Basketball can be fun， or it can be trouble． People gather around a ball， but their reactions （反应） often go （1） the object． It was a terribly hot summer day when the group of us appeared on the basketball court． Silently， we （2） up and played， as always． The sun was a big " squeezer （挤压者）"， as it not only squeezed out of us sweet （汗水） and （3） ， but also our unhappy feelings． Body contact became more and more often， and we could all （4） the attacks of elbows （肘部）． After another round of game， one of the players and I fell to the ground at the same time． From his burning eyeballs． I could see a （5） was almost unavoidable．
It suddenly came to me that my tins of Cola were lying on the ground， about an inch away from me． "Buddy， hot down here． What about a （6） ？" I said to him． （7） _ I rolled （滚动） one to him， looking at him in the eyes with my most sincere facial expression． "I guess I'm quite fine． Lucky no （8） bones or we'll end up in the hospital! " I said．
Other players watching nearby all laughed． I could clearly see some movement on his face． My （9） did work! He picked the Cola up， tried to open it， and walked over． As he passed by my side， he （10） his left hand， and smiled at me． I smiled back， took his hand， and gave him a light shake．
A gentle wind caught me on the face as I returned to the basketball court． The sun continued to provide （11） for us． What could be better than a group of school students （12） basketball skills on a warm， sunny afternoon？
（1）A． towards |
B． about |
C． beyond |
D． for |
（2）A． teamed |
B． cheered |
C． cooked |
D． caught |
（3）A． time |
B． energy |
C． health |
D． pride |
（4）A． accept |
B． afford |
C． smell |
D． feel |
（5）A． match |
B． fight |
C． touch |
D． risk |
（6）A． game |
B． talk |
C． drink |
D． ball |
（7）A． Angrily |
B． Equally |
C． Guiltily |
D． Carefully |
（8）A． lazy |
B． hidden |
C． medical |
D． broken |
（9）A． humor |
B． chance |
C． advice |
D． trust |
（10）A． looked at |
B． thought of |
C． put away |
D． held out |
（11）A． worry |
B． warmth |
C． stress |
D． peace |
（12）A． protecting |
B． encouraging |
C． exchanging |
D． comparing |
Little Tom has just celebrated his birthday．（nine）
Prepare for Water Day Zero
Last year，Cape Town said it was facing Water Day Zero．That was the date when the city's taps would go dry．It was first expected to arrive in April，2018． Thanks to hard efforts and a rainy season，it has been put off（推迟）．（1） ．And it may hit cities all over the world．
How did Cape Town get into a Water Day Zero situation？The city gets its water from six reservoirs（水库）．They usually fill up during the rainy season，from May through August．However，since 2015，the city had been suffering from its worst drought（旱灾）in a century．（2） ．Even worse，Cape Town's population grew greatly．As a result，the need for water rose．
（3） Because of climate change，serious droughts are becoming more and more common．At the same time，people are moving to cities．The United Nations says by 2050，two thirds of the world's population will live in cities．Since 2014，southeastern Brazil has been suffering from its worst water shortage in 80 years．In Mexico City，many of the 21 million people only have running water for half of the day．
Luckily，steps can be taken to avoid water crises（危机）．To start with，all of us can do something to save water and slow down climate change．（4） At the same time，water pollution must be stopped．
The world now has a chance to stop a series of Water Day Zero crises． If we don't act，many cities may soon face a time when there isn't a drop to drink．
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A．Cape Town is not alone． B．The serious situation seems to be improved． C．Water levels in the reservoirs became very low． D．Cities can build more water﹣recycling factories． E．However，the problem is very likely to appear again． F．More and more countries are paying attention to the problem． |
Dear Laura，
Thanks for your message．Yes，I'm having a great time on my student exchange（交流）programme in France．I was a bit （1） before I arrived here，but there was no need to be．My host family is really nice．
They try to make me （2） at home．The grandmother knows that I miss Chinese food a lot．So she actually learned how to （3） Chinese food！She also has a teenage granddaughter about my age who is really（4） ．She always talks to me in French to help me practise．You wouldn't （5） how quickly my French has improved．（6） I still make lots of mistakes，it doesn't worry me as it used to．
My biggest （7） is learning how to act at the dinner table．As you can imagine，things are very different from the way they are at home．For example，you shouldn't put your elbows（胳膊肘）on the table．（8） ，I thought that was pretty strange，but now I'm used to（习惯于）it．Another example is that you shouldn't eat anything with your （9） except bread，not even fruit．You have to cut it up and eat it with a fork．Another thing is that it's impolite to say you're full．If you don't want any more （10） ，you should just say，"That was delicious．"I have to say that I find it difficult to （11） everything，but I'm gradually（逐渐地）getting used to it．I don't find French customs so （12） any more．
I'll write again soon and tell you more about my life in France． |Hope you're having a good school year．
Yours，
Lin Yue
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（1）A．proud |
B．excited |
C．nervous |
D．disappointed |
|
（2）A．stay |
B．feel |
C．rest |
D．study |
|
（3）A．cook |
B．serve |
C．fetch |
D．taste |
|
（4）A．clever |
B．shy |
C．kind |
D．honest |
|
（5）A．discover |
B．hear |
C．agree |
D．believe |
|
（6）A．If |
B．Although |
C．Because |
D．Since |
|
（7）A．problem |
B．hobby |
C．dream |
D．suggestion |
|
（8）A．In fact |
B．By the way |
C．So far |
D．At first |
|
（9）A．fork |
B．fingers |
C．knife |
D．chopsticks |
|
（10）A．food |
B．time |
C．money |
D．help |
|
（11）A．create |
B．answer |
C．remember |
D．repeat |
|
（12）A．simple |
B．strict |
C．different |
D．strange |
|
lovely year use tradition expect although interesting |
Paper cutting is a （1） Chinese art．It has been around for over 1，500 years．Many people in China put paper cuttings on their walls or their windows during the Spring Festival．
The paper cutter （2） very simple tools，such as knives and scissors，to cut parts of the paper away．After these parts are cut away，a （3） picture of people or animals appears．Some paper cuttings are of Chinese characters，and others are of animals or plants．（4） __ paper cutting seems not difficult to learn，it is difficult to do．It requires many （5） of practice to become good at it．
People think paper cuttings will bring them good luck．
A：Dear son，you look unhappy．（1） ？
B：I am leaving school in ten days．I want to show my thanks to the teachers．But I don't know what to do．（2） ？
A：Certainly．I think you can sing a song with your classmates for them．
B：Sounds good！（3） ？
A：On the playground or at the gate of the school．
B：OK．And what can I do for the school？
A：（4） ？
B：Planting a tree？Emm，it is good for the environment of the school．Thanks，Mom．
A：（5） Hope things work well．