1 . Kids and science seem to be made for each other!
The basic science is a combination of thought and experiment called the scientific method. It’s where you start with an idea, create a way to prove or disprove your idea, and show what you learned based on facts. Learning to follow this process helps you think logically and carefully. These important thinking skills can be used in many areas of study. To give a child practice with these thinking skills is like giving vitamins to a developing mind.
One of the greatest things we can teach our children is to love learning. Learning science is a great way to do so. Children are easy to be interested in science. Because much of science is hands-on, it attracts most children. Nothing makes a child sit up and take notice like the “WOW!” of a great science showing.
Science opens doors to many subjects at school. Building love for science can be helpful in other areas of study. For example, one cannot love science for very long without becoming good at its language-math! So science encourages children to study math. An interest in science is an interest in how things were once understood compared to how they are understood now. Thus studying science lends itself easily to studying history. And after you do an experiment, you need to write a lab report. Therefore, writing becomes an important part of science.
Science is the basic thing for much of our life. The science of farming shows how our food is produced; biomedical science keeps us healthy; even our beds these days are designed according to scientific facts. We almost eat, sleep and breathe with the help of science! When we prepare the next generation of voters, creators and policy makers, it is important to make sure they are not only comfortable but also good at science.
1. According to Paragraph 2, what does learning the scientific method mean to kids?| A．Learning to do experiments. | B．Learning many areas of study. |
| C．Helping them develop thinking skills. | D．Refusing any ideas that are not logical. |
| A．Science is too difficult for children. | B．Children usually consider science boring. |
| C．Science can arouse children's interest in learning. | D．Children who are careless shouldn't learn science. |
| A．He usually has no time for other subjects. | B．He usually loses interest in other activities. |
| C．He is usually bad at such subjects like history. | D．He is likely to learn many other subjects well. |
| A．Why Kids Should Learn Science | B．Why Science Is Important |
| C．How Kids Can Make Use of Science | D．What Kids Should Learn at School |
2 . I come from a family that loves sports. My father coaches Little League baseball. My mother swims nearly every weekend. My brother is on his high-school basketball team, and I am the best hitter on my middle-school volleyball team. All of us have benefited(受益）from sports. One of the most common ways for kids to take part in sports is to join a team. Joining a sports team should be a school requirement.
Playing sports is good for both the body and mind. Everyone knows that exercise helps people stay fit. For example, swimming helps your heart work better and it also helps build muscle strength(肌肉力量）. In addition, school athletes(运动员） often have a healthy diet. I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables and avoid fatty foods because I must stay in great condition.
Being on a team allows students to enjoy a healthier social life. They often make more friends and can be some of the most popular kids in school. Since joining the basketball team, my brother has made friends with a lot of his tea mates and has showed more interest in spending time with them.
Kids who take part in school teams sometimes earn college scholarships(奖学金）. My brother's friend, Justin, played football in high school. His family did not have money to send him to college. However, a college invited him to play on its team. The college is paying for him to go to school. Joining a team turned out to be one of the best decisions he had ever made. Now he studies at a great college and plays on its football team Not every school athlete gets a college scholarship, but joining a school team-makes it possible.
Although some people may not like the idea of forcing students to join a school team, its many benefits such as keeping kids heal thy, new friendships, and possible scholarships cannot be denied(否认）.
1. What does the author mainly tell us in Paragraph 2?| A．Joining a school team has health benefits. |
| B．Students should spend more time exercising. |
| C．Swimming is an excellent sport for students. |
| D．School athletes must try to eat a healthy diet. |
| A．He had a busier life. | B．He got more chances. |
| C．He worked much harder. | D．He became more sociable. |
| A．He is a good football player. | B．He will be given a scholarship. |
| C．He is managing a school team. | D．He comes from a wealthy family. |
| A．He doubts it. | B．He is in support of it. |
| C．He is worried about it. | D．He pays little attention to it. |
3 . Did you know that the color of sports suits can influence(影响) the performance of an athlete? It may sound strange, but a study suggests this might be true.
Two British scientists studied the results of four sports in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games where the athletes had been given either a red or a blue sports suit. They discovered that when there was a big difference in the score, color had no influence on the result. But if it is a close match, the athlete in a red sports suit was more likely to win. Then they looked at the sports suits of the soccer team at the Euro 2004 championship. Again, teams wearing red won more games.
The two scientists got their idea from earlier studies of wild animals. It had been discovered that when a male shows red on its body, it sends a signal(信号) of it power and strength. For example, in many kinds of monkeys, the more the male shows off its red scars(伤疤) the more females it can attract.
Based on (根据) this fact, the British scientists thought that the idea might work for humans, too. According to them, when an athlete sees a competitor in a red sports suit, he gets a feeling that his competitor could be stronger than him. And that kind of feeling may have a bad influence on the player’s performance in the actual game. Although the idea is interesting, most people don’t accept that color signals in the animal world can really be useful to human sports. They think that it is unreasonable to develop an idea based on such a small number of examples. Much more research has to be done to prove(证明) the influence of sports suit colors on the performance of athletes.
1. What did the scientists find out about the 2004 Athens Olympic Games:| A．Athletes played equally well in four sports. |
| B．Game results had a big influence on the athletes. |
| C．Athletes dressed in red scored more in a close match. |
| D．There was a big difference in red and blue team’s scores. |
| A．It is quite strong. | B．It is a failure. |
| C．It is more powerful than other males. | D．It has attracted a lot of females. |
| A．weakness | B．pride | C．danger | D．shame |
| A．Interested | B．Satisfied | C．Doubtful | D．Thankful. |
4 . My teacher Mr. Bush is the most positive person I’ve ever met. He has the ability to
He always smiles and never gets
A few weeks ago, everyone in my class was feeling a bit
Mr. Bush’s
| A．pass on | B．apply for | C．consist of | D．give up |
| A．strict | B．patient | C．mad | D．curious |
| A．friends | B．needs | C．realities | D．difficulties |
| A．drowned | B．resisted | C．cured | D．relaxed |
| A．happened | B．changed | C．solved | D．included |
| A．forgiving | B．calming | C．encouraging | D．calling |
| A．sunshine | B．clouds | C．surprise | D．flowers |
| A．cheerful | B．down | C．eager | D．afraid |
| A．warmer | B．higher | C．better | D．happier |
| A．served | B．filled | C．bought | D．showed |
| A．hurt | B．care about | C．give away | D．affect |
| A．pleased | B．unfortunate | C．bright | D．perfect |
| A．way | B．direction | C．end | D．past |
| A．negative | B．optimistic | C．special | D．important |
| A．proud | B．careful | C．helpful | D．lonely |
5 . To Be a Deaf DJ
I was born in England with perfect hearing. In 1990, when I was five, my family moved to the United States. I started getting ear infections every three months or so. We didn’t have health insurance at the time, and when I got a third infection, my parents couldn’t afford the treatment. I went deaf in my right ear and was left with 50 percent hearing in my left. Over time, my remaining hearing dropped to 20 percent, where it is today. My doctors predicted that I would be thoroughly deaf by now, and I think I’m doing pretty well.
There was always music on in my house in my childhood. I loved listening to Metallica, Led Zeppelin, Michael Jackson. My dad was a DJ, so he played disco, folk, rock, and music from other countries. For my 18th birthday, my dad asked me to deejay at the restaurant. After doing that for a few weeks, I was interested in it. I desired to learn more. I e-mailed DJ Shiftee, a distinguished New York City DJ, “I know you like a challenge. How about teaching a deaf person to deejay?” He wrote back the next day, “Challenge accepted.” He tutored me twice a week for two years, helping me develop correct technique. I practiced four hours a day.
Now when I’m performing, muscle memory takes over. When I started, I wouldn’t tell the club managers that I was deaf. I would just show up, introduce myself, and start playing music. At the end of the night, someone would say, “Oh, here’s the check.” And I’d say, “What? Oh, I can’t hear.” They were always so astonished. Sometimes I would bring doctor’s notes because they wouldn’t believe me. It was reassurance that they were giving me opportunities to perform because I was brilliant, not out of sympathy. Eventually people started calling me “that deaf DJ,” and the name stuck.
What fascinates me about deejaying is the creativity. I use software that turns the music into lines of color on a computer screen. I’m visually hearing the music. The next time you go dancing, cover your ears, and you’ll start seeing that you’re able to hear the music in a different way. Music is not all about hearing. I pay all sorts of get-togethers now, from college parties to corporate events. I also go to elementary schools for the deaf and talk to the students about motivation and believing in themselves. I tell the parents, “My advice to you is let your kids chase their dreams. I’m a deaf DJ, so why not?”
1. Which of the following might result in the author’s hearing loss?| A．Monthly ear infection. | B．Moving to the U. S. |
| C．Family financial hardship. | D．The doctors’ prediction. |
| A．He taught him correct skills. | B．He discovered his talent for DJ. |
| C．He played at the restaurant for him. | D．He cultivated his taste for foreign music. |
| A．the author was in low spirits | B．the author impressed people deeply |
| C．the audience felt disappointed by the player | D．the audience looked down upon the player |
| A．working as a DJ involves creating | B．music helps him to see the world virtually |
| C．he motivates the kids to realize their dream | D．he desires to challenge something impossible |
6 . I began to grow up that winter night when my parents and I were returning from my aunt’s house, and my mother said that we might soon be leaving for America. We were on the bus then. I was crying, and some people on the bus were turning around to look at me. I remember that I could not bear the thought of never hearing again the radio program for school children to which I listened every morning.
I do not remember myself crying for this reason again. In fact, I think I cried very little when I was saying goodbye to my friends and relatives. When we were leaving I thought about all the places I was going to see—the strange and magical places I had known only from books and pictures. The country I was leaving and never to come back was hardly in my head then.
The four years that followed taught me the importance of optimism(乐观), but the idea did not come to me at once. For the first two years in New York I was really lost—having to study in three schools as a result of family moves. I did not quite know what I was or what I should be. Mother remarried, and things became even more complex for me. Some time passed before my stepfather(继父)and I got used to each other. I was often sad, and saw no end to “the hard times.”
My responsibilities in the family increased a lot since I knew English better than everyone else at home. I wrote letters, filled out forms, translated at interviews with immigration officers(移民局官员), took my grandparents to the doctor and translated there, and even discussed telephone bills with company representatives.
From my experiences I have learned one important rule: Almost all common troubles go away at last! Something good is certain to happen in the end when you do not give up, and just wait a little! I believe that my life will turn out all right, even though it will not be that easy.
1. How did the author get to know America?| A．From radio programs | B．From books and pictures |
| C．From her mother | D．From her relatives |
| A．often lost her way | B．did not think about her future |
| C．studied in three different schools | D．got on well with her stepfather |
| A．She worked as a translator. | B．She attended a lot of job interviews. |
| C．She paid telephone bills for her family. | D．She helped her family with her English. |
| A．her future will be free from troubles | B．it is difficult to learn to become patient |
| C．there are more good things than bad things | D．good things will happen if one keeps trying |
7 . On a day in Arkansas, some fishermen saw a bear cub（幼兽）in a tree. As hours went by, its mother didn’t return. So they called wildlife biologist（生物学家） Eastridge.
The bear cub was sick and hungry, weighing only 5 pounds and with his eyes not completely open. Eastridge called Lisa Stewart, who works at Appalachian Bear Rescue in Tennessee. Stewart always makes room for a new cub.
She named the bear Miracle because she thought it was a miracle that he had survived! As soon as she could, she stopped having contact with the cub so he would not become too used to humans. When the cub arrived, Stewart cleaned his eyes and put him in a house alone. Since Miracle was already 5 months old. Stewart gave him bowls of food and another bowl of a special formula(配方奶粉)， similar to a bear mother’s milk. Sometimes, Miracle would reach his head out of his house and take some formula or food. But he wasn’t eating too much.
Miracle was too weak to be with other bears. So Stewart gave him a toy bear named Buddy. He took it into his house and covered it with straw(稻草). He fed Buddy, too. Stewart often found the toy covered in formula and berries and its ears full of apple chunks. Now that Miracle had Buddy, he came out of his house more often and wanted to eat.
After two months, Stewart introduced Miracle to other bears so they could learn from one another. She avoided any direct contact with Miracle and the other bears. Stewart wanted to make sure they stayed afraid of humans so they could go back into the wild again. She always hid behind a fence(栅栏) and threw food over the top secretly. The bears hunted for this food as they would soon do in the wild.
Five months later, Rick Eastridge returned to pick up a healthy 90-pound Miracle and another bear from Arkansas named Rocky. Eastridge loaded the bears into boxes on his truck and transported them back to the wild. As soon as the bear boxes were opened, the two cubs ran for the woods─where they belonged.
1. What did Stewart do shortly after the cub arrived?| A．She helped him eat food. |
| B．She contacted with him. |
| C．She settled him down. |
| D．She named him Miracle. |
| A．remind him not to waste his food |
| B．kill his lonely time in his house. |
| C．develop his skills of making friends |
| D．rid Miracle of its fear of humans |
| A．Because he could learn how to find food in the wild. |
| B．Because he was too weak to be frightened by humans. |
| C．Because a good relationship could be developed. |
| D．Because she didn’t want to disturb his peaceful life. |
8 . Spanish artist Pablo Picasso (1881—1973 ) was one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. It was said that everything his brush touched turned to gold. But in truth, his works could be worth more than any precious metal. Picasso created more than 20,000 works in his life, including two of the world's 10 most expensive paintings.
Between 1907 and 1913, Picasso and his colleague Georges Braque started a revolution(革命) in painting. Before that, paintings were like windows—they were painted to look as if they had depth. You could tell which objects were "close" to you and which objects were "far away". But Picasso and Braque didn't want to paint like that any more. To them, a painting wasn't a window to the world; it was marks and lines on a flat surface. Why, they thought, should an object like a guitar be shown only from one angle (角度)? A guitar can look very different depending on which angle one looks at it from. Their answer was to show all the angles. They broke the guitar up into pieces. Their style of painting is called cubism (立体主义).
But why did they feel such a need to change things? Well, the world around them was changing, too. Science was turning people's ideas upside down. Albert Einstein's theory proved that what we knew about time and space was wrong. The world was becoming different; artists needed to start seeing and painting it differently.
The famous and terrifying painting Guernica (1937) shows a terrible scene during the Spanish Civil War. In the painting, you can actually see the sky falling. Picasso couldn't have painted it without the skills he learned during his cubist period. Breaking a guitar up into pieces was his preparation for showing the world being blown to pieces.
1. What is mainly discussed about Picasso in this article？| A．The high price of his paintings. |
| B．His difficulties in career. |
| C．The popularity of his paintings. |
| D．His achievements in art. |
| A．They painted objects with different depth. |
| B．They made their paintings look like windows. |
| C．They painted an object from different angles. |
| D．They broke objects up into pieces and painted them. |
| A．Einstein's theory. |
| B．The changing world. |
| C．A broken guitar. |
| D．Spanish Civil War. |
| A．To show the theme of Picasso's paintings. |
| B．To express Picasso's anger at the war. |
| C．To describe the preparations Picasso made before. |
| D．To present the artistic effect of cubism. |
9 . The Adventures of Amilya Rose: The Lie
By Chavonne D. Stewart, Jasmine Mills, published in 2014
Enter for a chance to win a copy of the book.It is the first book in a surprising series of children’s books. That’s fun and exciting and teaches kids valuable lessons.
Chester and Gus
By Cammie McGoven, published in 2017
Chester has always wanted to become a service dog. When he fails his certification test, though, it seems that dream might never come true－until a family adopts him to be a companion for their ten-year-old son, Gus. But Gus acts so differently from anyone Chester has ever met. He never wants to pet Chester. Chester’s not sure how to help Gus, but he’s determined to figure it out and show he’s the right dog for the job.
Invisible Emmie
By Terri Libenson, published in 2017
The novel tells the story of two totally different little girls in a class — quiet, shy and artistic Emmie and popular, outgoing, athletic Katie — and how their lives unexpectedly connected one day, when an embarrassing note falls into the wrong hands. Emmie eventually learns to speak up for herself, realizing that being social isn’t as impossible as she thought.
Ocean Meets Sky
By Terry Fan, Eric Fan, published in 2018
“Young readers will be attracted.”— The Washington Post.
Finn lives by the sea and the sea lives by him. Every time he looks out of his window, it’s a constant reminder of the stories that his grandfather told him about the place where the ocean meets the sky. Finn’s grandfather has gone but Finn knows the perfect way to honor him. He’ll build his own ship and sail out to find this magical place himself! And when he arrives, maybe he’ll find something he didn’t know he was looking for.
1. What can we know about The Adventures of Amilya Rose: The Lie?| A．It’s the first children’s book in 2015. |
| B．It’s only for children’s fun. |
| C．It may be gained for free. |
| D．It’s mainly about teachers’ lessons. |
| A．The Adventures of Amilya Rose: The Lie | B．Ocean Meets Sky |
| C．Invisible Emmie | D．Chester and Gus |
| A．Chavonne D. Stewart and Jasmine Mills | B．Cammie McGovern |
| C．Terry Fan and Eric Fan | D．Terri Libenon |
10 . Traveling to a foreign country can make you frightened if you don't know the local language.Mr.Thibault has a number of tips to help travelers manage in a destination when they don't speak the native tongue, based on his own experience.Here are a few of them.
Download a Language Translation App
Mr.Thibault tends to rely on Google Translate and suggests that travelers find an app that works for them.Ideally, find one that specializes in the language you need to translate especially if the language uses a character set you’re not familiar with, or have difficulty pronouncing.
Speak with Your Hands and Head
Pointing with your hands and nodding or shaking your head, Mr.Thibault said, are easy ways to communicate with locals in the country you’re in.“Gestures are all universally understood，” he said.
Learn a Few Key Words
Knowing basic words and phrases like "hello""thank you” and “I’m sorry，I don’t speak your language.Do you speak English?” is a must, Mr.Thibault said.Showing that you care enough to learn some of the language before you go, and at least enough to acknowledge that you don’t know more, is a form of respect and will make you go a long way to be liked by locals.
Work with a Local Travel Agent
If you feel particularly uncomfortable in the country you’re heading to, and you have to go anyway, relying on a local travel agent who knows both your and your destination's languages can be incredibly useful.
Hire a Local Tour Guide
A tour guide can help you get a better grasp of the local language and is a good person to practice words and phrases with.Whenever Mr.Thibault visits a new country, he books a sightseeing tour with a guide on the first day of his trip.“I use this day to learn about my destination and get familiar with the language,”he said.
1. In what situation should a language translation app be applied while traveling abroad?| A．When you have trouble pronouncing the words. |
| B．When you want to acknowledge your ignorance. |
| C．When you want to practice the local language. |
| D．When you feel uncomfortable in the country. |
| A．Downloading a language translation app. |
| B．Learning a few key words. |
| C．Using body language. |
| D．Working with a guide. |
| A．By speaking with your hands and head. |
| B．By learning a few key words. |
| C．By downloading a language translation app. |
| D．By hiring a local tour guide. |
