Eleven countries are building a great wall of trees across Africa． It is called the Great Green Wall．The aim is to bring life to the dry lands and help to fight the bad environment．
The wall is 8， 000kilometers long and 15kilometers wide． It covers from Senegal in the west to Djibouti in the east，on the south of the Sahara Desert（撒哈拉沙漠）． So far，Senegal has made the best progress by planting about 11， 000，000trees．
Many years ago， there were few trees in that area and the winds used to be very strong． It was harmful to the fields． Also， there was little rain， so few plants could grow and many people went hungry．Since the tree planting project started， the trees have provided food for the local people and increased the wetness（湿度）of the air． Little by little， there appeared green fields for people to grow plants．
The project which began in 2007is supposed to cost a total of 8， 000， 000， 000dollars． Many countries are trying their best to help to continue the planting． So we will be able to see the whole green wall across Africa in the near future．
（1）Why are the countries building the wall of trees？
They want to bring life to the dry lands and help to ．
（2）Where is the great wall of trees？
It's of the Sahara Desert．
（3）Why couldn't many plants grow in that area many years ago？
Because there were few trees， strong winds and ．
（4）When did the project begin？
It begun ．
（5）What does the passage talk about？
It mainly talks about in Africa．
Clothing（服装）is a language．We can look at traditional clothing to know more about culture．
Africa has a long history and a rich culture，and this is shown in traditional dress．The three colours一red，gold and green，are often used in the clothing．The first colour represents the blood of millions of people who fought for freedom； the second，rich resources of the African earth； and the third，the grassland of home．
Because clothing has strong social meanings，people are very careful in choosing what to wear．It would be a serious mistake to wear the wrong clothes，or to dress in the wrong way．For example，in Ghana，a woman should wear her waistband （腰带）differently according to the importance of the social event．
Traditional dress also tells us about everyday life．African designs are famous for loose（宽松的）clothing．The temperature there can be very high during the daytime but very low at night，so it requires that the clothes are comfortable for daily life．
Today although more and more young people like wearing Western clothes especially in big cities in Africa，traditional African dress is still quite valuable．This is because it has deep cultural meanings．
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Traditional Dress in Africa |
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Different colours |
．The three most（54） colours used in clothing are red，gold and green． ．Different colours（55） for different things：the blood of freedom fighters，resources of the earth and the grassland of home |
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Social meanings |
．Because clothing has strong social meanings，people have to choose what to wear（56） ． ．Women in Ghana even wear different waistbands according to how important the event is． |
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Everyday life |
．Because the temperature （57） greatly，clothes are usually loose and comfortable． ．Though Western clothes are popular with young people in some areas，traditional clothes are still of great（58） |
We all need exercise．Exercise uses up feed that we eat and keeps the body full of（71）e ．Exercise makes your heart and muscles（肌肉） strong．Exercise also makes you feel r elaxed．If you exercise several times a week，you will stay happy and（72）h ．There are many （73）w to exercise．You can walk，run，play sports or swim．
（74）H ，most people cannot do this．It is too far from their homes to their offices．They have no （75）c but to drive to work．First，these people don't have a chance to exercise because they are sitting in their cats for two to four hours each day．Second，driving is challenging，（76）e in rush hours，and needs too much attention．It makes a person （77）t out．When these people arrive home after work，they don't want to take exercise．
Some western countries，such as the United States，have problems with exercise．Many people don't have enough exercise．They have to work from morning till（78）n ．so they don't have time to take exercise．
Today，many people in the West are fat，which causes health problems，Doctors say exercise can help people both lose （79）w and improve their health．So many people are trying to get more exercise．But it takes time to change，and when people don't see a （80）d right away，they will lose heart and stop exercising．
Batsford
A world of trees， and so much more!
Built in the late 18005， Batsford Arboretum is among the largest wild gardens in England， home to a collection of some of the world's most beautiful trees， bamboos， and shrubs． It's perfect fora peaceful walk beside the small rivers and pools．
（1）
●Early daffodils（水仙花） and a cherry collection in spring．
●The Handkerchief Tree and wildflower areas in summer．
●To smell the flowers of reds， yellows and golds in autumn．
●Ice and snow turn the Arboretum into a magical wonderland．
Visitor Information
（2）
●Batsford Arboretum is just one mile west of Moreton﹣in﹣Marsh on the A44． There are road signs all the way．
●The 1 and 2 Johnsons Excel﹣bus from Stratford﹣upon﹣Avon drops passengers at the end of our mile﹣long drive．
（3）
We are open every day except Christmas Day． In bad weather we may close the Arboretum， so please call us on 01386701441 before setting out．
●Pets
Dogs are welcome throughout the Visitor Centre and the Arboretum but must be closely watched all times．
（4）
Parking for cars and coaches is FREE． You'll find picnic areas near to the lower car parks． Sorry no picnics in the Arboretum．
（5）
●Sign up to receive our regular email newsletters if you love Batsford，
●Check for the latest admission charges （门票价格） before you come．
Website： www．batsarb．couk
Email： arboretum@batsfordfoundation．co．uk
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A． Opening times B．How to find us C． Parking and picnics D． Keep in touch E．A garden for all seasons |
My brother Claudio is one of the people I love most． He is wise and always helpful， taking care of me and（1） （we） young sister， Sarah．The day when he left home to go to college，I（2） （teach） the importance of being a man．
It was a（3） （rain） Saturday morning in August． We were woken up by the sound of Sarah playing the piano as usual． In the kitchen， there was（4） surprise for Claudio-his favorite pancakes．Mom gave us a big smile and told us（5） （sit） down for the breakfast． This was an important day for all of us!
While we（6） （eat） breakfast， Claudio went upstairs to collect his things．I suddenly heard him calling my name． When I walked（7） the room we shared，I found Claudio sitting at my bedside．"It's time， brother，" he said． I thought he was saying that it was time for him to leave the house， （8） in fact he told me that I should take on a bigger role in the family from then on． He said I should do（9） （many） for Mom than before after he was gone．
I thought about his words very（10） （careful） and then understood everything． That day I learned about family， love and duty．
Hello， everybody． I'm Olivia． I'm glad to be here this afternoon．Do you have a friend with an interesting background？ Today， I'd like to tell you about a（1） （活泼的） girl I'll tell you a bit about her， where she's from， and why we 're good friends．
You know， I didn't use to do much exercise． A few years ago，I joined a（2） （运动） club． On my first day there， I met Raquel． After the gym， we had coffee（3） （一起） and soon became good friends． I think that's because we have a lot in common．We like to keep fit and love to（4） （尝试） different food， especially spicy food． And we love the ocean． In summer， we like to hang out at the（5） （海滩） and go surfing at least once a month． Raquel was born in Mexico， but has been here since she was（6） （十） years' old． Her mother is Mexican and her father is American， so she can speak（7） （两者都） Spanish and English． That's something different about us． Although I（8） （上学，参加） a class last year， my Spanish is still terrible! Another thing that's different is her background． Raquel's from two countries and has experience and（9） （知识） of two cultures． I think that's really（10） （酷的）．
We might not live in the same city in the future， but I think we'll stay friends．Thanks for listening to me．