In the early days of human history,people survived by hunting wild ani?mals,or gathering wild grains and plants for food. Then,some people learn?ed to grow crops and raise animals for food. They were the first farmers.

  Since the 16th century,the word "farm" has meant agricultural land. But a much older meaning of the word " farm" is linked to economics. The word "farm" comes from the Latin word, "firma", which means an unchanging payment.

  Experts say the earliest meaning of the English word "farm" was a yearly payment made as a tax or rent.

  Farmers in early England did not own their land. They paid every year to use agricultural land.

  Farmers know that it is necessary to make hay (干草) while the sun shines.

Hay has to be cut and gathered when it is dry. So a wise farmer never postpones gathering his hay when the sun is shining. Rain may soon appear.

  A wise person copies the farmer. He works when conditions are right.

  A new mother,for example,quickly learns to try to sleep when her baby is quiet,even in the middle of the day. If the mother delays,she may lose her chance to .sleep. So,the mother learns "to make hay while the sun shines".

  Beans are a popular farm crop. But beans are used to describe something of very little value in the expression "not worth a hill of beans". The expres?sion is often used today.

  You could say,for example,that a bad idea is " not worth a hill of beans". Language expert Charles Earle Funk said the expression was first used almost seven hundred years ago. He said Robert of Gloucester described a message from the King of Germany to King John of England as altogether "not worth a bean.”

1. Which of the following is NOT the meaning of "farm"?

   A. Agricultural land.

   B. An unchanging payment.

   C. A yearly payment.

   D. Different kinds of businesses.

2. Which can explain the meaning of "to make hay while the sun shines"?

   A. To make hay dry when it is fine.

   B. To make good use of an opportunity.

   C. To cut grass to feed animals.

   D. To gather hay when it is fine.

3. What does the expression "not worth a hill of beans" mean?

   A. Very little value.

   B. Proper conditions.

   C. A possible loss.

   D. A bad idea.

4. How is the passage developed?

   A. By giving the facts.

   B. By giving examples.

   C. By comparing.

   D. By the order of time.

5. What can we know from the passage?

   A. Charles Earle Funk was an ancient language expert.

   B. Robert of Gloucester is a German language expert.

   C. The word "farm" got its new meaning since the 18th century.

   D. The phrase "not worth a hill of beans" was used about 700 years ago.

 On a recent morning at Children's Hospital in Boston,the main lobby sounded like a fantastic musical experiment in a tropical rain forest. That was because the hospital just installed "Soundstair", designed by local artist Christo?pher Janney.

  When people walk up and down the stairs,they step on a series of sensors which make natural sounds. For example,climbing the stairs,the person might hear sounds from a bamboo flute and birds. Another individual using the stairs an hour later might hear an entirely different set of sounds.

  "The basic idea is about animating space and sound," Janney said. Sound-stair is Janney's effort to get the public to interact with the spaces around them by transforming those spaces into jazz instruments.

  Soundstair is brand new to Children's Hospital,but it's been in the Mu?seum of Science for several years. Janney is trained as a jazz musician and ar?chitect and his art reflects both of those disciplines. He has installed the same technology from Soundstair on a New York subway platform. " So you have a musical experience on your way to work," he said. "This is an urban musical instrument which allows people to creatively play in their everyday life.” While doctors,nurses and other adults went up and down the stairs ap?parently unaware of the instrument,10-year-old Carolyn Foppiano,who was visiting the hospital with her parents and two younger brothers,couldn't resist it. "It's sort of like magic," Carolyn said,as she danced up and down the steps. Carolyn also plays the recorder (竖笛) ."But this is easier！" she said.

  As he watched Carolyn and her brothers on his Soundstair,Janney smiled with pride. "It is hard for us adults to become young again,but it may take the young seconds to feel happy. If Soundstair can just do that,then it is meaning?ful and helpful," he said. 

1. What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?

   A. Why Soundstair was designed.

   B. Benefits of Soundstair.

   C. How Soundstair works,

   D. Tips for using Soundstair.

2. According to the passage,Christopher Janney        .

   A. knows little about architecture

   B. works at Children's Hospital

   C. wants to become a professional musician

   D. believes music is beneficial in everyday life

3. How did people react to Soundstair at Children's Hospital?

   A. Nurses didn't seem to be interested in it.

   B. Doctors relied on it to treat children.

   C. Parents worried that it could be noisy.

   D. Children thought it was hard to play.

4. We can learn from the passage that Carolyn Foppiano         .

   A. often visits the hospital

   B. has a sick brother

   C. comes from a poor family

   D. plays an instrument

 Taking good notes is a time-saving skill that will help you to become a better student in several ways.1     Second,your notes are excellent materi?als to refer to when you are studying for a test. Third,note-taking offers variety to your study time and helps you to hold your interest. You will want to take notes during classroom discussions and while reading a textbook or doing research for a report. 2      Whenever or however you take notes,keep in mind that note-taking is a selective process. 3     

  The following methods may work best for you：

  .Read the text quickly to find the main facts and ideas in it.

  .Carefully read the text and watch for words that can show main points and supporting facts.

  .Write your notes in your own words.

  .4     

.Note any questions or ideas you may have about what was said or written. As you take notes,you may want to use your own shorthand (速记) .

When you do this,be sure that you understand your symbols and that you use them all the time. 5     

   A. Use words,not complete sentences.

   B. There are three practical note-taking methods.

   C. You must write your notes on separate paper.

   D. Otherwise,you may not be able to read your notes later.

   E.You will also want to develop your own method for taking notes.

   F.That means you must first decide what is important enough to include in your notes.

   G.First,the simple act of writing something down makes it easier for you to understand and remember it.

15. ― Oh,no!We're too late. The train      (leave) . ―That's OK. We'll catch the next train to London.

14. The girl has a great interest in sport and      (take) badminton classes twice a week over the last three years.

13. ―Why do you want to work for our company? ―This is the job that I     (look) for.

12. We have been looking for cheap houses but      (find) one we like yet.

11. The little boy      (play) in the mud all morning. No wonder he is dirty from head to foot.

10. She ought to stop working;she has a headache because she     (read) too long

9. ―Did you find the missing couple in the mountain yesterday?

―No,but we      (try) to get in touch with them ever since.