What is your zodiac（生肖） animal? According to the Chinese lunar calendar（农历）, 12 animals mark 12 different years. It is the basis of the Chinese zodiac. Nowadays, Chinese zodiac animals have worldwide fame and are increasingly popular among western people.
The zodiac is an important part of Chinese culture. People believe that the characteristics of a zodiac animal influence the personality of every person born in that year. For example, people born in the Year of the Tiger are considered powerful and brave.
Zodiac animals also have some social functions. When people think it is not proper to ask: “How old are you”, they may change their question to “What is your zodiac animal?” With this question, you can figure out roughly which year someone was born and the person’s age.
Zodiac animals are not special to China. Many countries share a similar zodiac culture with China. For example, in the Japanese Zodiac, a wild boar（野猪）takes the place of a pig and the Vietnamese（越南的）zodiac has a cat instead of a rabbit.
But have you ever wondered how these 12 animals were chosen to represent each year? According to legend, the Jade Emperor（玉皇大帝）invited all the animals to join him for Chinese New Year. Only 12 animals went to see him. As a reward he named a year after each one in the order they arrived. The ox would have been the first to arrive, but the rat sat on his back and jumped off just before they arrived to come in first place.
【小题1】The characteristics of a zodiac animal may influence the _____ of every person born in that year.

For years I wanted a garden．I’d spend hours thinking of different things I could plant that would look nice together．

But then we had Matthew, and Marvin, and the twins Alisa and Alan, and then Helen．I was too busy raising them to grow a garden．

Money was not enough．Neither was time．Often when my children were little,

one of them would want something that cost too much, and I’d have to say, “Do you see a money tree outside? Money doesn't grow on trees, you know．”

Finally, all the children got through high school and college and were off on their own．I started thinking again about a garden．

Then, one spring morning, on Mother’s Day, I was working in my kitchen．Suddenly, I looked out of the window and there was a new tree, planted right in my yard．There were things blowing around on it．       Then I put my glasses on—and I couldn’t believe what I saw．

There was a money tree in my yard!

I went outside to look．It was true! There were dollar bills(帐单), one hundred of them, hanging all over that tree．There was also a note among them, “Thank you for your time, Mom．We love you!”

Later, my children bought me tools, ornaments, a sunflower stepping stone and gardening books．A new page started in my life．

That was three years ago．My garden’s now very pretty, just like I wanted．When I go out and take care of my flowers, I don’t seem to miss my children as much as I once did．It feels like they’re right there with me．Now every year when winter comes, I look out of my window and think of the flowers I’ll see next spring in my little garden．I think about what my children did for me, and I get tears in my eyes—every time．

I’m still not sure that money grows on trees．But I know love does!

1.How many children did the writer have?

A．Three            B．Four             C．Five              D．Six

2.What did the mother mean when she said “Money doesn’t grow on trees”?

A．She was too busy to plant a money tree at that time．

B．She had to save money so that she could have a garden．

C．It wasn’t easy for her to make money to raise all the children．

D．They didn’t have much money because the mother lost her job．

3.The “money tree” appeared in the writer’s yard _________．

A．before her children were born

B．one spring morning when the children were little

C．after the children went to school

D．on a Mother’s Day after the children left her

4.The children planted a money tree in their mother’s yard because _________．

A．their mother needed money badly

B．they wanted to show their love to their mother

C．it was time for them to give the money back to her

D．they wanted to live together with their mother forever

根据句意和提示写出单词，完成句子。

1.There are several ways to solve this problem. Let's have a _________(讨论）now.

2.As we know,___________ (抽烟) is a bad habit, and it's not good for our health.

3.It will be much foggier tomorrow. Please drive your car as ____(小心)as you can.

4.Would you like to_____________（分享）your experiences with us?

5.Chinese parents are strict with their children and usually stop them from _________(逗留) out too late with friends.

6.If you want to keep fit, you should eat_____________(健康的)food first.

7._______(没有事情) is impossible to a willing mind.

8.__________(星期二）is the third day of a week.

9.He’d like to buy a present for his father’s ______ (forty) birthday.

10.—Look, whose ___________(Walkman) are these? —Perhaps they are the twins.

11.The boys walked _______(pass) my house.

12.He ________(nod）to me in greeting when I entered the room.

13.They moved away from the village for ________(safe).

14.We should face the problem and solve it instead of _______(wait) for others' help.

15.There are many books on those ________(shelf).

For years I wanted a flower garden. I'd spend hours   31   different things I could plant. I believe they would look nice together.

    But then we had Mattew. And Marvin. And the twins, Alisa and Alan. And then Helen. Five children! I was too   32    raising them的grow a garden.

    Money was tight（拮据）,as well as time. Often when my children were little, one of them would want something expensive. And I'd have to say, "Do you see a money tree outside? Money doesn't    33    on trees, you know."

    34   , all five got through high school and college（大学）and were off on their own. I started thinking again about having a garden. Then, one morning on Mother's Day, I was working in my kitchen. Suddenly, I looked out of the window and there was a   35   tree, planted right in my garden. I thought it   36    be a weeping willow(垂柳),because I saw things    37    around on all its branches（树枝）.Then I put my  38    on and I couldn't believe what I saw. There was a money tree in my garden!

    I went outside to have a look. It was    39   ! There were dollar bills all over that tree. There was also a note in the tree. It    40   ,"We all love you, Mom."

1.A-talking about     B. thinking of      C. preparing for        D. looking after

2.A. tired           B. careless         C. busy               D. poor

3. A. grow           B. make           C. come              D. get

4.A. Clearly         B. Naturally        C. Certainly           D. Finally

5.A. money          B. new            C. young             D. tall

6.A. should          B. can            C. must               D. need

7. A. blowing         B. turning         C. producing           D. appearing

8.A. overcoat         B. hat            C. shoes              D. glasses

9. A. strange          B. true           C. special             D. perfect

10. A. says            B. writes          C. shows             D. describes