A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack(裂缝) in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
This went on daily. The perfect pot was proud of its accomplishment. Of course, the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.
“I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologise to you.”
“Why?” asked the bearer. “What are you ashamed of?”
“I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back. And you do no get full value for your efforts” the pot explained.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, “As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.”
As they went up the hill, the cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it a little.
The bearer said, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side?” That is because I have known about you, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walked back from the stream, you have watered them. For two years, I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.”
1.Why did the cracked pot feel ashamed?
A．Because it didn’t hold water.
B．Because the water bearer didn’t like it.
C．It couldn’t water the flowers well.
D．Because it could only accomplish half of its load.
2.How would the cracked pot feel at the end of the story?
A．Delighted with itself. B．Disappointed with itself.
C．Prouder than the other pot. D．Still ashamed of itself.
3.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A．There were flowers on both sides of the path.
B．The cracked pot was more useful than the perfect one.
C．We sometimes don’t have to mind too much the way we are.
D．The water bearer preferred the perfect pot to the cracked one.
Your chair is your enemy. That is the conclusion of several recent studies. Among people who sit in front of the television for more than three hours each day, those who exercise are as fat as those who don’t.
So what’s wrong with sitting? The answer seems to have two parts. The first is that sitting is one of the most passive things you can do. Compared to sitting, standing in one place is hard work. To stand, you have to tense your leg muscles, and engage the muscles of your back and shoulders; while standing, you often shift from leg to leg. All of this burns energy.
You may think you have no choice about how much you sit. But this isn’t true. Suppose you sleep for eight hours each day, and exercise for one. That still leaves 15 hours of activities. Even if you exercise, most of the energy you burn will be burnt during these 15 hours, so weight gain is often the cumulative(累积的) effect of a series of small decisions: Do you take the stairs or the elevator? Do you walk to the corner store, or drive?
But it looks as though there’s a more sinister aspect to sitting. Some evidence suggests that when you spend long periods sitting, your body actually does things that are bad for you.
Lipoprotein lipase(蛋白脂酶) is a molecule that plays a central role in how the body processes fats. Low levels of lipoprotein lipase are associated with a variety of health problems. Studies in rats show that leg muscles only produce this molecule when they are actively being moved. The result is that when you sit, an important part of your metabolism(新陈代谢) slows down. You may also have a higher risk of suffering from diabetes(糖尿病).
Some people have advanced radical solutions to the sitting syndrome(综合症): replace your sit-down desk with a stand-up desk, or watch television in a rocking chair. But whatever you choose, know this. The data is clear; look out for your chair.
1.What would be the best title of this passage?
A．Become an Athlete to Be Healthy.
B．Choose a Better Chair for You.
C．How to Speed Up Your Metabolism.
D．Stand Up While You Read This.
2.Paragraphs 2 and 3 tell us that .
A．taking too much exercise harms people’s health
B．sitting a lot reduces the benefits of taking exercise
C．people needn’t depend on exercise to keep healthy
D．healthy people are those who sit less and stand more
3.Which of the following is the best advice on how to control our weight?
A．Exercising at least an hour a day.
B．Standing as long as possible.
C．Using our energy actively in daily life.
D．watching TV in a rocking chair.
4.The author mentions lipoprotein lipase mainly to .
A．show that it plays a big part in keeping us healthy
B．tell us that it isn’t produced while we are sitting
C．suggest that we should take less exercise to be healthy
D．prove sitting for long is bad for our body
Alomada Racraotion and Fork Deportment
(510)747-7529
2010 TEEN TRIP TO
THE LELAND HIGH SNOW PLAY
FOR Teens Currently in 6th to 12th Grades
LELAND HIGH SNOW PLAY-Class #8389
Friday, December3, 2010 (Non-Public School Holiday)
8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Cost per person: $50 ($ 60 after January 22,2011)-Includes
Lunch, Admission and Transportation
With a 4,000 sq. ft. day use lodge, the Leland High Snow Play has a huge
supply of tubes to choose from, along with awesome tows(拖车) that will
tow you up to the top of the hill! Our varied terrains(地形) have something
for everyone, while the lodge provides a snack bar, video games, pool tables,
five indoor restrooms, a warm fire, and a sun deck with plenty of tables and
chairs over looking the play area outside.
ADDTTIONAL LIABILTTY FORM REQUIRED FOR THIS TRIP.
Be sure to bring warm clothing and prepare for
the cold, but dress in layers in case it warms up. Wear dry boots, socks, and
sunscreen. If possible, bring a mobile phone in case of emergency, as well as
money for snacks and a light dinner; or bring your own food and drinks. Meet at
The Underground (Veteran’s Building-2203 Central Avenue) – don’t be late!
Do not bring electronic or fragile items during the trip. The ARPD is not responsible for your personal belongings or money. REFUNDS ARE ISSUED ONLY IF THE ARPD CANCELS THIS TRIP DUE TO WEATHER CONDTTIONS.
Click here to download registration form and “Leland High Sierra Snowplay Liability Form.”
◆Register in person, or mail the completed form to Leland High Sierra Snow Play, Inc. Send the liability form and payment to the ARPD Office, 2226 Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda.
◆Faxed registration and liability form accepted with VISA, (510)747-7566.
◆Online registrations available at www.arpdeplay. com. Make sure you bring your completed liability form on the trip.
1.The purpose of the passage is to .
A．explain the details of a school activity
B．introduce a famous tour agency
C．urge teenagers to climb a snowy mountain
D．advertise a trip to the Leland High Snow Play
2.People who want to take part in the activity need to .
A．pay for dinner themselves
B．climb the hill themselves
C．wear hats to protect themselves from the sun
D．pay for tows individually
3.From the passage it can be inferred that .
A．the weather at the hills is changeable
B．the activity is very dangerous
C．12-year-old children are not allowed on the trip
D．the trip will involve outdoor activities only
4.Among the following items, what do the participants have to take?
A．Their filled -in liability forms.
B．ID cards and a small amount of cash.
C．Their agreements with the tour agency.
D．Their registration forms downloaded from the Internet.
World Reading Day was set up by the UNESCO in 1995 to encourage people, especially teenagers, to discover the pleasure of reading. It is also the day to honor great writers, for example, William Shakespeare, born or dead on that day.
Many countries celebrated World Reading Day. Take the UK as an example, on that day, millions of schoolchildren can buy books of special price, a much lower price than usual, in any bookstore. It has been done every year since 1998. World Reading Day 2010 in the UK will take place on Thursday 4th March. Please note that this date applies to the UK and Ireland only. The initiative is so well established in schools there that they want to make sure that the Day happens in term time to really make the most of this opportunity to celebrate books and reading. Most other countries hold World Reading Day on 23 rd April every year.
World Reading Day is also celebrated in China. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, an avid reader, does lots of reading every day though he is very busy. On World Reading Day 2009 he encouraged citizens to do more reading. Wen suggested that young people should spend more time reading. “Books cannot change the world, but people can change the world by changing themselves through reading.”
Reading can benefit people in many ways. Reading helps us to follow the latest developments of science and technology. Reading gives us information about other cultures and places of the world. Reading is also one of the most important ways to learn a foreign language like English.
“Reading makes a full man” (Bacon, 1597). Books, magazines, newspapers and other kinds of reading materials can help us to know more about the out side world and perfect us. Therefore, it is necessary for us to spend time on reading every day.
1.Which of the following statements about World Reading Day is TURE?
A．It was set up to encourage people to learn English.
B．China also celebrates it on 4th March every year.
C．It is also the same day as some great writers was born or died.
D．Only since 1998 has the UK begun to celebrate it.
2.An avid reader is a person who .
A．loves reading B．never reads C．does little reading D．hates reading
3.According to the passage, reading can help people EXCEPT .
A．learn a foreign language better B．know more about culture
C．improve your memory greatly D．know more about the outside world
4.What’s the best title for the passage?
A．World Reading Day in the UK B．Reading makes a full man
C．World Reading Day in China D．World Reading Day and Reading
Billy，a hard-working student，is fourteen years old and in the ninth grade．He has a part-time job that 16 him up every morning at five o’clock，when most people are still 17 asleep．He is a newspaper boy.
Each morning，Billy leaves the house at 5：15 to go to the 18 where the newspapers always are．The newspapers were 19 to the corner by truck at midnight．He always takes a wagon to 20 them．
In the winter it is still dark 21 he gets up every day，but during the rest of the year it is 22 ．Billy must send the newspapers to the houses of people on his 23 in all kinds of weather．He tries to put each paper on the porch(门廊)where it will be 24 from wind and rain or snow．Sometimes his customers give him tips， 25 him very excited．
Billy earns about$70 per month through hard 2 6 ，and he is saving some of the money to go to 27 ，where he has always been longing to go．Besides that，he 28 the rest of the earnings on records and clothes．Once a month，he has to collect the 29 at night since many of them work during the day．That is when he is 30 so that he is full of excitement．Luckily，he gets 31 supported by his family．Sometimes，when Billy is sick，his brother offers to deliver the newspapers for him．Once，his father was too 32 to help him,
Billy has seventy customers now，but he doesn’t feel 33 about the number．
He dreams that he will get 34 customers as possible some day． 35 ，he might win a prize for being an outstanding newspaper boy．He wants to win a trip to Europe，but he will be happy if he wins a new bicycle.
1.A．were B．take C．gets D．pick
2.A．sound B．falling C．fall D．soundly
3.A．corner B．street C．room D．department
4.A．given B．addressed C．handed D．delivered
5.A．carry B．bring C．send D．load
6.A．at which B．while C．that D．when
7.A．short B．black C．1ight D．long
8.A．mad B．way C．route D．path
9.A．protected B．stopped C．kept D．prevented
10.A．making B．1etting C．1eading D．causing
11.A．attempt B．job C．work D．struggle
12.A．abroad B．school C．college D．hospital-
13.A．costs B．spends C．pays D．uses
14.A．paper B．money C．newspapers D．records
15.A．depressed B．energetic C．fulfilled D．moved
16.A．very B．great C．greatly D．a lot of
17.A．1ikely B．reluctant C．tired D．willing
18.A．satisfying B．pleasant C．contented D．happy
19.A．many more B．as much C．as many D．much more
20.A．If that B．If so C．Besides D．What’s more
Niagara Falls is a great tourist drawing millions of visitors from all parts of the world every year．
A．interest B．attraction C．view D．scene
