So you want to have a tarantula(狼蛛)as a pet? You want to join the fastest growing hobby in the US? Read this beginner’s guide to learn the most important facts.

What is a tarantula? Tarantulas are primitive spiders(远古的蜘蛛). They are usually hairier and larger than normal spiders.

Why keep tarantulas? Tarantulas are really interesting pets. They don’t need much space, they aren’t expensive to feed, they live a long time, they don’t make much mess, and they aren’t dangerous.

When did people start keeping tarantulas as a hobby? They started in the 1970s when the ‘Mexican Redknee’ was brought to the US. By the 1990s there were about 200 different kinds of tarantulas in the US, but some are better for beginners than others. Good beginner tarantulas include the ‘Pink Zebra Beauty’ and the ‘Brazilian Black and White’ because they are not as dangerous as some of the other ones.

How do I look after a tarantula? You can keep tarantulas in 10 gallon, glass boxes. They need a water bowl in the box and you should feed them once a week. Tarantulas eat insects, small mice and lizards. You can buy these(already dead)from a pet shop. You only need to clean the glass box about once every six months.

Can I get my tarantula out of its box and hold it? No! A tarantula is not a pet like a dog, a cat or a rabbit and they do not like being held in your hands. Keep it in the glass box and watch it.

Are tarantulas dangerous? Nobody has ever died from a tarantula bite, but some kinds of tarantula could give you a bad bite. Usually they prefer to run away from you than to bite you.

How can I find out more? Look for a club near you for people who keep tarantulas as a hobby. You can also find some information about it on the Internet or find some books.

44. Some tarantulas are better for beginners than others because __________.

A. they don’t need much space                            B. they don’t make much mess

C. they are not as dangerous as other ones            D. they aren’t expensive to feed

45. What do tarantulas NOT eat?

A. Insects                      B. Lizards                     C. Big mice                   D. small mice

46. Which pet don’t like being held in our hands?

A. A cat           B. A rabbit                           C. A dog                       D. A tarantula

47. How often should you clean the glass box for a tarantula?

A. Once a week       B. Once every six months    C. Once a day               D. Once a year

Making friends is a skill. Like most skills, it ?? with practice. If you want to meet people and make friends, you must be willing to ?? some actions. You must first go where there are people. You won’t make friends staying home? ?? .

Join a club or group, talk with those who like the same things ?? you do is much easier. Or join someone ?? some activity.

Many people are nervous when talking to new people. ?? all, meeting strangers means ?? the unknown. And it’s human nature to? ?? a bit uncomfortable(不舒服)about the unknown.

? ?? our fears about dealing with new people come from doubts(怀疑)about ?? . We imagine other people are judging us, finding us too tall ?? too short, too this or too that, but don’t forget that they must be feeling the same way. Try to accept yourself? ?? you are, and try to put the other person at ease(不拘束).You’ll both feel more comfortable.

Try to ?? self-confident(自信)even if you don’t feel that way when you ?? a room full of strangers, such as a new classroom, walk tall and straight, look directly ?? other people and smile.

If you see someone, you’d like to ?? , say something. Don’t wait for ?? person to start a conversation(谈话).

Just meeting someone new does not mean that you will ?? friends with that person. Friendship is based on mutual(相互的)liking and “give and take”. It ?? time and effort to develop. And there are things that keep a new friendship from? ?? .??

1.A. produces?? B. improves ????????????? C. grows ????????????? D. raises

2.A. take ????????????? B. make ????????????? C. do ????????????? D. carry

3.A. lonely ????????????? B. yourself ????????????? C. alone ????????????? D. with yourself

4.A. as ????????????? B. that ????????????? C. which ????????????? D. more

5.A. with ????????????? B. in ????????????? C. on ????????????? D. to

6.A. For ????????????? B. Above ????????????? C. In ????????????? D. After

7.A. touching ????????????? B. facing ????????????? C. meeting ????????????? D. seeing

8.A. see???????? B. touch???? ?????? C. feel????????????? D. do

9.A. Many?????? B. Some???????????? C. Much?????????? D. Most of

10.A. yourself??? B. oneself?????????? C. yourselves??????? D. ourselves

11.A. and??????? B. but?????????????? C. or?????????????? D. as

12.A. like??????? B. as??????????????? C. what??????????? D. that

13.A. make?????? B. act? as???????????? C. like??????????????? D. express

14.A. come to???? B. go to???????????? C. enter?????????????? D. step to

15.A. for???????? B. to?????????????? C. at????????????????? D. about?

16.A. speak to???? B. talk to?????????? C. say to?????????????? D. call up

17.A. other?????? B. the other???????? C. another???????????? D. others

18.A. make?????? B. do?????????????? C. turn???????????????? D. put

19.A. costs?????? B. takes???????????? C. spends????????????? D. uses

20.A. growing???? B. living??????????? C. increasing?????????? D. happening

在B栏中找出A栏问题的答语.（10分）

1.What club does she want to join?      A. He’s reading a book.

2.Are you using the computer?  .       B. I like cats.

3.What animals do you like?            C. No, I don’t.

4.Can he play the guitar?              D. Because they are friendly.

5.How do they get to school?           E. They are from China

6.What time does he go to bed?        F. He wants to join the music club.

7.Why does he like dogs?               G. Yes, I am.

8.Where are pandas from?             H. No, he can’t.

9.What’s he doing now?               I. They ride their bikes.

10.Do you have to clean your room?    J. At 9:30.