1 . What is the greatest threat to mankind? Maybe different people come up with different answers. However, there is no denying the fact that the only threat to humankind, apart from humankind itself, is, without any doubt, the nature. Natural disasters are the result of natural environmental processes that have a damaging effect on people. Natural disasters can come in many forms: such as geological events like earthquakes, tsunamis or mud-rock flows, climatic events like storms, hurricanes or tornadoes and fire events like forest fires and wildfires.
The damage done by natural disasters is mainly as a result of our inability to predict exactly when they will happen. Although great progress has been made in designing and developing forecasting models for some natural disaster, complete certainty is still impossible. Even to be pessimistic there is a possibility that human beings will never achieve accurate prediction of the happening of all natural disasters.
What's more, even though we were able to predict these disasters from nature, preventing them is equally impossible. So we only have two ways to both prevent injuries or deaths and reduce economic losses to the least. These two methods are to prepare before a natural disaster comes to hit, and to manage the necessary resources and public services after a natural disaster strikes.
These two things have always been at the leading position of the projects of both national governments and international organizations. In the United States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is responsible for the "preparedness, response and recovery planning" of both man-made and natural disasters.
Most natural disasters cannot be prevented, and both emergency preparation and good disaster management are the best ways to deal with them. Although natural events may appear to serve no purpose but simply to punish and destroy, natural disasters, a perfect symbol of the great power of the nature, are display of our planet's evolution and its state of change.
1. Which can't be regarded as a similarity between tornadoes and earthquakes?| A．They can not be prevented. |
| B．They are both geological events. |
| C．They cause damage to people. |
| D．They are both the result of natural environmental processes. |
| A．it is very difficult to predict when exactly they will happen |
| B．our forecasting equipment is too old for many natural disasters |
| C．we don't do enough preparation before natural disasters strike |
| D．we don't have the necessary public services to use after natural disasters strike |
| A．natural disasters can not be predicted at all |
| B．human beings are pessimistic to the future |
| C．being well-prepared can avoid economic losses |
| D．good preparation and disaster management are advisable. |
| A．a symbol of the power of nature | B．the greatest threat to mankind |
| C．Natural disasters and mankind | D．reduce losses to the least |
2 . The name England comes from the words “Angle land”. The Angles were people who came from northern Germany in the 5th and 6th centuries, after the Romans had left. The French name for England is Angleterre, which also means “Angle land”. There were also invasions (侵略) of southern England by Saxons and Jutes (people from another part of northern Germany). English people are sometimes called Anglo－Saxons. The Celts who used to live in this area were forced to move back into Scotland, Ireland, Cornwall and into Western France (the area known as Brittany).
England at first became a series of kingdoms, the strongest of which was Wessex (the name comes from West－Saxon). The names of many of the areas in England come from this period—for example, the name Sussex comes from South－Saxon, Essex from East－Saxon, and East Anglia from East－Angle. The Vikings then came from Denmark, and later the Normans invaded from France. Eventually England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland were united, forming the United Kingdom.
The English language is the main language spoken throughout England, although there are many different accents. It can be difficult to know how to spell or to pronounce some English words, because the language has been influenced by Latin and Greek (languages used at the time of the Romans, and used in religion and education until recent times), German (the language of the Angles, Saxons and Jutes), French(the language of the Normans), Gaelic/Scots (Celtic languages) and Danish (the language of the Vikings).
There are now many people throughout the United Kingdom who speak a foreign language either as their first or second language, mainly due to immigration (移民) from Europe or the Commonwealth (countries which used to be part of the British Empire).
1. What's the first paragraph mainly about?| A．The origin of the name England. |
| B．The Celts used to live in England but left for some reason. |
| C．Southern England once was attacked by Saxons and Jutes. |
| D．Angles and Saxons came from different parts of northern Germany. |
| A．Sussex | B．Wessex |
| C．Essex | D．East Anglia |
| A．English words are hard to spell and to pronounce. |
| B．England had been invaded by most of the countries of Europe. |
| C．The English language was influenced by several foreign languages. |
| D．It's hard for people who have different English accents to communicate. |
| A．Because they are required to learn a foreign language at school. |
| B．Because they plan to live outside the UK in the future. |
| C．Because they have moved from other countries. |
| D．Because they have worked in other countries. |
3 . Popular Houston Events
Brick Fest Live LEGO@(乐高积木）Fan Experience by Brick Fest Live
$22.50-$39.50
October 20, 10:00 am; October 21, 5:00 pm
NRG Center
The event is filled with attractions and activities designed to inspire, educate, and entertain people. It is for LEGOR lovers of all ages to roll up their sleeves and play with over a million LEGOR bricks! Now it comes to Houston for the first time!
Houston Fairytale Ball by Pretty Princess Parties
$20-$65
November 17, 9:00 am; November 18, 7:00 pm
Norris Conference Centers
Meet all the princesses at the Houston Fairytale Ball. This event is full of magical moments you won’t want to miss! Dance with Cinderella. Read with Rapunzel. Share snacks with Tinkerbell. All of our princesses travel to Huston this time, excited to sing, dance, and play with your little ones! Our event focuses on making sure your little ones feel royal throughout all of our activities.
Sickle Cell(镰状细胞）Education and Research Day by Texas Children’s Sickle Cell Center
Free
October 6, 11:00 am:-3:00 pm
Kingdom Builders’ Center
It is an event for families of children with sickle cell disease. It provides families in Huston the opportunity learn about managing sickle cell in fun ways. There is a theme every year and this year’s theme is “The Greatest Me” and we look forward to seeing your family here! To make sure your child gets a T-shirt you must register (登记) no later than September 3.
2019 KIDFITSTRONG Fitness Challenge by KIDFITSTRONG
Free
November 4, 11:00 am-6:00 pm
Playgrounds in Houston
It is the nation’s largest mobile fitness event traveling from coast to coast aimed at keeping kids active and healthy. Kids of all ages have a chance to take courses designed to challenge speed, strength, and general physical fitness. The event is free to the public and features a variety of activities for the whole family to enjoy.
1. What event can you enter in early November?| A．Brick Fest Live LEGOR Fan Experience |
| B．Houston Fairytale Ball |
| C．Sickle Cell Education and Research Day |
| D．2019 KIDFITSTRONG Fitness Challenge |
| A．NRG Center. |
| B．Norris Conference Centers. |
| C．Kingdom Builders’ Center |
| D．Playgrounds in Houston. |
| A．Brick Fest Live. |
| B．Pretty Princess Parties. |
| C．Texas Children’s Sickle Cell Center. |
| D．KIDFITSTRONG. |
| A．They last for two days. |
| B．They are free of charge. |
| C．They are family-friendly. |
| D．They focus on health problems. |
4 . The Gold Coast family holidays are always great fun whether you are from Australia or from abroad. There are beautiful beaches, adventure parks, nature parks and so much more.
There are so many sights to see here. It is a pity to drive in a car and you’ll miss a great part of it. Australia is home to many animals and birds that can only be seen when moving slowly and going into the areas where they live.
When you are on a bicycle, you have the strength of being able to stop whenever you want to see an interesting animal or bird that you have never seen before. It is a quieter way of transportation as well, so you might even be able to take a picture. When you are on the beach, you can breathe that clean air and view the beauty of the water and sand. It is a totally different experience from either simply sunbathing or passing it in a car.
There are many choices of hiring a bicycle to experience the Gold Coast attractions. There are stores that will fit a bike perfectly to your size. These bikes for both adults and children are in many styles and colors to please any taste. If you have ever wanted to try a tandem bike (双人单车), now is your chance, because they have those too.
A bicycle hire on Gold Coast is something that everyone should try at least once. This is a wonderful chance for anyone who likes to cycle and it is also a cheap way to travel with your family.
1. You’d better not drive in a car on Gold Coast because ________.| A．you will break the traffic rules | B．you will cause much noise |
| C．you can’t enjoy the beautiful sights well | D．you can’t drive into some parks |
| A．you can take photos of animals | B．it is a cheap way of traveling |
| C．you can get a clearer sight of animals | D．it is a good way to do sunbathing |
| A．advantage | B．weakness |
| C．appearance | D．importance |
| A．He thinks it’s a personal choice. | B．He supports it very much. |
| C．He doesn’t like this way of traveling. | D．He thinks it’s only good for adults. |
5 . Are you interested in Chinese traditional arts? Do you want to learn how to make them by hand? If so, come and join our clubs this weekend in our school.
Sky Lantern Club
Introduction:Sky Lanterns are made of bamboo and covered with paper. They were first used to ask for help when people were in trouble. Today, they are used to show happiness and good wishes.
Time:Saturday 8:30am— I0:30am
Place:Building 3 Room 501
Paper Cutting Club
Introduction:Paper Cutting turns a simple thing like a piece of paper into a beautiful piece of art. Pictures about flowers, animals and so on are put on windows, doors and walls as symbols of good wishes and good luck.
Time:Saturday 9:00an_11:00am
Place:Building 3 Room 502
Chinese Knot Club
Introduction:Chinese Knots are usually made of red and yellow ropes. They are used to express good wishes, including happiness, love, peace and so on.
Time:Sunday 2:30p.m —4 :30p.m
Place:Building 3 Room 603
1. What are Sky Lanterns made of?| A．Clay and paper | B．Cloth and steel. |
| C．Red and yellow ropes | D．Bamboo and paper. |
| A．Building 3 Room 501 | B．Building 3 Room 502 |
| C．Building 3 Room 603 | D．Building 3 Room 520 |
| A．A notice. | B．A story |
| C．A fiction. | D．A piece of news |
I’m a Senior Ⅰ study in a middle school. This term, my favorite teacher, Miss Mao, no longer teaches us. I want to see her, but I’m afraid that she no longer likes me and I don’t want to trouble her. I really miss her. What should I do?
Tian Yan
Dear Tian Yan,
It’s bad luck that you have lost your favorite teacher. But if she is still in your school, nothing can stop you going to see her. When she isn’t busy, ask her if she minds having a quick chat. You can then tell her she was your favorite teacher—everyone is happy to know that they are liked!
If she has left the school, it will be more difficult to meet her. It will be hard, but remember people always come and go in their lives. We can’t rely on them to be with us all the time.
You may be sad to say goodbye to her, but we can remember and learn from her. Think of her best qualities.
You could also try looking for similar qualities in your other teachers. Study hard and give your new teacher a chance. In time, you might start to see that he or she has different qualities to learn from.
Finally, you can not completely rely on other people to get you through your studies, or even your life.
Editor
1. The letters are from ________.| A．book | B．newspaper | C．poster | D．advertisement |
| A．Find a time to see Miss Mao | B．Have a short chat with Miss Mao |
| C．Tell Miss Mao she likes her | D．Keep quiet about the thing |
| A．completely by their favorite teachers |
| B．completely by their favorite classmates |
| C．mainly by their parents |
| D．mainly by themselves |
After the accident, my roommate called a doctor for me. I was very grateful and determined to repay him one day. But the next day, he asked me to pay him $200 for what he had done. I was astonished. He had good reason to charge me, he said. And if I wanted to collect money from the person who was responsible for my injury, I’d have to have a good lawyer. And only a good doctor can help me get a good lawyer. Now that he had helped me find a good doctor, it was only fair that I should pay him.
But every day I went to see the doctor, I had to wait about 50 minutes. He would see two or three patients at the same time, and often stop treating one so as to see another. Yet he charged me $115 each time. The final examination report consisted of ten lines, and it cost me $215.
My lawyer was all smiles the first time we met. But after that he avoided seeing me at all. He knew very well the other party was responsible for the accident, yet he hardly did anything. He simply waited to collect his money. He was so irresponsible that I decided to dismiss him. And he made me pay him $770.
Now I had to act as my own lawyer. Due to my inexperience, I told the insurance company the date I was leaving America. Knowing that, they played for time…and I left without getting a cent.
My experiences taught me two things about America: firstly, in a country like America money is everything. It is more important than friendship, honor or professional morality (道德). Secondly, foreigners are still being unfairly treated. So when we talk about America, we should see both its good and bad sides.
1. The author’s roommate offered to help him because ________.
| A．he felt sorry for the author |
| B．he thought it was a chance to make some money |
| C．he knew the doctor was a very good one |
| D．he wanted the author to have a good lawyer |
| A．be properly treated |
| B．talk with the person responsible for the accident |
| C．recover before he leaves America |
| D．eventually get the responsible party to pay for his injury |
| A．be responsible | B．accuse | C．ask as a price | D．claim |
| A．friendly | B．selfish | C．professional | D．busy |
| A．Going to court is something very common in America. |
| B．One must be very careful while driving a car. |
| C．There are more bad sides in America than good sides. |
| D．Money is more important than other things in the US. |
