The birch bark cone will need to have a fairly small hole in the bottom. The cone will have to be tied with cordage to keep it from opening up. Put a few stones in the very bottom, to help hold your filtering materials in place. Then pour in layers of charcoal, grasses, sand, and possibly other materials that you feel will help to filter out suspended particles and perhaps even bacteria.

　　Once you have constructed the filter, simply pour impure water through the filer, catching it in another　container at the bottom.

　　This is basically the "well" method of obtaining water. Dig a hole about 2-4 feet from a water source, such as a river. Allow the hole to fill with water. The water in the hole will likely be reasonably pure.

1. How do we get purer water?

A. Bigger filter and less layers. B. Larger filter and more layers.

C. Smaller filter and more layers. D. Smaller filter and less layers.

2. Why should we put some stones in the very bottom?

A. Killing bacteria. B. Removing chemicals.

C. Keeping the materials balanced. D. Blocking water.

3. What does a water filter look like?

A. B. C. D.

4. The text is mainly intended to present a method of _________.

A. cleaning water B. absorbing water

C. finding water D. boiling water

　　Our words carry huge weight. They may influence people for years, and even for a lifetime. They provide them with courage to go on or one more reason to give up.

　　When I was fourteen, my family moved to another city. Junior high was always a difficult time for me, and the move made my ninth－grade year even harder. I remember walking into the dining hall for the first time. The other kids had good friends with them, but I didn't know anyone. I felt lonely and went to the nearest seat after getting some food. The kids beside me looked at me up and down and then laughed. I could feel my face turning red at that moment. Then one of the kids broke the ice. "Man! You have one BIG nose!" I felt hurt and didn't know what to say. I wanted to cry. But I managed a little smile － as if it didn't hurt me at all. But it did. From then on, I would often look at myself in the mirror. I studied the big nose closely. It seemed that I was just living for my nose. Thankfully, I grew out of this influence finally. But it really took me twenty years.

　　There is another thing that is kept deep in my mind. I remember going through a terrible business failure. I lost everything, l called my dad for help and he told me a lot about how to deal with the failure. What he said gave me a lot of courage and confidence to go on with my business.

5. What does the underlined word "They" refer to?

A. People. B. Words. C. Parents. D. Teachers.

6. Why did the kids laugh at the writer?

A. He had a big nose. B. He was poor in his studies.

C. He was not handsome. D. He was a shy boy.

How long did it take the writer to grow out of the influence?