Don't you just love ice skating every winter? I am sure, that since winter is approaching, your skates are set to come out, just waiting to be used. Impress your friends with your new trick on how to ice-skate backwards with the help of these tips. Skating backwards on ice is a bit difficult but once you master the basic, there' s nothing like it. Follow the steps given below and you will be able to skate backwards in no time.
Stand Straight
The first thing that you need to do is, stand straight. If you feel that you are falling backwards, then just put your chin up and slightly bend your knees. Don't worry; this happens to all.
Confidence is What You Need
The most important step while learning how to skate backwards, is having enough confidence in yourself and in what you are doing. How can you achieve this? By practice. Just practice rolling backwards down a gentle slope every single day or just by pushing off from a wall or something of that sort. But before you do that, make sure that the place where you are practicing is free from any kind of debris（碎片）because otherwise, you could end up in the hospital due to some accident. While going backwards, just get used to the feeling of moving backwards. One of the important ice skating tips and techniques is that if you feel that you are losing your balance, then scissor (做剪式运动) your skates. Keep practicing this till you are confident about it.
Maintain Speed
Confident now? Great! Now the next step is to maintain your speed. While rolling in a straight line with one skate, with the other try sculling (滑浆), that is, keep pushing yourself backwards with an outwards stroke (滑动). Now bring the skate which you were using to scull, and then again, repeat the same process. Make sure that you put most of your weight on the skate which is moving straight and not the one with which you are sculling. Now, try the same thing using the other foot. Again keep doing this till you are confident enough.
Increase Your Speed Now
Once you are confident that you can scull with either foot, the next thing that you have to do is increase your speed. Try some of your own tricks now. Scull with either foot or with both at the same time.
Scull and Be Aware
While you keep one foot straight, keep sculling with the other. You can do that simultaneously with both feet. Concentrate on what you are doing but don't get so involved that you don't see where you are going. If you are not watching your back, you might just bang against something or someone. According to the text, confidence comes from ________ .
| A．constant exercise | B．strict coaches | C．high speed | D．good techniques |
Which is the right order of ice-skating backwards?
a. Increasing your speed. b .Being able to scull with one foot.
c. Being about to stand straight. d. Trying some different tricks.
| A．c→a→d→b | B．c→b→d→a | C．c→b→a→d | D．a→c→b→d |
In the last paragraph the author mainly wants to express _________.
| A．one must be brave to learn to ice-skate backwards |
| B．skating and keeping cautious are both important |
| C．it’s difficult to concentrate when ice-skating backwards |
| D．it' s a common thing to hit someone when ice skating backwards |
The purpose of the text is _______ .
| A．to offer some advice on ice-skating backwards |
| B．to introduce the culture of ice-skating backwards |
| C．to explain advantages of ice-skating backwards |
| D．to compare different ways of ice-skating backwards |
A teacher stood in front of his history class of twenty students just before handing out the final exam. His students sat quietly and waited for him to speak.
Its been a pleasure teaching you this term, he said. Youve all worked very hard, so I have a pleasant surprise for you. Everyone who chooses not to take the final exam will get a B for the course.
Most of the students jumped out of their seats. They thanked the teacher happily, and walked out of the classroom. Only a few students stayed. The teacher looked at them. This is your last chance, he said. Does anyone else want to leave?” All the students there stayed in their seats and took out their pencils.
The teacher smiled. “Congratulations (祝贺),” he said. “I’m glad to see you believe in yourselves. You all get A’s.”This story most probably took place ______.
| A．at the beginning of the term |
| B．in the middle of the term |
| C．at the end of the term |
| D．at the beginning of the school year |
Most of the students got Grade ______.
| A．A | B．B | C．C | D．F |
Why did some students stay in their seats?
| A．Because they wanted to take the exam. |
| B．Because the teacher told them to stay in their class. |
| C．Because they were afraid to leave. |
| D．Because they didnt have anything to do. |
The teacher gave the students who stayed in the classroom As because ______.
| A．the teacher liked them |
| B．they were cleverer than the other students |
| C．they believed in themselves |
| D．they studied hard |
The underlined word them in Paragraph 3 refers to ______.
| A．students staying in their seats |
| B．students leaving the classroom |
| C．their seats |
| D．all the students |
One thing we love about is that it’s easy to make and it only needs a few simple ingredients(原料). Here are four of our favourite and simple homemade soups. Enjoy!
1. Chicken Soup
Chicken soup can help to fight a cold. You can prepare your soup with a whole chicken or just thin pieces of chicken. Do either of themalthough a whole chicken is likely to make your soup much tastier. The main ingredients are: chicken, water, onions, carrots, celery(芹菜), salt, pepper and noodles.
2. White Bean Soup
There are many types of beans to choose from. It’s simply a matter of personal taste. Dried beans are more traditional and cost less. However, canned beans also work. The other main ingredients are: onions, tomatoes and carrots. Add salt and pepper to taste.
3. French Onion soup
When you get French onion soup in a restaurant, it might look a bit difficult to make. The hardest part is cutting up all those onions—get ready for a good cry! The main ingredients are: six sweet onions, butter, water and salt.
4. Garden Vegetable Soup
In summer, you may find yourself with a lot of vegetables that need using up. Throw in potatoes, rice or even some meat with the vegetables. The best thing about this soup is that you can put in whatever you want. The main ingredients are: onions, carrots, celery, tomatoes and potatoes.How can you make the chicken soup more delicious?
| A．By adding carrots． |
| B．By using chicken pieces． |
| C．By adding onions． |
| D．By using a whole chicken． |
What is the most difficult part when making French onion soup?
| A．Getting good onions． |
| B．Cutting up the onions． |
| C．Making the soup look good |
| D．Buying the ingredients． |
What might be the best soup in summer ?
| A．Chicken soup． | B．White bean soup． |
| C．French onion soup． | D．Garden vegetable soup． |
Which of the following is TRUE?
| A．Chicken soup is good if you catch a cold． |
| B．Canned beans are cheaper than dried beans． |
| C．It's difficult to make French onion soup. |
| D．You cannot put meat in garden vegetable soup． |
Which ingredient is needed in all the soups?
| A．Tomatoes. | B．Onions. |
| C．Butter. | D．Celery. |
Five times in the earth’s history, some three-quarters of all living species disappeared forever-and within a short period of time. Those species losses stand for a major change in the planet’s ecology(生态学). Clues to these changes can be seen in the fossils(化石)and rock layers.
Today, human activities are driving species to die out at a rate never seen before. And this loss of species really does matter, said Anita Narwani. She works at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. That’s because the diversity(多样性)of species in an ecosystem provides people with all types of services we can’t do without.
Trees provide oxygen for us to breathe. At the same time, they remove carbon from the air which is a cause of global warming. Plants help clean air and water. Animals move seeds from one area to another. A broad range of living resources also provides people with food, shelter and medicine.
Narwani wanted to find out how important the diversity of species is for people. So she teamed up with other ecologists to review more than 1,700 studies. They found that more diverse parts of the earth tend to do well in things like removing carbon and providing us with wood and other natural resources. They were also better at keeping fisheries large and healthy so that they could feed many people.
Unfortunately, the diversity of species is in steep drop. It is too soon to say that the earth is undergoing a sixth mass extinction, Narwani said. She said a mass extinction means the loss of 75 percent of species over 2 million years or less. We haven’t lost that many – at least not yet. But according to her, if species losses continue so fast, such a mass extinction could occur in just 300 years.
The new findings highlight the potential for humans to use up many of the resources on which we now depend. As people learn more, however, they can take steps to lessen those risks. People should protect ecosystems so that they can continue to provide us with their services.What’s the writer’s purpose in giving the examples in Paragraph 3?
| A．To tell us how we get our food and resources. |
| B．To show the importance of the diversity of species. |
| C．To tell us the use of each species. |
| D．To show the writer is very learned. |
The underlined word “They ” in Paragraph 4 refers to .
| A．humans |
| B．Narwani and her team |
| C．natural resources |
| D．various species |
Narwani and her team found that .
| A．many people know the importance of protecting wildlife |
| B．many species die out because of human activities |
| C．making good use of natural resources benefits people |
| D．rich diversity of species greatly benefits people |
We can learn from Paragraph 5 that .
| A．the world’s species are dying out in a very fast rate |
| B．we’ll lose 75 percent of species on the earth |
| C．the earth is undergoing a sixth mass extinction |
| D．a mass extinction of species will occur in 300 years |
Recently, we were given the opportunity to review a book written by a young author. When we received it, I noted how beautifully done it was. While often the case---we see beautifully written and illustrated books all the time---but how often do they come from a 10-year-old? Sewing a Friendship, written by a creative and talented young girl named Natalie Tinti, is such a book.
Developing friendships is an area that Natalie Tinti has researched in her own life. In her book, Sewing a Friendship, she tells what great things can happen if kids take a step toward friendship.
Tinti’s characters in Sewing a Friendship have colorful and creative personalities. Jonsy Jipsy loves singing and belly dance. Sokron Blossom lives in a neat and tidy world and loves to read fashion magazines. Meeka likes brain games and Nina is happy with her life and the music it brings her.
All but one of the characters seems happy with their lives. One of the girls, Kiki Shaver, was sad to live in a small home with her aunt and uncle. She had no friend and didn’t know how to make them. When four girls invites her into the circle of their friendship, it’s no wonder that Kiki is hesitant and uneasy.
The story continues as the four girls invite and accept a “ not so likeable” girl into their circle to win a fashion show. The girls feel a strong bond of friendship after the show. Kiki then understands that taking a step towards friendship is better than being alone. All the girls learn that by having the courage to include others, you can “ sew a friendship”.
Today, it seems that almost every news headline begins with a child’s suicide---or murder---because of being bullied(欺侮)，not having friends or family to discuss issues with and feelings of low self –respect. What’s causing these senseless terrible events? If more kids would invite the outcasts（被驱逐者） into their circle of friends, lives would be saved as well as pointed in another direction.
Natalie Tinti finds her voice in Sewing a Friendship ---and shows a talent that’s rare for such a young girl. Recommended reading for all young adult fans. The first paragraph serves as a(n) ______.
| A．background | B．explanation |
| C．summary | D．introduction |
The author seems to agree that ______.
| A．bullying is the main cause of children’s suicides |
| B．we should not expect too much from friendship |
| C．friendship has the power to prevent sad events |
| D．one should not forget his old circle of friends |
Which of the following words can best describe the ending of the story?
| A．Disappointing. | B．Unexpected |
| C．Uncertain. | D．Satisfying |
The general tone(基调) of the passage is one of ______.
| A．praise | B．delight |
| C．complaint | D．concern |
Sure, it’s good to get along with your teacher because it makes the time you spend in the classroom more pleasant.
And yes, it’s good to get along with your teacher because, in general, it’s smart to learn how to understand the different types of people you’ll meet throughout your life.
“But really, there’s one super-important reason why you should get along with your teacher. When you do, learning bursts right open,” says Evelyn Vuko, a longtime teacher who writes an education column(专栏) called “Teacher Says” for the Washington Post newspaper.
In fact, kids who get along with their teachers not only learn more, but they’re more comfortable asking questions and getting extra help. This makes it easier to understand new material and do your best on tests. When you have this kind of relationship with a teacher, he or she can be someone to turn to with problems, such as problems with learning or school life, such as bullying.
As a kid in a primary or middle school, you’re at a wonderful stage in your life. You’re like a sponge (海绵), able to absorb lots of new and exciting information. On top of that, you’re able to think about all this information in new ways. Your teacher knows that it, in most cases, is very excited to be the person who’s giving you all that material and helping you make it. Remember, teachers are people, too, and they feel great if you’re open to what they’re teaching you. That’s why they wanted to be teachers in the first place—to teach!
Some kids may be able to learn in any situation, whether they like the teacher or not. But most kids are sensitive to the way they get along with the teacher, and if things aren’t going well, they won’t learn as well and won’t enjoy being in class.In the passage, the author mainly talks about _______.
| A．how to get along well with others |
| B．the importance of a good relation with teachers |
| C．how to make the time in the classroom more pleasant |
| D．how much the students are expected of to get along with teachers |
“Learning bursts right open” in the third paragraph really means _______.
| A．you find an opening to learning |
| B．learning becomes easier for you at once |
| C．there’ll be more problems with learning |
| D．there’ll be no problems at all with learning |
According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．The more questions you ask, the higher marks you will get. |
| B．Many kids can do well without a good relationship with teachers. |
| C．If you get on well with your teachers, you must have a good result in exams. |
| D．if you have a good relationship with your teacher, you can turn to him when in trouble. |
Which of the comments is FALSE on teachers and their work according to the passage?
| A．Teachers sometimes have the same feelings as students do. |
| B．Teachers are excited even if you wouldn’t like to accept their teaching. |
| C．Though few, there are still some students who can learn even if they don’t like the teacher. |
| D．Having a bad relationship with your teachers does more or less harm to your studies. |