What is the sky？ Where is it？ How bright is it？ What lies above it？ These questions are difficult to answer, aren’t they？

　　Is the sky blue？ The sky has no color. We know that there is air around the world. When planes fly, they need air to lift their wings. Planes can’t fly very high because the air gets thinner when they go up higher. If we go up about 1,200 kilometers from the earth, we’ll find no air there.

　　When we talk about the sky, we usually mean the atmosphere around the earth. It is like a very thick “cover” over the earth and keeps it warm. Without the “cover”, the earth would be a very cold place and nothing could live on it.

　　Looking up above us, you will see the blue sky with white clouds. It is usually light blue, but the sky would be dark blue if you go to the top of the highest mountains. And you will see fewer clouds between you and the sun.

　　And if you sit in a spaceship high above the earth, there is no air at all. The sky would be so dark that its color would be black.

　　Sometimes the sky doesn’t look blue. When the sun rises and falls, you will see red, orange, and other colors in the sky. These are the most beautiful moments of the day.

　　Now you may understand that we see colors because the air scatters (散射) the sunlight. Light travels through the air. Without air, there would be no light and no colors.

1.Planes can’t fly very high because ____________.

A．there is air around the world

B．the air gets thinner when they go up higher

C．it’s warmer in the sky

D．the air gets thicker when they go up higher

2.We can see colors of the sky because ____________.

A．the sun rises and falls every day

B．the sky has lots of colors

C．the air scatters the sunlight

D．the sunlight has many colors

3.Which of the following is TRUE？

A．There is little air without light and colors in the sky.

B．The sky will look red, orange and other colors at noon.

C．The sky has only one color when the sun rises and falls.

D．The sky is dark blue if you go to the top of the highest mountains.

 

I’ve been working in a school for more than twenty years. Many parents often ask me, “How can you teach your child good study skills? How can he or she get the homework done as quickly as possible?” Here are some tips:  
1. If the child is as young as nine or ten, ask him or her to prepare a small notebook to write down the homework given by his or her teachers. By developing this habit, he or she will learn to be much more responsible (負(fù)責(zé)的).
2. Find a good place to study. This should be a quiet place that is free from everything but study things. No games, radios, or televisions. Once you have decided on a place to study, this should be the only place where your child does his or her homework and studies. There should also be a very specific time for homework to be done. Usually, homework should be done as soon as the child gets home from school. This also goes for the kids who take part in after-school activities. Of course, it is a good idea to allow the child to have a healthy snack before the work begins.
3. Also remember that it is the child’s duty to do his or her homework. Some children give up easily and go to Mom and Dad for help when they have a problem. Try to let them solve it first. By doing this, they will get a sense of success from overcoming problems. In this way we help them to help themselves.
【小題1】Asking the kids to keep a notebook to remember their homework will make them ______.

A．remember more	B．learn more
C．more responsible	D．more interested in studying

【小題2】The place where the children study must ________.

A．be free for everything

B．have a TV set and a computer

C．be quiet, bright and free from things for entertainment

D．be big, clean and tidy

【小題3】What does the underlined word “overcoming” mean in the passage?

A．Forgetting.

B．Leaving.

C．Realizing.

D．Beating.

【小題4】According to the passage, the children should _____ when they have trouble with their homework.

A．a(chǎn)sk their parents for help	B．try to solve the problems by themselves
C．wait for their teachers’ help	D．put it away and have a snack

【小題5】This passage is written _________.

A．for parents to help their children study well

B．for the children who want to improve their work

C．for teachers to teach their students

D．for housewives to make their kids happy

Saying goodbye to friends who are moving away is always hard. A Going-away Party can help to make everyone’s spirits bright and let your friends know how much you will miss them. We also have several other kinds of party invitations that my be suitable for a Going-away Party.

 

Invitation to a Going-away Party Thursday, 19th March Dear Joy and Mary, You are invited to a farewell for the “GREEN FAMILY’S VISIT TO AFRICA” Departure (啟程) date: 4th May The best part of our big adventure to Africa will be when we come face-to-face with elephants, lions, crocodiles and other African wildlife. We have always wanted to do this. Party given by: Mr and Mrs Green, Tom and John Date: Saturday, 11th April 2013 Time: 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Place: 29 King Street, New Town, Sydney Reply by: Thursday, 2nd April Phone: 6458515 Food and drinks will be prepared at the party. P.S. This event is NOT to be missed! We hope to see you there!

 

1.Who is the invitation sent to?

A. Mr and Mrs Green.                 B. Joy and Mary

C. Tom and John.                          D. Joy and John.

2.The party will take place on          .

A. 19th March                     B. 4th May                  C. 2nd April                D. 11th April

3.The Greens will go to Africa to          .

A. see some old friends                       B. have a Going-away Party                

C. see some African wildlife               D. buy some food and drinks

 

I’ve been working in a school for more than twenty years. Many parents often ask me, “How can you teach your child good study skills? How can he or she get the homework done as quickly as possible?” Here are some tips:  

1. If the child is as young as nine or ten, ask him or her to prepare a small notebook to write down the homework given by his or her teachers. By developing this habit, he or she will learn to be much more responsible (負(fù)責(zé)的).

2. Find a good place to study. This should be a quiet place that is free from everything but study things. No games, radios, or televisions. Once you have decided on a place to study, this should be the only place where your child does his or her homework and studies. There should also be a very specific time for homework to be done. Usually, homework should be done as soon as the child gets home from school. This also goes for the kids who take part in after-school activities. Of course, it is a good idea to allow the child to have a healthy snack before the work begins.

3. Also remember that it is the child’s duty to do his or her homework. Some children give up easily and go to Mom and Dad for help when they have a problem. Try to let them solve it first. By doing this, they will get a sense of success from overcoming problems. In this way we help them to help themselves.

1.Asking the kids to keep a notebook to remember their homework will make them ______.

A．remember more                        B．learn more

C．more responsible                       D．more interested in studying

2.The place where the children study must ________.

A．be free for everything

B．have a TV set and a computer

C．be quiet, bright and free from things for entertainment

D．be big, clean and tidy

3.What does the underlined word “overcoming” mean in the passage?

A．Forgetting.        B．Leaving.           C．Realizing.          D．Beating.

4.According to the passage, the children should _____ when they have trouble with their homework.

A．a(chǎn)sk their parents for help                 B．try to solve the problems by themselves

C．wait for their teachers’ help             D．put it away and have a snack

5.This passage is written _________.

A．for parents to help their children study well

B．for the children who want to improve their work

C．for teachers to teach their students

D．for housewives to make their kids happy

 

When I was 16 years old, a boy gave me an important gift. It was a smile.

    It was the early autumn of my first year at a junior high school, and my old school was far away. As a result, no one knew who I was. I was very lonely, and afraid to make friends with anyone.

Every time I heard the other students talking and laughing, I felt my heart break. I couldn't talk about anyone with my problems. And I didn't want my parents to worry about me.

Then one day, my classmates talked happily with their friends, but I sat at my desk unhappily as usual. At that moment, a boy came into the classroom. I didn't know who he was. He passed me and then turned back. He looked at me, without a word, only a smile.

    Suddenly, I felt the touch of something bright and friendly. It made me feel happy, lively and warm.

    That smile changed my life. I started to talk with other students and made friends. Day by day, I became closer to everyone in my class. The boy with the lucky smile has become my best friend now.

   One day I asked him why he smiled, but he couldn't remember smiling at me!

    It doesn't matter because all the dark days have gone. I believe that the world is what you think it is. If you think it lonely, you might always be alone. So smile at the world and it will smile back.

11. Why was the smile an important gift?

A. Because the writer's old school was far away.

B. Because the writer didn't know who the boy was.

C. Because the smile didn't mean anything to the boy.

D. Because it made the writer feel happy, lively and warm.

12.The writer didn't talk to anyone in her new school about her problem because   .

A. she was always unhappy

B. she didn't have any friends there

C. she was in the first year at the junior high school

D. she didn't want her parents to worry about her

13. How did the smile change her life?

A. She started to make friends.

B. She became the best friend with the boy.

C. Her parents didn't worry about her any more.

D. She realized that she was lonely.

14. Where does she now think her feeling of unhappiness came from?

A. From her old school     B. From her parents.

C.. From herself.           D. From her classmates at the new school.

15. Who has become the writer’s best friend now?

A. The writer herself           B. The writer’s parents

C. The writer’s classmates     D. The boy with the smile