3-D printing builds homes of the future
What can 3-D printers(打印机) make? They can make a lot of things, such as toys and cars. But what about a house? In Netherlands(荷兰), 3-D printed houses will soon come into life. Netherlands is the first country to build such houses.
Scientists decide to build five houses with 3-D printers. They will finish the first house in 2019. It will be a three-bedroom house. For the first house, only the walls will be 3-D printed. A 3-D printer will print it with a special cement(水泥). The cement looks like cream. The printer will print it layer upon layer to build the walls. After that, workers will make the walls stronger.
When they start working on the fifth house, the scientists hope that they can build most parts of the house with 3-D printing.
The 3-D houses have many advantages(优点). For example, they use less cement than common houses. This is good for the environment. Also, 3-D printing can make buildings in almost any shape.
1. When will the first 3-D printed house be finished?2. What are the walls of the 3-D printed house made of?
3. Do you want to live in such a 3-D printed house? Why or why not?
2 . Local markets are interesting places. People go to markets early in the morning to buy fruits, vegetables, meat and fish. People also love local markets because the food is very fresh and cheap.
Fruits, vegetables and meat often come from the farm the same day they are sold. The fish are often very fresh and come to the market straight from the fishing boat. But the market doesn’t sell the same things every day. You can only buy some fruits and vegetables during some certain(特定的) season.
At the market, vendors(小贩) sell chicken, pork and beef. Just tell the vendor what kind of meat you want. Then say how much you want, and they will get ready the meat for you. If you don’t want to cook, you can also buy cooked food at the market. Then you can take it home and eat it.
Do you need any non-food items(非食品)? You can find those at the market, too! You can buy toys or books there. Do you need some new clothes or new shoes? You can also buy those at the market. Many people like to shop at the market. They can buy almost everything they need in one place.
1. What can’t you buy at local markets?| A．Fish. | B．Toys. | C．Meat. | D．Cars. |
| A．cooked food | B．non-food items | C．fresh fish | D．meat |
| A．Because local markets are interesting. | B．Because the food there is fresh and cheap. |
| C．Because local markets sell the same things. | D．Because people there are friendly and nice. |
3 . Peppa Pig takes over China
Who’s the most popular cartoon (卡通) character in China right now? It might be Peppa Pig. This little girl pig is the main character (角色) on the British TV show Peppa Pig.
The show has been on TV in 40 languages (语言) in more than 180 countries and areas. It’s about the everyday lives of the Peppa Pig family members. The show is mainly for preschoolers. But many older kids and even adults (成人) have become fans of the show as well.
“I think its popularity is partly down to it being ageless.” Richard Riding who plays Peppa’s dad told the Mirror.
The show’s stories are simple, but its humor (幽默) is not too childish. Peppa makes both kids and adults laugh.
For example, Peppa is unhappy because she doesn’t know how to whistle (吹口哨). She phones her friend, Susie Sheep, to ask her if she can whistle. Susie says she can try to do it. She makes it on her first try! Peppa feels even worse! She hangs up on her friend.
Peppa isn’t perfect (完美). But she is very real, and so are the other characters on the show. And that makes the show quite special.
1. Who is Peppa pig?| A．Peppa pig is mainly for the kids of China. |
| B．Peppa pig is a student who is always unhappy. |
| C．Peppa pig is the most popular cartoon character in the world. |
| D．Peppa pig is a little girl pig which is the main character in the cartoon. |
| A．It talks about the Peppa pig family’s everyday life in the UK. |
| B．It talks about different lifestyles in some families. |
| C．It is about some bad stories in Peppa Pig’s family. |
| D．It is about Peppa pig and her friends in her family every day. |
| A．It is the example why Peppa makes both kids and adults laugh. |
| B．It describes what Peppa pig is like in the cartoon. |
| C．It describes the main reason why people love Peppa pig. |
| D．It shows Peppa pig is very lucky. |
| A．Because a lot of people like it very much. |
| B．Because the characters on the show are not perfect but very real. |
| C．Because the little girl pig is the main character on the British TV. |
| D．Because it has been on TV in 40 languages in about 180 countries. |
4 . For American students, the spring holidays are the best. The spring holidays are near Easter Day(复活节) in early April. High school students get a week or two away from school. It’s time to relax and enjoy the spring time.
What do students do during the spring holidays? They like to do many things, but they all beat studying! High school students don’t have their own cars. So students take trips with their parents or play in their neighborhood. I often ride my bike around my neighborhood with my classmates. Or I look for Easter eggs in my back yard. Some students like to go for a walk in the countryside, and others are just happy to stay at home and watch TV.
1. How long are the spring holidays in America?| A．A week or two. | B．Five days. | C．One month. | D．Two months. |
| A．Always. | B．Often. | C．Never. | D．Sometimes. |
| A．可是他们打败学习 | B．可是它们都与学习无关 |
| C．可是它们都与学习有关 | D．可是他们为学习打架 |
Look! Here comes a cute bus. It looks like a panda with black ears and big eyes. It can carry 22 people and is about 12 meters long. A Chinese company made it. The Smart Panda Bus uses AI technology（科技). It can do a lot of things. The bus can drive by itself without a driver. Don’t worry! It’s very safe. When you get on the bus, you can swipe（刷)your hand. The bus will read it and know who you are. There are also robots(机器人) on the bus. You can talk to them and ask them for help. If there is a thief on the bus, the bus will call the police. People in some cities, such as Changzhou in Jiangsu, Jinan in Shandong and Deyang in Sichuan, can take the bus. Do you want to have a try? Inside the bus, there is a machine. You can buy breakfast and dinner on the bus. This can save you a lot of time.
1. Which of the following statements about the Smart Panda Bus is correct?| A．The driver is a panda. | B．It is 22 metres long and 12 metres wide. |
| C．It can carry 22 people at a time. | D．It is all black. |
| A．It is driverless. | B．It is dangerous. |
| C．It is free for people to take. | D．There are police officers on it. |
| A．We can swipe the hand on the bus. |
| B．We can buy breakfast and dinner on the bus. |
| C．We can talk to robots and ask for their help. |
| D．We can also help to drive the bus. |
| A．Changzhou. | B．Jinan. | C．Suzhou. | D．Deyang. |
6 . In America, almost every bookstore sells books about food and cooking. Most newspapers and magazines talk about Americans’ eating habits（习惯）. Many articles write about where to eat. So we can see eating is very important to every American.
Salads (沙拉) are very popular and are served all year round. Americans enjoy coffee. Most of them drink coffee or tea before or after every meal. Many Americans have coffee or tea with their meals. The main course (主食) served in American meals is usually meat, fish or chicken, but rarely (稀少的) more than one of these are served at the same meal. Seafood is sometimes served as the first course.
Most Americans eat breakfast and lunch quickly, but the evening meal is longer and a time for the family to get together. This is their main meal in a day. On Sundays or holidays, Americans like to oversleep. They get up very late in the morning, so they have to eat their brunch.
1. In the USA, people can buy books about food and cooking ________.| A．in a food shop | B．everywhere |
| C．in most of the bookstores | D．in all the bookstores |
| A．Americans have quite different eating habits from Chinese |
| B．Chinese eating habits are just the same as those in the USA |
| C．we must learn from Americans’ eating habits |
| D．Americans’ eating habits are the best of all in the world |
People make many different kinds of houses around the world. Weather tells us what kind of house we need to make.
In hot places such as south China and south America, the weather is warm so people can be outside most of the time. But they still need to keep themselves safe from the sun, rain and insects. Houses in such places can have screens on their windows and doors. They let the wind into the houses, but keep out the insects.
In Canada, north China and other cold places, houses need to keep out the cold and keep in the heat. These houses need thick walls. lf there is a lot of snow, the roofs(屋顶) need to let the snow fall off easily. These houses cannot have flat roofs. The roofs must also be strong, so they can hold a lot of snow.
What kind of house do you live in? Is it good for the weather you have?
1. How many countries are mentioned(涉及到）in this passage?______________________________________________________________
2. Why do some houses need thick walls?
______________________________________________________________
3. Would you like to live in the house with screens? Why?
______________________________________________________________
Now in the United States, I am trying to learn new school rules. My school has clear rules.
As for clothes, we must wear school uniforms. We can wear brown, black or gray trousers and shoes. Our shoes must be made of leather or canvas (帆布). No trainers or boots can be at school. We must change into the PE uniform and trainers before doing sports.
The break time between each class is only four minutes. We need to get to the classroom for the next class on time. Sometimes, there is even no time to go to the restroom. We usually put all the books in school bags two minutes before class is over.
If we are late, we must give a good reason or a permission (允许) card from the teacher of the last class. Or we will get lower scores. If we are late five times in one term, then we will be called truants (逃学者). This may bring us a detention (课后留校).
1. What is the passage mainly about?________________________________________________
2. How much time do the students have between classes?
________________________________________________
3. Do you like wearing school uniforms? Why or why not?
________________________________________________
| Rules for Our School 1. SMILE. People catch smiles just like they catch colds? If you smile at a person, he or she will probably smile at someone else. Soon the whole school will be smiling. 2. FIND WAYS TO HELP. If someone falls, help that person up. If someone has a lot of books, open the door. If a friend does not understand something, help him or her. | 3. ALWAYS SAY THANK YOU. Remember to say “Thank you” to others. The person you thank will feel good. The person will also be glad to help you next time. 4. NEVER PUSH. Lots of people share our school. We share the halls. We share the water fountains(饮水器). You can’t always be first. So do not push! You will make others angry. You might even hurt someone. Instead, say, “You first!” |
1. Why do you think you should smile?
| A．It can help make others happy. | B．smiles are hard to catch. |
| C．Few people know how to smile. | D．The school will not catch a cold. |
| A．Don’t push others in line. | B．Don’t help new students. |
| C．Share with other students. | D．Always say “Please”. |
| A．Don’t be angry with others. | B．Be nice to other people. |
| C．Listen to your teachers carefully. | D．Always be first. |
10 . American people like to say “thank you” when others help them or say something kind to them. People of many countries do so, too. It’s a very good habit.
You should say “thank you” when someone passes you the salt on the table, when someone walking ahead of you keeps the door open for you, when someone says you have done your work well, or you have bought a nice thing, or your city is very beautiful. “Thank you” is used not only between friends, but also between parents and children, brothers and sisters.
“Excuse me” is another short sentence they use. When you hear someone say so behind you, you know that somebody wants to walk past you without touching you. It’s not polite to break others when they are talking. If you want to speak to one of them say “excuse me,” first, and then begin talking. You should also do so when you begin to cough or make any noise before others.
Let’s learn to say “thank you” and “excuse me”.
1. You should say “thank you” when ________.| A．you say something kind to others | B．you help others |
| C．someone helps you | D．you need others to help you |
| A．cough | B．make some noises | C．go first | D．all of the above |
| A．Thank you | B．That’s very kind of you |
| C．Excuse me | D．I’m sorry |
