Most of us probably live without vegetables, but a world without chocolate? Now that would be hard! According to chocolate makers it could happen if we don’t act soon.
There are two main causes of the chocolate shortage --- chocolate’s growing popularity and less production of cocoa, the plant from which chocolate is made. With more and more people in India and China loving chocolate, not much can be done about the first cause.
Therefore, the only thing we can do is to increase cocoa production. However, new plant diseases and little rain in Ivory Coast and Ghana, the world’s largest producers, have reduced cocoa production by 40 percent in the past 10 years. What’s worse, many cocoa farmers in Africa and other cocoa-producing countries like Indonesia and Venezuela are changing to easier-to-grow crops such as corn or rubber. This way, the farmers can make more money.
To prevent more farmers from changing, researchers at the newly opened International Cocoa Control Centre, in the UK, are trying to create new cocoa plants that are stronger and faster growing. But first they must make sure the new plants are safe to grow. This takes a long time.
First, each new plant is stored at the Control Centre for six months to make sure it is healthy. It is then planted in the Centre’s fields, studied and tested for another two years. Only after scientists are certain that they’re disease-free, will the plants be sent to farmers in West Africa or wherever else they are needed.
To create new stronger types of cocoa, scientists at the Centre are combining the best parts from different cocoa plants. Though the world is facing a serious chocolate shortage, there is now hope!The first paragraph tells us that______.
| A．chocolate is healthier than vegetables |
| B．the world could soon be without chocolate |
| C．people love vegetables more than chocolate |
| D．it’s not necessary to eat so much chocolate |
In which countries has chocolate become more popular in recent years?
| A．Venezuela and Indonesia. | B．Ivory Coast and Ghana. |
| C．Indonesia and China. | D．China and India. |
Cocoa farmers are choosing to grow rubber and corn because these crops______.
| A．can make them more money |
| B．need less rain to grow |
| C．can be planted more times each year |
| D．are not damaged by plant diseases |
How long does it take scientists at the Centre to make sure a cocoa plant is safe to grow?
| A．6 months. | B．12 months. | C．24 months. | D．30 months. |
What is one of the purposes of the Cocoa Control Centre?
| A．To introduce cocoa production to more countries. |
| B．To provide more chocolate for British people. |
| C．To produce stronger types of cocoa plants. |
| D．To make sure that cocoa is healthy to eat. |
阅读短文，然后完成短文后的表格，每空一词。
From 8：30 pm to 9:30pm on Saturday, March 23rd, 2013, a great number of people around the world turned off the lights for Earth Hour. It is a bit like an environmental New Year, providing a chance to help care for our earth and make people around the world learn how important it is to do that.
What did you do for Earth Hour this year? Let’s share the Earth Hour stories.
Emma was on one of the mountains near the city and took photos of my city. It was great to watch the stars and the moon after a busy day that she could enjoy this relaxing moment.
Albert works as a waiter in a restaurant. Their restaurant was still open even for Earth Hour as they got lots of reservations(预定) that night. So they spent the hour working by candlelight. And guess what? Their customers loved that and promised to come for next Earth Hour.
Brandon turned off the main power to his house and went for a walk for Earth Hour. It was a little strange to walk in the dark, but it was only for one hour. Just think of what it must have been like before the invention of light bulb!
Mary invited her friends who know and support Earth Hour activities. They actually had a candlelight and they talked about the old happy days that they spent together in college.
Information Card
| The date of Earth Hour in 2013 |
March___ |
| Albert’s job |
A___ |
| What Brandon did when it was dark |
Went for a ____ |
| Who stayed with Mary during the hour |
Her ___ |
| The number of people who talked about their stories |
_____ |
阅读短文，真确的写T，错误的写F
Finland is a great country to visit, especially for relaxing. You can easily find peace and quiet there because much of the country is covered with forests. It also has lots of hills and thousands of lakes and islands .Depending on the season, visitors can enjoy themselves in bird--watching ,hiking, fishing and other outdoor activities .There is even a part of Finland where people can see the beautiful Northern Lights.
If you are a nature lover, you will discover plenty to enjoy in Finland .You will also find that the people of Finland are easy-going, This might be because they spend a lot of time having a sauna（桑拿） to relax themselves together .Finland even has a competition that is about spending time in one sauna. In the Sauna World Championships, People try to stay as long as they can in sauna .This is really a hot competition! Finland is always considered as one of the best places in the world to live, from its capital ,Helsinki .,to its great number of lakes and forests.
Finland is truly one of the world’s greatest treasures.Forests cover much of Finland.
Visitors can enjoy hiking and fishing whenever they visit Finland.
The Northern Lights can be seen in a part of Finland.
The people of Finland are serious and hard--working.
Havimg a sauna is a popular way for people to relax themselves in Finland.
Bill ,Frank and Dave were brothers. Every year, they sent their mother expensive gifts on her birthday .They liked to show her how rich and successful they were.
The eldest brother ,Bill, had a lot of money and wanted his mother to have the most expensive gifts, but he didn’t know what to buy .so he put an ad in the newspaper .”Wanted ----the greatest gift for my mother,”
About a week before his mother’s birthday a man came to his office .he brought a big bird.
“This bird,”the man said ,”can speak ten languages and sing some pop songs”
“Really?I’d like to listen to it.”Bill said
The man made the bird talk in French and tell a joke in Japanese. Then the bird sang a beautiful song .Bill was very happy and paid nine thousand dollars for the bird, The next day Bill sent the bird to his mother with a birthday card
The day after his mother’s birthday he called his mother,” Well ,mother,” he asked ,”what do you think of the bird?”
“Oh, it’s very delicious, dear.” Said his mother.who is the eldest brother?
| A．Dave | B．Bill | C．Jack | D．Frank |
What did Bill put in the newspaper?
| A．A show | B．A magazine | C．An ad. | D．A report |
How many languages could the bird speak?
| A．Five | B．seven | C．eight | D．ten |
How much did Bill pay for the bird?
| A．Nine dollars | B．Ten dollars | C．Nine thousand dollars | D．Ten thousand dollars |
What did Bill send to his mother for her birthday ?
| A．A bird with a card | B．Some money | C．A joke | D．A song |
What is your favorite color ? Do you like yellow orange, or red? If you do, you must be an active person who enjoys life. Do you like blue? Then you are probably quiet, shy, and would rather follow than lead.
Colors do influence our moods(情绪) yellow room makes most people feel more cheerful and more relaxed than a dark green one; and a red dress brings warmth and cheer to the saddest winter day. On the other hand ,black is depressing(使人压抑的). There was a black bridge over the Thames River, near London .The number of people who killed themselves on that bridge used to be larger than on any other bridge in the area until it was repainted green.
Light and bright colors make people not only happier but also more active. In the factory the workers will better, harder and have fewer accidents when their machines are painted orange rather than black.An active person may like_____
| A．yellow, orange, or red | B．yellow, black. or red |
| C．orange, blue ,or black | D．black, red or orange |
Most people feel more ___ in a yellow room than in a dark green one
| A．tired | B．bored | C．worried | D．relaxed |
More people killed themselves on the black bridge than on any other bridge probably because___
| A．the bridge was very tall | B．the bridge was too crowded |
| C．people didn’t kike the bridge | D．The color of the bridge was depressing |
In the factory when the machines are painted orange ,the workers will work___
| A．worse | B．harder | C．more slowly | D．more angrily |
Which could be the best title for the passage?
| A．Cheerful Colors | B．Your Favorite Color |
| C．The Secret of Color | D．the Color of a Bridge |
| Monday |
10:30—11:00 am |
Visit Uncle Peter in General Hospital |
| Tuesday |
2:00---4:00 pm |
Swimming class |
| Wednesday |
12:00—6:00 pm |
Part-time job |
| Thursday |
10:30—11:30 am |
Appointment(约会) Mr.Green |
| Friday |
11:00am |
Go to the airport to meet Sam |
| Saturday |
10:00—12:00 am |
Meet John to study for test |
| Sunday |
5:00—7:00 pm |
Birthday party for Kate |
___ is ill in hospital.
| A．Kate | B．Peter | C．David | D．Sam |
David has a swimming class on____
| A．Sunday | B．Thursday | C．Wednesday | D．Tuesday |
David does his part-time job for ___hours a week
| A．five | B．Six | C．Ten | D．eleven |
David meets Sam_____.
| A．at Sam’s house . | B．in the hospital | C．at the airport | D．In kate’s room |
John and David want to ___on Saturday.
| A．study for test | B．swim together | C．have a birthday party | D．meet Mr.Green |