One cool April 22 morning, people started the day as usual. Yet it was not a normal day. What’s so special about April 22? The answer is because it is Earth Day. People all over the world celebrate this important day. The idea of having a special day to celebrate Earth began in the 1960s. Life was very different then.1. Most people had no idea how dirty our air and water were.

On April 22, 1970, twenty million Americans joined the first Earth Day activities. This showed that people really want to do something for the environment. Since then laws have been passed to protect the air, water, land, and animals. The vehicles (汽车) such as cars and buses you ride in must pass tests to make sure they don't cause too much pollution. Thanks to it, cars today give out about half as many bad chemicals as they did in the past.

2.It's a good thing because they have got a lot of help. The Cuyahoga River in Ohio was so polluted that rubbish and oil on the river even caught fire! Today, the river is cleaner. It no longer burns.3.

Now the celebration has spread to other countries. More than 175 countries take part each year. Every April 22, millions of people get together to clean and protect the Earth. 4. Our job is to put this knowledge to work. You can help keep our planet healthy, too!

A.They also celebrate how far we have come.

B.It's healthy enough for birds, fish, and other animals.

C.As a result, the air we breathe is cleaner than it once was.

D.Few people talked or even thought about the environment.

E.Rivers and lakes are also cleaner today than they were before.

F.Many animals near and in the river come back again after that.

Luisa’s Letter

Luisa checked the mailbox. An eggshell-white envelope lay on top of all the letters. It was still there, thank goodness. She picked it and put it into her bag.

Upstairs, she handed the remaining letters to her mother. “How was school, Luisa?” Mom asked.

“It was fine,” said Luisa, giving her mother a quick hug.

In her room Luisa tried to focus on her English homework, but the letter called to her. It had traveled more places than she had. All her life, Luisa had lived in Seville, an ancient city in the southwest of Spain. Luisa loved her hometown, but she wanted to see the world.

A year abroad! What an attractive possibility! But Luisa couldn’t bring herself to raise the subject with her parents because her parents just wanted her to stay in Seville, get married, give them grandchildren. Last spring, on her own, she applied for(申请) a year of high school in England. Now, this envelope held her answer.

Luisa went to the kitchen to help with dinner. She asked, “Mom, do you ever think about traveling?

I mean, I want to. And maybe someday…live somewhere else.”

Luisa’s heart beat harder as she waited for her mother’s reaction. But Mom nodded. “Luisa, of course you’d like to travel. I want that for you and…”

Just then Dad arrived. When they sat down at the table to eat, Dad said, “Seville is the best, yes, my Luisa?” Luisa’s heart sank(为之一沉). Dad continued, “Why would people want to leave Seville?” Mom smiled, “When Luisa is old enough, we can discuss with her what’s best for her future.”

Dad raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue.

Luisa couldn’t wait any longer, but her parents’ easy chatter(聊天)was the sound of her childhood. She sank deeper into her chair and listened. Home would always be here. But when the time was right, she’d leave. And she wanted it to be with her parents’ support.

“Something came in the letter,” she said at last. “I want you to see.” She took out the letter. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” her voice was shaking. “I wanted this more than anything.” Luisa waved at the unopened envelope. “But only if you say it’s okay.”

1.Last spring, Luisa________.

A.traveled abroad with her parents B.got married and started a family

C.discussed her future plan with her mother D.applied for a year of high school in England

2.How did Luisa feel as she waited for her mother’s reaction in the kitchen?

A.Excited. B.Nervous. C.Proud. D.Regretful.

3.Luisa decided to tell her parents about the letter because________.

A.she wanted her parents’ support B.she had already known the answer

C.her parents asked her for the letter D.her parents were unwilling to wait

阅读短文,掌握其大意,然后从每小题所给出的四个选项中选出一个最佳答案。

My parents took me to Japan when I was little. I lived there for five years. _________ I came back, my Japanese was very good. “Can I do something useful with my Japanese?” I asked myself.

Then, one day last spring, I got a good opportunity(机会). Everyone was afraid of SARS, so I stayed at home with _________ to do. My _________ brought me a Japanese book. “Why don’t you translate it into Chinese? It will be better than _________ computer games all day.” I promised to do 2,000 words each day, but soon I found _________ was hard to keep the promise.

One day in May, the_________ was beautiful. But I couldn’t go out. Those 2,000 words were still _________ me. After translating only three pages, I already lost _________ in the book. I looked at it for a long time. But I couldn’t make myself turn the pages. I wished I could just go outside and _________ football with my friends! I counted the words again and again. I just wanted to give up. I felt as if two people were fighting __________ my mind. One said, “Don’t give up! Keep working hard, and you’ll do well!” But then __________ said, “Go and play! It will be more fun than translating. Do your work tomorrow.”

I stood up and was about to __________ the computer. But then I remember __________ my parents had told me,“ Whatever you do, don’t stop halfway.” I took a breath and sat down again. Once I started, it wasn’t so __________.

__________, when I heard that my book was published(出版), I cried. Not because I was sad, but because I had done something great and known “don’t stop halfway”.

1.A.Because B.Until C.Since D.When

2.A.nothing B.something C.everything D.anything

3.A.grandpa B.father C.friend D.brother

4.A.playing B.programming C.operating D.producing

5.A.one B.this C.it D.that

6.A.clouds B.weather C.air D.flowers

7.A.talking to B.looking at C.smiling at D.waiting for

8.A.interest B.speed C.smell D.relief

9.A.buy B.give C.play D.watch

10.A.in B.with C.about D.for

11.A.the other one B.the other ones C.the others D.one another

12.A.turn on B.turn off C.open D.close

13.A.how B.where C.which D.what

14.A.easy B.important C.hard D.dangerous

15.A.Later B.Before C.After D.However

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