They are representatives of farm workers and the frustrating conditions they are in are______ the true state of the majority of them.

　 A. symbolic　 B. representative of　 C. curious about　　 D. ambitious about

 

The flag, the most common symbol of a nation in the modern world, is also one of the most ancient. With a clear symbolic meaning, the flag in the traditional form is still used today to mark buildings, ships and other vehicles related to a country.
The national flag as we know it today is in no way a primitive artifact. It is, rather, the product of thousands of years’ development. Historians believe that it had two major ancestors, of which the earlier served to show wind direction.
Early human beings used very fragile houses and boats. Often strong winds would tear roofs from houses or cause high waves that endangered travelers. People’s food supplies were similarly vulnerable. Even after they had learned how to plant grains, they still needed help from nature to ensure good harvests. Therefore they feared and depended on the power of the wind, which could bring warmth from one direction and cold from another.
Using a simple piece of cloth tied to the top of a post to tell the direction of the wind was more dependable than earlier methods, such as watching the rising of smoke from a fire. The connection of the flag with heavenly power was therefore reasonable. Early human societies began to fix long pieces of cloth to the tops of totems (图腾) before carrying them into battle. They believed that the power of the wind would be added to the good wishes of the gods and ancestors represented by the totems themselves.
These flags developed very slowly into modern flags. The first known flag of a nation or a ruler was unmarked: The king of China around 1,000 B.C. was known to have a white flag carried ahead of him. This practice might have been learned from Egyptians even further in the past, but it was from China that it spread over trade routes through India, then across Arab lands, and finally to Europe, where it met up with the other ancestor of the national flag.
【小题1】 The underlined word “ vulnerable” in paragraph 3 means _______.

A．easy to damage	B．likely to be protected
C．impossible to make sure of	D．difficult to find

【小题2】The earliest flags were connected with heavenly power because they _______.

A．could tell wind direction	B．could bring good luck to fighters
C．were believed to stand for natural forces	D．were handed down by the ancestors

【小题3】What does the author know of the first national flag?

A．He knows when it was sent to Europe.	B．He doubts where it started.
C．He thinks it came from China.	D．He believes it was made in Egypt.

【小题4】What will the author most probably talk about next?

A．The role of China in the spread of the national flag.

B．The importance of modern flags.

C．The use of modern flags in Europe.

D．The second ancestor of the national flag.

The flag, the most common symbol of a nation in the modern world, is also one of the most ancient. With a clear symbolic meaning, the flag in the traditional form is still used today to mark buildings, ships and other vehicles related to a country.

The national flag as we know it today is in no way a primitive artifact. It is, rather, the product of thousands of years’ development. Historians believe that it had two major ancestors, of which the earlier served to show wind direction.

Early human beings used very fragile houses and boats. Often strong winds would tear roofs from houses or cause high waves that endangered travelers. People’s food supplies were similarly vulnerable. Even after they had learned how to plant grains, they still needed help from nature to ensure good harvests. Therefore they feared and depended on the power of the wind, which could bring warmth from one direction and cold from another.

Using a simple piece of cloth tied to the top of a post to tell the direction of the wind was more dependable than earlier methods, such as watching the rising of smoke from a fire. The connection of the flag with heavenly power was therefore reasonable. Early human societies began to fix long pieces of cloth to the tops of totems (图腾) before carrying them into battle. They believed that the power of the wind would be added to the good wishes of the gods and ancestors represented by the totems themselves.

These flags developed very slowly into modern flags. The first known flag of a nation or a ruler was unmarked: The king of China around 1,000 B.C. was known to have a white flag carried ahead of him. This practice might have been learned from Egyptians even further in the past, but it was from China that it spread over trade routes through India, then across Arab lands, and finally to Europe, where it met up with the other ancestor of the national flag.

1. The underlined word “ vulnerable” in paragraph 3 means _______.

　　A. easy to damage　　                B. likely to be protected

　　C. impossible to make sure of　　       D. difficult to find

2.The earliest flags were connected with heavenly power because they _______.

　　A. could tell wind direction　　         B. could bring good luck to fighters

　　C. were believed to stand for natural forces D. were handed down by the ancestors

3.What does the author know of the first national flag?

　　A. He knows when it was sent to Europe.  B. He doubts where it started.

　　C. He thinks it came from China.   　　  D. He believes it was made in Egypt.

4.What will the author most probably talk about next?

　　A. The role of China in the spread of the national flag.

　　B. The importance of modern flags.

　　C. The use of modern flags in Europe.

　　D. The second ancestor of the national flag.

 

Cooler temperatures, attractive colors, smaller crowds autumn is the perfect time for travel and tourism. Here, three places are listed as the best fall trip destinations. Don’t worry if you can’t go to these places. By reading this page, we hope to take you on grand tour and let you experience fun and culture around the world.

Cannstatter Volkfest, Stuttgart, Germany Stuttgart’s Cannstatter Volkfest is listed as the world’s second largest beer-drinking event–following Munich’s Oktoberfest. But it is considered Germany’s more authentic celebration of local heritage and, of course, beer. Started as an agricultural fair in 1818–a symbolic 24-meter-high “fruit column” pays homage to the past–the three-week festival (from September 23 to October 9 this year) features live music, a re-created Alpine village, and carnival（狂欢节） rides. In addition, Stuttgart is recognized as a global car capital. Both the Mercedes-Benz and Porsche museums are worth a visit.

 

Churchill, Manitoba, Canada Here in the northern Canadian town at Hudson Bay, visitors can see the area’s most famous fall residents–polar bears. More than a thousand of the world’s largest land carnivores migrate through the “polar bear capital of the world” during October and November, when the first ice forms on the edge of Hudson Bay.  The frozen conditions make it easier for hungry bears to hunt for seals (by walking instead of swimming). Under the snowy, winter weather, visitors can hardly have too many clothes to put on. Insulated boots, jackets, and gloves; layered clothing; thermal underwear; and woolen socks and hats are required.

 

Dublin, Ireland The Ireland’s capital and largest city is a center for arts, entertainment, culture and commerce. With few tourists and lower temperatures, fall is the ideal season for walking the historic Georgian streets and cruising the River Liffey. Visitors can explore the city’s 20 square kilometers of public gardens, nature reserves, and parks, including St. Stephen’s Green, which borders Grafton Street, one of the world’s most expensive retail locations. 　　Along the way, enjoy traditional, paper-wrapped fish and chips at Leo Burdock. 　　Healthier eats will be on the menu on October 31, when more than 12,000 runners are expected for the National Lottery Dublin Marathon, named “the Friendly Marathon” for the affable crowds cheering there.

1.The passage is presented for those who            .

A．care for fun and culture around the world

B．have planned to go for traveling this autumn

C．hate to have their holidays in other seasons

D．have not ever been to Europe and America

2.If you spend your holidays on October 31, you may           .

A．enjoy live music at the beer – drinking festival

B．watch polar bears hunt seals

C．taste traditional, paper – wrapped fish and clips

D．win a prize in “the Friendly Marathon”

3.According to the passage, we can know that          .

A．Car exhibitions will be held for two months.

B．It’s not necessary to take more clothes with you to Churehill, Martitoba

C．The beer – drinking event in German dates from the eighteenth century

D．Your favourite goods might be available in the expensive shop in Dublin

4.The passage is probably taken from the column of         in a newspaper.

A．economics  B．science        C．tourism        D．fashion

 

阅读理解

　　Many people take it for granted that black is a color of bad thing while white should always mean something good. This may be because, in their opinion, black is related to darkness and white to purity. However, that is not always the case. Did you know that the same one color may mean differently in different places of the world?

　　In the English－speaking world, black is the color of mourning－people wear black at the funeral. Red is concerned with danger or bloodshed. Yellow is the word for fear. If you axe afraid, you are yellow. Yet, none of these sayings is true outside the English－speaking world. In China and Korea white is the color of mourning. In Russia, China, and some other countries, red stands for beauty, life and excellence. In Italy and Germany, you are yellow with anger, not with fear.

　　Even within the English－speaking area, it is not difficult to find color contradictions (矛盾). A redcap in the United States is a porter in a railway station, in Britain, however, a redcap is a military policeman. Both names are logical. Because both men wear red caps. Similarly, the British term for an American white－collar worker is sometimes called a blackcoated worker.

　　One does not have to cross an area to find color differences. Would you rather be a redblooded or a blue－blooded? If we go back to the origin, we find that both terms are logical as both names suggest. The expression “blue blood” comes from Spain, where some noble families proudly told the world that they had “blue blood”. Actually they meant that they had no Moorish(摩尔人的) or Jewish blood. But then why “blue” blood? Because they were fair－skinned(皮肤白皙的), and it is only natural that their blood vessels stood out appearing blue.

1．Yellow is concerned with anger in ________.

[　　]

2．The two meanings of the term “redcap” result from a difference in ________.

[　　]

3．Both Britain and America would probably agree that ________.

[　　]

A．black is the color of mourning

B．a black－coated worker is employed in an office

C．red stands for beauty and excellence

D．a redcap is a porter in a station

4．It is not stated but implied(暗示) that some noble families in Spain had ________ color.

[　　]

5．The best title for this reading selection is ________.

[　　]

A．The Origin of Blue Blood

B．The Development of the Symbolic(象征性的) Use of Colors

C．Colors that carry Bad Meanings

D．The Meaning Concerned with Certain Colors