The beet (甜菜) is a tasty root vegetable that does not require much work to grow. People think of beets as being always dark red，but they can also be pink，yellow or white. Beets are high in nutrients，and both the root and the tops can be eaten. The leaves make good salads when the plants are young，and the greens can be cooked when the plants are older. Beets grow best in full sun and in loose soil that is not too wet.
Remove stones from the soil while preparing the ground，and test it before adding fertilizer Beet seeds can be planted as soon as the soil can be worked at the start of the growing season. Planting them every two or three weeks will provide a continuous harvest into the fall. A beet seed is a fruit containing several seeds. Overcrowding the plants will mean that the roots cannot spread out and grow，so thin the beets by removing the smaller ones and using them as greens.
A specialist named Cindy Haynes says little or no fertilizer is needed in rich soils. Once the seeds are planted，however，she suggests covering the soil to protect it from the rain and during dry periods. She also suggests putting a fence around the plants to keep away rabbits and deer. She says the only work beets need once they have been thinned is weeding and， when the weather is dry，a weekly watering. For best results，beets should be picked when the roots are two and one-half centimeters around. Larger beets can be tough，and have to be cooked for a long time. Beets can be eaten in many ways.
60.What is the second paragraph mainly about?
A. How to test the soil. B. How to plant beets
C. When to harvest beets. D. When to plant beets.
61.Smaller beets are often removed in order to .
A. give other beets space to grow B. add more fertilizer to the soil
C. plant new seeds D. use the green，young leaves in salads
62.What may the next part of the last paragraph be about?
A. When to pick beets. B. How to eat beets.
C. The uses of beets. D. The taste of larger beets.
63.The passage is most probably from a(n) .
A. gardening book B. education magazine C. science report D. entertainment magazine
Attractions
Do you：
◆Love the National Park，value it and hope to safeguard its future?
◆Wish to see the beautiful landscape(风景) of the Park protected?
◆Like to enjoy peaceful，informal recreation within the Park?
Aims
The Friends organization aims are to help protect and improve the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park for all to enjoy．We are a voluntary organization and registered charity without financial links to the National Park Authority．
Activities
We encourage everyone to enjoy the National Park through regular talks and visits to interesting places in the Park with expert guides．
We keep an eye on planning applications，Park Authority policies and threats to the National Park such as massive leisure complexes．We work with like-minded organizations such as the Campaign for National Parks to make our voice more effective．
We help children to understand the National Park by sponsoring publications such as an adventure booklet and projects in local schools．
Benefits
◆Guided visits to places of interest which may not always be available to the general public．
◆All members receive our regular News and Views．
◆Talks by experts in their fields on current issues．
◆A discount is available on Friends items for sale．
◆Satisfaction of participation in work parties，for those willing and able to be involved．
If interested，please complete the Application Form at www. fpnp.org.uk．Which of the following is discouraged by the Friends organization?
| A．To build massive complexes for public amusement． |
| B．To prevent possible damages to the National Park． |
| C．To help protect and improve the Park for all to enjoy． |
| D．To sponsor publications and projects in local schools． |
One of the benefits for members of Friends is to________ ．
| A．have Friends’ goods free of charge |
| B．visit any place not open to the public |
| C．take part in work parties if they want to |
| D．give talks in their fields on current issues |
The purpose of this poster is to invite more people to_________．
| A．raise money for the Friends organization |
| B．join the Friends organization and be members of it |
| C．work as managers for Pembrokeshire National Park |
| D．enjoy the landscape of Pembrokeshire National Park |
A year after graduation, I was offered a position teaching a writing class. Teaching was a profession I had never seriously considered, though several of my stories had been published. I accepted the job without hesitation, as it would allow me to wear a tie and go by the name of Mr. Davis. My father went by the same name, and I liked to imagine people getting the two of us confused. “Wait a minute,” someone might say, “are you talking about Mr. Davis the retired man, or Mr. Davis the respectable scholar?”
The position was offered at the last minute, and I was given two weeks to prepare, a period I spent searching for briefcase (公文包) and standing before my full-length mirror, repeating the words, “Hello, class. I’m Mr. Davis.” Sometimes I would give myself an aggressive voice. Sometimes I would sound experienced. But when the day eventually came, my nerves kicked in and the true Mr. Davis was there. I sounded not like a thoughtful professor, but rather a 12-year-old boy.
I arrived in the classroom with paper cards designed in the shape of maple leaves. I had cut them myself out of orange construction paper. I saw nine students along a long table. I handed out the cards, and the students wrote down their names and fastened them to their breast pockets as I required.
“All right then,” I said. “Okay, here we go.” Then I opened my briefcase and realized that I had never thought beyond this moment. I had been thinking that the students would be the first to talk, offering their thoughts and opinions on the events of the day. I had imagined that I would sit at the edge of the desk, overlooking a forests of hands. Every student would yell. “Calm down, you’ll all get your turn. One at a time, one at a time!”
A terrible silence ruled the room, and seeing no other opinions, I inspected the students to pull out their notebooks and write a brief essay related to the theme of deep disappointment.The author took the job to teach writing because ______.
| A．he wanted to be expected |
| B．he had written some storied |
| C．he wanted to please his father |
| D．he had dreamed of being a teacher |
What can we learn about the author from Paragraph 2 ?
| A．He would be aggressive in his first class. |
| B．He was well-prepared for his first class. |
| C．He got nervous upon the arrival of his first class. |
| D．He waited long for the arrival of his first class. |
Before he started his class, the author asked the students to ______.
| A．write down their suggestions on the paper cards |
| B．cut maple leaves out of the construction paper |
| C．cut some cards out of the construction paper |
| D．write down their names on the paper cards |
What did the students do when the author started his class?
| A．They began to talk. | B．They stayed silent. |
| C．They raised their hands. | D．They shouted to be heard. |
The author chose the composition topic probably because ______.
| A．he got disappointed with his first class |
| B．he had prepared the topic before class |
| C．he wanted to calm down the students |
| D．he thought it was an easy topic |
There was a gardener who looked after his garden with great care．To water his flowers，he used two buckets．One was a shiny and new bucket．The other was a very old and dilapidated one，which had seen many years of service，but was now past its best．
Every morning, the gardener would fill up the two buckets．Then he would carry them along the path，one on each side，to the flowerbeds．The new bucket was very proud of itself．It could carry a full bucket of water without a single drop spilled(溢出)．The old bucket felt very ashamed because of its holes：before it reached the flowerbeds，much water had leaked along the path．
Sometimes the new bucket would say，“See how capable I am ! How good it is that the gardener has me to water the flowers every day ! I don’t know why he still bothers with you．What a waste of space you are !”
And all that the old bucket could say was，“I know I’m not very useful，but I can only do my best．I'm happy that the gardener still finds a little bit of use in me，at least. ”
One day，the gardener heard that kind of conversation．After watering the flowers as usual，he said，“You both have done your work very well．Now I am going to carry you back．I want you to look carefully along the path．”
Then the two buckets did so．All along the path，they noticed，on the side where the new bucket was carried，there was just bare(光秃秃的)earth；on the other side where the old bucket was carried，there was a joyous row of wild flowers，leading all the way to the garden．What does the underlined word “dilapidated” probably mean ?
| A．dirty． | B．dark． | C．worn-out． | D．plain-looking． |
What was the old bucket ashamed of ?
| A．His past． | B．His aging． | C．His manner． | D．His leaking． |
The new bucket made conversations with the old one mainly to _______.
| A．laugh at the old one | B．take pity on the old one |
| C．show off its beautiful looks | D．praise the gardener’s kindness |
Why was the old bucket still kept by the gardener?
| A．Because it was used to keep a balance． |
| B．Because it stayed in its best condition． |
| C．Because it was taken as a treasure． |
| D．Because it had its own function． |
If you haven’t seen or heard anything about Road Rage in the last few months, you’ve probably been avoiding the media. There have been countless stories about this new and scary phenomenon, considered a type of aggressive driving. You have most likely encountered aggressive driving or Road Rage recently if you drive at all.
While drunk driving remains a critical problem, the facts about aggressive driving are surely as disturbing. For instance, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Association, 4,1907 people died on the highway last year. Of those deaths, the agency estimates that about two-thirds were caused at least in part by aggressive driving behaviour.
Why is this phenomenon occurring more than ever now and why is it something that seemed almost nonexistent a few short years ago? Experts have certain theories, and all are probably partially correct. One suggestion is sheer overcrowding. In the last decade, the number of the cars on the roads has increased by more than 11 percent, and the number of miles driven has increased by 35 percent. However, the number of new road miles has only increased by 1 percent. That means more cars in the same amount of space.; and the problem is magnified in urban areas. Also, people have less time and more things to do. With people working and trying to fit extra chores and activities into the day, street levels have never been higher. Stress creates anxiety, which leads to short tempers. These factors, when combined in certain situations, can spell Road Rage.
You may think you are the last person who would drive aggressively, but you might be surprised. For instance, have you ever yelled out loud at a slower driver, sounded the horn long and hard at another car, or sped up to keep another driver from passing? If you recognize yourself in any of these situations, watch out!
Whether you are getting angry at other drivers, or another driver is visibly upset with you, there are things you can do to avoid any major conflict. If you are susceptible (easily influenced) to Road Rage, the key to discharge your emotion in a healthy way. If you are the target of another driver’s rage, do everything possible to get away from the other driver safely, including avoiding eye contact and getting out of their way.The first sentence in Para 1 implies that__________.
| A．one may be angered by media reports and wants to avoid them. |
| B．the media coined the term “Road Rage” only a few months ago. |
| C．Road Rage has received much media coverage in the last few months. |
| D．people not interested in the media know little about recent happenings |
The underlined “spell” in Para3 means___________.
| A．relieve | B．cause | C．spread | D．prevent |
Which of the following characterizes aggressive driving?
| A．Talking while driving. |
| B．Driving at high speed. |
| C．Sounding the horn when passing. |
| D．Shouting at another driver. |
The last paragraph is intended to ___________.
| A．tell people how to deal with Road Rage. |
| B．inform people how aggressive drivers could be. |
| C．show people how to control themselves when angry. |
| D．warn people against eye contact with another driver |
Imagine this situation. You pass a group of people. The people are talking to each other. You cannot hear what they are saying. But suddenly they start laughing. What would you think? Would you think they were laughing at something funny that one of them said? Or -- be honest with yourself -- would you think they were laughing at you? Yes, you.
Being laughed at is a common fear. But a major study published in two thousand and nine found that this fear is not the same around the world. It differs from culture to culture.
People in Finland were the least likely to believe that people laughing in their presence were making fun of them. Less than ten percent of Finns in the study said they would think that, compared to eighty percent of people in Thailand.
Some people in the study said they felt unsure of themselves in social situations but hid their feelings of insecurity. Others said they avoided social situations where they had been laughed at before.
The study found that people in Turkmenistan and Cambodia were more likely to be in the first group. They would hide their feelings of insecurity if they were around other people's laughter. But people in Iraq, Egypt and Jordan were more likely to try to avoid such situations if they felt they had been laughed at before.
Shy people often avoid situations that would force them into close contact with other people. They worry that something they say or do will make other people laugh at them. But some people worry much more than others. They may have a disorder called gelotophobia. Gelos is a Greek word. It means laughter. Phobia means fear. This fear of laughter can be truly sad for those who live with it. It can affect how they lead their lives.
In the study, a team from the University of Zurich led more than ninety researchers from around the world. They wanted to understand the difference between normal shyness and true gelotophobia. Another purpose of the study was to compare the levels of fear of being laughed at in different cultures. The researchers surveyed more than twenty-two thousand people in forty-two different languages. The findings appeared in the scientific journal Humor.People in Finland don’t believe other people are making fun of them if _________________.
| A．they suddenly start to laugh. |
| B．they keep on laughing |
| C．they laugh in their presence |
| D．they stop laughing suddenly. |
What’s FALSE of the study led by a team from the University of Zurich?
| A．They wanted to study the difference between normal shyness and true gelotophobia. |
| B．They wanted to compare the levels of fear of being laughed at in different cultures. |
| C．They did such a survey in order to prevent people from being laughed at in public. |
| D．They surveyed more than 22 thousand people coming from different cultures. |
The passage is likely to occur in _______________.
| A．an advertisement | B．a science magazine |
| C．a science fiction | D．a storybook |
According to the passage, people who suffer from gelotophobia ______________________.
| A．care more about being laughed at by others |
| B．shouldn’t hide their feelings of insecurity |
| C．should avoid having close contact with other people |
| D．will lead a happy life so long as they care |