Zoos are hugely popular attractions for adults and children alike. But are they actually a good thing?
Those people who are against zoos, would argue that animals often suffer（遭受痛苦）physically and mentally by being enclosed. Even the best man-made environments can’t come close to matching the space, diversity（多样性）, and freedom that animals have in their natural homes. This causes many zoo animals to become sick. Catching animals in the wild also causes much suffering by separating with dolphinh family. Some zoos make animals behave unnaturally. For example, ocean parks often force dolphins and whales to perform. These sea animals may die years earlier than their wild relatives.
On the other hand, by bringing people and animals together, zoos can educate the public about animal protection and encourage people to save animals and their homes. Some zoos provide a safe environment for animals which have been mistreated in circuses, or pets which have been given up and no longer wanted. Zoos also carry out important research into subjects like animal behavior and how to treat illness.
One of the most important modern functions of zoos is supporting international breeding（繁衍）programs, especially for endangered species（物种）. In the wild, some of the species have difficulty in finding mates and breeding, and they might also be hurt or even killed by people. A good zoo will enable these species to live and breed in a safe environment. In addition, as numbers of some wild species drop, there is an increased danger of populations becoming too genetically（基因上） similar. Breeding programs provide a safeguard: zoo-bred animals can be put into the wild to increase genetic diversity.
However, those people who are against zoos say that many zoo-bred animals are not put back into the wild. A lot of animals are sold not only to other zoos but also to circuses in the US or wild parks in South Aften, these some people are willing to pay a lot of money for the chance to kill a helpless animal. Often, where animals are familiar with humans and have very little chance of escaping.
So, are zoos good for animals or not? Perhaps it all depends on how well zoos are managed, and the benefits of zoos can surely outweigh their harmful effects. However, it is understandable that many people believe enclosing animals for any reason is simply wrong.
1.According to Paragraph 2, some sea animals may die earlier than wild relatives because _____.
A. they were born in the ocean park
B. they don’t have enough living space
C. they are forced to behave unnaturally
D. they suffer from family separation
2.What is the main purpose of international breeding program?
A. To increase genetic diversity.
B. To protect mistreated animals.
C. To free enclosed animals.
D. To do research on animal behavior.
3.What’s the author’s opinion for zoos?
A. He doubts the value of zoos.
B. He is a true supporter of all kinds of zoos.
C. He is against the idea of having zoos around.
D. He sees the importance of the zoo management.
Note-taking is a skill that can help you do well in all your schoolwork-everything from taking tests to researching a paper.
If your teacher writes notes on the board, that’s bonus: You can copy them down. If not, write down the most important points in class. For example, does your history teacher mention the date of the Second World War? Or repeat a piece of information? Write it down! It can take time to learn how to listen to the key information, so keep trying and don’t give up.
If you want to write down every word that’s said in class, you’ll be mad. So it’s necessary to develop your own signs, for example, “pics” for “pictures,” or “hw” for “homework”. They can help you take notes more quickly. And if you pay too much attention to getting your notes right, you might miss listening to what the teacher is saying. Don’t be afraid to ask the teacher to repeat something you miss. If you don’t want to ask in class, see your teacher after class.
It is easy to miss information while taking notes, so compare your notes to what the textbooks says—you can add to your notes as you read. Go over your notes with a friend and compare what the two of you have put down. It will make you two be able to notice mistakes and reinforce what you’re learning. It can also help you remember information when it’s time for a test.
Even if you don’t have a test coming up, you’d better look over your notes within 24 hours of taking them. Your brain will start absorbing(吸收) the information while it is still fresh in your mind. Then when you study in the days before a test, you will be able to recall the information much better. Instead of simply reading your notes to yourself, say them aloud. Studies show that speaking aloud helps in memorization. When you speak, try paraphrasing(意译) sometimes rather than reading directly. Paraphrasing and speaking aloud requires your brain to do more work, making it more likely that you will understand what you’re studying.
Good note-taking takes time. But the time you spend writing and reviewing notes pays off. Not only can this help you do better in a test, it’s also a great confidence supporter when you’re studying and find yourself saying, “Hey, I remember that!”
1.If a teacher doesn’t write notes on the blackboard, students should ______.
A. read the textbook and underline the important points
B. write down the information repeated by the teacher
C. listen carefully without taking notes
D. copy a friend’s notes in class
2.What can we learn from the passage?
A. Writing down words in short helps avoid missing important information.
B. Students should try their best to make sure the notes are right in class.
C. Reading the notes aloud can help students find out mistakes in notes.
D. Students need to spend time practising the skills of taking notes.
3.What’s the fifth paragraph mainly about?
A. The ways to review notes. B. The skills of correcting notes.
C. The methods to perfect notes. D. The necessity of taking notes.
My friend Mary came to school wearing a brand-new pair of Zee jeans. “Your new Zee jeans are so cute!” I said.
“My grandma took me clothes shopping last weekend,” Mary said. “The Zee jeans were on sale. They have cool pockets and are unbelievably comfortable. When you’re at my house after school, try them on and see for yourself.”
“Hmm.” I didn’t think so. But when I tried them on, I couldn’t help agreeing. “I’m totally taking these!” I said. As soon as I got home, I told my mom that I had to get some Zee jeans.
Mom said, “You already have three pairs of perfectly good jeans. There is no way Dad and I are paying that much for a pair of pants. If you want to buy them with your own money, I would be happy to make a long list of extra chores you can do.”
“I’ll start this minute,” I said.
It took me three weeks to save enough money. I changed kitty litter, watched my little brother and sister, and cleaned refrigerator. The refrigerator cleaning was the worst because one of the shelves fell while I was taking everything out. Food and milk splashed all over the floor. It took me one and a half hour to clean it up!
Anyway, I finally bought my Zee jeans, and I loved them even more than I thought I would. I loved them half because they had cool pockets and super comfortable, and half because I had worked so hard to earn the money to buy them myself.
1.Who bought the new Zee jeans for Mary?
A. Her mother. B. Herself. C. Her friend. D. Her grandmother.
2.Why did mom not want to buy a pair of Zee jeans to the writer?
A. She didn’t like the writer.
B. She thought the writer was lazy.
C. She thought that the writer had enough jeans.
D. She didn’t have enough money.
3.How did the writer buy the new jeans?
A. She got money from her mom.
B. She made money by doing housework.
C. She borrowed money from Mary.
D. She asked her grandma to buy them for her.
Mr. Guo is a teacher from Xi’an. He asked his students to hand in their homework through a QR code（二维码）. “We spent an hour or two in class learning how to generate（使产生） the codes, and in the end everything gets easier,”said Guo.“When students finish the homework, they keep it on WeChat（微信）. Then, each student makes his own QR code and gives it to me. So I can check their work everywhere using my computer or telephone. ”
The QR codes can be sent to Mr. Guo by email, QQ and WeChat. When Guo scans（扫描） his students’ QR codes, their homework appears on his phone. He finds that their homework becomes more creative, with many pictures, music and even videos.
Guo’s students like the new way and think it is interesting. “We are living in the information age. Many students like to work with computers, which makes learning more fun.”said Tingting, a student of Guo’s.
“The paper is not easy to keep, but the code is easy to keep and share,”Guo said.“It is worth trying to use new technology in education. Education itself is a kind of creation. I don’t want my students to fall behind the times.”
However, some parents are worried. They are afraid that their children will spend too much time on computers and less time communicating with teachers. But in fact, it’s unnecessary. Students still need to look up information in books and write it down when they do their homework. They only use the code when they hand in their work, which doesn’t take them too much time. Also for teachers, it allows them to check the students’ work at any time. And it’s also an easy way to share homework with other students.
1.Guo’s students think the new way is _____.
A. Important B. interesting C. strange D. boring
2.Some parents are worried, because they think their children will _____.
A. talk with their teacher face to face
B. find the QR codes too difficult to use
C. hate the new way of handing in homework
D. spend too much time on computers or phones
3.What’s the main idea of the passage?
A. Some parents are worried about their children.
B. Teachers don’t need to check homework any more.
C. Using QR codes makes checking homework easier.
D. Students don’t need to hand in homework any more.
Charles Dickens was an English writer. He was born in 1812. He created some of the world’s best-known characters and many readers think he is the most important writer of the Victorian era (1837-1901). Some of his famous novels are Oliver Twist, David Copperfield and Great Expectations. Most people in his novels lived in London.
In 1824, Dickens’ father went to prison(监狱) because he couldn’t pay money to someone. In those days, a man’s wife and young children went to prison with him. Charles was 12, so he left school to work in the prison. Life was hard, and a lot of children worked in those days. Dickens’ own experience helped him to write about poor children without a mother or father. Dickens' success began with the publication (出版) of The Pickwick Papers in 1836. And his book Oliver Twist is about a boy without father. Important people were more interested in the problems of poor people after reading Dickens’ books.
Dickens’ novels are often very long and he wrote them in different parts for a newspaper each week. His novels have a lot of exciting and sad things in them. He wanted his readers to buy the newspaper every week. And the readers wanted to finish the story! Dickens’ novels are popular because many of his stories are about social(社会的) problems and family life. Dickens was successful in writing and he has been praised by other writers for his style and characters.
1.When was Charles Dickens born?
A. In 1812. B. In 1824. C. In 1836. D. In 1901.
2.Where did Dickens work when he was 12?
A. In the prison. B. At a school. C. On a farm. D. In an office.
3.Dickens’ novels are popular because_______.
A. they have a lot of exciting and sad things
B. they are about social problems and family life
C. he has been praised for his style and characters
D. he is the most important writer of the Victorian era
Finally Home
Last year, my parents moved to this town. I had to go to a new school and found no one to be friends with because I wasn’t interested in the topics most of my classmates liked.
“Maybe I’ll never have real friends,” I thought.
I closed my eyes and imagined playing my drums. Suddenly, I heard the sound of a guitar.
I followed the sound and found out that was a band. I recognized the guitar player at my first sight and so did he.
“Hey, you’re Cassie from my class!” his voice surprised me.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I just haven’t heard any live music in this town before! You sound great—did you guys write that song?”
“Yeah—well, we’re still working on it. I’m Matt.” He stood up and held out his hand.
“Mind if I listen in?” I asked in a low voice.
“Not at all,” Matt said, smiling. “Maybe you can give us some suggestions!”
The song was pretty good and I could really improve it with my drum skills. Behind my drum set was the one place I felt completely like myself. But I wasn’t sure if I wanted to open that door to the world.
“Hey, do you play drums?” Matt asked suddenly.
His question surprised me. How did he know? And then I followed his eyes to my hands, which had been beating a rhythm(节奏) on the floor. I tried to say no, but my heart stopped me from refusing. “Sure, I’ve been playing for a few years,” I said finally.
“Oh, wow! You’ve got to join us!” Matt said. “I have some drums over here.”
I looked at their shiny faces. “Absolutely. I would love to play!” I replied.
“One, two, three, four!” Matt counted and began singing, and I knew I was finally home.
1.When the writer first went to a new school, she _____.
A. joined a music club B. had no close friends
C. could play the guitar D. developed a new hobby
2.How did the writer feel when Matt asked if she played drums?
A. Surprised. B. Scared. C. Worried. D. Excited.
3.The writer said she was finally home because______.
A. she learned to play the drums
B. she decided to leave the town
C. she loved her home very much
D. she made some friends finally
