Mulch is a protective cover of material that is spread on top of soil.It is usually made out of organic material, like crop waste.Farmers may keep the remains of maize or other crops on top of the soil.This creates mulch on the soil surface.The plant remains help protect the soil against wind and water damage.Mulching is one of the best things people can do for their plants.It also helps keep the soil from getting dry, and reduces the need for watering plants.It also limits temperature changes in the soil.And it stops unwanted plants, or weeds，from growing.
Organic mulch improves the condition of soil.As the mulch breaks down, it provides material which keeps the soil from getting hard.This improves the growth of roots and increases the movement of water through the soil.It also improves the ability of the soil to hold water. Organic mulch contains nutrients for plants.It also provides a good environment for earthworms and other helpful organisms in the soil.
It is easy to find organic mulch materials.Cut­up leaves and small pieces of tree bark can be used.Grass cuttings are also a good mulch for plants. Mulch from newspapers works well in controlling weeds.
The best time to add mulch depends on your goal.Mulch provides a thick barrier between the soil and the air.This helps to reduce temperature changes in the soil. As a result，mulched soil will be cooler than other soil in the summer.In winter, the mulched soil may not freeze as deeply as other soil.The best time is after the ground has frozen, but before the coldest weather arrives.Spreading mulch before the ground has frozen may attract small animals searching for a warm place to spend the winter.Delaying the spreading should prevent this problem.The animals will probably find another place to live.
【小題1】The author tells us the following EXCEPT________.

A．what mulch is and its benefits
B．the best time to add mulch
C．what can be mulched on the soil surface
D．the bad effects of mulch
【小題2】The following can be used as organic materials to make mulch EXCEPT________.
A．tree barks B．cut­up leaves
C．grass cuttings D．plastic
【小題3】Which of the following is the benefit of mulch?
A．Protecting the soil against wind and water damage.
B．Keeping the soil wet and reducing the need for watering plants.
C．Reducing temperature changes in the soil and stopping unwanted weeds
growing.
D．All of the above.
【小題4】The main idea of Paragraph 2 is that organic mulch can________.
A．improve the condition of soil
B．improve the ability of the soil to hold water
C．provide a good environment for earthworms
D．improve the growth of roots and increase the movement of water through the
soil
【小題5】From the last paragraph, we know ________.
A．the best time to add mulch is in spring and summer
B．the best time to add mulch is after the coldest weather arrives
C．the best time to add mulch depends on weather
D．choosing the best time to add mulch can avoid attracting small animals


【小題1】D
【小題2】D
【小題3】D
【小題4】A
【小題5】D

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(2013·高考四川卷，E)Fear may be felt in the heart as well as in the head，according to a study that has found a link between the cycles of a beating heart and the chance of someone feeling fear.
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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源： 題型：閱讀理解

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The largest black holes are called “supermassive”(超大質(zhì)量黑洞). These black holes have masses that are more than one million suns together. Scientists have found proof that every large galaxy contains a supermassive black hole at its center. The supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy has a mass equal to about four million suns and would fit inside a very large ball that could hold a few million Earths.
Scientists think the smallest black holes formed when the universe began. Stellar black holes are made when the center of a very big star falls in upon itself, or falls apart. When this happens, it exploded part of the star into space. Scientists think supermassive black holes were made at the same time as the galaxy they are in.
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When a black hole and a star are close together, high-energy light is made. This kind of light cannot be seen with human eyes. Scientists use satellites and telescopes in space to see the high-energy light.
【小題1】The gravity of a black hole may become so strong that light cannot get out when ____________.

A．the star is going to die
B．special tools are used on it
C．other stars come close to it
D．it is seen from the space telescopes
【小題2】According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
A．A black hole can be very tiny but extremely heavy.
B．The gravity of a black hole holds all light in its center.
C．Scientists observe high-energy light through their own eyes.
D．Some small black holes came into being as early as the universe.
【小題3】The underlined word “galaxy” in Paragraph 5 means __________.
A．a(chǎn) black holeB．the Milky Way
C．a(chǎn) series of starsD．a(chǎn) planet near the earth
【小題4】What does the last sentence in Paragraph 5 suggest?
A．Neither the sun nor the earth is as heavy as a black hole.
B．There is a supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way.
C．The supermassive black hole had existed before the Milky Way was formed.
D．There is a reason why the large black holes are called “supermassive”.
【小題5】The last two paragraph mainly focus on the question of _________.
A．what a black hole is
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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源： 題型：閱讀理解

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As for the progress of protecting wild animals, people at Wild Friends devote all their energy to this work. Over the last weeks, they have been able to send many of the birds and rabbits that came here earlier this spring back to nature.
【小題1】Which is the busiest season for workers at Wild Friends?

A．SpringB．Summer.C．Autumn.D．Winter.
【小題2】Which of the following will probably injure young birds?
A．Giving them food they don't like.B．Letting them play with children.
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【小題3】If a young healthy bird is lying on the ground, you should ________.
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