I have always been interested in making things. When I was a child, I enjoyed painting, but I also liked malting things out of day. I won a prize for one of my paintings when I was fourteen.
That may be why I went to art school four years later. But I studied painting at first, not pottery. I like being a potter because I like to work with my hands and feel the clay. I’m happy working by myself and being near my home. I don’t like mass-produced things, for they are made by machines and are all the same. I think crafts(手工艺) are very important and crafts persons(手艺人)make things cleverly with hands. They make our lives colorful. When I left school, I got some money. I hope to become a full-time craftswoman. This workplace is small, but I wish tot: move to a larger one next year.
1. The writer went to the art school at the age of___________
2. The writer is talking about her workplace_____________
A. unhappily B. hopefully
C. seriously D. angrily
3. From the passage we know that the writer prefers
A. a long way to work
B. group work
C. a small workplace
D. something different
4. What does "mass-produced" mean in Chinese?
5. From the passage we are sure that the writer is a ________ (man/woman).
Every living thing needs to reproduce.Reproducing means creating more members of your group.In order for plants to reproduce，they have to spread their seeds （种子） to other areas.Plants have developed all kinds of ways to do this.
The simplest way is gravity.Many seeds are inside of fruit.When a piece of fruit gets too heavy，it falls from a tree to the ground.Sometimes animals will pick up the fruit and drop it in another area.That helps move the seed even farther away.Apples spread this way.
Other plants use wind to spread their seeds.Dandelions are a good example of this.Dandelion seeds are so light that when wind blows，it carries dandelion seeds to new places.Maple （枫树） seeds also use wind.Their seeds are connected with long，thin leaves that look like wings.When the seed falls from the tree，its "wings" help it fly farther from the tree.
Some animals help plants spread their seeds.The animals eat the seeds.While the seed is in the animal's body，it stays whole.when the seed leaves the animal，it's in a new place.
Ants also help spread seeds.Some seeds have a special smell that attracts ants.The ants bring the seeds back to their home，which of course is underground.They only eat part of the seed.They leave the rest of the seed underground.After that，the seed can start growing.
（1）What does the word "gravity" mean in the second paragraph？
A.The action that makes animals drop seeds.
B.The help that moves seeds even farther away.
C.The need that comes from animals and plants.
D.The force that causes fruit to fall to the ground.
（2）How do maples spread their seeds？
A.They use ants.
B.They use wind.
C.They use smells.
D.They use animals.
（3）What do ants do to help spread seeds？
a.They only eat part of the seed.
b.They help seeds fall from the tree.
c.They carry seeds to the underground home.
d.They pick up the fruit and move it far away.
e.They leave the rest of the seed underground.
A.b，d，e
B.a，b，d
C.a，c，e
D.b，c，d
（4）What is the theme （主题 ） of the text？
A.Nature.
B.Culture.
C.Education.
D.Technology.
（5）What's the best title for the text？
A.How Plants Spread Seeds？
B.Why Animals Pick Up Seeds？
C.How Wind Helps Seeds Spread？
D.Why Seeds Have a Special Trip？
"Oh，boys，don't throw stones at the poor bird，" said an old grey﹣headed man.
"Sir，" said a little one，"she makes such a loud noise that we can't bear her."
"I am afraid the stone will rebound （反弹） and hurt you as long as you live!"
"Rebound!We don't understand you，sir!"
"Well，I will tell you a true story.
"Fifty years ago，I liked throwing stones because I had no other boy to play with and I became very skillful.One day I went to work for an old couple who were very friendly to everybody，even to the birds.And the birds seemed to love the old couple，too.For seven years a bird had come and built her nest （鸟巢） in the same place.She and her mate had just returned on the day I went to work and the old couple welcomed them happily.During the day，I thought I would try my skill upon her.Suddenly the bird flew to a tree near me.I found a nice stone，and I threw it with my best skill.It hit the bird on the head and she dropped dead！
"I was sorry the moment I saw her fall off the tree.But it was too late.All day long her mate flew about，and chirped （发啁啾声） so sadly that he made my heart ache..I said nothing to the old couple but one of their grandchildren told them about it.Though the old couple never said a word to me，I knew that they were very sad.I could never look them in the eye and tell them how sorry I was.They have been dead for many，many years，and so has the poor bird.But don't you see how that stone rebounded，and hit me？For fifty years I have still remembered it though I have never spoken of it before.But if what I have told you will stop you，I will be happy."
The boys at once dropped the stones in their hands and the bird had no more trouble from them.
（1）Why did the boy throw stones at the bird according to what the little boy said？
A.Because they wanted to catch the bird.
B.Because they thought the bird was noisy.
C.Because they wanted to practice their skills.
D.Because they thought throwing stones was fun.
（2）Which word can best describe the old couple？
A.Kind.
B.Strict.
C.Proud.
D.Funny.
（3）The underlined word "They" refers to .
A.the birds
B.the old couple
C.the boys
D.the grandchildren
（4）How did the old man stop the boys from throwing stones at the bird？
A.By driving away the bird.
B.By taking away their stones.
C.By playing jokes on the boys.
D.By telling the boys his own story.
（5）What can we learn from the text？
A.Don't hurt others，or you will hurt yourself.
B.Try to save others and you will feel happier.
C.Keep practicing and you will be very skillful.
D.Don't waste time，or you will achieve nothing.
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Create Your Own Story Competition If you love to write，draw and create stories，here's your chance! Come and join in the Create Your Own Story Competition（13﹣19 September 2021）
All you have to do is to create your own stories. ●The competition is only open to the students in Grand Middle School. ●Please write a story in at least 300 words. ●Pictures are not necessary but stories with creative pictures will get extra （额外的） points. |
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Get an entry form （参赛表格） from www.GrandMiddleSchooL.org/createyourownstory. The closing date：September 20，2021. |
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The best stories will be posted on www.GrandMiddleSchool.org/beststories.Everyone will have the chance to vote （投票） for their favorite stories from 23 to 25 September 2021. |
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Names of winners will also be posted on www.GrandMiddleSchool.org/beststories on September 30，2021. |
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Please call 1800 6221 4422 or visit www.GrandMiddleSchool.org/storycompetition for more information. |
根据材料内容选择最佳答案。
（1）If you win the 5th place，what prizes will you get？
A.1 dictionary and 5 books.
B.1 dictionary and 10 books.
C.1 dictionary and 15 books.
D.1 dictionary and 20 books.
（2）Jimmy is refused to take part in the competition probably because .
A.he creates the story all by himself
B.his story has more than 300 words
C.his story doesn't have any pictures
D.He isn't from Grand Middle School
（3）When can you vote for your favorite stories？
A.On September 13.
B.On September 20.
C.On September 24.
D.On September 30.
（4）What can you find on www.GrandMiddleSchool.org/storycompetition？
A.Best stories.
B.More information.
C.An entry form.
D.Names of winners.
（5）Who is the text written for？
A.Students.
B.Teachers.
C.Parents.
D.Artists.
Can plants talk？Modern research has found something amazing：they do communicate with each other.
It has been known for some time that plants use chemicals to communicate with each other.This happens when a plant gets attacked by insects.The plant gives out chemicals from the leaves that are being eaten.This is like a warning，or a call for help："I'm being attacked!"When another plant gets the chemicals，it starts to give out its own，different chemicals.Some of these chemicals drive insects away.Others attract the wasps （黄蜂；蜜蜂）!The wasps kill the insects that are eating the plants.Scientists hope to learn more about this plant warning system，so that we can use it to grow more crops.
More surprisingly，plants also use sound to communicate.People can't hear these sounds，but plants are making them.Some plants make noises with their roots.Corn and chili plants do this.Some trees make clicking noises when there is not enough water.
Most surprisingly of all，plants have an amazing system of communication that can link nearly every plant in a forest.Scientists call this system the "wood wide web".The wood wide web is linked underground by fungi （霉菌）.It links the roots of different plants to each other.It is in some ways similar to the Internet we use.Using the wood wide web，plants can share information and even food with each other.However，it may lead to bad effects.Plants may use it to steal food from each other，or spread chemicals to attack other plants.Perhaps one day scientists will learn how to create a "firewall" to help prevent these attacks within the wood wide web.
Scientists are learning more every day about the secret ways in which plants talk to each other.Maybe one day we will know enough about plant communication to be able to "talk" with them ourselves.
（1）What will plants do when they are attacked by insects？
A.They will kill the insects by themselves.
B.They will control the wasps to kill the insects.
C.They will send out signals to ask for help.
D.They will produce chemicals as a warning or a call for help.
（2）How are the wood wide web linked by fungi？
A.By making noises with their roots.
B.By connecting the roots of different plants to each other.
C.By sharing food and information with each other.
D.By spreading chemicals to each other.
（3）What is the writer's intention of the last paragraph？
A.To give people hope for further studies.
B.To praise scientists for their great achievements.
C.To call on people to protect the plants on Earth.
D.To inspire people to communicate with plants.
（4）What is the structure of the passage？
A.
B.
C.
D.
（5）Which is the best title for the passage？
A.The Secret Language of Plants
B.The Study about the Plant Warning System
C.The Plants that Give Warnings
D.Why Scientists Do Research about Plants
When I was a girl growing up，I cannot once ever remember either my mum or my grandma wasting food.
Anything we didn't eat at one meal was leftovers（剩菜）.I can remember my grandma making a huge pot of potatoes.We would all eat until we were full enough，but there were always about half of the potatoes leftover.A few days later，Grandma would take those potatoes out of the fridge，boil some noodles，add some vegetables and mix them all together.And I also remember when I watched my mum fry bacon （煎培根）for us in the mornings，she would always take the oil carefully and pour it into a bottle.Then she would use it later to add flavor to so many other dishes.I was an adult before I realized that potatoes didn't actually taste like bacon!
I learned their lessons well，and after I grew up，I tried to never waste food myself.I always planned the week's meals ahead of time and only bought what was on my shopping list so that nothing went to waste.Every meal went into our stomachs and any leftovers were later eaten by either myself my boys，my husband or my dogs.To me，throwing food into the bin was just wrong.
However，when it comes to living，there are no leftovers.Life is just like a feast.Each moment that you don't live is lost forever.Life cannot be saved or stored.Each day is a fresh beginning.Live each moment of your life to the fullest，then.
（1）The writer's grandma used the leftover potatoes to .
A.mix with noodles
B.boil some vegetables
C.fry bacon
D.throw away
（2）Why did the potatoes cooked by the writer's mum taste like bacon？
A.Because she mixed the bacon with potatoes.
B.Because she put potatoes into the containers.
C.Because she was good at cooking.
D.Because she poured the bacon oil into potatoes.
（3）According to the passage，how did the writer save food in her way？
A.By shopping ahead of time.
B.By throwing it into the litter bin.
C.By following her mother's shopping list.
D.By planning the next week's food.
（4）What does the underlined word " feast" in the last paragraph probably mean？
A.Sweat dream.
B.Large meal.
C.Happy story.
D.Beautiful picture.
（5）What can we learn from the last two paragraphs？
A.It is never too old to learn.
B.Eat to live，but not live to eat.
C.Neither food nor life should be wasted.
D.There is no such thing as a free lunch.