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If you do not use your arm or your legs for some time, they become weak; when you start using them again, they slowly become strong again. Everybody knows that. Yet many people do not seem to know that memory works in the same way. When someone says that he has a good memory, he really means that he keeps his memory in practice by using it. When someone else says that his memory is poor, he really means that he does not give it enough chance to become strong. If a friend says that his arms and legs are weak, we know that it is his own fault(过错). But if he tells us that he has a poor memory, many of us think that his parents are to blame(受责备), and few of us know that it is just his own fault. Have you ever found that some people can’t read or write but usually they have better memories? This is because they cannot read or write and they have to remember things; they cannot write down in a little notebook. They have to remember days, names, songs and stories; so their memory is the whole time being exercised. So if you want to have a good memory, learn from the people: Practice remembering.

1. The main reason for one is poor memory is that _______.

A. his father or mother may have a poor memory

B. He does not use his name or legs for some time

C. his memory is not often used

D. he can’t read or write

2. If you do not use your arms or legs for some time _______.

A. you can’t use them any more      

B. they will become stronger

C. they become weak and won’t become strong until you use them again.

D. they will become neither stronger nor weaker

3. Which of the following is NOT true?

A. Your memory works in the same way as your arms or legs.

B. Your memory, like your arms or legs, becomes weak if you don’t give it enough chance for practice.

C. Don’t learn how to read and write if you want to have a better memory.

D. A good memory comes from more practice.

4. Some people can’t read or write, but they usually have better memories, because _______.

A. they have save much trouble           B. they have saved much time to remember things

C. they have to use their memories all the time  D. they can’t write everything in a little notebook

5. Which is the best title for this passage?

A. Don’t Stop Using Your Arms Or Legs      B. How To Have a Good Memory

C. Strong Arms And Good Memories         D. Learn From the People

Davey wanted to play baseball. But fifty years ago, in his small town, he couldn’t find enough players for two full teams or an empty lot big enough for a field. And when he played ball in his back yard, he just broke windows and got into trouble. So Davey began playing with a plastic golf ball and a broom handle for a bat.
When his dad, David Mullaney, a former semi-pro baseball pitcher(投手), realized his son was hurting his arm trying to throw curves with the little plastic ball, he decided to find a better solution. Mullaney got a bunch of hollow plastic spheres from a local factory, sat down at his kitchen table and began cutting different size holes in the balls with a razor knife. He thought maybe the holes would alter the ball’s flight and help his son throw curves and sliders without hurting his arm.
All the balls failed—except the one with the eight oblong(长椭圆形的) holes cut into one of the hemispheres. This ball curved naturally and sharply without a violent snap of the wrist. In fact, Davey was now striking out so many batters; he called his new ball a “wiffle ball”. A year later, Mullaney borrowed $20,000 from family and friends and started producing Wiffle Balls in his little suburban town of Shelton, Connecticut.
“I didn’t want investors.” He said, “I wanted to control my own company.” This was the beginning of one of the hottest fads(时尚) of the fifties and a perennial(长久的) best seller well known all around the world. Since then millions of boys and girls have enjoyed countless hours of safe, wholesome fun playing with a Wiffle ball and bat. Esquire Magazine has even called the Wiffle Ball “a national treasure”. By producing a high quality product at an affordable price, three generations of Mullany’s have enjoyed the satisfaction and benefits of running a successful and profitable family business.
Over the years, they’ve had plenty of offers to buy them out, but they’re still working out of a small factory in Shelton, making a new Wiffle Ball every couple of seconds. Creativity and persistence are two of the important sources for wealth. If he gave up his attempts at trying new things, Mullany would not have invented the wiffle ball, nor would he have made such a big fortune.
1.From the passage we can know that           .          

A．Mullaney made the invention of Wiffle ball with the help of his son

B．fifty years ago people didn’t like playing baseball very much

C．Mullaney’s attempts to help Davey better enjoy ball-playing led to the invention of Wiffle ball

D．playing balls would hurt one’s arm before the Wiffle ball’s appearance

2.All the following are true EXCEPT         .

A．Davey was a good ballplayer after the Wiffle ball came into existence

B．David Mullaney wanted to run the family business on his own

C．Mullaney’s family made a big fortune through the production of Wiffle balls

D．Mullaney’s business was nearly bought out but they worked hard to keep it

3.The underlined word “spheres” in Paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to         .

A．balls? B．bottles? C．bags? D．boxes

4.The two important factors for Mullaney’s successful family business are         .

A．time and fortune　? B．persistence and creativity

C．quality and fame 　 D．cooperation and efforts

5.The passage mainly tells us something about         .

A．Davey, a famous baseball player????????????? B．a popular ball game in the 1950’s

C．the birth of Wiffle ball 　　　　　????????????? D．the success of a family business

Cities in Europe and around the world may be growing “bike trees” in the near future. Invented by Japan’s JFE engineering Corp., the invention proved useful in the busiest parts of this nation’s crowded cities.

   Local governments of Japan have struggled for ways to encourage people to park their bikes considerately, particularly close to big stations, but that may block some roads and entrances to home and businesses. “Our cities do not have a lot of space for any kind of parking, including bicycles.” said Mitsuharu Oshima, a spokesman for JFE Engineering. The bike tree comes in two types; one in a tower that is above ground, and on the contrary, the other in a subterranean structure.

  A cyclist registers（登记）with the operator of the equipment, pays a monthly fee and pushes the wheels of his bicycle into restraints at the base of the bike tree. Each bicycle is fitted with an electronic card with the owner’s details. A mechanical arm then pulls the bike into the base of the tower and moves it to a free location inside. To collect the bike later, the cyclist puts his card through a reader and his bike is automatically (自动地)returned to him in seconds. “The science of the equipment has been difficult----even though they may look simple ----because bikes come in many different shapes and sizes.” said Oshima.

   As well as clearing away the road, bicycles cannot be stolen from a bike tree. There are presently versions at seven sites in Japan and two others are under construction, while work is under way on an even larger version----with room for 9,400 bicycles---in Thailand. And Oshima believes that the idea could catch on in Europe, particularly in countries such as France, Holland and Denmark, where cycling is so popular.

1. What is the right order of the following things when you use the bike tree?

  ① the wheels of the bicycle are put into restraints at the base

  ② the card is read and the bike is automatically returned

  ③ an electronic card with the owner’s details is given

  ④ the bike is pulled and moved to a free location inside

A.③②①④      B. ②①④③     C. ③①④②      D. ②④③①

2. What made it difficult to design “bike trees”?

  A. The location of “bike trees”           

B. The differences of the bikes

  C. The method of finding enough bikes       

D. The importance of traffic safety

3. From the passage, we can know that___________.

  A. cyclists can use “bike trees” for free in Japan

  B. there are seven “bike trees” used for holding bikes in Japan

  C. local government of Japan encourage people to ride bikes

  D. countries with many cyclists in Europe will like the idea of “bike trees’

“Dad! He took a book without paying!” I yelled.

My father looked surprised. Before the boy could say anything, his mother grabbed his arm and shook it. “Is it true? You stole? Tell me!”

Everyone was quiet. The boy began to cry, and he nodded his head. He pulled out the comic book (漫画书) from under his shirt. 

“Oh, Mr. Kim. I am sorry! My Ted made a big mistake!” Mrs. Diaz told my father. She tried to take the comic book, but Ted wouldn’t let go.

“It’s OK. He can keep it,” my father said with a smile.

“Oh no,” Mrs. Diaz said. “Let me pay right now ...” She dug in her purse. “How much?”

“Three seventy-five.”

Mrs. Diaz’s eyes widened, and she dug deeper. I saw her mouth make a small line. “Three seventy-five?” she asked.  

“It’s OK. You can pay later,” my father said.

“No,” Mrs. Diaz said. She kept looking in her purse. “I have money here.”

I felt bad for yelling, for I realized that Ted had tried to steal the comic book because he didn’t have the money. Maybe the boy could have a job, I thought.

I had an idea.

“What if he worked with me?” I asked. They turned to me.

I said, “He can work with me to pay for the comic book.”

“Good,” my father said smiling at me. Mrs. Diaz nodded. She turned to her son, “You hear? You will work and buy the comic book!”  

“Yes, Mama,” Ted said, hanging his head.

As they left, Ted looked back, and though he still seemed sad, he stuck out (伸出) his tongue at me.

Ted has been working here for two weeks. He has paid for the comic book, but my father says he is such a good worker that he can work with me as long as he wants. We are friends now. 

1.Where did the story most probably take place? 

2.By saying “but Ted wouldn’t let go” in Paragraph 4, the author means Ted ______.

3.From the underlined sentences in the eighth paragraph, we may infer that Mrs. Diaz ______. 

4.In the last paragraph, what does the author mainly tell?