Height is just one of the thousands of features your genes decide. In fact, because you have two parents, your genes provide you a height that usually lands somewhere between the height of each parent. If both your parents are tall, then most probably you will be tall, too, but if you have questions about how tall you're going to be, ask your doctor if he or she can help you find it out.

But genes don't decide everything. For example, eating an unhealthy diet can keep you from growing to your full potential(潜力). Getting plenty of sleep and enough exercise will help you grow to the expected height.

No doubt you're wondering how fast you should grow. It depends. There's no perfect or right answer. Generally speaking, kids grow about 2 inches (6 centimeters) a year between age 3 and the time when they start puberty (when your body starts changing and becoming more grown up).

Your doctor will know how your growth has been going over the years. Two centimeters here and 2 inches there are not nearly as important as the height you're at now, how you've been growing up to this point, and what other changes your body may be going through.

Don't be scared if you seem to have grown a lot in a very short time. Everyone has a growth spurt（高峰）during puberty. The age for starting puberty is about 10 for girls and about 11 for boys. But it can be earlier or later ----between 7 and 13 for girls and 9 and 15 for boys.

You'll usually begin to notice that you're growing faster about a year or so after your body starts to show the first changes of puberty. 

1.. The Chinese for the word “puberty” is 　　　　　　　　　.

   A. 童年时期          B.婴幼儿时期        C.习惯养成期        D. 生长发育期

2. If you want to know how fast and how tall you should grow, _____.

   A. you should have enough exercise   B. you can ask doctors for help

   C. you should save the environment   D. You can record your growth during puberty

3. This passage is mainly about 　　　　　　　　　.

   A. how the genes work in your body           B. when is the time you grow fast

   C. why you look like your parents                D. how you grow to a certain height 

4. After reading this passage, we can explain 　　　　　　　　　.

   A. how good it is to be a doctor             B. how much sleep time we need

   C. why genes can’t decide everything            D. what healthy diet is

5. Which is NOT mentioned in the passage?

   A. Your height most probably depends on how high your parents are.

   B. Girls’ age for starting puberty is usually earlier than that for boys’.

   C. The time showing the first changes of puberty is never noticed.

   D. You may be scared sometimes when you grow too fast.

Scientists study the world and learn about things using a process called the scientific method(方法). By asking important questions and   16  the answers, it is possible to make amazing discoveries! Sometimes a scientist is   17  to answer his own questions, but if he has taken good notes another scientist may come along later who is able to use new knowledge to answer it.

When you use the scientific method to   18  an experiment, you start by making observations(观察) about something that  19  you. Based on your observations, you make a hypothesis. This is using  20  you know to make a smart guess about what you think could happen. Then you are ready to begin your experiment. All   21  your experiment you take down notes, which are   22   experiment date(资料). You are constantly making observations during this time. You may make discoveries that cause you to improve your experiment as you go.   23  , you conclude your experiment and begin to look over your notes to decide what it all means. Based on what you have learned, you make a final statement about   24  your hypothesis was correct or not. You have to have reasons and evidence to support what you are saying.

Using the scientific method can be difficult, but rewarding. Because all the steps are organized in a process, the   25  are more valid(可信的). When you provide observations as evidence to support what you are saying, your ideas are more likely to be accepted.

1.                A．waiting for      B．searching for     C．worrying about D．complaining about

2.                A．unable         B．sure           C．ready    D．surprised

3.                A．read           B．refuse          C．prevent  D．conduct

4.                A．hurts          B．represents      C．interests  D．attacks

5.                A．what           B．when          C．why D．which

6.                A．without         B．including        C．except   D．during

7.                A．controlled      B．arranged        C．called    D．carried

8.                A．Obviously       B．Suddenly        C．Finally    D．Mostly

9.                A．whether        B．what           C．how D．when

10.               A．problem        B．results         C．services   D．aims

In the US, the most popular way to welcome the new year is with a big party. Some parties are at private homes. But in recent years, it has become more and more common for Americans to go to a hotel or eating-place on the night of December 31st. There, they can eat a big dinner, drink champagne, and dance to orchestra music.

Most New Year’s parties are usually noisy. People shout and sing. And often, guests blow on small noisemakers when the new year arrives at midnight. This tradition of noise making is believed to start centuries ago. People thought that loud sounds would drive away the bad spirits of the old year.

The biggest, noisiest New Year’s party in the US takes place in Times Square in New York. Thousands of people gather(聚集) there. Some of them ring bells and set fireworks. Others blow whistles of car horns(喇叭). And at twelve o’clock, they begin to cheer as an electric sign in the shape of a red apple lights up on top of a tall building.

The Times Square celebration includes another well-known American tradition. Since 1929, the band of musician Guy Lombardo has given a concert on New Year’s Eve. Guy Lombardo died in 1977. But, Bill Lombardo, has kept the tradition alive with a band concert at a New York city hotel. When the crowds in Times Square start cheering the arrival of the new year, television cameras show the band playing the song Auld Lang Syne.

1. The most usual way to welcome the new year in the US is ________.

A. to go shopping      B. to meet friends    C. to travel abroad     D. to hold a big party

2. The biggest New Year’s party in the US is __________.

A. in Central Park     B. in Hollywood       C. in Times Square    D. in Disneyland

3. In the past, some American people made big noise when the new year arrived ________

A. to express their friendship         B. to drive away the bad spirits

C. to make others more excited       D. to give best wishes to each other

4.In 1929 a concert on New Year’s Eve was given by _________.

A. the band of Guy Lombardo        B. the band of Bill Lombardo

C. the band of Johann Strauss         D. the band of Elvis Aaron Presley

1. The Dream It is everyone’s dream to work at home or not work at all. You can plan your own hours and work when you want to. There is no more rush hour and no hours that people waste when they get to and from a job every day.
2. The Fact The fact is that this dream can be attained. You can stay at home, work when you want to and make money when you need to. There are plenty of chances for you to make money at home, just by using your computer and the Internet.
3. Start Today!  Educate yourself, look closely into all the chances and decide on what works best for you. It will not happen during one night, but you can make the decision today and start to make it happen today.
4. How Could You Do It? Do you have a blog, miniblog or a personal website like millions of other people? Are you using it to make money? Most of these blogs and website owners are not. But you can do that!
5. _________When you have your computer and the Internet working for you, your businesses will be working for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You will make money while you sleep, travel or do whatever you want to do all day long.
6. Get Going! There are many ways you can make money with your computer. And you can begin your stay-at-home businesses with just a little money. What are you waiting for?
【小题1】In which part of a newspaper would you most probably read this passage?

People all over the world celebrate the new year. However, not all countries celebrate in the same way, and in some countries, the new year doesn’t begin on the   1   date very year.
In many countries, the new year begins on 1st January, but people start celebrating on 31st December, New Year’s Eve. In New York many people go to celebrate in Times Square.  2    they’re waiting for the New Year, they listen to music, sing traditional songs and have fun. Just before 12 o’clock, everyone   3  down from 10: 10, 9, 8… As soon as it’s 12 o’clock, everyone shouts very  4 , “Happy New Year!”
New Year’s Day is often a family day. Some families get together for a special meal. When the weather is fine, many families go out for a   5 .
On New Year’s Day, many people make resolutions for the new year. They   6  a list of things, such as “I will help out more with housework. I will work   7  at school than others.” or “I won’t spend so much time playing video games.” When they have made   8  list, they read it to their family or friends and promise to   9  their resolutions.
So it doesn’t matter how they celebrate,   10  people in countries all over the world, it’s a time to say goodbye to the old year, and to welcome the new.