It happens every spring. Flowers come out everywhere on the same day. But how do plants “know” when to flower?
For years, it has been a difficult question for scientists. But a US research group may have finally answered it—the secret lies in a protein(蛋白质)called FKF1. This helps plants to know when the days become long and when they get short. Then they can tell the seasons are changing.
Researchers found the FKF1 protein when they were studying a plant called Arabidopsis(拟南芥). It is sensitive(敏感的)to sunlight, and can be made active by sunlight.
Plants produce this protein every day in the late afternoon all year. If there is no light at this time, for example in winter when the sun goes down early, the protein won’t be active. But when spring comes and the days get longer, the FKF1 protein can be made active by day light and the plants “know” it is time to flower. “If there is light in the late afternoon, plants will know that the days are getting longer and that it is the best time for flowers to come out,” explained Takato Imaizumi, leader of study. But when conditions are poor for growing, such as during autumn or winter when the weather is cold and days are short, plants won’t flower.
Although researchers have only studied how the FKF1 protein works in the Arabidopsis, they believe that it is the same with many other plants, including crops such as rice and wheat. This could be useful to the agricultural industry.
“If we can control when flowers come out, we might be able to increase crop production,” Imaizumi said.
1. The passage is mainly about ____.
A. how plants “know” when to flower
B. what people can do with plants
C. how seasons are changing
D. what kind of plant Arabidopsis is
2.Scientists found the FKF1 protein when they were____.
A. answering a question
B. controlling the clours of flowers
C. planting flowers in the garden
D. studying a plant called Arabidopsis
3.The best time for flowers to come out is when____.
A. it rains in spring
B. there is light in the late afternoon
C. it is getting dark
D. the sun goes down early
4.Scientists believe that____.
A. other plants also know when to flowers
B. flowers are more valuable than fruits and vegetables
C. people have known how to control when flowers come out
D. if the weather is cold and days are short, plants will flower
Mickey Mouse’s ears are well known all over the world, and this year will be an especially fun one for Disney. The company is celebrating 60 years since its first theme park, Disneyland, opened in California, US in 1955.
Disney has opened many more parks all over the world since it made history in California, Shanghai Disneyland is expected to open in 2016, bringing Disney’s popular parks here to the Chinese mainland for the first time.
So why has Disneyland been so popular for 60 years? Well, it’s described as “the Happiest Place on Earth” and “a place for the young and young at heart”. Many Americans have grown up with the parks, as ex—Disneyland president Paul Pressler said in 1995: “ There is an emotional relationship that people have with this park.”
Disneyland was one of the first theme parks anywhere in the world that had “lands” and rides with themes. Disney’s storytelling in rides like roller coasters is a big reason for their parks’ success. “We tell a story in everything we do,” Pressler said. Disney rides such as The seven Dwarves Mine Train and Peter Pan’s Flight come from its movies. One ride from its 2013 hit movie Frozen will surely be coming soon, perhaps at the new Shanghai Disneyland.
Disney’s parks haven’t always been popular everywhere, however. When Disneyland Paris opened in 1992, some French people felt that American culture was invading(入侵)France. But still, the park stayed open and today it is a popular place for European visitors.
Whatever you may think of them, you can’t say that on their 60 th birthday, Disney’s parks aren’t still going strong. How many Disney theme parks will you have visited by the time their 70 th birthday comes around?
1. The firs Disneyland opened in California in ____.
A. 1955 B. 1992 C. 1995 D. 2013
2.This year will be especially fun for Disney because____.
A. it is going to celebrate its 60 th birthday
B. it’s described as “the Happiest Place on Earth”
C. Americans have a special relationship with Disneyland
D. Mickey Mouse’s ears are well known all over the world
3.The underlined expression “Young at heart” in Paragraph 3 refers to ____.
A. young people B. people with young hearts
C. American people only D. Disneyland president
4.Which of the following is TRUE about Disneyland?
A. Disneyland has been built in US only.
B. Shanghai Disneyland has been opened.
C. People still don’t like Disneyland Paris.
D. Disney’s storytelling in rides helps it succeed.
What part-time job do you do now?What do you do want to do in the future?Leave your comment(评论)here!
I’ve been working at Burger Bam for two months.I thought I’d hate it,but it’s been really good.I’ve learned a lot how to work with people I would never normally meet.And I’m not as shy as I was.I don’t think I want to work there forever,but it’s given me some ideas about how to run a business.Maybe I’ll learn business when I go to college.
Abby,15,from Toronto
I’ve had my own web design business for a year. I’ve designed about 20 websites for my friends.I’ve been doing most of the work on the weekends after I do my homework! I’ve bought a new computer with the money I earned. A little restaurants in my neighborhood has asked me to design a website for them, so my business is growing. I’m not sure what I want to do in the future, but I really like art and design. Maybe I should go into advertising.
Kwan,14,from Seattle
I’ve been volunteering at a senior citizen center on Saturday mornings. Some of my friends think I’m crazy, doing a job for no money, but I really like it. I think that in a few months, I’ll try to get a paid part-time job in a law office because I want to study law in the future. There’s a lot of competition for part-time jobs, but I think my volunteering will look good on my resume.
Tamanna,16,from Dallas
1.How many people have left their comments according to the passage?
A. Two. B. Three. C. Four. D. Five.
2. Why do Tamanna’s friends think she is crazy?
A. Because she plans to learn business at college.
B. Because she wants to work at the center forever.
C. Because she is doing her part—time job for no money.
D. Because she has designed 20 websites for her friends.
3.Where can we most probably read the passage?
A. In a poster. B. In a travel guide.
C. In a textbook. D. On a website.
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从每题所给的ABCD四个选项中选出最佳选项。
I live in a city where jobs are difficult to get and finding well—paid jobs is even . Many people have to walk a long way to work they can’t even afford an old, used car.
Yesterday I one of these people when I was driving home. A man was walking down the road and trying to ask for a from the passing cars. Two cars in front of me passed him by. wanted to do the same but the sight of that poor man remained in my mind for quite a moment. I drove back and gave him a ride.
As I drove along, we had a conversation and I that the man was trying all his best to support his while working a temporary(临时的)job. Every coin he had was going to the house and food.
But as we came close to the house he was living in, I saw his tired eyes grow . His little girl was playing in the front yard and into her daddy’s arms as soon as he was out of the . I was almost lost in that happy moment. I smiled, said to them and wished them future happiness. Then I .
That day, the journey home which used to seem so became very short.
1.A. easier B. harder C. faster D. greater
2.A. and B. but C. because D. so
3.A. called B. followed C. saved D. saw
4.A. ride B. coin C. job D. map
5.A. He B. I C. They D. We
6.A. Actually B. Finally C. Firstly D. Similarly
7.A. decided B. hoped C. learned D. said
8.A. family B. friends C. relatives D. partners
9.A. depend on B. make up C. pay for D. take away
10.A. dry B. small C. dark D. bright
11.A. climbed B. fell C. knocked D. ran
12.A. bus B. car C. taxi D. train
13. A. goodbye B. hello C. sorry D. yes
14. A. drove off B. sat down C. stoop up D. walked away
15.A. boring B. interesting C. long D. unusual
书面表达（满分15分）
请务必将短文写在答题卡的相应位置！
假设你是李明，你的美国笔友Tom向你介绍了他们学校的课程科目后，想了解你们学校课程开设的情况，请根据以下要点给他写一封电子邮件。
1. 你们学校开设的主要课程科目；
2. 你喜欢的科目是什么；
3. 你喜欢这门（些）科目的理由。
注意：
1. 词数100左右；
2. 开头和结尾已为你写好不计入总词数；
3. 可以适当发挥，以使行文连贯；
3. 文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称。
完成句子（共4小题，满分6分）
根据汉语意思用英语完成句子。
请务必将1—4小题的答案写在答题卡的相应位置！
1. 步行有益健康。
Walking _____ _______ ______ your health.
2.汤姆这些天在忙着准备期末考试。
Tom is ______ ________ _______ his end-of-term exams these days.
3.幸亏你的帮助，我才按时完成了工作。
_______ _______ your help, I finished my work on time.
4.我们的新操场是去年建成的。
_____________________________________________________.
