Walking down a path through some woods in Georgia, I saw a small pool of water ahead on the path. I angled my direction to go around it on the part of the path that wasn't covered by water or mud. As I reached the pool, I was suddenly attacked!
Yet I did nothing for the attack. It was so unpredictable and from somewhere totally unexpected. I was surprised as well as unhurt though I had been struck four or five times. I backed up a foot and my attacker stopped attacking me. Had I been hurt I wouldn't have found it amusing. And I was laughing. After all, I was being attacked by a butterfly!
Having stopped laughing, I took a step forward. My attacker rushed me again. He charged towards me at full speed, attempting to hurt me but in vain. For a second time, I took a step backwards while my attacker paused. I wasn't sure what to do. After all, it's just not everyday that one is attacked by a butterfly. I stepped back to look the situation over. My attacker moved back to land on the ground. That's when I discovered why my attacker was charging me only moments earlier. He had a mate and she was dying.
Sitting close beside her, he opened and closed his wings as if to fan her. I could only admire the love and courage of that butterfly in his concern for his mate. He had taken it up on himself to attack me for his mate's sake , even though she was clearly dying and I was so large. He did so just to give her those extra few precious moments of life, should I have been careless enough to step on her. His courage in attacking something thousands of times larger and heavier than himself just for his mate's safety seemed admirable. I couldn't do anything other than reward him by walking on the more difficult side of the pool. He had truly earned those moments to be with her, undisturbed.
Since then, I've used that butterfly’s courage as an inspiration and to remind myself that good things are worth fighting for.The writer changed his direction while walking down a path because he want__________.
| A．To get close to a butterfly. | B．To escape a sudden attack. |
| C．To look over the bad situation. | D．To avoid getting his shoes dirty. |
What made the man feel funny?
| A．Making the attacker pause. | B．Being stepped on by his mate. |
| C．Discovering the angry butterfly. | D．Being attacked by a butterfly. |
Which of the following words can best describe the butterfly?
A. careless B. amusing D. aggressive D. courageousFrom this experience the man learned_____.
| A．how he should deal with attacks |
| B．how to deal with challenges in his life |
| C．people should protect butterflies |
| D．people should show sympathy to the weak |
Vive la Tower!
Until New York’s Chrysler Building was completed in 1930,the Eiffel Tower was the tallest structure in the world.Located by the river Seine,on an avenue named after its designer,this 985－foot （300－meter） tower is the most famous edifice（大建筑物） in the city of Paris.Gustave Eiffel’s idea was certainly chosen from among 700 proposals（提议） to represent the city in the International Exhibition of Paris in 1889.It commemorated（纪念） the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. 
In 1887,three hundred steel workers spent two years constructing the 7 000－ton tower.Yet,it was almost torn down two decades after its completion.Luckily,its antenna（天线）,used for telegraphy at the time,saved it.Last July,it looked to observers as though the tower might be destroyed after all,as ominous（不吉利的） black clouds of smoke encircled the structure.Luck was again smiling upon the tower:the fire turned out to be a small one that was quickly put out by attendants on duty.
To date,more than 200 million people have visited the Eiffel Tower.However,it has not always been a beloved tourist attraction.At first,Parisians despised it.Its architectural style and metallic composition were not considered pleasing.Today,the Eiffel Tower is adorned（装饰） with special lights that sparkle for ten minutes each hour,from sunset until one a.m.If you happen to be passing by,look up at this breathtaking monument for an astonishing sight.The Eiffel Tower,composed of iron and steel,is greater than the sum of its parts.If you wanted to see the Eiffel Tower sparkle,when might you stop by?
| A．1:15 a.m. | B．3:30 p.m. | C．9:10 p.m. | D．0:00 a.m. |
When was the Eiffel Tower almost torn down?
| A．1907. | B．1909. | C．1889. | D．2003. |
At first,what did Parisians think about the tower?
| A．The steel and iron parts were unimpressive. |
| B．The awe－inspiring design was attracting. |
| C．Both A and B are correct. |
| D．Neither A nor B is correct. |
The South Pole is a particular place on the earth.When people stand at the top of it looking around,they will find all directions face to north.No matter how they make their first step in which direction,they will always walk towards the north.That’s to say,only north and south exist there,neither east nor west exists.
At the top of the South Pole,any clock or watch keeps good time because all meridians（子午线） join there.All kinds of local time are completely suitable there.It is even difficult to distinguish（区别） New Year’s Eve from New Year’s Day.
The explorers and scientists from different countries always fix the time according to their own.Therefore the time by their watches was different when the people with different nationality gathered there.
The Winter Solstice（冬至日） is an important festival at the South Pole.It is always on June 21 or 22.This day is called Midwinter Festival,on which the daytime is the shortest in a year and the night the longest.All people at the South Pole extend greetings to each other and present gifts to each other.They usually give all kinds of celebrations.From that day on,the daytime will get longer day by day.At the top of the South Pole,your watch will ________.
| A．keep good time | B．be five minutes fast |
| C．stop | D．be ten minutes slow |
The Winter Solstice is an important festival ________.
| A．in the world | B．at the South Pole | C．at the North Pole | D．in China |
On the Winter Solstice,________ is the shortest in a year.
| A．the night | B．the noon | C．the morning | D．the daytime |
A HOUSE WITH A HISTORY
Foulsham House is a fine,stone house of the 1790s.It stands by the River Byre,in twenty－five hectares（公顷）of the best farmland in the southwest.
Smithson built the house,and the story goes back to George,the young Prince of Wales,who fell in love with the beautiful lady Kitty Wake,at one of the first Lord Foulsham’s wild woods parties.In the past many great men rode on the hills about Foulsham House,and many fine ladies took tea in the Green Room.
The house has eight bedrooms,three bathrooms,two living－rooms and a dining room with a real Adam fire－place（壁炉）.The gentleman’s library has a view over the park and the river.All rooms are light and airy（空气通畅的）,with wood,high windows,and wood floors.
At the back of the house,where the third Lord Foulsham kept the horses,there is garage－space（停车的地方）for four cars.In many other ways,this house of the 1790s meets the needs of the 2000s.
If you wish to know more about Foulsham House,write to:
Harvey,Platt,Longford & Sons,
6,Castle Green,Gilham,Byreside.The writer writes this passage to ________.
| A．persuade people to buy it |
| B．give some information about Foulsham House |
| C．tell a love story |
| D．describe the beauty of a best farmland |
People say that ________.
| A．Smithson built the house for Lord Foulsham’s wild parties |
| B．Prince George fell in love with Kitty Wake at Foulsham House |
| C．Prince George and Kitty Wake fell in love with the Green Room |
| D．Lord Foulsham fell in love with a lady in Wales |
The library ________.
| A．has a fine view of the park and the river |
| B．is where great men and fine ladies took tea |
| C．has an Adam fire－place,and a real wood floor |
| D．has eight bedrooms,three bathrooms and two living－rooms |
Even before World War Ⅱ ended in 1945,many world leaders dreamed of a new organization that would keep international peace and safety,and encourage international cooperation（合作）.An organization was formed.The United Nations was to work to this ideal of mankind.
When the UN was founded in 1945,it was made up of fifty members.Fifteen members sat on the Security Council（安理会）.Five members—the United States,the Soviet Union,Great Britain,France and China—were given,not changing membership on the Council.The Council was given the power to settle fights among nations by persuasion,mediation（调解） or other means.A General Assembly（联合国大会）,which included every UN member,was also set up.The Assembly could consider,discuss,and pass resolutions（决议案）.
As the UN passed its fortieth birthday in 1985,it came under increasingly sharp attack by Americans.It declared that the UN is unfit as a peace keeper and cited（援引） 130 wars since 1945 as a proof（证据）.
The UN’s supporters say that the organization is the world’s best hope for peace.The UN provides,supporters also point out,much needed economic and technical help to less developed nations.The function（功能）of the Security Council is ________.
| A．to keep international peace and security and promote（促进） international cooperation |
| B．to consider,discuss,and pass on blinding resolutions |
| C．to settle disputes（争端） among nations by persuasion,mediation or other means |
| D．to keep international peace and security by force |
Why has the UN come under increasingly sharp attack by Americans since 1985?
| A．Because the UN has been unfit as a peace keeper. |
| B．Because 130 wars have broken out since 1945. |
| C．Because the US hasn’t been able to control the UN completely since 1985. |
| D．Because the US was not satisfied with the UN since 1985. |
What do you think of the UN’s supporters’ words?
| A．They are fair. | B．They are unfair. |
| C．They are for the UN’s supporters. | D．They sharply attack Americans. |
The UN’s supporters ________.
| A．probably belong to the third world |
| B．are developed countries |
| C．must be people from Africa and Europe |
| D．may not be members of the UN |
Canada is a very large country.It is bigger than China.China is the third largest country in the world.Canada is the second largest.It has an area of nearly 10 million sq. km. Canada has a very long coastline.To the west is the Pacific Ocean.To the east is the Atlantic Ocean.The Arctic Ocean is in the north.There are very many islands off the Pacific coast and off the Arctic coast.The biggest one in the west is Vancouver Island.In the east there is New Foundland,and in the Arctic Ocean the biggest islands are Baffin Island and Victoria Island.（Greenland is not part of Canada.It is a part of Denmark,a country in northern Europe.）
Canada has a long border with the U.S.A.in the south.In the northwest Canada borders on the American“State of Alaska”.Canada is a northern country.The Arctic Circle is （Latitude 16°N） passes through the northern part.In the south,half of the border with the U.S.A. follows line of latitude 49°N.Which of the following statements is true?
| A．U.S.A is the second largest country in the world. |
| B．Canada has nearly 10 million sq. km.So it is the second largest country on the earth. |
| C．China is as large as Canada and the second largest in the world. |
| D．Russia is the second largest country in the world. |
What ocean is in the north of Canada?
| A．The Pacific Ocean. | B．The Atlantic Ocean. |
| C．The Indian Ocean. | D．The Arctic Ocean. |
There are many islands in Canada,and Vancouver Island is ________.
| A．in the west | B．in the east |
| C．in the north | D．in the south |