Bedazzling (眼花缭乱) with their bright colors and eye-catching displays, fireworks light up our night skies during the holidays. However, these crowd-pleasers can have some damaging side effects.
Once a firework is set off, it only takes a couple of seconds before smoke, dust and harmful chemicals are let out into the atmosphere. The loud booming noises are caused by gunpowder. While the sounds may excite some people, they can be frightening to domestic and wild animals—as well as some humans.
The pretty colors you see are a result of more chemicals. Barium, added to make green, is known for its poisonous and radioactive qualities. Blue comes from copper compounds. Cadmium, lithium and lead—all found in fireworks—have been linked to diseases, such as allergies and skin rashes in both humans and animals. Acid rain has been linked to gases given off by fireworks, which sometimes go beyond the toxin(毒素) limits of the United States Clean Air Act.
Once all those chemicals come back down to the ground, they can cause problems too. Debris (碎片) from the fireworks falls to the ground, where animals can burn their paws or noses on piping hot pieces. Humans also are at risk of stepping on or picking up something sharp or hot. Meanwhile, debris that finds its way into waterways can damage animal habitats and water supply sources.
Instead of setting off fireworks, try to come up with some new ways for fun. Here are some ideas to get you started:
• Sky lanterns—a tradition that originated long ago in the most-populated Asian country.
• Party crackers—a favorite in the United Kingdom—give you noise and surprises without the mess of fireworks. You can make your own or buy eco-friendly crackers.
• Want noise excitement with less volume? Consider a fireworks sound recording beforehand or break out the party horns (号角) and blow up a storm! The advantages of fireworks can be seen below EXCEPT that _____.
| A．the special sounds of fireworks excite people |
| B．debris from fireworks can even find its way into water |
| C．the pretty and bright colors add to the beauty of night skies |
| D．fireworks are enjoyed as one of the crowd-pleasers |
Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．Copper compounds are needed to make green in fireworks. |
| B．Chemicals in fireworks are both poisonous and dangerous. |
| C．Too much gases from fireworks can result in acid rain. |
| D．Chemicals in fireworks are harmful in the air and on the ground. |
All the italicized (斜体的) words are probably ____.
| A．mineral materials | B．tiny solids | C．chemical elements | D．broken pieces |
What is implied from the passage?
| A．Gunpowder in fireworks makes loud booming noises. |
| B．It must be Indians who first started to hang sky lanterns. |
| C．Fireworks does less harm in the air than on the ground. |
| D．Fireworks can even break the balance of nature. |
What can be concluded as the writer’s attitude towards fireworks?
| A．It is not allowed to set off fireworks except during the holidays. |
| B．Fireworks should be banned and replaced by some other means. |
| C．Night is the best time to set off fireworks and see the pretty colors. |
| D．You cannot set off fireworks unless you come up with new ways. |
A sure way to destroy your chances of learning how to write skillfully is to believe that writing is a “natural gift” rather than a learned skill. People with such an attitude think that they are the only ones for whom writing is unbearably difficult. They feel that everyone else finds writing easy or at least tolerable. Such people often say, “I’m not any good at writing” or “English was not one of my good subjects.” They imply that they simply do not have a talent for writing while others do. The result of this attitude is that these people try to avoid writing, and when they do write, they don’t try their best. Their writing fails chiefly because they believe that they don’t have the “natural talent” needed to write. Unless their attitude changes, they probably will not learn how to write effectively.
A realistic attitude about writing must build on the idea that writing is a skill. It is a skill like driving, typing, or cooking; and, like any skill, it can be learned. If you have the determination to learn, you will develop your writing skills by practicing extensively.
Many people find it difficult to do the active thinking that clear writing demands. It is frustrating to discover how much of a challenge it is to transfer thoughts and feelings from one’s head onto a sheet of paper. But writing is not an automatic process: We will not get something for nothing — and we should not expect to. For almost everyone, skillful writing comes from hard work — from determination and sweat. The good news is that the skill of writing can be mastered, and if you are ready to work, you will learn what you need to know.Why do some people think writing is difficult?
| A．They have no time to practice writing. |
| B．They believe few people can write well. |
| C．They have no good teachers to help them. |
| D．They don’t think writing can be learned. |
It can be inferred from Para. 1 that ______.
| A．“natural gift” is the determining factor in one’s success |
| B．diligence can result in success |
| C．a person without “natural gift” is sure to fail in writing |
| D．attitude determines what one will be |
What is the topic of the passage?
| A．Why writing is important. |
| B．Whether writing is a born gift. |
| C．Benefits of essay writing. |
| D．How to improve writing skills. |
Scientists have discovered a special biological behavior in dolphins（海豚） that could lead to a treatment for late-onset diabetes（晚发的糖尿病） in humans. Studies on dolphins found that healthy dolphins switch into a diabetic-like state overnight when they are not feeding, but return to normal when they eat the following morning.
The extraordinary finding has led scientists to suggest that dolphins have “genetic switch” that allows them to imitate diabetes while they are not feeding for a night, without suffering any ill effect.
If researchers can identify a similar genetic pathway in human, they may be able to develop drugs to effectively switch off diabetes. Some 2.2 million people in Britain have type 2 (or late-onset) diabetes, a figure that is expected to reach 4 million by 2025 as a consequence of rising levels of obesity（肥胖）.
The tissues of people with type 2 diabetes have become resistant to insulin（胰岛素）so they lose the ability to control sugar levels in their blood. The condition can damage the heart, eyes, kidneys（肾脏） and nerves and contribute to 5% of all deaths, according to the World Healthy Organization.
Dolphins appear to imitate diabetes to keep high levels of blood sugar when food is rare. Like humans, dolphins need some sugar in their blood for their brains to function normally. Venn-Watson’s team analyzed 1,000 blood samples（样本） from 52 dolphins while they didn’t eat anything overnight and fed in the morning. At night time, the dolphins’ metabolism（新陈代谢）changed greatly and showed similar characteristics to that seen in people with type 2 diabetes.
“It is our hope that this discovery can lead to new ways to prevent, treat and maybe even cure diabetes in humans,” said Stephanie Venn-Watson, director of clinical research at the National Marine Foundation in San Diego.What’s the main idea of the passage?
| A．Humans get some idea of treating diabetes from dolphins. |
| B．Dolphins can switch into a diabetic-like state overnight. |
| C．Humans can suffer the same disease as dolphins. |
| D．Dolphins should be fed regularly to avoid diabetes. |
The key to applying the finding to curing human diabetes lies in ____________.
| A．producing insulin in a larger amount |
| B．developing drugs from healthy dolphins |
| C．identifying a similar genetic pathway in human |
| D．analyzing more blood samples from hungry dolphins |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Scientists have found a similar genetic switch in humans. |
| B．More British people will suffer type 2 diabetes due to obesity. |
| C．2.2 million people with type 2 diabetes die in Britain every year. |
| D．Dolphins imitate diabetes to avoid a high blood sugar level. |
What will happen to dolphins if not fed for a night according to Venn-Watson?
| A．Their metabolism breaks down. |
| B．They become resistant to insulin. |
| C．Their heart and kidneys are damaged. |
| D．They keep high levels of blood sugar. |
Each Sunday, people can hear the music of the Mission Dolores Basilica in San Francisco. The Spanish missionaries（传教士）built the church in 1791. It was the start of a special kind of neighborhood: the Mission District.
The area is a place with a long and varied history. One community member says that it’s important for people to understand the many levels of history in the neighborhood. He feels that this knowledge is a big part of understanding what it means to be a real San Franciscan.
One of the most interesting parts of the district is its people. Over the years, immigrants have come to the area from Ireland, Germany, and Italy. But the most recent immigrants are mainly from Latin America. It’s easy to see the style that these recent additions give to the neighborhood. You can see it in the art on the walls, taste it in the food, and hear it in the music!
Juan Pedro Gaffney, the director of the Spanish Choir（唱诗班）of San Francisco, says that the people there share the pain and the happiness of their friends and family members and that music has always been a basic part of cultural identity in the district. He feels that the music of the district is colorful and lively.
But it isn’t just its music that’s colorful and lively. Its art is full of life as well.
The local art community stays close to the area’s culture and tradition. A local arts organization often leads people on walks through the district. They visit streets like Balmy Alley, which is famous for its murals （壁画）. Even though the meanings behind the murals are always changing, they are still very powerful. One artist explains that they are fighting for fairness in the community and to help the environment through murals. Apparently, they’re something the community likes.
Many of these artists feel that the district is a successful neighborhood where new immigrants are welcome. “People see that they’re not so different from each other,” says one artist. “There are a lot of things that bind（捆绑）the immigrants through culture and tradition.”The underlined phrase “this knowledge” in Paragraph 2 refers to ____________.
| A．having memories of the Spanish missionaries |
| B．knowing the history of the Mission Dolores Basilica |
| C．realizing what it means to be a real San Franciscan |
| D．understanding the many levels of history in the neighborhood |
The author shows the multi-culture of the Mission District from the aspects of ____________.
| A．literature and sports |
| B．music and murals |
| C．buildings and clothes |
| D．customs and festivals |
It can be inferred from the passage that in the Mission District ____________.
| A．immigrants from different cultures live in harmony |
| B．Latin American music and foods are the most attractive |
| C．the Spanish Choir stands out in the competition of different cultures |
| D．new immigrants have to give up their own culture to be welcome |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．The Mission Dolores Basilica |
| B．A Special Type of Neighborhood |
| C．Music of the Mission District |
| D．The Spanish Choir of San Francisco |
There’s always a lot to do to get the kids ready to go back to school, let alone trying to get them excited about the idea. To help your kids get ready, save a few dollars in the process and have some fun with them in the dying days of summer, try a few of these fun filled activities.
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UP-CYCLING
Every student needs school supplies. But a lot of what they need is already littering around your house. If you don’t have reusable school supplies at home, you might have the materials to make them.
Try up-cycling with your kids and change old or useless products into new ones.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
●Sew blue jeans into pencil cases.
●Turn shoeboxes into arts storage boxes.
●Use an old belt as a books belt.
●Wrap book covers in old posters.
Up-cycling is a great way to develop artistic talent and creative thinking in your children.
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PLAN TO PACK AHEAD
Most teachers and schools reward green behavior among students. To help your kids stay green, be sure to have these items on hand so you can pack them litter-less lunches.
Here’s what you need:
●Reusable lunch containers.
●A firm lunchbox and thermos（水瓶）.
●Reusable napkins（餐巾）.
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MAP IT OUT
Across the country, kids are thinking about how they’ll get to school. Do I walk? Do I bike? Either way, avoid driving them if at all possible.
Kids need to stay active and want to connect with other local kids on the way to school. Help your children map out their route or get them involved with a local walking school bus. A walking school bus is groups of children walking to school with one or more adults.
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We hope these activities will help you and your kids get ready for the new school year, and that you’ll have some fun in the process. Last but not least, some activities may require encouragements … may we suggest some organic chocolate ice cream.What do the suggested activities have in common?
| A．Having fun and saving green. |
| B．Saving money and obeying school rules. |
| C．Offering food and training skills. |
| D．Bringing teachers together and saving money. |
The activities of UP-CYCLING bring benefits of ___________.
a. making old products into creative school supplies
b. making friends with local kids on the way to school
c. bringing fun of cooperation between parents and kids
d. packing litter-less lunches to school
e. developing kids’ artistic talent and creative thinking
| A．a, c, d | B．b, c, d |
| C．b, d, e | D．a, c, e |
Which of the following is TRUE about the MAP IT OUT activity?
| A．Parents are forbidden to be involved in the activity. |
| B．Children can learn to read a map and take a correct school bus. |
| C．Parents are expected to drive their kids to school if possible. |
| D．Children walk to school together accompanied by one or more adults. |
The passage is most probably intended for ___________.
| A．teachers | B．parents |
| C．children | D．headmasters |
The Great Gatsby is a 1925 novel written by American author F. Scott Fitzgerald that follows a cast of characters living in the fictional town of West Egg on Long Island in the summer of 1922.
Nick Carraway rents a small house in West Egg on Long Island, next door to the expensive house of Jay Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire who often holds extravagant（奢侈的）parties. Nick’s cousin, Daisy, and her husband, Tom, a college classmate of Nick’s, live in East Egg across the bay.
Nick later learns that Gatsby knew and fell in love with Daisy in 1917 and is still deeply in love with her. He spends many nights staring at her house across the bay from his house, hoping to recover their lost relationship one day. Gatsby’s extravagant lifestyle and wild parties are an attempt to impress Daisy in the hope that she will one day appear again at Gatsby’s doorstep. With the help of Nick, Gatsby and Daisy get in touch again. But after a short time, Tom forces the group to drive into New York City, saying that he and Daisy have a history that Gatsby could never understand. In addition, he announces that Gatsby is a criminal whose fortune comes from illegal activities. Daisy realizes that her allegiance（忠心）is to Tom, and Tom sends her back to East Egg with Gatsby, attempting to prove that Gatsby cannot hurt him.
When Nick and Tom drive home, they discover that Gatsby’s car has struck and killed Myrtle. Nick later learns from Gatsby that Daisy, not Gatsby himself, was driving the car at the time of the accident but Gatsby intends to take the blame anyway. Myrtle’s husband, George, arrives at Gatsby’s house and fatally（致命地）shoots both Gatsby and then himself.
Nick stages a small funeral for Gatsby with few coming to mourn the passing of his romantic dream. After that, Nick moves back to the Midwest, disillusioned（幻灭）with the Eastern lifestyle.
At first glance, the novel appears to be a simple love story, but further examination shows Fitzgerald’s masterful observation of American society during the 1920s and the corruption（堕落）of the American dream.
Gatsby often holds extravagant parties in order to ____________.
| A．show off his wealth |
| B．enjoy life with his neighbors |
| C．attract Daisy’s attention |
| D．memorize his love with Daisy |
The friend circle of Gatsby before and after his death tells ____________.
| A．how powerful George is |
| B．what an honest cousin Nick is |
| C．what people care most in a world of money |
| D．how ugly the couple of George and Myrtle are |
What do we know about Gatsby from the passage?
| A．He loves Daisy so deeply that he chooses to sacrifice for her. |
| B．He falls in love with Daisy when she attends his wild parties. |
| C．He is a criminal who attempts to hurt Tom from time to time. |
| D．He is a mysterious millionaire who likes to stare at others’ houses. |
The last paragraph of the passage is to show ____________.
| A．the influence of The Great Gatsby on later novels |
| B．the wonderful writing skills of F. Scott Fitzgerald |
| C．the outstanding and unique theme of The Great Gatsby |
| D．the status of The Great Gatsby in American literature |