SHAOXING, East China, May 16(Xin Hua)- The Olympic torch relay (火炬接力) will start in Shaoxing
on Saturday, which is known as one ancient Chinese culture city with a history of over 4,000 years.
     Shaoxing is also the hometown to many outstanding persons such as Cai Yuanpei, Lu Xun and Zhou
Enlai. Chairman Mao Zedong once wrote a poem, praising Shaoxing as the "home of famous names".
     The relay, planned to kick off at 15:40 Saturday, will set out from Da Yu Ling. It is the resting place of
Da Yu, an ancient hero who succeeded in dealing with the great flood (洪水).
     Along the route, the torch will also pass by Da Tong School, Ying En Gate, the Chinese Yellow Wine
Town and Native residence (故居) of Mr Lu Xun. According to the plan, the relay will end at about 18:40.
     "You can know the history of Shaoxing when you walk along the route," said Shan Guoquan, the person
who planned the route.
     According to Shan, Da Tong School was the earliest school in China that specialized (專門從事) in sports
teaching and training. It was built from a place which used to be an exam center in ancient times.
     Ying En Gate, Shaoxing's ancient water city gate, was built in 1626. It was in the busiest and richest area
100 years ago.
     The Chinese Yellow Wine Town told us the cultures of the popular drink among the people in Shaoxing
for centuries.
     Native residence of Mr Lu Xun is built to remember Lu Xun, a great writer and thinker in China. "Just as
a time tunnel (隧道), the Olympic torch relay route tells us the history of Shaoxing," said Shan.

1. Among the following four persons, _____ named Shaoxing "home of famous names".

A. Cai Yuanpei
B. Lu Xun
C. Zhou Enlai
D. Mao Zedong

2. The underlined phrase "kick off" probably means "_____".

A. begin
B. stop
C. check
D. leave

3. Which of the following is NOT TRUE?

A. The torch relay will pass by five famous places.
B. Ying En Gate has a history of more than 380 years.
C. There was no sports education in Da Tong School.
D. The torch relay route helps people know the history of Shaoxing.

4. This passage is most probably from _____.

A. a book
B. a letter
C. a newspaper
D. a magazine

     Chris Jones recently completed a very unusual journey. Our reporter Mary Owen met him at his home
in the south of London and be told her all about the trip.
Reporter: What gave you the idea to make a trip around India on an elephant, Chris?
Chris: Well, it all started the idea two years ago when I was planning a trip to India. I visited a photo exhibition
of elephants and I realized that the only enjoyable way to make a trip around India was on an elephant.
Reporter: What did you do next?
Chris: I flew to New Delhi and started looking for an elephant, I needed an elephant trained to carry people.
I didn't know anything about elephants, so I asked an expert (專家) for help. He taught me how to ride an
elephant. He also helped me find an elephant.
Reporter: How long did it take to find a suitable elephant?
Chris: Not too long. I bought a female elephant called Tara for about 6, 000 dollars.
Reporter: Can you tell me about the journey?
Chris: Tara and I set off from New Delhi a week later. We were going to Sonepur in northern India. There is
a big elephant market there and I could sell Tara easily. And what a ride! Elephants can travel at about 6 miles
an hour and Sonepur is more than 1, 200 km away. It took us 64 days to complete the journey.
Reporter: Did you have any problems on your journey?
Chris: Yes, a few. But nothing serious. On the third day, Tara hurt her foot. Btu that got better quickly. Also,
there was a lot of heavy rain during the first week and we got very wet!
Reporter: What happened when you reached Sonepur?
Chris: My plan was to sell Tara. But I was very fond of her. I couldn't take her back to Britain and I didn't
want to sell her at the market. I happened to meet some people who wanted an elephant for their national park
in southern India. I knew that Tara would be safe with them, so I gave her to them. I was very sad to say
goodbye.

1. Chris got the idea to make a trip around India on an elephant from __________.

A. a visit to a zoo
B. an elephant expert from India
C. the photos of elephant
D. an old friend who lived in India

2. The elephant expert told Chris __________.

A. when to buy an elephant
B. how to feed an elephant
C. where to sell his elephant
D. how to ride an elephant

3. Chris decided to go to Sonepur because __________.

A. it is a very interesting place
B. he would be able to sell Tara there easily
C. elephants cannot be sold anywhere else
D. it would take only a short time to get there

4. When Chris arrived at the market in Sonepur, __________.

A. he realized that he did not really want to sell Tara
B. he visited some shopkeepers
C. he sold Tara to a national park
D. he decided to take Tara home with him

     A recent report says about 18% of China teenagers can have problems with their minds. Some students
become worried because they have to study very hard. Others have trouble getting on well with people like
their parents and classmates.
     Zhang Qiang, a Junior 2 student from China, could not understand his teachers in class and was doing
badly in his lessons. He was afraid of exams. When he looked at the exam paper, he couldn't think of anything
to write.   
     Another student, a 15-year-old girl called Wu Yan from Guangdong often argued (爭(zhēng)吵) with her
classmates even her parents because of some different ideas. She became so angry with them that she
started  to cut her finger with a knife.
      However, many students who have problems won't go for advice or help. Some think they will look
stupid if they go to see a doctor. Others don't want to talk about their secrets. In order to solve the teenagers'
problems, here is some advice:
     ● Talk to your parents or teachers often.
     ● Take part in group activities and play sports.
     ● Go to see a doctor if you feel unhappy or unwell.

1. Some students became worried because of  _____. 

A. their study
B. their teachers
C. their hobbies
D. their clothes

2. Wu Yan cut her finger with a knife because _____.

A. she was afraid of exams
B. she had no money for a new shirt
C. she could not understand her teachers in class
D. she often argue with her classmates and her parents

3. How many pieces of advice are given to the teenagers who have problems in this passage?

A. Two.
B. Three.
C. Four.
D. Five.

     In a 2005 survey of 2005 schoolchildren in six cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, it was found that
about 77% of them were short of sleep. Should school hours be cut? In new survey taken by the China Daily
website, almost 70% of the 1, 133 people online agreed with cutting school hours, while 20% disagreed and
10% gave no answer.
     Liu Xing (12-year-old, 6-grade student): I get up at 5:50 every school day, have breakfast at 6:15, leave
home at 6:30 and, after a 30-minute bus ride, arrive at school at 7:00, a full hour before lessons start. Besides,
I spend my weekends taking classes in math and English, as well as learning to play the piano.
     Wang Qun (Liu Xing's mother): My son is still no t doing enough to win a place at a top high school, as it
is so competitive. They want students with good English and math and also special skills.
     "Craig" (netizen): The best way for children to learn is through play. Through play, they can develop their
characters, learn to be independent and improve all kinds of skills.
     "Skylark" (netizen): Young parents have little time to play with their children, so letting them go home early
is not a good idea. I think schools should have more activities for children after class.
     Qi Zhen (high school teacher): People might take some time to accept shorter school hours. It will also
take time to change people's traditional mind that going to college is the only way to a good job.

1. The China Daily website took a new survey to _______.

A. see how many school children are short of sleep
B. see what people think of cutting school hours
C. give schoolchildren more time to play
D. Liu Xing with his math and English study

2. _______ probably disagree with shorter school hours.

A. Wang Qun and "Skylark"
B. Liu Xing and "Craig"
C. Liu Xing and "Skylark"
D. "Craig" and Qi Zhen

3. Which is not true about Wang Qun?

A. She wants her son to have many kinds of skills.
B. She has little time to play with her son every day.
C. She believes a happy childhood means a failed adulthood (成年).

4. What can we learn from QI Zhen's words?

A. Schools should have more activities for children after class.
B. All the schools will take shorter school hours soon.
C. There'll be a long to way to change people's traditional mind.
D. Through play children can develop well in different ways.

     This is News on the Hour, Ed Wilson reporting. The president and First Lady will visit Africa on a good
will tour in May. They plan to visit eight African countries.
     Reports from China say the Chinese want closer ties between China and the U.S. and Western Europe.
A group of top Chinese scientists start its ten-nation tour next month.
     In news about health, scientists in California report findings of a relationship between the drinking of coffee
and the increase of heart diseases among women. According to the report in the American Medical Journal, the
five-year study shows that: women who drink more than two cups of coffee a day have a greater chance of
having heart disease than women who do not. That's the news of the hour. And now back to more easy
listening with Jan Singer.

1. To improve the ties between China and the U.S. and Western Europe, ______.

A. China has expressed its strong wishes
B. China has given many reports to improve the ties
C. China will send some scientists to visit the U.S. only
D. some Chinese scientists will visit the U.S. and Western Europe

2. The news about health tells us that ______.

A. no one should drink more than two cups of coffee a day
B. no heart disease will be found if people don't drink coffee
C. women's heart disease has a lot to do with their drinking coffee
D. the more coffee people drink, the more chance they'll get to have heart disease

3. The passage is probably from ______.

A. a book
B. a radio station
C. a diary
D. a Medical Journal

     Valentine's Day just passed and it made me remember a middle school student I know who may be in love.
     I think there are two ideas of middle school "love". One is temptation: Girls dress beautifully and act giggly.
Boys are popular and attractive.
     Then there is the other kind: attraction that may or may not be love. The student I know is like that. She
has a friend called John whom she has feelings for, but she can't decide if it's love or friendship. In her words:
     "I wonder whether he is my ideal boyfriend. I want someone cool and kind who holds the same values as
me. He isn't any of these. So sometimes I wonder if I'm only attracted and deciding to break up with him now.
But he is attractive, and he isn't foolish. He may not be an "A" student, but he's intelligent and clever. I wonder
if I only pity him for the hard times he has had. He knows how to make me laugh. We both sing and act. We
had several classes together last year. He can be very sweet."
     I'm moved by this because it's hard to find a student who has such real thoughts. It seems that
everyone thinks only of how "hot" someone is, without acting more wisely.
     For some people, Valentine's Day might mean nothing. But for others, it could mean a lot. What about you,
young man?
注：(1) Valentine's Day 情人節(jié) (2) temptation 誘惑 (3) ideal理想的 (4) values 價(jià)值 (5) wisely明智地

1. In the writer's idea, two kinds of students "love" are ______.

A. temptation and attraction
B. temptation and feelings
C. temptation and friendship
D. friendship and attraction

2. The underlined (畫線的) sentence implies (暗示) that the writer ______.

A. is loved by the girl now
B. holds the same values as the girl
C. agrees with the girl's words
D. doesn't care about the girl's thoughts

3. The word "hot" in the reading means ______.

A. kind
B. clever
C. sweet
D. attractive

4. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A. It's true that the writer is the girl's teacher.
B. John is attractive though he isn't a top student.
C. The girl has feelings for one of her friends called John.
D. The girl wonders whether it's love or friendship between John and her.

5. The story is probably a page from a ______.

A. postcard
B. newspaper
C. novel
D. notice

     Chris Jones recently completed a very unusual journey. Our reporter Mary Owen met him at his home
in the south of London and be told her all about the trip.
Reporter: What gave you the idea to make a trip around India on an elephant, Chris?
Chris: Well, it all started the idea two years ago when I was planning a trip to India. I visited a photo exhibition
    of elephants and I realized that the only enjoyable way to make a trip around India was on an elephant.
Reporter: What did you do next?
Chris:  I flew to New Delhi and started looking for an elephant, I needed an elephant trained to carry people.
I didn't know anything about elephants, so I asked an expert (專家) for help. He taught me how to ride an
elephant. He also helped me find an elephant.
Reporter: How long did it take to find a suitable elephant?
Chris: Not too long. I bought a female elephant called Tara for about 6, 000 dollars.
Reporter: Can you tell me about the journey?
Chris: Tara and I set off from New Delhi a week later. We were going to Sonepur in northern India. There is
a big elephant market there and I could sell Tara easily. And what a ride! Elephants can travel at about 6 miles
an hour and Sonepur is more than 1, 200 km away. It took us 64 days to complete the journey.
Reporter: Did you have any problems on your journey?
Chris: Yes, a few. But nothing serious. On the third day, Tara hurt her foot. Btu that got better quickly. Also,
there was a lot of heavy rain during the first week and we got very wet!
Reporter: What happened when you reached Sonepur?
Chris: My plan was to sell Tara. But I was very fond of her. I couldn't take her back to Britain and I didn't
want to sell her at the market. I happened to meet some people who wanted an elephant for their national park
in southern India. I knew that Tara would be safe with them, so I gave her to them. I was very sad to say
goodbye.

1. Chris got the idea to travel around India on an elephant from ______.

A. a visit to an Indian zoo
B. an elephant expert from India
C. some photos of elephants
D. an old friend who lived in India

2. The elephant expert told Chris ______.

A. how much an elephant cost
B. how to keep the elephant
C. where to sell his elephant
D. how to ride an elephant

3. Chris decided to travel to Sonepur because ______.

A. it is a very interesting place
B. elephants can't be sold anywhere else
C. he would be able to sell Tara there easily
D. it would only take 64 days to travel there

4. When Chris arrived at Sonepur market, he ______.

A. realized that he didn't really want to sell Tara
B. visited a national park
C. sold Tara to a national park
D. decided to take Tara home with him

                                        Reporters' Tour to Sichuan
Dear reporters,
     It has been over one year since the earthquake in Sichuan. People all over the world are caring about
people in disaster areas. Do you want to know what Sichuan is like now? Come and join our tour group!
     Here is our route:
    ★ Dec.21-22, arrive at. Chengdu, visit Provincial Hospital. Rehabilitation Center and Chengdu Giant Panda
Breeding Base;
    ★Dec.23-24, arrive at Dujiangyan,visit Dujiangyan Middle School and Dujiangyan hydro project. Listen to
reports given by  the leaders of Chengdu and Dujiangyan;
    ★Dec.2 5, arrive at Deyang and Mianyang,visit the local factories and the countryside to learn about
their reconstruction (重建) work;
    ★Dec. 26-27, arrive at Beichuan, visit, some schools and representatives of the disabled.
     Listen to reports given by the leaders of heavily stricken counties (縣) such as Wenchuan and Beichuan.
     If you are interested in this tour, please fill in the form and send it to us by email or fax before 11.00 a.m.
on December 17,2009. Remember that only reporters are needed.
     All the costs, except the cost of local transportation, will be paid by yourselves.
     Contact person: Song Xintao
     Telephone: 65964312, 65964313, 65882585
     Fax: 65963392
     E-mail: ipcd@mfa.gov.cn

1.The tour will last for _________.

A. three days
B. five days
C. a week
D. two weeks

2. What will the tour group do on December 22,2009?

A. Go to see pandas.
B. Visit schools in Beichuan.
C. Visit Dujiangyan hydro project.
D. Visit the factories in Deyang and Mianyang.

3._________ are allowed to join the tour group.

A. Students
B. People who love traveling
C. Only reporters
D. All kinds of people

4. Who will give reports on December 27, 2009?

A. Members of the tour group.
B. Representatives of the disabled.
C. The leaders of Chengdu and Dujiangyan.
D. The leaders of Wenchuan and Beichuan.

5. Which of the following is TRUE?

A. If you want to join the tour group, you can call Song Xintao at 65963392.
B. People can contact the tour group office by e-mail.
C. If you want to join the tour group, you can fill in the form after 11.00 a.m. on December 17, 2009.
D. Members of the tour group have to cover all their own costs during the tour.