1 . Some children wish to be writers some day. They want to write stories or books for people to read. That’s good! It’s good to write something for people to read! But they should know that they need to be good readers first before they are really good writers. They should read a lot of books, instead（代替）of watching TV and spending a lot of time playing games when they are free.
There is more fun in reading; you want to look for more books to read.
Before you decide to be a good writer, you’d better say to yourself, “I must read more and more!”
1. This article mainly tells us that_________.| A．some children wish to be writers some day | B．it is good to write something for people to read |
| C．reading can be helpful for us to become a good writer | D．writers like to read more books for fun |
| A．because they want to be good readers | B．to write stories or books for people to read |
| C．to find good jobs some day | D．to get more money to keep a family |
| A．to do a lot of reading | B．to watch TV in the evening |
| C．to have wishes only | D．to be good writers right now |
| A．help you to be a good player | B．help you write well |
| C．make you work better | D．make you watch more TV at home |
| A．all children like to be writers | B．people like to read for children |
| C．all writers are children | D．children need to read more and more books |
2 . In the eyes of many foreigners, Chinese are the best hosts（主人）and the worst guests in the world. They’re not really bad guests, but because the guest-host relationship in China is much different than in some western countries, it appears they are not nice guests. And western host sometimes look rude（粗鲁的）in the eyes of Chinese guests.
In China, guests are almost like gods. Whenever I enter a Chinese person’s home, there is always fruit on the table for me, and someone is quick to bring me a cup of tea or water. In the west, generally the guest is not a god. Acting according to the host’s way of doing things is usual behavior for a guest.
My wife’s mother, a very kind elderly Chinese lady, doesn’t smoke. When I see some of her guests smoking in her house, as a non-smoker, I feel unhappy. Usually I want to stop them directly, but I must realize that in China, to be a good host, she must not do that. In most North American homes, if you are a guest, and the hosts are not smokers, you should not smoke in their house. At the very least, you could ask. “Is it OK if I smoke?” But, don’t be surprised if they say “No, you can’t smoke.” In our culture, if you smoke in their home, you are a bad guest, but if they do not allow you to smoke in their house, they are not a rude host.
Guests in China also have special habits. Some western people may not adapt to these habits very soon. Thankfully my wife is Chinese, so whenever we visit a Chinese family she tells me to buy them a gift. However, giving a gift to a host is not always necessary in my country. So, if you invite international guests to your house, don’t be too surprised if they don’t bring you a gift.
In China, you probably won’t need to change the guest-host relationship very much because you will probably only be the host, and Chinese are naturally very good hosts. If western hosts invite you to their house, try not to be too surprised if their style of treating you is not what you have expected.
1. Many foreigners think that Chinese hosts are the ________ in the world| A．best | B．worst | C．most natural | D．most different |
| A．buys some fruit | B．feels like a god |
| C．wants some gifts | D．takes a cup of tea |
| A．It’s OK if you smoke here. | B．Let’s smoke together. |
| C．Sorry, you can’t smoke here. | D．Smoking is a bad habit. |
| A．think back to | B．get used to | C．look forward to | D．keep close to |
| A．Foreigners should learn from Chinese. |
| B．Hosts must do things in the guests’ way. |
| C．Western hosts are always nice to guests. |
| D．People should understand cultural differences. |
3 . In December or early January, almost everyone wants to plan for a wonderful new year! We plan vacations, and we hope that we can achieve our goals. We make New Year’s resolutions and set big goals! If you carry out(实施) your plan successfully, you can improve your life or break your bad habits. Here are some tips for New Year’s resolutions:
·Think about the resolution you made last year. Have you succeeded? If not, why? Find out the reason and try this year.
·Do not make too many resolutions at a time. You had better go with one at a time.
·Let it be for the whole year not a day.
·Set goals that you need to do for the whole year, instead of a few days. Once you have made up your mind, try your best to achieve them.
1. When do we usually make New Year’s resolutions?| A．Always on January 1st. | B．Only in December. |
| C．At any time of the year. | D．At the end or the beginning of a year. |
| A．Because they’re exciting. | B．Because we have to do that. |
| C．Because they’re relaxing. | D．Because we hope to improve our life. |
| A．We should make new resolutions every day. |
| B．We should make lots of resolutions at the same time. |
| C．We should make a resolution for the whole year. |
| D．We should plan the resolution that we can do in a very short time. |
| A．可是 | B．而不是 | C．只是 | D．但是 |
| A．When to Make New Year’s Resolutions | B．Try Your Best in the Whole Year |
| C．Remember to Make A Plan on New Year’s Day | D．How to Make New Year’s Resolutions |
4 . If you go shopping in any toy store, you can see clearly the different games and toys for boys and girls: there are a lot of pink toys on one side of the store for girls; and dark-colored cars and guns for boys. Some big stores with toys may even have a pink floor for girls and a blue floor for boys. In fact, it is difficult to buy a toy for a girl that is not pink.
Some people think that too much pink is bad for girls. Sue Palmer, writer of Toxic Childhood, is very worried that most girls over the age of three are crazy about the color. According to some scientists, this happens for two reasons. Firstly, most companies offer too many products in pink. Also, many parents think their little daughter looks cute in pink. Sue Palmer says that girls at this age can not make proper decisions by themselves, but the pink can affect (影响) the choices and the decisions they will make in the future.
Some parents are worried too—for example, Vanessa Holburn, thirty-two, who has two girls under the age of four. Their bedrooms are a sea of pink and Vanessa is not happy. "Pink says that you are soft and gentle. Blue says that you are strong and powerful. I want my daughters to be strong and powerful. I'm worried that pink will not help them with that, "she says.
But not everyone thinks there's something wrong with pink. Grayson Turner is a father of three girls and he isn't worried at all. "My girls used to love pink when they were little, but as they get older, they change. Turner explains that his twelve-year-old daughter never wears pink clothes anymore." This love of pink is just a fashion (流行，时尚) and all fashions change," he adds. "It's only since the1940 s that people have started dressing girls in pink—before that it was a color for boys."
1. The underlined word "that" in Paragraph 3 means ________.| A．being soft and gentle | B．being strong and powerful |
| C．being gentle but powerful | D．being cute and beautiful |
| A．parents needn't worry about pink toys |
| B．all little kids love the color pink |
| C．pink has always been a color for girls |
| D．his girls now prefer the color blue |
| A．explain why girls are crazy about the color pink |
| B．make parents less worried about the color pink |
| C．encourage girls to give up playing with pink toys |
| D．show people’s different opinions about the color pink |
Have you ever been to Singapore? For thousands of tourists from China, this small island in Southeast Asia is a wonderful and safe place to take a holiday. On the one hand, more than three quarters of the population are Chinese, so you can simply speak Putonghua a lot of time. On the other hand, Singapore is an English-speaking country, so it's also a good place to practice your English!
Have you ever tried Chinese food outside of China? Maybe you fear that you won't be able to find anything good to eat when you travel. In Singapore, however, you'll find a lot of food from China; you won't have any problem getting rice, noodles or dumplings. Singapore is also an excellent place to try new food. Whether you like Indian food, Western food or Japanese food, you'll find it all in Singapore.
Most large cities have zoos, but have you ever been to a zoo at night? Singapore has a Night Safari. It might seem strange to go to a zoo when it's dark. However, if you go to see lions, tigers, or foxes during the daytime, they'll probably be asleep! A lot of animals only wake up at night, so this is the best time to watch them. At the Night Safari, you can watch these animals in a more natural environment than in a normal zoo.
One great thing about Singapore is that the temperature is almost the same all year round. This is because the island is so close to the equator. So you can choose to go whenever you like—spring, summer, autumn or winter. And, of course, it's not too far from China!
（1）Where is Singapore? Is it a wonderful place to take a holiday?（and）
（2）What languages can you speak there?
（3）Can you try different kinds of food there?
（4）What's the name of the night zoo? In what way can you watch the animals there?
（5）What's the best time to go to Singapore? Why?（because）
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6 . Parents, teachers, and others who deal closely with teenagers know how difficult the adolescent（青少年的）years can be. This was thought to be due to the "foolishness of youth".
Now, scientists study the physical development of the brain in more details than ever before. Their discoveries have led a new theory of why teens act this way.
Recently, scientists have discovered that though our brains are almost at their full size by the age of six, they are not fully developed. Only during adolescence do our brains truly "grow up". During this time, they go through great changes, like a computer system being upgraded（升级）. This "upgrade" was once thought to be finished by age 12. Now scientists have found that our brains continue to change until age 25. Such changes make us better at balancing（平衡）impulses（冲动）with following rules. But a still-developing brain doesn't do this well. The result, scientists believe, is the unpredictable behavior（不可预测的行为）seen in teenagers.
The studies show that teens are more likely to take risks. Luckily, the news isn't all bad. As brain scientist B. J. Casey points out, the teen brain inspires such behavior in order to help teens prepare for adult life.
One way the brain does this is by changing the way teens measure risk and reward（回报）. Researchers have found that when teens think about rewards, their brains create pleasure. Researchers believe this makes the rewards seem more important than the risks, and makes teens feel the excitement of new experience.
Research has also found that it makes social connection seem especially rewarding. Teens have a strong need to meet new people, because a teen brain can change to deal with new situations. So it connects social rewards with more pleasure. In this way, the brain encourages teens to have a wide circle of friends, which is believed to make them more successful in life.
Unluckily, this need for greater rewards can sometimes lead teens to make bad decisions. However, it also means that teens are more likely, and less afraid, to try new things or to be independent. And the impulses of the teen brain are what help teens leave their parents' care and live their own life successfully.
1. According to Paragraph 2, what have the scientists discovered now?| A．A changing brain helps follow the rules. |
| B．Our brains finish upgrading by age of twelve. |
| C．Our brains are fully developed by the age of six. |
| D．A developing brain can cause unpredictable behaviors. |
| A．teenagers should learn from their bad decisions |
| B．many teenagers are able to change their behaviors |
| C．the way the teen brain works makes them less afraid |
| D．the impulses of a teenage brain should be controlled |
| A．The teen brain makes risks less exciting. |
| B．The impulse of teen brain can benefit（有益于）teenagers. |
| C．Teenagers with more friends are more successful. |
| D．Teenagers make wrong decisions because of their brain. |
Carrots are grown on farms and in small family gardens all over the world. They are easy to plant and easy to harvest（收获）. They have a good taste.
Carrots should be grown in sandy soil that does not hold water for a long time. The earth also should not be too hard. To prepare your carrot garden, dig up the earth and turn it over.
Weather, soil, condition and time affect the taste of carrots. Warm days and cool nights are the best time to grow great delicious carrots.
The best way to decide if a carrot is ready to be harvested is by its color. Usually, the brighter the color is, the better the taste is.
Most people do not know that carrots can be grown during the winter months. If the winter is not cold enough to freeze the ground, you can grow and harvest carrots the same way as you do during the summer months.
Carrots are prepared and eaten in many different ways. They are cut into thin pieces and cooked with other vegetables or meat. They are also washed and eaten just as they come out of the ground.
1. Carrots are easy to plant but hard to harvest.2. Carrots should be grown in a field without water for a long time.
3. The best way to decide if a carrot is ready to be harvested is by its size.
4. Everyone knows that carrots can be grown during the winter months.
8 . How Can You Become a Successful Learner?
Everyone is born with the ability to learn. But whether or not you can do this well depends on your learning habits. Research shows that successful learners have some good habits in common.
Creating an interest in what they learn
Studies show that if you are interested in something, your brain is more active and it is also easier for you to pay attention to it for a long time. Good learners often connect what they need to learn with something interesting. For example, if they need to learn English and they like music or sports, they can listen to English songs or watch sports programs in English. This way they will not get bored.
Practicing and learning from mistakes
Good learners think about what they are good at and what they need to practice more. Remember, “Use it or lose it”! Even if you learn something well, you will forget it unless you use it. “Practice makes perfect”. Good learns will keep practicing what they have learned, and they are not afraid of to make mistakes. Alexander Graham Bell didn’t invent the telephone overnight. He succeeded by trying many times and learning from his mistakes.
Developing their study skills
It is not enough to just study hard. Good learners know the best way they can study. For example, they may take notes by writing down key words or by drawing mind maps. They also look for ways to review what they have learned. They may do this by reading their notes every day or by explaining the information to another student.
Asking questions
Good learners often ask questions during or after class. They even ask each other and try to find out the answers. Knowledge comes from questioning.
Learning is a lifelong journey because every day brings something new. Everything that you learn becomes a part of you and changes you, so learn wisely and learn well.
1. What does studying well depend on?2. Do good learners have anything in common?
3. What are the good habits?
4. Is it important to develop the studying skills?
5. Why is learning a lifelong journey?
9 . Earthquakes usually come without warning. What should you do if this happens to you? An earthquake is dangerous, but there are still things you can do to protect yourself.
Stay calm as the earth begins to shake. Your chances of survival in an earthquakes go up if you can keep calm. Staying calm is not easy, but it can save your life.
If you are inside when the earthquake starts, get under a table or a bed. You need to have something strong around you to protect you from falling objects. Do not stand near walls or windows and stay out of the kitchen. The kitchen is dangerous because of many glass objects.
If you are outside, get to an open area as fast as you can. Stay away from buildings and trees. If you are in a car, pull over to a place where there are no trees or tall buildings and stay in the car. If you are close to the sea, try to get as far away from the water as possible. Earthquakes can cause huge waves（浪）that can really harm the people nearby.
When the earthquake is over, there is still plenty of danger. For example, gas fire often comes with an earthquake if you see a fire, quickly move outdoors to an open area.
Always remember to hope for the best but prepare for the worst.
1. What does the underlined word “survival” mean in Chinese?| A．坍塌 | B．废墟 | C．幸存 | D．失踪 |
| A．To stay away from buildings and trees. |
| B．To get as far away from the sea water as possible. |
| C．To run into your house quickly to take something valuable. |
| D．To drive your car to a place where there are no trees or tall buildings and stay in the car. |
| A．The ways to stay calm. |
| B．The ways to stay away from tall buildings. |
| C．The ways to move outdoors to an open area. |
| D．The ways to protect yourself when an earthquake happens. |
10 . A
The pencil is a very simple object. However, it took hundreds of people over centuries to make it what it’s like today.
The story of the pencil starts with graphite（石墨）.People cut it into small sticks and use them to write or draw. Around 1560, an Italian couple named Simonio and Lyndiana Bemacotti added wood holders to the graphite sticks. However, since the graphite is too soft, the pencils were easy to break. In 1795, in France, Nicolas-Jacques Conte worked out a method of mixing graphite powders with clay（黏土）. In this way, people made strong pencil cores（铅笔芯）. To this day, the method is still used in making pencils.
It was Henry David Thoreau who came up with the grading scale（分级量表）for different hardnesses of pencils. It was graded one through four, and grade two is the proper hardness for general use. The softer the pencil is, the more graphite it has in it, and the darker the line is. The harder the pencil is, the more clay it has, and the lighter the line is. Nowadays, pencils marked 2B are usually used in exams to mark answers. Pencils marked HB are usually used in daily writing. People usually use pencils of different hardness and blackness to draw different parts of a picture.
When pencils were handmade, they were made round. Then an American Joseph Dixon developed machines to make pencils. Later people found out it was easier and less wasteful to make a pencil which has six sides.
There is a pencil for everyone and every pencil has a story. The Blackwing 602 is famous for being used by a lot of writes. And then, you have the Dixon pencil company. It’s what people think of when they think of a pencil and what they most probably will buy when their children are about to learn to write.
In my opinion, there’s nothing that can be done to make the pencil better than it is.
1. Who improved the hardness of pencils?| A．Joseph Dia. | B．Nicolas-Jacquces Conte. |
| C．Henry David Thoreau. | D．Simonio and Lyndiana Bernacotti. |
| A．The grading scale. | B．The story of the pencil. |
| C．To make the pencil round. | D．To make a pencil which has six sides. |
| A．The development of pencils. | B．The main inventors of pencils. |
| C．What pencils are made out of. | D．Why pencils are widely used. |
