【推荐1】A record of 1,101 manatees(海牛) died in Florida last year, many from hunger. So last December, government wildlife experts thought up a plan to give food to the manatees. They decided to feed them green vegetables like lettuce and cabbage. Ron Mezich, an expert, said, “We’re making a difference.” So far, they have served up more than 193,000 pounds of lettuce to hungry manatees. But as the weather is getting warm, the program is expected to end soon.

Manatees are huge sea animals that only eat sea grass and other plants that live in the sea. That’s one reason why they’re sometimes called “sea cows”. Since 1967, Florida’s manatees have been on the US government’s list of endangered animals. Most dangers to manatees come from humans. One of the biggest problems facing the animals are boats. Manatees are curious (好奇的) and fairly slow. That has led to thousands of manatees being hit or killed by boats. At one point, there were only about 2,000 manatees left in Florida. With protection, the number increased. In 2016, there were more than 6,000 manatees.

However, as sea grass began to disappear, the number of manatees keeps going down again. Warming seas with polluted water have created huge growths of algae (藻) on the ocean’s surface. The algae blocks the sunlight that allows the sea grass to grow. For example, in Indian River Lagoon, where manatees often go in the winter, about 90% of the sea grass beds there have died off. Long term, Florida will work to help restore (恢复) sea grass beds. But that will take time. Scientists still worry that hundreds more manatees could starve this winter.

1. Why are manatees sometimes called “sea cows”?

A．They are as big as cows.	B．They feed on plants like cows.
C．They have tails like cows.	D．They can swim like cows.

2. How has the number of manatees changed over years?

A．

B．

C．

D．

3. Which shows the correct order of the causes of manatees’ death according to the last paragraph?

A．sea pollution→growth of algae→death of sea grass→death of manatees

B．growth of algae→sea pollution→death of sea grass→death of manatees

C．sea pollution→death of sea grass→growth of algae→death of manatees

D．growth of algae→death of sea grass→sea pollution→death of manatees

4. What is the meaning of the underlined word “starve”?

A．to be hit by boats	B．to eat up sea grass
C．to lose swimming ability	D．to die from hunger

5. Which is the best title for this passage?

A．Manatees’ life	B．Manatees Feeding Program
C．Money Given to Save Manatees	D．Reasons for Manatees’ Death Still Unclear

【推荐2】Happy Rain on a Spring Night

Good rain knows its time ▲ ;

It will fall when comes spring.

With wind it steals in night;

Mute, it moistens each thing.

O’er wild lanes dark cloud spreads;

In boat a lantern looms.

Dawn sees saturated reds;

The town’s heavy with blooms.

—Translated by Xu Yuanchong

This famous poem, was written by Du Fu (712—770, Tang Dynasty) when he was living in Chengdu. Sometimes, he went to the farm in the field. The poem shows his care for farmers.

The very first word, “Good”, shows Du’s joy and love for the spring rain. The rain is good because it “knows” the right time to come. Here Du uses personification, as if the rain was smart enough to come in time for the farmers’ busy season.

The rain comes during the night without making any noise. Unlike the summer storms, the quiet spring rain finishes its task without being known.

Next, Du describes a peaceful scene to us. In the night sky, the clouds look dark and heavy.

It’s a sign that there will be enough rain during the night. The light from the riverboat makes the dark scene a bit livelier.

Finally, he thinks, the city of Chengdu will become beautiful when all the flowers bloom after the rain.

1. Which word is the most suitable for ▲ ?

A．wrong

B．early

C．late

D．right

2. Which of the following uses personification (拟人)?

A．In boat a lantern blooms.

B．With wind it steals in night.

C．It will fall when comes spring.

D．The town’s heavy with blooms (blooming flowers).

3. What does Du Fu mainly want to show in this poem?

A．He is thankful to nature.

B．He loves and enjoys farming.

C．He expects the flowers to bloom.

D．He is good at writing poems.

【推荐1】There were many students and a teacher in the classroom. The teacher was giving a speech to his students. He held up a glass of water and asked the class, “How heavy do you think this glass water is?”

The students’ answers were from 20g to 500g. “It doesn’t matter on the weight（重量）itself. It depends on how long you hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it is OK. If I hold it for an hour, I will have a pain in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you will have to call 120. It is exactly the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.”

“If we carry our burdens（负担）all the time, sooner or later, we will not be able to carry on, the burden becoming heavier and heavier.”

“What you have to do is to put the glass down and rest for a while before holding it up again.”

“We have to put down the burden sometimes, so that we can be better and are able to carry on.” “So, before you return home from work tonight, put the burden of work down. Don’t carry it back home. You can pick it up tomorrow.”

“Whatever burdens you are having now on your shoulders, let it down for a moment if you can.”

1. “A glass of water” in this passage referred to（指） ________.

A．the burden

B．knowledge

C．the time

D．the money

2. According to the teacher, you may feel ________ if you put down the burden sometimes.

A．more stressed

B．much heavier

C．much taller

D．more relaxed

3. This was a lesson about ________.

A．how to study well	B．how to keep fit by drinking water
C．how to relax oneself in life	D．how to solve a physics problem

4. Which is TRUE according to the passage?

A．No one can understand the teacher’s lesson.

B．All the students knew the weight of the glass of water.

C．You could become heavier and heavier if you held a glass of water.

D．The teacher had a good way of making his lesson clear and easy to be understood.

【推荐2】

Rock climbing has been a popular sport for a long time. But now a lot of rock climbers are trying something new: ice climbing.     1     When you go rock climbing, you climb a mountain. When you go ice climbing, you climb ice.

A lot of people love ice climbing. Why? On the one hand, they can do it in many places. If people want to try something easy, they can climb glaciers (冰川) or small mountains. Those are very easy.     2     They want to try something challenging, so they can find dangerous and exciting places to go ice climbing, such as high mountains and frozen (结冰) waterfalls.

    3     First, in order to go ice climbing, you have to be healthy and strong. Second, you can do special exercise before you start.     4     Last, don’t go ice climbing alone. You have to always go with some people.

    5     Some say that when they get to the top of a glacier or a frozen waterfall, it’s the best feeling in the world.

根据短文内容，从选项中选出能填入文中空白处的最佳选项，选项中有一项为多余选项。

A．On the other hand, some people don’t like easy sports.

B．Ice climbing is a lot like rock climbing.

C．There is some advice about ice climbing.

D．Ice climbing depends on weather than most sports.

E．Ice climbing is hard but interesting for many people.

F．You can also take some ice climbing classes if necessary.

【推荐3】

Should kids join talent show(才艺选秀)
Discussion	Ellie	The talent shows shouldn’t set a limit (限制) on the age. If the parents want their kids to join the talent shows, they should say “Yes”.
	Faiza	Talent shows can help children become more confident. And no matter (无论) how young you are, you can have talents.
	Gabriella	I don’t think it’s good for kids to join the big talent shows. They have other things like their studies in schools. And they will lose heart if they can not win.
	Jessica	I don’t think kids need to compete with adults （与成年人竞争）. There should be Kids Have Got Talent.

1. Ellie thinks if ________ want the kids to join the talent shows, the talent shows should say “Yes”.

A．the kids’ friends

B．the kids’ teachers

C．the kids’ parents

2. Faiza thinks talent shows can help kids become ________.

A．more confident

B．more outgoing

C．more talented

3. Gabriella thinks kids should care about ________.

A．talent shows

B．their studies

C．their families

4. Jessica thinks ________.

A．there should be talent shows for kids only

B．kids mustn’t join the talent shows

C．kids should not watch talent shows

5. What can we learn from the discussion?

A．Kids feel excited in the talent shows.

B．Faiza thinks kids can be talented, too.

C．Kids always win the talent shows.