阅读理解

　　The basic flag of the United States is one of the world's oldest national flags．Only the basic flags of Austria，Denmark，Great Britain，the Netherlands，Sweden，and Switzerland are older．

　　During the discovery and settlement of hat is now the United States，the flags of various European nations were flown over the land，as symbols of possession．later，in the Colonial and Revolutionary War periods，flags representing famous persons，place，and events were flown in the American Colonies．

　　The first official flag of the United States was created by Congress on June 14，1777．It consisted of 13 alternate red and white stripes and 13 white stars in a field of blue，representing the 13 colonies that had declared their independence in 1776．Congress adopted a new flag of 15 stars and 15 stripes in 1795，to give representation to the two new states admitted into the Union，Vermont and Kentucky．

　　By 1817，there were 20 states in the Union，and it became apparent that adding one stripe for each new state would destroy the shape of the flag．As a result，Congress in 1818 restored the original design of 13 stripes and provided that each state was to be represented by one star．In 1912 President William H．Taft made the first official provision for the arrangement of the stars．He ordered that there be six even rows of eight stars each Previously the arrangement of the stars had been left to the flag-maker fancy．

　　The evolution of the Stars and Stripes reflects the growth of the United States．After the admission of Hawaii into the Union in 1959，the flag was officially changed for the 26th time since its creation．

There are many government flown in the United states in addition to the national flag．Among them are the president's and vice-president's flags and those of the federal departments and some federal agencies．Each state in the Union has an official flag．The United States Navy uses special flags for signaling．

1．According to the passage，which of the following possesses one of the world's oldest national flags？

[　　]

2．In the United States，why were the flags of various European nations were flown over the land initially？

[　　]

A．Because then the United States was the European nations'colony．

B．Because they were representing famous person，place and events．C．Because the United States wanted to show friendship to the European nations．

D．The passage don't tell us．

3．From the passage，which of the following is not true？

[　　]

A．Congress designed the first national flag．

B．Because of the two new states admitted into the Union，the national flag became fifteen stars and fifteen stripes．

C．From the evolution of the stars and stripes，we can understand the history of the United States．

D．The flag was officially changed for the 26th time before the Hawaii admitted into the Union．

4．Which flags now don't exist in the United States？

[　　]

A．The president's and vice-president's flags．

B．Each state's official flag in the Union．

C．Children's flags．

D．The United States Navy's flags．

第二部分：阅读理解（共两节，满分30分）
第一节（共10小题，每小题2分，满分20分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Americans spend their free time in various ways．
America is a country of sports — of hunting, fishing and swimming, and of team sports like baseball and football．Millions of Americans watch their favorite sports on television．They also like to play in community orchestras （管弦乐队）, make their own films or recordings, go camping, visit museums，attend lectures, travel, garden, read, and join in hundreds of other activities．The people also enjoy building things for their homes, sewing their own clothes, even making their own photographs．They do these things for fun as well as for economy．
But as much as Americans enjoy their free time, the country is at the same time a “self-improvement” country．More than 25 million adults continue their education, chiefly by going to school in the evening, during their own free time, at their own expense．Added to the time spent on personal activities, Americans a1so devote a great amount of their time to the varied needs of their communities．Many hospitals, schools, libraries, museums, parks, community centers, and organizations that assist the poor depend on the many hours citizens devote to these activities, often without any pay．Why do they do it?
There are several answers．The idea of cooperating and sharing responsibility with one another for the benefit of all is as old as the country itself．[来源:学。科。网]
When the country was first founded in 1776, it was necessary for the settlers to work together to live．They had crossed dangerous seas and risked all they had in their struggle for political and religious freedom．There remains among many Americans a distrust of central government．People still prefer to do things themselves within their communities, rather than give the government more control．
Sometimes people offer their time because they wish to accomplish something for which no money is paid, to do something that will be of benefit to the entire community．It is true that some people use their leisure because they are truly interested in the work; or they are learning from the experience．
No matter what the reason is, hundreds of thousands of so-called leisure hours are put into hard, unpaid work on one or another community need．
1．This passage is mainly about ________．
A．why America is a country of sports
B．how Americans spend their free time
C．why America is a “self-improvement” country
D．how Americans are devoted to their community activities
2．The writer mentions the foundation of the country in order to indicate ________．
A．the early history of America
B．the American people’s determination to live
C．the reason for Americans’ willingness to cooperate and share responsibility
D．the American people’ s love for freedom
3．Which of the following best explains the meaning of the underlined word “leisure”?
A．work time           B．energy                C．effort                  D．spare time
4．What can we infer from the text?
A．The first settlers left their hometown for political and religious reasons．
B．Many Americans don’t trust the central government．
C．American people enjoy building things for their homes just for fun．
D．Americans continue their education at their own expense．

On Saturday, millions of people around the world will celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, which honors Patron Saint (or main religious figure) of Ireland. Communities across the United States will host parades, parties, and other festivities to mark the occasion.
This year, cities like Boston, New York, and Chicago have organized massive events celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day. In New York City, hundreds of thousands of people will gather to watch the Saint Patrick’s Day parade—the nation’s largest. It is one of the most watched parades in the world. Last year, almost 2 million spectators（观众） and more than 150,000 participants （参与者）filled the streets. The parade, first held in 1776, is also one of the oldest.
Chicago also throws a big celebration. Every year, the Chicago River, which crosses the city, glows green as event organizers dump about 40 pounds of fluorescence, a powerful dye(染料), into the water.
Boston keeps its parade rolling for three hours or more. It is the nation’s second-largest parade. The city will also salute one of its most famous former residents, President John F. Kennedy, by opening the exhibit “A Journey Home: John F. Kennedy and Ireland,” at his official library.
Patron Saint lived in Britain in the early fifth century, when it was still part of the Roman Empire. He was captured （抓捕）and sold into slavery（卖为奴隶） in Ireland when he was only 16．He eventually escaped slavery and turned to a life of religious devotion. He trained to become a minister（牧师） and set out to spread Christianity throughout Ireland. After 30 years as a religious leader, Patrick died on March 17, 1461．Saint Patrick’s Day is always celebrated on March 17．In Ireland, it is an official holiday.
1．What’s the best title of the passage?
A．History of Saint Patrick’s Day                  B．An Official Holiday in US
C．The Largest Parade in the World                D．Celebrations across the Country
2．What do you think is the official color of St. Patrick’s Day?
A．Green                  B．Red.                    C．Black.                  D．Yellow.
3．The last paragraph is mainly about _____.
A．the cruel slave trade.                        B．Saint Patrick’s contribution.
C．activities during Saint Patrick’s Day       D．Ireland’s Patron Saint
4．Which of the following is not correct according to the passage?
A．Parade is a most important event to observe Saint Patrick’s Day.
B．Saint Patrick’s Day is a religious holiday.
C．Saluting the former president has become a main event on the occasion.
D．The Saint Patrick’s Day parade has a history of over two centuries.

请将下列方框里所列词汇的正确形式填到短文中，每空限一词，不能重复使用。

We can see the 1) __________ between American English British English but they are different sometimes. Many students want to know about the 2) __________ between American English and British English.

At first the language in Britain and America was the same. In 1776 America became a (an) 3) __________ country. After that, the language slowly began to change. For a long time the language in America stayed the same, while the language in England changed. For example, 300 years ago the English talked about "fall".

Today, most British people talk about "autumn", but Americans still talk abut "fall". In the same way Americans still use the expression "I guess" 4) __________ "I think", just as the British did 300 years ago.

At the same time, British English and American English started borrowing words from other languages, 5) __________ with different words. For example, the British took "typhoon" from Chinese, while the Americans took "tornado" from Spanish.

In 1828 Noah Webster published the first American dictionary. He wanted to make American English different from British English, so he changed the spelling of many words. That’s why the words "colour", "centre" and "traveller" are spelt "color", "center" and "traveler" in American English. Except for spelling, written English is more or less the same in both British and American English.

They are also different in the spoken language. For example, Americans say dance /dæns/, and in southern England they say /dɑ?ns/. In America they 6) p__________ not /nɑt/; in southern England they say /n?t/. However, most of the time people from the two countries do not have any trouble in understanding each other.

The basic flag of the United States is one of the world's oldest national flags．Only the basic flags of Austria,．Denmark, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland are older．

During the discovery and settlement of what is now the United States, the flags of various European nations were flown over the land, as symbols of possession．Later, in the Colonial and Revolutionary War periods, flags representing famous persons, places, and events were flown in the American Colonies．

The first official flag of the United States was created by Congress on June 14, 1777．It consisted of 13 alternate red and white stripes? and 13 white stars in a field of blue, representing the 13colonies that had declared their independence in 1776．Congress adopted a new flag of 15 stars and 15 stripes in 1795, to give representation to the two new states admitted into the Union, Vermont and Kentucky．

By 1817 there were 20 states in the Union, and it became apparent that adding one stripe for  each new state would destroy the shape of the flag．As a result．Congress in 1818 restored the original design of 13 stripes and provided that each state was to be represented by one star．In 1921 Preside William H．Taft made the first official provision for the arrangement of the stars．He ordered that there be six even rows of eight stars each．Previously the arrangement of the stars had

been left to the flag- maker's fancy．

The evolution of the stars and stripes reflects the growth of the United States．After the admission of Hawaii into the Union in 1959, the flag was officially changed for the 26th time since its creation．

There are many government flags flown in the United States in addition to the national flag．Among them are the president's and vice-president's flags and those of the federal  epartments and some federal agencies．Each state in the Union has an official flag．The United States Navy uses special flags for signaling．   

1.The basic flag of the United States is _____．

A．the oldest national flag in the world

B．one of the world's oldest flags

C．the most beautiful flag in the West

D．as old as the basic flags of some European nations

2.Before the War of Independence the flags of various European nations flown over the land were symbols of         ．

A．self- rule                                                                B．occupation          

C．peace and friendship     D．independence

3.The first official flag of the United States was adopted _____．

A．before the Independence War

B．right after the Independence War

C．when independence was declared in 1776

D．during the War of Independence which ended in 1783

4.The 13 red and white stripes and13 white Stars represent____．

A．13 independent states                         

B．the colonies that declared independence in 1776．

C．the U．S．Congress                          

D．13 famous figures in the American colonies