1 . For many kids in Africa, the colorful PlayPump (踏水车) is the first playground thing they have ever seen. When the children give it a push and jump in for their first ride, smiles of wonder appears on their faces.
The fun of going round and round in a circle is just part of the wonder. The wonderful invention doesn’t only change the kids’ play time, but also makes a big difference to the people’s lives.
As the merry-go-round starts, it pumps (用泵输送) clean water up from deep underground and keeps it in a huge tank (桶). People are welcomed to come and help themselves to get the water for free. They are very happy these days.
In the countryside of Africa, very few people could drink clean water. They don’t have machines that can get water in their homes. Instead, they often walk a long way to carry water back.
Patricia Molope, a fifteen-year-old girl, explains that before her village in South Africa got a PlayPump, people would pay a taxi driver to take them to a well far from their homes. “Sometimes the taxi drivers were so busy that we would have to stop taking showers in order to save water. It was so far to walk there, but at present we have our own clean water in the village, and the life is better, too.”
The hard job of carrying water usually is done by women and girls. Carrying water for miles and hours each day is such a heavy job that it sometimes prevents girls from being able to go to school.
Thanks to the PlayPump, getting water is quicker and easier-and even boys join in. The pumps have become a new activity. Kids and adults seem to love playing with them while collecting water.
A boy named Khumalo, twelve years old, says, ”I have seen many kinds of water pumps, but have never seen one that can keep water. When I grow up, I want to be an inventor so I can also invent clever things like the PlayPump that will help my country.“
So far, more than 800 PlayPumps are being operated in schools and neighborhoods in four African countries, providing water for almost two million people.
1. What do people need to do to get water from a PlayPump?| A．Walk for a long way. | B．Give it a push. | C．Make it in a circle. | D．Use a big tank. |
| A．Pump | B．Merry-go-round | C．PlayPump | D．Underground |
| A．Because she didn’t know how to use a PlayPump. |
| B．Because she had no money to pay a taxi driver. |
| C．Because the only place to get water was far away from home. |
| D．Because there was not enough water in the well. |
| A．The PlayPump can bring people together. |
| B．The PlayPump helps turn work into play. |
| C．Every country in the world is thirsty. |
| D．The PlayPump is a great invention in the world. |
2 . It was nearly dark. The sun was dropping down behind the mountain. Little Tom came back home, with tears in his eyes.
“What’s the matter, Tom? How’s your trip?” his mother asked with a big smile.
“I failed. The mountain is so high and full of big or small stones on the way. I still wanted to go ahead, but I was tired and it was so late that I had to come back,” Tom cried.
“It doesn’t matter. You are only 14 years old after all. You will have another chance,” his mother said.
“But standing at the top of the mountain is my dream!” Tom said.
His father came over and asked, “Did you see the green trees on your way to the mountain?”
“Sure, and there were a lot of beautiful flowers on both sides of the road,” Tom replied.
“Did you hear the birds singing?” his father asked.
“There were many kinds of birds singing in the trees, and the sound was very sweet,” Tom said.
“Did you feel the beauty of nature?” his father asked.
“Yes, the blue sky, the white clouds, the green trees and the colourful flowers made a nice picture,” Tom answered.
“That’s enough!” his father smiled and said. “Please remember, son, for often, completing your goal (目标) is not the most important thing. You didn’t reach the top of the mountain, but you got a lot on the way.”
“It is true that not every dream will come true, and that not every job will end up with a success. The most beautiful views are on the way.
1. When did Tom return home?| A．In the morning. | B．At noon. | C．At midnight. | D．In the evening. |
| A．Because he got lost in the mountain. | B．Because he was too hungry. |
| C．Because he was tired and it was so late. | D．Because he was only 14 years old. |
| A．Clear water. | B．Blue sky. | C．Beautiful flowers. | D．Green trees. |
One day a farmer went out for a walk
The son looked at his father’s legs
When the son ran back to the house, he
