Birth order plays a vital role in deciding the characteristics of a child. And when it comes to the middle child, it certainly plays a huge role. The middle children go through some things only they can understand. 1.
Mostly, middle children have to share a room. 2. They need to share a room with an elder one because they're too young to sleep alone. And just when they think they'll finally have a room of their own, a voice is heard saying, “Dear, please share the room with your younger one, as he's too small to sleep alone.”
Middle children tend to share clothes with their siblings (兄弟姐妹). Their cupboard is full of handmedowns from their older sibling, and they need to wear his clothes. 3. They can always show off their elder sibling's clothes and things at school. Also, they get to pass their own clothes to their younger sibling.
4. They're liked by both, because they can relate well to both generations. On one hand they can recall how much fun it was watching Garfield and Friends, and on the other hand they can talk about the latest video game released in the market.
Siblings' talking is one interesting thing about a middle child. They are not as boring as they appear.5. Also, thanks to the divided attention at home, middle children are independent and need not rely on anyone.
A．Instead, they are very artistic and creative.
B．But this comes with its own advantage too.
C．Here are some things a middle child can relate to.
D．They rarely enjoy the experience of having their own room.
E．And the dream of having their own room is completely destroyed.
F．They're the problem solvers between their older and younger siblings.
G．As a middle kid, they are the bridge between their younger and older siblings.
Don't get mad the next time you catch your teenager texting when he promised to be studying. He simply may not be able to resist. A University of lowa(UI) study found teenagers are far more sensitive than adults to the immediate effect or reward of their behaviors. The findings may help explain why the initial rush of texting may be more attractive for adolescents than the long-term pay off of studying.
"For the teenager, 'the rewards are attractive." says Professor Jatin Vaidya，an author of the study. "They draw adolescent. Sometimes, the rewards are a kind of motivation for them. Even when a behavior is no longer in a teenager's best interest to continue, they will, because the effect of the reward is still there and lasts much longer in adolescents than in adults ."
For parents,that means limiting distraction (分心的事情）so teenagers can make better choices. Take the homework and social media dilemma: At 9 p.m., shut off everything except a computer that has no access to Facehook or Twitter, the researchers advise. "I'm not saying they shouldn't be allowed access to technology," Vaidya says. But some help in netting their concentration is necessary for them so they can develop those impulse-control skills.”
In their study,Vaidya and co-author Shaun Vecera note researchers generally believe teenagers are impulsive（冲动的)，make bad decisions，and engage in risky behavior because the frontal lobes（额叶）of their trains are not fully developed. But the UI researchers wondered. whether something more fundamental was going on with adolescents to cause behaviors independent of higher-level reasoning.
"We wanted to try to understand the brain's reward system how it change from chillhood to adulthood," Says Vaidya, who adds the reward character in the human brain is easier than decision-making. “We've been trying to understand the reward process in adolescence and whether there is more to adolescence behavior than an under-developed frontal lobe,”he adds.For their study ,the researchers persuaded 40 adolescents, aged 13 and 16,and 40 adults, aged 20 and 35 to participate.
In the future,researchers hope to look into the psychological and neurological（神经学上的）aspects of their results.
1.What does the passage mainly tell us?
A.The initial rush of texting is less attractive for adolescents than the long-term pay off of studying.
B.Always, rewards are attractive to teenagers.
C.Resistance can be controlled well by adolescents.
D.Getting rewards is the greatest motivation for adolescents to study.
2.Which statement agrees with Vaidya's idea?
A.The influence of the reward is weak in adolescents.
B.Parents should help children in making decisions.
C.Children should have access to the Internet.
D.Children need help in refocusing their attention.
3.What result does teenagers' brain underdevelopment lead to?
A.Doing things after some thought.
B.Making good decisions.
C.Joining in dangerous actions.
D.Escaping risky behavior.
4.How did the researchers carry out their study?
A.By making a comparison of brain examinations.
B.By examining adults’ brain.
C.By examining teenage brain.
D.By building the train’s reward system.
A Swiss airplane powered only by energy from the sun left from Abu Dhabi early on March 9. Its creators hope the plane will make the first around-the-world journey without any fuel. The plane is called Solar Impulse 2. It has one seat and is made from carbon fiber. The plane weighs only as much as a car but its wings are wider than a Boeing 747. The plane’s wings stretch 72 meters across. Those wings include 17,000 solar units, or cells, which capture the sun’s energy. The energy allows the plane to fly day and night.
Two Swiss scientists built the plane. Bertrand Piccard is also an explorer who made the first non-stop flight around the world in a balloon. Andre Borschberg is an engineer and trained fighter pilot. The scientists say they are not trying to alter the airplane industry. Instead, they want to show that new energy sources and technologies can achieve what some say is impossible. “We want to show we can fly day and night in an aircraft without a drop of fuel.” Mr. Piccard said.
Some parts of the trip will require the pilots to be in the tiny plane for five to six days and nights in a row. So it is good that the pilot’s seat is also a toilet.
The plane’s route begins in the United Arab Emirates. The pilots also plan stops in Oman, India, and China. They will cross the Pacific Ocean, stop in the United States, and continue over southern Europe or North Africa. They plan to arrive back in the United Arab Emirates in late July or early August.
Internet viewers can go to the Solar Impulse website to see the plane’s location and listen to broadcasts from the pilots.
1.Why does the plane have wider wings?
A. It can fly faster and land safely.
B. It can get the sun’s energy easily.
C. It may look like a Boeing 747.
D. It will make the plane appear larger.
2.What does the underlined word “alter” in Para 2 probably mean?
A. Improve. B. Change.
C. Rebuild. D. Destroy.
3.What do we know about the trip made in the plane?
A. It will take five to six days and nights.
B. It is a non-stop flight around the world.
C. It is broadcast live on the Internet.
D. It doesn’t include North America.
4.What does the text mainly talk about?
A. A solar-powered plane will travel the globe.
B. A good way to save energy has been found.
C. A newly-built plane consumes no energy.
D. Solar energy waits to be fully explored.
A cloudless Southern California sky looms over the Pro Park Course for the Pro Skate Park Series. Here to compete are some of the top female skaters in the world. The women skaters range in age from early adolescence to early 30s, but in a sport that embraces youth, there is one who stands out. At 8 years old, Sky Brown, would be the youngest skater, male or female, ever to compete at this series.
She is known to some — a minor star of the viral age. When her first video was posted to YouTube, Sky initially gained a little internet fame as a premature and level-headed 4-year-old — highly intelligent, well-spoken beyond her years, hugely talented, and yet grounded. Four years later, it was announced that she would be competing at Huntington Beach. Still, the question remains: Is she truly ready, or will this be another case where reality comes crashing down hard on all the hype?
And then, it turns out to be anything but. Sky goes out and presents one surprise after another. Commentators Neal Hendrix and Chris Pastras are left in awe, “Half of the pros can't do.” The only thing that makes the prodigy look like a kid is her size. In every other regard, she holds her own with skaters 10 and 20 years her senior. Before the competition at Huntington, Sky was a curiosity. After, she is a competitor.
Sky's first memory of a skateboard is seeing her father, Stuart, doing a few tricks in front of the family home. “It always looked really fun,” says Sky. “I just kept begging to try it.” Sky progressed quickly, although she never had a formal coach. Somehow she just had the knack. Every movement, every shift in weight, every push and pull of body on board, she absorbed. Then, she did it herself.
“You get so close to making it,” she says of her process, “and think you're about to land it, and then it takes you 100 more times. I'm always saying to my parents, 'Just one last try.'” If anyone was pushing, striving to get better, it was Sky herself, learning new tricks the same way everyone else does — by trying, failing, falling, and getting back up again.
1.What does the author intend to do in Paragraph 2?
A.To show Sky’s early experience.
B.To show Sky’s talents from varied aspects.
C.To show the public’s doubt about Sky’s competence.
D.To show the public’s recognition of Sky’s performances.
2.What do we know about Sky?
A.She equals the senior skaters in the competition.
B.She looks like a professional skater in terms of her figure.
C.She participates in a competition inappropriate for the young.
D.She has already become a household name before the competition.
3.What is the main reason for Sky’s achievements?
A.Her parents push her too hard.
B.She practices hard and never quits.
C.Her coach is very strict with her.
D.Her father exerts a strong influence on her.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.A Rocky Road Leads to Internet Fame
B.A Strong Competitor Stands out from Crowd
C.An 8-year-old Skater Amazes the World
D.A Wonder Shows at the Pro Skate Park Series
Kinder Camp
This is a week-long camp, Monday through Friday, for children from three years old to those entering first grade in the fall. Early childhood educators guide your child through activities including songs, games, stories and walks in the woods. Daily themes include dirt, furry animals, insects and more! Parents sign up to bring a snack(小吃). Choose from either morning or afternoon sessions, from June 9 to July 1, 2020.
Kids Camp
Children explore all day in the natural world. Art, music, cooperative games and hikes through the woods are some of the activities in this fun-filled week. Each grade level has its own camp program especially designed with the campers’ interests in mind.
Camp takes place Monday through Friday, 9 am to 3 pm. Level 1 (completed 1st grade): July 28 to August 1, 2020.
Level 2 (completed 2nd grade): August 4 to 8, 2020.
Level 3 (completed 3rd grade): August 11 to 15, 2020. Please note: children must bring their own lunches.
Outdoor Expeditions
Send your child on a traveling adventure. Teenagers will investigate the natural, cultural and historical facts that make their hometown a great city. Activities will include unique field trips and tours.
Outdoor Expedition: from 9 am to 3 pm, August 11 to 15, 2020. Please note: children must bring their own lunches.
Rainbow Camp
Campers enjoy all kinds of activities including arts and crafts, music and singing, drama, active games, cooking and a host of special events that go with our theme weeks! Special guests are invited to the camp every week to entertain our campers and may include storytellers, musicians and magicians.
Week-long camp, June 14 to 18.
Campers must be at least 4 years old to take part.
For more information, call Frick Environmental Center at (412) 422—6538.
1.According to the passage, we can infer that Kinder Camp is probably organized to ____.
A.help children learn about nature while playing
B.get children prepared for primary school
C.offer parents a chance to play with their children
D.develop children’s language skills
2.Jack, aged 13, interested in nature and is free in August, would probably take ____ .
A.Rainbow Camp B.Kids Camp
C.Kinder Camp D.Outdoor Expeditions
3.Of the four camps, the common thing is that ____ .
A.they are all whole-day camps for children
B.they all last five days for each group
C.they all require campers to bring their own lunches
D.they are all for children over five years old
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。
It was the hottest time of the year in southern California. Steve, a star basketball player at the University of California, with his cousin Zach, had planned a camping trip in the Great National Forest for their summer vacation.
The boys gathered clothes and supplies, and began their great adventure with Brady the dog early in the morning. Upon arrival, Steve pulled over to the side of the road along the bank of the river. "A wonderful place for fishing," Steve exclaimed in delight. Zach nodded in agreement.
At high noon, the sun was scorching hot. With a good harvest of fish, the boys marched into the forest with Brady following them. After a long walk, they found a clearing that was ideal for a campsite. The camp was set up immediately as Steve knew all the tricks of an experienced wilderness camper.
An afternoon nap was absolutely a special treat in mid-summer. However, the boys were waken up by the fierce barks of Brady. Outside, heavy smoke filled the air and wind-blown flame was skipping from the top of one tree to another. The long dry summer turned the forest into a tinderbox. In a little while, Steve and Zach were inside their tent packing their belongings.
“Let's go! We can make it back to the river!" They headed down against the fire-wind in the direction of the river. But Brady barked a sharp warming. Ahead of them lay a thick curtain of smoke across the track. They would never make it through that. Steve was uneasy for it was hard to find a safe way to escape in the heavy smoke.
Brady lifted his head and snuffed（嗅）the smoke-laden wind. Next moment, the dog bounded away and disappeared down a sharp slope（坡）. The boys shouted for him, but he didn't come back. Steve couldn't blame Brady for panicking. He himself wanted to run even though he didn't have a clue which way.
Paragraph 1:
Steve and Zach hadn`t gone far when there was a familiar bark.
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Paragraph 2:
Brady pulled again, in spite of the boy's disbelief, urgently.
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