Bamboo (竹子) is one of nature's (自然) most surprising plants. Many people call this plant a tree, but it is a kind of grass.
Like other kinds of grass, a bamboo plant may be cut very low to the ground, but it will grow back very quickly. A Japanese scientist reported one bamboo plant which grew 1. 5 metres(4 feet) in 24 hours! Bamboo grows almost everywhere in the world except Europe. There are more than 1, 000 kinds of bamboo.
Not all bamboo looks the same. Some bamboo plants are very thin. They may only grow to be a few centimetres wide while others may grow to more than 30 centimetres (1 foot) across. This plant also comes in different colours, from yellow to black to green.
Bamboo has been used to make many things such as hats and kitchen tools( 厨房用具). Because it is strong, bamboo is also used to build buildings.
Many Asian countries have used bamboo for hundreds of years. They often use bamboo for buildings and supporting (支撑) new buildings and bridges while they are being built.
In Africa, poor farmers are taught how to find water using bamboo. These African countries need cheap way to find water because they have no money, and their fields often die from no rain and no water. Bamboo pipes( 管子) help poor farmers bring water to their thirsty fields without spending a lot of money. How is bamboo like grass?
A.It grows quickly. | B.It's wood. ` | C.it is easy to cut. | D.It is very thin. |
Though you can see bamboo everywhere, it doesn't grow .
A.in China | B.in Europe | C.on mountains | D.in Africa |
Why is bamboo used by African poor farmers? Because .
A.it is cheap | B.it has different colours |
C.it is strong | D.it has been used by Asians |
Bamboo pipes can .
A.make money | B.be trees | C.grow quickly | D.carry water |
In Asia, bamboo has been used for .
A.a short time |
B.many thousands of years |
C.many hundreds of years |
D.about 100 years |
The first chocolate was eaten by people in South America hundreds of years ago. In those days, the people did not really eat chocolate. They used the cocoa bean(可可豆)to make a chocolate drink and they enjoyed it very much. Many years later, the cocoa bean was brought to other countries and people came to love the taste of chocolate.
In 1824, John Cadbury opened a small shop in Britain. One of the things he sold was chocolate drink. In 1831, he opened a factory to make chocolate drink. He wanted to encourage people to drink chocolate instead of other drinks. A few years later, a man called Joseph Fry found a way to make chocolate instead of only drinking it. But at that time chocolate was very expensive and only the rich people could buy it. Later, more and more chocolate bars were produced and sold, it became cheaper.
However, at first only plain chocolate (a kind of chocolate without milk and with very little sugar)was produced. Milk chocolate came later and this was made by adding milk to the chocolate. The first milk chocolate bar was made in Cadbury’s factory in 1897. Their most famous chocolate, Cadbury’s Milk Bar, was made in 1905. It has been the most popular chocolate in Britain and around the world for over 100 years. The Cadbury factory is still in Britain and the chocolate produced there is eaten all over the world. Every year, thousands of visitors visit the factory in order to see how chocolate is made.Hundreds of years ago, people first began to drink chocolate in .
A.South America | B.South Africa | C.Britain | D.Australia |
John Cadbury opened a factory to make chocolate drink in .
A.1824 | B.1831 | C.1897 | D.1905 |
People had the chance to eat chocolate instead of drinking it for the first time .
A.when chocolate was cheaper |
B.when more and more chocolate was produced |
C.when John Cadbury started to make chocolate drink |
D.when Joseph Fry found a way to make chocolate. |
At first, not many people bought chocolate .
A.because it was very expensive |
B.because people didn’t like the taste |
C.because they wanted to have other drinks |
D.because there was no chocolate sold in the shops |
Cadbury’s Milk Bar.
A.was first made in 1897 |
B.is a kind of plain chocolate |
C.is famous neither in Britain nor in America |
D.is popular not only in Britain but also around the world |
The London HomeA centre for people with AIDS![]() The London Home gives them love and care, but money is always needed. 111/117Bute Road, London Tel:0171-792 1200 |
Do you want to join our group at our weekly meetings and help to make our world safer and cleaner? Can you spare a few hours a week to hand out information brochures(小册子)? WORLDWATCHERS Needs you! Write to: The Information Office PO BOX 379 GD30 6QA |
At Solutions we teach people how to help themselves. In parts of Africa and India we’ve helped the poor a lot. Now they have hope for a better life. Solutions ![]() Finding solutions to help the poor. Call 0044-173 654 2427 |
Worldwatchers is a centre for ________.
A.finding solutions | B.protecting the environment |
C.searching information | D.helping people with themselves |
With the help of________, people can learn how to help themselves.
A.go to the Information Office |
B.call 0040-173 654 2427 |
C.post to PO BOX 379 GD30 6QA |
D.write to 111/117Bute Road ,London |
What can you do if you want to help the people with AIDS?
A.Donate money to the London Home. |
B.Hand out information brochures. |
C.Teach them how to help themselves. |
D.Write to the Information Office. |
Where can you find this passage?
A.In some newspapers. | B.In some magazines. |
C.On the Internet. | D.All of the above. |
Smiles and tears are part of life. But do you find enough time for smiling? I’m not asking if you experience lots of good times. Of course, we should smile during the happy times. But do you also smile during the difficult times.
Erma Bombeck is famous for her funny books. But she wrote one about a more serious subject –cancer in children. The book is titled, I WANT TO GROW HAIR,IWANT TO GROW UP. Erma talks with many children who have cancer and learns important lessons from them. She learns, for example, that cancer survivors know how they should smile at life, though they are receiving chemotherapy.
She tells about the experience of 15-year-old Jessica. Jessica’s leg was cut off at the knee because of cancer. She was learning to wear a prosthesis(假肢). Jessica told about playing soccer. She hit the ball hard with her foot. The ball flew off in one direction while her man-made leg flew another way. Then the brave girl lay on the floor, laughing happily.
As the saying goes, “There’s a time to cry and a time to laugh.” Do you find plenty of time to laugh.
You can smile if you find reasons to smile during the difficult times. Only survivors know how to smile. If you can smile even when you’re in trouble, you will make it. Remember to smile and the whole world will smile with you.
When asked to point out one or two things that are most important to themselves, many put friends ahead of homes, jobs, clothes and cars.
A true friendship carries a long history of experience that determines who we are and keeps us connected. It is a treasure we should prove it. Unfortunately, the better friends you are, the more probably you’ll have disagreements. And the result can be what you don’t want an end to the relationship.
The good news is that most troubled friendships can be mended. First, don’t let your pride get in your way. Most of us can forgive each other when differences are brought out in the open. Second, apologize when you’re wrong ― even if you’ve been wronged. Over the course of friendship, even the best people make mistakes. Sometimes, it may be best if the wronged persontakes wrong. Third, see things from your friend’s point of view. And finally, accept that friendships changes as our needs and lifestyles change. Making friends can sometimes seem easy. The hard part is keeping the connections strong during the nature ups and downs that have an effect on all relationships. My suggestion: Consider friendship an honor and a gift, and worth the effort to treasure and nurture(培养).The “wronged person” underlined in the text refers to a person _______.
A.who has been mistaken for another | B.who has been blamed unfairly |
C.who has treated friends badly | D.who has admitted his mistakes |
According to the text a friendship can last long only if________.
A.we treat our disagreements wisely | B.we know our friends mistakes |
C.we have much in common | D.we have known one another for long |
What should we do if we follow the author’s second suggestion?
A.Stick to our own points of view. |
B.Avoid making mistakes. |
C.Make an apology first. |
D.change our lifestyles. |
Earthquakes happen without warning(前兆).They can happen any time of a day,at any point during the year.When an earthquake is happening, you should know what you should do or not do.
Do NOT go outside.You could get injured from falling glass or parts of buildings.If you are outside,stay away from buildings and power lines(输电线).
Stay under a desk,table,or other strong furniture.Hold on to it.Or stay in a corner of the building.Cover your face and head with your arms and cover your mouth with a towel or clothing.Stay inside until shaking stops and it is safe to go outside.
Keep away from windows,pictures or advertisements on the wall or the building,and anything else that could fall and hurt you.Most people get injured by falling things during an earthquake,not by the shaking itself.
Also keep away from a fire.You could fall down and burn yourself on the fire.
If you are driving when an earthquake happens,stop the car if it’s safe.Stay inside your car until the earthquake stops,and don’t drive near bridges.Try not to stop by power lines or trees.These could fall and hurt you.It isn’t safe for you to ______ while the earthquake is happening.
A.run out of the building | B.stay in a corner of the building |
C.cover your head with your arms | D.cover your mouth with a towel |
From this passage,we know ______ .
A.many people fear earthquakes |
B.earthquakes may happen at any time |
C.we can’t save ourselves in an earthquake |
D.people never get injured in earthquakes |
The best title for this passage should be “_____________”
A.How Earthquakes Happen | B.How to Drive a Car |
C.What We Should Do in Earthquakes | D.Why Earthquakes Happen |