It is well-known that the “prom”, a formal dance held at the end of high school or college, is an important date in every student’s life. What is less well-known is that the word “prom” comes from the verb “to promenade”, which means to walk around, beautifully dressed, in order to attract attention. The idea is that you should see and be seen by others.

The prom is not just an American tradition, though most people believe that it started in America. In Canada the event is called a “formal”. In Britain and Australia the old fashioned word “dance” is more and more frequently being referred to as a “prom”. Most countries have some form of celebration when students finish high school: after all, it means the end of life as a child, and the beginning of life as an adult.

The prom is expensive to organize and the tickets can cost students a lot of money. The tradition is that students themselves have to raise the money to pay for it. Selling the students newspapers is one way to raise money; so is taking a part-time job at the weekend.

Although the prom should be the experience of a lifetime, it also worries many students. There is the problem of what to wear, who to take as your partner, who will be voted “prom queen”, etc. And it is not only students who feel worried. What many parents find difficult is the realization that their children’s school days are almost over. However, for most people at the prom, once the music starts playing, everyone relaxes and stops worrying.

1.In which country is the prom called a “formal”?

A. America.         B. Canada.        C. Britain.      D. Australia.

2.Why is the prom important in the students’ lives?

A. It’s the sign of becoming an adult.

B. It’s an old tradition in many countries.

C. There are many problems to work out.     

D. The students can raise money by themselves.

3.What is the passage mainly about?

A. The history of the prom. 

B. The traditions of the prom.

C. The development of the prom.

D. The general information of the prom.

 

Spider-Man 3 (《蜘蛛侠3》)got $29.15 million on the very first day in 16 overseas markets and beat the first two Spider-Man movies.
“The movie had the best opening day ever in some countries on Tuesday, including France, Italy and South Korea.” a man from Sony Pictures said.
“Spider-Man 3 will open during the next few days in many other countries, including the United States on Friday. We certainly hope the same thing will happen in North America,” said Jeff Blake, Sony vice chairman, on Wednesday. 
2002’s Spider-Man opened with $114.8 million in its first weekend, a debut record that stood until Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest broke it last year with $135.6 million a weekend.
Spider-Man 2 opened on a Wednesday before the fourth weekend of July in 2004, and set a record of $180.1 million in its first six days.
In France, Spider-Man 3 took in $6.8 million on the opening day, more than the first days for Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2 combined.
It earned $4.6 million in Germany, $4 million in Italy, $3.7 million in Japan, $3.4 million in South Korea, $1.1 million in the Philippines and $1 million each in Hong Kong and Thailand.
【小题1】Spider-Man 3 ____________when it was shown on the first day.

A．was not very popular

B．was enjoyed by the people in Canada

C．earned more money than Spider-man 2

D．got $29.15 million in America

【小题2】Jeff Blake hopes that ________.

A．more and more people can see the movie

B．Spider-man 3 will be enjoyed by children

C．Spider-man 3 will make as much money as the first two movies

D．Spider-man 3 will be as popular in North America as it was in other places

【小题3】In which country did Spider-man 3 earn the most money?

A．Germany.	B．Italy.
C．South Korea.	D．America.

【小题4】The main idea of the passage is that ______.

A．people expect to see Spider-Man 4 soon

B．Spider-man 3 is more popular in South Korea than in Germany

C．Spider-man 3 cost lots of money

D．Spider-man 3 is very popular all over the world

【小题5】You would probably read this passage from ______.

A．a talk show	B．a movie magazine
C．an ad	D．a notice

There are many rules (制度) in the old libraries. For example, no photos, no drinking and no phones. But now a lot of libraries don’t have too many rules. They paint the rooms beautiful colors so readers would like to read there. There aren’t hard chairs in these libraries.

There are nice sofas in them. Some of them are open 24 hours every day. In the libraries in America,

readers can make a 1free call. That means that they don’t need to pay any money for making a call. In the kid’s library in Denmark, children can sleep there if it is too late. In some libraries in Australia, they have a kids’ “story time”. 2今天图书馆是孩子们娱乐和学习知识的好去处。

任务（一）：根据短文内容回答下列问题。

1.Why do many libraries paint their rooms beautiful colors now?

   ________________________________________________________________________

2.In which country do some libraries have a kids’ “story time”?

   ________________________________________________________________________

任务（二）：请写出1处下划线黑体单词“free”的汉语意思。

3.________________________________________________________________________

任务（三）：请将文中2处划线的句子翻译成英语，每空一词。

4.Today libraries are good places for kids to ________ ________ and learn something.

任务（四）：请给短文选择一个最恰当的英文标题。

5.A. New Libraries    B. Library Rules    C. Old Libraries    D. Free Libraries

 

根据材料内容选择最佳答案，并将其标号填人题前括号内。

Travel Arrangements（安排）

Date: 30 April, 2012                           For: Wang Mei

May 4	Leave Beijing  Air China Flight CA 111 Confirmed（确认） Please check-in（办理手续）at least two hours before  leaving time	10: 00 am
May 5	Arrive in Sydney   Hotel bus will take you to the hotel	9：30 am
May 5	Holiday in Sydney Confirmed   In: 5 May, 2012   0ut: 10 May Nights: 5
May 10	Own arrangement with host family
May 14	Leave Sydney   Qantas Airline Ltd Flight QF 333	12: 30 p．m
May 14	Arrive in Perth The guide will collect you from the airport for four days return bus trip to Monkey Mia	15: 30 p．m
May 18	Leave Perth Qantas Airline Ltd Flight QF 444 Confirmed	11: 00 a．m
May 18	Raffles Hotel, Singapore In: 18 May, 2012   0ut: 19 May Nights: 1
May 19	Arrive in Beijing	16: 00 p．m

1.How many days will Wang Mei's holiday last?

       A. 14.     B. 16.      C. 19.       D. 20.

2.At what time does Wang Mei have to be at the airport for her flight from Beijing?

            A. 8: 00 a. m. B. 9: 30 a. m   C.  10: 00 a. m  D.  11: 00 a.m

3.When she arrives in Perth, Wang Mei will travel from the airport _______.

              A. by taxi           B.  in a car

             C. on the travel-bus      D.  with her host family

4.Where will Wang Mei be on May 16?

          A.  In a hotel in Perth.        B.  On her return to Sydney.

              C  On a flight to Singapore.     D.  On a trip to Monkey Mia

5.In which country will Wang Mei stay before she returns to Beijing?            A. Perth.       B. Sydney.       C. Singapore.     D. Monkey Mia.

 

In western countries, especially in America, some social customs have lasted still today. For example, ladies first, that is to say, women in those countries are respected(尊重) in many ways. In the U.S. and Europe, you will see men usually open doors for women and women generally walk ahead of men into a room or a restaurant unless the man have to be ahead of the ladies to choose the table, to open the door of a car or to give other services. On the street, men almost walk or across the street on the side of the ladies which is closer to traffic, but if a man walks with two ladies, he should walk between them.
【小题1】In this passage “customs” especially refer to _______.

A．what a group of people usually do

B．what people in western countries do

C．what people in eastern countries do

D．what people in united states do

【小题2】When you introduce a group of people in English, you will probably begin with  _______.

A．Men and women	B．Women and men
C．Gentlemen and ladies	D．Ladies and gentlemen

【小题3】In which country people may think it strange that men should open doors for women?

A．England

B．Italy

C．Japan

D．Germany

【小题4】Which of the following statements is not true?

A．In Europe, a man generally follows a woman when they enter a restaurant together.

B．In America a man who walks ahead of a women always gives services.

C．In the U.S., women almost always walk closer to the running cars.

D．In the U.S. men should always walk by the side of the ladies.

【小题5】Which of the following statements best expresses the main idea of this passage?

A．In western countries, some social customs have lasted till today.

B．Women in western countries are respected in many ways.

C．Men usually open doors for women in the U.S. as well as in Europe.

D．Men show respect for women by giving them good services.