根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
California is dry. The sunny state is suffering from a four-year drought — a serious and unusual lack of rainfall. The effects of the drought can be seen most clearly in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. Much of the state’s water supply comes from the deep snow that falls in these mountains. That snow melts in the spring and fills the state’s rivers, lakes, and underground bodies of water. 1. .As a result, experts are now warning that California currently has only a one-year supply of usable water. Today we are standing on dry grass where there should be five feet of snow.
2. .That means people will have to limit their water use at home. They can do this by not watering lawns and reducing how much water they use for cleaning and cooking. 3. Places like golf courses currently use a lot of water to keep lawns green. They’ll need to find solutions for this problem that require less water.
California’s water crisis has been caused mainly by a lack of rain and snowfall over the past few years. 4. . Today, California is home to nearly 40 million people. This is double the number who lived there in 1960.
California simply has too many people for its natural resources. 5. . Many people have moved to the state because of its natural beauty and pleasant weather. And several major businesses are based in California, including Hollywood movie companies such as Warner Bros. and technology giants like Apple.
The drought is not likely to destroy California’s businesses, but the state will have to rethink how it grows and does things.
A. People can benefit a lot from this terrible drought.
B. This serious drought needs immediate action.
C. Nature has prepared so much for people.
D. Mother Nature didn’t intend for so many people.
E. But the snow hasn’t been falling.
F. But another big problem is its growing population.
G. Some public places will need to make big changes.
The Christmas season is often considered the season of giving. Many of us spend a lot of effort and money in an attempt to give our friends and loved ones the best possible gift. But what is the best gift you could possibly give?
Imagine that your bank gave you an account with $86,400 every morning of every day. You could use this amount of money for anything you want. But at the end of every day, the bank tells you that money in the account can only be used within that day. How would you choose to spend this money?
This is the attitude we should take towards the time. Time can never get back. It is the only resource that 
no one can get more than another person.
Around the holiday season, we find ourselves very busy. It is a point in the year where how you spend your time is crucial. Spending this valuable time to help another human being in need is one of the greatest gifts we can give. We never know when even giving a short amount of time to help or listen to a stranger, could make the re
st of their day much more pleasant.
However, the saying that money is time is one of the truest statements ever made. By the act of donating money to a non profit organization which helps — for example, you are allowing that single mother to spend more time looking after her children, instead of being forced to spend time looking for a temporary second job. By donating some money, you have helped someone else use their time for a better cause.
One organization I personally would encourage you to consider spending your time and/or money would be Eva Initiatives, an organization created for the homeless. I have volunteered there twice. It was a very positive experience, and being able to learn more about who lived there really gave me a perspective on the real struggles of the people around us.
1.What is the function of the first paragraph?
A. To imply choosing the proper gifts for others.
B. To introduce the theme of the passage.
C. To arouse attention from the readers.
D. To show giving gifts is a common practice.
2.What can we conclude from the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs?
A. Lost time never returns.
B. Time is sure to tell the truth.
C. Time tries friends as fire tries gold.
D. Time can create great wonders.
3.What do you think of the author in the passage?
A. Warm-hearted.
B. Responsible.
C. Encouraging.
D. Strong-minded.
“Wake up. Alicia is waiting for you outside,” my mother called from the kitchen. My mother didn’t like me going for this weekend to my friend’s house in the mountains. “I trust you, but I don’t trust the people out there,” she said seriously. “I’m going to be fine,” were my last words before closing the door of the Jeep. The vehicle went along the dusty road and my mother grew smaller in the distance.
The trip over the rough road was uncomfortable. It was scary to climb the steep hills surrounded by great pines. After a long trip we finally arrived at the house. From the moment I got there I knew I would forever love the house. It was decorated like an old country home. My room was small, yet set u
p nicely. That night I went to sleep early, not because I didn’t want to continue my search, but because I was tired after the long trip.
In the morning, the singing of the birds woke me up. The light was just getting through the window. A strong smell of baking and fresh coffee came from the kitchen. I wandered around looking for a living soul, but the house was empty. I had the whole day to myself; my friend had gone hiking. I didn’t want to go with her. The main reason for this trip was to spend some time alone to think about the events happening in my life.
After an icy shower, my energies were at their fullest. With basket in hand, I started my hunt. I did not mind walking alone; it was a wonderful feeling to be in contact with nature for the first time. The sound of the water running through the rocks gave me great peace. I never felt such independence in my soul before.
1. According to the first paragraph, we can know that________.
A. the author took a cold attitude towards her mother
B. the author had an argument with her mother
C. the author preferred to live in the mountains
D. the author’s mother was worried about her safety
2.How did the author find the trip to her friend’s house?
A. Interesting and impressive.
B. Interesting and comfortable.
C. Easy and exciting.
D. Rough but very exciting.
3.The purpose of the trip for the author is to________.
A. enjoy the quiet and beautiful nature
B. continue her search for special things
C. give herself a chance to think alone
D. go hiking in the mountains with her friend
4.What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Her close friend.
B. The peaceful life.
C. A favorite trip.
D. The distant village.
Nobody likes having to deal with an upset child. If your little one is hurt, scared or sad, your heart breaks for her. If she’s mad, it can make you mad. You want to be there for her and comfort her, but the best way to do that will depend mainly on two things: why she’s upset and how old she is. Be calm and open-minded when trying to comfort your upset child.
Try to find out why your child is upset, because that affects how you should respond and what will be most effective in trying to comfort her. Take her aside and sit down to talk on her level, physically and emotionally. Be sure she knows she has your complete attention while she’s telling you about the friend who wouldn’t share her new toy and so on. Even if you’ve got 20 other things you need to get done, make yourself take a break and focus on her for a few minutes.
Listen carefully to what your child says, and also pay attention to what she’s not saying. If she says she’s upset because “she hates her stupid school”, you must “choose to accept it” — to read between the lines. Maybe she’s struggling with her studies, or the teacher scolded(责备) her in front of everybody. Patiently listen and try to draw her out so you know what kind of problem you’re dealing with.
Sometimes just knowing someone hears her pain goes a long way toward comforting an upset child. Don’t make excuses or blame others, just let her know her feelings are natural and understandable. Give her permission to feel sad for a little bit or even cry a little, and give her a big hug. Then help her think of ways to get over the hurt and refocus her attention on another activity or 
friend.
1.What is the purpose of the author in the passage?
A. To show an upset child is very tough.
B. To share his experience of keeping a child.
C. To tell how to comfort an upset child.
D. To get advice on how to raise a child.
2. When faced with an upset child, the parents________.
A. may feel at a loss(不知所措）what to do next
B. should turn to experts for advice
C. should keep him company all the time
D. will easily get angry and frustrated
3.When parents have a talk with their child patiently, she can .
A. focus her attention on the talk
B. understand her parents easily
C. talk about her new toy with you
D. open her heart to the parent
s
4.The underlined part in the passage means to________.
A. advise her to tell the reason
B. drive her out of home
C. take her to the outside
D. blame her
When Kathryn was 6 years old, she sat outside for three hours at her home and did not make a sound.Her parents wondered why she was so quiet, only to discover that she was drawing a picture of a flag outside. She recalled. “That’s what I wanted to do that day,” said Kathryn, who is now 23 years old. And in the future, she continued to do art as a hobby.
Recently, Kathryn was named Lake Placid’s first artist in the neighborhood. She will be there for at least four weeks and possibly more. During that time, she will teach an art class and focus on her own art. Much of her work includes creating photos. She said: “There is always something there that you haven’t included, so you can never stop when painting a photo.”
Kathryn ended up as the first artist just by chance. She said her sister was on vacation in Florida and looking for a job in Lake Placid. The sister got the job and moved there.
Kathryn said she visited her sister and was ordered to do wall paintings inside a building. Later, her sister saw a demand for an artist on line and suggested she should apply.
Kathryn said she’s the first artist in her family, but added that her parents are creative. Her father loves to create things from wood, she said. “Anything you can make out of wood, he has made it,” she said.
Her own creativity with art continued through college. While at college, she was once employed to recreate a photo of a couple on a vacation to Florida and one of a sunset in either North Carolina or South Carolina.
Kathryn said she’s looking at 
other forms of art. The time she spends here will help her to “figure out who I am as an artist,” she said.
1.From the first paragraph, we can know that________.
A. Kathryn had few words at her early age
B. Kathryn would sit outside in silence
C. Kathryn used to keep silent at home
D. Kathryn liked art since her childhood
2.While painting a photo, Kathryn thinks ________.
A. It’s hard to finish a perfect job.
B. you can’t stop half way
C. you may miss the photos somewhere
D. you have to finish it at a time
3.Talking of her father, Kathryn________ .
A. praised him for his wood art
B. was ashamed of his form of wood art
C. was greatly proud of him
D. felt pity for his creative talent
4. What is the passage mainly about?
A. A young artist treats art more than a hobby.
B. A hobby becomes a pursuit(追求) for an artist.
C. A girl finds her value in her own hobby.
D. A girl walks out of her hobby as an artist.
书面表达
假如你是一名中学生，叫李华，根据下表内容用英语写信给某报社Just ask 栏目的主持人Witman, 请求帮助解决一个长期困扰你如何与同桌相互交流、沟通的问题。
你的情况 | 学习成绩好；喜欢与同学交谈，乐于助人 |
你同桌的情况 | 学习勤奋，遵守纪律；性格内向，很少与人交流、沟通；有时要发脾气 |
注意：1、开头已写好，只需接着写 2、可适当发挥，使文章更连贯3、词数100左右
参考词汇：发脾气 lose one’s temper
Dear Witman,
I’m a middle school student．________________________________________________
