1 . Many people (人们) like to travel (旅行) by plane, but I don’t like it because an airport (飞机场) is usually far from the city. You have to get there early and wait for (等待) hours for the plane to take off (起飞) and it is often late. You can’t open the windows. You can’t choose (选择) the food. Planes are fast, but they still take hours to go out of the airport and into the city.
I like traveling by train. I think trains are safe. Railway stations are usually in cities. When you are late (晚的) for a train, you can catch another one. You can walk around in the train and open the windows. You can see many interesting things on your way. I know it takes a little more time.
I also like cars. You can start your journey (旅行) when you want to, and you don’t need to get to a railway station or a bus stop. Also you can carry many things with you in a car. But sometimes there are too many cars on the road.
1. Why do many people like to travel by plane?| A．Because it’s fast. | B．Because it’s safe. |
| C．Because it’s cheap. | D．Because you can walk around in the plane. |
| A．It is safe. | B．It takes a little more time. |
| C．You can open the windows. | D．You can walk around in the train. |
| A．A bus | B．A car. | C．A train. | D．A bike. |
| A．You needn’t go to a station. | B．You can start your journey when you want to. |
| C．There are too many cars on the road. | D．You needn’t go to a bus stop. |
| A．He thinks it takes a lot of time to go to and get out of the airport. |
| B．He likes to take a train because it takes a little more time. |
| C．He likes to take a car because he has a car. |
| D．He likes to take a plane because it’s fast. |
2 . In England, people often talk about the weather because they can experience (经历) four seasons in one day. In the morning the weather is warm just like in spring. An hour later black clouds come and then it rains hard. The weather gets a little cold. In the late afternoon the sky will be sunny，the sun will begin to shine, and it will be summer at this time of a day.
In England, people can also have summer in winter, or have winter in summer. So in winter they can swim sometimes, and in summer sometimes they should take warm clothes.
When you go to England, you will see that some English people usually take an umbrella (伞) or a raincoat with them in the sunny morning, but you should not laugh at them.
If you don’t take an umbrella or a raincoat, you will regret (后悔) later in the day.
1. “People can also have summer in winter.” Means “it is sometimes too ________ in winter.”| A．cold | B．warm | C．cool | D．rainy |
| A．black clouds | B．sunshine and snow | C．summer and winter | D．spring and autumn |
| A．Because the sky is sunny all day. | B．Because they often have very good weather. |
| C．Because the weather is warm just like in spring. | D．Because they may have four seasons in one day. |
| A．it often rains in England | B．they are going to sell them |
| C．their friends ask them to do so | D．they are their favourite things |
| A．Bad Seasons | B．Summer or Winter | C．The Weather in England | D．Strange English People |
3 . Do you like snow? Many people in the world never see snow. In the north of England, there is quite a lot of snow every winter, but in the south of England there is usually little snow. When a student from a warm country comes to England in autumn for the first time, he feels cold. There are always dark clouds, gray skies and cold rain in England in autumn.
Snow is different. It is very cold, but it is very beautiful. Perhaps, after several dark mornings, the student wakes up (醒来) one day and there is a lot of light (光) in his room. He thinks, “Is it so late?” and gets up quickly. But it is not late at all. He looks out of the window and there is snow on the ground, in the trees, on the roofs (屋顶) and so on. The light in his room comes from the clean and beautiful snow.
1. There is not much snow in the ________ of England in winter.| A．east | B．north | C．west | D．south |
| A．gray skies | B．dark clouds | C．beautiful snow | D．cold rain |
| A．white | B．clean | C．beautiful | D．cold |
| A．Because it is really late. |
| B．Because he has some work to do. |
| C．Because the light makes his room bright (明亮的). |
| D．Because he usually gets up early. |
| A．Many people in the world never see snow. |
| B．In England, there is usually little snow. |
| C．Students from other countries don’t like the weather in England. |
| D．It is often very warm in the autumn of England. |
4 . PISA is not the same as pizza, although both words are pronounced the same by Chinese. Pizza, of course, is the tasty Italian dish of crispy bread topped with many wonderful flavors. PISA, on the other hand, is just a test, a reflection of the knowledge you learn in school. And how could that possibly be as flavorful as pizza?!
PISA stands for Programme for International Student Assessment. It’s a test taken every three years by fifteen-year-olds worldwide. It tests students’ ability in math, reading and science. Last year’s results were just released and they show that Shanghai students are ranked number one in the world. Yes, that’s right! Shanghai students are the best in the world!
Shanghai students are the best because they are also the hardest working. No other students in the world put in as many hours of study, homework and test taking as Shanghai students. And few others feel the stress of schoolwork like Shanghai students.
That’s why the Shanghai education authority is encouraging students to step away from their books from time to time and take up hobbies or join clubs. Schools are setting aside time and providing facilities so that students can follow some personal interests such as photography, art, singing and dancing. They want students to have a little more flavor in their lives.
Doing well on the tests like PISA is important, but developing yourself as a whole person is also important. There is no end to the flavor you can add to pizza, and there should be no limit to the amount of flavors you can add to your own life.
1. Is PISA pronounced that same as pizza by Chinese?__________________________________________________________
2. What does PISA stand for?
__________________________________________________________
3. How often is PISA taken?
__________________________________________________________
4. What did the last year’s results show?
__________________________________________________________
5. Why is the Shanghai education authority encouraging students to step away from their books?
__________________________________________________________
6. Is it a good idea that schools are setting aside time and providing facilities for the students? Why or why not?
__________________________________________________________
