The air pollution was so bad in Harbin, in China, on October 21,2013 that the city had to close roads and schools, and cancel* hundreds of flights from its airport.

News reports said the smog (a mixture of smoke and fog) was so thick that people couldn’t see more than 10 or 20 metres in front of them.

It is also said that people could not even see the person standing next to them. The city’s website said: “You can’t see your own fingers in front of you.”

The local people said there was a “burning” smell in the air. Many people covered their noses and mouths with scarves or masks*.

The pollution was caused on several factors* including: farmers burning off old corn stalks* and crop stubble*; coal*-fired heating systems; and low winds that allowed the smoke to remain over the city.

The smog had been building up for several days. It became worse when the city turned on the public heating system, which uses coal to heat millions of homes and offices in the city.

Harbin has a population of more than 10 million people. It lies in northeastern China, where cold winter weather can last up to six months. The main fuel* there is coal, because it is cheaper than other types of fuel.

Air pollution from burning coal can cause health problems like heart disease. During the smog crisis* in Harbin, the number of people taken to the hospital with breathing problems was 30% higher than usual.

The city government is trying to reduce its use of coal by adding more insulation* and better roofs and windows to buildings to reduce heating needs. It has also used cleaner fuel for cars and factories.

1.The roads and schools in Harbin had to be closed on October 21, 2013 because of  ____

A. the heavy rain   B. the strong wind  C. the serious smog  D.  the terrible snow        

2.There are many reasons for the air pollution EXCEPT____________.

A. farmers burn off old corn stalks and crop stubble                   

B. people use coal to heat millions of homes and offices

C. The smoke remains over the city   because of low winds

D. Many buses and cars use cleaner fuel and so do factories.

3. What is the government trying to do when the air pollution get worse?

A. To offer cars new fuel.                          

B. To give people more masks.

C. To reduce its use of coal.               

D. To ask people to stay at home.

4.What does the passage mainly tell us?

A. The serious air pollution in China   

B. Coal-fired heating systems

C. The population crisis in Harbin      

D. The reasons for heart disease

We’ve talked about snails (蜗牛) and their slow move. But much of the time snails don’t move at all. They’re in their shells ---sleeping .

Hot sun will dry out a snail’s body. So at the least sign of hot sun, a snail draws its body into its shell and closes the opening with a thin cover. Then it goes to sleep. A snail will die in a heavy rain. So whenever it rains, it goes inside its shell house and goes to sleep. A snail can sleep for as long as it needs to. It can take a short sleep. Or it can sleep for days at a time. And it spends all the winter months in its shell, asleep.

In spring the snail wakes up. Its body, about three inches long, comes out of from the shell. When hungry, the snail looks for food. It can’t see very well. Its eyes, at the ends of the top feelers are very weak. But its sense of smell is very strong. It helps the snail to the new greens. Then the snail’s little mouth goes to work.

A snail’s mouth is no longer than the point of a pin(针). Yet it has 256,000 teeth! The teeth are so small that you can’t see them. But they do their work.. If you put a snail in a hard paper box, it will eat its way out. And if a snail wears out its teeth, it will grow new ones.

Mostly, a snail looks for food at night .But on cloudy days it eats in the daytime. It eats all day long. A snail can go on eating for hours and never feel full.

1.A snail__________.

A. moves more slowly in the daytime      B. has thousands of feet

C. doesn’t move at all                  D. sleeps much of the time

2.In the sentence “A snail draws its body into its shell” the word “draw” means_________.

A. to make with a pen                  B. to keep away from

C. to pull                            D. to move to end

3.From the story we know_________.

A. the snail’s shell is very thin

B. a snail can’t see well

C. the snail’s nose is quite short

D. the snail’s body changes in different seasons

4.A snail goes to sleep when_________.

A. it feels hungry                                  B. it is put in a paper box

C. spring is coming                          D. it rains heavily

5.Which of the following in not true?

A. A snail doesn’t like living under the sun.     

B. In winter the snail doesn’t eat or move.

C. The snail’s teeth can’t be worn out..

D. The snail’s strong sense of smell helps to find things far away.

Do you think the rain will stop tomorrow?

---_______. It has rained for half a month. It’s too wet.

A．I hope that.                            B．I’m afraid it will.

C．I’m sure it will.                        D．I hope so.

用括号内所给动词的适当形式填空。
【小题1】In the past three years, my home town ______________(change) a lot. already.
【小题2】It’s hard to say what ____________ (happen) in 100 years in our country.
【小题3】They_______________(not travel)to Shanghai next week, are they?
【小题4】The students________(chat) from 6 to7 yesterday evening.
【小题5】When I got to the station yesterday morning, my friends _______(wait ) for me at the entrance.
【小题6】If it__________ (not rain) tomorrow, we’ll go hiking.
【小题7】He____________ (not write) a letter to his mother yet. He has to do that soon. His mother misses him very much.
【小题8】Would you please__________(not make) such a big noise. The baby is sleeping.
【小题9】It’s a long time since we ________(meet) last time, isn’t it?
【小题10】----How many times _______the girl __________(forget) to take the keys to her home?
----At least three times.
【小题11】You must spend as much time as you can ________  (practise) playing the piano.
【小题12】They_______(live) in Wuxi since they were born.