Spring is an inviting season for outdoor activities. But be careful—the warm weather is also a hotbed for viruses(病毒) and disease.  
This March, the influenza(流行性感冒) A(H7N9) virus hit Shanghai, Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang. It was reported that by April 11 at least 35 people had been infected (被感染的) with the H7N9 virus, and nine of them had died.
The influenza A (H7N9) virus is one type of influenza A H7 viruses. Influenza A H7 viruses normally spread among birds.
This is the first time human infections with H7N9 viruses have been reported in China. Earlier reports were about H5N1 and H1N1.
All the three viruses are influenza A viruses but they are not the same. H7N9 and H5N1 are animal influenza viruses that could infect people. However, H1N1 viruses can be divided into two groups. One group can normally infect people and the other normally infects animals. Also, H1N1 can spread from human to human, but H7N9 probably can’t, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Most people infected with H7N9 looked like they had the common flu. Some people had bad pneumonia(肺炎). They suffered from a fever, a cough and shortness of breath.
But don’t be afraid – it is not easy to be infected with the virus. One of the possible reasons is close contact with sick poultry (家禽) waste. People may also be infected through breath, according to National Health and Family Planning Commission.
Here are some tips from the WHO that can protect you from being infected.
Wash your hands with soap and running water before you eat, after you use the toilet, and after touching animals or animal waste.
When coughing or sneezing cover your mouth and nose with a mask(口罩)，tissue(纸巾) or a sleeve.
Get a good rest and do exercises, which will help make your body strong enough to stand up to the virus.
【小题1】What’s the name of the influenza virus that hit Shanghai, Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang this March?

Don’t  you  want to go to school? You could tell your parents you’re ill. But last Monday, students from Shanghai and Zhejiang had an even better excuse: a typhoon(台风)!
Typhoon Khanun hit East China on September 11. In Shanghai, all the school were closed the next day, Monday.
It was the first time that Shanghai had to close schools because of  bad weather.
But some students still came to school that day. “ I didn’t get the notice that the school was closing,” said Shen Sheng, a Junior 2 student from Shanghai Aiguo School. “ But it was nice that we could play in school rather than study.”
The school kept Shen and other 20 students safe inside and let them play sports like table tennis.
But the storm wasn’t all fun games. Typhoon Khanun killed 14 people. In Zhejiang, it damaged about 8,000 houses. More than one million people had to be taken to safer places.
Every year, typhoons hit different places around the world. Most happen in July, August and September. This year 15 typhoons hit China. Khanun was the strongest. Typhoons bring strong winds and rains. The winds can blow away houses and cars. The rains are bad for farmers’ fields.
Typhoon also kills people. Earlier this month, Typhoon Talim hit East and Central China. It killed at least 124 people.
【小题1】When was the first time that Shanghai had to close all the schools?

    Europeans are being dug out from heavy snow after a week of very cold weather. The snowstorm is the harshest to hit Europe. Airports were shut down. And schools have been closed for a week.

    Until Wednesday, at least 400 people across Europe had died because of the cold temperature. Several countries have said a state of emergency. In Ukraine, temperatures dropped as low as -33℉.

    Although the situation is bad, at least one country is hoping the weather will last a little longer. In the Netherlands, the government is preparing for the country’s “11 Cities Tour”. The 125-mile ice-skating marathon will be held along a network which joins 11 towns and cities together in Friesland Province.

    The ice along the way must be inches thick for the event. Up to 2 million people are thought to cheer on the race’s 16,000 competitors.

    On Wednesday, Dutch soldiers joined in the preparations. They cleaned snow along the way. This will be the 16^th time that the event has taken place since the first race in 1909. Dutch General Hans said his soldiers were happy to lend a hand. “We want to do our bit for this national party.” he said.

1.What is “11 Cities Tour”?

A. It’s a 125-mile ice skating marathon.

B. It’s a 11-mile ice skating marathon.

C. It’s a 16000-mile ice skating marathon.

D. It’s a 33-mile ice skating marathon.

2.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Thousands of people across Europe died because of the weather.

B. The ice should be less than 6 inches thick for the event.

C. No country is glad to see the cold weather.

D. The first “11 Cities Tour” began in 1909.

3.Who helped clean snow along the way?

A. French soldiers                      B. Dutch soldiers 

C. Ukrainian soldiers               D. American soldiers

4.The underlined word “harshest” means _______ in the passage.

A. safest       B. most enjoyable       C. most serious         D. happiest

5.The passage is mainly about______.

A. the hard situation Europe faces

B. the European cold weather

C. preparations for a national party

D. the coldest season in Europe

A 7-magnitude（震级）earthquake hit Ya'an,Sichuan at 8:02 on April 20, 2013, and it killed at least 196 people and injured more than 11,000.

    Together with other students, Yang Xuelan ran out to the playground. She was safe. But all her textbooks and exercise books were buried（埋）in the teaching building.

What can we do when an earthquake happens? In fact, there's little we can do to stop natural disasters (自然灾害) such as earthquakes happening. But, some methods can reduce the harm they cause.

◆ Drop down onto your hands and knees. This way can protect you from falling.

    ◆ Cover your head under a strong table or desk. You can also stay along a wall,and cover your head with your arms and hands.

    ◆ Hold on to(守住,抓牢) your shelter(遮蔽物) until the shaking stops. Be prepared to move with your shelter if the shaking continues.

    Schools can normally take the earthquake drills（演练） to help student stay alive.

1.How many people lost their lives in the earthquake in Ya'an?

A. At least 196.         B. More than 11,000.

C. Less than 196.        D. About 11,196.

2.When the earthquake happened in Ya'an, Yang Xuelan was         .

A. at home               B. at school

C. on her way to school   D. playing on the playground

3.What does the underlined word "reduce" mean in Chinese?

A.提高        B.阻止          C.增加           D.减少

4.According to the writer, we can       to reduce the harm natural disasters cause.

A. do nothing                              B. stay at home

C. take some methods                       D. run out of the house

5.Which of the following can help you stay alive in an earthquake?

A. Dropping down onto your hands and knees.

B. Covering your head under a strong table or desk.

C. Holding on to your shelter until the shaking stops.

D. A, B and C.