Today we’ll talk about the history of blue jeans. For many people, blue jeans stand for (代表) American culture.

The history of blue jeans usually began with a man named Levi Strauss. He did not invent jeans. But he is the first person to produce and sell them in large numbers. Levi Strauss was born in Germany. In 1847, he and his family moved to the United States. He opened a small store and sold jeans. These pants were especially useful for miners (矿工) in California. They needed strong clothing. Levi Strauss worked with Jacob Davis, who had invented a step for making rivets (铆钉) for jeans. They helped make the blue jeans stronger.

In 1873, Strauss and Davis received a patent (专利) to own this invention. Nineteenth century workers would probably be surprised to know that their pants would one day become fashions. Today, jeans are worn by people of all ages. Jeans come in many colors other than blue and in many styles and prices. Fashion designers even create very costly jeans. 

Writer James published a book called Jeans: A Cultural History of an American Icon (偶像). In the book, he says jeans serve as a sign for two American values, creativity and rebellion (叛逆).

1. Why did Jacob use rivets for jeans? 

2.Which of the following is WRONG about blue jeans? 

3.The two American values are rebellion and _____________.    

4.What’s the main idea of the passage?

The early history of the city of Rome involves Romulus and Remus，two orphan boys who，legend says，were raised by a she-wolf．The boys’ mother had been murdered by an evil king and the two babies tossed into the river Tiber．When the wolf found them they had washed up on the shore．She perhaps took pity on the crying of the babies and，gently picking them up in her teeth，she carried them back to her cave and fed them on her milk．The boys grew bigger and stronger and，eventually，were found by a herdsman who took them home．He and his wife raised the boys like their own children．When they reached manhood they sought revenge on the king who had killed their mother and driven them from their home．
They decided to build a city．Unfortunately，they argued over the appropriate site and Romulus killed his brother Remus．Romulus ruled this city — called Roma — for thirty-seven years．
The city of Rome is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world．If you travel there you can see a statue of the two baby boys feeding from their mother - the wolf．
【小题1】What is the main idea of the passage?

“What’s the matter, mum?” When I came home yesterday, I found my mother was unhappy. It was unusual—she usually opened the door and welcomed me with a smile. “She’s dying (死),” mum said sadly. I knew what she said. The tulip (郁金香), mother’s favorite, was dying.
A month ago, we moved into our new house and mum bought a very beautiful tulip. Mum liked it very much. Every time she was free, she would sit near the tulip and enjoyed its beautiful color and nice smell. She treated (对待) it like a baby and looked after it carefully. She put the tulip by window and moved it from one place to another to give the tulip enough sunshine. Every morning the first thing she did was to water the tulip. Mum also fertilized (施肥) it many times. She hoped the tulip would become more and more beautiful and stronger. But the tulip was dying because of too much sunshine, water and fertilizer.
It’s true that mother loved the tulip. But this kind of love can be harmful (伤害的). Love can sometimes kill (杀害) what you love.
【小题1】Yesterday the writer found that __________.
A. his mother was sad
B. his home was as usual as before
C. his mother bought a tulip.
【小题2】The sentence “She’s dying ” means __________ was dying soon.
A. the mother        B. the tulip          C. a baby
【小题3】Which of the following is NOT true about the mother?
A. Every afternoon she watered the tulip.
B. She looked after the tulip carefully.
C. She moved the tulip everywhere to give it enough sunshine.
【小题4】Why was the tulip dying in the end? Because __________.
A. she forgot to water it
B. she never fertilized it
C. she gave it too much sunshine, water and fertilizer
【小题5】What does the writer want to tell us?
A. Love is important to everyone.
B. Everyone should love his mother.
C. Not all of love is good for us.

Henry is a little fatter than he wants to be.He wants to lose some weight （减轻重量）.He tries not to eat too much and he eats very little sugar because it will make him fat.He also does exercise every day.He swims,and he runs about two miles a day.Now he is stronger than before.Henry’s sister,Susan, is healthier than Henry.She is also younger and thinner than he is.She does exercise every day.She doesn’t eat much meat.She eats a lot of fruit and vegetables, because she thinks they are better for her health.

1.Henry wants to be_______

A. a little fatter                    B.a little thinner

B.a little older                     D.a little younger

2.Which will make people fat?

A.Meat and fruit            B.Sugar and meat.

C.Fruit and vegetables .      D. Vegetables and sugar.

3.Susan is __________ than Henry.

A. younger but fatter          B. older and healthier

C.thinner but not stronger      D. thinner and healthier.