Our factories and homes burn coal and oil. Every year we have forest fires somewhere. Many scientists believe that the weather is changing.

      The earth will perhaps be warmed by about 7℃ at the South Pole(极) and the North Pole. The ice will be melt(融化). The sea level(平面) will rise by about 7 meters. As a result, water will cover cities like London, Tokyo and New York. Some ports(港口) and towns along the coasts will disappear under water.

      Some other scientists think that the dust, smoke and pollution from coal, wood and oil fires will block out(封闭) the ultraviolet rays(紫外线). Then the earth will become colder and great sheets of ice will cover Europe and North America.

      When chemicals in the air mix with rain, we have acid(酸) rain. Acid rain can bring us great harm. It destroys(破坏) forests and kills life in lakes and rivers.

      People are beginning to see how serious the problem is. They find it important to work with nature instead of against it. They are trying to save the earth in many different ways. But one of the most important things to do is to make people understand that saving the earth is saving ourselves.

阅读理解

Find Which Direction Is South

    Do you have a good sense of direction? If not, please take with you a compass. But if you forget to take a compass, you can still find your way. 

    It's never a wise idea to believe that the family member who was good at the job of map-reading knows where the family is. You can tell by the troubled look on their faces that nothing on the ground seems to match the map. Never mind. The sun is shining and it's still morning. If you don't know the exact time, you can still find out where south is, but you'll need to be patient. 

    ①Find a straight stick and put it in the ground in a place where you can mark its shadow(a dark shape on a surface that is made when something stands between a light and the surface). 

    ②Try to position the stick as vertically(垂直)as you can. You can check this by making a simple plumb line(铅锤线). You haven't got one? OK, use a thread(线) from your clothes with a button(纽扣) tied at the end to act as a weight.

    ③Mark the end of the shadow cast(投射) by the stick.

    ④Wait about half an hour and mark the end of the shadow again.

    ⑤Keep doing this until you have made several marks. 

    ⑥The mark nearest the stick will represent the shortest shadow, which is cast at midday, when the sun is highest in the sky and pointing to the exact south. 

    ⑦Pick a point in the distance along the line between the shortest shadow and the stick.

    ⑧That point is south of where you are. 

    ⑨Now you can turn the map, like you did before, and find which way you should be travelling. 

    With the development of science and technology, our daily life is becoming more colorful and more convenient .

Nick is a 14-year-old schoolboy.  His  life  is  full  of exams  and  studies  on weekdays. He    has little free time.    He thinks playing computer games is the best way to relax. When he has free time, he sits in front of the computer. Just like that, he doesn't eat or drink for several(几个) hours.

Last weekend,he played games in front of the computer again.He was too excited and didn't want to move. He didn't have anything for six hours. When he had to go to the bathroom,he found he could not move. He was taken to the hospital. The doctor told him he should do some different kinds of activities. In other words,he needs more exercise to have a healthy body.

After coming back from the hospital, Nick follows the doctor's advice(建议).He often plays soccer with his friends. Sometimes he still plays computer games on weekends,but he never does it for long. Now, he lives a happy and healthy life.

Do you like English? How many English words have you learnt so far? It seems that many students find it difficult to remember new words {#blank#}1{#/blank#} they begin to study English. Let me give you some advice. 

{#blank#}2{#/blank#} you spend time in learning a list of English words, it will be the hardest way to remember them. So what should you do {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (improve) your vocabulary? It is known that one of the best ways {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(learn) new words is by listening. Listen{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(careful) to people talking around you, or some radio programmes, TV programmes and records. You will learn how English is pronounced in phrases and sentences{#blank#}6{#/blank#} you listen to more and more dialogues. Of course, it is not enough to learn new words — you must learn how words{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (put) together, and why some words in English are emphasised (重读). 

Some people have found that they can increase their vocabulary by learning the names {#blank#}8{#/blank#} everyday objects such as a box, a bottle, a cup, and a desk. They read out the name {#blank#}9{#/blank#} they see the object. Try this way {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(see) if this way works for you. If it does not, then practise conversations.