Emilio and Michi spread the colorful tablecloth on the table. They made room for Drew, who was carrying a dish. “Watch out,” Drew warned. “This is pretty hot.”
A moment later, Kent and Alyssa added another hot dish to the table. “That smells so good!” said Michi. “Are most of the parents here yet? I’m hungry.”
Kent looked through the doors that led into the hallway. “I think Ms. Milano and Mr.Hasselbach just finished giving them the garden touring. They should be heading into the cafeteria next.”
The students of Jefferson Middle School in Saint Louis, US had spent all afternoon preparing for the evening meal. They did their best to transform the lunchroom into a beautiful dining area for their families.
As the families found their seats, Ms. Milano asked Drew, Emilio, and Michi to join her at the front of the room. She said, “I just wanted to take a moment to congratulate Drew, Emilio and Michi for their wonderful idea. A year ago, they first came to me with the plan for starting a garden at Jefferson. I wondered whether it would work, but they had thought through everything. Any time I had a question about how we would make this work, they had an answer prepared. As you can see, they were absolutely correct. About three-quarters of the food you will be enjoying came from the school garden. The students prepared the entire meal themselves.”
Ms. Milano handed Drew, Michi and Emilio a box each. They opened their box as Ms. Milano continued. “As a thank-you to these students for their creative idea and hard work, they have each received a stepping stone(垫脚石)for the garden. Their names and date appear on the stones.”
She turned to them. “Students for years to come will be enjoying the garden that you helped create,” she said. “We thought it would be appropriate for them to have a reminder of our garden’s founders.”
They held up their stepping stones and smiled as the crowd clapped. “And now,” said Ms Milano, “please help yourself to some of the mouthwatering food our young chefs have prepared. Dinner is served!”What does the underlined word “them” in paragraph 3 refer to?
A.The students’ parents. | B.New students. | C.Teachers. | D.The school chefs. |
According to the text, the food served on the table
A.was served as a lunch |
B.was cooked by the students |
C.was prepared to thank the kids |
D.was entirely from the school garden |
What was Ms. Milano’s original attitude toward starting a garden at school?
A.She was doubtful about it |
B.She felt it was worth a try |
C.she was strongly against it |
D.She thought it a wonderful idea. |
Why did Ms. Milano give stepping stones to Drew, Michi , and Emilio?
A.They have good cooking skills. |
B.They are the best students of the school. |
C.They have made the school more beautiful. |
D.They are the founders of the school garden. |
What would be the best title of the text?
A.A school garden | B.Garden chefs | C.Creative students | D.A delicious meal |
No one was left in the museum now, and John was walking round to see if everything was all right. Suddenly he saw a beautiful painting lying on the floor. John picked it up and gave it to the director of the museum.
The director called several museums to check and see if it was a stolen painting, but no one claimed(认领) it. So the director decided to hang it in the museum. All the experts came to look at the painting. Each one said it was beautiful and had very deep meaning. The director was proud to have such a painting in his museum and congratulated John on his discovery.
Some weeks later a woman and her little son came to the museum. While they were looking at the new painting, the little boy began to cry. The director went over and asked him.
“Why are you crying?”
The child pointed to the painting and said, “That’s my painting on the wall and I want it back.”
“Yes,” said his mother. “He left it on the floor a few weeks ago. If you look carefully, you can see his name on the painting.” John was perhaps .
A.a painter |
B.an expert on painting |
C.a visitor to the museum |
D.a man working in the museum |
John found the painting .
A.before the museum opened |
B.during his visit to the museum |
C.after the museum was closed |
D.while he was enjoying his walk |
After the director heard what the woman and the boy said, he must be very .
A.angry | B.surprised | C.afraid | D.proud |
All the experts thought the painting good because .
A.it was a stolen famous painting |
B.none of them looked carefully enough |
C.it was drawn by a famous painter though he was a child |
D.they found it really beautiful and it had very deep meaning |
A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms, though my teacher emphasized(强调) the importance again and again. But soon, the importance of English idioms was showed in an amusing experience.
One day, I happened to meet an Englishman, on the road, and soon we began to talk. As I was talking about how I was studying English, the foreigner seemed to be astonished, gently shaking his head ,shrugging his shoulders, saying, “You don’t say! You don’t say!” I was puzzled, I thought, perhaps this is not a proper topic.Well, I had better change the topic. So I said to him, “Well, shall we talk about the Great Wall? By the way, have you ever been there?” “Certainly, everybody back home will laugh at me if I leave China without seeing it. It was magnificent(壮丽的,不凡的).” He was deep in thought when I began to talk like a tourist guide. “The Great Wall is one of the wonders in the world. We are very proud of it. ” Soon I was interrupted(打断) again by his order “You don’t say!” I couldn’t help asking, “Why do you ask me not to talk about it?” “Well, I didn’t request you to do so,” He answered, greatly surprised. I said, “Didn’t you say you don’t say?” Hearing this, the Englishman laughed to tears. He began to explain, “You don’t say actually means really? It is an expression of surprise Perhaps you don’t pay attention to English idioms” Only then did I know I had made a fool of myself. Since then I have been more careful with idiomatic expressions.A year ago, I did not pay attention to English idioms because_______.
A.English idioms were too difficult to master |
B.I care little about the teacher’s instruction |
C.My teacher didn’t emphasize the importance |
D.I had no interest in English learning |
When I first heard “ You don’t say!” I thought _______.
A.the Englishman was not interested in my English studies |
B.the Englishman was only interested in the Great Wall |
C.I had talked too much |
D.I had to stop talking at once |
The underlined word “ amusing ” means _______.
A. interesting | B.important |
C.terrible | D.lucky |
Many teenagers feel that the most important people in their lives are their friends. They believe that their family members, especially their parents, don’t know them as well their friends do. In large families, it is often for brothers and sisters to fight with each other and then they can only go to their friends for advice. It is very important for teenagers to have one good friend or many friends. Even when they are not with their friends, they usually spend a lot of time talking among themselves on the phone. This communication is very important in children’s growing up, because friends can discuss something difficult to say to their family members.
However, parents often try to choose their children’s friends for them. Some parents may even stop their children from meeting their good friends. The question of “choice” is an interesting one. Have you ever thought of the following questions?
Who choose your friends?
Do you choose your friends or your friends choose you?
Have you got a good friend your parents don’t like?When teenagers stay alone, the usual way of communication is to _________.
A.go to their friends |
B.talk with their parents |
C.have a discussion with their family |
D.talk with their friends on the phone |
Which of the following is DIFFERENT in meaning from the sentence “Some parents may even stop their children from meeting their good friends.”?
A.Some parents may even not allow their children to meet their good friends. |
B.Some parents may even ask their children to stay away from their good friends. |
C.Some parents may even not let their children meet their good friends. |
D.Some parents may want their children to stop to meet their good friends. |
Which of the following sentences is TRUE?
A.Parents should like everything their children enjoy. |
B.In all families, children can choose everything they like. |
C.Parents should try their best to understand their children better. |
D.Teenagers can only go to their friends for help. |
The main idea of this passage is that ___________.
A.Teenagers need friends |
B.Friends can give good advice |
C.Parents often choose their children’s friends for them |
D.Good friends can communicate with each other |
Many facts suggest that children are overweight and the situation is getting worse, according to the doctors. I feel there are a number of reasons for this.
Some people blame the fact that we are surrounded by shops selling unhealthy, fatty foods, such as fried chicken and ice cream, at low prices. This has turned out a whole generation of grown-ups who seldom cook a meal for themselves. If there were fewer of these restaurants, then probably children would buy less take-away food.
There is another argument that blames parents for allowing their children to become overweight. I agree with this, because good eating habits begin early in life, long before children start to visit fast food shops. If children are given fried chicken and chocolate rather than healthy food, or are always allowed to choose what they eat, they will go for sweet and salty foods every time, and this will carry on throughout their lives.
There is a third reason for this situation. Children these days take very little exercise. They do not walk to school. When they get home, they sit in front of the television or their computers and play computer games. Not only is this an unhealthy pastime, it also gives them time to eat more unhealthy food. What they need is to go outside and play active games or sports.
The above are the main reasons for this problem, and therefore we have to encourage young people to be more active, as well as steer them away from fast food shops and bad eating habits.According to the text, what kind of children may eat more unhealthy food?
A.Those who often take exercise. |
B.Those who often watch television. |
C.Those who often have meals at home. |
D.Those who often walk to school. |
The author thinks that children are becoming overweight because
A.their parents often cook meals for them |
B.they are too busy to go out and play |
C.they can' t choose what to eat |
D.there are too many fast food shops around |
The word "steer" underlined in the last sentence most probably means _______.
A.force | B.guide | C.expect | D.observe |
The main purpose of the text is to _________.
A.tell a story | B.provide facts |
C.give advice | D.compare opinions |
On January 11, 2007, as students sat and listened, a very important guest speaker named Richard, spoke to the students in the lecture hall. He not only showed the potential(潜能)within young adults, but encouraged them to work hard at their lessons.
Richard was a young child when his mother died and his father walked out. He was forced into many different foster homes(寄养家庭)where he felt unhappy. He did not know that his life was taking a turn for the worst.
His uncle, after getting out of prison, got him into drugs and alcohol. His uncle taught him that his place in life was either to be in prison or die trying to be “a man.” His uncle’s teaching almost started affecting him until a very important person came into his life: a teacher. This teacher taught him there is a place in the world for everyone and it isn’t related to drugs.
Richard is now a Harvard University graduate and has a great and loving family. Why? He was taught to have respect not only for others, but for himself.
After the meeting, it was hoped that the students realized within them there is a potential, and within everyone around them, is knowledge. As Richard reminded them, “Knowledge is power.”On January 11, 2007, students listened to a speech made by Richard, who graduated from ________.
A.Harvard University | B.a foster school |
C.his teacher’s school | D.his uncle’s university |
Richard encouraged the students ______.
A.to love life | B.to be a man |
C.to study hard | D.to leave drugs |
When he was young, Richard lived a(an)_______ life in foster homes.
A.rich | B.unhappy | C.relaxing | D.interesting |
Who played an important role in Richard’s successful life?
A.His uncle. | B.His teacher. |
C.His friends. | D.His parents. |