A

    The most popular food in America was invented because a cook got angry. George Crum was a cook at a restaurant in Saratoga Springs, New York. One day in 1853, a customer(顾客) who had ordered fried(油炸的) potatoes sent them back to the kitchen. He wanted the cook to slice(切) them thinner and fry them longer. George Crum had a bad temper(脾气), and he thought the potatoes were fine the way he made them. To teach the customer a lesson, he sliced potatoes very thin and fried them until they were crispy(脆的). But instead of being angry, the customer loved the new fried potatoes. He asked for more. Other people who tried them like them too, and customers kept asking for them. Far many years, people called them Saratoga chips after the town where they were first made.

    Even now, after more than 150 years, potato chips are very popular. At least one of every ten potatoes grown in the United States is made into potato chips. So if you like potato chips, be glad George Crum had a bad temper!

    Once there was an apple tree which a little boy always played around. When the little boy grew up, he no longer played around the tree.

    One day the tree said, “Come and play with me.” The boy answered, “I need money.” “Sorry, you can sell the apples for some money.” The boy did that and left happily.

    After a few years, the boy came back. The tree said, “Come and play with me.” The boy said, “I don't have time. I need a house.” “You can cut off my branches (树枝) and trunk (树干) for a house,” answered the tree. The boy did so.

    Twenty years later, the boy came back again. “My boy, the only thing left is my dying roots (根),” said the tree. “I don't need much now, just a place to rest. I am too tired,” answered the boy. The tree then smiled with tears.

    This is a story of everyone. The tree is our parent. No matter what we need, parents will always be there and give everything they have to make us happy.

阅读短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。

    Some of the greatest problems we face today are the destruction (破坏) of our environment． Brown clouds, polluted water, endangered wild animals．．, these problems seem so huge．

    So my family does what we can． We take cloth bags to stores instead of using plastic bags． We walk where we don't have to drive．．．

    But does it do any good? When I am the only one in line at the market with cloth bags, am I doing any good? Does my walking to stores make any real difference to the world?

    I recently learned something about flamingos (火烈鸟) which like to get together in groups of a thousand or more． Every year, when the time comes for migration (迁徙), a few of them first takeoff from the lake． But none of the others seem to notice, so the small group returns．

    However, the next day they try again． This time few more fly along with them, but most of them still pay no attention, so they return again． They try for several times． Every time a few more birds join in but, since the thousands of others still take no notice, the great migration plan is once more stopped．

    Then one day something changes． The same small group of birds once again starts flying and a small number more join in just as before, then more． Finally, they all take flight and the migration really begins．

    What a spectacular sight it must be—thousands of flamingos taking off into the sky at once!

    A few can make a difference． Even if you're the one to take the first step, and continue trying, others will someday take notice and together we will solve even our greatest problems．

    Two frogs lived in a village. One day they wanted to go and see the big 1 that was about ten miles away.

    They talked about it 2 a long time, and 3 they decided to see the city.

    It was a hot day, and they soon 4 to feel tired. They 5 went a little way when one said to the other, “We must be nearly there. Can you 6 the city?”

    “No, ”said the other frog, “but if I climb on your 7 I might be able to see it.”

    8 he climbed up on the back of 9frog to see the city.

When the frog 10 his head, his eyes could only see what was 11 , and not what was in front. “Can you see the city ?” asked the other frog. “Yes,” answered the frog that climbed up. “I 12 see it. It looks just 13 our village. ”

    So the frogs decided 14 the city, and went back home.

The two frogs 15 the others in village, “The city was just like our village.”