1 . The baobab tree is sometimes called “the Tree of Life." Baobabs grow in Africa and Australia. They are the most famous trees in Africa. Baobabs have very thick, wide trunks （树干）.Often the trunks have large empty spaces inside.
In South Africa, one famous tree had a hole so large that someone built a bar inside it. People could sit inside and order drinks. That tree was known as the Sunland Baobab. It was more than 1,000 years old. It was the biggest baobab in Africa. But in 2017 it fell down. In 2016, another famous baobab fell down and died. It was called the Chapman tree in Botswana.
A recent study shows that the problem is widespread. Adrian Patrut and his team started studying the baobabs in 2005.The team found bad news. In the past 12 years, “nine of the thirteen oldest and five of the six largest have died,” the report found. Sometimes parts of the tree didn't die. But the “oldest parts” did.
Experts aren't sure what is causing the baobabs to die. They think it may be related to climate change. But more research is needed to prove it.
The largest trees need more water and food than smaller baobabs. Patrut thinks that is what puts them at greater danger. More heat and less rainfall could have a big influence on the trees.
In Zimbabwe a fungus（真菌）turns baobabs black before they die. But Patrut's study didn't find signs of a widespread disease. No matter the cause, the loss is huge.
Baobabs are amazing. They are a major food source for people. The trees grow white flowers that open at night. Bats spread the pollen（花粉）and help the trees grow fruit. Their white fruit is called monkey bread. People use it as food and to make cool drinks. People make paper, cloth, and even drugs from baobab bark（树皮）.
1. What do we know about the Sunland Baobab?| A．It was the biggest baobab in Australia. |
| B．It was the oldest tree in the world. |
| C．It fell down in 2016 in Botswana. |
| D．It once had a bar inside it |
| A．More baobabs are dying, |
| B．Old baobabs are going to disappear. |
| C．Trees worldwide have common problems. |
| D．Trees' living environment is getting worse. |
| A．are certain human activities put them in danger |
| B．are sure it is because of climate change |
| C．have proved disease is the main cause |
| D．need to carry out more studies |
| A．The great uses of baobab trees |
| B．The danger of losing baobab trees. |
| C．How baobab trees help other plants |
| D．The importance of protecting the environment. |
2 . Yesterday, the head of the US federal public health agency said it's on its highest warning level of the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa. More than 930 people are thought to have died from the virus so far in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria.
Ebola can be deadly in up to 90% of cases, depending on the type. The virus is spread through direct contact with body fluids from an infected person. There is currently no known cure or vaccine for the virus.
The reason why the market hasn't produced a drug to battle Ebola is that there are not many people who die from this disease. In the history of this disease, there have been probably fewer than 3,000 known deaths since 1976, among which only one was not in Africa. Besides, most drug companies are interested in drugs that will treat millions of people since it costs hundreds of millions of dollars to develop a drug. However, the U.S. government got interested in this because of its concerns about whether Ebola could actually end up as a terrorist agent. The government think it would be better if they develop some drugs in their back pocket, should somebody try to use this virus to attack people.
Although there hasn't been an effective cure for Ebola, at present there are three different methods to treating this disease. The first is very similar to other anti-viral drugs that are already at the market and this approach is being developed by a company called BioCryst Pharmaceuticals. The second one uses a completely different method, and it uses genetic material that can actually block the viruses’ own genetic material. This is a kind of far out idea and it's being developed by a Canadian company called Tekmira. And the third is a cocktail treatment of antibodies. This was the drug given to the two sick Americans. And it now also has been given to a Spanish minister who got sick while in West Africa.
At the current trend, within another few weeks, there will have been more cases in this outbreak than in all previous recognized outbreaks of Ebola put together. The governments in several countries have now introduced a number of measures aimed at preventing the spread of the virus.
1. Why is American government interested in developing a cure for Ebola?| A．Because they believe it can bring good profits. |
| B．Because they foresee Ebola may spread in the U. S. |
| C．Because they think it can help millions of people. |
| D．Because they find Ebola might be used as a terrorist tool. |
| A．Hugging. | B．Kissing on the face. |
| C．Talking to a patient. | D．Sharing injection needles. |
| A．the treatment of Tekmira | B．the new vaccine for the virus |
| C．the cocktail treatment of antibodies | D．the drugs produced by BioCryst Pharmaceuticals |
| A．The cases of former Ebola outbreaks. | B．The importance of preventing Ebola. |
| C．The action taken by some governments. | D．More examples of future outbreaks. |
3 . The Torch Festival (火把节) is a traditional festival which is celebrated among some ethnic groups in southwestern China, such as the Yi, Bai, Hani, Lisu, and Lahu, etc. It usually falls on the 24th or 25th of June, with three days of celebrations. The festival came from worship (崇拜) of fire by ancestors (祖先). For some ethnic groups, it’s a tradition in the festival for elders to share farming experience with young people and educate them about taking care of crops.
During the festival, big torches are made to stand in all villages, with small torches placed in front of the door of each house. When night falls, the torches are lit and the villages are bright. At the same time, people walk around the fields and houses, holding small torches and placing the torches in the field corners. Inside the villages, young people are singing and dancing around the big torches that keep burning throughout the night. Other activities like horse races are also held during the festival.
In a horse race of the Yi people in Yunnan, torches are used to form hurdles for riders to get through. The Hani people in Yunnan traditionally tie fruits to torches with strings. When the strings are broken after the torches are lit, people struggle for the fruits for good luck.
For the Lisu people in Sichuan, the festival is an occasion for holding torch parades. Big torches are carried by teams of people, which is like a fire dragon. If different teams meet, it’s a tradition to exchange the big torches with one another.
1. What can we know about the Torch Festival from the first paragraph?| A．It has nothing to do with farming. |
| B．Its celebrations usually last two days. |
| C．It is a traditional festival of all China. |
| D．It is a festival to show worship of fire. |
| A．ancestors. | B．young people. |
| C．elders. | D．ethnic groups. |
| A．Why the festival is enjoyed. | B．Where the festival is celebrated. |
| C．How the festival is celebrated. | D．What torches are used for the festival. |
| A．Holding torch parades. | B．Tying fruits to torches with strings. |
| C．Struggling for fruits for good luck. | D．Using torches as hurdles for a horse race. |
4 . An earthquake is one of the most common natural disasters. It may cause great damage. So it is wise to learn some simple safety tips to protect yourself or your family members.
Fragile items like those made of glass are easily broken and should usually be placed on a lower surface, near the ground instead of placing them in the cupboards higher up. Never place them near your bed, sofas and other furniture where you would be sitting or lying down. When there is a strong movement, these pieces will fall on the floor directly and not on you.
There is a strong chance of short circuits (短路) and fire during an earthquake. Make sure you turn off electrical connections and gas immediately when an earthquake happens.
During an earthquake, lie beneath an object that is not easily damaged. Do not go near objects that could directly fall on you. Never use the elevator to go down. Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries happen when people inside buildings try to go out. Use the staircases at all times.
If you are outdoors, do not take shelter under a tree, streetlights, electric poles or tall buildings. If you are driving, stop your car and stay in a safe place. Do not park your car under a tree or any tall object.
If trapped in debris (瓦砾堆), cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing. Tap on a pipe or the wall so that rescuers can find you. Use a whistle (哨子) if one is able to get. Never shout for help. Shouting can cause you to breathe in dangerous amounts of dust. Do not light a match(火柴) because you may burn yourself. Do not move about or kick up dust.
1. The purpose of the passage is to tell readers__________.| A．the damage caused by earthquakes | B．the rescue work after earthquakes |
| C．how to prevent earthquakes | D．what to do about earthquakes |
| A．Easily found | B．Easily broken |
| C．Expensive | D．Heavy |
| A．go out of the building at once | B．drive to a safe place quickly |
| C．take shelter under a tree | D．turn off electricity and gas immediately |
| A．shout for help aloud. |
| B．cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing. |
| C．tap on a pipe or the wall hard so that rescuers can find you. |
| D．use a whistle if possible. |
5 . China Train Guide
Quick Guide on China Train Travel
If you’re looking for an affordable and comfortable way to get around China, train travel is the way to go. Getting train information and cheap train tickets has never been easier. Online train ticket booking makes it easy for travelers to look through China’s train timetable, compare train fares, and look for ticket availability. Once you’ve found a suitable train, you can book online and pick your tickets up at the train station or get them delivered to your home or hotel. Train tickets can be booked online a minimum of 35 minutes and a maximum of 60 days before departure.
How to choose train types
When you’re buying China train tickets online, you’ll notice that the journey duration differs depending on which type of train you choose. China train types can be recognized by their letter codes G, D and C trains are high-speed trains, while Z, T and K are slower or overnight trains. China’s high-speed trains run between Chinese provincial capitals and first-tier Chinese cities. G trains (high-speed trains, standing for gāotiě) are China’s bullet trains—the fastest trains with a maximum speed of 400 km／h. Tickets for these trains are the most expensive.
How to buy train tickets
Unless you can read Chinese, there are only two ways to make train reservations in China:
—Online train ticket booking with a travel agency (up to 60 days before departure).
—At the train station／local ticket agency with your passport (up to 58 days before departure).
How to read train tickets
When reading your train ticket, please take note of the Chinese characters and Pinyin printed next to your departure / arrival city. Directions (North, South, East, and West) appear in Pinyin (Bei, Nan, Dong, and Xi), not English. Please make sure you are going to the correct train station.
1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?| A．It’s difficult to get train information in China. |
| B．You can get on the train without tickets after booking online. |
| C．Traveling by train in China is not very expensive. |
| D．Train tickets online are available at any time within 60 days before you leave. |
| A．G trains | B．Z trains | C．D trains | D．Overnight trains |
| A．Native tourists. | B．Travel agencies. | C．Businessmen. | D．Foreign travelers. |
To really benefit from swimming, every swimmer should learn, as soon as possible, these four basic strokes; butterfly, backstroke, Breaststroke, and crawl. I feel that one of these-the breaststroke-is different from the others, since some young swimmers use this stroke naturally, without any training.
In swimming there are certain rules every swimmer should follow:
1). Never swim alone! No matter how good you are in the water, don’t risk drowning by swimming alone. If you swim by yourself, with no life guards or friends with you, you may get into trouble.
2). Don't go beyond your abilities. Most swimmers know enough not to swim too far from the bank or the beach, Showing off by doing dangerous tricks is no good. Swim safely and you will continue to swim and alive.
3). Don't smoke. Swimming depends on a healthy body; good lungs are part of it.
4). Work at any activity that builds muscles.
1. Little children can learn to swim as soon as _____.
| A．they can talk |
| B．they start walking |
| C．they have no fear of the water |
| D．they are five or six years old |
| A．stupid | B．sensible | C．dangerous | D．not smart |
| A．butterfly | B．backstroke | C．breaststroke | D．crawl |
| A．the water is too cold |
| B．your parents would not be happy |
| C．something in the water might attack |
| D．you might drown |
