Earth is home to around 7 ， 000 languages ， around half of which are expected to disappear by 2100．
Languages disappear for many reasons． Sometimes younger generations stop learning a language because parents want children to fit in．1. Native American children of the late﹣l9th century were required to attend boarding schools where educators forbade them from speaking their native languages．
The United Nations ranks endangered languages according to their risk level．For example ， a " critically endangered " language is one that even grandparents don ' t speak often． New York ' s Onondaga language is an example with only 50 speakers left． An " extinct" language has no speakers． It is gone forever． Alaska 's Eyak language is one example．2.
3. In the same way ， different languages contribute to cultural diversity． Saving these languages benefits our understanding of other cultures． Languages can show how a society looks at the world and what it values． A language may describe something in a way that is funny ， too． In Welsh ， it rains not cats and dogs ， but old wives and walking sticks．
The Endangered Language Alliance wants to save languages from disappearing．4. However ， its efforts are limited． If an endangered language is going to make a real comeback ， it '11probably get its start in schools． For nearly 100 years ， public schools in Hawaii did not teach the Hawaiian language． Now students can keep learning in Hawaiian from elementary schools to college and beyond．
5. At least one did． In 1881 ， a Jewish linguist named Eliezer Ben﹣Yehuda brought the 3 ，000﹣year﹣old language Hebrew back to life． Today it is one of the official languages of the country of Israel， with more than 4million speakers．
A．The last person who spoke it died in 2008．
B．Why should we save endangered languages
C．Various animals and plants benefit our environment．
D．With just 5 speakers left ， it is absolutely endangered．
E．Can a language with zero native speakers come back to life
F．Sometimes societies force minorities to give up their language．
G． The non﹣profit group finds native speakers and records their stories．
Kong Qiu,better known as Confucius, was born in 551 B. C. , in the Lu state of China. His teachings, preserved in " Lunyu ", focused on creating models for good behavior and setting educational standards. He died in 479 B. C. Confucianism later became the official philosophy of the Chinese empire, and was extremely influential during the Han, Tang and Song dynasties.
Little is known of Confucius ' childhood. " Records of the Historian" , written by Ssu-ma Chi’en,offers the most detailed account of Confucius ' life. However, some modem histonans question its accuracy,regarding it as myth, not fact. The book says that Confucius was born into a royal family while others say that Confucius was bom into poverty. One fact is clear, though: Confucius lived during a time of great trouble in China.
Over 2 ,500 years ago , China ' s Chou Empire began to fall apart. Warring Chinese states caused it to break down. Traditional Chinese values then began to decline. Confucius saw this as an opportunity to strengthen the old Chinese values and customs. His ideas were based on the principle of " ren" or "loving others" while practicing self-control. He believed that ren could be put into action using the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule is" do not do to others what you do not wish for yourself. "
Confucius ' political beliefs were likewise based on the concept of self-control. He believed that a leader should stay humble and treat his followers with care. In doing so, he would lead by positive example. According to Confucius,leaders could motivate their subjects to follow the law by teaching them virtue.
His philosophy of education focused on the " Six Arts". To Confucius, the main objective of being an educator was to teach people to be honest and kind. He tried to encourage people to be more polite to each other.
By the second century B. C. , during China ' s first Han Dynasty, his ideas became the foundation for the state government. Today, he is widely considered one of the most influential teachers in Chinese history.
1.Confucius would be MOST likely to agree that the purpose of education is
A. to have rich knowledge. B. to live a good moral life.
C. to gain wealth and power . D. to learn six core subjects.
2.Each of the following affected Confucius ' ideas EXCEPT .
A. the Han Dynasty . B. the Chou Dynasty.
C. traditional Chinese values . D. the war time experience.
3.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the text?
A. Confucius led a bitter life in his childhood.
B. Traditional values were gone because of the end of Chou.
C. Confucius ' ideas influenced the leadership of the country.
D. Confucius devotedly promoted ideas contrary to traditional ones.
4.Self-control is central to Confucius ' philosophy because _________ .
A. it is the basis of the state government.
B. it is the foundation of the Golden Rule.
C. it is necessary to be a productive philosopher.
D. it helps people be humble and set an example.
Humans have uniquely expressive faces. We laugh, we cry, we turn red with feeling. Now, scientists report that blue-and-yellow macaws(金刚鹦鹉) may join us in this club of emotions – at least,when it comes to blushing.
Parrots are known for being clever and chatty. They ' re even skilled enough to make their own tools and occasionally nose their way into human machines like cars. Their curiosity and courage are what make them excellent pets. So it ' s no surprise that they have their own range of communication tools. On the whole, birds are no strangers to blushing. Many different kinds of birds have been known to exhibit this hehavior. Parrot owners often notice it in their pets. The motivations behind it are still a mystery to scientists , though.
To zero in on why macaw faces blush,some scientists led by Aline Bertin of the University of Tours studied five captive blue-and-yellow macaws as they interacted with each other and their human caretakers. They were amazed to see that human attention seemed to make the macaws blush. The blushing died down when the caretakers ignored the parrots.
Facial expressions can be signs of a human ' s emotional state. Likewise, bird blushing could convey well-being. It' s not quite as obvious as smiling. Still, it ' s fairly impressive. After all, these macaws don' t have the same facial muscles that we do. The birds are much smarter and kinder than they look. They are believed to be as intelligent as monkeys.
Bertin and the other scientists believe their work opens the door to further research. One limitation of the study is that no macaws in natural environment have been observed. That makes it hard to draw conclusions about the birds as a species. They are also not quite sure what the blushing means. There is still more to learn about these possible expressions of emotion.
1.Which of the following best explains" captive" in paragraph 3 ?
A. Unique. B. Talkative.
C. Curious. D. Caged.
2.Birds might blush_____________.
A. when people ignore them . B. to show they are happy.
C. to show they are hungry . D. when something upsets them.
3.What is TRUE about scientists ' reaction to macaws blushing?
A. They are puzzled by how birds can communicate with one another.
B. They are motivated to continue studying how macaws express emotion.
C. They are curious about why other birds are unable to convey emotion.
D. They are interested to study monkeys to see if they blush as strongly.
4.What is the main idea of the text?
A. Parrots make excellent pets.
B. Parrots are skilled to make tools.
C. The macaws can communicate with each other.
D. The macaws can go red in the face with feeling.
We humans are sweet on sugar. That makes sense. All animals need sugar to live. It ' s the fuel that powers our cells. So it' s not surprising that we ' re born to want the sweet stuff.
Sugar stores the sun' s energy like a battery. After a meal,your body breaks down foods into their building blocks. It uses some sugars for energy right away. The rest get stored for the body to break down later. It ' s a myth that sugar makes you extremely excited, but having a sugary snack can give you a quick burst of energy. That ' s because the sugars in sweet foods are easy for your body to turn into fuel. When you eat other kinds of foods,like vegetables, it takes longer for your body to break the sugars down.
These days it' s easy to find sweet snacks. Sodas, candy, cakes and even foods that seem healthy , such as yogurt,can be packed with sugar. Food makers add sugar,because they know that to humans, sweet makes everything taste better. Americans eat about 20 teaspoons of extra sugar everyday. That' s way more than what is good for us.
Eating too much sugar can cause more than a stomach-ache. It can make people overweight, decay the teeth and even cause diabetes. However, experts aren ' t worried about naturally sweet foods- the problem is added sugar. So go ahead and enjoy a sweet apple or even a sugar-rich carrot that are also full of vitamins and other good stuff.
Even cake is great once in a while , as long as you don ' t overdo it. After all, no one wants life to be dull. And your body needs its fuel!
1.The first two paragraphs are mainly developed by _'
A. cause and effect. B. problem and solution.
C. giving examples . D. making comparisons.
2.People may be tncked into eating too much sugar because .
A. no one wants life to be boring.
B. we ' re born to want the sweet stuff.
C. so-called healthy food can be packed with sugar.
D. sugar is the fuel for the plants and animals on the Earth.
3.What does the author want to stress in Para. 4?
A. We' d better say no to sweet foods.
B. Experts are worried about added sugar.
C. Eating too much sugar is bad for our health.
D. We ' d better consume sugar from natural sources.
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A. Sugar Is Everywhere. B. Sugar Brings Happiness.
C. Why Does Sugar Taste So good? D. Why Does Sugar Make Us Fat?
EXPERIENCE COLUMBIA
HOT ATTRACTIONS
◆RIVERBANKS ZOO&GARDEN
It is home to more than 2.000 animals and one of the nation's most beautiful botanical gardens.With more than 350 species from around the world,Riverbanks is one of the largest mid— sized zoos in the country.
Hours:9:00a.m．一5:00p.m.daily.
Admission:Adults(13—61)一$19.95
Children(2—12)——$16.95
◆EDVENTURE
The Soutll's largest children's museum has 300 exhibits to mspire children to expenence the joy of learning. where else but EdVenture can children drive a real fire truck, anchor the news or visit another country?
Hours : Monday - Sunday :9 a. m. -5 p. m.
Admission : Members Free
Children and Adults - $ 11. 95
◆SOUTH CAROLINA STATE MUSEUM
The stories of South Carolina come alive through the exhibits and collections of the State Museum. Plus, a new 4-D theater provides popular movies that excite all ages. Museum members are invited to night-sky observing and more on Tuesday nights !
Hours : Mon. ,Wed. - Fri. :10 a. m. -5 p. m. ,Tues. :10 a. m. -10 p. m. ,
Sat. :10 a. m. -6 p. m. ,Sun. :Noon -5 p. m.
Admission:Adults (13 -61) : $ 8.95
Children (3 - 12) : $ 6. 95
◆SALUDA SHOALS PARK
Saluda Shoals Park is a sensitive riverfront park that invites visitors to experience the treasures of the Saluda River through exceptional educational and cultural opportunities.
Fun-filled Family Activities Nightly! ( except Thanksgiving, Chnstmas Eve and Christmas night)
Free for activities : apply with Holiday Lights admission ( $ 20/car; $ 40/15-passenger vehicle; $ 60/bus) .
1.Which attraction best suits a child interested in broadcasting news?
A. EdVenture. B. The State Museum.
C. Saluda Shoals Park. D. Riverbanks Zoo & garden.
2.How much should a young couple with a 4-year-old son pay to enjoy various plants and animals?
A. $ 24.85. B. $ 20.
C. $ 56.85. D. $ 35.85.
3.Which of the following is available to all tourists in the State Museum?
A. Having a fantastic visual feast at l : 00 p. m.
B. Visiting the exhibits on Sunday morning.
C. Enjoying free family activities every night.
D. Observing the amazing night sky on Tuesday nights.
阅读下面短文，然后按要求写一篇150词左右的英语短文。
Let’s face it. You are constantly exposed to common viruses. There is nothing you can do about them. However, you can greatly influence the effect of those viruses on your health. Don’t accept that the flu or common cold is something you have to suffer from time to time. Cast off this thought and keep yourself and your entire family healthy regardless of the weather or season. These easy tips will help you to reduce the number of times you are down with the flu or common cold:
1. Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables daily. They are needed to increase your ability to win the fight against common viruses.
2. Drink plenty of water. The water runs through your body, removing everything your body wants to get rid of.
3. Sleep 8 hours per night. If you often fail to have enough sleep, not only will you feel tired, but also your immune system will work less efficiently. You will be more easily affected by viruses.
（写作内容）
请你用英语以“健康的生活习惯让我们远离病毒”为题写一篇短文，主要内容包括:
1.以约30个词概括以上短文的主要内容。
2.然后以约120个词谈谈你对养成健康生活习惯的看法，内容包括:
(1) 病毒的危害及形成健康生活习惯的必要性；
(2) 要保持健康，还有哪些可行措施；
(3) 倡导大家培养良好生活习惯，健康生活。
（写作要求）
1.写作过程中不能直接引用原文语句；
2.作文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称；
3.不必写标题。
（评分标准）
内容完整，语言规范，语篇连贯，词数适当。
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