Ever since farmers began to grow grain, they have had to protect their crops from birds. In the 1300's, English farmers hired children to protect their crops. They were called “bird scares”. The children chased birds and threw stones at them.

　 Bird scares were replaced in the 1800's by scarecrows. A scarecrow is anything that is set in a field to scare birds away. Often it is a pole dressed like a person. Some farms with small fields still use scarecrows today.

　 Farming became big business in the twentieth century. Scarecrows could no longer protect the huge fields of grain, so farmers used poisonous chemicals on the fields. The poison made the grain bitter. The birds usually would not eat the bitter grain.

　 Although they can prevent crops from being destroyed by insects and birds, some chemicals can be harmful to humans. Therefore, farmers are using fewer chemicals now than they did twenty years ago. Perhaps scarecrows may be seen more often in the fields in the future.

1．English farmers began to hire children to get away birds since_____.

A. the twelfth century　　　　　 　　　　 B. the fifteenth century

C. the sixteenth century　　　　　 　　　 D. the fourteenth century

2．“Bird scares” keep birds away from crops by_____.

A. feeding them bitter grain　　　　 　　　　 B. pretending to be scarecrows

C. spreading chemicals in the fields 　　　 D. chasing them and throwing stones

3．Which statement from the passage supports the idea that scarecrows may be seen more often in the fields in the future?

　 A. Scarecrows could no longer protect fields. B. They were called “bird scares”.

C. English farmers hired children.　　　　　 D. Farmers are using fewer chemicals.

4．The author's purpose is to ________.

　 A. give information about children who worked as bird scares

　 B. tell how crops have been protected from birds

　 C. make the readers feel sorry for birds that eat poisoned grain

　 D. entertain the readers with a funny story

What we used to think ____ impossible now does seem possible.

A. is　 B. was　 C. has been　　 D. will be

Construction of the new hospital is _____according to the timetable.

　 A．marching　 B．achieving C．progressing　 D．moving

You ________ to leave until you _______ your work.
  A. won’t be allowed; have finished B. won’t allow; finish
 C. won’t be allowed; will finish  D. won’t allow; will finish

We should warn the children not to be ______ with computer games. It’s harmful to them.

A. drunk　 B. patient C. popular D. angry

These toys are not suitable for children 　　　four years old, who are too young.

　 A．outside　　 B．beyond　　　 C．under　　　 D．within

The place　　　　 the bridge is supposed to be built should be　　　　 the cross river

traffic is the heaviest.

A.which;where　　　 B.at which;which?　　　 C.at which;where D.which;in which

Those brave rescuer team members managed to save many people’ lives 　　　the risk of their own lives.

A．at　　　　　　 B．for　　　　 C．above　　　 D．under

The________on his face told me that he was angry.

A．impression B．sight

C．appearance D．expression

I have five foreign friends, two ________ and three ________.

A. Frenehmans, Germans　　　 B. Frenchmen, Germen

C. Frenchmans, Germen　　　 D. Frenchmen, Germans