When you read an article you will understand and remember it better if you can work out how the writer has put the ideas together．Sometimes a writer puts ideas together by asking questions and then answering them．For example，if the article is about groundhogs（土拨鼠），the set of questions in the writer’s head might be：

What does a groundhog look like？

Where do groundhogs live？

What do they eat？…

In the article，the author might answer those questions．

Sometimes an author writes out her questions in the article．These questions give you signals．They tell you what the author is going to write next．Often an author has a question in her head but she doesn’t write it out for you．You have to work out her question for yourself．Here’s a sample reading for you to practice this method.

Earthworms

Do you know how many kinds of earthworms there are？There are about 1800 kinds in the world！ They can be brown，purple，green．They can be as small as 3 cm long and as large as 3 m long．

The best time to see earthworms is at night，especially a cool，damp night．That’s when they come up from their burrows（地洞）to hunt for food．Earthworms don’t like to be in the sun．That’s because they breathe through their skin，and they can’t breathe if their skin gets too dry．Earthworms must come out of the earth if it rains a lot，because they can't breathe in their flooded burrows．What a dangerous life！

Earthworms don't have eyes，so how can they tell when it's dark？ They have special places on their skin that are sensitive to light．These spots tell whether it’s light or dark．If you shine a flashlight on an earthworm at night，it will quickly disappear into the ground．

Earthworms don't have ears either，but they can hear by feeling movements in the earth．If you want to hear like an earthworm，lie on the ground with your fingers in your ears．Then have a friend stamp his or her feet near you．This is how earthworms feel birds and people walking，and moles digging，near them．

Earthworms are useful．Farmers and gardeners like having lots of earthworms in their land because the worms help to make better soil when they dig．That digging keeps the soil loose and airy（通风的）．In one year earthworms can pile up as much as 23,000 kg of castings in an area about the size of a football field．

1.What’s the purpose of reading Earthworms?

A．To show the special life facts of earthworms.

B．To explain the differences from the groundhogs.

C．To put the writer’s idea into real use.

D．To make the readers think more clearly.

2.Which question CANNOT be answered in the passage?

A．How do earthworms help with gardeners?

B．What life are earthworms living with?

C．When may people observe earthworms?

D．Why can human listen like earthworms?

3.How can you understand Earthworms better according to this passage?

A．Read, ask and answer questions in your own head while reading.

B．Read to work out all the questions in the writer’s head while reading.

C．Read and check all the things that are not clear to you again and again.

D．Read for general ideas and discuss or compare with other similar topics.

4.What’s the best title for the passage?

A．One way to help with understanding

B．One way to practice with a new idea

C．One way to learn to be a wise writer

D．One way to be clearer about worms

 

You are what you eat
Keeping better eating habits can help you have less illness. A healthy eating plan means choosing the right food to eat and cooking food in a healthy way.
___________
Do you often change your toothbrush? Maybe you think it is unnecessary. A study shows old toothbrushes bring disease(病菌). You should often change your toothbrush.
Exercise
Swimming, cycling, jogging, skating, dancing, walking and some other activities can help you stay healthy. You should exercise at least three times a week and for twenty minutes or more each time. Do it!
Plan out your life
You should have breakfast before you go to school. Have a right meal for lunch. Follow a healthy diet.
【小题1】What’s the passage mainly about?

A．Healthy food.

B．Healthy lifestyle.

C．Junk food.

D．Healthy sports.

【小题2】What is the best title for the second passage??

A．Man’s disease.

B．Disease.

C．Your toothbrush.

D．Your bathroom.

【小题3】How long should you exercise each time?

A．Twenty-five minutes.	B．Fifteen minutes.
C．Five minutes.	D．Ten minutes.

【小题4】From the passage, we know __________ can help us stay healthy.

A．right diet

B．exercise and right diet

C．sleep

D．exercise

【小题5】What does a healthy plan mean?
A. Choosing the right food.                        B. Cooking the food in a healthy way.
C. Never eat meat or fresh vegetables.         D. Both A and B.

There have been many great inventions, things that changed the way we live. The first great invention was one that is still very important today- the wheel. This made it easier to carry heavy things and to travel long distances.
For hundreds of years after that there were few inventions that had as much effect(影响) as the wheel. Then in the early 1800’s the world started to change. There was little unknown land left in the world. People didn’t have to explore(探测) much anymore. They began to work instead to make life better.
In the second half of the 19th century many great inventions were made. Among them were the camera, the light and the radio. These all became a big part of our life today.
The first part of the 20th century saw more great inventions. The helicopter in 1909. Movies with sound in 1926. The computer in 1928. And jet planes in 1930. This was also a time when a new material was first made. Nylon came in 1935. It changed the kind of clothes people wear.
By this time most people had a very good life, Man has a desire to explore again, the world was known to man but the stars were not. Man began looking for ways to go into space. Russia made the first step. Then the United States took a step. Since then other countries, including China and Japan, have made their steps into space.
In 1969 man took his biggest step from the earth. Americans first walked on the moon. This is certainly just a beginning thought. New inventions will someday allow us to do things we have never yet dreamed of.
【小题1】This passage talks mainly about________.
A. why cars were very important        
Ｂ. when light was invented
C. which country made the first step into space 
D. how inventions effect people’s life
【小题2】Nylon came out nearly at the same time as _______.

A．radio

B．camera

C．jet planes

D．movies

【小题3】Which of the statements is not true?

A．The wheel was the first great invention that is still very important today. For hundredsof years after that there were many other inventions having as much effect as the wheel.

B．America, Russia, Japan and China began to explore the stars before1969.

C．In the early 1800’s people began to work instead of exploring more unknown land to make life better.

D．New invention will change our life greatly in the future.

【小题4】What does “ a desire” mean in the sentence “Man had a desire to explore more.”?　

A．a good way

B．a new invention

C．a strong wish

D．a wonderful idea

【小题5】Man didn’t have a desire to explore a lot_______.

A．at the beginning of the 1800’s	B．in the 1960’s
C．since the 1900’s	D．from the 1800’s to the 1960’s

You Are What You Eat

Keeping beter eating habits can help you reduce(减少)disease.A healthy eating plan means choosing the right food to eat and preparing foods in a healthy way.

_____________________________

Do you often change your toothbrush?Maybe you think it is not necessary.A study shows old toothbrushes bring disease. You should often change your toothbrush.

Exercise

Swimming,running,skating,skiing,dancing,walking and some other activities can help you keep healthy.You should exercise at least three times a week and for twenty minutes or more each time.Do it.

Plan Out Your Life

You should have breakfast before you go to school.Have a proper（合适的）meal for lunch.Follow a health diet.

1.What’s the passage mainly about?

A. Healthy food.      B. Healthy lifestyle(生活方式).    C. Healthy sports.

2.What’s the best title(标题) for the second paragraph?

A. Man’s Disease     B. Disease       C. Watch the Toothbrush

3.You should exercise at least _________ a week.

A. an hour        B. twenty minutes      C. half an hour

4.From the passage,we know_________ can help us keep healthy.

A. proper diet    B. sleep and exercise    C. proper diet and exercise

5.What does a healthy eating plan mean?

A. Choosing the right foods.

B.Cooking the foods in a healthy way.

C.Both A and B.

 

All of the people have ambitions. An ambition is something we want to do, want to have, or want to be. A student’s ambition, for example, might be to pass his or her exams. An athlete’s ambition could be to win an important competition. A businessman’s ambition is usually to make a lot of money.
Not all ambitions are about success at work, however. Some people just want to be good people, have a happy family or help others.
Ben’s ambition is to be a sports writer. He writes the sports reports for his class newspaper. He likes most sports, but swimming and football are his favorites.
Trudy’s ambition is to be a concert pianist. She is very serious about it and practices every day with her best friend Lily. It is very important to her.
Harry’s ambition changes every day! One day he wants to be an astronaut. The next day he wants to be a pop singer. Then he wants to drive a racing car. His mother would be happy if his ambition was to get up in time for school every day!
What is your ambition?
【小题1】The Chinese meaning of the underlined word “ambition” is “_______”.

A．信心

B．希望

C．理想

D．幻想

【小题2】What does a businessman want?

A．To pass the exams.	B．To win a competition.
C．To make a lot of money.	D．To get a good job.

【小题3】What does Ben want to be?

A．A newspaper reporter.	B．A famous swimmer.
C．A great football player.	D．A sports writer.

【小题4】Why does Trudy practice the piano every day?

A．Because she wants to be a concert pianist.

B．Because she wants to help Lily.

C．Because she wants to be a pop singer.

D．Because her mom tells her to.