1 . Many parents make their children do chores around the house. For some families, teaching children what to do and how to do chores is easy. But in other families, getting children to do some housework can be a very big problem.
It is a good idea for parents to teach their children at an early age that all family members must work together to make the house clean, and each person must do his or her share (份) of the work. We can do this by starting a plan for chores and responsibilities when children are young.
Chores are good for children—even very young ones. Doing chores teaches children many important skills (技能) such as working together and being responsible. Doing chores also teaches children what fairness (公平) is. The skills and values (价值) from doing chores will do good to children all their lives.
1. The first paragraph tells us ________.| A．all the parents make their children do chores |
| B．it’s easy to teach children to do chores |
| C．some children think doing chores is difficult |
| D．it is different on teaching children to do chores among different families |
| A．young children | B．all family members | C．each person | D．girls |
| A．to work together with others | B．to be responsible | C．what fairness is | D．A, B and C |
| A．It’s a big problem to teach children to do chores. |
| B．Doing chores doesn’t teach children what fairness is. |
| C．Some children like to do chores but some don’t. |
| D．In a family, young children don’t need to do chores. |
2 . The Internet has changed the world. People are able to get and share information in seconds. Nowadays, people begin to wonder: Is the Internet good or bad? “It’s impossible to answer that question because the Internet means so many things,” says psychologist (心理学家) Patricia Greenfield.
Some are truly wonderful. In many ways it makes life easier and simpler. It helps us get things done more quickly. It opens up the world to us. And if a friend lives far away, the Internet makes it easy to stay in touch.
However, the issue (话题) isn’t black and white. Some can become real problems if we don’t take care. Spending too much time online is harmful to people’s health. It may even cause them to be less social with family and friends. Besides, some people attack the web or use the Internet to steal others’ personal information, even banking information. Most of the young students think the Internet is simply an icon on the screen. Kids won’t realize that the Internet is a network of millions of computers until about 10 years old.
The Internet can be a useful tool, but don’t let it take up all of your time. Use the Internet properly (适当地) and carefully and it can make your life more colourful.
1. By saying “the Internet means so many things”, Patricia Greenfield means that _________.| A．the Internet is hard for people to master |
| B．the Internet brings advantages (优点) as well as disadvantages |
| C．the Internet has more advantages than expected |
| D．the Internet has more disadvantages than expected |
| A．Accidents will happen. | B．Actions speak louder than words. |
| C．Every coin has two sides. | D．A good beginning makes a good ending. |
| A．harmful | B．simple | C．difficult | D．everything |
| A．The Internet helps us get and share information quickly. |
| B．Not everything on the Internet is safe. |
| C．Using the Internet for a long time is not good for our health. |
| D．Young children should not use the Internet. |
| A．Advantages of using the Internet. | B．Disadvantages of using the Internet. |
| C．How to stop using the Internet. | D．How to use the Internet wisely. |
You can bend but don’t break
As a child, one of my favorite things to do was to go to the river and sit on the bank. There I would enjoy the peace and quiet. Watching the river, listening to the chirps of the birds and the rustling of leaves in the trees relaxed me after a tough day at school.
I noticed that the bamboo trees would bend in the wind. However, after the wind had died down they would stand up again.
When I think about the bamboo tree’s ability, the word resilience comes to mind. This word means the ability to get over shock, depression and other difficult situations quickly.
Have you ever felt like you are about to snap? Have you ever felt like you are at your breaking point? Thankfully, you have survived such an experience.
During the experience you probably felt a mix of emotions. You felt exhausted.
Life is a mixture of good times and bad times, happy moments and unhappy moments. The next time you are having a bad time or unhappy moment, bend but don’t break. Try your hardest not to let the situation get the best of you.
Hope will get you through the unhappy times. With hope for a better tomorrow or a better situation, things may not be as bad as they seem to be.
If life gets tough and you are at your breaking point, show resilience. Like the bamboo tree, bend, but don’t break!
1. What did the author enjoy doing as a child?| A．Playing with friends in the park. | B．Sitting by the river and observing nature. |
| C．Going to the mountains for a hike. | D．Riding bicycles in the neighborhood. |
| A．Fragility. | B．Resilience. | C．Rigidity. | D．Weakness. |
| A．The ability to withstand pressure. |
| B．The ability to break easily. |
| C．The tendency to avoid challenges. |
| D．The ability to recover quickly from difficulties. |
| A．By avoiding challenges. | B．By giving up the things you do now. |
| C．By breaking under pressure. | D．By trying your best but not being beaten. |
| A．It makes situations worse. | B．It helps to get through tough times. |
| C．It is unnecessary. | D．It is a temporary feeling. |
Remember that you are special
The way you look is special. Do you know what I mean by that? We all look a little different. Some of us are tall. Some of us are fat. The point is, all of us have our own look – our own face.
Sometimes, we might feel bad about looking different. We might feel like we look ugly or weird (怪异的). But our differences are what make us special.
I recently watched a speech by a man named Robert Hoge. Hoge was born with a strange-looking face. His mother worried about the difficulties he would face in life.
But Hoge didn’t give up. Strangers would stare at (盯着看) him or even make fun of him. But he didn’t care. He decided to own his face and feel confident (自信的) in himself. He has gone on to live an amazing life.
It’s hard when you feel like you don’t look “normal (正常的)” or “perfect (完美的)”. But the truth is, no one is perfect. The important thing to remember is that you are special, no matter what you look like.
1. All of us have________.| A．the same look | B．the same figure |
| C．our own look | D．the same height |
| A．The author | B．Robert Hoge | C．Robert Hoge’s mother | D．The teacher |
| A．He felt sad. | B．He didn’t care. |
| C．He was worried about it. | D．He felt bad about it. |
| A．He had a cosmetic surgery(整容手术). | B．He didn’t go out. |
| C．He complained about his mother. | D．He continued to live his life. |
| A．many people look weird | B．being ugly is embarrassing |
| C．everyone is special | D．everyone is perfect |
Leaders work as a team
What is leadership (领导能力)? It means more than just being a leader. It also means working together with others. Swift Middle School students learned this through a number of interesting activities.
To celebrate American National Student Leadership Week, April 15-21, the school held many activities during lunchtime. In one activity, students stood in a circle (圆圈) and held hands with the person across from them. Their hands were like a “human knot (结)”. They had to work together to untie (解开) it.
In another activity, some students covered their eyes and their teammates helped them walk around obstacles (障碍).
“All of the activities aim to make students learn more about leadership,” Lindsay Capoferri, a schoolteacher told the Lancaster New Era. “They are doing a great job.”
Destiny Roland, an eighth-grader, also thought the project brought everyone together. “It helps you make new friends too,” she said.
1. According to the author, leadership is being a leader and________.| A．being strict with others | B．working together with others |
| C．letting others work | D．doing all work |
| A．March | B．April | C．June | D．July |
| A．rely on themselves | B．stand in a circle |
| C．work together | D．go round |
| A．To make students learn more about leadership. |
| B．To make the students learn how to play these games. |
| C．To make some fun for students. |
| D．To improve students’ learning ability. |
| A．improve grades | B．learn more skills |
| C．work better | D．make new friends |
Why are white planes better than colorful ones?
Most of the planes we see are white. Why is this?
Actually, white is not their natural color. They are painted white. This can protect them from sunlight. White paint reduces (减少) heat and any possible damage (损坏) from solar radiation (辐射). Less heat also means cheaper cooling costs for airlines.
That’s not all. White paint can help people find cracks (裂缝) and other surface (表面) damage more easily. White planes are also easier to see at night or in bad weather.
Colorful airplanes often lose their color after flying for years because of bad weather. Airlines will have to spend time and money repainting them.
All in all, the color white is a better choice.
1. White paint can protect planes from________.| A．rain | B．wind | C．sunlight | D．birds |
| A．damage planes | B．reduce cooling costs |
| C．increase cooling costs | D．increase heat |
| A．white paint | B．yellow paint |
| C．black paint | D．blue paint |
| A．Cracks | B．Sunlight | C．Bad weather | D．Machines |
| A．white | B．black | C．colorful | D．big |
7 . For years, it has been said that newspapers are at death’s door. Every year sees more news of closing. But why is the situation so terrible for newspapers?
Newspapers have a long history. The first newspaper was printed in the 1600s. Their most successful period is in the early 20th century.
With the appearance of radios and TVs, however, the circulation (发行量) of newspapers began to fall. 3By the mid-20th century, radios and TVs had become so popular that people no longer had to depend on newspapers for news. That was especially true for breaking news.
Afternoon newspapers were the first to suffer (受损害). After work, more and more people turned on TV instead of opening a newspaper. That was because TVs could provide news happening a short time ago. It’s true that newspapers couldn’t compete with TV on speed, but they could provide in-depth (深入详尽的) reports that TV news could not.
But newspapers suffered another heavier blow (打击) in the 1990s. With the appearance of the Internet, tons of information became free. Many newspaper readers realized that they could read news on the Internet. There seemed to be little reason to pay for a newspaper.
So what will happen in the future? Will newspapers die? Maybe not. Many newspapers are now making changes. Some are going digital (数字的). Some are going farther and taking the industry to places it has never been to. After all, people still want the news. And many agree that newspapers are still an important source (来源) of in-depth news, analysis (分析) and opinions. 4If newspapers disappear completely, there will be nothing to take their place.
A. 根据短文内容简要回答问题。
1. What made the circulation of newspapers fall in the 20th century?
2. Will newspapers disappear? Why or why not? (选择一种情况作答)
3. Please translate the underlined sentences into Chinese.
4. Please translate the underlined sentences into Chinese.
5. What’s the best title for the passage?
8 . Small children often laugh at (嘲笑；取笑) the short ones or someone who isn’t dressed as well as they are. But as they grow up, they learn not to hurt people’s feelings by laughing at their problems. They learn to laugh at other things. Most importantly, they learn to laugh at themselves.
Suppose (假设) you’re playing a game. You make a mistake and lose. Do you become angry? Or can you laugh at yourself and hope to do better next time? Suppose you are at a special dinner. You at times spill (溅) some food. Why do you keep worrying about how clumsy (笨拙) you look? Why not laugh it off and enjoy yourself anyway? If you can, it’s a good sign you’ve really grown up.
1. This article is mostly about ________.| A．why laughter is good for your body | B．what you should laugh at |
| C．where you may laugh | D．who you may laugh at |
| A．have problems | B．not to be worried | C．dress well | D．play games |
| A．not to spill food | B．not to be worried | C．not to enjoy yourself | D．to grow up |
| A．jokes | B．pictures | C．children | D．yourself |
| A．make a mistake | B．lose a game | C．become angry | D．try again |
9 . Mobile phone has become a problem for middle schools. Some middle schools in Australia have banned (禁止) students from carrying mobile phones during school hours.
Mobile phone use among children has become a problem for the schools this year. Several children have got mobile phones as Christmas presents, and more students want them.
Mary Bluett, an official (官员) said mobile phone use is a distraction (分心) to students during school hours and it also gives teachers so much trouble in their classrooms. Teachers were also saying that sometimes students might use phone messages to cheat (作弊) during exams.
The official said some schools had tried to ban mobile phones. Some parents felt unhappy because they couldn’t get in touch with their children.
Many teachers said students should not have mobile phones at school, but if there was a good reason, they could leave their phones at school office. They also said there were many reasons why the students should not have mobile phones at school: they were easy to lose and were a distraction from studies.
Many people say that they understand why parents would like their children to have phones, but they think schools should let the students know when they can use their mobile phones.
回答下列问题。
1. Have some middle schools in Australia banned students from carrying mobile phones at school?
2. Probably from whom did some children get mobile phones?
3. What did some students use phone messages to do?
4. Why did some parents feel unhappy about banning mobile phones at school?
5. Is using mobile phones bad for students?
10 . I am sure you know the story of the turtle（乌龟） and the rabbit. It taught people many lessons. One of these lessons is that people who have all the advantages （the fast-jumping rabbit） can be beaten by those who have nothing but inner strength （内在的力量） （the slow turtle）.
It is true that the race of life, just like the one between the rabbit and the turtle, is often unfair. Some kids have all the luck. They were born healthy and their parents are rich. These kids wear nice clothes and they always have much money to buy anything they like. But many other kids have none of these things. They have to depend on their inner strength alone.
_______, this is not true. In fact, the “turtles” —kids from poor families —have some of the most important things for success. They are determined（有决心的） and hard-working. They move forward slowly but with great inner strength.
A student from Tsinghua University shared his personal experience online. He chose to get a part-time job and study hard while his classmates were having fun outside. He knew there would be plenty of time for fun once he had overcome all of the difficulties. His story may have encouraged “turtles”. The race of life is long. Even if you get off to a slow start, you can easily catch up if you make up your mind to do so.
1. What can we learn from the story of the turtle and the rabbit?| A．A person who has nothing can succeed easily. |
| B．A person who has advantages can succeed. |
| C．A person who has inner strength can get successful finally. |
| D．A person who works without rest can get successful easily. |
| A．All the people have different dreams. | B．People are treated differently in life. |
| C．Everyone wants to win the race. | D．Not everyone has the same starting point. |
| A．While many people believe the “rabbits” are always successful. |
| B．While many people believe the “turtles” are always successful. |
| C．Because many people believe the “rabbits” are always successful |
| D．Because many people believe the “turtles” are always successful |
| A．introduce his experience in Tsinghua University |
| B．encourage us to enter good universities |
| C．show us the importance of studying in the university |
| D．support his idea that poor students have special things for success |
| A．To advise us to try new things. | B．To tell us how to succeed quickly. |
| C．To show us the power of inner strength. | D．To encourage us to take races in life. |
