When we have small cuts in the skin(皮肤), something strange may happen. The cuts are able to heal(痊愈) themselves in a couple of days. How does this happen? Read on, and you will find out the secret.

Every living thing on the earth is made up of cells(细胞). Cells grow and make new cells. Most cells are very small and we can't see them with our eyes. Different cells have different uses. Our skin cells are special ones. The cells on the outside of our skin are old dead cells. New skin cells are right under the outside. These are the living skin cells. They work for our bodies. They help protect our bodies and heal cuts.

Our bodies make skin cells all the time. As the old cells fall off, new cells grow in the same place. Each person makes about 18 kg of skin cells during his or her life. Outside skin cells fit together closely with no gaps between them. When you cut yourself, you can harm your skin cells. A small cut will not be harmful. Your skin will quickly heal itself by making new skin cells. How do skin cells work? First, the cells near the cut get bigger and move into the gap. Next, these bigger cells meet in the middle. They form a new layer(层) of skin cells. Finally, new cells will grow until the gap disappears. In this way, your skin can grow and get well itself. How amazing the small cells are! Next time you have a cut, don't worry about it. Maybe in a few days, you will be surprised to find it healed.

1.The underlined word “gaps” in the passage means “______” in Chinese.

A．突起             B．条纹             C．缝隙             D．代沟

2.From the passage, we know that cells______.

A．are large and we can see them with our eyes

B．can heal few cuts themselves

C．are in everything on the earth

D．can grow and make new cells

3.Skin cells heal cuts in three steps. ______is the right order.

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

A．Each person can make 18 kg of skin cells every day.

B．Different cells have different uses in our bodies.

C．The skin cells have little work to do in the body.

D．Every living thing on the earth is made up of skin cells

5.The best title for this passage should be______.

A．How Skin Cells Heal Cuts

B．The Importance of Skin

C．How to Protect Our Fingers

D．The Importance of Cells

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the guestroom. Instead the angels were given some space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, "Things aren't always what they seem."

     The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable (好客的) farmer. After sharing a little food they had, the farmer and his wife let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest. When the sun came up the next morning, the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their only income, lay dead in the field.

     The younger angel was very angry and asked the older angel, "How could this happen?" "Why didn't you watch out for the cow? The first family had everything, yet you watched over his house," she accused (谴责). "The second family had little but was willing to share everything, you didn't help."

     "Things aren't always what they seem," the angel replied. "When we stayed in the basement, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so greedy and unwilling to share his good fortune, I asked God if I could seal the wall so he wouldn't find it. Then last night as we slept in the farmer's bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I asked God if the angel could take the cow instead. So things aren't always what they seem."

1. The older angel repaired the hole for the rich family because _____________________.

A. she wanted to punish the greedy owner

B. the basement was too cold to stay in

C. she wanted to save the gold for the poor.

D. she believed that one should always be ready to offer help

2. The younger angel was very angry because _______________________________.

A. the older angel killed the farmer's cow?

B. the wealthy man gave them a bad place to live in

C. the older angel treated the two families unfairly

D. the angel of death took the cow away instead of the farmer’s wife

3. Why did the older angel let the farmer's cow die?______________________.

A. Because she was sympathetic to the rich

B. Because she wanted to save the farmer's wife.

C. Because God wanted the older angel to take the cow.

D. Because she wanted to teach the younger angel a lesson.

4.The first “they” in line 7 refers to ________while the second “they” in line 8 refers to _______in the second paragraph.

A. two travelling angels; the couple???????

B. two travelling angels; the wealthy family

C. the couple; two travelling angels???????

D. the couple; the angel of death and the God

5.The story tries to tell the readers that _________________________.

A. angels are always ready to help the poor

B. angels are always ready to help the rich

C. the young should always learn from the cold

D. sometimes things are not always what they seem

Thirty years ago, Lake Ponkapog in Hartwell, New Jersey, was full of life. Many birds and animals lived beside the water, which was full of fish. Now there are few birds, animals, and fish. The lake water is polluted. It is in a colour of dirty brown, and it is filled with strange plants.
How did this happen? First, we must think about how water gets into Lake Ponkapog. When it rains, water comes into the lake from all around. In the past, there were forests all round Lake Ponkapog, so the rainwater was clean.
Now there are many homes around the lake. People often use the chemicals (化学制品)in their gardens. They use other chemicals inside their houses for cleaning and killing insects. There are also many businesses. Businesses use chemicals in their machines of shops. Other chemicals fall onto the ground from cars or trucks. When it rains, the rainwater picks up all the chemicals from home and businesses and then carries them into the lake . They pollute the water and kill the animals.
Boats on the lake are also a problem. Lake Ponkapog is a popular place for motorboats（汽船）. But oil and gas from boats often get into the lake. So more bad chemicals go into the water this way.
People in Hartwell are worried . They love their lake and want to save it. Will it be possible? A clean lake must have clean rainwater going into it. Clean rainwater is possible only if people are more careful about chemicals at home and at other chemicals on the ground. And they mustn’t use motorboats any more on the lake. All these may change people’s lives. Only then can Lake Ponkapog be a beautiful, clean lake again.
【小题1】In the past, the water in Lake Ponkapog was made clean by ________.

Thirty years ago, Lake Ponkapog in Hartwell, New Jersey, was full of life. Many birds and animals lived beside the water, which was full of fish. Now there are few birds, animals, and fish. The lake water is polluted. It is in a colour of dirty brown, and it is filled with strange plants.

How did this happen? First, we must think about how water gets into Lake Ponkapog. When it rains, water comes into the lake from all around. In the past, there were forests all round Lake Ponkapog, so the rainwater was clean.

Now there are many homes around the lake. People often use the chemicals (化学制品)in their gardens. They use other chemicals inside their houses for cleaning and killing insects. There are also many businesses. Businesses use chemicals in their machines of shops. Other chemicals fall onto the ground from cars or trucks. When it rains, the rainwater picks up all the chemicals from home and businesses and then carries them into the lake . They pollute the water and kill the animals.

Boats on the lake are also a problem. Lake Ponkapog is a popular place for motorboats（汽船）. But oil and gas from boats often get into the lake. So more bad chemicals go into the water this way.

People in Hartwell are worried . They love their lake and want to save it. Will it be possible? A clean lake must have clean rainwater going into it. Clean rainwater is possible only if people are more careful about chemicals at home and at other chemicals on the ground. And they mustn’t use motorboats any more on the lake. All these may change people’s lives. Only then can Lake Ponkapog be a beautiful, clean lake again.

1.In the past, the water in Lake Ponkapog was made clean by ________.

A．forests           B．rain              C．birds             D．fish

2.Chemicals from homes and businesses _________.

A．are always clean                        B．can help the animals

C．are good for the lake                     D．get into the rainwater

3.Cleaner rainwater will mean _________ .

A．more boats on the lake                   B．more dirty things in the lake

C．a cleaner lake                          D．a dirty lake

4.To save Lake Ponkapog, people need to ________.

A．be more careful about chemicals           B．use the water

C．grow fewer plants in the gardens            D．use more motorboats on the lake

5.The passage is about ________.

A．boats on the Lake Pankapog               B．why the water is dirty in Lake Ponkapog

C．clean rainwater                         D．dirty lakes

Talking with people is necessary in our daily activities and it is also very important. However, we all have different styles of communicating. Some people seem to be liked by most of the people while others not! Why does this happen? The answer lies in the simple magic words of communication—Thank you, Please and Sorry!

Let’s see how and why we should use these three words:

◆ Thank you

There is not one day of our life which we spend without taking help from another person. From the time we start our day till we step into our bed for a good night’s sleep, we have taken a number of favors (恩惠). However, how many times do we thank the other person truly? Be free and generous in saying “Thank you”! It does not take away your credit (认可), but surely makes the other person happy and more willing to help you next time!

◆ Please

Often we take things for granted (想当然) and ask other people to do things for us. This does not help as others feel they are made to do these for you. A simple and sweet “please” could completely change the manner towards you.

◆ Sorry

Everyone makes mistakes, but it is quite difficult to accept it and say sorry for it. This always causes trouble in our relationship. Saying sorry does not disgrace (使丢脸) anyone, instead, puts them in a more polite position.

These three simple words can work wonders for people. If you truly use these words in your day to day communication with people, you will surely find a change in the way people respond (反应) to you and your actions.