Lisa Pina never thought she would need the fire safety training she received during her apprenticeship (学徒期) as a union painter and dry waller. On Friday morning，she was thanking God she had it.
On Thursday night，while Pina was babysitting her granddaughter，nephew and two nieces in her sister’s apartment，she smelled smoke and realized the apartment building was on fire. When her 4yearold granddaughter Ilean Garcia began saying，“We’re going to die，”she knew she had to act.Pina,39，first sealed the door，and then told all four children to get on the floor. After calling 911，she told the children to start singing and promised them all treats as soon as they reached safety. “I said，‘OK，we’re going to lie down and we’re all going to play a game，’” Pina said. “We all started singing our ABCs and 123s.I was just trying to make it fun.” Pina patiently waited，and a few minutes later，Riverside County sheriff’s deputies (治安官的助手) arrived. Pina，Ilean,8yearold Gabriel Parga,5yearold Aubreyana Parga and 4yearold Meriyah Parga were all trapped on the second floor as flames filled the first story. Pina did the only thing she could. She opened the window and dropped the children，onebyone，into the arms of the sheriff’s deputies about 15 to 20 feet below. “I just needed to keep the kids calm so they wouldn’t be afraid，”Pina said.“I was deathly afraid inside，but I couldn’t let them know that.”[Not long after dropping the children out of the window，firefighters arrived with a ladder and rescued her. Ten people were treated at the scene for suffering smoke，but nobody was seriously injured.
The text is mainly about________.
| A．a big fire without serious injury |
| B．an urgent call 911 |
| C．a brave babysitter |
| D．a babysitter rescuing kids from a big fire |
The underlined word “it” in Paragraph 1 refers to________.
| A．a union painter |
| B．a dry waller |
| C．the fire safety training |
| D．the apprenticeship |
Before Lisa Pina called 911，in order to prevent the fire，she________.
| A．let children get on the floor |
| B．opened the windows of the second floor |
| C．closed the door hard |
| D．had children start singing |
According to the text，we know that________.
| A．Lisa Pina was the last one to be rescued |
| B．the fire didn’t cause any injury |
| C．the children were sent to hospital after the fire |
| D．during the fire Lisa Pina wasn’t afraid at all |
An old man lived with his family. The family would eat together nightly at the dinner table. But the elderly grandfather’s shaky hands and failing sight made eating rather difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon, dropping to the floor. When he grasped his glass of milk, it often spilled clumsily(笨拙地) at the tablecloth.
With this happening almost every night, the son and daughter-in-law became annoyed with the mess.
“We must do something about grandfather,” said the son.
“I’ve had enough of his milk spilling, noisy eating and food on the floor,” the daughter-in-law agreed.
So the couple set a small table at the corner.
There, grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed their dinner at the dinner table. Since grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in wooden bowls. Sometimes when the family looked in grandfather’s direction, he had tears in his eyes as he ate alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp warnings when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The four-year-old watched it all in silence.
One evening, before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood pieces on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, “What are you making?” Just as sweetly, the boy replied, “Oh, I’m making a little bowl for you and mama to eat your food from when I grow up.” The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.
These words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears streamed down their cheeks. Though no words were spoken, both knew what must be done. Eating was difficult for the grandfather because ________.
| A．his son and daughter-in-law didn’t like him |
| B．there wasn’t enough food for him |
| C．life was hard for the poor family |
| D．he was old and weak |
The couple served the old man’s food in wooden bowls to ________.
| A．show how sick they felt of the old man |
| B．make the old man’s food more enjoyable |
| C．prevent the old man from breaking more dishes |
| D．encourage their son to make more wooden bowls |
What would the end of the story be like?
| A．The couple gave their son a good beating. |
| B．No more milk was spilled by the old man. |
| C．The old man had every meal with the family. |
| D．The whole family started to use wooden bowls. |
What’s the difference between the British Isles, Britain, the United Kingdom and England?
The British Isles is made up of two large islands: One is called Ireland and the other Britain. Britain, or Great Britain, is the larger of these two islands and it is divided into three parts: Scotland, Wales and England.
The United Kingdom (UK) is short for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is made up of Scotland, Wales, and England (i.e. the whole of Britain), and also about one-sixth of Ireland, the Northern part. The rest of Ireland is self-governing(自治的).
England is the largest, most populous (人口众多的), and generally speaking, the richest section. English people often use the words “England” and “English” when they mean “Britain” and “British”. This sometimes makes the Scots and the Welsh angry. The Scots are very proud of their separate nationality. The Welsh too do not consider themselves as England, and have a culture and even a language of their own. Ireland became part of the United Kingdom in 1801, but is soon grew discontented (不满的), and for forty years the “Irish Question” was the greatest headache of British Parliament(国会). At last, Ireland divided itself into two: Northern Ireland remained loyal(忠诚于) to the Crown(英国王室), and in 1922 the rest of the country broke away to form Irish Free State, now the Republic of Ireland.Which is the largest in area?
| A．The British Iles | B．Great Britain |
| C．England | D．The United Kingdom |
Which is the largest island of the British Isles?.
| A．Ireland | B．Britain |
| C．England | D．Northern Ireland |
The United Kingdom is mainly made up of .
| A．3 parts: Scotland, Wales, and England |
| B．4 parts: Scotland, Wales, England and Ireland |
| C．2 parts: the whole of Britain and Ireland |
| D．2 parts: the whole of Britain and Northern Ireland |
Strictly speaking(严格地说), which is wrong?
| A．“English” refers(指) to people of England. |
| B．“The Scots” refers to people of Scotland. |
| C．“England” refers to all the people to the UK. |
| D．Only one-sixth of Ireland belongs to the UK. |
Who will be happy if we use “England” when we mean Britain?
| A．The British | B．People of England |
| C．People of the Republic of Ireland | D．The welsh |
Mother’s Day is a holiday for mothers. It is celebrated(庆祝)in the United States, England, India and some other countries. In a short time, it becomes widely celebrated. Mother’s day falls on the second Sunday in May. On that day, many people send gifts(礼物)of love to their mothers.
Those whose mothers are still living often wear a pink or red rose or carnation(康乃馨)， while those whose mothers are dead wear a white one.
The idea of a day for mothers was first given by Miss Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia. As a result of her hard work, the celebration of the first American Mother’s Day was held in Philadelphia(费城） on May 10, 1908. Soon the holiday became popular all over the country and around the world.
In China, people do the same on the day for mothers. And, in some cities, people sometimes ask a song to be broadcast(广播) for his or her mother only. This might cost a little money for some of them, but, as it is said, “Love is invaluable.”
On May 8, 1999, just the day before the Mother’s Day that year, a Chinese mother was killed in criminal bombing(罪恶轰炸). Her name is Shao Yanhuan, a heroic mother. All the Chinese will remember her forever. Mother’s Day .
| A．is a holiday for mothers |
| B．is celebrated in the United Stated only |
| C．falls on May 10 every year |
| D．was given by Miss Anna Jarvis |
What was the date of the Mother’s Day in 1999?
| A．May 7. | B．May 8. | C．May 9. | D．May 10 |
On Mother’s Day, people.
| A．send some flowers to their mothers. |
| B．wear a pink or red rose or carnation |
| C．wear a white flower |
| D．send gifts of love to their mothers |
the underlined word “invaluable” means “”.
| A．美好的 | B．无价的 | C．永恒的 | D．无私的 |
Maybe you’ve known the criminal bombing, which of the following ideas do you agree to?
| A．Shao Yunhuan is a heroic mother. |
| B．A Chinese mother is the same as an American mother. |
| C．The bombing cannot get away with the crime (难逃罪责). |
| D．All of the above |
How to Study Smarter, Not Harder
Here are some of our favorite study tips that will help any student study smarter, not harder:
Recite As You Study
Reciting—saying things out loud should first take place as you read through each paragraph or section. Test yourself. This will help you to understand as well as learn faster because it is more active than reading or listening. It will also help you to notice your mistakes and the topics you have trouble understanding.
Take Fuller Notes
Notes should be in your own words, brief and clear. They should be tidy and easy to read. Writing notes will help you better than just underlining as you read, since it forces you to rewrite ideas in your own words.
Study the Middle
The best time to review is soon after you’ve learned something. You are more likely to remember the material at the beginning and the end of the lesson, so make sure you focus on the middle when you review.
Sleep On It
Study before going to bed, unless you are very tired. It’s easier to remember material you’ve just learned after sleeping than after an equal period of daytime activity, because your brain continues to think even after you’ve fallen asleep.
Combine Memory and Understanding
There are two ways to remember: by memorizing and by understanding. Multiplication tables, telephone numbers, and math formulas are better learned by rote. Ideas are best learned by understanding.
The more ways you have to think about an idea, the more meaning it will have; the more meaningful the learning, the better you can remember it. Pay attention to similarities in ideas and concepts, and then try to understand how they fit in with things you already know. Never be satisfied with anything less than a completely clear understanding of what you are reading. If you are not able to follow the thought, go back to the place where you first got confused and try again. You can notice your mistakes by _______.
| A．saying things out aloud | B．taking notes |
| C．studying the middle | D．sleeping on it |
When taking notes, you should _______ to better help you with reading.
| A．underline important notes |
| B．write notes in your own words |
| C．take down every detail |
| D．write as quickly as possible |
The writer advises you to _______ as it is easier for you to remember material.
| A．study after a period of activity |
| B．do some exercise after studying |
| C．study as soon as you get up |
| D．study before going to sleep |
Which of the following is NOT helpful for your understanding?
| A．Thinking about an idea in different ways. |
| B．Relating ideas and concepts with what you already know. |
| C．Reading from the beginning to the end without stop. |
| D．Going back to what first made you confused and start again. |
Why is pink or purple a color for girls and blue or brown for boys?
The answer depends largely on cultural values as well as personal experiences. To the Egyptians, green was a color that represented the hope and joy of spring, while for Muslims, it means heaven. Red is a symbol of good luck in many cultures. In China, children are given money in a red envelope to bring good fortune in the New Year. For many nations, blue is a symbol of protection and religious beliefs. Greek people often wear a blue necklace hoping to protect themselves against evils (灾祸).
People’s choice of colors is also influenced by their bodies’ reactions (反应) toward them. Green is said to be the most restful color. It has the ability to reduce pain and relax people both mentally and physically. People who work in green environment have been found to have fewer stomachaches.
Red can cause a person’s blood pressure to rise and increase people’s appetites (食欲). Many decorators will include different shades of red in the restaurant. Similarly, many commercial websites will have a red “Buy Now” button because red is a color that easily catches a person’s eye.
Blue is another calming color. Unlike red, blue can cause people to lose appetite. So if you want to eat less, some suggest that eating from blue plates can help.
The next time you are deciding on what to wear or what color to decorate your room, think about the color carefully. Muslims regard green as a symbol of heaven mainly because of their .
| A．cultural values | B．commercial purposes |
| C．personal experiences | D．physical reactions to the color |
Why will many commercial websites have a red “Buy Now” button?
| A．To relax people physically. |
| B．To increase people’s appetites. |
| C．To encourage people to buy the goods. |
| D．To cause a person’s blood pressure to rise. |
What color might help lose weight according to the text?
| A．Red | B．Green. | C．Blue. | D．Purple. |
Which of the following would be the most proper title for the text?
| A．Colors and Human Beings |
| B．The Cultural Meaning of Color |
| C．Colors and Personal Experiences |
| D．The Meaning and Function of Color |