Do you know why different animals or pests（害虫）have their special colours? Colours in them seem to be used mainly to protect themselves.
Some birds like eating locusts, but birds cannot easily catch them. Why? It is because locusts change their colours together with the change of the colours of crops. When crops are green, locusts look green. But as the harvest time comes, locusts change to the same brown colour as crops have. Some other pests with different colours from plants are easily found and eaten by others. So they have to hide themselves for lives and appear only at night.
If you study the animal life, you’ll find the main use of colouring is protecting themselves. Bears, lions and other animals move quietly through forests. They cannot be seen by hunters. This is because they have the colours much like the tree.
Have you ever noticed an even more strange act? A kind of fish in the sea can send out a kind of very black liquid when it faces danger. While the liquid spreads over, the enemies cannot find it. And it immediately swims away. So it has lived up to now though it isn’t strong at all.
1.From the passage we can learn that locusts _______．
A. are small animals
B. are easily found by birds
C. are dangerous to their enemies
D. change their colours to protect themselves
2.Bears and lions can keep safe because they_______.
A. have the colours much like the trees
B. move quickly
C. like brown and grey colours
D. live in forests
3. Why can the fish mentioned in the last paragraph live up to now?
A. Because it is very strong.
B. Because the liquid it sends out can help it get away from its enemies.
C. Because the liquid it sends out can kill its enemies.
D. Because it swims faster than any other fish.
4.Which is the best title for this passage?
A. The Change of Colours for Animals and Pests
B. Colours of Different Animals and Pests
C. The Main Use of Colours for Animals and Pests
D. Some Animals and Pests
It is said that people born under different star signs have different characteristics. Here are four people born under different star signs.
Taurus （金牛座） | Tom, an old man from England, has enough money to buy anything, but he is not willing to spend money on something he needs and wants. He has few friends and an old dog is his only partner. He is really tightfisted and lonely. |
Gemini （双子座） | Jack, born on 9th June, is a 16-year-old English boy. “A Gemini is a curious and clever person, and I am just this kind of person,” he said. My lucky colour is orange. I believe that my star sign decides what will happen to me in my life. |
Cancer （巨蟹座） | Mary was born on 1st July. She loves her family and cooking is her favourite. The French girl cares about nothing but business. She is hard-working. |
Virgo （处女座） | Lucy was born on 23rd August and is modest. The girl from Australia is studying in a college(大学). She likes reading and hopes that she can be a scientist in the future. |
1.Who is from England and likes orange best?
A. Tom. B. Jack. C. Mary. D. Lucy.
2.What’s Mary’s star sign?
A. Taurus . B. Gemini. C. Cancer. D. Virgo.
3.What’s the meaning of the underlined word “tightfisted” in Chinese?
A. 富裕的 B. 吝啬的 C. 奢侈的 D. 豁达的
What is colour? Why do some of the things around us look red, some green, others blue?
Colours are really made by reflected (反射) light. We see colour because most of the things reflect light. Something is red, for it reflects most of the red light. In the same way, if something is green, it reflects most of the green light. If something reflects all light, it is white. If it doesn’t reflect any light, it is black.
Some of the light is reflected and some is taken in (吸收) and turned into heat. The darker the colour is, the less light is reflected, the more light is taken in. So dark-coloured clothes are warmer in the sun than light-coloured clothes.
1.When something reflects light, we can _______ .
A. see its colour B. see its heat
C. not see its colour D. see nothing
2.The dark-coloured clothes are warm because _________ is taken in.
A. more light B. less light
C. more colour D. less colour
3.In summer ________ make people feel cool.
A. dark-coloured clothes
B. red-coloured clothes
C. green-coloured clothes
D. light-coloured clothes
完形填空（10分）
We live in a colourful world. In different countries, colours have meanings. They are used to different holidays. In ancient Rome, a red flag was a for battle（战斗）．In India, red is the colour of soldiers. In South Africa, red is the colour of mourning(服丧).In China, red is the colour of and it is often used at . In ancient Greece, green represented victory. In England, people green as a mark of honour（荣誉）. Green is the national colour of Ireland. In India, yellow is for a businessman or a farmer. In China and Japan, people wear white when very sad things happened. When their relatives ，they usually wear white. The ancient Greeks wore white to bed to have pleasant ．In ancient Rome, public servants wore blue. Today the police still wear ．Colours can also represent different . For example, you will be a leader or an active person who enjoys life if you like yellow, orange or red.
1.A. same B. different C. some D. no
2.A. represent B. make C. feel D. speak
3.A. strength B. decision C. light D. sign
4.A. good luck B. bad luck C. sadness D. politeness
5.A. birthday parties B. weddings C. classes D. meetings
6.A. put on B. took off C. wore D. dressed
7.A. are dead B. are born C. visit D. are unwelcome
8.A. sleep B. asleep C. dreams D. think
9.A. red B. white C. green D. blue
10.A. things B. people C. feelings D. stress
--- Many people think that people born under the same star sign always share the same personalities.
--- _________. Some are a just coincidence (巧合), others are the only similar.
A. Yes, I agree with you B. That’s not the case
C. Exactly D. Not at all
--- I’d like a cup of black coffee. What about you, Mike?
--- I prefer coffee __________sugar.
A. than B. about C. with D. to
