Mum, what does it mean when someone tells you that they have a skeleton(骨骼) in the closet (衣橱)?” Jessica asked. “A skeleton in the closet?” her mother thought for a while. “Well, it’s something that you would rather not have anyone else know about. For example, if in the past, someone in Dad’s family had been arrested for stealing a horse, it would be ‘a skeleton in his family’s closet’. He really wouldn’t want any neighbor to know about it.”
“Why pick on my family?” Jessica’s father said with anger. “Your family history isn’t so good, you know. Wasn’t your great-great-grandfather a prisoner who was brought to Australia for his crimes?” “Yes, but people these days say that you are not a real Australian unless your ancestors arrived as prisoners.” “Gosh, sorry I asked. I think I understand now,” Jessica cut in before things grew worse.
After dinner, the house was very quiet. Jessica’s parents were still quite angry with each other. Her mother was ironing clothes and from time to time she looked angrily at her husband, who hid behind his newspaper pretending to read. When she finished, she gathered the freshly pressed clothes in her arms and walked to Jessica’s closet. Just as she opened the door and reached in to hang a skirt, a bony arm stuck out from the dark depths and a bundle of white bones fell to the floor. Jessica’s mother sank in a faint(晕倒), waking only when Jessica put a cold, wet cloth on her forehead. She looked up to see the worried faces of her husband and daughter.
“What happened? Where am I?” she asked. “You just destroyed the school’s skeleton, Mum,” explained Jessica. “I brought it home to help me with my health project. I wanted to tell you, but it seemed that as soon as I said something about skeletons and closets, it caused a problem between you and Dad.” Jessica looked in amazement as her parents began to laugh madly. “They’re both crazy,” she thought.According to Jessica’s mother, “a skeleton in the closet” means ________.
| A．a family honor | B．a family secret |
| C．a family story | D．a family treasure |
Why did Jessica bring a skeleton home?
| A．She was curious about it. | B．She planned to keep it for fun. |
| C．She needed it for her school task. | D．She wanted to scare her parents. |
Jessica’s parents laughed madly at the end of the story probably because ________.
| A．they realized their misunderstanding |
| B．they were crazy |
| C．they were over excited |
| D．they both thought they had won the quarrel |
Some people think only school children do not agree with their parents, however, it is not true.
Communication is a problem for parents and children of all ages. If it’s hard for you to communicate with your parents, don’t worry about it. Here are some advice for you to bridge the generation gap (消除代沟).
Don’t argue (争辩) with your parents. Don’t get to your parents when you are angry. Your parents probably won’t consider your ideas if you are shouting at them. And you can’t express yourself well if you are angry. Go someplace to cool off. Make sure you understand why you are unhappy. Then think about what you want to say to your parents. If you don’t think you can speak to them at the moment, try writing a letter.
Try to reach a compromise (和解). Perhaps you and your parents disagree on something. You can keep your disagreement and try your best to accept each other. Michael’s mother didn’t agree with him about buying a motorcycle. They argued over it. But they finally came to a compromise. Michael bought the motorcycle, but only drove it on certain days.
Of course, your parents might refuse to compromise on something. In these situations, it is especially important to show love and respect (尊敬) to them. Showing respect will keep your relationship strong.
Talk about your values. The values of your parents are probably different from those of your own. Tell your parents what you care about, and why. Understanding your values might help them see your purposes in life.
A good relationship with your parents can make you a better and happier person. It is worth having a try! The passage tells us _______ have a communication problem.
| A．parents and other people |
| B．school kids and their parents |
| C．teachers and their students |
| D．parents and children of all ages |
Your parents probably won’t consider your ideas if you _______.
| A．don’t get to them often |
| B．write a letter to them |
| C．don’t speak to them politely |
| D．express yourself well |
The underlined phrase “cool off” in the passage means “_______”.
| A．to make yourself happy |
| B．to get you quiet and relaxed |
| C．to have a good rest |
| D．to hide yourself quickly |
If there’s really a generation gap between you and your parents, you’d better _______.
| A．have a talk with them often |
| B．keep away from them |
| C．agree with them all the time |
| D．know about their values |
From the passage we learn that _______.
| A．parents and children should not have a generation gap |
| B．parents should show love and respect to their children |
| C．there are some good ways to bridge the generation gap |
| D．there are so many serious problems in families today |
IMPROVE ON SLEEP
Good health needs good sleep. Going to bed before you’re tired. Not eating or reading in bed. Go to bed at the same time before midnight and get up at the same time. Your body likes routine (常规) for a good night’s sleep.
STAY FREE OF FLU 
Brush your teeth twice daily and visit the dentist at least once a year. The mouth is a mirror of disease. The oral examination is not only for the health of teeth, but the whole body. For more of it, please visit www. mydr. com. au.
FIT FOR LIFE
Studies have shown that many diseases have something to do with less or no physical (身体) activity. Try to do it for 30 minutes a day, 5 days or more a week. For more information, please call HealthLine at 1800 438 2000。 If you want to get a good sleep, you’d better _______.
| A．go to bed after you’re tired |
| B．go to sleep at midnight |
| C．follow the bedtime routine |
| D．eat something or read in bed |
To prevent from catching a cold or flu, it’s good for you _______.
| A．to clean your fingers often |
| B．to brush your teeth twice daily |
| C．to get up early every morning |
| D．to wash all parts of your hands |
You should visit the dentist at least once a year, because _______.
| A．the oral examination is necessary |
| B．you don’t often brush your teeth |
| C．some diseases may be in the mirror |
| D．you don’t have a good night’s sleep |
Studies have shown that many diseases have something to do with______.
| A．having no oral examination |
| B．washing hands with cold water |
| C．sleeping too late sometimes |
| D．doing little physical activity |
When you want to learn more about the flu, you can _______.
| A．visit www. mydr. com. au |
| B．call HealthLine at 1800 848 1313 |
| C．visit the dentist in your place |
| D．call HealthLine at 1800 438 2000 |
I think the most terrible thing in life for my little brother is getting up in the morning. He is almost sick when my mother calls, "Herbert! It's seven o'clock! Get up!" Herbert answers, "I'm coming!" and goes right back to sleep. I'm not at all like my brother. I don't like to go to bed at night but I don't mind getting up in the morning. I usually wake up before my mother calls me. I jump out of bed and go into the bathroom to take a shower. I get dressed, brush my teeth, comb my hair, and get ready to go downstairs for breakfast as soon as my mother calls. But not Herbert. He just sleeps. A military band (军乐队) in our bedroom could not wake him up. I call him and say, "Get up! Mum will be up here to pull you out of bed if you don't get up immediately!" But he just sleeps. After calling a few more times my mother has to come upstairs and pull Herbert out of bed. It's that way every day with my little brother. Perhaps some day he'll learn to get up on time, but I really don't think so.The most terrible thing in life for my little brother is going to school.
I'm not like my brother because I like to go to bed early at night and get up early in the morning.
I usually jump out of bed and go into the bathroom for a shower before my mother calls.
When mother calls, Herbert doesn't answer and remains in bed.
My mother often has to go upstairs and pull Herbert out of bed as he refuses to get up.
Many people may think that animals in the zoo are happy, free and lucky, but most of them are sad. Do you know why? Animals like tigers, lions, and bears usually live in forests or mountains. They run, jump, play with their children and catch small animals for food. But now they have to stay in cages ,small rooms in the zoo. They don’t have to find food by themselves because the zoo keepers feed them. They do nothing but eat, walk and sleep every day. Their life in the zoo is quite different from that in the forest because they are not free. Maybe they miss their mothers and their friends, in fact, they feel lonely.Most of the animals in the zoo feel ______ according to the passage.
| A．happy | B．free | C．lucky | D．sad |
Where do tigers, lions and bears usually live?_____________.
| A．In the zoo | B．In the forest |
| C．In a room | D．In the field |
What does the word “keeper” mean here? It means ____________.
| A．仓库 | B．监护人 | C．坚持者 | D．饲养员 |
Which is wrong according to the passage?
| A．The animals in the zoo feel lonely in fact. |
| B．The animals catch food themselves in the zoo. |
| C．The animals can only eat, walk or sleep in the zoo. |
| D．The animals in the forest are happier than those in the zoo. |
Which is the best title(题目)?
| A．Animals In the Zoo | B．Animals And People |
| C．Lovely Animals | D．Happy Animals |
Christmas Day, the birthday of Jesus Christ(耶稣)，is the most important festival in Britain and some other countries. On Christmas Eve, people usually tell their children to put their stockings at the end of their beds before they go to sleep. Children believe Santa Claus, with the other name of Father Christmas, will come during the night and fill(装满)their stockings with Christmas presents.
Actually(实际上), Father Christmas is children’s father. He dresses up(打扮)in a red coat and waits until children fall asleep. Then he goes into children’s bedrooms, and puts small presents in their stockings. When children are no longer(不再)young, they know who Father Christmas really is.
Not only children but also their parents enjoy Christmas stockings. They also have stockings. Early on the morning of Christmas Day, Children wake their parents up and say ＂Merry Christmas”. Then they help their parents open their stockings. Everybody likes presents, but it is better to give than to receive(收到).
根据短文内容，判断正(T) 误 (F)。Christmas Day is the birthday of Jesus Christ.
On Christmas Eve, children put the hats on the beds.
In fact, Father Christmas is children’s father.
Only children enjoy Christmas stockings.
It’s better to receive than to give .
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