People become quite illogical when they try to decide what can be eaten and what cannot be eaten. If you lived in the Mediterranean, for instance, you would consider octopus (章鱼) a great delicacy. You would not be able to understand why some people find it repulsive. On the other hand, your stomach would turn at the idea of frying potatoes in animal fat --the normally accepted practice in many northern countries. The sad truth is that most of us have been brought up to eat certain foods and we stick to them all our lives.
No creature has received more praise and abuse than the common garden snail(蜗牛). Cooked in wine, snails are a great luxury in various parts of the world. There are countless people who, ever since their early years, have learned to associate snails with food. My friend, Robert, lives in a country where snails are not liked. As his flat is in a large town, he has no garden of his own. For years he has been asking me to collect snails from my garden and take them to him.
The idea never appealed to me very much, but one day, after heavy shower, I happened to be walking in my garden when I noticed a huge number of snails taking a stroll on some of my prized plants. Acting on a sudden impulse, I collected several dozen, put them in a paperbag,and took them to Robert. Robert was delighted to see me and equally pleased with my little gift. I left the bag in the hall and Robert and I went into the living room where we talked for a couple of hours. 1 had forgotten all about the snails when Robert suddenly said that I must stay to dinner. Snails would, of course, be the main dish. I did not fancy the idea and I reluctantly followed Robert out of the room. To our dismay, we saw that there were snails everywhere: they had escaped from the paper bag and had taken complete possession of the hall! I have never been able to look at a snail since then.The underlined word “repulsive” in Paragraph 1 most probably means .
| A.disgusting | B.pleasant |
| C.acceptable | D.delicious |
We can infer from Paragraph 3 that when collecting the snails, the author .
| A.was glad that he could share them with his friend. |
| B.was angry because they might damage his beloved plants. |
| C.was excited about being able to give his friend a surprise. |
| D.was depressed because it was hard to catch them all. |
The author finds that snails .
| A.are as delicious as octopus. |
| B.are disliked in his hometown. |
| C.are the most controversial food. |
| D.are as popular as fried potatoes. |
The best title for the passage might be “ ”
| A.One Man’s Meat is Another Man’s Poison |
| B.Foods and Cultures |
| C.Snail and Octopus |
| D.People Are Illogical in Front of Delicacies |
A volcanic eruption in Iceland has sent ash across northern Europe. Airlines have stopped or changed the flights across the Atlantic Ocean, leaving hundreds of passengers stuck in airports.
Grimsvom is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Europe. What makes Grimsvom different is that it lies under a huge glacier(冰川)of ice up to 12 maters thick. The hot volcano heats up the ice above it, which then forms a layer(层)of water between the glacier and the volcano This layer of water puts pressure on the volcano, keeping it stable, As the water flows out from under the glacier, the pressure lifts. The lava(岩浆)from the volcano then comes up to the surface. This is exactly what happened today.
Now, airlines have to make changes to their flights so as not to fly through the clouds of volcanic ash. According to KLM. one of Europe’s biggest airlines, airplanes cannot go under the cloud or over it. Going through the cloud can result in ash getting stuck in the airplane’s engines, causing damage to the plane.
The eruption has also caused problems for animals in Iceland. The volcano left ash and sharp. Glass-like rocks all over the countryside. Farmers are keeping their animals inside to stop them from eating ash- covered grass to the sharp object.What makes Grimsvom different from other volcanoes?
| A.It is below ice. | B.It lies under the sea |
| C.It is the largest volcano | D.It is lava affects the airlines |
What keeps Grimsvom still?
| A.The slow flow of water | B.The low water temperature |
| C.The thick glacier | D.The water pressure |
Which of the following is the result of the volcanic eruption?
| A.People stop traveling in Europe |
| B.Airlines suffer from the loss of planes |
| C.It becomes dangerous for animals to eat outside |
| D.Farmers have lost many of their animals |
This text is most probably taken from_____
| A.a research paper | B.a newspaper report |
| C.a class presentation | D.a geography textbook. |
My name is Amanda LaMunyon. I have Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism (自闭症). I don’t see myself as a person with a disability. I share who I am when I paint, sing and write.
I started writing poetry because I wanted to tell people what it was like to have Asperger’s syndrome. I don’t know how my life would be different without Asperger’s, but I know I look at the world differently than most people. I’m also learning that you don’t have to be like everybody else. You just have to be confident in who you are.
I discovered I could paint when I was 7. My math teacher Mrs. Brock loved one of my paintings so much that she hung it on the wall in her bedroom. I was so encouraged by her and since then my life has changed greatly.
Soon after, people asked me to show my art for charity events. I began to donate prints of my work for charity auctions (拍卖). I was glad that I really made a difference. I learned that when you give, you receive happiness.
I think it is very important for teens to express themselves. It’s a way to know yourself more clearly. You can turn your thoughts and feelings into a piece of artwork or a poem.
For example, when you paint, colors can help you express different emotions. When you write a poem, you have to get really honest with yourself and not be afraid to write down what you feel.
Creativity makes you unique and sets you apart from others. Creative ideas also help you make your dreams come true. They help you look at things in a new way.
I hope my story helps people to believe they can overcome their challenges and achieve their dreams. I like to encourage others. I know what encouragement has meant to me.The author mentions Mrs. Brock because she ______.
| A.taught the author how to paint |
| B.found the author had a gift for painting |
| C.influenced the author’s later life greatly |
| D.encouraged the author to change her life |
The author advises teens to ______.
| A.learn more about themselves | B.express themselves in art |
| C.show their thoughts to others | D.dream big and go for it |
Which of the following words can best describe the author?
| A.Lucky. | B.Hardworking. | C.Positive. | D.Humorous. |
What would be the best title for the text?
| A.Power of art | B.Happiness of giving |
| C.Importance of creativity | D.Wonder of encouragement |
Greece is one of the most beautiful countries of the world. Millions of tourists visit this place every year. In Greece the bus is the most convenient and preferred means of travelling. There are intercity(城市间的) buses operated by KTEL that interconnect(相互连接) various cities of Greece, and there are international buses operated by OSE that connect Greece to other European cities.
Every tourist must visit Greece at least once in life. This country is really a vacation heaven. It is the perfect blend of history and art with adventure and romance. You can dive into deep blue waters, climb up the mountains or enjoy ancient architecture and history.
Buses in Greece are cheap and very comfortable. All bus stations display schedules of buses on every route. Conductors and drivers are very polite and helpful. Travelers never face any trouble locating and boarding buses to their destinations. Tourists can always ask the conductor to inform them about their stop, so that they can get down at the right stop. Everyone here is more than happy to help tourists.
Athens, the capital of Greece, has three bus terminals. Buses to different part of Greece leave from different terminals.
Air-conditioned express buses(空调快车) also operated between major cities. They are faster and more comfortable than other buses. Tourists can choose guided Greece bus tour. These tours are the perfect way of exploring this great country.
Buses in Greece are also a great way of saving bucks on the journey. The long-distance bus system is very cheap. Buses save a lot of money to cover long distances, cheaper than taxis or cars. They are also the best means of interacting with local people. You can sit next to a native Greece and get some information about the place.The company KTEL offers bus services__________.
A.to different cities in Greece
B.B.from Greece to other countries
C.to tourist attractions in Greece
D.from Greece to its bordering(相邻的) countriesIt can be inferred from Paragraph 3 that the Greece are_________.
| A.generous | B.hard-working | C.economical | D.warm-hearted |
If you are a tourist of Greece from oversea(海外), you’d better choose________.
A. taxis
B.B.cars
C.C.guided Greece bus tours
D.D.air-conditioned express busesThe underlined word “bucks” in the last paragraph probable refers to_______.
| A.money | B.energy | C.time | D.trouble |
While taking long-distance buses, you can________.
A.know more about the bus schedules
B.B.make friends with the conductors
C.learn more about bus systems in Greece
D.learn something about the place you’re visiting
Have you ever stayed in a hotel? Most Chinese hotels often provide guests with things like disposable (一次性的) toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo and slippers. Many guests like the idea because they don't have to bring their own. But, if you travel to Beijing, remember to bring your own things. Starting from June, some hotels in Beijing will no longer provide guests with these disposables. They want to ask people to use less disposable things.
Many disposable things are made of plastic(塑料). People throw them away after only using them once. It is a waste of natural resources and is very bad for the environment. Do you know, one Chinese person makes as much as 400kg of waste a year! Most of that waste comes from disposable things. In Beijing, people throw away about 19,000 tons of plastic bags and 1,320 tons of plastic lunch bowls every year! Plastic can take between 100 and 400 years to break down. So the less plastic we throw out, the better. So, wherever you travel, bring your own things and use them again and again.
Back at home and school, you can also do something to make our world a better place. Try to do these things in your daily life:
Use cloth shopping bags, not plastic ones.
After using a plastic bag, wash it out and let it dry. Then you can use it over and over again.
Do not use paper cups. At your school canteen(食堂), use your own bowl and chopsticks instead of disposable ones.Why do many hotels provide guests with some disposable things?
| A.Let their guests be convenient during their travelling. |
| B.Hope their guests use less disposable things. |
| C.Wish their guests to save money. |
| D.Want their guests to use more disposable things. |
Some Beijing hotels will no longer provide guests with ____.
| A.cheap food and drink | B.disposable things |
| C.good service | D.free TV programs |
Which of the following is NOT true?
| A.Many disposable things are made of plastic. |
| B.Throwing disposable things away is a waste of natural resources. |
| C.Plastic is very bad for the environment. |
| D.Plastic breaks down easily. |
What can we do to make our world a better place at home and school?
| A.Use shopping bags made of plastic. |
| B.Do not throw away paper cups. |
| C.Use disposable plates, bowls and chopsticks. |
| D.Do not forget to reuse daily necessities(日用品). |
We can tell from the story that ____.
| A.people don't like disposable things at all |
| B.we can't use paper or plastic bowls at school |
| C.we should use less plastic things and protect our environment |
| D.hotels won't provide disposable things because they want to save money |
We all know the dangers of fires. It’s good and necessary for a family to learn how to prepare for a fire. Here are some suggestions.
Put a smoke alarm(火警) in the house. Smoke from a fire causes the alarm to go off. The alarm makes a loud sound. The sound tells everyone to leave the house at once.
Make escape plans. We should know all the ways out of the house. If there is a fire, everyone follows the plan to get out. Part of the plan is to check all the windows to make sure they can be opened easily.
Buy fire extinguishers(灭火器) in the house. Everyone in the family should know how to use them.
Practise for a fire. We do fire practice because we teach children about fire safety. Everyone in the family should know the following fire rules:
★Don’t open a hot door! The fire can grow more quickly if you open the door.
★Stay close to the floor! Smoke can be more dangerous than fire. The best air is near the floor because smoke rises.
★What will you do if your hair or clothes start to burn? First, stop! Don’t run! The fire burns faster because of more air. Drop! Fall to the floor. Then roll! Turning over and over will make the fire go out. Put a blanket(毯子) around you to keep air away from the fire that may still be on you.
There are many possible causes for fires. A wise family is ready all the time. If there is a fire, don’t forget to call 119 for help.When a smoke alarm rings at home, it means _________.
| A.you have to get up | B.water is running to the floor |
| C.something is burning | D.someone breaks your window |
The writer advises us to do the following to prepare for a fire except that _____.
| A.we practise for a fire | B.we make escape plans |
| C.we buy fire extinguishers | D.we use electrical cookers |
When a fire happens,____ if you open the hot door.
| A.the door will soon be on fire | B.the electricity will be cut off |
| C.the fire will grow more quickly | D.the house will fall down |
What are the right steps you should take when your hair or clothes catch fire?
| A.Stop, run, roll. | B.Stop, drop, roll. |
| C.Run, drop, roll. | D.Roll, drop, stop. |
What is the best title for this passage?
| A.Be Ready for a Fire. | B.The Causes of a Fire. |
| C.Learn to Use a Fire Extinguisher. | D.The Dangers of a Fire. |