China covers large areas and has a great population. Different living habits have always been an interesting topic in the country. Recently, another difference between southern Chinese and northern Chinese became a hot one: The way people shop at markets.

People from southern China say that they always buy what they need for just one or two meals. It is normal for them to buy half of a Chinese cabbage, two potatoes and 0.25 kilograms of beef at a time.

However, one may be laughed at if he does this in the north. Instead, buying vegetables and meat enough for a week is usual. Also, you can buy a small amount(數(shù)量) of fruit, such as a single apple or pear, each time in the south. Shop owners even help you peel and cut them. But shop owners in the north hardly offer such service. And many fruits are sold in baskets and boxes.

The difference could be due to the different weather.

Food can be kept for a long time in the north, as it is usually cold and dry there. Many northern Chinese have the habit of storing food, especially for the long winter. But the hot and wet weather in the south makes southern Chinese buy just enough food for one meal or one day, or else the food may go bad.

1.In southern China, people usually buy at a time.

A. a small amount of food

B. a large amount of food

C. enough food for a week

2.If you buy fruits in the south, the shop owners may ．

A. peel and cut them for you

B. laugh at you

C. only sell them in boxes and baskets

3.Many northern Chinese have the habit of keeping food because ．

A. the weather is hot and wet

B. food goes bad quickly

C. the weather is cold and dry

4.Which is the best title for the passage?

A. Different Weather in China

B. Different Living Habits in China

C. Southern Chinese and Northern Chinese

There is a town near Suzhou. It is very interesting and beautiful. This is Luxiang, an old town.

Luxiang was built in the Southern Song Dynasty(1127～1279). There were many famous people living in the town at that time.There are around 30 old buildings of Ming and Qing(1644～1912) dynasties now. People live a simple life. Six lanes(巷) in the town go to Taihu Lake.

Luxiang looks more beautiful in spring, with many tea trees and fruit gardens. This place is famous for the tea called Biluochun.

The Egyptian pyramids were built around 2560 BC. The largest one of them is the Great Pyramid of Khufu. The King, Khufu, built it as his tomb.

The Great Pyramid was considered a unique building in the 19th century AD. At that time, it was still the tallest in the world. According to scientific research, Khufu ordered his men to build it stone by stone. The biggest stone weighs 15 tons, and each stone was fixed so well.

The Great Pyramid has four sides and each side is 230.4 meters long and 146.5 meters high. At that time, there were no modern machines or equipment, so how did the ancient Egyptians build it? To this day, it is still a mystery.

1.Many famous people were living in Luxiang .

A. from 1127 to 1279

B. from 1644 to 1912

C. from 1127 to 1644

2.Luxiang is famous for .

A. fruit gardens

B. tea trees

C. Biluochun

3.In order to build his tomb, the King Khufu built .

A. the ancient pyramids

B. the Egyptian pyramids

C. the Great Pyramid

4.Building the Great Pyramid is still a mystery now, because .

A. each stone was fixed well

B. there were no modern machines or equipment then

C. it was made of stone

How do you spend your spare time? There will be different answers to it. Most people in Poland have their own ways of spending free time. Sometimes they just want to have a rest, but they try to do something more pleasant most of the time. They have many different hobbies, which help them to get away from their everyday problems and spend their free time happily.

Many Polish people like traveling. They look for new places that they have never been to and add new and exciting experiences to their journey. Some of them like to climb mountains, others like to go to the sea or a lake to swim, because these can make them get exercise and are good for their health.

Many Polish people also like to do sports in their free time. They are usually crazy about football, and football is regarded as the Polish national sport. Many football fans may support a certain team, so they go to watch every match of the team they support, and they buy many things that have any relation with the team. Watching sport and doing it are both good ways to relax.

What's more, doctors say that doing sports is very good for the health. Many people in town, especially young men, often go to the gym to attend the exercise classes to keep fit.

Besides these ways, Polish people have many other ways to spend their free time. And they really enjoy their free time.

1.Polish people have many different hobbies in order to .

A. solve their daily problems

B. finish all their work

C. relax themselves in their spare time

2.Why do some Polish people like climbing mountains?

A. Because they hate traveling.

B. Because they can get exercise from it.

C. Because they can find a new place.

3.Which of the following sports is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A. Playing sports.

B. Climbing mountains.

C. Skating.

4.What is the main idea of Paragraph 3?

A. Football is many Polish people's favorite sport.

B. Young Polish people often go to the gym.

C. All the Polish people do sports in their spare time.

“Volunteering makes you look at the world differently. You see how little things can change a person's life for the better, which makes everyone a better person.” Mason, a volunteer said.

National Volunteer Week started in 1974 and is held every April. It is a time to thank volunteers for their achievements. It is also a perfect opportunity(機會) to encourage others to take their first step toward becoming a volunteer. Making the decision to take the first step can be the biggest problem, because they often wonder if they will be able to meet the organization's expectations(期望). Some people fear not knowing anyone else in the group. Not having enough time also prevents some from sharing their abilities.

The following tips can help if you have some of these worries.

★ Start out slowly, don't add too much pressure. Even a few hours a month can make a big difference in someone's life.

★ Choose an organization with the same interests and common values.

★ Take part in a training meeting for new volunteers, even if it is not asked.

★ Work with a veteran volunteer. He volunteered a lot, he can help you increase the confidence and completely understand the organization's expectations.

★ Invite a friend or family member to serve. It is a good experience to volunteer with them.

★ Finally, it is most important to enjoy the volunteer experience and to remember that not all volunteer experiences are perfect. If one experience doesn't work, don't give up and you'll surely find the right opportunity.

Spend some time on volunteer work and you will see great changes in people's lives. As Mason discovered during his volunteer experience, “... little things can change a person's life.”

1.Volunteering can help .

A. make a decision

B. see the world clearly

C. make person's life better

2.What could be the reason to stop people taking the first step?

A. They don't have enough time.

B. They are prevented by their families.

C. They fear that their abilities are shared.

3.The underlined word “veteran” in the passage means “ ”．

A. polite

B. humorous

C. experienced

4.What is the main idea of the passage?

A. To tell people to make changes in their lives.

B. To encourage people to start their volunteering.

C. How to make great achievements in volunteering.

Let's Explore(探究) the Nature!

Are you interested in animals and nature? Want to enjoy your winter holiday and learn something interesting and useful?

Here comes your chance! Youth Explorer has prepared you with a three?day program! You can meet with live animals—giraffes, pandas, tigers, and so on! More information about the program is as follows:

Age: Students aged 8～16

Groups: There are 2 programs for you to choose from. Each program needs at most 15 students.

Program A

Dates: 14～16 February, 2015

Time: 10：00 a．m.～4：00 p．m.

Program B

Dates: 1～3 March, 2015

Time: 10：00 a．m.～4：00 p．m.

Program cost: ￥230 for members; ￥250 for non?members(非會員)．

How to do: Simply come to get an application form(申請表) and hand it in before 11th February, 2015.

Notes：

1.No free lunches are provided because people have different tastes. You may either bring a lunch?box or pay for lunch at our restaurants.

2.Both programs will start one day later if there is a rainstorm(暴風雨)．

COME AND JOIN US NOW�。� DON'T MISS THE CHANCE!

1.Two members and one non?member should pay for the program.

A. ￥690 B. ￥710 C. ￥730

2.Free lunches aren't provided because ．

A. the lunches cost too much

B. they may bring lunch?boxes

C. people have different tastes

3.If there is a rainstorm on 14th February, Program A will start on ．

A. 15th February

B. 17th February

C. 2nd March

4.What can we know from the passage?

A. Youth Explorer is the name of the program.

B. More than 15 students are in each program.

C. You need to hand in an application for the program.

My younger sister is one month old．______name is Linda．

A. He B. Him C. She D. Her

Li Nan often helps Granny Liu do some cleaning ______ Sunday afternoons.

A. in B. to C. on D. at

All of these players in the team feel ______ because they've won many matches this year.

A. proud B. tired C. sad D. stupid

Grandfather lives with us. We all ________ him.

A. look at B. look for C. look after D. look like

—＿you sing this song? —Oh, I can have a try.

A. May B. Can C. Need D. Must