Swans are beautiful birds. You must like their beautiful feathers and beautiful dancing. But how much do you know about them? Do you know that swans belong to the same family as ducks?
Swans are birds of the family Anatidae (鸭科). This family also includes geese (鹅) and ducks. Swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are one of the largest flying birds. Swans can fly as fast as 60 miles per hour . Their wingspans can be almost 3 m. The largest swans can reach length of over 1.5 m and weigh over 15 kg. Males are usually bigger and heavier than females.
Swans usually have only one lover for life time. Swans begin breeding(繁殖) between the ages of 3-4. Female swans generally lay five to eight eggs per year, all within days of one another. Their eggs are very big. Some may weigh 400 grams. However, she will not start hatching (孵化) them until the last egg is laid. It takes swans between 35 and 42 days to hatch their eggs .
Swans are beautiful. The swans living in Northern Hemisphere (半球) have white feathers but the ones who live in Southern Hemisphere are black and white. The legs of swans are usually a dark blackish grey colour.
Swans usually live in warm places, always close to some sort of water. Swans feed in the water and on land. They mostly eat plants in the water. Their nests (巢) are on the ground near water and about a metre across. The male helps build the nests.
An Introduction to Swans | |
Family | Swans, geese and ducks are of the 1. family, Anatidae. |
Appearance | Size: They are one of the 2. flying birds. Her wing span will grow to 1.5 metres 3.. 4. : They can be as heavy as 15 kg. Colours: The swans living in the 5. Hemisphere are white. Those living in the Southern Hemisphere are black and white. They have dark blackish grey legs. Feathers: over 25000. |
6. | They can dance __7.__. They can fly as fast as 60 miles per hour. |
Lifestyle | 8. habitat: They live in warm places near water. Diet: They live on 9. plants. Nests: They build nests on the ground near water, about a metre across. Breeding(繁殖): They 10. from 5 to 10 eggs that take from 35 to 42 days to hatch. |
1.We were talking on the phone and then the line went dead . (突然)
2.If die, life is a broken winged bird that can not fly. (梦想)
3.My cousin will celebrate his birthday with his classmates at his college. (二十)
4.How would you colour to a blind person? (解释)
5.One of the keys to business is careful planning. (成功的)
6.We ought to learn to take care of after entering the high school. (we)
7.I have written all the names on this piece of paper. (win)
8.To lose one's life is a tragedy, but to lose one's soul is even . (bad)
9.The teahouse is a popular place for local people to treat their important . (visit)
10.Her father arranged for her to have an on her brain. (operate)
Cities and towns in 35 countries took part. The year 2012 saw 6,950 towns and cities in more than 152 countries took part in Earth Hour movement. Last year 7,000 towns and cities in more than 154 countries took part in Earth Hour. This year, WWF is calling for people across the world to take part in Earth Hour 2014 – the biggest switch-off in history.
For the eighth year, people are being asked to turn off their lights for one hour to call attention to the issue of climate change. The WWF’s organizers say climate change is one of the greatest threats(威胁) facing wildlife and nature. They also say when it comes to save energy and money, big changes start with small steps like turning out the lights.
Earth Hour supporter Jamie Oliver has some great ideas of his own for helping the environment: “We can all make simple changes to help, like always choosing higher-welfare(规模化养殖的) meat, and even trying to have a couple of meat-free days a week. More little steps, such as taking a shower instead of a bath, leaving the car behind and walking to work, not leaving electrical appliances on standby（备用的） and so on are the beginning of a low carbon lifestyle and a healthier world.
This year, Earth Hour is asking people to take the movement “beyond the hour”. Earth Hour is a call to stand up and get involved. We hope everyone will join us in turning off for a brighter future.
1.What’s the main idea of Paragraph 1?
A. The first Earth Hour movement
B. History of Earth Hour and its tasks.
C. Earth Hour has changed our lives.
D. Everyone can make a difference.
2.Which of the following is Wrong?
A. The first Earth Hour started in 2007 in Australia.
B. This year people are expected to turn off their lights for over one hour.
C. For seven years , Earth Hour calls for action on climate change.
D. 7,000 towns and cities in over 154 countries took part in Earth Hour 2013.
3. According to the passage, all the following are small steps we can take Except_____.
A. Turning off our lights in Earth Hour.
B. Taking a bath instead of a shower
C. Going to work on foot instead of by car
D. Choosing higher-welfare meat
4.The best title of the passage is_________________.
A. Climate Change: the greatest threat
B. WWF: a global charity
C. Earth Hour: small steps big difference.
D. Climate Action: a global call
When I was a boy growing up in New Jersey in the 1960s, we had a milkman delivering(递送) milk to our doorstep. His name was Mr. Basille. He wore a white cap and drove a white truck. As a 5-year-old boy, I couldn’t take my eyes off the coin changer (自动换币器) fixed to his belt. He noticed this one day during a delivery and gave me a coin out of his changer.
Of course, he delivered more than milk. There was cheese and other milk products. If we needed to change our order, my mother would write on a note-“Please add a bottle of buttermilk next delivery”-and put it in the box along with the empty bottles. And then, the buttermilk would magically appear.
All of this was about more than convenience(方便). There was a close relationship between families and their milkmen. Mr. Basille even had a key to our house, for those times when it was so cold outside that we put the box indoors, so that the milk wouldn’t freeze. And I remember Mr. Basille from time to time taking a break at our kitchen table, having a cup of tea and telling stories about his delivery.
There is sadly no home milk delivery today. Big companies allowed the production of cheaper milk, as a result, making it difficult for milkmen to compete. Besides, milk is for sale everywhere, and it may just not have been practical to have a delivery service.
Recently, an old milk box in the countryside I saw brought back my childhood memories. I took it home and planted it on the back porch (门廊). Every time my son’s friends ask what it is, I start telling stories of my boyhood, and of the milkman who brought us friendship along with his milk.
1. Why did Mr. Basille give the boy a coin out of his changer?
A. To show his magical power.
B. To satisfy the boy’s curiosity（好奇心）
C. To pay for the milk.
D. To win the family’s trust (信任).
2.What can be inferred (推断) from the fact that the milkman had the key to the boy’s house？
A. He wanted to have tea there.
B. He was a powerful person.
C. He was treated as a family member.
D. He was fully trusted by the family.
3.Why is there no home milk delivery today?
A. Nobody wants to be a milkman now.
B. The government has stopped it by law.
C. It has been driven out of the market.
D. Its service is becoming worse and worse.
4.Why did the author bring back home an old milk box?
A. He missed the good old days.
B. He wanted to tell interesting stories.
C. He missed it for his milk bottles.
D. He used it to beautify the back porch.
Lemuel Gulliver enjoyed travelling. He was a ship’s doctor. On May 4, 1699, they were going to the Far East in the ship called the Antelope. One night, his ship crashed against the rocks, Gulliver was washed to the land. He found himself a prisoner（囚犯）of tiny people. They were less than 6 inches tall and lived in the island country of Lilliput. After he promised to behave well, they set him free and he could visit the city. The people of Blefuscu wanted to attack Lilliput. The king of Lilliput turned to Gulliver. He stopped Blefuscu attacking Lilliput by pulling its ships to Lilliput. The king was happy. He wanted to make the people of Blefuscu his slaves(奴隶), so he asked Gulliver to bring some more ships. Gulliver did not like this plan. The king got angry. Some bad men in Lilliput wanted to kill Gulliver. Gulliver had to run away from Lilliput to Blefuscu.
He was welcomed by the king of Blefuscu. They soon became good friends. Three days after that , he asked king to send him twenty of his largest ships and two thousand men to pull the boat to the shore. In this boat, he set sail for England.
On the third day he saw a big ship to the southeast. He called out to the ship. The ship was moving very slowly. They raised a flag .His heart was full of happiness when he saw the English flag .
1. Why did Gulliver come to Lilliput?
A. Because he enjoyed traveling in Lilliput.
B. Because his ship brought him to Lilliput.
C. Because the tiny people brought him to Lilliput.
D. Because he was washed to Lilliput after a ship crash.
2.How did Gulliver help the Lilliputians?
A. By fighting with them.
B. By stealing Blefuscuians’ ships.
C. By killing Blefuscuians.
D. By keeping Blefuscuians prisoners.
3.“He wanted to make the people of Blefuscu his slaves”. Who is he in this sentence?
A. The king of Lilliput. B. The king of Blefuscu.
C. Gulliver. D. One of the bad men.
4. Which of the following is NOT the reason why Gulliver ran away from Lilliput?
A. Gulliver killed some bad Lilliputians.
B. Gulliver felt he was in danger.
C. Gulliver didn’t agree to the king’s plan.
D. The king of Lilliput was unhappy about him.
The Healthy Habits Survey shows that only about one third of American seniors(年长者) have correct habits. Here are some findings and expert advice.
1. How many times did you brush your teeth yesterday?
·Finding：A full 33% of seniors brush their teeth only once a day.
·Step： Remove the 300 types of bacteria(细菌) in your mouth each morning with a battery-operated toothbrush. Brush gently for 2 minutes, at least twice a day.
2. How many times did you wash your hands or bathe yesterday?
·Finding：Seniors, on average, bathe fewer than 3 days a week. And nearly 30% wash their
hands only 4 times a day---half of the number which doctors recommend.
·Step：We touch our faces around 3,000 times a day-often inviting germs（病菌）to enter our mouth, nose, and eyes. Use toilet paper to avoid touching the door handle. And, most important, wash your hands often with hot running water and soap for 20 seconds.
3. How often do you think about fighting germs?
·Finding：Seniors are not fighting germs as well as they should.
·Step： Do you know it is not your toilet but your kitchen sponge（海绵）that can carry more germs than anything else? To kill these germs, keep your sponge in the microwave for 10 seconds.
1.What is found out American seniors?
A. Most of them have good habits.
B. Nearly 30% of them bathe three days a week .
C. All of then are fighting germs better than expected .
D. About one third of them brush their teeth only once a day.
2. Doctors suggest that people should wash their hands .
A. twice a day B. three times a day
C. four times a day D. eight times a day
3.Which of the following is True according to the text ?
A. We should keep from touching our faces .
B. There are less than 300 types of bacteria in the mouth .
C. A kitchen sponge can carry more germs than a toilet .
D. We should wash our hands before touching a door handle .
