Since the beginning of time, man has been interested in the moon. The Romans designed a special day to show admiration and respect to the moon. They called it “Moonday”, or “Monday”, as we know it today. Later, the great mind of Leonardo da Vinci studied the moon and designed a machine to carry a human to the moon. Leonardo said that one day a great machine bird would take a person to the moon and bring great honor to the home where it was born. Four and a half centuries later, Leonardo’s idea was realized. Apollo II took three Americans, Collins, Aldrin, and Armstrong to the moon. The mission (任務(wù)) did fill the whole world with great surprise, as Leonardo had said it would. Numerous essays, articles, and books were written about man’s first moon mission. But perhaps the most interesting story was one written before the event over 100 years before. In 1865, French author Jules Verne wrote a story about the first journey to the moon. His story was very similar to the 1969 Apollo II mission. Verne’s spacecraft also contained three men—two Americans and a Frenchman. The spacecraft was described as being almost the same size as Apollo II. The launch (發(fā)射) site in Verne’s story was also in Florida. The spacecraft in Verne’s story was named the “Columbiad”. The Apollo II command ship was called “Columbia”. His account of sending the spacecraft into the space could easily have been written about how Apollo II was sent into the space.
小題1:Leonardo da Vinci said that a great machine bird would ________.

A．bring great honor to the moon

B．fly toward the sun

C．explore the heavens

D．take people to the moon

小題2:Jules Verne wrote his story of a man’s visit to the moon about ________.

A．100 years before the Apollo II mission

B．10 years before the Apollo II mission

C．four and one a half centuries ago

D．100 years ago

小題3:Verne’s story is very similar to _____.

A．the first U.S. space mission

B．the Apollo II mission

C．Leonardo da Vinci’s story

D．numerous other books on the same subject

小題4:The underlined word “spacecraft” probably means ________.

A．a(chǎn) kind of rocket	B．a(chǎn) kind of plane
C．a(chǎn) kind of train	D．a(chǎn) kind of bus

Barcodes (條形碼) aren’t given much thought by the majority of consumers, but these codes were fairly recently applied in a working fashion in 1970.
A small food store owner decided one day that keeping records of the inventory (存貨) of his stock and the associated prices were an extremely laborious process, and so, in 1948, he contacted the The Drexel Institute of Technology in a bid to work towards a solution. Bernard Sliver rose to the challenge and set out to study the problem, and began working on a solution involving an automatic way of keeping track of items that had been sold. Silver and a group of students from the institute realized their answer in the form of ultraviolet light (紫外線), ink and a scanner.

The system worked initially, but possessed some negatives. It was incredibly costly to carry out on a large scale and the system was also unstable. If the invention was to become commonplace (尋常的事) in grocery stores, these two problems had to be solved.
The patent (專(zhuān)利)for the bar code system was filed by Sliver and one of his students, Woodland. The patent was not granted immediately; in fact it took three years for the patent agency to grand their invention patent for the barcode, occurring on 7^th October, 1952.
Despite the patent being issued, the system was still not welcomed by the majority of store owners. It was not until 1966 that the system began moving its way into more and more grocery stores. This system was soon criticised, as there was no central mechanism for controlling uniformly coded items. In 1970, Logicorn developed the Universal Grocery Products Identification code (UGOIC), soon shortened to Universal Identification Number (UPC). It was Marsh’s superstore, in Troy, which was the very first store to install this complex barcode reading system, and its popularity has soared (升溫) ever since, and is obviously now commonplace in all types of stores worldwide.
小題1:What is stressed in the second paragraph?

A．The heavy work of store owners.

B．The function of ultraviolet light, ink and a scanner.

C．The origination of barcodes

D．Bernard Silver’s education background.

小題2:Which of the following was NOT a drawback of Silver’s system?

A．It was expensive to be applied on a large scale.

B．It was a laborious process.

C．The system was not stable.

D．It lacked a central mechanism.

小題3:What is the purpose of the text?

A．To tell people that failure is the mother of success.

B．To praise scientists’ efforts in making people’s lives easier.

C．To describe shop owners’ opinions of barcodes.

D．To provide information about the development of barcodes.

To many Americans，Labor Day(勞動(dòng)節(jié)) marks the end of the summer，a day off from work and school，and one last chance to relax．But Labor Day is much more than just a day off . It represents a very important victory for laborers everywhere．The holiday is a celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers．
More than a century ago workers were forced to deal with harsh conditions．They were paid very little and they often worked 10-to l2-hour days．Men, women and even small children were forced to work even when they were sick．Tired of long hours and dangerous conditions，workers began organizing themselves into labor unions．On top of fighting for higher pay and shorter workdays，they also fought for the rights of children．The workers wanted employers to place limits on the age of their workers so that small children were not overworked or hurt in factories．
A New York City carpenter named Peter McGuire is credited(獲得贊譽(yù)) for coming up with the idea for Labor Day．In 1872，after working many hours under poor conditions, McGuire rallied 100,000 workers to go on strike．The workers marched through the streets of New York City，demanding a better work environment．McGuire spent a decade fighting for workers’ rights．In 1882，he proposed（提議）the idea to create a special holiday for workers．On Tuesday，September 5，1882, more than 10,000 workers hit the streets of New York City for the first ever Labor Day parade．Two years later the celebration was moved to the first Monday in September．And in 1894，Congress passed a law making Labor Day a national holiday．Americans celebrated the first Labor Day holiday with a parade，picnics and fireworks．
Today，many people hit the road to enjoy the last of their summer vacation．Others enjoy the long weekend with picnics，backyard barbecues or just rest and relaxation．However you spend Labor Day，remember that the holiday is a time to pay tribute (致敬)to the workers who have made America what it is today．
小題1:What do we know from Paragraph 1?

A．Americans have more than a day off on Labor Day．

B．Many countries in the world celebrate Labor Day．

C．Labor Day has a deep meaning for American laborers．

D．Labor Day shows the social and economic power of America．

小題2:The underlined word “rallied” in Paragraph 3 can be replaced by“___________”．

A．persuaded

B．supported

C．warned

D．gathered

小題3:Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A．There were about 100,000 workers in New York City in 1872．

B．Labor Day became a national holiday in 1884．

C．The idea for Labor Day was first put forward by McGuire in 1872．

D．The first ever Labor Day parade was held in 1882．

小題4:According to the author，while spending Labor Day，Americans should feel ___ ．

A．surprised

B．thankful

C．dissatisfied

D．terrified

The earliest newspapers started in ancient Rome. They were handwritten news sheets. The first printed newspapers appeared in China during the Tang dynasty, which were printed from carved(雕刻的) wooden blocks. Modern papers first appeared in Venice, Italy in the middle of the 14th century. The newspapers of today, with advertising and a mixture of political, economic, and social news and comments, were started in Britain in the mid-18th century.
The main function of newspapers is to report news. Many newspapers also provide special information to readers, such as weather reports and television timetables. They also provide comments on politics, economics, arts and culture. Almost all newspapers depend on advertising to make money.
Nearly six out of ten adults in the United States and Canada read a newspaper every day. Seven out of ten read a paper each weekend. Readers search newspapers for de-tailed background information(背景資料)and analysis(分析). This is what television and radio news reports seldom offer. Newspapers tell readers what happened, and they also help readers understand what caused an event and how it will affect the world around them.
The workers at large newspaper companies work under a lot of pressure to bring news to readers as soon as possible. Reporters, photographers, artists, and editors collect articles in just a few hours. Page designers select articles, photos, advertisements, and eye-catching headlines to make the pages, and then rush their work to the printer. Printing workers may work overnight around printing presses to churn out more than 60,000 copies per hour.
小題1:Which is the best title for the passage?

A．Production of Newspapers	B．Functions of Newspapers
C．Publication of Newspapers	D．An Introduction to Newspapers

小題2:Modern newspapers were first made in ______.

A．China

B．Ancient Rome

C．Italy

D．Britain

小題3:What is the main idea of the third paragraph?

A．Most adults in America and Canada read newspapers every day.

B．The importance of newspapers in people’s lives.

C．Newspapers offer readers detailed information.

D．The effects of newspapers on readers.

小題4:We can infer everything from the passage EXCEPT that ______.

A．newspapers will become less popular because of the development of TV

B．few newspapers have no advertising

C．many adults in America read newspapers every day

D．people can read about many different issues in newspapers

小題5:The phrase "churn out" in the last paragraph probably means ______.

A．press

B．produce

C．publish

D．sell

The French Revolution broke out in 1789. At the time France was in a crisis. The government was badly run and people's lives were miserable. King Louis XIV tried to control the national parliament and raise more taxes. But his effort failed. He ordered his troops to Versailles. The people thought that Louis intended to put down the Revolution by force. On July 14, 1789, they stormed and took the Bastille, where political prisoners were kept. Ever since that day, July 14 has been the French National Day. Louis tried to flee the country in 1792, to get support from Austria and Prussia. However, he was caught and put in prison. In September 1792, the monarchy(君主制) was abolished_. In the same year, Louis was executed. A few months later his wife, Marie also had her head cut off. The Revolution of France had frightened the other kings of Europe. Armies from Austria and Prussia began to march against France. The French raised republican armies to defend the nation. The Revolution went through a period of terror. Thousands of people lost their lives. In the end, power passed to Napoleon Bonaparte.
小題1:What's this passage about?

A．France.	B．King Louis.
C．The French Revolution.	D．Europe.

小題2:Which did not happen in 1789?

A．The French Revolution broke out.

B．The national economy was developing rapidly.

C．The government wasn't well run.

D．King Louis XIV was in power.

小題3: What does the underlined word "abolished" mean?

A．Put off.

B．Established.

C．United.

D．Ended.

小題4:What was NOT the effect of the Revolution?

A．July 14 has become the French National Day.

B．It brought some impact on the other European kings.

C．Louis's wife, Marie was killed.

D．The king tried to control the national parliament.

As is known to us all, baths and bathing have long been considered of medical importance to man. In Greece there are the ruins of a water system for baths built over 3,000 years ago. The Romans had warm public baths. In some baths, as many 3,000 persons could bathe at the same time.
Treating disease by taking bathing has been popular for centuries. Modern medical bathing first became popular in Europe and by the late 1700’s has also become popular in the United States.
For many years frequent(經(jīng)常的) bathing was believed to be bad for one’s health. Ordinary bathing just to keep clean was avoided, and perfume was often used to cover up body smells!
By the 1700’s doctors began to say that soap and water were good for health. They believed that it was good for people to be clean. Slowly, people began to bathe more frequently. During the Victorian Age of the late 19th century, taking a bath on Saturday night became common.
In the United States ordinary bathing was slow to become popular. During the 18th and early 19th centuries, many Americans were known as “The Great Unwashed!” In one American city, for example, a person was only allowed to take a bathe every thirty days! That was a law!
Frequency of bathing today is partly a matter of habit. People know that bathing for cleanliness is important to health, Doctors know that dirty bodies increase the chance of diseases. As a result, in the United States, people generally bathe often. Some people bath once a day at least. They consider a daily bath essential (="necessary)" to good health.
小題1: A water system for baths was built by _________ over 3,000 years ago.

A．the Greeks

B．the Romans

C．the Americans

D．the Europeans

小題2:In the 18th century doctors believed that being clean was __________.

A．good for health

B．unimportant

C．harmful

D．important

小題3:The underlined word perfume probably means _____________.

A．a(chǎn) strange smelling substance	B．good health
C．a(chǎn) sweet smelling substance	D．large wealth

小題4:Which of the following gives the main idea of the passage?

A．Everybody inAmericatakes a daily bath.

B．A bath a day keeps the doctor away.

C．Bathing has become easier and cheaper.

D．Taking baths has become popular in the world.

Today, bicycles are elegantly simple machines that are common around the world. Many people ride bicycles for recreation, whereas others use them as a means of transportation. The first bicycle was invented in Germany in 1818. Because it was made of wood, it wasn’t very strong nor did it have pedals (腳踏板）.Riders moved it by pushing their feet against the ground.
In 1839, Kirkpatrick Macmillan, a Scottish blacksmith, invented a much better bicycle. Macmillan’s machine had iron-covered wheels to keep them from getting worn down. He also used foot-operated levers, similar to pedals, so his bicycle could be ridden at a quick pace. It didn’t look much like the modem bicycle, though, because its back wheel was substantially larger than its front wheel. Although Macmillan’s bicycles could be ridden easily, they were never produced in large numbers.
In 1861, Frenchman Pierre Michaux and his brother Ernest invented a bicycle with an improved pedal mechanism. They called their bicycle a velocipede，but most people called it a “bone shaker” because of the effect of the wood and iron frame. Despite the impolite nickname, the velocipede was a hit. After a few years, the Michaux family was making hundreds of the machines annually, mostly for fun-seeking young people.
Ten years later, James Starley , an English inventor, made several innovations that revolutionized bicycle design. He made the front wheel many times larger than the back wheel, put a gear on the pedals to make the bicycle more efficient，and lightened the wheels by using wire spokes. Although this bicycle was much lighter and less tiring to ride, it was still clumsy, extremely top-heavy，and ridden mostly for entertainment.
It wasn’t until 1874 that the first truly modern bicycle appeared on the scene. Invented by another Englishman, H. J. Lawson, the safety bicycle would look familiar to today’s cyclists. The safety bicycle had equal-sized wheels, which made it easier to ride. Lawson also attached a chain to the pedals to drive the back wheel. By 1893，the safety bicycle had been further improved with air-filled rubber tires, a diamond-shaped frame, and easy braking. With the improvements provided by Lawson_; bicycles became extremely popular and useful for transportation. Today, they are built, used, and enjoyed all over the world.
小題1:This passage was most likely written in order to _____.

A．compare bicycles used for different purposes

B．describe the problems early bicycle makers experienced

C．persuade readers to use bicycles for transportation

D．tell readers about the early history of the bicycle

小題2:Macmillan covered the wheels of his bicycle with iron to _____

A．a(chǎn)dd weight to the bicycle

B．make the bicycle easier to ride

C．a(chǎn)llow the wheels to last longer

D．let the bicycle be more comfortable

小題3:Which of the following bicycle types was invented by James Starley?

小題4:Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A．Two hundred years ago，bicycles did not exist.

B．The first bicycle could be ridden at a very quick pace.

C．The Michaux brothers called their bicycle a “bone shaker”.

D．Macmillan’s machine had wheels with rubber tires.

小題5:The information about bicycles in this passage is arranged according to _____.

A．importance

B．time

C．place

D．Interest

The early 1900s were very different from today, when toys were still the delight of children everywhere.
Theodore Roosevelt's Presidency marks the beginning of the “Teddy Bear”. In the year 1902，toy bears were named “Teddy” after the president's nickname. The Teddy Bear became known worldwide and it was only a few years later that the Teddy Bears were mass produced.
In 1913，an item called the Erector Set was invented. It was a steel，motorized toy that children could use to build models of anything. Its creator was A．C.Gilbert，a medical doctor.
Charles Pajeau created a similar wooden set called Tinker Toys in the year 1914.Tinker Toys were made for younger children.
Raggedy Ann dolls first came on the scene after newspaper cartoonist Johnny Gruelle reproduced the doll he made for his daughter. That was in 1915.
The following year，an architect's son named John Lloyd Wright，invented Lincoln Logs，which were interlocked to make structures.
Two years after Mickey Mouse was created，stuffed(填塞)Mickey Mouse dolls were made by Charlotte Clark. This was the start of Disney merchandise.
The yo­yo became popular in the United States after Donald Duncan bought a yo­yo company in 1929.
The View­Master，a three dimensional viewer，was developed by a camera enthusiast named William Gruber. The toy became popular when Gruber licensed Disney characters to make still, 3­D images from Disney movies and television programs.
Finally，in 1940，model airplanes were mass produced. They started out as a way for manufacturers to sell planes to the military，but later caught on as a toy.
The toys that we know and love today have had their roots from these ancient times. Thanks to all these creative man’s efforts, we know otherwise what we may never know.
小題1:Why were toy bears named “Teddy”？

A．To be suitable for mass production

B．To be easily pronounced by children.

C．To meet the advertisers' needs.

D．To memorize President Theodore Roosevelt

小題2:In which aspect do the toys created by Gilbert differ from those by Charles?

A．Shape

B．Material used

C．Themes

D．Price

小題3:When did the View­Master become popular?

A．After William Gruber was born

B．After Gruber licensed Disney characters

C．Two years after Mickey Mouse was created.

D．When Disney merchandise was started

History is full of examples of leaders joining together to meet common goals. But rarely have two leaders worked together with such friendship and cooperation as American President Franklin Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. They both were born in wealthy families and were active in politics for many years. Both men loved the sea and the navy，history and nature.
Roosevelt and Churchill first met when they were lower­level officials in World War One. But neither man remembered much about that meeting. However，as they worked together during the Second World War they came to like and trust each other. Roosevelt and Churchill exchanged more than one thousand seven hundred letters and messages during five and a half years. They met many times，at large national gatherings and in private talks. But the closeness of their friendship might be seen best in a story told by one of Roosevelt’s close advisors，Harry Hopkins. Hopkins remembered how Churchill was visiting Roosevelt at the White House one day. Roosevelt went into Churchill’s room in the morning to say hello. But the president was shocked to see Churchill coming from the washing room with no clothes at all. Roosevelt immediately apologized to the British leader for seeing him naked. But Churchill reportedly said: “The Prime Minister of Great Britain has nothing to hide from the president of the United States.” And then both men laughed.
The United States and Great Britain were only two of several nations that joined together in the war to resist Hitler and his Allies. In January,1942，twenty­six of these nations signed an agreement promising to fight for peace，religious freedom，human rights，and justice. The three major Allies，however，were the most important for the war effort: the United States，Britain，and the Soviet Union. Yet，Churchill and Roosevelt disagreed about when  to attack Hitler in western Europe. And Churchill resisted Roosevelt’s suggestions that Britain give up some of its colonies. But in general，the friendship between Roosevelt and Churchill，and between the United States and Britain led the two nations to cooperate closely.
小題1:What can be inferred from the passage?

A．Roosevelt and Churchill had much in common.

B．Roosevelt and Churchill had nothing in common.

C．Roosevelt and Churchill had no difference but cooperation.

D．Roosevelt and Churchill always joined together to meet common goals.

小題2:Which of the following about Roosevelt and Churchill is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Since World War One they had believed in each other.

B．They exchanged just 27 letters and messages per month during the 5.5 years.

C．Harry Hopkins never let out the closeness of their friendship.

D．Roosevelt and Churchill hadn’t been presidents before World War One.

小題3:We can know from the passage that________.

A．Roosevelt and Churchill did not always agree with each other

B．over two differences between Churchill and Roosevelt were mentioned

C．Churchill urged Roosevelt to give up some of its colonies

D．the differences between Roosevelt and Churchill had an effect on their cooperation

The modern Olympic Games, founded in 1896, began as contests between individuals, rather than among nations, with the hope of promoting world peace through sportsmanship. In the beginning, the games were open only to amateurs. An amateur is a person whose involvement in an activity---from sports to science or the arts---is purely for pleasure. Amateurs, whatever their contributions to a field, expect to receive no form of compensation ; professionals, in contrast, perform their work in order to earn a living.
From the perspective of many athletes, however, the Olympic playing field has been far from level. Restricting the Olympics to amateurs has precluded（妨礙） the participation of many who could not afford to be unpaid. Countries have always desired to send their best athletes, not their wealthiest ones, to the Olympic Games.
A slender and imprecise line separates what we call “financial support” from “earning money.” Do athletes “earn money” if they are reimbursed（補(bǔ)償） for travel expenses? What if they are paid for time lost at work or if they accept free clothing from a manufacturer or if they teach sports for a living? The runner Eric Liddell was the son of poor missionaries; in 1924 the British Olympic Committee financed his trip to the Olympics, where he won a gold and a bronze medal. College scholarships and support from the United States Olympic Committee made it possible for American track stars Jesse Owens and Wilma Rudolph and speed skater Dan Jansen to train and compete. When the Soviet Union and its allies joined the games in 1952, the definition of amateur became still muddier. Their athletes did not have to balance jobs and training because as citizens in communist regimes, their government financial support was not considered payment for jobs.
In 1971 the International Olympic Committee(IOC) removed the word amateur from the rules, making it easier for athletes to find the support necessary to train and compete. In 1986 the IOC allowed professional athletes into the games.
There are those who regret the disappearance of amateurism from the Olympic Games. For them the games lost something special when they became just another way for athletes to earn money. Others say that the designation of amateurism was always questionable; they argue that all competitors receive so much financial support as to make them paid professionals. Most agree, however, that the debate over what constitutes an “amateur” will continue for a long time.
小題1: One might infer that _______________________.

A．developing Olympic-level skills in athletes is costly

B．professional athletes are mostly interested in financial rewards

C．a(chǎn)mateurs does not expect to earn money at the sport that is played

D．a(chǎn)mateurs have a better attitude than professionals do

小題2: The statement “the Olympic playing field has been far from level” means that__________.

A．the ground the athletes played on was in bad condition

B．the poorer players were given some advantages

C．the rules did not work the same way for everyone

D．a(chǎn)mateurs were inferior to the professionals in many ways

小題3: The financial support given to athletes by the Soviet government can best be compared to ________________.

A．a(chǎn) gift received on a special occasion, such as a birthday

B．money received from a winning lottery ticket

C．a(chǎn)n allowance paid to a child

D．money from charity organization

小題4: One can conclude that the Olympic Organizing Committee _________________.

A．has held firm to its original vision of the Olympic games

B．has struggled with the definition of amateur over the years

C．regards itself as an organization for professional athletes only

D．did nothing but stop allowing communists to participate