Most musicians agree that the best violins were made in Cremona, Italy, about 200 years ago. They even sound better than violins made today. Violin makers and scientists try to make instruments like the old Italian violins. But they aren’t the same. Why are these old Italian violins so special? Many people think they have an answer.
Some people think it is the age of the violins. But there is a problem here. Not all old violins sound wonderful. Only those from Cremona are special. So age cannot be the answer.
Other people think the secret to those violins is the wood. The wood of the violin is very important. It must be from certain kinds of trees. It must not be too young or too old. Perhaps the violin makers of Cremona knew something special about wood for violins.
But the kind of wood may not be so important. It may be more important to cut the wood in a special way. Wood for a violin must be cut very carefully. It has to be the right size and shape. The smallest difference will change the sound of the violin. Musicians sometimes think that this is the secret of the Italians.
Size and shape may not be the answer either. Scientists make new violins that are exactly the same size and shape. But the new violins still do not sound as good as the old one. Some scientists think the secret may be the varnish(清漆), which covers the wood of the violin and makes it look shiny. It also helps the sound of the instrument. Since no one knows what the Italian violin makers used in their varnish, no one can make the same varnish today.
There may never be other violins like the violins of Cremona. And there are not many of the old violins left. So these old violins are becoming more and more precious.
【小題1】What would be the best title for the passage?

A．The Secrets of Cremona Violins	B．The History of Italian Violins
C．Special Musical Instruments	D．How to Make the Best Violins

【小題2】The main purpose of the first paragraph is to_______________.

A．list some facts	B．raise a question
C．give an opinion	D．offer an answer

【小題3】What is still unclear about Cremona violins according to the writer?

A．The shape.

B．The size.

C．The wood.

D．The varnish.

【小題4】Which of the following words can best describe Cremona violins?

A．Light.

B．Shining.

C．Valuable.

D．Modern.

【小題5】What can we learn from this passage?

A．Modern things are always better than ancient ones.

B．Ancient things are always better than modern ones.

C．Once a cultural relic is lost, it can never be recovered.

D．Varnish for violins will become more and more precious.

Americans have always been interested in their Presidents' wives. Many First Ladies have been remembered because of the ways they have influenced their husbands. Other First Ladies have made the history books on their own.
At least two First Ladies, Bess Truman and Lady Bird Johnson, made it their business to send signals during their husbands speeches. When Lady Bird Johnson thought her husband was talking too long, she wrote a note and sent it up to the platform. It read, "It's time to stop ! " And he did.  Once Bess Truman didn't like what  her husband was saying on television, so she phoned him and said, "If you can't talk more politely than that in public, you come right home. "
It was First Lady Helen Taft's idea to plant the famous cherry trees in Washington, D. C. Each spring these blossoming trees attract thousands of visitors to the nation's capital Mrs. Taft also influenced the male members of her family and the White House staff in a strange way: she convinced(說服)them to shave off their beards(胡須) !
Shortly after President Woodrow Wilson suffered a stroke (中風(fēng)),  Edith Wilson unofficially took over most of the duties of the Presidency until the end of her husband's term  Earlier, during World War I, Mrs.  Wilson had sheep brought onto the White House lawn to eat t e grass. The sheep not only kept the lawn cut. but provided wool for an auction(拍賣) held by the First Lady.  Almost$ 100,000 was raised for the Red Cross.
One of the most famous First Ladies was Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. She was active in political and. social causes throughout her husband's term in office After his death, she became famous for her humanitarian(人道主義的) work in the United Nations. She made life better for thousands of needy people around the world.
【小題1】Why have First Ladies been remembered?

A．They are the wives of the presidents.

B．They are made up of history books.

C．Americans are interested in them.

D．They have an effect on their husbands.

【小題2】The examples mentioned in Paragraph 2 show that
A. the two wives did business without their husbands
B. the two wives influenced the presidents' speeches
C. the two wives didn't like their husbands to make speeches
D the presidents' speeches were often interrupted by their wives.
【小題3】Who did the most meaningful work among the first ladies?

A．Lady Bird Johnson.

B．Mrs. Wilson.

C．Eleanor Roosevelt.

D．Helen Taft

【小題4】Which of the following is considered a strange thing the First Lady did?
A. Raise sheep on the White House lawn to get money for the Red Cross.
B. Take over most of the duties throughout their husbands' Presidency.
C. Plant the cherry trees in Washington, D. C. to attract more visitors
D. Persuade the men staff in the White House to shave off their beards.
【小題5】How many First Ladies are mentioned in this passage?

A．3	B．4.
C．5	D．6.

From the beginning of human history, wild animals provided food, clothing and sometimes medicine for man. We may not depend as much on wild animals now. But we hear about them every day. Americans use the names of animals in many ways. Automobile manufacturers and gasoline companies especially like to use big cats to sell their products. They like lions, tigers and wildcats. When Americans say wildcat, they usually mean a lynx, an ocelot or a bobcat. All these cats attack quickly and fiercely. So wildcats represent something fast and fierce.   www.zxxk.com
An early American use of the word wildcat was quite different. It was used to describe members of Congress who declared war on Britain in 1812. A magazine of that year said the wildcat congressmen went home. It said they were unable to face the responsibility of having involved their country in an unnecessary war.
Wildcat also has been used as a name for money in the 1800s. At that time, some states permitted banks to make their own money. One bank in the state of Michigan offered paper money with a picture of a wildcat on it. Some banks, however, did not have enough gold to support all the paper money they offered. So the money had little or no value. It was called a wildcat bill or a wildcat banknote. The banks who offered this money were called wildcat banks. A newspaper of the time said those were the days of wildcat money. It said a man might be rich in the morning and poor by night.
Wildcat then was also used for an oil well or gold mine that had almost no oil or gold in it. Dishonest developers would buy such property. Then they would sell it and leave town with the money. The buyers were left with worthless holes in the ground. Today, wildcat oil wells are in areas that are not known to have oil.
【小題1】What is the main idea of the passage?

A．Wildcats and their stories.

B．Wildcats and their characters.

C．Varieties of animal species.

D．Relationship between animals and humans.

【小題2】The underlined words "a lynx, an ocelot or a bobcat" in Paragraph 1 may refer to "__________".

A．gasoline companies	B．a(chǎn)utomobile manufacturers
C．brands of automobile	D．names of wildcats

【小題3】Which of the following would people like to have or trust according to the passage?

A．Wildcat congressmen.	B．Wildcat oil wells.
C．Wildcat banks.	D．Wildcat cars.

【小題4】It can be inferred that during the days of wildcat money__________.

A．people couldn't buy anything with the money

B．people complained and suffered a lot

C．the rich invested too much on oil wells

D．people didn't know how to save money

May : Happenings from the past
May 5,1884
Isaac Murphy , son of a slave and perhaps the greatest horse rider in American history , rides Buchanan to win his first Kentucky Derby . He becomes the first rider ever to win the race three times .
May 9 , 1754
Benjamin Franklin’s Pennsylvania Gazette produces perhaps the first American political cartoon （漫畫）, showing a snake cut in pieces, with the words “ Join or Die” printed under the picture.
May 11,1934
The first great dust storm of the Great Plains Dust Bowl , the result of years of drought，blows topsoil all the way to New York City and Washington , D.C. .
May 19, 1994
Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis , former first lady and one of the most famous people of the 1960s , died of cancer in New York City at the age of 64 .
May 24, 1844
Samuel F.B. Morsr taps out the first message , “ What Hath God Wrought ,” over the experimental long-distance telegraph line which runs from Washington, D.C. , to Baltimeore , Md .
【小題1】We know from the text that Buchanan is_____________.

A．Isaac”s father

B．a(chǎn) winning horse

C．a(chǎn) slave taking care if horses

D．the first racing horse in Kentucky

【小題2】What is the title of the first American political cartoon ?

A．Join or Die	B．Pennsylvania Gazette
C．What Hath God Wrought	D．Kentucky Derby

【小題3】In which year did the former first lady Jacqueline die ?

A．1934	B．1960
C．1964	D．1994

【小題4】Which of the following places has to do with the first telegram in history ?
A. Washington , D. C.            B. New York City
C. Kentucky.                    D.  Pennsylvania

Denmark is one of the happiest nations on earth with some of the best quality of life. You don’t need statistics to understand the Dane’s happy lot. Walk around any Danish town and you’ll experience some of the most harmonious civic spaces anywhere. Their intimate scales and perfect transport systems combine the rich history and bold modern lines of the built environment to delight the eye, and the locals’ manners and sense of humor is refreshing.
Denmark’s capital Copenhagen is a remarkable city with well-preserved medieval streets, renowned art galleries, Michelin-starred restaurants and a healthy business center. Finding something to do is never a problem and if all else fails, just admiring the streets with a hotdog in hand is an enjoyable way to spend a few hours .
Beyond the capital and the bigger cities, Denmark offers a mix of lively towns such as Ribe and Odense plus rural countryside, medieval churches , Renaissance castles and tidy 18th-century villages.
The coastline of Denmark with its sand dunes and greenery is a sight that always attracts visitors. So, no matter what time of year you’re in Denmark, you shouldn’t miss out on a trip to the nearest beach .
It’s hard , in short , to find fault with the place. The visitor’s most heartfelt complaint is usually the cost of visiting Denmark. True, it is not a cheap destination , but no more so than the UK, and which nation’s public transport system would you rather use?
Cheer yourself up by thinking of the country’s remarkable organization and clockwork railway timetable as being financed by the extremely high taxes paid by your hosts. When viewed in this way , this first-rate destination seems like good value, and you get the fairy tales thrown in for free: the Danish royal family is genuinely loved and respected by the vast majority of its citizens, not least handsome Prince Frederik , his beautiful Australian-born princess-bride, Mar, and their young family.
【小題1】Which of the following words can best describe Danes ?

A．Polite and humorous .	B．Happy and romantic.
C．Kind and friendly.	D．Out-going and humorous .

【小題2】The writer implies in the last two paragraphs that __________ .

A．Visiting the U.K. will cost less than travelling in Denmark .

B．The transport system in the UK can’t equal that in Denmark .

C．People in Denmark pay high taxes to welcome visitors .

D．The Danish royal family plays an important role in politics .

【小題3】 How does the passage mainly develop ?

A．By providing examples.	B．By making comparisons.
C．By giving descriptions.	D．By following time order.

【小題4】What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage ?

A．To introduce Danish culture .

B．To show the attractions of Denmark .

C．To share experiences of travelling in Denmark .

D．To describe the happy life people live in Denmark .

History is full of cases where dreams have been a pathway to creativity and discovery.A striking example is provided by Dr.Otto Loewi，a pharmacologist and winner of a Nobel Prize.Loewi had spent years studying the chemical transmission of nerve impulses (脈搏)．A tremendous breakthrough in his research came when he dreamed of an experiment three nights in a row.The first two nights he woke up and wrote down the experiment quickly and untidily on paper.But the next morning，he couldn't tell what the notes meant.On the third night，he got up after having the dream.This time，instead of making notes he went straight to his laboratory and performed the crucial experiment.Loewi later said that if the experiment had occurred to him while awake he would have rejected it.
Loewi's experiment gives some insight into using dreams to produce creative solutions.Inhibitions (拘謹(jǐn)) are reduced during dreaming，which may be especially useful in solving problems that require a fresh point of view.
Being able to take advantage of dreams for problem solving is improved if you “set” yourself before retiring.Before you go to bed，try to think intently about a problem you wish to solve.Bury yourself in the problem by stating it clearly and reviewing all relevant information.Then use the suggestions listed in the previous section to catch your dreams.Although this method is not guaranteed to produce a novel solution or a new insight，it is certain to be an adventure.About half of a group of college students using the method for a week recalled a dream that helped them solve a personal problem.
【小題1】The main idea of this passage is that ________.

A．very little is really known about the meaning of dreams

B．it is possible to “catch” one's dreams by planning before going to sleep

C．dreams can be useful in producing creative solutions to one's problems

D．Loewi's experiment helped in the study of transmision of nerve impulses

【小題2】The first paragraph is mainly organized by ________.

A．classifying types of experiments

B．summarizing the work of one researcher

C．comparing and exploring historical cases

D．telling in time order about one man's research

【小題3】If Loewi had thought of the experiment while awake，he would have ________.

A．a(chǎn)sked someone else to do it

B．thought it was a bad idea

C．tried it out on his own

D．thought it was a wise idea

【小題4】The author probably thinks that ________.

A．Loewi should not have conducted his experiment

B．dreaming is of very little value to most people

C．inhibitions may stop someone thinking of useful ideas

D．college students should not try out dream experiments

February has long been a month of romance.With the sweet smell of roses in the air, romantic films hit cinemas and love stories fill newspapers and magazines.
On the 14th day, it is a custom for a boy to take his girlfriend out to dinner, buy her flowers and chocolates, write poems, sing to her or even spell out her name with rose petals! This is what you see on Valentine's Day, a day named after Valentine who was a priest in third century Rome.When the emperor decided that single men could become better soldiers than those with wives, he didn't allow marriage.
But Valentine continued to perform marriage ceremonies for young lovers in secret.When his actions were discovered, the emperor had him put to death.While in prison, it is said that Valentine fell in love with the daughter of his prison guard.Before his death, he wrote her a letter, which he signed “From your Valentine”， an expression that is still in use today.Valentine died for what he believed in and so was made a Saint(圣者), as well as becoming one of history's most romantic characters.
Nowadays, Valentine's Day is also popular among Chinese young people.Some students are planning to make Valentine's cards for parents, teachers and friends.Others want to hold parties at which they will exchange small gifts and eat heart－shaped cakes.The idea is to have fun and encourage people to share in the spirit of St.Valentine.
【小題1】The best title should be __________.

A．Valentine's Day	B．A Brave Priest
C．Valentine's Day in China	D．A Romantic Man

【小題2】What does the underlined word mean in Para.2?

A．樹葉

B．枝條

C．花瓣

D．花粉

【小題3】Why did the emperor in Rome NOT allow marriage in his country?

A．Because there were few women in his country at that time.

B．Because he thought men without wives could be better soldiers.

C．Because there wasn't enough food for so many people.

D．Because he wanted to control the birth rate.

【小題4】Valentine was put into prison because __________.

A．he killed one of the soldiers

B．he stole a lot of food

C．he didn't obey the emperor's order

D．he didn't want to be a soldier

The oldest stone buildings in the world are the pyramids(金字塔). They have stood for nearly 5, 000 years, and it seems likely that they will continue to stand for thousands of years yet. There are over eighty of them scattered(散布)along the banks of the Nile, some of which are different in shape from the true pyramids. The most famous of these are the “Step” pyramid and the “Bent” pyramid.

　　Some of the pyramids still look as much alike as they must have been when they were built thousands of years ago. Most of the damage suffered by the others has been at the hands of men who were looking for treasure or, more often, for stones to use in modern buildings. The dry climate of Egypt has helped to keep the pyramids in good condition, and their very shape has made them less likely to fall into ruin. These are good reasons why they can still be seen today, but perhaps the most important is that they were planned to last forever.
　　The “Step” pyramid had to be on the west side of the Nile, the side on which the sun sets. This was for spiritual reasons. It also had to stand well above the level of the river to protect it against the regular floods. It could not be too far from the Nile, however, as the stones to build it needed to be carried in boats down the river to the nearest point. Water transport was, of course, much easier than land transport. The builders also had to find a rock base, which was not likely to crack(破裂)under the great weight of the pyramid. Finally, it had to be near the capital, or better still near the king’s palace so that he could visit it easily to personally check the progress being made on the final resting place for his body.
【小題1】According to the passage, the “Step” pyramid　　　　.

A．is unlikely to fall into ruin in the near future

B．was built on the sand along the Nile

C．is one that was built later than the true pyramids

D．is the most famous of the true pyramids

【小題2】 The most important reason why some pyramids remain in good condition is that　　　　.

A．people have taken good care of them

B．it doesn’t rain often in Egypt

C．they were well designed

D．the government has protected them from damage

【小題3】Most of the damage to the pyramids has been caused by　　　.

A．the regular floods

B．the dry climate of Egypt

C．people searching for gold

D．people in search of building materials

【小題4】The Egyptians built the pyramids along the banks of the Nile because　　　　.

A．they believed in their god

B．it was difficult to find a large rock base far from the Nile

C．the river helped a lot in the transport of building materials

D．it was not easy to choose a suitable place for the pyramids

Do you read newspapers in modern times while we have TV and other media? The first newspaper was written by hand and put up on walls in public places. The earliest daily newspaper was started in Rome in 59 BC. In the 700s the world’s first printed newspaper was published. Europe didn’t have a regularly published newspaper until 1609, when one was started in Germany.
The first regularly published newspaper in English was printed in Amsterdam in 1620. In 1621, an English newspaper was started in London and was published once a week. The first daily English newspaper was Daily Current, which came out in March 1702.
　  In 1690, Benjamin Harris printed the first American newspaper in Boston. But not long after it was first published, the government stopped the paper. In 1704, John Campbell started Boston Newspaper, the first newspaper published daily in the American Colonies. By 1760, the colonies had had more than thirty daily newspapers. There are now about 1,800 daily papers in the United States.
　  Today, as a group, English language newspapers have the largest circulation in the world. But the largest circulation for a newspaper is that of the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun. It sells more than eleven million copies every year.
【小題1】The first regularly printed European newspaper was started ______.

A．in Rome in 59 BC	B．in Germany in 1609
C．in Amsterdam in 1620	D．in England in 1621

【小題2】The first daily English newspaper was started in _______.

A．1702

B．1760

C．1620

D．1621

【小題3】What can we learn from the passage_______?
A. The earliest daily printed newspaper was started in Rome in 59 BC.
B. The first regularly published English newspaper was printed in Boston.
C. The first daily English newspaper was printed in the American Colonies.
D. The first American newspaper was stopped before 1704.
【小題4】Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage_______?
A. Newspapers have the longest history in the United States.
B. One English language newspaper has the largest circulation in the world.
C. The first English newspaper was printed in Rome in 59 BC.
D. There are all kinds of newspapers all over the world today.
【小題5】What is the best title of the passage_______?

A．History of newspapers.

B．History of daily newspapers.

C．The beginning of daily newspapers.

D．The beginning of newspapers.

Do you like to eat out? Do you like to eat quickly? Do you like inexpensive food? Some people go to fast-food restaurants for these reasons. In the past, people usually went to diners（小餐館）for these reasons. In fact, many people in the States still go to diners today for the same reasons.
A man named Walter Scott had the first “diner” in 1872. It wasn’t a real diner. It was only a food cart. People on the street walked up to the cart to buy food. These carts served late-night workers who wanted a cup of coffee and a late-night meal. The meal was a sandwich or boiled eggs. In 1887, Samuel Jones built the first diner big enough to allow the customers to come inside. However, they did not sit down. Later, people built diners with counters and stools, and people sat down while they ate.
Before long, many diners stayed open around the clock. In other words, people were able to eat in diner at any time. Diners changed in other ways, too. The original menu of sandwiches and coffee became bigger. It included soup, favorite dishes, and a breakfast menu. In addition, diners soon became permanent buildings. They were no longer carts on wheels.
Diners today look similar to  the diners of the early 1900s. They are usually buildings with large windows. Inside, the diners have shining counters with stools, booths, and tables and chairs. People can eat all three meals in a modern diner.
Today, many people eat in fast-food restaurants such as McDonald’s and Burger King. However, the diner remains an American tradition, and thousands of people still enjoy eating there. It was popular a century ago, and it is still popular today.
【小題1】A man named Walter Scott had the first “diner” in 1872. Why is the word “diner” in quotation marks(引號)？

A．Because it is spelled differently from “ dinner”

B．Because the first diner was not what it is now

C．Because diner was a new word

D．Because it is a special kind of restaurant

【小題2】According to paragraph 3, diners changed in __________

A．Two ways

B．three ways

C．four ways

D．five ways

【小題3】Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A．Diners existed before a fast-food restaurant

B．The menu included more food than sandwiches and coffee

C．Burger King is a fast-food restaurant

D．Sandwiches became bigger

【小題4】The main idea of the passage is that ______________.

A． The diner is a traditional , popular place to eat in the United States

B． Samuel Johns built the first diner big enough to allow the customers to come inside

C． American diners serve many types of food 24 hours a day to their customers

D． Diners are different from fast-food restaurants in many ways