A poor farmer had a friend who was famous for the wonderful apple trees he grew. 
One day, his friend gave the farmer a young apple tree and told him to plant it. The farmer was pleased with the gift, but he did not know where to plant it.
He was afraid that if he planted the tree near the road, strangers would steal the fruit. If he planted the tree in one of his fields, his neighbors would come at night and steal some of the apples. If he planted the tree near his house, his children would take the fruit. Finally he planted the tree in his wood. But without sunlight and good soil(土壤), the tree soon died.
Later the friend asked the farmer why he had planted the tree in such a poor place. “What’s the difference? ” the farmer said angrily and then told what he had thought.
“Yes, ” said the friend, “but at least someone could have enjoyed the fruit. Now you not only have robbed everyone of the fruit, but also you have destroyed (毁掉) a good apple tree! ”What gift did the farmer get from his friend one day?
___________________________________________________________How many people are there in the story?
____________________________________________________________Where did the farmer plant the apple tree at last?
____________________________________________________________Why did the apple tree soon die?
____________________________________________________________Who destroyed the apple tree?
How quickly can you count from one to ten? Do you use ten different words to do it? Can you do it in English, or do you have to use your first languages? Do you count on your fingers? Many people think that numbers and math are the same all over the world. But scientists have discovered that it is not true.
People in different parts of the world use different ways to count on their fingers. In the United States, people think begin counting with their first fingers, which they extend or stick out. They then extend the rest of their fingers and finally the thumb(拇指）to count to five. Then they repeat this with the other hand to get to ten. In China, people count by using different finger positions. In this way, a Chinese person can easily count to ten on only one hand.
Besides ways of finger counting, scientists have found that cultures and languages are also different when it comes to numbers. Some languages have only a few words for numbers, and others have no words for numbers. A group of scientists studied aboriginal(土著的）people in Australia. These people don’t have hand movements to stand for numbers. They don’t even have word for numbers. However, they are still able to understand different ideas about numbers.
In a similar study, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology discovered that people of the Piraha tribe (部落） in northwestern Brazil don’t have words for numbers such as “one” or “three.”. They are not able to say “five trees” or “ten trees” but can say “some trees,” “more trees,” or “many trees.” Professor Edward Gibson said that mist people believe that everyone knows how to count, “but here is a group that does not count. They could learn, but isn’t not useful in their culture, so they’ve never picked it up.”
Although all humans are able to understand quantities(数量）,not all languages have numbers and not all people use counting. Number words in a certain language are a result of people needing numbers in their daily lives. Now we know that people have different ideas about numbers and math, too.
| A．make a survey | B．interest readers |
| C．tell a story | D．solve math problems |
| A．People from China count much faster than people from the U.S. |
| B．People from China need two hands to count from one to ten. |
| C．People of different cultures may use different ways of finger counting |
| D．People of different cultures use the same way of finger counting. |
| A．They have only a few words for numbers |
| B．They have hand movements to stand for numbers |
| C．They can only count to five on their fingers |
| D．They can understand different ideas about numbers |
A. people all over the world know how to count
B. People of the tribe have words for number
C. Some groups of people are not smart enough to count
D, Counting is not useful in the culture of the tribe
| A．people from different cultures have different ideas about numbers and math |
| B．Chinese people can count more easily on their fingers than Americans |
| C．In some aboriginal culture,p eople don’t even know how to count |
| D．Some languages don’t have number words because people don’t need numbers. |
To us, it seems so natural to put up an umbrella to keep the water off when it rains. But in fact the umbrella was not invented as protection against the rain. Its first use was as a shade(遮蔽)against the sun.
Nobody knows who first invented it, but the umbrella was used in very ancient times. Probably the first to use it were the Chinese, back in the eleventh century BC.
We know that the umbrella was used in ancient Egypt and Babylon as a sunshade. And there was a strange thing connected with its use : it became a symbol of honor and power(权力). In the Far East in ancient times, the umbrella was allowed to be used only by those in high office or by royal people such as the kings or queens.
In Europe, the Greeks were the first to use the umbrella as a sunshade. The umbrella was in common use in ancient Greece, but it is believed that the first people in Europe to use the umbrella as protection against the rain were the ancient Romans. During the middle ages in Europe, the use of the umbrella almost disappeared. Then it appeared again in Italy in the late sixteenth century. And again it became a symbol of power.
Umbrellas have not changed much in style during all this time, though they have become much lighter in weight. It wasn't until the twentieth century that the umbrellas for women began to be made in all kinds of colors.
| A．China | B．Egypt | C．Greece | D．Rome |
| A．No one exactly knows who the inventor of the umbrella was |
| B．The umbrella was first invented to be used as protection against the sun. |
| C．The umbrella changed much in style in the eighteenth century |
| D．In Europe, the Greeks were the first to use the umbrella as a sunshade. |
| A．protection against rain |
| B．a symbol of honor and power |
| C．a shade against the sun |
| D．women’s decoration |
| A．during the Middle Ages | B．in Rome |
| C．by the 18th | D．in Greece |
| A．when and how the umbrella was invented |
| B．why the umbrella was so popular in Europe |
| C．the development of the umbrella |
| D．The history and use of the umbrella |
There was a boy and his family was very rich. One day his father took him on a trip to a place. He wanted to show his son how poor people were there. They spent several days on a farm. There were many poor families living on the farm.
On their way home, the father asked the son, “How was the trip?” “It was great, Dad,” the son answered. “Did you notice how poor people were there?” asked his father. “Oh, yes,” said the son. “So, tell me,” said his father. The son said, “Well, we have one dog and they have four. We have a pool in our garden, while they have a river that has no end. We have expensive lanterns (灯), but they have stars above their heads at night. We have only a small piece of land to live on, while they have the endless fields. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have high walls around our houses to protect us, but they don’t need walls, because their friends will protect them.”
The father had nothing to say. Then the boy added, “Thank you, Dad, for letting me see how poor we are.”
| A．how people on the farm worked |
| B．how poor people were on the farm |
| C．how beautiful the farm was |
| D．how far it was from the city to the farm |
| A．Once a week. | B．Twice a month. |
| C．Every year. | D．The writer doesn’t tell us. |
| A．great | B．tiring | C．terrible | D．boring |
| A．expensive lanterns | B．a lot of cars |
| C．stars above their heads | D．many horses |
| A．The boy was from a very poor family. |
| B．The father and the son spent several weeks on a farm. |
| C．People on the farm have high walls around their houses. |
| D．The boy thought that people on the farm lived a happy life. |
It is well known that everyone has his own dream as well as his own future. But do you know what future really is? I have to say that future is now. That is to say we must treasure every minute now. If we want to have a bright future, we should know how important time is and use it well.
There is an old English saying: “Gain time, gain life.” Then what's time? Time is something that we can’t see or touch, but we can feel it passing by. Time is always with us. When we are at table, time passes; when we play, time goes by unnoticeable. We always say “Time is money”, but time is even more precious (珍贵的) than money, because when money is spent, we can earn it back. But if time is gone away, it will never return. So, some of us even say time is priceless (无价的).
We should always remember: future is now. For us students, we should try our best to work hard in order to create a great future of our own. We should make the best use of every hour and be the master of today.We should do everything before us as well as possible. And never put off what can be done today till tomorrow.
As we all know, “Time and tide wait for no man.” If you waste today, you will regret tomorrow. So from now on, work hard. Tomorrow will be better, and your future will be brighter. Remember: “No pains, no gains.”Today’s hard work is the cause of tomorrow’s harvest.
阅读以上信息，用恰当的词完成下面表格，每空一词。
| Opinions |
Supporting details |
| Future is now. |
Everyone has his own dream as well as his own future. If we want to have a bright future, we should know the |
| __ |
Time is money, but time is even more valuable than money, because when money is spent, we can earn it back. But missing time will never |
| Be masters of today |
Today’s hard work As students, we should never put off what can be done today till tomorrow and we should try our |
Wearable gadgets (可穿戴设备) are usually high-tech equipment, which are so small that people can wear on heads or wrists.
Google Glasses is such kind of wearable gadget. It has attracted the world’s attention since being tested this year. Users can take videos and broadcast live on the Internet. There is also a GPS system in the glasses. So if you get lost you can say “OK，Glasses, where am I?” Then it will tell you where you need to go. It sounds cool, doesn’t it?
Don’t forget Galaxy Gear from Samsung, a Korean company. It is just the tip of the iceberg. This smart watch looks like a normal watch but much lighter. But Galaxy Gear needs to connect with a Samsung Smartphone or tablet (平板电脑). Its short battery life of 25 hours also disappoints (使…失望) users.
With all kinds of wearable gadgets coming into real life, it seems that wearable equipment is becoming more modern and popular. Indeed, unlike smart phones, wearable gadgets are more convenient (方便的). Their biggest advantage is that they can do most of the same things as smart phones, yet they are hands-free.
However, wearable gadgets also have their own problems. Some people are not sure whether wearing a gadget is cool. Unless you know about it, you may just think there are many crazy people talking to their wrists.
Perhaps only time will tell how these gadgets will change our lives.
阅读短文，用恰当的词完成下面的信息。
Wearable gadgets can be on heads or wrists. Google Glasses and Galaxy Gear are some of them. People can make calls or take pictures, or even receive e-mails without
their hands more. So they can
young people’s attention. Galaxy Gear is
to a normal watch but much lighter. Some people may not be
with it not only because of its short 25-hour battery life, but also because it needs a connection with a Samsung Smartphone or tablet.