Read the passage carefully, then choose the best answer for each question.
FREAKY FORCES OF NATURE
When Weird Weather Strikes
Most of us know about fires, hurricanes, droughts, and floods. But from time to time, Mother Nature  surprises us, and delivers a weather event that is really weird. Here are some examples of truly weird weather.
One day in 2005, residents  of a small town in Serbia looked out their windows and saw an unusual sight. It was raining frogs! Without any warning, they found their streets filling with the little jumping creatures. “There were thousands of them," one resident told a local newspaper. "I thought perhaps a plane carrying frogs had exploded,"  said another. Scientists think a tornado passed over a lake. It sucked up animals that lived there. The frogs were carried into the air. Then they were dropped in the Serbian town, far away.
As if tornadoes aren't dangerous enough, some of them can actually be made of fire. When a wildfire reaches very high temperatures, it causes the air to become hot and to rise. Cooler air rushes in to replace the hot air. This creates strong winds. These winds suck up burning plants and even the fire itself. When this happens, like it did on March 14, 2014, in Denver, Colorado, U.S.A., a tornado of fire is produced. This tornado can become 15 meters (50 feet) wide and grow as  tall as a 40-story building.
In 1942, hundreds of thousand-year-old skeletons were found under the ice of Lake Roopkund in the Himalayas. Many had holes in their skulls. But they weren't hurt in any other way. Scientists thought the people must have been hit from above. But for years, the cause of their deaths was a mystery. Today, scientists think these people were killed by giant hailstones—balls of ice. Hailstones form when raindrops high in the sky turn into pieces of ice. The ice pieces increase  in size until the wind cannot hold them up. This results in hailstones falling to the ground, often at speeds of over 160 kilometers (100 miles) an hour. For the unlucky people at Lake Roopkund, there was nowhere to run. They were all killed by the hailstones.
The word “this” refers to the moment when_____.
A.a wildfire grows really big
B.rushing winds suck up the fire
C.the tornado of fire becomes 15 meters wide
D.a wildfire causes the air to become hot and to rise

Read the passage carefully, then choose the best answer for each question.
A WARMING WORLD
One weekend in May 2010, the weather forecast for Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A., predicted 10 centimeters (4 inches) of rain. By Sunday, over 33 centimeters (13 inches) had fallen. Soon the city was flooded. On the roads, cars were covered by the rising water. "We've got buildings running into cars,” the news reported as a small building floated by. There were 11 deaths that weekend.
Changing Weather
The weather is changing. Over the last few years, heavy rains have caused floods in Brazil, Pakistan, and Thailand. Droughts have struck Russia and Australia. Heat waves have killed thousands in Europe, and all over the world, hurricanes and tornadoes strike more frequently and with greater force than ever before. In 2011 alone, losses caused by the weather cost the world 150 billion dollars.
Warmer and Wetter
As more wild weather events happen, a worried world is beginning to ask questions like: What is going on with the weather? And why? Many also want to know: Is this natural, or are we to blame?
The answer seems to be: a little of both. Wild weather is natural. But most scientists agree human activity has made the Earth warmer. This global warming makes heat waves more likely to occur. The higher temperatures also cause more water to enter the air. This causes heavier and more frequent rain. Some scientists also believe global warming makes hurricanes and other storms stronger.
This means we're likely to see more wild weather. "[But] we don't have to just stand there and take it," says scientist Michael Oppenheimer. He and other experts say we need to stop the Earth from getting warmer. We also need to be prepared, to do things that will help save lives.
What is the main idea of the reading passage?
A.There was a deadly flood in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.
B.Global warming is causing wilder weather events.
C.Wild weather events are making people very worried.
D.Flood is caused by global warming.

Read the passage carefully, then choose the best answer for each question.
A LOVE POEM IN STONE
Often called "a love poem  in stone," the Taj Mahal is well-known for being one of the most beautiful buildings ever created. It is also perhaps the most beautiful expression of love in the world.
The emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal for his empress, Mumtaz Mahal. The couple lived happily together for 18 years. Then Mumtaz died during the birth of their fourteenth child. Before she died, the emperor made her a promise. To remember her, he would build the most beautiful monument in the world.
The emperor poured his passion and wealth into building the Taj Mahal. It is said that it took more than 20,000 people and 1,000 elephants to build. They worked for over 20 years to build the monument and its central dome, which stands over 73 meters above the ground.
Soon after the building was finished, Shah Jahan's son became emperor. He put Shah Jahan in prison.  Shah Jahan lived there until his death in 1666, when his body was put in the Taj Mahal with the woman he loved.
There are many legends about the Taj Mahal. In one story, when the building was complete, Shah Jahan had the builders' hands cut off, supposedly so they could never build anything as beautiful as the Taj Mahal. Another says he also wanted to build a black Taj Mahal. These are interesting stories, but they are most likely not true.
The love story between Shah Jahan and his wife ended sadly. But the monument to their love still stands today. It is visited by millions of tourists, who come to see the marble change color in the light of the rising sun or a full moon.
Who does the word “He” refer to?
A.Shah Jahan
B.Shah Jahan’s son
C.Shah Jahan’s father
D.the builder

Read the passage carefully, then choose the best answer for each question.
DO ANIMALS LAUGH?
We know animals have emotions. They can feel fear. We also think they feel love, since they have strong relationships with each other. So are animal emotions all similar to our own? And do animals have a sense of humor?
A Parrot Named Bongo Marie
Sally Blanchard's parrot Bongo Marie didn't get along with her other parrot, Paco. In fact, Bongo Marie clearly didn't like Paco at all! One day, Blanchard cooked a chicken for dinner. She started to cut the chicken with a knife. "Oh, no! Paco!'' Bongo Marie said loudly and laughed. Blanchard laughed, too, and said, "That's not Paco." "Oh . . . no," said Bongo Marie. This time, she sounded disappointed. Then the parrot laughed at her own joke.
Yoga Dog
Jean Donaldson enjoys doing yoga—and so does her dog Buffy. While Jean Donaldson does yoga, Buffy carefully places her toys on Donaldson's body. If a toy falls, Buffy runs to put it back. Does this behavior have any real purpose? “She thinks it's hilarious!" says Donaldson.
Animal Laughter
Can dogs "laugh"? Recent research shows that dogs can tell each other when they want to play. They make a special sound—a kind of "laugh." Psychologist Patricia Simonet recorded the sound. Then she played it back to dogs to assess their behavior. "All the dogs seemed to like the laugh," says Simonet. So do animals have a sense of humor? If laughter is a clue, then perhaps the answer is "yes!"
What is the main idea of the last paragraph?
A.A scientist showed that dogs talk to each other, so they seem to be funnier than most animals.
B.A scientist showed that dogs make a laughing sound, so animals might really have a sense of humor.
C.A scientist recorded dogs making a laughing sound, but doesn’t believe they have a sense of humor.
D.A scientist showed that dogs can laugh, as she recorded their laughing sound.

Read the passage carefully, then choose the best answer for each question.
DO ANIMALS LAUGH?
We know animals have emotions. They can feel fear. We also think they feel love, since they have strong relationships with each other. So are animal emotions all similar to our own? And do animals have a sense of humor?
A Parrot Named Bongo Marie
Sally Blanchard's parrot Bongo Marie didn't get along with her other parrot, Paco. In fact, Bongo Marie clearly didn't like Paco at all! One day, Blanchard cooked a chicken for dinner. She started to cut the chicken with a knife. "Oh, no! Paco!'' Bongo Marie said loudly and laughed. Blanchard laughed, too, and said, "That's not Paco." "Oh . . . no," said Bongo Marie. This time, she sounded disappointed. Then the parrot laughed at her own joke.
Yoga Dog
Jean Donaldson enjoys doing yoga—and so does her dog Buffy. While Jean Donaldson does yoga, Buffy carefully places her toys on Donaldson's body. If a toy falls, Buffy runs to put it back. Does this behavior have any real purpose? “She thinks it's hilarious!" says Donaldson.
Animal Laughter
Can dogs "laugh"? Recent research shows that dogs can tell each other when they want to play. They make a special sound—a kind of "laugh." Psychologist Patricia Simonet recorded the sound. Then she played it back to dogs to assess their behavior. "All the dogs seemed to like the laugh," says Simonet. So do animals have a sense of humor? If laughter is a clue, then perhaps the answer is "yes!"
What does the author want to know?
A.Do animals have emotions?
B.Do animals feel fear?
C.Do animals laugh in the same way as humans?
D.Do animals have a sense of humor?

Read the passage carefully, then choose the best answer for each question.
A PENGUIN FAMILY
Emperor penguins are the largest penguins on Earth. Each adult is over a meter tall, and can weigh1 up to 40 kilograms.
For many months each year, emperors live near the sea in large groups called colonies. However, in May, the weather  gets colder and ice covers large areas of ocean. Each colony moves many kilometers from the water. There, each mother penguin lays just one egg. Then all the hungry mothers must walk back to the ocean to find food. The father penguins put their eggs on top of their feet, under a special piece of skin called the brood pouch.
Sharing the Work
For two months, the father penguins keep the eggs safe and warm. They do this through some of the coldest weather conditions on Earth. By July, it is winter in Antarctica. Most animals leave for warmer places, but the father penguins stay. In this time, without food, a father penguin can lose almost half of his body weight.
New Life
By August, the babies begin to hatch! The mother penguin returns just in time to see her baby come out of its egg. The chick is then moved to her brood pouch. This can be difficult. If the chick falls, it can freeze quickly, so the penguin parents must be very careful. Once this is done, the father penguin can go back to the ocean to find food.
Growing Up
Over the next few months, penguin parents take turns going to the ocean for food. They each make the trip several times, bringing back food for the chick. The chick grows quickly and is always hungry.
Into the Water
By December, winter is ending. The chick is five months old and can live on its own. Soon it enters the water for the first time. It will swim and eat until next April, and then return here. After a few more years, it, too, will start its own family.
What will probably happen if the chick falls onto the ice?
A.Another penguin will take the chick.
B.The chick will die because of the cold.
C.The father penguin cannot go find food.
D.The mother penguin will not return.

Read the passage carefully, then choose the best answer for each question.
SEEING THE IMPOSSIBLE
Can you believe everything you see? Not always! Sometimes our minds and our eyes make mistakes. At other times, our eyes and minds can become confused. This may be because we are looking at something called an optical illusion.
The word optical means "related to sight"—the way we see things with our eyes. An illusion is something that looks different from the way it really is. In short, an optical illusion is a kind of trick that our eyes play on us.
Look at these optical illusions and compare what you see with what your classmates see. The way we see things is often personal, so you may not see things the same way as someone else.
So can you trust your eyes? Perhaps the answer is “sometimes." Sometimes our eyes see something, and our minds understand it easily. At other times, we may need to look twice.
Which red dot is larger?
Most people say it’s the dot on the left. Now measure the dots. The red dot on the left may seem larger because of the blue dots around it, but they’re really the same size.
Look at this picture. What do you see?
Do you see a cup, or do you see two faces? Now look again! The illusion shows two different images at the same time. Therefore, our minds have to choose which image to look at. Scientists think this choice is difficult, because different parts of your brain are getting different information. One part "sees" the cup and another part "sees" the faces, so the image keeps changing.
Are the circles moving?
When you stare at this picture, your mind may tell you that the circles are moving, but this is impossible! How can a picture move? Some people think the circles seem to move because, often, when we see circle-in-circle shapes, like in car wheels or snake bodies, they are usually moving. Our brains are used to seeing these shapes move. So when our eyes see this shape, our mind infers that the image is moving. Other scientists believe the illusion of movement is caused by the tiny movements of our eyes as we look at the different colors and patterns of the picture.
The word “tiny” can be replaced with______.
A.very fast
B.very small
C.very strange
D.very large

Choose A, B, C or D to complete this passage:
These days it is impossible to open a newspaper (1)_____ reading about the damage we are doing to the environment. The Earth is being threatened (2)______ the future looks bad. (3)______ can each of us do?
We cannot clean (4)______ our polluted rivers and seas overnight. Nor can we stop the (5)______ of plants and animals. But we can stop adding to the problem (6)______ scientists look for answers.
It may not be easy to change your lifestyle (7)_______ but some steps are easy to take: cut down the amount of driving you do, or use as little plastic as possible. It is also easy to save (8)_____ , which also (9)_______ household bills. We must all make a personal decision to work for the future of our planet if we want to ensure a better world (10)_______ our grandchildren.
_____(9)
A.supplies
B.adds
C.decreases
D.reduces

Choose A, B, C or D to complete this passage:
These days it is impossible to open a newspaper (1)_____ reading about the damage we are doing to the environment. The Earth is being threatened (2)______ the future looks bad. (3)______ can each of us do?
We cannot clean (4)______ our polluted rivers and seas overnight. Nor can we stop the (5)______ of plants and animals. But we can stop adding to the problem (6)______ scientists look for answers.
It may not be easy to change your lifestyle (7)_______ but some steps are easy to take: cut down the amount of driving you do, or use as little plastic as possible. It is also easy to save (8)_____ , which also (9)_______ household bills. We must all make a personal decision to work for the future of our planet if we want to ensure a better world (10)_______ our grandchildren.
_____(5)
A.appear
B.disappearance
C.appearance
D.disappear

Read the passage carefully, then choose the best answer for each question.
FREAKY FORCES OF NATURE
When Weird Weather Strikes
Most of us know about fires, hurricanes, droughts, and floods. But from time to time, Mother Nature  surprises us, and delivers a weather event that is really weird. Here are some examples of truly weird weather.
One day in 2005, residents  of a small town in Serbia looked out their windows and saw an unusual sight. It was raining frogs! Without any warning, they found their streets filling with the little jumping creatures. “There were thousands of them," one resident told a local newspaper. "I thought perhaps a plane carrying frogs had exploded,"  said another. Scientists think a tornado passed over a lake. It sucked up animals that lived there. The frogs were carried into the air. Then they were dropped in the Serbian town, far away.
As if tornadoes aren't dangerous enough, some of them can actually be made of fire. When a wildfire reaches very high temperatures, it causes the air to become hot and to rise. Cooler air rushes in to replace the hot air. This creates strong winds. These winds suck up burning plants and even the fire itself. When this happens, like it did on March 14, 2014, in Denver, Colorado, U.S.A., a tornado of fire is produced. This tornado can become 15 meters (50 feet) wide and grow as  tall as a 40-story building.
In 1942, hundreds of thousand-year-old skeletons were found under the ice of Lake Roopkund in the Himalayas. Many had holes in their skulls. But they weren't hurt in any other way. Scientists thought the people must have been hit from above. But for years, the cause of their deaths was a mystery. Today, scientists think these people were killed by giant hailstones—balls of ice. Hailstones form when raindrops high in the sky turn into pieces of ice. The ice pieces increase  in size until the wind cannot hold them up. This results in hailstones falling to the ground, often at speeds of over 160 kilometers (100 miles) an hour. For the unlucky people at Lake Roopkund, there was nowhere to run. They were all killed by the hailstones.
What happens when little pieces of ice move around in the wind?
A.They become bigger.
B.They become raindrops.
C.They fall to the ground as snow.
D.They are stuck in the wind.