Have you ever heard someone use the phrase” once in a blue moon”? People use this expression to describe something that they do not do very often. For example, someone might say that he tries to avoid eating sweets because they are unhealthy, but will eat chocolate” once in a blue moon”. Or someone who does not usually like to go to the beach might say “I visit the shore once in a blue moon.”While many people use this phrase, not everyone knows the meaning behind it.

The first thing to know is that the moon itself is never really blue. This is just an expression. In fact, the phrase” blue moon” has to do with the shape of the moon, not the color.

As the moon travels around the earth, it appears to change shape. We associate certain names with certain shapes of the moon. For example, when we can see a small part of the moon it is called a crescent moon. A crescent is a shape that looks like the tip of a fingernail when we cannot see the moon at all; it is called a new moon.

When we can see the whole moon is called a full moon. Usually, there is only one full moon every month. Sometimes, however there will be two full moons in one month. When this happens, the second full moon is called a blue moon”.

Over the next 20 years, there will only be 15 blue moons. As you can see, a blue moon is a very rare (稀有的)event. This fact has led people to use the expression” once in a blue moon” to describe other very rare events in their lives.

1.Which of the following would be a good example of using the phrase” once in a blue moon”.

A．Simon often tells jokes. Simon tells jokes once in a blue moon.

B．Tom rarely remembers to do exercise. Tom does exercise once in a blue moon.

C．Mary likes to go shopping every weekend. Mary goes shopping once in a blue moon.

D．Cindy hates to stay up, but she stays up every day. Cindy stays up once in a blue moon.

2.When does a blue moon happen in nature?

A．When the moon has a blue moon.

B．When we cannot see the moon at all.

C．When there are two full moons in one month.

D．When we can only see a small part of the color.

3.How often will a blue moon happen over the next twenty years?

A．Once a year.                           B．Less than once a year.

C．More than once a year.                   D．At least twice a year.

4.What does the underlined part “This fact” in the last paragraph refer to?

A．A blue moon is a very rare event.

B．The moon appears to change shape.

C．The moon itself is never really bluee.

D．A blue moon has to do with the shape of the moon.

 

Have you ever heard someone use the phrase” once in a blue moon”? People use this expression to describe something that they do not do very often. For example, someone might say that he tries to avoid eating sweets because they are unhealthy, but will eat chocolate” once in a blue moon”. Or someone who does not usually like to go to the beach might say “I visit the shore once in a blue moon.”While many people use this phrase, not everyone knows the meaning behind it.
The first thing to know is that the moon itself is never really blue. This is just an expression. In fact, the phrase” blue moon” has to do with the shape of the moon, not the color.
As the moon travels around the earth, it appears to change shape. We associate certain names with certain shapes of the moon. For example, when we can see a small part of the moon it is called a crescent moon. A crescent is a shape that looks like the tip of a fingernail when we cannot see the moon at all; it is called a new moon.
When we can see the whole moon is called a full moon. Usually, there is only one full moon every month. Sometimes, however there will be two full moons in one month. When this happens, the second full moon is called a blue moon”.
Over the next 20 years, there will only be 15 blue moons. As you can see, a blue moon is a very rare (稀有的)event. This fact has led people to use the expression” once in a blue moon” to describe other very rare events in their lives.
【小题1】Which of the following would be a good example of using the phrase” once in a blue moon”.

A．Simon often tells jokes. Simon tells jokes once in a blue moon.

B．Tom rarely remembers to do exercise. Tom does exercise once in a blue moon.

C．Mary likes to go shopping every weekend. Mary goes shopping once in a blue moon.

D．Cindy hates to stay up, but she stays up every day. Cindy stays up once in a blue moon.

【小题2】When does a blue moon happen in nature?

A．When the moon has a blue moon.

B．When we cannot see the moon at all.

C．When there are two full moons in one month.

D．When we can only see a small part of the color.

【小题3】How often will a blue moon happen over the next twenty years?

A．Once a year.	B．Less than once a year.
C．More than once a year.	D．At least twice a year.

【小题4】What does the underlined part “This fact” in the last paragraph refer to?

A．A blue moon is a very rare event.

B．The moon appears to change shape.

C．The moon itself is never really bluee.

D．A blue moon has to do with the shape of the moon.

阅读下面短文，根据短文内容回答下面问题。

1     The panda is one of the animals most in danger．There are about 1000 pandas living in nature reserves today．Zoos and research centers look after about 160 pandas．Scientists are studying how they live and more baby pandas are born in the zoos．

2     Pandas live in the forests and mountains of Southwest China．They mainly live on bamboo，and each panda needs to eat a lot of bamboo every day．The area of bamboo is becoming smaller for many different reasons，so pandas have less and less land to live on．Pandas don't have many babies，and baby pandas often die．The situation is becoming very serious．

3     Our government is working hard to save pandas．There are more than 30 nature reserves to protect pandas but these ate not enough．The government has made new plans to help pandas．The nature reserves will be bigger and the bamboo will grow better．Then the pandas will have enough food to eat and enough places to live in．Pandas born in the zoos may go back to live in the  nature reserves．

4     Most people love pandas．The panda is one of the best-known animals in the world．It is the symbol for the World Wide Fund for nature．The WWF woks to protect all animals in danger，so the panda has become the symbol of all animals in danger．There is still a long way to go to save the panda．Think of other animals in danger such as tigers，whales and elephants—we need to save the panda，and we need to save them，too．

1．Match the 4 headings with the 4 paragraphs（段落与段落大意连线）．

A．Help for pandas                                  Paragraph l

B．Pandas help other animals                     Paragraph 2

C．The panda's home                               Paragraph 3

D．The panda in danger                            Paragraph 4

2．What is the number of the pandas living in China today?

3．Describe the serious situation of pandas including the land and babies．

4．How has the government planned to help pandas?

5．Translate the underlined sentence in the last paragraph．