In early November of 1503, during Christopher Columbus’ fourth and final trip to America, his ship was seriously damaged in a storm. Columbus and his men had to live on a small island for several months while they tried to repair their ship and return to Spain.
At first, the local people on the island were very kind to the European visitors, giving them all the food and clothes they needed to survive. However, as the months passed, the local people became more and more unhappy with their guests, who were tricking and stealing from them. Finally the locals decided to stop helping. Without food or any way to leave the island, Columbus’ group was soon in serious trouble.
Luckily for Columbus, he had a book about the stars and planets on his ship. It described the movements of all the objects in the night sky. The book, written by a well-known German scientist, said there would be a total lunar eclipse (月食) on the evening of February 29, 1504 and how long it would last.
Columbus worked out the difference in time between Germany and North America. He then had a meeting with the local leaders just before the eclipse would take place. In this meeting, Columbus told them his god was angry because the local people were no longer giving food. So his god would take away the moon to punish them. At the moment Columbus finished talking, just as he had planned, the moon began disappearing.
The local leaders grew frightened and quickly agreed to provide Columbus with food and anything else he wanted. But first, Columbus’ god had to return the moon. Columbus told them he would have to discuss the idea with his god on his ship. Knowing the moon would stay completely hidden for about 48 minutes, Columbus returned just before the moon began to reappear. From that day on, until they finally left, Columbus and his men no longer had any trouble getting the food they needed.At first, the local people helped Columbus and his men by__________.
| A．giving them food | B．building a house for them |
| C．repairing their ship | D．providing them with a book |
The local people became angry because the Europeans__________.
| A．looked very different | B．had nothing to trade |
| C．were cheats and thieves | D．wanted to take their land |
What did Columbus do after returning to his ship on the night of the meeting?
| A．He discussed the problem with his god. |
| B．He waited for the eclipse to finish. |
| C．He read about the stars and planets. |
| D．He told his men what happened. |
What can we learn about the Europeans from the passage?
| A．They all believed in god. |
| B．They never returned to Spain. |
| C．They admired the local people. |
| D．They caused their own problems. |
Mason’s Clothing Store
| Clothes（衣服） |
Color（颜色） |
Price（价格） |
| socks |
white, blue |
$4 |
| pants |
black |
$11 |
| sweater |
red, white |
$8 |
| T-shirt |
red, green, black |
$7 |
| hat |
black, red |
$6 |
—Which is the cheapest（最便宜的）of all? —_______
| A．Hat. | B．T-shirt. | C．Pants. | D．Socks. |
—How much are two sweaters and a hat? —_______
| A．$14. | B．$20. | C．$21. | D．$22. |
You can buy（买到）_______.
| A．black pants | B．a blue sweater |
| C．a green hat | D．red socks |
You like red and you only have $6. You can take_______.
| A．a sweater | B．a hat |
| C．a T-shirt | D．none（一个都没有） |
You only have sixteen dollars. You can buy_______.
| A．a sweater and a pair of pants（裤子） |
| B．two T-shirts and a pair of socks |
| C．a sweater and two pairs of socks |
| D．a sweater and two hats |
Sugar—free beets（甜菜）that still taste sweet, tastier tomatoes and brighter-colored fruits and vegetables that stay ripe（熟的）longer are all foods that are being grown now. How can they
carry traits, such as being tastier, brighter, and riper? They are genetically engineered.
Genetic engineering（基因工程）is like making a change in a recipe. For example, when you make cakes, you mix together all of the usual ingredients. If you add an extra ingredient, like salt, the cakes will taste differently.
Genes are ingredients in the recipe for life. They carry the traits of living things. Your genes dictate what color hair and eyes you’ll have, how tall you’ll be, as well as many other traits. Genes carry traits for plants, too. By adding genes to a plant, you can sometimes create new traits. For example, adding a certain gene to a potato plant can make the potato plant distasteful to bugs（虫子）. This makes some farmers happy because they don’t have to use chemicals to keep bugs away from their plants.
It sounds great, but some people are opposed to the idea of food that is genetically engineered. Ronnie Cummins, from the Campaign for Food Safety, is against it. He says that one of the major concerns is allergies（过敏）. Supermarkets don’t always label foods that are genetically engineered. A customer could unknowingly buy food that has an added gene from another plant that he or she is allergic to. It could be dangerous.
Gary Burton from Monsanto, a seed（种子）company that engineers food, disagrees. He says his company tests for allergies. Burton believes that genetic engineering is a valuable tool for making better food. The technology can help farmers use less insecticide（杀虫剂）and grow healthier crops. Burton thinks there are many advantages.
But Cummins says that we just don’t know what will happen in the future if we keep adding genes to foods. We could mistakenly create a monster.
People have different opinions about genetic engineering. One side supports it and thinks it will only help us. The other side is opposed to playing with nature and fears health risks. Which side do you think is right?What could be a good thing about food that is genetically engineered?
| A．It’s more expensive. |
| B．It could taste different. |
| C．It requires less insecticide. |
| D．It’s not labeled in the supermarket. |
In general, who does not support the idea of genetic food?
| A．People from seed companies. |
| B．Farmers who use engineered seeds. |
| C．People from the Campaign for Food Safety. |
| D．Scientists who create genetically engineered food. |
It can be inferred that .
| A．growing genetic foods will make farmers richer |
| B．people will eat more genetic foods in the future |
| C．using fewer chemicals could make the food tastier |
| D．there could be unknown dangers about genetic foods |
What is the best title of this passage?
| A．Future Farming |
| B．Genetic Engineering |
| C．Foods with a Difference |
| D．Genetically Engineered Fruits |
I never wanted a dog, but now I'm so glad I have one. About two years ago, my wife, Cathy, got a little dog with a face only a mother could love. We named her Gertie.
Gertie is the kind of dog that has to grow on you. So I dicided that the dog would be trained. This didn't quite go as planned. At 15 weeks old, she was nearly made to leave the Petsmart Training School. She spent every night lying in our bed-snoring (打鼾)so loudly that I hardly got a good night's sleep.
Then, about six months after she arrived, I felt that something in my heart was taking place, and I was unable to stop it. My behaviour(行为方式)began to change. I began to smile at people when passing them in a street. I returned(招手)from neighbours. I started calling my kids, and to my surprise, they started calling me. I even tried to speak to my grandchildren over the phone once. I even was glad to listen to laughter from a 10-month-old granddaughter. The point is that I was changing.
My wife and I both agree that it is Gertie who has changed my behaviour. Gertie is now nearly two years old and almost fully grown.I have come to like the pet little by little, though she is my wife's dog.What did the man think of the dog at the beginning?
| A．It looked very beautiful. |
| B．It wasn't very lovely. |
| C．It wasn't necessary to be trained. |
| D．It could change his life. |
When did the man's behaviour begin to change?
| A．About two years ago. |
| B．When Gertie was nearly two years old. |
| C．When Gertie was 15 weeks old. |
| D．About six months after Gertie arrived. |
Which of the following is NOT mentioned about the man's change?
| A．He began to smile at people |
| B．He liked helping his neighbours. |
| C．He started calling his kids. |
| D．He spoke to his grandchildren over the phone. |
What can we learn from this passage?
| A．The dog has been trained very well. |
| B．The man has become more confident. |
| C．The man has become more friendly. |
| D．The man likes the dog better than his wife. |
A passenger told an air hostess that he needed a cup of water to take his medicine when the plane just took off. She told him that she would bring him the water in ten minutes. Thirty minutes later, when the passenger’s ring for service sounded, the air hostess flew busily. She was kept so busy that she forgot to give him the water. As a result, the passenger was held up to take his medicine. She hurried over to him with a cup of water, but he refused it.
In the following hours on the flight, each time the airline hostess passed the passenger she would ask him with a smile whether he needed help or not. But the passenger never paid attention to her. When he was going to get off the plane, the passenger asked the airline hostess to hand him the passengers’ brochure（小册子）. She was very sad. She knew that he would write down sharp words, but with a smile she handed it to him. Off the plane, she opened the booklet, and broke a smile, for the passenger put it, “On the flight, you asked me whether I need help or not for twelve times in all. How can I refuse your twelve sincere smiles?” That’s right! Who can refuse your twelve sincere smiles from a person?What did the passenger need when the plane just took off?
| A．A booklet to write something. |
| B．A cup of water to take his medicine. |
| C．The stewardess to make an apologize. |
| D．To get off the plane at once. |
Why did the air hostess forget to give him the water?
| A．Because the passenger was angry. |
| B．Because the passenger was very cruel. |
| C．Because she was very busy. |
| D．Because she was not friendly to the passenger. |
The Chinese meaning of the underlined word “sincere” is ________.
| A．自豪的 | B．婉转的 | C．真诚的 | D．委屈的 |
Why was the air hostess very sad?
| A．She thought the passenger would write down bad words. |
| B．She thought she couldn’t give the passenger any help. |
| C．She thought the passenger would tell her manager. |
| D．She thought she should say sorry to the passenger again. |
| Developing school skills |
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| Books to help you to become better teachers or better learners These materials can help both teachers and students of different levels and grades.
• Lessons with textbooks |
Tom needs to improve his study skills. If he takes the lessons, he has to spend ______.
| A．$75 | B．$100 | C．$ 120 | D．$ 135 |
If you want to build your vocabulary, you will take ________lessons.
| A．37 | B．43 | C．60 | D．70 |
The books in the picture are for ___________ to develop school skills.
| A．students of lower grades |
| B．students of different levels |
| C．both parents and children |
| D．both teachers and students |
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