One day, around Christmas time, fishermen off the west coast of Peru started on their traditional fishing trip. Much to their surprise, there were no fish! They knew immediately what had happened. Tales from years gone by had told them this was the result of El Nino which sometimes stop fishing for many months!

El Nino is a warm current that comes and goes along the west coast of South America. It got its name from fishermen in Peru more than a century ago. Every few years, they noticed a sudden warming in the normally cool Pacific water where they fished. Because this warming often came about around Christmas, they called it El Nino, which is Spanish for the “Christ Child”. Generally, El Nino occurs every three to seven years and lasts only a few weeks to a month or more.

El Nino warms the water it flows through. Because the fish and sea birds need cold water to live, many of them die when El Nino comes through. El Nino also causes both floods and droughts. It is believed that El Nino may have caused the 1993 Mississippi and 1995 California floods. And at the same time, it may have caused droughts in South America, Africa and Australia.

El Nino has occurred thirteen times within the last fifty years, bringing natural disasters to many countries such as Indonesia and Peru. However, El Nino does not often trouble China. During this period China was badly hit by El Nino only once. In 1998, North China had a terrible drought, while South China was troubled by floods.

1.The underlined word "current" (in Paragraph 2)most probably refers to “______”.

A. water B. wind C. atmosphere D. climate

2.According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE about El Nino?

A. It happens in November and December.

B. It was named by some Spanish fishermen.

C. It only happens in South America.

D. It lasts a few weeks or more.

3.If El Nino happens, the following will take place EXCEPT ______.

A. rises in temperature of the sea water

B. diseases spreading around the world

C. floods and droughts

D. death of fish and sea birds

4.The purpose of this passage is ______.

A. to discuss the prevention of El Nino

B. to explain how El Nino trouble farmers

C. to let us know about El Nino

D. to tell us how to prepare for El Nino

Every year in America, high-school students who want to go on to college take a national examination called the Scholastic Aptitude Test, or SAT in a shortened way. Their score is an important factor in determining which colleges will admit them. The Scholastic Aptitude Test measures one’s mathematical ability and use of the English language. Traditionally, the English part involved grammatical questions and paragraphs that test reading comprehension.

But the SAT folks have added a single question, to be answered in an essay, handwritten on the spot. That’s an interesting way to test writing ability, but content aside. Have you ever seen young people’s handwriting lately? Or anyone’s for that matter, in this age of computer keyboards? Students write numbers and sign their names on bank checks. They scribble class notes in what can generously be described as the written word.

Yet today’s kids are asked to write, thoughtfully and clearly, for several minutes on this SAT Test. Good luck to the text scorers who must work out difficultly the scrawl(潦草的笔迹)of young people who’ve been typing on computers since the age of three! Teachers insist that good handwriting can not only help one’s score on the SAT, but also, later on in life, impress potential employers. And don’t forget, we all have to use handwriting from time to time, as computers go down when the power goes out.

Then how to improve the handwriting? Well, with a few simple steps you can improve your handwriting.[来Position the pen. You should hold the pen between the forefinger and the thumb. You should then rest it near the first knuckle(指节)of the middle finger. The rest of your fingers should be curled(卷曲)under your hand and your hand should remain relaxed.

Evaluate your writing. What do you like and what don’t you like about the way you write? Make changes to your letters till you like how they look.

Take your time. Make sure that, while you are writing, you take your time. Speed can definitely make your writing terrible. If it is worth writing well, then take your time.

Practice. Practice it a lot; it’s not enough to do it once and hope for the best. It has to be something you work at to make great improvements.

1.At present, the SAT tests students on ______.

A.math, English, reading and writing

B.math, grammar, reading and handwriting

C.math, foreign language and writing

D.math, foreign language and handwriting

2.The underlined word “scribble” in Paragraph 2 probably means ______.

A.writing quickly and roughly

B.typing simply and correctly

C.painting clearly and neatly

D.describing properly and well

3.According to the text, good handwriting can ______.

A.help students pass the test

B.make a student more popular

C.show students’ ability

D.assist students in getting a job

4.Which of the following should you avoid when improving your handwriting?

A.Practicing writing a lot.

B.Writing as fast as you can.

C.Relaxing your hand when holding the pen.

D.Changing your letters till you like how they look.

5.The author mainly wants to tell us that ______.

A.writing seems to be very important in the SAT

B.those who will go to college have to take the SAT

C.students should practice handwriting more often

D.kids don’t know how to write in the computer age

根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

As a child grows up,you may wonder how you can teach him to become a

respectful adult.__ 1.__A child who learns to respect not only learns to receive

respect from others,but also learns to respct himself.

※Show him respect

This is the best way to teach your child how to respect others. Listento your

child attentively and he will learn to listen to you, understanding how important

this is in communication.

※ _2.___

The more you say “ please” and “ thank you” to your child, the more likely he will learn to use them. Politeness then becomes a normal part of any conversation

※Agree to disagree

__3.__ Explain your decision so that he will understand you and expect “ respectful” responses. Disagreeing with you doesn’t necessarily mean disobedience(不服从)

※ Control your desire to overreact

When a situation arises, stay calm and keep in mind that you are supposed to be modeling correct behavior._ 4._

※ Paise, praise, praise!

So much is focused on what a child does wrong and how to correct it that his accomplishments are not celebrated enough.__ 5.__

A. Teach manners by using polite requests and responses

B. Respectful behavior is always accompanied by bad behavior as a child

C. Respect is necessary for a meaningful and successful life.

D. If he sees you lose your temper, he is more likely to respond that way in future

E. A child may act as he pleases, and he will live a happy life.

F. Seeing a child exhibit respectful behavior, make sure he knows how proud you are of him

G. Try to remember that a child won’t always agree with you.

Agatha Christie used to go out at night. She will never forget the night when she met a robber many years ago.

That evening, she was invited to a birthday party which lasted till 2 o'clock in the morning. Without company, Agatha walked home along the quiet street. Suddenly from the shadow of a dark building, a tall man with a sharp knife in his right hand ran out at her. “Good morning, lady,” the man said in a low voice, “I don't think you wish to die here!”“What do you want?” Agatha asked.

“Your earrings (耳环). Take them off!”Agatha suddenly had a bright idea. She tried to cover her necklace with the collar (衣领) of her overcoat while she used the other hand to take off both of her earrings, and then she quickly threw them on the ground.

“Take them and let me go.” she said. The robber was uncertain. He saw that the girl didn't care for the earrings at all, only trying to protect the necklace. He realized the necklace would cost more, so he said, “Give me your necklace.”

“Oh, sir. It's not worth much. Please let me keep it.”

“Stop talking rubbish. Quick!”

With shaky hands, Agatha took off her necklace. As soon as the robber disappeared, she picked up her earrings and ran as fast as she could to her home.

The earrings cost 480 pounds and the necklace the robber had taken away cost only six pounds ten shillings (先令).

1.Agatha will never forget the night because ________.

A. she was robbed of her earrings

B. she was robbed but she fooled the robber

C. she had such a nice time at the party

D. it is dangerous for a girl to walk alone at night

2.Why did she try to protect her necklace? ________.

A. She didn’t want the robber to notice it.

B. It was cheaper than the earrings.

C. It was worth keeping.

D. She would rather have it robbed.

3.The story wants to tell us ________.

A. Agatha was brave and clever

B. the robber was foolish

C. a necklace is usually more expensive than earrings

D. never stay too late at an evening party

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