Do you like to draw and pain? What do you put in your pictures? Are there trees and flowers and
people you know? This is a book about a woman who loved to paint these things.
     Anna Mary Robertson Moses because a well-known painter. She loved to paint things she
remembered from her life on a farm in New York Sate. Anna Mary was a grandmother when she started
painting. She painted when she was 100 years old. Everyone called her Grandma Moses.
     The paintings of Grandma Moses show farmers all year long. In her paintings the farmers plant seeds
in the spring, cut hay in the summer, pick corn in the fall, and get sugar from the trees at the end of
winter. Her paintings show children at work, too. Grandma Moses had to do many chores when she
was a girl. She helped with the smaller children, took care of the animals, made candles and soap, and
hung clothes out to dry. When chores were done, it was time for the people to have fun. The paintings
of Grandma Moses show people having picnics in the summer. They show children riding on big sleds
and playing in the snow in the winter. Many families and friends would get together for holidays. They
played games and waved flags on the Fourth of July. They ate together on Thanksgiving. Grandma
Moses' paintings show these happy times.
     Grandma Moses' gift to us is her memory of the joy of living life every day. By using paint and color,
she shows us how much fun it can be families and friends live and work together.
1. Grandma Moses was best remembered as _______.
A. a grandmother                  
B. a farmer
C. a painter                        
D. the oldest woman ever lived
2. Why did Anna start painting when she was already a grandmother?
A. Because she was old and could no longer do labor work.
B. Because she loved to paint people and things that she knew.
C. Because painting could make her live longer.
D. Because people liked her paintings and asked her to paint.
3. The paintings of Grandma Moses show _______
A. the sad lives of American farmers who had to do heavy work all day.
B. people playing in the snow and having picnics in the winter.
C. the happy times when families and friends would get together.
D. the daily life of Americans in the countryside as well as in the cities.
4. On Thanksgiving, Americans usually _______
A. play various games.            
B. wave national flags.
C. have a big dinner with their family members and friends.
D. go to the streets to have fun.
5. Grandma Moses was famous mainly because _______
A. she painted when she was 100 years old.
B. her paintings show the joy of family life.
C. she had to do all kinds of chores when she was a girl.
D. she taught herself to become a good painter.

     Cold air. Snow. Shorter days. We are in winter now.
     Winter is the coldest season of the year. It comes between autumn and spring. For us, the winter
months are usually November, December and January. But that is only because we live in the northern
part of the Earth.
     In China, winter is the time between the beginning of winter, and the beginning of spring. But, this
is the time that the southern part of the Earth, has its summer. Imagine when we are playing with snow,
Australian kids are enjoying ice cream!
     Winter isn't always gray. It can also be bright. Here's how.
     Put on a holiday play and try acting. Ask your cousins or classmates to come to your house and make
beautiful clothes and write a play. Act it out for your family.
     Play around. Go outside and enjoy yourself. Make a snowman with your friends.
     If you really have to stay indoors, give your room a clean and decorate (装饰) it. You'll find it a lot
of fun.

1. What does this passage mainly talk bout?

A. The winter season and fun winter activities.
B. Ways to decorate houses.
C. The difference between China and Australia.
D. The colours linked to winter.

2. Why are Australian kids eating ice cream when it's winter in China?

A. Because they are crazy about ice cream.
B. Because winter in Australia is not as cold as that in China.
C. Because it's summer in Australia when it's winter in China.
D. Because they don't have much to do in winter.

3. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

A. The northern and southern parts of the Earth have different winter months.
B. Winter can be fun if you find interesting things to do.
C. The writer thinks it's great fun to clean your house and decorate it.
D. Australian kids enjoy having ice cream on winter days.

从短文中选出一种你喜欢的活动，并说明原因。 
     I think it will be great fun to 4. ____ this winter because I like to 5. ____. Also, it is 6.____ and it can
7.____. I'll try it out soon. 
Find words from the passage to fill in the blanks:
     In China, the winter months are usually November, December and 8.____. But it's different in Australia.
The winter in China is 9.____ in Australia because it is in the 10.____ part of the Earth.
     Winter is not always 11.___. You can have lots of fun. Try 12.____ a play and acting it out with your
cousins or friends. Or you can play 13.____ outside and make a 14.____. If you have to stay 15.____, clean
up your house and 16.____ it with fun pieces.
     Just enjoy winter!