The spring season brings warm weather, flowers and other changes for people to enjoy.For some restaurant cooks, the most exciting spring arrival is ramps.

Ramps are a wild plant in the eastern mountains of North America. They are one of the first plants that grow in the spring, usually between April and May. They are recognized(认出) by their red stem(茎), and two long and wide green leaves. They are also famous for their strong taste, similar to onions(洋葱).

Ramps are not as well-known as other vegetables, but they have a long history in the United States. In the Appalachian Mountains, ramps have been an important food for a longtime. During spring, it is common for small towns in the Appalachian area to hold large ramp dinners for the community.

However, over the last 30 years, ramps popularity has grown quickly. They are now a highly-desired vegetable for many nice restaurants in cities like New York and Washington D.C.

One reason the plant is popular is that it grows in the wild. It is difficult to grow them on farms. Most restaurants get them from foragers, who collect ramps by searching forests for some small pieces of land where they grow. Ramps have a short season. Within a few weeks of full growth, the plant is done for the year. This shot life is some reason for their popularity.

And that popularity could lead to their disappearance from Earth. In 1995, the local

Government in Quebee, Canada, stopped people selling the plant to businesses in order to protect the plant against being over-dug.

The season is short, but it has not ended yet. If you are in the right place, you still have time to try a taste of ramps yourself.

根据材料内容选择最佳答案。

1.Why are ramps so popular in North America?

A. Because they grow in spring.

B. Because they have a good taste.

C. Because they are hard to get.

D. Because they have a long history.

2.Which of the following is the picture of a ramp?

A. B. C. D.

3.What does the word “they ” refer to (指的是)?

A. foragers

B. ramps

C. customers

D. restaurants

4.Why were people stopped from selling ramps to businesses?

A. Because ramps were in great danger.

B. Because ramps’ smell polluted the air.

C. Because it cost too much to grow ramps.

D. Because the government wanted to make money.

5.What’s the best title for the text?

A. Americans go crazy for ramps in spring.

B. Americans have discovered a new vegetable.

C. Ramps were once popular in North America.

D. Ramps will soon be enjoyed all over the world.

long ago people made fires from lightning(闪电)。 But they had to keep the fire burning, for they couldn’t start it again if there was no lightning. Later, they found out hitting two piece of stone together could make a spark (火花). The spark could fire dry leaves. In this way they could make the fire again if it went out. Then people also learned to make a fire by rubbing. They made a hole on a big piece of wood and put a smaller stick into the hole. They turned the stick again and again. After a few minutes they got a fire.

As years went by, people learned other ways to make a fire. Sometimes they used the heat from sun. they held a piece of glass in the right way and made a piece of paper on fire.

About two centuries ago, people began to make matches (火柴). Matches brought people a quick and easy way to make fire. Today matches are still being used, but people have more new ways to make fires. One of them is to use an electric fire starter. Of course an electric fire starter is much more expensive than a box of matches. But it is more useful.

1. A spark can _________.

A. fire any leaves  B. burn anything

C. burn dry leaves  D. keep fires burning

2. We can also get a fire by _________.

A. making a hole on a big piece of wood

B. putting a smaller stick into the hole

C. turning the stick hard for a while

D. doing all the above together

3. Matches have been used _________.

A. for about two thousand years

B. for about two hundred years

C. since people began to use fire for cooking

D. since people used the heat from the sun.

4.From this passage we know _______.

A. using matches is the easiest and most useful way to make fires

B. people don’t use matches any more since they had electric fire starters

C. today there are only two ways to make fires

D. some forest fires happen from lightning

5. Choose the right order of the ways to make fires people got to know _________.

a. with a match

b. from the sun

c. from lightning

d. by rubbing

e. with an electric fire starter.

A. d ,b, c, a, e       B. d, c, b, a, e

C. c, d, b, a, e      D. c, b, d, a, e

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