【推荐1】Do you know that humans aren’t the only species (物种) that use language? Bees communicate by dancing. Whales talk to each other by singing. And some apes (类人猿) talk to humans by using American Sign Language.

A female gorilla (大猩猩), Koko, was born at the San Francisco Zoo on July 4th, 1971. Koko learned sign language from her trainer, Dr. Penny Patterson. Patterson began teaching sign language to Koko in 1972, when Koko was one year old. Koko must have been a good student, because two years later she moved onto the Stanford University campus with Dr. Patterson. Koko continued to learn on the campus until 1976. That’s when she began living full-time with Patterson’s group, the Gorilla Foundation. Patterson and Koko’s relationship has blossomed ever since.

Dr. Patterson says that Koko has mastered sign language and known over 1,000 words, and that Koko makes up new words. For example, Koko didn’t know the sign for ring, so she signed the words finger and bracelet. Dr. Patterson thinks that this shows meaningful and constructive use of language.

Not everyone agrees with Dr. Patterson. Some argue that apes like Koko do not understand the meaning of what they are doing. Some people who don’t believe that say that these apes are just performing complex tricks（戏法）. For example, if Koko points to an apple and signs red or apple, Dr. Patterson will give her an apple. They argue that Koko does not really know what the sign apple means. She only knows that that if she makes the right motion, which Dr. Patterson has shown her, then she gets an apple. The debate is unresolved, but one thing is for certain: Koko is an extraordinary ape.

It seems like Patterson and Koko have a good relationship, but not everyone agrees with it. Some people believe that Patterson is humanizing the ape. They think that apes should be left in the most natural state possible. Even Dr. Patterson struggles with these feelings. When she was asked if her findings could be duplicated by another group of scientists, she said, “We don’t think that it would be ethical (道德的) to do again.” She went on to argue that animals should not be kept in such unnatural circumstances.

As for the future, Dr. Patterson and the Gorilla Foundation would love to get Koko to an ape preserve (保护区) in Maui, but they are having trouble getting the land. So unless you have a few million dollars to spare, Koko’s going to be spending her time in Woodland, California with Dr. Patterson. Koko probably doesn’t mind that. If she moved to Hawaii, she’d have to give up her Facebook page and Twitter feed, and she’s got like 50 thousand “likes”. Some may deny (否认) that she knows sign language, but nobody says that she doesn’t know social networking.

1. What is the writer’s main purpose in writing the second paragraph?

A．To describe the environment in which Koko lives.

B．To tell readers how Dr. Patterson developed Koko’s living skills.

C．To advise Patterson to free Koko after she learnt on the campus.

D．To make an introduction about Koko and Dr. Patterson’s background.

2. What do we know from the passage?

A．Koko has mastered sign language without a doubt.

B．Everybody likes how Dr. Patterson has raised Koko.

C．Some people think that Koko only signs to get food.

D．The Gorilla Foundation has got a land for Koko to stay naturally.

3. Which may be the main idea of this passage?

A．Bees, whales, and apes like Koko all use language to communicate.

B．Koko uses language but some think it’s just a trick.

C．It is natural for gorillas to learn sign language like humans.

D．If you want a lot of “likes” on Facebook, get a talking gorilla.

【推荐2】Ink wash painting (水墨画) is an old and beautiful Chinese art. This special drawing technique is created with a brush, dipped into ink, then in water before being painted onto rice paper or silk. As you can see, the paintings are created just in black and white. It is said that the technique was invented by an artist named Wang Wei.

Ink wash paintings often feature trees, flowers, landscapes, animals, birds and people. Also, they often go with Chinese poems. The painting style does not put high importance on a precise description of a real scene or object. They are often improvised (即兴的) works from beautiful scenery (风景). Therefore, this type of painting is hard to copy. Today there are many new Chinese artists that use the traditional Chinese ink wash technique to draw new sceneries and pictures.

The first ink wash animation (动画) in China came out in 1960. It’s called Little Tadpole Looking for Mummy. All the animals, plants and rocks in the film are drawn with ink and brush. The film is about 15 minutes long. But it took lots of work. Without computers, the artists had to draw everything by hand. One second of animation needs 24 pictures! Little Tadpole Looking for Mummy won prizes at home and abroad. From then on, ink wash painting and animation becomes more popular in China. People in the world get to know more about ink wash since then!

1. What do ink wash paintings often go with?

A．Birds.

B．Flowers.

C．Poems.

2. Why are ink wash painting hard to copy?

A．Because they takes a lot of time.

B．Because they are too beautiful to copy.

C．Because they are often improvised works.

3. When did the first ink wash animation in China came out?

A．About 64 years ago.

B．About 40 years ago.

C．About 24 years ago.

4. What is the passage mainly about?

A．China’ s first ink wash animation.

B．How to draw ink wash paintings.

C．A beautiful Chinese art, ink wash paintings.

【推荐3】There’s nothing quite like falling sound asleep after a full day of work. Like people, animals need to rest after working hard. Some animals sleep in water. Others dig holes under the ground. Some even sleep high in trees or under leaves. But they all find a way to rest.

Some animals in the sea sleep in strange ways. Fish sleep with their eyes open. They seem to look ahead far into the sea while they rest. Sea otters sometimes sleep in beds of the plants that grow in the sea. This keeps them from moving away. Parrot fish blow something from their mouths when they are ready to sleep. Then a bubble (气泡) will be formed around them. The bubble protects them from harm while they sleep.

Some animals sleep under the ground. Chipmunks (花栗鼠) sleep curled up (蜷缩) in a ball. Their beds are made of leaves and grass. In winter, they sleep for two weeks and wake up to eat the stored food. Then they go back to sleep for another two weeks before waking up again. Some desert frogs dig underground holes during the hot, dry season. A frog may stay in its hole for months.

High above the ground, monkeys find leafy places in trees each evening before they sleep. The tall trees help to keep monkeys safe during the night. Some insects even sleep under the leaf that will be their next meal. A bee may climb down into a flower to rest. When it climbs out the next morning, it is rested and ready for work.

1. What animals blow bubbles when they sleep?

A．Sea otters.

B．Parrot fish.

C．Desert frogs.

D．Monkeys.

2. What do we know about chipmunks according to the text?

A．They rest with their eyes open.

B．They never sleep curled up in a ball.

C．They wake up now and then in winter.

D．They don’t eat any food during the winter.

3. What does the last paragraph mainly talk about?

A．The forest where monkeys sleep safely.

B．The animals that sleep above the ground.

C．The reason why bees climb down into flowers.

D．The ways that keep animals away from danger.

4. What is the correct structure of the passage?（Paragraph 1=①）

A．

B．

C．

D．

【推荐1】Asking for directions is the first thing we do when we arrive in a new place, or even when we are just trying to find a strange place. Knowing how to ask for them can make our life much easier.

Use greetings and polite expressions. Starting the conversation with a greeting is necessary. If you want to get a nice answer, you’d better begin by saying “hello” first. And some words like “may” “can” and “could” will help you express yourself better.

Build your words. You should knew the basic words when asking for directions. It may be useful for you to remember some famous places. Then try to use the right words when asking for a direction.

Get to know the transportation system. Sometimes, you’re likely to find that you are still far from the place you want to visit. Which kind of public transportation should you choose? You might ask like this. Is it far? Do I need to take the bus or the subway there?

Don’t be afraid of using symbols. Every city in the world has its own symbols. You can decrease search time if you know what the most important symbols are in the city. And if you pay attention to your place, you may find that there are many symbols here.

Don’t be too shy to ask. Learn to relax if you get lost somewhere. Every person may do that now and then, especially when visiting a new city. But always make sure you can ask others for help.

1. What’s the first thing to do when we arrive in a new place?

A．Asking for directions.	B．Using greetings and polite expressions.
C．Knowing the transportation system.	D．Building our words.

2. How many pieces of advice to ask for directions are mentioned in this passage?

A．Three.

B．Four.

C．Five.

D．Six.

3. What does the underlined word “decrease” means?

A．增加

B．浪费

C．减少

D．珍惜

4. Which of the following is NOT according to the passage?

A．It’s necessary to start a conversation with a greeting.

B．It’s not useful to remember some famous places.

C．Every city has its own symbols.

D．You should learn to relax if you get lost.

5. What’s the best title of this passage?

A．How to visit a new place	B．How to build your words
C．How to make polite expressions	D．How to ask for directions

【推荐3】Bargaining is the rule here in Beijing. At least, it is so in most markets and back-street clothes shops.   Bargaining is an art and if you are unfamiliar(不熟悉) with it, we'd like to offer you some advice. The tips(窍门) here are often used in Beijing but may help you at any place in the world where bargaining is practiced.
DO NOT say how much you want to pay for an item(物品) unless it’s near the end of the bargaining. Always try and drop the seller's offering price as much as possible before opening your mouth with a price.
DO throw out really low prices like 10 RMB with a big smile.
DO keep smiling from the beginning to the end. The seller usually continues bargaining with a happy smiling face. Getting angry hardly gets you the price you want.
KEEP in mind the price offered by the seller at the beginning is usually at least 40% over the generally reasonable price. It can be up to 500% over.
DO have an idea of what the item costs. You can ask your friends, people in the hotel or others you know, or look at the list below. This is very general and is based(根据) on a market like Xiu Shui. You may not be able to get the lowest prices at Xiu Shui, especially on a weekend when there are lots of tourists around.
1. Who is this passage written for?

A．Owners of back-street shops.	B．Businessmen in Beijing.
C．Those who are good at bargaining.	D．Those who travel in Beijing.

2. What is the topic the writer is mainly talking about in this passage?

A．Beijing markets.	B．Bargaining tips.
C．Lowest price	D．Seller’s offer.

3. What is the most important thing to do in bargaining with the seller?

A．Keep smiling.	B．Be patient.
C．Don’t get angry.	D．Don’t say anything.

4. What is NOT included in the tips often used to bargain in Beijing?

A．Find out the true price and go to the markets with friends.

B．Don’t offer your price until the end of the bargaining with a smile.

C．Drop the seller’s offering price four or five times（倍）until he agrees.

D．Don’t go to markets at the time when there are too many tourists.

5. Which of the following can help you get an item you want at the lowest price?

A．Whenever you go shopping, take a price list with you.

B．You can bargain for anything at the price of 10 RMB.

C．The price range(范围) for you to bargain is usually between 40% and 500%.

D．Xiu Shui Market is the biggest shopping center where prices are always reasonable.

【推荐1】My mother only had one eye. I hated her， as she was such an embarrassment (难堪）for me. She ran a small shop at a market， selling anything for the money we needed.
One day， my mom came to my school. I threw her a hateful look and ran out. The next day， my classmates shouted， “Your mom only has one eye! ’’ and they____ me. My face turned red.
I wished that my mom would just disappear from this world， so I said to her， “Mom， why don’t you have the other eye? You make me a laughingstock.” She didn’t say anything. Maybe it was because my mom hadn’ t punished me， so I didn’ t think that I had hurt her feelings very badly. I decided to study hard so that I could leave her for the rest of my life. I made it at last. Now I’m living happily as a successful man in another country.
Many years later， I received a letter， which said， “I think my life has been long enough now， but would it be too much to ask if I wanted you to visit me once in a while? I’ m sorry that I am an embarrassment for you. You see， when you were very young， you got into an accident， and lost your eye. As a mother， I couldn’t stand watching you having to grow up with only one eye， so I gave you mine. I was so proud of my son that was seeing a whole new world for me， in my place， with that eye. I was never angry with you for any­thing you did. I miss the time when you were still young around me. You mean the world to me. I love you.” I can’t help crying with the letter in my hand.
1. What is the mother’s job?

A．An engineer.	B．A doctor.
C．A housewife.	D．A seller.

2. What does the underlined word “taunted” mean?

A．Played with.	B．Laughed at.
C．Smiled at.	D．Fought with.

3. Why did I want to leave my mother?

A．Because she was an embarrassment for me.

B．Because she came to my school.

C．Because all of my classmates were afraid of her.

D．Because she was too poor.

4. How did the mother lose her eye?

A．She had an accident.

B．She was born with one eye.

C．One of her eyes was broken.

D．She gave one eye to her son.

5. What will I probably do after reading the letter?

A．I will continue my happy life as before.

B．I will get my mother and live with her.

C．I will call my mother and tell her not to write to me any more.

D．I will cry and then have a good sleep.

【推荐2】I’ve loved my mother’s desk since I was just tall enough to sit above the top of it. Mother sat writing letters. Standing by her chair, looking at the ink bottle, pens, and white paper, I decided that the act of writing must be a most wonderful thing in the world.
Years later, during her final illness, Mother kept different things for my sister and brother. “But the desk,” she said again, “ is for Elizabeth.”
I never saw her angry, never saw her cry. I knew she loved me; she showed in action. But as a young girl, I wanted to have heart-to-heart talks between mother and daughter. They never happened. And a gulf opened between us. I was “too emotional(易动感情的)”. But she lived “on the surface(表面)”.
As years passed and I had my own family. I loved my mother and thanked her for our happy family. I wrote to her in careful words and asked her to let me know in any way she chose that she did forgive me.
My hope turned to disappointment, then little interest and, finally, peace — it seemed that nothing happened. I couldn’t be sure that the letter had even got to Mother. I only knew that I had written it, and I could stop trying to make her into someone she was not.
But the present of her desk told me, as she’d never been able to, that she was pleased that writing was my chosen work. I cleaned the desk carefully and found some papers inside — a photo of my father and a one-page letter, folded(折叠) and refolded many times. It was my letter.
“In any way you choose, Mother, you always chose the act that speaks louder than words.”
1. The passage shows that __________.

A．Mother was cold on the surface but kind in her heart to her daughter

B．Mother was too serious about her daughter in words

C．Mother wrote to her daughter in careful words

D．Mother wrote to her daughter in careless words

2. The word “gulf” in the passage means __________.

A．deep understanding between the old and the young

B．different ideas between mother and daughter

C．free talks between mother and daughter

D．part of the sea going far in land

3. What’s best title of the passage?

A．My Letter to Mother	B．Mother and Children
C．My Mother’s Desk	D．Talks between Mother and me

【推荐3】I have six baskets( 篮子）. Three are big. Three are small. I have some pears and some oranges. I put three pears in each (每一个）small basket, and I put three oranges in each big basket and one orange in each small basket. The number of oranges is the same as my age.

1. I have_________pears.

A．three

B．five

C．seven

D．nine

2. I have_________oranges.

A．six

B．eight

C．ten

D．twelve

3. —What are these in the small baskets? —They’re ___________.

A．nine	B．nine oranges
C．three pears and nine oranges	D．nine pears and three oranges

4. —Where are the pears?—They are in the __________.

A．three big baskets.	B．three small baskets
C．a big basket.	D．a small basket

5. —Do you know how old I am?—I’m _______.

A．nine

B．ten

C．eleven

D．twelve

【推荐1】Go on a road trip? Check out these roadside attractions and museums.

World’s Largest Ball of Paint

In 1977, Michael Carmichael created the biggest ball of paint. Starting with a baseball as the center, he painted layer(层)after layer. After over 20.000 layers of paint. the ball weighs over 1. 300 pounds. Visitors can paint the balls themselves and become part of history.

Dinosaur Park

The land can be found outside Rapid City. On a hill overlooking the city, dinosaurs made out of brightly painted concrete(混凝土) stand guard. The park was built as a work project in 1936 by Debbie Sardone. The five dinosaurs are life-sized and can be seen from miles away.

The Museum of Dirt

The museum is the idea of Glenn Johanson. labeled glass bottles contain dirt from the Great Wall of China and sand from a desert in Sandi Arabia and Omaha Beach in France. Johanson has collected material from the Amazon River and from Times Square after a New Year's Eve celebration, lava(火山岩)from Mt Fuji in Japan and shells from the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Best of all, visiting this museum is free.

Paper House

Ellis Stenman built a two-room house almost completely out of newspapers in 1922. At that time, “recycling" wasn't even a word yet. The house was framed(框起来) with wood, but the walls were made of 215 layers of newspapers. The furniture was also made of newspapers. In all. it used about 100, 000 newspapers.

1. If you want to paint the balls, you can visit        .

A．Paper House	B．Dinosaur Park
C．World’s Largest Ball of Paint	D．The Museum of Dirt

2. The five dinosaurs in Dinosaur Park can be seen from miles away because        .

A．they were built on a hill

B．they were built outside Rapid City

C．they were made out of brightly painted concrete

D．they were built to be as big as the real one

3.        is free for visitors.

A．Paper House	B．Dinosaur Park
C．The Museum of Dirt	D．World's largest Ball of Paint

4. Paper house was created by        .

A．Glenn Johanson	B．Elis Stenman
C．Michael Carmichael	D．Debbie Sardone

5. You can see        from Times Square after a New Year's Eve celebration in the Museum of Dirt.

A．material

B．shells

C．sand

D．lava

【推荐2】During the Song Dynasty (960-1279), there was an official named Zhang Guaiya who worked in Chongyang county (县) , in today’s Hubei. Theft was common, even money from the county’s vault (钱库) was stolen.

One day, Zhang saw a low-ranking official (小吏) come out of the vault in a panic (慌张) . Zhang stopped him and asked, “Why are you in such a hurry?” “No reason,” said the official.

Zhang remembered the things stolen from the vault. So he asked the guards to search the official. They found a copper (铜) coin in his headband (头巾) .

Zhang asked him how much more money he had stolen. The official refused to admit (承认) that he stole anything else. Zhang ordered the guards to beat him.

The official didn’t give in. He said, “I only stole a copper coin. You can’t kill me just because of that!”

Zhang was very angry. He wrote in a red pen, “If you steal a coin every day, there will be a thousand coins after a thousand days. Constant dripping wears away a stone (水滴石穿) .”

根据短文内容，判断下列句子正误，正确的在答题卡上将“T”涂黑，错误的在答题卡上将“F”涂黑。
1. Zhang Guaiya was an official in Chongyang county during the Song Dynasty.
2. One day, Zhang saw a low-ranking official steal a coin from the vault.
3. The low-ranking official admited he had stolen a copper coin.
4. It turned out that the low-ranking official stole a coin every day.
5. Constant dripping wears away a stone means “small acts have big effect”.

【推荐3】Are friends important to you? Anyway, they are really important to me. My name is Phil and I’m 13. I’m from London. I have a very good friend. His name is Max.

Max and I have a lot of things in common: our birthdays are on the same day, we are in the same class, we both love dogs; we both do well in sports and soccer is our favourite.

We always have a good time together. But these days I’m not happy. Max will leave England, because his father gets a job in Shanghai. Max’s family will go there. I have a lot to talk with Max, and I want to give him an album. There are a lot of our photos in it.

Today is Monday. There are only three days before Max leaves. I will go to his home to give him the album this evening.

1. Who is Max?

A．Phil’s friend.	B．Phil’s cousin.
C．Phil’s teacher.	D．Phil’s student.

2. What animal do Phil and Max like?

A．Tigers.

B．Monkeys.

C．Cats.

D．Dogs.

3. Why will Max go to Shanghai?

A．Because his mum gets a job there.

B．Because his elder sister will study there.

C．Because his dad will work there.

D．Because his family don’t like to live in London.

4. What does Phil want to give Max?

A．A photo.	B．A book with a collection of photographs.
C．An old book.	D．A phone.

5. When will Max leave for Shanghai?

A．Next week.	B．This evening.
C．On Thursday.	D．On Tuesday.