There has been a lot of rain in California recently. Villagers and leaders there begin to be worried because they have found two birds died from a disease, West Nile Virus(病毒).

  West Nile Virus is carried by mosquitoes(蚊子).The symptoms(症状) are just like the flu. However, it can cause dangerous brain problems. When it rains a lot, it will leave a lot of water in ponds and trees. These places are good for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in the water. Warm weather will help the mosquito eggs to develop and then the number is increasing. Birds eat the mosquitoes and get sick. People can get the disease if they are bitten(叮咬) by mosquitoes with West Nile Virus.

  The government is trying its best go stop the spread of West Nile Virus. People are asked to wear long sleeves(长袖)and pants, close their windows and shut the doors. At the same time, workers have been sent out to check the wet areas. If they find mosquitoes they will use some special medicine to kill them.

1.Why did the two birds die?

  A. They died from West Nile Virus.

  B. They could not get enough food.

  C. The villagers killed them.

2.From the passage we know West Nile Virus is carried by ______.

A. flu                    B. mosquitoes                  C. water

3.People will get the disease if ______.

  A. they get wet in rainy days

  B. they are bitten by any mosquito

  C. they are bitten by mosquitoes with West Nile Virus

4. People are asked to wear long sleeves and pants in order to ­­______.

  A. keep warm

  B. check the wet areas

  C. avoid being bitten by mosquitoes

Confidence is very important in daily life. It can help you to develop a healthy attitude （态度）.A study shows that the people who are more confident are much happier. They can have more chance to make themselves successful. But how to be more confident? Here are some suggestions:

·Speak loud   When you are not confident, you can't do well what you want to do. You speak in a voice so low that other people can hardly hear you. Try to speak loud enough so that people can hear you clearly. The .high voice can help you become more confident.

·Play sports   Physical exercise makes you tired but completely relaxed. [3] A strong body helps you be full of confidence.

·Encourage yourself   Write down a list of things you did during the day to see how many things you have done well. Did you finish your homework? Did you tell a joke that made everybody laugh? Give yourself praise for the good things you've done.

·Get rid of （消除） fear   Fear comes along with failure （失败）. But it's easy to overcome （克服） if you know that failure is part of your life. Don't hide your head just because you said something stupid last time. Try to start again and believe you can do better.

·Pick up a hobby    If you like singing, sing as much as you can. [4] In some ways, a hobby can make you outstanding. And it will make you happy and confident.

A．根据短文内容简要回答问题。

1.How many suggestions can help you to be more confident?

____________________________________________________________

2.How to encourage yourself?

____________________________________________________________

B．将短文中划线的句子译成汉语。

3.____________________________________________________________

4.____________________________________________________________

C．请给短文拟一个适当的标题。

5.____________________________________________________________

任务型阅读（5分）

There have been many great inventions or things that changed the way we live. The first great invention was the one that is still very important today——the wheel. This made it easier to carry heavy things and to travel long distance.

For hundreds of years after that there were few inventions that as much effect as the wheel . Then in the early 1800s the world started to change. There was little unknown land left in the world. People didn’t have to explore much any more. They began to work instead to make life better.

In the second half of the 19^th century many great inventions were made. Among them were the camera, the light and the radio. These all play a big part in our daily life today.

The first part of the 20^th century saw more great inventions. The helicopter in 1909, movies with sound in 1926, the computer in 1928, jet planes in 1930. This was also a time when a new material was first made. Nylon came out in 1935. It changed the kind of clothes people wore.

The middle part of the 20^th century brought new ways to help people get over diseases. They worked very well. They made people healthier and allowed them to live longer. By the 1960s most people could expect to live to be at least 60.

By this time most people in developed countries had a very good life. Of course new inventions continued to be made. But man now had a desire(渴望) to explore again. The earth was known to man but the stars were not. Man began looking for ways to go into space. Russia made the first step. Then United States took a step. Since then other countries , including China and Japan, have made their own steps into space.

In 1969 man took his biggest step away from earth. Americans first walked on the moon. This is certainly just a beginning, though. New inventions will some day allow us to do things we have never yet dreamed of.

1. This passage talks mainly about         .

   A. why cars were very important

   B. when light was invented

   C. how inventions affect people’s daily life

   D. which country made the first step into space

2.According to the passage man didn’t have a desire to explore a lot         .

   A. at the beginning of 1800s             B. in the 1960s 

   C. since the 1900s                     D. from the 1800s to 1960s

3.In the 1800s, people began to work in order to make      

   A. explorations    B. their life better     C. discoveries      D. a trip to space

4. Nylon came out of five years later than        .

   A. radio          B. camera           C. jet planes          D. movies

5.People can live longer lives because        that help cure diseases have worked very well.

   A. doctors        B. new ways         C. medicines       D. new hospitals