Earlier this month, the United States Library of Congress named Katherine Paterson the national ambassador for young people’s literature.

She is only the second person to hold the position. She replaces writer Jon Scieszka,who had served since two thousand eight.

The librarian of Congress, James Billington, said Miz Paterson “represents the finest in literature for young people”. He spoke of the importance of reading in the lives of America’s young people.Miz Paterson has written more than thirty books. She is among only five writers to have won two Newbery Medals. These are among the most important children’s book awards in the United States.

“Bridge to Terabithia” won a Newbery Medal in nineteen seventy-seven. Her book “Jacob Have I

Loved” won the award in nineteen eighty-one.

Katherine Paterson’s books for children are often quite complex. “Bridge to Terabithia” includes

adult themes like depression and death. The book has caused debate because of its place on school

library bookshelves. Some parents think it is too adult for young children. Miz Paterson says the idea

for the book came from a real life experience. Her son’s best friend died in nineteen seventy-four

when she was struck by lightening.

Katherine Paterson is seventy-seven. She began writing as a young mother with three children. But

she says her interest in writing came as a surprise. As a child she had thought about becoming a

Christian religious worker in foreign countries like her parents were.

Katherine Paterson spoke to a gathering of children when she was named ambassador on January

fifth in Washington. She said: “Read for your life. Read for your life as a member of a family, as a part

of a community, as a citizen of this country and a citizen of the world.

1. The Newbery medal is designed for ______.

  A. writers with best books for grown-ups      B. children with best books on adult themes

  C. writers with best books for children        D. children with best books on nature

2. Which of the following is NOT true about the book Bridge to Terabithia?

  A. Its topics include depression and death.     B. It won a Newbery Medal in the 1980s.

  C. Some people think it’s for adults only.      D. The idea for it came directly from real life.

3. As a child, Katherine_______.

  A. had bad relations with her parents       B. showed great interest in writing books

  C. hoped to take part in religious activities     D. began writing books with serious themes

4. The national ambassador for young people’s literature as a position started in_____.

  A. 1977           B. 1981            C. 2008         D. 2009

EVENTS(赛事)

Bicycle tour and race

　  A bike tour and race will be held on August 26 and 27(Sat. & Sun. ). At 5:30am, the riders will leave Tian'anmen Square and ride the first 35 kilometers as a training leg. Then the next 55 kilometers leg, from Yanjiao to Jixian, will be the first competitive part of the tour. The riders and their bikes will then be taken from Jixian to Changli.

　　The second racing leg of the tour will be from Changli to the seaside of Nandaibe, covering a distance of 20 kilometers. Saturday night includes the stay at Nandaihe and supper. Sunday morning is free for play at the seaside. At noon all the people and their bikes will be taken back to Beijing.

　　Cost: 200 Yuan   Telephone: 4675027

Brazilian footballers

　　The Brazilian Football Club will play Beijing Guo'an Team at the Workers Stadium on August 26. The club has four national team players. Also coming is 1994 US World Cup star　Romario ho has promised to play for at least 45 minutes.

　　Ticket prices: 60,100,150 Yuan

　　Time/Date: 4:30 pm, August 26(Sat.)   Telephone:  5012372

Rock climbing

The Third National Rock Climbing Competition will be held on August 26-27 at the Huairou Mountain-climbing Training Base. More than 10 teams from Beijing, Wuhan, Dalian, Jilin and other places will take part in it. A Japanese team will give an exhibition climbing. Free for spectators(观众).

　　Take a long-distance bus from Dongzhimen to Huairou.

　　Time/Dates: 9-12 am, August 26 and 27

　　Telephone: 7143177, 7144850, Wang Zhenghua

1. If you take part in the bike tour, you will ride for _________.

   A. 35 kilometers          B. 55 kilometers   C. 75 kilometers     D. 110 kilometers

2. The underlined word "leg" in "Bicycle tour and race" probably means ________.

   A. race 　    B. practice          C. part of the training   　  D. part of the tour

3. What is special about the Rock climbing competition?

   A. A foreign team takes part in it.      　　

B. You can watch it without paying.

C. You don't have to be a sportsman to take part.

D. The bus trip to the place of the competition is free.

4. If you want to find something to do for Saturday afternoon, which telephone number will you call?

A. 4675027　　　　B. 7143177         C. 5012372　　　　D. 7144850

One event that helps educate young people about things they can do for others is National Youth Service Day (NYSD). Every year on this day, organizations all over the country celebrate young volunteers, educate young people about how they can help their country, and invite them to participate in service projects. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell said, “National Youth Service Day honors young volunteers and is an invitation to others to join hands and do our part as Americans.”
Founded in 1988, NYSD originally took place on a Tuesday. Now the event lasts from Friday until Sunday so that more people can participate in it. More than 200 organizations work together to create thousands of projects each year. Millions of young people across the United States take part in these service projects.
Long before the event, people, community groups, schools, and nonprofit organizations think of ways to meet their communities’ needs. Then, they plan projects for young volunteers. Projects include bringing food to hungry people, tutoring younger children and helping senior citizens. During the event, young people from the community do things like planting neighborhood gardens and cleaning up local parks.
The organizations that contribute to NYSD believe that volunteering and community service are important activities for people of all ages, but especially for young people. Young people who volunteer are more likely to do well in school, vote, and contribute to charities. More important, they help other people and make the world a better place for everyone.

1. 1.

   The aim of National Youth Service Day is to _______.

   1. A.
      educate young people on responsibility
   2. B.
      invite young people to meet each other
   3. C.
      encourage young people to serve others
   4. D.
      celebrate the growth of young people
2. 2.

   On National Youth Service Day, young volunteers will _______.

   1. A.
      do some cleaning in public places
   2. B.
      prepare food for hungry people
   3. C.
      plant vegetables and fruit
   4. D.
      help old people to learn
3. 3.

   The purpose of writing this passage is to _______.

   1. A.
      warn young people not to affect their schooling during volunteering
   2. B.
      keep a record of how young people celebrate their festival
   3. C.
      introduce an event — National Youth Service Day
   4. D.
      advise young people to be cooperative when volunteering

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63．The purpose of writing this passage is to__________

A. advertise a new travel choice to Alaska

B. show us how to begin the travel in Alaska

C. put forward suggestions for the travel in Alaska

D. advise us how to make a plan for Alaska vacation

64．The underlined part in the second paragraph probably means “__________”.

A. to broaden your horizon                               B. to strengthen your body

C. to work out your travel plan                    D. to begin your travel

65．According to the passage, __________.

A. you can take part in many activities including Sunset Viewing

B. the 2010 Alaska travel selection gives you the most choices in the world

C. if you stay at a Alaska Vacation hotel, it is convenient to go sightseeing on foot

D. if you want to go to the coast from the central part, taking a ship is not a bad choice

66．The best title of this passage probably is__________

A. A good option for travelling            B. The most attractive place for travelling

C. Alaska Travel and Accommodation   D. Your dream Alaska Vacation awaits you

67．Where can you most probably see the passage?

A. In a science journal.                     B. In a newspaper.

C. In a website.                   D. In a magazine.

British researchers are looking for volunteers willing to eat a piece of chocolate daily for a year in the name of science. The trial(实验) will explore whether flavonoids (类黄酮) found in chocolate and other foods can reduce the risk of heart disease.

“We are looking at a high risk group first,” said Aedin Cassidy, a biochemist who will lead the study.

Previous studies have suggested dark chocolate is rich in the beneficial flavonoids linked with heart health, but experts note the high sugar and fat content of most commercially available chocolate might cancel out some of the advantages. Other research has also shown dark chocolate appears to lower blood pressure, improve the function of blood vessels (血管)and reduce the risk of heart attack.

This has encouraged companies to market specific products containing dark chocolate. Mars Inc has introduced Cocoa Via, a line of dark and premium chocolates that plays up such health advantages.

Cassidy said her team will also publish findings in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showing that flavonoids found in soy and cocoa appear to have the strongest effects of reducing risk of heart disease.

The next step will organize 150 women volunteers with a specific illness. The researchers will look at whether flavonoids help reduce blood pressure, cut cholesterol levels and improve the condition of blood vessels.

Half the women in the year-long study will eat chocolate containing 30 grams of flavonoids found in soy, cocoa and other fruits and vegetables. The others will get chocolate without the active flavonoids.

“This could help doctors give advice to patients on the type and amount of foods to eat to reduce heart disease risk—and it does not necessarily need to be chocolate,” Cassidy said. “If this trial works we will be able to advise on a whole range of foods. People won't have to go around eating specially designed chocolate.”

1. What is the best title for the passage?

A. Volunteers wanted for chocolate study.               B. Chocolate is good for health.

C. A new research on heart attacks.                    D. Flavonoids found in chocolate.

2. What’s the purpose of the trial?

A. To test the advantages of a new kind of chocolate.

B. To find cures for heart disease.

C. To discover how to control blood pressure.

D. To explore the advantages of flavonoids.

3. From Paragraph 3 we can infer that __________.

A. Cassidy’s team has done several studies on chocolate

B. dark chocolate has proved beneficial to health

C. people should eat much chocolate with high sugar and fat

D. most commercially available chocolate doesn’t contain flavonoids

4. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A. All the volunteers will eat the same chocolate.

B. CocoaVia is a company that produces dark chocolate.

C. People who want to take part in the trial should be healthy.

D. Soy, cocoa, some fruit and vegetables contain flavonoids.