You either have it, or you don’t－a sense of direction. But why is it that some people could find their way across the Sahara without a map while others can lose themselves in the next street?

Scientists say we’re all born with a sense of direction, but it is not properly understood how it works. One theory is that people with a good sense of direction have simply worked harder at developing it. Research being carried out at Liverpool University supports this idea and suggests that if we don’t use it, we lose it.

“Children as young as seven have the ability to find their way around,” says Jim Martland, research director of the project. “However, if they are not allowed out alone or are taken everywhere by car, they never develop the skills.”

Jim Martland also emphasizes that young people should be taught certain skills to improve their sense of direction. He makes the following suggestions:

If you are using a map, turn it so that it relates to(与……有联系) the way you are facing.

If you leave your bike in a strange place, put it near something like a big stone or a tree－something easy to recognize. Note landmarks on the route as you go away from your bike. When you return, go back along the same route.

Simplify(简化) the way for finding your direction by using lines such as streets in a town, streams, or wells in the countryside to guide you. Count your steps so that you know how far you have gone and note any landmarks such as towerblocks or hills which can help to find out where you are.

Now you will never get lost again!

1.Children have the ability to find the way around when they are ______ years old.

A．5                B．6                C．7                D．8

2.Which of the following things cannot be used as landmarks?

A．Tower blocks.      B．Hills.             C．Wells.            D．Bikes.

3.What does the underlined word “emphasize” mean in the passage?

A．To give special importance to something.

B．To express thanks for somebody.

C．To understand or become aware of a fact.

D．To admire somebody.

4.Scientists believe that __________.

A．some babies are born with a sense of direction

B．people learn a sense of direction as they grow older

C．people never lose their sense of direction

D．everybody has a sense of direction from birth

5.What may be the best title of the passage?

A．A research on direction.

B．A sense of direction.

C．People’s ability of finding the way.

D．Scientists’ research on skills.

 

Farmer Ed Rawlings smiles as he looks at his orange trees. The young oranges are growing well in Florida’s weather. Warm sunshine and gentle rains, along with Ed Rawlings’ expert care, will produce a good crop（收成）of oranges this year.
However, Ed has to guard against Florida’s changeable winter weather. In January and February, temperatures can destroy Ed’s entire orange crop. Having farmed in Florida for the past 35 years, Ed is prepared for the frost(霜). When temperatures drop below freezing, Ed tries to save his crop by watering his orange trees. The water freezes and forms a thin layer(层) of ice around the trees. Strange as it may sound, this thin layer of ice actually keeps the fruit warm.
What happens is simple. When the trees are watered, the water loses heat and becomes ice. The warmth of the heat it loses is taken in by the fruit and keeps its temperature at a safe level. Ed has effectively used this method to save many orange crops.
But Ed still faces difficulties. The trees must be watered at the exact moment the temperature drops to the freezing point. Also, just the right quantity(数量)of water must be used. Too much water can form a thicker layer of ice that will break the tree’s branches(树枝). Another difficulty is that wind blows away the heat, so Ed has to worry about not only when but also how often his trees should be watered, and how much water should be used.
Computer technology may help Ed with some of these worries. With equipment(设备), air and soil temperatures and wind speed can be measured. The information is fed into a computer which can calculate(计算) when the temperature will drop below freezing. The computer can correctly decide the quantity of water to be used and how frequently(  ) the trees should be watered. Ed finds looking after his orange trees a lot easier with the help of a computer, and, his customers will have the benefits(利益) of computer—age oranges. 
【小题1】The passage is mainly about______.

A．a farmer expert cares for his orange trees

B．the different uses of computers

C．growing oranges in Florida’s changeable weather

D．different ways of frost protection

【小题2】Ed tries to protect his crop by______.

A．using a wind machine to drive away the cold air

B．equipping his orange trees with a computer

C．watering it at the proper time

D．picking his fruit at the first sign of frost

【小题3】 According to the passage, the computer technology______.

A．removes the need for frost protection

B．prevents temperature from dropping

C．tells farmers why outdoor temperatures change

D．helps the farmer get a better harvest

Drugs can do great harm (危害) not only to you but also to your family. You must be _________them.

    A. along with    B. out of    C. in front of    D. away from

 

阅读短文，根据短文内容回答问题。（共10分，每小题2分）

On Friday, January 14, 2005, my cousin, Kara Rose, came into the world. She looked perfectly healthy from the outside, but on the inside, the doctors had failed to discover a serious problem. She often had trouble breathing and then turned blue. The doctors found that Kara had been born without part of her heart. They didn’t think she would live long enough to leave the hospital. When she was four days old, she had her first operation. My family stayed together during this hard time, hoping everything would turn out for the best. I was also anxiously hoping the doctors would be able to make her life longer.

Kara’s strength and determination (决心) to live were strong. Eventually, she could go home. We all waited patiently for new technology that could give Kara a new heart. When she was eighteen months old, her parents took her to a famous surgeon who performed a series of operations. There was no guarantee she would make it through the operation, but she succeeded.

Kara grew stronger every day, and it was not long before she was well enough to be around people. She had an amazing character and always wore a sweet smile. When she fell asleep against my body, happy and content, I realized how valuable life really is. As I took her in my arms with her warm breath against my neck, I decided to live every day of my life to the fullest.

This child who is 15 years younger than I has gone through more suffering and pain than I ever have. I admire her strength and determination. Kara has taught me that no matter how bad things seem, they can work out in the end. Knowing this small, beautiful child has made me a stronger person, I now believe that difficulty can be beaten.

310words

1.Did Kara Rose come into the world on January 14, 2005?

2.Why did she often have trouble breathing?

3.When did she have her first operation, four days old or eighteen months old?

4.What did the writer realize when Kara fell asleep against her body?

5.What does the writer want to tell us?

 

Do you have a pen pal? If not, do you want to have one? Now let me tell you how to get a pen pal. There are usually three steps(步骤)The first is greeting. In this step, you and your new friend will say “hello” to each other and tell names. The second step is to talk. When talking with your new friend, it is always about your age, your family, your favorites or any other things like that. The third step is leave-taking. In this step, you tell your new friend that you are happy to meet him/her. You can also say “Do you want to be my pen pal?” or “ I hope we can be pen pals.”

1.This passage is about ______.

A. how to get a pen pal             

B. how to get to a hotel

      C. how to learn a new language       

2.There are______steps mentioned(被提及)in the passage.

A. two     B. three            C.  four           

3.Which of the following is NOT a greeting?

A. Hi!         

B. Where are you going?   

C. Hello, my name is Jane.          

4.You may talk about your father’s favorite animals in the ____step.

A. first  B. second           C.  third      

5.What does “leave-taking” mean ?

A. Meeting your pen pal.         

B. Visiting your pen pal’s house.

C. Saying goodbye to your pen pal.