For years I wanted a flower garden. I’d spend hours thinking of different things I could plant that would look nice together.
But then we had Matthew. And Marvin. And the twins, Alisa and Alan. And then Helen. Five children. I was too busy raising them to grow a garden.
Money was tight, as well as time. Often when my children were little, one of them would want something that cost too much, and I'd have to say, “Do you see a money tree outside? Money doesn't grow on trees, you know.”
Finally, all five got through high school and college and were off on their own. I started thinking again about having a garden.
I wasn't sure, though. I mean, gardens do cost money, and after all these years I was used to living on a pretty lean, no-frills budget.
Then, one spring morning, on Mother's Day, I was working in my kitchen. Suddenly, I realized that cars were tooting their horns as they drove by. I looked out the window and there was a new tree, planted right in my yard. I thought it must be a weeping willow, because I saw things blowing around on all its branches. Then I put my glasses on — and I couldn't believe what I saw. There was a money tree in my yard!
I went outside to look. It was true! There were dollar bills, one hundred of them, taped all over that tree. Think of all the garden flowers I could buy with one hundred dollars! There was also a note attached: “IOU eight hours of digging time. Love, Marvin.”
Marvin kept his promise, too. He dug up a nice ten-by-fifteen foot bed for me. And my other children bought me tools, ornaments, a trellis (棚架), a sunflower stepping stone and gardening books.
That was three years ago. My garden's now very pretty, just like I wanted. When I go out and weed or tend my flowers, I don't seem to miss my children as much as I once did. It feels like they're right there with me.
I live up in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, where winters are long and cold, and summers are too short. But every year now, when winter sets in, I look out my window and think of the flowers I'll see next spring in my little garden. I think about what my children did for me, and I get tears in my eyes — every time.
I'm still not sure that money grows on trees. But I know love does!
1．By saying “Do you see a money tree outside .….,” the mother actually means “_______”
A．Observation is the best teacher. B．Seeing is believing.
C．The outsider sees the most of the game. D．It is not easy to gain money
2．The best title for the passage would probably be_______.
A．My flower garden B．Marvin helps to realize my dream
C．Love in Michigan D．Money grows on trees
3．The underlined word “no - frills” in the fifth paragraph is similar in meaning to_______.
A．wasteful B．tight C．absurd D．helpful
4．From the last two paragraphs we can infer that the mother is_______
A．divorced when she was young
B．not caring for her kids any longer
C．alone but not at all lonely
D．prouder with her garden than with her kids.
It is reasonable to say that every teenager can be affected by peer pressure (从众心理) at some point. Every day, in any high school, peer pressure has a major influence over the behavior of teenagers. It can be as subtle (微妙的) as being persuaded to be late for class or as extreme as a dangerous drug. Whether subtle or extreme, peer pressure can have damaging, sometimes life changing, and even serious results.
“Teens don’t often consider the long-term results that some behavior can cause,” said Terri Price, a researcher. “Peer pressure can be very difficult to handle for many teens because of their fears of not fitting in”. Peer pressure has always been part of teen life, but teens experience it differently than their former generations did in the past. Sources of peer pressure have increased because of the Internet and other electronic communications.
Recognizing peer pressure can be as simple as noticing that you have been asked to do something that you are not comfortable with. “Listen to your instinct （直觉） , which is a sign for whether something is right or wrong. If it feels wrong, then most likely it is. ”says Price.
Teens are in a time of life when they are still discovering who they are. Many teens are influenced by peer pressure because of their insecurities (不安全感). This can make them helpless especially when their self-control is weak or they lack healthy support, causing them to take risky behavior or turn to unhealthy support.
Dealing with peer pressure is a topic of concern for teens. People can say, “Just say no,” but the truth is that the statement is easier said than done.The underlined word “it” in Paragraph 2 refers to .
| A．the Internet | B．teen life |
| C．peer pressure | D．the fear of not fitting in |
You can know whether a teen suffers peer pressure by watching .
| A．whether he often surfs the Internet | B．whether he can get security |
| C．whether it is subtle or extreme | D．whether he feels comfortable with it |
Why are teens easily influenced by peer pressure?
| A．Because they don’t have the feeling of safety. |
| B．Because they are afraid of fitting in or being accepted. |
| C．Because they need support for their health. |
| D．Because they have nobody to turn to when in trouble. |
According to the passage, we can know that dealing with peer pressure is
| A．easy | B．hard | C．a new topic | D．an impossible task |
Think about what you had for lunch: Was it a hamburger? A chicken sandwich? Barbecue? What about vegetables? Would it surprise you to learn that what you eat can affect the whole planet?
It can—in a big way. New studies show how food and its production affect the globe and its warming climate. You’ve probably heard of global warming : The temperature is on the rise because humankind has been releasing (排放) amounts of gases into the atmosphere. One of these greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide（二氧化碳）.
What does this have to do with food ? A big part of the carbon dioxide that we put in the atmosphere every year comes from the process of making and eating food. The production of meat contributes a lot of that carbon diode. And much of meat’s contribution comes from beef , which is responsible for releasing even more warming gases into the atmosphere.
The process of making a hamburger ,for example, requires a lot of energy. A cow has to be fed and raised on farmland, and cow waste is a major source of methane (沼气) — an especially powerful greenhouse gas. The cow has to be killed. The meat has to be processed (加工) and shipped to a shop, which takes fuel . Most of the cow won’t even be used for meat that people eat. By the time a hamburger finally lands on a dinner plate, it has made a heavy effect on the environment.
We can reduce the production of global-warming gases by eating less beef .Other kinds of meat like pork and chicken do less harm to the environment—at least in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases released.
All kinds of meat are harder on the planet than vegetables. To grow and eat a pound of potatoes, for example, sends less than one-quarter pound of carbon dioxide into the air. So changing our diet to less meat and more vegetables, as it turns out, may do the world some good.The questions asked in the first paragraph are used to _____.
| A．show the author’s concern about food safety |
| B．express the author’s puzzlement at what to eat |
| C．remind readers of something delicious to eat |
| D．introduce the topic to be discussed in the passage |
What is the bad news for meat-eaters?
| A．Meat producing can cause global warming |
| B．Most cows are raised not for people to eat |
| C．There is a lot of carbon dioxide in meat |
| D．Animals begin to die off because of global warming |
Which is the most environment-friendly food according to the passage?
| A．Beef | B．Carrot | C．Pork | D．Chicken |
The author wrote the passage in order to _____.
| A．explain the importance of eating meat | B．advise people to keep a balanced diet |
| C．encourage people to choose a greener diet | D．introduce some healthy foods to people |
As a music teacher for twenty-seven years, I have always known that music touches the soul. It can break through all kinds of barriers(障碍) to reach students in a very special way. It can be the means for each child to find their light.
A few years ago, I was blessed with the opportunity to teach pre-school students one afternoon a week. One of my most memorable students was Vanessa. She was five years old, had difficulty walking, and could not speak. We mostly sat on the floor for our music lessons and Vanessa liked to sit on my lap. One of her favorite songs was John the Rabbit. It was a call and response song where I sang the call and the students clapped two times while singing the repeating phrase, “Oh, yes!” Vanessa liked to put her hands together with mine and clap with me. We performed that song during every class, Vanessa and I clapping together. She never said or sang a word.
One day late in the school year, when the song was finished, Vanessa turned around, looked me in the eye, clapped her tiny hands two times and said the words “Oh, yes!” I opened my mouth and could not speak. Through music, we had made a connection.
Several years later, I came across Vanessa on the street in town. I stopped my car and waved to say hello. She waved back with a big smile on her face and then clapped her hands two times, mimicking(模仿) the song we had performed in our music class. This precious little girl, through her connection with music, left an impression on me that will last forever.
Every child has the ability to learn and grow. It is up to us educators to discover the way to reach each and every one of our students. We all must find each child’s light.The author thinks music________.
| A．can make children calm down | B．can connect heart to heart |
| C．is difficult for pre-school students | D．is a good means to find a job |
According to the second paragraph, Vanessa________.
| A．got used to singing songs | B．was too shy to speak |
| C．was the youngest in the class | D．enjoyed the author’s classes |
When Vanessa spoke the words “Oh, yes!”, the author felt________.
| A．surprised | B．happy | C．frightened | D．satisfied |
What can we infer from the last two paragraphs?
| A．The author has been in touch with Vanessa for several years. |
| B．Vanessa became as healthy as other children. |
| C．The song made a deep impression on Vanessa. |
| D．Being a good educator became Vanessa’s dream. |
Have you ever been to a wedding and simply loved the bride’s bouquet（花束）？More than likely some part of it was the Hawaiian Wedding Plant. This foreign houseplant can be enjoyed by anyone, not just brides. With a little proper attention and careful planning on location, this foreign houseplant, which is from Madagascar, can be brought into the home where it can become an interesting focus.
Caring for the Hawaiian Wedding Plant is not much different from caring for any other houseplants that may already be in your home. The only difference between this type of houseplant and others is the amount of the basic requirements that this foreign houseplant needs to survive and perform beautifully. During the growing season, this plant requires its wet soil, but when winter rolls around, this plant needs its soil to be kept drier.
Hawaiian Wedding Plants should also be potted in well-drained(排水)soil and placed in a location that receives full sun. That the soil must be kept wet does not mean that it should sit in water, so the soil must drain easily or this plant will not survive. Water the plant daily and feed this plant every two to three weeks with a little fertilizer(化肥) for acid-loving plants. Prune in early spring, even as early as February. If these needs are met, this plant will stay beautiful.
The most special feature of this foreign houseplant is its long lasting blooms(开花)combined with its unbelievable sweet smell. The Hawaiian Wedding Plant blooms the heaviest in the spring months, but has been known to bloom in any warm months, so do not be surprised to find blooms most time of the year except maybe in the dead of winter.Why does the author mention wedding and bouquet in the first paragraph?
| A．To introduce a Hawaiian wedding. | B．To attract the readers’ interest in the passage. |
| C．To show the beauty of the flower. | D．To teach the readers to choose proper bouquets. |
The Hawaiian Wedding Plant comes from________.
| A．Hawaii | B．China | C．Madagascar | D．Alaska |
Which of the following are the growing conditions of Hawaiian Wedding Plant?
a. Wet soil. b. Lots of fertilizer. c. Proper sunshine. d. Some acid.
| A．a.c | B．a. b | C．b. c | D．a. d |
What does the underlined phrase“in the dead of winter” in the last paragraph probably mean?
| A．At the end of the winter. | B．At the beginning of the winter. |
| C．In deadly condition in winter. | D．In the coldest part of winter. |
At the end of eight grade, our class went to Washington, D.C. For a group of 14-year-olds, this was a big deal!
The first day was so tiring; we could hardly remember where we were and what we were seeing. The next morning, we were off to see monuments (纪念碑)，starting with Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson. We walked along the paths through trees. Then the Wall came into view—the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
As I moved slowly closer to the Wall, I heard a bagpipe（风笛）in the distance, which seemed to show respect to the lives lost in the jungles of Vietnam .
We continued walking and felt surprised at the number of names carved in the black stone. I was determined to find a soldier with my last name, but my hunt was stopped when a man caught my eyes. He was kneeling(跪着) at the Wall, a single rose at his feet. His head was bowed and he was rubbing his fingers over one name. I thought how sad he was, and then moved on .
After a few minutes I found one with my last name, but my eyes returned to the kneeling man. He was still rubbing his fingers over the same name. He never knew I was watching him, lost in deep sorrow. It was time for me to leave the kneeling man and the Wall. On the way home, I couldn’t help thinking of the kneeling man and his sad face. I wasn’t sure of the effects of war before, but at that moment I realized how much that man suffered from losing his loved one. Maybe he was the only one of so many families who experienced the same .
I never knew the full effects of war until I saw that man. I only know about war from history classes. The kneeling man taught me more about war and the effects it has on people than any history book .Which of the following makes the author feel the suffering that war brings to human beings?
| A．The kneeling man. | B．The sound of a bagpipe. |
| C．The number of names carved in the stone. | D．The jungles of Vietnam. |
The man continued to rub his fingers over the name probably because_____.
| A．he found it covered with dust | B．he missed the loved one who died in a war |
| C．he intended to remove it completely | D．he recalled the fierce war he fought in |
What did the author learn from the trip?
| A．How fierce war is in history. | B．How people remember those who died in wars. |
| C．What bad effects war had on many families. | D．What we should do to prevent war. |
According to the last paragraph, the author probably thinks that _____.
| A．he should have studied history hard in class |
| B．history books don’t tell readers the truth |
| C．there is more in history than books tell us |
| D．the kneeling man should be a history teacher |