Some children cannot wait to grow up. Because once you become an adult, you are free to make your own decisions. More importantly, you can do all those things that you cannot do now because you are too young. So, the question is, ‘At what age do you really become an adult?' Well, people become adults at different ages in different places.
In Australia, the 18th birthday is a very important event for young Australians because it means they can do almost anything they want. They can vote, learn to drive a car, get married, join the army and even buy their own houses. However, even if they can do all these things, most Australians have to wait until their 21st birthday to really celebrate becoming an adult. This is the traditional adult age not only in Australia, but also in the USA and the UK. It is their first year of true independence (独立).Traditionally, people were given a key to their houses by their parents when they turned 21, meaning they could come and go as they like.
Even though 21 is the traditional adult age in many English-speaking countries, the law nowadays is different in each country. In the UK, you can join the army at 16 and even get married at 16 if your parents allow. Young people in the UK can learn to drive a car at 17 as in Australia, although they have to wait until they are 18 to vote.
In China, there is a different age for each of the stages of becoming an adult. You can vote and learn to drive a car when you are 18, but if you want to get married, women have to wait until they are 20 and men until they are 22. Chinese people celebrate important birthdays every 10 years--so when young people turn 20, they can expect a big party!
No matter what age you are, becoming an adult is really about learning how to be independent and responsible（负责任的）. Once you are finally able to take care of yourself and make your own decisions, then you can say that you are truly all grown-ups.
【小题1】Which of the following are truly adults according to the passage?

A．Independent grown-ups.	B．Married people.
C．People who can drive.	D．People in the army.

【小题2】At what age do Australians really become adults?

A．17.

B．18.

C．20.

D．21.

【小题3】What is the writer’s opinion about the age people become adults?

A．The age people become adults depends on whether they can vote or not.

B．The age people become adults depends on their own independence and responsibility.

C．The age people become adults depends on if they are eighteen years old.

D．The age people become adults depends on when they get the key to their houses.

【小题4】Why do people in Australia get the key to the houses when they really become adults?

A．Because the law decides it.

B．Because they can leave when they want.

C．Because they can come home when they want.

D．Because it is a tradition.

【小题5】What are adults free to do according to the passage?

A．They are free to decide when to celebrate their own birthdays.

B．They are free to look after themselves well.

C．They are free to make their own decisions.

D．They are free to make time move faster.

I have always heard that walking under a ladder brings bad luck, but I’ve never thought so. I have walked under ladders many times, but I have never met anything bad before. It’s the dame with black cats. People say if a black cat crosses before you, it means bad luck. I have never thought that until this afternoon. But ever since I heard my student Sam’s story, I’ve begun thinking about whether it was true.

This afternoon, Sam was walking down the street thinking about something, so he wasn’t paying attention to where he was going. He walked right under a ladder standing against a building. A black cat ran out of a door just at that moment, and Sam fell over it, his head hit the ladder. A man washing the window was at the top of that ladder and the dirty water went down through the air. Poor Sam! He got wet all over.

阅读短文,判断正(T)误(F)

1. At first, the writer believed that walking under a ladder would bring bad luck.　　  

2. A black cat crossing will bring you good luck when you are walking.　　　　　　 

3. This afternoon, the writer’s son Sam was walking down the street thinking about  

  something.

4. When Sam was walking under a ladder, a black cat ran out of a door.　　　　  

5. There was a man washing the window near the door.　　　　　　　　　　   

6. Sam had bad luck that afternoon.　　　　　　　　　　　　    　　　　　　

从B栏中选出与A栏相对应的答语,使句意完整,符合文章内容

A栏

7. Though I have always heard that walking under a ladder brings bad luck.　　  

8. I began thinking about whether “A black cat crossing brings bad luck” was true.

9. Sam wasn’t paying attention to where he was going.　　 　　　　　　　　   

10. When he saw the black cat.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   

B栏

A. It was so late that he fell over it.

B. Because he was walking down the street thinking about something.

C. After I heard my student Sam’s story.

D. I’ve never thought so.

 

When Liu Kaiqu was young he was poor in Shanghai. One day he   16   a picture of a tiger and tried to sell it on the street. It caught the   17   of an American, who asked, “How much does it cost?” He said, “500 dollars.” The foreigner thought it was too   18   and asked again, “Can you make it cheaper?” He answered, “No,” Then he tore(撕)it to pieces. In great   19  ,the foreigner said, “Young man, are you __20__?” “No, sir. I’m not angry. I sold it   21   500 dollars because I thought it was worth the   22__  . But you wanted a __23__ price. It means you didn’t think   24   and it is not good enough. I’ll go on   25   until my customers are satisfied.” At that time,   26   Liu Kaiqu was not famous at all, he never   27_  his dream. Now he is well-known all over the world as a great artist.

1.A. stole      B. picked       C. drew            D. saw

2.A. attention  B. education C. decision            D. discussion

3.A. terrible       B. big          C. old             D. expensive

4.A. fear      B. difficulty       C. surprise        D. excitement

5.A. happy        B crazy          C. angry           D cry

6.A. over         B. for            C. about           D. among

7.A. size       B. price            C. weight          D. position

8.A low              B high           C higher           D lower

9.A. me     B. about            C. so              D. it

10.A. selling       B. watching      C. buying          D. working

11.A. though        B. because      C. whether         D. until

12.A. broke off   B. gave in        C. gave up         D. sent off

 

   When Liu Kaiqu was young he was poor in Shanghai, One day he 1 a picture of a tiger and tried to sell it on the street. It caught the 2 of an American, who asked, “How much does it cost?” He said, “500 dollars.” The foreigner thought it was too 3 and asked again, “Can you make it cheaper?” He answered, “No.” Then he tore (撕) it to pieces. In great 4 the foreigner said, “Young man, are you angry?” “No, sir. I’m not angry. I sold it 5 500 dollars because I thought it was worth the 6. But you wanted a lower price. It means 7 didn’t think so and it is not good enough. I’ll go on working 8 until my customers (顾客) are satisfied.” At that time, 9 Liu Kaiqu was not famous at all, he never 10 his dream, Now he is well-known all over the world as a great artist.

(  ) 1.A. stole               B. picked                      C. drew                 D. saw

(  ) 2. A. attention        B. instruction                C. decision            D. discussion

(  ) 3. A. terrible           B. big                           C. old                    D. dear

(  ) 4. A. fear               B. difficulty                  C. surprise             D. excitement

(  ) 5. A. over                     B. for                           C. about                D. among

(  ) 6. A. size               B. price                        C. weight                     D. position

(  ) 7. A. we                B. he                            C. you                   D. it

(  ) 8. A. faster and faster                         B. better and better

       C. slower and slower                          D. harder and harder

(  ) 9. A. though           B. because                    C. whether            D. until

(  ) 10. A. broke off     B. cut up                      C. gave up             D. sent off