Reading to dogs is an unusual way to help children improve their literacy skills（读写能力）. With their shining brown eyes, wagging tails, and unconditional love, dogs can provide the nonjudgmental listeners needed for a beginning reader to gain confidence, according to Intermountain Therapy Animals (ITA) in Salt Lake City. The group says it is the first program in the country to use dogs to help develop literacy in children, with the introduction of Reading Education Assistance Dogs (READ).

The Salt Lake City Public Library is sold on the idea. “Literacy specialists admit that children who read below the level of their fellow pupils are often afraid of reading aloud in a group, often have lower self-respect, and regard reading as a headache.” said Lisa Myton, manager of the children’s department.

Last November the two groups started “Dog Day Afternoon” in the children’s department of the main library. About 25 children attended each of the four Saturday-afternoon classes, reading for half an hour. Those who attended three of the four classes received a “pawgraphed” book at the last class.

The program was so successful that the library plans to repeat it in April. According to Dana Thumpowsky, public relations manager.

．What is mainly discussed in the text?

A．A special reading program.               B．Advantages of raising dogs.

C．Service in a public library.             D．Children’s reading difficulties.

Specialists use dogs to listen to children reading because they think ________.

    A．dogs are young children’s best friends 

    B．dogs can provide encouragement for shy children

    C．children can play with dogs while reading

    D．children and dogs understand each other

By saying “The Salt Lake City Public Library is sold on the idea,” the writer means the library ____________.

    A．accepts the idea put forward by ITA      B．uses dogs to attract children

    C．has opened a children’s department      D．has decided to train some dogs

A “pawgraphed” book is most probably _________.

    A．a book used in Saturday classes          B．a prize for the children    

C．a book written by the children           D．a gift from parents

Reading to dogs is an unusual way to help children improve their literacy skills （读写能力）With their shining brown eyes, wagging tails, and unconditional love, dogs can provide the nonjudgmental listeners needed for a beginning reader to gain confidence （自信心） , according to Intermountain Therapy Animals (ITA) in Salt Lake City. The group says it is the first program in the country to use dogs to help develop literacy in children, with the introduction of Reading Education Assistance Dogs (READ).

The Salt Lake City Public Library is sold on the idea. “Literacy specialists admit that children who read below the level of their fellow pupils are often afraid of reading aloud in a group, often have lower self-respect, and regard reading as a headache,” said Lisa Myron, manager of the children’s department.

Last November the two groups started “Dog Day Afternoon” in the children’s department of the main library. About 25 children attended each of the four Saturday-afternoon classes, reading for half an hour. Those who attended three of the four classes received a “pawgraphed” book at the last class.

The program was so successful that the library plans to repeat it in April, according to Dana Thumpowsky, public relations manager.

What is mainly discussed in the text?

A. Children’s reading difficulties.               B. Advantages of raising dogs.

C. Service in a public library.                    D. A special reading program.

Specialists use dogs to listen to children reading because they think _______.

A. dogs are young children’s best friends

B. children can play with dogs while reading

C. dogs can provide encouragement for shy children

D. children and dogs understand each other

By saying “The Salt Lake City Public Library is sold on the idea”, the writer means the library_______.

A. uses dogs to attract children           B. accepts the idea put forward by ITA

C. has opened a children's department    D. has decided to train some dogs

A “pawgraphed” book is most probably _______.

A. a book used in Saturday classes         B. a book written by the children

C. a prize for the children                    D. a gift from parent

PHUKET, Thailand—— Narkis Koral, 23, and Oren Mesika, 24, had no sense of the terrible tsunami that hit Southeast Asia: They were having “a good time ”on the island of Koh Chang in Thailand and only learned of their present situation hours later, through friends who received phone calls from home.

Even though the pair, both from Arad, escaped the tsunami’ s anger, it did not change the fact that their parents were worried  

“Our mothers worried a lot, ”says Koral. “They asked us to leave immediately and return to Israel. They offered to arrange flights, anything we wanted, just return. ”

Dana Kuchansky’ s father is also worried. Kuchansky, 28, and her partner were in Kofun, a small island hit hard by the tsunami. After a night spent on the top of the mountain in the center of the island, the two were taken for free to Bangkok, where they were expected to fly to Israel.

On the telephone, the worried father made sure his daughter received the replacement tickets lost in the tsunami 15 minutes later, he called her again, to remind her of the flight number.

Most of the Israelis visiting Thailand are young and on a limited budget. Their parents are used to having insufficient contact with their children. In most cases, this contact is when the phone call or the use of the Internet is cheap, even if the difference between "expensive" and "cheap" is less than 50 agorot, or cents.

In one case this past week, a mother called the mobile telephone of each of the six embassy（大使馆）staff in Thailand, one after the other. The same duty officer answered all six.

The common reaction of both parents and children, once telephone contact was made, was sobbing with relief that the ordeal（严峻考验）had left them unharmed.

According to the text, Narkis and Oren________.

A . called their friends to tell them what had happened

B . had great fun even if they knew the tsunami had come

C . knew nothing about the tsunami until their friends rang them up

D . turned out calm in face of the tsunami

Which of the following is NOT true according to the text?

A. Kuchansky and her partner had their tickets missing in the tsunami.

B. All the parents mentioned are worried about their children’ s safety.

C. Most embassy staff were too busy in their work to answer mobile phone calls.

D. The parents of the young Israelis don’ t have enough time to contact their kids.

The underlined word “insufficient” in Paragraph 6 probably means________.

A. unsuitable         B. not enough              C. unnecessary             D. irregular

It can be inferred that ________.

A . 50 agorot is too little an amount for the ordinary Israelis

B . as an official in charge, the mother made so many calls

C . the writer may come from Israel rather than from some other country

D . all the young couples traveling in Thailand remained safe and sound

第三部分阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）
A teenager says he convinced the White House that he was Iceland’ s president and managed to schedule a call with George W.Bush , but was found out before he got to talk to the US president.
“My call was transferred around a few times until I got hold of Bush’s secretary and managed to book a call meeting with Bush the following Monday evening ,” Vifill Atlaso, 16, told Reuters.
Several Icelandic police turned up at his door two days later---the day of the planned call---and took him in for questioning.
“They told me the CIA had called the National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police and asked if the police could try and find out where I received that phone number from,” said Atlason.
The teenager said he was unable to recall where he had discovered the telephone number of the White House.
“I know I’v had it on my phone card for at least four years now and that an Icelandic friend gave it to me, but I don’t remember who,”he said.
At a White House news conference on Monday, Bush’s spokeswoman Dana Perino said her understanding was that Atlason had called a public line “that anybody can call”, according to a transcript(记录).
Jon Buartmarz, Chief Superintendent at Iceland’s national police headquarters, said Icelandic police had not spoken to their US counterparts about the matter. He declinced(拒绝) to say how police were tipped off (通告) about Atlason’s call.
“As far as we’re concerned, there will not be any further investigation, and I don’t know if the American government is taking any action because of this,”he said.
1.According to the passage, when did Atlason call the White House ?
A.On Friday      B. On Saturday     C. On Sunday    D. On Monday
2.What does the underlined “it ”refer to ?
A.The telephone number of the White House.
B.The telephone number of his friend.
C.A White House news conference .
D.CIA
3.How did Atlason get the telephone number of the White House ?
A.From a newspaper   
B.From Bush’s secertary
C.From an Icelandic friend  
D.By calling the National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police.
4.What is the main idea of the article ?
A.An Icelandic teenager tricks the the White House
B.CIA found out the truth of a trick.
C.A teenager pretended to be the Icelandic president.
D.The telephone number of the Whiite House is known by public.

Spring is just around the corner and it’s a time to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. Here is a selection of festivals around the country that are a great excuse to travel and get back in the spring sunshine.

Dana Point Festival of the Whales

Dana Point, California

March 7 to 8 and 14 to 15, 2010

Each year, over two sunny weekends in March the town of Dana Point, California celebrates the return of migratory California gray whales to this part of the Pacific Ocean. Festivities include whale-watching, an arts festival and educational hands-on activities for the entire family. Prices start at $29 per adult and $19 for children. For more information, visit:

www.dpfestivalofwhales.com

Chandler Ostrich Festival

Chandler, Arizona

March 13 to 15, 2010

Chandler is the center of ostrich ranching (鸵鸟经营) in the USA. You can see jockeys ride these feathered beasts around the ostrich track at Tumbleweed Park. General admission is $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, $7 for children aged 5 to 12 and kids 4 and under are free. For more information, visit:

www.ostrichfestival.com

Festival of Houses and Gardens

Charleston, South Carolina

March 19 to April 18, 2010

The Historic Charleston Foundation gives curious travelers the opportunity to explore gardens of some of the finest private residences in America. Each 3-hour tour (afternoons from 2 to 5 pm and evenings from 6 to 9 pm) lets you visit 8 to 10 properties dating from the American colonial period. Prices range from $25 to $45. For more information, visit:

www.historiccharleston.org

Tulip Time Festival

Holland, Michigan

May 1 to 9, 2010

You don’t need to travel to the Netherlands this spring to see and smell some of the world’s finest tulips (郁金香). The annual Tulip Time Festival, one of the largest flower festivals in the country, will kick off with fireworks on May 1. Admission fee ranges from $6 for the children’s area to $38 for theatre tickets. Tickets and more information are available at:

www.tuliptime.com

A couple with their 4-year-old son will go whale-watching. They have to pay _____.

A. $58        B. $38       C. $48      D. $77

The underlined word “jockeys” in the passage is closest in meaning to _____.

A. judges       B. children     C. riders            D. beginners

A group of travelers who want to have fun in mid-April will go to _____.

A. Festival of Houses and Gardens      B. Chandler Ostrich Festival

C. Dana Point Festival of the Whales    D. Tulip Time Festival

Which of the following is TRUE of Tulip Time Festival?

A. It is held in a town in the Netherlands.

B. It will start with fireworks on the first day.

C. It is the largest flower festival in the world.

D. Admission is free for children.