______ beautiful the flower is!

A. How B. What C. What a　　D. How a

 farmer in India had two large pots (桶）．One of the pots had a crack (裂缝）in it．The other pot was perfect，and it always carried a full pot of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the farmer’s house．The cracked pot arrived only half full．

For two years this went on daily，with the farmer carrying one and one-half pots of water to his house．Of course，the perfect pot was proud of its achievements．But the poor cracked pot was ashamed (羞愧的）of its own work．One day，it spoke to the farmer，“I was ashamed (羞愧的）of myself，and I want to apologize to you．”

“Why?” asked the farmeer．“What are you ashamed of?”

“For these last two years，I have been able to carry only half pot of water，because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house．Because of my flaw (瑕庇），you do not get full value for your work，” the pot explained．

“Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path，but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw，and I took advantage of it．I sowed (播撒）flower seeds on your side of the path，and every day while I walk back from the stream，you have watered them．For two years，I have been able to pick those flowers to decorate my table．So I need to say ‘thanks，to you for the beautiful flowers!”

Each of us has our own flaws．We are all cracked pots．Don’t be ashamed of the flaws．Accept them，and we can be the cause of beauty，too．In God’s eyes，nothing goes to waste．

根据短文内容选择最佳答案，并将其标号填涂在答题卡相应位置。

46．How much water did the farmer carry when he got home every day?

A．Two pots．       B．One pot． C．Half pot． D．One and a half pots．

47．Why did the cracked pot feel ashamed?

A．Because it felt so ugly for its crack．

B．Because the perfect pot laughed at it．

C．Because it couldn’t carry water for the farmer．

D．Because it couldn’t give the farmer full value for his work．

48．What does the underlined phrase “leak out” mean in Chinese?

A．走漏                 B．漏出                C．蒸发               D．溢出

49．Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A．The farmer felt sorry for the cracked pot．

B．The farmer used the flowers to decorate his table．

C．The farmer wanted to carry two full pots of water．

D．The fanner sowed flower seeds on both sides of the path．

50．What can we learn from this story?

A．We should accept our weakness and make use of it．

B．We should forget our weakness and work hard．

C．We should be ashamed of our weakness．

D．We should be proud of our weakness．

Have you ever seen a rainbow(彩虹) in the sky? Do you know what it is?

A story says that when you see a rainbow you should   1     at once to the place where it touches（触摸）the ground, and   2    you would find a bag of gold. Of course, it is not   3  . You could not find the bag of gold, nor could you ever find its end. No matter how   4    you run, it always seems far away.

A rainbow is not a thing which we can feel with our   5    as we can feel a flower. It is only the effect (效果) of light shining on raindrops（雨滴）. The raindrops catch the sunlight and break it up into all the wonderful colors which we see.

   It is   6    a rainbow perhaps because it is made up of raindrops and looks like a bow (弓).

That is   7    we can never see a rainbow in a clear   8   . We see rainbows   9    when there is rain in the air and the sun is shining brightly through the clouds. Every rainbow has many colors in the same order. The first of the top color is always red, next    10    orange, then green, and last of all blue. A rainbow is indeed one of the wonders of nature.

1. A. run             B. walk         C. jump            D. stand

2. A. where           B. there          C. here            D. near

3. A. good            B. wrong         C. beautiful         D. true

4. A. long            B. short          C. far              D. difficult

5. A. hands           B. legs           C. heads           D. eyes

6. A. called           B. spoken        C. meant           D. asked

7. A. because         B. why           C. so              D. that

8. A. space           B. sky            C. fields           D. water

9. A. hardly          B. really          C. only             D. usually

10. A. goes           B. sees           C. covers           D. comes

Last month I got the chance to take part in an underwater research project in an area of the Gulf of Mexico called the Flower Gardens. A team of professional researchers, led by the scientist Dr Matt Phillips, was trying to learn more about the fish and different creatures that live in this part of the sea. The Flower Gardens are a long way from the shore (海岸) and we spent three days on a boat.

The team used a piece of underwater equipment(装备) called ROV to collect information. The ROV was great fun. It was controlled by a computer on the boat, and I was allowed to operate it a few times. However, the thing I enjoyed most was diving into the water. At first, I was quite scared---mainly because I couldn’t see land in any direction. But as soon as I jumped into the water, I wasn’t afraid any more. It was amazing to see the colorful fish swimming around and I could see all the ways to the Flower Gardens, which are almost 30 meters down.

I will never forget the Flower Gardens. The trip was like a holiday but I also learnt new things about science and research projects. It was a great chance and it has made me think about my goals in life. The experience will help me work harder to become a scientist.

1What does the writer want to tell us in the article?

A. To describe the experience he had in a science project.

B. To explain how to protect the wildlife under water.

C. To give advice on understanding difficult areas of science.

D. To encourage others to organize their own science projects.

2 What does the writer say about ROV?

A. It was very boring.                     B. It was used to collect information.

C. It was so difficult to control.             D. It was controlled only by man.

3  Which of the following words best describes the writer’s feeling towards diving?

A. Bored.           B. Frightened.        C. Amazed.       D. Sad.

4  What influence has the trip had on the writer?

A. It has changed his opinion of science.

B. It has improved the way he works in a team.

C. It has made him more interested in the sea.

D. It has encouraged him to work harder towards his goals.

                                D

D

Anna and Robin Strange live in England. They spend every evening and weekend for 26 years covering their house in flowers.

       The couple plant the flowers inside a greenhouse first.

  60  .

How do they get this idea? Mrs. Strange said one day when they were in York, they saw lots of beautiful hanging baskets of flowers.   61  . They have been planting more and more flowers ever since, and their house is covered by beautiful flowers now.

       People who pass their house enjoy looking at it. They think it is great.   62  . One woman sends them a gift every Christmas to show her love for their flower house.

       Mr. Strange, 65, spends every weekend and evening seeing to the garden. The couple spend lots of money every year on plants.   63  . They are both very pleased with what they have created!

A. But they think it is worth it

B. Then they put them outside in June

C. People send cards and gifts to the couple

D. Mr. Strange sells the flowers in the market

E. They decided to have their own flower house