Empty Deserts
In the 19th century Americans from the eastern states moved out west to settle in the rich new lands along the Pacific coast. The most difficult part of their trip was crossing the “Great American Desert in the western part of the United States by horse and wagon.
The western desert can be very dangerous. There is little water and there are few trees. But the desert also has scenery of great beauty. Tall towers of red and yellow stone rise sharply from the flat sandy valley floor. The scene has been photographed many times and appears in movies and in TV.
In Arizona, man made dams across the Colorado River have made two large lakes in the middle of the dry desert country. At Lake Powell, the red stone arch of Rainbow Bridge rises high above the blue lake.
There are few roads. Many areas of Lake Powell’s shore can only be reached by boat or on foot. But hikers in this empty desert land sometimes find very old native American pictures, painted on the rocks.
In Death Valley, California, the summer temperature rises to 130 degrees. There is less than two inches of rain each year. Death Valley is the lowest place in America---- 925 meters below sea level. In the 1800s, many travelers died when they tried to cross this waterless valley in the terrible heat.
Although the desert is dry and seems empty, there is plenty of life if you look closely. Small insects, snakes and rats have learned how to live in the desert heat. They live under ground and come out at night, when it is cool. Plants such as cacti need very little water. When it does rain in the desert (sometimes only once or twice a year), plants grow quickly, and flowers open in a single day. For a short time, the desert is covered with brilliant colors.
1.In the 19th century, Americans moved from the east to the west because they ______.
A. enjoy the trip B. wanted to make their home there
C. wanted to find new grassland there D. had no water to drink
2.From the passage, we can conclude that ______.
A. the western desert is a good place for people to live in
B. there is little water but there are many trees in the desert
C. the desert is dangerous but it is full of life
D. till now, people know little about the desert
3. If you want to find some old native American pictures painted on the rock you must go ______.
A. on foot B. by boat C. by car D. by plane
4.In the 1800s many travelers died in Death Valley because of ______.
A. illness B. high temperature
C. cold weather D. poisonous water
5.In the desert, animals will die ______.
A. if they move about B. if they cannot make holes underground
C. if they come out at night D. if they drink much water
People seem to have a natural need for friends and with good reason. Friends increase your enjoyment of life and relieve feelings of loneliness. They even can help reduce stress and improve your health. Having good friends is especially helpful when you are going through any kind of hard time such as when you are experiencing anxiety, panic attacks, or depression.
When you are with good friends you feel good about yourself, and you are glad to be with them. A friend is someone who —
●you like, respect, and trust, and who likes, respects and trusts you
●doesn’t always understand you, but accepts and likes you as you are, even as you grow and change
●allows you the space to change, grow, make decisions, and even make mistakes
●listens to you and shares with you both the good times and the bad times
●respects your need for secrets, so you can tell them anything
●lets you freely express your feelings and emotions without judging, teasing, or criticizing you
●accepts the limitations you have put on yourself and helps you to remove them
A person once said, “Friendship is a continuing source of bonding（连接）, releasing, and creating in yourself and with the other person. There is an emotional bond between the two people.”
A good friend or supporter may or may not be the same age or the same sex as you, and may not have the same educational, cultural, or religious background, or share interests that are similar to yours. Friendships also have different depths. Some are closer to the heart and some more superficial, but they’re all useful and good.
1.Which of the following is NOT a function of a friend?
A. He brings you some happiness. B. He helps you feel less lonely.
C. He helps you get over the difficulties. D. He helps you cheat on the exam.
2. The underlined word “superficial” means _______.
A. deep B. hard C. shallow D. close
3.Which is the best title for the passage?
A.A Friend in Need Is A Friend Indeed B. What Kind of Person A Friend Should Be
C. To Be A Good Friend D. How to Get on with Your Friend
If you go into the woods with your friends, stay with them. If you don’t, you may get lost. If you do get lost, this is what you should do.
Sit down and stay where you are. Don’t try to find your friends — let them find you. You can help them to find you by staying in one place.
There is another way to help your friends or other people nearby to find you. Give them a signal by shouting or whistling three times. Stop. Then shout or whistle three times again. Any signal given three times is a call for help. You will be helped by others.
Keep up the shouting or whistling, always three times together. When people hear you, they will know that you are not just making noise for fun. They will let you know they have heard your signal. They will give two shouts, two whistles or two gunshots. When a signal is given twice, it is an answer to a call for help.
If you don’t think that you will get help before night comes, try to make a little house and cover up the holes with branches with lots of leaves and grass. What should you do if you get hungry or need to drink some water? You should have to leave your little branch house to look for a brook. Don’t just walk away. Pick off small branches and drop them as you walk so that you can find your way back.
The most important thing to do when you are lost is — stay in one place.
1.How do you let people believe that you are not just making noise for fun?
A. Stop now and then. B. Go on shouting or whistling.
C. Shout over and over at the top of voice D. Shout or whistle three times once a while.
2. If nobody answers you after your signal, what should you do then?
A. Give two gunshots. B. Shout louder.
C. Stop shouting. D. Make a house.
3. If you feel thirsty when you are lost in the forest, what should you do?
A. Go and find a brook.
B. Light a fire and make yourself some tea．
C. Go to find a brook and leave marks behind you.
D. Find something to hold the water.
4.What’s the best title for the passage?
A. What Do Three Shots And Two Shots Mean In A Forest
B. How To Find Your Friends When You Are Lost In The Woods
C. What To Do If You Get Lost In A Forest
D. The Most Important Thing To Do Is To Stay In One Place
Have you ever noticed advertisements which say “Learn a foreign language in 6 weeks, or your money back! From the first day your pronunciation will be excellent. Just send…” and so on? Of course, it never happens quite like that. The only language that is easy to learn is one’s mother tongue. And think how much practice that gets! Before the Second World War people usually learnt a foreign language in order to read the literature of the country.
Now speaking a foreign language is what most people want. Every year millions of people start learning one. How do they do it? Some people try at home, with books and records of tapes; some use radio or television programmes; some use computers and network; others go to evening classes. If they use the language only 2 or 3 times a week, learning it will take a long time, like learning a foreign language at school. A few people try to learn a language fast by studying for 6 or more hours a day. It is clearly easier to learn the language in the country where it is spoken.
However, most people cannot afford this, and for many it is not necessary. They need the language in order to do their work better. For example, scientists and doctors chiefly need to be able to read books and reports in the foreign language. Whether the language is learnt quickly or slowly, it is hard work. Machines and good books will help, but they cannot do the student’s work for him.
1. According to some advertisements, you ______.
A. have to pay your money if you cannot master a foreign language in 6 weeks
B. needn’t pay you money if you cannot learn a foreign language in 6 weeks
C. must pay your money if you cannot master a foreign language in 6 weeks
D. will be paid much money if you cannot learn a foreign language in 6 weeks
2.Now most people try to learn a foreign language in order to ______.
A. read the literature of the country B. read books and reports
C. do their work better D. go to foreign countries
3. Learning a foreign language is a hard job ______.
A. only for scientists and doctors B. only for the students at school
C. for those people at home D. for most people
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并把答案填在题号前括号内。
You Did More Than Carry My Books
Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed the boy ahead of him had dropped all of the books he was carrying, along with a baseball bat and several other things. Mark __16__ down and helped the boy pick up these articles. __17__they were going the same way, he helped to carry some of them for him. As they walked Mark __18_ the boy’s name was Bill, that he __19__ computer games, baseball and history, that he was having a lot of _20_ with his other subjects and that he had just broken _21__ with his girlfriend.
They arrived at Bill’s home first and Mark was __22__in for a Coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed __23__ with a few laughs and some shared small talk, and then Mark went home. They __24__ to see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, and then both ended up from the same high school. Just three weeks before __ 25_ , Bill asked Mark if they _26_ talk.
Bill __27__ him of the day years ago when they had first met. “ Do you __28__ wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?” asked Bill. “ You see, I __29__ out my locker because I didn’t want to leave a mess ( 脏乱) __30__ anyone else . I had planned to run away and I was going home to __31__ my things. But after we spent some time together __32_ and laughing, I realized that __33_ I had done that , I would have _34_ a new friend and missed all the fun we would have together. So you see, Mark , when you picked up my books that day, you did a lot more . You __35__ my life.
1.A. fell B. sat C. lay D. knelt
2.A. Although B. Since C. After D. Until
3.A discovered B. realized C. said D. decided
4.A. played B. loved C. tried D. made
5.A. questions B. ideas C. trouble D. doubt
6.A. up B. out C. off D. away
7.A. called B. helped C. invited D. invited
8.A. peacefully B. willingly C. freely D. pleasantly
9.A. continued B. agreed C. forced D. offered
10.A. graduation B. movement C. separation D. vacation
11.A. would B. should C. could D. must
12.A. demanded B. reminded C. removed D. asked
13.A. ever B. usually C. even D. never
14.A. checked B. took C. cleaned D. put
15.A. over B. into C. with D. for
16.A. find B. pick C. pack D. hold
17.A. talking B. playing C. reading D. watching
18.A. before B. if C. while D. as
19.A. forgotten B. passed C. left D. lost
20.A. helped B. recovered C. improved D. changed
Every ________ had been made in order to save the boy with the H5N1 bird flu, but all in vain. He died at last.
A.effect B. affect C. infect D. effort
