China is facing a reading crisis, with more than 50% of people surveyed believing they don't spend enough time reading and only 20% satisfied with their reading time, China Daily said.
According to Xu Shengguo, head of the Chinese Academy of Press and Publication, the country's reading rate last year was 78.6%, which means that percentage of people read books, periodicals or newspapers or were involved in online reading, while 21.4% read nothing at all.
The Academy launched an annual survey on the reading quantity of Chinese people in 2005 and found that each read 4.5 to 4.7 books on average per year between 2005 and 2014. Last year, Chinese people read only 4.56 books, compared with 12 in France, 11 in South Korea, 9 in Japan and about 7 in the United States. In addition, more tha 40% of Chinese people read less than one book throughout the year outside of textbooks.
A training meeting on reading supported by Beijing Municipal Bureau of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television was held in Beijing last week. It was the first meeting for the Leading Reader project, a training series for teachers, officials, college students and bookstore owners to promote nationwide reading. It will be held on weekends during September and October.
In addition to factors such as the large population base in China and imbalance of regional economic development, the shortage of public libraries is widespread. Reading parties in the community are in need of greater promotion. If we want to promote the nationwide reading rate, we have to encourage more grassroots reading programs.
1.What is the reading rate of China last year?
A. 20%. B. 21.4%
C. 40%. D. 78.6%.
2.What's the training meeting held on weekends for?
A. For promoting nationwide reading.
B. For supporting the Beijing Municipal Bureau.
C. For training teachers and middle school students.
D. For advertising related books, films and Televisions.
3.Which is NOT the factor of the reading crisis?
A. China has a large population base.
B. Most Chinese people no longer like reading.
C. Some regions have no enough public libraries.
D. There is an imbalance in regional development.
4.What does the author want to tell us?
A. More Chinese like reading now.
B. China faces a reading crisis at present.
C. China has to promote the reading rate.
D. More grassroots should be encouraged to read.
Surviving Hurricane Sandy (飓风桑迪)
Natalie Doan, 14, has always felt lucky to live in Rockaway, New York. Living just a few blocks from the beach, Natalie can see the ocean and hear the wave from her house. “It’s the ocean that makes Rockaway so special,” she says.
On October 29, 2012, that ocean turned fierce. That night, Hurricane Sandy attacked the East Coast, and Rockaway was hit especially hard. Fortunately, Natalie’s family escaped to Brooklyn shortly before the city’s bridge closed.
When they returned to Rockaway the next day, they found their neighborhood in ruins. Many of Natalie’s friends had lost their homes and were living far away. All around her, people were suffering, especially the elderly. Natalie’s school was so damaged that she had to temporarily attend a school in Brooklyn.
In the following few days, the men and women helping Rockaway recover inspired Natalie. Volunteers came with carloads of donated clothing and toys. Neighbors devoted their spare time to helping others rebuild. Teenagers climbed dozens of flights of stairs to deliver water and food to elderly people trapped in powerless high-rise buildings.
“My mom tells me that I can’t control what happens to me,” Natalie says. “but I can always choose how I deal with it.”
Natalie’s choice was to help.
She created a website page matching survivors in need with donors who wanted to help. Natalie posted introduction about a boy named Patrick, who lost his baseball card collecting when his house burned down. Within days, Patrick’s collection was replaced.
In the coming months, her website page helped lots of kids: Christopher, who received a new basketball; Charlie, who got a new keyboard. Natalie also worked with other organizations to bring much-need supplies to Rockaway. Her efforts made her a famous person. Last April, she was invited to the White House and honored as a Hurricane Sandy Champion of Change.
Today, the scars (创痕) of destruction are still seen in Rockaway, but hope is in the air. The streets are clear, and many homes have been rebuilt. “I can’t imagine living anywhere but Rockaway,” Natalie declares. “My neighborhood will be back, even stronger than before.”
1.When Natalie returned to Rockaway after the hurricane, she found ______.
A. some friends had lost their lives.
B. her neighborhood was destroyed.
C. her school had moved to Brooklyn.
D. the elderly were free from suffering.
2.According to paragraph 4, who inspired Natalie most?
A. The people helping Rockaway rebuild.
B. The people trapped in high-rise building.
C. The volunteers donating money to survivors.
D. Local teenagers bringing clothing to elderly people.
3.How did Natalie help the survivors?
A. She gave her toys to the kids.
B. She took care of younger children.
C. She called on the White House to help.
D. She built an information sharing platform.
4.What does the story intend to tell us?
A. Little people can make a big difference.
B. A friend in need is a friend indeed.
C. East or West, home is best.
D. Technology is power.
Father（Dick Hoyt) and son（Rick Hoyt )have taken part in many competitions including marathons(马拉松). But what makes them really different from others is that Rick was disabled at birth. He does not swim, cycle or run.
When Rick came to the world in 1962, doctors told his parents that they had no hope for him. But Dick and his wife did not give up. They brought Rick back home and determined to raise him as normally as possible.
In 1975，Rick was admitted into a public school. Two years later, he was taken by his father to participate in a fund-raising（筹集资金的）5-mile run. Dick pushed Rick in a wheelchair to finish the race. They finished second to last, but Rick was so happy that he told his father he did not feel handicapped when they were in the competition. This run was their first time to compete. During this journey, almost everyone looked down on Rick. No one talked to them or ran beside them. But, the father and the son kept going strong. After 4 years of marathons, “Team Hoyt” went for their first triathlon（三项全能运动）．Dick did not know how to swim before this, so he put a lot of effort into learning the skill. He worked out up to 5 hours a day, 5 days a week, even when he had to work. He wanted to set a good role model for Rick-once you set out to do something, stick to it, whatever it takes.
In 2012, Dick Hoyt and Rick Hoyt were going to be 70 and 50 years old. After so many years，“Team Hoyt" managed to raise public awareness about the disabled. Dick said，“Those doctors who asked us to give up are not alive any more, but I would like them to be able to see Rick now."
1."Team Hoyt" in the passage refers to＿．
A. Dick and Rick B. Dick and his wife
C. Rick and his parents D. Rick and his friends
2.Dick put his effort into learning swimming because＿．
A. he liked swimming very much B. his doctor forced him to do that
C. he wanted to set an example to Rick D. his son was very interested in swimming
3.What is the correct order of the following events?
a. Rick was admitted to a public school
b. Rick participated in a fund-raising run.
c. “Team Hoyt” went for their first triathlon.
d. Dick and his wife did not give up.
A. d,a,c,b B. a,d,b,c
C. A,b,d,c D. d,a,b,c
4.From what Dick said in the last paragraph, we can learn he felt_______.
A. thankful B. proud
C. anxious D. regretful
Holiday destinations for family fun
As TV's program "Where Are We Going, Dad?" hits screens, parents will be reminded of the significance of spending as much time as their children. With Spring Festival approaching, leading global travel search site Tioanxun.cn has selected three family friendly destinations for you to explore.
*Queensland
You can dive at the Great Barrier Reef and appreciate the creatures in the sea, or take a ship from Brisbane to discover Moreton Island with wild dolphins providing an escort(护送）.
A hot air balloon ride will provide a bird's view of Queensland and allow you to enjoy an amazing sunrise. A road trip around Fraser Island is well worth it with rainforests, freshwater lakes, and diverse rang of bats and birds guaranteeing an unforgettable scene.
*Los Angeles
The children, and young at heart, will love it! After exploring Disneyland Park, with its many attractions, an exciting adventure awaits at the Universal Studios Hollywood. The theme park allows you to experience world-class rides, such as 360 3-D and Transformers: The Ride-3D. As you catch your breath afterwards you can take photos with film characters Minions from the Hollywood blockbuster, like Despicable Me.
*Jeju Island
Halla Mountain is the highest in South Korea and the area around it is a national park. You can have a bite in a restaurant or teahouse halfway up the mountain to give you more energy.
Another place worth visiting is Jeju MIni Mini Land, which hosts more than 100miniature(微型的）versions of the world's most iconic(标志性的）structures, including Beijing"s Forbidden City and the Learning Tower of Pisa.
The Teddy Bear Museum exhibits lovely bears from all over the world, which are shown in different scenes and themes such as Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa.
1.What can you do in the Universal Studios Hollywood?
A. Enjoy an amazing sunrise. B. Experience world-class rides.
C. Climb the Halla Mountain. D. Go to the Teddy Bear Museum .
2.If your kids want to get close to nature, he probably will visit__________.
A. Teddy Bear Museum B. Jeju Mini Mini Land
C. the Great Barrier Reef D. the Universal Studios Hollywood
3.Where does the passage most probably come from?
A. A tourist map. B. A science textbook.
C. A library guide. D. A news rep[ort.
Read the passage and fill in the blanks with proper words or the proper forms of the given words.
As humans, we have five tools 1. help us explore the world around us. The first one is sight. You can watch a movie, see a beautiful sunset, or run and play outside because of your 2. (eye). The second important sense is hearing. Our ears allow us 3. (enjoy) things like talking with our friends and listening to music. 4. (be) able to hear also helps protect us from 5. (dangerous); for example, we can hear if a car is coming when we’re crossing the street. Smell is another important sense. 6. our noses we couldn’t enjoy things like our favourite meal or flowers. Our nose also helps us know 7. we’re eating. The 8. (four) important sense is taste. Our tongues (舌头) can pick out five types of tastes — bitter, sour, sweet, hot and 9. (salt). The last important sense is touch. Our skin is very sensitive (敏感的) to what it touches, allowing us to feel. Our sense of touch can also prevent us 10. (hurt).
When the news came _____ the war broke out, he decided to serve in the army.
A. that B. where
C. what D. when
