Should we be afraid of sharks? Maybe not. New research into the reasons for shark attacks (攻击) suggests that sharks don’t like the way humans taste! In fact, most people who are attacked by the shark are still alive after receiving only one bite (咬). Why is this?

There are many opinions to explain why sharks sometimes attack people. One opinion is that sharks are just curious (好奇的). We know that sharks are the strongest animals in their environment, so they are not afraid of anything. Naturally, that means they are curious when they meet something unusual. Because they don’t have hands or feet., the only way they can find out an object is to bite it! It is thought that sharks sometimes bite humans for this reason, and then swim away.

Scientists also say that sharks would not waste energy trying to eat a human, as we have a lot of bones (骨头). It is hard for a shark to eat us because sharks don’t have hands, and they can’t pull the meat off our bones. Maybe that’s why they only bite us once. Unluckily, one bite from a large shark is serious enough to hurt people greatly!

Another opinion is that sharks attack humans by mistake. Some sharks may sometimes mistake humans for a seal. An example of this is when a shark attack attacks a surfer. A surfer lying on a surfboard looks like a seal when seen from below. Sharks like seals because they have thick fat.

Whatever the reason for shark attacks on humans, sharks should be afraid of us. Sadly, we kill almost 40 million of them each year.

1.What happens to people attacked by sharks?

A．Most of them because blind.               B．Most of them because of deaf.

C．Most of them died.                      D．Most of them are still alive.

2.How do sharks find out about an unusual object according to the passage?

A．By biting.                              B．By smelling.

C．By touching.                           D．By killing.

3.Which sentence about sharks is true?

A．Sharks pull meat off bones when they eat.

B．Sharks might mistake humans for seals.

C．Sharks like to attack surfers because of their thick fat.

D．One bite from a shark is nothing serious.

4.What would the author write the passage mainly for?

A．To tell surfers to stay away from sharks.

B．To ask people to stop killing sharks.

C．To let us know the reasons for shark attacks on people.

D．To show that humans are much stronger than sharks.

When I was growing up in America, I was ashamed of my mother’s Chinese English. Because of her English, she was often treated unfairly. People in department stores, at banks, and at restaurants did not take her seriously, pretended not to understand her, or even acted as if they did not hear her.
My mother has realized the disadvantages of her English as well. When I was fifteen, she used to have me call people on phone to pretend I was she. I was forced to ask for information or even to yell at people who had been rude to her. One time I had to call her stockbroker. I said in a voice that was not very convincing, “This is Mrs. Tan.” And my mother was standing beside me, whispering loudly, “Why he doesn’t send me the cheek. It’s already two weeks late.”
And then, in perfect English I said: “I’m getting rather anxious .You agreed to send the check two weeks ago, but it hasn’t arrived.” Then she talked more loudly. “What does he want? I’ll come to New York and say it in front of his boss.” And so I turned to the stockbroker again, “I can’t accept any more excuses. If I don’t receive the check immediately, I have to speak to your manager when I am in New York next week.”
The next week we ended up in New York. While I was sitting there red-faced, my mother, the real Mrs. Tan, was shouting to his boss in her broken English. When I was a teenager, my mother’s broken English embarrassed me. But now, I see it differently. To me, my mother’s English is perfectly clear, perfectly natural. It is my mother tongue. Her language, as I hear it, is clear and direct. It was the language that helped me form the way I saw things, expressed ideas, and made sense of the world.
【小题1】Why was the author’s mother poorly treated?

“Excuse me,” said a young man, standing shyly at the open church door. “I’m here to pick up an Easter basket for my daughter. Am I in the right place?” Well, we have baskets, but they’re not Easter baskets for kids; they’re food baskets,” I explained.
That morning I arrived at St. Micheal’s Church in Carmichael, California, to help give out the baskets to needy families for Easter. To make sure every family would receive one, we had handed out numbers to them that matched the basket they were supposed to receive. Each one contained a whole ham, potatoes, bread, vegetables, and a pie --- enough food to help feed a family for a week.
“Why don’t you come in?” I said to the man. He looked disappointed. He shook his head and said, “I can’t... My daughter is waiting for me over there. I’m grateful for the food, but when I heard you were giving away baskets for Easter ... well, I thought they would be Easter baskets for children.” He continued, “I promised my daughter one, and I wanted to surprise her.”
I felt bad, but there was nothing I could do. The man handed me his number, and I walked over to the baskets. A bulge(凸起) in one of the baskets caught my eye. “What is that?” I wondered. Leaning over and looking more closely, I could see, unmistakably, an Easter basket --- filled with candy, chocolate, and Easter eggs. One of the volunteers must have added it by mistake! I thought. Then I looked at the man’s number in my hand. Well, he’ll be....
“Happy Easter,” I said to the man, handing him the only food basket with an Easter basket inside --- the very same basket with his number on it. “Someone knew just what you needed.”
【小题1】The young man had thought that ____________.

A smart diet, a healthy life

No matter how old your kids are, you can take steps to improve a healthy diet and to encourage good eating habits.

Tip One: Family Meals

Family meals are nice for both parents and kids. Children like to guess what they are going to have and parents get the chance to introduce new foods to children. Parents can also use the mealtime as a chance to talk with their kids about their life.

Tip Two: Healthy Snacks(零食)

Kids, especially younger ones, will eat mostly what can get at home. That’s why it’s important to have enough healthy snacks, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, yogurt and whole-grain biscuits.

Tip Three: Being a Good Example

The best way for you to encourage healthy eating is to eat well yourself. Kids will follow the

lead of the adults they see every day. By eating fruits and vegetables and avoiding fast food and sweet drinks, you are sending the right message.

Tip Four: No Shouts about Food

Parents might find themselves shouting at children to get them to have healthy foods in front of them. This in fact can make children dislike what they are asked to eat. You need to work a bit on different cooking methods(方式，方法).

Tip Five: Get Kids Included(参与)

Most kids will enjoy making the decision about food. Talk to them about making choices and planning a healthy meal. It can help them to make good decisions on their own about the foods they want to eat.

1.What is the author’s attitude(态度) toward snacks?

A．Snacks shouldn’t be eaten.

B．Healthy snacks can be accepted.

C．Kids can only have snacks at home.

D．It’s not necessary to have snacks at home.

2.The best way for parents to encourage a healthy diet is ________.

A．to have family meals                     B．to eat healthy snacks

C．to be a good example                    D．to get kids included

3.What does the underlined phrase “ the right message” mean?

A．Being a good cook.  B．Healthy eating      C．Eating fast food.     D．Cooking at home.

4.According to Tip Four, what should parents do if kids refuse to eat healthy food?

A．Explain how healthy it is.                  B．Try cooking it in a different way

C．Never cook the same food.                D．Ask kids to get used to its taste.

5.Why should parents get kids included when they make the decision about food?

A．To let kids eat anything they like.

B．To help kids become a wonderful cook.

C．To help kids make good choices by themselves.

D．To set a good example of eating healthy food.