A study, published in The Plant Journal, shows that plants don’t like to be touched. That’s because touching changes their genes(基因) and, even worse, can slow their growth. Professor Jim Whelan in Australia gave an explanation. The lightest touch from a human, animal, insect, or even plants touching each other in the wind, leads to a huge gene change in the plant.

In order to test the theory, the scientists did an experiment on plants. They grew a number of plants to the age of four weeks. Then they touched them with a paintbrush every 12 hours over a 36-hour period. They found that as the result of the touch, the mitochondria(線粒體) in the plants had been partly destroyed. The mitochondria are the “power-house” of the cell(細(xì)胞). The mitochondria produce energy for the cells in both animals and plants. If this “power-house” is weakened, the plants will lose a large amount of energy that should have supported their growth.

Whelan further explained, “If the touching is repeated, then plant growth is reduced by 30 percent.” Although the touching does have a strong influence on plants, usually the plants can still be alive. Touching changes the plants, but it’s not always a bad change. Continually touching or moving plants will make them grow shorter than other ones. However, in some ways, this change could be helpful. It may help plants fight threats to their health such as insects and bad weather.

The new research findings have led to a deeper understanding of the plants. And the research might help with the growth of plants.

根據(jù)材料內(nèi)容選出最佳答案。

【1】According to the article, what can get in the way of plants’ growth?

A.Love.B.Touch.C.Water.D.Weather.

【2】How do the mitochondria support the plants’ growth?

A.By providing energy for cells.B.By changing the plants’ genes.

C.By fighting against the insects.D.By reducing the amount of cells.

【3】Why did the scientists do the experiment?

A.To explain why pets love to be touched.

B.To find out why some plants grow more slowly.

C.To test if touching can change the genes of plants.

D.To show that plants’ and animals’ genes are different.

【4】What does the underlined word “threats” mean in Chinese?

A.因素B.改變C.威脅D.對(duì)手

【5】What can we learn from the text?

A.Touching can have a good influence on plants’ growth.

B.We’re not sure how to help plants grow by touching.

C.It’s necessary to avoid touching the plants all the time.

D.The changes of the plants by touching may be not bad.

I met Connie in the hospital where I worked as a volunteer. Although Connie was in the final stages of her fight against cancer(癌癥), she was cheerful. I asked if she needed anything. “Oh, yes,” she said, “would you please show me how to use the TV? I enjoy the soaps.” Connie was a romantic. She loved soap operas, and movies with a good love story. As we became familiar, she said how annoyed it was to be married 32 years to a man who often called her “a silly woman.”

　　“I know Bill loves me,” She said, “but he has never been one to say he loves me. I’d give anything if he’d say ‘I love you,’ but it’s just not in his nature.”

　　Bill visited Connie every day. In the beginning, he sat next to the bed while she watched the soaps. Soon, when she no longer watched television and had fewer waking moments, I began spending more of my volunteer time with Bill, who was a carpenter and made furniture. He and Connie had no children, but they’d been enjoying retirement by travelling, until Connie got sick.

One day, over coffee I got him on the subject of women and how we need romance in our lives; how we love to get cards and love letters.

　　“Do you tell Connie you love her?” I asked, and he looked at me as if I was crazy.

　　“I don't have to,” he said, “She knows I do!”

　　“I'm sure she knows,” I said, “but she needs to hear what she has meant to you all the years.”

　　Two days later, I saw Bill leaning up against the wall in the hallway and staring at the floor. The head nurse told me Connie had died at 11 a.m..When Bill saw me, his face was wet with tears. Finally, he took a deep breath. “I have to say how good I feel about telling her.” He stopped to blow his nose. “I thought a lot about what you said, and this morning I told her how much I loved her…and loved being married to her. You should have seen her smile!”

I went into the room to say my own good-bye to Connie. There, on the bedside table, was a large Valentine card from Bill. “To my wonderful wife…I love you!”

根據(jù)材料內(nèi)容選出最佳答案。

【1】According to the text, what can we know about the author?

A.She was a close friend of Connie.

B.She didn’t know if Bill loved Connie.

C.She helped to realize Connie’s wishes.

D.She was trying to reduce Connie’s pain.

【2】What is the meaning of the sentences “…but it's just not in his nature.”

A.Bill is not in the nature, and he lives in the city.

B.It’s not Bill’s character or style to say the words.

C.Bill didn’t want to say the three words in the nature.

D.Bill didn’t work in the nature because he was a carpenter.

【3】Why did the author ask Bill if he had told Connie he loved her?

A.She wanted Bill to say “I love You” to Connie.

B.She hoped that Connie would recover from the cancer.

C.She wanted Bill to know Connie’s only wish in her last stages.

D.She knew the three little words were the best treatment for Connie.

【4】What’s the most suitable title for the text?

A.Words Speak Louder Than Action!

B.Action Speaks Louder Than Words!

C.Women Like the Three Little Words!

D.The Three Little Words Are Not Little!

【5】While reading, how may we feel about the story?

A.Gentle and moving.B.Romantic and happy.

C.Crazy and exciting.D.Funny and interesting.

One Thanksgiving, we had lots of food _______ over. I thought about the old lady. She might be still hungry. So I packed the food up and drove over to the Fifth Street.

It was a freezing night. There was hardly anyone out. But I knew she would stay at the same place and I would find her _______.

There she was, rolled herself up on the sidewalk, against a fence near the post office. She was dressed _______ she always was.

I pulled my shiny car to the sidewalk, rolled _______ the window and said, “I’ve brought you some food. Would you like some turkey and apple pie?”

However, the old woman didn’t seem to be very _______ about this. She looked at me and said quite clearly, “Oh, thank you very much, but I’m quite full now. Why don’t you take it to someone else who really needs it?”

Her words were clear and her _______ were polite. Soon her head sank into her arms again. Hearing this I didn’t know what to _______. An old lady who was so down on her ________ still thought about others. Why don’t more of us do that?

【1】A.pleasantB.awfulC.strangeD.weak

【2】A.meB.herC.usD.herself

【3】A.takenB.goneC.leftD.handed

【4】A.easilyB.normallyC.difficultlyD.slowly

【5】A.forB.asC.thoughD.while

【6】A.upB.downC.overD.off

【7】A.seriousB.anxiousC.embarrassedD.excited

【8】A.methodsB.ordersC.mannersD.decisions

【9】A.sayB.expectC.giveD.suggest

【10】A.chanceB.needC.goalD.luck

【1】

Below, we have listed 4 things you can do to make this a better place, a better world for the future generations.

▲ Leave your cars at home

Cars, being the greatest source of air pollution, can be left at home this weekend. Travelling by public transport is the better choice.

【2】

▲ Be a little dirty

【3】

A daily shower isn’t a matter of health; it’s a matter of comfort. Showering every day can wash away the natural oils that our skin and hair need.

▲ Volunteer yourself

This is one of the best things you can do. Why? Because it will do you good too. Join other like-minded persons in a common task.

【4】

▲ Green-up your home

【5】

Save energy by turning off all power whenever they are not in use. Besides, take out all the plugs(插頭) from plug points even after turning them off.

Remember that every step counts. The future of our planet is in your hands!

根據(jù)材料內(nèi)容，從下面五個(gè)選項(xiàng)中選出能填入文中空缺處的最佳選項(xiàng)，使文章意思通順、內(nèi)容完整。

A.If you have the time, there are lots of opportunities out there to offer help, for example, planting trees, cleaning a park or simply coming up with ways you can protect mother Earth.

B.No, we don’t mean it ‘that’ way. We simply mean to say, don't take a bath. Yes, saving water is super important. A day or two without a bath won’t harm you, but it will certainly do a lot of good for our planet.

C.You can celebrate Earth Day by showing your attention of environmental problems and by letting others know what they can do to make a difference. Even small actions can have great influence!

D.Turn off your room’s lights when you leave. However, this is not something you should do just for a day or for only an hour on Earth Day.

E.Other greener choices are carpooling, riding a bike or you can also walk if you want a healthier life style and if your workplace is not that far away from your home.

B: I argued with my mom this noon at home. She nagged(嘮叨) me again.

A: 【2】 ?

B: She nagged me about my study. In our math test the day before, I failed again. But I’d tried my best.

A: I think your mom cares about you and that’s why she nags you.

B: 【3】. But I always feel she doesn’t understand me.

A: Making yourself understood is the key.

B: 【4】?

A: Try to show your mom that you’ve tried hard and that you’re still trying. Believe in yourself and sooner she’ll not nag.

B: OK. That’s a good idea. I’ll have a try.

A: 【5】.

B: Thank you!

get, they, with, young, although, pencil, on, spend, if, friend, call, than

Do you have a mobile phone? Do you send text messages to your friends and family?

Text messaging or “texting” is becoming very popular. Not only students but also adults like talking with 【1】 by texting. However, scientists have discovered that texting can give us problems 【2】 our hands. Be careful! Too much texting can cause RSI (Repetitive Stain Injury) in our thumbs(拇指) and wrists(手腕). We spoke to a doctor 【3】 Harriet Wilson, who treats many patients with RSI. She said if we 【4】 more than 10-15 minutes texting each time, we could have problems in the future. She also said that the 【5】 patient she had treated was a five-year-old girl. She had such bad RSI that she couldn’t hold a 【6】.

As mobile phones develop, people can do many interesting things on them. We are 【7】 closer with mobile phones. Texting with a smaller phone, is worse 【8】 using a larger phone with bigger buttons. Using computers and playing video games can cause the same problem. So more and more people found 【9】 with RSI. 【10】we don't do anything about this, too many young people would grow up in terrible pain.

— You can read ________ to get the main ideas first. Don’t read word by word. Just read for the key points.

A.exactlyB.probablyC.quicklyD.wisely

— Yes, don’t you think it________ touching and wonderful one?

A.a; aB.a; theC.the; aD.the; the

【1】What is probably the relationship between the two speakers?

A.Mother and son.B.Teacher and student.C.Next-door neighbors.

【2】How often does the man take photography class?

A.Once a week.B.Twice a week.C.Twice a month.

【3】What class does the man take on Friday now?

A.Photography.B.Dancing.C.Tennis.

【1】What are they planning?

A.A welcome party.B.A birthday party.C.A goodbye party.

【2】When is the party?

A.At 3:00 p.m..B.At 3:05 p.m..C.At 2:55 p.m..

【3】Who is probably the speaker?

A.A manager.B.A parent.C.A student.