If you want to become a better reader, what should you know about speed of reading?
     Some people read very rapidly (很快地), while others read very slowly. But which one is better?
     The rapid reader may be a good reader when he reads a storybook for fun. But he may not be able to
slow down enough to read directions (說明) carefully. He may read so rapidly that he does not take time to
understand fully the ideas and information which are important to remember.
     The slow reader may be a good reader when he reads directions for making something. But he may
spend too much time in reading a simple story which is meant to be enjoyed but is not important enough to
be remembered.
     So, you see, either a rapid reader or a slow reader is not really a good one. If you wish to become a
better reader, here are four important things to remember about speed of reading.
     1. Knowing why you are reading will often help you to know whether to read rapidly or slowly.
     2. Some things should be read slowly throughout. Examples are directions for making or doing something,
science and history books, and Maths problems. You must read such things slowly or remember each
important step and understand each important idea.
     3. Some things should be read rapidly throughout. Examples are simple stories for enjoyment, letters
from friends and bits of news from hometown papers.
     4. In some of your reading, you must change your speed from fast to slow and slow to fast, as you go
along. You will need to read certain (某些) pages rapidly and then slow down and do more careful reading
when you come to important ideas.

1. What should be read rapidly?

A. Directions for making something.
B. Maths problems.
C. Science and history books.
D. Storybooks, newspapers, personal letters, etc.

2. What is the important thing you should keep in mind about speed of reading?

A. To read as fast as you can.
B. To fit your reading speed to your needs.
C. To read as slowly as possible.
D. To keep your reading at a certain speed.

3. Which title best gives the main idea of the passage?

A. Something about Careful Reading.
B. Be a Rapid Reader.
C. How to Read?
D. How to Be a Slow Reader?

     When you cough or sneeze, please turn your head away from others and cover your mouth with the full
part of your hand. Afterwards, you should say, "Excuse me." This is a rule I set for my students.
     It is so simple, but many kinds have never been told to do this. In fact, I notice adults cough and sneeze
in public without putting a hand over the mouth. I hate traveling by subway (地鐵) in New York during cold
and flu season, because it is certain that someone is going to stand right behind me and cough or sneeze on
my neck.
     One important thing I point out to the kids is that after they sneeze or cough on their hand, they should
wash their hands as soon as possible. Otherwise, they will be passing those germs (病菌) along to everything
and everyone they touch.
     In order to help the kids remember this rule, I tell them about an old story. It says that when you sneeze,
evil spirits jump into your body. If you don't cover your mouth, the spirits will enter, but if you cover your
mouth, you will keep them out, We say "God bless you" when someone sneezes, and in Germany you should
say "Gesundheit". That means "Good health to you." Both expressions are said just in case you didn't cover
your mouth in time and the spirits were able to enter your body. The kids love finding out the origins (起源)
of these expressions and it encourage them to put the advice to use more often.

1. The writer of this article must be ______.

A. a reporter
B. a teacher
C. a doctor
D. an officer 

2. What does the underline word "this" mean?

A. Don't cough or sneeze in front of people.
B. Don't stand beside someone who coughs or sneezes.
C. Many people cough or sneeze on the underground train.
D. Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing and say sorry.

3. After coughing or sneezing on their hand, students are advised to ______.

A. say "God bless you"
B. wash their hands as soon as possible
C. go to see a doctor as soon as possible
D. go home and have a good rest

4. According to the article, the writer would like the kids ______.

A. to be polite to adults
B. to be in better health
C. to have good manners
D. to do well in exams

     At one time, making a film was an expensive activity only for a small group of people and film companies.
Not only were the tools and machines expensive but the cost of film was also far greater than most people
could afford. However, modem technology has (1)c______ all that.
     New technology has really opened up the world of film-making for film fans. Now a camera does not
cost (2)m______  and most young people are certainly able to pay for it. So all you need is to get one for
yourself. With that, you may then start your own film-making.
     However, film-making is (3)t______ work. You probably need many other people to help you. For example,
the (4)p______ of actors and actresses is very important in your film. Of course, these actors and actresses
may be your schoolmates, friends or family members. You don't even need to pay them a cent while they are
glad to be part of your job. 
     (5)B______ , you need to make up a story. Can you write your own one? If you have good imagination,
you can create an attractive story (6)e______ . Many world-famous film makers and producers are also good
story-writers. If not, perhaps you need someone else to write it for you. An excellent story is the key to
making a (7)s______ film.

     E-book is short for electronic (電子的) book. It is usually read on personal computers. Some mobile
phones can also be used to read e-books.
     Earlier e-books were written for a specific group of readers and were about only a few subjects. With
the development of the internet, knowledge and answers to a lot of questions mainly come from e-books.
This is why the e-book business is increasing quickly.
     E-books have many advantages. First, they save time. We don't need to go to a bookstore to buy books,
besides, we can find the topic we want to know about on the Internet, and then we can quickly get many
e-books on similar topics. Second, e-books save money. Some e-books cost a little money, and there are
millions of e-books on the Internet that we can get for free. Third, more trees are saved because e-books
don't need to be printed(印刷) on paper. Fourth, e-books make reading more convenient. You can carry a
whole library of hundreds of books with you in a small computer or any e-book reader (電子閱讀器)
without worrying about their weight.
     But e-books have certain disadvantages. They need a personal computer or an e-book reader and the
information can be lost if its file format (文件格式) is not supported or changed in the reader's computer.
     However, e-books provide us with a new way of reading. That is good.

1. Why is the e-book business increasing quickly? Because _____.

A. earlier e-books are about only a few subjects.
B. people don't like to read any paper books any more.
C. most e-books have been written for a specific group of readers.
D. the development of the Internet makes e-books more useful.

2. How many advantages do e-books have according to this article?

A. Three
B. Four
C. Five
D. Six

3. Which of the following is true according to this article?

A. E-books can't be red on mobile phones.
B. All the e-books on the Internet cost lots of money.
C. E-books can make reading more convenient.
D. You can't read e-books without a personal computer.

4. What is the disadvantage of the e-books?

A. You'll lose the information if its file format is not supported.
B. You can carry hundreds of books in an e-book reader.
C. You can buy cheap e-books anywhere.
D. You can read e-books at any time.

5. The author mainly tells us _____.

A. you don't need to buy paper books in a bookstore if you read e-books.
B. the information can be lost if its file format is changed.
C. the development of e-books can help save the environment.

     Teenagers are always stressed out now. They are often too busy to think about their diets and exercise.
The truth is, healthy eating, along with regular exercise. Is the only way to k  1   fit. During your teenage
years, it is important to give your body the energy it needs. Teenager girls need about 2,200 calories (卡路
里) a day and boys need a bit more. Doctors suggest 2,800 calories for teenage boys. 50% of your calories
should come f  2   rice, bread, vegetables and fruit. You also need to d  3   a lot of water, six to eight glasses
a day. Enough water will improve your skin and give you healthy hair.
     Exercise can help to make you look good, feel good and be healthy. Scientists suggest that teenagers
should spend at l  4   30 minutes exercising every day.
     When you exercise, your body produces something. It makes you feel r  5   and energetic. It can even
help you sleep better at night and let you pay more a 88 when you study. Let's eat healthily and take regular
exercise.

1. k_______ 2. f _______ 3. d _______ 4. l _______ 5. r _______ 6. a _______

     It's important to prepare(準備) for earthquakes because you don't know where you will be when an
earthquake happens. Earthquakes may happen at any time, so prepare some things for your home, office
and car.
     1. Clothes.
     If you live in a cold place, you must keep warm. You might not have heat after an earthquake. Think
about your warm clothes.
     2. Flashlights (手電筒) and spare batteries.
     Keep a flashlight beside you bed, at your office and in your car. Do not use matches (火柴) after an
earthquake until you are sure that no gas leaks (氣體泄漏).
     Prepare a radio and some spare batteries. Most telephones will be out of order, so radios will be your
best source of information (信息來源).
     3. Food and medicine.
     It's always a wonderful idea to keep some food on hand. For example, some biscuits, some canned
food, milk and some other drinks for at least 72 hours. You'd better get some necessary medicine for
your family.
     4. Water.
     A person needs at least 1/2 gallon (加侖) of water daily just for drinking. Store at least 1 gallon of
water for a person every day and be prepared for 72 hours. It is suggested that you buy bottled water.
Do not open the bottle until you need it. Also, do check the "use by" date.

1. Why should people prepare themselves for an earthquake?

A. Because earthquakes can be know before they happen.
B. Because earthquakes usually take place in the neighborhood.
C. Because we don't know when and where an earthquake will happen.

2. If you live in a cold place, you should prepare _____.

A. some hot water
B. some warm clothes
C. some batteries

3. According to the article we know that _____.

A. we need to prepare some things only at home
B. a telephone is the most important source of information
C. flashlights but not matches are first used after earthquakes

4. You should prepare all of the following except _____.

A. milk
B. fresh vegetables
C. biscuits

5. About the water, which description is RIGHT?

A. A person should drink at least 1 gallon of water in a day.
B. You shouldn't open the bottled water until you need it.
C. You'd better keep some hot water for 72 hours.

     In the United States, parents usually encourage their children to develop their potential (潛能). They pay
attention to what their kids can do, not what they can't. As a result, US boys and girls hope to be actors,
athletes and doctors; many even want to become presidents when they grow up.
    US parents often encourage their children to take part in all kinds of activities at school. They believe that
joining in these activities can make their children mature (成熟). Schoolwork is important, but they think that
social skills are important as well.
     But things in China are different. Chinese parents often tell their children to study hard and pass exams.
They think that, for a student, staying away from schoolbooks means wasting time. This puts a lot of pressure
on Chinese students, so leaders in China's education department have called for less homework at the lower
grades. Only healthy kids can become healthy adults.

1. American parents think that _______. ?

A. Schoolwork is as important as social skills ?
B. Schoolwork is more important than social skills ?
C. Schoolwork is less important than social skills ?
D. Passing exams is the most important for their children

2. Why do many American children have their dream jobs? ?

A. Because they start school earlier than Chinese children. ?
B. Because they study hard. ?
C. Because their parents encourage them to do less homework. ?
D. Because their parents usually pay attention to what they can do,not what they can't.

3. Chinese parents think that _______. ?

A. taking part in all kinds of activities at school can make their children mature ?
B. staying away from schoolbooks means wasting time ?
C. their children should do what they want to do ?
D. social skills is necessary for the students at lower grades

4. According to this passage the writer thinks _______. ?

A. China's education is better than America's ?
B. America's education is better than China's ?
C. Chinese students at the lower grades should have more homework ?
D. Chinese students have less pressure than America's