阅读理解

　　It’s summertime, and the living is easy. For many Americans, this is the season to travel. Why? Because school is on vacation, weather is great, and most of all, because we all deserve (应该得到) a break. When Americans take a break, they often head for their favorite vacation spot.

　　Throughout their history, Americans have been people on the move. The early immigrants (移民) had to travel to get to New World. Once they arrived, they settled along the East Coast. But they weren’t content to stay there. Explorers (探险者) and traders journeyed to the unknown western territories. Later, settlers moved west to develop these new areas. As a remit of westward migration (迁移), Americans eventually (最后) occupied (占领) the whole continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Even today, Americans seem unable to stay put. Research says that the average American moves every five years.

　　Besides their habit of changing addresses, Americans are used to travelling. Some people make long-distance commutes(通勤) to work daily. Their jobs may even require them to take frequent business trips. Most companies provide an annual vacation for their employees, and people often use that time to travel.

　　Most Americans prefer to travel within their nation’s borders. Why? For one thing, it’s cheaper than traveling abroad, and there’s no language problem. But besides that, the vast American territory offers numerous (大量的) tourist attractions. Nature lovers can enjoy beaches, mountains, lakes and a wealth of natural wonders. Major cities offer visitors a multitude (大量)of urban (都市的) delights: The convenience of modem freeways, railways and airplanes makes travel in America as easy as pie.

　　Many American vacations are as unique (独特的) as the people who take them. Families often plan their trips with the kids in mind. More and more “family friendly” vacation resorts (度假胜地) offer special programs for children. History buffs (爱好者) seek out famous historical sites and museums. Environmentalists (环境保护论者) prefer green vacation. Some people find sea cruises (海上航游)relaxing and refreshing (使振作). Others hit the water to go fishing, skiing.

　　Americans aren’t the only people in the world who travel. International business, mass (大众的) communication and jet airplanes have created a world of globetrotters (周游世界者).People all over world enjoy going abroad to travel. And no matter where they live, people enjoy visiting scenic (风景优美的)spots in their own country. But being on the go makes Americans what they are now. In America, almost everybody is a tourist sometime.

1．The most important reason for Americans to travel is that ________.

[　　]

A．students are on holiday

B．the weather is wonderful

C．it helps you relax after months of hard work

D．Americans are used to moving

2．Which of the following is true?

[　　]

A．The early immigrants arrived in the new world by travelling.

B．The early immigrants weren’t satisfied with their life.

C．The immigrants moved from the west to the east.

D．Americans today still don’t like to stay at home.

3．Which of the following is NOT the reason why Americans prefer travelling in their own country?

[　　]

A．It can save more money than travelling abroad.

B．It is easy for you to communicate with people.

C．There are plenty of scenic spots in America.

D．Travelling abroad is inconvenient.

4．“Being on the go”(Sentence 5, Para. 6) most probably means ________.

[　　]

A．travelling

B．moving from place to place

C．going abroad

D．visiting scenic spots

5．The passage mainly tells us ________.

[　　]

A．the history of travelling in America

B．the types of vacations in America

C．unique American vacations

D．travelling is one of favorite sports in America

Daily life can be made happier. It is a matter of choice. It is our attitude that makes us feel happy or unhappy. It is true, we meet all kinds of situations during the day, and some of them may not be conductive（有好处的）to happiness. We can choose to refuse to think about the unhappy events. If we let outer events influence our moods, we become their slaves. On the other hand, we can free ourselves from outer influences. We can choose to be happy, and we can do a lot to add happiness to our lives.

What is happiness? It is a feeling of inner peace and satisfaction. It is usually experienced when there are no worries, fears or confused thoughts, and this usually happens when we do something we love to do or when we win, gain or achieve something that we value. It seems to be the outcome of positive events, but it actually comes from the inside, triggered（触发）by outer events.

For most people happiness seems passing quickly. One of the best ways to keep it, is by gaining inner peace through daily meditation（冥想）. As the mind becomes more peaceful, it becomes easier to choose the happiness habit.

Here are a few tips for increasing happiness in daily life:

Try hard to change the way you look at things. Always look at the bright side.

Think of solutions, not problems.

Listen to relaxing, uplifting music.

Watch funny comedies that make you laugh.

Each day, devote some time to reading a few pages of an inspiring book or article.

Whenever you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts, start thinking of pleasant things.

68. For most people happiness seems passing quickly because _______.

A. they let changing outer circumstances affect them

B. they hope that even greater happiness will come

C. they have no friends to share happiness with them

D. they don’t want to achieve any greater happiness

69. We can learn from the passage that our happiness is _______.

A. that we own a great deal of money        B. to achieve the goal we have been seeking

C. a feeling of inner peace and satisfaction  D. the feeling that we are admired by others

70. According to the author happiness depends on _______.

A. outer circumstances                             B. our attitude toward it

C. the conditions we have                         D. the objective world

71. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A. Happiness Is the Goal in Daily Life.      B. Happiness Exists in Everyone’s Mind.

C. Happiness Can Be Chosen by Us.         D. Tips for happiness in Daily Life.

No one doubts that students should study languages, maths and science in high school, but some may object to the idea that they should study art and music as well. To them, these subjects are useless for students’ future and are not worth the time and effort. In my opinion, however, it is necessary for middle school students to study art and music.
Art and music are a precious culture legacy（遗产）, which bring us pleasure and enjoyment. Have you ever been deeply moved by Beethoven’s famous Fifth Symphony（第五交响曲）? Have you ever been fascinated by the colorful starry night produced by Vincent Van Gogh in his paint? Have you ever longed for the moving love between the Butterfly Lovers when you hear this well-known Chinese melody（曲调）? Art and music are not only images and sounds, but something beyond them. They are the products of passion and human wisdom（智慧）.
Art and music help make students more creative. Artists and musicians are considered the most creative people in the world. It is because art and music sharpen their senses and provide a different perspective (视角) for them to see the world. Many great scientists benefited from art and music. Einstein, the greatest physicist in the 20th century, as well as an excellent violin player, is a good example.
Enjoying art and music is also a good way to relax. Middle school students, who typically carry heavy burdens of study, will definitely（明确地）benefit from it.
To sum up, art and music should absolutely be included in the middle school courses, for they can bring students pleasure and relaxation.
【小题1】According to the author, people who think art and music are useless for middle school students __________.

No one doubts that students should study languages, maths and science in high school, but some may object to the idea that they should study art and music as well. To them, these subjects are useless for students’ future and are not worth the time and effort. In my opinion, however, it is necessary for middle school students to study art and music.

Art and music are a precious culture legacy（遗产）, which bring us pleasure and enjoyment. Have you ever been deeply moved by Beethoven’s famous Fifth Symphony（第五交响曲）? Have you ever been fascinated by the colorful starry night produced by Vincent Van Gogh in his paint? Have you ever longed for the moving love between the Butterfly Lovers when you hear this well-known Chinese melody（曲调）? Art and music are not only images and sounds, but something beyond them. They are the products of passion and human wisdom（智慧）.

Art and music help make students more creative. Artists and musicians are considered the most creative people in the world. It is because art and music sharpen their senses and provide a different perspective (视角) for them to see the world. Many great scientists benefited from art and music. Einstein, the greatest physicist in the 20th century, as well as an excellent violin player, is a good example.

Enjoying art and music is also a good way to relax. Middle school students, who typically carry heavy burdens of study, will definitely（明确地）benefit from it.

To sum up, art and music should absolutely be included in the middle school courses, for they can bring students pleasure and relaxation.

1.According to the author, people who think art and music are useless for middle school students __________.

A. don’t understand the value of art and music

B. don’t know the history of art and music at all

C. never benefit from artists and musicians

D. know little about the trend of future education  

2.In paragraph 2, the author tries to argue that __________.

A. Beethoven is one of the greatest musicians

B. art and music help express people’s emotions

C. art and music are precious pictures and sounds

D. art and music bring people joy and quality life

3.The example of Einstein is used to __________.

A. show the importance of creativity

B. prove that scientists are creative

C. encourage students to study art and music

D. provide students with a new way to see the world

4.Which of the following is an effective way for middle school students to study?

    A.  Relaxing themselves regularly while studying.

    B.  Attending concerts during holidays or after school.

    C.  Avoiding too much homework by studying art and music.

    D.  Listening to music while studying language, maths or other subjects.

5.Which of the following is used to support the writer’s opinion?

A. Art and music help people become scientists.

B. Art and music provide people with more opportunities.

C. Art and music are beneficial to students in other subjects.

D. Art and music are helpful to make students creative learners.

Being the head of a high school for many years, I grew tired of budget meetings, funding cuts, and many other administrative chores(杂务). I started to dream of retirement. Sitting in traffic on a weekday morning, I would find my mind wandering. I would imagine spending time with my grandchildren, quiet evenings with my wife, traveling, or rediscovering some great books. I told myself that I wouldn’t sign myself up for any committees, any classes, or anything requiring a schedule.

My first day of retirement came at last! I cooked a great breakfast for my wife and me, leisurely read the paper, cleaned a bit of the house, and wrote a few letters to friends. On the second day, I cooked breakfast, read the paper… On the third day, … This is retirement? I tried to tell myself that it was just the transition(过渡), that those golden moments were right round the corner, and that I would enjoy them soon enough. But something was missing.

A former colleague asked a favor. A group of students was going to Jamaica to work with children in the poorest neighborhoods. Would I interrupt my newfound “happiness” and return to the students, just this once? One trip. That’s all. My bags were packed and by the door.

The trip was very inspiring. I was moved not only by the poverty I saw but also by the sense of responsibility of the young people on the trip. When I returned home, I offered to work one day a week with a local youth organization. The experience was so positive that I was soon volunteering nearly full-time, working with students across North America to assist them in their voluntary work.

Now, it seems, the tables have turned. Some days I am the teacher, other days I am the student. These young people have reawakened my commitment(责任感) to social justice issues by challenging me to learn more about the situation in the world today, where people are still poor and suffer because of greed, corruption and war. Most important, they have given me the opportunity to continue to participate in helping to find solutions. In return, I help them do their charitable projects overseas. I’ve gone from running one school to helping oversee the construction of schools in twenty-one countries!

What did the writer expect to do after he retired?

A. To write some great books.                           B. To stay away from busy schedules.

C. To teach his grandchildren.                            D. To plan for his future.

Why did the writer decide to go to Jamaica?

A. He wasn’t satisfied with his retired life.   B. He couldn’t refuse his colleague’s favor.

C. He was concerned about the people there.       D. He missed his students in that country.

The underlined part “the tables have turned” (Paragraph 5) most probably means that the writer ______.

A. improved the situation in his school        B. felt happy to work with students again

C. changed his attitude toward his retirement       D. became a learner rather than a teacher

What does the writer think of his retired life now?

A. Meaningful.               B. Troublesome.        C. Relaxing.            D. Disappointing.