"Colour" and "color"，"favourite" and "favorite"... Have you ever wondered why Americans spell those words without a "u"? Is it because they are lazy?
Of course not. In fact，the difference in spelling was created by Noah Webster (1758-1843). He is a teacher who reformed English to make American identity stronger. Linguists (語(yǔ)言學(xué)家) celebrated his 250th birthday on October 16. After the Revolutionary War (1775~ 1783)，Webster believed that Americans should have their own dictionary，rather than rely on British versions (版本). He dropped the British "u" in some words. And he changed "centre" into "center" for children to learn English by spelling words more like they sounded.
Webster wasn't shy about expressing his opinions. In defining (定義) preposterous (unreasonable)，he wrote: "A republican government in the hands of females is preposterous."
Webster spent 28 years on the project before completing the 70,000-word dictionary in 1828 with his American-style spellings. He also added local words. His dictionary was widely used in schools. Linguists believed it helped a new nation achieve unity and cultural independence at a time when most were focused on political freedom.
"He was the shaper of our language and the shaper of American identity，"said Joshua Kendall，who is working on a biography (傳記) about Webster. "He at last bonded (聯(lián)合)us through our language."
【小題1】Which of the following would probably be the best title for the passage?

C
On December 22, 1775, two of Washington’s soldiers brought a prisoner to his headquarters (司令部). Washington thanked the soliders, then gave an order that the prisoner was to be left alone and that the soldiers were to shoot if the man tried to escape. But when the door was closed, Washington smiled.
The man standing in front of him was John Honeyman, one of the general’s most trusted men. In early November, Washington had given Honeyman orders to travel with the British army as a servant and to stay with it until he had something to tell. Honeyman now had important information. He described the situation in Trenton, giving the exact number and position of the troops there.Trenton was held by several companies (連隊(duì)) of Hessians(雇傭軍). The Hessians were not English soldiers.They were Germans who had been hired by the British to fight in America. According to Honeyman, the Hessians fought only for money. They had done nothing to build up their defences in Trenton. Now they were busy planning a big Christmas celebration.
Washington immediately made a daring plan. He chose Christmas Day for an attack on Trenton. At ten o’clock next morning, the attack was over. The Americans won a great victory.
64. Why did Washington smile when the door was closed?
A .Because he was glad to catch the prisoner.
B. Because the man was one of his most trusted men.
C. Because he had caught the most dangerous spy.
D. Because he knew the man very well.
65. For what did Washington send Honeyman to stay with the British army?
A. Honeyman could make peace with the Brilhish soldiers .
B. He could let Honeyman have a pleasant trip.
C. He could catch more prisoners from the British army.
D. Honeyman could get important information for American .
66 .Which countries did the war break out between?
A. America and Britain.
B. America and Germany
C.Britain and Gennany
D.Arnerica, Britain and Germany
67. What’s the reason that Washington chose Christmas Day for an attack on Trenton?
A. It could be that it was a lucky day.
B. It might be that it was the best Christmas gift for Britain.
C. It must be that after the day the enemy was to escape.
D. It could be that the enemy would enjoy their holiday but not prepare to fight.

Jane Austen ,a famous English writer ,was born at Steventon ,Hampshire ,on December 16,1775,and died on July 18,1817.She began writing early in life ,although the prejudices(偏見) of her times forced her to have her books published anonymously(匿名).

But Jane Austen is perhaps the best known and best loved of Bath's many famous local people and visitors .She paid two long visits here during the last five years of the eighteenth century and from 1801 to 1806,Bath was her home .Her deep knowledge of the city is fully seen in two of her novels，Northanger Abbey and Persuasion ,which are largely set in Bath .The city is still very much as Jane Austen knew it ,keeping in its streets and public buildings the well-ordered world that she described so well in her novels .Now the pleasure of learning Jane Austen's Bath can be enhanced(增強(qiáng)) by visiting the Jane Austen Centre in Gay Street .Here ,in a Georgian town house in the heart of the city ,you can find out more about Bath in Jane Austen's time and the importance of Bath in her life and work.

The Center has been set up with the help and guidance of members of the Jane Austen Society .After your visit to the Center ,you can look round the attractive shop ,which offers a huge collection of Jane Austen related books ,cards and many specially designed gifts .Jane Austen quizzes are offered to keep the children busy.

You can also have walking tours of Jane Austen's Bath ,which is a great way to find out more about Jane Austen and discover the wonderful Georgian city of Bath .The tour lasts about one and a half hours .The experienced guides will take you to the places where Jane lived ,walked and shopped.

1.Jane Austen paid two long visits to Bath _______.

A.in her early twenties　　 B.in her early teens

C.in her late twenties D.in her late teens

2.What can we learn about Bath from the passage?

A.Bath has greatly changed since Jane Austen's death.

B.The city has changed as much as Jane Austen knew it.

C.Bath remains almost the same as in Jane Austen's time.

D.No changes have taken place in Bath since Jane Austen's time.

3.The author(作者) writes this passage in order to _______.

A.attract readers to visit the city of Bath

B.ask readers to buy Austen's books

C.tell readers about Jane Austen's experience

D.give a brief introduction to the Jane Austen Society

4.It takes you about one and a half hours _______.

A.to get to the Jane Austen Center in Gay Street

B.to buy Jane Austen related books ,cards and gifts

C.to find a guide to take you to the Center

D.to look around the city of Bath on foot

"Colour" and "color"，"favourite" and "favorite"... Have you ever wondered why Americans spell those words without a "u"? Is it because they are lazy?
Of course not. In fact，the difference in spelling was created by Noah Webster (1758-1843). He is a teacher who reformed English to make American identity stronger. Linguists (語(yǔ)言學(xué)家) celebrated his 250th birthday on October 16. After the Revolutionary War (1775~ 1783)，Webster believed that Americans should have their own dictionary，rather than rely on British versions (版本). He dropped the British "u" in some words. And he changed "centre" into "center" for children to learn English by spelling words more like they sounded.
Webster wasn't shy about expressing his opinions. In defining (定義) preposterous (unreasonable)，he wrote: "A republican government in the hands of females is preposterous."
Webster spent 28 years on the project before completing the 70,000-word dictionary in 1828 with his American-style spellings. He also added local words. His dictionary was widely used in schools. Linguists believed it helped a new nation achieve unity and cultural independence at a time when most were focused on political freedom.
"He was the shaper of our language and the shaper of American identity，"said Joshua Kendall，who is working on a biography (傳記) about Webster. "He at last bonded (聯(lián)合)us through our language."
【小題1】Which of the following would probably be the best title for the passage?

Jane Austen, a famous English writer, was born at Steventon, Hampshire, on December 16,1775, and died on July 18, 1817. She began writing early in life, although the prejudices of her times forced her to have her books published anonymously ( 匿名 ).

    But Jane Austen is perhaps the best known and best loved of Bath's many famous local people and visitors. She paid two long visits here during the last five years of the eighteenth century and from 1801 to 1806, Bath was her home. Her deep knowledge of the city is fully seen in two of her novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, which are largely set in Bath. The city is still very much as Jane Austen knew it, keeping in its streets and public buildings the well-ordered world that she described so well in her novels. Now the pleasure of learning Jane Austen's Bath can be enhanced (增強(qiáng))by visiting the Jane Austen Centre in Gay Street. Here, in a Georgian town house in the heart of the city, you can find out more about Bath in Jane Austen's time and the importance of Bath in her life and work.

    The Centre has been set up with the help and guidance of members of the Jane Austen Society. After your visit to the Centre, you can look round the attractive shop, which offers a huge collection of Jane Austen related books, cards and many specially designed gifts. Jane Austen quizzes are offered to keep the children busy.

    You can also have walking tours of Jane Austen's Bath, which is a great way to find out more about Jane Austen and discover the wonderful Georgian city of Bath. The tour lasts about one and a half hours. The experienced guides will take you to the places where Jane lived, walked and shopped.

56. Jane Austen paid two long visits to Bath________.

A. in her early twenties                             B. in her early teens

C. in her late twenties                               D. in her late teens

57. What can we learn about Bath from the passage?

A. Bath has greatly changed since Jane Austen's death.

B. The city has changed as much as Jane Austen knew it.

C. Bath remains almost the same as in Jane Austen's time.

D. No changes have taken place in Bath since Jane Austen's time.

58.The author（作者）writes this passage in order to________.

A. attract readers to visit the city of Bath           

B. ask readers to buy Austen's books

C. tell readers about Jane Austen's experience

D. give a brief introduction to the Jane Austen Society

59. It takes you about one and a half hours________.

A. to get to the Jane Austen Centre in Gay Street

B. to buy Jane Austen related books, cards and gifts

C. to find a guide to take you to the Centre               

D. to look around the city of Bath on foot