14-year-old Jason Morgan talks about an exciting science project.
     Last month I got the chance to take part in an underwater research project in an area of the Gulf of
Mexico called the Flower Gardens. A team of professional researchers' led by the scientist Dr Matt Phillips,
was trying to learn more about the fish and different creatures that live in this part of the sea. The Flower
Gardens are a long way from the shore (海岸) and we spent three days on a boat.
     The team used a piece of underwater equipment called ROV to collect information. The ROV was great fun. It was controlled by a computer on the boat, and I was allowed to operate it a few times. 
     However, the thing I enjoyed most was diving (潜水) into the water. At first, I was quite scared---mainly
because I couldn' t see land in any direction. But as soon as I jumped into the water, I wasn't afraid anymore.
It was amazing to see the colorful fish swimming around and I could see all the ways to the Flower Gardens,
which are almost 30 meters down. I will never forget the Flower Gardens. The trip was like a holiday but I also
learnt new things about science and research projects. It was a great opportunity and it has made me think
about my goals (目标) in life. The experience will help me work harder to become a scientist.

1. Jason and the team stayed on the boat for ______ days.

A. three
B. two
C. five
D. eight

2. What did Jason think of the ROV?

A. It was boring.
B. It was difficult to operate.
C. It was great fun.
D. It was an expensive piece of equipment.

3. Jason didn't ______ in the Flower Gardens.

A. operate the ROV
B. walk along the shore
C. dive in the water
D. see many colorful fish

4. What influence has the trip had on Jason?

A. It has changed his opinion of science.
B. It has improved the way he works in a team.
C. It has made him more interested in the sea.
D. It has encouraged him to work harder towards his goals.

5. What might Jason write in his diary about the trip?

A. It was interesting to work with Dr Phillips and his team but I wish someone else had been on the trip.
B. The Flower Gardens are beautiful but scientists are worried that pollution are worried that pollution.
C. The trip was like a holiday and I saw some amazing fish. The only thing I dislike was
     collecting information about the sea.
D. Going to the Flower Gardens was great fun. I now know much more about science but
     I realize there's still a lot more to learn.

      I had the meanest mother in the whole world. While other kids ate candy for breakfast, I had to have
porridge, eggs or toast. When others had Cokes and candy for lunch, I had to eat a sandwich. But at least
I wasn't alone when I was sad. My sister and two brothers had the same mean (刻薄的) mother as I did.?
     My mother preferred to know where we were all the time. She had to know who our friends were and
where we were going. We had to clean clothes and take a bath every day. The other kids got to wear the
same clothes for days. We could not lie in bed "sick" in order to miss school.? 
     The worst is yet to come. We had to be in bed by nine each night and get up at eight the next morning.
We couldn't sleep till noon like our friends. So while they slept, my mother was brave to break the Child
Labour Law. She made us work. We had to wash dishes, make beds, and learn to cook and all sorts of
things at home. I believe she lay awake thinking up all things for us to do. ?
     My mother was a complete failure as a mother. Two of her children received higher education. None of
us have ever been arrested (taken away by the police) or divorced. She forced us to grow up into educated
and honest adults. I am trying to raise my three children this way. I am filled with pride when my children
call me "mean". Why? Because now I thank God every day for giving me the meanest mother in the world.?

1. How many children does the writer's mother have??

A. Four.
B. Two.
C. Three.
D. Six. ?

2. What can you infer (推测) from the passage???

A. My family was rich, so I ate a sandwich for lunch.?
B. My mother was a great success. We love her.?
C. If we didn't want to go to school, the best way was to pretend to be sick.?
D. We needn't share the housework at home.

3. The best title for this passage may be _______. ?

A. My childhood
B. The meanest mother?
C. I do as my mother did
D. Unforgettable memories

     The building is shaking. A woman with a baby in her arms is trying to open the door, but fails. Finding
no way, she rushes into her bedroom and there they survive the earthquake. ?
     In a factory building, as the workshop floor swings under the terrible shaking, workers run for safety.
Some hide (隐藏) under the machines and survive, but others who try to run outside are killed by the falling
ceilings.?
     These scenes, played by actors and actresses, are from a film of science education 《Making a
Split Second Decision》 shown in 1998 on China Central TV in memory of Tangshan Earthquake. By
studying actual cases in the earthquake areas and scientific experiments, experts (专家) find that buildings
remain untouched for the first 12 seconds of an earthquake.?
     In this short time, one has the best chance of surviving an earthquake by staying near the inside walls, in
bedrooms and under beds, experts concluded in the film. "Earthquakes seem to catch the lives of those who
run," said many survivors in the earthquake areas, describing how their friends were killed on the doorways
or along the stair steps as they tried to get out of the building.?
     Their advice was proved in the film, "Take a hiding-place where you are rather than run, unless you are
sure you can reach a safe open place in ten seconds."?

1. The word "survive" appears in the passage several times. It probably means ________ in Chinese.

A. 遇难
B. 幸存
C. 恐惧
D. 摇晃 ?

2. The workers who tried to run outside the building died because ________.?

A. the factory building was shaking terribly?
B. they were making a film?
C. they didn't have enough time to run outside?
D. they were too nervous

3. The passage suggests that you should ________ when an earthquake happens.?

A. cry for help?
B. not move and lie on the floor at once?
C. run down the steps as fast as you can?
D. find a safe place and hide in at once or run out in ten seconds

4. Where can we probably find this passage??

A. In a magazine.
B. In an advertisement.
C. In a history book.
D. In a poster.

                                   To Give up or Not to Give up as Class Monitor??
Dear Brad, ?
      In about 3 months, I will take a very important test. If I pass the test with good grades, I can get to the
10th grade and choose a good school to study in. Now I am trying my best to achieve this. At the same time, I'm the monitor in my class, which means I should do lots of things for my class. ① I am so busy with my
school-work and duties as monitor that I don't have enough time to keep a balance between them. Gradually
I become lazy. ② The other day, my head teacher told me that she was disappointed in my poor performance
as class monitor. Her words really discouraged me. ?
     What should I do now, to give up or not to give up as class monitor? I must do my best in school because
how well I do will influence where I go after this school year is over and it can affect the rest of my life. Being
class monitor is also a valuable learning experience because my teacher trusts me to be a good leader. ③ I
don't want to go to my parents for suggestions, for they will get worried about me. Can you tell me how to
choose??
                                                                                                                                                Yours, ?
                                                                                                                                                Gates?

1. 根据①处内容，完成下面的句子。(每空一词)?
    I am _______ busy with my school-work and duties as monitor _______ have enough time to keep a
balance between them. ?

2. 根据②处内容，完成下面的句子。(每空一词)?

     The other day, my head teacher said to me, " _______ _______ disappointed in your poor performance
as class monitor." ?

3. 将③处翻译成汉语。
    _____________________________________________________________________________________ 

      One afternoon, my son came home from school and asked me, "Are all people the same even if their
skin color is different?" I thought for a moment, then I said, "I'll explain. Let's go to a fruit store first. I
have something interesting to show you."
     At the store, I told him that we needed to buy apples. And we bought some red apples, green apples and
yellow apples.
     After we got home, I told Adam, "It's time to answer your question." I put one of each type of apple on
the table: first a red apple, followed by a green apple and then a yellow apple. Then I looked at Adam, who
was sitting on the other side of the table.
     "Adam, people are just like apples. They come in different colors, shapes and sizes. See, some may not
even look as delicious as others." As I was talking, Adam was examining each one carefully.
     Then, I took each of the apples and peeled them, placing them back on the table, but in a different place.
     "OK, Adam, tell me which one is the red apple, the green apple and the yellow apple."
      He said, "I can't tell. They all look the same now."
      "Take a bite (一口) of each one. See if that helps you tell which one is which."
     He took big bites, and then a huge smile came across his face. "People are just like apples! They are all
different, but if you take off the outside, they're pretty much the same on the inside."
     "Right," I agreed. "Just like everyone has their own features but they are nearly the same."
     He completely got it. I didn't need to say or do anything else.
     Now, when I eat an apple, it tastes a little sweeter than before. What perfect fruit it is!

1. I took Adam to buy apples for ________.

A. supper
B. his question
C. a party
D. a present

2. As soon as we got home, I put ________ on the table.

A. all the apples
B. three apples of different colors
C. three red apples
D. three peeled apples

3. After Adam took big bites, he found they ________. 

A. looked the same
B. tasted good
C. tasted the same
D. weren't delicious

4. In the end, Adam understood that ________.

A. people are much the same even if their skin color is different
B. people are different if their skin color is different
C. the apples look the same after they are peeled
D. apples of different colors taste different

5. I feel that apples taste a little sweeter than before because ________.

A. they are delicious enough
B. they are perfect fruit for thinking
C. they are safe fruit
D. my son falls in love with them

     Guo Liqin, 24, works as a primary school teacher in a distant area in Yunnan Province. The Internet
offers him the latest news and entertainment from the outside world. And many people like him also
depends on the online libraries for the free literature (文学) reading.    
     A survey in China last year found the online literature is the biggest growth area of Internet entertainment.
     Reading for free is also popular in other countries. See what solutions other countries are taking.
     Public Libraries
     In countries such as Germany, Canada, and the UK, governments pay the authors to have their books in
public libraries.
     The pay is different from country to country. Some pay according to how many times a book has been
borrowed; others pay according to whether the library has bought the book or not.
     Google Books
     Google Books allow users to see some free parts before buying them.
     The author can choose to make from 20% to 100% of the book's content (内容) for free reading. But
you can see a full view of books that are out of copyright (版权).
     E-magazines
     E-magazines are usually about pop culture, and make money through advertisements. The writers are
usually paid by the numbers of words they write.
     Digital Library
     There are many free online libraries of books which are no longer in copyright.
     American and European websites offer classic (古典的) literature and non-fiction texts like dictionaries
for download in different languages.

1. Guo Liqin depends on _______ for free reading.

A. online libraries
B. city bookstores
C. school libraries
D. borrowing books

2. From the passage we know other countries are taking _______ solutions for reading for free.

A. 3
B. 4
C. 5
D. 6

3. In some countries, the authors are paid by _______ to have their books in public libraries.

A. advertisements
B. readers
C. governments
D. the word numbers

4. Google Books and Digital Library allow users to read the full books _______.

A. which are out of copyright
B. which are in copyright
C. which are about pop culture
D. which have some free parts

5. The best title of the passage is _______.

A. Enjoy Reading
B. Learn How to Read
C. The Importance of Reading
D. How to Read for Free

     How times flies! Junior 3 students will take the senior high school student entrance exam. They are
studying hard for this big challenge, and they are also (1) w_______ about it. Do they have time to do
something to celebrate their middle school years? Many do.
     Liu Jia, 14, from Beijing said that in her class students are (2) w_______ goodbye messages or letters
for each other. They are also giving photos to each other.
     "Even the head teacher has a project," said Liu. "She (3) p_______ to put all our class photos onto a CD
and give each student one."
     Li Wei, 14, in Xianning, Hubei said that their English teacher Ms Deng asks them to write what they want
to be when they (4) g_______ up on the paper. She likes her students to come back after they graduate, and
share their teen-time dreams together. Doing that (5) e_______ her students to work harder for their future.
     Chen Ze, 15, in Guangzhou said his classmates are making "lucky stars" as graduation (6) g_______. The
cheerful stars are (7) m_______ of colored paper.
     "(8) B_______ you make a lucky star, you write some words for the person on the paper," said Chen. "He
or she can read the words after they open the star."
     In Xiao Xing's school, each Junior 3 student will get a yearbook, in which the graduation classes will put
their photos and self-introductions (自我介绍). Xiao said," We have written a (9) p_______ in the ancient
style as the self-introduction!" "Our class may be not the one with the best school grade but it must be the
(10) m_______ creative one," said Xiao." I feel (11) p_______ of studying in such a class!"
     What good ideas! I think all those will (12) r_______ them of their good days.

     I started this QQ group named CZ (Chenzhou) English club two months ago. It has twenty-eight
members now. It is an English chatting place. Now we need some more friends who are interested in
chatting in English. Please remember the rules for our group members.
     ★ Everyone in our group must speak in English with each other. Don't keep silent for ten days.
     ★ The main aim of this group is to improve our English.
     ★ Chatting in English doesn't mean we pay more attention to English. I think Chinese is my first
          language and it's the most important.
     ★ Don't send advertisements or any pictures here. If you don't follow the rules above, we will ask
          you to leave.

(     )1. This QQ group is an Engl ish chatting place.                              
(     )2. Everyone in this group must speak in Chinese with each other.            
(     )3. The main aim of this QQ group is to make friends.                        
(     )4. The writer thinks English is more important t han Chinese.               
(     )5. If you send advertisements or any pictures  here, you will have to leave.