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Yesterday Dr. Hill put braces（牙箍）on my teeth. When she finished doing it, she walked me out to the front desk. She told Grandma would have to come back in two weeks to have my braces checked “Sounds like she put a washing machine in your mouth, doesn’t it. Amy？” joked Grandma. Then Dr. Hill give me an appointment for 2: 30 p.m. on October 28th. Oh, well, I guess getting out of school early to see Dr. Hill will be one good thing about having braces.
Other things are not so good. When I woke up this morning. My mouth really hurt. I couldn’t eat any bread or meat. Finally Mom mashed（捣烂）banana and mixed it with some milk in the honey, which tasted good. At school, my friends tried to be nice about my braces. Benny said he could hardly notice them unless I smiled. (Note to myself: Try not to smile too much.) Angel said they made me look more grown-up. And Keith thanked me for joining him. He said my braces looked nicer than his.
Of course, Charlie had mean things to say. First he called me Brace Face, and then he called me Metal Mouth. I ignored (不理睬) him, but he kept laughing and pointing. He didn’t stop until Mrs. Fremont gave him one of her looks. Right now, Dr. Hill’s not sure how long I’ll have to wear the braces. But it may be at least nine months. That seems like a long, long time.
1.From Paragraph 1, we can know that __________.
A.Amy’s dentist said Amy was brave B.Amy’s dentist is quite humorous
C.Amy went to the dentist with her grandma D.Amy needs to come back to the dentist in one week
2.On the morning of October 14th, Amy __________.
A.got up late B.had pain in her mouth C.didn’t want to go to school D.didn’t eat anything
3.Who wears braces like Amy?
A.Charlie. B.Angel. C.Benny. D.Keith
4.What does the underlined word “mean” mean in Chinese?
A.甜蜜的 B.刻薄的 C.感动的 D.奇怪的
5.When Mrs. Fremont gave Charlie a look, what do you think the look mean?
A.He should be quiet. B.He made a good joke
C.She was proud of him D.She agreed with him
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You may think you cannot live through summer without air conditioners（空调）. But in ancient China, hand fans were almost the only ones to help people keep cool.
Chinese people started to use hand fans over 2,000 years ago. The fans came in different shapes, such as round and square. They were also made from all kinds of materials. Palm leaf fans were cheap and easy to make. Feather fans（羽毛扇）showed the owner’s high status. Sandalwood（檀香）fans could send out sweet smell.
Later, hand fans became far more than just something that could cool you down. They developed into art works, in which Tuanshan（round fans）and Zheshan（folded fans）were the most common.
In the shape of a full moon, Tuanshan was usually made of silk. They had beautiful birds and flowers on them. Women especially those in the imperial palace (皇宫), liked to use them. Meanwhile, men, especially the literati（文人）, used Zheshan. The literati liked them because Zheshan were usually made of paper and they could paint and write poems on them. It was a way for them to show off their ability in literature, painting and handwriting. Almost anything can be painted on Zheshan.
Today, Chinese people still use these fans. Next time when you are waving a fan, you may think of the stories behind it.
1.In ancient China, hand fans were only __________.
A.written poems on them B.used for keeping cool
C.showed the owner’s high status D.a sweet smell
2.From the passage, we can infer that hand fans __________.
A.came in two shapes
B.were used by women in the imperial palace
C.only could cool people down
D.were made from all kinds of materials
3.The main reason of literati used zheshan is _________.
A.zheshan were usually made of paper
B.almost anything can be painted on zheshan
C.they could paint and write poems on zheshan
D.they could show off their ability in literature, painting and writing.
4.According to the fifth paragraph, we can know that ___________.
A.tuanshan was usually made of silk
B.when you are waving fan, you will feel cool
C.Chinese people still use these fans now
D.Many people don’t write or paint on fans any more
5.What does the passage mainly tell us？
A.The stories behind fans. B.Fans developed into art works
C.Chinese people still use fans. D.The literati liked fans best.
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I never called my father worthless. That was his own word for himself. He said it on the phone after I told him I was flying down to see him, from my home in Alaska to Florida. He had stroke（中风）the week before and then couldn’t speak very well.
“I’ll see you in about three weeks” I said, trying to make my voice cheerful, to make him comfortable. “I’mmm...not...worth...,” he said slowly, in low voice.
I knew what he meant. Actually, he did nothing meaningful to support his family. He didn’t do a job, leaving the family badly poor throughout my childhood. He seemed unable to form normal relationships, and didn’t treat his children as well as other fathers. Soon after grew up and left our house, he moved to Florida to live alone. I was glad. I saw my father three times in the next thirty years. Each time when I expected to hear some warm words from him, he would say nothing to me. The last time I saw him, I decided never to go back.
But eight years later, I felt something stronger. I wanted to forgive（原谅）him. began to try, moving slowly from “need love” to “give love” . I began to share meals with him, watch TV in his room and read to him.
And love came back. Yes, in small things. He called me “baby” one day. He phoned on my birthday. When came to visit, he didn’t want me to leave. All of this was new. All of this touched every part of me. My father was touched as well. I believed he felt loved, perhaps for first time. We cannot help all the broken families of the world, but we can begin here: with ourselves and our own families.
1.The writer’s father now lives __________.
A.in Alaska B.in Florida C.with his wife D.with his children
2.Which paragraph explain why the writer’s father called himself worthless?
A.Paragraph 1 B.Paragraph 3 C.Paragraph 5 D.Paragraph 6
3.The underlined word “something” probably refers to the writer’s wish to ________.
A.have a proud father B.help get his father back to health
C.move back to his home town D.have a complete and close family
4.Which of the following is TRUE?
A.The writer used to visit his father once a year.
B.The writer’s father used to work hard to support his family.
C.The writer’s father could speak or walk because of an illness.
D.The writer showed love for his father and he get something in return.
5.Which is the best title for the passage?
A.From child to father B.Father’s illness
C.Forgiveness and love D.My unhappy childhood
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While walking outside one morning I saw the most beautiful thing.
It was early, and I was walking on dewy（带露水的） grass down to the office. Suddenly a flash came out straight from the ground, about 15 feet in front of me, and shot up into the sky. I stopped. ① What could make such a bright light？ Could it be a diamond(钻石)？I waited to see if it would repeat, but it didn’t.
I walked slowly toward it, but saw nothing. I looked down at the grass, searching for gold or some kind of metal- again, nothing. ② Suddenly, I saw it. The rising sun hit the grass dewdrop at the perfect way, sending great light into the sky. It was as if I had just discovered a tiny new world and it was just the unseen world that was giving me a heads-up, “Hello, look at what’s around you, ” it said. I’ve never forgotten that moment.
So next time you’re out, take some time to notice nature, whose beauty most of us never even see. Look at the beautiful colors and different small flowers that cover playing fields---we walk all over them without a second look. ③Watch a bee dancing, or tiny ants going on their way, or birds singing in the sky. All of these natural living things are amazing-- if only we took the time to notice them.
Have an eye for nature, and you’ll find a new secret each day to keep in your heart. ④It’s one of the most wonderful things I’ve ever done.
1.The writer stop walking to the office at first because he saw __________.
A.bright light B.diamond C.new world D.dewdrop
2.Where can we put this sentence “ dropped down to my knees for closer look”？
A.① B.② C.③ D.④
3.The underlined word “heads-up” in Paragraph 3 means _________ in Chinese.
A.休息 B.愿望 C.提醒 D.怀疑
4.What’s the purpose of the passage？
A.To warn us not to grow such kind of grass. B.To describe the writer’s wonderful life.
C.To express the writer’s love to a dewdrop. D.To encourage us to admire the nature.
5.Which might be the best title of the passage？
A.A Dewdrop B.My Secret C.Quick Moments. D.The Grass.
