【推荐1】Earthquakes happen very often in Tokyo, but Tokyo is not an unlucky city. Many special parks have been built in Tokyo to keep people safe during earthquakes. These parks look nothing different from the other parks, but when earthquakes happen, they become life-saving places.

Many useful things in those special parks can meet people’s basic needs.

For example, it is usually hard for people to get water after earthquakes. In the special parks, people can get drinking water from the water pump(泵). If people need to use toilets(厕所), they can choose special toilets that can be used without water. Also, the helicopter(直升机) can land on squares or baseball fields and bring food or other things to people. What’s more, if people need to cook in the parks, some special benches can become cooking things.

However, those useful things are not enough for people to face earthquakes. The most important part lies in training people. The parks, together with fire stations and the police, will train with local people at the usual time. This will let people think and move faster during real earthquakes and let them protect themselves better.

So, what can we do to protect ourselves from getting hurt in earthquakes? First, we need to check our furniture and make sure they won’t fall down easily. Second, when an earthquake happens, we need to stay under tables or desks and protect our head. Third, we can keep our door open and wear comfortable shoes during small earthquakes in order to get out safely.

1. What can we learn about the special parks from Paragraph 1?

A．The special parks can stop earthquakes.

B．There aren’t enough special parks in Tokyo.

C．The special parks look different from the common ones.

D．People can be safer in the special parks during earthquakes.

2. During earthquakes, people can find ________ in these special parks.
① drinking water   ② traditional toilets   ③ personal planes   ④ cooking things

A．①③

B．③④

C．①④

D．②④

3. Why are useful things “not enough” for people?

A．Because they can’t work well.

B．Because self-help is more important.

C．Because the government doesn’t have enough money.

D．Because it’s hard for people to find them during earthquakes.

4. What is the last paragraph mainly about?

A．How to stay safe during earthquakes.	B．Why people should check their furniture.
C．How to prepare for danger before it comes.	D．What would happen in an earthquake.

【推荐2】When the big earthquake hit Japan several years ago, workers in a supermarket in Japan didn’t run away. Instead, they held on to the shelves and tried to stop the goods from falling down.

Reporters from NHK, the country’s largest TV station, stayed calm in front of cameras during the earthquake, even though some were facing real danger.

The earthquake was the most powerful one to hit Japan in the country’s history. But Japan’s reaction to the earthquake has shown that it is the most earthquake-prepared country in the world. The calm that they showed during and after the quake has impressed the world.

This is because Japan has an earthquake culture. Japanese people are taught how to prepare for and react to an earthquake from a young age.

One way kids learn about earthquake safety is from the cartoon character Maruko, a 9-year-old student. In Chibi Maruko Chan (《樱桃小丸子》), Maruko has to wear a protective hat in an earthquake practice. Schools in Japan organize earthquake practices every month. They make students become familiar (熟悉的) with being in an earthquake.

Japan also has a good earthquake warning (警告) system. The warning system is unable to predict an earthquake, but it can usually alert (使警觉) people about 15 seconds before they feel the effects. Even 15 to 20 seconds can be enough to save people’s lives.

1. What did the reporters in NHK do when the earthquake happened?

A．Ran away.

B．Did nothing.

C．Stole goods.

D．Kept calm.

2. What is NHK in Japan according to the passage?

A．A bus stop.

B．A TV station.

C．A famous movie.

D．A five-star restaurant.

3. What’s the meaning of the underline word “reaction” in Paragraph 3?

A．Movie.

B．History.

C．Behaviour.

D．Protection.

4. What does the underlined word “They” in Paragraph 5 mean?

A．Kids.

B．Schools.

C．Earthquakes.

D．Earthquake Practices.

5. What can we learn from the passage?

A．Earthquake practices in Japanese schools are very common.

B．Japan has a warning system that can predict earthquakes.

C．The earthquake in Japan last year didn’t hit the country heavily.

D．Japanese kids learn about earthquake safety only from school earthquake practices.

【推荐3】“The serious flooding has left much of our city under water. It is a direct result of climate change,” the mayor (市长) of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, says.

The highest water level in the region in more than 50 years will leave “a permanent (永久的) mark on the city,” Brugnaro said.“Now, the government must listen,” he added. “These are the effects of climate change——the costs will be high.”

The waters in Venice peaked at 1.87m, according to the tide (潮水) monitoring center. Since official records began in 1923, only once has it been higher, when it reached 1.94m in 1966. St. Mark’s Square-one of the lowest parts of the city - was one of the worst-hit areas. St. Mark’s Basilica was flooded for the sixth time in 1,200 years. According to church records, four of these floods happened within the past 20 years.

Brugnaro said the damage had been “devastating” “The situation is dramatic. We are asking the government to help us,” he said, adding that schools would remain closed until the water level subsided. He also urged local businesses to post photos and videos online. This, he said, would be used for asking for financial (财政的) help from the government.

A number of businesses were affected. In shops, workers tried to move their goods away from the water to prevent any further damage. One shopkeeper, who was not named, told Italy’s public broadcast Rai, “The city is on its knees.” Even though three waterbuses had been sunk as a result of the flooding, tourists tried to continue their sightseeing. One French couple told joumalists that they had “effectively swum” after some of the wooden platforms had overturned in the waters.

1. What caused the serious flooding?

A．A heavy rain.

B．An earthquake.

C．Climate change.

D．A strious thunderstorm.

2. In the past twenty years, St. Mark’s Basilica was flooded for ________ times.

A．three

B．four

C．five

D．six

3. Which of the flowing statement is true?

A．St. Mark’s Square is often seriously hit when there is a flood.

B．Workers in shops tried to take goods home to avoid further damage.

C．Tourists couldn’t continue their sightseeing because all the water buses had been sunk.

D．The mayor asked the local buinesses to post photos online in order to remember the flood.

4. This passage is probably taken from ________.

A．a news report

B．a scientific report

C．a historical novel

D．a science ficion

【推荐1】In English, when someone is very angry, we say this person “sees red”, like the way a bull (公牛) goes wild after seeing a red cloth. Now it turns out that “seeing red” is not just an expression for angry people, but also a scientific fact.

Researchers at North Dakota State University in the US found that there is a connect ion between the color red and anger. Angry people really do “see red” where others don’t. And a preference (偏爱) for red over blue may even suggest a more hostile personality (性格).

The study includes a number of experiments. In the first, researchers asked a group of people which color they preferred, red or blue. Participants (参加者) then did personality tests. Results showed that those who chose red may be more hostile.

During a second test, participants looked at faded (褪色的) pictures that could be seen as either red or blue. Those who saw red scored 25 percent higher on hostility in the personality test.

“Hostile people have hostile thoughts; hostile thoughts are connected with the color red, and therefore hostile people see this color more often,” the researchers told The Independent.

Finally, the participants were told about imaginary (虚构的) situations in which they could take different actions. Results showed that in these situations, red-preferring people were more likely to show that they would hurt another person than those who preferred blue.

“An important message from this research is that color can send psychological (心理的) meaning,” the researchers said.

根据材料内容选择最佳答案。
1. What does it mean by saying someone “sees red”?

A．The person prefers red.	B．The person is very angry.
C．The person is able to see red.	D．The person likes to wear red clothes.

2. What does the underlined word “hostile” mean in the second paragraph?

A．Unfriendly.

B．Polite.

C．Responsible.

D．Popular.

3. What did the participants do in the last test?

A．They did personality tests.

B．They looked at faded pictures.

C．They could take different actions in imaginary situations.

D．They were asked to choose which color they preferred.

4. Which of the following statements is NOT true about the study?

A．Participants did personality tests in the study.

B．Participants took three tests in the study.

C．Participants were tested on seven different colors.

D．Red-preferring people were more likely to hurt others.

5. What’s the best title for the text?

A．Why people like red more.	B．How important the study is.
C．Why red makes bulls wild.	D．How color influences personality.

【推荐2】Have you ever heard the phrase “You never get a second chance to make a first impression?” It may sound like an unusual suggestion, but it is true---the first impression someone has of you when meeting you for the first time will probably influence how that person treats you or reacts to you in the future.

What is even interesting is that the brain takes in all the information to create the first impression in about three seconds. When you meet someone for the first time, by the time you have stated your name or shaken hands, the other person has already formed an opinion about the kind of person you are.

So how do you make a good first impression? All things grown-ups tell you---such as being polite and being well-dressed----are very important. However, the most important tool for making a good first impression is your face. Smiling, being responsive, and looking like you are happy will almost always leave positive impression on people, especially those who do not know you. Most people, generally speaking, are ready to smile back when they are smiled at.

Furthermore, smiling and being in a positive mood helps you to know and get a better understanding of new things. This means that you can possibly be friendlier to people you do not know and be more creative and able to solve problems more quickly. So if you ever need a reason to be happy, think about the wonderful people you might meet-and impress them with a cheerful smile.

1. The first impression someone has of you will probably influence how that person         .

A．treats you or reacts to you	B．likes you
C．refuses you	D．understands you

2. What is the most important to leave good impressions?

A．Shaking hands.	B．Stating your name.
C．Dressing nicely.	D．Wearing a smile.

3. What can be learned from the last paragraph?

A．Friendliness helps solve problems.	B．Being positive helps you find a way out.
C．There are many reasons to be happy.	D．Thinking of great people cheers you up.

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

A．The First Impression Does Count	B．Smiling Makes the First Impression
C．Manners Leave Deep Impressions	D．Impressions Decides Who You Are

【推荐3】Paper was not made in southern Europe until the year of 1100. Though Scandinavia(斯堪的维尼亚半岛) now makes a great deal of the world’s paper, it had not begun to make it until 1500. It was a German named Schaeffer who found out that one could make paper from wood. After that, forest countries, such as Canada, Sweden, Norway, Finland and the United States, became important in paper making. Today in Finland, for example, no industry（工业）is bigger than the forest industry. And the paper industry is the most important part of it.
Modern paper-making machines are very big, and they make paper very fast. The biggest machines can make a piece of paper 750 meters long and six meters wide in one minute.
When we think of paper, we think of newspapers, books, letters, envelopes（信封）, and writing paper. But there are many other uses. Each year, more and more things are made of paper. We have had paper cups, plates, and dishes for a long time. But now we hear that chairs, tables and even beds can be made of paper. The newest thing made of paper in the world may be a paper house. It is not a small house for children to play in, but a real, big house for people to live in. It is not expensive. You can put up a paper house yourself in a few hours, and you can use it for about 5 years.
1. When was paper made in Europe?

A．The year 1500.	B．The year 1400.
C．The year 1200.	D．The year 1100.

2.         found out that paper can be made from wood.

A．A Canadian	B．An American
C．A German	D．A Chinese

3. In witch country is the forest industry the biggest industry?

A．Finland.

B．Sweden.

C．Norway.

D．The Untied States.

4. How long can be the biggest modern paper-making machines make a piece of paper 750 meters long and six meters wide?

A．In a day.	B．In an hour.
C．In a minute.	D．In a second.

5. What can be made of paper?

A．Paper cups.

B．Plates, dishes.

C．Chairs, tables, beds and houses.

D．All of above.