期末专区（九年级上） 知识点题库

    Would it surprise you to learn that, like animals, trees can communicate with each other and pass on their wealth to the next generation--their young trees?

    Suzanne Simard, forest ecologist at the University of British Columbia, explains how trees are much more complex than most of us ever imagined. Simard and her colleagues have made the major discovery that trees and plants really do communicate and interact with each other.

    Trees live on through their group work and support, passing around the resources such as nitrogen and carbon “depending on who needs it by miles of underground fungi（真菌） networks. This makes sure that all trees in the forest ecological system give and receive just the right amount to keep them all healthy. This system works in a very similar way to the networks of neurons（神经元） in our brains, and when one tree is cut down, it affects all.

Simard talks about "Mother Trees". These are the largest, oldest trees that rise above the forest, a concept explained in the movie Avatar. These “Mother Trees" are connected to all the other trees in the forest by this network of fungi, and may manage the resources of the whole trees and plants in the forest. She explains how these trees pass on the wealth to the next generation, transporting important resources to young trees so they may continue to grow. When humans cut down "Mother Trees" without paying attention to these highly complex "tree societies” or the networks on which they feed, we are losing the chances to save the whole forest.

    "We didn't take any notice of it,” Simard says sadly. “Mother Trees move nutrition into the young trees before dying, but we never give them a chance.” If we could send this message to the forestry industry, we could make a huge difference towards our environmental protection efforts for the future.

    Hearing is very important to all of us. We can hear beautiful music, nice songs of birds, the laughter of people or other different  (kind) of sounds in the world with our ears. How  (wonder) it is to have a good hearing! So we must try to protect our ears. The following will tell you  to protect ears.

    It's reported that  (listen) to loud music a lot can be bad for ears, especially when headphones (耳机)  (use). So turn them down when you're wearing headphones   try not to wear them. You should let your ears have rest if you really like wearing them. If you are going to a concert, wear earplugs(耳塞)to protect your ears  the terrible music! In fact, earplugs  are special can be made for you if you go to concerts a lot or if you are a musician yourself. If your ears hurt, it's necessary(see) a doctor. Follow the advice above and you won't be saying "What?" when you are getting old.

    Brian was a 9-year-old boy from a small village. He got very pleased knowing that he was accepted by a very famous school in a city.

    Today was his first day of school. When seeing his simple clothes and knowing that he came from a small village, other students started making fun of him. The teacher soon arrived and asked everyone to keep quiet. She introduced Brian to the class and told them that he would study with them from that day on.

    Then the teacher told the students to be ready for the surprise test. She told everyone to write down the Seven Wonders of the world. Everyone started to write their answers quickly. Only Brian thought for a while, then began to write. After everyone handed in their answer papers, the teacher started to read everyone's answer and most of the students answered correctly. Their answers included the Great Wall of China, Great Pyramid(金字塔塔), Taj Mahal(泰姬陵) and so on.

    The teacher was happy as the students still remembered what she had taught them. In the end, she picked up Brian's paper and started reading, "The seven wonders are-to be able to see, to be able to hear, to be able to feel, to laugh, to think, to be kind and to love!"

    The teacher stood there without any word and the whole class was in silence. Today, the boy from a small village reminded them about the valuable gifts that God has given them, which are true wonders.

Welcome to our charming city, Ningbo and you will surely have a great time here. Probably you will come across some culture differences, especially the table manners. While having meals, the main difference on the Chinese dinner table is chopsticks instead of a knife and fork, but that's only superficial (表面的) -Besides, in the more upscale (高级的) restaurants, you can always ask for a knife and fork, if you find the chopsticks unavailable. The real difference is that in the West, you have your own plate of food, while in China the dishes are placed on the table and everyone shares. If you are being treated to a formal dinner and particularly if the host thinks you're in the country for the first time, he will do the best to give you a taste of as many different types of dishes as possible.

The meal usually begins with a set of at least four cold dishes, to be followed by the main courses of hot meat and vegetable dishes. Soup then will be served (unless in Guangdong style restaurants) to be followed by staple food (主食) ranging from rice, noodles to dumplings. If you wish to have your rice to go with other dishes, you should say so beforehand提前) ,as most of the Chinese prefer to have the staple food at the end of the meal or have none of at all.

Perhaps one of the things that surprises Western visitors most is that some of the Chinese hosts like to put food onto the plates of their guests. At formal dinners, there are always "serving" chopsticks and spoons for this purpose, but some hosts may use their own chopsticks. This should be taken as a sign of true friendship and politeness.

It is always poise to eat the food. If you do not want to eat it, just leave the food on the plate.

People in China tend to over-order food, as it is embarrassing to the host if all the food is finished.

When you have had enough, just say no. Or you will find yourself always overeating!

Courtesy in English

Courtesy(礼貌) is an art form that shows our moral character. China's history is one of a civilization(文明) with a highly developed sense of etiquette(礼仪); therefore, we should speak English as politely as possible when we go abroad.

Being polite when you ask for something is very important. Beginning your request with "May I...?""Could I...?" is considered polite. For example, "May I have a latte". It is also politer to say "I'll have..." or "I'd like..." instead of "I want...". Because it will be considered less direct.

We should say "Excuse me" or "Do you mind if I ask you something?" We should not ask our questions directly. Instead, for example, we should say "Could you tell me where the restrooms are?"

Local people in other communities sometimes speak really fast, so it can be hard for us to catch all the words. In such a situation, we can say "Pardon me?" to ask them to repeat what they said. In my opinion, saying "Can you please repeat that? I didn't follow" is the politest way.

It is also important to know how to refuse someone's invitation. If we really can't make it, we can first say "I'd like to." and then say "but l have to work late" for example. Or "I'm afraid I can't" or even "That sounds great, but ...".

We can use sentences like "I see what you're saying, but I think..."or "You could be right, but don't forget that..."or even "Yes, that's true, but I'm not sure that...".These are great ways to express disagreement politely by being less direct.

A. Refusing an invitation.

B. "Please" and "thank you" go along way when we speak to each other.

C. Asking for help.

D. Ordering meals.

E. Expressing disagreement.

F. Can't catch what's been said?

Twenty-two-year- old Sarah James went hiking with her dog, Duke, in Banff National Park, Canada. She was walking along the side of a deep valley (山谷) when she1. She hurt herself badly in the fall, breaking her left leg.

Sarah tried to stay2, telling herself that she would be saved soon. She shouted for help more loudly than she had ever shouted before, but it was no 3. She was trapped(受困), more than forty kilometers from the nearest town. Duke stood above her, barking4. He tried over and over again, 5he couldn't climb down to be with her.

That night was too cold for Sarah to go to sleep, she stayed6and worried. Duke was worried too. Two days later, at noon, she realized her only7 was to get Duke to go for help. She8instructions up to him and with a comforting bark, he ran off. 9Duke was hungry and thirsty. He walked for twenty kilometers and saw no one. Could he find anyone to help Sarah?

On the fourth day, Sarah drank the last of her water and cried. She was sure she was going to 10. But somehow she found herself still alive the next morning. A few hours later she heard a 11"woof". "That must be Duke", she cried and12 to see Duke standing above her! He wasn't by himself. He had found a couple who were on holiday from Japan. He13on the man's trouser leg and ran forwards and backwards until they followed him.

The couple gave Sarah water and called for help. Duke couldn't follow Sarah to the14, but the Japanese couple 15 him until he could be with Sarah again! That must be an indelible memory of life.