me a freak(畸形物)."

The boy's father asked the family doctor, "Could nothing be done? "

"I believe I could graft(植入) on a pair of outer ears if they could be gotten," the doctor said. They tried to find a person who would be helpful for the young man.

One day, his father said to the son, "You're going to the hospital, son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But we must keep it a secret who the person is."

The operation was a great success, and a new person appeared. His cleverness and hard work made him a very successful person. He married and lived a happy life.

He would ask his father, "Who gave me the ears? I could do enough for him or her."

"I do not believe you could," said the father. "The agreement was that you are not to know…not yet."

The years kept it a secret, but the day did come. He stood with his father over his mother's body. Slowly, the father raised the thick, brown hair. To his surprise, the son found his mother had no outer ears.

"Mother said she was glad she never had her hair cut," his father said in a low voice, "and nobody ever thought mother less beautiful, did they?"

【1】The sentence "…a new person appeared." means "___________."

A. new baby was born in the hospital

B. a stranger came into the hospital

C. a new doctor took care of the boy

D. the boy came to live a new life

【2】Why did the boy's mother never have her hair cut?

A. Because she liked her thick, brown hair.

B. Because her work didn't allow her to do that.

C. Because the hair was good for her health.

D. Because she wanted to keep the fact a secret.

【3】Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. The boy couldn't hear without ears at first.

B. The boy didn't know the truth until his mother died.

C. His parents often encouraged him to work hard.

D. His classmates were always making fun of him.

【4】Which is the best title for the passage?

A. A Clever Boy   B. Kind Parents

C. Great Love   D. An Ear Operation

3、

In today's Internet age, the demand for online games continues to grow. Online computer game centers exist in many cities and towns throughout Asia. Facing the pressures of school and life, people turn to the virtual(虚拟) world, expecting a diversion from these problems. Too often, however, they can lead to problems and unhealthy addictions.

This is most clearly seen in the example of South Korea. The country has the world's highest percentage of high-speed Internet services. It also has a high number of online game players and related problems. In 2002, a young man collapsed(突然晕倒) and died while playing online games. He had been playing almost nonstop for 86 hours at an Internet café. Another young man killed his sister after becoming confused between the online world and real life. A 12-year-old boy stole $16,000 from his father and ran away from home. He did this to continue his obsession(着迷) with an online game. Such problems, however, don't just happen in South Korea. They are spreading to other parts of Asia, as well.

What kinds of people develop online game addiction? What does the problem look like? Dr. SueHuei Chen, a clinical psychologist, researches Internet addiction. She discovered some signs of at risk individuals such as lack friendships and good social skills. Those problem individuals feel it so compulsive(极有趣的) to play online games that they could sacrifice(牺牲) things such as school or family. They feel the need to spend more and more time online. And they become upset if anyone tries to limit their online game playing.

How many problem game players are there? In mainland China, the potential number of problem online gamers is alarming. In 2004, the China Daily reported that China had 13.8 million online game players. Further more, it stated that 80 percent of these were under 25 and had signs of addiction. Such numbers point toward a growing problem among Chinese youth.

Make sure to keep control over your online game playing. If you don't control it, it can get control of you.

【1】What is mainly discussed in the passage?

A. The disadvantages of the Internet.

B. The online game problems in Asia.

C. The popularity of online games worldwide.

D. The cause of online game addiction.

【2】The underlined word "diversion" in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to ___________.

A. career   B. comfort   C. escape   D. support

【3】According to Paragraph 2, which of the following statements is NOT true?

A. Online violence is blamed for the young killer's wrong action

B. Online game playing is responsible for the young man's death

C. People in South Korea have access to the Internet most easily

D. The teenage boy stole money due to his playing games online

【4】What can we learn from the passage?

A. Most people in Asia have developed an addiction to online games.

B. Online game addictions cause many life-and-death problems in South Korea.

C. Lonely and unsocial people seem to more easily develop Internet addictions.

D. In the year 2004 there were a total of 13.8 million Chinese visiting the Internet.

4、

Happiness is for everyone. You don't need to care about those people who have beautiful houses with large and swimming pools or those who have nice cars and a lot of money and so on. Those who have big houses may often feel lonely and those who have cars may want to walk on the country roads at their free time.

In fact happiness is always around you if you put your heart into it. When you are in trouble at school, your friends will help you. When you study hard at your lessons, your parents are always taking good care of your life and your health. When you get success, your friends will say congratulations to you. When you do something wrong, people around you will help you to correct it. And when you do something good to others, you will feel happy too. All these are your happiness. If you notice them you can see that happiness is always around you.

Happiness is not the same as money. It is a feeling of your heart. When you are poor, you can also say you are very happy because you have something else that can't be bought with money. When you meet with difficulties, you can't say loudly you are very happy because you have more chances to challenge yourselves. So you cannot always say you are poor and you have bad luck. If you take every chance you get, you will be a happy and lucky person.

【1】Happiness is for ___________.

A. all people

B. those who have a lot money

C. those who have large and beautiful houses

D. those who have cars

【2】When you do something wrong, ___________.

A. you have no chance to challenge you

B. people around you will help you

C. your classmates will laugh at you

D. you will be happy

【3】"Happiness is not the same as money" means ___________.

A. money doesn't always brings happiness

B. money always brings happiness

C. everything can be always bring happiness

D. only rich people have happiness

【4】Which is the best title for the passage?

A. Life and Success   B. Happiness and Luck

C. Do Something Good to Others   D. Happiness

5、

Every country has its heroes. The heroes are the people the nation and especially the young people admire. If you get a list of the heroes of a nation, it will tell you the potential(潜力) of that nation.

Today in America, if you ask the high school students to list their heroes, their choice would probably fall into three groups. The first group of heroes would be the rock stars---the people connected with rock music. There is no doubt that such people do have talent(天才) but one wonders if one should hold up rock stars as a model. The rock stars too often are mixed with drugs and their personal life is not all that good. The rock stars are rich and wear the latest fashion styles. However, one should seek(寻觅) more in a hero than such things as money and good clothes.

A second type of hero for the American youth is the sports star. Again you have a person who has a great ability in one area---sports. However, too often the personal life of the sports star is a bit of a disorder(混乱). Too frequently(频繁) drugs and drinking are a part of life of the sports star.

A third type of hero is the TV or movie star. This person may have lots of acting talent and is quite handsome. However, the personal life of too many actors is quite sad and they should not be held up as a model of young people. Today, the rock star, the athlete(运动员), and the actor all have become the models of the youth in America. Really, do you hear a young person say that his hero is a doctor, a teacher, or a scientist? These people are not rich and do not wear fashionable clothes. However, they are talented people who work hard to make the world a better place for everyone.

What is really sad is that the young try to imitate their heroes. They like to wear the same clothes and follow their styles. If the heroes of today for the American young people are limited only to rock stars, athletes and actors, the future does not look too bright.

【1】From the passage, we know that the heroes the American youth admire are those ___________.

A. who are not bright but are good -looking

B. who are rich but are strict with themselves

C. who are talented in some area but lead an improper life

D. who are perfect in all areas

【2】It can be inferred(推断) that the American young people will not admire ___________.

A. a university professor   B. a poplar singer

C. a football player   D. a film actress

【3】According to the writer, people should admire those ___________.

A. who are rich and wear the latest fashion clothes

B. who can express people's feelings

C. whose personal life is good

D. who work in the interests of the people

【4】What does the underlined word “imitate” mean in Chinese in the passage?

A. 喜爱   B. 模仿   C. 崇拜   D. 迷恋

6、

Are you the only child in the family? If so, you are the most important in your family. Parents are the closest people to you in the world. But a lot of middle school students have a problem. They feel they're not as close to their parents as before. They even don't think their parents are fair(公平的) to them.

Some students complain that their parents often say a lot to them, but never listen to them. Some say their parents don't allow them to play computer games when other classmates are doing that. Others say when they're making phone calls to friends, their parents like to ask if they're speaking to a boy or a girl. These make them very unhappy. Some students even decide to leave home because they're afraid to tell their parents when they have done something wrong, especially when they do badly in exams. Then they usually think running away is the only choice(选择). But they don't know running away may bring them some more problems.

Problems are parts of life. Here are some suggestions for you to solve your problems.

1) Find a good chance to talk with your parents. Don't be afraid to tell them your feelings.

2) Get help from others like good friends or teachers.

3) Keep a diary to help you understand more about yourself and your feelings.

4) Show your parents you're growing up. Then they'll feel you're no longer a small child. If you follow the advice, you'll have a happy life and never think of running away.

【1】According to the article, ___________ are the closest people to an only child.

A. teachers   B. classmates   C. parents

【2】Which of the following is TRUE?

A. Parents don't love their children now

B. Middle school students don't have any problems

C. Some students don't think their parents are fair to them

【3】We'd better ___________ if we have problems with them.

A. talk with our parents

B. quarrel with our parents

C. leave our parents

【4】Why does the author advice us to keep a diary?

A. Because it's our homework

B. Because it can help us practice writing

C. Because it can help us understand ourselves better

【5】This article is about some middle school students' ___________.

A. friends   B. hobbies   C. problems

7、

Everyone is afraid of something.

Tommy, 11, is afraid of the dark. Rachel ,11, is most afraid of the big jellyfish （水母）in Australia. Morgan, 9 ,wishes she would stop being afraid to ride a bike on busy streets.

What’s fear ? Fear is a feeling that everyone has, and that’s a good thing because fear is there to protect us . When the fear comes ,it  means we may meet something dangerous.

For the fear of dark , a kid could have much imagination .What’s under my bed ? Is there someone breaking into （闯入）my house ? With the help of a parent , kids can get more comfortable in the dark. Using a night light to see that there’s nothing there can also help fight that fear.

For other fears ,we needn’t fight . If you’re afraid to ride your bike on a busy street ,you’re right ! You should be afraid because it’s dangerous. There’s no need to fight a fear like that . Find a better place to ride.

It’s also ok for Rachel to be afraid of the big jellyfish because it’s really dangerous . But it lives only in some waters. So when she’s not swimming in one of them ,there should be no worries about the big jellyfish.

Here is some advice about fighting fears from kids.

Monique,10, says when you are scared, just think about happy times . Eight-year-old Jessica finds that taking a deep breath helps when you’re scared. Amanda ,10, thinks kids should talk with a parent . Dustin ,11, likes to talk with a group of friends.

【1】What is Rachel afraid of ?

A. The dark .

B. Talking with others.

C. The bing jellyfish.

D. Riding a bike on busy streets.

【2】In Paragraph 4, the writer gives ________ way(s) of helping kids fight the fear of dark.

A. one   B. two   C. three   D. four

【3】According to the writer , ________ needs to fight his/her fear.

A. Tommy   B. Rachel   C. Morgan   D. Dustin

【4】Which piece of advice is not mentioned about fighting fears ?

A. Talking with others .

B. Taking a deep breath .

C. Thinking about happy times .

D. Regarding fears as challenges.

8、

I am a middle school student. My name is Lucy. I have many rules at home. For example, I have to stay at home on school nights and do my homework. I can't watch TV until I finish my homework. I can't go to my friends' homes to study with them. My mother says we will talk instead of doing homework, but I don't think so. Yes, sometimes we talk, but we mainly study. We can discuss when we have some problems. We can learn a lot that way.

On weekdays, I have to get up early. After getting up, I have to make my bed, clean my bedroom. But I think I should be allowed to get up late on weekends. My parents always ask me to get up early to read English. They say that is good for my English study. I know this. But I am very tired on weekdays. I have too much work to do at school. I want to have a good rest on weekends. I think I should be allowed to get up at eight in the morning on weekends. If I have enough sleep, I will feel energetic and it's also good for my studies.

My parents don't allow me to help them do housework. They often say if I am good at my schoolwork, everything is OK. I don't think so. Although good grades are important, I should be allowed to do something I want to do. It's helpful to my development.

【1】I ___________ watch TV ___________ I finish my homework.

A. can; after   B. can't; after

C. am not allowed to; after   D. can; until

【2】We can learn ___________ if we are allowed to study with friends.

A. a lot   B. a little   C. nothing   D. less

【3】Why should I be allowed to get up late on weekends?

A. Because getting up late is a healthy lifestyle.

B. Because getting up late is an unhealthy lifestyle.

C. Because I am tired on weekdays.

D. Because I can have a good dream.

【4】I have ___________ work to do at school.

A. no   B. a little   C. many   D. lots of

【5】The passage mainly talks about the ___________.

A. health   B. rules   C. friendship   D. lifestyle

9、

When you sleep somewhere else—like at a summer camp or a friend's house, you know you're in for a fun time. It can be exciting to get away from the same old bed in the same old room in the same old house. But fun as this is, for some kids being away from home can be scary and sad. It's called being homesick.

Homesick means you are upset, sad, and maybe scared. But don't feel surprised. A lot of people get homesick, even grown-ups. When you're used to having certain people around you, it can be scary when they are gone. When you are dealing with other problems, you will feel homesick, too. Some kids may feel more homesick than usual if their parents get divorced(离婚) or if someone they loved has recently died.

Here are some ideas to help you feel less homesick.

Bring a little bit of home with you. If you're going away from home, bring your pillow or pictures of the people you will be apart from and look at them any time you want.

Keep busy. The more fun things you do, the less time you'll have to feel homesick. So try to join in activities wherever you are.

Stay in touch. You can make a plan for when you will call your mum or dad. You can also send e-mails or text messages to keep in touch with family and friends. When you do get in touch with someone, make sure to talk about the fun things you're doing!

Talk to someone where you are. Maybe you can tell a friend that you feel homesick. He or she might have some ideas to help you feel better.

【1】How many ideas are given to help you feel less homesick in the passage ?

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

【2】What should you talk about in order to feel less homesick?

A. Your future plan.   B. The past things.

C. Your difficulties.   D. The interesting things.

【3】Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A. Some kids can get homesick, but grown-ups never.

B. Joining in more activities may make you feel less homesick.

C. Someone may feel homesick when one of his family members dies.

D. Bringing along some things from home may be helpful for feeling less homesick.

10、

One of the fastest passenger trains in the world is the Eurostar, which covers the distance between London and Paris in just over two and a half hours---a journey which used to take five or six hours and always involved(包含) a slow boat crossing. If you take the Eurostar, you can leave London Warterloo at 4 o'clock on a Friday afternoon and be in the centre of Paris at 6:35, in time for dinner. The train also goes to other places, such as Calais, Lille, Disneyworld Paris, and Brussels.

One of the most exciting things about Eurostar is that it goes through a tunnel under the sea. This is called the Channel Tunnel, and goes between Folkstone in England and Sangate in France. The tunnel is 31 miles long, and cost $21 billion to build. This part of the journey takes about 20 minutes and you don't really notice what is happening, but some people choose not to travel by the Eurostar because the idea of it worries them. The tunnel has been made safe enough, however, and there are two other tunnels that people can get out of quickly if there is a fire or an accident.

It is also possible to drive through the tunnel, but this takes much longer than the high-speed train. The trains have a top speed of 180 mph (300 kph), and run on special tracks(轨道). These tracks allow the train to go much faster.

The trains are very comfortable, just like all the other trains, and you can also buy plenty of food and drink in the restaurant car. There is just one thing that many people might feel a little pity---the train travels so fast, especially on the French side where it speeds up quite a lot. You can't really see anything out of the window.

根据短文内容，完成下列小题。

【1】Does the Eurostar travel between London and Paris?

【2】How long is the Channel Tunnel?

【3】How many tunnels are there to help people get out of if there is a fire?

【4】What makes the Eurostar go faster through the tunnel?

【5】What's special about the Eurostar?

11、

World Book Day falls on April 23 every year. It was set up by the UNESCO (联合国教科文组织) in 1955 to encourage people to discover the pleasure of reading. It means your teachers or parents tell you to do so. "Reading for pleasure" plays a more important role in one's growth than one's family background.

Books, magazines, newspapers and other kinds of materials can help us know more about the outside world and perfect us. However, computer games, online videos and Internet are pushing books off the shelf. Some experts believe it's a worrying trend(趋势). Each Chinese read 0.38 more books in 2013 than 2012 but still far fewer than those in major developed countries. Even worse, many bookstores have closed their doors because many book lovers start to buy fewer books than before.

However, many people do still prefer reading because it has been part of their life. It can benefit(使受益) people in many ways. It gives us information about other countries and places of the world. It also has a strong influence on forming our personality and makes us more intelligent. The more we read, the more we know. The more we know, the smarter we become. It's never too late to start reading. So jump into the wonderful world of books now!

根据短文内容，完成下列小题。

【1】In which of the countries does each person read more than 15 books in a year?

【2】Why did people set up World Book Day?

【3】What are the experts worrying about?

【4】Is it right that each Chinese read 0.38 more books in 2012 than 2011? If not, what's the result?

【5】How many books did you read in 2013? What do you think of reading?

12、

Every school has its own set of rules to keep students disciplined(守纪律的)．The rules change from one school to another. Some schools are much stricter than others. There are also some rules that look strange or funny to us. Here are some funny school rules：

Japan: Most schools demand that students wear uniforms, such as sports suits or skirts. But many Japanese schools even regulate(规定) the color of underwear(内衣)！They also demand that girls' white socks be folded in a certain way and boys' heads be shaved(刮过的)．Other Japanese schools tell students that they can not date(约会), go to movies, leave home after sunset or play video games without permission.

The USA: For safety at USA schools, students must have a pair of indoor shoes to change into at school every day. Because this makes sure students won't fall over on the slippery floors and keeps the schools clean. Gum chewing is not allowed in USA school buildings, because it is difficult to clean up. And if students chew gum(口香糖) in class, they may not focus(专心) on their study.

Britain:  Strange hairstyles are not allowed in some British schools. But they might allow students to wear certain hairstyles during the World Cup. Two students had a special design shaved into their hair during 2014 World Cup. But they were not accepted by their school after that because the school said the rules had changed since then.