Starting in l972,the National Park Service established a policy for forest fires calle Natural Burn.It was acknowledged that some forest fires,such as those caused by lightning were necessary for forests to maintain balanced ecosystems,so the fire should be allowed to burn.However, a big fire in Yellowstone National Park in l988 caused this policy to be abandoned since the fire was initially allowed to burn yet soon out of control.As a result,the fire of l988 destroyed much of Yellowstone,which is America’s oldest and most beloved national park.Massive areas of plants were destroyed,and large empty spaces and acres of burned and blackened trees greeted visitors.The rivers and streams were choked with ash,and the ecosystem of the park was changed beyond repair.
In addition,great numbers of animals were killed by the fires that bumed out of control. The fires were driven by high winds,moving as many as ten miles a day.Many small animals died in the flames.The fires’ rapid advances gave the wildlife little chance to escape. Even today,few of these small forest animals have returned to live in the park. In the years immediately following the fires,the numbers of visitors declined rapidly.No one was interested in seeing a blackened and treeless park on vacation.Yellowstone had previously been famous for its amazing views and unique geological formations such as the geyser Old Faithful. But now its reputation as America's wonder is damaged permanently.Natural Burn was adopted because some forest fires were
A.hard to put out |
B.started by lightning |
C.good for the balance of nature |
D.approved by National Park Service |
The big fire in Yellowstone in 1988 .
A.became out of control at first |
B.destroyed the park completely |
C.was allowed to burn continuously |
D.brought the natural burn policy to an end |
Why were so many animals killed in the big fire?
A.Because winds were blown from high places. |
B.Because the animals moved only ten miles a day. |
C.Because the animals lived in lower places. |
D.Because strong winds contributed to the fire a lot. |
Yellowstone was famous for its .
A.rare animals | B.unique plants | C.beautiful scenery | D.little streams |
The text probably comes from .
A.a science fiction | B.a news report |
C.a commercial ad | D.a geography magazine |
Most people know that a wedding ring is symbolic of the bond of love and commitment between two people. But not everyone knows about the history behind this small yet powerful symbol. The history of the wedding ring goes back not just hundreds but thousands of years. No other currently practiced wedding tradition has been around as long.
The Egyptians were the first recorded civilization to use the wedding ring. In Egyptian hieroglyphics(象形文字), a circle represented eternity because there's no beginning and no end. Once a woman accepted the ring she became the “property” of the person wh
o gave it to her and she was in a sense “his”. The first wedding ring could have been made of braided grass or hay (which would have been changed often), ivory, bone, or leather. Eventually, metal was used, but the first wedding bands were in the completely natural state and rough. However, the wedding rings always expressed the same eternal and lasting love.
The Egyptians wore the wedding ring on the left hand because it was believed that a vein(静脉) in the left hand went straight to the heart. This tradition is still commonly practiced today in most parts of the world largely for practical purposes(most people are right handed). It is worn on the fourth finger of the left hand. But there are some countries and groups which do not follow this tradition. In the Jewish faith, the wedding ring is put on the index finger. Roman Catholics traditionally wore their wedding band on the
right hand, and in many countries and regions in Europe some people still follow this tradition.
It is interesting to note that in the long history of the wedding ring, it is only in the last century that men began to wear them. However, now both men and women show their love and commitment by exchanging rings on their wedding day.
Once you begin shopping for rings you may be amazed by the choices that await you. There are several different types of metals: traditional gold, white gold, platinum, and titanium. You can have an inscription put on the inside of the band if you like. Some people are even choosing a tattoo band. The styles vary from a simple yet elegant band to an elaborate (精巧的) ring covered with jewels. If you do not buy the wedding and engagement rings as a set, you will want to be sure the styles can match perfectly. Choose carefully because this choice will need to stand the test of eternity.
1. What’s the best title for this passage?
A. History of rings. B. Interesting facts about rings.
C. Different beliefs about rings. D. The meaning of the rings.
2. What may the word “eternity” in paragraph 2 probably mean?
A. Elegance B. Marriage C. Wedding D. Foreverness
3. Which is NOT true according to the passage?
A. The meaning of the rings remained unchanged.
B. Jewish are so faithful to their beliefs to wear rings on the fourth finger.
C. One should be careful of choosing a ring in a shop from different kinds.
D. Now most people in the world still follow Roman Catholics traditionally.
4. What can we infer from the passage?
A. Men were looked down upon by women for thousands years.
B. Only women have the right to make themselves beautiful.
C. Women wore rings thousands of years earlier than
men.
D. You can have an inscription put on the inside the band.
Good nutrition and a balanced diet will help your children grow up healthily. No matter how old your kids are, you can take steps to improve nutrition and to encourage smart eating habits. Here are some suggestions.
Family Meals
Family meals are comforting for both parents and kids. Children like to guess what they are going to have and parents get the chance to introduce new foods to children and to find out which foods they like and which ones they don’t.
Teens may turn up their noses at your plan of a family meal. It is not surprising because they’re trying to establish independence. Yet studies find that teens still want their parents’ advice, so they use the mealtime as a chance to reconnect.
Stocking Up on Healthy Foods
Kids, especially younger ones, will eat mostly what they can get at home. That’s why it’s important to control the supply lines—the foods which you serve for meals and have on hand for snacks. You should have enough fruits, vegetables, lean meat and other good sources of protein, such as eggs and nuts, and healthy snacks, such as yogurt, peanut butter and whole-grain biscuits.
Being a Good Example
The best way for you to encourage healthy eating is to eat well yourself. Kids will follow the lead of the adults they see every day. By eating fruits and vegetables and avoiding fast food and sugary drinks, you’ll be sending the right message.
No Conflicts over Foods
Parents might find themselves shouting at children to get them to have healthy foods in front of them. This in fact can make children dislike what they are asked to eat.
Get Kids Included
Most kids will enjoy making the decision about what to make for dinner. Talk to them about making choices and planning a balanced meal. It can help prepare them to make good decisions on their own about the foods they want to eat.
1. Family meals provide the chances for parents to do the following things EXCEPT .
A. guessing what kids are going to have B. finding what kids like and dislike
C. introducing new foods to kids D. reconnecting with kids
2. The underlined sentence in the third paragraph probably means .
A. teenagers may be interested in your plan of a family meal
B. teenagers may help you to make a plan of a family meal
C. teenagers may show no interest in your plan of a family meal
D. teenagers may refuse to help you to make a plan of a family meal
3. According to the article, which should NOT be done by parents?
A. Forming a healthful eating habit themselves. B. Forcing kids to have vegetables.
C. Stocking up on some fruits at home. D. Making meal plans with kids.
4. What’s the best title for the passage?
A. How to eat healthily. B. How to grow up healthily.
C. Help kids form healthful eating habits. D. Help kids know what a healthful meal is.
四、阅读理解(20小题;每小题2分,共40分)
Joanne was stuck in a traffic jam in central Birmingham at 5:30, and at 6:30 she was expected to be chairing a meeting of the tennis club. At last, the traffic was moving. She swung quickly racing to her house. As she opened the door, she nearly tripped over Sheba.
“Hey, Sheba” she said, “I’ve got no time for you now, but I’ll take you out as soon as I get back from tennis club.” Then she noticed Sheba seemed to be coughing or choking. Obviously, she could hardly breathe. Immediately Joanne realized she would have to take her to the vet (兽医). When she got there, the vet was just about to close for the day. Seeing the state of Sheba, Dr. Sterne brought her quickly into his office.
“Listen, doctor, I’m really in a rush to get to a meeting. Can I leave her with you, and go and get changed? I’ll be back in ten minutes to pick her up, and then I’ll take her on to the meeting with me. Is that OK?”
“Sure.” said the doctor.
Joanne made the quick trip back to her house in a couple of minutes. As she was once more entering the hallway, the phone by the door began to ring.
“This is Dr. Sterne,” said an anxious voice. “I want you to get out of that house immediately,” said the doctor’s voice. “I’m coming round soon, and the police will be there any time now. Wait outside!”
At that moment, a police car screeched to a stop outside the house. Two policemen got out and ran into the house. Joanne was by now completely confused and very frightened. Then the doctor arrived.
“Where’s Sheba? Is she OK?” shouted Joanne.
“She’s fine, Joanne. I took out the thing which was choking her, and she’s OK now. ”
Just then, the two policemen reappeared from the house, half-carrying a white-faced man, who could hardly walk. There was blood all over him.
“My God,” said Joanne, “how did he get in there? And how did you know he was there?”
“I think he must be a burglar,” said the doctor. “I knew he was there because when I finally removed what was stuck in Sheba’s throat: it turned out to be three human fingers.”
1. What was Joanne supposed to do at 6:30?
A. To walk her dog. B. To see her doctor.
C. To attend a club meeting. D. To play tennis with her friends.
2. Joanne wanted to get back to her home again .
A. to phone the police station B. to dress up for the meeting
C. to catch the badly hurt burglar D. to wait for her dog to be cured
3. From the passage, we can infer that .
A. Sheba fought against the burglar
B. the police found the burglar had broken in
C. Joanne had planned to take her dog to the meeting
D. the doctor performed a difficult operation on the dog
4. In this passage, the writer intends to tell us that the dog is .
A. clever B. friendly C. frightening D. devoted
Quality after-school programs are designed to improve academic performance, decrease youth crimes and other high -risk behaviors, and help young people grow into healthy, successful adults.
The effect of quality after-school programs on academic performance is clear. Studies show that students who take part in such programs show better work habits, higher rates of homework completion, improved grades, and higher scores on achievement tests. They also have fewer absences and are less likely to blame. After-school programs also influence high-risk teen behavior. Various studies show decreased rates of crime, drug use, and teen sex among youth who join in well-run after-school programs when compared to similar youth who do not. Finally, after-school programs play an important role in supporting the following fields of development: physical development, mental development and social development. Thus, one can safely say that after-school programming is an effective method to help young people become contributing members of society.
Although there is enough proof from both small and large assessments that after-school programs can make a positive difference, it is important to note that not all programs are equal. First, dosage(时量)matters —young people who attend the most hours over the most years benefit more than members who attend less often or over a shorter period of time. Next, after-school programs make a bigger difference for those students who need help most and have the fewest choices. Finally, program qualities matter. After-school programs work best when they create unique opportunities for youth. They should provide opportunities, skill building meaningful involvement, expression suggestion, service, and work. Staff characteristics make an important difference in the quality of a program. The adults should treat youth as partners, create safe and fair environment, encourage personalized involvement, and actively create learning opportunities. In short, although after-school programs have promising future, how they are designed and run matters.
1. Quality after-school programs can not help the students.
A. have fewer attendances B. improve academic performance
C. have high scores on tests D. decrease high-risk teen behavior
2. According to the passage, a good after-school program is usually determined by .
a. its unique opportunities b. safe and fair environments
c. work staff characteristics d. students’ willingness and family backgrounds
A. a, b, c, d B. a, b, c C. a, c, d D. b, c, d
3. The main intention of the writer is to.
A. present the problems with quality after -school programs
B. warn school leaders of quality after-school programs
C. compare quality after-school programs with bad ones
D. give an introduction of quality after -school programs
4. Which of the following structures suits the passage best? A. Quality Aims
After-school Effects
Program Analysis Conclusion
B. Quality Aims
After-school Causes Effects
Program Analysis Conclusion
C. Quality Aims After-school Causes Conclusion
Program Analysis
D. Quality Aims
After-school Effects Conclusion
Program Analysis
It' s 2035. You have a job, a family and you' re about 40 yews old I Welcome to your future life.
Getting ready for work, you pause in front of the mirror. "Turn red," you say. Your shirt changes from sky blue to deep red. Tiny preprogrammed electronics (智能电子元件) are rearranged in your shirt to change its color. Looking into the mirror, you find it hard to believe you' re 40. You look much younger. With amazing advances in medicine, people in your generation may live to be 150 years old. You' re not even middle-aged!
As you go into the kitchen and prepare to pour your breakfast cereal into a bowl, you hear, "To lose weight, you shouldn' t eat that," from your shoes. They read the tiny electronic code(电子源码) on the cereal box to find out the nutrition details. You decide to listen to your shoes. "Kitchen, what can I have for breakfast?" A list of possible foods appears on the counter as the kitchen checks its food supplies.
" Ready for your trip to space?" you ask your son and daughter. In 2005 only specially trained astronauts went into space — and very few of them. Today anyone can go to space for day trips or longer vacations. Your best friend even works in space. Handing your children three strawberries each, you add, "The doctor said you need these for space travel. " Thanks to medical advances, vaccination shots (防疫针) are a thing of the past. Ordinary foods contain specific vaccines. With the berries in their mouths, the kids head for the front door.
It' s time for you to go to work. Your car checks your fingerprints and unlocks the doors. " My office. Autopilot," you command. Your car drives itself down the road and moves smoothly into traffic on the highway. You sit back and unroll your e-newspaper. The latest news downloads and fills the viewer. Looking through the pages, you watch the news as video film rather than read it.
1. What changes the color of your shirt?
A. The mirror. B. The shirt itself. C. The counter. D The medicine.
2. How do the shoes know that you shouldn't eat the breakfast cereal?
A. By pouring the breakfast into a bowl. B. By listening to the doctor' s advice.
C. By testing the food supplies in the kitchen; D. By checking the nutrition details of the food.
3 The strawberries the children eat serve as ________
A. breakfast B. lunch C. vaccines D. nutrition
4. How is the text organized?
A. In order of time. B. In order of frequency.
C. In order of preference. D. In order of importance.