Ⅰ.阅读理解
The Big Ben is located in the tower at the eastern end of the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, Greater London.It was designed by Edmund Beckett and Baron Grimthorpe.
The Big Ben is very famous throughout the world, but nobody really knows why it is called Big Ben.There are two hearsays about this.Some people say that it was named after Benjamin Caunt, a boxer, who was called Big Ben.More people believe it was called after Welshman, Sir Benjamin Hall.He was the commissioner (专员) of the work at the time of its installation in 1859.A story was told that during a debate in the Commons on what to call the bell, Sir Benjamin was about to give his ideas when a MP who sat behind the front bench shouted, “Let's call it Big Ben！” Then this name came into being.
The bell hasn't gone through a smooth road since the beginning of its design.Because there was great disagreement about the design of the clock.It took fifteen years to build.In 1857, the bell was completed and tested on the ground, but a fourfoot crack appeared and the bell had to be cast again.Finally, the clock started ticking on 31 May 1859, and struck its first chime (报时) on 11 July.Then in September, the bell cracked again.It was silent for four years but was eventually turned a quarter of a revolution (旋转)．In this way, the crack was not under the striking hammer.Craftsmen made a square above the crack to stop it growing longer and it can still be seen today.
The Big Ben is famous not only for its 13ton weight, but also for its accuracy (准确性) which is a result of its precise mechanism (机械装置)．Even one extra penny's weight on the balance will cause a gain of two fifths of a second in twentyfour hours.Although there have been several problems, the bell is still striking today.Its chimes can be heard all over the world on the BBC.
语篇解读：本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了大本钟的得名和设计建造过程。
1．What can we know about the Big Ben?
A．It is located in the Houses of Parliament.
B．It is the largest and tallest clock tower in the world.
C．It is wellknown all over the world.
D．It is the heaviest clock in the world.
解析：选C 细节理解题。根据第二段中The Big Ben is very famous throughout the world, but nobody really knows why it is called Big Ben.可知，大本钟世界闻名。故选C项。
2．What can we learn from the third paragraph?
A．The bell worked well at its first test.
B．The construction of the clock was long but not smooth.
C．The clock started to strike chimes on 31 May 1859.
D．The crack finally disappeared after a quarter of a revolution.
解析：选B 细节理解题。根据第三段中The bell hasn't gone through a smooth road since the beginning of its design.Because there was great disagreement about the design of the clock.It took fifteen years to build.可知，这个钟的建造时间很长而且不顺利。故选B项。
3．Which of the following can best explain why Big Ben is worldfamous?
A．Accurate and heavy.
B．Accurate and colorful.
C．Heavy and colorful.
D．Attractive and accurate.
解析：选A 细节理解题。根据最后一段中The Big Ben is famous not only for its 13ton weight, but also for its accuracy(准确性)which is a result of its precise mechanism (机械装置)．可知，大本钟闻名于世界是因为它的精确和重量。故选A项。
4．What can we infer from the passage?
A．Sir Benjamin Hall was a famous architect at that time.
B．Even the tiniest extra weight on the balance will affect the clock's accuracy.
C．The chimes of the clock could be heard all over the world.
D．The clock has been ticking ever since 31 May 1859.
解析：选B 推理判断题。根据最后一段中Even one extra penny's weight on the balance will cause a gain of two fifths of a second in twentyfour hours.可推断出，哪怕是最微小的额外重量也会影响大本钟的精度。故选B项。
Ⅱ.完形填空
Mr Wu is an English teacher.Last Monday at the beginning of class, he 1 asked his students how their weekends had been.One girl said that she had spent a 2 weekend — she had her wisdom teeth pulled out and they still hurt.“Why do you always seem to be so happy, Mr Wu？” she asked.
The girl's 3 reminded Mr Wu of something he had read somewhere before.“Every morning when you get up, you have a choice about how you want to spend that day，” Mr Wu said with a smile.“I 4 to be cheerful.”
“And today is my lucky day，” he added.
“ 5 ? ” The whole class were curious.
“This morning, I 6 to school as usual.I only had to go another kilometer down the road when my ebike broke down ...”
“Your ebike broke down and it's your lucky day？” The students were 7 .“What do you mean, Mr Wu？”
“My ebike broke down a quarter before class, so I 8 it on the roadside, took my books, and walked down the road.It took me ten minutes to arrive at the 9 .I live eight kilometers away.My ebike could have broken down 10 along the way.But it didn't. 11 ， it broke down in the perfect place — off the main road, within walking distance of here.I'm still able to teach my class 12 I'll be able to get it repaired after class.If my ebike must break down 13 ， it couldn't be arranged (安排) in a better way.”
The students' eyes opened wide, and then they smiled.Mr Wu smiled back.His story had 14 them.He was happy that they had a perfect chance to consider 15 in a new way.
语篇解读：本文是一篇记叙文。文章讲述了吴老师上班路上电动自行车坏了，但他却称这一天是幸运的。吴老师用这件事来教育学生用新的方式看待幸运。
1．A.proudly B．cheerfully
C．seriously D．angrily
解析：选B 根据后文中Why do you always seem to be so happy, Mr Wu？可知，吴老师总是非常快乐，故此处指他兴高采烈地(cheerfully)问学生他们周末过得怎么样。
2．A.busy B．satisfying
C．terrible D．meaningful
解析：选C 根据空后she had her wisdom teeth pulled out and they still hurt可知，这个女孩的周末过得很糟糕(terrible)。
3．A.question B．suggestion
C．decision D．introduction
解析：选A 根据前文“Why do you always seem to be so happy, Mr Wu？” she asked.可知，是女孩问的问题(question)使吴老师想起了他之前读过的东西。
4．A.fail B．hate
C．seem D．choose
解析：选D 根据前文you have a choice about how you want to spend that day可知，你可以选择你想怎么度过这一天。故吴老师说他选择(choose)高高兴兴的。
5．A.Who B．When
C．Why D．How
解析：选C 根据前文“And today is my lucky day，” he added.及空后The whole class were curious.可知，吴老师说今天是幸运的，所以学生们很好奇，问为什么(Why)。
6．A.walked B．ran
C．drove D．rode
解析：选D 根据空后when my ebike broke down可知，吴老师是骑(rode)电动自行车去学校。
7．A.surprised B．bored
C．impatient D．nervous
解析：选A 根据前文可知，吴老师电动自行车坏了却说自己幸运，所以学生们很吃惊(surprised)。
8．A.left B．checked
C．repaired D．found
解析：选A 句意：我的电动自行车在上课前一刻钟坏了，所以我把它丢(left)在路边，拿着书，沿着道路走到学校。
9．A.hospital B．school
C．park D．bank
解析：选B 根据前文This morning, I 6 to school as usual.可知，吴老师花了10分钟到达了学校(school)。
10．A.somewhere B．anywhere
C．everywhere D．nowhere
解析：选B 句意：我的电动自行车本来可以在路上任何地方(anywhere)坏掉。
11．A.However B．Also
C．Instead D．Otherwise
解析：选C 根据空前句My ebike could have broken down 10 along the way.及空后句But it didn't.和it broke down in the perfect place — off the main road, within walking distance of here可知，吴老师的电动自行车本来可以在路上的任何地方坏掉，但是它没有。相反(Instead)，它在完美的地方坏掉了——远离主干道，步行即可到达学校。
12．A.and B．but
C．so D．or
解析：选A 根据句意可知，本空前后句为顺承关系，故本空应用and。
13．A.yesterday B．the other day
C．today D．tomorrow
解析：选C 句意：如果我的电动自行车今天(today)一定要坏，那这样安排就再好不过了。
14．A.hurt B．touched
C．controlled D．worried
解析：选B 根据空前The students' eyes opened wide, and then they smiled.可知，吴老师说的话触动了(touched)学生们。
15．A.dream B．purpose
C．wish D．luck
解析：选D 句意：他很高兴他们有一个绝佳的机会用一种新的方式来看待幸运(luck)。
