Fire was discovered many thousands of years ago. The first time humans saw fire was probably when a tree was destroyed by lightning(闪电). Humans soon learned how to make fire. They probably made the first fire by rubbing (摩擦)two sticks together.

 Fire was very important to humans. They needed to keep warm at night. They used fire to cook food. They used fire to keep enemies and wild animals away. In some parts of the world fire was used to send messages. The Indians in America, for example, used fire to make smoke as a message. In some other countries people lit fires to warn their friends of danger.

Fire was also used to give light. Before the invention of the oil lamp(灯), humans burned sticks to get light. 

One man even used fire to tell the time. He invented a candle clock. He made a candle that took exactly twelve hours to burn. Then he marked this candle in twelve equal(相等的) parts. He lit the candle and could tell the time by counting the number of parts left of the burning candle. But the candle clock did not always work well. If there was a wind blowing on the candle, it burned too quickly.

    The Dragon Boat Festival is an interesting Chinese festival. Usually, it's in May or June. People all like it very much.

    They usually have dragon boat races. Dragon boats are very long. They look like dragons. In every boat, there are many people rowing boats. Dragon boat races are very interesting for Chinese people.

    At the Dragon Boat Festival, people also eat zongzi. People usually use rice, meat(肉), vegetables and other things to make zongzi. There are many kinds of zongzi. They are all nice, and people usually give them to their friends.

    The Dragon Boat Festival is a great time for people.

根据短文内容，回答下列问题。

( B )

    Farming in the USA today is very different from that 100 years ago. In those days, farmers did not have many machines to help them. They had animals. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}This meant that farms were smaller than they are now. Farmers also worked in a different way in the past. In those days, farmers grew fruits and vegetables and kept cows, pigs and chickens to feed their families. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Farmers have a very special life in many ways. First of all, they can't leave the job at the end of the day. They live on the farm and there is always work to do. Second, a lot of farm work is outdoors, so the weather is very important for farmers. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} A lot of bad weather means farmers will lose money. Finally, farmers work with plants and animals. They understand nature better than other people do.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Spring is a time for planting. Farmers are busy getting the fields ready and then planting the seeds(种子). In summer, farmers must take good care of the plants. Some may need water. Other plants may have problems with insects or diseases. Then in fall, the fruits or plants are ready for picking. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Winter is a time for rest or for work on the farm machines.

A. Farm work changes with the seasons.

B. That is a very busy time for farmers.

C. But animals work slowly compared to machines.

D. It is also important for the success of their farms.

E. Today farmers grow things on the farms so they can sell them.

    Li Wen is a normal 15-year-old boy who works hard in school and gets good grades. It is hard to believe that he used to be a "problem child". Li Wen lives in the Sichuan countryside. As a small child, he seldom caused any problems. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}.His parents moved to the city to look for jobs. He had to live with his grandparents. Li Wen began to cause problems for himself and his family. He was no longer interested in studying. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}and he failed his examinations.

    Finally, his parents made a decision to send him to a boarding school. There were so many rules, and he used to keep breaking them. One day, he told his teacher he wanted to leave the school. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}and she advised his parents to talk with their son in person（亲自）. So his parents took a 24-hour train ride and a five-hour bus ride to go back to their hometown. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. To Li Wen's surprise, their conversation changed his life. …Now Li Wen has really changed.