Most of us spend our lives seeking the natural world. To this end, we walk the dog, play golf, go fishing, sit in the garden, drink outside rather than inside the pub, have a picnic, live in the suburbs, go to the seaside, buy a weekend place in the country. The most popular free time activity in Britain is going for a walk. And when joggers (慢跑者) jog, they don’t run the streets. Every one of them automatically heads to the park or the river. It is my firm belief that not only do we all need nature, but we all seek nature, whether we know we are doing so or not.
But despite this, our children are growing up nature-deprived (丧失). I spent my boyhood climbing trees. These days, children are robbed of these ancient freedoms, due to problems like crime, traffic, the loss of the open spaces and strange new ideas about what is best for children, that is to say, things that can be bought, rather than things that can be found.
The truth is to be found elsewhere. A study in the US: families had moved to better housing and the children were assessed for ADHD (多动症). Those whose housing had more natural views showed an improvement of 19%; those who had the same improvement in material surroundings but no nice view improved just 4%.
A study in Sweden indicated that kindergarten children who could play in a natural environment had less illness and greater physical ability than children used only to a normal playground. A US study suggested that when a school gave children access to a natural environment, the entire school would do better in studies.
Another study found that children play differently in a natural environment. In playgrounds, children create a hierarchy (等级) based on physical abilities, with the tough ones taking the lead. But when a grassy area was planted with bushes, the children got much more into fantasy play, and the social hierarchy was now based on imagination and creativity.
Most bullying (恃强凌弱) is found in schools where there is a tarmac (柏油碎石) playground; the least bullying is in a natural area that the children are encouraged to explore. This reminds me unpleasantly of Sunnyhill School, with its hard tarmac, where I used to hang about in corners dreaming about wildlife.
But children are frequently discouraged from involvement with natural spaces, for health and safety reasons, for fear that they might get dirty or that they might cause damage. So, instead, the damage is done to the children themselves: not to their bodies but to their souls.
One of the great problems of modern childhood is ADHD, now increasingly and expensively treated with drugs. Yet one study after another indicates that contact with nature gives huge benefits to ADHD children. However, we spend money on drugs rather than on green places.
The life of old people is much better when they have access to nature. The most important for the growing population of old people is in quality rather than quantity of years. And study after study finds that a garden is the single most important thing in finding that quality.
In wider and more difficult areas of life, there is evidence to indicate that natural surroundings improve all kinds of things. Even problems with crime and aggressive behaviour are reduced when there is contact with the natural world.
Dr William Bird, researcher from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, states in his study, “A natural environment can reduce violent behaviour because its process helps reduce anger and behavior that people might regret later.” Wild places need encouraging for this reason, no matter how small their contribution.
We tend to think human beings are doing nature some kind of favor when we are protecting nature. The error here is far too deep: not only do humans need nature for themselves, but the very idea that humanity and the natural world are separable things is damaging.
Human beings are a species of animals. For seven million years we lived on the planet as part of nature. So we miss the natural world and long for contact with non-human life. Anyone who has patted a dog, stroked a cat, sat under a tree with a glass of beer, given or received a bunch of flowers or chosen to walk through the park on a nice day, understands that.
We need the wild world. It is necessary to our well-being, our health, our happiness. Without other living things around us we are less than human.
【小题1】What is the author’s firm belief?

A．People seek nature in different ways.

B．People should spend most of their lives in the wild.

C．People have quite different ideas of nature.

D．People must make more efforts to study nature.

【小题2】What does the author say people prefer for their children nowadays?

A．Personal freedom.	B．Things that are natural.
C．Urban surroundings.	D．Things that are purchased.

【小题3】What does a study in Sweden show?
　　A. The natural environment can help children learn better.
　　B. More access to nature makes children less likely to fall ill.
　　C. A good playground helps kids develop their physical abilities.
　　D. Natural views can prevent children from developing ADHD.
【小题4】Children who have chances to explore natural areas ________.

A．tend to develop a strong love for science

B．are more likely to dream about wildlife

C．tend to be physically tougher in adulthood

D．are less likely to be involved in bullying

【小题5】What does the author suggest we do to help children with ADHD?

A．Find more effective drugs for them.

B．Provide more green spaces for them.

C．Place them under more personal care.

D．Engage them in more meaningful activities

【小题6】In what way do elderly people benefit from their contact with nature?

A．They look on life optimistically.	B．They enjoy a life of better quality.
C．They are able to live longer.	D．They become good-humored

高三年级是高中生活的最后一年，在这一年中，学生们要面临着沉重的升学压力。因此，很多学生下课后也坐在教室里用功，但学习效率和成绩并不理想。由此你想告诉他们：适当的休息很有必要。现在就请你以 “A Ten-minute Break”为主题，按下列要点写一篇短文，让这些同学从中有所启发。短文的要点如下：

　 1．十分钟的课间休息很有必要。

　 2．要注意适当的休息方式。

　 3．你是怎样利用这十分钟的。

注意：①开头已经给出，不计入总词数；②字数100字左右。

A Ten-minute Break

　 As a Senior Three student, time seems much limited．

 

日常生活中我们经常可以看见一些乞丐在街上或地下人行通道乞讨。最近, 一些大城市如北京、上海等地通过法规禁止乞丐在地下人行通道行乞留宿。你们班就此事进行了讨论。请你根据以下讨论结果用英语写一篇短文。

46%的同学不同意这种政府行为。一些乞丐是生活所迫，不得不乞讨。他们有的是在地下人行道靠卖艺为生。社会应该帮助这些人。

54%的同学认为乞丐损害了城市形象，给城市造成许多麻烦。况且许多乞丐并不是丧失劳动力，而是由于懒惰利用别人的同情心。所以政府应禁止乞丐进入公共场所。

注意：1．短文的开头已给出，但不计入总词数；   

      　 2．词数：120左右；

3．参考词汇：地下人行道 subway     同情心 compassion。

In everyday life we often see some beggars begging in the streets or subways. Recently some big cities such as Beijing and Shanghai have passed the law to ban beggars from subways. We have had a discussion about it...　　　　　　　　　　 _____　　　　

______________________________________________________________ _

___________________________________________________________________________

 

The Power of Fresh Starts

Thirty years ago, I began my first year of teaching in Grade 2. One of the most 35　 　 students was a little boy who had a serious ADD(多动症). I had no 36 in dealing with such a case, and I 　37 the year studying how to help him become a successful 　38 . There were many disappointing moments, but there was something pleasant about the boy who moved excitedly around my classroom.

　39 the end of the school year came near, I heard a talk. The Grade 3 teachers were 　40 of having Stephen the following year. I considered it a lot, and I 　41 that I would be the best person to follow Stephen into Grade 3. My headmaster looked at me in 42 , but he agreed to my plan.

I will never forget that day when Stephen came to ask 　43 he was in my class again. I looked at him in the eye and said, “Well, Stephen, you’re in my class because I asked for you.” The little boy looked surprised. “You did? Why? ” he asked. “Because I like you and want to keep 　44 you,” I answered.

Stephen just stared at me. After a few moments, he 　45 and walked back to his seat with satisfaction. We never spoke of it again, but the two of us had many surprising learning breakthroughs(突破) that year. I believe those 　46 were more of a result of Stephen’s knowing that I had put his previous year’s mistakes behind him.

Now I come to know that when I 　47 for one, I can improve his soul. Each season is a new beginning, a new way of thinking. Many students 　48 a new start and are determined to act upon it. We need to pay attention to even the 　49 sign that students are looking for help.

35．A．unforgettable　 B．lovely　 　　　　　 C．common　　 　　 D．friendly

36．A．time　　 　　　　　 B．experience　 　　 　　　 C．power 　　　　　　　 D．energy

37．A．wasted　　　　 B．took　　　　　 　 C．cost　　　　 　　　　　　 D．spent

38．A．adventurer　　 B．actor　　　　 　　 C．learner　　 　　　 　　　 D．worker

39．A．As　　　　　 　 B．While　　　　 　 C．With　　　 　　　 D．For

40．A．excited　　　　 B．afraid　　　 　　 　　　 C．pleased　　 　　 　　　 D．angry

41．A．remembered　　 　　　 B．imagined　　　 　 C．realized　　 　　　 D．dreamed

42．A．surprise　　　　 　　　 B．anger　　 　　　 　　　 C．doubt　　　 　　 　　　 D．wonder

43．A．how　　　　　 B．why　　　　 　　 C．when　　　 　　　　　　 D．what

44．A．playing　　　　 B．talking　　 　　　 　　　 C．staying　　 　　　 D．teaching

45．A．sighed　　　　　 　　 B．smiled　　　　 　 C．agreed　　　 　　 　　　 D．refused

46．A．prizes　　　　 　 B．troubles　　　 　 C．failures　　 　　　 D．successes

47．A．care　　　　　 　 B．hunt　　　　　 　 C．prepare　　　 　 D．wait

48．A．dislike at　　　 　 B．hope for　　　 C．accept　　　 　　 D．avoid in

49．A．biggest　　　　 　　　 B．smallest　　　　 C．largest　　　 　　　　　 D．most

　　 A little boy was spending his Saturday morning playing in his sandbox. While creating roads in the soft sand, he 　36 a large rock in the middle of the sandbox.

　　　 The boy 　37 around the rock, managing to move it out from the dirt. With much 　38 , he tried to push the rock out of the sandbox. When the boy got the rock to the edge(边缘) of the sandbox, 　39 , he found that he couldn’t 　40 it up and over the little wall. The rock was too 　41 for his small body.

　　　 As he 　42 to accept his failure, the little boy dug, pushed, and pried(撬动), but every time he thought he had made some 　43 , the rock rolled and then fell back into the sandbox. The little boy 　44 again and again, but the only 　45 was to have the rock roll back.

　　　 46 , he burst into tears. All this time the boy’s father 　47 him from his living room. The moment the tears fell, a 　48 voice rose above the boy’s head. It was his father. 49 , but firmly(坚定地) he said, “Son, why didn’t you use all the 　50 that you had? The boy replied with tears, “But I did, Daddy, I did! I 　51 all that I had!” “No, son, you didn’t,” 52 the father kindly. “You didn’t 　53 me to help you.” With that the father picked up the rock and 　54 it out of the sandbox.

　　　 Are you discovering that you don’t have the strength to move your “rocks” away? There is ONE who is always willing to 　55 you with the strength you need. We also need that strength, especially in our daily life.

36. A. hid　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. left C. put D. discovered

37. A. walked　　　　　　　　　　　 B. jumped　　　　　　　　　　 C. traveled　　　　　　　　　 D. dug

38. A. courage　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. pride　　　　　　　　　　　 C. effort D. pleasure

39. A. however　　　　　　　　　 B. still　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. thus　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. even

40. A. put　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. raise C. take D. break

41. A. large　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. difficult　　　　　　　　　 C. hard　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. much

42. A. decided　　　　　　　　　　 B. refused　　　　　　　　　　 C. agreed D. planned

43. A. inventions　　　　　　　　 B. progress　　　　　　　　　 C. mistakes 　　　　　　　　 D. changes

44. A. tried　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. failed　　　　　　　　　　　 C. thought　　　　　　　　　 D. started

45. A. success　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. goal　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. result D. wish

46. A. Gradually　　　　　　　　　 B. lately　　　　　　　　　　　 C. Properly　　　　　　　　　 D. Finally

47. A. watched　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. helped　　　　　　　　　　 C. followed D. taught

48. A. loud　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. happy　　　　　　　　　　　 C. sweet　　　　　　　　　　　 D. strict

49. A. Angrily　　　　　　　　　　　 B. Movingly　　　　　　　　 C. Suddenly　　　　　　　　 D. Gently

50. A. knowledge　　　　　　　　 B. strength　　　　　　　　　 C. tools　　　　　　　　　　　 D. ability

51. A. wasted　　　　　　　　　　　 B. brought　　　　　　　　　 C. used　　　　　　　　　　　 D. carried

52. A. replied　　　　　　　　　　　 B. corrected　　　　　　　　 C. shouted　　　　　　　　　 D. praised

53. A. advise　　　　　　　　　　　 B. force　　　　　　　　　　　 C. ask　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. want

54. A. collected　　　　　　　　　 B. threw　　　　　　　　　　　 C. chose　　　　　　　　　　　 D. broke

55. A. provide　　　　　　　　　　 B. lend　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. show　　　　　　　　　　　 D. pass