Weather changes when the temperature and the amount of water in the atmosphere change. We can see and feel water coming from the atmosphere when we have rain. But the water must somehow get back to the atmosphere. Meteorologists call this the water cycle.

   There are many stages in the water cycle. Rain falls when water vapour in clouds condenses(凝结). Drops of water form and fall to the ground. The water soaks into the ground and feeds streams and rivers. A lot of rain falls into the sea. The heat of the sun evaporates some of the water in the ground and in the rivers, lakes, and the sea. It changes the liquid water into water vapour. The vapour rises onto the air. Water vapour is normally invisible. On a very damp or humid day, however, you can sometimes see water vapour rising from a puddle(水坑) or pond in a mist(薄雾) above the water. Water vapour also gets into the air from living things. Trees and other plants take in water through their roots and give off water vapour from their leaves. People and land animals drink water and breathe out water vapour. In all these ways the water returns to the air. There it gathers to form clouds and condenses to form rain. The rain falls to earth, and the cycle starts again. It continues even if snow or hail(冰雹) fall instead because both eventually melt to form water. The amount of water vapour in the air depends on the temperature. The air is more moist(潮湿) in the tropics(热带) than in the cold polar regions.

What is the main idea of the passage?

A. Water cycle.    B. Water vapour. C. How rain forms.   D.Water, vapour, rain.

How many ways of the water returning to the air are discussed in the text?

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

Whether water vapour can be seen or not depends on _______.

A. how much water is evaporated         B. how good your eyes are

C. in which way water is evaporated           D. climate or weather

From the passage we get to know _______.

A. there is more water vapour in the air in the tropics than in cold polar regions

B. there is more water vapour in the air in cold polar region than in the tropics

C. it gets more rain in the tropics than in cold polar regions because there is less vapour

D. the amount of water vapour in the air depends on how often it rains

Americans use many expressions with the word dog．People in the United States love their dogs and treat them well．They take their dogs for walks，let them play outside and give them good food and medical care．However, dogs without owners to care for them lead a different kind of 1ife．The expression，to lead a dog’s life，describes a person who has an unhappy existence．

Some people say we live in a dog-eat-dog world．That means many people are competing for the same things，like good jobs．To be successful，a person has to work like a dog．Such hard work can make people dog-tired，or sick as a dog.

Still，people say every dog has its day．This means that every person enjoys a successful period during his or her life．To be successful, people often have to learn new skills．Yet．some people say that you can never teach all old dog new tricks．They believe that older people do not like to learn new things and wilt not change the way they do things．

Husbands and wives use this doghouse term when they are angry at each other．For example，a woman might get angry at her husband for coming home late or forgetting their wedding anniversary．She might tell him that he is in the doghouse．She may not treat him nicely until he apologizes．However，the husband may decide that it is best to 1eave things alone and not create more problems．He might decide to let sleeping dogs lie．

Dog expressions are also used to describe the weather．The dog days of summer are the hottest days of the year．A rainstorm may cool the weather．But we do not want it to rain too hard．We do not want it to rain cats and dogs．

1.The correct statement about the dog in the expression“to 1ead a dog’s life”is        .

    A．a lucky dog              B．a homeless dog

    C．a clever dog              D．a tamed dog

2.When people compete against each other and will do any thing to get what they want，we use   ,

    A．1ead a dog’s life           B. a dog-tired competition

    C．a dog-eat-dog world        D．a dirty dog

3.Which of the following expressions is similar to“to rain cats and dogs”?

    A．a curtain of rain           B．a sudden rain

    C．drops of rain              D．a fine rain

4.The author writes this passage mainly to      .

    A．express his supporting attitude about expressions with dog

    B．show that he is a super dog-lover and he likes these expressions

    C．describe the bad effect on the relationship between husband and wife

    D．introduce some expressions with dog used in American daily life

With only fish and birds for company, Eric Erden has been rowing across the Pacific Ocean to Australia in his 23-foot-long boat since he left California on July 10, 2009.

This is the first part of Eric’s trip around the world using only his own energy. He will row, bike, and walk without help from any motors at all. His plan includes climbing the tallest mountain on each of the six continents he visits, to honour the memory of a fellow climber.

He says he is doing this to show kids that they can achieve any goal, but he also hopes to have some great adventures along the way.

Storms and huge waves regularly force him in the wrong direction and even threaten to overturn his boat. “Sometimes I really feel scared,” says a somewhat embarrassed Eric. “But that’s part of the journey. I knew this wouldn’t be easy when I started.”

Protein bars give him energy, and he boils water to heat freeze-dried meals on a one-burner stove. A sun-powered machine removes salt from ocean water so he can drink it, but when that fails he sometimes tries to collect rainwater in a bucket.

He’s not bothered by any of the hardships. Eric sees the world as a laboratory where there is much to learn. And when his trip around the world takes him across land, he enjoys meeting people — especially children. He has already visited several schools and shared his story.

1.Why is Eric making this trip?

2.What does Eric plan to do on each of the six continents he will visit?

3.How does Eric mainly get drinking water?

4.Which of the following words best describes Eric’s character?

Weather changes when the temperature and the amount of water in the atmosphere change. We can see and feel water coming from the atmosphere when we have rain. But the water must somehow get back to the atmosphere. Meteorologists call this the water cycle.

   There are many stages in the water cycle. Rain falls when water vapour in clouds condenses(凝结). Drops of water form and fall to the ground. The water soaks into the ground and feeds streams and rivers. A lot of rain falls into the sea. The heat of the sun evaporates some of the water in the ground and in the rivers, lakes, and the sea. It changes the liquid water into water vapour. The vapour rises onto the air. Water vapour is normally invisible. On a very damp or humid day, however, you can sometimes see water vapour rising from a puddle(水坑) or pond in a mist(薄雾) above the water. Water vapour also gets into the air from living things. Trees and other plants take in water through their roots and give off water vapour from their leaves. People and land animals drink water and breathe out water vapour. In all these ways the water returns to the air. There it gathers to form clouds and condenses to form rain. The rain falls to earth, and the cycle starts again. It continues even if snow or hail(冰雹) fall instead because both eventually melt to form water. The amount of water vapour in the air depends on the temperature. The air is more moist(潮湿) in the tropics(热带) than in the cold polar regions.

1. What is the main idea of the passage?

A. Water cycle.                                 B. Water vapour.

C. How rain forms.                      D. Water, vapour, rain.

2. How many ways of the water returning to the air are discussed in the text?

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

3. Whether water vapour can be seen or not depends on _______.

A. how much water is evaporated         B. how good your eyes are

C. in which way water is evaporated           D. climate or weather

4. From the passage we get to know _______.

A. there is more water vapour in the air in the tropics than in cold polar regions

B. there is more water vapour in the air in cold polar region than in the tropics

C. it gets more rain in the tropics than in cold polar regions because there is less vapour

D. the amount of water vapour in the air depends on how often it rains

— Are you going to Lloyd’s birthday party on Friday?

— Only if it ______, he said he was having a picnic party.