When you hear the word quicksand, what image comes to mind? You probably picture someone up to the waist in wet land, screaming for help. In fact, quicksand can be very dangerous. People and animals have sunk into quicksand before and never escaped. However, the more you know about quicksand, the safer you will be.

First, quicksand is really ordinary sand. It isn’t some sort of strange hungry beast. Quicksand forms when water seeps up (渗出) from the underneath a layer of fine sand. The water pushes the grains of sand apart and makes the sand loose. This loose sand will not hold up a heavy weight.

Quicksand usually forms along the banks of rivers, at the seashore, or under slow-moving rivers and streams. It only forms when water flows upward through the sand, not over it. If you are in a place that tends to have quicksand, it’s a good idea to carry a large stick. As you walk, poke (戳) the ground in front of you to be sure it’s firm.

Let’s suppose that you happen to step into some quicksand. The best way to deal with it is to stay calm. You may sink, but you won’t sink quickly. You will have time to try several ways to get out. First, drop anything you might be carrying that adds weight, such as a backpack. Then try walking out -making slow and steady movements with your legs. If this doesn’t work, the best thing to do is lie back and float, it’s even easier to float on quicksand than on regular water.

Of course, you will want to call for help. If help is nearby, it’s best simply to wait. If help is not nearby, then continue to lie on your back but make slow, rolling movements toward the edge of the quicksand. When you feel solid ground underneath, you can stand up.

Some animals seem to know how to avoid sinking down into quicksand. Mules, for instance, fold their legs underneath them and float on their bellies. Cows, on the other hand, tend to panic and wave their legs around. This doesn’t help them escape. So, if you are ever trapped in quicksand, think like a mule, not like a cow.

56. What detail supports the idea that quicksand can be dangerous?

   A. Quicksand forms when water seeps up from underneath.

B. You will have time to try several ways to get out.

C. Animals have fallen into quicksand and never escaped.

D. Quicksand is really just an ordinary sand.

57. If you get caught, what should you do first?

A. Wave your arms and legs quickly.

B. Drop anything heavy that you are carrying.

C. Fold your legs underneath you.

D. Poke a stick into the ground in front of you.

58. How is the mule’s reaction to quicksand different from a cow’s reaction?

A. Mules fold their legs and float on their bellies.

B. Mules wave their legs around.

C. Mules sink immediately.

D. Mules panic and splash their legs around.

59. What’s the passage about?

A. Quicksand is not really made up of sand.

B. Quicksand can be dangerous, but there are ways to escape.

C. You should poke the ground in front of you with a stick.

D. Animals are able to float on quicksand, but humans always sink.

60. The author’s main purpose in this passage is to _______________.

A. give information about quicksand

B. tell an entertaining story

C. persuade people to avoid quicksand

D. explain how quicksand forms

When I was a puppy, I entertained you and made you laugh. Whenever I was "bad", you'd 36 me and ask, "How could you?"一but then you'd relent(变温和），and 　37 me over for a belly rub.

　　 My housetraining took a little longer than 　38 , because you were terribly busy, but we 39 on that together. We went for long walks in the park and 　40 rides in the suburbs. We stopped for ice cream. I took long naps(小睡）in the sun waiting for you to come home at the 　41 of the day.

　42 . you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time 　43 a human mate. Eventually, you fell in love. She, now your wife, is not a "dog-person", but still I was 　44 　because you were happy.

　 Then the human babies came 　45 and I shared your excitement. I was 　46 by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them too. Your wife was 　47 I would hurt them. But nevertheless, 　48 they began to grow, I became their friend. I loved them and they loved me.

　 Then you didn't want me 　49 . You had a better job in a new city. The apartment building in which you were living didn't 　50 pets. You told your wife that it was the dog pound(动物收容所）that was suitable for me.

　 I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the dog pound. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear and 　51 ．You filled out the paperwork and said, "I know you will find a good home for her." They shrugged and gave you a pained look. The children were in 　52 as they waved me goodbye.

　 Is it better to live with hope or without hope? Sometimes when I hear human 　53 , I think it is you, or perhaps another human who will love me. It 　54 is. Then I feel terrible. Visitors are only interested in puppy dogs, not old-timers like me.

　 My beloved 　55 , I will think of you and wait for you forever. I hope you receive more loyalty(忠诚）from your family than I showed to you.

36. A. praise　　　　　　　　 B. question　　　　　　　　　 C. scold　　　　　　　 D. touch

37. A. throw　　　　　　　　 B. roll　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. catch　　　　　　　 D. chase

38. A. ever　　　　　　　　　 B. expected　　　　　　　　　 C. before　　　　　　　 D. necessary

39. A. turned　　　　　　　　 B. focused　　　　　　　　　 C. moved　　　　　　　　　　 D. worked

40. A. car　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. truck　　　　　　　　　　　 C. horse　　　　　　　 D. dog

41．A. beginning　　　　 B. middle　　　　　　　　　　 C. end　　　　　　　　　 D. time

42. A. Generally　　　　　 B. Fortunately　　　　　　　 C. Hopefully　　　　 D. Gradually

43. A. working with　　　 B. searching for　　　　　 C. dealing with　　　 D. asking after

44. A. happy　　　　　　　　 B. disappointed　　　　　　 C. sad　　　　　　　　　 D. relaxed

45. A. round　　　　　　　　 B. over　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. along　　　　　　　 D. on

46. A. fascinated　　　　　 B. shocked　　　　　　　　　 C. astonished　　　　 D. embarrassed

47. A. sure　　　　　　　　　 B. aware　　　　　　　　　　　 C. informed　　　　　 D. afraid

48. A. as　　　　　　　　　　　 B. because　　　　　　　　　 C. before　　　　　　　 D. though

49. A. anyway　　　　　　　 B. anyhow　　　　　　　　　 C. somewhat 　　　 D. anymore

50. A. receive　　　　　　　 B. forbid　　　　　　　　　　　 C. allow　　　　　　　 D. need

51．A. excitement　　　　 B. warmth　　　　　　　　　 C. homelessness　　 D. wilderness

52. A. danger　　　　　　　 B. terror　　　　　　　　　　　 C. tears　　　　　　　　 D. hopes

53. A. sounds　　　　　　　 B. footsteps　　　　　　　　 C. songs　　　　　　　 D. talks

54. A. always　　　　　　　 B. sometimes　　　　　　　 C. seldom　　　　　　 D. never

55. A. master　　　　　　　 B. visitor　　　　　　　　　　 C. friend　　　　　　　 D. companion

    “What If” questions can help you think about what to do in case something should happen. There are no fight answers because every case is different．Use the questions with your parents or with friends and decide what you think might work? Think of your own solutions and make up new“What If”questions to answer．

1 ) You are walking to school and a gang of alder bullies(person who uses his strength or power to frighten or hurt weaker people) demands your money

    Do you：

    a．Shout and run away?

    b．Give them the money?

    Give them the money(or other possessions)一your safety is more impoaant than money.

  2) You are in the school toilet and an older student comes in，beats you and then tells you not to do anything or‘you’II get worse’．You know who the person is and you have never done anything to him／her．Do you：

    a．Wait until the person leaves and then tell a teacher?

    b．Get it a fight with him／her?

    c．Accept what happened and don’t tell?

    Tell the teacher―you didn’t deserve to be beaten and the bully was wrong to do it．If you don't tell，the bully will just keep on beating up other kids．

3) A gang of bullies gets you alone and starts beating you．Do you：

    a．Do nothing―just take it?

    b．Fight back?

    e．Shout to attract attention?

    d．Watch for your chance and run away?

    You must decide．but c.＆. d．together could work very well．It would be quite difficult to

 a whole gang of bullies and you might be hurt badly if you did．

4) Someone in your class always makes rude comments about you and says them loud enough for you(and others)to hear．It really upsets you．Do you：

    a．Ignore the comments?

    b．Face the bully and tell him／her off?

    c．Tell the teacher?

    d．Hit the bully on the nose?

    You may feel like beating the bully，but you’ll probably be the one to get into trouble if you do. Try a .first―ignoring comments is difficult，but can work if the bully gets tired of trying to get you to be angry or cry or show some reaction．Your teacher should be told about the comments

because no one should make hurtful comments to others．If you are feeling brave，tell the bully of

Try practicing in the mirror to get the right effect !

64．What is the passage mainly about?

    A．The bully’s behaviors．

    B．The questions the students meet．

    C．The solutions to the students’questions．

    D．The advice on how to fight against the bully．

65．Using Situation 4，the author aims to tell the students that        ．

    A．they should fight back immediately

    B．keeping claims the first thing they should do

    C．only being brave can help them solve the problem

    D．they should practice boxing to defend themselves

66．We can conclude from the passage that         ．

    A．all the older students like to bully the younger students

    B．if the students fight with the bullies，they will get hurt

    C．the teachers call help to solve the bullying problems

    D．the students’safety is more important than money

67．Which of the following statements is NOT true?

    A．When the bullies ask for money，giving up the possessions is the right choice．

    B．When beaten by the bullies, the students should find a chance to run away．

    C．The bullies make rude comments to get the bullied students into anger．

    D．The students are most likely to be bullied in the school toilet．

“What If” questions can help you think about what to do in case something should happen. There are no fight answers because every case is different．Use the questions with your parents or with friends and decide what you think might work? Think of your own solutions and make up new“What If”questions to answer．

1 ) You are walking to school and a gang of alder bullies(person who uses his strength or power to frighten or hurt weaker people) demands your money

　 Do you：

　 a．Shout and run away?

　 b．Give them the money?

　 Give them the money(or other possessions)一your safety is more important than money.

2) You are in the school toilet and an older student comes in，beats you and then tells you not to do anything or‘you’II get worse’．You know who the person is and you have never done anything to him／her．Do you：

　 a．Wait until the person leaves and then tell a teacher?

　 b．Get it a fight with him／her?

　 c．Accept what happened and don’t tell?

　 Tell the teacher—you didn’t deserve to be beaten and the bully was wrong to do it．If you don't tell，the bully will just keep on beating up other kids．

3) A gang of bullies gets you alone and starts beating you．Do you：

　 a．Do nothing—just take it?

　 b．Fight back?

　 e．Shout to attract attention?

　 d．Watch for your chance and run away?

　You must decide．but c.＆. d．together could work very well．It would be quite difficult to

a whole gang of bullies and you might be hurt badly if you did．

4) Someone in your class always makes rude comments about you and says them loud enough for you(and others)to hear．It really upsets you．Do you：

　 a．Ignore the comments?

　 b．Face the bully and tell him／her off?

　 c．Tell the teacher?

　 d．Hit the bully on the nose?

　 You may feel like beating the bully，but you’ll probably be the one to get into trouble if you do.Try a .first—ignoring comments is difficult，but can work if the bully gets tired of trying to get you to be angry or cry or show some reaction．Your teacher should be told about the comments

because no one should make hurtful comments to others．If you are feeling brave，tell the bully of　

Try practising in the mirror to get the right effect !

1．What is the passage mainly about?

　 A．The bully’s behaviors．

　 B．The questions the students meet．

　 C．The solutions to the students’questions．

　 D．The advice on how to fight against the bully．

2．Using Situation 4，the author aims to tell the students that　　　 ．

　 A．they should fight back immediately

　 B．keeping calm is the first thing they should do

　 C．only being brave can help them solve the problem

　 D．they should practise boxing to defend themselves

3．We can conclude from the passage that　　　　 ．

　 A．all the older students like to bully the younger students

　 B．ifthe students fight with the bullies，they will get hurt

　 C．the teachers call help to solve the bullying problems

　 D．the students’safety is more important than money