Trees are one of the oldest“citizens(公民)”of our Earth．They keep our air clean,。Reduce noise pollution，improve water quality(质量)and provide food and building materials．

    Just like us, trees change a lot as they grow．At one to three years old, young trees learn how to protect themselves．For example，many trees grow thorns(刺)to warn animals not to go near. Most young trees have large，deep green leaves so that they can catch enough sunlight and change it into their food and energy.

    当小树成长到四年的时候，它们成长可是加速并且进一步强壮，以足以面对未来生命中的挑战At the age of l5，trees become young adults．They grow more slowly and begin to produce flowers and fruit．

    It is not until山e tree is 20 to 25 years old that it becomes a real adult. The tree reaches its 1argest．Not only does the adult tree give us shade，oxygen(氧气)and natural beauty；it is also a great place for a tree house，or a place for us to nap，read a book，listen to music or sip(小口喝)tea．If we give the adult tree proper care，it will continue to live healthily for many years.

    Gradually(渐渐地)，trees begin to grow older and older and even die．At this time，they still have their important place in nature．When a tree becomes hollow(空心的)or part of it becomes dead．it provides a home to small animals and is a source of food for many other animals.

    In many ways．the life of a tree is similar(相似的)to our own life experience. When we are looking at the life of a tree , we learn about that each period of life brings its own form of joy and challenge．Enjoy every minute of the life of the trees and take care of the trees!

A．根据短文内容回答下列问题。

1．How do young trees protect themselves? And why do they have large，deep green leaves?

2．Why should we enjoy every minute of our own life?

B．

3．将文中的划线汉语句子翻译成英语。(一空一词)

When trees are 4 years old，they begin to grow very rapidly and become                to face challenges later in life．

4．将文中的划线英语句子翻译成汉语。

C．

5．根据短文内容，写出能概括全文大意的句子。

If you have to choose a “Person of the Year” for 2005 , who will you pick ？For many of us ,the choice might not be a person at all . It would be Mother Nature（大自然母亲）.

While the world was still getting over the Indian tsunami（海啸）of December 2004 . Mother Nature went on showing her power throughout 2005 .

From July to October, about seven typhoons（台风）hit China’s coastal（沿海的）area.In August , the whole New Orleans city in the US was hit with its worst 一ever natural disaster , Hurricane Katrina . In early October , an earthquake in Pakistan killed more than 70,000 people .

Mother Nature was trying to give us a message:humans need to take responsibility（duty ) for the earth . She was just fighting back .

It is we humans who burn coal and oi1 to make electricity and power cars . This makes huge amount of greenhouse gases , which cause global warming .

It is we humans who cut forests and fill lakes to make space for buildings.This leaves fewer trees and lakes to keep floods（洪水）from rushing to towns and cities .

We need to work hard to ease（缓解）Mother Nature’s anger , or we’11 see more years of disasters.For example , we can start to use less electricity . Turn off lights , TVs and computers when we’re not using them . We can plant trees . One new tree a year from each of us can make a forest. Forests not only hold floods , they also take in greenhouse gases.

1 . The second paragraph mainly shows that_____________.

A . the Indian tsuami brought the people serious disasters

B . people in the world haven’t forgotten the Indian tsuami yet

C . people in  Indian areas are still overcoming difficulties and rebuilding

D . “Person of the Year” for 2005 is Mother Nature

2 . Why may Hurricane Katrina be the worst 一ever natural disaster in American recent history ?

A . Because the whole New Orleans City in America was destroyed badly .

B . Because a few meters high water waves crashed the walls .

C . Because it has never happened in the United States .

D . Because the people in New orleans were both out of water and food.

3 . What can cause such a serious disaster according to the passage ?

A . People burn coal and oi1 .              B . People cut down a lot of trees .

C . People change the lakes into fields .  D . All the answers above .

4 . The underlined phrase“take in” means “_____________” in Chinese .

A .放出                 B .挥发              C .吸收              D .制造

5 . The passage mainly tells us _____________.

A . to use less electricity and plant more trees

B . why the globe is getting warmer and warmer

C . that people should protect and love the earth

D . how to improve the environment around us

Put 2 February in your diary! It is World Wetlands Day! It marks the date that the

Convention(公约) on Wetlands was signed(签署)in1971.This special day was first celebrated in 1997 and it is celebrated every year.

    The celebration is a call for action. It is a way to show people how important and

useful the wetlands are for people. On World Wetlands Day, people around the world take

part in many wetlands activities. People take trips to the local wetlands. There are talks

about how important the wetlands are. People get together to clean up their local wetlands

Children draw pictures to advertise the day. People also compete(比赛)in boat races.

    The World Wetlands Day is important! If there are no wetlands, there will be no water for anyone in the future. Wetlands help protect nature and resources(资源)like fresh water. Already,  more than 10000 million people in the world do not have fresh water.

    Many people do not know how important the wetlands are. They can understand why an

elephant or a tiger is important because they are big, beautiful animals. It is much harder for

them to understand how important the animals in the wetlands are. These small animals,

such as frogs and snails, play a very important part in keeping the balance of nature.

    All plants and animals are part of the food chain(链).If the small wetlands animals

die, some animals in the food chain will have nothing to eat. They will also die. People

need the wetlands to keep the balance of nature in the world. If we do not protect nature

today，it will be gone tomorrow.

1.What should you put in your diary?

A. Some frogs.

B. The date of World Wetlands Day.

C. 1971

D. Any special day.

2.Where do people celebrate World Wetlands Day?

A. All over the world.                        B. In ships

C. At home.                                D. In their own way.

3.Which of the following sentences is NOT true?

A. People celebrate World Wetlands Day by taking part in competitions.

B. People celebrate World Wetlands Day by taking hips to local wetlands.

C. People celebrate World Wetlands Day by listening to talks about the wetlands.

D. People celebrate World Wetlands Day by talking about the weather.

4.Why are small animals important?

A. They are part of the balance of nature and the food chain.

B. They are beautiful.

C. Bigger animals are eaten by them

D. Without them, there may be no water.

5.Which of the following might be the best title of the article?

A. Wetlands Are Important

B. Small Animals Are Also Important

C. World Wetlands Day

D. Food Chain