World Reading Day was set up by the UNESCO in 1995 to encourage people, especially teenagers, to discover the pleasure of reading. It is also the day to honor great writers, for example, William Shakespeare, born or dead on that day.
Many countries celebrated World Reading Day. Take the UK as an example, on that day, millions of schoolchildren can buy books of special price, a much lower price than usual, in any bookstore. It has been done every year since 1998. World Reading Day 2010 in the UK will take place on Thursday 4th March. Please note that this date applies to the UK and Ireland only. The initiative is so well established in schools there that they want to make sure that the Day happens in term time to really make the most of this opportunity to celebrate books and reading. Most other countries hold World Reading Day on 23 rd April every year.
World Reading Day is also celebrated in China. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, an avid reader, does lots of reading every day though he is very busy. On World Reading Day 2009 he encouraged citizens to do more reading. Wen suggested that young people should spend more time reading. “Books cannot change the world, but people can change the world by changing themselves through reading.”
Reading can benefit people in many ways. Reading helps us to follow the latest developments of science and technology. Reading gives us information about other cultures and places of the world. Reading is also one of the most important ways to learn a foreign language like English.
“Reading makes a full man” (Bacon, 1597). Books, magazines, newspapers and other kinds of reading materials can help us to know more about the out side world and perfect us. Therefore, it is necessary for us to spend time on reading every day.
【小题1】Which of the following statements about World Reading Day is TURE?
| A.It was set up to encourage people to learn English. |
| B.China also celebrates it on 4th March every year. |
| C.It is also the same day as some great writers was born or died. |
| D.Only since 1998 has the UK begun to celebrate it. |
| A.loves reading | B.never reads | C.does little reading | D.hates reading |
| A.learn a foreign language better | B.know more about culture |
| C.improve your memory greatly | D.know more about the outside world |
| A.World Reading Day in the UK | B.Reading makes a full man |
| C.World Reading Day in China | D.World Reading Day and Reading |
You can make the difference between this … and this. But how?
This summer, join the International Conservation (环境保护)Scouts on a fun—filled holiday with a difference. Year after year, young people from all around the world get together at one of our sixteen conservation camps. Their shared aim is to help protect the countryside and its wildlife.
Many animals and plants are in danger of disappearing forever. The dormouse, a kind of mouse, for example, needs woodland plants for food and trees to stay in. Its habitat is being destroyed by man and it needs our help to survive.
On a conservation camp holiday, you’ll learn all about nature and how to protect it. Our trained leaders will accompany you and tell you everything yo
u need to know. Because of this you don’t need any experience, just energy and enthusiasm(热情). You will explore the countryside and work to ensure the survival of hundreds of animals and plants and still have plenty of time to enjoy the camp’s excellent sport games and organized nature paths through beautiful scenery.
The International Conservation S
couts is a world—wide organization, so there must be camp near you. You can spend a splendid holiday at any of the camps for as little as £60, including accommodation(住宿)and food.
For more information, send for a free conservation camps handbook today:
The International Conservation Scouts
Stanton St. John
Oxfordshire OX 71 TL
THE KEY TO SAVING WILDLIFE IS TO PROTECT NATURAL, HABITATS
YOUR WORK WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE
【小题1】The main purpose of this passage is .
| A.to offer young people a fun—filled dangerous holiday |
| B.to attract young people to attend a conservation camp |
| C.to persuade people into exploring the countryside |
| D.to raise funds for the International Conservation Scouts |
| A.do experiment on the usual dormouse |
| B.practise numbers of favorite hobbies |
| C.enrich your knowledge of wildlife |
| D.have free accommodation and food |
| A.a piece of advertisement for the young |
| B.a serious science report for the young |
| C.a passage for professional reading |
| D.a passage for arguing an opinion |
| A.16 different countries | B.some camps near you |
| C.the United Kingdom | D.the beautiful countryside |
Dangerous creatures
Some b
each creatures are wonderful—like dolphins, but others are dangerous. Find out more about the dangerous ones –puffer fish, blue ringed octopus, and stingrays.
The blue ringed octopus
The blue ringed octopus is not a very big creature but it is very dangerous.These octopuses are found all around the coast of Australia. They often lie in rock pools close to shore.
The blue ringed octopus is usually a dull colour but it shows its bright blue rings when it is in danger. If it is taken out of the water by someone, it is able to bite him and poison him.
If this creature bites someone, he will feel numbness (麻木) around the mouth, face and neck, Puffer Fish
Puffer Fish are found in all Australian seas. They are very easy to catch but must not be eaten because their flesh contains a poison.
Anyone who does eat the flesh can become sick very quickly. They may even stop breathing.
The Blue Bottle
The Blue Bottle is found in most Australian waters. Blue Bottles float lightly on the surface of the water but their tentacles(触角)can be as long as 10 meters.Blue Bottles are much less dangerous than some other jellyfish, but they can give a swimmer a bad sting(刺) if the swimmer accidentally touches them.
Stingrays
There are many different kinds of stingrays in Australian waters. They usually swim and feed on the bottom of the sea. Accidents can happen if people stand on them or try to pick them up.Stingrays have a sting on their tail. These stings have poison on them. If someone is stung, the wound can easily become infected.
【小题1】If you swim in Australian waters, you will probably .
| A.be bitten by the blue ringed octopus |
| B.stop breathing because of Puffer Fish |
| C.get a bad sting by the Blue Bottle |
| D.become infected by stingrays |
| A.the blue ringed octopus | B.puffer fish |
| C.the blue bottle | D.stingray |
| A.all creatures along the coast of Australia are dangerous |
| B.poisonous creatures change the body color when in danger |
| C.no accident will happen unless people touch these creatures |
| D.if people stand on the beach, accidents can happen because of creatures |
| A.dangerous creatures in the sea | B.interesting creatures in the ocean |
| C.wild creatures in Australia seas | D.different creatures in Australian waters |