Stories play a vital role in the growth and development of children. The books they read and the characters they get to know can become like friends. It's also good for children to understand that books are a useful source of information and that good reading skills are important for success in their future lives.
Children who can read well are more likely to have higher confidence levels. This will benefit them in school as they’ll feel able to participate fully in activities. Another part of building confidence is to know where you fit into the world. Stories can help with this process by showing children what people's lives are like where they live and in other parts of the world.
Stories are a great way to introduce new words and ideas into a child's language--starting with picture books for the very young, working up to more complex novels for teenagers. Fiction based on real life can also help children with their own life experience--it shows them how diverse the world is and that some people's lives are vastly different from theirs. And the process is done in a natural way. There's no actual teaching involved at all, but they learn from simply reading the story.
Reading helps children understand that there are other children who feel the same way and they are not alone. This helps children understand that feelings are normal and should be expressed. Watching their responses to the feelings of the characters in the stories will give you some idea of how a child feels about certain situations and emotions. For example, how the child responds to the character in the story feeling sad or scared will give you some idea of how the child thinks.
As you can see, children's stories are important for a number of reasons and form a vital part of the growing process. Being part of that process can bring children a sense of satisfaction as well as being great fun. So, go and get your children some wonderful books to allow them to enjoy a relaxing bedtime story.
1.What can we know from Paragraph 1?
A.Reading stories benefits children a lot.
B.Reading is the best way to gain information.
C.Reading stories helps children make more friends.
D.Reading skills should be developed at a young age.
2.How could reading stories raise children's confidence?
A.Inspiring children to get good grades.
B.Supporting children's language development.
C.Aiding children with living in a better family environment.
D.Allowing children to explore their suitable positions in society.
3.What does the author think about learning through reading?
A.Unrealistic.
B.Effective.
C.Time-saving
D.Expensive.
4.What can be inferred from the text?
A.Most teenagers are fond of complex novels.
B.Picture books are lacking in real life situations.
C.Most children have difficulty in expressing themselves.
D.Parents can know kids better from kids' reading responses.
Why is it that you can remember the name of your childhood best friend that you haven't seen in years yet easily forget the name of a person you just met a moment ago？In other words, why are some memories stable over decades, while others disappear within minutes？
Caltech researchers carried out their work about memories in the laboratory. The research team developed a test to examine mice's neural（神经的）activity as they learn about and remember a new place. In the test, a mouse was placed in a straight enclosure( 围 场 ), about 5 feet long with white walls. Unique symbols marked different locations along the walls. Sugar water（a treat for mice）was placed at either end of the track.
When a mouse was placed in the track, it was unsure of what to do at first and wandered left and right until it came across the sugar water. In these cases, single neurons were activated when the mouse took notice of a symbol on the wall. Over numerous experiences with the track, the mouse became familiar with it and remembered the locations of the sugar water. As the mouse became more familiar, more and more neurons were activated when seeing each symbol on the wall. Essentially, the mouse was recognizing where it was with respect to each unique symbol.
To study how memories disappear over time, the researchers then kept back the mice from the track for up to 20 days. Upon returning to the track after this break, mice that had formed strong memories encoded（编码）by higher numbers of neurons remembered the task quickly. Even though some neurons showed different activity, the mouse's memory of the track was clearly identifiable when researchers analyzed the activity of large groups of neurons.
This work shows that memories might disappear more rapidly as we age because a memory is encoded by fewer neurons, and if any of these neurons fail, the memory will be lost. The study suggests that one day, designing treatments that could encourage a higher number of neurons to encode a memory could help prevent memory loss.
1.What is the purpose of the first paragraph?
A.To introduce the topic of the text.
B.To show the examples of bad memory.
C.To compare different people's memories.
D.To prove the importance of childhood memories.
2.During the research, the mouse _______
A.lost interest in the symbols soon
B.had to climb over the long white wall
C.would get sugar water as their rewards
D.wandered left and right nervously all the time
3.What is special about the mice that remembered the task quickly after the break?
A.They had their neurons show different activity.
B.They love sugar water better than other mice.
C.They stayed in the track for over 20 days.
D.They possessed more activated neurons.
4.What does the last paragraph imply?
A.Mice's memory seems better than humans
B.The aging process of humans is unavoidable.
C.Memory loss is expected to be cured in the future.
D.The study has found the way to prevent neurons from failing.
It's hard to say which was in worse shape：the run-down, century-old gallery or the cancer-ridden（患有癌症的）56-year-old man sitting on its old steps. For years, Greg Thomas would sit on those very steps and think of the times when he walked his dogs along the country roads in rural Minnesota. But in May 2009, he learned that the severe headaches, earaches, and jaw aches that he had suffered from for the past year were due to inoperable head and neck cancer. Doctors told Greg's family to be prepared to plan his funeral.
"I was sitting at the gallery and thinking one evening, "Greg said." I kept looking at the building and the shape it was in. I said, 'Before I leave this earth, I'd like to do something for you.”
Greg decided to fix the peeling paint and the leaking（渗漏的）roof, and the damaged steps and so on. He approached the gallery's association with a deal ： He would completely repair the building on one condition："I get a key to the front door so I can go in anytime I want to appreciate the paintings."
The more he worked on the gallery, the better he felt. As Greg continued fixing the gallery, medical scans told him some startling news：His tumors were reducing. Four years and 23 days after Greg's diagnosis, his doctors were able to remove his feeding tube. Today Greg's tumors are gone. He is considered officially recovered and no longer needs follow-up tests.
After five years of Greg's labor and love, the gallery has been restored（恢复）to its former glory. Greg finished his main project last summer, but he will probably always be involved in recovering its beauty (he still wants to replace some windows, for example). Greg held his third annual open house there near Christmas, inviting the entire community. "While I was restoring the gallery, " Greg says, "something was restoring me."
1.What was Greg's plan that evening?
A.To rent the building.
B.To repair the gallery.
C.To hold an exhibition.
D.To study the paintings.
2.When Greg was doing his work, he _______
A.stopped his medical treatment
B.received a large donation
C.got his health improved
D.prepared his funeral
3.What does the underlined word "startling"in the fourth paragraph mean?
A.Misleading.
B.Disappointing.
C.Confusing.
D.Surprising.
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A.Work and love pay.
B.Seniors need more attention.
C.Cancer research progresses quickly.
D.Cultural relics lack proper protection.
Canadians are blessed with an abundance of natural wonders with enough lakes, mountains and rivers to explore for a lifetime. We’ve also got some of the most shocking waterfalls on Earth.
Pissing Mare Falls-Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador
Pissing Mare Falls may have a funny sounding name but they' re no joke: in fact, they' re one of the highest waterfalls in Canada. Located in the beautiful Gros Morne National Park, the falls are only accessible by boat tour.
Takakkaw Falls-Yoho National Park, British Columbia
Takakkaw translated from Cree loosely means the "magnificent", and it's a suitable word for the second-highest waterfalls in Canada. After a steep drive up a winding road, these falls are only a short hike from the parking lot along a wheelchair accessible path.
Niagara Falls-Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls are the most famous waterfalls in Canada.Actually they are made up of three different falls—the Horseshoe Falls, the most powerful in North America, are the only one located on the Canadian side.Melting glaciers（冰川）formed the falls thousands of years ago and the beautiful green color is due to dissolved salt and finely ground（磨）rock.
Bridal Veil Falls-Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park, British Columbia
Pretty and delicate, the Bridal Veil Falls are located just east of Chilliwack, British Columbia, and really do look like a bride with a beautiful veil（ 面 纱 ）, with water gently pouring over smooth rock. An easy 15-minute walk to the falls takes you through rich leaves. Picnic tables are available, and there are lots of opportunities for viewing wildlife along the way.
1.Where are Pissing Mare Falls?
A.Near British Columbia.
B.In a beautiful small park.
C.On the highest mountain in Canada.
D.Between Newfoundland and Labrador.
2.How did Niagara Falls come into being?
A.It remains a mystery.
B.It originated from several rivers.
C.It was formed by the melting glaciers.
D.It was made by dissolved salt and finely ground rock.
3.What can you do in Bridal Veil Falls?
A.Hunting wildlife. B.Having a picnic.
C.Collecting salt. D.Buying veils.
阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。
That night, I quarreled with my mother, then stormed out of the house. While on the road, I remembered that I did not have any money in my pocket, I did not even take my cell phone with me to make a call home.
$At the same time, I went through a noodle shop, and I suddenly felt very hungry. I wished for a bowl of noodles, but I had no money!
The seller saw me standing before the counter and asked, “Hey little girl, you want to eat a bowl?”
“But … but I do not carry money …” I shyly replied.
“Okay, I’ll treat you.” the seller said, “come in, I will cook you a bowl.”
A few minutes later the owner brought me a steaming bowl of noodles. After eating some pieces, I cried.
“What is it?” He asked.
“Nothing. I am just touched by your kindness!” I said as I wiped my tears. “Even a stranger on the street gives me a bowl of noodles, and my mother, after a quarrel, chased me out of the house. She is cruel (残忍的)!!”
The seller sighed, “Girl, why did you think so? Think again. I only gave you a bowl of noodles and you felt that way. Your mother has been taking care of you since you were little, why were you not grateful and why did you hurt your mom?”
I was really surprised after hearing that.
Why did I not think of that? A bowl of noodles from a stranger made me feel grateful, and my mother has raised me since I was little and I have never felt so, not even a little.
注意：1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
Paragraph 1:
Just at that moment, many memories came back into my mind.
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Paragraph 2:
When arriving home, I saw my mother sitting at the dinner table, worried and tired.
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假定你是李华，你的美国朋友Jack发来邮件，想了解中国茶文化常识。现在请你给他回封邮件，内容包括：
1. 中国茶文化简介；
2. 饮茶的好处；
3. 邀请他来中国体验茶文化。
注意：1. 词数80左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Jack,
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Yours,
Li Hua
