Like to chew on pencils?  It's a bad habit that you really should put a stop to.
       On the other hand, schoolteachers may face a challenge that is how to improve their students'
  attention.
       A British design company have launched (发布) a new product, to help children concentrate at
  school - pre-chewed pencils. The wooden pencils are priced at ?1.50 for a pack of four. British design
  company Concentrate, who developed the product, say that pupils are less likely to put them in their
  mouths because thy have already been chewed. And they say this is a cheap but effective way of
  encouraging students to "get their teeth" into their lessons instead.
       The company, which says it designs products to help kids at school and make clear  why they get
  distracted or are unable to focus in class, claim (声称) the chewed end encourages them to get thinking
  right away.  
       "We know it's foolish but just get down to some concentrated thinking and who knows what might
  happen," said company boss Mark Champkins.
       "We began to look at the reasons that children might be distracted , uncomfortable or unable to
  concentrate in lessons- and we set about designing some simple, cost-effective (划算的) products to
  work out  some of the problems."
       That way, you even don't want to put your mouth anywhere near it.  At least, I don't think you'd have
  the stomach to, do you? 

1. What is the aim of the design company Concentrate?

A. Helping students "get their teeth" into their lessons  
B. Encouraging students chew the pencils
C. Helping students like to use the pencils                          
D. Helping students write homework clearly.

2. The underlined word "focus" might mean _____ in Chinese.

A. 分离的  
B. 聚精会神的  
C. 脱离的    
D. 思想不集中的

3. What did Mark Champkins think of the pre-chewed pencil?

A. He likes it very much because it helps students concentrate on their lessons.
B. It is helpful for students to focus in class but should be improved in some way.
C. Students wouldn't put the pencil anywhere near the mouth or stomach.
D. There is something wrong with the pencil., so he doesn't like it. 

4. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. It is designed by an American company.
B. The pencil has already been chewed.
C. It makes kids hate thinking right away.
D. It makes kids less likely to put it in the mouth.

5. In which page of a newspaper can you most probably read this passage?

A. Business  
B. Advertisement  
C. Science    
D. News

     It is a very usual thing for a person to have a good friend. My good friend is Diana. She is a rich and
proud (骄傲) girl. She often thinks that she is too good for anyone.
One day after school, I was waiting for Diana when Vivien came up to me. She gave me a cake, I got it.     We talked and joked. From then on, I began to spend more time with Vivien than Diana. However, I also began to feel a little uneasy.
     After a few days, I went to see Diana with some snacks and at that time Vivien came and sat with me. She gave me a sandwich. She also gave one to Diana, but Diana didn’t get it. She walked away. I was
angry with Diana for being so rude.
    "Never mind," Vivien said , " I’m used to (习惯) it."
    After school, I tried to catch up with Diana. When we walked home, I tried to correct her attitude (态度), but she would not listen to me. She said, “Go and join your ‘dear’ Vivien. I know you make new
friends and forget the old ones.”
     For the next few weeks, we did not talk to each other. Then, one day, Diana came to Vivien and me,
saying, “I’m really sorry about what I did. I’m a spoiled (宠坏) girl, but I also need good friends just like
you. Would you please forgive (原谅) me? Vivien and I looked at each other and smiled. From then on,
Diana, Vivien and I are best friends.

1. The writer was angry with Diana.
A. because she was too good for anyone
B. when Diana didn’t get Vivien’s sandwich
C. though (虽然) she asked the writer to forgive
D. so Diana walked away
2. The underlined word “uneasy” means _______.
A. 不容易
B. 忐忑不安
C. 不简单
D. 想不开的
3. From the passage, we can know that .
A. Diana and the writer were good friends
B. Diana didn’t like sandwiches
C. Vivien didn’t want to make new friends at all
D. the writer forgot her old friends after she had new ones
4. Vivien’s saying "I’m used to it." shows that.
A. someone didn’t want to give her their things
B. she liked to be polite
C. Diana was often rude to others
D. some people were rude to her before
5. Diana asked Vivien and the writer to forgive her because.
A. they didn’t spend much time with her
B. she knew she was wrong
C. Vivien and the writer didn’t talk to her
D. she was a rich and proud girl