People live in different houses. You may know a wooden house or a paper house. But do you know a(n)    1   house?

In 2008, the first ice house in North America opens its    2   to welcome some visitors. The floors, windows and walls are all made of ice. It has ten bedrooms    3   twenty people can stay there each night. Visitors to the house    4   in ice beds, sit on ice chairs and eat from ice plates. Well, the toilets are not made of ice, of course.

It’s usually below zero so it is very    5   inside the house. However, do the visitors just sit there to    6   warm? No, visitors have to    7   special clothes. These can make    8  feel warm until morning.

Workers    9   about four weeks designing the ice house. Visitors can only stay in this ice house in winter. It isn’t    10   in hot summer. Because this house is so special, it is becoming popular with young people.

A thief entered the bedroom of the 30^th President of the United States, who met him and helped him escape punishment.

The event happened in the early morning hours on one of the first days when Calvin Coolidge came into power, late in August,1923. He and his family were living in the same third-floor suite (套房) at the Willard Hotel in Washington that they had moved in several years before. The former President’s wife was still living in the White House.

Coolidge woke up to see a stranger go through his clothes, remove a wallet and a watch chain.

Coolidge spoke, “I wish you wouldn’t take that.”

The thief, gaining his voice, said, “Why?”

“I don’t mean the watch and chain, only the charm (表坠). Take it near the window and read the words on its back, ” the president said.

The thief read, “Presented to Calvin Coolidge.”

“Are you President Coolidge?” he asked.

The president answered, “ Yes, and the House of Representatives（众议院）gave me the watch charm. I’m fond of it. It would do you no good. You want money. Let’s talk this over.”

Holding up the wallet, the young man said in a low voice, “I’ll take this and leave everything else.”

Coolidge, knowing there was 80 dollars in it, asked the young man to sit down and talk. He told the President he and his college roommate had overspent during their holiday and did not have enough money to pay their hotel bill.

Coolidge added up the roommate two rail tickets back to the college. Then he counted out 32 dollars and said it was a loan (借款).

He then told the young man, “There is a guard in the corridor(走廊).” The young man nodded and left through the same window as he had entered.

1.What caused the thief to meet the President?

A. He knew the president had lots of money.

B. He knew the president lived in the suite.

C. He wanted to be a rich businessman.

D. He wanted to steal some money.

2.Why did Calvin Coolidge live at the Willard Hotel in those days?

A. Because the former president was still in the White House.

B. Because the former First Lady hadn’t left the White House.

C. Because the hotel was suitable for the First Family to live.

D. Because the First lady liked to live there.

3.Coolidge counted out 32 dollars______.

A. in order to be out of danger

B. to make more money from the loan

C. in order not to be killed by the thief

D. so that the student could overcome his difficulty

4.The young man’s roommate went back to college _____.

A. by bus           B. by water         C. by train     D. by air

5.Which of the following might happen afterwards?

A. The thief was put into prison.

B. The young man repaid the 32 dollars.

C. The President told many reporters the thief’s name.

D. The President ordered the young man to repay the money.

Acid rain comes from _____. 

A. the river   B. the water   C. the clouds   D. the forests

In 1620, about half the U.S.A. was covered by forests. Today the forests have almost gone. A lot of good land has gone with them, leaving only sand. China doesn’t want to copy the U.S.A.’s example. We’re planting more and more trees. We’ve built the “Great Green Wall” of trees across northern part of our country. The Great Green Wall is 7,000 kilometers long, and between 400 and 1,700 kilometers wide. It will stop the wind from blowing the earth away. It will stop the sand from moving towards the rich farmland in the south. More “Great Green Walls” are needed. Trees must be grown all over the world. Great Green Walls will make the world better.

1. In 1620, about ______ the USA was covered by forests.

2. A lot of good land has gone with ______.

3. The Great Green Wall in China is ______ long.

4. Trees must be grown in ______.

5. ______ will make the world better.