In San Francisco, there is a special group of volunteers. They call themselves Friends of the Urban (城市的) Forest (FUF). These volunteers want to
9．. Every year, the FUF plants nearly 1,000 trees.

The FUF welcomes new volunteers all year round and in all parts of its work. On Weekend Planting Days, FUF volunteers work with common citizens (市民) to plant trees. The planting usually runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. After the work is done, everyone
10． over a community lunch.

On Thursday Planting Days, the FUF plants “replacement (替换) trees”. As their name suggests, these trees replace trees
11．. Planting Leaders are very experienced volunteers. They are able to help other volunteers at planting events. Planting Leaders usually wear a special FUF T-shirt. Some new volunteers know little about “replacement trees”. They can easily find Planting Leaders and
12．.

In 1995, the FUF
13． a program called Tree Care. The purpose is to improve the health of street trees in San Francisco. The FUF’s tree experts make “house calls” to every newly-planted street tree once a month. They
14． the trees are growing well. Through Tree Care, people learn why trees are important and how to take care of them.

There are also Emergency Tree Care Volunteers at the FUF. These volunteers save young trees that have fallen or are leaning (倾斜). They set out to work
15． the FUF informs (通知) them of a tree in need.

The FUF sends newsletters to people
16． plant a love for trees in every citizen. It also offers tree tours and planting training. The FUF’s Youth Program trains teenagers like you to plant and care for trees.

   Have you ever imagined what life will be like in 2060? An international group of forty scientists have made some surprising predictions. They said that in the next forty years, our lives would change beyond our wildest dreams.

Firstly, humans can grow body parts themselves. Dr. Ellen Heber-Katz is one of the forty scientists. He says, “People will think it common that sick organs (器官) can be repaired. It’s just like the way we fix a car.” Damaged parts will be taken away. Scientists could use human cells (细胞) to grow new organs. New technologies like this will also help people to live longer. Within forty years, most people will be able to live up to one hundred years.

Secondly, the scientists have predicted that a machine will be invented to “read” the minds of animals. In 2060, we will be able to “talk” to animals. Scientists say that humans may first “talk” with mammals (哺乳动物) and then other vertebrates (脊椎动物) such as fish.

Our houses might also change beyond our imagination. Dr. Susan Greenfield predicts that when you enter the living room, sensors (传感器) will know you. They will turn on the lights. If you talk to the lights, they will change to the color of your choice.

But what would be the biggest breakthrough (突破) over the next forty years? A number of scientists believe it would be the discovery of aliens. NASA scientist Chris Mckay says, “We may find aliens in space and talk with them.” He believes marks of alien life may even be found here on Earth.

Does life in 2060 sound cool to you? Let’s wait and see what will really happen then!

A．

B．

C．

   Which country grows the most tea? The answer is India. It grows three times as much as China. Which country drinks the most tea? It’s neither China nor Japan. It’s Great Britain.

In the wild, tea plants may be 9 meters tall. But a plant grown for market is pruned. Pruning keeps the plant only 0.9 or 1.2 meters tall. This is an easy height for tea picking. Only the two top leaves and bud (芽) of each new shoot are picked. So to make money, tea plantations (种植园) must be huge.

In general, there are two kinds of tea: black tea and green tea. Black tea is fermented (发酵). In the process, the tea loses nearly all of its healthy parts. Green tea is steamed (蒸) right after the leaves are picked. Green tea keeps its healthy parts. For example, it may prevent heart illness.

How did we get tea bags? The answer: by accident. Tea businessmen used to send samples (样品) in tin (锡) boxes. This was very expensive. One businessman thought of a cheaper way. He sent samples in small silk bags. Customers would open the bag. They would make tea as usual. One customer put the bag into a pot. Then he just poured hot water over it. And the tea bag was born.

Shen Nong was the first to drink tea. He was a Chinese emperor. This was about 2737 B.C. Shen drank several cups of hot water daily. One day something happened. Leaves from a wild tea tree fell into the hot water pot. The next cup was poured. The water was now colored. Shen tasted it. He liked it. He drank it all. Shen was proud of his new drink. He served it to his guests. Word spread. People thought this way: tea is good enough for the Emperor, so it must be good enough for the people. Tea became the drink of China.   

   On Saturday morning, Tom Sawyer had to paint his aunt’s fence (栅栏). Tom looked at the thirty meters of wide fence and felt bad. He thought of the fun he had planned for the day. Soon the free boys would go out to play, and they would laugh at him for having to work. He felt even worse.
25．

Soon Ben Rogers appeared, eating an apple. Tom ignored (不理) him and continued painting. He stopped and looked at his work like an artist. “Hello, Tom. I’m going swimming. Don’t you wish you could? But of course, you have to work.”

Tom looked at Ben, then said, “What do you call work?”

“Isn’t this work?”

Tom continued painting, and answered, “Well, maybe it is, and maybe it isn’t. All I know is, I like it.”

“Do you really like it?”

“
26．”

That made it sound different. Ben stopped eating his apple. Tom moved his brush carefully backwards and forwards and stepped back to look. Ben watched every move, getting more interested. Presently, he said, “Hey, Tom, let me paint a little.”

Tom thought, and then said, “No, I don’t think so, Ben. Aunt Polly wants this fence painted carefully because it’s on the street. It’s difficult to do it right.”  

“Come on, let me try.”

“I’d like to, Ben. But Aunt Polly won’t even let my brother Sid do it.”

“I’ll be careful. I’ll give you my apple.”

27． While Ben was working in the sun, Tom sat under a tree eating the apple and thinking how to catch more boys. And there were lots of them. Boys came to make fun, but stayed to paint. By the time Ben was tired, Tom had exchanged the next turn with Billy Fisher for a good kite, and then Johnny Miller, and so on.
28． He had learned that to make someone want something, you only have to make it difficult to get.

Kids in the Forest

When I picked up my son from preschool (幼儿园) one recent summer afternoon, he looked dirty from head to foot. He told me how he and his classmates played in the nearby forest. It was a hot day, so they took off their shoes to put their feet in the river. He
37． (describe) excitedly to me the wonderful feeling of the cool river water.

This isn’t a typical preschool in the United States. It’s a forest school. A large part of my son’s school day takes place across 1,000 square meters of forest and wetlands.

Today’s kids are under great pressure. It is believed that the road to a “good” college begins as early as preschool, and even four-year-olds
38． (require) to read and memorize new words every day. So outdoor time for children
39． (become) less and less now. This has caused many problems, such as an increase іn оbеѕіtу (肥胖) аnd dерrеѕѕіоn (抑郁) among children.

More and more parents
40． (realize) the importance of outdoor play. In the past few years, we have seen an increasing interest in forest schools. The number of forest schools in the U.S. has jumped from 20 in 2008 to 250. Unlike children in traditional schools, forest school kids spend their day studying ant hills or even
41． (climb) tall trees. There are no direct instructions.

So are forest schools really better for today’s children than traditional preschools? The answer
42． (depend) largely on whom you ask. Personally, I prefer forest schools. Since he started to attend forest school, my son has been more active and brighter with improved problem-solving skills. He has learned how to deal with small dangers and how
43． (protect) the environment. Most importantly, my son is excited to go to school every day.

Do you spend most of your time studying indoors? Remember to sometimes “hug” nature. It is good for you!

A Friend to the Pilgrims

“I speak English.” When the Pilgrims (清教徒前辈美洲移民) heard these words, they were very surprised. The words came from Squanto, a Native American (印第安人). But how did he learn to speak English? As the Pilgrims would soon find out, this happened to be a long story.

In 1605, George Weymouth, an English captain (船长), was exploring America. People from England were interested in the Native Americans of this new land. When Weymouth came to Squanto’s village, he captured (俘获) five men. Squanto was not among them, but the little boy was curious (好奇的). He volunteered to go with Weymouth to England.

In England, a friend of Weymouth’s took good care of Squanto. But after nine years, Squanto felt homesick. In 1614, two English captains, John Smith and Thomas Hunt, asked Squanto to help them explore America. They promised to take Squanto to his home village after the trip. Squanto was happy and agreed to go. But after the trip, Captain Hunt broke his promise. Instead of bringing Squanto to see his family, he sold him to Spain as a slave (奴隶).

In Spain, some monks (僧侣) saved Squanto and looked after him for three years. Then, he joined another trip to North America. The trip was to Newfoundland. This was still far from Squanto’s home. Squanto returned to England in the end.

By now, Squanto had known many important men in England. They liked Squanto and wanted to help him. Finally, Squanto went back to his home village in 1619 with the help of them. But sadly, the village was empty. All of the villagers had died from an illness.

When the Pilgrims arrived in America in 1620, winter would soon come. They needed help. Squanto happened to be living close to their houses. He offered to help. Knowing the language and customs of Englishmen, Squanto helped the Pilgrims in many ways, including teaching them how to catch fish. The Pilgrims were really lucky to have such a good friend!

在你的学校生活、家庭生活、社会活动及兴趣爱好等方面，一定有让你引以为豪的事情。请以“ One Thing I’m Proud of ” 为题，根据以下要求与提示，用英语写一篇短文，记述一件令你感到自豪的事情。

One Thing I’m Proud of