Farmer Ed Rawlings smiles as he looks at his orange trees. The young oranges are growing well in Florida’s weather. Warm sunshine and gentle rains, along with Ed Rawlings’ expert care, will produce a good crop（收成）of oranges this year.
However, Ed has to guard against Florida’s changeable winter weather. In January and February, temperatures can destroy Ed’s entire orange crop. Having farmed in Florida for the past 35 years, Ed is prepared for the frost(霜). When temperatures drop below freezing, Ed tries to save his crop by watering his orange trees. The water freezes and forms a thin layer(层) of ice around the trees. Strange as it may sound, this thin layer of ice actually keeps the fruit warm.
What happens is simple. When the trees are watered, the water loses heat and becomes ice. The warmth of the heat it loses is taken in by the fruit and keeps its temperature at a safe level. Ed has effectively used this method to save many orange crops.
But Ed still faces difficulties. The trees must be watered at the exact moment the temperature drops to the freezing point. Also, just the right quantity(数量)of water must be used. Too much water can form a thicker layer of ice that will break the tree’s branches(树枝). Another difficulty is that wind blows away the heat, so Ed has to worry about not only when but also how often his trees should be watered, and how much water should be used.
Computer technology may help Ed with some of these worries. With equipment(设备), air and soil temperatures and wind speed can be measured. The information is fed into a computer which can calculate(计算) when the temperature will drop below freezing. The computer can correctly decide the quantity of water to be used and how frequently( ) the trees should be watered. Ed finds looking after his orange trees a lot easier with the help of a computer, and, his customers will have the benefits(利益) of computer—age oranges.
1.The passage is mainly about______.
A. a farmer expert cares for his orange trees
B. the different uses of computers
C. growing oranges in Florida’s changeable weather
D. different ways of frost protection
2.Ed tries to protect his crop by______.
A. using a wind machine to drive away the cold air
B. equipping his orange trees with a computer
C. watering it at the proper time
D. picking his fruit at the first sign of frost
3. According to the passage, the computer technology______.
A. removes the need for frost protection
B. prevents temperature from dropping
C. tells farmers why outdoor temperatures change
D. helps the farmer get a better harvest
Years ago, I lived in a building in a large city. The building next door was only a few feet away from mine. There was a woman who lived there, whom I had never met, yet I could see her seated by her window each afternoon, sewing(缝纫)or reading.
After several months had gone by, I began to notice that her window was dirty. Everything was unclear through the dirty window. I would say to myself, “I wonder why that woman doesn’t wash her window. It really looks terrible.”
One bright morning I decided to clean my flat, including washing the window inside. Late in the afternoon when I finished the cleaning, I sat down by the window with a cup of coffee for a rest. What a surprise! Across the way, the woman sitting by her window was clearly visible(可见的). Her window was clean!
Then it dawned on me. I had been criticizing(批评)her dirty window, but all the time I was watching hers through my own dirty window.
That was quite an important lesson for me. How often had I looked at and criticized others through the dirty window of my heart, through my own shortcomings(缺点)? Since then, whenever I wanted to judge(评判)someone, I asked myself first, “Am I looking at him through my own dirty window?” Then I try to clean the window of my own world so that I may see the world about me more clearly.
1. The writer was surprised that______.
A. the woman was sitting by her window
B. the woman’s window was clean
C. the woman did cleaning in the afternoon
D. the woman’s window was still terrible
2. “It dawned on me” probably means “_______”.
A. I began to understand it B. it cheered me up
C. I knew it grew light D. it began to get dark
3.It’s clear that_______.
A. the writer had never met the woman before
B. the writer often washed the window
C. they both worked as cleaners
D. they lived in a small town
4. From the passage, we can learn that______.
A. one shouldn’t criticize others very often
B. one should often make his windows clean
C. one must judge himself before he judges others
D. one must look at others through his dirty windows
Dear Victor,
I am a college student. Nowadays games on the net are very popular with college students. Some of my roommates are very interested in them. They not only play games in their free time, but also keep talking about them at night when lights are off, and they regard games as a part of their life. I’ve asked them to give it up, but they wouldn’t listen to me. It has become a rather big problem. Should I report it to our teachers or do something else?
Ted
Dear Ted,
Drop it. Your roommates, as grown—ups, can do whatever they want with their time so long as it doesn’t break school rules or violate(妨碍)other people’s interests.
Playing perhaps gives these students relaxation from hard study. If they play too often and have little time to study, they will reap what they have sown（自食其果）, but you will not. Reporting to the teachers would only harm your good name in your dormitory(宿舍). However, you have rights to ask your roommates to be quiet when you need sleep. If they aren’t angry with you, they will stop talking. But be polite and friendly. Perhaps, in return, join them in a game or two.
Victor
1.Ted wants his roommates to_______.
A. break their computers
B. sell their computers to teachers
C. play games in the day, not at night
D. stop playing computer games
2. According to the second letter, some college students_______.
A. can break school rules or violate other people’s interests
B. have their rights to disturb Ted
C. can relax themselves while playing games on the net
D. can study even better if they play games on the net
3. Victor asks Ted to_______.
A. report to the teachers B. harm his good name in the dormitory
C. stop talking with his roommates D. learn how to get on well with others
Li Na is a 15—year—old schoolgirl. She wants a penfriend. The penfriend should be a girl around her age who is good at English and loves watching movies and cartoons. So she looks in “penfriends” magazine, and finds a lot of people in the magazine.
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Name: Doruk Born: 1993 Country: Turkey Writing languages: Turkish, English Hey! I’m Doruk and I live in Turkey. I like to play sports and watch films. My favourite lesson is maths and I’d like to be a computer engineer in the future. If you like watching films too, write to me! |
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Name: Pauline Born: 1993 Country: the USA Writing language: English Hi! My name is Pauline. I am a 16-year-old girl who likes movies and cartoons. I love talking to friends, too. The only problem is I have no friends. I am looking for a girl penfriend around my age. Write me! |
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Name: Vicky Born: 1994 Country: Greece Writing languages: English, French Hello, my name is Vicky and I’m looking for a penfriend between 16 and 20 years old. I’m a tennis and basketball player. I love music and I can play the violin. I enjoy shopping, meeting new people, and learning about new cultures. I have a lot of interests so I won’t be a boring penfriend! I’m waiting for your answer. |
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Name: Ashley Born: 1996 Country: UK Writing language: English Hi, I’m Ashley. I’m 12, much more mature(成熟的), though. I love Japan. I love Japanese cartoons and J—pop music. So if you’re Japanese, feel free totell me stuff about Japan! |
1. What’s Doruk’s favourite subject?
A. English. B. Japanese. C. Maths. D. Music.
2. Who looks for a penfriend in "penfriends" magazine?
A. Li Na. B. Pauline . C. Vicky . D. Ashley.
3.Where does Ashley come from?
A. Greece. B. The USA. C. Turkey. D. UK.
A couple of years ago, I went to a lady’s house to buy some medicine. Upon entering the house, I 36 that there was a piano in the living room beside the wall.Being a piano music lover and player, I asked if the woman played. She said “Yes” and 37 that she had been taking lessons—at the age of 54!
“I have been 38 for 8 years now.” I said, after hearing her words.
“Then you must play a song for me before you leave,” she requested(请求).
I thought she was kidding and I 39 smiled. When I had bought the medicine, she asked me to play some music. I thought for a moment and 40 to play David Lanz’s Return to the Heart, 41 she had so much passion(热情)for and interest in music, and it’s one of my favourite songs.
I played the song to the best of my ability(能力), putting as much emotion into it as possible. She 42 it. As I was about to step out of the door, I heard a weak voice calling, “Young man!”
I 43 , and saw an old lady taking one little step at a time with the help of another woman. “I wanted to come out to thank you for the 44 song that you played. I have been very sick, and it’s very hard for me to get out of bed, but I really wanted to thank you for the song. It made me feel good.” she said. With that, she turned around and walked slowly back to her room.
I was deeply touched by her 45 and felt a deeper understanding for the song. It was 46 to its name, returning to one’s heart to 47 and joy.
1.A. noticed B. heard C. learned D. knew
2.A. explained B. added C. dreamed D. wished
3. A. waiting B. writing C. practising D. playing
4.A. simply B. proudly C. shyly D. happily
5.A. promised B. agreed C. decided D. hoped
6. A. since B. until C. because D. if
7. A. hated B. remembered C. heard D. loved
8.A. turned around B. looked up C. ran away D. went on
9. A. valuable B. pretty C. beautiful D. popular
10. A. kindness B. experience C. appreciation D. condition
11.A. correct B. true C. right D. real
12. A. sadness B. happiness C. peace D. honesty
Could you tell me______for Hong Kong?
A. when will they leave Beijing B. when would they leave Beijing
C. when they will leave Beijing D. when did they leave Beijing
