Each year, prizes are presented to adults who make great achievements in art, writing, science, and economics. So why not give awards to kids?
Harry Leibowitz asked himself that question in 1996. As an answer, he and his wife, Kay, created the World of Children organization and began handing out awards to kids and adults whose work has helped kids all over the world. The awards the World of Children presents are nicknamed（给……起绰号）the “ Children’s Nobel Prize”.
“You know, children are so important,” Leibowitz, a retired business manager, told me. “ We should have prizes for children if we’re going to have prizes for everything else.”
Talia Leman, from Iowa, was awarded a Founder’s Youth Award for Leadership this year. She is only 13 years old, but she has completed a lot. In 2005, she founded “ RandomKid”. Since then, it has raised more than$10 million to help kids in 48 states in the U.S. and in 19 other countries.
One place helped by RandomKid was a school built in Cambodia to enable 300 kids to go to school. The organization has also helped fix a school for 200 kids in Louisiana, and provided interactive play centers that serve more than 500 kids in hospitals in Iowa. In faraway places like Africa, RandomKid has provided money to buy water pumps（水泵）.
Talia never thought that the organization she founded would be as successful as it has become. She said, “ My first goal was to raise $1million. That seemed really high, but when you reach a goal, you always wind up reaching higher, and we actually raised $10 million.”
I asked her what advice she would offer to other young people who want to help kids in need. “ Well, I’d say the first thing would be to find an adult and tell them your idea,” Talia said. “ They’re really the people who can help, and from there I think it can just really take off.” The purpose of the first two paragraphs is to tell us .
| A．the origin of the Nobe1 Prize |
| B．the achievements Harry and his wife made |
| C．how the “ Children’s Nobe1 Prize” was started |
| D．how Harry and his wife helped kids |
The World of Children presents awards to those who .
| A．help the kids in the U.S | B．realize the importance of education |
| C．raise a lot of money for the poor | D．do a lot to help kids in need |
Which of the following is TRUE about Talia?
| A．She founded a hospital for 500 kids in Iowa. |
| B．She offered money to buy water pumps for Africans. |
| C．She helped teach 300 kids in a school in Cambodia. |
| D．She built a school for 200 kids in Louisiana. |
What advice is given by Talia to those who want to help kids in need?
| A．To ask for an idea from adults. | B．To set a higher goal at first. |
| C．To win help from adults. | D．To make an idea become popular. |
In America, when the eighth graders leave the middle school, they are often worried about moving to the high school. It is a hard time for them, but it can be an exciting one as well. To make it easier, students need to get familiar with their school.
Even though they’ve done this already in the middle school, it’s still important to find where their classrooms are. Most schools take students to the high school for a visit at the end of their eighth grade year. And, most schools also have a freshman （新生）speech for parents and students before the first year begins. Sometimes the main office will give away a map of the school. This can help students and parents to find different places in the school.
One way to know your high school more and make new friends is to join a club or play a sport. Schools often offer chances to join different clubs and sports. Fall activities begin in August before the first day of school. If you are not interested in sports, there are clubs for any interest, such as drama, dance, chess, photography, community service, etc. These clubs allow students from different grades. By joining an activity, students can find new friendships, not to mention improving their chances in future college applications （申请）. The school office will have a list of activities offered at the school and information on how to join them.
What’s more, to have a great start to a high school year, students can write down some of their worries, and ask for help from teachers and school workers.According to the text, most students feel _______ when entering the high school.
| A．excited | B．nervous | C．lonely | D．disappointed |
Which of the following is TRUE about the school clubs?
| A．There are fewer students from higher grades in the school clubs. |
| B．The school clubs in high school only welcome sports fans. |
| C．Summer activities begin before school starts. |
| D．School officers can help new students join school clubs. |
When do many schools take students to visit their new high school?
| A．Before the eighth grade year starts. |
| B．Right after the high school year starts. |
| C．At the beginning of the new term in the high school. |
| D．At the end of their eighth grade year |
What is the purpose of this text?
| A．To tell the new students how to learn in high school |
| B．To introduce new schools. |
| C．To give the teachers some advice. |
| D．To give advice to new high school students. |
In 1970, my five brothers, my sister and I lived in the housing projects of Toronto with our parents. My father was a factory worker, and my mother stayed at home. Each year my father would dress up as Santa Claus and go through the streets of the projects sharing joy and candies with the children there. He loved it as much as they did!
But around the Christmas in 1970, my father was out of his job and money was tight. In fact, there was no money for Christmas and my parents weren’t sure what they’d provide for us.
That Christmas Eve, however, as usual, my father left the house dressed as Santa Claus. He knew that even though our Christmas would be hard, he could not disappoint the other kids in the neighborhood.
As my father left the house and went down the walkway, Santa Claus was walking up, with a great sack full of gifts for us! He said nothing, only smiled a sweet smile at my father, and wished him a Merry Christmas. The happy man handed Dad the sack and walked away down the block.
We never knew who the man was and who showed us great kindness on a snowy Christmas night. We do know, however, that without him we would have had nothing under the tree. His kindness gave my parents hope and showed us in a very real way the true meaning of Christmas.
Our family has never forgotten this kind stranger. Each year we tell the story of the mysterious Santa Claus and try to repay his gifts by giving gifts to others in need.The author’s father ________.
| A．was once the richest man in his hometown |
| B．was working in a government office |
| C．had to support a family of 9 people |
| D．looked like Santa Claus most |
What happened in 1970?
| A．The author’s mother lost her job. |
| B．They had a little money left for Christmas. |
| C．They had the worst Christmas in their lives. |
| D．The author’s father was out of work. |
The author’s family knew ________.
| A．who the mysterious Santa Claus was |
| B．why the mysterious Santa Claus helped them |
| C．how they could repay the mysterious Santa Claus |
| D．they could find the mysterious Santa Claus one day |
It can be inferred（推断）that ________.
| A．the mysterious Santa Claus was one of their relatives |
| B．the mysterious Santa Claus was a rich man in the area |
| C．the sack from the mysterious Santa Claus was very expensive |
| D．the author’s family were all thankful to the mysterious Santa Claus |
Electrical devices(仪器) could soon use power made by human energy. Scientists say they have developed an experimental device that produces electricity from the physical movement of a person walking. British scientist Max Donelan and other scientists in Canada and the United States developed the device.
The device connects to a person’s knee. As the person walks, the device captures energy each time the person slows down. To do this, the device helps with the slowing down movement of the leg. The movements of the walking person push parts of a small machine that produces electricity. Using the device, an adult walking quickly could produce thirteen watts of electricity in just a minute. Donelan says walking at that speed could produce enough power to operate a laptop computer for six minutes.
There are several possible uses for the device. Developers say it could help people who work in areas without electricity to operate small computers. The device could also be used in hospitals to operate heart pacemakers(起搏器). It could even be used to assist in the movement of robotic arms and legs.
The experimental version of the device weighs about one and a half kilograms, but it is too costly for most people to buy. But the researchers hope to make a lighter, less costly version. An improved version shou1d be ready in one year.
The developers hope the device will one day help developing countries. Near1y twenty five percent of people around the world live without electric power.
A similar product was invented in 2005 by Larry Rome of the University of Pennsylvania. He created a bag carried on a person’s back that also produces power from wa1king.
The knee device does not produce as much electricity as the bag. But the bag requires the walker to carry a load of twenty to thirty kilograms.The second paragraph mainly talks about.
| A．who developed the device |
| B．how the device works |
| C．several possible uses for the devices |
| D．how much electricity the device can produce |
Compared with the device designed by Larry Rome, this new device.
| A．produces power without adding more loads to the walker |
| B．can produce more power in a much shorter time |
| C．needs to be equipped with a battery |
| D．can help the walker wa1k faster |
From the passage, we can learn that the electrical device can.
| A．help housewives operate the washing machine |
| B．make it much easier for us to go online |
| C．produce more electricity than that invented by Larry Rome |
| D．be applied in medicine to operate heart pacemakers |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．First device powered by walking wi1l soon be on the market |
| B．Advanced technology brings in a new way to operate heart pacemakers |
| C．Device gives new meaning to the idea of power walking |
| D．Human energy will become a main source of electricity |
While nature lovers across the world wish all humans to realize the significance of their natural surroundings, many Australians are turning caring for the environment into a way of life.
Julie Astonis, an Australian housewife in Brisbane is one such example. Even though autumn is approaching Australia’s Brisbane in April, one can still watch colorful blooming (盛开的) flowers in Julie’s little garden, as she tells that in her community, “Each of us has a beautiful yard. The whole community, from children to elderly people, takes care of the environment as if they are taking care of their own garden.
“Gardening is the most popular club in our community,” she says. “A lot of retired people don’t just regularly organize gardening lectures, but also personally visit families in the community to provide gardening training. So you can see that flowers continue to blossom in our gardens throughout the year.”
Talking about her people’s sense of care for the environment, Julie says when people in the community take along their dog, they always carry a garbage bag to deal with the dog’s waste. “In our community, you will never experience the embarrassment of stepping on the dirty waste while you are walking on the grass,” says Julie with a smile.“Taking care of the dog’s waste can a1so help to develop children’s sense of responsibility!”
As to protecting water resources, the Australian government has made strict rules for families. Julie says, “We certainly would not use tap water to water the flowers!” She says almost every family in her community has a huge tank used to store rainwater, which is later used as the resource of all outdoor water use, connect the water tank with their toilets.From the first three paragraphs we learn that.
| A．gardening is popular in most part of Australia |
| B．April is a great time for people to enjoy flowers |
| C．it’s not easy to keep a garden without proper training |
| D．Julie’s community has a deep sense of caring for nature |
What do we know about Julie from this passage?
| A．She takes pride in her community. |
| B．She once stepped on a dog’ s waste. |
| C．She is quite in favor of raising a dog. |
| D．She finds it embarrassing to walk on the grass. |
From what Julie says in the last paragraph, we know.
| A．rainwater is not the best resource |
| B．her community owns a public tank |
| C．her community makes full use of resources |
| D．it is not necessary to water flowers very often |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．Love nature, the Australian way |
| B．How Australians save resources |
| C．How Australians lead their life |
| D．Protect nature, a must of life |
Audrey Hepburn (奥黛丽·赫本) won an Academy Award as Best Actress for her first major American movie, Roman Holiday, which was released in 1953. But she is remembered as much for her aid work as for her acting.
Born in Belgium in 1929, Audrey’s father was British and her mother was Dutch. Audrey was sent to live at a British school for part of her childhood. During World War II, she lived and studied in the Netherlands. Her mother thought it would be safe from Gerrnan attacks. Audrey studied dance as a teenager and during college when she returned to London after the war. But she realized she wasn’t going to be a ballerina (芭蕾舞女演员). So she began taking acting parts in stage shows. Later she began to get small parts in movies.
But it was Audrey Hepburn’s move to America that brought her true fame. In 1951 she played the character “Gigi” in the Broadway play of the same name to great critical praise. Two years later, Roman Holiday made her a star at the age of 24.
Audrey made more than 25 movies. Among her most popular roles was Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiff any’s in 1961. Three years later she played Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady.
She was married two times and had one son by each husband. In 1989, the UN Children’s Fund named Audrey a goodwill ambassador. She travelled all over the world in support of UNICEF (联合国儿童基金会) projects. The UN agency said she was a tireless worker. She often gave 15 interviews a day to gain money and support for UNICEF projects.
Audrey Hepburn often said her loyalty to UNICEF was the result of her experiences as a child during World War II. She said she knew what it was like to be starving and to be saved by international aid. She was a goodwill ambassador until her death in 1993 from colon cancer.In Paragraph 1, “her aid work” means _______.
| A．winning an Academy Award as Best Actress |
| B．taking acting parts in stage shows |
| C．making her own movies |
| D．acting as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF |
The reason why Audrey lived and studied in the Netherlands was that _______ .
| A．she wanted to be a ballerina |
| B．her parents were from Britain |
| C．it was safe there |
| D．the education there was excellent |
We can infer from the passage that _______ .
| A．Audrey’s parents lived in Germany during World War II |
| B．Audrey lived in America in the 1950s |
| C．Audrey was made to give up dancing |
| D．the character“Gigi”in the Broadway play was her most popular role |
_______ is the right order for Audrey’s life.
①The first time she began to play in movies.
②She returned to London from the Netherlands.
③She won an Academy Award as Best Actress.
④She travelled all over the wor1d in support of UNlCEF projects.
⑤She played a part in My Fair Lady.
| A．②①③⑤④ | B．①②③⑤④ |
| C．②①⑤③④ | D．①②⑤③④ |