Imagine the situation. You are driving along in a desert or on a mountain. You have no idea where you are. You passed the last house two hours ago. Then your car breaks down. It is night and it is cold. You have no mobile phone. What do you do? Well, next time take a GPS with you. This invention may be able to help you. It is a device（装置） which uses satellites to find the user’s position. It can find your position to within 20 meters. A GPS cannot start your car, but at least you will know where you are.
GPS, which means Global Positioning System（系统）, is a small radio receiver. It looks like a mobile phone. You can hold it in your hand, or put in you pocket. It is sometimes put into a watch or a telephone. We also find GPS devices in cars, planes, or boats. Some of these devices have electronic （电子的）maps, so you know where you are. For example, in a city they can tell you the name of the street.
There are three parts to the Global Positioning System. The first part is the receiver. You can hold it in your hand, or have it fixed into your car, plane, etc. the second part is a group of satellites（卫星） orbiting the Earth. The receiver contacts（联系） at least four of the satellites and calculates（计算） its position. The third part of the system is a network of ground stations. They are all over the world. They control (控制)the satellites and make sure they are working well.
Some people think that in the future the GPS will be as common as the mobile. They are becoming cheaper and more and more accurate（精确的）. There are also new uses for the GPS. Perhaps they will become like watches. Everyone will have one and you will never be lost again..According to the passage, with the help of the GPS, people _________.
| A．can’t be lost in a new city |
| B．can’t find their way in different counties |
| C．can learn about the culture of an unknown place |
| D．can spend the least time getting to another place |
We can learn from the passage that ___________.
| A．there are three parts to the GPS |
| B．a GPS can’t be put into a watch |
| C．a GPS can help you start your car |
| D．the GPS are becoming more and more expensive |
The underlined word “They” in paragraph 3 means “__________”.
| A．Receivers | B．GPS devices |
| C．Satellites | D．Ground stations |
The passage is mainly about ____________.
| A．the history of the GPS |
| B．the introduction of GPS |
| C．the shape of the GPS |
| D．the three parts of the GPS |
What can we infer（推断）from the passage?
| A．All GPS devices have electronic maps. |
| B．People in many countries will use the GPS for free. |
| C．The receiver of the GPS contacts at least five of the satellites. |
| D．The GPS will become more and more common in everyday life. |
When Christie Andrews was born, she weighed less that half of one kilogram. Her heart was the size of a large coin. Her mother said Christie was so small that she could hold her in the palm of one hand.
Christie couldn’t breathe without a machine to give her oxygen. If she had been born 20 years earlier, she would probably have died at once. She needed two operations, but she survived without serious damage.
Twenty years ago , 90% of all premature(早产) babies died. Today, doctors manage to save four out of every five, because they have better machines for breathing and better ways to feed the babies.
But saving Christie’s life cost more than $ 400,000. In some cases, doctors spend 1 million dollars saving a single child. The parents usually don’t have enough money to pay. The government, an insurance company or the hospital picks up the bill. Even after a baby goes home from the hospital, it may require medical care.
Some people think it makes more sense to spend money saving 10 adults who have cancer or other diseases than saving one small baby. But nobody wants to be the doctor who has to tell parents to their faces, “Sorry, I won’t save your new child.”Parents don’t pay their babies’ hospital bills because .
| A．they don’t have enough money |
| B．they would rather save cancer patients |
| C．doctors don’t care if the babies die |
| D．it makes more sense to have a bigger baby |
The true cost of saving a baby may be even more than 1 million because .
| A．oxygen machine are expensive |
| B．the baby may require medical care after it leaves the hospital |
| C．doctors always charge more than they should |
| D．four out of five premature babies can now be saved |
From the story we know that saving a cancer patient .
| A．is easier than saving a baby |
| B．is harder than saving a baby |
| C．is cheaper than saving a baby |
| D．is more common than saving a baby |
The main idea of the article is .
| A．doctors must never decide whether to save babies or cancer patients |
| B．doctors are able to save premature babies, but the cost is very high |
| C．having a premature baby was cheaper and safer 20 years ago |
| D．Christie survived because the hospital paid her bills |
On the way back from work every evening, more often than not（往往） there would be a homeless man standing at the exit of the freeway (快车道). He looked to be in his late 40s but was probably a lot younger. He had shoulder length straight black hair and a short beard.
Every day after work I would remember to gather any spare change, and put it aside to give him if I saw him. A feeling of joy would come over me every time I saw him, while coming off the ramp(坡道). So did he. Sometimes the red light would be on for a minute and we would ask each other about our day. His answer would always be the same, “I’m blessed!”
Then one day I was called into my boss’s office and was told that I was being laid off(解雇). For the rest of that day all I could think of was “how am I going to provide for my kids as a mother, how am I going to pay rent?”
It is clear that on my way home that day I was very sad and upset. I didn’t remember to look for my spare change and keep it ready like I usually did. Yet there he was as always, as I turned the ramp. He set his eyes on me, while still smiling and waving at others as usual.
While I was waiting for the red light to turn, he strolled (闲逛) over to my car. He had a big smile. He looked at me straight in the eyes and said, “Today I will give you a dollar.” He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a dollar bill.
You see that day he taught me a valuable lesson more than a dollar bill. No matter what material things are taken from you, no one can take away your choice to be joyful. Every time I’m faced with challenges, I think of the homeless man’s valuable lesson and remember that I am blessed.Why did the writer feel sad and upset after out of the boss’s office?
| A．Because she was criticized by the boss. |
| B．Because a new job was offered to her. |
| C．Because she was laid off by the boss. |
| D．Because there was something wrong with her job. |
What is NOT true about the homeless man from the passage?
| A．He would be seen at the exit of the freeway. |
| B．He usually smiled and waved at others. |
| C．He had a deep impression on the writer. |
| D．He felt joyful only when money was offered to him. |
The homeless man gave the writer a dollar because .
| A．he had collected a lot of money | B．he wanted to pay her back |
| C．he knew what she experienced | D．he wanted her to be happy |
The writer learned from the story that .
| A．a dollar bill will be enough to make you happy |
| B．each of us has been blessed all the time |
| C．whenever it is, we should choose to help others |
| D．it is more than material things that bring us happiness |
WONDERFUL EVENTS
| HORSE RACING ALL YEAR ROUND Races Start at 3 p.m. Every Sunday City Sports Center Lots of Free Parking Space Free presents No children allowed |
100 YEARS OF PICTURES THEN AND NOW(Photo Show) See the Tianjin History From 1900-2000 February 1--- April 30 City Art Museum, 750 High Street Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
| WEEKEND SALES This Saturday 2-6 p.m. EVERYTHING 20%-40% OFF Visit Us at Block Grandview Mall Realize Your Dreams Save Time and Money Fall in Love with Prices We Offer |
DANCE PARTY CELEBRATE A SPECIAL DATE Bringing Your Sweet Heart SUNDAY NIGHT, COUNTRY CLUB Live Band(乐队) from 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. $ 25 A Couple(夫妇) $ 15 A Single(单个的) Person |
What can you do if you only have time between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday?
| A．Go shopping |
| B．Go to see a photo show |
| C．Go to the dance party with your sweet heart |
| D．Go to watch the horse racing |
How much will Mr. and Mrs. Smith pay if they want to go to the dance party?
| A．15 dollars | B．25 dollars |
| C．30 dollars | D．For free |
Where can you see the article above?
| A．In a fashion magazine | B．In a tour guide |
| C．In a newspaper | D．In a sports ad |
请认真阅读下面短文，并根据短文内容回答问题。
Courage is the ability to be brave in various situation in our life. Here and there, now and then, everyone needs courage to do something well. Courage may make you confident of your success. If you have courage, you will not show fear in face of anything difficult or dangerous. With courage, you mak look someone in the eye who you have wronged and say “I am sorry”： you may still smile even if you are seriously ill and know you are at the end of your life.
How can we build up our courage?
Believe you will be successful. Take chances and know that you have your own talents. Besides, your family and friends are always there for you.
Exercise your courage. It can be compared to a muscle(肌肉). The more we use it, the stronger courage gets.
Know that giving up is not a choice. It’s much easier to give up, and it takes courage to say or do what you think is right, even when other people think you are wrong.
Fight to control your fear. Courageous people may still be afraid, but the differnce is that they can control their fear.
They don’t let it hold them back but use it as a reminder of what they can lose if they don’t go on.
Get courage by reading inspiring stories of brave people. Abraham Lincoln is one of the people who you may think of.What is courage?
______________________________________________________________________________What wil you do in face of difficulty or danger if you don’t have courage?
_______________________________________________________________________________How can courage become stronger?
_______________________________________________________________________________What is the difference between courageous people and others?
_______________________________________________________________________________What will you do if you have courage in your study?(请结合自身实际，自拟一句话作答)
_______________________________________________________________________________
Are you carrying too much on your back at school? I'm sure lots of children of your age will, say "Yes". Not only the students in China have this problem, but children in the United States also have heavy school bags.
Doctors are starting to worry that younger and younger students are having back and neck problems as a result of schools bags being too heavy for them.
"It's hard for me to go upstairs with my bag because it's so heavy, "said Rick Hammond, an 11-year-old student in the US.
Rick is among students who have common school bags with two straps(带子) to carry them, but many other students choose rolling(有滚轮的)bags.
But even with rolling bags, getting up stairs and buses is still a problem for children. Many of them have hurt their backs and necks because of the heavy school bags.
But how much is too much? Doctors say students should carry no more than 10% to 15% of their own body weight.
Scott Bautch, a back doctor, said children under Grade 4 should stay with 10 % . But it is also important that older children don't stay with over 15 %, because their bodies are still growing. "Children are losing their balance and falling down with their school bags, "he said.
Parents and teachers are starting to tell children to only take home library books they will be reading that night. Some teachers are using pieces of paper or thin workbooks for students to take home.
One of the best answers is, as some children said, to have no homework at all!From the passage we can know that ___________.
| A．only children in China carry too heavy school bags |
| B．children in other countries don't carry too heavy bags |
| C．both children in China and the US carry too heavy school bags |
| D．only children in the US carry too heavy school bags |
Children feel it hard for them to go upstairs because___________.
| A．they are too young |
| B．their school bags are too heavy |
| C．they don't know how to go upstairs |
| D．their parents don't always go upstairs with them together |
If a child carries a heavy school bag, ________________. .
| A．his back and neck will be hurt |
| B．his head and arms will be hurt |
| C．his hands will be hurt |
| D．his feet will be hurt |
According to the doctor, Scott Bautc, if a child in Grade 5 weighs about 30 kilos, the school bag he carries should not be over ___________.
| A．5 kilos | B．3 kilos |
| C．5. 5 kilos | D．4. 5 kilos |
Some students think the best answer to his problems is that _________________.
| A．they should have a little homework to do after they get home |
| B．their teachers had better not ask them to do any homework |
| C．they should only take home library books they will read that night |
| D．they should use thin workbooks instead of thick ones |