One of the best-loved American writers was William Sydney Porter, or O.Henry. From 1893 he lived with his family in a house in Austin, Texas, which is now a museum. Visitors to Austin can see the house. It was saved from destruction (破坏) and turned into a museum in1934. The museum is a good way to learn about the interesting life of the American writer.

William Porter rented this house in Austin and lived there with his wife Athol and daughter Margaret for about two years. Many objects in the museum belonged to the Porters. Others did not. An important piece in the room is the original photograph over here. It was taken there in the house about 1895. The piano there goes back to the 1860s. His wife took lessons on it when she first moved to Austin.

Porter did not start his career as a successful writer. He worked at a farm, land office and bank. He also loved words and writing. The museum has a special proof of Porter’s love of language --- his dictionary. It is said that he had read every word in that dictionary.

Later William Porter was forced to leave Austin because he was charged with financial wrongdoing at the bank and lost his job. Because he was afraid of a trail (审判), he left the country secretly. But he returned because his wife was dying. After her death, he faced the trial and became a criminal. He served three and a half years in a prison in Ohio.

William Porter would keep his time in prison a secret. But there was one good thing about it. It provided him with time to write. By the time he was freed, he had published 14 stories and became well known as O.Henry.

Porter later moved to New York City and found great success there. He published over 180 stories in the last eight years of his life.

1.O.Henry’s house in Austin has been well kept up till now so that ____.

A. Americans can explore their history

B more visitors will be attracted to Austin

C. visitors can learn about O.Henry’s life

D. it can show the way of life in the 1860s

2.What do we know about the piano in the house?

A．It was hated by Porter’s daughter.

B．It has a long history of about 150 years.

C．Porter’s wife gave music lessons on it.

D．Porter usually created music on it.

3.How does the museum prove (证明) Porter was fond of language?

A．With a dictionary he used.	B．With the records they keep.
C．Using the books they wrote.	D．Using the photograph they keep.

4.Why did Porter escape from Austin?

A．He didn’t want to lose his job.	B．He didn’t want to make trouble.
C．He meant to save his wife’s life.	D．He was charged with a crime.

5.From the last two paragraphs we know that _______.

A．Porter became famous suddenly

B．Porter spent his time in prison writing

C．Porter suffered a lot from his time in prison

D．life in prison provided what he could write for Porter

 

If you like bicycling as much as you like playing ball and can’t seem to decide between the two sports, you may want to consider cycle ball—a fun sport that adopts the key attributes from both activities and transforms it into a totally new game..
Also known as red ball, the game was invented in 1893 by German laborers who wished to play polo(马球), but could not afford horses. While the sport has not caught on in North America, it is very fashionable in Europe and even Japan.
Played in an indoor court, cycle ball is similar to soccer in many ways—the aim is to score as many goals as possible, and only the goalkeeper is allowed to touch the ball.
The one big difference? Use of legs is forbidden. Instead, players have to guide the ball across the court, using the front wheels of their bicycles or with their heads. In fact, if a player even touches the floor with his feet during the 14-minute game, it is considered a foul(犯规) and the opposing team gets a free kick.
While the game was initially(最初) played with normal bikes, things are a little different now. The seats of these specialized bikes are positioned over the back tire and they sport a single fixed gear, making it easier for the rider to control the constant back and forth movement required for the game. The handlebars(车把) also point straight up so that the competitors can sit upright while playing and they are about twice the weight of normal bikes, which helps with the stability.
While cycle ball may sound a little strange, it is a fast-paced sport that requires much training, skill, and, is also really fun to watch.
【小题1】What does the passage mainly talk about?

A．The origin and development of soccer

B．The differences between cycle ball and soccer.

C．The most popular sports game in the world.

D．A new and fun sports game—cycle ball

【小题2】What does the underlined phrase “caught on” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．turned up

B．hung up

C．come about

D．become popular

【小题3】What can we know about cycle ball?

A．It is a fast-paced game played in an indoor court

B．It was invented in 1893 by poor British people.

C．It is another name of soccer played by many people.

D．It is a strange game played with normal bikes.

【小题4】It can be known from the passage that __________.

A．every player who is playing cycle ball is allowed to touch the ball.

B．the aim of playing cycle ball is to score as many goals as possible.

C．if a player touches the floor with his feet, the opposing team will win

D．heads are not allowed to be used to guide the ball across the court.

【小题5】Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?

A．Cycle ball is popular both in Japan and other Asian countries.

B．The cycle ball game is popular all over the world.

C．A cycle ball game takes 14 minutes.

D．Cycle ball has to be played with heads, legs or the front wheels.

Wisconsin Historical Museum

30 N. Carroll Street on Madison's Capitol Square

Discover Wisconsin's history and culture on four floors of exhibits. Open for public programs. Admission is free.

Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 am -- 4:00 pm.

(608) 264-6555  www.wisconsinhistory.org/museum

Swiss Historical Village

612 Seventh Ave., New Glarus

The Swiss Historical Village offers a beautiful look at pioneer life in America's heartland. 14 buildings in the village give a full picture of everyday life in the nineteenth-century Midwest.

Tue.—Fri., May 1st –October 31st , 10:00 am—4:00 pm. Admission is $20.

(608) 527-2317  www.swisshistoricalvillage.com

Artisan Gallery(画廊) & Creamery Café(咖啡馆)

6858 Paoli Rd., Paoli, WI

One of the largest collections of fine arts in Wisconsin. Over 5000 sp. ft. of exhibition space in a historic creamery. While visiting enjoy a wonderfully prepared lunch at our café overlooking the Sugar River. Just minutes from Madison!

Gallery open Tue. –Sun., 10:00 am—5:00 pm.

Café open Wed. –Sat., 11:00 am –3:00 pm.

Sun. brunch with wine, 10:00—3:00 pm.

(608) 845-6600  www.artisangal.com

Christopher Columbus Museum

239 Whitney St., Columbus

World-class exhibit –2000 quality souvenirs(纪念品) marking Chicago's 1893 World Columbian Exhibition. Tour buses are always welcome.

Open daily, 8:15 am – 4:00 pm.

(920) 623-1992  www.columbusantiquemall.com

1.Which of the following is on Capitol Square?

A．Wisconsin Historical Museum.

B．Swiss Historical Village.

C．Artisan Gallery & Creamery Café.

D．Christopher Columbus Museum.

2.Where can you go for a visit on Monday?

A．Wisconsin Historical Museum.

B．Swiss Historical Village.

C．Artisan Gallery & Creamery café.

D．Christopher Columbus Museum.

3.Where can visitors have lunch?

A．At Wisconsin Historical Museum.

B．At Swiss Historical Village.

C．At Artisan Gallery & Creamery Café.

D．At Christopher Columbus Museum.

4.We learn from the text that ________.

A．Swiss Historical Village is open for half a year

B．Christopher Columbus Museum overlooks(俯视) a river

C．Tickets are needed for Wisconsin Historical Museum

D．Artisan Gallery & Creamery Café are open daily for 4 hours

 

 Attractions in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Historical Museum

30 N. Carroll Street on Madison's Capitol Square

Discover Wisconsin's history and culture on four floors of exhibits. Open for public program.

Admission is free.Open the second day of a week through Saturday, 9?00 a．m.­4?00 p．m.Swiss Historical Village

612 Seventh Ave., New Glares

The Swiss Historical Village offers a delightful look at pioneer life in America's heartland. 14 buildings in the village give a full picture of everyday life in the nineteenth­ century Midwest.

Tue.­Fri., May 1st ­October 31st, 10?00 a．m.­4?00 p．m. Admission is $20.

     (608)527­2317 www.__swisshistoricalvillage.com

Artisan Gallery & Creamery Café

6858 Paoli Rd., Paoli, WI

One of the largest collections of fine arts and crafts in Wisconsin. Over 5000 sq. ft. of exhibition space in a historic  creamery. While visiting, enjoy a wonderfully prepared lunch at our café  overlooking the Sugar River. Just minutes from Madison!

 Gallery open Tue.­Sun., 10?00 a．m.­5?00 p．m. Café open Wed. ­Sat., 11?00 a．m.­3?00 p．m.

Sun. brunch with wine, 10?00 a．m.­3?00 p．m.  (608)845­6600__www.__artisangal.__com

Christopher Columbus Museum

239 Whitney St., Columbus

World­class exhibit—2000 quality souvenirs marking Chicago's 1893 World Columbian Exhibition. Tour buses are always welcome.

  Open daily, 8?15 a． m.­4?00 p．m.    (920)623­1992 www.__columbusantiquemall.__com

1.Which of the following is on Capitol Square?

A. Wisconsin Historical Museum.           B. Swiss Historical Village.

C. Artisan Gallery & Creamery Café.        D. Christopher Columbus Museum.

2.Where can you go for a visit on Monday?

A. Wisconsin Historical Museum.    B. Swiss Historical Village.

C. Artisan Gallery & Creamery Café.  D. Christopher Columbus Museum.

3.Where can visitors have lunch?

A. At Wisconsin Historical Museum.           B. At Swiss Historical Village.

C. At Artisan Gallery & Creamery Café.        D. At Christopher Columbus Museum.

 

Attractions in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Historical Museum
30 N. Carroll Street on Madison’s Capitol Square
Discover Wisconsin’s history and culture(文化) on four floors of exhibits. Open for public program. Admission is free.
Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00am -- 4:00 pm.
(608) 264-6555 www.wisconsinhistory.org/museum
Swiss historical village
612 Seventh Ave., New Glarus
The Swiss Historical Village offers a delightful look at pioneer life in America’s heartland. 14 buildings in the village give a full picture of every day life in the nineteenth-century Midwest.
Tue.—Fri., May 1^st –October 31^st , 10:00 am—4:00 pm. Admission is $20.
(608) 527-2317 www.swisshistoricalvillage.com
Artisan Gallery & Creamery Café
6858 Paoli Rd., Paoli, WI
One of the largest collections of fine arts and crafts(手工艺品) in Wisconsin. Over 5000 sp. ft. of exhibition space in a historic creamery. While visiting enjoy a wonderfully prepared lunch at our café overlooking the Sugar River. Just minutes from Madison!
Gallery open Tue. –Sun., 10:00 am—5:00 pm.
Café open Wed. –Sat., 11:00 am –3:00 pm.
Sun. brunch with wine, 10:00—3:00 pm.
(608) 845-6600 www.artisangal.com
Christopher Columbus Museum
239 Whitney St., Columbus
World-class exhibit –2000 quality souvenirs(纪念品) marking Chicago’s 1893 World Columbian Exhibition. Tour buses are always welcome.
Open daily, 8:15 am – 4:00 pm.
(920) 623-1992 www.columbusantiquemall.com
【小题1】Which of the following is on Capitol Square?

A．Wisconsin Historical Museum.	B．Swiss Historical Village.
C．Artisan Gallery & Creamery Café.	D．Christopher Columbus Museum.

【小题2】Where can you go for a visit on Monday?

A．Wisconsin Historical Museum.

B．Swiss Historical Village.

C．Artisan Gallery & Creamery café.

D．Christopher Columbus Museum.

【小题3】Where can visitors have lunch?

A．At Wisconsin Historical Museum.

B．At Swiss Historical Village.

C．At Artisan Gallery & Creamery Café.

D．At Christopher Columbus Museum.

【小题4】We learn from the text that___________.

A．Swiss Historical Village is open for half a year

B．Christopher Columbus Museum overlooks a river

C．tickets are needed for Wisconsin Historical Museum

D．Artisan Gallery & Creamery Café are open daily for 4 hours