WHEN ARE YOU AN ADULT?
　　Many countries have ceremonies to celebrate their young people becoming adults. However, some countries do not. Instead, young people think of themselves as adults when they can do “adults” things. But when do you become an adult in the U.S.A.? Let’s look at what some American teenagers say.
　　Sam: I think you are an adult at 18. That’s when you can vote. You can help to choose who runs the state and the whole country. That’s grown up! My grandfather couldn’t vote until he was 21. They only change it to 18 in 1971. I guess they think we are more responsible at 18 now.
　　Jenny: I think it’s hard to choose. I get to drive a car at 16, don’t I? That’s a serious responsibility. When you have a driver’s license you show it to people to prove your age for all kinds of things. So that must be the age when you change from a young person to an adult. Because you have to prove you are that age and not a kid.
　　Suzie: I think there is something crazy about American laws about when young people can do things. So I can vote at 18 and drive at 16. So you would think that 18 is grown up, even if 16 isn’t. But then I can’t drink alcohol until I’m 21! If I’m an adult at 21, how can people stop me buying a can of beer in a shop?
　　vote: 选举
　　43. Which of the following is TRUE?
　　A. You can’t vote until 21.
　　B. You can drive a car at 18.
　　C. You can’t drink until 16.
　　D. You can buy beers before 21.

　　44. Sam thinks “grown up” means __________.
　　A. you can help to choose the president and governors
　　B. you can drink alcohol
　　C. you are responsible for all things you do
　　D. you can drive a car

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

On April 20th,2013, a big and powerful earthquake attacked Ya’an, Sichuan Province. A great many buildings and houses collapsed, a lot of people were killed and even more people lost their homes in the earthquake .

The number of the death from the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that hit Ya’an in southwestern China's Sichuan Province has risen to 188, according to latest calculations by local Civil Affairs Bureau(as of 18:00 pm, April 22, ). At least 11,826 were reportedly injured in the quake while 25 are still missing.

Experts are anticipating(预期的)much less casualties(人员伤亡)in the quake than that from the 8.0 magnitude quake hit Wenchuan on May 12, 2008, also in Sichuan Province, which killed more than 80,000 and injured over 300,000.

Energy released from Wenchuan earthquake would be 30 times of that from Ya’an quake, according to Zhang Xiaonan, an expert with China's Geophysical Union. Dai Junwu with Harbin-based seismological bureau (地震局)expects the number of the death at less than 1,000, and economic losses from the quake could reach up to 100 billion yuan.

Rescue（营救）efforts were carried “timely and orderly”, said Chinese Premier Li Keqiang who flew to the quicken-stricken area on Sunday, the second day of the quake. He was quoted as saying that “the current priority is to save lives”.

1.When did Ya’an earthquake happen???

A. April 22,2008?? ????????????? B. April 20,2013????????????? C. May 12,2008??? ????????????? D. May.22 2013

2. How many people injured in the earthas of 18:00 pm, April 22 ) according to the ????????????? passage?????

A. About188?????? ????????????? B. At least 11,826 ????????????? C. More than 80,000? ? D. Over 300,000.

3.What does the underlined word “ collapsed” in para.1) mean?

A. fell down suddenly?? ????????????? B. Rebuilt?

C. burnt to the ground? ????????????? D. turned into pieces

4.Which one is NOT true according to the passage?

A. Wenchuan earthquake released 30 times energy of Ya’an earthquake.

B. Premier Li Keqiang who flew to the quicken-stricken area on April,21,2013.

C. Wenchuan earthquake killed around 80000 people.

D. Zhang Xiaonan expected the economic losses from the quake could reach up to 100 billion yuan.

BALTIMORE. MARYLAND—An old postcard changed the lives of an eleven-year-old boy and a very sick woman. The postcard had a picture of the steamship Titanic. The Titanic was the largest ocean ship in the world. It hit an iceberg（冰山）and sank on April 14. 1912. More than 1,500 of the 2,200 people on the ship were killed.

　　The postcard was passed from one person to another for more than 80 years. Then it appeared at a card show for people who liked to collect postcards. An eleven-year-old boy, Joey Russell, came to the show with his grandfather. His grandfather knew everything about the Titanic and its trip from England to New York. “Let’s buy that postcard.” he told Joey. “It will be important someday.”

　　Two years later, Joey’s grandfather took him on a special trip. They went on a trip to the North Atlantic ocean to watch as workers pulled the Titanic up from the bottom of the ocean. Joey put his special postcard in his bag for the trip. On the ship, Joey met Edith Haisman. This woman was on the Titanic when it sank. She was one of the people who were rescued. Joey pulled the postcard out of his pocket. “Please sign this, Mrs. Haisman.” he said. She was happy to write her name on the back of the postcard.

When Joey got home, he put the postcard away and forgot about it, Then Kate Shelley, one of Joey’s friends, told him that her mother was very sick. She needed an operation, but there was a problem. The operation was very expensive, and the family needed $80, 000 to pay for it. Friends and relatives tried to help. But where could they get so much money?

　　Then when Joey went to see the new movie “Titanic”, he had an idea. “Millions of people are seeing this movie and reading about the Titanic.” Joey thought. He remembered the old postcard with Edith Haisman’s signature on it. “Maybe I can sell it for some money. Then I can help Kate’s mom.”

　　Joey told his mother and father about his idea to help Mrs. Shelley. His parents helped him try to sell the postcard to the person who would pay the most money for it. Joey’s story was on television and in newspapers. Joey and Kate even went to New York to be on a national TV show. After the show, many people called in to offer money for the Titanic card. Someone bought it for $60. 000.

Joey’s kind heart and the old Titanic postcard worked together to save a woman’s life.

1.Which of the following is NOT true about the old postcard?

A. The Titanic was the largest steamship in the world in 1912.

B. The steamship Titanic hit an iceberg and sank about a hundred years ago

C. Over two thousand passengers were killed in the ocean accident.

D. More than eighty years had passed before the postcard belonged to Joey.

2.Joey Russell _________.

A. decided to buy the postcard at a shop

B. showed great interest in collecting postcards

C. took the postcard with him to see Mrs. Shelley

D. asked Mrs. Haisman to sign her name on his postcard

3.What does the underlined word “rescued” mean in the sentence?

A. Be made safe from danger.

B. Be on an ocean trip.

C. Be working on board.

D. Be asked to sell the postcard.

4.When did Joey Russell have the idea of selling his old postcard for money?

A. When Kate Shelley told him of her mother’s sickness.

    B. When he went to see the new movie “Titanic”.

    C. When he was reading the new book of Titanic.

    D. When he remembered Mrs. Haisman’s signature on his card.

5.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The Titanic arrived in New York at the end of April, 1912.

B. At the age of 13, Joey Russell got Mrs. Haisman’s signature.

C. Joey Russell sold out his postcards on a national TV show.

D. The Titanic card was sold to many people for $60, 000.

完形填空（共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后所给各题的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
Monday morning is an important time at our school. All of the students go to the playground. We listen to music, and we  1 the national flag go up.
　 Usually, one student gives a talk on Monday mornings. One Monday last year, a boy gave the talk. He was   2 and excited! When I saw him, I wanted to have a try, too.
　 Can I really do it?
　 Last week, our teacher said our class should give the talk. My teacher   3 me, “I know you want to have a try. Next Monday morning, I want you to give the talk. Go and write something down.  4 for it, I’m sure you’ll do well.”
“Thank you.” I answered. It was such a great  5 for me! When I got home, I was excited. I wrote two pages for the talk. I read them again and again. When I read, I asked my parents  6 . I wanted to make my teacher happy.
Finally Monday morning came. I began to feel  7 .
When did I last give a talk to  8 many people? Never! This was my first time. Could I really  9 it? Maybe I couldn’t finish the talk.
When I got to school, we all went out to the playground. I  10 in front of everyone. I opened my mouth, but I couldn’t say anything.
“Take it easy,” I said to  11 . “Don’t be nervous. You can do it.”
Just then, I looked down at everyone. I saw about 1,000 eyes. They were all looking at me ! I couldn’t  12  stand up.
I took a look at their eyes more carefully. Their eyes seemed to say, “You can do it! Come on!   13 afraid, just talk!”
I took a big breath. Then I began to talk. It wasn’t hard. It was easy.
I don’t know 14 I finished my talk, but I tried my best to do it. I felt so good that day. I showed myself  15 everyone what I can do.