Americans hope Two-Thousand-Two will be happier than Two-Thousand-One. New York suffered terrible losses in the terrorist attacks on September Eleventh. However, the city is continuing with its New Year's Eve traditions in Times Square for the ninety-seventh year.

The tradition began in Nineteen-Oh-Four. That year, the owners of the building at Number One Times Square held a party on top of the building. Today, the New Year's Ball falls from the top of the same building. The ball contains thousands of pieces of lighted cut glass. It looks like burning stars as it falls through the darkness. When it reaches the ground, people in Times Square dance and sing. They throw tiny pieces of colorful paper into the air. Many people in the United States also watch this event on television.

Other cities also have New Year celebrations. For example, Chicago has a fireworks show. The fireworks are launched from the Navy Pier, a land area that extends into Lake Michigan. Some people like to watch the fireworks from a boat on the lake. The boat serves a special meal on New Year's Eve. People drink a special wine called Champagne to celebrate the clock striking midnight.

Many young people in Chicago celebrate New Year's Eve at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Children wear funny hats as they wish the animals a good New Year.

Many other Americans celebrate New Year's Eve with parties at home. Or they celebrate at public eating and drinking places. These events are usually noisy. People shout and sing. They often blow on small noise-makers when the New Year arrives at midnight. They kiss their husband or wife or the person they are with. They dance to broadcast music, records or live bands.

Some people drink too much alcohol at New Year's Eve celebrations. This can lead to tragic results if a person drinks too much and then drives a car. The National Safety Council says hundreds of people die in road accidents during the holiday.

In recent years, the danger of accidents has resulted in a new tradition called the "designated driver." One person among a group of friends drinks little or no alcohol during New Year's Eve celebrations. Then this designated driver can safely drive the other people home. Many American cities also offer free taxi service on New Year's Eve to take people home safely.

Other Americans observe the coming of the New Year at events without alcohol. More than two-hundred American cities hold these First Night celebrations. Artists in Boston, Massachusetts, started the tradition of First Night celebrations in Nineteen-Seventy-Six. They wanted to observe the coming of a New Year. But they did not want to hold noisy drinking parties. So they organized music, art and other events to observe the holiday.

66.What does the tradition refer to in the passage?

A. The celebration of New Year’s Eve.        B. The New Year’s Ball.

B. The fireworks show.                    D. The parties at home.

67.Why does the New Year’s Ball contain pieces of lighted cut glass?

A. To attract people in the square.            B. To light the Times Square

C. To give people atmosphere of a festival     D. To make people interested in the festival.

68. What is the passage mainly about?

A. To hope people remember the terrible suffering in the terrorist attacks

B. The colorful life of Americans.

C. The hopes of Americans in the coming new year.

D. The celebrating activities on New Year’s Eve in America.

69. How do Americans feel to the coming new year after the terrorist attacks?

A. sad, excited and hopeful             B. sad, excited and happy

C. happy, excited and hopeful           D. complicated, excited and hopeful.

70. The change people hope most to see in their tradition is __________

A. Less noise                        B. Drinking less alcohol

C. Fewer road accidents                D. Less tragedy

短文寫作 (滿分25分)

         假設你叫劉建，下面海報是你校英語角的一次活動安排。請根據海報內容用英語寫一封100～120詞左右的電子郵件，邀請你的外校朋友李明前來參加。

注意：1．郵件要涵蓋海報中全部信息，并可適當增加細節(jié)。

2．要寫出一篇連貫的短文，不可照抄海報內容。

3．文章的開頭和結尾已給出，不計入總詞數。

4．生詞：subtitle（電影）字幕；popcorn爆米花

Dear Li Ming,

         Good news for you!

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

                                          Yours,

                                          Liu Jian

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 the third century Rome. When the emperor (皇帝) 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 sentenced him 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 he was made a Saint (圣徒), 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.

72. 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.

73. 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

74. The last paragraph mainly tells us _______.

A. students in China send cards to their teachers 

B. it is a good idea to celebrate Valentine’s Day in China

C. it is interesting to celebrate Valentine’s Day in China            

D. Valentine’s Day is also popular in China now

75. The best title for this passage should be _______.

A. Valentine’s Day                                                          B. A Brave Priest

C. Valentine’s Day in China                                             D. A Romantic Man

— I am not good at dancing, you know.

— _____________.It’s just for fun.

A．Come on              B. Don’t say so            C. What a pity             D. Cheer up

The professor gave orders that the test ___________before 5:30.

A. be finished     B. will finish   C .will be finished    D. shall be finished

Mr. Brown lay________awake all night wondering whether to leave or stay.

A.wide           B.well           C.much       D.very

Millions of young people are writing blogs. Millions of others are reading them. The word "blog" is a short way of saying Web log.

Many popular Web sites now offer free, easy ways to create personal Web pages and fill them with writings and pictures. Web sites called "Facebook" and "MySpace" are some of the most popular blog sites for young people. Many young adults use their blogs to write about daily activities and events in their lives. They also provide a place for people to write their ideas and opinions and how they think of others’ ideas.

Blogs offer young people a place to show their writings and feelings. They can also be helpful to connect young people with others. But blogs can become dangerous when they are read on the Internet by millions of people all over the world.

Recent studies show that young people often provide their names, age and where they live on the Internet. That may not be safe for them. This personal information puts them at risk of being searched out by dangerous people who want to hurt them. Many students do not know about privacy and are surprised to learn that adults can read their personal daily records easily. Students can also get into trouble when they put information about others on their blogs. 

   As a result, many schools have banned the use of blogging web sites on school computers. Many schools have also begun teaching parents about the web sites. Parents should know what their children are doing online and should read their blogs to make sure they are not giving out private information. One way to keep away from these problems is to use programs so that blogs can be read by "friends only." people can read the website only if they know a secret word chosen by the blogger.

60. "Facebook" and "MySpace" are ________.

A. school subjects                               B. computer programs

C. school online BBS                          D. blog sites for young people     

61. Blogs may be dangerous because________.

A. they get in the way of studies         B. they are not allowed for school students

C. surfing the Internet is bad for eyes D. personal information can be found in blogs easily

62. This passage is mainly about _________.

A. the safety of children’s blogs           B. how to search the internet

    C. students’ behavior at school             D. communicating with parents at home

63. According to the passage, many schools help children avoid blog problems by doing

 everything EXCEPT________.

    A. teaching parents about the web sites

B. asking students to use programs to refuse strangers

     C. telling school students not to make any net friends

     D. stopping students from blogging on school computers   

64. You can enjoy your blog safely if________.

      A. you write your blog at school

B. use a secret number for friends to enter your blog

     C. your parents have little knowledge about websites

     D. you show all your writings and feelings in your blog

閱讀下面短文，根據第58至第60小題的具體要求，簡要回答問題，并將答案轉寫到答題卡上。

The decision to further all or part of your studies outside your country is a serious one, and one which for most students will have a special life-long benefit. If you realize English will help you in your career and make your personal life better, you will find that coming to England to study English is a very special experience that you will never forget. I am very pleased to have this opportunity to invite you to join our English Language course.

    London is one of the world's best cultural and trading centers. You will live in one of the world's great cities. It gives the perfect situation in which to learn and develop English language skills. The international students attending courses at English Language Institutes in London gives a chance to feel a different culture and learn English. As we prepare for the 21st Century, international communication has never been more important, "To master a foreign language is becoming a useful tool for trade, industrial and professional success. Our aim at the English Language Institutes is to develop students' English language skill in friendly and helpful conditions.

Supported by computer, video and audio equipment, and using sound classroom, our team of teachers will guide you through your chosen course of study, you will receive excellent service and advice at every stage. Out-of-class support staff will help you settle in and make the most of your stay in London. Truly, you will enjoy yourself in London and make friendships that will last a life-time. I hope we can welcome you to this exciting world of London. Come and see us! Visit a class in any of the English language Institutes. See for yourself why we encourage you to study in London.

What's the main purpose of this text? (回答詞數不超過8個)

What is the advantage of the course for foreign students at English Language Institutes in London? (回答詞數不超過12個)

Who will help the students settle in and enjoy themselves in London when they study there?

(回答詞數不超過3個)

A car needs gas to run and your body also needs food to work for you. Eating the right kind of food is very important. It can help your body grow strong to take care of what you eat.

   There are four main food groups altogether. The dairy group has food like milk, cheese and sour milk（酸奶）. The other three groups are the meat and fish group, the fruit and vegetable group, and the bread and rice group. Each meal should have at least one food from all four main groups. With all these food together, you will be given enough energy during the day.

   It is easy to get into bad eating habits. You may eat your breakfast in a hurry to get to school on time. Or you may not have time for a good lunch. It may seem easy to finish your supper with fish and chips all the time. But you will find yourself tired in these days and you can not think quickly.

   Watching what you eat will help keep your body healthy and strong. It is also good to take some exercise. It will help you eat more if you take a walk or play games in the open air. Having a good eating habit with some exercise is the key to your health.

Which of the following is a good eating habit?

A. Going to school without any breakfast

B. Eating fish and chips for supper all the time..

C. Having at least one food from all four groups each meal.

D. Having different food from all four food groups.

In this passage the writer mainly tells us that _____.

A. every person needs food to grow well

B. taking exercise can keep your body strong

C. the right kind of food with exercise will keep you healthy

D. enough energy helps people think more quickly

The underlined word “dairy” in the second passage means _____.

       A. the food made out of cows such as milk and butter

       B. she shop that sells milk and butter

       C. a farm where cows are kept

       D. a place where milk products are made.

The best title for this passage is _____.

      A. The Four Food Groups        B. A Healthy Diet

      C. Your Body And Food          D. Food And Your Health

After Christmas, I took a job in the clothes department at Graham’s for the first fortnight of the January sale. I can’t say that I enjoyed it, but it was an experience I’ll never forget.

    I could never understand why there were so many things in the sales. Now I know the secret! Firstly, there is the special winter stock and the stock that people buy all the year round. Some of these things are slightly reduced. Secondly, there are the summer clothes they couldn’t sell last year; these are heavily reduced to clear them. Thirdly, there are cheap clothes bought in especially for the sales; these are put out at high prices ten days before the sale begins and then are reduced by 60% in the sale. Lastly, they buy in “seconds” for the sale and they are sold very cheaply.

    When I arrived half an hour before opening on the first day of the sale, there was already a queue around three sides of the building.

    When the big moment arrived to open the doors, the security guards, looking less confident than usual, came up to them, keys in hand. The moment they had unlocked the doors, they hid behind the doors for protection as the noisy crowd charged in. I couldn’t believe my eyes; this wasn’t shopping. It was a battlefield! One poor lady couldn’t keep her feet and was knocked over by people pushing from behind.

    Clothes were flying in all directions as people searched for the sizes, colors and styles they wanted. Quarrels broke out. Mothers were using their small children to crawl through people’s legs and get hold of things they couldn’t get near themselves.

    Within minutes I had half a dozen people pushing clothes under my nose, each wanting to be the first served. Where had the famous English queue gone? The whole day continued like that, but I kept my temper! I was taking money hand over fist and began to realize why, twice a year, Graham’s were happy to turn their expensive store into a battlefield like this.

    In the sale fever, people were spending money like water without thinking if they needed what they were buying. As long as it was a bargain, it was OK.

    You won’t believe this, but as soon as I got home, I crashed out for four hours. Then I had dinner and went back to bed, fearing the sound of the alarm which would tell me to get ready for the second day of the sale.

What kind of clothes is likely to be sold only a little cheaper according to the passage?

A. Last summer’s clothes.                  B. Clothes not in perfect condition.

C. Clothes bought in specially for the sales.    D. Clothes for winter.

Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The customers gave up the queuing as soon as the sale began.

B. The customers kept their temper while looking for clothes they wanted.

C. Small children were not helpful to their mothers in the sale.

D. The security guards of the clothes department were as confident as usual.