Clothes are traditionally made of natural materials， such as cotton， leather and wool． They are all from plants or animals， but that doesn't mean they're friendly to the earth． For example， farmers have to use a lot of chemicals to grow cotton plants．
Scientists are now looking for new ways to make clothing materials． They hope the new materials are both comfortable and good for the earth． Scientists have worked out how to make materials out of corn husks（棉籽）， chicken feathers and rice straws．
"They used to be useless things． We always have a problem of how to deal with them，" Yang， a scientist says， "Now， we can turn them into beautiful materials． Chicken feathers are better than other things． They have small air pockets like honeycombs． That means it will be very warm if you use them to make a jacket or sweater， and I think more and more people will like to buy these kings of clothes．"
（1）Clothes are traditionally made of
A． natural materials．
B． chicken feather．
C． rice straws．
（2）What are the new clothing materials？
A． corn husks and rice straws．
B． cotton and wool．
C． leather and wool．
（3）What does the underlined word "honeycombs" in paragraph 3 mean in Chinese？
A． 鸟巢
B． 蜂窝
C． 渔网
（4）Why are chicken feathers better than other materials？
A． They are from plants．
B． They are traditional clothing materials．
C． They have small air pockets like honeycombs．
（5）What's the best title of this passage？
A． New clothing materials．
B． New clothes．
C． Natural materials．
Far and away the most important holiday in China is Spring Festival，also known as the Chinese New Year. To the Chinese people it is as important as Christmas to people in the West.
To the ordinary Chinese，the festival actually begins on the eve of the lunar New Year's Day and ends on the fifth day of the first month of the lunar calendar. But the 15th of the first month，which normally is called the Lantern Festival，means the official end of the Spring Festival in many parts of the country.
Spring Festival is the most important and popular festival in China. Before Spring Festival，the people usually clean and decorate their houses. And they go to the Flower Fairs to buy some flowers. During Spring Festival ，the adults usually give lucky money to children. People often get together and have a big meal. Some people eat dumpling for dinner.
根据短文内容判断正误，正确的写T, 错误的写F。The festival actually begins on the eve of the lunar New Year's Day.
Christmas is the most important and popular festival in China.
During Spring Festival，the adults usually give lucky money to children.
Before Spring Festival，the people usually clean and decorate their houses.
Some people eat noodles for dinner during Spring Festival.
There are many festivals in western countries:
In February: Saint Valentine's Day, a holiday honoring lovers. It is celebrated February 14 by the custom of sending greeting cards or gifts to express affection. The cards, known as valentines, are often designed with hearts to symbolize love.
In April: All Fool's Day: Playing tricks on the first day of April is a custom among European peoples. In France the victim of such practical jokes is called an April fish; in Scotland, a gawk or cuckoo; and in English-speaking countries, an April fool.
In October：Halloween，On October 31st, dozens of children dressed in costumes（节日服装）knock on their neighbors' doors and yell "Trick or Treat" when the door opens.
In December: It’s. Christmas in the Christian church, annual festival, held on December 25, to celebrate the Nativity, or birth of Christ. Children often put stocking at the end of their beds because Father Christmas will come to fill the stocking with nice presents.
根据短文内容，选择最佳答案。
The best title of the passage is ( ).
| A．Christmas | B．Fool's Day |
| C．Chinese festivals | D．Western festival |
How many festivals are there in the passage? ( )
| A．4 | B．5 | C．6 | D．7 |
When is the Saint Valentine's Day? ( )
| A．February 14 | B．February 15 |
| C．February 16 | D．February 17 |
Halloween is on ( ).
| A．October 31 | B．October 30 |
| C．October 29 | D．November 31 |
The custom on the first day of April is ( ).
| A．Knocking on neighbors' doors. |
| B．Putting stocking at the end of beds. |
| C．Playing tricks. |
| D．Sending greeting cards |
The workers who brought the girl to the orphanage(孤儿院) knew little about her. The street where they found her had been her home for many years. Her parents were unknown. They left her long ago. At the orphanage, the girl, like all the children there, was taught to read and write. While she was studying at the orphanage, she learned something else－to be independent(独立). At twenty-one, she left the orphanage and began to work as a secretary. And then, in 1975, while she was still working as an ordinary secretary, something special happened. She entered the Miss Hong Kong Competition and won it. This was the turning point in her life. Now her name, Mary Cheung, was known to everybody.
Mary entered the competition because she wanted to show that orphanage girls could be something. Winning the competition gave her the chance to start a new life. This led her first into television and then into business as a manager. When she was working as a manager, she had trouble with her reports. “My English just wasn’t good enough.” she says. Luckily, she had a boyfriend (who later became her husband) to help her.
Mary studied management(管理) at Hong Kong Polytechnic and graduated in 1980. She started her own business in 1985. But she did not stop developing herself. She then studied at the University of Hong Kong. Since 1987, she had spent a lot of time on photography(摄影). She has held several exhibitions of her works in many places－China, New Zealand and Paris. She still found time, however, to work on TV, write for newspapers and support her family.
The girl from the street has come a long way, but her journey has not finished yet.
Before Mary Cheung was brought to the orphanage, _____.
| A．she had lived with her parents whose names were not known |
| B．she had lived in the street for many years |
| C．the workers knew her well |
| D．she had learned to write and read by herself |
The sentence “orphanage girls could be something” means that orphanage girls could be _____.
| A．popular and successful | B．understood by others |
| C．Miss Hong Kong | D．known to everybody |
When did her life change completely?
| A．In 1987. | B．In 1985. |
| C．In 1980. | D．In 1975. |
This passage is probably taken from _____.
| A．a newspaper | B．a science magazine |
| C．a history textbook | D．a novel |
According to the passage, which of the following sentences is TRUE?
| A．All the children at the orphanage liked Mary. |
| B．Mary was not happy working as a secretary. |
| C．Mary’s boyfriend was good at English. |
| D．Mary’s life in the orphanage was difficult |
We humans live in different parts of the world, but we have the same “mother”. She gives us everything we need in our daily life. She is our Mother Earth. Everybody wants to live in a green city. A green city is a healthy and pleasant place for people to live in. It can get its energy from something like solar and wind power. Also, it is connected by clean public transportation.
| The Hyperloop (超级高铁) The Hyperloop is a high-speed transportation. It works by having capsules (舱) with passengers in. The capsules run on the air. The Hyperloop plans to run from Los Angeles to San Francisco. With an average speed of 962 km per hour, it is only 35 minutes between the two cities. The solar panels (板) provide power to the Hyperloop. |
| Smart Wheel Smart Wheel is a bicycle wheel with a motor. This invention can easily fit onto almost any bike. And the motor allows bikes to travel up to 50km once. Smart Wheel is different from other electric bikes. It can be controlled through your smartphone’s Bluetooth. The smartphone can show your speed, distance and travel time. |
| Solar Sidewalk (太阳能步道) George Washington University made a special path in 2013. The path is about 9 square meters. It is covered with solar panels that can provide energy to power 450 LED lights. These lights can light the walkway after dark. The solar panel is also strong enough for people to walk on. |
A green city is ________.
| A．clean and tidy |
| B．full of plants |
| C．healthy and pleasant |
| D．rich for energy |
It is ________ from Los Angeles to San Francisco.
| A．About 962 km. | B．About 560 km. |
| C．About 700 km. | D．About 450 km. |
About Smart Wheel, which is Not right?
| A．It can travel 50km once. |
| B．It can fit onto almost any bike. |
| C．It’s a motorbike with a bicycle wheel. |
| D．The smartphone’s Bluetooth can control it. |
What can solar panels do?
| A．They can run on the air. |
| B．They can provide energy. |
| C．They can carry passengers. |
| D．They can show your travel time. |
What do you think of the public transportation?
| A．Modern and clean. |
| B．Green and dangerous. |
| C．Exciting and crazy. |
| D．Expensive and impossible. |
Have you ever had an embarrassing experience? Last week we asked readers to tell us about embarrassing experiences. We received thousands of letters! Here is a selection.
Tony:
My most embarrassing experience happened when I had just left university. I had just started teaching in a Liverpool middle school. One morning my alarm clock didn’t ring. I woke up at half past eight and school began at nine. I quickly washed, dressed, jumped into my car and rushed to school. When I arrived, the students had already gone into class. I didn’t go to the office, but went straight into class. After two or three minutes the students began laughing, and I couldn’t understand why! Suddenly I looked down and understood. I had put on one black shoe and one brown shoe!
Henry:
The most embarrassing experience I’ve ever had happened two years ago. After seeing a film, my wife and I had lunch in our favorite restaurant in town. Then we decided to take a walk along the street. The street was very busy and we started holding hands. Suddenly my wife saw a dress that she liked in a shop window, and stopped. I started looking at some watches in the next window. After a minute or two I reached for my wife’s hand. There was a loud scream, and a woman slapped my face. I hadn’t taken my wife’s hand. I’d taken the hand of a complete stranger（陌生人）!
Tony arrived at school late that morning because .
| A．he couldn’t find hid shoes |
| B．his alarm clock didn’t ring |
| C．he washed and dressed slowly |
| D．his car went wrong on the way |
The students began laughing when they saw Tony .
| A．wearing a wrong shoe |
| B．his alarm clock didn’t ring |
| C．looking down suddenly |
| D．rushing into the classroom |
Henry and his wife held hands .
| A．at the cinema | B．in the shop |
| C．at the restaurant | D．along the street |
What does the underlined word “scream” mean in Chinese?
| A．尖叫声 | B．笑声 | C．哭声 | D．呼救声 |
Henry was embarrassed because he .
| A．slapped the woman in the face |
| B．took the hand of a complete stranger |
| C．heard hid wife screaming in the street |
| D．knocked over some watches in the shops |
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