阅读下面短文,从短文后每题所给的 A、B、C、D 四个选项中,选出最佳选项。
A(2025·江苏宿迁宿城区新区教学共同体期中)
How to write a secret message
Do you want to write a message only for a person? The other people can’t see the message on the paper. Only that person knows how to make the message appear(出现). Here’s a way to write it.
You’ll need
* half a lemon * a cup
* four spoons of water * a cotton swab(棉签)
* a piece of white paper * a light bulb
What to do
Squeeze(挤压) some lemon juice into the water. Mix the water and juice.
Put the cotton swab into the mixture and make it wet.
Use the wet cotton swab to write some words on the paper.
Let the paper dry. Show it to someone and ask if he or she can see the words on the paper.
Hold the paper close to a light bulb to heat it. Ask him or her to see the words again.
Let me explain it!
Lemon juice has chemicals that have carbon. The chemicals break down easily when they are heated. And the carbon makes them turn into a dark colour.
()1. If you want to write a secret message, you need the following things except ______.
A. half a lemon
B. four spoons of water
C. a piece of white paper
D. milk
()2. How many steps do we need if we want to write a secret message?
A. Five.
B. Four.
C. Three.
D. Two.
()3. Where is the text probably taken from?
A. A storybook.
B. A fashion newspaper.
C. An advertisement.
D. A science magazine.

B
I work as a volunteer for an organization that helps the poor in Haiti. I decided to take my son Brian there for a week, hoping to educate him.
Before leaving, I told Brian this trip would be tiring and hard. For the first two days, he said almost nothing. Then on the third day, when we were climbing over high rocky mountains, he turned to me and said, “Really hard.”
After that, a five-year-old girl, wearing a too large dress and broken shoes, followed Brian around. Later, he said regretfully(遗憾地), “I wish I could speak French.” I was surprised that this was from a boy who always hated French classes.
However, the moment that really touched my heart occurred in a village deep in the mountains. I was interviewing(采访) a woman villager for an article. By working hard, she had learned to read and write and became part of the leadership(领导层) of the village.
Learning her story, Brian was greatly touched. His eyes were wet and there was love and respect(尊重) on his face. He finally understood the importance of my work. When leaving for home, Brian even offered to stay there as a volunteer. This trip was very meaningful.
()4. Why did the writer take his son to Haiti?
A. Because they wanted to take a trip there.
B. Because the writer wanted to educate his son.
C. Because his son wanted to help the poor there.
D. Because they wanted to visit a friend there.
()5. Why did the writer feel surprised?
A. Because his son wished he could speak French.
B. Because a little girl liked his son.
C. Because his son said nothing about the hard trip.
D. Because his son didn’t want to talk with the little girl.
()6. What does the underlined word “occurred” mean?
A. Left.
B. Offered.
C. Happened.
D. Reached.
()7. What is the passage mainly about?
A. An exciting trip.
B. How to be a volunteer.
C. A story of a volunteering trip.
D. The importance of voluntary work.