Below are descriptions of six famous states in the U. S.
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is the most populous U.S. state and was admitted as the 31st state on September 9, 1850.California's diverse geography ranges from the Pacific Coast in the west, to the Sierra Nevada mountains in the east. Earthquakes are a common occurrence due to the state's location along the Pacific Ring of Fire: about 37,000 are recorded annually. The California Gold Rush happened in San Francisco and there is also a famous Silicon Valley. Hollywood exists in Los Angeles, making it the center of entertainment. “The Golden State” has long been a popular designation for California and was made the official State Nickname in 1968.
Florida is a state in the southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. Miami is the largest metropolitan area in the southeastern United States.The climate varies from subtropical in the north to tropical in the south. Its economy relies mainly on tourism, agriculture, and transportation. Florida is also known for its amusement parks, the production of oranges, and the Kennedy Space Center. Florida has attracted many writers such as Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams, and continues to attract celebrities and athletes. It is internationally known for golf, tennis, auto racing, and water sports.
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It became the 45th state admitted to the Union on January 4, 1896. Utah is the most religiously homogeneous state in the Union. Approximately 63% of Utahans are reported to be members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or LDS, which greatly influences Utah culture and daily life. The state is a center of transportation, education, information technology and research, government services, mining, and a major tourist destination for outdoor recreation.
Texas is the second most populous and the second-largest of the 50 states in the United States of America. Houston is the largest city in Texas and the fourth-largest in the United States. Texas is nicknamed the Lone Star State to signify Texas as a former independent republic and as a reminder of the state's struggle for independence from Mexico. The "Lone Star" can be found on the Texas state flag and on the Texas state seal today. The term "six flags over Texas" came from the several nations that had ruled over the territory. In 1845 it joined the United States as the 28th state. One Texas industry that thrived after the Civil War was cattle. Due to its long history as a center of the industry, Texas is associated with the image of the cowboy.
Virginia, is a U.S. state located in the South Atlantic region of the United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there. It is unique in how it treats cities and counties equally, manages local roads, and prohibits its governors from serving consecutive terms. Virginia's economy has many sectors: agriculture in the Shenandoah Valley; federal agencies in Northern Virginia, including the headquarters of the Department of Defense and CIA; and military facilities in Hampton Roads, the site of the region's main seaport. Virginia's public schools and many colleges and universities have contributed to growing media and technology sectors. As a result, computer chips have become the state's leading export.
Kentucky, is a state located in the east south-central region of the United States. In 1792 it became the 15th state to join the Union. Kentucky is known as the "Bluegrass State", a nickname based on the bluegrass found in many of its pastures because of the fertile soil. It is a land with diverse environments and abundant resources, including the world's longest cave system, Mammoth Cave National Park, the greatest length of navigable waterways and streams in the contiguous United States, and the two largest man-made lakes east of the Mississippi River.Kentucky is also home to the highest per capita number of deer and turkey in the United States. Which state is called the “golden state” and why?
| A．California, because of the gold rush. |
| B．Texas, because of the stars there. |
| C．Virginia, because of a famous mother there. |
| D．Kentucky, because of the famous “KFC” there. |
The famous writer of “The Old Man and the Sea” once lived in____.
| A．Virginia | B．Texas | C．California | D．Florida |
How is the correct time order for different states to join the U.S.?
| A．California – Utah—Texas – Kentucky |
| B．Kentucky–Texas – California – Utah |
| C．Kentucky–California – Texas —Utah |
| D．California –Kentucky—Texas –Utah |
Which of the following match is WRONG?
| A．Cowboys in Texas. |
| B．Utah and religions. |
| C．Hollywood in Virginia. |
| D．Kennedy Space Center in Florida. |
Being organized is an important skill for school and life.When you’re well organized，you can stay focused，instead of spending time hunting things down and getting sidetracked.What does it mean to be organized？For schoolwork，it means having one notebook or place where you store all your assignments，so you know what you have to do and when.Keeping clearly labeled binders or folders for handouts and keeping all your schoolwork neat and in a specific place—these are the main parts of organization.
For home stuff，being organized means having a place to put your things and putting them back as you go.It means hanging your coat up instead of dropping it on the floor or throwing it on a chair.It means keeping your schoolbag，your shoes，and your clean underwear in the same places so you always know where to find them.
Planning is part of being organized，too.Planning means deciding what you will do and when you will do it.Calendars，lists，and schedules can help you plan.You can buy or draw a calendar and keep it near your workplace.Making a schedule or a “todo” list for yourself is a good idea.Looking at your list helps you keep track of what you need to do.Add new things as you get assignments，and check off things when you’ve done them.Use your list to help you decide which thing is the most important to work on first.
It takes some extra efforts to organize yourself and your stuff.But once you’re organized，you feel great.The less time you spend hunting around for things or panicking about homework，the more time you have for better things，like reading a good book or playing.According to the first paragraph，“being organized” probably means “________”．
| A．looking for something with others here and there |
| B．doing something according to the plan made ahead of time |
| C．getting together every now and then |
| D．telling you what you have to do every day |
If you are well organized at home，you will________.
| A．leave all the things as they are |
| B．hang your coat on a chair |
| C．know where your clean underwear is |
| D．ask your mom where your shoes are |
Which one of the following is the right order of being organized?
a．Deciding what you have to do and when.
b．Finding a notebook where you can write down your “todo” list.
c．Getting rid of the things that have been done in the list.
d．Making a “todo” list for yourself.
| A．b，a，d，c | B．a，d，c，b |
| C．c，b，a，d | D．d，c，b，a |
What may be the best title for this passage?
| A．Planning Is Part of Being Organized |
| B．A Good Beginning Is Half Done |
| C．Being Organized—an Important Skill |
| D．Where There Is a Will There Is a Way |
The dark chocolate is one of the favourite food choices by many.The taste is simply irresistible，the smell is tempting and the feel of every bite is surely what you are craving for.
Aside from the taste，you simply cannot resist it because it has a lot of benefits when it comes to your health.Our health is our priority(首要事情) when it comes to the choice of our foods.If you worry that the chocolate is bad for your health then here is a list of the effects of dark chocolate to health especially when taken with the right amount every day.
First of all，it contains a component called flavonoid(类黄酮) which acts as an antioxidant(抗氧化剂)．The_antioxidants_fight_the_common_signs_of_aging.The antioxidants are also good for the heart.Studies have shown that people who ate foods rich in antioxidants have low incidence of heart diseases.
Aside from the antiaging and healthy heart benefits，the dark chocolate can also lower blood pressure and reduce bad cholesterol(胆固醇) to as high as 10%.Lowering of blood pressure in patients of high blood level is good because it will lower the risks of stroke and certain health crisis.Low levels of blood cholesterol are also good for the heart and take away the risk of blood vessels which may harden for too much cholesterol in them.
Lastly，do you know the feeling of being overjoyed after jogging？This feeling is like extreme happiness.Dark chocolates will give you the feeling of pleasure and happiness.If you are feeling that the world has turned against you，then a chocolate can be a mood lifter.It is an antidepressant.Usually when we feel so bad，we would crave to eat more food.If you are looking for something to eat during your bad moments try to take a bite from a dark chocolate and feel good somehow after it.
These are commonly the effects of chocolates to health.It can benefit you especially if taken in moderate amounts.Approximately,100 grams of chocolate or less a day is already enough according to studies.If you have taken too much，try to lessen on your other meals for the day.It is all about nutrition and taking the right amount of food in order to get the health benefits that it can provide to you.According to the text，________.
| A．many people like the dark chocolate for its taste |
| B．the dark chocolate is the best choice for most people |
| C．nobody could resist the tempting smell of the dark chocolate |
| D．only a bite of the dark chocolate will make you addicted to it |
The underlined sentence in Paragraph 3 suggests that dark chocolates ________.
| A．are the best choices for the aged |
| B．are usually used as an antioxidant |
| C．can keep you stay young forever |
| D．can make you look younger than your real age |
What can we learn from Paragraph 5?
| A．If you are depressed dark chocolates will make you delighted. |
| B．If you are feeling bad you will crave to eat dark chocolates. |
| C．If you eat some dark chocolates you will get overjoyed. |
| D．If you are hungry the best food is dark chocolates. |
What is the purpose of the author writing this text?
| A．To introduce the black chocolate to patients with high blood level. |
| B．To encourage us to eat as many chocolates as we can. |
| C．To introduce the black chocolate and its health effects. |
| D．To increase the sale of the black chocolate. |
Did you get a flu shot this year？For the first time，the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US is recommending that all children aged from 6 months to 18 years receive the flu vaccine.
Vaccines battle diseases caused by bacteria and viruses.A weakened form of the germ (病菌) is introduced into the body.The body makes special substances called antibodies (抗体) to fight the germs.If the actual germs were to attack，the antibodies would fight.Because there are many kinds of flu viruses，scientists must create a new vaccine formula (处方) each year.Researchers must make a prediction.
It is like forecasting the weather.Sometimes they are right on，and sometimes they are off.But even when the vaccine does not closely match circulating flu types，it can make the illness less serious.
“The flu vaccine is not as effective as the polio (小儿麻痹症) vaccine or the measles vaccine，” says Dr.William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.“It’s not a great vaccine，but it is in fact quite a good vaccine.”
But a flu vaccine doesn’t work for everyone.There are certain people who should be careful about taking it，because the vaccine is produced in eggs.Those who are allergic (过敏的) to eggs should not take it.If you have a fever，you should wait until you recover.
Some people are afraid that they might get the flu from the flu shot.Scientists say that it is not possible，because the viruses in the flu shot are inactivated.But some minor side effects such as lowgrade fever and body ache could occur.If they do，they begin soon after the shot and usually last only one to two days.
Did you know？Smallpox was the first disease people tried to prevent by putting a virus into a healthy person.In 1796，English scientist Edward Jenner placed some infected material under a boy’s skin.The underlined word “vaccine” (in Para.1) refers to________.
| A．virus used for fighting against disease |
| B．antibody to fight the germs |
| C．formula to fight against disease |
| D．germ to be injected into the body |
By saying “It’s not a great vaccine，but it is in fact quite a good vaccine.” (in Para.4)，William Schaffner means the flu vaccine________.
| A．is as effective as the polio and the measles vaccines |
| B．is worse，compared with the polio and the measles vaccines |
| C．does help to make illness less serious |
| D．is quite good because it works for everyone |
We can infer from the passage that________.
| A．those who are not allergic to eggs can take the flu vaccine |
| B．not all the flu vaccines are effective for everyone |
| C．you should go to a doctor if you have a fever after taking the flu vaccine |
| D．it is possible that some people might get the flu from the flu shot |
When people take the flu vaccine，________.
| A．they’ll be allergic to eggs |
| B．their bodies will ache for 5 days |
| C．they probably have a low fever |
| D．they won’t catch a flu ever after |
As you can see，water works hard in your body every day.That’s why it’s important to give your body the water it needs to carry out all its different jobs.On a regular day，your body loses 2 to 3 quarts of water—enough to fill a 2liter soda bottle.You probably guess that water is lost when you sweat—especially on a hot day.
But your body also loses water in an almost invisible way—evaporation (蒸发)．Water escapes from your body through your skin and in your breath.How？Your breath contains droplets (小滴) of water that are usually too tiny to see.They become visible for a quick second in the cold when you can “see your breath”．But water evaporates this way all year round.Your skin also contains water，which escapes in tiny droplets that go into the air.The water in your skin evaporates into the air，but fortunately，your body can replace the water it loses so your skin doesn’t dry out.
Eating and drinking is one way to replace the water your body loses.Most foods have a lot of water in them，especially fruits and vegetables.Grapes，watermelons，oranges，and cantaloupes are delicious and full of water.
But you can’t rely_on food alone to get that water back，and that’s why it’s also a good idea to drink water every day.You might have heard someone say that people need to drink 6 to 8 cups (1.4 to 1.9 liters) of water each day.Depending on how much water you’re getting from foods and other liquids,6 to 8 cups might not be necessary.If you eat a lot of fruits and vegetables，or you like to eat soup every day，you’ll get some of the water your body needs.You should drink enough water every day because________.
| A．your body needs too much water |
| B．water does all kinds of jobs in your body |
| C．your body loses a lot of water every day |
| D．the more water you drink the better you feel |
Water in your body loses by the following ways EXCEPT________.
| A．breathing | B．evaporating |
| C．sweating | D．eating |
Your body has to give enough water to your skin in order to________.
| A．keep the water in your skin clean |
| B．stop your skin from drying out |
| C．stop the water from losing |
| D．keep your skin clean all the time |
What does the underlined phrase “rely on” in the fourth paragraph mean?
| A．Eat up. | B．Receive. |
| C．Depend upon. | D．Digest. |
Several parents and children escaped the summer heat and enjoyed a refreshing “Leap Into a Good Book”．About 30 children and parents gathered as volunteers for both agencies.
After the readings，refreshments (点心) were offered and children and parents were given books，a gift bag and a bookmark with information on adult literacy (读写能力) programs.
Learn to Read of Northwest Florida Inc.and Even Start coordinated the event with hopes that combining their programs will help target functionally illiterate adults and their families.A functionally illiterate adult is one who has reading skills below a seventhgrade level.That often means they have difficulty filling out job applications，understanding a lease，reading medication labels or to their children.
Merelin Hernandez,9，a fourthgrader at Warrington Elementary School，understands the importance of reading.She also says it makes her happy when she is bored.“Reading helps me go to another grade，”she says.“I feel proud when I get a B because then I know I am reading well.”Monae Walker,7，a student at Oakcrest Elementary School，says reading teaches her and makes her happy.
Learn to Read of Northwest Florida Inc.provides oneonone tutoring for basic reading and writing skills to adults 16 and older who are not in school.Tutors go through a 12hour workshop and tutor their students 3 hours per week.The program currently has 150 active tutors.
Even Start is a family education program at McMillan Learning Center，which offers adult education classes and infant，toddler and prekindergarten services at no cost to families.Linda Harris，a teacher in charge of the Escambia Even Start program，says the program equips parents so they can help their children.The event “Leap Into a Good Book”________．
| A．was mainly held by Learn to Read |
| B．targeted functionally literate parents |
| C．was attended by about 30 volunteers |
| D．was held to enjoy reading in summer |
According to the passage，a functionally illiterate adult________.
| A．has skills below a seventhgrade level |
| B．has never got school education |
| C．has no ability to recognize English words |
| D．can’t fill out a job application |
According to the passage，Monae Walker________.
| A．was attending the oneonone tutoring |
| B．was a schoolleaver |
| C．was having a good time there |
| D．read books with her parents |
According to the passage，Even Start can________.
| A．make parents able to help their children |
| B．educate children how to use words |
| C．offer some services for families in life |
| D．offer a good place for children |