Each year, about 7 million tons of trash...

    All countries have their own characteristics that make them stand out. One thing that visitors to the UK always notice is how good British people are at waiting, especially in queues. Everywhere in the UK, it’s common to see queues. People wait in long lines at bus stops, in shops and in cinemas.

Speaking to BBC News, Kate Bradley, a lecturer at the University of Kent, explained that queuing in the UK isn’t simply about having goodwill toward other people. Indeed, British people also like everything to be in perfect order, so being shouted at for skipping ahead of someone in a line is something that most British try to avoid.

The British obsession (痴迷) with queuing goes back to World War II. When the amount of food that people are allowed to have is limited by the government due to wartime, people had to wait in line to get important goods in shops, particularly food. The government at the time was worried that trouble and disorder would break out, so it made a point of telling people that queuing was civilized and a British thing to do. And that message is still alive today.

There’s probably only one factor that will affect a Briton’s willingness to stand patiently in line — the weather, which can change quite quickly in the UK. One minute it can be fine and sunny, and the next it can be wet and windy. If people are queuing in bad weather, their main hope is that the bus arrives soon, or the people in front of them waiting to use the ATM give up and decide to leave.

But if the weather is good, queuing can be fun. Although people are waiting, they may be excited about the thing they’re waiting for. There’s an air of expectation when people are standing in line for a pop concert, for example. This can create a great atmosphere, which can make queuing for something an enjoyable experience all of its own.

1.What do the most British people try to avoid?

A.Cutting in a line.

B.Waiting in long lines.

C.Behaving badly in public.

D.Having goodwill towards other people.

2.Why did the British people wait in line during World War II?

A.They loved to queue to kill time.

B.They thought of waiting in line as a tradition.

C.They wanted to get their important goods in shops.

D.They wanted to leave a good impression on others.

3.What can prevent the British from standing in line patiently?

A.The weather. B.The time.

C.The mood. D.The war.

4.In which of the following cases do the British enjoy queuing?

A.They wait for the bus on a rainy day.

B.They wait to use the ATM in bad weather.

C.They go to the restaurant on a windy day.

D.They go to the concert with friends on a sunny day.

    It’s summer, and school-aged kids are finding all kinds of ways to have fun, from a trip to the pool or playground to playing games with smart phones. As a result, they are also forgetting some of what they learned in school, a phenomenon (现象) called “summer slide”. Fortunately, summer slide can be prevented with just a little regular practice of fun.

Encourage reading every day. Make a special event out of a trip to the public library, and let your kids pick out whatever interests them. Give your kids a special treat for every book they finish. Help them set up a reading corner in their room that’s quiet, comfortable and free of various electronic distractions. Best of all, give them the gift of your own example as an enthusiastic reader.

Another way to make reading fun is to share a poem together. Poems by writers like Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein and Maurice Sendak are fun to read aloud, and often have a strong sense of humor that attracts children. Take turns reading them aloud to each other, talk about what they mean, and see if you can memorize your favorites. Then have a contest to see who can write the best poem.

Summer is a great time to visit a learning place together. Children’s museums are specially designed to make learning fun and enjoyable for kids and let them practice essential skills. Or just take a walk together on one of our many nature paths, where your children can use their reading skills to learn about the plants, animals and geology around them. And of course, don’t forget the special programs offered by many local public libraries, along with many other learning materials for kids of all ages.

1.Which of the following can be named “summer slide”?

A.Having no idea how to play computer games.

B.Forgetting how to organize a camping activity.

C.Failing to know how to go swimming in a pool.

D.Not remembering how to do a chemistry experiment in the lab.

2.What’s the best way to keep your children reading?

A.Taking them to libraries often.

B.Being an enthusiastic reader yourself.

C.Setting a reading corner in their room.

D.Giving them a treat to encourage reading.

3.What do we know about the poems mentioned in Paragraph 3?

A.They are easy to read aloud.

B.They can be memorized by children.

C.They are suitable for both adults and children.

D.They attract children with their sense of humor.

4.What is the text mainly about?

A.The cause of summer slide.

B.Fun ways to prevent summer slide.

C.Ways to keep children active in summer.

D.The effects of summer slide on children.

    Keira age 15

I am very passionate about dancing. When I dance, it lights a spark inside of me. I get a burst of energy, and it gives me the power to go on and on. I don’t really know how to explain my love for dance, like I was born to dance.

I love my enthusiasm. When I’m in the moment of something amazing, I take it for everything it’s worth and share it with whoever will interest me!

Clara age 16

Art and acting. They make me feel confident and happy. I love seeing something from out of pencil marks on paper and the feeling while on stage. I’ve made great friends through these activities, too!

I don’t really know what I want to be when I grow up, but some of my first few choices include an architect, actress, artist, or author. I’m working to make my dreams a reality by working hard in school and trying to be my very best.

Isabelle age 16

When I grow up, I want to be a teacher because I am passionate about helping people and love playing with kids! At school, I help take the little kids to the bus and sit with them, and I play with the 1st graders at break.

Being nice also benefits me because if two friends are in a fight, I can listen to both sides of the story with kindness. It makes me the peacemaker. Being nice makes me feel good knowing that I put a smile on someone’s face.

1.Who likes dancing most?

A.Keira. B.Clara.

C.Isabelle. D.Kathleen.

2.How does Clara make her dream come true?

A.Acting on the stage. B.Studying art and acting.

C.Making lots of friends. D.Working hard in school.

3.What does Isabelle want to be?

A.An artist. B.A dancer.

C.A teacher. D.An actress.

阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。续写的词数应为150左右。

One snowy day，the winds grew stronger and the snow turned into a blinding snowstorm. A farmer sat down to relax before the fire for the evening. Then he heard a loud knock，something hitting against the window. He looked outside but could not see anything. So he went outside for a better view. In the field near his house he saw，of all the strangest things，a group of swans(天鹅).

They were apparently flying to look for a warmer area down south，but they had been caught in the snowstorm. The storm had become too blinding and violent for the swans to fly or see their way. They were trapped on his farm，with no food or shelter，unable to do more than wave their wings and fly in aimless circles. He had compassion for them and wanted to help them.

He thought to himself，the barn(谷仓)would be a great place for them to stay. It was warm and safe；surely they could spend the night and wait out the storm. So he opened the barn doors for them. He waited，watching them，hoping they would notice the open barn and go inside.

However，they did not notice the barn or realize what it could mean for them. He moved closer toward them to get their attention，but they just moved away from him out of fear. He went into the house and came back with some bread，broke it up，and made a bread trail to the barn. They still did not catch on.

Starting to get frustrated，he went over and tried to drive them toward the barn. They panicked and scattered into every direction except toward the barn. Nothing he did could get them to go into the barn where there was warmth，safety，and shelter. Feeling totally frustrated，he exclaimed，“Why don’t they follow me?Can’t they see this is the only place where they can survive the storm?How can I possibly get them into the one place to save them?”

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假定你是李华，你校将于下周五举办跳绳(skipping rope)比赛。请用英语给你校英国交换生Steven写一封电子邮件，邀请他参加，内容包括：

1. 时间和地点；

2. 目的和形式；

3. 设置的奖项。

注意：1. 词数80左右；

2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；

3. 开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。

Dear Steven，

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Yours，

Li Hua