It was a beautiful, sunny summer day. I ...

    Giving a gift that will stand the test of time is always a challenge,but giving plants is one way to try.Whatever type of plant you choose,it’s sure to last longer than cut flowers1.

The most important thing to consider is where it will live.If your friend’s place is bright and sunny,a succulent(多肉植物)makes sense. 2.Succulents naturally grow in desert-like environments,while orchids(兰花)grow in damp forests.

3.It can help you understand what conditions it prefers.So,while picking out plant gifts,ask the salesperson for more information to ensure what you choose is a match for where it will end up.

Whatever plant you choose,make peace with the fact that it may or may not survive.After all,a house’s inside is pretty dissimilar to where that plant naturally grows.So we can all only do our best.4.If their leaves dry up,they’re not getting enough water.If they’re reaching their leaves toward the light,they may need more of it.So offer that advice to your friend,and then let it go.

If you have a plant-interested friend on your gift list,why not choose a plant which is easy to keep alive in his place and looks lovely?You don’t need to wrap it,as a simple bow is  enough.5.It’s a way to ensure your gift gets a good start in life.

A.You can always put them inside a paper bag.

B.But you can consider giving a nice pot and bag of soil.

C.Knowing the natural history of a plant is equally important.

D.Even relatively experienced green thumbs sometimes lose

E.The key is to pay attention to plants-really look at them each day..

F.If you want to choose plants as gifts,the ideas below will help you on your way.

G.If your friend has a cool home with no direct sun,an orchid is probably a better choice.

    The invention of steel frames in the late 1800s meant that the walls did not carry the weight of a structure. This development meant that suddenly much taller buildings were possible, and they could be built quickly. Skyscrapers had been born, and they were about to change the face of our cities.

Since 1901 the world’s tallest building had always been a skyscraper and until 1974 this was always in New York. Only after the end of the century did the tallest building appear outside North America, with the opening of the first building to be more than half a kilometer tall, Taipei 101.

Tall building are seen as a symbol of success and status by many but they are not always popular with local residents. The construction of the Shard, the tallest building in London and in the entire European Union, has been highly controversial. It is only a few hundred meters across the River Thames from the Tower of London--one of the oldest and most famous landmarks in London.Many feel that such modern constructions should not be built near to historic sites.

London residents should hope that the opening of the Shard doesn’t lead to a major downtown in their economy. The Empire State Building was finished in 1931, very soon after Wall Street crashed. The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur were built in 1988, just after the Asian financial crisis. The Burj Khalifa in Dubai was opened in early 2010, and shortly afterwards the emirate’s（酋长国的）investment company collapsed.

The Burj Khalifa might be the tallest structure in the world currently but its status is under threat from numerous planned buildings around the world. One tower which will probably never be built is the 4km high X-Seed 4000 in Tokyo. It was designed in 1995 to attract publicity rather than as a serious proposal, but who knows when such fanciful ideas could become a reality? The Burj Khalifa is more that double the height of the Empire State Building, and surely no one in 1931 would have imagined that.

1.What make the building of skyscrapers possible?

A.The using of the steel frames.

B.The improvement of the wall material.

C.The changing of the city face.

D.'The increase of the building height.

2.What is most Londoners' attitude towards the construction of the Shard?

A.Supportive. B.Uncooperative.

C.Acceptable. D.Critical.

3.How is paragraph 4 developed?

A.By analyzing possible reasons. B.By stating general characters.

C.By providing typical examples. D.By listing practical proposals.

4.What is the best title for the text?

A.Skyscrapers: symbol of success B.Skyscrapers: ideal buildings

C.The sky's fanciful ideas and reality D.The sky's the limit

    My family and I never talked about school as the ticket to a future. I was in the classrooms, but I wasn’t there to learn to write, read or even speak. When it was my turn to read, I wanted to hide. I was 13 years old, but I already hated being who I was.

I had an English teacher, Mr. Creech, who knew I couldn’t read. In one of my first lessons the teacher said that anyone who had a reading age below six had to stand up. I felt so embarrassed. But at the same time, it made me realize that I needed to change the situation. I was determined it wouldn’t happen again. Later that day, Mr. Creech encouraged me and promised he would try his best to help me learn to read. From then on, I never gave up practicing reading.

Now I was 41 years old. One day, I planned to fly back to Texas to visit my friends and family. On my way from the airport, I saw Mr. Creech buying himself a drink. I rushed over and reached into my pocket to pay for him. “Do I know you?” he asked. “Yes, sir, you do know me,” I answered excitedly. “My name is Anthony Hamilton. You taught me English.” The look on his face told me that he remembered the boy he’d once encouraged.

“I’m so glad I had a chance to see you,” I said. “And Mr. Creech, I have great news to share.” I told him I had learned to read. But that wasn’t all. I had become a published author and an active speaker. “The next time you get another Anthony Hamilton in your classroom, please encourage him to read as well,” I added.

The experts say what once worried me has a name: dyslexia (诵读困难症). But I can tell you it was a lack of desire for education.

1.Why did the author want to hide?

A.Because he felt sorry for himself. B.Because he hated being laughed at.

C.Because he couldn’t read at all. D.Because he didn’t have a ticket.

2.Which of the following could best describe Mr. Creech?

A.Considerate and dutiful. B.Demanding and enthusiastic.

C.Emotional and dedicated. D.Friendly and ambitious.

3.Why couldn’t the author read before meeting Mr.Creech?

A.Because his reading age was not long enough.

B.Because his parents didn’t teach him how to read.

C.Because he was afraid of reading before the class.

D.Because he didn’t have inner driving force to learn to read.

4.What can we infer from the passage?

A.Mr. Creech taught two students called Anthony Hamilton.

B.The author had become a published author and an active speaker.

C.Dyslexia was the underlying reason that made the author unable to read.

D.The author was grateful to Mr. Creech.

    Recently, a group of scientists decided to find out what the funniest joke in the world was. This was obviously a difficult task, as no two people really agree about what is funny and what is not—especially when they are from different countries.

Here is the joke which the experts decided was the funniest joke in the world：

Two hunters were out in the woods. One of them fell to the ground. He didn’t seem to be breathing; his eyes were closed. The other hunter took out his mobile phone and called the emergency services.

“My friend is dead!” he cried to the operator. “What can I do？”The operator said，“Don’t worry. First, make sure he’s dead.” There was a silence, and then a shot was heard. Bang! The hunter’s voice came back on the line. He said, “OK, now what?”

This is perhaps amusing. Culturally, it depends on us knowing that often hunters are not considered to be very intelligent people, and that often they are quite violent. But perhaps this is not so all over the world. It’s also quite a “black” joke—a joke about something which isn’t really a funny subject. The experts also found the second funniest joke in the world. Here it is：

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went on a camping trip. After dinner, they went to sleep. Some hours later, Holmes woke up. “Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see.” “I see millions of stars, Holmes,” replied Watson.

“And what do you infer from that? ”

“Well, there are billions of stars ... we are a small part of the universe ...”

“Watson, you idiot!” he said. “Someone has stolen our tent!” I personally think this is better.

Can scientists in the end decide what is funny? Some things are much too complicated, even for scientists.

1.What can we learn from the first paragraph?

A.Few jokes can make scientists laugh.

B.Only scientists can find out the funniest joke.

C.There are different jokes in different countries.

D.People hold different opinions about what is funny.

2.What does the author think of the first joke?

A.It is not so funny as the experts thought.

B.It is really the funniest joke he has ever heard.

C.It can greatly affect readers’ attitudes toward hunters.

D.It shows that not all hunters are brave and intelligent.

3.We can learn that a person’s understanding of a joke can be affected by ________.

A.the reader’s feeling B.the length of the joke

C.the reader’s cultural background D.the language that the teller uses

4.Which of the following is the best title for this passage?

A.Uninteresting jokes B.Different kinds of jokes

C.The funniest jokes in the world D.Tips on how to make others laugh

    Foods to Eat to Burn More Calories

WATERMELON

Watermelon is brimming with B vitamins which boost your energy levels and curb your need to munch on an extra snack. A cup of diced watermelon contains 46 calories and virtually no fat. Watermelon is a rich source of potassium, dietary fiber, protein, vitamin A, magnesium, vitamin C, and iron.

Watermelon is one of powerful foods to eat to burn more calories. Watermelon is also high in lycopene, the antioxidant that lower your risk of macular degeneration, heart disease, and cancer. With 90 percent water, watermelon is filling you up but are not filling you out. Enjoy fresh watermelon juice, smoothie, or use it any summer fruit salad you like.

GRAPEFRUIT

Grapefruits speed up your metabolism and help burn a lot of calories. This fruit will help feel full faster and longer. According to the U. S. Department of Agriculture National Nutrient Database, one half of a grapefruit contains around 53 calories. Moreover, grapefruit is rich in fiber that may help stabilize your blood glucose levels. You can add grapefruit to your fruit salad, smoothies or drink a grapefruit juice.

CELERY

The secret of celery is very simple： it contains less calories and helps burn more than you eat. Celery mostly consists of water and that's why it is good as a part of a balanced diet

However, this food is not suitable for celery diet only as your body won't get the necessary minerals and nutrients. So the best decision will be to combine it with some other foods.

WHOLE GRAINS

Studies show that whole grains are healthier than refined grains and that they lower the risk of getting a chronic disease. This type of grains is also a good part of a diet as it takes more time to digest and you won't get hungry for a longer period of time. Whole grains are rich in various vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates but low in fat.

GREEN TEA

Rich in antioxidants green tea boosts your metabolism and helps lose weight, which is just fantastic for ladies, isn't it? Simply enjoy a cup of hot fragrant green tea and do a great favor to your body.

1.To balance blood glucose levels, you'd better take            in regularly.

A.green tea B.whole grains

C.watermelon D.grapefruit

2.From the passage we can know that _______.

A.grapefruit contains more calories than watermelon.

B.whole grains are healthier because they contain more water and various minerals.

C.both grapefruit and green tea can help speed up metabolism for those who are eager to lose weight.

D.having celery diet before a cup of green tea can help get enough nutrients to lose weight.

3.Which column can we read this passage in the newspaper?

A.Book Review B.Health

C.Entertainment D.Learning Kit