27. The author writes the passage to ________ .

A. show us the function of major sports

B. encourage us to go in for green sports

C. discuss the major influence of popular sports

D. introduce different types of environment-friendly sports

C.

Joanna Cole, born on August 11, 1944 in Newark, New Jersey, has been credited to be one of the most popular children’s authors of all time. She has written over 250 books and is famous for writing one of the most popular children’s book series. She knew as early as early as 5th grade that she was interested in writing and science. Cole has owed a large part of her passion to one of her elementary school teachers.

Joanna Cole continued her education by attending the University of Massachusetts and Indiana. She would eventually earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the City College of New York in 1967 after graduation, Cole decided to take some education courses to become a librarian at a Brooklyn elementary school in 1967. Eventually, she would take jobs working for Newsweek, Seesaw book club.

Cole’s passion for writing and science was still alive and well during this time. In 1971 she decided to write her first book, Cockroaches. She did some research and discovered there had never been a book written for children about cockroaches. So she thought she would be the first.

Cole struck gold when she wrote the first Magic School Bus in 1985. The book would go on to be published the following year and quickly became book series and cartoon series due to its success.

Cole continued to write both nonfiction and fiction books for children. She writes in a way that will hopefully inspire children to think like a scientist. She does this by writing ideas instead of just facts. She also tries to ask questions in her books that require children to think and discover the answers as they read. This creates an engaging experience for children, so it is no wonder why younger readers are hooked on her books.

28. When Joanna Cole was young, she_________________.

A. was very popular with children B. got inspired by one of her teachers

C. began her career of writing novels D. knew what she would do in the future

29. What does the underlined phrase probably mean?

A. made a fortune B. made a promise C. got ideas D. obtained help

30. What do we know about Joanna Cole?

A. She is the most famous woman writer in America.

B. She writes novels not only for kids but for adults.

C. She is an expert at getting science across to readers.

D. She has made great contributions to science.

31. What kind of person is Cole in the passage?

A. positive and brave B. popular and reliable C. serious and honest D. talented and creative

D

David Cameron is urging today’s youngesters to abandon French to concentrate on the tongue of the future—Mandarin(普通话)。

Cameron said: “I want Britain linked up to the world’s fast-growing economies. And that includes our young people learning the languages to seal tomorrow’s business deals.”

“By the time the children born today leave school, China is to be the world’s largest economy. So it’s time to look beyond the traditional focus on French and German and get many more children learning Mandarin.” To strengthen his message , he quoted Nelson Mandela—the former president of South Africa who said “If yotalk to a man in a language he understands that goes to his head; if yotalk to him in his own language that goes to his heart.”

Cameron said that a partnership between the British Council (英国文化协会) and Hanban will double the number of Chinese language assistants in the UK by 2016 and provide increased funding to schools of offering Mandarin as a language choice. In a development of the UK—China School Partnership programme, funding will also be provided for 60 headteachers to make study visits to China in 2014.

In recent research the British Council found only 1% of the adult population speaks Mandarin to a level that allows them to conduct a basic conversation. Just 3,000 pupils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland entered for Chinese languages GCSEs in 2013, putting it far behind the traditional choices of French with 177,000, Spanish with 91,000 and German with 62,000 entrants(加入者), as well as Urdu, Polish and Arabic.

Professor Dame Helen Wallace, the British Academy’s foreign secretary, said, “ a lack of qualified teachers could be a barrier to improve its popularity.”

Laura Chan, one of the co—founders of a bilingual Mandarin—English primary school, said the prime minister’s announcement was good news for the status of Mandarin. She said, “It’s a great help. It will increase people’s awareness of Mandarin as a language they can learn.”

32. What is the text mainly talking about?

A. David Cameron calls for British students to learn Mandarin.

B. David Cameron has visited China for three days.

C. Chinese language is very popular with British people.

D. The cooperation is important between the UK and China.

33. Why does David Cameron urge students to learn Chinese?

A. Because Chinese will be a widely—used language in the world.

B. Because there are many Chinese people living in Britain.

C. Because he thinks China will become the largest economy.