A baby born in India has been declared the world's seven billionth person by child rights group Plan International.Baby Nargis was born at 07：25 local time(01：55GMT)in Mall village in India's Uttar Pradesh state.Plan International says Nargis has been chosen symbolically as it is not possible to know where exactly the seven billionth baby is born.In addition to baby Nargis in India，Bangladesh，the Philippines and Cambodia have all identified seven billionth babies.The United Nations estimated that on Monday 31 October.the world's population would reach seven billion.
Populations are growing faster than economies in many poor countries in Africa and some in Asia.At the same time，low birth rates in Japan and many European nations have raised concerns about labor shortages.
Population experts at the United Nations estimated that the world reached six billion in October 1999.They predict nine billion by 2050 and ten billion by the end of the century. China's population of one and a third billion is currently the world's largest.India is second at 1.2 billion.But India is expected to pass China and reach one and a half billion people around 2025.
India will also have one of the world's youngest populations.Economists say this is a chance for a so-called.demographic dividend.India could gain from the skills of young people in a growing economy at a time when other countries have aging populations.But economists say current rates of growth，although high，may not create enough jobs.Also，the public education system is failing to meet demand and schooling is often of poor quality.Another concern is health care.Nearly half of India's children under the age of five are malnourished(营养不良).
Michal Rutkowski，the director of human development in South Asia at the World Bank, says reaching seven billion people in the world is a good time for a call to action.He says，“I think the bottom line of the story is that the public policy needs to become really，really serious about sex equality and about access to services—to fight against malnutrition，and to provide for access to health services，water and schooling.”

1. 1.

   What is true about the world's seven billionth person?

   1. A.
      Baby Nargis is not the only child chosen as the seven billionth baby.
   2. B.
      Baby Nargis has been chosen carefully so it is exactly the seven billionth baby.
   3. C.
      Three countries have all declared Baby Nargis as the seven billi011th baby.
   4. D.
      The United Nations declared Baby Nargis as the world's seven billionth person.
2. 2.

   Which of the following problems do many European countries worry about?

   1. A.
      Labor shortage.
   2. B.
      Poor health care.
   3. C.
      Not enough jobs.
   4. D.
      Schooling of poor quality.
3. 3.

   According to population experts，how long will it take for population to grow from six billion to nine billion?

   1. A.
      About 12 years.
   2. B.
      About 40 years.
   3. C.
      About 50 years.
   4. D.
      About 110 years.
4. 4.

   What does the underlined phrase“demographic dividend”in the fourth paragraph refer to?

   1. A.
      Possibility of lower birth rate.
   2. B.
      Benefit gained by working young people.
   3. C.
      Chances for more employment.
   4. D.
      Disadvantages caused by aging population.
5. 5.

   Which of the following public policies does Michal Rutkowski call on?

   1. A.
      To encourage late marriage.
   2. B.
      To reduce world's population.
   3. C.
      To gain economic equality.
   4. D.
      To improve health and education.

“It was a11 his own idea，”says Pat Peters，the 38-year-old wife of Palo Alto，California high school football coach Bob Peters，39．Bob had just drawn up a “motherhood contract”-a document(文件)stating that for 70 days this summer he would take over the care and feeding of the couplets four children，plus all household chores(杂务)．Although he didn’t even know how to make coffee when he signed，he was quite confident．(He thought the experience would make a nice book．)

      After 40 of the 70 days，he was ready to give up．”I was beaten down，completely humbled” admits Peters．Three weeks later he spoke to the local press(also part of the bargain)，stating，”Not only is motherhood a difficult task，not only is it never—ending，it is an impossible job for any normal human being．”

      Bob and Pat were high school sweethearts、After they got married i11 1 960，she worked as a secretary to help put him through university．Since then Bob has been the football and  wrestling coach at Palo Alto’s Cubberley high while Pat raised the kids.

     Then two years ago Pat went back to work as a secretary at Cubberley．”I had been around children so much，”she sighs(叹气)．”I couldn’t talk to a grown—up．”She continued to run the household，however—until Bob signed the contract．Where upon she decided to relax and enjoy it .Although Peters had consulted with his school’s home economics teachers and‘he head of the cafeteria(食堂)，his meals were sometimes a disaster．”I tried to slip the butter. I’d forgotten under the eggs after they were flying，”he says．For the last three weeks, the family ate out a lot——sometimes having Macdonald’s hamburgers for lunch and dinner．

    As for housekeeping．a home economics teacher had told Bob that a room always looks clean if the bed is made．”I found an easier way-I shut the doors，”he says．Soon the kids were wearing the same clothes for a week．”I made them wear their shirts inside out，and when we went to Dick up Pat at work they turned them right side out so they would look clean.”

    Now that Bob has publicly admitted he was wrong，he is routinely(日常地)sharing the child-raising and household tasks with Pat．The tentative(暂定的)title of his book about the summer is taken from something he shouted at the kids one day．．．．

1．File couple signed the contract because       ．

  A．Pat complained a lot about her doing the housework all by herself

  B．Bob loved taking care of children and wanted his wife to have a good rest

  C．They agreed that husband and wife should share household tasks

  D．Bob thought it easy to take care of tile family and wanted the experience for a book

2．It was agreed that if Bob failed to keep to the contract．he would have to      ．

  A．pay a certain amount of money

  B．do all tile housework for years

  C．say sorry to his wife

  D． admit publicly he was wrong about motherhood

3．What call we 1earn about Pat Peters?

  A．She was hard—working and selfless．

  B．She was pretty and kind—hearted．

  C．She was tired of tile child．raising and household tasks．

  D．She did not love Bob any longer．

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

  A．Bob managed to keep the kids’ clothes clean．

  B．Bob tried to cook good meals for his children．

  C．Bob frequently took the kids out to eat because he was too busy at work．

  D．Bob taught the kids to make their beds every day．

5．Which of the following can best end tile story?

  A. “My experience of being a mother．”

  B．”I’ll proud of you all，my dear!”

  C．”Wait till your mother gets home!”

  D．”Motherhood：an impossible job for anyone。”

Shane Thomas is a 10-year-old pianist from England. He’s being called the next Mozart because of his amazing abilities.
He has only been having piano lessons for four months, and practices four hours a week, but he has already played difficult classical pieces. He was just seven when he sat down at the piano, and could play at once. He also says he never gets nervous.
When Shane was three years old, he said that he could play the piano, but nobody took him seriously. At school, he could listen to the teacher and do his work while composing (作曲) in his head. Shame remembers all the melodies（旋律）,and when he gets home he plays them on the piano, while his father records them. Shane loves playing the piano, and when he grows up he wants to be a composer.
His tutor, Richard Goffin-Lecar, says he is like Amadeus Mozart, who lived during the 18^th century in Salzburg, Austria, and was one of the most famous composers ever. Mr. Goffin-lecar says, “I don’t teach Shane very much. I just give him directions, then sit back and watch.”
His father, a single parent with two other children, says that although he has little money, he wants to send Shane to a good music school. “I’m a single father, but I have this gifted child. I don’t have much money, but I want to give him the best teachers, and also take him into a studio to record.”
【小题1】When did Shane tell others that he could play the piano?

After 40 of the 70 days, he was ready to give up. “I was beaten down, completely humbled, ” admits Peters. Three weeks later he spoke to the local press(also part of the bargain), stating, “Not only is motherhood a difficult task, not only is it never-ending, it is an impossible job for any normal human being.”
Bob and Pat were high school sweethearts. After they were married in 1960, she worked as a secretary to help put him through university. Since then Bob has been the football and wrestling coach at Palo Alto’s Cubberley High while Pat raised the kids.
Then two years ago Pat went back to work as a secretary at Cubberley. “I had been around children so much,” she sighs(叹气), “I couldn’t talk to a grown-up.” She continued to run the household, however-until Bob signed the contract, whereupon she decided to relax and enjoy it.
Although Peters had consulted(咨询) with his school’s home economics teachers and the head of the cafeteria(食堂), his meals were sometimes a disaster. “I tried to slip the butter I’d forgotten under the eggs after they were frying, ” he says. For the last three weeks, the family ate out a lot—sometimes having Macdonald’s hamburgers for lunch and dinner.
As for housekeeping, a home economics teacher had told Bob that a room always looks clean if the bed is made. “I found an easier way-I shut the doors, ” he says. Soon the kids were wearing the same clothes for a week. “I made them wear their shirts inside out, and when we went to pick up Pat at work they turned them right side out so they would look clean.”
Now that Bob has publicly admitted he was wrong, he is routinely(日常地) sharing the child-raising and household tasks with Pat. The tentative(暂定的) title of his book about the summer is taken from something he shouted at the kids one day.

1. 1.

   The couple signed the contract because _______.

   1. A.
      Pat complained a lot about her doing the housework all by herself
   2. B.
      Bob loved taking care of children and wanted his wife to have a good rest
   3. C.
      they agreed that husband and wife should share household tasks
   4. D.
      Bob thought it easy to take care of the family and wanted the experience for a book
2. 2.

   It was agreed that if Bob failed to keep to the contract, he would have to _______.

   1. A.
      pay a certain amount of money
   2. B.
      do all the housework for years
   3. C.
      say sorry to his wife
   4. D.
      admit publicly he was wrong about motherhood
3. 3.

   What can we learn about Pat Peters?

   1. A.
      She was hard-working and selfless.
   2. B.
      She was pretty and kind-hearted.
   3. C.
      She was tired of the child-raising and household tasks.
   4. D.
      She did not love Bob any longer.
4. 4.

   Which of the following is true according to the passage?

   1. A.
      Bob managed to keep the kids’clothes clean.
   2. B.
      Bob tried to cook good meals for his children.
   3. C.
      Bob frequently took the kids out to eat because he was too busy at work.
   4. D.
      Bob taught the kids to make their beds every day.
5. 5.

   Which of the following can best end the news story?

   1. A.
      “My experience of being a mother.”
   2. B.
      “I’m proud of you all, my dear!”
   3. C.
      “Wait till your mother gets home!”
   4. D.
      “Motherhood: an impossible job for anyone.”

阅读理解

　　One of the best known American writers of children's books is Alfred Strong, or Doctor Strong, as he is better known to readers everywhere. Now, an art show called “Doctor Strong From Then to Now” is traveling around the United States. The pictures and drawings show the history of Doctor Strong.

　　Doctor Strong first became famous almost fifty years ago when his first children's book was published. Since then, he has written forty－five books that have sold more than one hundred million copies around the world.

　　Doctor Strong's books are known for their easy use of words and colorful, hand－drawn pictures. These drawings bring life to his imaginary creatures, The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and hundreds of others.

　　The San Diego Museum, in California, organized the art show. It includes about three hundred of Doctor Strong's original drawings and some of his writings.

　　Most of Doctor Strong's books, although written in a funny way, have serious messages. For example, In McElligot's Pool, he describes the danger of pollution. He discusses the arms race in The Butter Battle Book, written in nineteen eighty－four.

　　Doctor Strong is almost eighty－four－year old now. He says he never planned to write stories just for children. He says he writes stories that interest people of all ages. He says he uses easy words to everyone, even a child, can understand.

1．Doctor Strong first became famous in ________.

[　　]

A．his eighties when his art show was traveling around the United States

B．his fifties when his drawings and writings were published

C．nineteen－eighty－four when his book McElligot's Pool was published

D．his thirties when his first book was published

2．Doctor Strong's books are very popular in America because ________.

[　　]

A．they are stories about animals such as cat, elephant and so on

B．they are written in easy words with colorful pictures

C．he organized the art show in California

D．they are written in a funny way

3．His purpose in writing many such books is ________.

[　　]

A．to show his original pictures and drawings

B．to organize a special art show of his own

C．to amuse his readers only

D．not only to interest people but to expose some serious social problems

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

[　　]

A．Alfred Strong organized an art show including 300 of his original drawings and some writings.

B．He likes to write stories about interesting people.

C．He won't plan to write stories for children any more.

D．It's San Diego Museum that organized the art show called “Doctor Strong From Then to Now”.

5．What can we learn from the sentence “These drawings bring life to his imaginary creatures.”?

[　　]

A．All creatures in his stories come from real life.

B．His drawings have made all his imaginary creatures in the stories true to life.

C．These drawings have brought imagination to his stories.

D．These drawings have brought him a new life.