This is _____ lesson.

A．we the first

B．our first

C．our the first

D．first

 

Is it a tree? Is it a bear? If you’re looking at a tree in the shape of a bear, it’s a topiary(林木雕塑). A topiary is a tree or a bush(灌木) that is trained into a shape. Growing a topiary garden takes both time and skills.

A topiary gardener should make a drawing first. The drawing shows the final shape that the gardener likes. The gardener then chooses a bush for the topiary. It may be one that just planted or one that is already in place.

In June of the plant’s first year, the gardener looks for new leaves. When the leaves grow, it’s time to shape(給……造型) the bottom of the bush. It needs about five years. The top is not trimmed during this time. In the fifth year, the bush grows tall enough for shaping. Then the gardener begins to shape the whole bush.

Once a topiary has been started, it needs care all year. In the summer it must be cut many times to keep its shape. This cutting also helps the bush grow. In the winter the bushes don’t grow. The gardeners have to brush snow of the plants, or snow may hurt some parts of them.

Topiary gardening is very old art. The Romans did it in the first Century. In the sixteenth century, people in Europe like topiaries too. By the late 1600s, topiaries were also grown in America. Today it’s popular in many parts of the world.

1. Put the following in the right order according to the passage.

a. The gardener chooses a bush for the topiary.

b. The whole bush grows tall enough for shaping.

c. The gardener begins to shape the bottom of the bush.

d. The gardener draws the shape of a topiary.

A. d→a→b→c            B. b→c→a→d         C. a→d→c→b      D. d→a→c→b

2.In which part of the world did the topiary gardening begin first?

A. In Rome.      B. In Europe.         C. In America.         D. In Africa.

 

Recently，a solar powered（太陽能動力的）plane took to the sky for the first time. It had passed an important test on the way to travel around the world.
The plane took off from an airport in Switzerland（瑞士）at 45km an hour. It slowly rose above the fields and into the sky.
“There has never been an airplane of that kind that could fly — never an airplane so big, so light, using so little energy,” said Bertrand Piccard, a leader of the project.
During the 90-minute flight, the plane did several turns. It climbed nearly 1.6km above the countryside.
Engineers plan to test a night flight before July. Then they will use the results of the tests to build a second plane. They plan to travel around the world in that plane in 2012.
The plane flies at 70 km an hour. That is faster than a bike and slower than a car. Piccard and pilot Andre Borschberg will take the plane around the world. The pilots will keep the plane in the air for up to five days at a time.
“We want to fly it day and night with no fuel (燃料),” Piccard said
【小題1】How long did the first flight of the solar powered plane last？

A．45 minutes

B．60 minutes

C．70 minutes

D．90 minutes

【小題2】What’s the most special about the plane？

A．It uses no fuel	B．It’s the fastest plane
C．It can fly highest	D．It’s the heaviest plane

【小題3】Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage ?
A The plane goes much faster than a car
B The plane took off at a speed of 45km an hour
C Engineers plan to test a night flight before July
D The plane will fly in the air or up to five days at a time
【小題4】Which column（欄目）of a newspaper may the passage come from？

A．Food and Health	B．Scientist and Technology
C．Culture and Communication	D．Sports and Entertainment

Recently，a solar powered（太陽能動力的）plane took to the sky for the first time. It had passed an important test on the way to travel around the world.

The plane took off from an airport in Switzerland（瑞士）at 45km an hour. It slowly rose above the fields and into the sky.

“There has never been an airplane of that kind that could fly — never an airplane so big, so light, using so little energy,” said Bertrand Piccard, a leader of the project.

    During the 90-minute flight, the plane did several turns. It climbed nearly 1.6km above the countryside.

    Engineers plan to test a night flight before July. Then they will use the results of the tests to build a second plane. They plan to travel around the world in that plane in 2012.

The plane flies at 70 km an hour. That is faster than a bike and slower than a car. Piccard and pilot Andre Borschberg will take the plane around the world. The pilots will keep the plane in the air for up to five days at a time.

    “We want to fly it day and night with no fuel (燃料),” Piccard said

1.How long did the first flight of the solar powered plane last？

A. 45 minutes         B. 60 minutes         C. 70 minutes         D. 90 minutes

2.What’s the most special about the plane？

 A. It uses no fuel         B. It’s the fastest plane  

C. It can fly highest       D. It’s the heaviest plane

3.Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage ?

A The plane goes much faster than a car

B The plane took off at a speed of 45km an hour

C Engineers plan to test a night flight before July

D The plane will fly in the air or up to five days at a time

4.Which column（欄目）of a newspaper may the passage come from？

A. Food and Health               B. Scientist and Technology  

C. Culture and Communication     D. Sports and Entertainment

 

“If you want to see a thing well, reach out and touch it!”

That may seem a strange thing to say it. But touching things can help you to see them better. Your eyes can tell you that a glass ball is round. But by holding it in your hands, you can feel how smooth and cool the ball is. You can feel how heavy the glass is. When you feel all these about the ball, you really see it. With your skin, you can feel better. For example, your fingers can tell the difference between two coins in your pocket. You can feel a little drop of water on the back of your hand, too. You can even feel sounds against your skin. Have you ever wanted to know why some people like very loud music? They must like to feel the sounds of music.

All children soon learn what “Don’t touch!” means. They hear it often. Yet most of us keep on touching things as we grow up. In shops, we touch things we might buy: food, clothes. To see something well, we have to touch it. The bottoms of our feet can feel things, too. You know this when you walk on warm sand, cool grass or a hard floor. All feel different under your feet.

There are ways of learning to see well by feeling. One way is to close your eyes and try to feel everything that is touching your skin. Feel the shoes on your feet, the clothes on your body, the air on your skin. At first, it is not easy to feel these things. You are too used to feel them!

Most museums are just for looking. But today some museums have some things to touch. Their signs say, “Do touch!” There you can feel everything on show.

If you want to see better, reach out and touch. Then you will really see!

1.When people buy things in shops, they often _____.

A. try them on first

B. keep their right hands on them

C. ask about them

D. feel and touch them

2. Why does it say “At first, it is not easy to feel these things”? because ______.

A. the things are used by people, too

B. people feel the things too often

C. people know how to use the things

D. the things are easy to feel

3. Which of the following is true?

A. Touching is helping us to see better.

B. Our feet, fingers, hands and skin can help us buy food.

C. People have to learn to see by feeling as they grow up.

D. Visitors can feel the things on show in some museums.

4.Which of the following can be the best title of the story?

A. Touching by Feeling.

B. To See or to Feel?

C. To See Better-Feel

D. Ways of Feeling.