1 . On US TV shows, you may sometimes see rubber balls on people’s desks. These balls are known as “stress relief balls”. People can squeeze them when they feel stressed out. It’s believed that by concentrating on the act of squeezing, they can let go of the negative energy in their bodies.

    1    . Fortunately, we have many ways to deal with it.

In fact, the rubber stress relief balls that are so popular today in the US are believed to date back to ancient China.     2    . By squeezing them during moments of anxiety, soldiers were able to calm themselves down before going into battle. And in the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), people started rotating (转动) walnuts in their hands. Ordinary citizens—not just soldiers—developed the habit of rolling two walnuts, or balls made from iron or stone, around in their hands,     3    .

And today, we have many gadgets (器具) and toys that are designed to reduce stress in addition to stress relief balls. One example is the popular fidget spinner (指尖陀螺).     4    —spinning the gadget around. There’s also the fidget cube, which features different “gimmicks (机关)” on each side of the cube. You can click, spin, pull, push and rotate different parts of the cube.

    5    , but perhaps we should take them more seriously than they are given credit (赞赏) for. “After all, the history of stress balls is a history of modern-day coping,” reporter Nadia Berenstein wrote for Woolly magazine.

A．thus making them feel relaxed as well

B．These gadgets may look like simple toys

C．It keeps your hand busy with an easy task

D．Indeed, stress is a big problem for many people

E．This is the perfect way to get yourself concentrated

F．A focused activity helps take your mind off the problems of your day

G．Back in the Han Dynasty (206 BC–AD 220), soldiers used walnuts to get rid of stress

2 . No one knows who flew the first kite. It was probably someone in China or perhaps Indonesia. Indonesian fishermen hung fishhooks on kites and sent them out to sea to catch fish. Starting 2,000 years ago, Chinese farmers flew kites to welcome the New Year and bring good luck to Earth.

In China, people also used kites during wartime. One Chinese story tells how soldiers put noise makers on kites and flew them at night over the enemy camp. The enemies were frightened by the noise and ran away.

About 1,300 years ago, Chinese travelers took kites to Japan. Soon kites filled the skies there. Kites reached Thailand about 700 years ago. During floods, Thai farmers flew kites over their fields. They hoped the kites would drive away the clouds and stop the rain. Over time, kites flew their way out of Asia. Today, kites are a passion all over the world. Kite fans meet at festivals in many parts of the world and have great fun.

Over the years, kites have also helped people understand the natural world. In 1749, for example, thermometers were tied to kites to know temperature. In 1906, cameras hanging from kites took pictures of San Francisco, California after an earthquake. The photos helped people plan what to do.

Since the ancient Chinese first sent their kites into the air, people have loved flying kites. So go fly a kite! Enjoy the feeling of wonder that kite men have felt for centuries.

1. According to the passage, in which countries were kites used to make good wishes?

A．Thailand and Indonesia	B．China and Thailand
C．Japan and Indonesia	D．China and Japan

2. According to the Chinese story, the army used kites to ________.

A．make the enemies leave in fear	B．celebrate victory during wartime
C．keep the enemies sleeping well	D．help people take photos

3. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．The first person to fly kites was a Chinese.

B．In the early 20th century in San Francisco, kites were used to help people make plans after an earthquake.

C．Kites were taken to Japan about 700 years ago.

D．Today, kites are not a passion all over the world.

4. What's the purpose of this passage?

A．To explain the differences between kites worldwide.	B．To explain how kites are used in science.
C．To introduce the roles of kites in history.	D．To introduce how to make kites.

3 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Which of the following is NOT among the world’s four largest ice and snow festivals?

A．Japan’s Sapporo Snow Festival

B．Norway’s Ski Festival

C．Canada’s Toronto Winter Carnival

2. When dose the Harbin Ice Festival start every year?

A．On January 5th

B．On February 15th

C．On January 15th

3. Why did the government decide to hold the ice and snow festival?

A．To protect the environment

B．To promote Harbin’s tourism

C．To entertain more people

4. What happened in 1985?

A．The officers met tourists from Taiwan and Hong Kong.

B．The officers suggested holding an ice and snow festival.

C．The first Ice Lantern Show was open.