Do you have a dictionary? I think almost everyone has one.But ,how often do you use a dictionary? I don't believe that everyone makes good use of it.You may come across lots of new words in your study and you will ask someone for the answers. But if you have a dictionary ,
please don't let it sleep.You should make better use of it .It can tell you not only the meaning of the words but also the use of them.What's more, it can tell you how to use them.
It is true that dictionaries are very useful and important to us.They are like silent teachers. When you have a question, you can turn to them.They will give you the right answer.They are also like a trusted friend and stay with you forever. You can learn a lot from them .
Don't be lazy. Don't let your dictionary sleep any more. You will find it is a new world if you walk to it.
【小题1】Does everyone make good use of the dictionary?

Life for Cathy Taylor’s three children is very busy. Their school days are busy enough. After school, though, Cathy takes the two boys from football to basketball. Then she has to take her daughter to piano lessons. The tired children don’t get home until 7 pm. They have a quick supper, and it’s time for homework.

The Taylors are like many American and British parents. They take their children from activity to activity, and try to fit as much as possible into their kids’ lives. Doctors say many children are under too much pressure. Teachers complain(抱怨) about teaching tired kids in the classroom.

Most children take part in after-school clubs. Activities include sports, language learning, music and math classes. Pushy parents are nothing new, but now parents seem to push their children a lot more. Parents see other children doing a lot of things, and they feel their own children should do the same.

Linda Miller, a mother of three in London, knows all about such pressure. “In some families, competition starts from a very young age,” she says. “Mothers send their kids to all kinds of classes when they are very young. And they are always comparing them with other children. It’s crazy. People shouldn’t push their kids so hard.

Dr Alice Green agrees. She also says that these children may find it hard to think for themselves when they are older. “Parents are trying to plan their kids’ lives for them. When these kids are adults, they might find it difficult to plan things for themselves.” Parents should learn to give their kids a bit more time to themselves. On one hand, children need organized activities. On the other hand, they also need time and freedom to relax, and they need time to do things by themselves.

(   ) 8. Cathy Taylor sends her daughter to       .

A. math classes     B. language school B. sport club      D. piano lessons

(   ) 9. Why do teachers complain about teaching those children in the classroom?

A. Because they are very tired.     B. Because they know a lot of things.

C. Because they are under too much pressure. D. Because they can’t plan things for themselves.

(   ) 10. From the passage, we know children take part in after-school activities because       .

A. they have interest in them           B. their teachers tell them to do so

C. their parents push them to do so         D. they see other children doing these things

(  ) 11. The writer probably thinks that parents should       .

A. compare their children with others    B. plan their children’s lives for them

C. take their children to different classes  

D. give children time and let them do things by themselves

Father’s Day is the third Sunday in June. It is a day to thank fathers. On that day, fathers usually receive greeting gifts and cards. On the cards, children will write, “Thanks, father.” “Best wishes for Father’s Day” and so on. Father’s Day is also a day families get together at home as well as in the restaurants.
Where does the idea for the holiday come from? We should thank an American. In 1909 she wrote letters to some important persons. In her letter she advised to make Father’s Day on the third Sunday in June. In June in 1910, people celebrated（庆祝） the first Father’s Day in Washington. People whose parents are dead often decorated(装饰) their graves(坟墓) with flowers on these days. These are days of family fun and creating good feelings and memories（记忆，回忆）.
【小题1】When is Father’s Day?                     
A. The second Sunday in May.   
B. The third Sunday in June.
C. The third Saturday in June.    
【小题2】On Father’s Day           usually receive gifts and cards.
A. fathers   B. mothers    C. father
【小题3】Where does the idea for the holiday come from?             
A. China.   B. England.    C. America.   
【小题4】When did the people celebrate the first Father’s Day?           
A. In June in 1900.            B. In July in 1910.       C. In June in 1910.
【小题5】Which sentence is not TRUE?               
A. On the cards, children will write “Thanks father.”
B. Father’s Day is also a day students get together at school.
C. In 1909 an American wrote letters to some important persons.

When I was a foreign teacher in China, every day I taught English to my students and they taught me about China. One day the topic turned to saying “ I love you”. I was shocked to learn that not one of my students has said this to their mothers, nor had their mothers said it to them. “Does your mother love you?” “ Of course,” they answered.

“ How do you know?” was my logical question. They responded that their moms cooked and always told them what they were doing wrong to show their caring. I was stunned. So mom’s cooking and criticizing read out as “I love you”. “Then do you say‘I love you’to her?” They agreed that getting good grades, followed by good jobs would be how they showed their love.

I come from a culture where most people are expressive enough, so I repeated these questions in classes over time. Gradually, I began to get different responses. Some of them had exchanged those sentiments with their moms.

One of my favourite stories of change came from a girl. When she came home from university, her mother met her at the door and hugged her. This had never happened before, but her mom said, “ Now that you have gone, I have more time to myself. I noticed that in some places mothers and children hug each other and decided it was a good idea and that I would begin hugging you.”

In my family we all say “I love you” a lot. While it is true that we often say the words without having great depth of feelings at that moment, it is almost like a blessing we give each other. Those three words carry a world of meaning, even when said as a greeting, but most especially if they are the last words we say to or hear from those we love.

1. Chinese people prefer to show love by __________.

A. saying “I love you”      B. cooking

C. getting good grades      D. doing something helpful

2. The underlined word “stunned” mean________ in Chinese.

A. 好笑       B.难受   C. 震惊       D. 有趣

3. In paragraph 4, what’s the real meaning of the mom’s hugging?

A. She is meeting her daughter at the door.

B. She loves her daughter and misses her.

C. She is glad that she has more time to herself.

D. She finds it interesting to hug her daughter.

4. Which of the following statements is RIGHT?

A. Chinese people never show love to their mothers.

B. Chinese students express love to their mothers by studying hard and trying to get good jobs.

C. In foreign countries people have great depth of feelings to say “I love you”.

D. People from different countries will never understand each other.

5. What’s the main idea of the passage?

A. Say “I love you” more to your family.

B. Say “I love you” a lot to Chinese people.

C. Say “I love you” as a greeting to others.

D. Say “I love you” without great depth of feelings.

When July comes, children know they’ll have the final exams and the school year will end soon. Boys and girls will have a nearly two months’ holiday, and they’ll leave school by train or by car to return home to see their fathers and mothers.

The summer holiday is the best time of the year for most students. The weather is good, so they can spend most of their time playing outside .If one lives in the country, he can go on a trip into the woods or in the fields. If one lives in a big city, he can go to a park to play.

The best place for a summer holiday is the seaside. Some children are lucky enough to live near the sea. But for the others who do not, if they have the chance to stay at one of the big seaside towns for a week or two, they will talk about it all the following school year.

Now, what makes children like the seaside so much? I think it is the sand, the sea and the sun, not anything else. Of course, there are lots of new things to see, nice things to eat and interesting things to do. But the feeling of the sand under their feet, the salt water on their skin, and the warm sun on their backs make them happier.

1. Every year, school children have the final exams in ____, and the exam means the school year will end.

2.According to the passage, if a child comes from a big city, he can often ____ in the summer holidays.

3.It’s the best way for children to go to the ____ to spend their summer holidays.

4. ____ make children like the seaside so much?

5.Which of the following is Not true according to the passage?