Eleven-year-old Evan Green doesn’t want to save just one tree－he wants to save a whole rainforest!

In the Redwood City, Calif., a boy started a group called the Red Dragon Conservation Team four years ago to do just that. So far, the team’s members have raised $4,500. That’s enough to purchase and protect more than 16 acres of rainforest in Costa Rica through the Center for Ecosystem survival.

Every year, thousands of square miles of rainforest are destroyed worldwide. Logging（伐木）and farming are mostly likely to blame, scientists say. The loss is terrible news for animals and people. Even though rainforests cover less than 2 percent of the earth, they are home to half the world’s plants and animals. Rainforests also provide water and help control the earth’s climate.

Evan’s work to save the rainforests recently earned him a Barron prize for Young Heroes. The prizes are given to children or teenagers who have made a positive difference in the world. Evan’s goal is “to save enough rainforests to last forever”. He won’t have to do it alone. His actions have already inspired other kids to chip in. One girl asked for donations instead of presents on her birthday. She raised $850. Other kids are starting their own conservation teams.

Evan says everyone can help the planet－even by taking small steps such as recycling. He and his family try to make a difference every day. “We recycle, we try to limit our garbage… we’ve been walking a little more, and we buy local food,” Evan said.

48. How much does it cost to buy and protect an acre of rainforest in Costa Rica?

A. About $4,500.      B. About $850.     C. About $280.     D. About $1,000.

49. The underlined phrase “chip in” in Paragraph 4 probably means “________”.

A. look at                                    B. contribute money

C. ask for birthday presents               D. donate gifts

50. What Evan said in the last paragraph suggests that _________.

A. we can all do something to protect the earth

B. actions speak louder than words

C. we should learn to recycle from now on

51. What would be the best title for the passage?

A. Evan Green-a famous teenager    B. The Red Dragon Conservation Team

C. Rainforests are being destroyed    D. Boy gathers support for rainforests 

“Write All About It”
Centerville High School Essay（论文）Contest
Rules
1. Students are asked to hand in essays of 500 to 700 words of their own work. Any essay containing material copied from another source will be disqualified.
2. Manuscripts should be typed double-spaced, with the student’s name, address, and grade level on a separate sheet of paper.
3. Essays must be turned in by 4:00 P.M. on November 30. They can be brought to Mrs. Elton in Room 104 or to Mr. Markham in the school library.
Essay-Writing Tips
1. Catch your reader’s interest—Your opening should immediately pull your reader into your essay. Asking a question or starting with a story, or surprising statement is some good ways to do this.
2. Create a picture—Use active words that show your reader what is happening. Instead of telling your reader that “the room was disordered,” paint a picture using active verbs and lively adjectives.
3. Have a purpose—Well-written essays do more than just describe an event or express a viewpoint; they also communicate a message.
4. Check for mistakes—Read your paper over to check for mistakes. Ask another student to read your paper. Another pair of eyes will often spot a mistake you have missed.
5. Format your essay—Neatly type your essay on white paper Choose an attractive cover for handing in. The computer lab will be open after school from 3:15 to 4:45P.M. each day this month so that students can use the computers.
Prizes
Winning essays will be published in the Centervile Times. Everyone who takes part in it will also receive a free pass to enter one school activity this year.
First Prize: $50 savings bond
Second Prize: Dictionary and reference book
Third Prize: Pen set and journal
【小题1】Which of the following rules is set for the essay contest?

“Write All About It”

Centerville High School Essay（论文）Contest

Rules

1. Students are asked to submit essays of 500 to 700 words of their own work. Any essay containing material plagiarized(剽窃) from another source will be disqualified.

2. Manuscripts should be typed double-spaced, with the student’s name, address, and grade level on a separate sheet of paper.

3. Essays must be turned in by 4:00 p.m. on November 30. They can be brought to Mrs. Elton in Room 104 or to Mr. Markham in the school library.

Essay-Writing Tips

1. Catch your readers’ interest－Your opening should immediately pull your readers into your essay. Asking a question or starting with an anecdote, quotation, or surprising statement are some good ways to do this.

2. Create a picture－Use active words that show your readers what is happening. Instead of telling your readers vaguely that “the room was disordered,” paint a picture using active verbs and lively adjectives.

3. Have a purpose－Well-written essays do more than just describe an incident or express a viewpoint, they also communicate a message.

4.Check for mistakes－Read your paper over to check for mistakes. Ask another student to read your paper and make suggestions. Another pair of eyes will often spot a mistake you’ve overlooked.

5. Format your essay－Neatly type your essay on white paper. Choose an attractive cover for submission. The computer lab will be open after school from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m. each day this month so that students can use the computers.

Prizes

Winning essays will be published in the Centerville Times. Everyone who takes part in it will also receive a free pass to enter one school activity this year.

First Prize:      $ 50 savings bond

Second Prize:    Dictionary and reference book

Third Prize:      Pen set and journal

1.Which of the following rules is set for the essay contest?

A．Students can write something exactly as it is written in other books.

B．Students’ personal information should be listed on another piece of paper.

C．Essays must be brought to Mr. Markham in the computer lab on November 30.

D．The students winning second prize will be awarded a dictionary and a book.

2.Which of the following writing tips is given in the passage?

A．Drawing a picture to go with the essay.

B．Trying to communicate an important idea to readers.

C．Asking a teacher to find the mistakes you haven’t found.

D．Making the essay short enough to hold the readers’ interest.

3.The article is written to ____. 

A．convince the students of the prizes available

B．explain how to write a good essay

C．inform the students of the essay contest

D．show how to organize an essay contest

One of the strongest arguments for the raising of the school leaving age(ROSLA)has been that it will bring us some way nearer to “equality of opportunity”.?

Many people like to think of our present system of schooling as providing plenty of steps up the ladder of success for clever children. It would be good to think that no one who is really bright can be missed out when the state system is obviously so complete. It is obvious, for instance, that many children from less wealthy homes reach university or do well in other ways.?

Unfortunately, we now have plenty of proofs that many children of every level of ability do much less well than they could. For instance, during the years of national military service it was possible to test the intelligence of all male 18-to-20-year-old. Half of those soldiers who were placed in the two highest ability groups had left school at 15.

It has also been shown that the percentage of working class children going to university is almost the same now as it was in 1939.One study of 5000 children from birth to 21 years old shows that up to half the bright pupils from working class homes left school when they reached 16 years old. Moreover, there is no difference in intelligence between the sexes, but far more boys than girls stay in education after 16.

It is clear from this and many other proofs that many children are still leaving school too early to benefit from the prizes—money, social respectability, and interesting jobs—which higher education gives. It is clear too that the reasons why such children leave have much to do with their social background. Their parents often need the extra money another money-earner would bring in; they don't value education for itself because their own was probably dull and unhappy. It is not so much that they force their sons and daughters to leave school, rather than they tend to say, “It's up to you.”?

It is hoped that ROSLA will give all children _______.?

A. a more enjoyable time at school

B. the same chances in society ?

C. the right to a better school

D. higher scores in intelligence tests?

People would like to think that _______.?

A. equal numbers of poor and wealthy children reach university?

B. those with the least money get the best education?

C. intelligent children are always selected by the system?

D. only really clever children do well?

Working class children are thought to be at a disadvantage because _______.

A. many of the clever ones leave school early?

B. fewer go to university than ever before?

C. more than half leave school when they are 16?

D. fewer boys than girls stay at school after 16?

Topping the class academically was certainly an advantage. Studying was a breeze for

Nigel. The reward was certainly incomparable to the little effort that he had to put it. It begin when he was selected to help the teachers in the computer laboratories.

The peak of his school career came not when he topped the school but when he was selected for the nationwide competition. Unlike everyone else, Nigel wanted to join the contest because he liked playing with the Lego sets and making something out of them. Nigel spent the next two months rebuilding the robot. It was during the time that Nigel found out about the prizes for the competition. Its well us auspices competitor. Alicia, from a neighboring school. His early intentions were forgotten. Getting the thousand-dollar prize was more important than anything else. Nigel decided to befriend Alicia. Unaware of his intentions, she told him all about the robot that she had been building for the competition. He even helped her to put the finishing branches to her robot. He was glad with the way things had progressed. His robot looked even better than Alicia’s and it was able to become a ball with its arms, something Alicia had failed to do.

On the day of the competition, he says Alicia. Everything dawned on her the minute she saw him among the competition. She stared at him, puzzled at first, then angry and finally a look of helplessness came over her.

The flashbulbs of the camera exploded in Nigel’s try. The robot bird performed actions so unique and different that the specialist judgments were the same. Nigel was so personal with himself that he did not even notice the girl standing a few feet away from him. Without her, he would never win the competition.

What reward did Nigel receive for doing well in his school work?

A. He was offered a part-time job      B. He was honored with a scholarship

C. He helped his teacher construct a robot      D. He helped in the computer laboratories

Nigel’s original intention of joining the contest was to ___.

A. be the top student of the school             B. being great honor to his school

C. constructs a robot with the Lego sets         D. wins the thousand-dollar prize

Why did Nigel help Alicia finish her robot?

A. He tried to make friends with her       B. He was fond of building robots

C. He intended to help her               D. He didn’t want her to suspect him

What is the author’s attitude towards Nigel’s actions?

A. He is mildly critical           B. He is strongly critical

C. He is in favor of them          D. His attitude is not clear