From Avatar to Lord of the Rings, plants are no strangers to playing big movie roles. However, no one has ever shot a film that plants themselves can watch until now. In a New York art gallery, seven house plants have spent the last seven weeks watching Strange Skies, the first travel documentary for a vegetable audience. All the plants sat in the cinema in rows, enjoying themselves in Italian sunshine.
The movie was made by American artist Jonathon Keats. It consists of Italian skies recorded over two months and made into a six-minute-long movie. The film shows the clear dawn(黎明), high clouds, amazing dusk and then beautiful night. The movie has no sound and the plants, of course, do not applaud. But Stephen Squibb, a professor from Harvard University, said these plants could benefit from it—the light of the movie keeps them alive because they can continue the process of turning light into energy.
“I realized there was a much larger audience—plants—that were not being serviced, ”Keats said. “I wanted to provide plants with entertainment that companies such as Disney provide for humans. ”Meanwhile, Keats also wants to explore plants’ sensibilities(敏感性)further. He plans to open a“restaurant for plants”at a Californian museum.
One visitor, photographer Abbas Ebrahimi, admired(羨慕)the green audience, “Plants are better than us. We die and go, while in spring they come back each time. ”But when talking about the movie, he said after thinking for a few minutes, “It doesn’t mean anything to me at all. It’s just about light. For some people, it might mean something. ”
【小題1】What can we learn about Keats according to the passage?

A．He is an artist from Harvard University.

B．He opened a restaurant for plants.

C．He made the film Strange Skies.

D．He liked recording Italian skies.

【小題2】It can be learned that Strange Skies　　　.

A．has already created beautiful sound

B．was shot from dawn to dusk

C．made plants play roles in it

D．is the first travel film for plants

【小題3】What did Stephen Squibb think of Strange Skies?

A．He thought it had explored plants’ sensibilities.

B．He thought it meant nothing to him.

C．He thought it could keep plants growing.

D．He thought it offered entertainment to plants.

【小題4】Why did Abbas Ebrahimi admire the green audience?

A．Because they die and re-grow in spring.

B．Because they mean something to him.

C．Because there are more plants than people.

D．Because they can enjoy the movie.

For many of us, a little time with our smartphones or iPads before sleep is the highlight of the night. But would you still think it is relaxing if you knew that it damages or destroys your sleep? Scientists say that's exactly what it does.
In ancient times, when there were no lamps, telephones or smartphones, the sun was the main source of light. When the sun went down, our brains took that as a signal to start producing melatonin(褪黑素), a chemical that helps us sleep.
However, a healthy amount of melatonin can only be produced in complete darkness.Any light in your bedroom—even the one on the alarm clock or the charging indicator on your cellphone—could disturb the process, not to mention something as bright as smartphone and iPad screens. We tend to hold these much closer than a television or laptop, which allows them to shoot far more light straight into our eyes.
“This is particularly worrisome in populations such as young adults and adolescents, who already tend to be night_owls，” said researcher Brittany Wood at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.“Lack of sleep among teens is leading to depression, self­harm, low concentration and poor performance at school，” she added.
While all lights are the enemy of sleep, not all colors of light have the same effect. Our eyes are particularly sensitive to blue light, which is common during the day. Most of the light coming from electronic screens is blue light and it fools our brain into thinking it's still daytime. By contrast, orange or red light has less influence on melatonin production, because our brains recognize it as a signal that the day is ending, according to The Telegraph.
Asking yourself to keep your hands off your smartphone before bedtime might seem unreasonable, but you should at least remember to dim the screen or hold it farther away from your eyes. You could also wear a pair of orange sunglasses that take away the harmful blue light.
【小題1】According to the passage, we can know ________.

A．it's a good habit to play with smartphones or iPads late into night

B．scientists suggest we should avoid using smartphones or iPads

C．darkness makes a great impact on the amount of melatonin

D．the sun was the only source of light in ancient times

【小題2】Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．The darker it is, the more melatonin will be produced.

B．The lighter it is, the more melatonin will be produced.

C．The more melatonin you have, the worse you'll sleep.

D．The more electrical equipment you have, the more melatonin will be produced.

【小題3】The underlined part in Paragraph 4 refers to those ________.

A．who are young adults or adolescents

B．who don't perform well in school

C．who are addicted to a television or laptop

D．who are short of sleep at night and perform poorly in daily life

【小題4】In the writer's opinion, which is a correct suggestion?

A．You should go to bed when the sun goes down.

B．You should use an orange or red light electronic screen.

C．You should wear a pair of blue sunglasses when sleeping.

D．You should avoid blue light as possible as you can before bedtime.

This is What a REAL Silver Dollar Looks Like
If you trust in the yen, the euro,
and the dollar...stop reading.
Because this is a story about
the sliver coin EVERYBODY wants.
You read the headlines.You know that troubled economic times have put global currency on a rollercoaster(過山車) ride.But millions have found a smarter way to build long­term value with high­grade collectable silver.And right now, those people are lining up to secure some of the last 2012 U．S.Mint Silver Eagles, America's Newest Silver Eagle Dollars. Today, you can graduate to the front of that line.Buy now and you can own these brilliant uncirculated Silver Dollars for only $38.95!
You Can't Afford to Lose
Why are we releasing(發(fā)行) this silver dollar for such a remarkable price? Because we want to introduce you to what hundreds of thousands of smart collectors and satisfied customers have known since 1984—New York Mint is the place to find the world's finest high­grade coins.That's why we're offering you this Brilliant Uncirculated 2012 U．S.Silver Eagle for as little as $37.45(plus s/h)．
Timing is Everything
Our advice? Keep this to yourself.Because the more people who know about this offer, the worse it is for you.Demand for Silver Eagles in 2011 broke records.Experts predict that 2012 Silver Eagles may break them all over again.Due to rapid changes in the price of silver, prices may be higher or lower and are subject to(受……影響) change without notice.Supplies are limited.Call immediately to add these Silver Eagles to your holdings before it's too late.

Offer Limited to 40 per household
2012 American Silver Eagle Coin
Your cost 1­4 Coins $38.95 each＋s/h
5­9 Coins $38.45 each＋s/h
10­19 Coins $37.95 each＋s/h
20­40 Coins $37.45 each＋s/h
Note：$10 s/h(shipping and handling) for each purchase
For fastest service, call toll­free 24 hours a day
1­888­201­7143

Offer Code(代碼) ASE177­04 Please mention this code when you call.

New York Mint
14101 Southcross Drive W．， Dept.ASE177­04
Burnsville, Minnesota 55337
www.NewYorkMint.com
【小題1】What is stressed in the ad?

A．The coin is of high quality and worth collecting.

B．The coin can be circulated as a currency.

C．Limited supplies guarantee a stable price of the coin.

D．Demand for the coin is bound to break records.

【小題2】If you buy six 2012 U．S.Mint Silver Eagles by post, you should pay at least ________.

A．$230.7

B．$233.7

C．$240.7

D．$243.7

【小題3】The ad strongly encourages people to purchase the silver coins by ________.

A．shopping online

B．making a phone call

C．lining up in front of the stores

D．writing to the company

“When your mother scolds you, you can look elsewhere and think about other things. Just ignore her words. But remember: such a tough attitude cannot be used often.”
These words are from a series of cartoons which outline skills for children to fight against their mothers. The images have created heated debate among Chinese netizens.
Regarded as “a book for children aged 6 to 12 who are always scolded by their parents”， the cartoons, drawn by two 10­year­old Beijing girls, list over 20 skills which children can use to deal with their mothers' anger such as crying, pretending to be ashamed, fleeing into the toilet and pleasing her afterwards.
Each skill is described with vivid pictures and humorous notes. The creativity of the young girls has amazed netizens, the Yangtse Evening Post reported on Thursday.
According to one of the girls' mothers, her daughter once received a poor mark in an exam, and the mother blamed her and compared her performance with another classmate. The daughter's feelings led to her creating the cartoons.
The girl's father, who first posted the pictures on his Sohu Microblog on Monday, said he hopes parents pay close attention to the pictures, allow children to feel free to develop their own characteristics and try not to criticize them so often.
The father said the cartoons aren't finished yet; his daughter will continue with them when she has time.
“The cartoons, although an individual case, reflect a modern phenomenon and some of the problems within Chinese family education，” said Yu Qinfang, an expert on family education.
According to a survey of 104 children and their parents, Yu discovered that as many as 51.9 percent of primary school students hate being urged to do things by their mothers.
“Not giving children enough time and hurrying them to do things seems to be a very tiny detail within family life, but it is potentially a huge problem which can easily be ignored by parents. A mother's blame may lead to negative feelings within her child's heart，” Yu said. “Parents should learn to blame less and be more patient.”
【小題1】What amazed Chinese netizens according to the text?

A．The girls' poor marks.

B．The girls' skills against their mothers.

C．The girls' creativity.

D．The girls' tough attitude to their mothers.

【小題2】What do we know about the book?

A．It tells us how to control mothers' feelings.

B．It includes a number of vivid pictures and humorous notes.

C．It is intended for primary school teachers.

D．It is finished by children aged 6 to 12.

【小題3】By posting the cartoons on his microblog, the father wanted to ________.

A．show off his daughter's cleverness

B．blame his daughter for drawing these cartoons

C．encourage his daughter to make greater progress

D．get other parents to draw a lesson from the cartoons

【小題4】According to a survey, Yu Qinfang found that primary school pupils ________.

A．dislike being forced to do things

B．like drawing cartoons in class

C．seldom do well in exams

D．enjoy being compared with others

【小題5】We can conclude from the text that ________.

A．parents often ignore their children's hobbies

B．parents often speak highly of their children

C．how to develop children's gifts puzzles parents

D．how to blame children needs parents' wisdom

Rockwatch—The Best Club on Earth
If you are young and interested in geology(地質(zhì)學(xué)), then Rockwatch is the club for you. When you apply for membership, you'll receive a Rockwatch Rox file each. It has the information and top tips you will need to start enjoying geology. It's designed to serve as your own field notebook as well.
In it you will find your
·membership card
·full­colour minimap
·thumbs­up guide
·fact cards
Rockwatch Magazine
Our lively magazine is mailed to members three times a year. They can read reports and news from around the world, and articles on everything from diamonds to dinosaurs, earthquakes to erosion(侵蝕)．
Rockwatch Events
With each magazine you will receive a Rockwatch events calendar. Rocky activities suitable for families are listed and include road shows and guided walks.
The Rockwatch Rock Artist
Are you an artist, or a photographer? This is your chance to turn Rockwatch Rock Artist of a year and win amazing prizes in our annual competition.
Special Offer
Rockwatch members can have specially discounted Wildlife Watch membership. Wildlife Watch is the biggest environmental action club for young people, with 100 groups across the country. You can join both clubs together by filling in the boxes in the membership form.
【小題1】Rockwatch Magazine mailed to its members tells about things related to ________.

A．geology	B．a(chǎn)griculture
C．politics	D．economics

【小題2】What activities are specially arranged for Rockwatch members interested in photography?

A．Guided walks.	B．Rocky activities.
C．Yearly competitions.	D．Academic workshops.

【小題3】When applying for Wildlife Watch membership, a Rockwatch member can enjoy ________.

A．free membership	B．a(chǎn) special discount
C．a(chǎn) Rock Artist prize	D．guided road shows

【小題4】You may join both Rockwatch and Wildlife Watch clubs by ________.

A．calling the two clubs	B．providing references
C．a(chǎn)pplying separately	D．filling in one form

They can be seen more frequently than ever before on college campuses, wearing flannel(法蘭絨) and thick­framed glasses while listening to music. One might find them playing unusual musical instruments, shopping at second­hand stores or expressing themselves in other unique ways.
They call themselves hipsters. Being “hip” used to mean following the latest fashion. But gradually the word has become a sign of “being cool, unique and unusual”．
Hipsters value independent thinking, progressive politics, an appreciation of creativity and intelligence. Hipsters take pains and pride in not being mainstream. However, their culture has become quite trendy. This irony(諷刺) is central to their culture and offers an interesting conflict.
“I do take things in the mainstream with a positive attitude，” says Ben Polson, a college student at Brown University. “But sometimes I also question what determines popularity, especially regarding music.” Polson represents many hipsters.
When less­known bands become popular, they often lose their former fan base in exchange for a new one. There is a famous hipster saying that goes, “I used to like that band before it got popular，” Polson quoted.
According to Polson, bands' music changes when they go mainstream. They become less experimental, doing things just to save popularity and fans. The original elements that we were drawn to slowly disappear for the sake of popularity.
Many young adults have started to view hipsters' outlook as cool and they are adopting hipsters' anti­mainstream culture mind to themselves. This has led to specialized brands, stores and music for the hipster consumers. But on the other hand, some such stores, including clothing labels Urban Outfitters and American Apparel, have gained mainstream popularity. This has seemingly made the anti­mainstream culture become weaker.
“A lot of people that are self­defined hipsters aren't really hipsters. They're just trying to act as hipsters to seem cooler，” says Amanda Leopold, a college student from Oberlin College, US. Although Leopold has many unusual tastes and seems quite individualist, she refuses to classify herself as a hipster.
【小題1】In the passage, hipsters refer to people ________.

A．who are fans of pop music

B．who study in different colleges

C．who appear cool and unusual

D．who try to attract others

【小題2】According to the author, ________.

A．hipsters are the pioneers of the mainstream

B．hipsters are unhappy with the mainstream

C．hipsters' culture exists mainly in music field

D．hipsters' culture can also become popular

【小題3】What is the main idea of the seventh paragraph?

A．Urban Outfitters and American Apparel are famous clothing labels.

B．Hipster consumers have more specialized brands, stores and music.

C．Anti­mainstream culture can gain mainstream popularity.

D．The culture of hipsters is becoming more and more terrible.

【小題4】When describing hipsters, the author speaks ________.

A．in an ironic voice	B．in an objective voice
C．in an angry voice	D．in a funny voice

In the last couple of years, there has been a craze about time­traveling TV series in China.This year, it seems like the South Korean drama writers have fallen in a deep, neverending love with the time­travel trend.
Rooftop Prince
A prince from the Joseon era (18th century), Lee Gak is catapulted 300 years forward into the future in Seoul 2012 with his entourage(隨從) when he tries to investigate the suspicious circumstances which surround the death of the woman he loves.In the present, he finds a young woman who looks exactly like his beloved crown princess.
Queen In­hyun's Man
The drama, set during the Joseon era, features the hero Kim Boong­do as he tries to restore the exiled Queen In­hyun.It is in this time period he is given the time­traveling power that transports him to the future world where he makes friends with an actress playing the role of Queen In­hyun for a drama in her time.
Dr Jin
Jin Hyuk is a genius neurosurgeon.Through a mysterious power, Jin finds himself transported back in time 150 years.He begins treating people there, but the lack of equipment and medical knowledge of the period forces him to seek new ways to aid the sick.Through this challenging process, Jin eventually becomes a genuine doctor.
Operation Proposal
Kang Baek­ho realizes that he falls in love with his best friend, Ham Yi­seul, on the day of her wedding to another man.He travels back in time to various events of their lives hoping to change the outcome of their relationship.Will Kang be able to change the course of their future?
【小題1】Which of the following words can replace “catapulted” in Paragraph 2?

A．Captured.	B．Transported.
C．Traveled.	D．Deserted.

【小題2】What do the three TV series have in common?

A．They are all about love.

B．They all describe what happened in ancient times.

C．They are all based on true stories.

D．They all feature time­travel.

【小題3】If you are interested in prince and princess story, which will you turn into?

A．Rooftop Prince.	B．Queen In­hyun's Man.
C．Dr Jin.	D．Operation Proposal.

The Healthy Habits Survey(調(diào)查) shows that only about one third of American seniors have correct habits.Here are some findings and expert advice.

1．How many times did you brush your teeth yesterday? ·Finding：A full 33% of seniors brush their teeth only once a day. ·Step：Remove the 300 types of bacteria in your mouth each morning with a battery­operated toothbrush.Brush gently for 2 minutes at least twice a day. 2．How many times did you wash your hands or bathe yesterday? ·Finding：Seniors, on average, bathe fewer than 3 days a week.And nearly 30% wash their hands only 4 times a day—half of the number doctors recommend. ·Step：We touch our faces around 3,000 times a day—often inviting germs(病菌) to enter our mouth, nose, and eyes.Use toilet paper to avoid touching the door handle.And, most important, wash your hands often with hot running water and soap for 20 seconds. 3．How often do you think about fighting germs? ·Finding：Seniors are not fighting germs as well as they should. ·Step：Be aware of germs.Do you know it is not your toilet but your kitchen sponge(海綿) that can carry more germs than anything else? To kill these germs, keep your sponge in the microwave for 10 seconds.

【小題1】What is found out about American seniors?

A．Most of them have good habits.

B．Nearly 30% of them bathe three days a week.

C．All of them are fighting germs better than expected.

D．About one third of them brush their teeth only once a day.

【小題2】Doctors suggest that people should wash their hands ________.

A．twice a day	B．three times a day
C．four times a day	D．eight times a day

【小題3】Which of the following is true according to the text?

A．We should keep from touching our faces.

B．There are less than 300 types of bacteria in the mouth.

C．A kitchen sponge can carry more germs than a toilet.

D．We should wash our hands before touching a door handle.

【小題4】The text probably comes from ________.

A．a(chǎn) guide book	B．a(chǎn) popular magazine
C．a(chǎn) book review	D．a(chǎn)n official document

With the development of society, the choice of food and drinks for children is more diversified than ever before. However, every coin has two sides. Many facts suggest that children are overweight and the situation is getting worse, according to the statistics. I feel there are a number of reasons for this.
Some people blame the fact that we are surrounded by shops selling unhealthy, fatty foods, such as fried chicken and ice cream, at low prices. This has turned out a whole generation of grown-ups who seldom cook a meal for themselves. If there were fewer of these restaurants then probably children would buy less take-away food.
There is another argument that blames parents for allowing their children to become overweight. I agree to this, because good eating habits begin early in life, long before children start to visit fast food shops. If children are given fried chicken and chocolate rather than healthy food, or are always allowed to choose what they eat, they will go for sweet and salty foods every time, and this will carry on throughout their lives.
There is a third reason for this situation. Children these days take very little exercise. They do not walk to school. When they get home, they sit in front of the television or their computers. Not only is this an unhealthy pastime（消遣）, it also gives them time to eat more unhealthy food. What they need is to go outside and play active games or sports.
The above are the main reasons for this problem, and therefore we have to encourage young people to be more active, as well as guiding them away from fast food shops and bad eating habits.
【小題1】What is suggested by the author to deal with “overweight”?

A．Blaming the shops selling unhealthy and fatty foods.

B．Asking young children to walk to school every day.

C．Living an active life and removing bad eating habits.

D．Not watching TV or playing computer games after school.

【小題2】Which of the following shows the structure of the whole text?

【小題3】The author writes the passage to ______________

A．show people a social problem	B．provide facts for government
C．a(chǎn)dvise solutions to a problem	D．compare opinions with people

【小題4】The underlined word “diversified” in the first paragraph most probably means ________.

A．various

B．difficult

C．expensive

D．a(chǎn)vailable

Busy as I am every day, I always open my computer and check my email. Most of the time I am simply doing finger exercises, another form of piano practice without beautiful tones. Sometimes, however, I receive a gift, reminding me of the gifts in my life. The following passage is one of those gifts.
Peter Jones is a 92-year-old, short, calm and proud man. Every morning he is fully dressed by eight o’clock, with his hair fashionably combed and face perfectly shaved even though hi is unable to see anything. He would move to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years old has recently passed away, making the move necessary.
After hours of waiting patiently in the entrance hall of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready. As he moved his walking stick skillfully to the elevator, the nurse provided a visual description of his tiny room. “I love it,” he stated with enthusiasm. “Mr. Jones, you haven’t been the room,” said the nurse.
“That doesn’t have anything to do with it,” he replied. “Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged…it’s how I arrange my mind. I have already decided to love it. It’s a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice: I can spend the day in bed complaining of the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.”
Each day is a gift, and as long as we are alive. We’ll focus on the new day and all the happy memories we’ve stored just as Mr. Jones does.
【小題1】What do we know about Mr. Jones ?

A．He is a blind but very neat.

B．His wife died many years ago.

C．He likes playing the piano.

D．His room in the nursing home is big.

【小題2】How did Mr. Jones feel about his room in the nursing home?

A．worried

B．curious

C．disappointed

D．content

【小題3】The underlined word “it” in paragraph 4 refers to ________.

A．the furniture

B．the room

C．a(chǎn) decision

D．a(chǎn) gift

【小題4】What would be the best title for the text?

A．Each Day is a Gift	B．Be Always Grateful
C．Living in a nursing room	D．Arrange Your Mind Every Day