A. going skiing B. taking a picnic C. doing exercise D. walking the dog （ ）58. The word “peak” probably means “ ”. A. the shortest time B. the longest time C. the highest point D. the lowest point （ ）59. You can get the following information EXCEPT . A. where the park is B. how much the ticket is C. when there will be the most people D. what time the park is open on most days （ ）60. What can we learn from the material? A. 81 people have already bought the tickets online. B. The park will not be open on Christmas Day. C. There will be the most people at 5:00 pm on weekdays. D. People usually stay here for about one and a half hours.
B
Chinese paper cutting or “jianzhi” is the art of cutting paper designs, and the cut-outs are also used to decorate doors and windows, so they are sometimes called “chuang hua”. Paper cutting has long been a symbol of Eastern charm.
There are symmetrical(对称的) designs that are usually created by some folding and cutting. When unfolded, it forms a symmetrical design. Chinese cut-outs are normally symmetrical and are usually in an even number series of 2, 4, 24, etc.
The oldest living paper cut-out is a symmetrical circle from the early 6th century found in Xinjiang, China. From the 7th to 13th century, paper cutting became popular especially during Chinese festivals. The art spread to the rest of the world in the 14th century. Throughout the Qing Dynasty many paper cutting skills were developed. By the end of the Qing ruling, however, paper cutting was once becoming weaker because new art forms were being introduced. The People’s Republic of China later tried to revive the art in the 1980s.
Today, paper cut-outs are mainly decorative. They decorate walls, windows, doors, mirrors, lamps and lanterns in homes and are also used on presents or are given as gifts themselves. Entrances decorated with paper cut-outs are supposed to bring good luck. Paper cut-outs used to be used as patterns, especially for embroidery (刺绣).
There are two methods of manufacture(加工): one uses scissors, the other uses knives. In the scissor method, several pieces of paper—up to eight—are tied together. The picture is then cut with sharp, pointed scissors. Knife cuttings are fashioned by putting several paper on a soft foundation(地基) made up of a mixtureof oil and ashes. Skilled crafters can even cut out different drawings freely without stopping.
（ ）61. When can the existing oldest paper cutting date back to?
A. About 1 500 years ago. B. About 1 600 years ago. C. About 1 400 years ago. D. About 600 years ago.
（ ）62. The underlined word “revive” in Paragraph 3 can be replaced by “______”. A. live longer B. bring it back C. copy it D. fix it （ ）63. What does the last paragraph talk about? A. History B. Tools C. Uses D. Process （ ）64. Which is true according to the passage? A. The oldest paper cut-out in history was found in Xinjiang, China.
B. People believe entrances with paper cut-outs can bring good luck. C. Paper cut-outs used to be only used for embroidery (刺绣).
D. In the scissor method, more than eight pieces of paper are tied together.
（ ）65. What may be the best title of the text? A. Paper Cutting— the Eastern Charm
B. The History of Paper Cutting C. An Introduction to Paper Cutting
D. Paper Cutting — Unbelievable Skilled Crafters
C
Natalie Doan, 14, has always felt lucky to live in Rockaway, New York. Living just a few blocks from the beach, Natalie can see the ocean and hear the waves from her house. “It’s the ocean that makes Rockaway so special,” she says.
On October 29, 2012, that ocean turned fierce. That night, Hurricane Sandy attacked the East Coast, and Rockaway was hit especially hard. Fortunately, Natalie’s family escaped to Brooklyn shortly before the city’s bridge closed.
When they returned to Rockaway the next day, they found their neighborhood in ruins. Many of Natalie’s friends had lost their homes and were living far away. All around her, people were suffering, especially the elderly. Natalie’s school was so damaged that she had to attend a school in Brooklyn.
In the following few days, the men and women helping Rockaway recover inspired Natalie. Volunteers came with carloads of donated clothing and toys. Neighbors devoted their spare time to helping others rebuild. Teenagers climbed dozens of flights of stairs to deliver water and food to elderly people trapped in powerless high-rise buildings.
“My mom tells me that I can’t control what happens to me,” Natalie says. “but I can always choose how I deal with it.”
Natalie’s choice was to help.
She created a website page matching people in need with donors who wanted to help. Natalie posted information about a boy named Patrick, who lost his baseball card collection when his house burned down. Within days, Patrick’s collection was replaced.
In the coming months, her website page helped lots of kids: Christopher, who received a new basketball; Charlie, who got a new keyboard. Natalie also worked with other organizations to bring much-needed supplies to Rockaway. Her efforts made her a famous person. Last April,
she was invited to the White House and honored as a Hurricane Sandy Champion of Change.
Today, damages are still seen in Rockaway, but hope is in the air. The streets are clear, and many homes have been rebuilt. “I can’t imagine living anywhere but Rockaway,” Natalie declares. “My neighborhood will be back, even stronger than before.”
（ ）66. When Natalie returned to Rockaway after the hurricane, she found . A. some friends had lost their lives B. her neighborhood was destroyed C. her school had moved to Brooklyn D. the elderly were free from suffering （ ）67. According to Paragraph 4, who inspired Natalie most? A. The people helping Rockaway rebuild. B. The people trapped in high-rise buildings. C. The volunteers donating money to survivors. D. Local teenagers bringing clothing to elderly people. （ ）68. How did Natalie help the survivors? A. She gave her toys to other kids.
B. She took care of younger children.
C. She called on the White House to help. D. She built an information sharing platform.
（ ）69. What’s the possible meaning of the underlined word? A. help out B. give out C. take out D. put out （ ）70. What does the story plan to tell us? A. Little people can make a big difference. B. A friend in need is a friend indeed. C. East or west, home is best. D. Technology is power. 五、词与短语选择填空（每小题2分，共10分） take out/everyday/achieve/changes/sweet/bring out 71. We value the time we spend with our family and friends in our lives. 72. My best friend helps to the best in me.
73. The spirit of the climbers shows us that we should never give up trying to our dreams. 74. Everything that you learn becomes a part of you and you.
75. Amy wants to keep her old things because they bring back memories. 六、阅读理解填词（每小题1分，共10分） www.wh111.com
A famous writer was in his study room.
He picked up his pen and started writing, “Last year, I had an operation. I had to s 76 stuck (不能动的) to the bed for a long time. The same year I r 77 the age of 60 and had to give up my favorite job. I had spent 30 years of my life in this publishing company. The same year I experienced the pain of the d 78 of my father. And in the same year my son failed his medical exam because of a car accident. The broken car was another loss.”
When the writer’s wife read what was w 79 on the paper, she left the room silently and came back with a 80 piece of paper and placed it on the side of her husband’s writing.
When the writer saw this paper, he found this written on it, “Last year I finally got rid of my p 81 in which I had spent years. I turned 60 and got retired from my job. Now I can spend my time writing something better with more attention and peace. The same year my father, at