A clique(小圈子,派系) is a group of friends who hang out together and act in similar ways. Cliques are common feature of the teen years. Members of a clique usually have certain things in common. For example, they might all be good students. Membership in a clique is limited. Not everyone who wants to belong can join.

Cliques can have a positive or negative influence. Because most teens have a strong need to belong, they want to feel that they fit into a group. Cliques can help them meet this need. Sometimes teens feel unsure of themselves, and they use a clique to gain approval of what they wear or how they act.

Cliques can become harmful, however, if they pressure members to behave the same way as the group that may damage their health. Cliques may discourage members from making their own decisions, giving their own opinions, or having other friends who aren’t accepted by the clique. Cliques may even pressure members to act in ways that go against their own values and beliefs, such as lying to parents or teachers. Cliques can also hurt people outside the group. For example, members might make fun of a teen who isn’t in the clique.

If you find yourself under this type of pressure from a clique, here are some actions you can take to improve your situation.

● Suggest other activities. Offer ideas that don’t involve hurting others or putting anyone at risk.

● Find new friends. If staying in the clique is becoming a negative experience, you will be better off with new friends.

Why do teens want to be a member of a clique?

A. Because it is popular with teens.                   

B. Because it meets teens’ need of belonging.

C. Because it is where teens can be themselves.

D. Because it provides an opportunity for them to be away from their parents.

Why can cliques be harmful?

A. Because kids in there don’t have independent thinking.

B. Because kids in there are not allowed to have their own opinions.

C. Because kids in there sometimes are pressured.

D. Because kids in there are forced to lie to their parents.

What is the writer’s attitude toward the clique?

A. He is very supportive to it.                            B. He is strongly against it.

C. He is not against it, though he doesn’t like it.

D. He is not against it. However, he has some worry about it.

C

No one can believe that the over 6,300-kilometer Great Wall might disappear some day. Believe it or not, the Great Wall is being destroyed by people. Less than 20 percent of the Great Wall built in the Ming Dynasty, is still perfect, but about 80 percent is in danger. The Great Wall can be called "great" mostly because of its amazing length. But we should realize that the length was made up of one brick at a time. If we do nothing to save the Great Wall, it will become a series of separate wasteland rather than a historic site.

The Great Wall is actually a series of walls built and rebuilt by different dynasties over the past 2,000 years. It began in the rule of China's first emperor, Qin Shihuang of the Qin Dynasty(221 BC-206 BC), and lasted into the Ming Dynasty. The parts built before the Ming Dynasty have nearly disappeared. People are familiar with sections such as Badaling in Beijing and Jiayuguan Pass in Gansu, because they have been open to tourists for many years. But those sections far away from the public eyes have been almost forgotten.

Few local people knew the 3-metre-high walls made of earth and stones beside them are part of the Great Wall. The lack of knowledge is considered as one of the main reasons behind human.

The bricks on the Great Wall are carried off by countryside people to build their houses, sheep corrals and pigsties. Some were taken away to build roads. Bricks carved with people's names are put away as remembrances. Rubbish is spread over the battlements. The bricks can be sold for 15 yuan per tractor load. Those who destroyed and are destroying the Wall know its name, but are not clear about its cultural meaning. It will take a long time to let them know this. The local farmers not only carried off the body of the Wall but also dug out the entire base.

It is necessary to protect the Great Wall. First of all, the officials should be aware of the importance of the Great Wall. Young Chinese should know more about the nation's great civilization and learn to love it.

64. Why does the writer say the Great Wall might disappear?

A. It is useless from now on.

B. It will be replaced by a new one.

C. Some parts of it are being destroyed.

D. It is too old to be used again.

65. According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?

A. The Great Wall was completed in the Ming Dynasty.

B. Not all the foreign tourists like the Great Wall.

C. The first part of the Great Wall was built in 221 BC.

D. The Qin Great Wall was protected well.

66. The underlined part "those sections far away from the public eyes" (in Paragraph 2) refers to the parts of the Great Wall _____.

A. that are too difficult to find

B. nobody can watch

C. that are too far to be seen

D. that are not well-known to the public

67. What's the main reason of the Great Wall's being destroyed?

A. The local people are short of culture knowledge.

B. The local people need bricks and stones to build houses.

C. The local people think that the Great Wall is not important.

D. The local people sell the bricks for a living.

A Leap（跳跃）to Honor

Leaping on a narrow balance beam（平衡木） is not easy. But Lola Walter, a 13-year-old gymnast, is an expert at it.

To perfect her skills, Lola   36   for four hours a day, five days a week. At the state championships in March, she finished seventh out of 16 girls.

That’s especially impressive.   37   she is legally blind, born with a rare condition that causes her eyes to shift constantly. She often sees double and can’t   38   how far away things are.

When she was little, her mom   39   that even though she couldn’t see   40   , she was fearless. So her mom signed her up for gymnastics when she was three. She loved the   41   right away and gymnastics became her favorite.

Though learning gymnastics has been more   42   for her than for some of her tournaments, she has never quit. She doesn’t let her   43   stop her from doing anything that she wants to.

She likes the determination it takes to do the sport. Her biggest   44   is the balance beam. Because she has double vision, she often sees to beams. She must use her sense of touch to help her during her routine. Sometimes she even closes her eyes. “You have to   45   your mind that it’ll take you where you want to go.” says Lola.

To be a top-level gymnast, one must be brave. The beam is probably the most   46   for anyone because it’s four inches wide. At the state competition, Lola didn’t fall   47   the beam. In fact, she got an 8.1 out of 10---- her highest score yet.

Lola doesn’t want to be   48   differently from the other girls on her team. At the competitions, the judges don’t know about her vision   49   . She doesn’t tell them, because she doesn’t think they need to know. Her mom is amazed by her   50   attitude.

Lola never thinks about   51   . She is presently at level 7 while the highest is level 10 in gymnastics. Her   52   is to reach level 9. She says she wants to be a gymnastics coach to pass down what she’s learned to other kids   53   she grew up.

Lola is   54   of all her hard work and success. She says it’s helped her overcome problems in her life outside gymnastics, too. Her   55   for others is “just believe yourself”.

36. A. runs            B. teaches              C. trains                D. dances

37. A. since           B. unless                C. after                  D. though

38. A. tell               B. guess                 C. assume              D. predict

39. A. suspected     B remembered        C. imagined            D. noticed

40. A. deeply          B. well                   C. ahead                D. closely

41. A. task             B. sport                 C. event                 D. show

42. A. boring          B. enjoyable            C. different            D. unsatisfactory

43. A. talent           B. quality               C. nature               D. condition

44. A. doubt           B. advantage           C. challenge           D. program

45. A. examine       B. express              C. open                 D. trust

46. A. fearful         B. harmful              C. unfair                D. inconvenient

47. A. to                B. on                     C. off                    D. against

48. A. greeted        B. treated               C. served               D. paid

49. A. pains           B. stresses             C. injuries              D. problems

50. A. positive        B. friendly              C. flexible              D. caution

51. A. defending     B. quitting              C. winning             D. bargaining

52. A. standard       B. range                 C. view                 D. goal

53. A. until             B. as                      C. when                D. before

54. A. proud          B. tired                  C. ashamed            D. confident

55. A. plan             B. advice                C. reward              D. responsibility

A fried of mine named Paul received an automobile from his brother as a Christmas present. On Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office, a naughty street boy was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it. “Is this your car, Mister?” he asked..
Paul nodded, “My brother gave it to me for Christmas.” The boy was surprised. “You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn’t cost you anything? I wish…” He hesitated（犹豫）.
Of course Paul knew what he was going to wish for. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the boy said made Paul think all the way.
“I wish ,” the boy went on, “that I could be a brother like that.”
Paul looked at the boy in surprise, adding, “Would you like to take a ride in my automobile?”
“Yes, I’d love that.” After a short ride, the boy turned and said, “Mister, would you mind driving in front of my house?”
Paul smiled, He thought he knew what the boy wanted. But Paul was wrong again. “Will you stop where those two steps are?” the boy asked.
He ran up the steps. Then in a while Paul heard him coming back, but he didn’t come fast. He was carrying his little crippled（伤残） brother. He pointed to the car and said, “There it is, Buddy, just like I told you up stairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas. And some day I’m going to give one just like it and then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I’ve been trying tell you about. ”
Paul got out and lifted the boy to the front seat. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride.
That Christmas Eve, Paul learned what “It is more blessed to give” means.
【小题1】The naughty street boy wished to _____________ .

A．have a brother like Paul’s

B．get a present from his brother

C．become a brother like Paul’s

D．take a ride in his automobile

【小题2】When the boy asked for a ride home, Paul thought the boy wanted to ______________.

A．play a trick on him

B．own a car like Paul’s

C．pick up someone important to him.

D．show off by riding home in a car

【小题3】What did the boy want to show to his crippled brother?

A．His pride.

B．His bravery.

C．His love.

D．His generosity.

【小题4】What would be the best title for text?

A．A brother like that

B．A Christmas present

C．A boy’s crippled brother

D．An unforgettable Christmas

【小题5】(Originally created)  The last sentence “It is more blessed to give” in this story means following EXCEPT____.

A．It is better to help than to get helped.

B．The more help you give to others, the happier you will feel.

C．To help other people is a way to make a person to become a true man.

D．To give away all your wealth, otherwise, you won’t be blessed by God.

A clique(小圈子,派系) is a group of friends who hang out together and act in similar ways. Cliques are common feature of the teen years. Members of a clique usually have certain things in common. For example, they might all be good students. Membership in a clique is limited. Not everyone who wants to belong can join.
Cliques can have a positive or negative influence. Because most teens have a strong need to belong, they want to feel that they fit into a group. Cliques can help them meet this need. Sometimes teens feel unsure of themselves, and they use a clique to gain approval of what they wear or how they act.
Cliques can become harmful, however, if they pressure members to behave the same way as the group that may damage their health. Cliques may discourage members from making their own decisions, giving their own opinions, or having other friends who aren’t accepted by the clique. Cliques may even pressure members to act in ways that go against their own values and beliefs, such as lying to parents or teachers. Cliques can also hurt people outside the group. For example, members might make fun of a teen who isn’t in the clique.
If you find yourself under this type of pressure from a clique, here are some actions you can take to improve your situation.
● Suggest other activities. Offer ideas that don’t involve hurting others or putting anyone at risk.
● Find new friends. If staying in the clique is becoming a negative experience, you will be better off with new friends.
【小题1】Why do teens want to be a member of a clique?

A．Because it is popular with teens.

B．Because it meets teens’ need of belonging.

C．Because it is where teens can be themselves.

D．Because it provides an opportunity for them to be away from their parents.

【小题2】Why can cliques be harmful?

A．Because kids in there don’t have independent thinking.

B．Because kids in there are not allowed to have their own opinions.

C．Because kids in there sometimes are pressured.

D．Because kids in there are forced to lie to their parents.

【小题3】What is the writer’s attitude toward the clique?

A．He is very supportive to it.	B．He is strongly against it.
C．He is not against it, though he doesn’t like it.
D．He is not against it. However, he has some worry about it.