1 . 24 Solar Terms: 5 things about Major Snow

Major Snow, the 21st solar term of the year, which falls on Dec 7 this year. During Major Snow, the snow becomes heavy and begins to accumulate on the ground. The temperature drops significantly. Here are 5 things you should know about Major Snow.

Snowy winter

The snow in North China may last a whole day, breaking tree branches and blocking the road. In the south, snowflakes fall and the world turns white. A proverb about the snow says, "A timely snow promises a good harvest".     1    

    2    

The red plum blossoms (梅花) in contrast with the white snowy world is a feast for the eyes and have inspired many great poems. The plum blossom, which originated in China, is respected in Chinese culture for its bravery against severe winters.

Eating lamb

Lamb is a favorite food for Chinese people during Major Snow.     3     People in Chongqing like to have potted lamb soup with their families and friends. Nanjing residents like to stew lamb with some plants to make it more nutritious.

Making sausages

During Major Snow, people in southern China make sausages, an important part of preparation for the Spring Festival.    4    . The sausage should be dried in the shade, and is edible after a week.

Preventing respiratory (呼吸道的) illness

During this period, Chinese people watch for outbreaks of respiratory illness, which can be prevented by wearing a warm scarf to protect the neck and properly drinking water.    5    . At the same time, don't drink cold water after exercise.

A．Writing poems about snow

B．Appreciating plum blossoms

C．But you should not drink too much water at a time

D．Drink as much water as you can whenever possible

E．The best meat for this delicacy comes from the bottom of the pig

F．As the snow covers the ground, the low winter temperature kills pests

G．It promotes blood circulation and provides protection against the cold

2 . “Your playful days are over,” my brother said to me when he knew I was going to be a Senior One student. Then he continued telling me that senior school life was boring because I had to do a large amount of homework every day. The subjects were much more difficult than those of junior school.

I stepped into the school gate with a nervous heart. However, I was surprised to find what I experienced there was completely different from what my brother had told me.

The teachers gave excellent lessons in their own special way. They talked with me in a natural and fair way, as if I was an adult. All of them are so knowledgeable (学识渊博) and they not only explained the contents of textbooks but also provided extra information from other sources. Every word they said in classes made me so excited and interested that I had a strong desire to take in as much as I could.

In fact, my playful days were not over at all in senior school. There were many kinds of activities I could take part in. For example, sports meetings, the art festival, English corner, outing and so on. Best of all, generally, students organized the activities rather than teachers. Through this process, I improved my leadership abilities and communication skills. I've become mature (成熟的). I am not a kid any more.

Now if anyone asks me: “Through your process of growing up, which part is most impressive up till now?” Well, the answer will absolutely be my “senior high school life”.

1. How did the writer feel when he started his senior high school?

A．Very excited.	B．A little worried.
C．Quite relaxed.	D．Embarrassed.

2. What was the writer's general impression of his teachers?

A．Strict and organized.	B．Modest and hardworking.
C．Learned and easy going.	D．Helpful and kind-hearted.

3. What has the writer learned by joining in different after-class activities?

A．Reading and writing skills.	B．The understanding of textbooks
C．Leadership and social skills.	D．Doing housework.

4. What can you learn from the last paragraph?

A．His senior school life is the most memorable.

B．Senior school life was boring and tiring.

C．He will no longer believe in his brother.

D．The writer did well in all his subjects.

3 . 短语填空：用所给短语的正确形式填空，每个短语只能用一次。

turn to   make one’s fortune   thanks to     ought to     in the lead

1. Living alone, the old man had no option but to ________ the neighbour when he fell heavily to the ground.
2. First and foremost, don’t damage your health by working when you ________ be sleeping or resting.
3. In men’s 100 final race at the 14^th National Games in Xi’an, Su Bingtian ran ________, with Xie Zhenye close behind.
4. ________ technology, working is easier than it was a decades ago, in many aspects.
5. The live-stream salespersons like Mr.Li ________ by selling the goods online in the past several years.

4 . Taking notes is a useful way for students to improve their learning. Good notes can help students finish their homework more quickly and get better grades in exams.     1     Here are some suggestions to solve the problem.

The most important thing you need to do before a class is to prepare for the lesson.     2     And it can give you an idea of how to organize the information in your notebook. Besides, if there is something too difficult to understand, you will know to take more specific（具体的）notes about it.

    3     No matter which style you use, your notes should be clear at first sight!     4     Instead, write down the most important information, for example, main ideas and examples discussed in class.

To remember the information as much as possible, you’d better review your notes within 24 hours after your class. And at the end of your notes for each class, write a summary（总结）.     5    

Try to do better in taking notes, and then it will help you study better!

A．Many students have good ways to take notes.

B．Don’t write down every word the teacher says.

C．You need to find a style of note-taking that works best for you.

D．However, some students may not be sure how to take good notes.

E．This will help you much better understand what you have learned.

F．By doing this, you will be able to know what you are going to learn.

G．Some students are used to taking down the key information in class.

5 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。

When the new school year starts, a lot of Chinese students need     1     (take) the military training course as the first challenge.

This fall semester, the military training course will have new     2     (requirement). According to China Youth Daily, a new syllabus (教学大纲) for the military training course for senior high school students has been released by the Ministry of Education,     3     will be carried out nationwide on Aug. 1.

The course     4     (relate) to military knowledge will be divided into two parts—basic military knowledge and basic military skills. This is the first time the course     5     (adjust) to suit high school students. The course itself will also be more flexible. In     6     (add) to main course, students can choose other areas to focus on. For students who are     7     (particular) interested in military knowledge or a specific skill set, they will have the opportunity to get     8     (far) training.

The military training course will be anywhere from 7 to 14 days long, with a minimum of 56 class hours.     9     the end of the course, students will be given one of     10     following evaluations: excellent, good, pass or fail.

6 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（不多于3个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。

In most countries, turning 18    1    (mark) the start of adulthood. But what does reaching the age of majority really mean? Does it mean that you will be    2    (complete) in charge of your own life and able to express yourself in new and    3    (excite) ways? What new responsibilities will you have to take    4    ? Here, three young people tell us what turning 18 means, or meant, to them.

Bethany, 16, comes from Victoria, Australia. She won’t have the right to vote in the next general    5    (elect), because she won’t be old enough. She has been taking driving lessons but she isn’t allowed to take her driving test    6    she is 18.

Lin Ning, 19, is from Shanghai, China. At 18, although he could do things like    7    (get) a credit card and act on his desire to help others, there were still rules    8    (obey) and lessons to attend.

Morgan, 20, is from Florida, the US. He thought once he turned 18 and got    9    good job he would rent an apartment, but his salary was not high enough. The reality for him has been very different.     10    is hard for him to save money because of the household bills and high commute costs.