In China, people talk about “Shuxiang”, which is very interesting. For example, 2006 is a “dog year”, and when a baby is born in this year, we say he or she is a little dog. Shuxiang usually brings people good luck. There are 12 animals below.
 social, having rich feelings, friendly but complaining
 hard, ordered, but keeping old
 brave, confident, but careless
 peaceful, having a good manner, a business head but cold emotion
 active, outgoing, popular but selfish
 fascinating(迷人的), thoughtful, but doubtful
 active, self-confident, wise but proud and angry
 kind, helpful, elegant but sad
 wide, clever, warm, unsatisfied but slick(圆滑的)
 confident, helpful, happy, but dressy
 realistic, loyal(忠诚的), practical
 hard, honest, simple, lucky but careless
6. When a baby is born in 2008, we can say he or she is a little     .
A. pig             B. rat             C. tiger       D. snake
7. If we call a boy a little horse, when was he born?
A. In 1998.       B. In 2000.    C. In 2002.    D. In 2004.
8. Mr Lu, our English teacher, was born in 1976, a dragon year. Can you choose the right description of his characteristics?
A. He is a active, self-confident, resourceful but proud and angry
B. He is kind, helpful, artistic but sad
C. He is active, outgoing, popular but selfish
D. He is fascinating, thoughtful but dressy and doubtful
9. If someone is brave, confident but careless, we can guess he was born in a    year.
A. rat            B. dog         C. horse       D. tiger
10. Which of the following is not true?
A. In China, when me talk about “Shuxiang”, it means twelve animals.
B. From the passage, we can know 2010 is a hare year.
C. Shuxiang perhaps brings you good luck, but we shouldn’t believe it.
D. A cock year always comes after a monkey year.

A passenger told an air hostess that he needed a cup of water to take his medicine when the plane just took off. she told him that she would bring him the water in ten minutes. thirty minutes later, when the passenger’s ring for service sounded, the air hostess flew in a hurry. she was kept so busy that she forgot to give him the water. As a result, the passenger was held up(延迟) to take his medicine. she hurried over to him with a cup of water, but he refused it.

   In the following hours on the flight, each time the air hostess passed the passenger she would ask him with a smile whether he needed help or not. but the passenger never paid attention to her. when he was going to get off the plane, the passenger asked the air hostess to hand him the passengers’ brochure(小册子). she was very sad. she knew that he would write down sharp words, but with a smile she handed it to him. off the plane, she opened the brochure, and broke a smile, for the passenger wrote, “on the flight, you asked me whether I need help or not for twelve times in all. how can I refuse your twelve sincere smiles?” That’s right! who can refuse twelve sincere smiles from a person?

1.What did the passenger need when the plane just took off ?

A. brochure to write something

B. A cup of water to take his medicine

C. The air hostess to make an apologize

D. To get off the plane at once

2.Why did the air hostess forget to give him the water ?

A. ecause the passenger was angry

B. Because the passenger was very cruel

C. Because she was very busy

D. Because she was not friendly to the passenger

3.Why was the air hostess very sad ?

A.She thought the passenger would write down bad words

B.She thought she couldn`t give the passenger any help

C.She thought the passenger would tell her manager

D.She thought she should say sorry to the passenger again

4.The Chinese meaning of the word “sincere”is ________

A.自豪的  B. 婉转的 C. 真诚的  D. 委屈的

5.Do you think which is the best title for the passage ?

A. The air hostess  B. A cup of water  C. Twelve smiles  D. On the plane 

I never saw my father home from work late or ill, nor did I ever see my father take a “night out with the boys”. He had no bobbies but just took care of his family.
For 22 years, since I left home for college, my father called me every Sunday at 9:00 am. He was always interested in my life-how my family was doing. The calls even came when he and my mother were in Australia, England or Florida.
Nine years ago when I bought me first house, my father, 67 years old, spent eight hours a day for three days, painting my house. He would not allow me to pay someone to have it done. All he asked, was a glass of iced tea, and that I hold a paintbrush for him and talk to him. But I was too busy, for I had a law practice to run, and I could not take the time to hold the paintbrush, or talk to my father.
Five years ago, my 71-year-old father spent five hours putting together a swing set（秋千）for my daughter. Again, all he asked was that I get him a glass of iced tea, and talk to him, But again, I had laundry to do, and the house to clean.
The morning on Sunday, January 16, 1995, my father telephoned me as usual, this time he had seemed to have forgotten some things we had discussed the week before. I had to get to church, and I cut the conversation short.
The call came at 4:40 am. That day my father was sent to hospital in Florida. I got on a plane immediately, and I vowed（发誓）that when I arrived, I would make up for the lost time, and have a nice long talk with him ad really get to know him.
I arrived in Florida at 1:00 am, but my father had passed away at 9:12 pm. This time it was he who did not have time to talk, or time to wait for me.
In the years since his death I have learnt much about my father, and even more about every single day.
【小题1】 We know from the reading that the father_____.