In summer, young cottontail rabbits can be found snuggled in fur-lined nests． As the pink color of their skins fades and fur appears, they take on a brown-and-white pattern． Their ears grow crisp and upright, and within a few days they learn to hop about and nibble on green sprouts． But during the first two weeks about a third of them die． In fact, few live longer than a year． Their enemies -- hunters, disease, harsh weather, and hostile animals -- see to that．

　　Cottontails usually feed during the night． They eat herbs in the summer, and tender buds and the bark of trees and shrubs in the winter． Because of their eating habits, it would be a tragedy if every rabbit survived． As the plants disappeared, the soil would blow away and no new plants could thrive．

1．Cottontail young can usually be found in_______．

A． spring B． summer C． autumn D． winter

2．In a few days the cottontail starts to look________．

A．pink and furry　　 B． crisp and upright

C． brown and white D． faded and weak

3．One of the first lessons the cottontail learns is how to________．

A．find its own food　　 B．build its own nest

C．keep its ears upright D．avoid disease

4．Few cottontails live longer than a year because of_______．

A．the shortage of food B．their natural enemies

C．the lack of space　　 D．their wasteful habits

5．Which happens last?

A．The cottontail's ears grow crisp and upright．

B．The cottontail's skin color fades．

C．The cottontail takes on a brown-and-white pattern．

D．The cottontail learns to feed itself．

6．The cottontail's winter food is usually_______．

A．tree bark and buds　　B．all types of herbs

C．nuts and pine cones D．weasels and other animals

7．If every cottontail survived, the result would probably be_______

A． floods B． forest fires C． soil erosion D． lightning storms

　　Long ago a Polish monarch disappeared while hunting． After a frantic search, his ministers found him in a nearby village． Dressed in coarse garb, he was working as a porter．

　　The courtiers could not believe their eyes．

　　"Your Majesty," said one, "how can so noble a person as yourself do such vile work?"

　　The king replied, "The heaviest bale is but a straw compared to the burden under which I labored．"

　　"But surely Your Majesty will not continue thus?" asked the startled minister．

　　The king smiled and said, "I have slept more in the past four nights than during my entire reign． For the first time I am king of myself． Elect whom you choose to be king． It would be madness for me to return to court．"

　　And he never did．

1．The story took place________．

A．one hundred years ago B．two hundred years ago

C．five hundred years ago D．at an unknown time

2．When the king disappeared, the ministers_______．

A．sent out a search party B． searched for him themselves

C．put up postersD． offered a reward

3．The courtiers could not believe that the king would_______．

A．work as a porterB． wear coarse clothing

C．never return to the court D．All of the above

4．The king's reply indicated that he_______．

A．enjoyed heavy physical work B． found being a king very hard

C．Both A and B　　 D． Neither A nor B

5．The ministers probably thought that the king_______．

A．was not serious about becoming a porter

B．would return to the court with them

C．Both A and B　　

D．Neither A nor B

6．When the king said he was now king of himself, he probably meant that he could______．

A．sleep at nights　　B．make the laws himself

C．lead the kind of life he liked D．None of the above

7．The lesson of this folk tale is best expressed by the saying:

A．All that glitters is not gold．

B． A penny saved is a penny earned．

C．Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown．

D．All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy．

　　Is your name William? If so, you have company． After John, William is the most common boy's name in English． History is full of Williams． There's William of Normandy, who conquered England in 1066． There's writer William Shakespeare． There's William Cody, a hero of the Wild West． He's better known as Buffalo Bill．

　　The girl's name Frances isn't so common． But it's just as interesting． It means free woman． One of the first women named Frances lived long ago in Rome． She was a very good person．

　　The song " Frankie and Johnny" tells of another Frances, who wasn't good． This Frances, nicknamed Frankie, took a gun and shot her sweetheart Johnny because, as the song explains: "He was her man, but he done her wrong．"

1． The story suggests that William was ________．

A．in use as a name before 1066 B．a name given to many famous men

C．seldom used after 1960　　 D．Both A and B

2．The most common boy's name in English is_________．

A． John B． Frank C． William D． Bill

3．The short form for William given in the article is_________．

A． Will B． Willie C． Liam D． Bill

4．The names William and Frances are both________．

A．very common B． old C． Roman D． Welsh

5．The meaning of the name Frances has to do with_________．

A． love B． strength C． goodness D． freedom

6．According to the article, another form for Frances is_______．

A． Francesca B． Fanny C． Frankie D． Fran

7．To prove that the Frances in the song wasn't good, the writer tells us that she______．

A．lived in the Wild West B． shot her sweetheart

C．stole guns and horses D． Both A and B

　　A girl was once walking along a country lane． All at once her surroundings seemed to fade． She saw her mother lying on the floor of an unused room at home． The sight seemed so real that the girl went at once to fetch a doctor． When they reached her home, she led the doctor to the unused room． There lay the mother just as the girl had seen her． She had had a sudden heart attack． The doctor arrived just in time to save her life．

　　The girl's vision may have been an example of clairvoyance． Clairvoyant people seem to have an unexplained power that lets them see objects and events too far away for natural sight．

1． Which did the girl do last?

A．She went for a walk．　　 B．She saw a vision．

C．She left the house．　　 D．She found a doctor．

2．The mother probably became ill while the girl was_______．

A．walking along the lane　　B． eating her dinner

C．bringing the doctor　　 D． calling her father

3．When the girl arrived home, she probably didn't know_______．

A．who was with her B． how to open the door

C．which room her mother was in D． what illness had struck her mother

4．The girl's quick action helped to_______．

A．prevent an accident B．put out the fire

C．save her mother's life D．warn her father

5．The strangest event in the story was the_______．

A．mother's heart attack B． girl's vision

C．walk in the lane　　 D． doctor's arrival

6．Clairvoyant people seem to see distant______．

A． objects B．happenings C． people D． All of the above

7．The writer thinks clairvoyant people have______．

A．excellent hearing ability B． a love of tricking others

C．some strange power　　 D． very good eyesight

　　Work was to start on the first bridge across the Niagara gorge． Ice floes made crossing by boat impossible． The American engineer T． G．． Hulett did not wish to wait until spring． He offered ten dollars to anyone who could fly a kite across．

　　Many boys tried． Swift air currents carried kites down into the river instead of up and over it． After a day of trying, only one boy stayed． Just after dusk, Homan Walsh's second kite made the crossing． Three men caught it． Then Hulett attached a heavy rope to the kite string． The men hauled it over． A larger rope followed． Finally a heavy wire cable was pulled across．

　　The Niagara Suspension Bridge, begun by a kite, was completed in 1848．

1． The bridge begun by a kite spanned______．

A．the St． Lawrence River B． Niagara Falls

C． the Niagara gorge　　 D． None of the above

2． The account says boats could not be used because of ______．

A． ice floes B． the waterfall C． strong winds D． strong currents

3．The reward offered by the engineer was _______．

A． ten pounds　　 B． ten dollars

C．twenty dollars　　 D． None of the above

4．The reward was won after_______．

A．four hours B． ten hours C． a day D． two days

5．The boy who won the reward was named________．

A．T． G． Hulett B．Harold Walsh C．Homan Walters D．Homan Walsh

6． The number of ropes attached before the cable could be hauled over was______．

A．one B．two C．three D． None of the above

7． The bridge was completed in_________．

A． 1840 B． 1844 C． 1848 D． 1888

　　Warm water freezes more quickly than cold． Sir Francis Bacon said that almost four hundred years ago． But few people believed him - till 1970． In that year Canadian scientist George Kell proved the English scholar was right． Dr． Kell filled an open pail with cold water． He filled another with warm water． He exposed both to the same low temperature． The warm water froze first．

　　The lack of covers on the pails was the secret． Some of the warm water changed to vapor． It evaporated into the air． This meant that less of the warm water was left to freeze． And so the warm water froze faster than the cold water --- even though it had a greater temperature drop to make．

1．Sir Francis Bacon was_______．

A．an American experimenter　　B．a Canadian scientist

C．an English scholar D．an Australian writer

2．Most people didn't believe Bacon because warm water is________．

A．somewhat heavier than cold water

B．able to flow faster than cold water

C．further from freezing temperature than cold water

D．quicker to evaporate than cold water

3．Dr． Kell's pails were both_________．

A．filled with water　　 B．left uncovered

C．exposed to the same temperature D． All of the above

4．The second paragraph tells why________．

A．Dr． Kell was studying water　　 B．the warm water froze first

C．Dr． Kell used pails in his work　　D．water freezes in underground pipes

5．No water vapor would have escaped into the air if the pails had been_______．

A． warmed B． covered C． shaken D． filled

6．The cold water froze more slowly because_________．

A．salt was added to it　　 B．its pail was smaller

C．there was more of it left D．the air near it was moving

7．When the water was frozen, one of the pails must have had

A．less ice in it than the other　　B．more salt in it than the other

3. icicles hanging from the rim D．waves on the surface of the ice

　　Only two women are known to have been smugglers at sea． Montmorillon, a French-woman, followed in her father's steps． Captaining a brig, she smuggled goods to England．

　　Bessie Catchpole took up smuggling when her husband was killed running brandy and tobacco． She dressed in his clothes． With his pipe and cutlass she boarded his yawl, the Sally． The crew gaped when she said she was their captain． One man even laughed． Bessie floored him with a punch on the jaw． This action caused the crew to accept her． A writer says Bessie sold goods to the clergy and gentry． But she was not so popular among customs officers． Like Montmorillon, she was never caught．

1． The writer first tells us ______．

A．which ships were used by female smugglers

B． which countries had female smugglers

C．how many females smuggled at sea　　

D．how females became smugglers

2．Montmorillon smuggled_______．

A． brandy　　B． tobacco　　 C． slaves　　D． The article does not say．

3．Bessie Catchpole captained the Sally_______．

A．when her father died　　 B．after the death of her husband

C．after she heard about Montmorillon　　D．as soon as her husband was caught

4．Bessie probably dressed in men's clothing, because_______．

A． the crew would accept her more easily B． it is cold at sea

C． she wanted to remember her husband D． women like dressing in men's clothes

5．Bessie proved she was tough when she______．

A．ran her cutlass through a man B．punched a member of the crew

C．smoked her husband's pipe　　D．killed the men who did not like her

6．We know that Montmorillon and Catchpole were successful smugglers because they were______．

A．liked by the gentry　　B． admired by clergy

C． never caught by customs officers D． females

Collectible Treasures from the Past

© SAY IT WITH STAMPS

Authentic’ Vintage Postal Stamps

　　The front of this note card is decorated with authentic cancelled postage stamps． They are actual vintage postage, NOT REPRODUCTIONS． Each stamp is carefully soaked from its original envelope and mounted on recycled paper．

Stamp collecting, known as philately, is the most-popular hobby in the world． Look for other categories commemorating prominent persons, famous events and subjects of historical significance．

recycled paper

© 1992 COLLECTIBLE GREETINGS

P．O． Box 503, Sudbury, MA 01776

250 CG 1992

S516

1． The small card in the man’s hand can be 　　　　　　　　 ．

A． used to greet people and collect things

B． collected or used as a greeting card

C． greeted or collected at the same time

D． both A and B

2． The front part of this card is covered with 　　　　　　 ．

A． treasures from the past B． new stamps

C． used stamps　　D． both B and C

3． NOT REPRODUCTIONS here means: “　　　　　　．”

A． cannot be reproduced B． cannot be recycled

C． are not reused ones　　 D． are real ones

4． The paper the card is made of is made from 　　　　 ．

A． waste paper B． wood C． grass D． all above

5． The technical term or official name of stamp collecting　　　　　　．

　　It is not often realized that women held a high place in southern European societies in the 10th or 11th centuries． As a wife, the woman was protected by the setting up of a dowry or decimum． The purpose of this was to protect her against the danger of desertion or being left alone by her husband, but in reality what it was to do in the social and family life of the time was much more important． The decimum was the wife’s right to receive a tenth of all her husband’s property． And more than just a right: she enjoyed a real power of decision, equal (or the same as) to that of her husband． There is not any degree of difference between the positions of' law of the husband and those of the wife．

　　The wife shared in the management of her husband’s personal property, but the opposite was not always true． Women seemed perfectly prepared to defend their own inheritance, wealth received from their own parents, against husbands who tried to do something more than the laws allowed them to do, and in this situation they showed a fine fighting spirit． Marlia Vivas, a Catalan woman of Barcelona, was one of the examples． Having agreed with her husband Miro to sell a field she had received from her parents, for the needs of the household, she insisted on compensation, i．e． her husband had to pay back for what she had lost． None being offered, she succeeded in dragging her husband to the lawyer to have a contract or agreement drawn up giving her a piece of land from Miro’s personal wealth gained from his father． The unfortunate husband had to agree, as the contract says ,“for the sake (= cause) of peace ．” Either through the dowry or through being angry , the Catalan wife knew how to win herself , within the surroundings of the family , a powerful economic position ．

1 ． A decimum was 　　　　 ．

A． the wife’s inheritance from her father

B． a gift of money to the new husband

C． a written contract

D． the wife’s right to receive one-tenth of her husband’s property

2． In the society described in the passage, the law position of the wife in marriage was 　　　　 ．

A． higher than that of her husband

B． lower than that of her husband

C． the same as that of her husband

D． higher than that of a single woman

3． What compensation did Maria Vivas get for the field?

A． Some of the land Miro had inherited．

B． A tenth of Miro’s land．

C． Money for household expenses or spendings．

D． Money from Miro’s inheritance．

4． Could a husband sell his wife’s inheritance?

A． No, never． B． Yes, whenever he wished to,

C． Yes, if she agreed． D． Yes, if his father-in-law agreed．

5． Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a result of the dowry system?

A． The husband had to share the power of decision in marriage．

B． The wife was protected from desertion．

C． The wife gained a powerful economic position．

D． The husband was given control over his wife’s property．

Study carefully both the figure and the passage and answer the following questions:

　　If a plane is standing on the ground, the air pressure on all its different parts is the same． This air pressure is increased or reduced when the plane moves．

　　There are four forces which act on a plane as it flies through the air． The weight of the plane, because of the earth’s gravitation, a drawing force towards its centre, always pulls the plane downward． Drag prevents and delays the forward movement of the plane ． Drag is caused by the opposite force the airframe or the body of the plane offers as it moves through the air and by the whirling or turning movements of air which form near edges of the lifting surfaces of the plane． Weight and drag are successfully defeated by thrust, a forceful forward movement, and lift, an upward air pressure on the wings of the plane． Thrust is provided or supplied by the engines which drive the plane forward． As the plane moves forward, the air flowing over the wings produces lift to raise the plane off the ground , and keep it in the air．

　　The upper surface of a plane wing is made a rounded line like thisÉ at the leading edge while the under surface is almost flat to give the highest lift/drag ratio(such as 2:1 or 3:2．) ． A rounded nose smoothly rounded top and a sharp tail is known as aerofoil （翼型）shape or the shape of the wings , the fin or tail plane of a plane． This particular shape makes air flow faster and farther over the wing than under it． Pressure above the wing is reduced and the wing is given lift． The amount of lift increases with the speed of the plane．

1． When the plane is standing on the ground the pressure on its upper surface is　　　　 that of its under surface．

A． the same as B． different from C． larger than D． smaller than

2． When the plane moves , the air pressure on its body is 　　　　 ．

A． the same　　 B． changing C． unchanging D． neither A nor B nor C

3． When the plane is flying, the four forces are acting on it in 　　　　 ．

A． the same direction　　　　B． two different directions

C． three different directions D． four different directions

4． The backward force acting on the flying plane is 　　　　 ．

A． the earth's gravitation B． drag C． lift D． thrust

5． In the picture, A, B, C, D stand for　　　　 ．

A． the earth's gravitation, drag, lift, thrust

B． drag, lift, thrust, the earth's gravitation

C． lift, thrust, the earth’s gravitation, drag

D． thrust, the earth’s gravitation, drag, lift

6． Drag is the opposite force of 　　　　　　 ．

A． lift B． weight C． thrust D． whirling movements

7．　　 seems the most important of the four forces in making the plane take off and fly through the air．

A． lift B． weight C． thrust　　D． the earth’s gravitation

8． Part M in the picture is called the　　 edge of the plane wing．

A． leading B． rounded C． sharp　　D． upper

9． Aerofoil shape includes part　　　　 and part　　　　 in the picture．

A． M , N B． N , S C． S , D D． D , M

10． Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A． The faster the plane flies the easier it rises．

B． The higher Force D is the faster the plane goes up．

C． The stronger Force C is the faster the plane flies．

D． The sharp leading edge of the wing increases the air flow over it．