1 . Do you know the Silk Road has been a bridge between East and West for more than 2,000 years? The Silk Road is not a single route! It is a series of trade and culture transmission (传送) routes. It began during the Han Dynasty. The trade route starts from the city of Xi’an in Shaanxi Province and ends in Eastern Europe, near today’s Turkey (土耳其) and Mediterranean Sea (地中海).
The Silk Road was about 6,500 kilometers long. It went across one-fourth of the planet. The Silk Road got its name because Chinese silk used to be carried along this road. Besides silk, jade (翡翠), ceramics (陶瓷) and iron went to Rome. From the West came glass, gems (宝石) and food like carrots and sesame.
The Silk Road was very important to both China and the rest of the world. Trade, knowledge about science, arts and literature, as well as crafts and technologies were shared across the Silk Road. In this way, languages and cultures developed and influenced each other.
Today, places along the Silk Road are great places of interest, such as Terracotta Warriors (兵马俑) in Xi’an and Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Gansu. Now, beginning in August, a new train line, the New Orient Express (新东方快车), runs from Beijing across the Silk Road.
Title: | |
| Introduction | A bridge between East and West for |
| Details | It began during the Han Dynasty. The Silk Road |
| Things carried | From east to west: silk, jade, ceramics and iron. From west to east: glass, gems and food like carrots and sesame. |
| Importance | |
| Road today | Places of interest are along the road. A new train line runs from |
Trees are important in our life. However, the Philippines, China’s neighbor, is facing a serious problem — the loss of forest cover. In fact, the Philippines is one of the world’s most deforested (滥伐的) countries with total forest cover dropping from 70% to just 20% during the 20th century. Luckily, a new law may help the country to solve the problem because it requires students to plant at least 10 trees each before they graduate.
Congressman (国会议员) Gary Alejano introduced the bill (议案) first and later the Philippine Congress passed it. The bill states that this requirement applies to (适用于) all students in order to graduate from primary school, high school and college. If the students want to graduate, each of them must plant no fewer than 10 trees. Every year, there are over 12 million students graduating from primary school, nearly 5 million students graduating from high school and almost 500,000 students graduating from college in this country. If the law is carried out properly and completely, at least 175 million new trees will be planted each year. “Even if only 10% of all the planted trees are able to stay alive, it will still result in 525 million trees in the course of one generation (一代人).”
Mr. Alejano points out this law will do more than help make our earth a greener place. His main goal is to help bring environmental understanding to future generations.
1. What problem is the Philippines facing now?2. Why can the new law solve the problem?
3. Who introduced the bill first?
4. How many tees will be planted in the Philippines every year thanks to the law?
5. Can the law help make our earth clean?
3 . Have you ever wondered if the cold you have is really a common cold or the flu? Most people don’t know the differences between them. Here’s some information about colds and the flu.
A cold | Flu | |
Progress | It takes a couple of days to build up. You may have a sore throat on Monday, and then have a headache on Wednesday. | It usually starts suddenly. Patients can clearly tell the time when the flu hits them after lunch or yesterday afternoon, for example. |
Temperature | Commonly, the temperature rises to around 37.2°C or 37.7°C and hasn't big changes. | The body temperature is usually much higher, at least 38.3°C. Feeling cold and body aches are flu signs. |
Life | People often keep on their common life as usual and get out of bed for work or other social activities. | Putting on much isn’t enough, and you still feel very cold. Dragging（拖搜）yourself out of bed can seem impossible. You usually feel tired and sleepy. |
Results | You may have a runny nose and cough from a head cold（伤风）. | It can cause a lot of coughing and even trouble in breathing. |
“Each year tens of thousands of people die of flu,” Dr.Yul Ejnes says. And the flu vaccine（疫苗）can help prevent it. Of course, it’s best to get your flu vaccine at the beginning of the flu season-usually in the fall.
1. What may happen if someone has a cold?| A．His temperature is above 38℃ | B．He feels body aches suddenly. |
| C．He may have a headache. | D．He can’t get out of bed. |
| A．Cold. | B．Sleepy. | C．Tired. | D．Hot. |
| A．Keep away from some public places with many people. |
| B．Get the flu vaccine at the beginning of the flu season. |
| C．Don’t keep in touch with people who have a cold. |
| D．Put on more clothes and check your body on time. |
| A．The flu can’t make people die at present. |
| B．After the flu, the patient will have a head cold. |
| C．Both colds and the flu can cause cough. |
| D．The patient with flu may have trouble in heart. |
| A．The differences between colds an the flu. |
| B．The influences between colds and the flu. |
| C．Prevention methods for colds and the flu. |
| D．Reasons for having colds and the flu. |
4 . We teenagers like to feel that we are special. Unluckily, many of us grow up believing that we’re not special at all. We wish that we could be better at sports or more popular. We wish we had nicer clothes or more money. Like the Scarecrow or the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz(绿野仙踪), we believe we’re not good enough. In the movie, the Scarecrow wishes that he had a brain. The Tin Man wishes he had a heart. In the end, they each realize that they already have what they want.
Most parents want us to be the best we can be. They sometimes try to encourage us to do better by comparing us to others. They mean well, but the message we often get is that we’re not good enough. We begin to believe that the only way we can be special is by being better than someone else. But we are often frustrated, because there will always be someone who is better at something than us.
Like the Scarecrow or the Tin Man, we all hope what we believe will make us better people. But we don’t realize that we already have the very things we want inside us. Parents sometimes forget to tell us that we are special and that we are good enough. Maybe no one told them when they were growing up, or maybe they just forgot. Anyway, it’s up to us to tell them from time to time that each of us, in our own way, is special. And we are all good enough.
1. We can know that the writer ________ from the passage.| A．is a movie fan | B．is a teenager |
| C．gets on well with his parents | D．wants to be the best he can be |
| A．put no pressure on their children | B．often tell their children they are special |
| C．ask their children to do much housework | D．compare their children with others sometimes |
| A．惊讶的 | B．沮丧的 | C．幸运的 | D．激动的 |
| A．the movie is very successful |
| B．the movie is quite educational |
| C．we often already have inside what we want |
| D．it’s impossible for us to be always better than others |
| A．Not everyone can be famous. | B．It’s important to be like others. |
| C．We are all good enough in our own way. | D．Nothing is difficult to the man who will try. |
It is easier to have a good conversation with our friends or loved one. While starting a conversation with someone we don’t know can make most of us feel nervous. But the ability to talk with strangers can be developed with practice.
Prepare before the conversation. Think about some common topics (话题) before the talk, such as your interesting experiences, TV shows and website news. And prepare a list of questions you could ask. These questions may include asking others about their job, classes, interests and hobbies.
Introduce yourself. It doesn’t need to be clever when you introduce yourself. Simply be honest and friendly. Give the other person a warm smile and clearly say your name. Explain why you want to have the conversation.
Start the conversation. Bring up a general topic to begin the conversation. Avoid talking about uncomfortable topics, such as personal questions, religion (宗教) and politics (政治). Then give the person enough time to reply and listen carefully when he speaks.
End the conversation. When you run out of things to say or need to do something else, prepare to end the talk. You may say that you need to use the bathroom or go for a friend. Let the other person know you enjoy talking with him and hope to talk with him again.
How to develop the ability to talk with strangers | |
| ▲ Think about some common topics. ▲ Prepare a list of questions you could talk. | |
| Introduce yourself | ▲ Simply be honest and friendly ▲ Explain why you |
| Start the conversation | ▲ Bring up a general topic to begin the conversation. ▲ Choose |
| End the conversation | ▲You can prepare to end the talk ▲ Let the other person know you enjoy talking with him and hope to talk with him again. |
Xian Xinghai is a very famous musician in China. He has written many great pieces of music. In his short life, he wrote nearly 300 songs and an opera.
Xian was born in Panyu, Guangzhou in 1905.Because his father died before he was born, Xian had to move from place to place with his mother. He began learning to play the violin when he was 20 years old. At first, his violin was so cheap and in a poor quality that he could not play it well. His friends laughed at him. However, Xian did not stop practicing and soon showed his talent. In 1934, he became the first Chinese student who studied in a special music school in Paris. Before he left, Xian became the school's best student and won several prizes for his talents.
The next year, be got back to China and helped fight against the Japanese army. Later, he came to Yan’an to teach music at a college. Although there were no pianos in Yan’an at that time, Xian still wrote some of his most important music there, including The Yellow River Chorus, his most famous work.
In May 1940, Xian Xinghai went to the Soviet Union (苏联) to write music for movies. Life there was so hard that he got very sick. Later he died of a lung illness on October 30, 1945, aged only 40.
Xian Xinghai is such a great man and his music will live on in people’s hearts forever.
1. Was Xian Xinghai talented in the violin or the piano at first?2. When did Xian Xinghai get back to China from Paris?
3. What is Xian Xinghai’s most famous work?
4. Why did Xian Xinghai go to the Soviet Union?
5. How do you like Xian Xinghai?
Walking is an important part of our daily life. But most of us don’t give much thought to how we walk or whether we are walking correctly. Walking with good posture （姿势）is of great importance to us.
Why not use proper walking posture
Walking may seem like a simple activity and really, it should be. When you walk, why not get as many advantages that result from it as possible? First of all, proper walking posture will help you to walk faster and farther. At the same time, it is good for your physical health. Using proper posture will reduce（减少）pain, lower the risk of getting hurt, make it easier to breathe（呼吸）, and increase energy levels. What’s more, walking with proper posture will help you to be more confident and improve your spirit.
How to walk properly
Stand up straight.
Keep your eyes forward.
Keep your chin up.
Relax your shoulders and push them back. Keep your stomach pulled in slightly.
Gently swing your arms back.
Step lightly.
What to do before and during the walk
Walking with proper posture is actually not a one-and-done process. It takes much time to practice it. Before you begin walking, set yourself up for the right posture. Each time you come to stop during your walk, such as when waiting to cross a street, do a posture check before you start again.
Walking with correct posture isn’t hard to do, as long as you take more practice, you will make it.
Title： | |
| Why not use proper walking posture | ·First of all, proper walking posture will help you to walk faster and farther. ·It is good for your physical health. ·Using proper posture will make you breathe |
| | Stand up straight. Keep your eyes forward. Keep your chin（下巴）up. Relax your shoulders and push them back. Keep your stomach pulled in slightly. Gently swing your arms back. Step lightly. |
| What to do before and during the walk | Walking with proper posture isn’t a none-and-done process. You need to |
To forgive (原谅) is a virtue (美德), but no one has ever said it is easy. When someone has deeply hurt you, it can be difficult to let go of your hate. However, forgiveness is possible. People who forgive show less sadness, anger and stress and more hopefulness, according to recent research.
How should you start to forgive? Try the following steps:
Calm yourself
You can take a couple of breaths and think of something that gives you pleasure: a beautiful scene in nature, or someone you love.
Don’t wait for an apology (道歉)
Many times the person who hurt you does not mean to apologize. If you wait for people to apologize, you could be waiting an awfully long time. Keep in mind that forgiveness does not necessarily mean becoming friends again with the person who upset (打搅) you.
Take the control away from your offender (冒犯者)
Rethinking about your hurt gives power to the person who causes you pain. Instead of focusing on your wounded feelings, learn to look for the love, beauty and kindness around you.
Try to see things from your offenders’s angle (角度)
If you understand your offender, you may realize that he or she was acting out of unawareness (不留神), fear and even love. You may want to write a letter to yourself from your offender’s point of view.
Don’t forget to forgive yourself
For some people, forgiving themselves is the biggest challenge. It can rob you of your self-confidence if you don’t do it.
Title: | |
| | You can take some breaths and think of something beautiful. |
| Don’t wait for an apology. | The person who hurt you does not mean to apologize. Remember that forgiveness does not mean it is necessary to |
| Stay away from your offender. | Learn to look for the love, beauty and kindness around you instead of focusing on your wounded feelings. |
| | You may want to write a letter to yourself from your offender’s point of view. |
| Don’t forget to forgive yourself. | For some people, |
9 . Children’s Games in Ancient China
During ancient times, children didn’t have much to enjoy themselves. However, they came up with interesting games to play in their childhood.
Kicking stone balls
During the Qing Dynasty, kicking a stone ball around was a popular game in the northern part of China, and it was often played in winter to keep warm.
Playing hide-and-seek
Hide-and-seek is a traditional game for children, popular around the nation. There are two ways to play: cover a child’s eyes while other kids run around to tease(戏弄) him or, more commonly, others hide and one child must try to find them.
Flying kites
Kites have quite a long history. The earliest kites were made of wood, instead of paper. The three most famous kites are the Beijing kite, Tianjin kite and Weifang kite. Each has its own feature. For example, the bird-shaped kite with long wings is a special kind of the Beijing kite.
Watching shadow plays(皮影戏)
The closest thing to watching a film during ancient times was going to see a shadow play. The artists control puppets(木偶) behind the screen and tell stories to the music.
1. What can we know from the text?| A．The game of kicking a stone ball was played in summer. |
| B．The game of kicking a stone ball was like flying kites. |
| C．The game of kicking a stone ball was invented in Beijing. |
| D．The game of kicking a stone ball was popular in North China. |
| A．A fish-shaped kite. | B．A dragon-shaped kite. |
| C．A square-shaped kite. | D．A swallow-shaped kite. |
| A．One plays and others watch him. | B．Others laugh and one must cry. |
| C．Others hide and one tries to find them. | D．One runs and others try to catch him. |
| A．Kicking stone balls. | B．Flying kites. |
| C．Playing hide-and-seek. | D．Watching shadow plays. |
| A．Travel. | B．Culture and Tradition. |
| C．Health and Fitness. | D．Local Story. |
10 . Good manners mean politeness. Politeness can be seen in our daily lives, such as in one’s way of dressing, speaking and standing. Everyone should pay enough attention to his manners all the time. A man with good manners is welcome everywhere and can make friends easily. On the other hand, a man with bad manners is thought to be rude and nobody wants to be friends with him. He would feel lonely and unhappy.
If you want to be a person with good manners, you should learn to use one useful expressions, such as “please”, “thank you”, “excuse me” and “sorry” on different occasions. Also, where help is needed, you should be happy to lend a hand.
Like customs（风俗）, good manners may be different from country to country. Good manners in one country may not be good in another. In order to behave like a person with good manners in different places, it is necessary for one to learn about cultures of other countries.
1. A person’s good manners can be seen from the following EXCEPT ________.| A．dressing | B．speaking | C．standing | D．sleeping |
| A．be welcome here and there | B．make friends easily |
| C．be rude | D．enjoy himself all the time |
| A．机会 | B．次数 | C．场合 | D．地点 |
| A．Good manners can make us lonely and unhappy. |
| B．People with good manners say “sorry” all the time. |
| C．People with good manners are happy to help others. |
| D．Good manners are the same all over the world. |
| A．How to be careful in our daily lives. | B．How to make friends easily. |
| C．How to say useful expressions. | D．How to be a person with good manners. |
