Because earthquakes happen without warning, it’s important to take steps now to prepare. Because you don’t know where you will be when an earthquake happens, prepare some supplies for your home, workplace, and car.
1. Water.
A person needs at least 1/2 gallon of water daily just for drinking. Store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day and be prepared for a 72-hour period. It is suggested that you buy bottled water. Keep bottled water in its original container and do not open it until you need to use it. Also, do check the “use by” date.
2. Food.
It’s always a practical idea to keep a supply of non-perishable(不易腐烂的) food on hand. Have an enough supply of canned food, powdered milk, dried fruits, non-salted nuts and canned juices for at least 72 hours.
3. Flashlights(手电筒) and spare batteries.
Keep a flashlight beside your bed, at your place of work, and in your car. Do not use matches or candles after an earthquake until you are sure that no gas leaks.
Prepare a battery-powered radio and spare batteries. Most telephones will be out of order, so radios will be your best source of information.
4. Clothes.
If you live in a cold place, you must think about warmth. You might not have heat after an earthquake. Think about your clothing and bedding supplies.
【小题1】 Why should people prepare themselves for an earthquake?

A wise man was visiting a village with his students. He found a group of family members shouting in anger at each other. He turned to his students and asked: “Why do people shout in anger at each other?”

His students thought for a while, and one of them said: “Because when we lose our calm, we shout.”

“But, why should you shout when the other person is just next to you? You can just as well tell him what you have to say in a soft manner,” said the wise man.

Students gave some other answers but none were any good.

“When two people are angry at each other, their hearts become distanced,” the wise man explained. “To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the louder they will have to shout to hear each other and cover that great distance.”

The wise man then gave an example: “What happens when two people fall in love? They don’t shout at each other but talk softly because their hearts are very close. When they love each other even more, what happens? They don’t need to talk. They only look at each other and that’s all. That is how close two people are when they love each other.”

He looked at his students and said: “So when you argue, do not let your hearts get distant. Do not say words that distance you from others. Otherwise, there will come a day when the distance is so great that you will not find the path to return.”

1.What did they find when a wise man and his students were visiting a village?

A．A group of people were traveling there.

B．A group of family members were playing there.

C．His students were shouting with a group of people.

D．A group of family members were shouting at each other angrily.

2.One of the students thinks family members shout at each other because       .

A．they are not friends

B．they don’t like each other

C．they lose their calm

D．they are far from each other

3.What will happen when two people are angry with each other?

A．They fight with each other.

B．Their hearts become distanced.

C．They are far away from each other.

D．They are too angry to say a word.

4.What will usually happen to two people at first when they fall in love with each other according to the passage?

A．They talk softly.

B．They shout at each other.

C．They talk more.

D．They don’t say anything to each other.

5.What’s the topic of the passage?

A．Shouting is bad.

B．Don’t shout.

C．Cover the distance with love.

D．The distance of love.

Why should we learn to swim?

Firstly, swimming is a good exercise for our health. Indeed doctors say it is the best exercise, because in swimming all the muscles of the body are used.

Secondly, swimming gives great pleasure. How nice it is, on a hot dusty day in summer, to take off one’s clothes and dive into the cool water of a rive or the sea, and to swim and float until one feels enough.

Thirdly, swimming may sometimes mean all the different between life and death, we never know when we may be in danger from water. We got on a voyage, and the ship in wrecked; we go for a pleasure sail on a lake and the boat turns over; we slip as we are walking along the bank of a river, and half in the water. If we can swim, we have chance for saving our own lives, but if we cannot swim, we are pretty certain to be drowned. So for our own safety, we should learn to swim.

Lastly, if we can swim, we may be able to save other people from drowning. How sad it is to see a friend drowning before our eyes while we cannot help just because we cannot swim.

11.Who says that swimming is the best exercise?  _________.

A. Farmers          B. Dentists     C. Fishermen            D. Doctors

12.When swimming, ________.

A. We don’t move at all                 B. all the muscle of the body are used

C. we move our legs only                D. we drink lots of seawater into our stomach

13.Swimming ­­­­________.

A. gives great pain                     B. gives no pleasure   

C. gives much pleasure                  D. does harm to the body

14.If we can swim, ________.

A. we are no longer humans, but fish          B. we shall be drowned one day

C. we have a chance of saving our own lives   D. we can’t walk any more

15.If we can swim, ________.

A. we may be able to help others from drowning 

B. we can’t save others from drowning

C. it is pretty danger certain that we will get drowned

D. there is a great danger when we fall into the water

A saint (圣人) found a group of family members shouting angrily at each other on a river bank. He asked his disciples(信徒), “  1  do people shout when they are angry with each other?” The disciples 2  for a while and one of them said, “Because they lose their calm.”
“But why should they shout when the other persons are just 3  them? They can tell them what they have to say in a  4  manner.” Asked the saint.
The disciples gave some other answers but  5 made the saint pleased. Finally the saint  6  , “When two people are angry with each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance they must shout in order to  7 each other. The angrier they are, the 8 they will have to shout to cover that great distance. What happens when two people fall in love? They don’t shout at each other but talk softly, because their hearts are very close. The distance 9 them is very small or doesn’t exist(存在).”
The saint looked at his disciples and continued, “So when you argue with other people, do not say words that distance each other, or else there will come a day when the distance is so great that you will not find the  10  to return.

Helen is a teenager who has growing problems. She posts her problems on her blog and gets a lot of advice from other bloggers.

Helen: My parents are annoying. They never stop going on about how I should keep my room tidy, keep my hair tidy and wear smart clothes. They even make me do the washing-up after dinner every night! None of my friends have got such parents. What should I do?

Why do you think you're the only one with parents like that? All parents are the same. They want us to look like them. Sometimes it's really annoying. They don't understand that fashions have changed in the last 30 years! Tom, Canada Hi, Helen. I think you should do what your parents ask. They're much older than you and you  should take their advice. It's their house you live in and their money you spend. Emily, New Zealand, Helen, why should your parents do all the washing-up? You should help around the house---it's only fair. Simon, Scotland I don't see why you are so unhappy. Your parents act like that because you are the one they love and care about. We share housework in my family. I even wash the car for my father. And I get paid for that. Victoria. Australia