You might have noticed that the cost of food has gone up.In fact the price of wheat and rice has nearly doubled in the past few years.It’s thought that right now，850 million people—that’s more than 10 times the population of the UK—are short of food because it’s too expensive or there’s not enough of it.

The price of basic food such as wheat and corn has stayed the same for quite a long time，about 30 years.But as the world’s population is getting bigger，there’s more pressure to feed more people，plus there’s less land and water to go round.

Another reason is climate（氣候）change.Droughts and floods make it hard to grow crops like rice and grain.The price of oil has gone up and that makes it more expensive for farmers to run their tractors and to transport the food they make.And lots of fields are being used to grow crops to make other things that can’t be eaten—which is bad news for hungry people.

The main losers are poor people who live in cities in poor countries，who are facing higher prices for food.Some people are doing well out of the food crisis（危機） though.Farmers in rich countries like the US，Canada and Australia are getting record prices for their harvests.

World leaders are meeting in the Italian capital Rome to talk about the problem of rising food prices.Some countries are helping out with the cost of foods and international aid agencies have called for more money for food production in poor countries.

1.The price of food goes up because all of the following EXCEPT _____.

A．there are more and more people in the world.

B．American farmers are getting richer and richer.

C．many farm lands are used to make other things rather than food.

D．climate change makes it harder to grow food.

2.Who lose the most because of the food crisis?

A．Farmers in rich countries.

B．Farmers in developed countries.

C．Poor people in cities in poor countries.

D．Poor people in cities in developed countries.

3.What does the food crisis mean to farmers in Canada?

A．They can get a lot of money from the government.

B．They have to save a lot of money.

C．They can make more money from the high price.

D．They are losing a lot of money.

4.What is the best title for this passage?

A．Why is the Price of Food Going Up？

B．How Many People are Short of Food?

C．What Can We Learn from the Food Crisis?

D．Who Can Benefit（受益） from the Food Crisis?

 

l   Last month, some volunteers from Xi’an went to a middle school in the mountain area. They gave away 40 beds, 2 computers and hundreds of books to the students. The school lies deep in the mountains. Students have to live in the school. But the school was too poor to provide beds for them, so they had to sleep on the desks. Thanks to the volunteers, now the students can sleep on their own beds in the school.

l   The Zapps, from Argentina( 阿根廷), began their tour in their old cars several years ago. They travelled to over 40 countries with four kids. Many people wondered what made them travel around the world. They said, “It’s just oue dream, a big dream, from Argentina to the whole world. Thanks to those who supported us during our journey, our dream came true in the end. “Do you want to see your dream come true?” If so, why not start right away?

l   Jack Tsonis and Lindsay Morrison in Sydney decided to do something special on the UN’s International Day of Peace. They both loved peace. They both wanted to break the world record for the longest handshake to bring more love and peace to the world. To break the world record, they needed to shake hands for over 11 hours without a stop. Finally they make it. Their arms hurt a lot, but they were very happy.

【小題1】 The volunteer gave away       to the students.

A．beds and computers	B．clothes and books
C．desks and beds	D．beds and bags.

【小題2】 What can we learn from the second story?

A．We can hardly travel around the world if we have an old car.

B．We can travel around the world if nobody helps us.

C．We should realize our dreams if we have lots of money.

D．We should start right away if we want to realize our dream.

【小題3】 Which is TRUE about the men in the last story?

A．It took them less than 11 hours to break the world record.

B．They were happy though they didn’t break the world record.

C．Both of them loved peace.

D．They often shook hands

 

Dear Mrs Zhou,

We have been very good boys and girls since you went to hospital.Don’t worry about us.But we miss you a lot.Please get well soon and come back.

Your students,

Class Three                                 Dear Cathy,

All the best wishes for your sweet sixteenth birthday.

Have fun in the party.

Judy

Dear Mom and Dad,

This is going to be a white Christmas because it has snowed heavily here in New York.Betty invited me to her party this year.It will surely be great fun!

Love，David                                Dear Johnson and Maria,

How is the new place?I started to miss you the day you left.Are you going to have a house warming party? Don’t forget us!

Your old friends,

The Browns

1.What does Mrs. Zhou do?

A．A doctor.          B．A actress.          C．A teacher.         D．A student.

2.Who will join Betty’s party?

A．Cathy.            B．David.            C．Maria and Johnson.  D．David’s mom and dad.

3.What can we learn from the cards?

A．Mrs.Zhou was ill and has been back from hospital.

B．Judy is sixteen years old.

C．There are at least six people in the Browns’ family.

D．It must be winter now in New York.

 

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the nine o’clock Mystery Hour. Today we’ll show you two British stories. We hope you’ll enjoy them.
About 900 years ago two green children arrived in a small village in south England. Their eyes and skin were green and they spoke a strange language. They were very tired and weak, so the people of the village looked after them. The boy died a year later, but the girl grew strong and lived the rest of her life there. And her skin color turned back to normal day by day. Scientists say that sometimes of people don’t have enough food to eat for a long time, their skin goes very pale and can turn green.
Loch Ness is the largest lake in Scotland. It’s a very deep and cold lake. For hundreds of years, people have talked about a monster(怪物) called Nessie which lives in the lake. About seventy years ago, two people saw something moving in the lake. They said that the animal was playing and rolling around in the water. Since then many people say they have seen the monster. Their descriptions are always the same. It looks like a dinosaur, with a very long neck and a small head. It has a big bump(腫塊)on its back. People have tried to photograph the animal, but the pictures have not been very clear. Scientists don’t know whether there is a monster or not. Some say it may be a whale or a very large fish. Some think it’s a snake. Others say there’s nothing at all— nothing but people’s imagination. Maybe we’ll never know what’s in Loch Ness.
【小題1】What kind of story is talked about in this program?

A．Romantic stories.

B．Mysteries.

C．Horror stories.

D．Comedies.

【小題2】Where did the stories happen?
        

A．

B．

C．

D．

【小題3】Which sentence is TRUE about the two green children?

A．They both enjoyed a long and happy life.

B．The girl’s eyes and skin were green all her life.

C．At first they spoke the same language as people in the small village did.

D．Maybe they hadn’t eaten enough for long before they reached the village.

【小題4】What does Nessie look like according to some witnesses? 

【小題5】What can we learn from the second story?

A．Scientists are still not sure whether there is a monster or not in Loch Ness.

B．Loch Ness is very deep and warm lake in Scotland.

C．People have taken very clear pictures of Nessie.

D．In fact Nessie is a whale or a snake.

Dear Mom,
I'm sorry that I can't go back home for Mother's Day next week. On that day, I'll have to go to an important meeting for my boss, who helps me a lot with my work and life here. But I'll find time to see you at home soon.
Mom, thank you for everything you've done for Tim and me. After Dad died ten years ago, you had to work in a supermarket in the daytime and in a restaurant at night. But you always gave us two your love and care. You don't have to work now, but I still remember your coming home and feeling tired many evenings.
Tim is going to finish his studies next month. He said he would move back from school and look for a job near home. I'm glad you won't live by yourself any more. Let's plan to take a trip in the near future. It's been years since the three of us took a trip together.
Happy Mother's Day. I love you!
Best wishes
John
【小題1】What can we learn about John's mother?

A．She lives by herself now.

B．She still works day and night.

C．She will make a plan to save money.

D．She used to be too busy to care for her children.

【小題2】What do we know from the letter?

A．John has two brothers.

B．John is unhappy with his boss.

C．John has to work on Mother's Day.

D．Tim will leave home for his job soon.

【小題3】Which is said in the letter?

A．John's father died at work.

B．Tim will look for a teaching job.

C．John bought a gift for his mother.

D．John hopes to take a trip with his family.