Whenever the house gets quiet, Mrs. Smith knows just where to find her 6-year-old daughter Maria: lost in the world of stories.
“I like to read every time of the day,” said Maria, a student at Creel Elementary School in Australia.
Maria’s headmaster, Mrs. White, wants each of her 850 students and their families to learn the love of reading this year. She wants reading at home to become an activity of choice in every family, even during holiday breaks. “I truly realize reading should be an important part of everyone’s life, and nothing should stop it.” said Mrs. White.
“The aim we want most of all is to help children understand they can enjoy reading, as well as practice their skills,” said Hannas, an education researcher. He suggested parents take their children to the library and allow them to pick out books that interest them.
Each night, students take home two books to read with their parents or other family members. They have to return the books the next day with a signed note from their parents showing that the books were read, and have passing tests that check how well they understand the books.
“We’re trying to get parents into the habit of reading with their kids.” said the headmaster. “Nothing is better than sitting on a sofa with your child and reading and laughing.”
Through books, Mrs. Smith, a parent, said she’s able to give her two daughters more experiences than she could.
“I think reading opens all the doors and creates imaginations in children,” she said, “I think if you read well, you can succeed in anything in life.”
【小题1】The aim of the at-home-reading activity is to __________.

A．show the parents how important reading is

B．ask each of the students to learn from Maria

C．let parents care about their children

D．help the students and their families enjoy reading

【小题2】To make sure how well the students understand the books, the school has to ________.

A．give the students tests

B．ask their parents to write a note

C．return the books the next day

D．check how many books they have read

【小题3】From the article, we know that the at-home-reading activity __________.

A．can bring everything we want

B．has influenced the students at Creel Elementary School

C．helps family members understand each other better

D．makes parents understand school better

On my eighth birthday, Dad bought me an accordion(手风琴） and said excitedly, "Once you learn to play, it'll stay with you for life." But I didn't want to play it. Ijust wanted to play games, But Dad asked me to take accordion lessons.
One day, I found a box in a corner. When I opened it, I saw a beautiful violin. "You’re your father's," Mum said. "His parents bought it for him. I guess he got too busy on the farm to learn to play it."
I had to practice half an hour every day, and every day I tried to get out of it. But Dad didn't allow. I asked why. He answered, "Because you can bring people joy. You can touch their hearts." He added softly, "Someday you'll have the chance I never had: you'll play beautiful music for your family. And you'll understand why you've worked so hard." I was speechless.
The lessons stopped after I finished high school. When I grew up, I got married and moved into a new house. I put the accordion in the attic（阁楼）.
One afternoon, my two children found the accordion by accident (偶然). They got very excited. "Play it. Play it," they laughed and said. I started to play some simple songs. I was surprised I could still remember them. Soon the kids were dancing. Even my wife was laughing and clapping to the beat.
At that moment, my father's words came back to me, "Someday you'll have the chance I never had. And you'll understand." I finally knew why Dad had asked me to practice hard. Dad never learnt to play his violin. But I told my family, "This is my father's music."
【小题1】My father didn't learn to play his violin when he was young because _______.

A．he didn't like to play the violin	B．he had to support his family
C．he wanted to play games	D．he didn't keep on practicing

【小题2】How might the writer feel when he had to practice playing the accordion?

A．Delighted.

B．Excited.

C．Bored.

D．Relaxed.

【小题3】"Dad didn't allow" means "_______".

A．Dad didn't let me do it.	B．Dad didn't stop me doing it.
C．Dad didn't help me do it.	D．Dad didn't see me do it.

【小题4】Dad asked me to learn to play the accordion so that _______.

A．I could go to a better school	B．I could give myself much joy
C．I could be a useful man	D．I could make people happy

On my eighth birthday, Dad bought me an accordion(手风琴） and said excitedly, "Once you learn to play, it’ll stay with you for life." But I didn’t want to play it. Ijust wanted to play games, But Dad asked me to take accordion lessons.
One day, I found a box in a corner. When I opened it, I saw a beautiful violin. "You’re your father’s," Mum said. "His parents bought it for him. I guess he got too busy on the farm to learn to play it."
I had to practice half an hour every day, and every day I tried to get out of it. But Dad didn’t allow. I asked why. He answered, "Because you can bring people joy. You can touch their hearts." He added softly, "Someday you’ll have the chance I never had: you’ll play beautiful music for your family. And you’ll understand why you’ve worked so hard." I was speechless.
The lessons stopped after I finished high school. When I grew up, I got married and moved into a new house. I put the accordion in the attic（阁楼）.
One afternoon, my two children found the accordion by accident (偶然). They got very excited. "Play it. Play it," they laughed and said. I started to play some simple songs. I was surprised I could still remember them. Soon the kids were dancing. Even my wife was laughing and clapping to the beat.
At that moment, my father’s words came back to me, "Someday you’ll have the chance I never had. And you’ll understand." I finally knew why Dad had asked me to practice hard. Dad never learnt to play his violin. But I told my family, "This is my father’s music."
【小题1】My father didn’t learn to play his violin when he was young because _______.

A．he didn’t like to play the violin	B．he had to support his family
C．he wanted to play games	D．he didn’t keep on practicing

【小题2】How might the writer feel when he had to practice playing the accordion?

A．Delighted.

B．Excited.

C．Bored.

D．Relaxed.

【小题3】"Dad didn’t allow" means "_______".

A．Dad didn’t let me do it.	B．Dad didn’t stop me doing it.
C．Dad didn’t help me do it.	D．Dad didn’t see me do it.

【小题4】Dad asked me to learn to play the accordion so that _______.

A．I could go to a better school	B．I could give myself much joy
C．I could be a useful man	D．I could make people happy

Dear Donna, Help! I’m a 15—year—old high school student in New York, In eight months, I’m going to take an entrance exam. To prepare, I’m studying six hours a day. I want to do well, but I’m really stressed(焦虑不安的) these days. I can’t sleep. What can I do? Yours, Mary

Dear Mary, Many students around the world have the same problems as you. Here is some advice to help you deal with the street. Good luck! 1.Make a study plan for yourself, but don’t study too much in one day. You remember more by studying one hour each day for six days, than six hours in one day. Also, don’t study late at night. 2.Have a rest for 15 to 20 minutes every two hours. Go outside and walk. Doing exercise is a great way to reduce stress. 3.Don’t eat for drink a lot of sugar or drink a lot of coffee. Eat food high in vitamin(维生素) B (for example, eggs, milk, green vegetable and rice). These give you energy and help you think more clearly. 4.A student partner can help you practice for the test. When you’re worried about the exam, you can talk to your partner. This can reduce stress, too. Yours, Donna

根据表格内容，选择正确的答案。
【小题1】What is Mary’s problem?

A．She is so worried and can’t sleep	B．She can’t pass the exam
C．She can’t communicate with others	D．She can’t study English well

【小题2】Donna thinks Mary’s problem is _________

A．great

B．common

C．wonderful

D．serious

【小题3】The underlined word “reduce” in the passage probably means __________

A．减少

B．排除

C．加强

D．增加

【小题4】Donna thinks that ________ can help Mary think more clearly.

A．eating a lot of sugar	B．studying six hours every day
C．drinking a lot of coffee	D．eating foods high in vitamin B

【小题5】Which of the following is TRUE according to Donna’s letter?

A．The best time to study is from 10p.m to 1 a. m

B．Walking outside can make you remember more

C．It’s good to tell a study partner about your feeling.

D．It’s necessary to have a rest for 15 to 20 minutes an hour

On my eighth birthday, Dad bought me an accordion(手风琴） and said excitedly, "Once you learn to play, it'll stay with you for life." But I didn't want to play it. I just wanted to play games, But Dad asked me to take accordion lessons.
One day, I found a box in a corner. When I opened it, I saw a beautiful violin. "It was your father's," Mum said. "His parents bought it for him. I guess he got too busy on the farm to learn to play it."
I had to practice half an hour every day, and every day I tried to get out of it. But Dad didn't allow. I asked why. He answered, "Because you can bring people joy. You can touch their hearts." He added softly, "Someday you'll have the chance I never had: you'll play beautiful music for your family. And you'll understand why you've worked so hard." I was speechless.
The lessons stopped after I finished high school. When I grew up, I got married and moved into a new house. I put the accordion in the attic（阁楼）.
One afternoon, my two children found the accordion by accident (偶然). They got very excited. "Play it. Play it," they laughed and said. I started to play some simple songs. I was surprised I could still remember them. Soon the kids were dancing. Even my wife was laughing and clapping to the beat.
At that moment, my father's words came back to me, "Someday you'll have the chance I never had. And you'll understand." I finally knew why Dad had asked me to practice hard. Dad never learnt to play his violin. But I told my family, "This is my father's music."
【小题1】My father didn't learn to play his violin when he was young because _______.

A．he didn't like to play the violin

B．he had to support his family

C．he wanted to play games

D．he didn't keep on practicing

【小题2】How might the writer feel when he had to practice playing the accordion?

A．Delighted.

B．Excited.

C．Bored.

D．Relaxed.

【小题3】"Dad didn't allow" means "_______".

A．Dad didn't agree with me.

B．Dad didn’t keep me doing it.

C．Dad didn't help me do it.

D．Dad didn't see me do it.

【小题4】What were the writer’s children doing when he started to play simple songs?

A．Singing

B．Dancing

C．Clapping to the beat

D．Screaming

【小题5】Dad asked me to learn to play the accordion so that _______.

A．I could go to a better school

B．I could give myself much joy

C．I could be a useful man

D．I could make people happy