The peanut is a native South American plant. Scientists believe that it grew wild in Brazil long ago. They think that for several thousand years the early peoples of South America made it a part of their diet. These peoples were nomads who moved on when a natural food could no longer be found in one area. Along the way they probably let fall some peanuts, which got into the ground and grew. This is believed to be the way the plant reached the place where the Incas（印加人）lived. The Incas, from about 1100 to 1532, thought highly of peanuts. The peanuts were eaten in several forms and used as sacrificial offerings（祭品）to the Incan Sun God. Later in the 16^th century, European soldiers had brought peanuts to other parts of the world, including North America, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Pacific Islands.
Although peanuts were found native in South America, they are now grown in almost every country that has warm weather. India produces the most peanuts. China’s production is next, followed by the United States.
The peanut is special in more ways than one. It can be eaten raw, boiled, roasted, or fried. Hundreds of widely different products have been made from it. Carver, an American scientist, set himself the task of discovering new uses for eating and for many other products.
Peanuts are very highly nutritious and are also high in protein （蛋白質）. Americans use about seven-tenths of their protein in the form of meat. In India, where the poor can’t pay for meat or milk, peanut meal and peanut milk have been produced. These have been a great help to the poor.
New products are continually being made from peanuts, among them peanut cheese and a powder that becomes peanut butter when water is added. The fact is that peanuts are so healthy that they were used by astronauts. The unusual nut that isn’t a nut is one of nature’s most amazing gifts.

1. 1.

   Although we like eating peanuts, many of us don’t know peanuts belong to _______ family.

   1. A.
      the pea
   2. B.
      the nut
   3. C.
      both the pea and the nut
   4. D.
      neither the pea nor the nut
2. 2.

   Which paragraph（段落）mainly talks about the history of the peanut?

   1. A.
      Paragraph Four
   2. B.
      Paragraph Three
   3. C.
      Paragraph Two
   4. D.
      Paragraph One
3. 3.

   What does the underlined word nutritious mean?

   1. A.
      Helpful for staying healthy.
   2. B.
      Helpful to the poor.
   3. C.
      Delicious and tasty.
   4. D.
      Rich in fat and oil.
4. 4.

   Which of the following is TRUE according to the article?

   1. A.
      Nomads always stayed in the same place.
   2. B.
      The peanut was first found in South America.
   3. C.
      Astronauts ate lots of peanuts to keep healthy.
   4. D.
      China grows fewer peanuts than the US.
5. 5.

   What is the purpose of the article?

   1. A.
      To show that peanuts belong to the pea family.
   2. B.
      To advise us to use more peanut products.
   3. C.
      To tell us some new uses of peanuts.
   4. D.
      To let us know more about peanuts.

You've had the same food for breakfast for one week. Do you want something______ for a change?

A．delicious            B．helpful         C．expensive           D．different

Bamboo is one of the nature’s most surprising plants. Many people call this plant a tree, but it is a kind of grass.

Like other kinds of grass, a bamboo may be cut very low to the ground, which grew 1.5 meters ( 4 feet ) in 24 hours! Bamboo grows almost everywhere in the world except Europe. There are more than 1,000 kinds of bamboo.

Not all the bamboos look the same. Some bamboo plants are very thin. They may only grow to be a few centimeters wide while others may grow to more than 30 centimeters (1 foot) across. This plant also comes in different colors, from yellow to black to green.

Bamboo has been used to make many things such as hats and kitchen tools. Because it is strong, bamboo is also used to build buildings. Many Asian countries have used bamboo for hundreds of years. They often use bamboo for buildings or supporting new buildings and bridges while they are been built.

In Africa, poor farmers are taught how to find water using. These African countries need cheap way to find water because they have no money, and their fields often die from no rain and no water. Bamboo pipes help poor farmers bring water to their thirsty fields without spending a lot of money.

1. How is the bamboo like grass?

   A. It grows quickly.   B. It’s wood.     C. It is easy to cut.  D. It’s very thin.

2. Though you can see bamboo in many places, it doesn’t grow           .

   A. in China         B. in Europe      C. on mountains    D. in Africa

3. Why is bamboo used by African poor farmers?   Because           .

   A. it is cheap              B. it has different colors

 C. it is strong             D. it has been used by Asians

4. Bamboo pipes can        .

       A. make money      B. be trees       C. grow quickly   D. carry water