If you ask your parents: “Did you buy salt recently?” They might either say: “Yes, we bought more salt than usual”, or “No, we couldn’t find any in the market.”
This is because of the recent craze(狂热) of salt buying in China. In big cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, salt almost sold out in only one night.
After the big earthquake in Japan on March 11, there was a nuclear leak(核泄漏). And rumors(传言) about whether it will affect our daily life appeared: first, iodized(含碘的) salt can keep us from the dangers of radiation(辐射);second, there will be less sea-salt in the ocean because of the nuclear pollution.
Both the government and experts said the rumors were not true, but people still bought as much salt as possible. Why? Many salt-buyers didn’t really care or know what experts or the government were saying. That was the real reason behind the craze of salt buying.
On March 20, the government said the salt market is back to normal. And most of China’s salt is from lakes, not the ocean.
Now, many people want to return the salt they bought. “There is no reason why those people should get their money back,” an article in Xinhua Daily Telegraph said. “They made the craze in the first place.”
Perhaps people should learn a lesson from the salt: don’t believe everything you hear.
1.The recent craze of salt buying in China happened because of ________.
A. the earthquake
B. the rumors
C. the shortage(缺乏) of salt
2.When did the rumors start?
A. On March 11.
B. After March 11.
C. On March 20.
3.According to the passage most of China’s salt is from ________.
A. lakesB. the oceanC. rivers
4.Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A. People believed what the government and experts said first.
B. People could return the salt and got back their money later.
C. Salt almost sold out in only one night because of the rumors.
5.The passage tells us that ________.
A. we can’t believe everything we hear
B. there must be a nuclear leak after an earthquake
C. only iodized salt can keep us from the dangers of radiation
“Who needs a shopping mall if you have Taobao?” says Wang Lin, 28, a writer in Beijing.
Taobao, China’s largest online shopping web site, has become an important part of Wang Lin’s life. She spends lots of money on Taobao.
A growing number of Chinese Internet users like Wang have found the fun of online shopping. Most online shoppers are students or young workers. More women shop on line than men. Clothing and home-use products are the most popular on line.
It was reported that more than 250 billion(十亿) yuan was spent on online shopping last year, 80% through Taobao.
Taobao means “looking for treasure(珠宝)” in Chinese. People can find almost everything they need on Taobao, from clothes to books, from candies to DVD players.
You may ask the security of online shopping, Wang Lin said, “It’s very safe and convenient. Unless you receive the products from the sellers and are satisfied(满意的) with them, the shop owner will not get the money. You can also get your money back if you want to return the products.”
1.The most popular things on line are ________.
A. candies and DVD players
B. clothes and books
C. clothing and home-use products
2.Taobao is ________.
A. a shopping mall
B. an online shopper
C. an online shopping web site
3.Most online shoppers are ________.
A. young peopleB. womenC. men
4.The underlined word “security” may mean ________.
A. 质量B. 安全C. 信誉
5.The best title(标题) of the passage is ________.
A. Wang Lin’s life
B. Online shopping in China
C. Shopping on line is not safe
Mark Twain was a famous American writer. He loved writing, hunting and fishing very much. One year he went to Maine on vacation and spent three very happy weeks there.
When it was time to get back home, Mark Twain went to the station with his baggage(行李). After putting it on the train, he sat on a comfortable seat. A few minutes later, another man came over and sat next to him. Mark Twain looked at the man and saw that he was unhappy. He thought it would be impolite to say nothing first, and they began to talk. They talked about the weather and then Maine. The stranger said, “We have some beautiful woods(森林) in Maine. I guess you have been there, haven’t you?”
“Yes, I have,” answered Mark Twain. “I’ve just spent three pleasant weeks there. And let me tell you something: although fishing isn’t allowed in Maine this season, I’ve got two hundred pounds of beautiful fish. I like eating fish, so I put them on the ice to take them home. May I know who you are, sir?”
The stranger looked at Mark Twain for several seconds and answered, “I’m a policeman. My job is to catch people who hunt and fish during the wrong seasons. And what do you do?”
Mark Twain answered, “Well, sir, I’m the man who tells the biggest lies(谎言) in America.”
1.Mark Twain spent in Maine for _________.
A. one weekB. two weeksC. three weeks
2.Mark Twain went home ________.
A. by busB. by trainC. by plane
3.The man next to Mark Twain was ________.
A. a policemanB. a writerC. a reporter
4.Mark Twain’s vacation in Maine was ________.
A. boringB. tiringC. pleasant
5.Which of the following is true about Maine?
A. It has beautiful woods.
B. Fishing isn’t allowed there.
C. It’s Mark Twain’s hometown.
A father was sitting at his desk and looking at bills(账单) when his young son ran in and said, “Dad, today is your birthday and you’re 40 years old, 1 I’m going to give you 40 kisses, one for each year!” When the boy 2 kissing him, the father shouted, “Andrew, don’t do this right now. I’m too 3 !”
The boy stood there and tears (眼泪) 4 from his big blue eyes. Feeling sorry, the father said, “You can do it later.”
The boy said nothing but walked away 5 . That evening the father said, “Come and 6 the kisses now, Andrew!” But the boy didn’t.
Unfortunately, a few days after the father’s birthday, the boy had a(n) 7 and died(死). His sad father wrote, “If only I could tell him how sorry I am for words, and how 8 my heart is hurting.”
Love is a two-way street. We must warmly accept(接受) any loving act, or others will regard it 9 a “no” and it can leave a scar(伤痕). If we don’t get love, our life will have no meaning. Nothing is more important than 10 love from those who are near and dear to us.
1.A. because B. so C. but
2.A. stopped B. forgot C. started
3.A. busy B. angry C. hungry
4.A. felt B. fell C. flew
5.A. excitedly B. friendly C. quietly
6.A. finish B. get C. take
7.A. matter B. accident C. event
8.A. many B. much C. long
9.A. as B. with C. for
10.A. giving B. asking C. accepting
– Remember to call me after arriving in Beijing .
– ________.
A. It doesn’t matterB. OK, I willC. Yes, I do
– I prefer to eat cakes that have cream on top.
– ________! They are really delicious.
A. I’m afraid notB. You’re kiddingC. Me, too