What a busy day! The three boys were fed, bathed and changed into their nightclothes. Mary had ________ them a story and finally they were asleep. “Babysitting the three boys aged eight, six and four is extremely ________,” she thought.

“Sleep,” she considered, “if only I could!” But she had difficult homework to complete. Leaning back, she ________ her feet onto the sofa to get comfortable. Whoever said babysitting was a(n) ________ way to make money obviously hadn’t met the three boys, she thought. The television was on, the room was warm, and the lights were dim. Mary’s ________ felt heavier and heavier. I mustn’t sleep, she thought — which was ________ what she did, of course.

Strangely enough, she soon ________ that she was a world-famous chef. She made a ________ and wore diamonds and designer clothes. Most days she relaxed by the pool, meeting the rich and famous or ________— her favorite hobby. She ________ took the leading role in her own TV show.

That is, until she became too ________. “I am definitely the best in the world,” she thought, as she prepared a tasty chicken dish. But ________ seemed to go right. She spilt the flour, she dropped an egg and she cut her finger. Despite all the troubles, she ________ to get the chicken into the stove. Soon, smoke blanketed the room. The chicken was on fire. ________ set in, but Mary could not run—she was ________ to the spot. She tried hard to move, but could not, ________ a sharp sound awoke her.

She got shocked and confused —________ was pouring from the kitchen. Rushing to investigate, she was met by three ________ little faces and some very burnt bread. “Sorry, we were hungry and you were ________, so we tried to make some bread.” explained a boy. Relieved, Mary made them a snack and sent them back to bed. She ________ them never to fall asleep on the job again!

1.A. givenB. writtenC. toldD. taught

2.A. successfulB. helpfulC. tiringD. surprising

3.A. shookB. putC. bentD. kept

4.A. difficultB. boringC. importantD. easy

5.A. eyesB. mindC. heartD. legs

6.A. nicelyB. exactlyC. curiouslyD. carelessly

7.A. realizedB. remindedC. learnedD. dreamt

8.A. decisionB. fortuneC. businessD. plan

9.A. cookingB. readingC. runningD. babysitting

10.A. justB. everC. evenD. only

11.A. selfishB. proudC. stubbornD. sensitive

12.A. everythingB. somethingC. anythingD. nothing

13.A. tiredB. arrangedC. managedD. prepared

14.A. PanicB. PainC. NoiseD. Stress

15.A. frozenB. draggedC. pushedD. brought

16.A. becauseB. untilC. asD. unless

17.A. smokeB. lightC. waterD. fire

18.A. cheerfulB. strangeC. guiltyD. confident

19.A. busyB. hungryC. worriedD. asleep

20.A. promisedB. allowedC. expectedD. persuaded

Niagara Falls

The Niagara Falls consist of three sections. The large Canadian falls—with their distinctive curved shape—are also known as the Horseshoe Falls. They are separated by Goat Island from the American Falls, which are separated from the narrow Bridal Veil Falls by a small island at their south end. Each side of the falls offers a different perspective, and it is always best to visit both sides to maximize your experience.

Views of Niagara Falls are free and accessible. Access to the riverside walks and parks offer great views. You can walk across to Goat Island on the bridge on foot.

Cave of the Winds, ? +1 716 278-1730. Daily 9 AM-7:30 PM from Spring 2016. A lift takes you 175 feet down to a walkway that leads you right to the bottom of the Bridal Veil Falls. You will definitely get a feel for the true power of the falls! This is the closest you can get to the falls on either side without actually leaping into them! Raincoats and slippers are provided, and you will definitely need them. Adults: $12; 6-12 year: $8; younger children: Free, but must be 42 inches or taller.

Maid of the Mist. A boat ride, taking you down around the bottom of the falls. Some information is given about the falls, but the real experience is looking up at the falls from below and feeling the mist coming off the falls (hence the name). Wear a raincoat to avoid getting wet. Boats leave from both the American and Canadian sides, so you may want to check the exchange rates to see which will be more cost-effective when you visit! April-October.

The Niagara Gorge Discovery Center. Although it’s easy to enjoy the falls visually, the Discovery Center provides another way to appreciate the magnificence of the falls. Exhibits show the history of the entire area, including the falls, how they were originally formed, and how they've changed over time.

Aquarium of Niagara, 701 Whirlpool St, toll-free: +1 800-500-4609. 9AM-5PM. The aquarium at Niagara Falls. $10.

Niagara Scenic Trolley. Use this to get around the park more quickly if needed. $2 adults/$1 children for the entire day. Hop on and off.

You can combine all these attractions with a Niagara USA Discovery pass for $35, which you can purchase at the attractions.

Must stay a night and see the night view of the Niagara Falls. It is equally beautiful.

During the winter season, a lot of repair work of the falls, tours, and surroundings takes place. Many areas, such as Terrapin Point and Luna Island, are closed due to slippery conditions. Winter brings a different kind of beauty to the falls and a visit during that time is certainly worthwhile, but if you want to experience the full range, plan to come in the warmer months.

1.How much do the Browns (Mr. Brown, Mrs. Brown, an 8-year-old, a 4-year-old) need to pay to visit Cave of the Winds?

A. $ 12.B. $ 24.C. $ 32.D. $ 35.

2.What can we learn from the text?

A. Tourists in Niagara Falls can enjoy the full range of scenery in winter.

B. Tourists in Niagara Gorge Discovery Center can have a feel of history.

C. Tourists are provided with boat rides from both the American and Canadian sides all year round.

D. The Niagara Falls have three sections: the large Canadian falls, the Horseshoe Falls and the American Falls.

“Never talk to strangers.” Many children are taught this simple rule as a precaution against abduction(誘拐). In June, 2005, an 11-year-old boy was lost in the Utah wilderness for four days. During that time, he stayed on the path. He saw people searching for him but deliberately hid from them, afraid someone might “steal” him. Eventually, the unfortunate game of hide-and-seek ended and he was found. According to the Canada Safety Council, this alarming incident shows how unwise it is to instill(灌輸) a fear of strangers in children. The “stranger danger” message can prevent children from developing the social skills and judgment needed to deal effectively with real-life situations. In a difficult situation, a stranger could be their lifeline to safety.

To have a child go missing is a parent’s worst nightmare. The threat of abduction by a stranger is minimal when compared with other possible reasons for a disappearance. In 2004, there were 67,266 missing-children cases in Canada. Only 31 involved abduction; in most of those cases the abductor was a relative, friend, or person known to the family. There were 671 cases of children wandering off, and 332 cases of abductions by a parent. Almost 80 percent of all cases were runaways. These statistics cast doubt on the idea that children should never talk to strangers. Wandering off is more common — but a lost children may have to call upon a stranger for help, and must develop the ability to judge what kind of people to approach. The “never talk to strangers” rule does not protect children in the situations they are most likely to face. On top of this, it can be confusing. Adults do not model the behavior; they often talk to strangers. A child may not know how to tell who is a stranger, and who is not.

For young children, nothing replaces close supervision(監(jiān)管). Pre-schoolers do not understand risk and tend to act without thinking. Children need to develop habits and attitudes that will protect them from the real threats and dangers they may face. The Canada Safety Council encourages parents to give their children age-appropriate positive messages about safety, bearing in mind how youngsters may understand their world.

1.Which of the following statements is NOT true about the 11-year-old boy?

A. He practiced the “never talk to strangers” rule.

B. He hid from the rescuers to avoid possible abduction.

C. He eventually showed up when his hide-and-seek game ended.

D. He stayed where he was, expecting the coming of familiar people.

2.Among the possible reasons for the missing-children cases in Canada, which one is the most frequent?

A. Being abducted by a parent.B. Wandering off.

C. Being abducted by strangers.D. Running away.

3.The “never talk to strangers” rule is confusing to children because __________.

A. a friendly and attractive person may be dangerous

B. adults do not act upon the rule and strangers are hard to tell

C. the rule does not protect children in the situation of abducting

D. a lost child may have difficulty in communicating with a stranger

4.Which would the author agree with about the “never talk to strangers” rule?

A. It is not well recognized by parents.

B. It is not effective in keeping kids safe.

C. It is easy enough for children to follow.

D. It is practical as a safety tip in daily life.

Outside her cottage, old Mrs. Taylor was hanging out laundry on a wire line, unaware that some children were hiding in a nearby tree watching her every move. They were determined to find out if she really was a witch.

They watched nervously as she took a broomstick to sweep the dirt from her stone steps. But much to their disappointment, she didn’t get on the broomstick and fly off. The old lady only looked up when her hen began to make sounds loudly — signaling that she had laid an egg in the nest on the top of the haystack(干草堆).

The old lady put aside her broomstick and walked to the haystack, followed by Michael, a black cat she had rescued from a fox trap. With only three legs, it was hard for Michael to keep up with his mistress. The cat was proof for the children that only a witch would own a black cat with three legs! Crawling further along the branches, they could clearly see the haystack.

Mrs. Taylor was standing on a wooden box with the new-laid egg in one hand. Placing the egg in her pocket, she readied herself to climb down. Then, without warning, the box broke under her and she crashed to the ground. The children were in horror.

“Should we go and help her?” asked Mia.

“What if it’s a trick?” replied Patrick. “She probably knows we’re here. Witches know things like that!”

After thinking for a while, Julia said “Anyway, we should go and check whether she is all right.”

Approaching prudently, they could see a wound on the old lady’s forehead. She had knocked her head on a stone and was unconscious.

“Go and get Dad,” Mia yelled to her brothers. “Tell him about the accident.”

The boys didn’t need another excuse to leave. They ran as fast as they could for help, hoping that Mrs. Taylor would not regain consciousness and turn the girls into frogs.

Later, in the hospital, the old lady smiled her thanks. “I was so lucky that you lovely children happened to be passing when I fell. I must have yelled quite loudly.”

The children exchanged guilty glances, but were very pleased that she was not a witch after all!

1.Mrs. Taylor stopped sweeping when ________.

A. her doorstep became very clean

B. she heard the hen making sounds loudly

C. she noticed the children in the tree

D. her cat Michael managed to get her attention

2.Why was Patrick not willing to help Mrs. Taylor when she fell?

A. He thought that she could be cheating them.

B. He was afraid of the three-legged black cat.

C. He did not think that she was hurt in the fall.

D. He knew he and the others shouldn’t have been in her tree.

3.Which of the definitions is closest in meaning to the underlined word “prudently”?

A. Slowly.B. Hurriedly.C. Carefully.D. Quietly.

4.Which of these old sayings best summaries the lesson from story?

A. Make hey while the sun shines.

B. Never judge a book by its cover.

C. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

D. People in glasshouses shouldn’t throw stones.

Conventional wisdom says that hardship can make us old before our time. In fact, a new study suggests that violence not only leaves long-term scars on children’s bodies, but also changes their DNA, causing changes that are equal to seven to ten years of premature aging.

Scientists measured this by studying the ends of children’s chromosomes(染色體), called telomeres, says Idan Shalev, lead author of a study published in Molecular Psychiatry.

Telomeres are special DNA sequences which prevent the DNA in chromosomes from separating. They get shorter each time a cell divides, until a cell cannot divide any more and dies.

Several factors have been found to shorten telomeres, including smoking, radiation and psychological stresses such as being treated badly when young and taking care of a chronically ill person.

In this study, researchers examined whether exposure to violence could make children’s telomeres shorten faster than normal. They interviewed the mothers of 236 children at ages 5, 7 and 10, asking whether the youngsters had been exposed to domestic violence between the mother and her partner; physical maltreatment by an adult; or bullying. Researchers measured the children’s telomeres—in cells obtained by swabbing the insides of their cheeks—at ages 5 and 10.

Telomeres shortened faster in kids exposed to two or more types of violence, says Shalev. Unless that pattern changes, the study suggests, these kids could be expected to develop diseases of aging, such as heart attacks or memory loss, seven to 10 years earlier than their peers.

Shalev says there is hope for these kids. His study found that, in rare cases, telomeres can lengthen. Better nutrition, exercise and stress reduction are three things that may be able to lengthen telomeres, he says.

He study confirms a small but growing number of studies suggesting that early childhood adversity imprints itself in our chromosomes, says Charles Nelson, a professor of pediatrics and neuroscience at Harvard Medical School.

1.The new study found that ________.

A. violence leaves scars on a child’s mind

B. hardship can change a child’s aging

C. violence can speed up a child’s aging

D. hardship has a long-term effect on a child’s mind

2.According to the text, telomeres ________.

A. can make a cell die quickly

B. can help prevent DNA from separating

C. become shorter before they die

D. are at the ends of people’s chromosomes

3.All of the following things can shorten telomeres EXCEPT ________.

A. smokingB. cell divisionC. maltreatmentD. doing exercise

4.Which of the following is TRUE, according to the text?

A. Violence can cause quick cell division in children’s body.

B. Being treated badly will make a child’s telomeres shorten faster.

C. Researchers measured the children’s telomeres from their legs in the study.

D. Children who have shorter telomeres may have a heart attack earlier.

5.Which is the best title for the passage?

A. Violence Ages Children’s DNA

B. Children’s Changing DNA Patterns

C. Violence and Telomeres

D. the Function of Telomeres

單詞拼寫

1.New York is a m_________________ city where people from different backgrounds work and live together.

2.He dislikes me and never supports me. In a word, he has p_______________ against me.

3.The man from the insurance company is making a___________ of the accident and will make compensation.

4.Ladies and gentlemen, welcome board our flight！ Our s____________ will serve foods and drinks during the five-hour trip.

5.Taiwan is part of China and we will never allow its s________________ from the mainland.

6.A positive attitude will keep one healthy both physically and s_________________.

7.Several teachers are awarded prizes for their d_______________ to their work.

8.She had a normal p_________________ and delivered a healthy child.

9.I went to the basketball match and got Kobe’s a_________________ signature(親筆簽名) after the game.

10.A good student is one who is self-disciplined, imaginative and full of c___________.

動(dòng)詞填空

1.—Hi, long time no see. Where have you been all these days?

—I ________(be) in Europe on business.

2.—Be quick. I _____________ (wait) for you for nearly an hour!

—Sorry, I’ll arrive soon.

3.The last 3 years ___________ (see) great changes in China.

4.The film _____________________ (finish) by the time you get to the cinema.

5.Three minutes earlier and the patient _______________ (save).

6.If we ________________ (book) a table earlier, we wouldn’t be standing in the queue now.

7.__________________ (explain), the boy finally got my meaning.

8.Mr. Smith teaches at a university, but he _____________ (work) on the exhibition to help out.

9.If you aren’t satisfied with the result, I _____________ (do) it all over again.

10.My brother ________________ (be) all right again by the end of this month.

The benefits of being an independent business are truly great. Beyond the rewarding nature of owning something truly unique, small businesses have the edge over their big business counterparts in many areas. Consider the importance of being independent and how that independence can help drive your business.

To some, having fewer customers simply means less cash flow; however, having a smaller base also allows you to focus more on customer satisfaction.

Companies are always searching for ways to improve customer service and have more of their business. Whether through paying special attention to who comes through your door or monitoring your customers through the social network, it’s less of trouble to make sure your customers’ needs are being met when there’s a smaller sample to deal with. In addition, it becomes much easier to create a personal connection with buyers when you have enough time and attention to show them some love.

Small businesses have an inherent advantage over their big box competitors in the sense that they can offer something different. People want to see the independent businesses that offer unique products and flavor to their communities. Your business can be the difference when it comes to what customers want.

Of course, big box companies will almost always beat you down when it comes to price. Consider, however, that if you can offer a truly unique product or experience, price becomes much less of an issue.

People like the idea of supporting local independent businesses versus “the big guys”. So, what businesses are booming due to the rise of independence?

Craft Beer(精釀啤酒) — The craft beer movement in the United States is supported so widely that big breweries have taken to creating their own competing “craft beer” brands in an attempt to follow the trend. While Anheuser Busch represents nearly half of America’s breweries, craft beer has seen a huge jump in sales in recent years.

Video Games — Whether through PCs, traditional consoles or mobile games, independent developers are supported by enthusiastic fans and micro-transactions in an industry that was formerly dominated by bigger developers.

Musicians — The modern web offers immense opportunities to musicians, resulting in more economic and artistic freedom. A surprising number of mainstream artists have seen great success from their independent releases, such as Macklemore’s The Heist, which has sold over one million copies in the United States alone.

Some small businesses don’t want to be small businesses forever. Regardless, consider what independence does for you and your company. If you offer something out of the ordinary, you can build an audience that respects your individuality and supports your cause.

One day, Zeng’s wife decided to go out for shopping, but her little son insisted on going with her to the market. Thinking that she would come back very soon, and that the naughty boy would bring her a lot of trouble, she was unwilling to do so.

In order to persuade the boy to stay home, she told him, “Oh, come on, good boy, if you listen to Mom and then Mom will give you a present when I am back.”

“What present are you going to give me, Mom?” asked the son.

“We haven’t eaten meat for a long time, so I will kill our pig and let you enjoy a big nice dinner.” The mother comforted the boy when it happened that their pig was wandering in front of the house. Just at that time, her husband came back and heard what she said. Thinking of the nice meal, the boy gave in.

Not very soon, the mother came back, but what she saw shocked her. It was her husband who had killed the only pig of the poor family.

“Why did you kill it? You know that it is very important for my family.” she scolded him.

“I did that just for your promise!” Mr. Zeng answered.

[寫作內(nèi)容]

以約30個(gè)詞概括這則中國寓言故事“曾子”的品質(zhì)；

以約120個(gè)詞，從“曾子”或者“曾子之妻”的行為任選一個(gè)角度發(fā)表你的看法，

并包括如下要點(diǎn):

(1) 你認(rèn)為“曾子”或者“曾子之妻”的不同的做法對(duì)孩子的教育會(huì)導(dǎo)致的結(jié)果是什么樣的，并說出理由；

(2) 敘述你一次誠實(shí)守信的經(jīng)歷，并談?wù)勀愕母惺堋?/p>

[寫作要求]

1．可以使用實(shí)例來支持你的論點(diǎn)，也可以參照閱讀材料的內(nèi)容論述，但不得直接引用原文中的句子；

2．標(biāo)題自定。

Outside her shabby cottage, old Mrs. Tailor was hanging out laundry on a wire line, unaware that some children lay hidden in the leaves of a nearby tree watching her every move. They were determined to find out if she really was a witch.

They watched as she took a broomstick to clean the dirt from her stone steps. But, much to their disappointment, she did not mount the broomstick and take a flight. Suddenly, the old lady’s work was interrupted by the cackling of her hen—a signal that an egg had been laid in the warm nest on top of the haystack.

The old broomstick was put aside as she hobbled off towards the haystack followed by Sooty, a black cat she had rescued from a fox trap some time back. With only three legs, it was hard for Sooty to keep up with the old lady. The cat provided proof—the children were sure that only a witch could own a black cat with three legs.

There, standing on a wooden box, was Mrs. Tailor, stretching out to gather her precious egg. Taking the egg in one of her hands, she began to climb down when, without warning, the box broke and the old lady fell.

“We have to got and help her,” whispered Amy.

“What if it is a trick?” replied Ben.

“Don’t be silly, Ben. If she were a witch, she would have turned us into frogs already,” reasoned Meg. “Come on, Amy, let’s go.” The girls climbed down the tree and ran all the way to the haystack.

Approaching carefully, they could see a wound on the old lady’s face. She had knocked her head on a stone and her ankle was definitely broken. “Go and get Dad,” Amy yelled to her brother. “Tell him about the accident.”

The boys did not need another excuse to leave. They ran as fast as they could for help, hoping that Mrs. Tailor would not wake and turn the girls into frogs.

1.Why were the children hiding in the tree?

A. They wanted to watch Mrs. Tailor do her housework closely.

B. They were playing a hide-and-seek game.

C. They wanted to find out if the rumors about Mrs. Tailor were true.

D. They were pretending to be spies.

2.Mrs. Tailor stopped sweeping when ________.

A. her front steps were clean

B. she noticed the children in the tree

C. she was ready to take a flight

D. she heard the hen cackling

3.Ben did not rush in help Mrs. Tailor because ________.

A. he thought that she could be tricking them

B. he knew that they could not have been in the tree

C. he did not see the old lady fall down

D. he was afraid of the three-legged cat

4.Which of these old sayings best suits the story’s lesson for us?

A. Make hay while the sun shines.

B. Never judge a book by its cover.

C. People in glasshouses should not throw stones.

D. A bird in the hands worth two in the bush.