Cell phones_(移动电话)are all around us．We use cell phones to call our friends，send text messages，play games，and even take photographs． Now imagine using your cell phone to call your air conditioner(空调器)． If this were possible you could tell your air conditioner to rum on before you got home．Does this sound impossible to you? Well，it could become possible sooner than you think．In the near future，we might use cell phones as remote controls(遥控器)for the electrical devices(电器)in our homes．People are already working to develop different ways to communicate wirelessly(无线的) with devices we use every day．For example，it is already possible for cell phones to communicate with laptop computers．Business people using laptops during meetings Call use their cell phones as remote controls．They can use their cell phones to send instructions to computers to turn on，change pictures，and turn off．
With the same technology(技术)，people can use their cell phones to control other devices．You can call your stereo(立体声音响设备)to play music automatically(自动地)．You can call your lights to turn on when you enter a room．Maybe even by next summer you will be able to call your air conditioner !What is the main idea of this passage?
| A． In the future we will all need air conditioners． |
| B．Business people need to use computers． |
| C．Some people like to make phone calls to machines. |
| D．We will use cell phones as remote controls in the future． |
Cell phones can be used to rum on and off __________in the future．
| A．a special computer |
| B．different kinds of devices |
| C．cell phone companies |
| D．remote controls |
Which probably could NOT be controlled by a cell phone?
| A．An air conditioner or heater． |
| B．A computer or printer． |
| C．A table or a basket． |
| D．A CD player or MP3 player． |
The underlined words “laptop computers” mean_____?
| A．台式计算机 | B．大型计算机 |
| C．便携式计算机 | D．计算机控制中心 |
Which instructions can be sent to a laptop according to the passage?
| A．Play sound and music． |
| B．Start and shut down． |
| C．Call again and hang up． |
| D．Go faster and go slower． |
When my family moved to America from a small village in Guangdong, China, we brought not only our luggage, but also our village rules, customs and culture. One of the rules is that young people should always respect(尊敬) elders. Unluckily, this rule led to my very first embarrassment in the United States.
I had a part-time job as a waiter in a Chinese restaurant. One time, when I was serving food to a middle-aged couple, the wife asked me how the food could be served so quickly. I told her that I had made sure they got their food quickly because I always respect the elderly. As soon as I said that, her face showed great displeasure. My manager, who happened to hear what I said, took me aside and gave me a long lecture about how sensitive(敏感) Americans are and how they dislike the description “old”. I then walked back to the table and apologized to the wife. After the couple heard my reason, they understood that the problem was caused by cultural differences, so they laughed and were no longer angry.
In my village in China, people are proud of being old. Not so many people live to be seventy or eighty, and people who reach such an age have the most knowledge and experience. Young people always respect older people because they know they can learn from their rich experience.
However, in the United States, people think “growing old” is a problem since “old” shows that a person is going to retire(退休) or that the body is not working well. Here many people try to keep themselves away from growing old by doing exercises or jogging, and women put on makeup, hoping to look young. When I told the couple in the restaurant that I respect the elderly, they got angry because this caused them to feel they had failed to stay young. I had told them something they didn’t want to hear.
After that, I changed the way I had been with older people. It is not that I don’t respect them any more; I still respect them, but now I don’t show my feelings through words.Jack brought the couple their food very fast because______.
| A．the manager asked him to do so | B．he respected the elderly |
| C．the couple wanted him to do so | D．he wanted more pay |
In Jack’s hometown, ______.
| A．people dislike being called “old” |
| B．people are proud of being old |
| C．many people reach the age of seventy or eighty |
| D．the elderly are the first to get food in restaurants |
After this experience, Jack ______.
| A．lost his job in the restaurant |
| B．made friends with the couple |
| C．no longer respected the elderly |
| D．changed his way with older people |
Which of the following is TRUE?
| A．The more Jack explained, the angrier the couple got. |
| B．Jack wanted to show his feelings through words after his experience. |
| C．The manager went back to the table and apologized to the couple. |
| D．From this experience, Jack learned more about American culture. |
Which is the best title for this passage?
| A． Different countries, different customs | B． Old people, old customs |
| C． Different restaurants, different services | D． Differences between old and young |
English is spoken as a first language by most people in the USA，Britain，Australia，New Zealand，Ireland and Canada. However，English is spoken all over the world. It is the main language in over 60 countries，including India，Singapore and many of the Caribbean and Pacific islands. In these places English is often a second language.
English is also an international language in many other countries，like China and Japan. People in these countries use it for business，and travelers to these countries use English when they get there to communicate. Other people may learn English because they enjoy reading books in English，listening to British or American music or watching American films.
English has changed a lot over the years and still goes on changing. It is no longer right to talk about British English or American English if the speakers come or don’t come from those countries. People in Japan and Korea，for example，may use the American spelling but may not sound like Americans.
English will probably be the most widely used language in the world by the end of the 21st century. This language no longer belongs to British，American or Australian speakers. It belongs to anyone in the world. So，as a middle school student of English today, think about how you can use this language. After you leave school, you will almost certainly need it. In how many countries is English spoken as a first language in the passage?
| A．Five. | B．Four. | C．Three. | D．Six. |
In which other countries is English spoken as a main language?
| A．Britain, the USA and Australia. |
| B．India, Singapore and many of the Caribbean and Pacific islands. |
| C．China and Japan. |
| D．New Zealand and Canada. |
People from other countries learn English for ________.
| A．passing exams |
| B．business and traveling |
| C．reading English books, enjoying English music or films |
| D．both B and C |
Even if people in Japan and Korea use American spelling they ________.
| A．will speak the same as Americans |
| B．may not sound like Americans |
| C．will speak British English |
| D．will speak English much better |
Which is the best title for the passage?
| A．A First Language in the World | B．A Second Language in the World |
| C．English around the World | D．A Useful Language |
Now satellites are helping to forecast（预报）the weather. They are in space, and they can reach any part of the world. The satellites take pictures of the atmosphere, because this is where the weather forms. They send these pictures to the weather stations. So meteorologists（气象学家）can see the weather of any part of the world. From the pictures, the scientists can often say how the weather will change.
Today, nearly five hundred weather stations in sixty countries receive satellite pictures. When they receive new pictures, the meteorologists compare them with earlier ones. Perhaps they may find that the clouds have changed during the last few hours. This may mean that the weather on the ground may soon change, too. In their next weather forecast, the meteorologists can say this.
So the weather satellites are a great help to the meteorologists. Before satellites were invented, the scientists could forecast the weather for about 24 or 48 hours. Now they can make good forecasts for three or five days. Soon, perhaps, they may be able to forecast the weather for a week or more ahead.Satellites travel _____________.
| A．in space | B．in the atmosphere |
| C．above the ground | D．above space |
Why do we use the weather satellites to take pictures of the atmosphere? Because __________.
| A．the weather satellites can do it easily |
| B．clouds form there |
| C．the weather forms there |
| D．the pictures can forecast the weather |
Meteorologists forecast the weather __________.
| A．when they have received satellite pictures |
| B．after they have compared new satellite pictures with earlier ones |
| C．before they received satellite pictures |
| D．during they study satellite pictures |
Maybe we’ll soon be able to forecast the weather for ________.
| A．one day | B．two days |
| C．five days | D．seven days or even longer |
The main idea of this passage is that satellites are now used in _________.
| A．taking pictures of the atmosphere |
| B．receiving pictures of the atmosphere |
| C．doing other work in many ways |
| D．weather forecasting |
Menu
HAMBURGERS DRINKS
Chicken $5.50 Orange juice $1.50
Egg $3.40 Coke $3.00
Fish $4.80 Coffee $5.50
Beef $6.20 Tea $2.00
RICE DESSERTS
Fried$3.50 Ice cream $2.50
With meat $5.70 Apple pie $4.50
With eggs $4.20 Fruit $3.50
With vegetables$3.90 Chocolate $6.00 Where do we often see a menu?
| A．In a hospital. | B．In a restaurant. |
| C．In a supermarket. | D．In a school. |
I have only two dollars. What can I buy?
| A．Coke. | B．Ice cream. | C．Tea. | D．Fruit. |
I want to eat a beef hamburger, a cup of coffee and an apple pie. How much should I pay?
| A．$ 15.20. | B．$ 16.70. | C．$ 16.20. | D．$ 15.80. |
“Dessert” here means _______?
| A．沙漠 | B．冷饮 | C．热饮 | D．甜点 |
The most expensive food in the above menu is _________.
| A．beef hamburger | B．rice with meat | C．coffee | D．chocolate |
Saving water is an important part of going green. As water becomes less and polluted more, conservation (保护) becomes more and more important. The less water you use, the less wastewater will end up in our rivers and lakes. Wasting water means that more water needs to be treated and cleaned, a process that requires quite a lot of energy.
As it is said above, cutting down on water usage is one of the most important things you can do for your local environment and the planet as a whole. That is why more green households are going blue: cutting down their water footprint by conserving and harvesting (收获) water.
It may seem like a big concept, but going blue starts with small changes that everyone can make. Something as simple as turning off the tap while you brush your teeth can save a lot of water. Wash your fruits and vegetables in a bowl rather than under a tap to save even more. Make sure that the taps are fully turned off every time you step away from the sink or the shower — all those little drips can add up to a lot of water waste.
Another way of reducing your water footprint is reducing your dependence on the main water supply. Rainwater harvesting can meet a lot of your home’s water needs. Many of us already practice rainwater harvesting in a small way. Collecting water from your gutters (檐沟) is a great way to keep your garden green without running the sprinkler (洒水器). The underlined word “green” means ______ in this passage.
| A．未成熟的 | B．环保 | C．嫉妒 | D．健康的 |
According to the passage, which is NOT the reason that people should save water?
| A．Treating wastewater needs much energy. |
| B．The water on the earth is becoming less and less. |
| C．The water on the earth is becoming polluted more. |
| D．Rainwater harvesting can meet a lot of your home’s water needs. |
According to the passage, all of these can be used to save water except ______.
| A．washing fruit and vegetables under a tap |
| B．using a bowl to wash your fruit and vegetables |
| C．making sure taps are fully turned off all the time |
| D．turning off the tap every time after brushing your teeth |
Which of the following is the best title of this passage?
| A．Save Water by Turning off the Tap |
| B．How to Treat and Clean Wastewater |
| C．Keep Your Garden Green with Rainwater |
| D．Save Water Starting with Small Changes |
From the passage, we can know that_____.
| A．we can get enough water by harvesting |
| B．most people pay no attention to saving water |
| C．we can practice rainwater harvesting in a small way |
| D．harvesting water is more necessary than conserving it |