After several days’ warm weather around the New Year’s Day，a strong cold wave with a sandstorm from Mongolia attacked Tianjin Sunday afternoon.
From 3 o’clock p.m.，the strong cold wave from Mongolia engulfed（吞没）most areas of North China and the biggest wind-force was 7.Tianjin also suffered this year’s first sandstorm with the cold wind whistling.The sky became dusky and the air was permeated with sand.By 11 o’clock at night，the wind became weaker and the sandstorm died down.From Monday morning，the northern areas had a big drop in temperature.It is learned that flu and the infection of the upper respiratory tract are easy to be infected due to the severe pollution by dust in the air.Relevant experts remind residents to pay attention to their health care..The underlined word“permeated”most probably means______.
| A．cleared | B．filled | C．blowing | D．replaced |
We learn that ______from the passage.
| A．sandstorms result in the fall of temperature |
| B．we can easily get infected by the dusty air |
| C．it is usually warmer before sandstorms come |
| D．sandstorms usually come around the New Year’s Day |
If you think American cooking means opening a package and throwing the contents into the microwave oven (微波炉), think again. On the one hand, it’s true that many Americans have cold cereal for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch and instant (方便的) dinners. From busy homemakers to working people, many Americans enjoy the convenience (方便) of fast food that can be ready to serve in 10 minutes or less. On the other hand, many Americans realize the importance of cooking skills. Parents — especially mothers — see the importance of training their children — especially daughters. Most Americans think that there’s nothing better than a good home-cooked meal. But with cooking, as with any other skill, good results don’t happen by accident.
Probably every cook has his or her own way of cooking. But there are some basic skills that most people follow. For example, baking is a main method (方法) of preparing food in America. For that reason, Americans would find it next to impossible to live without an oven. American cooks pay special attention to the balance of foods, too. In planning a big meal they try to include meat, a few vegetables, some bread and often a dessert. They also like to make sure the meal is colorful. Having several different colors of food on the plate usually makes for a healthy meal.
For those who need guidance in their cooking, or for those who have just run out of ideas, recipes are a great help. Recipes list all the ingredients for a dish (generally in the order used), the amount of each to use, and a description of how to put them together.This passage mainly tells us that ______.
| A．Americans like to have several different colors of food on the plate |
| B．without an oven, Americans find it impossible to live conveniently |
| C．Americans pay special attention to recipes and nutritious meals |
| D．Americans usually have fast food, but they pay special attention to cooking as well |
Many Americans have cold cereal for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch and instant dinner because ______.
| A．they like instant food very much |
| B．they don’t like cooking at all |
| C．most American working people are busy and don’t have time to cook |
| D．fast food is delicious and it usually contains a lot of vitamins |
By saying “But with cooking, as with any other skill, good results don’t happen by accident”, the author means ______.
| A．good cooking doesn’t come easily; it needs a lot of practice |
| B．just like any other skill, cooking may bring good results |
| C．cooking comes from one’s gift, not through practice |
| D．cooking can lead to accidents |
From the passage, we know that ______.
| A．Americans don’t care about food |
| B．Americans are not good at cooking because they like to use recipes |
| C．an oven plays an important role in cooking for Americans |
| D．while cooking, Americans usually run out of ideas |
Hanukkah
Hanukkah (光明节) is a Jewish festival. It is celebrated on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev (犹太教历), which is usually sometime in December. It is often called the festival of lights. The festival celebrates the time, over 2,000 years ago, when the Jewish people fought against an emperor who would not let them follow their own traditions and religion. When the Jewish people won back their temple in Jerusalem, they found there was only enough holy oil to keep the sacred light burning for one day. However, to their surprise, this small amount of oil kept the light burning for eight days and nights, until the people had time to make more oil.
At the center of the Hanukkah celebrations is a candlestick (called a Menorah) that holds nine candles. On the first night of Hanukkah the first candle is lit, and each day this candle is used to light another candle, until on the eighth day, the last day, all the candles are lit. During Hanukkah, people go to the synagogue (犹太教堂) to pray and to remember the miracle (奇迹) of the holy oil. Hanukkah is a time for family and friends to come together. People exchange gifts and greeting cards, and children go to parties. Parents often give their children money at Hanukkah. Potato cakes, called latkes, are a traditional Hanukkah food.For how many days does Hanukkah last?
| A．7 | B．10 | C．9 | D．8 |
According to the passage, what is necessary when celebrating Hanukkah nowadays?
| A． Candles. | B．Money. | C．Oil | D．Cards. |
What does the Menorah remind Jewish people about?
| A．The war that they fought 2,000 years ago. |
| B．The God that they honored best. |
| C．The miracle of the holy oil that happened 2,000 years ago. |
| D．The church they built 2,000 years ago. |
The passage mainly tells us about _____.
| A．the history of Hanukkah and how it is celebrated |
| B．why Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah |
| C．why Jewish people protect their traditions |
| D．the miracle of the holy oil in the Jewish temple |
Are you looking for some new and exciting places to take your kids (孩子) to? Try some of these places:
. Visit art muvewns. They offer a variety of activities to excite your kids' interest. Many offer workshops for making land-made pieces, traveling exhibits, book signings by children's favorite writer, and even musical performances and other arts
Head to a natural history museum. This is where kids can discover the past from dinosaur(恐龙) models to rock collections and pictures of stars in the sky. Also, ask what kind of workshops and educational programs are prepared for kids and any special events that are coming up.
Go to a Youtheater. Look for one in your area offering plays for child and family visitors. Pre-show play shops are conducted by area artists and educators where kids can discover the secret about performing arts- Puppet(木偶)making and stage make-up are just a couple of the special offerings you might find.
Try hands-on science. Visit one of the many hands-on science museums around the country. These science play-lands are great fun for kids and grown-ups alike. They'll keep your child mentally and physically active the whole day through while pushing buttons, experimenting, and building. When everyone is tired, enjoy a fun family science show, commonly found in these museums.If a child is interested in the universe, he probably will visit
| A．a Youtheater |
| B．an art museum |
| C．a natural history museum |
| D．a hands-on science museum |
What can kids do at a Youtheater?
| A．Look at rock collections. |
| B．Watch puppet making. |
| C．See dinosaur models. |
| D．Give performances. |
Where does this text probably come from?
| A．A science textbook. |
| B．A tourist map. |
| C．A museum guide. |
| D．A news report. |
Certain animals know without analysis the difference between a number of objects and a smaller number. In his book The Natural History of Selbourne (1786), the naturalist Gilbert White tells how he surreptitiously removed one egg a day from a kind of bird Plover’s nest, and how the mother laid another egg each day to make up for the missing one. He notes that other kinds of birds ignore the loss of a single egg, but if more than one egg has been removed, they will give up their nests. It has also been noted that a certain type of bees always provides five—never four, never six—caterpillars (毛虫) for each of their eggs so that their young have something to eat when the eggs have hatched out. Research has also shown that both mice and pigeons can be taught to distinguish between odd (奇数) and even (偶数) numbers of food pieces.
These have led some people to think that creatures can actually count. They also point to dogs that have been taught to respond to questions about numbers with the correct number of barks.
Animals respond to quantities only when they are connected to survive as in the case of the eggs, or survive as in the case of food. They can “count” only when the objects are present and only when the numbers involved are small—no more than seven or eight. In lab experiments, animals which are trained to count one kind of objects were unable to count any other type. What interests them are the objects, not the numbers. Animals’ achievements simply are not equal to evidence of counting. They only show the results of clever, careful training.The author refers to Gilbert’s book in paragraph 1 in order to_______.
| A．support the idea that animals can count |
| B．show attitudes have changed since 1786 |
| C．prove that some animals are aware of quantities |
| D．indicate that more research is needed in this field |
The author mentions all of the following are aware of quantities in some way EXCEPT _______.
| A．caterpillars | B．bees |
| C．mice | D．plovers |
The underlined word “surreptitiously” probably means _______.
| A．quickly | B．carefully |
| C．occasionally | D．secretly |
Where does this text probably come from?
| A．A news report. | B．A science fiction. |
| C．A park guide. | D．A biology magazine. |
Visit New York City with your kids where there are numerous things to do which will entertain their spirits and feed their minds.
●The Whispering Gallery
Make your way to the Whispering Gallery. Kids can get a lot of fun there. Once inside the gallery, place one person facing the corner at one end of the room and then place another person facing the corner at the opposite end. Ask one of them to whisper a phrase or a quick sentence and the person at the opposite end will be able to hear every word that was said.
E.42nd St. New York, NY 10017
212-771-5322
grandcentralterminal.com
●American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History was founded in 1869. In addition to its impressive exhibits, permanent attractions bring the cool feeling to kids. They can enter the Fossil Halls and take in the impressive dinosaur skeletons. And the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life educates kids on the fragility (脆弱) of the ocean.
Central Park West at 79th St. New York, NY 10024
212-769-5606
amnh.org
●The Scholastic Store
Most parents want their children to read, and moreover, to enjoy reading. The Scholastic Store helps to make that wish a reality by publishing well-written stories that appeal to children, such as Clifford the Big Red Dog, the Magic School Bus and Harry Potter, the Scholastic Store will delight your children.
557 Broadway. New York, NY 10012
212-343-6100
scholastic.com
●Ellen’s Stardust Diner
The restaurant is a place where each person in your family can find something to eat. A diverse menu will satisfy every one’s appetite. Arugula salads, grilled cheese burgers and meatloaf are all on this varied menu. The hall of beauty queens, a drive-in theatre can add to the unique dining experience.
1650 Broadway, corner of 51st St. New York, NY 10019
212-956-5151
ellensstardustdiner.comIn addition to your favorite food in Ellen’s Stardust Diner, you can also ________.
| A．make some good friends | B．meet many beautiful queens |
| C．receive the first-class service | D．enjoy some entertaining programs |
Which of the following websites helps kids learn about ancient animals?
| A．ellensstardustdiner.com | B．grandcentralterminal.com |
| C．amnh.org | D．scholastic.com |
The author has written this text probably for ________.
| A．children | B．parents | C．educators | D．teachers |