This message is to inform all the children that Santa's post office in Himmelpfort, Germany, is open to receive your holiday wishes. That means you can mail your letters to Santa about 6 weeks sooner than that last year. Santa knows you've been good and wants to make sure he and his helpers receive your wish list earlier.
Eight post offices are organized across Germany to answer all letters children send. This year they plan to receive over 250,000 letters. Though the letters fly from over 80 different countries, Santa and his helpers can understand and make sure to answer all the letters.
In 1984, two children from Berlin sent their wish lists to Himmelpfort after spending vacation there. Their letters were answered by postal employees and later Himmelpfort increased its helpers to meet the needs of increased mail traffic. Year after year, Santa and his crew use an ecofriendly powered vehicle to collect the thousands of letters he receives from young boys and girls. The great news for this year is that if you come to the beautiful town of Himmelpfort, you can drop off your letter and visit Santa in person, from Tuesdays to Thursdays until Christmas Eve.
Santa does not currently have an email, Twitter or a Facebook account. He believes in oldfashioned communication. So get out your paper and write your wish list. Just make sure your letter is clear so you can receive an official response, send your letters to：
Santa
Christmas Post Office
Himmelpfort, Germany 16798This year Santa and his helpers ________.
| A．are eager to receive more wishes |
| B．keep traveling around 80 countries |
| C．are able to receive kids' letters earlier |
| D．answer most of the letters from kids |
From the 3rd paragraph, we know that ________.
| A．post offices send kids all the presents they ask for |
| B．children from Berlin like spending holidays in Himmelpfort |
| C．Santa uses a powered vehicle because of the heavy mail traffic |
| D．children can visit Santa in the flesh before Christmas Eve this year |
Santa doesn't have social communications online probably because he ________.
| A．is not sure about the online security |
| B．trusts traditional ways of communication |
| C．prefers official and formal letters |
| D．thinks written letters are clearer than emails |
This text is intended for ________.
| A．tourists coming to Himmelpfort |
| B．teenagers preferring writing letters |
| C．parents preparing for Christmas |
| D．children planning to write to Santa |
Paparazzi, or “paps”, are photographers who take pictures of famous people when they are not at the center of public attention. Paps are different from professional photographers or journalists because they never take ordinary photos.
The goal for paparazzi is to get pictures that no one else will get and then sell the pictures to the buyer who offers the most money — normally a small newspaper, magazine or website.
There is no law against paparazzi taking pictures in public places. However, there are laws that protect certain individuals. For example, child protection laws stop improper pictures of anyone under 16 from being published.
There is also no law that stops paparazzi from following celebrities and taking their pictures either. However, if paps are secretly following them and taking pictures of their faces, they could get into trouble.
Most paparazzi hang out on streets and hot spots for celebrities, waiting for the opportunity to take a picture of a star. Many stay on the streets until the early hours of the morning when celebrities are leaving nightclubs and looking a little worse for wear. However, some have other ways to make sure they get pictures. Many paps are in contact with “informers” who know the locations of celebrities at any given time. They then pass the information on to paparazzi. An informer could be anyone — from a restaurant waiter to a salesman.
Most of the time, paparazzi get a bad reputation for following celebrities. But sometimes stars or their managers will contact paps themselves and tell them exactly where and when they will go. What a love-hate relationship between paparazzi and celebrities!Which of the following things paparazzi might do would be against the law?
| A．Getting unsuitable pictures of a 10-year-old actress published. |
| B．Taking pictures of famous people in public places. |
| C．Following a famous woman singer secretly and taking her pictures. |
| D．Hanging out at the places where celebrities often appear. |
In order to earn big money a pap has to ________.
| A．get the only first-hand pictures |
| B．sell the pictures to a big newspaper |
| C．make friends with famous people |
| D．know the locations of celebrities |
The fifth paragraph mainly tells us ________.
| A．how paparazzi get the pictures |
| B．how dangerous paparazzi’s job is |
| C．how paparazzi contact informers |
| D．how much paparazzi pay for the pictures |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A．Paparazzi always take pictures when famous people are tired. |
| B．Stars hate paparazzi and don’t want to be followed. |
| C．Paparazzi and famous people rely on each other sometimes. |
| D．Informers might get paparazzi into trouble. |
Shree Bose is one of the most impressive kids graduating from Fort Worth Country Day High School this year. Bose has a large circle of friends, and there’s one who you may have heard of: President Obama. He has twice publicly recognized her achievements in cancer research and spoken with her in the Oval Office.
If that isn’t enough, Bose recently gave a TED Talk about her work with the cancer drug Cisplatin, which also won her first prize at the Google Science Fair and recognition as one of Glamour magazine’s Young Amazing Women of the Year.
After watching her grandfather struggle with liver cancer, Bose was determined to help out in any way she could. As a high school student，though, her scientific choices were limited. She reached out to various hospitals and research centers, but doctors turned down her requests because they felt she was too inexperienced medically.
Only the North Texas Science Health Center respected her determination and chose to guide her. The results were amazing.
Bose chose to study a protein and its reaction with the cancer drug Cisplatin. She noticed that when she prevented this protein from growing, Cisplatin was allowed to begin destroying cancer cells once again.
“My project not only contributes to the understanding of the relationship between the protein and Cisplatin, but also suggests a newer, more effective treatment for patients who resist Cisplatin,” Bose said.
Bose’s achievements aren’t limited to the lab, though. She was also captain of her swim team and editor-in-chief of her school paper.
Bose is currently getting practical experience at the National Institute of Health and she’ll be attending Harvard in the fall. She plans to study molecular biology and go to medical school. Eventually, she would like to be a doctor.President Obama has spoken with Bose because she ______.
| A．gave a TED Talk recently |
| B．contributed to the cancer research |
| C．has a large circle of friends |
| D．is captain of her swim team |
According to Bose’s research, ______ helps make Cisplatin work better.
| A．stopping the protein from growing |
| B．destroying cancer cells timely |
| C．using the drug more frequently |
| D．making the protein react with the drug |
From the passage, we know that _____.
| A．Bose’s research was supported from the start. |
| B．Bose will study in the National Institute of Health. |
| C．Bose plans to become a doctor in the future. |
| D．Bose’s grandfather asked her to do cancer research. |
The passage is mainly about _____.
| A．a research on cancer drugs |
| B．a new effective cancer treatment |
| C．a doctor who has a promising future |
| D．a girl who did research on cancer treatment |
Here's a hotel worth writing something about: a company in Poland plans to build tourist accommodation under the sea. The structure can be dragged to a suitable location and placed on supports on the sea bed. The ‘Water Discus’ will be made up of an underwater disc containing 22 bedrooms with sea views, connected by lift and stairs to a disc above the surface containing other hotel facilities.
Project manager Robert Bursiewicz says: “Nowadays it's possible to build submarines ('潜艇) which go deeper than 500m below the sea surface, so building an underwater hotel is not a problem. ”
In fact, they don't plan to have the hotel very deep. Water acts like a filter (过滤器) for sunlight, and below 15m most colors, apart from blue, are washed out. And we all want to see colorful marine life, don't we?
But this isn't the first hotel to offer underwater views from the bedrooms. The two-bedroom Jules' Undersea Lodge, off the coast of Florida, has been taking in guests 10m beneath the surface since 1986.
The company that operates the hotel also runs a diving course for beginners to help get guests down and into the hotel. It is accessible only through an opening at the bottom.
And you'll find all the usual facilities in the room, according to Teresa McKirma, Jules's chief financial officer. It has a television, air conditioning and Wi-Fi. But for the staff, simple things like cleaning and making beds can be challenging, since the lodge is in sea water.
"It actually takes quite a lot of work to get anything down there," she says. "We have to put everything in waterproof boxes and attach weights to them to counter their buoyancy (浮力). "
The hotel has suitably sized waterproof boxes so that pizzas can be delivered by divers to guests who order them for their evening meal. And after a meal, if you can't sleep because of the excitement of the experience, you don't have to count sheep. You'll fall asleep quicker if you count fish.According to the passage, the new hotel will ______.
| A．contain three discs | B．come into use soon |
| C．have a movable structure | D．be built 500m beneath the surface |
Why won't they plan to have the hotel very deep in the water?
| A．They have financial problems. |
| B．They lack advanced technology. |
| C．They refuse to enjoy colorful life. |
| D．Most colors are washed out below 15m. |
According to Teresa McKirma, ______.
| A．entertainment is impossible in the hotel |
| B．the staff's work is difficult to finish |
| C．it's easy to get things down there |
| D．the built hotel is badly equipped |
What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
| A．Passengers can't enjoy their meals. |
| B．Passengers will feel fed up with the views. |
| C．Passengers have no choice but to count fish. |
| D．Passengers may get excited about the experience. |
The Rugby (英式橄榄球) World Cup is currently being held in New Zealand. The tournament, due to finish on October 23, is living up to the famous English saying, “Rugby is a thug's (暴徒) game played by gentlemen. ”
The games are physically aggressive; the tackles (冲撞) on the pitch are brutal; but the end of each match is a civilized affair. Players shake hands and applaud each other. Of course, the other side to this saying is: "Football is a gentleman's game played by thugs. " Indeed, unlike soccer players, rugby players don't often question the referee's (裁判员) decisions or pretend to be injured when they are not.
“Football could learn a lot from rugby," said Brian Moore, a former England rugby player "The wonderful spirit of rugby is: there is a gentlemanly code to it. You play hard on the pitch, but you always respect your opponent..
Rugby is mainly played in Europe. Australia, New Zealand and parts of Africa. "It is more enjoyable to play than soccer because you are always involved in the game," said Peter, a Welsh rugby coach. "Rugby is also a far superior test of strength, stamina (耐力) and determination. "
Most professional rugby players are large, strong and weigh over 90 kilograms. People who play the sport need to be tough and be prepared to get hurt. Black eyes, broken bones, lost teeth and being knocked unconscious—all these are common injuries. Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is blind in one eye thanks to a rugby accident at school.
In England, children begin playing the game at school at the age of 8. When they enter high school, many begin to play full contact rugby. Children are taught to play for around one hour a week during their PE lessons. Most schools have a rugby team. Children who play for the school team are usually the sportiest kids, and are seen as brave and athletic. What can be concluded from the first three paragraphs?
| A．Football players are not real gentlemen. |
| B．There is a better spirit in playing rugby than football. |
| C．Football players are not as athletic as rugby players. |
| D．Brian Moore thinks that rules should be stricter in football. |
According to the passage, Peter thinks ______.
| A．rugby players pretend to be injured when they are not |
| B．rugby is not very popular in America and Asia |
| C．rugby makes people enjoy sports better than soccer |
| D．rugby needs players' strong will rather than strength |
The example of Gordon Brown is mentioned in order to .
| A．prove that playing rugby can earn people fame |
| B．explain why Gordon Brown is blind in one eye |
| C．support the point that rugby players often get hurt |
| D．warn teenagers against playing rugby at school |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A．Teenagers will lose interest in football. |
| B．English children have a talent for rugby. |
| C．Playing rugby doesn't involve skills. |
| D．Rugby is not suitable for everyone. |
During the teenage years, hormonal (荷尔蒙的) changes lead to physical changes like rapid muscle growth, burst in height, and weight gain in both boys and girls. Take a look at the information and height and weight charts for teens presented in this article if the question “How much should I weigh for my age and height” is bothering you.
Average Height and Weight Charts for Teens
Faster growth in kids usually can be noticed at age 8. Genetic factors also determine the physical growth of a child. So, it is perfectly normal for two kids of the same age to have different weights and heights. The following figures should be used as guidelines only.
| |
For Boys |
For Girls |
||
| Age |
Height |
Weight |
Height |
Weight |
| in Years |
in Inches |
in Pounds |
in Inches |
in Pounds |
| 12-13 |
58-62 |
85-100 |
60-63 |
95-105 |
| 14-15 |
63-66 |
105-125 |
63-64 |
105-115 |
| 16-17 |
67-70 |
130-150 |
64 |
115-120 |
| 18-20 |
68-70 |
150-160 |
64 |
125-130 |
Ideal Body Fat Percentage
Fit men have 14% - 17% body fat.
Fit women have 21% -24% body fat.
Male athletes have 6% -13% body fat.
Female athletes have 14% - 20% body fat.
The ideal body fat percentage varies mainly according to age, sex and the physical activity of the individual. But it is a fat. So, it can be observed that other than the above mentioned factors, genetic factors also influence the body-fat rct that some female athletes have body fat as low as 10 % and some male athletes had lower than 4% body faatio.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
You may use the following formula to calculate your BMI:
As per SI Units (国际单位) : BMI =" mass" (kg)/[height (meters) ]2
Imperial (英制的) Units 1: BMI =" mass" (Ib. ) x703/[ height (in. ) ]2
Imperial Units 2: BMI =" mass" (Ib. ) x 4. 88/[ height (ft) ]2
Following conclusions can be derived from (得到) calculating the BMI:
| BMI Calculated |
Conclusion |
| BMI 18.5~25 |
Normal or ideal weight |
| BMI > 25 |
Overweight |
| BMI < 18. 5 |
Underweight |
| BMI < 17. 5 |
Extremely underweight |
| BMI =" 30" or BMI > 30 |
Obese(病态肥胖的) |
| BMI =" 40" or BMI > 40 |
Extremely obese |
According to the Average Height and Weight Charts for Teens, ____.
| A．girls keep on growing taller during the teenage years |
| B．girls grow faster at the end of teenager years than boys |
| C．girls grow faster at the beginning of teenager years than boys |
| D．boys' average weight is always heavier than girls' during the teenage years |
Which of the following statements about ideal body fat percentage is RIGHT?
| A．Fit men have higher body fat percentage than fit women. |
| B．Male athletes have higher body fat percentage than fit men. |
| C．Female athletes have lower body fat percentage than male athletes. |
| D．Male athletes have much lower body fat percentage than female athletes. |
After calculating the BMI, you can reach the conclusion whether ____.
| A．your weight is normal |
| B．your hormone level is normal |
| C．your height is right for your age |
| D．your body fat percentage is ideal |
If a boy is 1. 5 meters in height and weighs 68 kilograms, then he is ____.
| A．normal | B．obese |
| C．extremely obese | D．Underweight |
粤公网安备 44130202000953号