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Ever since you were born, you’ve probably celebrated the anniversary of that day once each year. Would you believe that some people actually celebrate TWICE each year? Not only do they celebrate the anniversary of the day they were born, they also celebrate six months later on their half birthday!
First let’s take a look at how half birthdays are calculated. The first --- and earliest --- is simply to keep the same number of the birth date and add six months to it. For example, if your birthday is January 13, then your half birthday would be on July 13.
Of course, this easy method doesn’t always work, because not all months have the same number of days. For example, an August 30 birthday would become Febr
uary 30 --- a day that doesn’t exist!
If you want to be really precise, you need to add half the number of days in a year to your birth date. For example, in a normal year, this means adding 182.5 days. In a leap year, you would add 183 days. If this sounds too complicated, don’t worry. There are plenty of websites that will do the work for you!
For starters, consider kids. As they grow, six months can mean huge milestones. It can be a special time to celebrate with them as they grow up, because they grow up all too fast!
Half birthday celebrations can also be great for those people whose regular birthday might be overshadowed by a nearby holiday, such as Christmas. Likewise, kids whose birthdays fall in the summer might enjoy celebrating their half birthday, so that they can share their joy with their friends at school.
Half birthdays aren’t the only special “birthdays” that some people celebrate, though. Adopted children sometimes celebrate both their actual birthday (the day they were actually born) and the day they were adopted. Do you have any other special “birthdays” that you and your family celebrate?
1.The author’s purpose of writing this passage is mainly to tell us ________.
A. what birthday means
B. what half birthday is
C. the kinds of birthdays
D. the history of birthday
2.The author shows us how to calculate half birthdays by ________.
A. offering some practical examples
B. making a list of different numbers
C. comparing a normal year and a leap one
D. telling the difference between birthdays and half birthdays
3.Who are most likely to celebrate half birthdays?
A. People who are not young any longer.
B. People whose half birthday falls in summer.
C. People whose birthday falls near a holiday.
D. People who don’t like their birthdays at all.
4.This passage is taken from a website; which section does it belong to?
A. Science. B. Politics.
C. Hobby. D. Culture.
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Nancy Tillman’s wonderful On the Night You Were Born is one of my favorite books. Its celebration of the uniqueness of each and every child told in lyrical language makes it the gift I choose most often for expectant or adoptive parents. I also read it regularly with my grandchildren and talk with them about how special they are.
Tillman feels that the most important message for children to receive is simply, “You are loved.” And it’s that message that is the focus of this, her newest book, Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You. Once again, it is her turn of phrase that most fascinates me: In the green of the grass ... in the smell of the sea ... in the clouds floating by ... at the top of a tree ... in the sound crickets make at the end of the day ... “You are loved. You are loved. You are loved,” they all say. Phrases encourage children to grow, to try new things, to “march to the front” of their “own parade” and assures them that, no matter how far they go or what they do, they will be loved.
Though the words alone would convince me to buy, share and recommend this book, Tillman is also a gifted artist and her lovely work makes this book a visual treasure as well. Through the pages, a child rides hippos, splashes in the surf with elephants, plays hide and seek with rabbits, shares a trampoline (蹦床) with a kangaroo and enjoys some quiet time with a pair of pandas. My favorite drawing has the child walking away along a wide path that runs between trees covered in mist. In all of the drawings, swirls of sparkling lights wrap around the child--the love that will always be with him/her.
I’ve read On the Night You Were Born dozens of times and with every single reading, I am incredibly touched. Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You creates the same feeling of wonder, peace and happiness in me. It’s a keep-forever book and I’m so happy to have it in my collection to share with the children I love most.
1.The purpose of this passage is to _____.
A. encourage people to buy Nancy Tillman’s books for their children
B. recommend Tillman’s new book--Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You
C. advocate the theme of love among family members
D. Let children know they are loved and educate them to love others
2.Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage? _____.
A. Nancy Tillman’s book On the Night You Were Born encourages children to try new things.
B. The most important focus of Tillman’s books is for children to know they are loved.
C. The writer considers Tillman a gifted artist for her vivid use of words and rich imagination.
D. The writer has bought and read both of Tillman’s books mentioned in this passage.
3. Pick out the true statements according to the passage. _____.
A. The words alone makes Tillman’s books the writer’s favorite.
B. Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You is published earlier than On the Night You Were Born.
C. My favorite drawing shows the feeling of wonder with the child swirling in sparkling lights.
D. The drawings in Wherever You Are convey love with pictures involving animals.
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Mom, have a rest please. You _______ in the kitchen ever since you came home.
A. had worked B. were working C. have been working D. would work
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—Hi, Susan, you look tired.
—I ______ for months for the coming celebration for the school’s 60th anniversary.
A. was preparing B. have been preparing C. had prepared D. prepare
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Ever since they were first put on the market in the early 1990s, gentically mondified (GM, 转基因) foods have been increasingly developed and marketed in many countries in the word,mainly on the basis of their promise to end the worldwide food crisis. But can GM technology solve world hunger problems? Even if it would, is it the best solution?
Despite what it promises, GM technology actually has not increased the production potential of any corp. In fact, studies show that the most widely grown GM crop. GM soybeans, has suffered reduced productivity. For instance, a report than analysed nearly two decades of research on mojor GM food crops shows that GM engineering has failed to significantly increase US crop production.
Something else, however, has been on the rise, While GM seeds are expensive, GM companies tell farmers that they will make good profits by saving money on pesticides（杀虫剂）. On the contrary, US government data show that GM crops in the US have produced an overall increase in pesticide use compared to traditional crops. “The promise was that you could use less chemicals and boost production. But nether is true,” said Bill Christison, President of the US National Farm Coalition.
At the same time, the authors of the book World Hunger: Twelve Myths argue that there actually is more than enough food in the world and that the hunger crisis is not caused by production, but by problems in food distribution and politics. These indeed deserve our efforts and money. Meanwhile, the rise in food prices results from the increased use of crops for fuel rather than food, according to a 2008 World Bank report.
As a matter of fact, scientists see better ways to feed the world. Another World Bank report concluded that GM crops have little to offer to the challenges of worldwide poverty and hunger, because better ways out are available, among which “green” farming is supposed to be the first choice.
1.The author develops the second paragraph mainly .
A.by classification B.by comparison
C.by example D.by process
2.What does the underlined word “boost ” in the third paragraph probably mean?
A.Control. B.Evaluate C.Obtain. D.Increase.
3.GM companies promise farmers that they will benefit from ______________.
A.practicing “green” farming B.use of less chemicals
C.fair distribution of their crops D.using more crops for fuel
4.Which of the following best describes the attitude of the author towards GM technology?
A.Optimistic B.Defensive C.Disapproving D.Casual
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Ever since they were first put on the market in the early 1990s, gentically mondified (GM, 转基因) foods have been increasingly developed and marketed in many countries in the word,mainly on the basis of their promise to end the worldwide food crisis. But can GM technology solve world hunger problems? Even if it would ,is it the best solutiorr?
Despite what it promiises,GM technology actually has not increased the production potential of any corp. In fact
Studies show that the most crown GM croo.
GM soybeans, has suffered reduced productivity. For instance, a report than analysed nearly two decades of research on mojor GM food crops shows that GM engineering has failed to significantly increase US crop production.
Something else, however, has been on the rise, While GM seeds are expensive, GM companics tell farmers that they will make good profits by saving money on pesticides（杀虫剂）. On the contrary, US government data show that GM crops in the US have produced an overall increase in pesticide use compared to traditional crops. “ The promise was that you could use less chemicals and boost production. But nether is true,” said Bill Christison, President of the US National Farm Coalition.
At the same time, the authors of the book World Hunger: Twelve Myths argue that there actually is more than enough food in the world and that the hunger crisis is not caused by production, but by problems in food distribution and politics. These indeed deserve our efforts and money. Meanwhile, the rise in food prices results from the increased use of crops for fuel rather than food, according to a 2008 World Bank report.
As a matter of fact ,scientists see better ways to feed the world. Another World Bank report concluded that GM crops have little to offer to the challenges of worldwide poverty and hunger, because better ways out are available, among which “green” farming is supposed to be the first choice.
1.The author develops the second paragraph mainly ________.
A. by classification B. by comparison
C. by example D. by process
2.What does the underlined word “boost ” in the third paragraph probably mean?
A. Control. B. Evaluate C. Obtain. D. Increase.
3. GM companies promise farmers that they will benefit from ______________.
A. practicing “green” farming B. use of less chemicals
C. fair distribution of their crops D. using more crops for fuel
4.Which of the following best describes the attitude of the author towards GM technology?
A. Optimistic B. Defensive C. Disapproving D. Casual
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Ever since the financial crisis ________, many workers _______from their jobs.
A. broke out; were laid off
B. has broken out; were laid off
C. had broken out; had been laid off
D. broke out; have been laid off
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Whether or not to go to university will probably be the biggest educational decision you ever make. After battling with student finance, deciding whether or not to take a year out can be as terrifying as deciding where to move to for the three years.
Some students will have planned their year out for months, but, for others, slipped grades may force a gap year（间隔年）, either to retake exams or to apply to different universities. Others might just need time to think. Thankfully, for U.K. students, taking a gap year remains a good option and it can be one of the most productive and fulfilling years of their life.
Whether you’ve planned and budgeted for a year abroad, or have made a last-minute decision to delay your first year, the options are endless. Traveling, volunteering and so on are all there for the talking. With so many things on offer, it’s important to remember that 12 months won’t be enough time to do all of them, so decide early and work towards making whatever you want to do a reality.
Researching a gap year is exciting, and often the place to start is at home. Family and friends can be a great source of inspiration. Your school or college might be fully equipped to advise you on what to do when further education is on hold. Don’t underestimate（低估）the power of the Internet, either. Typing a “gap year” into a search engine might seem too obvious, but planning to travel around the world for months on your own is not appropriate.
To stay at home or go abroad is likely to be the first question you consider, but in this era of budget flights, doing both is practicable. A European inter-rail ticket（火车票）can be as little as £ 159. For those loving traveling, they must be on the special watchfulness for tricks in the process. Agencies can organize your year abroad for you, and often, it is more effective to make the bookings through the agencies. But flights and other forms of transport within Asia and America are much cheaper when bought in the countries rather than bought in advance.
1.According to Paragraph 2, why do some students have to take a gap year?
A. Because they are faced with financial problems.
B. Because they dislike what they are learning .
C. Because they haven’t got satisfying grades.
D. Because they intend to hang out for a year.
2.The underline words “on hold” in Paragraph 4 mean “________”.
A. taken in B. put off
C. given up D. turned out
3.What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A. Few students can afford to go abroad.
B. Traveling around Europe costs nothing.
C. It’s better to go to Asia and south America.
D. Travellers should make sure they aren’t cheated.
4.The auther’s attitude towards a gap year may best described as__________
A. supportive B. negative
C. defensive D. sensitive
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If you’ve ever had to chop an onion，you probably know that it’s one of the most annoying cooking experiences．It just fills your eyes with tears．Scientists and farmers have been working on a solution to this problem for decades，and they’ve apparently come up with a tearless onion．
Called the“Sunion”，this new vegetable is the result of a natural cross-breeding program that’s been going on farms in Nevada and Washington since the 1980s．It’s supposedly a sweet，mild-tasting onion that doesn’t leave that strong，pungent aftertaste，but what really sets it apart from most other onion varieties is that it doesn’t cause teary eyes when it’s chopped．
When you cut into a normal onion，it releases a compound called lachrymatory-factor synthase，and’when that hits your eyes，your body produces tears．Now，the interesting thing about regular onions is that the amounts of lachrymatory-factor synthase increase the longer the vegetables are stored，so the older they，the more you cry．In Sunions，on the other hand，the levels of that annoying compound drop the more time goes by，until it no longer has any effect on your eyes when you cut it．
That’s what Sunion growers are claiming anyway，but reports from those lucky enough to have tried them seem to confirm these claims．The Huffington Post had three of its reporters chop some Sunions，and apparently，none of them shed a single tear．According to the Washington Post，they don’t have the pungency of regular onions and are so sweet that you can eat them“like popcorn”．
So the good news is that tearless onions are now a real thing．The bad news is that they are currently only grown in Washington and Nevada，and even though they are sold nationwide，they are still in relatively short supply．The first Sunion batches hit the shelves of grocery stores in December，but we’11 probably start seeing them in most grocery shops and supermarkets in the next few years，as more people learn about them．
1.What is special about the Sunion?
A. It’s easily chopped． B. It’s sweet and tastes strong．
C. It’s tearless and mild． D. It’s grown nationwide in the USA．
2.How does the author introduce the Sunion in Paragraph 3 ?
A. By comparison． B. By telling a story．
C. By giving examples． D. By asking questions．
3.What does the underlined word“pungency”in Paragraph 4 mean?
A. Round shape． B. Strong smell．
C. Special character． D. Medical function．
4.What can we conclude from the last paragraph?
A. The Sunion has been largely on the market．
B. The Sunion is still on trial at present．
C. The Sunion will soon be grown worldwide．
D. The author is confident about the future of the Sunion．
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The Lifecycle of a T-shirt
We all probably have a lot of T-shirts, but do you ever stop and think about the influence of a T-shirt on the planet? You’d probably be surprised to learn what's involved in the lifecycle of just one T-shirt.
There are 5 major stages: material, production, shipping, use and disposal. The material stage involves farming, irrigating, fertilizing, harvesting and ginning. While cotton is a natural fiber and not as harmful to the environment as manmade fibers, it still takes a toll in the material and production stages. Commercial cotton farming uses a large amount of water, and the use of pesticides (杀虫剂) is widespread across the globe, especially in cotton farming. Studies have shown that farmers spend around $4.1 billion on pesticides annually, of which 25% was spent on cotton crops in the US.
Once the cotton is grown and harvested, so begins the production stage: spinning, knitting, bleaching, dyeing, cutting, sewing, etc.——these processes also use a great deal of water and energy. Commercial dyes and bleaches are harmful pollutants and can eventually pollute groundwater.
After the T-shirt is produced, it enters the transportation stage. This often involves overseas shipping. Take a look in your closet. Chances are that most of your cotton garments (衣服) are made in China or India. Garments can be shipped via plane, ship or truck…, all of which spill CO2 into the atmosphere. Calculations show that CO2 emissions from light trucks alone amount to 1.15 pounds per mile.
Once the T-shirt reaches the retail market, it is purchased. This stage may seem like the least environmentally damaging part. But consider the number of times you’ve washed and dried your favorite T-shirt. Washing machines are certainly becoming more efficient. However, the average American household does 400 loads of laundry per year, using about 40 gallons of water per load. Such excessive water use is combined with the large amount of energy used by dryers.
The final stage of life is disposal. This releases harmful emissions, or involves a landfill where cotton takes years to break down. Current US records show that an estimated 15% of clothes and shoes are recycled, which means that consumers send a shocking 85% of these materials to landfills.
We all need new clothes every once in a while, but let’s all try to keep in mind what goes into the production of clothing... It has a real impact on the planet.
There are a lot of things you can do to help reduce your impact. Reuse and recycle clothes. If they’re too worn out to wear, cut them up and use them as cleaning rags. Donate them to charity or another organization that recycles textiles. When possible, make an effort to buy organic cotton. Turn down the thermostat on your washer, and line dry your clothes when the weather will allow it.
1.What can be inferred from this passage?
A. The production process may affect water safety.
B. The clothing cost is relatively low in China and India.
C. Cotton clothes are buried because they are hard to break down.
D. The use stage is the least environmentally harmful of the five stages.
2.We can learn from the passage that in the US, ________.
A. pesticides in cotton farming cost over 4 billion dollars every year
B. CO2 emissions of land transport amount to 1.15 pounds per mile
C. about 15% of the clothes and shoes are made of materials that are recycled
D. about 16, 000 gallons of water is used annually by an average family on laundry
3.The underlined phrase “takes a toll” probably means “________”
A. wastes water B. has a bad effect C. uses energy D. takes a lot of time
4.What is the purpose of this article?
A. To encourage people to donate clothes to charity.
B. To introduce the five stages in the lifecycle of clothing.
C. To persuade people to purchase more organic cotton.
D. To promote eco-friendly actions related to clothes.
uary 30 --- a day that doesn’t exist!