Have you ever wondered why birds sing? Maybe you thought that they were just happy. After all, you probably sing or whistle when you are happy.
Some scientists believe that birds do sing some of the time just because they are happy. However they sing most of the time for a very different reason. Their singing is actually a warning to other birds to stay out of their territory.
Do you know what a ‘territory’ is? A territory is an area that an animal, usually the male, claims as its own. Only he and his family are welcome there. No other families of the same species are welcome. Your yard and house are your territory where only your family and friends are welcome. If a stranger should enter your territory and threaten you, you might shout. Probably this would be enough to frighten him away.
If so, you have actually scared the stranger away without having to fight him. A bird does the same thing. But he expects an outsider almost any time, especially at nesting（筑巢）season. So he is screaming all the time, whether he can see an outsider or not. This screaming is what we call a bird’s song, and it is usually enough to keep an outsider away.
Birds sing loudest in the spring when they are trying to attract a mate and warn others not to enter the territory of theirs.
You can see that birds have a language of their own. Most of it has to do with attracting mates and setting up territories.
Some scientists believe that most of the time bird’s singing is actually________.
A. an expression of happiness B. a way of warning
C. an expression of anger D. a way of greeting
【小题２】What does the underlined word “territory’’ mean?
A. A place where families of other species are not accepted
B. A place where a bird may shout at the top of its voice
C. An area for which birds fight against each other
D. An area which a bird considers to be its own
【小题３】Why do birds keep on singing at nesting season?
A. Because they want to invite more friends
B. Because their singing helps frighten outsiders away
C. Because they want to find outsiders around
D. Because their singing helps get rid of their fears
【小题４】How does the writer explain bird’s singing?
A. By comparing birds with human beings B. By reporting experiment results
C. By describing birds’ daily life D. By telling a bird’s story
Green is an important color in nature. It is the color of grass and the leaves on trees. It is also the color of most growing plants.
Sometimes, the word green means young, fresh and growing. Sometimes, it describes something that is not yet ripe（成熟） or finished. For example, a greenhorn is someone who has no experience, who is new to a situation. In the fifteenth century, a greenhorn was a young cow or ox whose horns(角) had not yet developed. A century or so later, a greenhorn was a soldier who had not yet had any experience in battle. By the eighteenth century, a greenhorn had the meaning it has today—a person who is new in a job.
Someone who has the ability to grow plants well is said to have a green thumb. The expression comes from the early nineteen hundreds. A person with a green thumb seems to have a magic touch that makes plants grow quickly and well. You might say that the woman next door has a green thumb if her garden continues to grow long after your plants have died.
The Green Revolution is the name given some years ago to the development of new kinds of rice and other grains. The new plants produced much larger crops. The Green Revolution was the result of hard work by agricultural scientists who had green thumbs.
Green is also the color used to describe the powerful feeling, jealousy(嫉妒). The green-eyed monster is not a frightening creature from outer space. It is an expression used about four hundred years ago by British writer William Shakespeare in his play “Othello”. It describes the unpleasant feeling a person has when someone has something he wants. A young man may suffer from the green-eyed monster if his girlfriend begins going out with someone else. Or, that green-eyed monster may affect your friend if you get a pay rise and she does not.
1.Greenhorn now refers to ____.
A. a person who is new in a job B. a new solider C. a young horse D. a thumb
2.A person who has a green thumb is a person ____.
A. whose garden is greener than others’ B. whose thumbs are in green color
C. who is good at growing plants D. who is younger than his neighbors
3.The author is actually talking about ____.
A. colors B. language C. politics D. agriculture
4. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A. In about the 16th century, a greenhorn meant an experienced soldier
B. The Green Revolution may have some connection with green thumbs
C. The green-eyed monster was probably created by William Shakespeare
D. The green-eyed monster can be used to describe a person who is jealous
SPECIAL EVENTS THIS WEEKEND
Captain Good Fellow
Do your children enjoy interesting stories, funny games, and exciting dances? Captain Good Fellow will be ready to teach all these things to children of all ages at the City Theatre on Saturday morning at 10:00, Free.
Walking Tour of the Town
Forget your worries on Saturday morning. Take a beautiful walk and learn about local history. Meet at the front entrance of City Hall at 9:30. Wear comfortable shoes!
Films at the Museum
Two European films will be shown Saturday afternoon at the Museum Theatre. See Broken Window at 1:30. The workers will be at 3:45. For further information, call 4987898
International Picnic
Are you tired of eating the same food every day? Come to Central Park on Saturday and enjoy food from all over the world. Delicious and not expensive. Noon to 5:00 pm.
Take Me out to the Ballgame
It’s October, and tonight is your last chance to see the Redbirds this year. Get your tickets at the gate. It might be cold；don’t forget sweaters and jackets.
Do You Want to Hear “The Zoo”
“The Zoo”, a popular rock group from Australia, will give their first US concert tomorrow night at 8:00 at Rose Hall, City College
1.You can probably eat Chinese, Italian, and Arab food____.
A. at the front entrance of City Hall B. at the Ballgame
C. at 5:00 pm D. at Central Park on Saturday
2. The Redbirds ballgame_____.
A. is in the afternoon B. is outside C. is at the gate D. might be cold
3.“The Zoo” is _____.
A. a park with lots of animals B. US concert
C. a music group D. going to give the concert at 8:00 am
阅读下面短文，从短文后所给的四个选项（A,B,C和D）中，选出可以填人空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
It was one of the hottest days of the dry season. We had not seen 36 for almost a month. The crops were dying. Every day, my husband 37 to get water to the fields. But 38 we saw some rain soon, we would lose everything.
However, one day I learned the true lesson of 39 and witnessed the only miracle I had 40 seen before. I was cooking in the kitchen when I saw my son, Billy, 41 toward the woods. He was walking 42 with effort, trying to be as still as possible. Minutes after he disappeared into the 43 , he came running back. I went on cooking, 44 that whatever he had been doing was finished. Moments later, 45 , he was once again walking slowly toward the woods. This activity went on for an hour. Finally I couldn’t help 46 him and saw the most amazing 47 .
Several large deer stood in front of him. Billy walked right up to them. I 48 screamed(尖叫) for him to get away, because a huge deer was dangerously 49 to him at that time. But the deer didn’t even move as Billy knelt down(跪下). I saw a tiny 50 lying on the ground, obviously suffering from 51 , lifting its head to drink the water cupped in Billy’s hands. When the water was 52 , Billy ran back to get more. It then became quite 53 to me what my son was doing.
I stood there, watching my 54 boy working so hard to save another life. As my tears began to hit the ground, they were suddenly joined by other drops. I looked up at the sky. It was as if God himself was weeping with pride. The rain that day 55 our farm.
36. A. water B. rain C. cloud D. storm
37. A. decided B. chose C. tried D. offered
38. A. before B. if C. until D. unless
39. A. sending B. sharing C. forgiving D. begging
40. A. ever B. never C. once D. yet
41. A. running B. jumping C. walking D. riding
42. A. slowly B. quickly C. hurriedly D. dangerously
43. A. plants B. flowers C. vegetables D. woods
44. A. thinking B. wondering C. worrying D. dreaming
45. A. though B. besides C. however D. too
46. A. beating B. following C. teaching D. hoping
47. A. sign B. field C. world D. scene
48. A. almost B. already C. just D. even
49. A. weak B. ill C. close D. brave
50. A. horse B. crop C. baby D. deer
51. A. thirst B. diseases C. heat D. pain
52. A. lost B. cleaned C. gone D. dried
53. A. comfortable B. clear C. acceptable D. simple
54. A. kind B. clever C. naughty D. honest
55. A. hit B. washed C. ruined D. saved
When _____ he leave the hospital?" I asked the doctor.
A. will B. shall C. can D. may
Between the two roads a TV tower called “Skyscraper Tower”.
A. stands B. standing C. which stands D. stand
