The idea that red means stop and green means go has influenced our lives in more ways than just traffic signals(信号). We have been taught from a young age that the color red means danger and green means it's okay to move forward. But why were those colors chosen for traffic lights in the first place? For something we have to look at every day, why couldn't they have been prettier colors?

Well, it's important to know that before traffic lights for cars, there were traffic signals for trains. At first, railway companies used red to mean stop, white to mean go, and green to mean warn. As you could imagine, trains ran into a few problems with white meaning go. For example, one train mistook a bright star for a white light and something unexpected happened. Because of that, railway companies finally moved green meaning go and used yellow to mean warn. And it's been that way ever since.

Red has always been a color that meant danger, long before cars were even around. This most likely started because it's the color with the longest wavelength(波长) so it can be seen somewhere farther than other colors.

But, believe it or not, yellow was once used to mean stop. Back in the 1900s, some stop signs were yellow because it was too hard to see a red sign in a poorly lit area. Finally, highly reflective materials(高反射材料) were developed and red stop signs were born. Since yellow can be seen well at all times of the day, school zones, some traffic signs, and school buses continue to be painted yellow.

So next time you're impatiently waiting at a traffic light, don't get so mad at them, they've certainly come a long way.

What does the text mainly tell us?

A.How important traffic lights are.

B.Which color has the longest wavelength.

C.What red, yellow and green can be used for.

D.Why traffic lights are red, yellow and green.

    Personal computers and Internet give people new choices about how to spend their time.

We just have to keep in mind that computers and Internet offer another way of communicating. They don't take the place of any of the ways.

What's the main idea of the text?

A.Email is not an expensive way to communicate with people far away.

B.Computers and the Internet make communication more convenient.

C.Email makes it easier for people to live at home and work at the office.

D.Computers and the Internet are useful tools to keep good friendship.

    Smoking cigarettes is harmful to your health. Experiments show that cigarette smoking can cause cancer. Besides the most serious and terrible cancer, cigarette smoking can also cause other health problems. For example, it can give one a "smoker's cough".

...

Finally, studies have shown it is easy for cigarette smokers to catch colds. Whether you get an unimportant cold or terrible killer, cancer, smoking is harmful. Is it worth it?

What is the text mainly about?

A.Ways of experimenting on smoking.

B.Information about smoking.

C.Smoking resulting in cancer.

D.Side effects of smoking.

    Alice spends her summer vacations walking back into history. Alice is 15 and she is a guide who shows visitors around the Fort(城堡) Delaware Museum in New York.

Working at the fort has helped Jane to appreciate her life even more. Alice agrees, "The fort has taught me how hard life was and how much work there was every day. We are so lucky with everything we have now. Life wasn't always this easy."

What is the main idea of the text?

A.All the jobs Alice has had at the fort have been really fun.

B.How hard life was and how much work there was in the past.

C.Reading about history can compare to experiencing it for yourself.

D.We are so lucky with everything we have now, and then we must appreciate them.

    Later that day, Dad came home and said to Jessie's mom, "You didn't have to mow the lawn. I was going to do it on Saturday. It looks great. Thanks."

"I didn't mow it. Jessie did."

"Wow, our little girl is growing up!" Dad told Jessie what a great job she had done.

"It was fun, and I will do it again next week，" said Jessie.

The neighbor next door came by and asked Jessie if she wanted to mow his lawn and make some money. "Sure!" said Jessie. Jessie began mowing his lawn. Two other neighbors asked also, then another three. Jessie was now mowing lawns for them all and making some money. She was no longer bored!"I won't have time to spend my money," she laughed to herself.

What does the text mainly tell us?

A.Neighbors should learn to help each other.

B.Mowing the lawn is a good way to make money.

C.Doing something helpful can make people happy.

D.Children should help their parents at an early age.

    In our daily life, robots are often found to do work that is too dangerous, boring, difficult, or dirty. And we often see kids play with toy robots.

But what exactly is a robot? There are some important characteristics(特征) that a robot must have. These characteristics might help you to decide what is and what is not a robot. It will also help you to decide what you will need to build into a machine before it can be considered as a robot. A robot has these important characteristics.

What is the main purpose of the text?

A.To help people understand what a robot is.

B.To tell what a robot can do in our life.

C.To describe the movement of a robot.

D.To introduce the history of robots.

    (2016河南B篇节选)Have you ever had trouble sleeping in a new place?

Lots of people do. And now researchers from Brown University in Rhode Island think they know why. They found that one-half of the brain "remains more awake" than the other half when people are trying to sleep in a new place...

What is the text mainly about?

A.What we will have to do to sleep well.

B.How researchers measure brain waves.

C.Who doesn't sleep well in a new place.

D.Why it's harder to sleep in a new place.

    In the world's all cultures, people sing, play instruments, and celebrate with music. It plays such 1. important role in our lives. Learning to play an instrument or just listening to music can have plenty of benefits.

Music is helpful to improve the intelligence. One study 2. Canada had recorded children's IQ scores for nine months. They discovered that children 3. studied music performed better in the tests. The secret may be that learning music uses several areas of the brain and increases our ability to learn school subjects.

Music is also used for medical purposes, such 4. the treatment of diseases which influence memory. For example, the lyrics and music of some old songs can remind you of something that happened years ago.

5. wonder some countries make music study a part of their education systems. People are considering that more than just a form of fun, music is also great for the brain.

My father and I always had a bit of trouble in our relationship. It's not that we didn't love each other. It's just that we used to have _____ opinions. My dad is one of the most hard­working men I know, but I was a _____. I played sports as a kid, but _____ when I was making progress. Then I showed an _____ in music. My father got excited and _____ me a guitar when I was about eight. But I didn't like it until I was a teenager. During those teen years, I took up my guitar and _____ playing along.

Then I went to college. My father thought I should focus more on my _____ while I should have more fun playing music. I dreamed to be a musician. When I grew into a young man, I suddenly fell _____ ill one day and it was discovered that I had a terrible kidney disease. I had to accept treatments all my life, or get a transplant.

I felt like there was a heavy _____ on my shoulders. Life became hard for me. But I was lucky enough because of my loving parents who _____ me and took care of me. While trying to _____ just what to do with my life, my father got tested to see _____ he was the right man to give me his kidney. I tried to refuse, but he'd hear _____ of it. He saved my life at last.

Two years ago, I made _____a band. He had always wanted to play in a band, but _____ got the chance when he was young. It was one of the greatest gifts I could give to him.

1.A.special B.different C.private D.necessary

2.A.musician B.coach C.actor D.dreamer

3.A.gave up B.gave out C.gave off D.gave away

4.A.introduction B.influence C.increase D.interest

5.A.expected B.threw C.bought D.praised

6.A.began B.regretted C.finished D.meant

7.A.hobbies B.studies C.skills D.choices

8.A.similarly B.hardly C.seriously D.harmfully

9.A.weight B.disadvantage C.disagreement D.body

10.A.provided B.encouraged C.afforded D.managed

11.A.decide B.behave C.build D.doubt

12.A.how B.whether C.why D.what

13.A.each B.all C.much D.none

14.A.in B.of C.from D.up

15.A.almost B.seldom C.never D.always

    Hobbies let you explore interests outside of your line of work. They let you be creative and try all kinds of new things. If you're bored with your old hobby, picking a different one can get your creative juices flowing again.

Look at what interests you.

Check what you love doing in your spare time. Do you enjoy reading books? Maybe you want to try your hand at writing your own. Do you like a hot coffee at the end of the day? Maybe your hobby could be trying to make it at home. Turn what you already love into a hobby.

Think about what you value most.

Do you value wisdom or courage? Do you admire artists? Let such questions guide you when choosing a hobby.

For example, maybe you could volunteer at a library as a hobby because you value education, or maybe you could try painting because you admire people who can express themselves with art.

Check your skills and personality.

Certain hobbies require certain skill sets.

If you don't have much patience, then maybe going fishing isn't something you'd enjoy. However, if you love repairing and building things, maybe you should consider a hobby like working on older cars or building furniture. Play to your strengths.

Pay attention to your favourite   3  .

The way you talk about things can also show what you really like and it can be developed into a hobby.

Think about the topics you go on endlessly about. Ask your friends and family what you talk about all the time. Now, think about the subject that you enjoy so much and decide how it can be turned into a hobby.

1.If you admire people who express themselves with art, what could you do?

A.You could enjoy reading books. B.You could volunteer at a library.

C.You could make coffee. D.You could try painting.

2.According to the text, which of the following is TRUE?

A.Picking a new different hobby makes you bored.

B.Valuing courage helps you choose a hobby.

C.Finding your certain skills helps you consider a suitable hobby.

D.Ask your friends what your hobby is.

3.Which is the most suitable word for   3  ?

A.hobbies B.skills C.topics D.interests

4.Where is the text most probably from?

A.A magazine for old people. B.A magazine for young people.

C.A picture book for children. D.A picture book for babies.

5.What does the text mainly tell us?

A.How to find a new hobby. B.How to give up old hobbies.

C.Why you must find a new hobby. D.Why you must give up old hobbies.