Reading Comprehension阅读理解

閱读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

（一）

A

Cruisecom， one of the Internets largest cruise resources， provides lots of cruise lines. Here are some of the most popular ones for you to choose from.

MSC Cruise

MSC Cruise ships combine true European beauty with Italian style. Activities are rich on board an MSC cruise. There is family fun at the Aqua Park. Kids will enjoy the WII and the 4-D Theater. Lasting from 2 to 22 days， MSC Cruise ships sail to the Caribbean， the Mediterranean， northern Europe and so on.

Carnival Cruise

On a Carnival Cruise ship there is always so much to do. There are pools， golf， a Seaside Theater and rich activities to keep kids and adults of all ages joyful. Kids love Camp Carnival and for a little quiet time adults can relax at the “Adult-Only” Serenity Retreat. Lasting from 3 to 17 days， Carnival ships sail to the Bahamas， the Caribbean， Mexico and so on.

Alaska Cruise

Alaska cruises show some of the most beautiful sights in the world. Alaska is a piece of America that offers great cruising， pure wilderness， attractive history and multi-cultural arts， lifestyles and communities throughout the state. Cruising to Alaska is a true part of the Alaska experience. Cruise line lasts from 5 to 19 days on all kinds of cruise lines on ships large and small.

Celebrity Cruise

Celebrity ships are decorated with modern artwork. Life onboard is filled with rich activities， including Broadway-style shows， world class casinos， and clubs where you can dance the night away. Lasting from 3 to 24 days， Celebritys eleven ships sail to Alaska， Asia， Australia & New Zealand and so on.

1. Where can kids watch a 4-D film？

A. Alaska Cruise. B. Carnival Cruise.

C. MSC Cruise. D. Celebrity Cruise.

2. What can you do in Carnival Cruise？

A. Learn history. B. Play golf.

C. Enjoy modern artwork. D. Experience Italian culture.

3. What do Alaska Cruise and Celebrity Cruise have in common？

A. They can reach Alaska. B. They have the same number of activities.

C. They last 19 days at least. D. They have their ships decorated with modern artwork.

B

The pumpkin theme is everywhere at Butlers Orchard in Germantown， Maryland. It has thousands of pumpkins， including a pumpkin patch （菜地） where people can pick their own pumpkin. There are also other things to do， like riding a pony， rushing down a slide or walking around a corn maze with its confusing winding pathways. Some children discover the big orange fruits way more than they think. Visitors can pick their own in season fruits， vegetables and flowers. Butlers Orchard opened it more than sixty years ago， as one of the first pick-your-own farms in the area.

Ken Merriam brought his children. He says Butlers Orchard brings back good memories of growing up on a farm in Honduras. “Its a little bit of what I used to have as a kid， so thats why I think its nice to bring them over here. Get them out of the city.” Shirley Butlers grandchildren who are in their 30s are now the third generation to run the farm. General manager Tyler Butler says children who usually only see pumpkins in grocery stores can learn how pumpkins are grown.

“I didnt know pumpkins came from a vine. There are flowers on this vine. There are roots.” These little girls are learning about pumpkins during their first trip to a pumpkin patch to feel the nature and the fruits. For Tristan Piazzas mother， the Fall Festival is an annual （一年一次的） event. “My parents have always brought me. I bring my kid now. I hope he stays in the area and he can bring his kids.” Since family funds are hard to keep afloat these days， Tyler Butler appreciates the tens of thousands of visitors who come to the Fall Festival each year.

4. What can visitors experience at Butlers Orchard？

A. Picking vegetables in person. B. Growing vegetables by themselves.

C. Tasting fruits off season. D. Selling pumpkins online.

5. Why did Ken Merriam take his children to the farm？

A. He wanted to get out of the city. B. He wanted to pick his own vegetables.

C. It reminded him of his childhood. D. It provided them with fun activities.

6. What does the underlined phrase “keep afloat” in the last paragraph probably mean？

A. Guarantee. B. Earn. C. Expand. D. Spend.

7. What does the text mainly tell us？

A. The Fall Festival is an annual event.

B. Pumpkins at Butlers Orchard are healthy.

C. Pick-your-own farms are increasingly popular.

D. Butlers Orchard strengthens the relationship between family members.

C

Teenage life is quite dramatic but that doesnt mean you cannot enjoy your life in these years. Even with your daily troubles， your life is not very hard if you know how to deal with them.

I know exactly how you feel. Life as a teenager can be hard. You are not a kid anymore because you are smart enough to observe and analyze your surroundings. However， you are still not an adult because there are still lots of experiences that you need to have and lessons that you need to learn from these experiences. To top it all， the hormonal （荷爾蒙的） imbalance in your body can really mess you up emotionally. I have been there. I was in it for 6 years exploring what life is about.

As an adolescent （青春期的） girl， I had a major problem completing my chores on time. And at that time， all that I needed to do was to finish my assignments （任務）， study for the upcoming test and clean my room. Now， I have many more things to do： cooking， cleaning and working while striking a balance between all my relationships related to work， family and friends. That really is a lot of work. So， I will just give you one golden tip， quoting from Benjamin Franklin， “Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.”

Life becomes much easier now because I finish all my work on time and I have enough time to let my hair down. Half the problems as a teenager are because we hate doing things. Wed rather go and have fun than sit down and take care of our duties and responsibilities. That is why you have so much trouble in your life; your parents wont let you go out with friends because you havent cleaned your room or your teacher is always criticizing you because you havent finished your assignments.

8. What does the author mainly want to tell us in Paragraph 1？

A. Teenage life is tough. B. Teenagers should enjoy life.

C. Teenage life is changeable. D. Teenagers should learn to deal with problems.

9. What plays a key role in making teenage life hard according to the author？

A. The adolescent changes. B. The lack of life experience.

C. The failure of concentration. D. The unfamiliar surroundings.

10. How did the author feel about her teenage life？

A. It was difficult. B. It was simple. C. It was enjoyable. D. It was boring.

11. What does the author advise teenagers to do？

A. Make more friends. B. Go and have fun.

C. Complete their homework on time. D. Shoulder their duties and responsibilities.

D

A severe storm can be a disaster if there are no enough plants to absorb the large quantities of water. Not long ago， a sudden rain in Los Angeles killed twenty people. But despite its suddenness， a rainstorm—or any rainfall—is the result of a complex chain of events.

I used to think that rain was started when the cloud somehow forced out its water， as we would press a sponge （海绵）. But its not the way it happens.

The tiny droplets （水滴） that create a cloud are far apart from each other. They are actually as far apart， if we think about their size， as the earth and the moon are. Yet there are so many of them in a cloud that they seem to form something huge， just like how the Milky Way is formed. Each of the cloud droplets may be less than 1/10，000 of an inch across， yet they are floating by themselves， in millions.

Each droplet changes as the air condition changes. When its size increases， it becomes heavier， until the air can no longer hold it up. Then it begins to fall.

A raindrop can be about a million times the size of a cloud droplet. When the drops reach a width of about 1/200 of an inch， they are likely to fall as a gentle mist （霧）. At 1/50 of an inch， and if there is little wind， they will fall at about the same speed， and the earth receives no more than a light rain. But when wind mixes the drops of different sizes falling at different speeds， the bigger drops will overtake the smaller， slower ones. They will combine into bigger and bigger drops. It is just in this way that the heavy drops of a thunderstorm are formed.

12. Under what condition is it likely for us to see a rain？

A. There is a sudden wind. B. Cloud droplets are too heavy to float.

C. The cloud presses out its water. D. There are no enough plants on the ground.

13. What does the author want to explain by mentioning the earth and the moon？

A. What cloud really is. B. The distance between droplets.

C. How big a droplet is. D. The formation of the Milky Way.

14. What is the major difference between a mist and a light rain？

A. The strength of winds. B. The speed they fall.

C. The size of the droplets. D. The damage they cause.

15. What is necessary for a light rain to change into a heavy one？

A. The cloud. B. The storm. C. The thunder. D. The wind.

（二）

A

Family Activities in Hawaii

Kids get bored easily， but they wont be in Hawaii. To help you and your kids plan for that perfect Hawaiian vacation， here are some of activities you can enjoy at Hawaiis main islands.

Kauai

To start off， keep your kids busy by letting them explore Hawaiis art， culture， history， and unique geography hands-on at the Kauai Childrens Discovery Museum. Exciting activities your kids will enjoy at this museum include star observing， creating artworks and rock climbing.

Oahu

Oahu is another island that offers plenty of activities the whole family will enjoy. If you want to pet a dolphin or sea lion， you can go to the Sea Life Park. Also get a sight of life underwater through its Sea Trek Adventure activity where you go 18 feet underwater for a human-and-fish meet and greet.

Molokai

Enjoy Molokais laid-back atmosphere by visiting the Molokai Horse & Wagon Ride. The horse and wagon ride usually starts at the mango grove. Another good idea is to visit the Big Wind Kite Factory to see how kites are made and fly one of your own. Learn kite-flying and kite-making techniques and let kids pilot their own kites.

Big Island

Aside from the beaches， Hawaii is especially known for its volcanoes. And if you go to the Big Island， you can let your family experience several of these volcanoes by visiting the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Watch up close a live volcano gently spewing lava at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park for an unforgettable yet educational experience.

1. Where can you go for children to see sea animals？

A. Kauai. B. Oahu. C. Molokai. D. Big Island.

2. What skills can children learn on Molokai？

A. Riding a horse. B. Creating artworks.

C. Making kites. D. Learning kite culture.

3. What makes the visit to Big Island memorable？

A. The live volcanoes. B. The scenery of the island.

C. The beaches. D. The education program.

B

When Veronika Scott was a student at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit， Michigan， she received a task to “design to fill a need”. She dreamed up an idea for overcoats that would double as sleeping bags， made 25 of them， and handed them out to people living in shelters on an abandoned city playground. While her efforts were greeted mostly with enthusiasm from those braving Detroits cold winters， one woman voiced dissatisfaction. “We dont need coats; we need jobs，” she told Veronika. Then she had her second inspiration （灵感）.

After graduating from college in 2012， Veronika founded the Empowerment Plan， a non-profit （非营利的） organization. She employed two homeless women to sew the coats and paid them with donations she received through her blog. Now， the Empowerment Plan employs about 20 people and has produced more than 10，000 coats and distributed （分發） them in 30 states， Canada， and elsewhere abroad.

“We dont require previous employment，” Veronika says. “Were looking for people who are motivated （上进的）.” The Empowerment Plan provides free classes and lends money to those who can meet the standards. Nearly all the employees finally move into permanent housing， and some go on to jobs in the auto industry and construction.

Veronika has bettered the coats design by making its outer layer of a lightweight material that avoids air， wind， and water and its inner layer of a material that stores body heat. Still， Veronika is less focused on the coats than on the workers who make them. “At the end of the day，” she says， “the coat is a vehicle for us to employ people.”

4. What was Veronikas second inspiration？

A. Founding a non-profit organization. B. Improving her coats design.

C. Profiting from the work of those low-paid people. D. Producing more coats and distributing them abroad.

5. What is the purpose of the Empowerment Plan？

A. To raise more donations. B. To design better clothes.

C. To provide help for the homeless. D. To offer free classes to the motivated.

6. Which of the following best describes Veronika？

A. Traditional but helpful. B. Strict and unsatisfied.

C. Generous but childish. D. Creative and caring.

7. What can be the best title for the text？

A. Design to Fill a Need B. The Empowerment Plan

C. Look for Motivated People D. How to Design a Coat

C

In the 13th century， Marco Polo， the world-known Italian traveler， saw many wonderful things in China. One of the things he discovered was money made of paper. People in the West did not have such kind of money until the 15th century. However， the Chinese man began to use it in the 7th century.

Paper was invented by a Chinese man called Cai Lun almost 2，000 years ago. But it was not made in Europe until the year 1100. Four hundred years later， a German discovered that he could make the best paper from trees. After that countries rich in forests， such as Canada， Sweden， America， Finland became the most important ones in paper making.

Paper can be used in many ways. The common uses include newspapers， magazines and books. But do you know that paper can be used for keeping warm？ In Finland， the farmers wear paper boots to keep their feet warm in the snow. And even houses can be insulated （使絕缘） from heat or cold with paper.

However， we have to understand that paper still comes from trees now. If we keep on wasting so much paper， there will not be any trees left on the earth some day in the near future. Every day people throw away about 2，800 tons of paper in our city. It takes 17 trees to make one ton of paper. This means that we are cutting down nearly 48，000 trees every day. The fact is that it takes more than 10 years for a tree to grow.

So we must start saving paper right now. We can use both sides of every piece of paper. We can make useful things out of used paper. We can use china cups instead of paper ones. When shopping， we can use fewer paper bags and reuse them if we have some.

In short， we should keep a balance between using paper and protecting trees， and do it now before it is too late.

8. When did the Chinese begin to use paper money？

A. In the 5th century. B. In the 7th century. C. In the 13th century. D. In the 15th century.

9. Why did Canada become an important country in paper making？

A. It was a large country. B. It had lots of forests.

C. It was a rich country. D. It had advanced paper making technology.

10. What is paper used for in Finland？

A. Making bags. B. Reusing waste. C. Protecting houses. D. Keeping warm.

11. What does Paragraph 5 mainly about？

A. How trees grow. B. How paper was invented.

C. How we can save paper. D. How we can make useful things.

D

Reading can be a social activity. Think of the people who belong to book groups. They choose books to read and then meet to discuss them. Now， the website BookCrossing.com turns the page on the traditional idea of a book group.

Members go on the site and register （登記） the books they own and would like to share. BookCrossing provides an identification number to stick inside the book. Then the person leaves it in a public place， hoping that the book will have an adventure， traveling far and wide with each new reader who finds it.

Bruce Pederson， the managing director of BookCrossing， says， “The two things that change your life are the people you meet and books you read. BookCrossing combines both.”

Members leave books on park benches and buses， in train stations and coffee shops. Whoever finds their book will go to the site and record where they found it.

People who find a book can also leave a journal entry describing what they thought of it. E-mails are then sent to the BookCrossing to keep them updated about where their books have been found. Bruce Pederson says the idea is for people not to be selfish by keeping a book to gather dust on a shelf at home.

BookCrossing is part of a trend among people who want to get back to the “real” and not the virtual （虚拟）. The site now has more than one million members in more than one hundred thirty-five countries.

12. Why does the author mention book groups in Paragraph 1？

A. To explain what they are. B. To introduce BookCrossing.

C. To stress the importance of reading. D. To encourage readers to share their ideas.

13. What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 2 refer to？

A. The book. B. An adventure.

C. A public place. D. The identification number.

14. What will a BookCrosser do with a book after reading it？

A. Meet other readers to discuss it. B. Keep it safe in his bookcase.

C. Pass it on to another reader. D. Mail it back to its owner.

15. What does the text mainly tell us？

A. Online reading offers a virtual tour. B. E-books become a new trend.

C. A book group brings tradition back. D. A website links people through books.

（三）

A

If youre new to San Francisco， paying the city a visit， or simply looking for a new playground for you and your dog， here are four of the finest dog parks in San Francisco.

◆ Corona Heights Dog Park

Often visited by residents from all over the city because of its nearness to the Randall Museum， Corona Heights Dog Park offers pets and owners breathtaking views， after a steep hillside climb， and a fenced dog area that allows dogs to let loose without a leash （鏈条）. Owners will also enjoy the playground， tennis courts and basketball courts.

◆ Dolores Dog Park

The grounds of Dolores Park once served as camps for those who were left homeless by the 1906 earthquake， but now often visited by crowds of Mission District people. Four-legged friends can also wander about carefree off-leash while making friends with other members of the doggie community.

◆ Pine Lake Dog Park

Noteworthy for its place as a rest stop for hundreds of species of birds to fly to and from warmer climates， Pine Lake Park is also prized by city dogs and their owners for their nice hiking paths， the picturesque lake suited for swimming， and an off-leash area on the parks west end that lets dogs run free.

◆ Buena Vista Dog Park

With a history of 146 years， Buena Vista Park is San Franciscos oldest park. Dogs and owners with plus energy will love burning it on this parks steep paths and winding staircases. Dog owners should have good control over their dogs， as its quite easy for dogs to get separated when going through Buena Vistas many twists and turns.

1. Why do dog owners take their pets to Dolores Dog Park？

A. To let them socialize. B. To give them training lessons.

C. To help them lose weight. D. To increase their physical activities.

2. Which dog park is popular with bird lovers？

A. Corona Heights Dog Park. B. Dolores Dog Park.

C. Pine Lake Dog Park. D. Buena Vista Dog Park.

3. What is special about Buena Vista Dog Park？

A. It is suitable for swimming. B. It is close to a museum.

C. Dogs must be on a leash. D. Dogs can go climbing.

B

The very wealthy English Baron Fitzgerald had only one child， a son， who understandably was the apple of his eye. His wife died when the child was in his early teens. So Fitzgerald devoted himself to fathering the kid. Unluckily， the son died in his late teens.

Meanwhile， Fitzgeralds wealth greatly increased. He spent a lot on art works of the masters.

Later Fitzgerald himself became seriously ill. Before his death， he had carefully prepared his will as to how his wealth would be settled—to sell his entire collection at an auction （拍賣）.

Because of the large quantity and high quality of his collection， a huge crowd of possible buyers gathered for the auction. Many of them were museum directors and private collectors eager to bid （出价）. Before the auction， the art works were shown， among which was a painting of Fitzgeralds son by an unknown artist. Because of its poor quality， it received little attention.

When it was time for the auction， the auctioneer gaveled （敲槌） the crowd to attention. First the lawyer read from Fitzgeralds will that the first art work to be auctioned was the painting of his son.

The poor-quality painting didnt receive any bidders… except one—the old servant who had served the son and loved him， and who for emotional reasons offered the only bid.

As soon as the servant bought the painting for less than one English pound， the auctioneer stopped the bidding and asked the lawyer to read again from the will. The crowd became quiet， and the lawyer read from the will， “Whoever buys the painting of my son gets all my collection.” Then the auction was over.

4. What was Baron Fitzgerald？

A. A museum director. B. A lawyer.

C. An art collector. D. An artist.

5. Why did the old servant bid for the painting of Fitzgeralds son？

A. He loved the son. B. He saw that no one bid for it.

C. He knew the content of the will. D. He found it cheap for him to buy.

6. What kind of person was the old servant？

A. Proud. B. Kind. C. Honest. D. Clever.

7. What can be the best title for the text？

A. The Auction B. One Painting for All

C. The Servant at the Auction D. The Wealthy Englishman

C

White chocolate， German chocolate， ice cream： There are hundreds of types of birthday cake in the world， each beautiful in its own sugary way. You are likely to enjoy one during at least one of your birthday parties. But in between delicious bites of cake， have you ever stopped and wondered， “Why am I eating this？ What makes this dessert fit to celebrate the day of my birth？”

Its because you are as important and beloved as the gods. Kind of.

The ancient Egyptians are thought to have “invented” the celebration of birthdays. They believed when pharaohs （法老） were crowned， they became gods， so their coronation （加冕） day was a pretty big deal. That was their “birth” as a god.

Ancient Greeks borrowed the tradition， but realized that a dessert would make the celebration all more meaningful. So they baked moon-shaped cakes to offer up to Artemis， goddess of the moon. They decorated them with lighted candles to make the cakes shine like the moon. Hence， it is the reason why we light candles on our birthday cakes.

Modern birthday parties are said to get their roots from the 18th century German celebration “Kinderfeste”. On the morning of a childs birthday， he or she would receive a cake with lighted candles that added up to the kids age， plus one. This extra candle was called the “light of life”， representing the hope of another full year lived.

And then， torture—because no one could eat the cake until after dinner. The family replaced the candles as they burned out. Finally， when the moment came， the birthday child would make a wish， try to blow out all the candles in one breath， and dig in. Like modern tradition， the birthday girl or boy wouldnt tell anyone the wish so it would come true.

Since the ingredients to make cakes were pretty expensive， this birthday custom didnt become popular until the Industrial Revolution. More ingredients were available， which made them cheaper， and bakeries even started selling pre-baked cakes.

8. Who established the tradition of celebrating birthdays with cakes according to the text？

A. Germans. B. Pharaohs. C. Ancient Greeks. D. Ancient Egyptians.

9. What does the underlined word “torture” in Paragraph 6 mean？

A. Pleasure. B. Replacement. C. Sharing. D. Suffering.

10. Why was the birthday cake custom unpopular before the Industrial Revolution？

A. The transport was inconvenient. B. The ingredients of cakes were expensive.

C. The cake could not be eaten before dinner. D. The bakeries would not sell pre-baked cakes.

11. What is the text mainly about？

A. The origin of birthday cakes. B. The importance of birthday cakes.

C. The history of birthday parties. D. The introduction of cake production.

D

Scientists at the University of Hawaii at Manoa studied a huge area in the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean known as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone， or CCZ to find and study new sea species.

Diva Amon， a researcher at the University says usually deep sea biologists think there is not a lot living in the deep sea.

“But we found that actually there is quite a lot living there， and so that was really exciting...” she says.

The group is studying the area because the CCZ， a huge and flat area of seabed， is known to have valuable minerals. The International Seabed Authority （ISA） is allowing the company UK Seabed Resources Ltd. to explore the area on the Pacific Ocean floor for mining （采矿）. However， the ISA said the company must first complete a biological study of the area before it can begin mining for metals. So， the company employed Amon and her group.

Amon says that more than half of the animals they collected were completely new to science. Her group discovered not only new species， but new genera （屬） of animals.

Biological oceanographer Paul Snelgrove says that finding new species in the deep ocean is common. But， he said， finding a new genus “is really great”.

Amon warns that if mining happens across the whole area， the ecosystem would be largely destroyed. But， she says， we will find the least damaging way to make mining possible.

“There is a sort of scientific push to try and slow things down a bit so that the science can be done before... so it can be done with the least influence possible...” she says.

“Its likely we are going to develop at least some parts of these deep ocean environments and do it in a way thats going to minimize （最小化） our influence，” says Paul.

12. What did scientists try to find out in the CCZ？

A. Whether there is life. B. Whether there are valuable minerals.

C. What sea life exists there. D. What metals lie under the sea floor.

13. What does Paul say about finding new sea species？

A. Its something unusual. B. Its nothing to be surprised at.

C. It has a far-reaching effect on science. D. It proves common species will change.

14. What is Amons attitude towards mining the CCZ？

A. Careful. B. Doubtful. C. Unsupportive. D. Uninterested.

15. What does the underlined word “it” in the last paragraph refer to？

A. Mining. B. A scientific push.

C. Finding the least damaging way. D. Developing the ocean environments.

（四）

A

British Museum

Located in Great Russell Street， London WC1B 3DG， the British Museum houses a vast collection of world art and artifacts and is free to all visitors. The British Museums surprising collection spans over two million years of human history and culture， and it has more than 7 million objects， so it would probably take a week to see everything.

Over 6 million visitors every year experience the collection， including world-famous objects such as the Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies.

Admission （入场费） and opening times

Free， open daily from 10：00 to 17：30.

Open until 20：30 on Fridays， except Good Friday.

Closed on 24， 25 and 26 December and 1 January.

Large luggage （行李）， suitcases and cabin baggage

For everyones safety， all bags， packages and personal items may be searched before entry. Wheeled cases and large items of luggage are not allowed on British Museum for safety and security reasons. Storage for luggage is available at major rail stations， including Euston， Kings Cross and Charing Cross.

Membership

Membership allows you to discover two million years of human history with free unlimited entry to special exhibitions.

Individual （個人） membership： ?74

Under 26 membership： ?54

Young friends （ages 8—15）： ?25

Shops

The Museum has four shops where you can buy books， souvenirs， and family gifts.

1. When can you visit the British Museum？

A. At 9：00 Friday. B. At 12：00 Monday. C. On Christmas Day. D. On Good Friday.

2. Where can visitors store their large luggage？

A. At major train stations. B. At some crossings.

C. In the hall of the Museum. D. At the entrance to the Museum.

3. How much should a father and his 18-year-old son pay to be a member of the Museum？

A. ?79. B. ?99. C. ?128. D. ?148.

B

For her ninth birthday， Marielle Mauri asked for some unusual birthday gifts： soap， shampoo， paper towels， cups， and so on. But Marielle didnt want these presents for herself. She wanted to give them to other people.

At school， Marielles teacher taught， “You cant always be self-centered. You have to be other-centered.” Marielles class had helped collect supplies for a school in Nigeria. But Marielle wanted to do more.

With help from her parents， Marielle researched local charities and found a shelter （收容所） that helps women and children in need. After finding out what supplies the shelter needed， Marielle included a list with each party invitation. Her friends brought shelter supplies instead of birthday presents to Marielles party. People who couldnt come to her party still gave gifts， as did her school. She had so many gifts that they filled her familys truck！ “It was like we were going on vacation，” Marielle said with a smile. “I couldnt even put my bag in there.” She said it was fun to watch the number of donations grow. In the end， she collected $650 in cash donations and more than $1，000 worth of supplies for the shelter.

When Marielle went with her parents to drop off the supplies， people at the shelter surprised her with another birthday party. They had made her a cake and gave her a card signed by everyone at the shelter.

Marielle hopes other children will hear about her special birthday and choose their own charity to support. “I felt really good when I did it，” she said. “Youre not just giving them something; youre helping them with their whole life.”

4. What did Marielle do for her ninth birthday？

A. She invited few people. B. She collected a lot of supplies.

C. She held a party for herself. D. She went on vacation with her parents.

5. Why did Marielle ask for many unusual birthday gifts？

A. To satisfy her own need. B. To show off to her friends.

C. To help a school in Nigeria. D. To support people in need.

6. What happened to Marielle at the shelter？

A. She got a lot of cards. B. Her parents made her a big cake.

C. Her parents gave her a great gift. D. She was surprised by a birthday party.

7. What can be the best title for the text？

A. A Happy Birthday for All B. Poor Life at the Shelter

C. Marielles Big Dream D. Unusual Supplies

C

The mind of an elephant should not be underestimated. They are intelligent animals born with both excellent memory and artistic talent. Elephants eat about 495 pounds of vegetarian food a day. They spend about 16 hours a day eating， but must walk about 4 miles a day in search of food. The average elephant lives about 70 years， and its sharp memory allows it to remember places where it has found food as long as 30 years earlier， even as a baby.

In an elephants travels， it comes across other elephants also looking for food. Some elephants are friendly， and some are not so nice. Elephants remember every elephant they have ever met. They can even recognize an elephant they perhaps havent seen for 30 years. They immediately remember whether this elephant is an enemy or a friend.

When elephants are not searching for food， they sometimes produce art in the sand with their trunks （象鼻）. They seem to enjoy just relaxing and painting in the sand. One day， an elephant zoo-keeper noticed this and gave an elephant a paint brush filled with red paint to see if the elephant would paint on a canvas （畫布）. Sure enough， it did， and since then elephants in most zoos have been given paint brushes， paints， and canvases. The resulting abstract （抽象的） art has been sold for high prices around the world. The money goes to support feeding the elephants in the zoos. Most feel that elephants are only able to paint abstracts. However， they have been trained to paint trees， flowers， and other things in nature. This has enabled us to understand “elephant genius” even more.

8. What does the underlined word “underestimated” in Paragraph 1 mean？

A. Underdeveloped. B. Undervalued. C. Misunderstood. D. Controlled.

9. What can we learn about elephants memory？

A. It can reach as far back as 30 years. B. It is at its best in the first 30 years.

C. It differs greatly among themselves. D. It remains excellent for 70 years.

10. Why did the zoo-keeper give the elephant a brush？

A. To attract visitors to it. B. To train it to paint pictures.

C. To prove it was a born artist. D. To find out whether it could paint.

11. What words can best describe elephants according to the text？

A. Really creative. B. Unusually quiet. C. Very smart. D. Extremely friendly.

D

Meeting people from another culture can be difficult. From the beginning， people may send the wrong signal. Or they may pay no attention to signals from another person who is trying to develop a relationship.

Different cultures emphasize （強调） the importance of relationship building to a greater or lesser degree. For example， business in some countries is not possible until there is a relationship of trust. Even with people at work， it is necessary to spend a lot of time in “small talk”， usually over a glass of tea， before they do any job. In many European countries—like the UK or France—people find it easier to build up a lasting working relationship at restaurants or cafes rather than at the office.

Talk and silence may also be different in some cultures. I once made a speech in Thailand. I had expected my speech to be a success and start a lively discussion; instead there was an uncomfortable silence. The people present just stared at me and smiled. After getting to know their ways better， I realized that they thought I was talking too much. In my own culture， we express meanings mainly through words， but people there sometimes feel too many words are unnecessary.

Even within Northern Europe， cultural differences can cause serious problems. Certainly， English and German cultures share similar values; however， Germans prefer to get down to business more quickly. We think that they are rude. In fact， this is just because one culture starts discussions and makes decisions more quickly.

People from different parts of the world have different values， and sometimes these values are quite against each other. However， if we can understand them better， a multicultural environment will offer a wonderful chance for us to learn from each other.

12. Eating together at restaurants may make it easier for people to ___ .

A. develop closer relations B. share the different culture

C. understand their different ideas better D. keep each other company

13. The author mentions his experience in Thailand to show that ___ .

A. the English prefer to make long speeches B. too many words are of no use

C. Thailand people are quiet and shy by nature D. talk and silence can be culturally different

14. How can people from different cultures understand each other better？

A. By sharing different ways of life. B. By accepting different habits.

C. By understanding their values. D. By speaking each others languages.

15. What is the text mainly about？

A. The multicultural environment. B. Cross-cultural differences.

C. Peoples understanding each other. D. Relationship between people.

（五）

A

Check out some fun weekend activities from our friends at Arizona Parenting.

Walk in the Wild： Walk or run for wildlife at the Phoenix Zoo. Put on your favorite animal dress and take part in the one mile or 5K， enjoying the sights and sounds of the Zoo. Walk in the Wild includes a morning full of unique activities you wont find at any other valley walk， including all-day zoo admission and a lakeside after-party.

Register online. 6 am—10 am. Phoenix Zoo， 455 North Galvin Parkway， Phoenix. 602-286-3800.

Free Museum Day： It is hosted by Sesame Street and HBO at the Childrens Museum of Phoenix. Kids can participate in activities， enjoy a performance by the Sesame Street Muppets and get to join the Everyday Heroes Club. An act of kindness is all it takes to become a member. Performances and activities will take place at 10：30 am—11：30 am and 1：30 pm—2：30 pm.

9 am—4 pm. Childrens Museum of Phoenix， 215 N. 7th Street， Phoenix. 602-253-0501.

Sunday AFair： Sunday AFair features free outdoor concerts in Scottsdale Civic Center Park by top Arizona musicians， along with an arts and crafts market， fun activities for children and families， guided tours of the sculptures in the park and free admission to Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art （SMoCA）. Guests are invited to bring blankets， lawn chairs or picnic baskets， and enjoy a relaxing afternoon of great entertainment. Delicious foods， snacks， beer， wine and soft drinks are also available for purchase.

1 pm—4 pm. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts， 7380 E. 2nd St， Scottsdale. 480-994-2787.

1. What can children do at Walk in the Wild？

A. Join in the 5-mile walk. B. Attend courses for free.

C. Wear animal-shaped clothes. D. Enjoy good company of wild animals.

2. What is needed to join the Everyday Heroes Club？

A. Giving money to the club. B. Doing an act of kindness.

C. Being active in school activities. D. Being ready to help protect wildlife.

3. Where can one go to buy some works of art？

A. The Phoenix Zoo. B. Scottsdale Civic Center Park.

C. The Childrens Museum of Phoenix. D. Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art.

B

I cant remember a time when my bedroom didnt have a bookshelf. From Dr Suess to Mother Goose， I had all kinds of books that progressed in size as I got older.

My earliest memory of books was sitting on my bed at night with my mom reading to my older brother and me from C. S. Lewis， J. R. R. Tolkien， or Madeleine LEngle. And my first beloved book that was all mine was a childrens book about being a chosen child. As an adopted child， this book helped me learn that my family was my very own because they chose me. As I got older， the books got thicker and more difficult. The first set of books I ever bought with my own money was L. M. Montgomerys Anne of Green Gables.

When in elementary school， there was a book catalog （目錄） that would come out. We could take it home and have our parents help us order new books. Then the books would be sent to the school. There was nothing better than getting my little bag of books.

My love for science fiction was deepened by my older brothers love for it. Beyond being the person to introduce me to Star Trek and Doctor Who， it was his copy of The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks that got me really interested in science fiction.

I read classics in high school. The first time I had the thought that I wanted to be a writer was after reading Edgar Allan Poes work. And his use of words floored me. I remember using his word “phantasmagorical” for a senior paper. Yeah， its no wonder I ended up an English major and English teacher passing on my love for the written word and the books students could hold in their hands.

4. What was the authors earliest memory of books？

A. She read some classics by herself. B. She was thirsty for childrens books.

C. Her mother often read to her. D. Her brother often borrowed books for her.

5. After reading her first favorite book， the author ___ .

A. loved her family much more B. hoped to have her own home

C. planned to read more books D. found that she was adopted

6. How did the author feel after getting some books on the book catalog？

A. Lucky. B. Excited. C. Surprised. D. Disappointed.

7. How did the author become interested in science fiction？

A. By copying Terry Brooks works. B. By being introduced to Doctor Who.

C. By talking about it with her brother. D. By reading The Sword of Shannara.

C

Located in northern Manitoba on the west side of Hudson Bay， Churchill is out in the middle of nowhere. But polar bears like it that way. They spend summers on the tundra （苔原） around Churchill. In the fall， they wait anxiously along the shore of Hudson Bay for the ice to form. Then they go out onto the frozen sea to hunt ringed seals—their favorite food. October and November are the best polar bear viewing times. From tundra vehicles， visitors to Churchill observe the bears. Some enjoy day trips or stay overnight on large tundra vehicles that have private cabins and eating facilities. Others stay at a wilderness lodge on the bears migration route to view the energetic creatures. These lodges can be reached only by air and feature good food and living arrangements.

Despite the large number of polar bears that visit Churchill each year， there is growing concern about the animals future. Because the earth is getting warmer， the ice forms later in the year now and disappears sooner in the spring. As a result， polar bears have less time to hunt for seals. Polar bears can also find smaller animals， bird eggs and berries on land， but this kind of food is not enough to support the animals.

Polar bears are also affected by plastic and chemicals that get into the ocean. A research project carried out in northern Europe has found high concentrations of both plastic and chemicals in the tissue （組织） of polar bears. These materials and substances can damage the animals internal organs （内脏器官）， especially when the animals are not yet grown-up. Many people are researching polar bears health. Their goal is to collect the information that is needed to help save these animals.

8. What can we learn about Churchill？

A. Its located in a very remote area. B. Its attracting fewer tourists now.

C. Its surrounded by small towns. D. Its dependent on the oil industry.

9. From Paragraph 2 we can learn the author is worried about ___ .

A. the warming of the earth B. polar bears food in the future

C. polar bears eating habit D. the change of the number of seals

10. What is TRUE about polar bears winter hunting time for seals？

A. Its starting earlier. B. Its becoming longer.

C. Its finishing later. D. Its getting shorter.

11. What does the last paragraph mainly tell us？

A. There is much rubbish in the ocean. B. Scientists are trying to save polar bears.

C. Polar bears are endangered by pollution. D. Pollution can easily kill young polar bears.

D

Parents， youve worked hard to teach the most important life lessons to your little ones. You ask them to say “please” and “thank you”， you remind them to eat with a knife and fork， and you never， ever let them pick their nose in public. But theres one important lesson that you might be forgetting—and its nothing you can cover in a simple conversation.

According to a new study in the journal Science， babies receive more than genetics from their parents. They can also get certain good qualities， such as persistence （堅持不懈）， by watching how adults behave. Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology say that babies who watched an adult struggle with and then triumph over something were more likely to show persistence themselves when given a new task.

The team at MIT studied 262 babies between the ages of 13 and 18 months. They placed them in one of three situations. In the first one， the lead researcher struggled with two different toys problems before solving them， letting the baby watch while she did so. The second time， the researcher solved the problems but did not struggle with them. And for the third scene， she did not do anything.

After each scene， the researcher left a small musical toy with the child. She showed the baby that it could play music but did not teach them how to turn it on. The babies who had watched the researcher struggle discovered and pressed the toys button a much greater number of times than those in the last two groups. In other words， the babies did not copy what they had watched; they learned not to give up， instead.

Now， the researchers are interested in finding which ways of talking with babies influence them the most. They also hope to know if the results can work in the real world， as well as whether the lesson of persistence might last into adulthood.

12. What does the author say parents may fail to do when teaching their kids？

A. Ask their kids to be polite. B. Set an example for their kids.

C. Teach their kids good table manners. D. Use proper words in front of their kids.

13. What does the underlined phrase “triumph over” in Paragraph 2 mean？

A. Succeed in. B. Look at. C. Search for. D. Care for.

14. What did the researchers find out through the study？

A. Babies finished difficult tasks through copying. B. Babies learned the value of persistence.

C. Kids learned most from their parents. D. Kids are smarter than we thought.

15. What would the researchers do according to the last paragraph？

A. Study the influence of society on behaviors. B. Help parents get along with their kids.

C. Put the research results into practice. D. Learn more about babies language.

（六）

A

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Holding a mysterious leather suitcase in his hand， Newt Scamander， a young man with magical powers from England， visits New York while he is on his way to Arizona. Inside his expanding suitcase hides a group of diverse and magical creatures that exist among us， ranging from tiny ones to huge ones.

Director： David Yates Running time： 133 min.

Moana

Moana Waialiki is a sea voyaging enthusiast and the only daughter of a chief in a long line of navigators. When her islands fishermen cant catch any fish and the crops fail， she learns that Maui caused them by stealing the heart of Te Fiti. The only way to heal the island is to persuade Maui to return Te Fitis heart， so Moana sets off on a journey across the Pacific.

Director： Ron Clements Running time： 107 min.

Arrival

When a mysterious spacecraft touches down across the globe， a team led by Louise Banks is brought together to investigate （調查）. As mankind is close to global conflict， Banks and the team race against time for answers. To find them， she will take a chance that could threaten her life and quite possibly humanity.

Director： Denis Villeneuve Running time： 116 min.

Finding Dory

Dory is a wide-eyed， blue tang fish who suffers from memory loss every 10 seconds or so. The one thing she can remember is that she somehow became separated from her parents as a child. With help from her friends Nemo and Marlin， Dory starts an adventure to find them. Her journey brings her to the Marine Life Institute， a room that houses diverse ocean species.

Director： Andrew Stanton Running time： 97 min.

1. Which movie lasts the longest time？

A. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. B. Moana.

C. Arrival. D. Finding Dory.

2. What type of the movie Arrival is？

A. Action movie. B. Cartoon. C. Science Fiction. D. Comedy.

3. Who directs a film about family love？

A. David Yates. B. Ron Clements. C. Denis Villeneuve. D. Andrew Stanton.

B

One day Jack went with his family to eat in a restaurant. They were sitting at a table and waiting for their meal. Suddenly， everyone around them started to cover their noses. Some of them even left their tables and went away.

When Jacks family turned around to see what had caused this， they saw two homeless boys. The boys looked dirty and smelled bad. But both boys were smiling and had beautiful blue eyes. They were looking for someone kind. One of the boys went to the counter and he counted the coins he had. The other boy looked sick and he stood quietly.

The young lady at the counter asked the boy what they wanted. He said， “We only want a cup of coffee.” That was all they could afford. They wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up. It was really cold outside. But to sit inside the restaurant， they had to buy something.

When Jacks mother saw this， she wanted to help the boys. She ordered some more food. Then she went to the two boys table. She put the food on the table. The boys looked up at her and said， “Thank you.” When Jack saw what his mother did， he understood what the unconditional love was. His mother treated those boys kindly. She did not expect anything in return. Now Jack saves his own pocket money and helps homeless people whenever he can.

4. Why did the people leave their table and go away？

A. They had finished their meals. B. They thought the food was terrible.

C. Two boys smelling bad came into the restaurant. D. The service was too slow in the restaurant.

5. Why did the two boys come to the restaurant？

A. To buy some food. B. To warm up. C. To ask for help. D. To enjoy the coffee.

6. What did Jacks mother do？

A. She gave the boys some money. B. She ordered some food for the boys.

C. She let Jack play with the boys. D. She invited the boys to eat with her family.

7. What does the story tell us？

A. We should be polite to others. B. We should treat others kindly.

C. We should save pocket money. D. We should ask for help when in trouble.

C

Chinese cuisine is widely known and enjoyed all around the world. Who doesnt long for a favorite Chinese dish？ But there is one interesting concept concerning Chinese food which is almost unheard in the West， and which is becoming increasingly ignored by the youth of the East—the ancient custom of tonic food.

Tonic food is food which is consumed to improve ones well-being or avoid sickness. For instance， it was once the custom for new mothers to eat a sesame （芝麻） oil hotpot every day for the first month after giving birth. It was believed that this dish would benefit the muscles， reduce pain， improve circulation， stimulate sweating， and warm the body. Some foods， such as goat meat and spinach， are seen as “hot”， while others， such as Chinese cabbage and radishes， are seen as “cold”. One should be careful not to eat too much of either “hot” or “cold” food. However， how much “hot” or “cold” food one should eat depends on the time of the year， how the food is prepared and what it is prepared with， and the individuals health.

The custom of employing tonic food for a healthier life also influences the catering industry. Chinese herbal medicines， such as the wolfberry （枸杞）， can be found on many a restaurant menu， either added to fruit tea or as a beneficial addition to a dish. These herbs attract customers， such as overworked office staff， in need of a modest pick?me-up.

So， whether you need to boost your strength with a large helping of chicken soup， or increase your mental powers with a serving of pig brain soup， you may find that this ancient Chinese custom could be just the tonic you were looking for.

8. What is the present situation of tonic food？

A. It is catching less attention. B. It is enjoyed by many young people.

C. It is well known worldwide. D. It is becoming increasingly popular.

9. What is believed to benefit new mothers？

A. Chinese cabbage. B. Fruit tea. C. Sesame oil hotpot. D. Pig brain soup.

10. What does the underlined word “catering” in Paragraph 3 mean？

A. Medicine. B. Restaurant. C. Education. D. Fashion.

11. What can be a suitable title for the text？

A. The Charm of Chinese Cuisine B. The Popularity of Tonic Food

C. An Introduction to Chinese Tonic Food D. Differences Between Hot Food and Cold Food

D

You probably laugh at something you find funny， but how much do you really know about jokes and humor？ Readers Digest （RD） questioned several experts to give us some facts about them.

RD： Whats the oldest joke in the world？

“We cant know the oldest joke in the world because it would have existed earlier than writing，” says Christie Davies， professor of sociology at the University of Reading in the UK. The oldest joke book thats been found so far is the Greek Philogelos. It dates from the 4th century AD， although the jokes date from an earlier time. According to psychologist Steve Wilson， director of National Humor Month， it contains 265 jokes.

RD： Do some people fail to develop a sense of humor？

Rod Martin， professor of psychology at the Western University in Canada， believes that while everyone is born without a sense of humor， as we develop， humor and laughter begin to appear. “Of course， some children are more serious， quiet， and less likely to laugh frequently， but this doesnt mean they dont have a sense of humor.” And according to Steve Wilson， there are no adults who dont have a sense of humor. “Almost everyone is able to develop a sense of humor， and I teach people how，” he says.

RD： Do people share a sense of humor unique to their own nation？

Sense of humor does differ a lot by country， according to an author named Scott Weems. British humor is thought to be absurd （荒謬的） in nature， while American humor has an aggressive quality. According to a study， Germans are found to find everything funny.

12. What do we know about the oldest joke book？

A. It remains mysterious. B. It was written in Greek.

C. It was found in the UK. D. It contains the oldest jokes.

13. What is Rod Martins idea about peoples sense of humor？

A. Some adults lose it when they grow up. B. Nobody is born with a sense of humor.

C. Childhood is the best time to develop it. D. Children have a poorer sense of humor than adults.

14. What kind of humor has an aggressive feature？

A. British humor. B. German humor. C. Canadian humor. D. American humor.

15. Where can you probably find the text？

A. In a magazine. B. In a research paper. C. In a personal diary. D. In a textbook.

（七）

A

Brownsea Open Air Theatre

DORSET

The only way to this theatre is by boat. Each June volunteers travel there to begin building the set.

“The people do Brownsea for the love of the island，” says BOAT director Denise Mallender. “Were a charity， and we help the work on the island by holding a regular Shakespeare play.”

Visit brownsea-theatre.co.uk for details

Regents Park Open Air Theatre

LONDON

Each summer， almost 140，000 people visit the park to watch one of the four yearly plays. This years plays include J. M. Barries Peter Pan and William Goldings Lord of the Flies.

With the stage and seating both completely uncovered， the actors and the audiences are left at the mercy of the British weather—although this hasnt prevented stars such as Jeremy Irons and Benedict Cumberbatch from performing here.

Visit openairtheatre.org for details

Scarborough Open Air Theatre

SCARBOROUGH

Enjoy the sea air and sights of Europes largest open-air playhouse. The stage and seating are separated by a lake.

“Its a unique place，” says Janet Deacon， area director of Welcome to Yorkshire. The theatre now plays host to concerts by big names such as Elaine Paige and Tom Jones， who are both performing this month.

Visit scarboroughopenairtheatre.com for details

Rutland Open Air Theatre

RUTLAND

This theatre is home to the Stamford Shakespeare Company， who this year celebrate their 39th year of outdoor plays with performances of Romeo and Juliet and Henry V.

In all its years， ROAT has never cancelled a performance because of rain—and although the stage and actors are left open to the weather， the audience can shelter （避雨） in the covered hall.

Visit stamfordshakespeare.co.uk for details

1. What do we know about Regents Park Open Air Theatre？

A. It puts on four plays a year. B. Its actors are big names.

C. It has the same plays on show every year. D. Its stage and seating are separated by a lake.

2. What do BOAT and ROAT have in common？

A. They do Shakespeare plays. B. They are completely uncovered.

C. They have the same history. D. They can be reached only by boat.

3. Which is the largest outdoor theatre in Europe？

A. Rutland Open Air Theatre. B. Brownsea Open Air Theatre.

C. Scarborough Open Air Theatre. D. Regents Park Open Air Theatre.

B

Distance， just like currency， becomes incomprehensible （難懂的） when it reaches large quantities.

So， when outdoor enthusiast and Midwest Mountaineering employee Elizabeth John says she only hiked the nearly 500 miles of the Colorado Trail over a period of six weeks， dont let her fool you. Thats like walking from St. Paul to St. Louis—give or take a few dozen miles—plus thousands upon thousands of feet of altitude.

“Im a gardener， Im a busy-hands person， but busy feet are just as good，” she explains. “I dont meditate （冥想）， but maybe thats the way I think about it—walking as a way to relax.”

John took childhood hikes in the Boundary Waters and caught her case of busy feet while hiking in Alaska as a teenager. With a background in paddling， mountaineering， and backpacking， she found long-distance hiking rewarding， though exhausting.

Since then， thru-hiking—hiking a long-distance trail end-to-end in one hiking season—has gotten friendlier to beginners. John has given up 60-pound packs in favor of a lighter modern backpacking equipment. For her 50th birthday， she decided to fly to Spain and walk close to 500 miles of the Camino de Santiago. The Colorado jaunt， her first solo long-distance hike， followed a few years later.

“Going on a big walk is unreasonable and includes being uncomfortable， wet， hungry， sore， tired， lonely... its challenging，” she says. “Its a leap of faith. But I found the rewards surprising and unexpected， some even waiting for me at home after the trip. There is a rhythm to walking， a physicality and simplicity... a discovery.”

Logging some 4，000 feet of elevation daily， John met many “trail angels” who provided shade， snacks， and sometimes beer at remote points in the wilderness， purely out of the goodness of their hearts. “Youre so excited， because youre in someplace so incredible， and it wasnt easy to get there，” she says. “There was this moment when you love humanity， and youre so proud of people for doing it.”

4. What do we know about Elizabeth John when she was a child？

A. She often worked in her garden. B. She enjoyed swimming in the wild.

C. She got interested in hiking. D. She liked to fool people around her.

5. What is special about thru-hiking？

A. It usually requires light equipment. B. It is done at great speed.

C. It consists of one very long journey. D. It is extremely friendly to beginners.

6. When she walked the Colorado， John ___ .

A. was not experienced in hiking B. went there alone

C. was at a young age D. carried a heavy pack

7. What may “trail angels” do according to the last paragraph？

A. Give hikers a lift down the mountain. B. Guide hikers to some remote points.

C. Share their feelings with passing hikers. D. Prepare some gifts for hikers.

C

Based on a true story， the novel Safe as Houses by Eric Walters is an amazing book. It is about a 13-year-old girl named Elizabeth Hardy who babysits the McBrides children David and Suzie. One rainy， stormy evening they walk home from school. When they arrive home， water floods the backyard， cuts the power and floods roads， which stops Mr and Mrs McBride from coming home. Soon the flooding begins to invade （涌入） the McBrides home and Elizabeth， David， Suzie and their dog Daisy try very hard to escape and survive the flood.

My favorite character is David because I find him very funny and brave， and although he can be stubborn （固执的） and rude at times， he is still a nice and friendly person. As much as I want to be like David I could never be like him. At least， I dont think I could ever do something as brave as he does.

I think Eric Walters does a great job in describing the characters and telling the story. I really feel like this all just happened in front of my eyes. Ever since I started reading Safe as Houses I never wanted to put the book down， and considering I was not a big fan of reading that did not happen very often. Safe as Houses changed my opinion in regard to reading and now I enjoy reading very much.

Eric Walters writing career all started in 1993 when Eric was teaching a grade 5 class. His students were not good readers and did not like reading， so Eric created a book called Stand Your Ground for his students and used some of the students names to create the story. Ever since Eric published that book he has become a big time writer and has published many amazing different books like Camp X， Tiger Trap， Camp 30， We All Fall Down and Flyboy.

8. What happened on that particular evening？

A. A 13-year-old got lost.

B. A terrible rainstorm broke out.

C. Three kids were stopped from going home by floods.

D. The McBrides home was completely destroyed by floods.

9. What does the author like about David？

A. His creativity. B. His great skill. C. His personality. D. His good behavior.

10. What can we learn about the author？

A. He is a man full of courage. B. He used to enjoy reading very much.

C. He is very like David in Safe as Houses. D. He has been greatly affected by Safe as Houses.

11. Why did Eric write Stand Your Ground？

A. To record his students stories. B. To encourage his students to read.

C. To state the importance of reading. D. To teach his students they can be writers.

D

Birds have been observed to sleep while in flight for the first time ever. Because of some flights that can often last several days， weeks， or even longer， some sea birds have long been thought to be able to fall fully asleep while “on the wing”， though it was not proven.

Now researchers say they have evidence which shows birds can sleep in flight. Scientists from Max Planck Institute used a sample （抽樣） of 15 adult female frigatebirds to test the sleep patterns. Each bird had a small electroencephalogram （EEG） sensor （传感器） fitted to record changes in the animals brain activity as they flew for up to 10 days and over 3，000 kilometers.

The readings showed that during flight the birds could sleep using one hemisphere of the brain， or both together. It was known that frigatebirds could sleep with one “half” of the brain， which allows them to keep one eye open and “connected” to the awake half.

According to the research， it is sleeping technique used by birds for finding directions. “Frigatebirds sleep mostly while circling in rising air and keep the eye connected to the awake hemisphere facing the direction of flight， suggesting that they watch where they are going，” says the study.

Despite the ability to fall “fully” asleep， the birds were found to do it less in the air compared to on land. They slept “very little and less deeply” while in flight. This suggests that though it is possible， falling totally asleep is not very good during flight which will need the birds attention.

The researchers said the short sleep could be serving as “power naps” to keep the birds going until they return to land. Further study could help us understand why lack of sleep affects humans so badly.

12. What does the underlined phrase “on the wing” in Paragraph 1 mean？

A. Sleeping. B. Fighting. C. Flying. D. Thinking.

13. Why did the researchers fit the frigatebirds with EEG sensors？

A. To know about animals brain activity. B. To get some of the good samples.

C. To help the birds fly much longer. D. To make the birds find directions more easily.

14. How do the sleeping birds find the direction？

A. They sleep with their eyes open. B. They have light sleep when flying.

C. They pay special attention to the way they travel. D. They keep one eye connected to the awake part.

15. What can be the best title for the text？

A. A Study on Birds in Flight B. Birds Can Sleep in Flight

C. Flying Birds Brain Activity D. Sleep with Half of the Brain

（八）

A

Keeping the kids busy over the school holidays can be discouraging and cost parents a lot. But weve found some cheap and cheerful ways to enjoy family time this Easter from free days out to fun-filled theme parks which wont cost us much. Weve done the homework so you can get started on having a great time.

Theme Parks

◆ Save from 10% to 25% off the price of tickets for Legoland in Windsor by booking in advance online. A family of four can save up to ?45.90 on a one-day ticket， paying ?137.70.

◆ Book seven days in advance and save ?43 off the price of a family of four ticket for Drayton Manor Theme Park. Call 0844-472-1950 or book online and youll pay ?65 on the day.

◆ You can pick up a family of four ticket for a day at Alton Towers in Staffordshire for ?43.80 off the day price.

◆ Save ?16 off the price for a family trip to The Making of Harry Potter by buying a family ticket （two adults and two children） online. Family of four ?101， compared to ?117.

Activities

Students looking for a cut-price trip to see the animals can save 15% off the ticket price at Bristol Zoo and pay ?12.71 rather than the full adult price ?14.53. Teens should show their identity as students.

Freebies

Let your kids discover what its like to be an animal on the African Plain or in the ocean. Or， they can learn to love leaf beetles or become a scientist for the day at the Natural History Museum in London.

1. In which theme park can visitors save most this Easter？

A. Drayton Manor Theme Park. B. The Making of Harry Potter.

C. Legoland in Windsor. D. Alton Towers in Staffordshire.

2. What is a must for enjoying a cut-price trip at Bristol Zoo？

A. Parents company names. B. Student ID card.

C. Driving license. D. Age under 16.

3. What is the purpose of the text？

A. To show some funny activities. B. To introduce some places of interest.

C. To show how to enjoy a cut-price trip. D. To introduce some ways to enjoy family time.

B

When I was nine years old， I loved to go fishing with my dad. But the only thing that wasnt very fun about it was that I couldnt catch anything. I usually got pretty upset and kept asking him why. He always answered， “Son， if you want to catch a fish， you have to think like a fish.” I remember being even more upset then because I didnt know how to think like a fish. Besides， I reasoned， how could what I think influence what a fish does.

As I got a little older I began to understand what my dad really meant. So， I read some books on fish. And I even joined the local fishing club and started attending the monthly meetings. I learned that a fish is a cold-blooded animal and therefore is very sensitive to water temperature. That is why fish prefer shallow water to deep water because the former is warmer. Besides， water is usually warmer in direct sunlight than in the shade. Yet， fish dont have any eyelids （眼皮） and the sun hurts their eyes... The more I understood fish， the more I became effective at finding and catching them.

When I grew up and entered the business world， I remember hearing my first boss say， “We all need to think like sales people.” But it didnt completely make sense. My dad never once said， “If you want to catch a fish you need to think like a fisherman.” What he said was， “You need to think like a fish.” Years later， with great efforts to promote long-term services to people much older and richer than me， I gradually learned what we all need is to think more like customers. It is not an easy job. I will show you how in the following chapters.

4. Why was the author upset about fishing when he was nine？

A. He could not catch a fish. B. His father was not patient with him.

C. His father did not teach him to fish. D. He could not influence a fish as his father did.

5. According to the author， fish are most likely to be found ___ .

A. in deep water on sunny days B. in deep water on cloudy days

C. in shallow water under sunlight D. in shallow water under waterside trees

6. After entering the business world， the author found ___ .

A. it easy to think like a customer B. his fathers fishing advice inspiring

C. his first bosss sales ideas reasonable D. it difficult to sell services to poor people

7. Where does the text probably come from？

A. A fishing guide. B. A popular sales book.

C. A novel on childhood. D. A book about rich people.

C

The best colors for advertising are those that make people comfortable or stimulate （激發） their senses; knowing which color does that depends on what is being advertised. In general， color schemes （调配） contain three kinds： warm， cool and black and white.

Warm Colors

Bright red， orange， and yellow are warm colors， and they stimulate excitement. In fact， all advertisements and menus of fast food chains feature these colors. Warm colors are some of the best colors for advertising food as they are known to increase the appetite （食欲）.

A color scheme that includes warm colors also encourages people to stay longer. These colors stimulate warmth and comfort， and when people relax over dinner， they are more likely to enjoy a dessert or a cup of coffee， thus spending more money.

Cool Colors

Besides knowledge and understanding， some shades of blue are also associated with quiet. As a result， blue can actually slow a persons heart rate and reduce appetite， which is why its not often chosen for restaurant advertising. On the other hand， blue is one of the best colors for advertising medicine and other health products. Light blue can have a calming effect on people and it is most often linked with health and healing. However， it has been debated whether or not blue is one of the best colors for advertising online. Some people think it does not catch the readers attention fast enough or often enough.

Black and White

Black and white can be two of the best colors for advertising because they create a strong contrast when paired together. Black and white often indicate opposite emotions： white is often linked with purity and perfection， while black usually represents power， elegance， or evil. When used together， however， black and white can create a sense that a company is highly professional.

8. How can warm colors influence customers in a restaurant？

A. By making them eat faster. B. By encouraging them to eat more.

C. By stimulating their interest in drinking. D. By helping them to make a better food choice.

9. Why do some people disagree to use cool colors for advertising online？

A. They are reminders of medicine. B. They are disliked by most people.

C. They are linked with health and healing. D. They cant easily catch peoples eyes.

10. Why are black and white considered as two of the best colors for advertising？

A. They are peoples favorite colors. B. They are pure and perfect colors.

C. They make people think highly of the products. D. They usually stand for power.

11. What is the text mainly about？

A. The best colors for advertising. B. The effect of colors on people.

C. The reasons for the choice of colors. D. The colors being liked and disliked.

D

There is a new kind of glasses that permits people considered legally blind to see again. The company eSight invented them. A camera is set in the middle of the glasses; it catches video pictures of whatever is before it. The computer in the glasses immediately deals with the video and shows it on two screens in front of the users eyes. The video is improved by the glasses technology so that the user is able to see the picture.

The glasses themselves also focus very quickly between short， middle and long distance vision （視力）. This makes the user move easily from reading a book， to watching TV or to looking out of a window.

Jeffrey Fenton says users of the glasses can see things almost as if their eyes were good. The glasses are almost bombarding the eyes with so much information to send to the brain through the eyes that they can present them “with a picture that is pretty much what you would see or I would see”.

Users are advised to take time to get used to the glasses. In the beginning， they should wear them just a few hours at a time while their eyes adjust （适应）.

The eSight glasses are expensive. But， user Julissa Marquez says the cost was worth it. Marquez lost most of her eyesight from an attack. After more than ten operations she was left with about 30 percent vision in one eye. Through the eSight glasses， however， she says her eyesight is “amazing”. “I get to see my son. I am going to see him graduate. That is something huge for me because I love my child. He is my world.”

12. What is Paragraph 1 mainly about？

A. How the electronic glasses work. B. What video pictures the glasses provide.

C. How far a person with the glasses can see. D. What role the computer plays in the glasses.

13. What does the underlined word “bombarding” in Paragraph 3 mean？

A. Protecting. B. Improving. C. Providing. D. Covering.

14. What should users keep in mind in getting used to the glasses？

A. Adjusting them every few hours a day. B. Wearing them several hours each time.

C. Washing them frequently to keep them clean. D. Not using them while looking in the distance.

15. What can we learn about Julissa？

A. She thought highly of the new glasses. B. She expected her son to have a better sight.

C. She couldnt stand the pain of being blind. D. She lost her eyesight in an operation accidentally.

（九）

A

If you want to know the world， you must know famous global media. Here are four well-known ones recommended to help you learn about world affairs without leaving home.

The Sun （http：//www.thesun.co.uk）

The Sun is a popular newspaper owned by News Corporation founded by Keith Rupert Murdoch. It is filled with the jokes about heads of state and major events both inside and outside Britain such as mayors trousers not being tied properly， politicians sleeping during conferences and so on. Its lively and popular style just meets the taste of the general public. Now its annual circulation （發行量） has reached 23，100，000 copies.

Daily Mail （http：//www.dailymail.co.uk）

Daily Mail， compared to The Sun， is a little more serious. Reading the Daily Mail can not only understand major political and economic events， but also read some relaxing and helpful contents. Well-known for female favorite topics， it is extremely popular with middle-class housewives. Now its annual circulation has come to 20，930，000 copies.

The Onion （http：//www.theonion.com）

The Onion is the most popular satirical （讽刺的） magazine in the United States with a circulation of 6，900，000 copies a year， covering domestic， foreign and local news and including entertaining newspapers and websites. Most onion readers are between 18 and 44 years old.

The New Yorker （https：//www.newyorker.com）

The New Yorker is a comprehensive magazine of America. It focuses on non-fiction， including reports and comments on politics， international affairs， popular culture， art， science， technology and business. It also publishes literary works， but mainly short stories and poems， as well as humorous sketches （小品） and its unique style of the New Yorker cartoons. Its annual circulation adds up to 10，209，000 copies.

1. Which medium has the largest annual circulation？

A. The Sun. B. Daily Mail. C. The New Yorker. D. The Onion.

2. Who could most probably be the readers of Daily Mail？

A. Young people. B. Middle-class women. C. Lower classes. D. Politicians.

3. Which topic is least likely to be published in The New Yorker？

A. A poem. B. A short story. C. A humorous sketch. D. A novel.

B

I was on my school campus the other day， and there was an ice cream truck parked right in front of the main common areas of the school. I had never thought an ice cream truck would circle our campus and come for us， overgrown kids. I was intrigued and wanted to investigate （调查） further.

I was quite surprised when the man in the truck called out， “Free ice cream！”

I questioned him just to make sure of his words， saying， “Im sorry， what did you say？”

“Free ice cream. You have your choice of these four frozen treats： the rocket pop， the chocolate eclair， the strawberry shortcake， or the drumstick.”

After I was certain that the man was just giving away free ice cream， I talked with him for a while. He told me that his dream had always been to travel around giving away ice cream， and thats exactly what he did. And his passion was expressed through using up all his credit cards， sleeping in his truck， and living with his mother in a small flat， so he could continue to follow his dream during hard times. Now， he has sponsorships （贊助） from large companies such as Levis to do what he loves， and hes gifted 125，000 of his truckload of ice cream treats！

The man said he wanted to encourage people to do exactly what their hearts tell them to do with their lives. I kept asking him with respect， “So your dream was just to drive around and give away ice cream？ It seems like a very unusual goal.”

“Yes， just meeting people and making them smile，” he replied.

4. What does the underlined word “intrigued” in Paragraph 1 mean？

A. Shocked. B. Interested. C. Pleased. D. Worried.

5. What can we learn about the ice cream man from the text？

A. He had a lot of dreams. B. He didnt live a rich life.

C. He was too busy to look after his mother. D. He had been traveled to many places.

6. What does the author think of the ice cream man？

A. Respectable. B. Strange. C. Patient. D. Funny.

7. What can be the best title for the text？

A. The Taste of Ice Cream B. A Great Ice Cream Inventor

C. A Special Way of Selling Ice Cream D. A Traveling Truck Sending Sweetness

C

Japan is starting to experiment with self-driving buses in rural communities， such as the town of Nishikata， where the elderly are living a hard life because of fewer bus and taxi services as the population ages and becomes smaller.

The advance of the self-driving technology is making cities such as Paris and Singapore experiment with such services， which could prove important in Japan， where populations are not only graying， but becoming smaller， in rural areas.

Japan could start the self-driving services for communities that are far from cities， if the experiments begun prove successful.

The government plans to turn highway rest stops into centers from which to drive the elderly to medical and banking services.

“Smaller towns in Japan are graying even faster than cities， and there are just not enough workers to drive buses and taxis，” said Hiroshi Nakajima of mobile gaming software maker DeNA Co.

In the initial （最初的） experiments， the elderly of Nishikata were sent from a service area to some organizations providing healthcare services.

“I worry about not being able to go out when Im no longer able to drive，” said one test rider， Shizu Yuzawa， adding that she would be open to using such services.

The test also checked the vehicles safety in road conditions， and if those crossing its path would react to the warning it gives.

The ride， at a speed of about 10 kilometers per hour， felt comfortable and safe， said test taker Mieko Shimazaki， 71， but her 72-year-old husband， Susumu， said， “Self-driving cars could be useful in the future， but Id like to see them go faster， at least at 40 kilometers per hour.”

8. Why are self-driving buses appearing in Nishikata？

A. Nobody there can drive a bus. B. Its population is aging and falling.

C. People there welcome new things. D. People there can hardly afford cars.

9. What does the government plan to do？

A. Provide healthcare services. B. Train more bus and taxi drivers.

C. Produce more and more driverless cars. D. Set up centers for picking up passengers.

10. What was Shizu Yuzawas attitude towards the self-driving services？

A. She was in favor of them. B. She was doubtful about them.

C. She was uninterested in them. D. She was strongly against them.

11. What can be improved about self-driving buses according to Susumu？

A. The space. B. The safety. C. The speed. D. The price.

D

One part of the world is still largely unexplored. It is the deep sea. Over the years， many people have explored under the sea. But the first deep-sea divers wanted to find sunken treasure （珍寶）. They werent really interested in studying the creatures of life there. Only recently have they begun to learn some of the mysteries of the sea.

Its not easy to explore the deep sea. A diver must have a way of breathing underwater. He must be able to protect himself from great pressure. The pressure of air is about 15 pounds on every square inch. But the pressure of water is about 1，300 pounds on every square inch！

The first diving suits were made of rubber. They had a metal helmet （头盔） with windows in it. The shoes were made of lead （铅） and weighed twenty pounds each！ These suits let divers go down a few hundred feet， but they were no good for exploring the very deep waters. With a metal diving suit， a diver could go down 700 feet. Metal suits were first used in the 1930s.

In 1927， a diver named William Beebe wanted to explore deeper than anyone had ever gone before. He was not interested in finding treasure. He wanted to study the creatures and plants of the sea. His friend invented a metal ball called the Bathysphere. It weighed more than 5，000 pounds， but in it Beebe went down 3，028 feet. He saw many things that had never been seen by humans before.

12. What did the first deep-sea explorers hope to do？

A. Learn about the animals and plants of the sea. B. Solve some mysteries about the sea.

C. Have an exciting trip in the sea. D. Discover treasure under the sea.

13. According to the text， what makes deep-sea diving difficult？

A. The pressure of the water. B. The temperature of the water.

C. The dangerous sea creatures. D. The heavy breathing equipment.

14. Compared with rubber diving suits， metal ones ___ .

A. had windows in the metal helmet B. weighed twenty more pounds

C. were good for exploring deeper waters D. began to be used much earlier

15. What can we learn about William Beebe from the text？

A. He broke the diving record in his time. B. He failed to find the treasure he wanted.

C. He met something terrible under the sea. D. He was the first diver to explore the deep sea.

（十）

A

LEGOLAND California

LEGOLAND California has over 60 rides and attractions for kids ages 2—12. LEGOLAND California is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the school year and closes between 5 and 6 pm on other days. The least crowded days are during school weekdays. The largest selection （可供选择的事物） of LEGOs in the nation is located at LEGOLAND California.

LEGOLAND California has rides that are great for any kids ages 2—12.

·For the youngest children： The rides and attractions at LEGOLAND California that have no height requirements for two-year-olds are： The LEGOLAND Express， Playtown， Explore Village， Coast Cruise & The Lake， LEGO Club House & Factory Tours.

·Rides & activities for the older kids： Fun Town， Treasure Falls， Imagination Zone.

·For the parents： The LEGOLAND San Diego Coast Cruise is a great way to see the wonderful creations made out of LEGOs and is sure to amaze kids and adults alike！

If you find yourself loving LEGOLAND California， why not spend another day？ The great news is if you stop by Guest Services before leaving the park on your first day， you can buy an upgrade that will give you your second day at a much lower price！ It will be ten dollars more per person to get the LEGOLAND California Park Hopper ticket， but it is worth it！ Not only do you get all of the fun LEGO rides of LEGOLAND itself， but you and the kids can enjoy the Water Park as well. As LEGOLAND California is for children， it is a non-smoking park. The rides are pretty small here; teenagers will find it harder to enjoy LEGOLAND California.

1. What is special about LEGOLAND California？

A. It is kid-friendly. B. It is open all year round.

C. It usually closes up late at night. D. It has the largest LEGO shop worldwide.

2. Which of the following rides is for adults？

A. Fun Town. B. Explore Village.

C. LEGO Club House & Factory Tours. D. The LEGOLAND San Diego Coast Cruise.

3. What can you learn about LEGOLAND California？

A. All tickets include its Water Park. B. Some rides sell at a reduced price.

C. Smoking is not allowed there. D. It doesnt offer small rides.

B

Emmy Combs， 17， lost her hair as a young girl due to the autoimmune disorder， a disease which caused complete loss of hair all over her body. From the age of five until she was 16， Emmy wore bandanas （花綢巾） to cover her head.

But in May last year， she made the decision to stop wearing them. Emmy admitted that taking her bandana off for the first time was a fearful experience， but her close friends and family stuck by her. “It was time to try new things and I have always wanted to grow out of wearing bandanas，” Emmy said. “My friends and family pushed me to go through with it and Im glad that they did. Even though it does not seem that hard to do， it was one of the hardest things that I have ever done. It was stressful， but I had my friends and family by my side the entire time.”

“I have always been a confident person to others and myself. I was at a very young age when it happened， however， over the many years of growing up with it the reaction I usually get from people ranges from just curiosity and kind， generous comments （議论）. Sometimes I will get an occasional rude-sounding comment， but I have never let it get to me.”

Emmy taught herself how to use make-up to improve her natural features and replace the ones shes missing， such as eyebrows and lashes. She shares her make-up looks on her blog and is committed to helping others be confident with their appearance.

“I have learned over the past 17 years of my life that you control how you want to live your life. You choose the lifestyle that makes you happy，” she said.

4. How did Emmy feel when she decided to show her hairless head？

A. Confident. B. Nervous. C. Light-hearted. D. Embarrassed.

5. What did Emmy do towards unkind comments on her hairless head？

A. She was angry. B. She talked back.

C. She paid no attention to them. D. She felt deeply hurt.

6. Why did Emmy show her make-up looks on her blog？

A. To show her beauty. B. To show her courage.

C. To share her make-up skills. D. To inspire others.

7. What life lesson has Emmy learnt？

A. One should follow his heart. B. One should accept what it is.

C. One should develop himself to the fullest. D. One should face challenges bravely.

C

Along the river banks of the Amazon and the Orinoco there lives a bird that swims before it can fly， flies like a fat chicken， eats green leaves， has the stomach of a cow and has claws on its wings when young. It builds its home about 4.6m above the river， an important feature for the safety of the young. It is called the hoatzin.

In appearance， the birds of both sexes look very much alike with brown on the back and cream and red on the underside. The head is small， with a large set of feathers on the top， bright red eyes， and blue skin. Its nearest relatives are the common birds， cuckoos. Its most striking feature， though， is only found in the young.

Baby hoatzins have a claw on the leading edge of each wing and another at the end of each wing tip. Using these four claws， together with the beak （喙）， they can climb about in the bushes， looking very much like primitive （原始的） birds must have done. When the young hoatzins have learned to fly， they lose their claws.

During the drier months between December and March， hoatzins fly about the forest in groups of 20 to 30 birds， but in April， when the rainy season begins， they collect together in smaller living units of 2 to 7 birds for producing purposes.

8. What is the difference of young hoatzins from their parents？

A. They look like young cuckoos. B. They have claws on the wings.

C. They live on river banks. D. They eat a lot like a cow.

9. What can we learn about primitive birds from the text？

A. They could fly long distances. B. They had four wings like hoatzins.

C. They had claws to help them climb. D. They had a head with long feathers on the top.

10. Why do hoatzins collect together in smaller groups when the rainy season comes？

A. To find more food. B. To produce their young.

C. To keep themselves warm. D. To protect themselves better.

11. What is the text mainly about？

A. Hoatzins in dry and rainy seasons. B. The living environment of hoatzins.

C. Primitive birds and hoatzins of the Amazon. D. The appearance and living habits of hoatzins.

D

Around the world， support is growing for electric cars. Car makers are producing more electric cars with a longer range （距離） and lower prices. Some European countries plan to be all-electric by 2040 or sooner. However， there are a lot of difficulties， including one practical consideration for customers： If they buy electric cars， where will they charge them？

Public charging stations are not built evenly （均匀地） around the world. Places with lots of support from governments， like China and the Netherlands have thousands of public charging stations. But in many places， there are not many public chargers. Thats a problem for people who need to drive further than the 200 miles or so that most electric cars can travel.

This situation worries many potential electric car owners. “If I cant charge， theres no way for me to have an electric car as my primary transportation，” said Solie， who works far from his home.

Mr Romano， the CEO of ChargePoint， said workplaces should have around 2.5 chargers for every employee and stores need one for every 20 electric cars. “Highways need one every 50 to 75 miles，” he said.

Luckily， car makers and governments are pushing to fill the gaps （差距）. The number of chargers grew by 72 percent to more than 322，000 last year， the International Energy Agency said. BMW， Daimler， Volkswagen， and Ford are building 400 fast-charging stations in Europe.

But there are pitfalls. There are different types of charging stations， and no one knows the exact mix drivers will finally need. A store might spend $5，000 for a charger， which provides a car with 5 to 15 miles of range in 30 minutes. But once most cars get 200 or 300 miles per charge， slow chargers are less necessary.

12. What prevents customers from buying electric cars？

A. The long-time charging. B. The power problem.

C. The safety problem. D. The price.

13. What is Solies attitude towards buying electric cars？

A. Doubtful. B. Hopeful. C. Supportive. D. Uninterested.

14. What can we learn from Mr Romanos words？

A. There is a great need for chargers. B. The government should take action.

C. Car makers will have a bright future. D. Electric cars are becoming less popular.

15. What does the underlined word “pitfalls” in the last paragraph mean？

A. Dangers. B. Problems. C. Advantages. D. Achievements.