Mark Twain was a great writer. He was from the USA. He was born in 1835. He was also a famous speaker. He was famous for his sense of humour. Many people liked to listen to him , because he liked to tell some interesting stories to make people laugh all the time.

One day Mark Twain was going to a small town because of his writing. Before he was going to leave, one of his friends said to him that there were always a lot of mosquitoes (蚊子) in the town and told him that he’d better not go there. Mark Twain waved his hand and said, “It doesn’t matter. The mosquitoes are no relatives of mine. I don’t think they will come to visit me.”

After he arrived at the town, Mark Twain stayed in a small hotel near the station. He went into his room, but when he was just about to have a rest, quite a few mosquitoes flew about him. The waiters felt very sorry about that. “I’m very sorry, Mr. Mark Twain. There are too many mosquitoes in our town.” One of them said to him.

Mark Twain, however, made a joke, saying to the waiter, “The mosquitoes are very clever. They know my room number. They didn’t come into the wrong room.” What he said made all the people present laugh heartily.

But that night Mark Twain slept well. Do you know why? That was because all the waiters in the hotel were driving the mosquitoes away for him during the whole night.

1. That day Mark Twain went to the town _____.

A. to see one of his friends       B. because he was told there were a lot of mosquitoes there

C. because he wanted to do something there for his writing        

D. to see one of his relatives

2. The waiters felt sorry because _____.

A. they did something wrong to Mark Twain            B. their hotel was too small

C. the room was not very clean    D. there were quite a few mosquitoes in Mark Twain’s room

3. All the people present laughed heartily because _____.

A. the mosquitoes were very clever and they didn’t come into the wrong room

B. the mosquitoes knew Mark Twain’s room number

C. Mark Twain gave the waiters some nice presents          

D. Mark Twain made a joke

4. From the story we know _____.

A. there were not mosquitoes in the hotel any longer

B. no mosquitoes troubled Mark Twain that night

C. Mark Twain didn’t have a good rest that night

D. the owner of the hotel told the waiters to look after Mark Twain well at night

     Bottled water is a drain on the environment: The US public goes through about 50 billion water bottles a year, and most of those plastic containers are not recycled, according to Elizabeth Royte’s book Bottlemania: How Water Went on Sale and Why We Bought It.

Transporting the bottles and keeping them cold also burns fuels, which give off greenhouse gases. And groundwater pumping by bottled water companies draws heavily on underground aquifers(含水层) and harms watersheds(分水岭), according to the Sierra Club. And some studies suggest it takes up to three liters of water to produce one liter of bottled water.

Yet more than $100 billion is spent every year on bottled water globally. In many cities in developing countries where there is not a safe source of tap water, bottled water becomes a trusted choice.

In the US, tap water is controlled by the government and often examined for dangerous polluted substances. Each American drinks 79 liters of bottled water per year on average, according to the Columbia Water Center at Columbia University’s Earth Institute in New York. The bottled water industry is so successful that it has outpaced(超过) milk, coffee, and juice in the number of gallons of drinks sold — putting it behind only beer and soda.

Though the sale and consumption (消费)of bottled water is still on the rise, certain policymakers have taken steps to reduce it and encourage people to drink tap water. In September 2009, the Australian town of Bundanoon became the first town in the world to completely ban bottled water from its stores’ shelves, building water fountains（喷泉）around the town instead.

Among US cities that have taken action are San Francisco and Seattle, which no longer buy water for city use, and Chicago, which added a five-cent tax on each bottle. Several restaurants in those cities have also given up bottled water for tap water. Other cities are also considering taking action.

5. What does the underlined word "drain" in the first paragraph probably mean?

A. Value    B. Consumption      C. Solution    D. Relief (缓解)

6. What is the second paragraph mainly about?

A. Why bottled water is so popular.           B. What Elizabeth Royte’s book is about.

C. How much it takes to produce bottled water.

D. What effects bottled water has on the environment.

7. According to the passage, what drink sells best in the USA?

A. Beer    B. Bottled water    C. Coffee     D. Milk

8. Which of the following statements about the US is TRUE?

A. More than $100 billion is spent every year on bottled water in the US.

B. About 79 billion water bottles a year are gone through by the US public.

C. In Chicago, you have to pay 5 cents as tax if you buy a bottle of water.

D. An American drinks 50 liters of bottled water every year on average.

Want to improve your writing skills? New Writing South is directing the way!

Towner Writer Squad (班组）for kids aged 13-17

Led by comedy and TV writer, Marian Kilpatrick, Towner Writer Squad will meet once a month at the contemporary（当代的）art museum for 11 months, starting 12 October, 2014.

The FREE squad sessions will include introductions to a wide range of writing styles, from poetry to play writing and lyrics (抒情诗）to flash fiction, to support the development of young writers.

Application & Selection

If you would like to apply to be part of the Towner Writer Squad, please send a sample（样本） piece of your writing (about 500 words), responding to the title ‘LUNCH,’ with your name, age, address and e-mail address to: debo@newwritingsouth.com.

Once all applications are in, you will be invited to an open selection event on 17 September，4-5pm, at the gallery of Towner. This will be an informal opportunity to meet the Squad Leader, Squad Associate and other young people.

You will also have a chance to get to know the fantastic gallery space and get a taste of what’s to come.

Deadline for applications: 8 September, 2014

For further information go to: facebook.com/towner or towner.org.uk or newwritingsouth.com

    Any questions--feel free to send your e-mail to Towner Writer Squad Associate: whame@towner.gov.uk

  Beginner Writing Project for kids aged 10-13

Due to popular demand, a writing project will be started for eager beginners.

Start time: 6 September, 2014

Meet every other Saturday，2-4pm, at the Towner Study Centre.

Study and write at your own pace — you do not have to rush — as you have a year to go through the project. Practise under the guidance of some experienced writers and teachers who can help you with basic writing skills. Most importantly, build confidence and have fun while writing!       

No previous experience or special background is required. Many others have been successful this way. If they can do it, why can’t you?

Fee: £179

For more information go to: newtowner.org.uk or generate.org.uk

9. Towner Writer Squad will be started _______.

A. to train comedy and TV writers         B. to encourage the development of young writers

C. to introduce a contemporary art museum  D. to explore the fantastic gallery space

10. To join the Writer Squad，each applicant should first _______.

A. complete an application form      B. meet the Writer Squad Leader

C. offer their family information      D. provide a piece of their writing

11. What is most important for the beginners?

A. Practising as much as possible.        B. Studying and writing at their own pace.

C. Gaining confidence and having fun.    D. Learning skills from writers and teachers.

12. More information about Beginner Writing Project can be found at _______.

A. facebook.com/towner        B. newwritingsouth.com  

C. towner.org.uk              D. newtowner.org.uk

    High school students have always spread gossip (传言) in the halls, on the walls and on the phone. Now it’s on the Internet, too. On various message boards, kids write about whom they hate, whom they think have fallen in love with each other and record other often hurtful things that may or may not be true.

     Sixteen-year-old Jessica remembers once when some kids at her school wrote cruel things about her on the web. “They were just making fun of me,” she says. They said she’s really ugly, she’s this, she’s that, blah-blah-blah.

     Jessica’s 11-year-old sister, Emma, admits she’s used the web to write bad things about another girl, though she regrets it now. “After a while, you may feel like, how could I have been so mean? Or, why did I do that?” she says.

     Experts say gossip on the Internet can be more harmful than the old fashioned kind. It lasts longer and is taken more seriously. And, unlike ugly words on the bathroom wall, there’s no way to get rid of it.

      If your kids are victims(受害者) of online gossip, Dr. Commanday suggests putting the gossip in to perspective (正确看待). “Point out to them how what’s being said on the screen differs from what everyone knows about you as a person,” Dr. Commanday says.

      You can also try what worked from Emma: keep your kids off the offensive (冒犯的) website! “When she was using it all the time, her name was there all the time. People were writing things about her,” explains Patti Thrift, Emma’s mother, “Since she has no longer had access to that, she’s no longer a topic of conversation.”

13. From the examples of Jessica’s sister, we can learn that ______.

A. ugly girls like to spread gossip online   B. ugly girls easily become victims of online gossip

C. gossip-makers can regret what they do  D. online gossip is mainly some jokes on others

14. According to the passage, why is online gossip more hurtful?

A. It is written words.         B. It cannot be removed easily.

C. It is much uglier.           D. It is easier to believe.

15. The purpose of the passage is to ___________.

A. give some tips on how to prevent hurt of gossip on the Internet

B. list the difference between the old fashioned gossip and gossip on the Internet

 C. advise students to keep away from the Internet

 D. introduce different kinds of hurt students might meet with

Find ways to respond to a major disaster

When natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes happen, there’s always a great need for coordinated(协调的) disaster relief (安慰）and recovery（痊愈）.  16  .

Volunteer

To take a hands-on approach to disaster recovery, volunteer your time and talents. You can travel to the affected regions to provide support.  17  .It is recommended （建议）that you volunteer through one of the professional organizations for your safety and your skills can be put to best use.

Donate（捐赠）money

Disaster victims often have lost their homes or need to relocate. In many cases, your money is just as valuable as your physical presence in helping with relief efforts. Many organizations provide temporary housing, food and other items for victims.  18  .Even organizations like the Red Cross have been criticized for how donated funds have been allocated(分配).

Donate blood

If you can’t travel and don’t feel comfortable giving money, a need for donated blood always existed. The Red Cross and local medical organizations manage blood supplies that are important to disaster victims. Call the Red Cross to schedule an appointment.  19  .

  20  .

Goods are valuable in stricken areas. Building materials and donations of bottled water or household items can be placed on trucks and taken to the disaster areas. It is the best to allow the professional organizations to coordinate these donation efforts and see that the needed supplies reach a location where they will be best used for recovery.

A. Send needed items.

B. Make preparations.

C. A lot of people are skillful at organizing local response.

D. Or look out for a blood drive in your area.

E. Whether disaster has occurred at home or abroad, you can help.

F. And you can do everything from providing first aid to rebuilding homes in these areas.

G. Before giving, though, make sure you trust the organization receiving your money.