It is not clear who first fried potatoes in hot oil. However, it is widely agreed that French fries(炸薯条) were prepared as early as the 1700s in Europe. Most people believe that it was the Belgians (比利时人), instead of the French, who invented “French”fries. They think that French fries got this name from the cooking word “to french” --- to cut green beans into long thin strips (条).
When Thomas Jefferson traveled to France, he enjoyed the deep-fried potatoes very much and brought them home with him. Ever since he served French fries to his guests at a Whitehouse dinner in 1802, the dish has become very popular in America.
In the summer of 1853, an American Indian called George Crum worked as a cook at Moon Lake Lodge, a hotel in Saratoga Springs, New York. He was good at making French fries. One evening, a dinner guest found Crum’s French fries too thick and sent them back to the kitchen. Crum then cut and fried some thinner French fries, but these, too, were met with disapproval. This time, the cook got angry. So he decided to play a trick on the guest. He finally made fries that were too thin to eat with a fork. To his surprise, the guest loved the browned, paper-thin chips. The browned chips, then called Saratoga Chips, became one of the most popular dishes of the hotel. Soon they were being sold, first in local restaurants, then throughout New England.
【小题1】The French fries were believed to be introduced to America in _________________________.

A．the early 1700s	B．the early1800s
C．the early 1900s	D．the summer of 1853

【小题2】By saying “these, too, were met with disapproval” in Paragraph 3, the author means that __________________.

A．the guest still didn’t like the dish

B．the French fries were thin enough

C．the cook prepared the chips carefully

D．the cook had met the guest’s need

【小题3】How were Saratoga Chips invented?

A．They were introduced by Thomas Jefferson.

B．A guest told a cook how to make the chips.

C．A cook made them only to play a trick on a guest.

D．A cook invented them in order to attract more guests.

【小题4】Which of the following would be the best title for the text?

A．America’s Favorite Food	B．Who Invented Saratoga Chips?
C．George Crum --- a Clever Cook	D．The History of French Fries

You may know your mother, but how well do you really know Mother’s Day? Cards, flowers, sales, TV specials, and a day off for someone who really deserves it ---- those are what probably come to mind for many people when they think of Mother’s Day. But there’s more to the story.
The earliest Mother’s Day celebrations were held during spring in ancient Greece. The celebrations honored Rhea, the Mother of the gods. During the 1600’s, England celebrated a day called Mothering Sunday. On this day even servants were given the day off to spend with their families. A mothering cake was even served with the family meal.
In the US, Mother’s Day began in 1872 when Julia Ward Howe, who wrote the words to the famous song The Battle Hymn of the Republic, suggested it as a day devoted to peace. But it didn’t really become popular until 1907 when Anna Jarvis stared a campaign to honor mothers. She believed that mothers could help people get over the pain they experienced during the Civil
War. The US isn’t alone in devoting a day to mothers. Many other countries including Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, Japan, and Belgium also honor their mothers in May. Other countries honor their mothers at different times of the year.
Learning more about Mother’s Day and celebrating Mother’s Day are important, but probably not as important as understanding what your own mother, or grandmother, or aunt has really done for you. And that will certainly be appreciated more than one day in a year.
【小题1】What is the passage mainly about?

A．The reason why people celebrate Mother’s Day.	B．The ways people honor mothers.
C．The history of Mother’s Day.	D．The great contribution of mothers.

【小题2】Where was the earliest Mother’s Day celebrated?

A．In ancient Greece.

B．In the US.

C．In England.

D．In Italy.

【小题3】We can learn from the passage that _____.

A．Rhea is the mother of a king in ancient Greece

B．not all the countries celebrate Mother’s Day in May

C．only mothers were given a day off on Mothering Sunday

D．it was in 1872 that Mother’s Day really came into being

【小题4】The last paragraph tells us that _____.

A．all the people should celebrate Mother’s Day

B．only mothers are honored on Mother’s Day

C．understanding mothers’ work is more important than just celebrating Mother’s Day

D．people should celebrate Mother’s Day every day

Malaysia is a country of exciting beauty, with a tropical（热带的） climate. Malaysia’s weather is hotter in the lowlands and cooler in the mountains and highlands. Temperatures vary between 20 and 30 centigrade. Rainfall can be expected at any time, with an average of between 200 and 260 centimeters.
The Malaysian population consists of Malays, Chinese, Indians and Eurasians. Its main religions are Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism and Christianity. Its national language is Malay. English is widely spoken and is used all over the country. Other languages spoken in Malaysia are some Chinese dialects, Tamil, Portuguese and Arabic.
Malaysia is an exciting and fascinating place for tourists, with something special planned throughout the year. The natural attractions are plentiful, with magnificent mountains lying in green, large stretches of sandy beaches and hospitable and friendly people.
Malaysia’s economy is the most advanced in this part of the world. The annual income is M$1, 680, one of the highest in the whole of Asia. Malaysia is the world’s leading exporter of rubber, tin, tropical hardwood, palm oil, pepper, tea, coffee and cocoa and has vast resources of oil.
Malaysia’s capital is Kuala Lumpur in the southwest of the Malay Peninsula. Kuala Lumpur arose in the 1860s when tin was discovered, grew and spread very quickly. It became the state’s capital within forty years of its founding. Now it is home to over one million inhabitants(居民), about 56% of whom are Chinese, 28% Malays and the rest are from anywhere and everywhere.
【小题1】If you visit Malaysia, you will see ________.

A．people of the white and yellow races

B．many temples and churches

C．beautiful tropical scenery

D．All of the above.

【小题2】Though Malay is Malaysia’s national language, ______.

A．over half of its population speak Chinese

B．English is also a popular language

C．people don’t know Malay

D．it’s only spoken by Malays

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

A．Malaysia is one of the richest countries in Asia.

B．It rains a little now and a little then in Malaysia.

C．Kuala Lumpur became Malaysia’s capital before 1910.

D．Malaysia is rich in agricultural products.

“Before you fall in love, you'd better get a job”
As told by Lee Joon-ho, 20, a senior in law at Seoul National University
Korean TV dramas have shown a lot of rebellious(反叛的) youth, but in fact most students still live a traditional life.
Confucianism has a great influence on us. For instance, Confucius said that we should be dutiful to our parents and value the family. Thus we prefer a school that's close to home so we can go back every day.
Also as a result of Confucianism, teachers enjoy a high status in Korea. The other day, my professor was flying to Vienna on a business trip. Instead of waiting for hours in the queue, he was told to check in first and didn't have any problem with overweight luggage.
When it comes to important decision-making, such as choosing a university, a job, and a wife, we listen to our parents' suggestions. Most parents seem liberal in study decisions, but they take a firmer attitude towards their children's love and marriage choices. Often, a man has to have his own business or a solid career before he's allowed to pursue romance.
Male chauvinism is popular among our parents' generation, since they had to support the whole family through hard work. We need to shoulder the same responsibility, but we've also learned to respect women, as they're doing outstanding work in lots of areas. But to be honest, my friends and I still prefer a traditional woman as a girlfriend and future wife. We want her to be elegant and thoughtful in taking care of a family.
Our sense of tradition is also reflected in our buying habits. In my house, you see only Korean appliances. Although European cell phones are available in ROK, we favor LG and Samsung, which are suited more to our tastes and widely promoted in TV dramas and films.
【小题1】The professor was told to check in first because _________.   

A．His luggage was overweight.

B．He had waited for hours.

C．People respect teachers in Korea.

D．He was on a business trip.

【小题2】Which of the statements is true according to the passage?       

A．Generally speaking, men need to support the whole family in Korea.

B．Korean women have no freedom in choosing husbands.

C．Male chauvinism is popular among young people now.

D．Young people are out of control of their parents.

【小题3】From the last paragraph we can learn that _________.           

A．You can not find European cell phones in Korea.

B．You can see advertisements for LG and Samsung in Korean TV dramas and films.

C．Korean cell phones are traditional.

D．The Korean people have a sense of tradition.

【小题4】What is the passage mainly about?              

A．Korean youth are rebellious.

B．Korean youth will not love anyone until they find a job.

C．Most Korea students live a traditional life.

D．Confucius has a great influence on the Korean people.

The campaign（竞选）is over. The celebrations have ended. And the work for US president-elect Barack Obama has begun.
The 47-year-old politician rose to the highest post because of his stand against the war in Iraq and his plans to fix a weak economy. But what will the first 47-year-old African-American president do for race relations?
Obama’s victory appears to have given blacks and other minorities（少数民族）a true national role model. For years, many looked to athletes and musicians for inspiration. As Darius Turner, an African-American high school student in Los Angeles, told the Los Angeles Times, “Kobe doesn’t have to be everybody’s role model anymore.”
However, Bill Bank, an expert of African-American Studies, says that eventually young blacks need to find role models in their own communities. “That’s not Martin Luther King, and not Barack Obama,” he told the Los Angeles Times. “It’s actually the people closest to them. Barack only has so much influence. ”
In the opinion of black British politician Trevor Phillips, Obama’s rise will contribute more to multiculturalism than to race relations in the US.
“When the G8 meets, the four most important people in the room will be the president of China, the prime minister of India, the prime minister of Japan and Barak Obama,” he told London’s The Times newspaper. “It will be the first time we’ve seen that on our television screens. That will be a huge psychological shift（心理转变）for both the white people and the colored ones in the world. ”
【小题1】 For years, before Obama was elected president of the US, __________.

A．Kobe was the only role model for all the blacks

B．blacks could only find role models on the basketball court

C．minorities in America couldn’t find role models in their real life

D．American blacks had no role model who was successful in political area

【小题2】According to Bill Bank, ____________.

A．it’s better for young blacks to find role models in those who are close to them

B．young blacks should not be so much influenced by Obama

C．blacks should find other role models because Obama is far from their reality

D．Obama is not the proper role model for African-Americans

【小题3】What would be the best title for this passage?

A．The First African-American President	B．America’s New Role Model
C．Obama-- A Successful Black.	D．Choosing a Right Role Model

【小题4】What will be the huge psychological shift Trevor mentioned at the end of the passage?

A．The other three leaders all support Obama.

B．Obama is an African-American president.

C．None of the four leaders is white.

D．The other three leaders except Obama are from Asian countries.

Thanksgiving Day is a special holiday in the United States and Canada.Families and friends gather to eat and give thanks for their blessing.
Thanksgiving Day is really a harvest festival.This is why it is celebrated in late fall，after the crops are in. But one of the first thanksgivings in America had nothing to do with a good harvest.On December 4,1619，the Pilgrims from England landed near what is now Charles City，Virginia.They knelt down and thanked God for their safe journey across the Atlantic.
The first New England Thanksgiving did celebrate a rich harvest.The Pilgrims landed at what is now Plymouth，Massachusetts，in 1620.They had a difficult time and the first winter was cruel.Many of the Pilgrims died. But the next year，they had a good harvest.So Governor Bradford declared a three­day feast (盛宴).The Pilgrims invited Indian friends to join them for their special feast. Everyone brought food.
In time，other colonies (殖民地) began to celebrate a day of thanksgiving. But it took years before there was a national Thanksgiving Day. During the Civil War，Sarah Josepha Hale persuaded Abraham Lincoln to do something about it. He proclaimed (宣布) the last Thursday of November 1863 as a day of thanksgiving. Today, Americans celebrate this happy harvest festival on the fourth Thursday in November.Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving Day in much the same way as their American neighbours.But the Canadian Thanks­giving Day falls on the second Monday in October.
【小题1】Thanksgiving Day is celebrated         .

A．in spring	B．in summer
C．in autumn	D．in winter

【小题2】The first to celebrate thanksgiving were         .

A．some people from England

B．the American Indians

C．Sarah Josepha Hale

D．Governor Bradford

【小题3】We can infer from the passage that New England must be         .
A.in the U.S.A.
B.in Great Britain
C.in Canada
D.on some island off the Atlantic
【小题4】Which of the following is NOT true?

A．Thanksgiving Day used to be a holiday to celebrate a good harvest.

B．Abraham Lincoln was not the first to decide on thanksgiving celebrations.

C．Thanksgiving Day is celebrated to express the American and Indian people’s thanks to God.

D．There’s little difference between the American way and the Canadian way to celebrate Thanksgiving Day.

【小题5】The passage mainly tells us         .
A.how Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in the U.S.A.
B.how Thanksgiving Day came into being and the different ways it is celebrated
C.that Thanksgiving Day is in fact a harvest holiday
D.how the way to celebrate Thanksgiving Day changed with the time and places

Canada is a very large country .It is the second largest country in the world .By contrast it has a very small population. There are only about 30 million people there. Most Canadians are of British or French origin, and French is an official language of Canada as well as English. About 45% of the people are of British origin, that is, they or their parents or grandparents, etc, come from British. Nearly 30% are of French origin. Most of the French –Canadians live in province of Quebec.
Over the years, people have come to live in Canada from many countries in the world. They are from many countries in the world. They are from most European countries and also from China, besides other Asian countries.
However, Canada was not an empty country when the Europeans began to arrive. Canadian Indians lived along the coast, by the rivers and lakes and in forests. Today, there are only about 350 000 Indians in the whole country, with their own languages. In the far north live the Inuit. There are only 27 000 Canadian-Inuit. Their life is hard in such a difficult climate.
【小题1】 About ________ live in Quebec.

A．35% of the French –Canadians	B．45% of the Canadians
C．30 000 000 people	D．8 700 000 French –Canadians

【小题2】 The official languages of Canada are ________ .

A．English and Chinese	B．French and English
C．Indian and French	D．Chinese and Inuit

【小题3】 The word “origin” in the passage means ________.
A 血统        B .后裔        C . 先驱         D . 猿人
【小题4】About 23% of people came from _________ .
A China        B. England  
C. France      D. some other countries except France and Britain
【小题5】Which of the following is TRUE according to this passage?

A．There are 27 000 Canadian-Indians in Canada

B．More than 13 million people have come from Britain and France recent years.

C．There are 30% of the population whose parents or grandparents come from France

D．There are no people when the Europeans began to arrive in Canada

YANGON -- Myanmar has officially accepted an offer of the United States to send humanitarian aid(人道主义援助) to the country’s cyclone(飓风;暴风)victims, state radio reported Friday in a night broadcast Myanmar Deputy Foreign Minister U Kyaw Thu gave the assurance Friday, saying that the country is receiving such relief aid from any country without limit at this time according to its policy(政策) of dealing with the disaster, the report said.
Kyaw Thu denied rumors about Myanmar’s turning down of such relief materials from Western countries but accept those from nations in good relations with Myanmar, saying that the country has never done so in this case.
Kyaw Thu said that well wishers abroad may make cash donation through Myanmar embassies（使馆）stationed there, while those who like to donate relief goods may present at the Yangon International Airport and seaports.
According to the report, the US relief aid would arrive in Yangon in days.
A foreign ministry’s statement said earlier on Friday that at this moment, the international community can best help the victims by donating emergency provisions such as medical supplies, food, cloth, electricity generator, and materials for emergency shelter or with financial assistance," adding that "Myanmar will wholeheartedly welcome such course of action".
The government and the people of Myanmar are grateful to the friendly nations, the United Nations, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, private individuals and others for their sympathy and generosity." it said.
【小题1】Which of the following is true?

A．The US relief aid was turned down at first and then accepted.

B．The US relief aid has been sent to the capital city of Myanmar.

C．There are rumors（谣言）that Myanmar has turned down the US relief aid.

D．Myanmar will wholeheartedly welcome such course of action but the US relief aid.

【小题2】We Chinese may denote money to help the country’s cyclone victims through_____.

A．Myanmar embassies in Beijing.

B．the Yangon International Airport

C．the United Nations

D．the Yangon International seaports.

【小题3】 What is Myanmar’s policy toward the aids from abroad?

A．Myanmar prefers cash donation to relief goods.

B．Myanmar only receives emergency provisions such as medical supplies, food, cloth, electricity generator, etc.

C．Myanmar receives donation relief aid from any country without any limit.

D．Myanmar prefers relief goods to cash donation.

【小题4】The title that best expresses the idea of the passage is _______.

A．How to help Myanmar.

B．Myanmar accepts US humanitarian aid officially.

C．Myanmar is receiving relief aid from any country without limit.

D．The government and the people of Myanmar are grateful.

One Canada, Two Languages
Canada is one of the few nations in the world to have two official languages: English and French. There are 10 provinces in the country but only one of these—Quebec is known as “French Canada”. This is because it was founded by French explorers while British adventurers discovered the rest.
Canada left the British empire(帝国) in 1867 to become an independent country and English and French have been recognized as the official languages ever since.
Most people speak English as their first language and the two national television networks broadcast in English throughout the country. Apart from in Quebec and a few places on the east coast, French television is very rare.
The same goes for traffic signs and menus, for example, outside of Quebec, there are only a few places where you’ll see traffic signs in French. In restaurants, it’s almost impossible to find French on the menu unless you are in the heartland (中心地带) of French Canada. However, all  products sold in Canada must, by law, have labels (标签) and instructions in both languages.
In Canada’s English speaking provinces, official bilingualism (双语) means that students can choose to complete a special French language course. Under this program, they are taught most of their subjects in French.
If a student begins the course in kindergarten (幼儿园) or Grade One, it is likely that all their lessons will be in French. However, if they start at junior high school, 25 percent of the teaching will continue to be in English.
【小题1】How many provinces are there in Canada?

A．Ten.

B．Nine.

C．Eleven.

D．Two.

【小题2】Which country controlled Canada before its independence?

A．France.

B．Britain.

C．America.

D．Germany

【小题3】Where can you watch French television programs?

A．Only in Quebec.

B．In Quebec and a few other places.

C．From the two national television networks.

D．All over Canada

【小题4】What do we know about the education in Canada?

A．In English speaking provinces only English courses are offered.

B．If you choose a special French language course, most of the subjects are taught in French.

C．The courses in primary school are all taught in English.

D．Most of the courses in junior high schools are taught in English.

The word “day” has two meanings. When we talk about the number of days in a year, we are using “day” to mean 24 hours. But when we talk about day and night, we are using “day” to mean the time between sunrise and sunset. Since the earth looks like a ball, the sun can shine on only half of it at a time. Always one half of the earth is having day and the other half night. A place is moved from day into night and from night into day over and over by the spinning(旋转) of the earth. At the equator(赤道) day and night are sometimes the same length. They are each twelve hours long. The sun rises at 6 in the morning and sets at 6 in the evening. For six months the North Pole is tilted(倾斜) toward the sun. In those months the Northern Hemisphere(半球) gets more hours of sunlight than the Southern Hemisphere. Days are longer than nights. South of the equator nights are longer than days. For the other six months the North Pole is tilted away from the sun. Then the Southern Hemisphere gets more sunlight. Days are longer than night. North of the equator nights are longer than days. Winter is the season of long nights. Summer is the season of long days.
【小题1】When the Western Hemisphere is having day, the Eastern Hemisphere is having ______.

A．both day and night

B．day

C．neither day nor night

D．night

【小题2】A place is moved from day into night and from night into day over and over by ______ of the earth.

A．the pushing

B．the pulling

C．the spinning

D．the passing

【小题3】At the equator day is as long as night ______.

A．sometimes

B．never

C．usually

D．always

【小题4】When the North Pole is tilted toward the sun, the Northern Hemisphere gets _____ sunlight.

A．less

B．more

C．all

D．no

【小题5】When it is winter in China, ______.

A．the USA is tilted toward the sun

B．the South Pole is tilted away from the sun

C．the North Pole is tilted toward the sun

D．the North Pole is tilted away from the sun