英语时文阅读第一篇 A ban on setting off firecrackers?XINHUA话题：“过年要不要燃放烟花爆竹”这个讨论从年前争论到年后，从减少环卫工人负担到降低空气污染，反对者的声音高涨。但也有人认为，作为传统节日活动，应该燃放烟花爆竹。你怎么看？Wang Xingyue, 14, from Shanghai:I dont think we should set off firecrackers (爆竹) during holidays. It is really noisy. Some people fire them during midnight. People around cannot sleep well. Besides, it brings air pollution (污染) and lots of rubbish. Most people do not clean the rubbish after they set off firecrackers. So I think there is no need to set them off anymore during holidays.Liu Ran, 14, from Shandong:Setting off firecrackers is a tradition during Chinese festivals. They set them off to celebrate or wish a happy new year. The ceremony (仪式) is very important in Chinese peoples lives. And it also reminds (提醒) us of one of the four great inventions (发明) of China, gunpowder (火药). We cannot give it up. It is good to have this ceremony during holidays. Do you agree with me?Lin Yisong, 15, from Zhejiang:I think we should control (控制) the setting off of firecrackers. During holidays, the government could get people together in a place. They can set off some firecrackers or fireworks and people can watch. It is safer to do this and people can also enjoy their holiday tradition.Zhang Qi, 14, from Guangxi:Firecrackers are dangerous and bad for the air. But it is really an important tradition in Chinese festivals. So I think we can use something else to replace (代替) them. For example, we can use LED fireworks instead. It is also beautiful and attractive. And it is much safer. Even kids can play with them.Li Qing, 14, from Jiangsu:I think we can improve the technology of firecrackers. The firecrackers we use now are dangerous. Thats why we cannot fire them anytime or anywhere we want. But if we can make them much safer and good for the air, we dont have to give up the interesting tradition during Chinese festivals. 第二篇 Birthday girls trip of mystery 神秘的银冠带来的奇幻之旅THE Silver Crown (银色皇冠) is an exciting read. It is about a girl who wakes up on her birthday to find a silver crown under her pillow (枕头), but the day doesnt turn out as she would have thought. Eventually she ends up in a mysterious school and then is hunted for her crown. To find her family, the girl has to travel through forests, mountains and the countryside while meeting many interesting characters with completely different natures.There are many different characters and it is very hard to choose a favorite, as they are all individuals (与众不同的人) with their own personalities. The story kept me guessing as it takes many twists and turns (波折). My favorite part in the story was when the main character and her friend camp in a cave with gems (珍宝) in all of the walls. The description that the author gives here makes you think and keep the pages turning. There was nothing I really disliked about this book. Perhaps apart from the fact it ended on a cliffhanger (悬念), which I personally do not like in books generally.Overall I think this is a great book. I recommend it to teenagers and people aged 11 onwards. It can keep you guessing and wondering, which is a great characteristic of a book for me!By Grace BaytonGrace Bayton, 13, is an eighth-grader at Newbridge School, Wales, UK. She loves reading and reads two books a week.