Wind power is a very clean source of energy. This is how wind power works. Wind makes windmills spin (旋转).When the windmills spin, they make electricity. Then we can use the electricity.

A lot of people think that wind power is new, but that's not true. For thousands of years, people have used wind to sail boats and move water. We still do those things today, but these days we mostly use wind power to make electricity.

Wind power is a very popular source of energy. Most people think that we should use it more and more. First of all, it's clean. Windmills don't pollute the environment at all. Second, we can use wind power forever. After all, we will always have wind. Also, wind power is cheap, and it's getting even cheaper.

A lot of people don't understand wind power very well. They believe that there are problems with wind power, but many of those problems are not real. For example, some people say that windmills are dangerous for birds. They used to be true, but it isn't true anymore. Old windmills killed birds because they spun very fast. New windmills spin slowly, and they aren't dangerous for birds.

However, there are real problems with windmills. One problem is that many people think windmills are very ugly. This is a problem for people, because windmills are often in very pretty areas. Also, wind doesn't blow all the time, so we can't use wind power all the time. Finally, windmills are noisy.

Wind power is becoming more and more common. Right now, more than 80 countries use wind power. About 2.5 percent of the world's power comes from the wind. For some countries, that number is a lot higher. Wind power gives Denmark more than 25 percent of its electricity.

1.Why DON'T new windmills kill birds? Because ________.

A.birds don't fly near them B.they are shorter than old windmills

C.they spin slowly D.new windmills don't spin

2.When did people start using wind power?

A.Over 1,000 years ago. B.About 500 years ago.

C.About 80 years ago. D.About 25 years ago.

3.________, so we CAN'T use wind power all the time.

A.We can't use windmills at night B.Windmills break all the time

C.Wind doesn't blow all the time D.Windmills are too expensive to use all the time

4.What does the passage say about wind power?

A.Most people don't like it. B.Denmark doesn't use it.

C.It's getting more expensive. D.It's getting cheaper.

5.What is the best title for the passage?

A.Dangerous Birds B.Popular and Clean Wind Power

C.Cheap and Clean Energy D.Expensive Windmills

The Power of a Smile

I had an interesting experience at my children's school this week. About six months ago, a crazy father was driving his car half on the sidewalk at a fast speed along the road into the school. I was frightened and had a conflict (冲突) with him, telling him his driving was dangerous.

Two days ago, I was walking along the road into the school, actually a foot or so on to the road because the sidewalk was full of kids, and I saw this same man sitting at the wheel of his car about 10 metres in front of me. He looked at me angrily, started up the engine and speeded past me. So close to me that the car almost brushed my coat. It was obvious he did it purposely, to try to frighten me. I hit his car with my son's school bag hard as it went by. I called the police and they told me I should get his licence (执照) plate number and they would go round and talk to him.

This morning I was walking up to the school gate with my kids and the guy got out of his car and walked up to me. I knew he was going to confront (对质) me. "Next time I'm going to run you over," he said to me.

And for some reason I smiled. "You nearly ran me over two mornings ago." I said.

Then his manner suddenly changed, became less confrontational, "I'm not going to be dirty, because you smiled."

Did I? I didn't even realize that I had.

"I shouldn't have done it." he said. "I shouldn't have tried to make fun of you, by pulling my foot down so hard. I won't do it again. "

"Okay. Let's just stop it there then." I said.

He put his hand on my shoulder, and for some reason without thinking about it. I put an arm around him.

How strange! It shows how powerful a smile can be and how quickly conflict can turn to empathy (同理心), if you deal with it with a non-confrontational attitude.

1.The writer told the crazy father his driving was ________ about six months ago.

A.careful B.slow C.dangerous D.funny

2.The crazy father wanted to ________ by speeding past the writer two days ago.

A.save the time B.pick up his son C.get his son's bag D.frighten the writer

3.The crazy father changed his manner because ________.

A.the writer smiled to him B.the writer was powerful

C.the police talked to him D.the kids stopped him

Arbor Day: Day of Trees

Nebraska was covered with few trees many years ago. The pioneers had trouble in getting enough to build houses. There was no shade from the sun or wind, and crops (庄稼) didn't grow well in the dry earth. So the idea for Arbor Day formed there.

Fortunately, among those moving into Nebraska in 1854 was J. Sterling Morton. He and his wife were nature lovers, and the home they built in Nebraska was quickly planted with trees and flowers. Morton was a reporter of Nebraska's first newspaper, then he became a member of the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture (农业委员会).

On January 4, 1872, Morton first proposed (提议) a tree-planting holiday to be called "Arbor Day" at a meeting of the State Board of Agriculture. The date was set for April 10, 1872. It was estimated (估计) that more than one million trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day.

In the years following the Arbor Day, his ideas spread to Kansas, Tennessee, Minnesota and Ohio. Today all 50 states have their own Day of Trees in keeping with local weather.

Hawaii celebrates it in November, while Alaska in May! More interesting, each state has a special "state tree". The "state tree" for Nebraska is cottonwood, for Alaska is Sitka Spruce.

Arbor Day is of American origin (起源) and the idea has spread widely to other lands where it is observed as the "Greening Week" of Japan, "The New Year's Days of Trees" in Israel, "The tree-loving Week" of Korea, and "The National Festival of Tree Planting" in India. Arbor Day in its various forms is now recognized in more than fifty countries. China spends "Tree-planting Day" on March 12.

We have known a lot about Arbor Day. So we should get into action and ask as many people as possible to gather and recycle paper. Then we can use what we earn from the waste paper to buy a special tree to plant in a park or other public places. It is an act of kindness, a labor of love and a duty as citizens. Anyone can do it.

1.Where did Arbor Day start from?

______________________

2.When did Morton first suggest Arbor Day?

______________________

3.What is Alaska's state tree?

______________________

4.How many countries have recognized Arbor Day?

______________________

5.What is the last paragraph mainly about?

______________________

Who do you admire most?

Jackie, 14 Sofia Marconi, my friend Bia’s mum, is probably the most amazing person I know. She is also very brave. She is a wildlife photographer and she travels to some of the most dangerous places on Earth to take photos of the world’s most endangered animals.

Jacob, 16 One of my heroes is Mr. Donaldson, our great music teacher. He is so creative and finds different ways to get us interested in his lessons. He is also a really amazing guitar player. He is in a band. I’m sure they are going to be famous one day. But I hope it doesn’t happen soon. I don’t want to lose my teacher!

Alex, 15 The person I admire more than anyone is my grandmother Gwen. She is 78 and looks just amazing. Many people think she is my mother when they see us together. She is one of the nicest people I know. She always sees the good in other people. She still does volunteer work for a children’s charity (慈善机构) in India!

Oliver, 17 The greatest person I know is my uncle Jack. I admire him not only because he is a brave policeman but also because he tries his best to look after my aunt who is in a wheelchair and their kids. Life is hard. But I have never heard him complain. He’s always so cheerful with a huge smile on his face.

1.Who does Jackie admire most? ( )

A.His music teacher. B.His mother.

C.His friend’s mother. D.His uncle.

2.What does Mr. Donaldson do? ( )

A.He is a charity worker. B.He is a teacher.

C.He is a wildlife photographer. D.He is a policeman.

3.Alex admires Gwen because ______. ( )

A.she protects wild animals B.she never complains

C.she is a nice person D.she is very creative

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