New research shows sheep are clever
People often make jokes about how dull sheep are, but new research shows they may be cleverer than we think. Researchers at the University of Cambridge discovered that Welsh mountain sheep have brainpower that equals rodents (啮齿动物). Tests found that the sheep can map the area they live in, and some may even be able to plan ahead.
Young fish prefer noisy neighbors
A new study has shown that young fish like to live on reefs with noisy neighbors! Researchers from the universities of Auckland and Bristol found that young fish looking for a home choose areas where other noisy fish live. The scientists produced all kinds of sounds which had been recorded in different natural environments. The young fish seemed to prefer the sounds of natural reefs, complete with noisy animals! The scientists compared the choice to a music fan wandering around at a music festival, choosing to set up a tent closest to the music they like best!
Butterflies are disappearing
A new study has shown that 17 species (物种) of butterfly found in Europe have dropped by 70% in the last 20 years. The information collected from 3,000 sites across 15 countries shows it may be caused by the loss (减少) of grasslands covered with flowers. You can encourage butterflies to come into your garden by planting flowers.
1.What is the passage mainly about?
A．Some new studies about animals. B．People’s wrong ideas about animals.
C．Why the number of animals has dropped. D．The importance of protecting animals.
2.According to the first paragraph, we may infer that sheep _____.
A．are less clever than rodents B．can find their home
C．can read maps D．are good planners
3.Which seems to have to do with the number of butterflies?
A．The species of grass in grasslands. B．The species of trees in grasslands.
C．The number of flowers in grasslands.
D．The number of animals in grasslands.
4.In which part of a newspaper can we most probably read the passage?
A．Geography. B．Culture. C．Travel. D．Nature.
Have you ever considered all the English expressions that include words about clothes? Let’s have a look．
People wear pants to cover the lower part of their bodies．We sometimes say that people who are nervous have ants in their pants．Sometimes，people may get caught with their pants down．They are found doing something they should not be doing．And，in every family，one person takes contro1．Sometimes a wife tells her husband what to do．Then we say she wears the pants in the family.
Pants usually have pockets to hold things．Money that is likely to be spent quickly can bum a hole in your pocket．Sometimes you need a belt to hold up your pants．If you have less money than usual，you may have to tighten your belt.
I always praise people who can save their money and not spend too much. l really take my hat off to them. Yet, when it comes to my own money, I spend it at the drop of a hat, which means I immediately spend it.
Boots are a heavy or strong kind of shoes. People who are too big for their boots think they are more important than they really are. I dislike such people.
My father is an important person. He runs a big company. He wears a suit and tie, and a shirt with sleeves that cover his arms. Some people who do not know him will think he is too serious and never shows his feelings openly. But I know that my father wears his heart on his sleeve.
1.What is this passage mainly about?
A．What pants mean in English. B．Some special English expressions.
C．Some funny English expressions. D．Some expressions related to clothes.
2.Which of the following expressions can show someone is nervous?
A．Get caught with one's pants down. B．Have ants in one's pants.
C．Wear the pants in the family. D．Bum a hole in one's pocket.
3.If we say someone has to tighten his belt, we probably mean he
A．has done something wrong B．used to live a rich life
C．has put on the wrong pants D．doesn’t have enough money
4.Someone who spends his money at the drop of a hat most probably_
A．doesn’t save money B．earns much money
C．never wastes his money D．spends more than he earns
My friend Robert started a new job this week and he’s been in the training class for two days. The employer has a very strict dress code—dark blue shirts and pants.
On the first day, an older gentleman in his class did not have the proper clothes and he was strictly told that he would be fired if he didn’t have the right clothes the next day. He explained, “Sir, I had not been told about this. Because of my larger size, it’s sometimes difficult to find the right clothing for a price I can afford.”
Last night, Robert and I decided that this old man shouldn’t lose the chance of work simply because he couldn’t afford the clothes. I had some cash on hand and Robert took it with him this morning just in case it was needed.
When training started this morning, the trainer was ready to fire the older gentleman. “You have 10 minutes to be in proper clothes,” he was told. At this point, Robert spoke up and asked if he could have 10 minutes to get him the clothes. He then ran out to the store and bought the proper-sized pants and a shirt; he returned with both and gave them to the older man.
The older gentleman began to cry and told him that he couldn’t accept such a gift from a stranger. Robert told him he had to because he had lost the receipt(收据) and couldn’t return them—a little white lie. The pants were a perfect fit, the shirt was a bit tight but he was able to keep his job.
“My wife and I tried to gather together some money last night, but we didn’t have enough to buy the clothes,” he told Robert. “It’s unbelievable to me that anybody would do such a thing for only knowing me a day!”
More unbelievable is how good it has made Robert and me feel to do this.
1.If the older man did not have the proper clothes, he would _____
A．be punished B．be offered another job
C．put off the training class D．lose his job
2.The money which was paid for the clothes belonged to _____
A．the trainer B．the older man
C．the writer D．Robert
3.How did Robert persuade the older man to accept the clothes?
A．He told the older man that he would lose his job if he did not take them.
B．He told a lie that the clothes didn’t fit himself.
C．He told the older man that he could save money and return it later.
D．He told the older man that he had no way to send them back.
4.What might be the best title for the passage?
A．Proper clothes for a stranger B．Fight against strict rules
C．A strange employer D．An unbelievable thing
Everyone in the village knew who Ugly was. Ugly was a_1_with many injuries. His left foot appeared to have been badly broken .Ugly only loved two things in this world: eating garbage and ,shall we say ,__2 __.However, every time someone saw Ugly there was the__3__reaction. All the children were warned not to___4_him, and the adult threw rocks at him when he tried to follow them. Whenever he found children, he would come running and putting his head against their hands. If you ever _5___him up he would immediately begin suckling（允吸）.on your shirt, fingers, whatever he could find . One day, Ugly shared his love with the neighbour’s___6_dog . They did not respond __7__,and Ugly was badly treated . Even from the end of the__8_I could hear his screams, and I tired to rush to his aid. By the time I got to where he was __9__,it was clear Ugly’s life was almost at an end. It must be_10__him terribly, I thought . Then I felt a familiar sucking feeling on my _11__. Ugly, in so much ___12_, was trying to suckle my ear. I pulled him closer to me , and he_13___suckled my fingers and watched me .Even in the greatest pain, that ugly cat was asking only for a little love ,perhaps some ___14_.At that moment I thought Ugly was the most 15____and loving creature I had ever seen .Never once did he bite me, or even try to get away from me. He just _16___me completely trusting in me to relieve his pain. Ugly died in my __17__before I could get inside. He taught me more about __18__than a thousand books, lectures, or talk show ever could . He had been __19__on the outside ,__20 I was on the inside .To give my pity and love to those I cared for.
1. A．cat B．dog C．child D．bird
2. A．running B．food C．love D．playing
3. A．interesting B．funny C．immediate D．same
4. A．touch B．own C．buy D．feed
5. A．warmed B．brought C．picked D．lifted
6. A．lovely B．fierce C．gentle D．big
7. A．politely B．foolishly C．rudely D．kindly
8. A．village B．house C．street D．woods
9. A．lying B．sleeping C．playing D．fighting
10. A．handing B．hurting C．treating D．hitting
11.A face B. hand C. ear D. finger
12.A pain B. excitement C. happiness D. worry
13. A．weakly B．softly C．warmly D．gladly
14. A．care B．comfort C．garbage D．pity
15. A．beautiful B．brave C．curious D．miserable
16. A．waited for B．tore for C．looked up at D．glanced at
17. A．arms B．room C．car D．mind
18. A．life B．giving C．bravery D．struggle
19. A．deserted B．injured C．destroyed D．damaged
20. A．and B．so C．but D．or
The manager has offered us a two-week holiday to Beijing next month.
I have been looking forwarding to it.
A．Good idea! B．Don’t worry C．Oh really? D．why not
Remember____ the baby this aftertoon. Ok , I will
A．having picked up B．picked up C．picking up D．to pick up
