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 2, 000 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 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.

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

2.In the US _______.

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

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

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

 

Win a week in England!
You still don’t know what to do this summer? Well, here’s your chance to win a one-week language course in Kent, England! Free4Fun and ETC (English Travel Connections) are giving  away two trips to Rochester. This historic city is less than an hour’s drive from London and close  to the sea resort of Herne Bay. It is also the home of one of England’s most famous writers,  Charles Dickens. The town of Rochester is in Southeast England. Charles Dickens often wrote  about it in his books. His home, Gad’s Hill, is there, too. A popular attraction is Rochester Castle, a large Norman fortress（堡垒）. It was built in the 11th century and rebuilt during the 14th  century. Other attractions are Rochester Cathedral, which was built during the 13th century, and Dickens Centre. It has got its name in honour of Dickens himself.
The trip to England includes:
*  travel by train (via the Eurotunnel) to and from any railway station in Germany
*  room and full board with a guest family for one week
*  language course in small groups
*  two trips to London
*  large choice of sports and entertainment
*  German-speaking advisors available 24 hours a day
Interested? All you have to do is to answer the following question:
When was Charles Dickens born?
So, take the chance and send your answer by 1 May to:
Free4Fun "Rochester"
Free4Fun, 24 Elphinstone Road, Hastings, 2FQ6VJ
fax: 089 / 85 763-103
e-mail: free4fun@netlight.com
The two winners will be contacted directly before 5 May. They will also be announced in the June issue of Free4Fun. Good luck!
For further information contact:
phone: (03212) 144 43
fax: (03212) 144 42
e-mail: info@etc. com
【小题1】Rochester Cathedral was built in the         .

A．1400s

B．1300s

C．1200s

D．1100s

【小题2】What activities can you participate in during the trip?

A．Enjoying sports and entertainment.

B．Learning the German language.

C．Traveling by train with a guest family.

D．Working as a language advisor.

【小题3】If you want to win a prize you have to send your answer to         .

A．the June issue of Free4fun	B．ETC
C．info@etc. com	D．free4fun@netlight. com

【小题4】This ad was designed to target           .

A．Italians

B．Germans

C．Europeans

D．Americans

Imagine landing in a foreign country where you cannot speak the language, understand the culture and don’t know anybody. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a friend who could help you out?
John Smith, an English explorer who landed in America in 1607, found the best friend ever. She was a Native American named Pocahontas (1595-1617). And she did more than teach Smith the language: she saved his life, twice.
Smith was captured(捕捉) by members of Pocahontas’s tribe(部落) and was going to be killed. But for some reason, the Chief’s daughter, Pocahontas, felt sorry for Smith (who was probably the first white man she had ever seen) and threw her body over his to protect him. Smith returned safely to the small village he was living in. During the winter the English settlers did not know how to get food from nature. Pocahontas often brought food for Smith and his friends.
A year later Pocahontas’s father tried to kill Smith again because the Native Americans were very scared the English would try to take over their land. Pocahontas warned him and he was able to escape. Later she became a Christian and eventually married an Englishman named John Rolfe. She spent the last year of her life in London. Pocahontas has become an American legend. Her life story has been re-created in many books and films, including Disney’s 1995 film, Pocahontas.
One of the reasons she is so popular is that many Europeans look at Pocahontas as an excellent example of how a minority can adjust into the majority. Pocahontas is also respected because of her selfless love. She proved that people can be kind and loving even to people of a different race or culture. John Smith was very different from Pocahontas but she could see he was a good man and that was all that mattered. No race or country owns goodness, love and loyalty.
【小题1】 What difficulties might early European settlers meet in America EXCEPT ___________?

A．the fierce conflict with Native Americans

B．lack of food in winter

C．bad-tempered natives who enjoyed killing

D．unfamiliarity with a foreign land

【小题2】 Pocahontas saved John Smith twice because ___________.

A．she believed in general kindness even to people of a different race

B．she wanted to become a Christian and marry an English

C．he was the first white man she had ever seen in her life

D．she was on the settlers’ side and against her cruel father

【小题3】Which is Not an element to make Pocahontas a legend?

A．Her tribal background and her marriage to a white settler.

B．The recreation of her life story in the 1995 Disney film.

C．Her complicated life story different from common people’s

D．Her selfless help to people regarded as enemy of her tribe.

【小题4】What can we infer from the passage?

A．People from different cultures can never really get along well with each other.

B．The Europeans think the early settlers should have learned to adjust to the local cultures.

C．The creation of America is based on the settlers’ victory over the Native Americans.

D．The battles between early settlers and Native Americans resulted from their fighting for land.

From the earliest times, man has been interested in art. People have often worked together to collect and save the world's art treasures.

Fine art treasures from many countries are kept in an art museum called the Louvre in Paris, France. The works of art have been collected by the people of France over many centuries.

The Louvre has not always been a museum. The first building was a fort(炮台). In 1190, it was the king's castle with high walls and a round tower. It had a moat to keep out his enemies.5u

Over the years, the number of buildings around the castle grew. By 1350, the castle was no longer needed as a fort. The Louvre became a palace home for French kings and queens.

During times of peace, new treasures were brought in. During days of war, many treasures were stolen, and the buildings were damaged.

When Francis I became king of France in 1515, he brought in artists from many countries. One of the artists was Leonardo da Vinci from Italy. Da Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa’ is the best known painting in the museum today.

In 1793, the Louvre became a public museum, just as it is now. It is a place where art treasures have been saved for everyone to enjoy.

On the whole, this passage is mainly about________.???

A. an art museum called the Louvre   B. an Italian artist named Leonardo da Vinci

C. a king of France named Francis I ?D. the best known painting in Louvre

Which of the following is not true？

A. The Louvre used to be a fort a very long time ago．

B. French kings and queens once lived in it．

C. The Louvre was taken by enemies in 1190．

D. Many treasures were brought into the Louvre over the years．

Why is it good for great art to be kept in public museums？

A. It helps people remember who the King of France is．

B. It keeps people out of the palaces．

C. It gives everyone a chance to enjoy good art．

D. It helps people to know who is the greatest artist．

From the passage we know that _____．

A. it is not possible for treasures to be stolen

B. old forts always make the best museums

C. great art should be shared with all the people

D. king Francis I of France brought in artists from an old fort

 

Win a week in England!

You still don’t know what to do this summer? Well, here’s your chance to win a one-week language course in Kent, England! Free4Fun and ETC (English Travel Connections) are giving  away two trips to Rochester. This historic city is less than an hour’s drive from London and close  to the sea resort of Herne Bay. It is also the home of one of England’s most famous writers,  Charles Dickens. The town of Rochester is in Southeast England. Charles Dickens often wrote  about it in his books. His home, Gad’s Hill, is there, too. A popular attraction is Rochester Castle, a large Norman fortress（堡垒）. It was built in the 11th century and rebuilt during the 14th century. Other attractions are Rochester Cathedral, which was built during the 13th century, and Dickens Centre. It has got its name in honour of Dickens himself.

The trip to England includes:

*  travel by train (via the Eurotunnel) to and from any railway station in Germany

*  room and full board with a guest family for one week

*  language course in small groups

*  two trips to London

*  large choice of sports and entertainment

*  German-speaking advisors available 24 hours a day

Interested? All you have to do is to answer the following question:  When was Charles Dickens born?

So, take the chance and send your answer by 1 May to:

Free4Fun "Rochester"

Free4Fun, 24 Elphinstone Road, Hastings, 2FQ6VJ

fax: 089 / 85 763-103    e-mail: free4fun@netlight.com

The two winners will be contacted directly before 5 May. They will also be announced in the June issue of Free4Fun. Good luck!

For further information, contact:

phone: (03212) 144 43    fax: (03212) 144 42       e-mail: info@etc. com

1.What activities can you participate in during the trip?

A. Working as a language advisor.                         B. Learning the German language.

C. Traveling by train with a guest family.              D. Enjoying sports and entertainment.

2.If you want to win a prize you have to send your answer to          .

A. the June issue of Free4fun                                       B. free4fun@netlight. com

C. info@etc. com                                                             D. ETC

3.The persons         are likely to win the free trip.

A. who know the birth date of Charles Dickens     B. who are attracted by Rochester Castle

C. who are contacted and announced by Free4Fun and ETC

D. who know more about Charles Dickens’ works

4.This ad was probably designed to target            .

A. Italians                                B. Europeans                 C. Germans                    D. Americans