Every year, on the International Volunteers Day, the world thinks highly of the work of millions of people who give their time to help others. The work they are doing is important. As Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations said“…each contribution—no matter how small—can help make a difference.” Lu Hao and Meng Yu are just two examples of the 13.5 million young Chinese Volunteers who want to make a contribution to society.

Lu Hao is a middle school student, who joined the “1 helps 1” scheme1 of the Youth Volunteer Community Development Project last year. Every Tuesday and Friday he visits an elderly gentleman who lives alone. “Mr. Zhao is weak and cannot do much for himself, so I help with shopping, do jobs in the house, or read the newspaper to him. With his help, Mr. Zhao’s health has improved, and he feels more energetic. Lu Hao has also found their relationship beneficial2. In the past history was his weakest subject, but it is one which greatly interests Mr. Zhao and they often discuss it. Mr. Zhao has encourages Lu Hao to study history lessons harder and his grades have improved a great deal.

Meng Yu is studying for her master’s degree in Canada. She has a busy timetable, but still finds time for voluntary activities during the weekends. “Last month I took part in an event to help starving children in some of the least developed countries. Twenty-two of us went without food for 30 hours! It was a challenge. We wanted to improve awareness3 of hunger because every day children are dying of starvation. It was a great success. The local newspaper and TV reported it and we received many money.” Meng Yu and her classmates organized this activity to raise money for a good cause, and in the process she formed strong friendships.

Lu Hao and Meng Yu are helping to make other people’s lives better, and they also make great friends, gain new skills and increase their chances of getting the job of their dreams. Would you like to make a difference by becoming a volunteer?

  阅读短文，回答问题。

According to the text, what is the reason why young people choose to do voluntary work?

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Lu Hao has chosen to volunteer on two evenings every week . How has Meng Yu chosen to give her time? Why has she made a different choice?

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What benefits has his voluntary work brought Lu Hao?

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What benefits did MengYu’s voluntary work bring the starving children?

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请细读以下这封信，根据信中提到的问题写一封回函。

Dear Li Ming,

　　 How are you?

　　 I have learned from your blog that your school is conducting Research-oriented Learning, which has aroused my great interest. I’m keen on knowing more about it. Can I ask you some questions?

　　 First, why are you attempting this new learning method?

　　 Second, how do you conduct Research-oriented Learning?

　　 Third, what is the advantage of this learning method?

　　 Last but not least, did you meet with any difficulty or setback? What are they, if any?

　　 I would appreciate it if you could reply to these questions.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Yours,

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Wang Hao

参考词汇：研究性学习 Research-oriented Learning

注意：1. 对所给要点逐一陈述，适当发挥，不要简单翻译。

　　 2. 词数150左右。开头和结尾已经写好，不计入总词数。

When many people are worried that there are no more heroes in the modern

times two university students who lost their lives to rescue drowning children have

shown that heroes still exist（存在）．
　　 According to the Inner Mongolia Morning Post，the tragedy（悲剧） occurred on the afternoon of December 14,2002 when three school students skating on a frozen lake in Qingcheng Park in Hohhot fell through the ice into the freezing water．More than 20 university students who happened to be near the spot immediately went to the rescue of the children．
　 Two children were quickly rescued，but the third died．The child's body was not found for three hours．Two of the rescuers，Liu Ye and Hao Longbiao，also died of cold and exhaustion（筋疲力尽）．The body of Hao who took the lead in jumping into the lake was not found until the next day．
　 A student who was unwilling to tell his name said he and his classmates from the local college were taking photos at the lake. When they heard the children's cries for help, they went to the ice hole hand in hand to rescue the children．But the ice kept breaking, causing most of them to fall into the icy water．
　 Local residents held mourning ceremonies（祭奠仪式） at the lake． Eight of the students were seriously affected by the freezing water and were being kept in hospital for further observation, but their lives were no longer in danger．
46. The underlined word “occurred” here means“＿＿＿＿”．
　　 A. employed　　 B. mixed　　　 C. guided　　　　D. happened
47 When the three students fell into water, the university students were ＿＿．
　　 A. skating on the ice　　　　　　 B. taking photos at the lake
　　 C. having a picnic　　　　　　　　 D. walking along the lake
48 Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage？
　　 A. Three students died on the same day in all．
　　 B. Hao Longbiao’s body was found on December 14,2002．
　　 C. The university students didn’t think it dangerous to save the drowning

children in the lake．
　　 D. Local residents were not brave in face of danger．
49. It can be inferred that ＿＿＿＿．
　　 A. people think little of the two university students' death
　　 B. the ice on the lake wasn't strong enough to skate on
　　 C. some students regretted for what they had done
　　 D. heroes don't agree with the steps of modern times
50. The author wrote the passage to ＿＿＿＿．
A. warn people of the danger of skating on ice

B. call on people to learn from the brave university students

C. tell us a tragedy

D. advise university students to cherish（珍惜） their lives