I come from a city on the United States’east coast. It’s a ten-hour flight for me to get home from Shanghai. When I got off the plane, I took photos of the blue sky and white clouds along the way. After two weeks, I returned to Shanghai. Much to my surprise, the blue sky in Shanghai that I liked before was not as blue as that in the US. I couldn’t help wondering what had happened.

A few days later, I went to tour Waitan (a famous tourist attraction in Shanghai) by the Huangpu River with some of my friends. There we saw five Ferrari sports cars by the side of the road. The red and yellow cars looked so nice that everyone was looking at them. However, when I turned my head, I noticed the sky over Waitan, I was shocked to find that the buildings in the Lujiazui area on the other side of Huangpu River could hardly be seen. It was then that I realized that Ferrari cars could be bought with money, but a blue sky couldn’t.

Shanghai is an important economic (经济的) and trade center in China. It has made great contributions (贡献) to the whole nation’s economic development. However, we need to protect the environment during economic growth. Pollution is poisoning our air and our rivers. Without clean air and rivers, how will people be able to survive?

1.The author mentioned the Ferrari sports cars in order to _______.

A．tell us that Shanghai is a developed city

B．ask us to stop driving sports cars

C．tell us how much people like cars

D．focus our attention on air pollution

2.What can we learn about the author?

A．He comes from Shanghai.

B．He likes to visit different places.

C．He wants to buy a Ferrari sports car.

D．He is socially responsible (责任).

3.Who might be interested in this passage?

A．Those who love Ferrari sports cars.

B．Those who care about the environment.

C．Those who want to travel in Shanghai.

D．Those who like to take photos.

4.What is the best title for this passage?

A．Money Can Buy Ferraris, But Not a Blue Sky

B．Where People Should Live

C．Different Opinions on Cars

D．Different Places Have Different Skies

Watson entered Mr. Smith’s office. The Boss was a hard man. He fired people who didn’t do well without giving them a second chance.

“Watson,” said Mr. Smith, “this past year your department hasn’t earned money. We’re going to drop that department. It’s finished. I’ m sorry, —but you’ll have to go.” “But, sir—if I just had a little more time. For the moment I need the job to keep my son at Riverside School.”

“What’s that!” said the Boss. “Riverside! I didn’t know you had a boy there. That’s an expensive school for a man with your salary.”

“I know, sir. But he likes it there so much! He’s a star trackman（田径运动员） and the best boxer in the school. The boys call him Champ（冠军） there.”

The Boss sat perfectly still for a long time—a faraway （恍惚的） look in his eyes. Then, suddenly, he said, “We’ve got to close your department, Watson. But you’ll take over a new job in another department. It means longer hours—maybe more pay. Now get out. You’re here for life.”

Watson got out, with surprise in his face. Then the Boss took a letter from the top drawer of his desk. It was Herbie’s last letter from Riverside School —written a few days before he died. He had read it over and over again with sick pain. The letter read: I can’t say the boys here are any nicer to me than the others were. I guess it’s the same everywhere when you’re a cripple (跛脚的人). But don’t worry about me, Dad. They’ve got a good chemistry department here. And there’s one boy here who is really great. He’s a track star and boxing champ and just tops in chemistry. The boys call him Champ. He made them stop throwing my books around. And he knocked a boy down who hit me. He is the best friend I ever had. Dad, when I grow up, I want to do something for Champ. Something big—that he won’t even know about.

Your son,   Herbie

1.The underlined word “drop” in paragraph 2 could best be replaced by ________.

A. fall              B. close        C. punish         D. sell

2. It can be inferred from the text that Champ is_______.

A. Watson’ s son                  B. Mr Smith’ s son

C. a teacher of Mr Smith’s son       D. the son of Mr Smith’s friend

3.From the text we know that Herbie_______.

A. was a college student            B. didn’t live to grow up

C. made friends with many boys      D. died from a car accident

4.Watson was given a second chance because_______.

A. Mr Smith wanted to help Watson’s son

B. a man was needed in another department

C. Herbie told Mr Smith to do so in his letter

D. Mr Smith wanted to realize his son’s dream

信息匹配 (共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分)
阅读下列应用文及相关信息，并按照要求匹配信息。请在答题卡上将对应题号的相应选项字母涂黑。    
A
Power Chord Academy is the benchmark （基准尺度） for teenage musician training. At Power Chord Academy, students play in a band, record a CD, make an MTV video, play concerts, and more! Power Chord Academy offers courses in San Diego, St. Louis and New York with teenage musicians attending from around the world.
B
The Idyllwild Summer Program: Every summer, more than 1,300 children, teens, and adults attend Idyllwild’s workshops(讲习班) under the pines, showing interest in creative writing, dance, music, theatre, and visual arts, which are taught by some of the America’s finest artists. The resulting experience is unforgettable, exciting, and funny.
C
Guitar Workshop Plus（特长班）: We own a strong commitment (承担的义务) to music education. Join us this summer and treat yourself to a fun and educational music-filled week! Courses are offered for all levels, ages, and styles including blues, jazz, rock, classical music, and song writing. Bass, drum, and keyboard classes are offered as well.
D
UW-Green Bay is a best choice for summer youth camps! Parents love the attractive setting — one that is not too close to a downtown, city environment. Students love the modern facilities, easy access to all campus buildings and all on-site conveniences(现场的便利设施).
E
Keyboard Discoveries Summer Camp is a residential（提供食宿的） music camp designed for the young piano student who has completed grades（级别） five, six, seven, or eight. Students who have completed grade four may enroll(登记) as day campers. The camp welcomes different levels of study. However, all students should have completed at least two years’ piano study.
F
Camp Curtain Call lies in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and it offers children (7-18) an exciting combination of traditional summer camp and sports activities with specialized performing and visual arts programming in one of the most beautiful settings in the world. Campers can plan their experience themselves by choosing their own activities. 
请阅读以下有关学生的信息，然后匹配他们所要选择的营地：
1. David is a boy of sixteen who likes music very much. In his spare time he often practices playing jazz. And he also shows great interest in playing the drum.
2. Michael is a tall and strong boy who studies in a middle school. It is natural that he likes sports. What’s more, Michael is planning to learn how to perform beautifully.
3. Sarah is a lovely girl who is only nine years old. Not only does she like music, but she likes dance. She often sings while dancing with her best friends.
4 Daniel is good at playing the piano. As we all know he has passed grade six successfully. He is going camping only in the daytime to improve his skills of piano further.
5. James lives in England. He is a university student whose major is computer. But he is especially interested in music. This summer he is going to learn how to make videos.
申请学生              活动营地
【小题1】David                 A. Power Chord Academy
【小题2】Michael              B. The Idyllwild Summer Program
【小题3】Sarah                 C. Guitar Workshop Plus
【小题4】Daniel                D. UW-Green Bay
【小题5】James                 E. Keyboard Discoveries Summer Camp
F. Camp Curtain Call

Australia －a huge island continent that lies to the south of Asia．Australia－more than two hundred years old, a nation that is still growing．

Its big cities lie on the southeast coast, this is where most Australians live．Australians prefer to own their own houses, though some live in apartments．Australians are a suburban people．The suburbs surround the cities for many miles, and so efficient transport is of great importance．As the economy grows, so do its industries- a higher level of production, a wider range of products．

The Australian works hard, but he likes his leisure．The climate makes outdoor activities the most popular．

Canberra, the capital of Australia, is a planned modem city located inland．Australia is governed by a parliamentary democracy．The representatives of other countries have their embassies here．Australia wants to strengthen relations with her neighbors．

Australia is a strange land, a land of vast expanses- fertile valleys, snow fields and deserts- also a land with unique animal, many that can not be found on any other continent in the world today．

Much of the continent is dry, but man has utilized the land, made it productive, with its tools, with its technology．This is the driest continent of all, and water is a precious possession, more precious than all other natural resources．Large dams are built to collect the water, there to irrigate the fields of pastures and crops． But Australia is changing．The land of wool and wheat is now a land of large-scale industry and mining．The costs of developing the new mineral discoveries are enormous, but the rewards are great too．

Australia — a young and developing nation．Australia — a nation that wants to communicate with its neighbors．

【小题】Australia is an island located ______ of Asia and its big cities lie ____ of the coast．

A．to the south; on the southeast      

B．to the north; on the southwest

C．to the east; on the northeast       

D．to the east; on the southwest

【小题】We can infer from the passage that the Australian likes outdoor activities for the _____ climate．

A．dull and wet          

B．fine and shiny

C．gloomy and rainy  

D．wet and cold

【小题】____ is the most precious source in Australia．

A．Mineral resource     B．Animal      C．Desert       D．Water

【小题】Which of the following statements about Australia is wrong?

A．Australians are a suburban people

B．Australia is governed by a parliamentary democracy．

C．Australia prefers to live in the downtown of big cities．

D．Wool and wheat used to be the main products of Australia．

  The trend in everyday conversation is to use grandiose(夸大的)words．“Outstanding” is the

new “good,”  “amazing” is the new “OK, ” and “huge” is the new “big.”

    I was in a restaurant in Washington D．C．last weekend and every question I asked was answered with exaggeration．

    Me：How is the salmon?

    Sever：Fantastic!

    Me：Does it come with rice?

    Sever：Absolutely!

    Would a “good” and a “yes” have been enough? Of course!

    My father is an average-sized man．He hasn’t gained weight or height for the past 30 years. Therefore, his size remains the same．However，in the same amount of time，his T-shirt size has gone from small to medium to large to extra large．

  The reason for the exaggerated word is clear：we are bored with our lives. We want the next

—next thing now．Immediately!

    And we also want others to think that we still care，that we can still be delighted，that we know that everything is just great．Even when deep inside we know it can’t be．Everything can’t be great．

  I’m not a scientist，so many methods of proof leave little to be desired，or a lot to be desired，or an immensity(无限)．   

  Listen to the voices around you．Listen to your own voices．There is nothing on the radio that is good or bad，weather is either beautiful or horrible．

  Listen，the next time when someone asks you something and you agree，because when you

could simply say “yes”, instead you will say “absolutely’’ or “without doubt ” or “Oh，yeah，unquestionably ---- absolutely without doubt."

  Have people forgotten what it is like to be OK? Simply OK with what they have and who they are? If everything is outstanding，if everything is the most amazing thing ever，is anything ever amazing at all?

By telling his experience in the restaurant，the author intends to ________．

    A. show his interest in exaggerated words

    B. prove that exaggerated words are widely used

    C. blame the restaurant for using exaggerated words

    D. tell us the food in the restaurant is extremely good

What do we know about the author’s father?

    A. He has gained height and is now a tall man．

B. He likes following the fashion in clothing．

C. His weight is getting greater and greater．

D.The size of his T-shirt is described in exaggerated words．

．So many people like using exaggerated words because_________．

    A. they are not satisfied with being normal

    B. they don’t want to be looked down upon by others

    C. they want to be different from others

    D. they are brave in telling their true feelings

According to the passage，if you approve of something，you’d better say “________”．

    A. fantastic    B. perfect    C. OK          D. absolutely