Most American students have said goodbye to fancy(高級(jí)的) fruits these days. In school canteens across the country, cheaper fruits like apples and oranges have taken their places.

   “People are afraid to spend now,” said Linda Morrow, who owns a shoe and handbag store. “They don’t know what the future will bring.”

   During the financial crisis(金融危機(jī)), several of the country’s biggest banks have been forced to sell or close. This has made lots of Americans afraid to buy expensive goods.

   Samira Marino, a restaurant owner in Miami, has found everyone is ordering water instead of juice and more people are sharing meals. In more than two dozen interviews with The Associated Press across the country last month, Americans talked about their concerns, from worries about small businesses to doubts about simply making ends meet.

   The crisis began last year. Experts think it was because US banks lend money too easily. Last year a lot of people and companies, who borrowed money, have found themselves unable to pay it back. This left the banks, as well as the people who put their money in the banks, without money. Since the banks borrowed money between themselves and even across borders(國(guó)界), the whole world was in trouble.

   This month the US government agreed on a $700 billion plan to try to save the financial market. But no one is sure whether it will help or not. President George W. Bush has warned it will take some time.

   Last week top finance officials from 20 countries promised to work together to find a way out of the money trouble.

1.Why are people in the US afraid to spend?

  A. Because they think it’s unnecessary.      

 B. Because they don’t have the habit of spending money.

 C. Because they worry about their future.

 D. Because they don’t have enough money.

2.The fifth paragraph mainly _________.

  A. tells what it is like in a crisis

  B. explains why there is a crisis

  C. warns people of the danger of the crisis

  D. asks people not to borrow money from banks

3.People feel ______ about the US plan to save the market.

  A. satisfied       B. doubtful         C. hopeless        D. angry

4.The best title for the story is ________.

  A. Ways to make ends meet

  B. The money problem facing the world

  C. Healthy fancy fruits

  D. The art of borrowing

 

Rock climbing(攀巖) did not become a sport until late in the 1900s. But now it has become a popular outdoor activity. While rock climbing may still be necessary for mountain climbing, most people just climb low mountains for fun.
If you have ever done rock climbing, you will know that it is not a very easy sport. Indoor and outdoor rock climbing both need practice. What most people don’ t know is that rock climbing is one of the sports that depend on your body and mind(意志).
To climb successfully, one must use wonderful skills. One of the important rules is to always have three parts of your body on the rock face. Another important rule is that your arms only hold you close to the rock face while your legs are pushing you up, the closer you are to the rock face, the easier it is to climb.
Rock climbing is a wonderful sport. Once you start to learn how to climb, you'll find more fun. People who like games such as chess playing or problem-solving may love rock climbing, because they are nearly the same in the way of thinking. For anyone who wants to get into beautiful shape, rock climbing is a fun and good way. Anyone who enjoys a difficult game and loves the outdoors should think of taking rock climbing as a new hobby.
【小題1】 When did rock climbing become a sport?       

A．In 1900.

B．Early in the 1900s.

C．In the middle of the 1900s.

D．Late in the 1900s.

【小題2】 The chess players may like rock climbing because         .   

A．they'd like to get into beautiful shape

B．it is more interesting than chess playing

C．it is like chess playing in the way of thinking

D．they really tike to do sports

【小題3】What can we learn from the passage?

A．Rock climbing is a kind of indoor and outdoor activity,

B．Rock climbing is a very easy sport.

C．When you climb, your arms push you up.

D．The closer you are to the rock face, the more difficult it is to climb.

Are you the only child in the family? If so, you are the most important in your family. Parents are the closest people to you in the world. But most middle school students have a problem. They feel they're not as close to their parents as before.

Some students complain that their parents often say a lot to them, but never listen to them. Some say their parents ask them not to play computer games when other classmates are doing that. Others say when they’re making phone calls to friends, their parents like to ask if the children are speaking to a boy or a girl. These make them very unhappy. Some students even decide to leave home because they’re afraid to tell their parents when they have done something wrong. Then they usually think running away is the only choice. But they don’t know running away may bring them some more problems.

Problems are parts of life. Here are some suggestions for you to solve the problems.

·Find a good time to talk with your parents. Don’t be afraid to tell them your feelings.

·Get help from others like good friends or teachers.

·Keep a diary to help you understand more about yourself and your feelings.

·Show your parents you’re growing up. Then they’ll feel you’re not a small child.

If you follow the advice, you’ll have a happy life and never think of running away.

 

1.Who are the closest people to you if you are the only child in the family?

  ________________________

2.Do most students feel they are not as close to their parents as before?

  ________________________

3. What do some parents like to do while their children are making phone calls to friends?

  _________________________

4.What could you do to understand more about yourselves and your feelings?

  _________________________

5. How many suggestions does the writer give?

  _________________________

 

 

 

根據(jù)短文內(nèi)容及首字母提示完成短文。（每空一詞）

Friends play an important part in our lives. We may have many friends, but we often don't understand c   71   how we make friends. We may get on well with a n   72    of people, but we usually make friends with a very few of them.

   People use the word "friend" freely. Friends may k   73  each other since childhood or they may recently meet. In fact, people many have different k   74   of friends such as school friends, work friends, or sports friends. A person may c   75    different friends for different activities. If you play with s   76   on the playground, the person is your playmate. If you often play chess w   77   a friend, the person is your chess partner.

   One may have many good friends and only one best friend. " Best friends" or "close friends" are u   78   two people who have known each other for a long time. A close friend is someone who is able to s   79   experience, joys and sorrows(悲傷) with you. This is a person you can rely on (信賴(lài)) when you are in n   80   , and this is the person to whom you are willing to lend a helping hand.

   Friendship is one of life's greatest treasure.

 

When Kyle walked into Ernie's Pet World, he looked very worried. He walked quickly to the front counter（柜臺(tái)）. The owner of the shop, Ernie, jumped out to greet Kyle. He was the shop's first shopper of the day.

    "Good morning, sir!" Ernie said. "What can I help you with?"

    "Well, I...," Kyle started to say.

    "Wait, don't tell me," Ernie interrupted (打斷) him. "You're looking for a … a little dog... for

your daughter 's birthday.  Right?"

     "No T really, l just..."

     Ernie didn't let him finish. "Ah, I've got it, You just moved into a new house, and you want some fish for it. I have some very nice tanks over here."

     "In fact, I..." Kyle was starting to look very nervous (緊張的). His face had a strange expression（表情）on it.

     "No fish? Ah, a cat! You look like a cat person. At Ernie's Pet World, we have the best kinds. Take a look at this Persian — long, white hair, and look at that cute expression. She's looking at you. She's thinking, ‘Take me home. Take me home.’ Would you like some cat food and toys as well?"

    "No, thank you," Kyle said. By this time, he was walking up and down. He had a pained (痛苦的) look on his face. "Really, I'm not interested in cats or fish or little dogs."

     "What do you want, then?" Ernie asked.

     Kyle looked like he was going to cry. "I just want to know if I can use your bathroom!" he finally said.

1. What does the writer want to tell us?

    A. A good pet owner.                      B. A funny story.

    C. A wonderful shopkeeper.                 D. A strange pet shop.

2.What was true about Ernie's Pet World?

    A. The shop was not busy.                  B. Kyle went there often.

    C. The shop was about to close.              D. Kyle knew the shop owner well.

3. What do you think of Ernie?

    A. He is careful.                          B. He is helpful.

    C. He likes talking.                        D. He is clever.

4.Why did Kyle look anxious and pained?

     A. He wanted to get a cat very much.          B. He didn't like animals.

     C. He was late for work.                    D. He was not comfortable.