Perhaps once you got free plastic bags when you shopped at the supermarket. But now things have changed already.

   Since June 1, 2008, China has banned(禁止) its shops and supermarkets providing free plastic bags. Shoppers have to pay for bags if they need them. “We hope it will encourage people to use cloth bags and baskets for their vegetables,” said a spokesman from the Chinese government. “Plastic bags have led to a big waste of energy and on the other hand, they pollute(污染) the air, rivers and soil. It takes around 1000 years for the bags to break down. They are also dangerous to wildlife, which eats them without knowing.”

  A large number of Chinese people have begun to make their own cloth bags. Li Linwei, a student in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, made a bag out of an old dress of her mother’s. “ I have given it to my grandmother as a Mother’s Day present. From now on, she will use it when she goes shopping.” said the girl.

根据短文内容，回答下列问题。（5分）

1. Since what time, supermarkets have been stopped from providing free plastic bags?

2. Without free plastic bags, what will people use when they go shopping according to the

  passage?

3. Do plastic bags pollute the environment?

4. How long will it take the plastic bags to break down?

5. What present did Li Linwei give her grandmother on Mother’s Day?

I was quite close to my grandmother, Julia. We lived with her and then she lived with us. She was a very nice person, both kind and patient. She taught me to read and write when I was young and helped me to be interested in stories and poems.

 In my mind, my grandmother was a great cook. She cooked more delicious food than anything you can eat in a restaurant today. She always cooked for family and friends.

 My grandmother was also a hard worker both at home and at work. I can still remember the difficult time when we were very poor. At that time, my grandmother was already sixty years old but she worked in a hospital for a long time every day –not in the office but doing the cleaning outside and taking care of me at the same time while my mom was at work!

My brother and sisters also love her. We will never forget our grandmother. She is really important in our lives and is always there for all of us in one way or another. I am proud to be her grandson.

1.The writer’s grandmother taught him to     when he was young.

A. read and write           B. sing and dance  

C. draw and sing           D. play and learn

2.His grandmother always made     for family and friends.

A. cakes    B. cards      C. clothes      D. meals

3.While his mom was ___ , his grandmother took care of him.

A. at home   B. at work   C. out of work   D. in hospital

4.At the age of 60, his grandmother     in a hospital for a long time every day.

A. cooked meals         B. worked in the office

C. did the cleaning       D. stayed with his mother.

5.Which of the following is not TRUE?

A. His grandmother is hard-working.

B. Her grandchildren all love her.

C. His grandmother could read.

D. His grandmother worked in a hospital for taking care of him.

It snowed again.My seventh Christmas was round the corner.I dreamed of getting the present from Father Christmas until my elder sister dropped the bomb.“There is no Father Christmas.” 
I ran to my grandmother’s house, for she always told the truth.Grandmother was at home. I told _1_everything.“No Father Christmas?”she was a little_2_.“Don’t belive it.Put on your coat,and let’s go.”
“Go?Where，Grandma?” I asked.
“Kerby’s Store.”
As we walked through its doors. Grandma handed me the dollars and said.“Take the _3_and buy something for someone who needs it.I’ll wait for you in the car.”Then she turned and walked out of the Kerby’s.
For a few seconds I just stood there，holding the money，wondering_4_to buy，and who to buy it for.
I thought of_5_I knew my family，my friends，my neighbours…I suddenly thought of Bobbie Decbar， a _6_with bad breath and messy hair.He sat right  behind me_7_Mrs. Polack’s class.
Bobbie_8_went to any party during the winter.His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, _9_we all knew that he didn’t have a cough,and he didn’t have a coat.I decided to buy Bobbie a red warm coat_10_he would like.
That evening, grandma helped  me wrap the coat in Christmas paper and ribbons, and_11_“To Bobbie.From Father Christmas”on it.Grandma told me Father Christmas never let  people know that he _12_ them.Then she drove me over to Bobbie’s home ,telling that I was helping Father Christmas_13_ the presents.
Grandma parked the car along the street.and we hid behind the trees near Bobbie’s home .Then Grandma said to me.“All right , Father Christmas get going.”
I took a deep breath，rushed to his front door，put the present down_14_the door，rang the doorbell and flew back to the safety of the _15_and Grandma.We waited breathlessly in the dark for the front door to open.Finally it did and there stood Bobbie.
That night ,I realized that Father Christmas was alive and well.and we were on his team.