At middle school level, there are many academic clubs in which the students can participate. Students can choose clubs that focus on an area of interest.

Mathcounts Club

Mathcounts tries to increase excitement about mathematic achievement. It hopes to provide students with the foundation for success in science, technology, engineering and mathematic careers. Schools select individuals and teams to participate in competitions. Mathcounts works to challenge student math skills, develop self-confidence and give rewards for their achievements.

Envirothon

The Envirothon program focuses on natural resources knowledge and exposes students to diverse environmental issues, ecosystems, and topography (地形学). The ecology field competition for five-member middle school teams offers competitions in wildlife, soils, forestry, current environmental issues and aquatics (水上运动). Students work and learn in middle school clubs ·and can compete at local and state level.

Future Problem Solvers

Future Problem Solvers is an academic club that uses a six-step process to solve problems that may happen in the future. Students who like to “think outside the box”  may like this club. Teams made up of four students read future scenes and write up solutions in a booklet using the six-step process. Teams that score high enough can go to the state competition and then to the international competition.

Builders Club

Builders Club is open to any middle school student who wishes to perform community service. The members learn by doing, and they learn organization, teamwork, and leadership. Builders Clubs can sponsor a “Teacher of the Year” program, provide a recycling collection point, organize canned food and clothing to support local shelters, adopt a resident at a local senior citizens home, adopt highway, tutor, etc.

The students who are not interested in competition would probably choose _____.

A. Mathcounts Club B. Builders Club

C. Future Problem Solvers   D. Envirothon

Why do some of the students choose Mathcounts club?

A. To be successful in science careers. B. To enjoy solving future problems.

C. To perform community service.    D. To study wildlife and soils.

What is the common feature of the four clubs?

A. Competition.     B. Sponsorship. C. Scientific research.   D. Teamwork.

The passage mainly talks about _____.

A. the state academic competitions  B. middle school clubs

C. extra-curricular activities  D. the gifted students

To get an extra 14 years of life, don't smoke, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, exercise regularly and drink alcohol in a proper amount．That is according to a study published this Monday in the Public Library of Science Medicine Journal．

After tracking more than 20,000 people aged 45 to 79 years in the United Kingdom from about 1993 to 2007, Kay-Tee Khaw of the University of Cambridge and his colleagues found that people who adopted these four healthy habits lived all average of 14 years longer than those who didn't．

“We've known for a long time that these behaviors are good things to do, but we've not seen this benefit before, ”said Susan Jebb, head of Nutrition and Health at Britain's Medical Research Council．“The benefit was also seen regardless of whether or not people were fat and what social class they came from．”

Study participants（参与者）scored a point each for not smoking, regular physical activity, eating five servings of fruits and vegetables a day and moderate alcohol intake．

Public health experts said they hoped the study would inspire governments to introduce policies helping people to adopt these changes．But because the study only observed people rather than testing specific changes, it would be impossible to conclude that people who suddenly adopted these healthy behaviors would surely gain 14 years．

“We can't say that any person could gain 14 years by doing these things, ”said Dr．Tim Armstrong, a physical activity expert at the World Health Organization．“The 14 years is an average across the population of what's theoretically（理论上地）possible．”

“Most people know that things like a good diet matter and that smoking isn't good for them, ”Susan Jebb said．“We need to work on providing people with much more practical support to help them change．”

Which of the following DOESN'T belong to the four healthy habits?

A．Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day．

B．Do proper exercise in the morning every day．

C．Drinking alcohol in the proper amount every day．

D．Having a cigarette before going to bed every day．

We can learn from the passage that             ．

A．Susan Jebb did not take part in the study．

B．the study observed people as well as tested specific changes．

C．there's no need for people under 45 to adopt these good habits．

D．only those from first class can benefit from these healthy behaviors．

What can be inferred from the passage?

A．All the people are well aware of the harm of their bad habits．

B．People aged 45 to 70 have bad habits in the United Kingdom．

C．Governments should take measures to help people change their bad habits．

D．People have adopted the four healthy habits after knowing they're good．

What would be the best title for this passage?

A．Smoking and Drinking Cuts You 14 Years

B．How to Live a Much Healthier Life

C．Healthy Habits May Give Extra 14 Years

D．How to Make Your Life Longer Than Others

At the age of12, I had an enemy, a girl who liked to point out my shortcomings(缺点). Week by week her list grew: I was very thin, I wasn’t a good student, I talked too much, I was too proud, and so on. I tried to hear all this as long as I could. At last, I became very angry. I ran to my father with tears in my eyes.                                                                 

He listened to me quietly, then he asked. “Are the things she says true or not? Janet, didn’t you ever wonder what you’re really like ? Well, you now have that girl’s opinion. Go and make a list of everything she said and mark the points that are true. Pay no attention to the other things she said.”                                                                         

I did as he told me. To my great surprise, I discovered that about half the things were true. Some of them I couldn’t change (like being very thin), but a good number I could—and suddenly I wanted to change. For the first time I go to fairly clear picture of myself.            

I brought the list back to Daddy. He refused to take it.“ That’s just for you,” he said.“ You know better than anyone else the truth about yourself. But you have to learn to listen, not just close your ears in anger and feeling hurt. When something said about you is true, you’ll find it will be of help to you. Our world is full of people who think they know your duty. Don’t shut your ears.  Listen to them all, but hear the truth and do what you know is the right thing to do.”                   

Daddy’s advice has returned to me at many important moments. In my life, I’ve never had a better piece of advice.                                                          

What did the father do after he had heard his daughter’s complaint?

A. He told her to write down all that her“ enemy” had said about her and pay attention only to the things that were true.                                                                      

B. He told her not to pay any attention to what her “enemy” had said.                   

C. He criticized (批评) her and told her to overcome her shortcomings.                 

D. He refused to take the list and have a look at it.                                   

What does “Week by week her list grew” mean?                                   

A .I was having more and more shortcomings as time went on.                        

B. She had made a list of my shortcomings and she kept on adding new ones to it so that it was growing longer and longer.   

C. Week by week she discovered more shortcomings of mine and pointed them out to me.       D. Week by week, my shortcomings grew more serious.                         

Why did her father listen to her quietly?                                          

A. Because he wasn’t quite sure which girl was telling the truth.                       

B. Because he had been so angry with his daughter’s shortcomings that he wanted to show this by keeping silent for a while.                                                

C. Because he knew that his daughter would not listen to him at that moment.            

D. Because he believed that what her daughter’s “enemy” said was mostly true. 

Which do you think would be the best title for this passage?                          

A.  The Best Advice  I’ve  Ever Had  

B.  No an Enemy, but the Best Friend                                        

C.   My  Father          

D.  My  Childhood

At one point I made up my mind to talk to Uncle Sam. Then I changed my mind, ____ that he could do nothing to help.

At one point or 36 in life, we are all 37 to make a speech to an audience on different occasions, for example, in the classroom to share successful 38 with classmates or on a wedding to send your best wishes in honor of the newly-weds. No matter 39 the audience seems to be, we are in public speaking. 40, most of us don’t do a very satisfactory job. We get nervous. We forget what to say, we 41 unnecessary words, and we 42 the audience. We feel awful, feeling like completely a loser, and wish we would never have to speak  again.
Cheer up! You are not alone and things are not 43 bad. Here are a few44 for you to 45 the pain. First, be clear about the purpose of your speech. What is the 46? Why are you speaking? Then, gather as much information 47 you can think of on your subject. It is advised that onespend plenty of your time doing some research and organizing your material so that your speech is clear and crystal. 48 many examples, pictures, charts, and graphs if possible. Most importantly, never forget your audience. Don’t talk over their heads, and don’t 49 them. Treat them with 50.During the course, let your 51 come through so that they feel as if you make person-to-person communication with them. They will surely 52 your thoughtfulness and find your speech enjoyable.
Just remember: Be prepared. Know your subject, the occasion, and the audience . If you follow these steps, you will see you don’t have to be 53.   54, you may find you more than enjoy the period and that you 55 to make more and long speeches. But don’t hog the podium and steal the show!