If you are planning a visit to Chicago, make sure you see the city best before you head back home.

Architecture

Chicago is home to some of the most fascinating architecture in the country. One of the oldest buildings in the city is the Water Tower, which was built in 1869. It is one of the structures to survive the Chicago Fire in 1871. It is a fascinating builging to see, and is nearby the Water Tower Place, which has great shopping. It’s a paradise for the young. Another stop must be the Willes Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower. Go to the top and walk out on the clear walkway to take a look straight down on the city. If you have the time, be sure to have dinner or a cocktail in the Signature Room on the 95th floor. Not only is the food great, but the views are breathtaking.

Boat Tours

If architecture is your thing, Wendella Boats offers a great architecture tour of Chicago. You can see some of the beautiful buildings from the Chicago River, which is a side of the buildings you don’t usually get to see. There are several other boat tours that are just great, too, and many will even take you from the river out to Lake Michigan where you can see the Chicago skyline at any time of day. These tours are great ways to gain knowledge of this spectacular city, and it’s also a funny way to rest your legs between walking tips.

Famous Pizza

You cannot come to Chicago without trying some famous, deepdish pizza. There are many places to get this delicious, thick pizza, but three stores stand out from the rest. Gino’s East, Giordano’s, and Lou Malnati’s are the best places to get authentic, Chicago-style, deep-dish pizza. Try it with all the toppings or just cheese, but be sure you try it at some point. Many think that much pizza and cheese seems disgusting, but don’t knock it till you try it. You might find a new favorite way of eating this Italian classic.

1.Water Tower Place is so popular among young people most probably because of ______.

A. its advantage of meeting his or her future partner

B. its amusement services and shopping advantages

C. there being many museums about art and literature

D. its importance in working as an unusual water tower now

2.While making a boat tour, you can ______.

A. see some beautiful buildings and even the Chicago skyline

B. draw the newly built architecture along the river

C. see how to gain knowledge in daily life

D. measure the length and width of the Chicago River

3.Why does the author advise visitors to try pizza in Chicago?.

A. Because its cheese comes from Italy.

B. Because the Chicago-style is really impressive.

C. Because there are so many chain stores from Italy.

D. Because its style is completly the same as that in Italy.

 

Americans consider baseball as an American sport. They often refer to something being “as American as baseball and apple pie”. But is baseball really an American sport? And what are origins of baseball anyway?

The American game of baseball more than likely came from several European ball games. Russia had an early form of baseball and so did Germany and Romania. People in England played a game called “stool ball”. In this game, the pitcher(投手)tried to hit a stool(凳子)or chair with a ball and the batter(擊球手)used a stick to keep the ball away. But American baseball was most likely based on another English game, which is called “rounders”. Players use a soft ball rater than a hard ball while playing rounders.

So when was the first real game of “baseball” played? It seems that it took place in the 1840s. The father of baseball was Alexander Cartwright, who organized a baseball club in New York. Cartwright developed 20 rules that distinguished baseball from previous ball games.

In 1858, the first organized baseball league—the National Association of Baseball players—was formed. This league began charging fans to watch the games. However, the players were all amateurs and did not get paid . In 1869, the Cincinnati Red Stockings began to pay their players. Since they could hire the best players, Cincinnati won 57 games and lost none in their first season. As a result, other teams decided to hire players too. By 1871, the National Association was the first professional baseball league.

Today baseball is liked very much in America. Top professional baseball players earn millions of dollars each year. There are two professional leagues—the National League and the American League. The best teams from these two leagues compete for the baseball championship every year.

1.81.What do Americans think of baseball? (No more than 3 words)2’

2.82. Why was Alexander Cartwright called “the father of baseball ”?(No more than 16 words).3’

3.83. Where did the American baseball most probably come from?(No more than 5 words).2’

4.84.What does the passage mainly talk about?(No more than 5 words).3’

 

Dolphins（海豚）are not fish, but warm-blooded animals. They live in groups, and speak to each other in their own language. In this, they are like other animals, such as bees and birds. But dolphins are very different from almost all land animals. Their brain is nearly the same size as our own, and they live a long time―at least twenty or thirty years. Like some animals, dolphins use sound to help them find their way around. They also make these sounds to talk to each other and to help them find food. We now know they do not use their ears to receive these sounds, but the lower part of the mouth, called the jaw.
Strangely, dolphins seem to like man, and for thousands of years there have been stories about the dolphin and its friendship with people.
There is a story about sailors in the 19th century. In a dangerous part of the sea off the coast of New Zealand, they learnt to look for a dolphin called Jack. From 1871 to 1903, Jack met every boat in the area and showed it the way. Then in 1903 a passenger on a boat called The Penguin shot and wounded Jack. He recovered and for nine years more continued to guide all ships through the area－except for The Penguin.
Today, some people continue to kill dolphins, but many countries of the world now protect them and in these places it is against the law to kill them.
【小題1】Dolphins are different from many other animals in that they _____.

A．live in groups

B．have large brains

C．a(chǎn)re warm-blooded

D．have their own language

【小題2】Which of the following does the dolphin use to help it find its way around?

A．Its nose.

B．Its ears.

C．Its mouth.

D．Its eyes.

【小題3】Why did the sailors off the coast of New Zealand look for Jack?

A．He was lonely and liked to be with people.

B．They enjoyed playing with him.

C．He was seriously wounded.

D．They wanted his help.

【小題4】By telling the story of Jack, the writer wanted to show that _____.

A．dolphins are friendly and clever	B．people are cruel to animals
C．Jack is different from other dolphins	D．dolphins should be protected by law

　　　 Dolphins（海豚）are not fish, but warm-blooded animals. They live in groups, and speak to each other in their own language. In this, they are like other animals, such as bees and birds. But dolphins are very different from almost all land animals. Their brain is nearly the same size as our own, and they live a long time―at least twenty or thirty years. Like some animals, dolphins use sound to help them find their way around. They also make these sounds to talk to each other and to help them find food. We now know they do not use their ears to receive these sounds, but the lower part of the mouth, called the jaw.

　　　 Strangely, dolphins seem to like man, and for thousands of years there have been stories about the dolphin and its friendship with people.

　　　 There is a story about sailors in the 19th century. In a dangerous part of the sea off the coast of New Zealand, they learnt to look for a dolphin called Jack. From 1871 to 1903, Jack met every boat in the area and showed it the way. Then in 1903 a passenger on a boat called The Penguin shot and wounded Jack. He recovered and for nine years more continued to guide all ships through the area－except for The Penguin.

　　　 Today, some people continue to kill dolphins, but many countries of the world now protect them and in these places it is against the law to kill them.

65. Dolphins are different from many other animals in that they _____.

A. live in groups　 B. have large brains　 C. are warm-blooded D. have their own language

66. Which of the following does the dolphin use to help it find its way around?

A. Its nose.　　　 　　　　 B. Its ears.　　　 　　　　　　 C. Its mouth.　　　 　　　 D. Its eyes.

67. Why did the sailors off the coast of New Zealand look for Jack?

A. He was lonely and liked to be with people. B. They enjoyed playing with him.

C. He was seriously wounded. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. They wanted his help.

68. By telling the story of Jack, the writer wanted to show that _____.

A. dolphins are friendly and clever B. people are cruel to animals

C. Jack is different from other dolphins D. dolphins should be protected by law