1 . Can plants talk? Modern research has found something amazing: they do communicate with each other.
It has been known for some time that plants use chemicals to communicate with each other. This happens when a plant gets attacked(受到攻击) by insects. The plant gives out chemicals from the leaves that are being eaten. This is like a warning, or a call for help: “I’m being attacked!” When another plant gets the chemicals, it starts to give out its own, different chemicals. Some of these chemicals drive insects away. Others attract the wasps(黄蜂)! The wasps kill the insects that are eating the plants. Scientists hope to learn more about this plant warning system, so that we can use it to grow more crops.
More surprisingly, plants also use sound to communicate. People can’t hear these sounds; but plants are making them. Some plants make noises with their roots. Corn and chili plants do this. Some trees make clicking noises when there is not enough water.
Most surprisingly of all, plants have an amazing system of communication that can link nearly every plant in a forest. Scientists call this system the “wood wide web”. The wood wide web is linked underground by fungi(真菌). It links the roots of different plants to each other. It is in some ways similar to the Internet we use. Using the wood wide web, plants can share information and even food with each other.
Scientists are learning more every day about the secret ways in which plants talk to each other. Maybe one day we will know enough about plant communication to be able to “talk” with them.
1. What will plants do when they are attacked by insects?| A．They will kill the insects quickly. |
| B．They will control the wasps to kill the insects. |
| C．They will send out signals to ask for help. |
| D．They will produce chemicals as a warning or a call for help. |
| A．By making noises with their roots. |
| B．By connecting the roots of different plants to each other. |
| C．By sharing food and information with each other. |
| D．By spreading chemicals to each other. |
| A．To give people hope for further studies. |
| B．To praise scientists for their great achievements. |
| C．To call on people to protect the plants on Earth. |
| D．To encourage people to communicate with plants. |
| A．culture | B．science |
| C．health | D．business |
| A．The secret language of plants. |
| B．The study about the plant warning system. |
| C．The plants that give warnings. |
| D．Why scientists do research about plants. |
2 . At the beginning of human history, people could only eat food they found. But then people learned to find more ways to get food. About 10, 000 years ago, people started to farm the land. After that, people developed farming skills.
People eat different food in different areas. In China, rice is the main food for people in the south while the people in the north eat noodles. People who live in European countries near the sea eat lots of fish. But in Central Europe, people are away from the sea. So they don’t eat so much fish. They eat more meat instead.
People eat food with different tools in different areas. In China, people always like using chopsticks while in North America, Australia and Europe, people always like using knives and forks. To our surprise, in India and the Middle East, people always pick up food with their own fingers.
Now people can eat different food from different areas. As we can see, it is possible to convey food easily from one part of the world to another. We can almost eat whatever we like at any place of the world. For example, people in Britain can eat bananas from Africa and rice from India. Food is becoming a very big business now.
1. People ________ at the beginning of human history.| A．could only eat food they found | B．started to farm the land |
| C．developed farming skills | D．could eat food from other countries |
| A．they are near the sea | B．they like eating noodles |
| C．they are away from the sea | D．they don’t like eating fish |
| A．捐赠 | B．传导 | C．购买 | D．运输 |
| A．People in the south of China eat bananas as their main food. |
| B．People in India and the Middle East always pick up food with their own fingers. |
| C．People in Britain can only eat rice from Africa. |
| D．People in the world get used to picking up food with knives and forks. |
| A．People’s Table Manners | B．People’s Eating Tools |
| C．People and Food | D．People’s Habits |
3 . There are many interesting animals from all over the world in the zoo. Lions are from South Africa. They’re strong, and scary. Koalas and kangaroos are from Australia. They’re shy, cute and lovely. I know giraffes are very thin and tall. They’re kind and interesting animals from Africa. Pandas are from Sichuan, South China. They’re black and white. They’re beautiful and lovely. I like pandas best. Tigers are strong and scary, too. They’re from northeast of China.
A kind of animals are living in deserts before. There are two “mountains” on the back. They store too much fat. These animals can carry heavy things for people in deserts. They can eat or drink nothing for a long time. They don’t feel hungry. What kind of animals are they? They’re quiet camels! I like to watch a group of camels walking in deserts at sunset. That’s a beautiful view. I know a camel is a good guide for travelers or visitors in deserts. They can’t lose their ways in deserts.
Animals are our friends. And they can make our lives interesting. So we should protect them.
1. The lions are from ________.| A．South America | B．South Africa |
| C．South China | D．Australia |
| A．Tigers and Koalas. | B．Tigers and lions. |
| C．Kangaroos and giraffes. | D．Camels and pandas. |
| A．Store water. | B．For riding easily. |
| C．For carrying things. | D．Store fat. |
| A．a wide road | B．a good guide |
| C．a beautiful view | D．an interesting story |
| A．Two | B．Three | C．Six | D．Seven |
“Smart House” System in Everyday Life
“Smart House” system will play an important part in our daily life.
Before you go to bed, press the “sleep” button beside the bed. The computer system closes the windows, turns off lights and adjusts (调节) temperature for you.
Inside the toilet next to the bedroom, there is an examination system. It can tell from your urine (尿) and blood pressure if you’re OK. If there’s something wrong, the system will ask you to see a doctor.
There’s a set outside the house. It tells the computer inside the house the temperature outside. It can tell how strong the wind outside is. The computer then controls the temperature and the windows. It makes the house comfortable. At the same time, it helps save energy.
Cooking is easy in the “smart house”. The computer knows all kinds of recipes (食谱). Videos show you how to cook.
There’s a video camera on the gate. It can read people’s faces. If the computer sees a stranger, he or she can’t get in. Only when the owner welcomes someone can he or she get into the house.
1. The computer system can adjust the temperature and clean the bed for you.2. The system will ask you to see a doctor if there’s something wrong with you.
3. The computer can make the house comfortable and help save energy.
4. The computer can not only show you how to cook but also cook for you.
5. Only the owner can get into the house according to the passage.
5 . William Black described the eyes as “the window of the soul”. Our eyes are the windows through which we see the world around us. Either way, there’s no question that we place great value on our eyes and our eyesight. Surveys have shown that of the five senses, sight is the one that people fear losing the most.
Thinking about the important function of our eyes, we’d give them the best care possible, but sometimes we get too busy or forget to do a few simple things that can keep our eyes healthy.
Protecting your eyes starts with the food on our plate. Remember when you were a kid and your mum told you that carrots would improve your eyesight. Well, she might be right. Proper food will keep your eyes strong and healthy.
Give up your daily habits that could seriously injure your eyes. Always wear sunglasses on a sunny day to protect your eyes from Ultraviolet ray(紫外线). Rest your eyes for 20 minutes from computer screen by looking 20 feet away for seconds. At least every 2 hours, get up and take a 15-minute break when working at a computer.
Make sure your eyes do not get injured in the first place. You should try to prevent injures whether you’re playing sports or doing housework. You should also know when to wear sunglasses and what kinds will work best for you.
Last but not least, get your eyes examined regularly. Eye exam can help find some eye diseases. It’s important to find these diseases early on, when they’re easier to treat.
1. The first paragraph mainly tells us ________.| A．We can see with our eyes |
| B．surveys have shown we can’t lose sight |
| C．we have five senses, including sight |
| D．our eyes and our eyesight are of great value |
| A．Using proper safety glasses |
| B．Resting eyes every two hours |
| C．Wearing sunglasses sometimes |
| D．Eating up the food on your plate |
| A．治疗 | B．爱护 | C．伤害 | D．保护 |
| A．They can help find eye diseases. |
| B．They can treat eye diseases. |
| C．They can prevent eye injures. |
| D．They can make your eyesight better. |
| A．Good Habits Bring Good Health |
| B．Several Simple Ways of Eyes Exams |
| C．Give Your Eyes Some Rest Regularly |
| D．Protect the Window of the soul |
6 . Every spring, there are sports meets at many middle schools. When students on the playground crowd(围) into a circle and shout loudly, “One, two, one, two.” Do you know what game it is? It is tug of war.
Tug of war is a team sport between two teams at each end of a rope(绳). It first came into being in China 2400 years ago. It is very popular in China and in many other countries. But in other countries, their tug-of-war match is a little different from ours. They have eight men for each team, while we may have the match between two sides with equal(相等的) number of men or women players. Of course, they are usually tall, strong and heavy.
For a tug-of-war match, we need a long thick rope. Each team stands at one end of the rope, holding it. There’s a white line in the middle of the field. Then they try to pull(拉)the center of the rope to each of their own sides. The winning team is the one that pull the other over the line.
Tug of war was once an Olympic sporting event. It lasted until 1920. Although(尽管)it isn’t an Olympic sport now, people in many countries like playing it very much.
1. Which of the following is the picture of “tug of war”?A． | B． | C． | D． |
| A．has eight men or women players |
| B．has men players equal in number to the other side |
| C．has eight men players |
| D．plays it in the same way as in our country |
| A．tug of war is very popular among people |
| B．many people like tug of war games |
| C．how to win Olympic sport |
| D．how to play tug of war |
| A．Chinese people invented it. |
| B．It was once an Olympic sporting event. |
| C．We need at least 8 players when we play it. |
| D．It is a team sport between two teams at each end of a rope. |
| A．A Popular Team Sport—Tug of War |
| B．An Olympic Sporting Event |
| C．History of Sport Meets |
| D．Rules of Sport Meets |
In Britain, you should try not to put your hands on the table when you’re having a meal. In Mexico, however, guests are expected to keep their hands on the table during a meal. But in Arab countries you must be very careful with your hands. You mustn’t eat with your left hand. Arabs consider it very bad manners eating with left hands. So, what should you do if you are on a visit in another country? Well, just do in Rome as the Romans do. You can ask the native (本土的)people to help you or just watch carefully and follow them.
1. According to the passage, making noises when you have liquid food isn’t bad manners in .
| A．China | B．Japan | C．Britain | D．Mongolia |
| A．Eating food without making noises |
| B．Putting liquid food in the bowl |
| C．Having soup directly with a bowl |
| D．Keeping hands off the table |
| A．Mongolian people burp when they are eating |
| B．Japanese people all make noises when drinking |
| C．Chinese people never make noises at table |
| D．few Arabs eat with left hands |
| A．some table manners in Britain |
| B．some different table manners |
| C．different ways of having liquid food |
| D．to have good manners |
