In the summer of 1978 an English man named Steven was driving his tractor through a field of wheat when he discovered something strange. Some of his wheat was lying on the ground. The flattened wheat formed(形成)a circle about six meters across . Around this circle were four smaller circles of flattened wheat.
　 Three years later a farmer who lived nearby discovered almost the same circles in one of his fields. These circles were larger—nearly 15 meters across . That same year , another English farmer discovered three circles of flattened wheat on his land—one large circle between two small circles. During the following years, farmers in England found circles in their fields more and more often.
　 The circles are called “crop circles” because they usually appear in fields of wheat or corn. The wheat in the circles lies on the ground but is never broken; it keeps on growing, and the farmers can later harvest it. Farmers always discover the crop circles in the morning, so the circles probably form at night. They appear only in the months from May to September. What causes the crop circles?
　 At first, people thought that some kids were making them as a joke, or that farmers were making them to attract tourists.(In fact, in 1991, two men said they made the circles themselves, but many scientists don’t believe them.) People tried to copy them: They tried to make circles exactly like the ones the farmers had found. They couldn’t do it. They couldn’t enter a field of wheat without leaving tracks, and they couldn’t flatten the wheat without breaking it.
　 Several times people reported seeing stranger objects near the fields where crop circles later appeared. Many people believe that these crop circles are the messages sent by living things from outer space(外层空间)or the marks left by their spaceships.
　 Scientists who have studied the crop circles try to find out what causes them. In the summer of 1990 some scientists spent three weeks in the part of England where many circles have appeared. They had all the latest high-tech equipment(最新高科技设备). The equipment—worth 1.8 million dollars—got nothing. But one night, as the scientists were watching a field, crop circles formed in the field behind them, which were quite different from the others. The scientists had neither seen nor heard anything.
　 When Steven discovered the crop circles on his land in 1978, he said, “It was just like something that had landed in the field from the air and gone back up again. I don’t know what to make of these things.”
　 Crop circles have appeared in England, Japan, the United States and Russia. Experts from all over the world have studied them, and they say what Steven said: They don’t know what to make of these things.
【小题1】Which picture is probably the one formed in the field behind the scientists?

【小题2】“Flattened wheat” means ___________.
　　  

What is “Walk to school”?

Now we are working on a program of “walk to school”. We would like as many parents and children as possible to take part, even if in a small way. Children who walk to and from school along with their parents can learn essential(基本的) road safety and life skills.
You can take part by…
● Walking to and from school with your child every day.
● Walking for one or two days during the week.
● Encouraging others to walk, if you have already done.
Walking is great!
● Walking is great exercise! A walk is good for your body and can keep you fit.
● You won’t have to waste time looking for a parking site(停车点).
● It’s free. You’ll save money by not using the car.
● It’s pollution free.
● It’s a good chance to your children and to meet other parents, too.
Enjoying walking to school!
Here are some suggestions to help you and your child enjoy walking to school.
● Plan a safe route together.
● Teach children what a kerb(马路牙子) is and what it means.
● Encourage your child to help you choose the safest places to cross the road.
● Look at and discuss the things you see on your way—especially road signs and what they mean.
Walk to school! Thousands of parents and children have already taken part, could you?
Please go to WWW.walkschool.org.uk for more information.
【小题1】“Walk to school” may be _________.

In the US, people prefer waiting for a table to sitting with people they don’t know. If you are sitting at a table with people you don’t know, it is impolite to light up a cigarette without asking if it will disturb them.

At American restaurants and coffee shops you are usually served tap water (自来水) before you order. You may find bread and butter is free, and if you order coffee, you may get a free refill（续杯）.

Most cities and towns have no rules about opening and closing time for stores or restaurants, though they usually do make rules for bars. Especially in large cities, stores may be open 24 hours a day.

Serving (一份) in restaurants is often large, too large for many people. If you can’t finish your meal but would like to enjoy the food later, ask your waitress or waiter for a “doggie bag”. It may have a picture of a dog on it, but everybody knows you’re taking the food for yourself.

Supper and dinner are both words for the evening meal. Some people have “Sunday dinner”. This is an especially big noon meal.

Tips are not usually added to the check. They are not included in the price of the meal, either. A tip of about 15% is expected and you should leave it on the table when you leave. In some restaurants, a check is brought on a plate and you put your money there. Then the waiter or waitress brings you your change.

1.Which of the following statements is true?

A. American people like sitting with people they don’t know.

B. You may find bread and coffee is free.

C. American people never sit with people they don’t know.

D. American people won’t light a cigarette if the people who sit at the same table mind their smoking.

2.What do American people always do when servings are too large for them?

A. They take the food home with a “doggie bag” for their dogs.

B. They leave the food on the table and go away.

C. They take the food home with a “doggie bag” and enjoy the food later.

D. They ask the waitress or waiter to keep the food for them.

3.What can you learn about “tips” according to the passage?

A. Customers often add tips to their check.  

B. Tips are supposed to be left on the table when customers leave.

C. People don’t need to pay tips.     

D. The price of the meal usually includes the tip.