The hottest “green” toy in Germany isn’t made of organic or recycled materials. This one has a solar panel (太阳能电池板) and only runs if kids remember to insert bright red “energy stones” that power the space station. Germany, a pioneer in many renewable energy movements, is also at the forefront of creating environment-friendly toys aimed at making kids think about where energy comes from and how much of it they can use, raising awareness through play. A number of high-tech green toys are on display at this year's Nuremberg toy fair, which runs through Sunday.

Among them, there are hydroelectric-powered toy cars, and doll houses with wind–powered engine and rainwater catchers. The bright green "Future Planet" space station features inner equipment with a fan that is powered by a functioning solar cell. Its aim is to get kids to use their imagination about how energy will be created in the future.

Makers and retailers believe such toys will play an increasingly important role in their future and that of our kids. "Energy is the question of the future and we are definitely thinking about this as we move ahead," said Judith Schweinitz, a spokeswoman for Playmobil, maker of the solar panel-fitted space station. "It is increasingly being brought into our play concept." she added. Studies indicate that green toys which range from those made of sustainable materials to ones like the space station that just raise environmental awareness are becoming more and more popular in the international toy market.

1.The purpose of making the green toys is to ________.

A. give kids the knowledge of technology

B. improve the safety of toys

C. raise kids’ awareness about energy and environment

D. improve kids’ imagination

2.According to the text, ________ uses solar energy.

A. the “Future Planet” space station B. the doll

C. the doll house D. the toy car

3.What can you infer from the last paragraph?

A. Energy is only a question of the future and we needn’t care now.

B. The trend in the international toy market is more and more green toys to raise environmental awareness will hit the market.

C. Energy has been brought into our play concept too much according to Judith Schweinitz.

D. The green toys made of sustainable materials haven’t become popular yet in the international toy market.

4.The hottest “green” toy in Germany is ________.

A. made of organic or recycled materials B. made of green stones

C. driven by an advanced motor D. equipped with a solar panel

Jonathan Cranwell sat on a hard bench behind the long narrow desk and watched the flies fly lazily in the sun. The drone of the younger boys reading letters and the older boys reciting Latin verbs made him sleepy. Jonathan had to force his eyes to stay open. He wanted to learn something new!

He looked up at the schoolmaster’s high desk in the front of the room. The new teacher was from Harvard College. Jonathan’s father had been impressed with him. The boys had already had several other teachers, but none of them seemed to inspire Jonathan. So far, there was nothing to show that this one was special, though he’d only been there two days.

“It’s too hot to sit and memorize lessons,” the schoolmaster said. “We’ll move outdoors for the next part of our lesson.” He led the group of boys into the schoolyard. “You younger boys, dig for grubs and beetles ( 幼虫和甲虫). Count their feet. See if you can describe their shells”.

Jonathan watched the teacher surrounded by laughing young students. No one had ever used the schoolyard itself for a classroom. “What next ?” he thought. Soon he didn’t have time to think about the younger boys, for he was running after butterflies and dragonflies himself.

Jonathan and his friends liked this new way of learning.

“It will be a clear night tonight. Go outside and look at the sky,” said the schoolmaster. “Look at the stars and notice their brightness and the patterns they make. These patterns have names from Greek mythology(神话), names like Orion, Aries, and others. Tomorrow we will learn about the ancient stories on them.”

“How is the new schoolmaster?” asked Jonathan’s father that evening, when Jonathan announced he was going out to look at the sky.

“He’s different from any other schoolmaster we’ve had,” Jonathan admitted. “He seems interested in everything around him, and he wants us to be curious too. He even used the schoolyard as a classroom!”

“So Mr. John Adams and his new ways make school useful to you after all,” joked Jonathan’s father.

“I believe he has,” said Jonathan. “I know I won’t forget the lessons he has taught us!”

1.What does the underlined word “drone” in Paragraph 1 mean?

A. Clear speaking voices.

B. Enthusiastic responses.

C. Continuous low dull sounds.

D. Voices of exciting reading and reciting.

2.From the last but one paragraph, we can learn that ________.

A. Mr. Cranwell was not satisfied with the new ways

B. Jonathan had previously complained about school

C. Mr. Cranwell had met the new schoolmaster

D. Jonathan had shown his father his homework.

3.What is the main idea of this story?

A. Science is all around us.

B. School provides us with the best education.

C. Homework is an important part of education.

D. There is more than one way to learn.

In a speech this week to the Institute of Civil Engineering, the Prime Minister, David Cameron, made clear his support for wind energy. He focused on some of the many advantages of developing the industry.

Let’s examine those reasons. It is an abundant, clean and sustainable source of energy, reducing our dependence on expensive fossil fuel imports, increasingly from politically unstable parts of the globe. Let’s not forget that Russia turned off the gas supply to Europe in 2006.

More recently, we have all felt the pain this winter, when international gas prices soared by 40% compared to last year. Should we carry on exposing ourselves to the instability（不稳定） of global energy prices and the unpredictability of global events, or should we recognize the value of taking control of our energy supply?

As for the economic opportunities, over the last decade wind energy has attracted $5 billion in investment(投资) to the UK and is set to go above $50 billion by 2020. Look at the companies queuing up to build wind turbine (涡轮) factories in the UK, such as Siemens and Vestas. Examine the number of people employed in the wind industry in the UK—nearly 12000, now with nearly 90000 jobs by 2021.

The UK is already the global leader in wind power, with greater ability than anywhere else in the world—enough to supply more than a million homes with electricity all year round—and the government is calling for an increase by eight times in the amount of wind turbines installed by 2020, which the industry can achieve as long as it gets the right level of support from ministers. In return, as well as bring the environmental benefits of clean energy, the wind industry is committed to save consumers a lot of money.

1.What can we know from Paragraph 4?

A. Many job opportunities are created by wind industry.

B. The UK would not accept many companies’ investment.

C. Over the last ten years the UK has attracted little investment.

D. Other industries are less important than wind industry.

2.The writer uses the example of Russia to prove that ________.

A. international gas price is not always stable

B. there exists the unpredictability of global events

C. there are conflicts between Europe and Russia

D. every nation is badly in need of gas

3.What is the most important thing for the government to achieve its goal by 2020?

A. Attracting more investment.

B. Getting enough support from ministers.

C. Improving the technology a lot.

D. Listing the advantages of wind power to the public.

4.What is correct for the UK facing the problem of energy?

A. The UK should increase its dependence on fossil fuel imports.

B. It’s OK to carry on exposing itself to the instable energy prices.

C. The UK should believe the global events can be predictable.

D. The government has recognized the necessity of controlling its energy supply and did better.

How to Win a High School Election

If you plan on running for student office, you want to know how to win a high school election. 1. You need to consider the following key elements (要素) of an election.

* Learn About Your School .

Before you can be an official for your class, you will need to know about your class and the school as a whole. You can’t make a difference if you don’t know what to change. 2.

* 3.

If you want to make changes to some of the rules in the school’s policy, you will have to get on the administration’s good side. Ask to join in on meetings with school officials. It’s also a good idea to get to know some of the parents of the students who will vote for you. You can do this by attending PTA meetings. While at these meetings, don’t be a passive attendee. Ask questions and voice your opinion so you stand out.

* Get to know your voters.

4. And try to make good first impressions on them. Be careful, though. You don’t want to seem fake (假装的) because then people won’t vote for you. Simply say hello and let people know you are running for whatever office you choose. If they seem interested in you, continue the conversation. If not, back off. Being pushy is another thing that will lose your votes.

Let yourself shine

Just as confidence is essential during your presentation, it’s also important every day. 5. Have fun with your election because students want someone who is real and friendly.

A.Stand tall, smile, and be friendly.

B.Meet as many high school students as possible.

C.Get involved before winning the election

D.Get started on how to win a high school election.

E.Write a speech about what you would like to see change.

F.Read the student guidebook about the history as well as present rules for the school.

G.Putting up posters and relying on your popularity isn’t enough to guarantee you a win.

The young seal couldn’t have been more than two days old, and yet he was all alone. Sometimes he would swim _______, but he always came back. At first we thought it was _______ that he kept swimming back to us, until we noticed that he obviously had been _______ and had nowhere else to go. We called him “Curious George”.

Without his mother’s _________, George appeared very weak with his eyes closed. I jumped into the water and swam up to him, _______we could be close enough. My heart went out to George and I just hoped that he had the _______to interact (互动) with me. Suddenly he _______ his eyes and immediately he jumped up between my arms, putting his head against my chest. It was a(n) _______ moment. But I knew that George wouldn’t _______ without some help.

We ________ the local conservation volunteers. They were concerned that in the __________ of his mother, he had developed a close __________ with us. They promised they would bring him to an area with ________ people living there and keep an eye on him. Even though it hurt to see him ________, we knew that he was in better hands.

The next day we ________ the conservation volunteers and asked how George was doing. ________ the volunteers informed us that he was too close to humans, we realized that was probably our ________! They decided to bring him to a small island wildlife reserve with a lot of seals in the area, where they could better ________ him.

A week later, we called again, and were informed that George was ________in the water swimming with other seals. George was alive and back to his ________. And he will always swim in my heart.

1.A. aside B. around C. ahead D. away

2.A. annoying B. satisfying C. amazing D. embarrassing

3.A. hurt B. abandoned C. ignored D. avoided

4.A. love B. comfort C. protection D. milk

5.A. so that B. now that C. as if D. even if

6.A. energy B. ability C. time D. chance

7.A. turned B. raised C. narrowed D. opened

8.A. anxious B. magical C. quiet D. important

9.A. survive B. grow C. go D. swim

10.A. cared about B. worried about C. got in touch with D. got along well with

11.A. presence B. care C. absence D. charge

12.A. connection B. relationship C. friend D. curiosity

13.A. foolish B. young C. enough D. few

14.A. fight B. cry C. leave D. suffer

15.A. visited B. called C. found D. invited

16.A. When B. Before C. Unless D. Until

17.A. choice B. duty C. excuse D. fault

18.A. examine B. instruct C. observe D. control

19.A. spotted B. treated C. protected D. followed

20.A. mother B. zoo C. family D. world

Many people travel during the holiday season but do not make sure that their houses and homes 1. (protect). Crimes go up 2. (rapid) during the winter and summer holiday seasons. Here are some things 3. you should keep in mind when you go on holiday.

Always give 4. (strange) the feeling that you are at home. Have the snow 5. (clean) off your stairs or out of your driveway during the winter season. You might ask someone to park 6.car in your driveway.

Tell your newspaper deliverer that you are not at home.7. (have) a pile of newspapers and other mail on your doorsteps tells people that you are not at home, so you could also have a neighbor or a relative get your mail every day.

Fix a timer(定时器) in some of your rooms turns lights on and 8.during different time of 9. day. Some TVs also come with a timer that you could set to be turned on during certain time. Have motion(运动)sensitive lights outside your house that keep thieves away 10.you are not at home.

假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。作文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。

增加：在缺词处加一个漏子符号（∧）并在其下面写出该加的词。

删除：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。

注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；

2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。

Be abroad, you may find many things are different—the food, the customs, and the language. The last of these are the most important, as you need to be able to communicate in order to make the most of your stay. So I advise you to find the good school, and the school good academic atmosphere will help you improve your language skill. I found things got a lot of better for me once I’d joined a local tennis club. I really enjoyed it, and I made plenty of friends here. I am not homesick any more but I began to find my way around. All to all, I’d say it’s essential to maintain a positive attitude, and you’ll certainly enjoy yourself.

假设你是王明，近日，英语协会与校学生会联合发起了“强健身体，从我做起”的活动，作为学生会主席，请你就此写一封英文倡议书发表在校报上，号召大家锻炼身体，保持健康。

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This year’s winners of the Wenjin Book Award, announced by the National Library of China on April 23, are from three main categories — children’s books, popular science and social science titles.

The annual awards announced on World Book Day are meant to build a bridge between readers, writers and publishers to create a conductive feeling for reading books and fulfill the duty of libraries to promote culture and educate the people.

Started in 2004 and first celebrated in 2005, the award’s group of judges is drawn from a pool of great scholars and journalists.

Zhang He, a senior culture reporter from the People’s Daily, says the awards are considered the most honorable in China’s book world because it fully focuses on the quality of the books.

Every year, the award selects 10 books from those published within the past 12 months, covering three areas: humanities and social science, popular science and children’s book. The judging group also makes dozens of book recommendations for the public.

From 2005 to 2014, with a break in 2012, judging groups selected 99 books and recommended some 421 others from a pool of 6,000 titles.

Critics (评论员) praised the winning books, especially Zhongguo Gudai Wuzi Wenhua, or Tangible Culture in Ancient China, published by the Zhonghua Book Company in July 2014. Based on a series of the writer Sun Ji’s lectures on Chinese culture, the book has 10 chapters that attempt to answer people’s questions about various aspects of ancient Chinese people’s lives. Chen Li, a writer and one of the judges says that the book has the “newest, most comprehensive and systematic description” on Chinese culture.

For more information, please click liuzhihua@chinadaily.com.cn

1.According to the passage, all of the followings are TRUE except ________.

A. There is a competition for the Wenjin Book Award every year.

B. World Book Day dates back to the year 2005.

C. It was because the award focuses on the quality of books that made it the most honorable in China’s book world.

D. The awarded books are about humanities and social sciences, popular science and children’s books.

2.Which of the following about Wenjin Book Award is RIGHT?

A. The books have to be written in the past years.

B. Themes of the books include humanities and social science as well as natural science

C. In the past decade, about one hundred books have won the Wenjin Book Award.

D. The award’s judges are from great scholars and writers.

3.Where can you probably read this passage?

A. On a website. B. In a magazine.

C. In a textbook. D. In a guidebook.

4.What can be the best title for the passage?

A. Winners of Wenjin Book Award. B. World Book Day.

C. Work on Wenjin Book Award. D. Best-sellers on World Book Day.

“Beating is a sign of affection, cursing (骂)is a sign of love.”

Many may not expect to hear the words of the old Chinese saying in these modern times—with parents wealthier and better educated than they have ever been—but experts say they still ring true.

Today, it seems, Chinese parents are more likely to send their children to pre?college military academies in the United States in the hope that some tough love will pave the way to success.

“Good education doesn’t mean letting your children enjoy privileges, especially our boys.” said Song Wenming, an entrepreneur (企业家)in Jinhua’ East China’s Zhejiang province. “They should be raised in tough conditions to know what to fight for in the future.”

In August, Song sent his 17?year?old son to Valley Forge Military Academy (VFMA) in Pennsylvania. And he is far from alone, even though it takes a lot of money—around $48,000 per year—to send a child to a strict military school.

Statistics show that an increasing number of Chinese students have been registering with such academies.

A few years ago, there were no Chinese students at Valley Forge. Today, there are 28.“All of the Chinese students at Valley Forge came from wealthy families; some of them were spoiled.” said Jennifer Myers, director of marketing and communications at the school.

Song’s only son, Song Siyu, had a rocky start during his first six weeks at the school. The teenager said he went to the school voluntarily but did not expect it to be as difficult.

Now, three months later, he has perfected the art of taking a bath in 35 seconds, finishing a meal without looking at his food, and making his bed with precision. He can even take criticism, no matter how unreasonable.

“The training is hard but I know it is good for self?development of individuals.” said Song Siyu. “The endless training and scolding are just ways to build up our character; they are not personal.”

But his enthusiasm is not universal. Ten of the 13 Chinese students who joined the academy this year have transferred to other schools.

But for those who stick with it, there is a reward for all the hard work.

1.From the second paragraph, we can know the old Chinese saying ________ .

A. is out of date in modern times

B. is disagreed by rich parents

C. is still worth trusting

D. is deeply believed by better educated parents

2.The underlined sentence means that _________.

A. Song sent his only son to military school，so he feels lonely

B. Song is the only one who sends his child to military school

C. there are other people sending their children to military school besides Song

D. the fee of the military school is so high that only Song can afford it

3.Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A. It's likely that more and more Chinese students will attend VFMA.

B. Most Chinese parents approve of educating their children by beating and cursing nowadays.

C. Song Siyu had no difficulty in adjusting to the life at VFMA.

D. Most Chinese students support the way of education at VFMA.