According to some predictions, human beings will die out in 2012. Nearly all people think it’s impossible, but there are some more earthquakes in recent years.
Animals can predict the weather or other natural events. It may sound strange, but farmers living in the countryside think so. For hundreds of years , they have observed animals.
“Animals ’ behavior can be connected to future weather conditions or events.” They say. For example, if cows lie down, a rainstorm is coming. There are many traditional stories connecting animals and natural events. Many people think that these stories don’t have scientific evidence( 根据 ) at all. Scientists, however, are beginning to take another look at some of these ideas.
A Japanese earthquake researcher named Kiyoshi Shimamura noticed an increase in dog bites a short time before earthquake hit. Then he did research on twelve public health centers in Kobe, Japan. These health centers treated people after the 1995 earthquake . He got some interesting information about the month before the big earthquake: treatment for animals’ bites had increased . In fact, aggressive(侵略的)behavior in dogs, such as biting and barking loudly , jumped 60 percent.
There are also other changes in animals’ behavior before the earthquake. For example, fish began swimming together in large groups , but only in the middle of the water and not near the edges. Birds flew away from their nests for many days, leaving their eggs unprotected . These animals’ behavior suggests that animals may be able to predict natural events better than people.What would cows behave before a rainstorm?
| A．Running | B．Biting | C．Lying down | D．Sleeping |
What do dogs begin to do just before an earthquake?
| A．They leave their homes. | B．They hurt people. |
| C．They lie down in grass. | D．They stay together in large groups. |
Which of the following animals behave strangely before an earthquake according to this passage?
| A．Fish | B．Cows | C．Pigs | D．All of the above. |
In Kiyoshi Shimamura’s investigation(调查)，before the big earthquake, treatment for animals’ bites had _________.
| A．disappeared | B．increased | C．been the same as before. | D．never changed. |
What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．Natural events and animals’ actions. |
| B．What animals do during earthquakes |
| C．Many earthquakes of Japan. |
| D．Some stories about animals. |
Millions of British people have ditched the traditional “thank you” and took the place of it with the less formal “cheers”, according to a survey.
Although the common person will say “thank you” nearly 5,000 times a year, one in three are more likely to add a “cheers” or “ta” where it’s needed to show they are fashionable.
One in twenty now say “nice one” instead, while the younger are more likely to offer a “cool” than a “thank you”.
“Merci”, “fab” and even “gracias” were also listed as common phrases to use, as “much appreciated(感激)”.
One in twenty who took part in the survey of 2,000 people by the Food Network UK for Thank You Day, which is marked on November 24, 2011, said a formal “thank you” was now not often needed in everyday conversation. More than one in ten adults said they regularly won’t say thank you if they are in a bad mood. Most people stated that saying thank you was something that their parents trained them. A huge 70 percent of those questioned will say thank you to a person’s face without even meaning it, while one fifth avoid(避免)saying it when they know they should.
It seems our friends and family get the stress of our bad manners. Half of them admit (承认) they’re not good at thanking those closest to them. Many of them explain that they don’t say thank you because their family “already know I’m grateful”.
When spoken words won’t do, it falls to a nice text to do the job for most people.
One third will still send a handwritten thank-you note---but 45 percent admit it’s been more than six months since they tried to send one.
A quarter of British people say “thank you” with food, with 23 percent cooking a meal to show their appreciation to someone. Another 15 percent bake a cake.
It follows that 85 percent of people will be angry because of not getting the gratitude (感激)
they feel they should receive.Most of the people who took part in the survey say that they say “thank you” _______.
| A．when they are in good mood | B．completely out of habit |
| C．when they feel truly grateful | D．purely out of politeness |
The underlined word “ditched” in Paragraph 1 means “________”.
| A．gave up | B．used | C．shared | D．knew |
It can be learned from the passage that _______.
| A．different ways of expressing gratitude are all fashionable |
| B．people should avoid saying “thank you” nowadays |
| C．a thank-you note is still appreciated by most people |
| D．people in a bad mood never say “thank you” |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Most people express their gratitude to others by buying food for them. |
| B．About fifty percent of people try not to say thank you when they should. |
| C．Most people may feel natural when they fail to receive others’ gratitude. |
| D．Many people think it unnecessary to say thanks to their family members. |
It seems that there’s a good reason why dogs are always seen as man’s best friend. Scientists have found that dogs are the only animals that can read emotion(情感)in faces much like humans. The finding suggests that like an understanding friend, dogs can see if we are happy, sad, pleased or angry.
When humans look at a new face, their eyes usually look across the left, falling on the right hand side of the person’s face first. A possible reason for this is that the right side of the human face is better at expressing emotions.
Scientists have now shown that pet dogs also have “left gaze bias(左视偏好)”, but only when looking at human faces. No other animal has been known to do like this before. Dr. Kun Guo showed 17 dogs pictures of human, dog and monkey faces as well as something else with his team. The dogs’ eyes and heads show a strong left gaze bias when the animals see human faces. But this did not happen when they were shown other pictures, including those of dogs.
Guo suggests that over thousands of years living with humans, dogs may have developed the left gaze bias as a way to guess our emotions.
“Recent studies show that the right side of our faces can express emotions better than the left. If true, then it makes sense for dogs and humans to see the right hand side of a face first.”Why are dogs seen as man’s best friend according to the passage?
| A．Because dogs are the closest animals to humans. |
| B．Because dogs can read the emotions in humans’ faces easily. |
| C．Because dogs can understand us better when we feel sad. |
| D．Because dogs are good at expressing emotions. |
The dogs’ left gaze bias helps them _______.
| A．get along well with humans | B．express emotions quickly |
| C．have more understanding friends | D．remember more new faces |
The passage mainly wants to tell us that _______.
| A．dogs have been man’s best friends for thousands of years |
| B．humans have a “left gaze bias” |
| C．the “left gaze bias” works on all animals |
| D．dogs can read emotions the same as humans |
Do you want to know something about children in Africa? What do they do for fun every day? Find out here:
Education
School is expensive for many African children. Lots of families can’t afford school uniforms or exercise books even though they don’t have to pay for school.
For those lucky enough to go to school, they have a lot to learn. Some take two language classes: English or French, and their first languages. There is also math, science, history and geography. Chores take up much of children’s time after school. They have to get water and firewood for the family every day. Also there’s cleaning, washing and helping Mum with the meal.
Daily fun
It’s not all work and no play. Sports are very popular. Children can make goals with twigs(嫩枝) and their own footballs with plastic and bits of string(绳子).They play in the country and the streets of old towns. There’re many football teams for teenagers in Africa.
Internet
It’s really expensive to get on the Internet. To surf the net for 20 hours costs 600yuan.This is more than the average（平均的） monthly pay per person.
Egypt and South Africa are the top two users of the Internet in Africa. All of the capital cities there can get on the Internet.
Some schools offer computer lessons but few students can enjoy computer fun at home.The underlined word “Chores” probably means______.
| A．网上冲浪 | B．家务杂活 | C．体育活动 | D．家庭作业 |
Sports are very popular in Africa because children_______.
| A．do not need money to play | B．can play all kinds of ball games |
| C．don’t like to go to school | D．don’t like to do their homework |
In Africa ,how many hours can you use all your pay to surf the Internet in a year .And you only have the average pay.
| A． 20 hours | B． more than 240 hours |
| C．about 240 hours | D．about 20 hours |
To:manager@tastytreat.com
Date: Monday, 7th October, 3:34 p.m.
From: raymondyuen@canada.net
Subject: Complaint
Dear Mr. Price,
I have eaten in your restaurant many times and have always been happy with the food and service. This makes what happened last Saturday even more disappointing(失望).
It was my son’s birthday so we booked a non-smoking table at your restaurant for 7:30 p.m. We arrived on time but were told that our table was not yet ready. At 8:00 p.m., we were given a table in the smoking area. I asked to move but I was told that there were no other tables. A lot of people were smoking so it was uncomfortable and unhealthy.
Our first waitress, Janet, was very polite and helpful. She gave us free drinks for waiting so long. Our food also came quickly and looked fresh and tasty. When my wife had eaten most of her meal, she found a dead cockroach(蟑螂)in her vegetables. She was shocked and wanted to leave. At first, the waitress told us it was a piece of garlic(作料).When we told her it had legs, she apologized
(="said" sorry) and took the food away.
We asked for the pay for my wife’s meal bill, expecting not to pay for my wife’s meal. Nobody came. After 15 minutes, I asked to see the manager. The headwaiter told us that you were on holiday. I complained again about the horrible cockroach. He told me Janet had finished work. He didn’t believe my story and gave me a bill for three meals. I argued with him but was forced(被迫)to pay.
The waitress, Janet, was always friendly, but I would like an apology from your impolite headwaiter and a full refund(退款)for our meal. It cost $68. Until then, I will not be eating at your restaurant or recommending it to anyone.
You can contact me at 742-3254 or through e-mail if you want more information.
Thank you for your attention.
Yours sincerely,
Raymond Yuen The headwaiter didn’t believe Mr. Yuen because_______.
| A．the waitress hadn’t told him about what happened |
| B．he believed that the cockroach was garlic |
| C．he didn’t want to pay Mr. Yuen back |
| D．the manager was on holiday |
What does Mr. Yuen want to pay for now?
| A．Nothing. | B．Two meals. |
| C．Three meals. | D．Only the drinks. |
Mr. Yuen wanted Mr. Priceto______.
| A．say sorry to his family |
| B．let the headwaiter stop working in the restaurant |
| C．get the headwaiter to say sorry |
| D．get the headwaiter and Janet to say sorry |
Usually, when your teacher asks a question, there is only one correct answer. But there is one question that has millions of current answers. That question is "What's your name?" Everyone gives a different answer, but everyone is correct.
Have you ever wondered about people's names? Where do they come from? What do they
mean?
People's first names, or given names, are chosen by their parents. Sometimes the name of a grandparent or other member of the family is used. Some parents choose the name of a well-known person. A boy could be named George Washington Smith; a girl could be named Helen Keller Jones.
Some people give their children names that mean good things. Clara means "bright"; Beatrice means "one who gives happiness"; Donald means "world ruler"; Leonard means "as brave as a lion".
The earliest last names, or surnames, were taken from place names. A family with the name Brook or Brooks probably lived near brook (СϪ); someone who was called Longstreet probably lived on a long, paved road. The Greenwood family lived in or near a leafy forest.
Other early surnames came from people's occupations. The most common occupational name is Smith, which means a person who makes things with iron or other metals. In the past, smiths were very important workers in every town and village. Some other occupational names are: Carter - a person who owned or drove a cart（手推车）； Potter -a person who made pots and pans.
The ancestors (祖先) of the Baker family probably baked bread for their neighbors in their native village. The Carpenter's great-great-great-grandfather probably built houses and furniture.
Sometimes people were known for the color of their hair or skin, or their size, or their special abilities. When there were two men who were named John in the same village, the John with the gray hair probably became John Gray. Or the John was very tall could call himself John
Tallman. John Fish was probably an excellent swimmer and John Lightfoot was probably a fast
runner or a good dancer.
Some family names were made by adding something to the father's name. English-speaking people added -s or -son. The Johnsons are descendants of John; the Roberts family's ancestor was Robert. Irish and Scottish people added Mac or Mc or O. Perhaps all of the MacDonnells and the McDonnells and the O'Donnells are descendants of the same Donnell.Which of the following aspects（方面）do the surnames in the passage NOT cover?
| A．Places where people lived. |
| B．People's characters. |
| C．Talents that people had. |
| D．People's occupations. |
According to the passage, the ancestors of the Potter family most probably _______.
| A．owned or drove a cart |
| B．made things with metals |
| C．made kitchen tools or contains |
| D．built houses and furniture |
If an English couple whose ancestors lived near a leafy forest wanted their new-born son to become a world leader, the baby might be named _______.
| A．Beatrice Smith |
| B．Leonard Carter |
| C．George Longstreet |
| D．Donald Greenwood |
The underlined word "descendants" in the last paragraph means a person's _______.
| A．后代 | B．朋友 | C．同事 | D．同伴 |