Everybody hates rats. But in the earthquake places of the world – Japan, Los Angeles, Turkey – rats will soon be man’s new best friends.
What happens after an earthquake? We send in rescue(救援) dogs. Why? Because they can smell people. Dogs save lives. They help rescuers to find living people. But dogs are big and they can’t get into small spaces. So now a new research project is using a smaller animal to save lives: the rat.
How does it work? First, the rat is trained to smell people. When this happens, the rat’s brain gives a signal. This is sent to a small radio on its back, and then the rescuers follow the radio signals. When the rat’s brain activity jumps, the rescuers know that someone is alive. The rat has smelled that person.
Although there are already robots which can do this job, rats are better. Christian Linster at Cornell University, New York, says, “ ‘Robot’ noses don’t work well when there are other smells around. Rats are good at that.” Rats can also see in the dark. They are cheaper and quicker to train than dogs, and unlike robots, they don’t need electricity.
The “ rat project” is not finished, but Julie Ryan of International Rescue Corps in Scotland says, “ It would be fantastic. A rat would get into spaces we couldn’t get to and a rat would get out if it wasn’t safe.” Perhaps for the first time in history, people will be happy to see a rat in a building ( but only after an earthquake, of course.)
【小題1】In the earthquake places, rats will become man’s best friends because they can __________.

American boys and girls love to watch television. Some children spend six hours a day in school and four to six hours a day in front of the television set. Some even watch television for eight hours or more on Sunday.                                                   Television are like books or films. A child can learn bad things and good things from them. Some shows help children to understand the news, others show people and places from other countries or other times in history. With television, a child does not have to go to the zoo to see animals or to the ocean to see a ship. Boys and girls can see play, a concert or game at home. Television brings many places and events(事件) into our homes. Some programs show crime(犯罪) and other things that are bad for children, so parents sometimes help them to find other interesting things to do.

1.Some children spend eight hours or more _____ 

A studying

B. playing game

C. watching TV

D. helping their parents

2.On television children can see _____ .

A．games                                B．big animals

C．oceans                               D．a(chǎn)lmost everything

3.Children usually spend _____   a day in school.

A．six hours

B．more than eight hours

C．only a few hours

D．four hours

4.“Television brings many places and events into our homes” means “_____ ”.

A．Television makes things happen in homes

B．We can know places and events without going to see them

C．We can see houses and buildings on TV

D．We can find them easily.

5.Parents sometimes help their children find other things to do when there is ____ for children.

A．a(chǎn) bad program                         B．a(chǎn)n animal

C．a(chǎn) game                               D．a(chǎn)n uninteresting film

Every year, the French town of Menton hosts an event called the Lemon Festival in the world. The Lemon Festival usually takes place between mid-February until March. During the festival, around 145 tons of oranges and lemons are sent into the town. Over 300 workers work together to make giant sculptures(雕塑) out of fruits.
Menton became the first producer of lemons in 1929. The lemons are loved by the world’s best cooks. In the late 19th century, a town parade was held to encourage Menton’s winter tourism. Kings, princes and artists filled the great and comfortable hotels or their own fantastic houses. Because of its great success, the streets were beautifully planted with oranges and lemons in the following years. In order to develop tourism, in 1934 the Lemon Festival was officially born.
Sleepy Menton becomes a world of color during the festival time. People find it very exciting and full of fun. The festival is enjoyed for three whole weeks. Along with a daily Lemon and Orange Exhibition, parades on Sundays, fireworks on Thursday nights.
Every year there will be a special theme for the Lemon festival. This year the theme of the Lemon Festival is: “The regions of France”. Some of the events are free, but you need to buy tickets to see the parades.
【小題1】Why was the Lemon Festival officially born?

Boys and girls love to watch TV. Some children spend six hours a day in school and four to six in front of the TV set. Some children even watch TV for eight or more hours on Saturday. TV programmes are like books and films. A child can learn bad things from some of them and good things from others. Some programmes help children know the news from the other parts of the world. Some programmes show people and places from other countries or other times（時代）in history. With TV, a child doesn’t need to go to the zoo to see animals or to the sea to see a ship. Boys and girls can see a film, a play or a basketball match at home. Some programmes can teach children how to cook or how to use tools. It’s interesting to watch TV, but it is also interesting to read a book or to visit friends.

1.Children can learn ________ from TV programmes.

A.  good things       B. bad things ?? C. good or bad things    D. good and bad things

2.How many hours do children often watch TV a day?

A. 4     ????? B. 4-6      ?? C. 6        ?? D. 8-10

3.Which of the following is wrong?

A. Watching TV is the only interesting thing in life.

B. Reading a book is also interesting

C. Visiting friends is interesting, too

D. A child should learn useful things from TV programmes.

"Depend on yourself" is what nature says to every man. Parents can help you. Teachers can help you. Others still can help you. But all these only help you to help yourself.

There have been many great men in history. But many of them were very poor in childhood, and had no uncles, aunts or friends to help them. They couldn't depend on them for education. They saw how it was, and began to work with their efforts.

One of the most famous teachers in England used to tell his pupils, "I can't make worthy men of you, but I can help you make men of yourselves."

Some young men are not the best in anything, and they are to be pitied(值得同情的). They can never do things successfully if they don't see their weak points and change their courses(做法). They are nothing now, and will be nothing as long as they live if they don't follow the advice of their parents and teachers, and depend on their own efforts.

 1."Depend on yourself" in this passage means ________.      

A. depend on your own efforts      B. depend on nature

C. wait for others to help           D. depend on your parents

2.Many of the great men in history succeeded because________.  

A. they were very poor in childhood

B. they could not depend on schools for an education

C. they made great efforts to learn and work

D. they wanted very much to become famous

3.According to the famous teacher in England, a teacher can _______.     

A. make his pupils worthy men  

B. teach his pupils everything he knows

C. help his pupils make themselves useful men

D. make his pupils men of strength and courage

4.If young people depend on their own efforts, ____________  

A. they are to be pitied     

B. they can never be successful

C. they are nothing now and will be nothing in the future

D. they can be successful in their work

5.The main idea of the passage is that           .

A. we should depend on our parents and teachers

B. we can depend on our friends and relatives

C. all great men in history were poor when they were young

D. we can't depend on our parents or teachers, but we can get advice from them