Does your pet have a slim figure? According to the Association of Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), about half of all dogs and nearly 60% of all indoor cats are overweight. Larry Kornegay, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, says he sees an overweight pet nearly every day, and unusually the owner is overweight. So talking about the topic can be touchy. “I talk about their pet’s health. Still, some clients take it personally.”

   Here are some tips for pet weight loss:

   See the vet(兽医). Have your vet put together a plan and treat any existing medical problems. Pain relief and diet changes may be required for arthritic(患关节炎的) pets, which will allow for exercise to at least begin.

   Skip the crash diet (an attempt to lose weight quickly by strictly limiting the diet). A special weight-loss diet may be suggested. For example, look for the supplement which burns fat and builds muscle mass in foods. Never place any pet on a crash diet, especially cats, which can suffer a potentially fatal liver disease as a result. There’s a safe weight-loss drug for dogs you can ask your vet about.

   Dine alone. “Cut out treats and resist temptation by keeping pets out of the room you’re dining in,” says Chicago vet Sheldon Rubin. You can buy low-calorie treats for dogs and cats. Rubin also recommends mini carrots, small apple slices or blueberries for dogs. What’s important is finding other ways, aside from food, to show your love. Play with your cat using an interactive toy, and take your dog for walks. Walks are great for bonding, and good for you. Studies show people are actually more willing to lose weight themselves if it also will help their pet.

   Feed pets at special times. Pre-measure food carefully—don’t give them a larger meal than ever—and leave it in various places, so pets sniff it out and use the stairs. It’s fun, and it’s good exercise.

1.. The underlined word “touchy” in Paragraph 1 probably means__________

A. sensitive            B. exciting           C. moving          D. pleasant

2.. What can be inferred from the passage?

A. Overweight people usually like overweight pets.

B. Pets’ weight is easier to lose than humans’.

C. Cats have a greater chance of serious liver disease.

D. Overweight people often ignore their pets’ weight.

3. Which of the following methods is healthy for your pets?

   A. Providing them with mini carrots or blueberries.

   B. Keeping them with you when you’re dining.

   C. Supplying them with larger meals or drinks.

   D. Leaving the food in a fixed place for your pets.

4.. What does the passage mainly tell us?

   A. How to feed pets without a crash diet.

   B. The importance of pet weight loss.

   C. How to help pets lose weight.

   D. The problems that pets will meet.

 

Home to me means a sense of familiarity and nostalgia(怀旧). It's fun to come home. It looks the same. It smells the same. You'll realize what's changed is you. Home is where we ran remember pain, live, and some other experiences; We parted here; My parents met here; I won three championships here.
If I close my eyes, I can still have a clear picture in mind of my first home. I walk in the door and see a brown sofa surrounding a low glass-top wooden table. To the right of the living room is my first bedroom. It's empty, but it's where my earliest memories are.
There is the dining room table where I celebrated birthdays, and where I cried on Halloween-when I didn't want to wear the skirt my mother made for me. I always liked standing on that table because it made me feel tall and strong. If I sit at this table, I can see my favorite room in the house, my parents' room. It is simple: a brown wooden dresser lines the right side of the wall next to a television and a couple of photos of my grandparents on each side. Their bed is my safe zone. I can jump on it anytime - waking up my parents if I am scared or if I have an important announcement that cannot wait until the morning.
I'm lucky because I know my first home still exists. It exists in my mind and heart, on a physical property(住宅) on West 64th street on the western edge of Los Angeles. It is proof I lived, I grew and I learned.
Sometimes when I feel lost, I lie down and shut my eyes, and I go home. I know it's where I'll find my family, my dogs, and my belongings. I purposely leave the window open at night because I know I'll be blamed by Mom. But I don't mind, because I want to hear her say my name, which reminds me I'm home.
【小题1】Why does the author call her parents' bed her "safe zone"(Paragraph 3)?

A．It is her favorite place to play.

B．Her needs can be satisfied there.

C．Her grandparents' photos are lined on each side.

D．Her parents always play together with her there.

【小题2】What can be learned from the passage?

A．The old furniture is still in the author's fist bedroom.

B．The author can still visit her first physical home in Los Angeles.

C．The author's favorite room in her first home is the dining room.

D．Many people of the author's age can still find their first physical homes.

【小题3】Sometimes when she feels lost, the author will _______.

A．Open the window at night

B．lie down in bed to have a dream

C．try to bring back a sense of home

D．go to Los Angeles to visit her mom

【小题4】What is the author's purpose of writing this passage?

A．To express how much she is attached to her home.

B．To declare how much she loves her first house.

C．To describe the state of her family.

D．To look back on her childhood.

American Watersports

Tuesday--Saturday

Located on the beach of the Sea Gardens Beach Resort, there are fun things to rent for the whole family. They offer rentals for kayaks, jetskis, and even parasails! Enjoy the water upclose or from a bird's eye view! No matter what activity you're enjoying, be sure to protect yourself and your family from the sun's powerful rays and apply plenty of sun block!

15th Street Boat Company

 Monday --Saturday

15th Street Boat Company offers rental boats of all kinds. They're sure to have what you are looking for, whether it's a small boat for a quick and simple outing or an extravagent boat with comfortable seats with a stereo(立体声) and high tech navigation(导航). You can rent a boat for half a day, a couple days, or even weeks at a time. If you want it, they've got it. It's fun for everyone! 

Coconut's Watersports

9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Sunday

Coconuts Water Sports is open 7 days a week for your convenience and offers tons of water fun for the whole family. Jet ski activities last 30 minutes or 1 hour and can make stops along the way. You must be at least 14 years of age to ride alone and can be as young as 3 to ride along with an adult. Everybody is required to wear a life jacket and a license is required to operate the jet ski. Bathing suits and shorts are recommended. 

Jet Ski Tours of Miami

Thursday-Sunday 10 a.m.-7p.m.

Jet Ski Tours of Miami includes onsite parking, indoor restrooms, lockers, and life jackets for participants. You may choose a one or two hour tour and each jet ski can hold up to 3 people. You must be at least 18 years old in order to ride. As long as you are accompanied by an adult, there is no age limitation for any passenger. There is a restaurant nearby to eat at. The tour visits 6 different islands and passes by Bayside and Hard Rock. You may even catch a glimpse of dolphins playing or a manatee resting in these fabulous Florida waters.

1.What activity is convenient for the visitors to have lunch?

A. Jet Ski Tours of Miami        B. Coconut's Watersports

C.15th Street Boat Company      D. American Watersports

2.To satisfy your son’s curiosity about marine animals, you ___________.

A. will rent a boat to ride with him.

B. prefer an extravagant (奢侈的) boat with comfortable seats with a stereo.

C. would like to prefer American Watersports to Florida waters.

D. can choose the tour to Bayside and Hard Rock.

3. If you like to sail a boat, you can________.

A. go to the Sea Gardens Beach Resort        B. visit 15th Street Boat Company

C. choose Jet Ski Tours of Miami             D. go to Coconut’s Watersports

4.To ride alone in the jet ski activities, _____________.

A. you have to be at least 14 years old.          B. you can choose to wear a life jacket or not.

C. you must be over18 years old.               D. you have to be with parents.

 

When I was fifteen, I announced to my English class that I was going to write my own books. Half the students smiled unkindly,  36  nearly fell out of their chairs laughing. “Don’t be  37 , only geniuses can become writers,” the English teacher said, “And you are getting a D this term.” I was so ashamed I burst into  38 . That night I wrote a short sad poem about broken dreams and mailed it to the newspaper. To my  39 , they published it and sent me two dollars. I was a published and paid writer. I showed my teacher and fellow students. They laughed, “Just plain dumb luck,” the teacher said. I  40  success. I’d sold the first thing I’d  41  written. That was more than any of them had done and if it was just dumb luck that was fine with me.

     During the next two years I sold dozens of poems and letters. By the time I graduated from high school, I had scrapbooks (剪贴簿)  42  my published works. I never  43  my writing to my teachers, friends or my family  44  because they were dream killers.

I had four children at the time.  45  the children slept, I typed on my ancient typewriter. I wrote what I felt. It took nine months. I chose a  46  and mailed it. A month later I received a contract, an advance on payments, and a request to start  47  another book. Crying Wind, became a best seller, was translated into fifteen languages and sold worldwide. My first book also became  48  reading in native American schools in Canada.

     The  49  year I ever had as a writer I earned two dollars. In my best year I earned 36,000 dollars. People ask what college I  50 , what degrees I had and what qualifications I have to be a writer. The answer is: “None.” I just write. I’m not a genius. I use an electric typewriter that I paid a hundred and twenty nine dollars  51  six years ago. I do all the housework and  52  my writing in a few minutes here and there. I’ve written eight books. To all those who dream of writing, I’m shouting at you: “Yes, you can. Don’t listen to them.” I don’t write right  53  I’ve succeeded. Writing is  54 , it’s fun and anyone can do it.  55 , a little dumb luck doesn’t hurt.

1.	A. other	B. others	C. the other	D. the rest
2.	A. silly	B. curious	C. excited	D. depressed
3.	A. laughter	B. tears	C. song	D. cheers
4.	A. puzzlement	B.disappointment	C. expectation	D. astonishment
5.	A. tasted	B. met	C. accepted	D. considered
6.	A. yet	B. never	C. even	D. ever
7.	A. crowdedwith	B. filled with	C. combined with	D. linked with
8.	A. remembered	B. concluded	C. mentioned	D. described
9.	A. again	B. instead	C. still	D. merely
10.	A. Though	B. Before	C. Until	D. While
11.	A. writer	B. reporter	C. publisher	D. manager
12.	A. working on	B. going on	C. turning on	D. putting on
13.	A. requested	B. required	C. demanded	D. reminded
14.	A. busiest	B. worse	C. worst	D. highest
15.	A. attended	B. took	C. admitted	D. participated
16.	A. out	B. to	C. by	D. for
17.	A. keep	B. fit	C. save	D. hold
18.	A. or	B. so	C. and	D. but
19.	A. easy	B. hard	C. convenient	D. practical
20.	A. On the contrary	B. Of course	C. As a result	D. In this way

 

How to use speed reading to go through newspapers or magazines? You will not only save time, but also your focus will increase and you will have fun reading even the  uninteresting reports.

   This plays to the advantage of the tired reader who wants to stay current but has very little time to read. Often all you need to understand a news piece is the first paragraph. Here the reporter will tell you what’s happening, who it’s happening to and where it’s happening.

Sometimes you don’t even need to read the entire paragraph because the first sentence or the first couple of sentences give you all the information. If you still have more time you can move on to step two.   Read the last paragraph. Some news pieces are follow-ups of events that were earlier reported. In such a situation, the first paragraph may not give you all the information you need.    It’s usually in the last paragraph that the user is given the background information that leads to the story.

Read the “quotes” after you’ve read the first and last paragraphs and you still feel you need more information or have more time to play with, you can come into middle of the piece by reading the direct speech of the sources of the news item. In all forms of writing where quotations are used, the writer leads the reader into the quotes and then leads the reader out. This takes too much space and therefore, robs the reader out of some precious time.

    

A. Read the first paragraph.

B. But the last paragraph will do the job.

C. The first paragraph may be not important at all.

D. Otherwise, you can stop reading.

E. Here are three techniques you can use.

F. So glide directly to the quotation marks and read what’s within them.

G. If you follow these steps, it’s possible to get about 80 percent of a news piece.