14-year-old Jason Morgan talks about an exciting science project.
     Last month I got the chance to take part in an underwater research project in an area of the Gulf of
Mexico called the Flower Gardens. A team of professional researchers' led by the scientist Dr Matt Phillips,
was trying to learn more about the fish and different creatures that live in this part of the sea. The Flower
Gardens are a long way from the shore (海岸) and we spent three days on a boat.
     The team used a piece of underwater equipment called ROV to collect information. The ROV was great fun. It was controlled by a computer on the boat, and I was allowed to operate it a few times. 
     However, the thing I enjoyed most was diving (潜水) into the water. At first, I was quite scared---mainly
because I couldn' t see land in any direction. But as soon as I jumped into the water, I wasn't afraid anymore.
It was amazing to see the colorful fish swimming around and I could see all the ways to the Flower Gardens,
which are almost 30 meters down. I will never forget the Flower Gardens. The trip was like a holiday but I also
learnt new things about science and research projects. It was a great opportunity and it has made me think
about my goals (目标) in life. The experience will help me work harder to become a scientist.

1. Jason and the team stayed on the boat for ______ days.

A. three
B. two
C. five
D. eight

2. What did Jason think of the ROV?

A. It was boring.
B. It was difficult to operate.
C. It was great fun.
D. It was an expensive piece of equipment.

3. Jason didn't ______ in the Flower Gardens.

A. operate the ROV
B. walk along the shore
C. dive in the water
D. see many colorful fish

4. What influence has the trip had on Jason?

A. It has changed his opinion of science.
B. It has improved the way he works in a team.
C. It has made him more interested in the sea.
D. It has encouraged him to work harder towards his goals.

5. What might Jason write in his diary about the trip?

A. It was interesting to work with Dr Phillips and his team but I wish someone else had been on the trip.
B. The Flower Gardens are beautiful but scientists are worried that pollution are worried that pollution.
C. The trip was like a holiday and I saw some amazing fish. The only thing I dislike was
     collecting information about the sea.
D. Going to the Flower Gardens was great fun. I now know much more about science but
     I realize there's still a lot more to learn.

     Every morning at 5:30, Li Jun gets up, finds a quiet place and begins shouting at a wall. "Ahh...
eee...", he is always shouting for about 30 minutes. The sounds are long and loud. Is he mad? No. Is
he a singer? Well, maybe. But he doesn't like pop music. In fact, this 14-year-old kid is mad about
Peking Opera. He is studying it at the Ji' nan Art School in Shandong. He has been doing this practice
every morning since he was 10. "My voice is changing.I sing every day.I want my voice to become
better, "he said. Li says he can't eat ice cream because it is bad for his voice. His hard work has helped.
Li got the first place in the CCTV arts contest for kids. He sang Take over of Weihu Mountain (《智取
威虎山》), a great Peking Opera song. Li's father and grandpa are both Peking Opera fans. When Li
was a kid,he saw opera masks (面具)at home and liked them. Now he and his father often sing opera
at home on weekends.    
     Every day at school, Li learns to somersault (翻筋斗) and do leg exercise. In the afternoon, he
learns to sing."My body is always in pain. I only want to lie in bed at the end of a day," said Li. But it's
more fun back in his dormitory."Eight people in my dormitory sing opera together. It turns the room into
an opera house. "Li's teacher, Ma Jisheng, thinks Li is an unusual kid. "He doesn't like new things much.
He is really serious about the old opera, art, "said Ma. Ma hopes Li Jun can be a big opera star. "But he
may also try some pop songs. Kids need to have their own style, " he said.

1. Every morning Li Jun gets up early to ______.

A. read books                  
B. do morning exercise    
C. shout at the wall          
D. show that he is mad

2. Li Jun is a boy ______.            

A. of ten years old    
B. studying at an art school    
C. ho often eats ice cream    
D. that teaches other students Peking Opera

3. Take over of Weihu Mountain is ______.

A. a beautiful pop song              
B. a name of a TV play
C. a high and beautiful mountain      
D. a great Peking Opera song

4. Every day at school, Li Jun ______.

A. learns to somersault          
B. does leg exercise
C. learns to sing               
D. all the above

5. What can we learn from this passage?    

A. No pain, no gain.     
B. It's easy for everyone to be successful.   
C. Peking Opera is easy to learn.    
D. Li Jun is successful only because of his talent.