This past month saw one of the most devastating storms in history brings death and destruction on the Philippines. The number of lives lost is still being calculated, but it is already sitting above five thousand. In the flurryof news about the storm and its after－math, the cries of “I told you so” from environmentalists rang out loud and clear.

　　These scientists were especially vocal during the United Nations Climate Change Conference, which just wrapped up in Warsaw, Poland. The timing of the conference and Typhoon Haiyan was an eerie coincidence, but perhaps the concurrence offered a wakeup call for all.

　　Christiana Figures, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) said, “We are witnessing ever more frequent extreme weather events, and the poor and vulnerable are already paying the price.”

　　Scientists claim that storms like Typhoon Haiyan are an inevitable result of the effect greenhouse gases are having on our environment. Environmental analysts claim that rising temperatures around the globe and changing weather patterns are all part of the same problem.

　　This isn’t breaking news. We’ve heard the warnings for years. The UN has been hosting the Climate Change Conference since1995.But the changes that need to be made are huge. Added to this, the developed nations and developing countries have competing interests that are difficult to settle. The issue of who takes responsibility becomes difficult to resolve.

　　We may feel far away from Poland and resolving conflicts between countries, but we mustn’t feel far away from the issue. When we watch neighboring countries suffer in severe weather, when we hear reports of increasing global temperatures, when we walk outside and find it difficult to breathe the Shanghai air, we know we have a very real problem. So what are we going to do about it? Are we making every-day choices that can have a positive impact? Are we reducing our carbon footprint? Are we choosing to walk, ride a bicycle or take public transportation instead of a car? Are we recycling? Are we turning off the lights and electronics whenever possible?

　　The problem is complex, but saving our earth starts with each of us taking simple steps.

1.What is the most terrible typhoon in 2013? It is _________.

A. Haiyan??? ???? B. Bebinca????????? C. Danas?? ???????? D.Cimaron

2.Warsaw isn’t in Poland，is it?

A. Yes, it is?????? B. No, it isn’t????? ? C. Yes, it isn’t ????? D. No, it is

3.How many years have we heard the warnings? For nearly ______years.

A. 21????? ?????? B. 18???? ???????? C. 19?????? ??????? D. 20

4.Which of the following is NOT FALSE?

A. The environment is worse and worse and we have no ideas about it.

B. The environment is worse and we needn’t do anything about it.

C. Saving our environment is not so complex.

D. The environment is a big problem and we must take simple steps

Red is the color of China. Among all the colors, red is most   16  seen. The color red is fresh and pure, and in China we call it China Red. Chinese people are attracted by the color red not only because it makes people excited, but also because it has   17   meaning in Chinese culture and history.

No country in the world has ever   18   a color in such a way as China. Here, red is a symbol. It gives color to the soul (灵魂) of the nation. In the past, red represented dignity (尊严) and mystery. Even now, Chinese people   19   the color much more than the rest of the world does. It can be said that China Red is an everlasting theme for China, and an important color for the Chinese people. China Red has   20   a very popular phrase, attracting the world’s attention.

Finding red-colored things in China is very   21  , as you can see the color everywhere. All traditional red things have played special roles in China. Things like the walls of ancient palaces, the   22   flag, Chinese knots, lanterns, traditional paper-cuts, and even tanghulu are all red.

Red is the color of   23  , health, harmony, happiness, peace, wealth and so on. Only real things and events can fully   24   red’s real beauty. The color can be alive and breathing only when it’s connected with people.

In China, red is more than just a color. It carries the ancient history and   25   of the Chinese nation. China Red is filled with mysterious charm beyond description and it is right here in China waiting for you to feel and discover!

1.A. easily         B. quickly          C. carefully    D. closely

2.A. different   B. rich            C. simple       D. correct

3.A. used       B. shared           C. drawn        D. mentioned

4.A. need       B. dislike         C. hate        D. love

5.A. spoken     B. said            C. become       D. got

6.A. difficult   B. easy           C. simple           D. free

7.A. national   B. international    C. local        D. foreign

8.A. rainbow       B. fear        C. worry           D. luck

9.A. believe        B. show             C. talk        D. write

10.A. art       B. business         C. culture          D. ability

Weddings are quite different——from nation to nation, from area to area, and from the past to the present. However, all people consider weddings to be important and happy events.

People in the Western world go to church for their weddings, while some tribes（部落） in Africa hold their weddings in the open around a campfire, with much dancing.

In China, weddings are different from those abroad. People in the countryside used to carry the bride in a sedan chair from her parents’ house to her new home. Now sedan chairs are seldom seen. Instead, the bridegroom may take the bride to their own new house by bicycle or by tractor（拖拉机）. In the city the bride usually prefers a car, brightly decorated(装饰) with flowers and a Chinese character(汉字) meaning double happiness. However, a wedding dinner is necessary in both the countryside and the city. Relatives(亲戚) and friends who are invited to the dinner usually drink to the happiness of the bride and bridegroom.

1.What do people all over the world think of weddings?

A. interesting and easy                     B. important and fun

C. happy and important                  D. interesting and happy

2.What’s the English for “大花轿” in the passage?

A. a bride      B. a bridegroom         C. a sedan chair        D. a church

3.Where can the wedding be held in the open air in the world after you read the passage?

A. In China         B. In Western countries    

C. In the countryside   D. In Africa

4.According to the passage, how many ways can the bridegroom usually take the bride to their new home now?

A. 2            B. 3                C. 4                D. 5

5.What’s the main idea of the passage?

A. Introduce the Western weddings.     

B. Introduce the African weddings.

C. introduce the Chinese weddings.     

D. Introduce different weddings.

Red is the color of China. Among all the colors, red is most   16 seen. The color red is fresh and pure, and in China we call it China Red. Chinese people are attracted by the color red not only because it makes people excited, but also because it has   17  meaning in Chinese culture and history.
No country in the world has ever   18  a color in such a way as China. Here, red is a symbol. It gives color to the soul (灵魂) of the nation. In the past, red represented dignity (尊严) and mystery. Even now, Chinese people   19  the color much more than the rest of the world does. It can be said that China Red is an everlasting theme for China, and an important color for the Chinese people. China Red has   20  a very popular phrase, attracting the world’s attention.
Finding red-colored things in China is very   21 , as you can see the color everywhere. All traditional red things have played special roles in China. Things like the walls of ancient palaces, the   22  flag, Chinese knots, lanterns, traditional paper-cuts, and even tanghulu are all red.
Red is the color of   23 , health, harmony, happiness, peace, wealth and so on. Only real things and events can fully   24  red’s real beauty. The color can be alive and breathing only when it’s connected with people.
In China, red is more than just a color. It carries the ancient history and   25  of the Chinese nation. China Red is filled with mysterious charm beyond description and it is right here in China waiting for you to feel and discover!