Playing is a serious business for children. In fact, it’s what they do best! Ask them why they do it, and kids will probably say, "Because it’s fun!" But it’s much more than that. It’s also good for them.

 Studies show that from birth babies begin learning through playing. They use their five senses to get to know their new world. Touching allows them to discover how different things feel. Brightly colored toys and clothing help develop a baby’s sense of sight.

   When small children choose which toy to play with, they begin developing their abilities in   making decisions. Children love toys that allow them to use their imagination. Sometimes an empty box is more fun than a high-tech (高科技) toy. That’s because a box can become anything a child imagines it to be.

   Crayons, paints and Ply-Doha（彩色塑泥） are also good because they allow children to create. Traditional building blocks teach important pre-math skills like problem-solving.

   Playing doesn’t become any less important once children start school.   ?    . Kids learn how to share, take turns and play by the rules（规则）．

1 Why is playing a serious business for children?

   A. Because it is fun.

   B. Because children like playing.

   C. Because children can get much more from playing.

   D. Because children make friends through playing.

2 Which sentence can be filled in the          ？

   A. Classroom is the most important place for children to learn life.

   B. Many useful lessons about life are learned on the school playground.

   C. Five senses are used in children’s study when they are at school.

   D. Children like to go to school if they can play on the school playground.

3 Which of the following is true?

   A. Arts can develop children’s creative ideas.

   B. Babies learn everything through playing.

   C. An empty box is less fun than a high-tech toy for children.

   D. Playing is no longer important for children after they start school.

4 What’s the passage mainly about?

   A. How to play with children.            B. How to develop children’s five senses.

   C. Playing is fun for children.            D. Playing is good for children’s development.

A thief entered the bedroom of the 30^th President of the United States, who met him and helped him escape punishment.
The event happened in the early morning hours on one of the first days when Calvin Coolidge came into power, late in August,1923. He and his family were living in the same third-floor suite (套房) at the Willard Hotel in Washington that they had moved in several years before. The former President’s wife was still living in the White House.
Coolidge woke up to see a stranger go through his clothes, remove a wallet and a watch chain.
Coolidge spoke, “I wish you wouldn’t take that.”
The thief, gaining his voice, said, “Why?”
“I don’t mean the watch and chain, only the charm (表坠). Take it near the window and read the words on its back, ” the president said.
The thief read, “Presented to Calvin Coolidge.”
“Are you President Coolidge?” he asked.
The president answered, “ Yes, and the House of Representatives（众议院）gave me the watch charm. I’m fond of it. It would do you no good. You want money. Let’s talk this over.”
Holding up the wallet, the young man said in a low voice, “I’ll take this and leave everything else.”
Coolidge, knowing there was 80 dollars in it, asked the young man to sit down and talk. He told the President he and his college roommate had overspent during their holiday and did not have enough money to pay their hotel bill.
Coolidge added up the roommate two rail tickets back to the college. Then he counted out 32 dollars and said it was a loan (借款).
He then told the young man, “There is a guard in the corridor(走廊).” The young man nodded and left through the same window as he had entered.
【小题1】What caused the thief to meet the President?

 “BANG!” the door caused a reverberation (回声). It was just standing there, with father standing on one side, and I was on the other side. We were both in great anger. “Never set foot in this house again!” stormed father. I rushed out of the flat and ran along the street. The street lights were shining, causing rather a sad feeling.

A young father who held a child in his arms walked past me. I felt as if I saw my childhood from another space: happy and carefree. But now … I don’t know whether it is because I have grown up or because dad is getting old. We differ in our ways of thinking. He always put his opinions and codes of behavior on me. Whenever I do something wrong, he never admits it. We are just like two people coming from two different worlds. I wandered in the streets, until I had only the street lights to keep me company. When I finally reached the high-rise apartment block in which I lived ,I saw that the light was still on.

I thought to myself: “Is father waiting for me, or is he still angry with me?”

All the lights were off except father’s. Dad was always like this. Maybe he didn’t know how to express himself. After an argument he has the habit of creeping up(悄悄地来到) in my sleep. This was how he always was．He has been a leader for so long that telling everyone else what to do has become his second nature. With the key in hand, I was as nervous as I had ever been. At last, I decided to open the door. As soon as I opened the door tears ran down my cheeks. I suddenly realized that the iron(铁的) door that I had imagined between us did not exist at all. Love—it’s second to none. 

1.Decide which is the best order of the following according to what happened in the passage.

a. I opened the door and entered the house.

b. Sadly I ran out into the street.

c. I reached the place where I lived and saw my house still brightly lit.

d. I thought of my father’s kindness towards me.

e. I walked about in the street without any aim.

A. b, e, d, c, a        B. b, e, c, d, a             C. b, e, a, c, d        D. b, e, c, a, d

2.What made the writer think of his childhood ?

A. The sight of the street lights.???????????????  

B. The sight of the empty street.

C. The sight of a father with a child in his arms.??

D. The sight of light in his own house.

3. Why do you think the father often shouts at his son?

A. perhaps the father is getting older and older. 

B. perhaps the son has already grown up.

C. perhaps they never agree with each other. 

D. perhaps the father has got used to doing that.

4. According to the passage what does “Love—it’s second to none” mean ?

A. 爱并没有什么??? B. 爱是第二位的???

C.? 爱是至高无上的??? D. 爱就是没什么

5.What conclusion can you come to after reading the passage?

A. The father treats his son in an unfair way. 

B. The father is actually kind to his son.

C. The father is neither kind nor cruel to his son. 

D. The father is always finding fault with his son.

I was lost in a strange country. And what's worse, the only word I knew of the language was the name of the hotel, but I pronounced(发音) it badly.

    I stopped and asked a friendly-looking newspaper seller. He smiled and handed me a paper. I shook my head (摇头) and said the name of the hotel again and he put the paper into my hands. I had to give him some money and went on my way.

    Then I met a policeman. I asked him at once. The policeman listened to me carefully, smiled and took me by the arm. He pointed left and right and left again. I thanked him and began walking on.

     About an hour later I arrived at a strange town. The only thing left for me to do was to find the nearest(最近) bus station.

1. The newspaper seller          

A. didn't know the way.                B. thought the writer wanted a paper.

    C. helped the writer find the hotel               D. was in fact very bad

2. The policeman      

A. wouldn't like to tell the writer the way    B. told the writer to take a bus

C. couldn't understand the writer                D. didn't know the hotel at all

3．请将第一段中黑体部分译成汉语。

4. Why did the writer lose the way to the hotel?

5. Did the writer go back to the hotel on foot?

“BANG!” the door caused a reverberation (回声). It was just standing there, with father standing on one side, and I on the other side.
We were both in great anger. “Never set foot in this house again!” stormed father. With tears welling up in my eyes, I rushed out of the flat and ran along the street.The street lights were shining, causing rather sad-feeling. I walked around aimlessly.
A young father who held a child in his arms walked past me. I felt as if I saw my childhood from another space: happy and carefree.
But now … I don’t know whether it is because I have grown up or because dad is getting old. We differ in our ways of thinking. He always put his opinions of behavior on me. Whenever I do something wrong, he never admits(容许) it. We are just like two people coming from two different worlds. It feels like there is an iron door between us that can never be opened.
I wandered the streets, without a destination in mind. My heart was frozen on this hot summer night. As I walked on there were fewer and fewer people on the streets, until I had only the street lights to keep me company. When I finally reached the high-rise apartment block in which I lived, I saw that the light was still on.
I thought to myself: “Is father waiting for me, or is he still angry with me?”
In fact, it was nothing. Perhaps, dad was throwing away some of his old stamps. Perhaps he thought they were useless. I never had the courage to tell him that I liked collecting stamps.      
All the lights were off except father’s.
Dad was always like this. Maybe he didn’t know how to express himself. After shouting at me, he never showed any moments of regret. However, after an argument he has the habit of tucking me underneath the covers (掖被子) while I am sleeping.
This was how he always was．He has been a leader for so long that telling everyone else what to do has become his second nature.
The light was still on. “Am I wrong?” I whispered, maybe… With the key in hand, I was as nervous as I had ever been. At last, I decided to open the door. As soon as I opened the door tears ran down my face. I suddenly realized that the iron door that I had imagined between us did not exist at all. Love—it’s second to none!

1. 1.

   Decide which is the best order of the following according to what happened in the passage.
   a. I opened the door and entered the house.
   b. Sadly I ran out into the street.
   c. I reached the place where I lived and saw my house still brightly lit.
   d. I thought of my father’s kindness towards me.
   e. I walked about in the street without any aim

   1. A.
      b-e-d-c-a
   2. B.
      b-e-c-d-a
   3. C.
      b-e-a-c-d
   4. D.
      b-e-c-a-d
2. 2.

   What made the writer think of his childhood?

   1. A.
      The sight of the street lights
   2. B.
      The sight of the empty street
   3. C.
      The sight of a father with a child in his arms
   4. D.
      The sight of light in his own house
3. 3.

   What can we infer about the reason why the father often shouts at his son?

   1. A.
      The father is getting older and older
   2. B.
      The son has more fashionable opinions than his father
   3. C.
      They usually disagree with each other
   4. D.
      The father has got used to being a leader for long
4. 4.

   What conclusion（结论）can be drawn after reading the passage?

   1. A.
      The father treats his son in an unfair way
   2. B.
      The father is actually kind to his son
   3. C.
      The father is neither kind nor cruel to his son
   4. D.
      The father is always finding mistakes with his son
5. 5.

   Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?

   1. A.
      The Generation Gap
   2. B.
      ASleepless Summer Night
   3. C.
      An Iron Doorinside
   4. D.
      Father’s Love