Winter begins in the north on December 22nd. People and animals have been doing what they always do to prepare for the colder months. Squirrels(松鼠), for example, have been busy gathering nuts from trees. Well, scientists have been busy gathering information about what the squirrels do with the food they collect.
They examined differences between red squirrels and gray squirrels in the American state of Indiana. The scientists wanted to show how these differences could affect the growth of black walnut(黑胡桃)trees. The black walnuts is the nut of choice for both kinds of squirrels. The black walnut tree is also a central part of some hardwood forests.
Rob Swihart of Purdue University did the study with Jake Goheen, a former Purdue student now at the University of New Mexico. The two researches estimate(估计)that several times as many walnuts grow when gathered by gray squirrels as compared to red squirrels. Gray squirrels and red squirrels do not store nuts and seeds in the same way. Gray squirrels bury nuts one at a time in a number of places. But they seldom remember where they buried every nut. So some nuts remain in the ground. Conditions are right for them to develop and grow the following spring. Red squirrels, however, store large groups of nuts above ground. Professor Swihart calls "death traps for seeds".
Gray squirrels are native to Indiana. But Professor Swihart says their numbers began to decrease as more forests were cut for agriculture. Red squirrels began to spread through the state during the past century.
The researchers say red squirrels are native to forests that stay green all year, unlike walnut trees. They say the cleaning of forest land for agriculture has helped red squirrels invade Indiana. Jake Goheen calls them a sign of an environmental problem more than a cause.
1.The study done by Rob Swihart and Jake Goheen is to ____ .
A. Find out how squirrels collect walnuts
B. Learn squirrels' influence on black walnut trees
C. Do something to get rid of squirrels
D. Save the forests in the American state of Indiana
2.The difference between gray squirrels and red squirrels lies in ____.
A. The way they gather the walnut B. The time they have winter sleep
C. The place they have winter sleep D. The place they store the walnuts
3.What could be inferred from this text?
A. Agricultural in Indiana has been well developed
B. Gray squirrels will be replaced by red squirrels in Indiana.
C. The spread of red squirrels will do harm to walnuts trees in Indiana
D. The government will take some measures to protect black walnut trees.
There is an English saying: "Laughter is best medicine." Until recently, few people took the saying seriously. Now, however, doctors have begun to look into laughter and the effects it has on the human body. They have found that laughter really can improve people's health.
Tests were carried out to study the effects of laughter on the body. People watched funny films while doctors checked their heart, blood pressure, breathing and muscles. It was found that laughter has similar effects to physical exercises. It increases blood pressure, the heart beating and breathing. It also works several groups of muscles in the face, the stomach, and even the feet. If laughter exercises the body, it must be beneficial.
Other tests have shown that laughter appears to be able to reduce the effect of pain on the body. In one experiment doctors produced pain in groups of students who listened to different radio programs. The group that tolerated(忍受) the pain for the longest time was the groups which listened to a funny program. The reason why laughter can reduce pain seems to be that it helps to produce a kind of chemicals in the brain which diminish both stress and pain.
As a result of these discoveries, some doctors in the United States now hold laughter clinics, in which they help to improve their patients' condition by encouraging them to laugh. They have found that even if their patients do not really feel like laughing, making them smile is enough to produce beneficial(有益的)effects similar to those who are caused by laughter.
1.The main idea of the passage is ____________.
A. laughter and physical exercises have similar effects.
B. smile can produce the same effects as laughter
C. pain can be reduced by laughter
D. laughter is best medicine
2.The underlined word "diminish" is similar to____________.
A. test B. stop C. reduce D. increase
3.Doctors hold laughter clinics _____________.
A. to give better condition to their patients
B. in order to improve patients' health
C. to make patients smile all the time
D. to prove smile and laughter have the same effect
In America, when the eighth graders leave the middle school, they are often worried about moving to the high school. It is a hard time for them, but it can be an exciting one as well. To make it easier, students need to get familiar with their school.
Even though they’ve done this already in the middle school, it’s still important to find where their classrooms are. Most schools take students to the high school for a visit at the end of their eighth grade year. And, most schools also have a freshman (新生) speech for parents and students before the first year begins. Sometimes the main office will give away a map of the school. This can help students and parents to find different places in the school.
One way to know your high school more and make new friends is to join a club or play a sport. Schools often offer chances to join different clubs and sports. Fall activities begin in August before the first day of school. If you are not interested in sports, there are clubs for any interest, such as drama, dance, chess, photography, community service, etc. These clubs allow students from different grades. By joining an activity, students can find new friendships, not to mention improving their chances in future college applications (申请). The school office will have a list of activities offered at the school and information on how to join them.
What’s more, to have a great start to a high school year, students can write down some of their worries, and ask for help from teachers and school workers.
1.According to the text, most students feel ________ when entering the high school.
A. excited B. nervous C. lonely D. disappointed
2.Which of the following is TRUE about the school clubs?
A. There are fewer students from higher grades in the school clubs.
B. The school clubs in high school only welcome sports fans.
C. Summer activities begin before school starts.
D. The school office can help new students join school clubs.
3.When do many schools take students to visit their new high school?
A. Before the eighth grade year starts.
B. Right after the high school year starts.
C. At the end of their eighth grade year
D. At the beginning of the new term in the high school.
4.What is the purpose of this text?
A. To tell the new students how to learn in high school B. To introduce new schools
C. To give the teachers some advice D. To give advice to new high school students
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.Which is the best season to visit the park?
A. Spring. B. Summer. C. Winter.
2.What will the tourists do in the morning?
A. Go boating. B. Go fishing. C. Visit the valley.
3.What is the best-loved activity in the park?
A. Having a picnic. B. Fishing. C. Boating.
4.How will the tourists get to the entrance of the valley?
A. On foot. B. By bus. C. By bike.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What was the man doing?
A. Looking at an interesting picture.
B. Watching a funny video.
C. Reporting a nice story.
2.What happened to the news reporter?
A. He hit a big tree. B. He had a car accident.
C. He was attacked by bees.
3.What’s the weather like today?
A. Sunny. B. Windy. C. Cloudy.
4.What will the man do next?
A. Listen to the music. B. Surf the website. C. Go to the park.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.When will the next course start?
A. Next Monday. B. Next Friday. C. Next Saturday.
2.How many students are there in the class usually?
A. 6. B. 9. C. 15.
3.When does the school open on weekends?
A. At 7:00 a.m.. B. At 8:00 a.m.. C. At 9:00 a.m..
