What is the sky？ Where is it？ How bright is it？ What lies above it？ These questions are difficult to answer, aren’t they？

　　Is the sky blue？ The sky has no color. We know that there is air around the world. When planes fly, they need air to lift their wings. Planes can’t fly very high because the air gets thinner when they go up higher. If we go up about 1,200 kilometers from the earth, we’ll find no air there.

　　When we talk about the sky, we usually mean the atmosphere around the earth. It is like a very thick “cover” over the earth and keeps it warm. Without the “cover”, the earth would be a very cold place and nothing could live on it.

　　Looking up above us, you will see the blue sky with white clouds. It is usually light blue, but the sky would be dark blue if you go to the top of the highest mountains. And you will see fewer clouds between you and the sun.

　　And if you sit in a spaceship high above the earth, there is no air at all. The sky would be so dark that its color would be black.

　　Sometimes the sky doesn’t look blue. When the sun rises and falls, you will see red, orange, and other colors in the sky. These are the most beautiful moments of the day.

　　Now you may understand that we see colors because the air scatters (散射) the sunlight. Light travels through the air. Without air, there would be no light and no colors.

1.Planes can’t fly very high because ____________.

A．there is air around the world

B．the air gets thinner when they go up higher

C．it’s warmer in the sky

D．the air gets thicker when they go up higher

2.We can see colors of the sky because ____________.

A．the sun rises and falls every day

B．the sky has lots of colors

C．the air scatters the sunlight

D．the sunlight has many colors

3.Which of the following is TRUE？

A．There is little air without light and colors in the sky.

B．The sky will look red, orange and other colors at noon.

C．The sky has only one color when the sun rises and falls.

D．The sky is dark blue if you go to the top of the highest mountains.

________ spring morning!

1. A.
   What a bright
2. B.
   How a bright
3. C.
   What bright
4. D.
   How bright

I was one of the seven children and went to the same school as my three older sisters and brother．We all went to the plant sale held in early May every year，just in time for Mother’s Day．

      When I was in Grade Three，I wanted to surprise my mother with a gift，but I didn’t have any money．My oldest sister gave me some．I carefully made my selection（选择）at the plant sale．I looked at all the plants on sale very carefully and finally chose a lovely geranium（天竺葵）．Once I had brought it home，I hid it on the neighbor’s porch（门廊）．

    On Mother’s Day，I was bursting with pride when I gave her the plant．I remember how bright her eyes were，and how pleased she was with my gift．

    A few years later，my younger sister wanted to buy a geranium for our mother．As my older sister did for me，I gave her some money to buy one at the plant sale．She arrived back from the sale full of nervous excitement．The geranium was hidden in a paper bag under her sweater．“I looked at every plant，”she explained，“and I know I got the best one!”

      With a sweet sense of family tradition I helped my little sister hide that geranium．I was there when she gave it to my mother，and I watched them both bursting with happiness．My mother noticed me watching．She gave me a soft，secret smile．I felt a tug（拽）at my heart as I smiled back．I wondered how my mother could pretend to be surprised at this gift from her sixth child．But as I watched her eyes light up with pleasure at the sight of the most special gift，I knew she was not pretending．

1．Which of the seven children was the writer?

      A．The third．          B．The fourth．        C．The fifth．             D．The sixth．

2．What did the children go to the plant sale for?

      A．To buy their mother a gift．                     B．To sell some flowers．

      C．To make money for their mother．                     D．To look at all the plants．

3．Why did the writer hide the geranium on the neighbor’s porch?

      A．Because she was afraid the other children saw it．

      B．Because she was afraid the others stole it．

      C．Because she wanted to make it live a long time．

      D．Because she wanted to give their mother a surprise．

4．“She gave me a soft，secret smile”shows that __________．

      A．the mother was very surprised

      B．the mother knew about it

      C．the mother was pretending to be happy

      D．the mother knew the writer bought the gift

5．What’s the best title of the passage?

      A．Mother’s Day                                          B．Lovely Mother 

C．The Most Special Geranium                        D．Mother’s Love