People celebrate birthdays in almost every country on the earth，and celebrate them in many different ways．

In China and in Japan，for example，the arrival of the New Year is more（A）________ than a person's birthday．So everyone adds a year to their ages on New Year's Day，instead of on their birthdays．

In Brazil，the special birthday（B）________ isn't a birthday cake，bet special candies．In China，it's long noodles（C）为了长寿．In Iceland，people have pancakes with candies rolled inside on birthdays．

In Britain，a birthday is an all-day celebration．At school，the birthday child is lifted up by his classmates．In Israel，the same custom is followed．（D）but the birthday person is lifted and lowered while sitting in a chair．

In Holland，children not only get presents，but give things out，too．They give cakes，cookies and candies to their classmates and teachers on their birthdays．

In Mexico，it's good luck to give birthday greetings as early on the day as possible．So it's usual for the birthday child to be woken up at midnight by friends singing birthday songs．

In India，birthday celebrations also begin（E）quite early．Prayers and blessings must be said before morning（F）comes．

In Thailand，two tall candles are lighted at night before a birthday．One is as tall as the birthday person．If（G）it goes out early，it's bad luck．Another custom of Thailand is that they buy living fish and birds for the birthday person and then the birthday person flees them，and it brings good luck．

In Nigeria，persons in a certain age group celebrate their birthdays together on a certain day．

In many countries，birthday customs are changing．But one thing never changes--birthdays are special days for every birthday person!

1．在文中A和B的空白处填入一个适当的单词：__________；__________

2．将文中划线部分C译成英语：________________________________________

3．将划线部分D改写为：but people __________ and __________ the birthday person while the person is sluing in a chair．

4．写出文中划线词E和F的同义词或近义词：__________；__________

5．划线部分G在文中指代的是：________________________________________

Now satellites are helping to forecast（预报）the weather. They are in space, and they can reach any part of the world. The satellites take pictures of the atmosphere, because this is where the weather forms. They send these pictures to the weather stations. So meteorologists（气象学家）can see the weather of any part of the world. From the pictures, the scientists can often say how the weather will change.

Today, nearly five hundred weather stations in sixty countries receive satellite pictures. When they receive new pictures, the meteorologists compare them with earlier ones. Perhaps they may find that the clouds have changed during the last few hours. This may mean that the weather on the ground may soon change, too. In their next weather forecast, the meteorologists can say this.

So the weather satellites are a great help to the meteorologists. Before satellites were invented, the scientists could forecast the weather for about 24 or 48 hours. Now they can make good forecasts for three or five days. Soon, perhaps, they may be able to forecast the weather for a week or more ahead.

1.Satellites travel _____________.

A. in space                              B. in the atmosphere

C. above the ground                   D. above space

2.Why do we use the weather satellites to take pictures of the atmosphere? Because __________.

A. the weather satellites can do it easily          

B. clouds form there

C. the weather forms there                     

D. the pictures can forecast the weather

3.Meteorologists forecast the weather __________.

A. when they have received satellite pictures

B. after they have compared new satellite pictures with earlier ones

C. before they received satellite pictures

D. during they study satellite pictures

4.Maybe we’ll soon be able to forecast the weather for ________.

A. one day                              B. two days

C. five days                            D. seven days or even longer

5.The main idea of this passage is that satellites are now used in _________.

A. taking pictures of the atmosphere           

B. receiving pictures of the atmosphere

C. doing other work in many ways             

D. weather forecasting

As the Internet becomes more popular, many older media (媒体) businesses are dying out. But TV seems to be doing OK. In fact, it's doing better than OK. Though the Internet is popular in the world, television continues to draw more and more people all over the world to many of its programs. Hundreds of millions turn to TV to watch World Cup soccer，Olympic Games and Discoveries.

In many places, increasing numbers of people can watch more TV than before. Ten years ago, only 44% of British homes had satellite or cable TV(卫星或有线电视).Today, more than 93% do. More importantly, recent studies show that people are spending more time watching TV. Surprisingly, this is even true of young people between the ages of 8 and 18.Today's television industry has given so many choices. As a result, people can watch more of the things they like 24 hours a day.

The technology behind television has also improved. The big boxes that once filled living rooms are gone. Today's TV screens are thinner and thinner, yet the pictures are better and better. TVs are also moving from living rooms into kitchens and vehicles.

For years, TVs have also been used as video game players. But now they have been used in a few new ways. Many televisions can connect to the Internet and record programs. They also let people watch two programs at the same time. Today the most modern television has been on the way of development.

The Internet is the main challenge (挑战) for television now. But TV industry has shown that television will be important for years to come.

1.判断正误（“T”表示正确，“F”表示错误） Studies show that people are spending more time watching TV than before.

2.完成句子Many televisions can _______________________ the Internet and record programs.

3.简略回答问题Where are TVs moving from living rooms?

___________________________________________________________________

4.简略回答问题What is the main challenge for television？

____________________________________________________________________

5.将文中画线句子译成汉语。____________________________________________________________________

A green life sometimes just needs a good idea like sharing cars. It’s a new way of thinking. You can use a car but you don’t need to own it. Now the idea of “ car sharing” has become    51   in many countries.

As we know, most cars   52   in garages for much time. In fact, we drive our own cars    53   one or two hours a day on average(平均). When we don’t use them, we have to pay for parking and   54   things. That costs too much money. To   55  money, some people come up with the idea of “ car sharing”. If we share a car, we’ll only  56    when we use it.

Now many people are starting to do car sharing. In Switzerland, almost 40,000 people have    57   it. Japan is also trying to make    58    popular around the country.

Car sharing is the beginning of a new idea in    59    . It is also very for us to travel everywhere   60   buying a car. Do you love to share a car with others?

1.A. popular             B. interesting            C. funny

2. A. are washed          B. are driven              C. are parked

3. A. as far as           B. as long as              C. as much as

4. A. other               B. others                  C. another

5. A. make                B. save                    C. find

6. A. spend               B. cost                    C. pay

7. A. joined              B. covered                 C. dropped

8. A. time saving         B. money saving            C. car sharing

9.A. fashion             B. transportation          C. family

10. A. without             B. with                    C. by