Walking down any of Shanghai’s main shopping streets this week, newcomers might think the locals have been celebrating Christmas for centuries. Christmas may not be a customary holiday in China, but businessmen in Shanghai know it will bring something more valuable than tradition: people are willing to spend money. Most Chinese may feel little connection with the Christmas celebration, but with most shops offering discount (折扣), the message couldn’t be clearer-- it is the season to part with one’s hard-earned cash.

Much of that marketing drive is directed towards thousands of foreigners and foreign companies that call Shanghai home. But for Shanghai’s 13 million locals, regardless of personal interest, there seems no avoiding the season’s commercial greetings. Along some major roads, nearly every shop window displays some symbols to the holiday: a man-made fir tree(杉树) with lights, or a snowman.

With an increasing number of westerners arriving in the city for work, young Shanghainese, eager to keep pace with the latest western fashions, have begun to show their interest in Christmas. But some people still don’t think Christmas is an important festival in China. At least it is less important than the New Year and China’s Spring Festival.

. Why are people willing to spend money during Christmas?

A. They have earned a lot of money.

B. Goods are much cheaper during this period of time.

C. It is time for shops to sell goods.

D. Businessmen like Christmas.

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. Christmas is the season people will hold their hard-earned money tightly.

B. Most Chinese people think they have something to do with Christmas.

C. Christmas is the season for common people to earn money.

D. Few Chinese people feel they are connected with Christmas celebrations.

Why do some young Shanghainese show great interest in Christmas?

A. They think themselves connected with Christmas celebrations.

B. They think Christmas is more important than New Year’s Day.

C. They want to follow the up-to-date western fashions.

D. They want to part with their hard-earned cash during Christmas.

From the first paragraph we know that _______.

A. It is difficult for most people to earn money.

B. It is easy for most people to earn money.

C. Only foreigners in Shanghai celebrate Christmas.

D. Christmas will be as important as China’s Spring Festival.

There is a wonderful story about a young girl who had no family and no one to love her.

    One day,feeling very sad and lonely,she was walking through a grassland when she noticed a small butterfly caught in a thorn （荆棘） bush. The young girl carefully released the butterfly. Instead of flying away,the little butterfly changed into a beautiful fairy. The young girl rubbed her eyes in disbelief. 来源：

    “For your wonderful kindness,” the good fairy said to the girl,“I will give you any wish you would like.” The little girl thought for a moment and then replied,“I want to be happy.”

    The fairy leaned toward her and whispered in her ear. Then the fairy disappeared. 来源：

    As the little girl grew up,there was no one in the land as happy as she. Everyone asked her secret of happiness .She would only smile and answer,“The secret of my happiness is that I listened to a good fairy when I was a little girl.” 来源：

    When she was very old and on her deathbed,the neighbors all gathered around her,and feared that her unbelievable secret of happiness would die with her. “Tell us,please,” they begged,“Tell us what the good fairy said.” The lovely old woman simply smiled and said,“She told me that everyone,no matter how secure they seemed,no matter how old or young,how rich or poor,had need of me.”

______ the girl felt sad and lonely. 来源：

     A. There were many friends but          B. There was nobody to love her so来源：

     C. There was nothing to do              D. Seeing the butterfly was caught来源：

Noticing the butterfly was caught by the thorn,the orphan girl ______.

     A. helped the butterfly escaped from the thorn        B. felt sorrow,but she didn’t go up to help it

     C. fell down on it too                            D. failed to help it release from the thorn

The butterfly ______ after it was saved by the little girl.

     A. flied away                                  B. still died来源：

     C. changed into a fairy                           D. was more beautiful than before

  The only thing that the little girl wanted was________.来源：

     A. to be rich                                  B. to have her own parents

     C. to have a lot of friends                        D. happiness

The neighbors all gathered around the old happy woman when she was dying,because ______.

     A. they loved this woman deeply and they didn’t wanted her to die

     B. the woman had lots of money to be shared as soon as she died来源：

     C. they wanted to know the secret of her lifetime happiness来源：

     D. they wanted to pray for her after her death

阅读下列材料，从所给的六个选项 ( A、B、C、D、E和F ) 中，选出符合各小题要求的最佳选项。选项中有一项多余选项。

The following five young people are all searching for their universities. After the description of these people, there is some information about six universities A — F for you to choose the most suitable one for each of them. There is one extra paragraph about one university which you do not need to use.

Bobby is tired of working indoors and wouldn’t like to be too far away from his girlfriend who studies at Simmons. Also he considers gaining better chance for future career.

Maria wants to learn modern science and she prefers to stay neither by the ocean nor in the

northeast.

Andrew wishes to study business in a non-state-run university, which he thinks is of better

quality and if the employment status of its graduates is ideal, that’s better.

Lucy enjoys taking her further education in a women-only university with a variety major for her to choose.

Scott is in search for a university located in a nice place, with better living conditions. The most important is that he hopes to play the computer conveniently for fun.

A．SIMMONS  The College of Arts and Sciences and Modern Studies. Simmons educates women to achieve their work and life goals. More than 40 majors. Lies in the heart of Boston, US. News &World Report ranks Simmons among the top state universities in the North and among the best values.  617-521-2051  www.simmons.edu.

B．PAUL SMITH’S COLLEGE   The College of Nature. Experience a different kind of classroom: 15,300 acres of forests, lakes and streams, a hotel and a restaurant, 99% placement upon graduation. Two-and-four-year degree programs.  PO Box 265Paul Smith,  NY 12970800-421-2605

   www.paulsmith.edu.

C．ST. MARY’S UNIVERSITY  Located in the mid-west of the U.S. Personal attention. Powerful programs. Experience the technology of today at our co-educational university. One Camino Santa Utah  78228-8503 800-FOR-STMU   www.stmarytx.edu.

D．NORTHERN UNIVERSITY  A famous private university with 3,200 students in the Colleges of Arts & Sciences, Business and Engineering. Medicine and Law among the top ten by U.S. News & World Report Old Union  232 CA 94305-3005 650-723-2091  www.stanford.edu.

E．UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX   Adult education course. Earn an online degree with University of Phoenix today. 100% online, fast and convenient. Learn why most working professionals choose University of Phoenix Online.  www.Phoenixun.edu.

F．PETER’S COLLEGE   Experienced professors are available. Equipped with a lot of modern

 facilities, two students a dormitory, two computers, power never fails, PO.356 Peter. 16753800-333-12-2135   www.peterun.edu.