Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table, reading his book. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to copy him in every way he could.

One day the grandson asked, “Grandpa, I try to read the book just like you, but I don’t understand it, and I forget what I understand as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the book do?”

The grandpa quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, “Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.”

The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandpa laughed and said, “You’ll have to move a little faster next time,” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned. Out of breath, he told his grandpa that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, so he went to get a bucket instead. The grandpa said, “I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You’re just not trying hard enough.” The boy again dipped the basket into the river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandpa the basket was empty again. Out of breath, he said, “Grandpa, it’s useless!”

“So, you think it is useless?” the grandpa said, “Look at the basket.”

The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean.

“Grandson, that’s what happens when you read the book. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you’ll be changed, inside and out.”

1. What puzzled the grandson most was _________.

A．why he forgot what he read soon	B．whether it was useful to read books
C．what kind of book he could understand	D．how he could read books like his grandpa

2. Why did Grandpa ask his grandson to fetch a basket of water?

A．To get him to realize the use of reading books.	B．To punish him for not reading carefully.
C．To clean the dirty basket in the river.	D．To train him to run faster.

3. What lesson can we learn from the story?

A．The old are always wiser than the young.	B．It is foolish to carry water with a basket.
C．You can’t expect to remember all you read.	D．Reading books can change a person gradually.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．Grandpa and Grandson	B．Carrying Water in a Basket
C．Baskets and Books	D．Reading for Total Changing

Lakes, ponds, and beaches mean summer fun and cool relaxation from hot weather．But water also can be dangerous for kids if you don't take great care．Nearly 1,000 kids die each year by drowning．Here are some tips to keep your kids safe in the water:
At the Lake or Pond
●Don't let little kids swim alone without adult supervision— lakes or ponds may be shallow near the bank and are suddenly deep sharply further out from shore．
●Ponds and lakes may hide sharp rocks, broken glass, or rubbish．
●Make sure kids wear foot protection; even in the water, they should wear socks or water shoes．
●Watch out for weeds and grass in the water that could trap a leg or arm．
●Most boating accidents, particularly among teenagers, are related to alcohol．Be sure teens know about the dangers of alcohol, on and off the water．
At the Beach
●Teach kids to always swim when and where a lifeguard is on duty．Unlike the calm waters of a swimming pool, the beach has special dangers like currents and tides．Check with the lifeguard when you arrive to find out about the water conditions．
●Tell kids never to stand with their back to the water because a sudden wave can easily knock a child over．
●Teach kids that if they're caught in a dangerous wave, they should swim to the shore or should tread water and call for a lifeguard's help．
Whether at the lake or at the beach, teach your child to get out of the water during bad weather, especially lightning．
5. Which is the right behavior when swimming at the beach? ________

A．Go off the water without a lifeguard on duty.

B．Go on swimming in a heavy rain.

C．Call for help if caught in a dangerous wave.

D．Go off the water before checking the water conditions.

6. Swimming at a beach is more dangerous than in a pool because ________.

A．there are currents and tides at a beach

B．there are no lifeguards at a beach

C．the waters of a beach are more calm

D．the waters of a pool are warmer

7. The passage is probably written for ________.

A．students at school

B．parents with little children

C．kids who want to learn swimming

D．coaches who teach kids to swim

8. In which column of a magazine can you find this passage? ________

A．Sports	B．Science
C．Entertainment	D．Education

Most people feel lonely sometimes, but it usually only lasts between a few minutes and a few hours. This kind of loneliness is not serious. In fact, it is quite normal. For some people, though, loneliness can last for years. Now researchers say there are three different types of loneliness.
The first kind of loneliness is temporary. This is the most common type. It usually disappears quickly and does not require any special attention. The second kind is situation, for example, family problem, the death of loved one, or moving to a new place. Although this kind of loneliness can cause physical problems, such as headaches and sleeplessness, it usually does not last for more than a year. The third kind of loneliness is the most serious. Unlike the second type, chronic (the opposite of “temporary”) usually lasts more than two years and has no specific cause. People who experience habitual loneliness have problems socializing and becoming close to others. However, many chronically lonely people think there is little or nothing they can do to improve their condition.
Psychologists agree that one important factor in loneliness is a person’s social contacts, for example, friends, family members, co-workers, etc. We depend on various people for different reasons. For instance, our families give us emotional support, our parents and teachers give us guidance, and our friends share similar interests and activities. However, psychologists have found that, though lonely people may have many social contacts, they sometimes feel they should have more. They question their popularity.
Psychologists are trying to find ways to help habitually lonely people for two reasons: they are unhappy and unable to socialize and there is a connection between chronic loneliness and serious illness such as heart disease, while temporary and situational loneliness can be a sad, and sometimes dangerous condition.
9. How would you treat temporary loneliness according to the passage? ________.

A．Just ignore it

B．Talk to friends

C．Go to see a doctor

D．Ask your teachers for guidance

10. Why do psychologists want to help chronically lonely people? ________

A．Chronic loneliness can cause family problems.

B．Chronic loneliness can not be overcome.

C．Chronic loneliness can cause serious illness.

D．Chronic loneliness is incurable.

11. Loneliness is divided according to _____.

A．different seasons when it appears

B．different people it happens to

C．the time it lasts

D．the places where it appears

12. What is the best title for the passage? ________

A．Loneliness and diseases

B．Three kinds of loneliness

C．Loneliness and social contacts

D．Chronic loneliness

Australia’s koalas could be dying out within 30 years, unless urgent measures is taken to stop the losing in population, according to researchers. They say development, climate change and bushfires have all related to reduce the number of wild koalas sharply. The Australian Koala Foundation said a recent survey showed the population could have dropped by more than half in the past six years. Previous estimates put the number of koalas at more than 100,000, but the latest figures suggest there could now be as few as 43,000.
The foundation collected field data from 1,800 sites and 80,000 trees to calculate the numbers. In one area in northern Queensland estimated to have 20,000 koalas a decade ago, a team of eight people could not find a single animal in four days of searching.
The foundation said besides problems caused by cutting down forests, hotter and drier conditions because of global warming had reduced the nutritional(营养的)value of their staple food, eucalyptus leaves, leading to poor nutrition for them.
Koalas, which live in the forests in Australia’s east and south, are very particular about what types of the leaves they eat.
Foundation chief Deborah Tabart said: “The koalas are missing everywhere we look. It’s really no tree, no me. If you keep cutting down trees you don’t have any koalas.”She is hoping the new figures will persuade the government’s Threatened Species Steering Committee (TSSC) to list the koala as threatened. But committee chairman Bob Beeton said a decision was not likely recently and the koala’s status as one of the country’s favorite animals would not be a factor. “There’s a number of species which are attractive and people have special feelings towards them. We don’t consider that,” Mr. Beeton was reported as saying by the AFP agency.
13. The writer gives the example of the area in northern Queensland in Paragraph 3 to show that _____.

A．the environment is being polluted seriously

B．the number of koalas is dropping quickly

C．the forests are being damaged heavily

D．koalas usually live in wild mountainous areas

14. Global warming is an important cause of koalas’ reduction because _____.

A．the leaves koalas eat are losing nutritional value

B．koalas cannot get enough water to drink

C．koalas can hardly stand the hot weather

D．the leaves koalas eat cannot grow in hot weather

15. According to Bob Beeton, _____.

A．they needn’t pay special attention to koalas

B．a decision will be made to protect koalas

C．koalas are his favorite animals

D．koalas needn’t be protected at all

根据短文内容, 从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项.选项中有两项为多余选项. Kids with special needs refer to any kid who might need extra help because of a medical, emotional, or learning problem. For example, kids who can not walk need wheelchairs. They not only need equipment that helps them get around, but they might need to have ramps (坡道) or elevators available.     16     .Kids with an illness would have special needs, too.     17     .Kids with sight problems might need Braille books to read. Kids with hearing problems might need hearing aids.    18     .It might be harder to do normal things—like learning to read or just getting around the school. The good news is that parents, doctors, nurses, teachers, and others can help. The goal is to help kids be as independent as possible.Other kids also can be a big help. How? By being a friend. Kids who use a wheelchair or have lots of health problems want friends just as you do. But meeting people and making friends can be difficult.     19     .Be sure to tell a teacher if you see someone being bullied or teased.    20     .Being friendly to kids with special needs is one of the best ways to be helpful. As you get to know them, they may help you understand what it's like to be in their shoes. And you'll be helping fill a very special need, one that everybody has—the need for good friends.

A. Life can be challenging for a kid with special needs.

B. They also might need to get a special bus to school.

C. Some kids might laugh at or make fun of them.

D. It is good manners to offer help to kids with special needs.

E. Also, try to be helpful if you know someone with special needs.

F. Someone could have trouble with anxiety, but you wouldn't know it unless told about it.

G. They might need medicine or other help as they go about their daily activities.