Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa. It is also the second largest lake in the world. It is an important lake because it is one of the sources(源头) for the longest river in the world, the Nile River. Lake Victoria provides a source of water, food, and power(电力) for several African countries. Lake Victoria is a big part of African life.

Unfortunately, Lake Victoria has a problem. It is shrinking. There are several power stations at Lake Victoria in Uganda. These are on the Nile River, and besides producing power, they keep the water of the lake at a certain level. For the past forty years, that level has been 11.9 meters. Over the last several years, the water level has dropped by about 2.5 meters. There seem to be several reasons for this drop.

One possible reason is drought(干旱). Drought has been very bad in the area since 2000. Lake Victoria gets all of its water from rain, so the drought means less water in the lake.

However, some environmentalists believe that the real problem is the power plants(工厂) on Lake Victoria. Uganda depends on those power plants for most of its power, and they made the power plants larger in 2000. Many people believe the power plants have been taking too much water off Lake Victoria. As a result, they have been asked to use less water until Lake Victoria goes back to its old level.

Whether the low water level is caused by drought or power plants, the result is the same. This is already a poor area of Africa, where many people live a really hard life. People, animals and plants around Lake Victoria will suffer even more from low water levels on the lake. Many people need Lake Victoria for fishing or growing food. Fish need the water to live, and animals need it for water. Plants around the lake will die without the water, and then more animals and people will suffer. Unless the lake fills soon, many people will suffer and die.

1.Lake Victoria is __________.

A．an important lake in Africa

B．the largest lake in the world

C．the source of water, food and power for America

D．the only source for the Nile River

2.What does “It is shrinking” most probably mean?

A．It is becoming larger.

B．It is becoming more beautiful.

C．It is becoming smaller.

D．It is becoming more useful.

3.The water level of Lake Victoria is now __________.

A．2.5 meters        B．11.9 meters        C．14.4 meters        D．9.4 meters

4.Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A. Rain water is the only source for the lake.

B. There has been little rain in the lake area since 2000.

C. The power plants in Uganda provide water for the lake.

D The power plants in Uganda were made larger in 2000.

5.According to the passage, how can we solve the problems around Lake Victoria?

A．People must build more power plants.

B．More sources of water must be found.

C．Every country should offer some money to Africa.

D．All the people living in the area should move to another place.

 

Spring is a good time for kite flying -- a popular activity in China. On a sunny day with a good breeze(微风), you'll see hundreds of colorful kites flying in the sky. They have all kinds of shapes like swallows and peaches. Some of the shapes have special meanings. For example, swallows mean good luck and peaches bring you a long life.

    The city of Weifang in Shandong is the home of the kite. The city holds an international kite festival in April every year. There are competitions for kite-flying skills and new styles of kites. The most famous is the competition for the "Kite King ". Thousands of kite fans from more than 30 countries visit the city to take part in the competitions, or to just enjoy this colorful event(事件).

    The largest kite in the world is a big "octopus (章鱼)". It's about 1,100 square meters, twice as big as a basketball court. Li Jingyang, a kite fan in Jilin, spent eight months making it in 2008.

    The kite was invented by Chinese people over 2,000 years ago. According to historical (历史的) record, kites were first used by soldiers to send news to their friends. In the Tang Dynasty, flying kites became a popular game played by everyone.

    As it was introduced to the West in the ll00s, the kite brought a great influence(影响) on Western life.

    In 1782, the lightning rod (避雷针) was invented with the help of a kite. Modern aircraft came from kites, too. At the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, a board reads: "The earliest man-made aircrafts were the kites and missiles (投射武器) of ancient China."

1. What activity is very popular in spring?

   A. Eating peaches.   B. Feeding swallows.    C. Flying kites.        D. Going to competitions.

2. What do people hope for when flying kites shaped like swallows?

A. Good luck.        B. A long life.         C. A lot of money.      D. Good health.

3.Why do thousands of people visit the city of Weifang in April every year?

A. Because they enjoy this colorful event.              

B. Because of the beauty of Weifang.

C. Because they have new styles of kites.

D. Because they are the winners of the “Kite King”.

4. When did Chinese people invent the kite?

A. In 2008.      B. In 1782.         C. About 1000 years ago.  D. Over 2000 years ago.

5.Which of the following sentences is TRUE?

A. The largest kite is three times as big as a basketball court.

B. In the Qing Dynasty, flying kites became a popular game played by everyone.

C. People invented kites to help swallows fly.

D. People got the idea of inventing the lightning rod from kites.

 

 

Spring is a good time for kite flying -- a popular activity in China. On a sunny day with a good breeze(微风), you'll see hundreds of colorful kites flying in the sky. They have all kinds of shapes like swallows and peaches. Some of the shapes have special meanings. For example, swallows mean good luck and peaches bring you a long life.
The city of Weifang in Shandong is the home of the kite. The city holds an international kite festival in April every year. There are competitions for kite-flying skills and new styles of kites. The most famous is the competition for the "Kite King ". Thousands of kite fans from more than 30 countries visit the city to take part in the competitions, or to just enjoy this colorful event(事件).
The largest kite in the world is a big "octopus (章鱼)". It's about 1,100 square meters, twice as big as a basketball court. Li Jingyang, a kite fan in Jilin, spent eight months making it in 2008.
The kite was invented by Chinese people over 2,000 years ago. According to historical (历史的) record, kites were first used by soldiers to send news to their friends. In the Tang Dynasty, flying kites became a popular game played by everyone.
As it was introduced to the West in the ll00s, the kite brought a great influence(影响) on Western life.
In 1782, the lightning rod (避雷针) was invented with the help of a kite. Modern aircraft came from kites, too. At the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, a board reads: "The earliest man-made aircrafts were the kites and missiles (投射武器) of ancient China."
【小题1】 What activity is very popular in spring?

A．Eating peaches.

B．Feeding swallows.

C．Flying kites.

D．Going to competitions.

【小题2】 What do people hope for when flying kites shaped like swallows?

A．Good luck.

B．A long life.

C．A lot of money.

D．Good health.

【小题3】Why do thousands of people visit the city of Weifang in April every year?

A．Because they enjoy this colorful event.

B．Because of the beauty of Weifang.

C．Because they have new styles of kites.

D．Because they are the winners of the “Kite King”.

【小题4】 When did Chinese people invent the kite?

A．In 2008.

B．In 1782.

C．About 1000 years ago.

D．Over 2000 years ago.

【小题5】Which of the following sentences is TRUE?

A．The largest kite is three times as big as a basketball court.

B．In the Qing Dynasty, flying kites became a popular game played by everyone.

C．People invented kites to help swallows fly.

D．People got the idea of inventing the lightning rod from kites.

In old times，man considered lightning to be one of the great mysteries（神秘事物）of nature．In fact a single flash of lightning 1.6 kilometers long has enough electricity to light one million lamps．
The American scientist，Benjamin Franklin，was the first to suggest that lightning is in fact electricity formed between the earth and clouds high above．It happened in 1752．In the same year，he also built the first lightning rod（避雷针）to protect buildings from being struck by lightnings．
Modern science has discovered that lightning is very strong and powerful．A lightning between a cloud and the earth may be as long as 13 kilometers，and travels at a speed of 30 million meters per second．Scientists have the opinion that there are about 2000 million flashes of lightning per year．In the United States alone，it kills almost one person per day．
The safest place to be in during an electrical（电的）storm is a closed car．Outside，one should go close to low ground for cover and not stop under a tree．Also one should stay out of water and away from metal fences．Inside a house people should keep away from open doorways and windows and not touch wires or metal things．
【小题1】From this passage we know lightning is____．

A．one of the great mysteries of nature．

B．electricity high above the earth．

C．a kind of light．

D．the sound from the clouds．

【小题2】In the U．S____．

A．every person can see lightning every day．

B．at least one person is killed by lightning every day．

C．there are about 6 million flashes of lightning per year．

D．about one person per day dies from lightning．

【小题3】During a lightning storm，it would be best if you____．

A．stand under a tree．

B．go outside．

C．stay in a closed car．

D．stop near windows．

【小题4】A lightning rod can______．

A．prevent accidents caused by lightning

B．stop lightning

C．protect buildings from being washed away．

D．delay the coming of lightning

【小题5】A lightning between a cloud and the earth may be 13 kilometers long，and travels at
a speed of ______．

A．30 kilometres per second．

B．3000 kilometres per second

C．3 kilometres per second

D．30，000 kilometres per second