Here is an unusual story: a diamond ring was recently found in an egg. The magician, Liu Qian, discovered it, in front of an audience of millions at CCTV`s Spring Festival Gala. Liu`s magic tricks have made the centuries-old art of magic fashionable (时髦的)once again, and made him the hottest magician in China.

 As a seasoned (老练的) young magician from Taiwan, Liu is popular worldwide for his magic shows. Countries he has performed in include the United States, Japan, South Korea and the UK.

 Witnessing (目击)something impossible happen right before your eyes is the root of people`s love for magic.

 Liu is known for his interaction(互动) with his audiences. He has a special understanding of performing skills.

 “It is actually thinking , rather than one`s performing skills, that is more important to achieve a successful magic show. We think carefully about how to design the shows creatively，to make them appear more attractive.” Liu said.

 Liu Qian`s success dates back to his childhood. Born in 1976 in Taiwan, he found himself attracted to a magic toy in a shop when he was seven years old. At the age of 12, he won Taiwan`s Youth Contest, which was judged by the great American magician, David Copperfield.

 Yet, Liu never planned on becoming a professional magician. He studied Japanese literature at university and only hoped to be an amateur (业余的) magician in his spare time. However, his failure to find a decent (体面的) job after graduation pushed him towards magic as a career.

 To improve his performing skills, he has performed on streets, roads and fields, for passers-by, policemen and farmers.

 “Street shows are the biggest challenge for us magicians. We have to deal with unexpected situations and tough(难对付的) crowds.” Liu said.

The story is about _________.

A. how Liu Qian became China`s hottest magician

B. why people love magic

C. what magic tricks are

D. what fashionable magic is

People love to watch magic because __________.

A. they can`t figure out the secret of magic

B. it arouses their curiosity

C. they love watching magicians make the impossible happen

D. it is a centuries-old art

Which of the following is the key reason that Liu Qian decided to make magic his career?

A. He was interested in magic when he was little

B. He had won Taiwan`s Youth Magic Contest

C. He became an amateur magician in his spare time

D. He couldn`t find a decent job after graduation

From the story, we know that________.

A. Liu Qian competed in many magic competitions

B. Liu Qian often invites audiences to be in his magic shows

C. Liu Qian performs on streets in order to increase his fame 

D. Liu Qian does street shows to make money    

As prices and building costs keep rising, the “do-it-yourself” (DIY) trend in the US continues to grow.

“we needed furniture for our living room,” says John Ross, “and we just didn’t have enough money to buy it. So we decided to try making a few tables and chairs.” John got married six months ago, and like many young people these days, they are struggling to make a home at a time when the cost of living is very high. The Rosses took a 2-week course for $280 at a night school. Now they build all their furniture and make repairs around the house.

Jim Hatfield has three boys and his wife died. He has a full-time job at home as well as in a shoe-making factory. Last month, he received a car repair bill for $520. “I was deeply upset about it. Now I have finished a car repair course. I should be able to fix the car by myself.”

John and Jim are not unusual people. Most families in the country are doing everything they can to save money so they can fight the high cost of living. If you want to become a “do-it-youselfer”, you can go to DIY classes. And for those who don’t have time to take a course, there are books that tell you how you can do things yourself.

We can learn from the text that many newly married people_______.

  A. find it hard to pay for what they need

B. have to learn to make their own furniture

C. take DIY courses run by the government

D. seldom go to a department store to buy things

John and his wife went to evening classes to learn how to ______.

  A. run a DIY shop                 B. make or repair things

C. save time and money              D. improve the quality of life

Jim decided to become a do-it-yourselfer when______

  A. his car repairs cost too much 

B. the car repair class was not helpful

C. he could not possibly do two jobs

D. keeps house and looks after his children

The little boy is clever.He has _____.

        A.brain        B.a brain     C.the brain      D.brains

Some novels simply entertain and others contain a powerful message in the story line and characters. In his first novel, A Wind In Montana, Mitch Davies tells a story about young adults and how they accept responsibility for their lives.

A Wind in Montana is a great tale of two teenagers, Rory Coleman and Victoria Beach, high school students at the same school, who struggle to make the right decision for themselves. As each of them nears adulthood, they become more concerned with the future and set goals that will bring them happiness and a sense of achievement.

Without any advice from his parents, Rory chooses to pursue (追求) a profession in chemistry, applies for a chemistry scholarship, and determines to do everything he can to achieve it. Along the path, Rory finds that even though he has a plan, there are obstacles (障碍) that could prevent him from realizing his goals. Victoria’s struggles are different from Rory’s. Although her father has decided that she should become a professional musician, Victoria has other plans for her life. Together, Rory and Victoria attempt to follow their dreams, despite the obstacles in their paths. A Wind In Montana contains a lesson for all teens about to enter adulthood — that disappointment and setbacks (挫折) are going to occur no matter how determined they are and that they need to develop skills along the way that will help them deal with them effectively.

Mitch Davies’ book stands out among today’s teen books that deal with imaginary situations. A Wind In Montana is a real story about real people facing real-life situations. It’s entertaining and also helps readers think about their own lives and offers various ways to handle situations that may arise.

1.According to the passage, both Rory and Victoria ____.

A. get along well with others

B. pursue a profession in chemistry

C. follow their parents’ advice

D. have a strong sense of self

2.The third paragraph is mainly about ____.

A. the popularity of A Wind In Montana

B. the content of A Wind in Montana

C. Mitch Davies’ writing style

D. Mitch Davies’ achievements

3. Unlike other teen books, A Wind In Montana ____.

A. deals with some imaginary situations

B. is based on real-life experiences

C. focuses on responsibilities teens should take

D. discusses the future of young adults

4.The purpose of the passage is ____.

A. to speak highly of an author

B. to report a piece of news

C. to review a book

D. to collect materials for a book