An Englishman named PhilShaw invented extreme ironing in 1997 because he was bored doing ironing at home.

　 Extreme ironing is a special kind of outdoor sport. It combines (使结合) danger and excitement with practical ironing.

　 Who does extreme ironing? People all over the world who like danger do it. There are about l,000 people around the world who do extreme ironing. There are extreme ironing clubs and groups in Britain, Germany, South Africa, New Zealand and the United States. You don't have to have any special qualifications (资格证明)to do it. In fact, anyone can do it. However, it is better to start ironing in your back yard before you start to iron on top of a mountain.

　 There are, of course, some rules in extreme ironing. The ironing must be outdoor. You must take an iron, an ironing board, and something that you actually iron to get the wrinkles out. Outdoors includes faraway and unusual places, such as on top of a mountain, while skiing, snowboarding, skydiving, or under water. There are no limits. The more unusual the better. However, you should plan carefully because weather conditions can suddenly change on mountains, for example. You should not do extreme ironing on your own.

　 What kind of things should you have? You must have a real iron. Travel irons are acceptable. You must not use plastic or toy irons. The clothes you iron must be at least the size of a hand towel. It shouldn't be just a handkerchief. The board doesn't have to be fullsize board, but that is preferred. It must be one metre long and thirty centimeters wide and have legs. You must also have proof of ironing that is either a photo or a video, and it should show a recognizable landmark. Be aware that people have already ironed near the top of Everest, the highest mountain in the world, and in the Blue Hole in Egypt, one of the most dangerous places to dive. However, there are still many records to break. Iron on!

53. Where did Phil Shaw usually do ironing before 1997?

　 A. At home.　 　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. On top of a mountain.

　 C. In faraway places.　 　　　　　 D. In ironing clubs and groups.

54. Which is the best advice for beginners to do extreme ironing?

　 A. Doing extreme ironing alone.

　 B. Beginning ironing in their back yards.

　 C. Starting ironing on top of a mountain.

D. Joining extreme ironing clubs or groups first.

55. What must you do in extreme ironing?

　 A. Iron outdoor.　 　　　　　　　　　 B. Iron in good weather.

　 C. Dive in the Blue Hole.　 　　　 D. Ski near a mountain.

56. How do extreme ironers feel when they do the sport?

　 A. They feel bored with extreme ironing.

　 B. They feel very frightened near the top of Everest.

　 C. They feel excited although it is dangerous.

　 D. They feel lonely in the places far away from their homes.

Tomorrow is August fourth. It is Peter’s grandfather’s birthday. It is his 73rd  birthday. Peter and his two sisters, Sally and Tina buy some things for their grandfather this afternoon. Sally buys a nice birthday card. And she writes “Happy birthday” on it. Tina buys a blue shirt from a clothes store. It is $29. Peter buys some fruit and a set of books. They are $39 .The name of the books is Harry Potter. His grandfather likes reading a lot. Peter hopes he will like the books.
【小题1】How old is Peter’s grandfather?

A．70 years old	B．73 years old
C．74 years old	D．75 years old

【小题2】What does Sally buy for her grandfather?

A．some fruit	B．A blue shirt
C．A birthday card	D．A set of books

【小题3】How much is the blue shirt?

A．It’s twenty-nine yuan

B．It’s twenty-nine dollars

C．It’s thirty-nine yuan

D．It’s thirty-nine dollars

The man in the blue shirt is         than the man in the white shirt.

A. funny             B. much funny           C.       funnier      D. more funnier

 

    Mr. Brown lived in a house less than two miles from his office, so he was able to drive home every day for lunch. Every time he drove home at noon, he found many cars were parked outside his house and there was no room for his own car. He had to drive somewhere else to park his car. Then he had to walk back home. This made him very angry.
He had put up a board, which said, “ No parking” in the garden facing the road, but nobody noticed it. People seemed to obey(遵守) only a police notice with letters on a blue board:
POLICE NOTICE
NO PARKING
Mrs. Brown suggested that he could steal a police notice. He was afraid to do so. She then suggested that he could make one just like a police notice. He said he was not the police and couldn’t use the word “police”. Several days later, Mr. Brown made a blue board with white letters:
POLITE NOTICE
NO PARKING
“ Oh!” Mrs. Brown said, “You told me you weren’t going to use the word  “police”, but why do you use it now?” “Really?” he asked, “Look again.” She started to laugh. “You are really clever.”
【小题1】How many notice boards did Mr. Brown make altogether?

A．Only one

B．Two

C．Three

D．None

【小题2】Mr. Brown made a notice board which ________________ in the end.

A．was just the same as a police notice

B．was different in colour from a police notice

C．looked just like a police notice

D．said “ POLICE NOTICE, NO PARKING”

【小题3】We can infer(推断) that ____________ after he put up the blue board.

A．more people will park their cars outside his house

B．more policemen will come to park their cars at noon

C．fewer people will visit him at noon later on

D．fewer people will park their cars outside his house

—Is the blue ruler _______?

—No. _______ ruler is red.

A．your; My          B．yours; My         C．yours; Mine        D．your; Mine