For as long as I can remember, Grandma’s plentiful tomato garden has been a sign of summer’s end. Each September, just as the decreased heat of the sun suggests cooler days, Grandma requests (ask for something) my help in her tomato garden. I’m sure that she cannot pick tomatoes without my youthful eyes and quick mind. She says we need to examine each tomato and agree on its readiness for picking. While Grandma’s request for my help in the tomato garden is always the same, her desire for my help seems to increase each year.
　　Grandma has eyes for finding even the tomatoes hidden by undergrowth and other tomatoes. I, however, just turn circles looking for the ones I think Grandma will like. I spot what looks like a ripe（成熟的）tomato, head in its direction, and then get sidetracked by another that appears to be equally ripe. I usually end up watching Grandma and trying to stay out of her way, which seems the only way my eyes and mind are useful.
　　There we are, lost in the tomato vines（藤）. Grandma’s eyes are always knowing, and they are no different in the vegetable garden. From afar she spots (notice) what looks like a ripe tomato. As she walks toward the garden, she evaluates the tomato for a second time, but from a different angle. I already know it will end up in the basket with the pile of others Grandma has carefully chosen. However, Grandma acts as if she needs a final look to be sure. She calls me to her side, kneels beside the vine while enjoying the warmth of the fading sunlight on her face, and grasps the tomato in her hand. She turns each round, red ball toward the sunlight before disconnecting it from the vine with a half-hearted smile.
　　She then looks at me. I nod my head and smile. Grandma assumes I smile in agreement with her tomato selection. I know I smile, instead, at her.
【小题1】 Why does Grandma ask the author to go to the tomato garden with her?

A．He can help pick more tomatoes.

B．He can learn the hardship of labor.

C．She enjoys staying with him while working.

D．She tries to share tomato harvest with him.

【小题2】The second paragraph shows that the writer _________.

A．isn’t good at picking tomatoes

B．doesn’t like to stay with Grandma

C．thinks his eyes and mind are useful

D．is trying to be out of Grandma’s sight

【小题3】 What’s the best title of the story?

A．Gardening—good for my Grandma.

B．Growing Grandma.

C．Gardening—good for my growth.

D．Picking tomatoes.

Plant scientists consider them as fruit. Most other people think of them as vegetables. Whatever you call tomatoes, there are many different kinds of this popular and healthy food.
There are two groups of the plants. Small tomato plants grow to about one meter. They can be planted rather close together. Some short kinds do not require special care and are often gotten crop by machines. Large tomato plants can grow over two meters tall. They also produce larger fruits.
People who grow only a few plants can place wire cages around each one. The cage can be made of wire fence material. The cage helps the plant grow taller and produce a better crop.
Tomatoes often need extra calcium (Ca), or the fruits may be ruined. Add lime to the soil can solve this problem. Dry lands may also ruin the fruits. Tomatoes need water regularly. The soil should never dry out completely. Dried grass or leaves placed around the plant can help hold water in the soil and stop the growth of unwanted plants.
Tomatoes are native to South America. The tomato is a member of the potato family. The leaves of the plant are poisonous, like the leaves of its relatives. Before the 18^th century, people grew tomatoes only as pretty plants. They called the bright red fruit a “love apple”, but would not eat it.
【小题1】Which of the following is right about the small tomato plants?
A. They can grow to about 2 meters.          
B. They can’t be planted close together.
C. Some of them don’t require special care.
【小题2】People place wire cages around the plant in order to ___________.
A. protect the plant from being taken by others.
B. help the plant grow taller and produce a better crop
C. keep the plant from being eaten by animals
【小题3】The underlined word “ruin” probably means “___________”.
A. grow         B. destroy              C. stop          
【小题4】 People often give tomatoes extra calcium by ___________.
A. adding lime to the soil                    B. watering the plant regularly
C. putting dried grass around the plant 
【小题5】What can we learn from the passage?
A. Tomatoes are native to North America.
B. The leaves of the plant can also be eaten.
C. Americans began to eat tomatoes from the 18^th century.

Fish and apple soup'？Yes, and you won't believe how delicious it is. This first came out of a restaurant in Singapore, but it is now very popular as the soup du jour in Chinese restaurants.  Ingredients (serves 4):
1. Whole fish
2 apples, quartered,
4-6 ginger slices (姜片)
1 bunch of spring onions, cut into pierces
1 red tomato, cut into 8 pierces ，oil. salt and pepper
Methods:
l. Remove the bones from the fish.
2 Pour oil into a pan. Fly the ginger slices, and the spring onions Add the fish hones and oil.
3. Add enough water and boil it for about 15 to 20 minutes,
4. Add the apples, the fish and the tomato. When the apples go soft, ads salt and pepper,
【小题1】This passage is probably_________.

A．a poem

B．a piece of news

C．a story

D．a recipe

【小题2】The name of the soup in Chinese restaurants is_________.
A. du jour soup D. tomato soup C. union soup D. ginger soup
【小题3】The underlined word "quartered" means_________.

A．榨汁

B．切成四份

C．洗净

D．炸碎

【小题4】If you want to cook the soup for 8 people, you will need _____ red tomatoes.

A．1

B．2

C．3

D．4

【小题5】In what order should you add the ingredients while cooking the soup?

A．apples, fish and tomato—ginger slices and spring onions—oil—fish bones

B．oil—fish bones—ginger slices and spring onions—apples, fish and tomato

C．oil—ginger slices and spring onions—fish bones—apples, fish and tomato

D．ginger slices and spring onions—fish bones-apples, fish and tomato—oil

Fish and apple soup'？Yes, and you won't believe how delicious it is. This first came out of a restaurant in Singapore, but it is now very popular as the soup du jour in Chinese restaurants.  Ingredients (serves 4):

1. Whole fish

2 apples, quartered,

4-6 ginger slices (姜片)

1 bunch of spring onions, cut into pierces

 1 red tomato, cut into 8 pierces ，oil. salt and pepper

Methods:

l. Remove the bones from the fish.

2 Pour oil into a pan. Fly the ginger slices, and the spring onions Add the fish hones and oil.

3. Add enough water and boil it for about 15 to 20 minutes,

4. Add the apples, the fish and the tomato. When the apples go soft, ads salt and pepper,

1.This passage is probably_________.

A. a poem B. a piece of news C. a story D. a recipe

2.The name of the soup in Chinese restaurants is_________.

A. du jour soup D. tomato soup C. union soup D. ginger soup

3.The underlined word "quartered" means_________.

A. 榨汁 B. 切成四份 C. 洗净 D. 炸碎

4.If you want to cook the soup for 8 people, you will need _____ red tomatoes.

A. 1 B. 2 C. 3     D. 4

5.In what order should you add the ingredients while cooking the soup?

A. apples, fish and tomato—ginger slices and spring onions—oil—fish bones

B. oil—fish bones—ginger slices and spring onions—apples, fish and tomato

C. oil—ginger slices and spring onions—fish bones—apples, fish and tomato

D. ginger slices and spring onions—fish bones-apples, fish and tomato—oil

 

News Review

Head- on Train Crash  On May 18, two trains had a head-on crash（相撞）near New York City. Over 250 people were on the trains then. About 60people were hurt, but no deaths were reported.

Travel Time  Tourists came together to the Taishan Mountain, on May1. Over 180,000tourists

visited the place of great interest from April 29 to May 1, during the three-day holiday.

Brave Volunteer   Liao Zhi , a dance teacher from Chengdu who lost her 1-year-old daughter and her legs in the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, arrived in Ya’an 13 hours after the earthquake. The dancer said she had had a terrible time herself and knew what people needed most, so she decided to come and offer help.

Tomato Competition   A tomato competition was held in Huainan, Anhui Province, on April

16. The best tomatoes were chosen according to their shape, color and taste. The competition hoped to encourage the farmers to grow better tomatoes.

1.About  ________ people were hurt in the head-on crash.

A．18                                   B．29

C．60                                   D．250

2.A lot of people visited the Taishan Mountain________.

A．13 hours after the earthquake             B．on May 18

C．during the May Day holiday                D．on April 16

3.Liao Zhi, the dance teacher from________, came to Ya’an to offer help.

A．Huainan          B．Chengdu          C．Taishan           D．New York

4.The tomato competition in Anhui Province was held to________.

A．help the people in Ya’an                 B．save the people on the trains

C．forget the terrible time                   D．help grow better tomatoes