It is never too early, or too late, to encourage a child to read. With the chill(寒冷) of winter upon us, the following is a list of wonderful stories with winter and or snow themes.
Waiting for Winter
It was written by Sebastian Meschenmoser. A little squirrel(松鼠), who has never seen snow, is determined that he will not miss it this year. He gets the help of his good friends, a bear and a hedgehog, trying to stay awake until they can all see the first snowfall of winter. This book is a wonderful story to read aloud to young children or for older children to read by themselves.
The Snowy Day
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats is a short read, but since its first publication it has been loved by millions. It tells about a beautiful story about the magic and possibility of the first snowfall of winter, which appeals to young and older children.
The Polar Express
Popularized by the 2004 Warner Brothers all-digital film, The Polar Express was first published in 1985. The hero of this story is a boy who is given the opportunity to receive a gift from Santa himself. A magical train appears outside his bedroom window, taking him away on a fantastic journey to the North Pole.
Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree
It was written by Robert E. Barry. Mr Willowby orders a lovely new Christmas tree, and when it is delivered to his home he finds it far too tall. He has the top of the tree cut off in order to make it just the right height. This book follows the treetop on its journey through the forest, where it brings the joy of the holidays for some woodland creatures. This book teaches us a valuable lesson about the joy of giving, and happiness that it can bring to the hearts of recipients(接受者).Waiting for Winter and The Snowy Day are similar in that ________.
| A．they are intended for older children and adults |
| B．they are centered around the first snowfall of winter |
| C．they are short novels and are loved by millions |
| D．they are fairy tales about talking animals |
Which of the following was made into a popular film?
| A．Waiting for Winter | B．The Snowy Day |
| C．The polar Express | D．Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree |
What can we learn about Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree?
| A．it tells us giving can bring pleasure for us. |
| B．it was written by Sebastian Meschenmoser. |
| C．it tells about a boy’s journey through the forest. |
| D．it tells us Mr Willowby received a magic gift from Santa. |
Weddings in the United States vary as much as the people do. There are church weddings with a great deal of fanfare； there are weddings on mountain-tops with guests barefooted； and there have been weddings on the ocean floor with oxygen tanks for the guests. But
many weddings, no matter where or how they are performed, include certain traditional customs.
Before a couple is married，they become engaged. And then invitations are sent to those who live nearby, their close friends and their relatives who live far away. When everything is ready，then comes the most exciting moment.
The wedding itself usually lasts between 20 and 40 minutes. The wedding party enters the church while the wedding march is played. The bride carrying a bouquet enters last with her father who will "give her away". The groom enters the church from a side door. When the wedding party is gathered by the altar， the bride and groom exchange vows. It is traditional to use the words "To have and to hold from this day forward， for better， for worse， for richer， for poorer， in sick
ness and in health， to love and to cherish， till death do us part". Following the
vows， the couple exchange rings. Wearing the wedding ring on the fourth finger of the left hand is an old custom.
After the ceremony there is often a party, called a "reception" which gives the wedding guests an opportunity to congratulate the newlyweds.
The car in which the couple leaves the church is decorated with balloons, streamers and shaving cream. The words "Just Married" are painted on the trunk or back window. The bride and groom run to the car under a shower of rice thrown by the wedding guests. When the couple drives away from the church， friends often chase them in cars， honking and drawing attention to them. And then the couple go on their honeymoon. What’s the main idea of the passage?
| A．Introducing the kinds of wedding in the USA |
| B．introducing the whole procedure of the wedding in the USA |
| C．Introducing the traditional wedding ceremony in the USA |
| D．Introducing a forgetful wedding party in the USA |
Which of the following sentences is true?
| A．In American ,before a couple are married, they never get engaged. |
| B．It is an old custom to wear the wedding ring on the fourth finger of the right hand. |
| C．They don’t invite the relatives who live far away to the wedding party. |
| D．The couple will go on their honeymoon on the very wedding day. |
Which is the last but one step of the wedding ceremony?
| A．The bride carrying a bouquet enters with her father who will "give her away" |
| B．t he bride and groom exchange vows |
| C．the couple exchange rings |
| D．The wedding party enters the church while the wedding march is played |
Hurry! Time to “steal vegetables”
Don't be afraid! We are not encouraging the stealing behavior, but to tell you maybe the most popular topic from white-collars' mouth in cities. Together with "How many vegetables do you steal today," "it's harvest time for your ripe peach," "I bought you a new car today."
Are there so many people in the city really have their own farms, or are they really so rich to buy someone else cars casually?
The answer is obviously negative. They just play some games on Social Network Sites (SNS) like kaixin001.com.
Can you imagine that more than millions of people in Chinese mainland will spend lots of time on SNS to play game and talk to friends, especially white-collars who work in the cities? Take kaixin001.com as an example, the current member of it has already hit 38 million.
However, the great number of people who would like to use such SNS indicates another social problem. That is lots of people choose to escape from the reality. And SNS just offer them a Virtual space to forget the reality.
Kinds of games and various of friends do give netizens lots of fun. Though indulging, dreaming, chatting and playing , it seems like people could really escape from all the upsets in reality. But virtual world is not real and no one can live in it forever, and reality is not that simple like noodling around on the internet.
Since this kind of social phenomenon is so popular on the internet, people start thinking to remove it in the reality.After playing the "happy farm" game on kaixin001.com, would you like to put yourself among the real corps while smelling the fragrance of the countryside? Recently, a farm land service called "happy farm in reality" was opened in the suburbs of Shanghai where white-collar workers from around that region can experience the real farmer's life by themselvesWhat is the topic of the passage?
| A．It’s time to” steal vegetables.” |
| B．a computer game called “Happy Farm” |
| C．open a farm in reality |
| D．something behind the game “Happy Farm” |
Why are so many people interested in “Happy Farm”?
| A．Because they like playing computer games. |
| B．Because it offers them a virtual space to escape from reality. |
C．because they can talk and play with their friends at the same time. |
| D．because they can harvest peaches. |
Which group are the majority playing the “Happy Farm” game?
| A．Farmers | B．White-collars | C．workers | D．students |
What’s the author’s attitude towards the “ Happy Farm” game?
| A．positive | B．worried | C．neutral | D．we don’t know |
Only if you don’t have a fear of heights do you want to visit the CN Tower. And if you can take a trip to the top of it will surely be worth it. The CN tower is Canada’s most famous symbol and the centre of tourism in Toronto.
Over 550 meters, it is one of the tallest building in the world; on a clear day the view is wonderful. Each year, around 2 million people take the elevator ride to the top of the tower to take in the breath-taking view at the top of the world. Once you are at the top, see if you have the courage to walk across the see-through glass floor .
If you are hungry, plan to eat at the revolving restaurant at the top of the tower. The floor in the 360-degree restaurant rotates once every 72 minutes allowing everyone a complete view of the city below. The CN tower has broken record many times, winning such titles as World’s Longest Metal staircase ,World’s Tallest building and , most recently , World’s Highest Wine Cellar. In 1995, the CN tower was considered as one of the seven wonders of the Modern World.
Today, the top of the tower, more than 333m in the air, serves as the year-round workplace for more than 550 people. The tower’s workers help to make the world-class attractions and food there.
While at the CN tower, you’ll also have the chance to visit gift shops. You will find the CN Tower in the heart of downtown, on Front Street. On the north shore of Lake Ontario, the CN Tower is open 364 days a year(closed on Christmas Day).Who can’t visit the CN tower?
| A．Someone who has heart attack. |
| B．An old man who has got flu. |
| C．A person afraid of height |
| D．A woman having high blood. |
How many titles has the Tower got?
| A．2 | B．3 | C．4 | D．5 |
Which of the following number is Not agree with its description?
| A．333 --- the height of the tower |
| B．550 --- the number of people who work at the top of the tower |
| C．364 --- the days that the tower is open each year |
| D．360--- the degree of the restaurant revolves. |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A．You can go to visit the tower any day you like. |
| B．You can buy some gifts and eat as well while you are at the tower. |
| C．You have to climb the stairs to the top of the tower to enjoy the view. |
| D．The floor of the revolving restaurant is made of glass. |
It’s always great to hear news about wildlife returning to where they once lived. For the first time in 8 years the small blue --- British’s smallest butterfly--- has been seen back at a nature reserve in Hertfordshire.
This nature reserve has had a lot of work done recently in order to help butterflies. Management of the land has included bringing in sheep to keep the grass under control in a more natural way and planting wild flowers for butterfly species. The nature reserve is home to a number of butterfly species. In fact the way that this reserve has been managed means that it is probably the best reserve in Hertfordshire to see butterflies with at least 25 species now living in the area.
There are a number of threats to British butterflies and the greatest threat is the loss of their habitat. Changing farming practice has affected British native butterfly species greatly with many more now being at risk. Butterflies are such an excellent species that they can clearly tell the situation of local environment because they are easily influenced by environmental changes, A wide species of butterflies will generally mean a healthy environment.
The type of land management at the nature reserve in Hertfordshire offers a hope for many species of butterfly to live as usual. Butterflies need all the help they can get at the moment. Although the number of butterflies is beginning to increase, many are still at risk.What has the nature reserve done to help butterflies return ?
a. changing the reserve place b. bringing in sheep
c. planting wild flowers d. changing farming practice
| A．a.b | B．c,d | C．a,d | D．b,c |
Why did the butterflies fly away eight years ago？
| A．The weather is changing | B．The flowers have died out |
| C．Their habitat has been lost. | D．The environment has changed |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A．The environment has changed healthier a lot than before. |
| B．All the butterflies have returned to the reserve. |
| C．There is no threat to the British butterflies. |
| D．Over 25 species is living in the reserve now. |
What does the underlined sentence mean?
| A．The butterflies changed as the environment changed. |
| B．Butterflies are very beautiful. |
| C．Butterflies are sensitive to the environment the live. |
| D．Butterflies can tell us what is happening. |
According to a survey released by the Nielson Company on Thursday, China has become a global tourist attraction after the Beijing Olympics.
The survey said the Olympics not only built up China’s image but also served as an advertisement for China’s tourism.
The online survey was conducted on consumers in 16 countries and regions before Games’ opening ceremony and after the closing.
About 80 percent of the respondents had not been to China before the events and 50 percent of them expressed hopes of visiting China after the Games.
According to the survey, 70 percent of the respondents felt Beijing was more modern and scientific than what they had thought.
The most interested respondents were from Singapore, India, Mexico, South Africa and the Republic of Korea, as well as China’s Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Pan Wen, in charge of Chinese tourism research of the Nielson Company, said the World Tourism Organization predicted that China would become the largest tourist attraction in the world with 137 million foreign tourists every year.
“This figure would be realized earlier with the aid of the Beijing Olympics,” Pan said.When was the online survey conducted?
| A．During the Olympics |
| B．Before Games’ opening ceremony and after the closing |
| C．After the Olympics’ closing |
| D．We don't know |
Which countries were the most interested respondents from?
| A．Singapore, India, Mexico | B．South Africa and the Republic of Korea |
| C．China’s Hong Kong and Taiwan | D．All of the above |
Which country did the World Tourism Organization predict would become the largest tourist attraction in the world?
| A．China | B．Japan | C．South Africa | D．Hong Kong |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．About 80 percent of the respondents expressed hopes of visiting China during the Games |
| B．The online survey was conducted on consumers in 16 countries |
| C．137 million foreign tourists have come to China every year |
| D．The Beijing Olympics greatly speed up China’s tourism |