The National Dark-Sky Week (NDSW) is a week during which people all over the United States turn off their lights to enjoy the beauty of the night sky without light pollution. This even was started by Jennifer Barlow of Midlothian, Virginia in 2003, and it is becoming more popular each year. It has been supported by the International Dark-Sky Association, the American Astronomical Society, and the Astronomical League.
This even always occurs in April, during the week of the new moon so that the sky can be as dark as possible for the best viewing conditions.
“It is my wish that people could see the night sky without other light in the sky as our ancestors (祖先) saw it hundreds of years ago,” explains Barlow.
Since it only lasts a week and not everyone in the country will take part in it, how will the National Dark-Sky Week reduce light pollution? The main goal of NDSW is to increase awareness (意识) of the harmful effects of light pollution. It is not possible for all of the light pollution in this part of the world to disappear. However, it is possible to make a small difference in the quality of the night sky. Another goal of this even is to promote (促进) the use of better lighting systems that direct light toward the ground instead of up into the sky.
Jennifer Barlow states, “The night sky is a gift of such beauty that it should not be polluted by wasted light. In this way, our children will not lose touch with the wonder of our universe.”
【小题1】This passage is mainly about ______________.

A．better lighting systems	B．the beauty of the night sky
C．the harm of light pollution	D．the National Dark-Sky Week

【小题2】Which of the following statements about the National Dark-Sky Week is WRONG?

A．It is becoming more and more popular in America.

B．The event was started in 2003 by Jennifer Barlow.

C．The event takes place in the first week of every April.

D．American people are supposed to turn off their lights during that week.

【小题3】What is Jennifer Barlow’s wish?

A．That light would be directed up into the sky.

B．That the sky would always be as dark as possible.

C．That people could see the night sky without light pollution as our ancestors did.

D．That people could spend time enjoying the beauty of the sky every night.

【小题4】We can infer from the underlined（划线的）sentence in Paragraph 4 that ________.

A．many people in America hate this event

B．it may be hard to reduce light pollution

C．the event should last a month every year

D．light will no longer pollute the sky soon

【小题5】What is the main goal of the National Dark-Sky Week?

A．To promote the use of better lighting systems.

B．To help people realize the harm of light pollution.

C．To cause all the light pollution in America to disappear.

D．To help young children enjoy the wonder of our universe.

Movie makers at one time worried that they might be put out of business by television. Recently, however, more and more people have been going to the movies. This may be partly because the economic situation in America has worsened. When at the movies, people forget their troubles, as they get involved in the story on the screen. Also, directors have recently been producing pictures that large numbers of people want to see.
Americans in the millions are returning to their love affair with the movies. Motion picture industry experts see two main factors responsible for this: an increased need by Americans to escape from economic worries and a large number of new movies with broad audience appeal.
Movie makers admit that their rising popularity is partly the result of poor economic conditions, which traditionally bring an increase in theater attendance. “When people are fearful about the future, they look for escape,” comments Jack Valenti, president of the Motion Picture Association of America. “In a shaded theater, with a 65-foot screen, you lose yourself for two and a half hours and people find this beneficial.”　
【小题1】What did movie makers worry about before?

A．That no one would go to the cinema.

B．That movies couldn’t be a business any more.

C．That their movies might be played on television.

D．That people preferred watching TV to seeing films.

【小题2】Why are so many people going to see movies now?

A．Because people now have much more money.

B．Because people have troubles.

C．Because people wanted to escape from real life.

D．Because watching movies is now much cheaper than watching TV.

【小题3】The main topic of American movies is about          .

A．economy

B．love

C．tradition

D．not mentioned

【小题4】According to the passage, which statement is True?

A．At present, more and more people have been going to the movies.

B．Movies attracted people only by motion pictures.

C．Jack Valenti is anxiously looking for escape from movies.

D．Movie industry is welcome by Chinese people.

【小题5】What does the underlined word mean in the first paragraph?

A．become bad

B．become popular

C．become attractive

D．become amazing

Tourism wasn’t as important as it is today. In the past, only people with a good deal of money could travel on holidays to other countries. More people travel today than in the past because there is a growing middle class in many parts of the world; that is to say, people now have more money for travel. Special plane fares for tourists make travel less expensive and more attractive than ever before. One person doesn’t travel for the same reason as another. But most people enjoy seeing countries that are different from their own. They also like to meet new people and to taste new food.
Tourism causes many changes in a country and in people’s lives. People build new hotels and restaurants and train native men and women as guides to show visitors around interesting places. There’re new nightclubs and other amusements. International tourism is clearly a big business.
【小题1】In the old days _________ could travel to other countries.

A．boys and girls, men or women, young or old

B．either kings or queens

C．both the poor and the rich

D．nobody but those who had money

【小题2】More people travel today than in the past because______________.

A．people have become interested in traveling

B．traveling today is easier than in the past

C．people now have spare money for travel

D．great changes have taken place in the world

【小题3】What makes travel more attractive than before?

1. Travel by air to other countries is much cheaper today.
2. More guides are being trained to show beautiful spots.
3. Modern telegraph lines make travel less expensive.
4. New hotels and restaurants have been built.

【小题4】Which of the following statements is true according to the article?

A．Tourism won’t bring any changes in people’s minds.

B．People have some trouble in making journey.

C．With the development of tourism, great changes have taken place in many parts in the world.

D．Tourism causes only some changes in clothing.

【小题5】What is the best title of the passage?

A．The Change of Tourism	B．Tourism
C．The Importance of Tourism	D．The Cause of Tourism Change

Started in 1636, Harvard University is the oldest of all the many colleges and universities in the United States. Yale, Princeton, Columbia and Dartmouth were opened soon after Harvard.
In the early years, these schools were much alike. Only young men went to college. All the students studied the same subjects, and everyone learned Latin, Greek and Hebrew. Little was known about science then, and one kind of school could teach everything that was known about the world. When the students graduated, most of them became ministers or teachers.
In 1782, Harvard started a medical school for young men who wanted to become doctors. Later, lawyers could receive their training in Harvard's law school. In 1825, besides Latin and Greek, Harvard began teaching modern languages, such as French and German. Soon it began teaching American history.
As knowledge increased, Harvard and other colleges began to teach many new subjects. Students were allowed to choose the subjects that interested them.
Today, there are many different kinds of colleges and universities. Most of them are made up of smaller schools that deal with（涉及）special fields of learning. There's so much to learn that one kind of school can't offer it all.
【小题1】The oldest university in the US is _________.

A．Yale

B．Harvard

C．Princeton

D．Columbia

【小题2】From the second paragraph, we can see that in the early years,______.

A．those colleges and universities were the same

B．people, young or old, might study in the colleges

C．students studied only some languages and science

D．when the students finished their school, they became lawyers or teachers

【小题3】Modern languages the Harvard taught in 1825 were ________.

A．Latin and Greek

B．Latin, Green, French and German

C．American history and German

D．French and German

【小题4】As knowledge increased, colleges began to teach_______.

A．everything that was known

B．law and something about medicine

C．many new subjects

D．the subjects that interested students

【小题5】On the whole, the passage is about___________.

A．how to start a university

B．the world-famous colleges in America

C．how colleges have changed

D．what kind of lesson each college teaches

As I was leaving to meet Lynne，my roommate told me that I’d better take some money，but I didn’t listen to him. I thought that Lynne would pay because she had invited me.
I arrived at the restaurant exactly on time. I’d been told that Americans expect you to be on time. Lynne and I sat at a table in the corner of the restaurant and a waitress came and took our order. The dinner was a great success. I talked a lot about Saudi Arabia and Lynne told me all about herself. After two hours the waitress finally came and asked if we wanted one check or two. Lynne said two. We went to the cashier and Lynne paid her check. I was embarrassed (尴尬) when the cashier gave me my bill. I had no money to pay for my meal. Then I had an idea. I pretended to look for something in my pockets and said，“Oh！I forgot my money! Can I call my roommate，please？” The cashier showed me where the phone was and I quickly called my roommate.
In a few minutes he arrived with some money，but he couldn’t hide how he felt. He laughed all the way home.
Now，I think it’s funny too. But at the time I was terribly embarrassed. I thought that an invitation to have dinner meant the same thing in the United States as in my country. I guess you have to understand that your customs（习俗） are only your customs. When you visit a foreign country，you have to learn about their customs，too.
【小题1】Customs can be ________in different countries according to this passage.

A．close to each other	B．entirely different
C．quite the same	D．very similar

【小题2】The writer’s roommate advised the writer to take some money with him to________.

A．invite Lynne to dinner	B．pay for the table
C．share the cost of the meal	D．pay for the restaurant

【小题3】The writer and Lynne________.

A．shared a successful dinner

B．had a talk for three hours

C．traveled to Saudi Arabia together

D．enjoyed their meal without talking

【小题4】Why didn’t Lynne pay the check for the writer?

A．Because she thought it was natural for people to pay their own check.

B．Because she didn’t have the meal.

C．Because she wanted to embarrass the writer.

D．Because she didn’t have enough money with her.

【小题5】The roommate laughed all the way home because the writer________.

A．was embarrassed when he couldn’t pay his breakfast

B．would not listen to him when he left the house

C．telephoned him to bring some books to him

D．hadn’t told Lynne the truth

The 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. 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 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.
【小题1】The aim of the mother’s plan was to _________.

A．take them to visit the museum

B．introduce them to the world of art

C．ask them to read about artists

D．show them different painting styles

【小题2】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.

【小题3】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.

【小题4】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

【小题5】The writer and her brother had thought that they could ___________ in their summer vacation.

A．visit some art museums

B．go to Egypt for a visit

C．take drawing or painting classes

D．play with their friends.

As is known to all, colors appear in every language to express people’s feeling and thoughts．Then, what is the situation in American English?
Red is a hot color．Americans may say they are red hot about something unfair．They are red hot when they are very angry about something．The small hot-tasting peppers found in many Mexican foods are called red hot for their color and their fiery taste．Fast loud music is popular with many people．They may say the music is red hot, especially the kind called Dixieland Jazz．
Pink is a lighter kind of red．People sometimes say they are in the pink when they are in good health．The expression was first used in America at the beginning of the twentieth century．It comes from the fact that many babies are born with nice pink skin that shows that they are in good health．
The color black is often used in expressions．People describe a day on which everything goes wrong as a black day．People or things on a blacklist are connected with things illegal now．But at one time, some businesses refused to employ people who were on a blacklist for belonging to unpopular organizations．
The color green is natural for trees and grass．But it is an unnatural color for humans．A person who has a sick feeling in his stomach may say he feels a little green．A passenger on a boat who is feeling very sick from high waves may look very green．
Sometimes a person may be upset because he does not have something as nice as a friend has．That person may say he is green with envy．Some people are green with envy because a friend has more dollars or greenbacks．Dollars are called greenbacks because green is the color of the back side of the paper money．
【小题1】Americans use “red hot” to describe the following EXCEPT _______．

A．something unfair

B．small hot-tasting peppers

C．the person who is very angry

D．popular music like Dixieland Jazz

【小题2】People use “in the pink” to express they are in good health because _______．

A．the expression has a very long history

B．the color pink makes people feel happy

C．people think the color pink is gentler than red

D．healthy babies are born with nice pink skin

【小题3】When we say someone feels a little green, it means he/she _______．

A．enjoys himself in boating	B．is hit by a high wave
C．has a stomachache	D．likes trees and grass

【小题4】In the writer’s eyes, what is related to a black day?

A．Being sent a beautiful gift．

B．Passing a very difficult test．

C．Failing in an important interview．

D．Being invited to an exciting party．

Hundreds of years ago, a Roman army came north from England to make war on Scotland. The Scots, a brave people, love their country. They fought hard to drive the enemy out of Scotland. But there were too many of the Romans. It looked as if the Romans would win.
　　One night, the leader of the Scots marched his soldiers to the top of a hill. “We will rest here tonight, my men,” he said, “Tomorrow we will fight one more battle①. We must win, or we will die.”
　　They were all very tired. So they ate their supper quickly and fell asleep. There were four guards on duty, but they were very tired, too, and one by one, they fell asleep.
　　The Romans were not asleep. Quickly they gathered at the foot of the hill. Slowly they went up the hill. Closer they came to the sleeping Scots. They were almost at the top. A few minutes more the war would be over. Suddenly, one of them put his foot on a thistle (蓟). He cried out and his sudden cry woke the Scots. In a minute they were on their feet and ready for a battle. The fighting was hard, but it did not last long. The Scots wiped out the Romans and saved Scotland②.
　　The thistle is not a beautiful plant. It has sharp needles all over it. Few people liked it. But the people of Scotland liked it so much that they made it their national flower.
　【小题1】 Hundreds of years ago, the Romans ____ .

A．came from the north through England to make war on Scotland

B．came to the north Scotland from England to make war on Scotland

C．came from the north of England to fight the Scots

D．came to the north from the south of Britain to fight the Scots

　【小题2】At the shout of a Roman soldier, all the Scots who were asleep at the hill ____ .

A．began to fight the Romans hard

B．stood up without putting on their shoes and began to fight

C．woke and rose immediately, ready to fight

D．put their feet into their shoes at once and were ready to fight

　【小题3】The result of the war is that ____ .

A．the Romans killed all the Scots

B．the Scots were defeated

C．the Scots were driven out of Scotland

D．the Scots defeated the Romans

　【小题4】 The Scots made thistle their national flower because thistle ____ .

A．is lovely, though not beautiful

B．gave them happiness

C．is a kind of useful plant

D．helped the Scots in wiping out the Romans

(You may read the questions first.)

Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Theatrical Release Date: July 1, 2011
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Director: Michael Bay
Genre: Action︱Adventure︱Sequel︱ Sci-Fi︱ 3D
The Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, are back in action, taking on the evil Decepticons. The Autobots and Decepticons become involved in a dangerous space race. The Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft on the Moon and must race against the Decepticons to find its secrets, which could turn the tide in the Transformers’ final battle. Shockwave, a longtime “Transformers” character, rules Cybertron while the Autobots and Decepticons battle it out on Earth.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II
Theatrical Release Date: July 15, 2011
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Director: David Yates
Genre: Action︱Adventure︱Sequel︱Fantasy︱3D
In part II, the battle between the good and evil forces of the Wizarding world evolves into an all-out war. This final adventure continues Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s attempt to find and destroy Voldemort’s remaining Horcruxes. Harry Potter is called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice to bring an end to his nemesis.

Winnie the Pooh
Theatrical Release Date: July 15, 2011
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Director: Don Hall, Stephen J. Anderson
Genre: Sequel︱Family Animation
Winnie the Pooh is a 2011 American traditionally animated feature film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. Based upon the characters of the children’s books Winnie-the-Pooh, The House at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne and Return to the Hundred Acre Wood by David Benedictus, the film features two previously unadapted stories from the original books.
In the movie, Owl sends the whole gang to save Christopher Robin from an imaginary bad character, and it turns out to be a very busy day for Winnie the Pooh who simply set out to find some honey.
【小题1】Which of the following is not the genre of Transformers: Dark of the Moon?
A. Action.                            B. Sequel.                            C. 3D.                                   D. Fantasy.
【小题2】According to the Movie Express above, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II is mainly about _______.

A．a journey of Harry, Ron, and Hermione

B．high risks of the final adventure

C．an all-out war between good and evil forces

D．a fear of Lord Voldemort

【小题3】Who might be most interested in the Movie Express of Winnie the Pooh?

A．Would-be parents.	B．Families with children.
C．Writers of children’s books.	D．Honey lovers.

B
Have you ever considered all the English expressions that include words about clothes? Let’s have a look．
People wear pants to cover the lower part of their bodies．We sometimes say that people who are nervous have ants in their pants．Sometimes，people may get caught with their pants down．They are found doing something they should not be doing．And，in every family，one person takes contro1．Sometimes a wife tells her husband what to do．Then we say she wears the pants in the family.
Pants usually have pockets to hold things．Money that is likely to be spent quickly can bum a hole in your pocket．Sometimes you need a belt to hold up your pants．If you have less money than usual，you may have to tighten your belt.
I always praise people who can save their money and not spend too much. l really take my hat off to them. Yet, when it comes to my own money, I spend it at the drop of a hat, which means I immediately spend it.
Boots are a heavy or strong kind of shoes. People who are too big for their boots think they are more important than they really are. I dislike such people.
My father is an important person. He runs a big company. He wears a suit and tie, and a shirt with sleeves that cover his arms. Some people who do not know him will think he is too serious and never shows his feelings openly. But I know that my father wears his heart on his sleeve.                                                                                                                               
【小题1】What is this passage mainly about?  

A．What pants mean in English.

B．Some special English expressions.

C．Some funny English expressions.

D．Some expressions related to clothes.

【小题2】Which of the following expressions can show someone is nervous?

A．Get caught with one's pants down.	B．Have ants in one's pants.
C．Wear the pants in the family.	D．Bum a hole in one's pocket.

【小题3】 If we say someone has to tighten his belt, we probably mean he        

A．has done something wrong	B．used to live a rich life
C．has put on the wrong pants	D．doesn’t have enough money

【小题4】Someone who spends his money at the drop of a hat most probably_           

A．doesn’t save money	B．earns much money
C．never wastes his money	D．spends more than he earns