What’s delicious, healthy to eat and comes in various colors? Eggplant! And no, it has nothing to do with chickens! This strangely named vegetable is, however, as versatile as an egg. It can be steamed, fried or baked. It can be eaten by itself or combined with meats and other vegetables.
Eggplant was first grown in India during the 5th century B.C. Its popularity soon spread to China and then throughout Asia. Finally, during the Middle Ages the vegetable made its way to Europe. At that time, eggplant was not the shiny purple vegetable most people know today. Instead, it was like a white egg. Due to this egg-like appearance, eggplant got its name. In its early days, the vegetable was so bitter that people often called it a “mad apple”. This nickname started because people believed its bitterness was bad for one’s health. People actually thought eggplant could cause insanity(精神错乱) and cancer.
Fortunately, today people know that eggplant doesn’t cause insanity or cancer. In fact, eggplant is so healthy that it may prevent cancer. In addition, the brain and the heart benefit from this supper vegetable. Since it is high in fiber, eggplant can also improve digestion.
Italy, Turkey, Egypt, China and Japan are the leading growers of eggplant in the world today. Depending on its location, eggplant may be purple, green, orange or yellow-white. And it can be as small as a tomato or as large as a cucumber. Dish diversities(多样性) range from simple to complex, with all of them being delicious!
Today, thousands of people are gathering in Loomis, Calif, for the 23rd annual Loomis Eggplant Festival. The main activity at the festival is eating delicious eggplant dishes. There is plenty more to do and see, though. Recipe contests, arts and crafts, performers, races and children’s activities all “egg-cite” festival-goers. Most people at the festival would agree — eggplant is an “egg-cellent” vegetable!What does the underlined word “versatile” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?
| A．simple in shape | B．various in cooking |
| C．diverse in size | D．flexible in price |
Which of the following statements about eggplants is TRUE?
A. Eggplant was once misunderstood by the people for its bitterness.
B. Eggplant was introduced into Europe during the 5th century B.C.
C. Eggplant got its name for its nutrition which is as rich as an egg.
D. Eggplant looks like what it used to be in color and shape.Eggplant is so healthy that it can _____________.
| A．cure the cancer with certainty | B．do good to digestion |
| C．replace other vegetables | D．help relieve insanity |
The diversities of eggplant reflect in many aspects EXCEPT _____________.
| A．colors | B．sizes | C．dishes | D．nutrition |
The passage mainly tells us about __________________.
| A．the 23rd annual Loomis Eggplant Festival |
| B．the general introduction of eggplant |
| C．the origin of eggplant |
| D．the benefits of eggplant |
When I was growing up in America, I was ashamed of my mother’s Chinese English. Because of her English, she was often treated unfairly. People in department stores, at banks, and at restaurants did not take her seriously, did not give her good service, pretended not to understand her, or even acted as if they did not hear her.
My mother has long realized the limitations of her English as well. When I was fifteen, she used to have me call people on the phone to pretend I was she. I was forced to ask for information or even to yell at people who had been rude to her. One time I had to call her stockbroker (股票经纪人). I said in an adolescent voice that was not very convincing, "This is Mrs. Tan.”
And my mother was standing beside me, whispering loudly, "Why he don’t send me check, already two week late.”
And then, in perfect English I said, "I’m getting rather concerned. You agreed to send the check two weeks ago, but it hasn’t arrived. "
Then she talked more loudly. "What he want? I come to New York tell him front of his boss. "And so I turned to the stockbroker again, "I can’t tolerate any more excuse. If I don’t receive the check immediately, I am going to have to speak to your manager when I am in New York next week. "
The next week we ended up in New York. While I was sitting there red-faced, my mother, the real Mrs. Tan, was shouting to his boss in her broken English.
When I was a teenager, my mother’s broken English embarrassed me. But now, I see it differently. To me, my mother’s English is perfectly clear, perfectly natural. It is my mother tongue. Her language, as I hear it, is vivid, direct, and full of observation and wisdom. It was the language that helped shape the way I saw things, expressed ideas, and made sense of the world.Why was the author’s mother poorly served?
| A．She was unable to speak good English. | B．She was often misunderstood. |
| C．She was not clearly heard. | D．She was not very polite. |
From Paragraph 2,we know that the author was .
| A．good at pretending | B．rude to the stockbroker |
| C．ready to help her mother | D．unwilling to phone for her mother |
After the author made the phone call, .
| A．they forgave the stockbroker | B．they failed to get the check |
| C．they went to New York at once | D．they spoke to their boss at once |
What does the author think of her mother’s English now?
| A．It confuses her. | B．It makes her ashamed |
| C．It helps her understand the world. | D．It helps her bear rude people. |
We can infer from the passage that Chinese English .
| A．is clear and natural to non-native speakers |
| B．is interesting and straight to non-native speakers |
| C．leaves a very bad impression on America |
| D．may bring inconvenience in America |
While many teenagers may dream of meeting with pop star Jay Chou or NBA hero Yao Ming, Li Jing had a far more powerful person on her mind. The Senior 2 from Beijing No. 35 High School dreamt of meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin.
After more than a year of hard work and with a little good luck, Li fulfilled(实现) her dream. On October 11, 2004, the 16-year-old girl joined a team of Chinese Journalists who went to the Kremlin(克里姆林宫), Moscow, to interview Putin.
Li felt nervous before talking with Putin.“But his greeting and warm smile put me at ease,” she said.
Li admires Putin very much, because of his strong will and style of leadership. “He looks very cool,” Li said. During her interview, Li asked Putin whether he plans to educate his two teenage daughters to be officials in the future. Putin smiled and answered he hopes they can do whatever job suits their interests and personalities.
Although Li would only have several minutes, she started working on her interview questions last August after applying for the opportunity. “Journalists” work is by no means easy. You need to do lots of homework on your interviewee,”she said. She read many books about Putin and Russia in her spare time.
Li’s parents encouraged her to be a student journalist. “We fully support her, as long as it does not affect studies,”said her father. Previous in her job for a student magazine, Chinese Young Journalists, she wrote a letter to President Hu Jintao during the SARS epidemic(流行疫情).
Li has learnt a lot from her experience. She said learning to manage her time and develop the confidence to speak with important people were not things she could learn in class.The underlined word “interviewee” in the fifth paragraph probably means __________.
| A．the person who interviews others |
| B．the person who is interviewed |
| C．the person who know how to interview |
| D．the person who plan to interview famous people |
Which of the following best describes Li Jing’s parents’ attitude towards her being a student journalist?
| A．They think to a student journalist is purely a waste of time. |
| B．They worry that to be a student journalist will affect her studies |
| C．They consider it is quite good for Li Jing if it doesn’t affect her studies. |
| D．They neither support it nor object to it. |
Li Jing is different from those students of her age because __________.
| A．she doesn’t like pop star Jay Chou |
| B．she hates meting with the NBA hero Yao Ming |
| C．she wants to meet neither Jay Chou nor Yao Ming |
| D．She dreams of meeting the president powerful Russian leader |
Which of the following statements is Not True?
| A．Li realized her dream not just because of her hard work |
| B．Li was at easy at the first sight of president Putin |
| C．Li considers Putin a great leader because of his strong will and style of leadership |
| D．Li thinks impossible to learn in class the confidence to speak with great people |
It can be inferred from the passage that________
| A．Everybody can be a journalist easily. |
| B．Putin will force his daughters to what he plans for them. |
| C．President Hu Jintao answered Lijing’s letter. |
| D．Journalists must get permission to ask questions. |
It was one of the hottest days of the dry season. We had not seen rain in almost a month. The crops were dying. Cows had stopped giving milk. The streams were long gone back into the earth. If we didn’t see some rain soon we would lose everything.
I was in the kitchen making lunch for my husband and his brothers when I saw my six-year old son, Billy, walking toward the woods. He was obviously walking with a great effort... trying to be as still as possible. Minutes after he disappeared into the woods, he came running out again, toward the house.
Moments later, however, he was once again walking in that slow purposeful long step toward the woods. This activity went on for over an hour: walking cautiously to the woods, then running back to the house. Finally, my curiosity got the best of me. I crept out of the house and followed him on his journey.
He was cupping both hands in front of him as he walked; being very careful not to spill(溅出) the water he held in them. Branches and thorns slapped his little face but he did not try to avoid them. He had a much greater purpose. As I leaned in to spy on him, I saw the most amazing site.
Several large deer appeared threatening in front of him. But Billy walked right up to them. I almost screamed for him to get away. And I saw a baby deer laying on the ground, obviously suffering from heavy loss of water and heat exhaustion, lift its head with great effort to lap(舔) up the water cupped in my beautiful boy’s hand.
I stood on the edge of the woods watching the most beautiful heart I have ever known working so hard to save a life. As the tears that rolled down my face began to hit the ground, they were suddenly joined by other drops... and more drops... and more. I looked up at the sky. It was as if God, Himself, was weeping with pride.What can be learned from Paragraph 1?
| A．The writer lived in the hottest place. |
| B．It wouldn’t rain during the dry season. |
| C．All the crops in the area were dead. |
| D．People were in great need of rain. |
Billy walked carefully to the woods because ______.
| A．he was not old enough to walk freely |
| B．he didn’t want to be followed by his mother |
| C．he tried not to spill the water in his hands |
| D．he wanted to attract his mother’s attention |
Why did the writer almost scream for Billy to get away?
| A．Because she saw the most amazing site in the woods |
| B．Because those large deer appeared dangerous |
| C．Because she saw a baby deer laying on the ground |
| D．Because the deer suffered from heavy loss of water |
After learning about the truth, the author felt _______.
| A．curious and confused | B．scared and excited |
| C．moved and curious | D．proud and moved |
Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
| A．The Water of Life | B．Importance of Water |
| C．How to Save Animals | D．Animals in Danger |
Science can't explain the power of pets, but many studies have shown that the company of pets can help lower blood pressure and raise chances of recovering from a heart attack, reduce loneliness and spread all-round good cheer.
Any owner will tell you how much joy a pet brings. For some, an animal provides more comfort than a husband/wife. A 2002 study by Karen Allen of the State University of New York measured stress(紧张) levels and blood pressure in people—half of them pet owners—while they performed 5 minutes of mental arithmetic(心算) or held a hand in ice water. Subjects completed the tasks alone, with a husband/wife, a close friend or with a pet. People with pets did it best. Those tested with their animal friends had smaller change in blood pressure and returned most quick to base line heart rates. With pets in the room, people also made fewer math mistakes than when doing in front of other companions. It seems people feel more relaxed around pets, says Allen, who thinks it may be because pets don't judge
A study reported last fall suggests that having a pet dog not only raises your spirits but may also have an effect on your eating habits. Researchers at Northwestern Memorial Hospital spent a year studying 36 fat people and their equally fat dogs on diet-and-exercise programs; a separate group of 56 people without pets were put on a diet program. On average, people lost about 11 pounds, or 5% of their body weight. Dog owners didn't lose any more weight than those without dogs but, say researchers, got more exercise overall—mostly with their dogs—and found it worth doing.The underlined word “subjects” refers to ______.
| A．what students learned at school |
| B．people that were studied |
| C．those who had pets with them |
| D．those people without pets |
A person with heart disease has a better chance of getting well if _______.
| A．he has a pet companion |
| B．he has less stress of work |
| C．he often does mental arithmetic |
| D．he is taken care of by his family |
Why did the people do better with pets around when facing stressful tasks?
| A．They have lower blood pressure. |
| B．They become more patient. |
| C．They are less nervous. |
| D．They are in higher spirits. |
The research mentioned in the last paragraph reports that ________.
| A．people with dogs did more exercise |
| B．dogs lost the same weight as people did |
| C．dogs liked exercise much more than people did |
| D．people without dogs found the program unhelpful |
What does the text mainly discuss?
| A．What pets bring to their owners. |
| B．How pets help people calm down. |
| C．People's opinions of keeping pets. |
| D．Pet's value in medical research. |
Just as the teacher hands out the spelling test, you see Jeff pull out a small piece of paper with a lot of small words on it. Jeff hides the note into his hand but soon takes it out again. While he's taking the test, you see him looking back and forth between the teacher and his paper. There's no mistaking it — he's cheating.
Cheating can happen in a lot of different ways. When people cheat, it’s not fair to other people, like the kids who studied for the test or who were the true winners of a game.
Many people like the action of cheating. It makes difficult things seem easy, like getting all the right answers on the test. But it doesn’t solve the problem of not knowing the material and it won’t help on the next test—unless the person cheats again.
Some people lose respect for cheaters and think less of them. The cheaters themselves may feel bad because they know they are not really earning that good grade. And, if they get caught cheating, they will be in trouble at school, and maybe at home, too.
Some kids cheat because they’re busy or lazy and they want to get good grades without spending the time studying. Other kids might feel like they can’t pass the test without cheating. Even when there seems to be a “good reason” for cheating, cheating isn’t a good idea.
If you were sick or upset about something the night before and couldn’t study, it would be better to talk with the teacher about this. And if you don’t have enough time to study for a test because of swim practice, you need to talk with your parents about how to balance swimming and school.
A kid who thinks cheating is the only way to pass a test needs to talk with the teacher and his or her parents so they can find some solutions together. Talking about these problems and working them out will feel better than cheating.The author thinks that when kids cheat in class, _______.
| A．it is unfair to other people |
| B．it does harm to their heath |
| C．teachers should punish them |
| D．teachers shouldn’t stop them at once |
Some students like cheating mainly because _______.
| A．the material in the test is very difficult |
| B．they want to do better than the others |
| C．cheating can make hard things seem very easy |
| D．they have little time to study |
The fifth paragraph mainly tells us ______.
| A．cheating isn’t a good idea |
| B．why kids cheat in the test |
| C．some kids can’t pass the test without cheating |
| D．some kids don’t spend time studying |
We can learn from the passage______.
| A．cheaters are often thought highly of |
| B．people show no respect for those who cheat |
| C．parents whose kids cheat are often in trouble |
| D．kids cheat in the test because of swim practice |
Those who cheat are advised to ______.
| A．spend more time on school than on sports |
| B．find good solutions instead of cheating |
| C．try hard to be intelligent rather than lazy |
| D．ask their classmates for good methods of study |
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