The Sahara Festival is a celebration of the very recent past.The three?day event is not fixed to the same dates each year，but generally takes place in November or December.It is well attended by tourists，but even better attended by locals.

During the opening ceremonies，after the official greetings from the government leaders，people who attend the festival begin to march smartly before the viewing stands，and white camels transport their riders across the sands.Horsemen from different nations display their beautiful clothes and their fine horsemanship.One following another，groups of musicians and dancers from all over the Sahara take their turn to show off their wonderful traditional culture.Groups of men in blue and yellow play horns and beat drums as they dance in different designs.On their knees in the sand，a group of women in long dark dresses dance with their hair：their long，dark shiny hair is thrown back and forth in the wind to the rhythm of their dance.

The local and visiting Italian dogs are anxious to run after hares.The crowd is on its feet for the camel races.Camels and riders run far into the distance and then return to the finishing line in front of the cheering people.

Towards the evening，there comes the grand finale of the opening day，an extremely exciting horserace.All the riders run very fast on horseback.Some riders hang off the side of their saddles.Some even ride upside down—their legs and feet straight up in the air—all at full speed.Others rush down the course together，men arm in arm，on different horses.On and on they went.So fast and so wonderful!

1The Sahara Festival is a festival which ______.

A．has a very long history in North Africa

B．is held in the same place on the same day

C．is attended mainly by the people in the Sahara

D．is celebrated mostly by travelers from different countries

2Before the races begin，______ take part in the activities during the opening ceremonies.

A．musicians，dancers，horses and hares

B．camel riders，musicians，dogs and hares

C．horsemen，dancers，camels and dogs

D．musicians，officials，camels and horses

3The underlined word “finale” in the fourth paragraph most probably means the ______ of the opening day.

A．first part B．middle

C．last part 　D．whole

4This passage mainly tells readers______.

A．what happens on the opening day of the Sahara Festival

B．how people celebrate during the three?day Sahara Festival

C．what takes place at the closing ceremonies of the Sahara Festival

D．how animals race on the first and the last days of the Sahara Festival

第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分,满分40分）

Big things were happening in my life the summer I turned 13. In the middle of that summer, my parents shook my entire world and turned it upside down when they told me they were getting a divorce. I couldn't believe that our family was going to break up. Though I always knew my parents weren't very happy and they often fought, I still wanted my family to stay the same.

My life changed completely after the divorce.My mother and I moved into a small apartment across town,while my father and brother,Bill, stayed in our house.I now became a visitor whenever I went to see my dad and Bill on the weekends. And immediately I had my soon-to-be stepfather,Dan,whom I showed no interest in.I was clearly depressed, especially after Dan and my mother married and I realized that there was no way that things could change back to the way they had been.

Even though I resisted all Dan's attempts to get to know me and wasn't very nice to him, he never gave up on me. Gradually, I began to trust him. I realized that we actually had some things in common, especially when it came to movies and TV shows. We spent a lot of time together hanging out watching TV. That gave us a chance to talk and get to know each other.

Better still, Dan showed an interest in me that I had never experienced from my own father. Dan was always around when I needed advice on school or friends. Once I began to warm up to Dan, the three of us began spending a lot of time together. We often went out to eat and took short trips. Eventually, I discovered that I finally had the happy family that I had always wanted.

I now realize my parents were right about getting the divorce. Their breakup was the best thing to happen for all of us. My father also found happiness－ he remarried and had another child, my half-sister, Michelle. 　　　

At 13, I learned an important truth－change is not always the worst thing that can happen. Sometimes, it is just what we need the most.

61.According to the passage, which of the following statements is WRONG?

A.Their parents didn't love each other any longer.       B.The writer didn't want his parents to divorce.

C.Their parents' divorce hurt the writer much.     D.The writer was in low spirits all the time.

62.The writer and Dan have the same interests EXCEPT______.

A.seeing movies     B.surfing the internet     C.having talks D.watching TV

63.What does the author think of his stepfather?

A.Trustful.     B.Interesting.  C.Helpful.      D.Boring.

64.Which of the following is the best title for this passage?

A.Divorce Is Not Always the Worst.     B.A Devoted Stepfather.

C.There Is a Change in My Life.   D.A True Story.