Everybody hates rats.But in the earthquake places of the world-Japan, Los Angeles, Turkey-rats will soon be man's new best friends.
What happens after an earthquake? We send in rescue(救援)dogs.Why? Because they can smell people.Dogs save lives.They help rescuers to find living people.But dogs are big and they can't get into small spaces.So now a new research project is using a smaller animal to save lives:the rat.
How does it work? First, the rat is trained to smell people.When this happens, the rat's brain gives a signal.This is sent to a small radio on its back, and then the rescuers follow the radio signals.When the rat's brain activity jumps, the rescuers know that someone is alive.The rat has smelled that person.
Although there are already robots which can do this job, rats are better.Christian Linster at Cornell University, New York, says, “ ‘Robot’ noses don't work well when there are other smells around.Rats are good at that.” Rats can also see in the dark.They are cheaper and quicker to train than dogs, and unlike robots, they don't need electricity.
The “ rat project” is not finished, but Julie Ryan of International Rescue Corps in Scotland says, “ It would be fantastic.A rat would get into spaces we couldn't get to and a rat would get out if it wasn't safe.” Perhaps for the first time in history, people will be happy to see a rat in a building(but only after an earthquake, of course.)
(1)
In the earthquake places, rats will become man's best friends because they can ________.
[ ]
A.
take the place of man in rescue jobs
B.
find the positions of people alive who are trapped in buildings
C.
serve as food for people alive who are trapped in buildings
D.
send signals for the coming earthquake
(2)
The underlined word “that” in Paragraph 4 refers to(所指) ________
[ ]
A.
treating wounded people.
B.
helping rescuers.
C.
smelling people among different smells.
D.
carry the wounded people to safety.
(3)
From the third paragraph we know the rescuers can judge a person is alive by ________.
[ ]
A.
the nose made by the rat
B.
the rat's unusual behavior
C.
the signal sent by the radio on the rat's back
D.
the smell given off by the person
(4)
In doing rescue jobs, ________.
[ ]
A.
rats have better sense of smell than dogs.
B.
dogs don't need to be trained to smell people.
C.
robots’ sense of smell can be affected by other smells around.
D.
rats can see in the dark and are smaller than robots.
(5)
After reading the passage we can know ________.
[ ]
A.
rats have taken the place of dogs in search for people.
B.
the “ rat project” has been completed
C.
people are now happy to see a rat in a building
D.
now people still use dogs and robots in performing rescue
The Spring Festival is the biggest festival for Chinese people all around the world.The celebration(庆祝)usually lasts for 15 days.There is a lot to do.
On the eve of the Spring Festival, family members get together and have big meals.Their favourite dish on this day is dumplings.
Days before the Spring Festival, families will clean their homes.People think cleaning sweeps away bad luck.It makes the house ready for good luck.
The colour red is everywhere during the Spring Festival.People think red is a happy colour and will bring them a bright future.People wear red, too.They decorate(装饰)their homes with pieces of red paper.Kids get a lot of“hong bao”.It is a red paper bag with money in it.Usually, older people give children hong bao.They think it brings good luck.
The Spring Festival is the time to make everybody happy.So don't say any bad words or do anything that will bring unhappiness to other people.
For example, you'd better not say any bad words like“death”.Don't break anything.People think that it means your luck is running out.
Also, don't borrow or lend money on these days.If you have borrowed money, return it before the Spring Festival.
(1)
What do most people do on the eve of the Spring Festival?
[ ]
A.
Family members gather for a big meal.
B.
Friends eat dumplings together.
C.
They borrow money from friends.
D.
They give each other hong bao.
(2)
Why do people clean their houses days before the Spring Festival?
[ ]
A.
Because they enjoy being clean.
B.
Because it is believed that cleaning will sweep away bad luck.
C.
Because they think it will bring happiness to others.
D.
Because it is thought that cleaning brings in money.
(3)
Which of the following things should not happen during the Spring Festival?
[ ]
A.
Returning money before the Spring Festival.
B.
Saying words that have to do with death.
C.
Wearing red clothes.
D.
Decorating houses with red paper.
(4)
The underlined phrase“running out”probably means“________”.
[ ]
A.
跑出去
B.
打碎
C.
耗尽
D.
离开
(5)
We can know from the story that the Spring Festival is ________.
[ ]
A.
a time of harvest and fun
B.
celebrated for one whole month
C.
only celebrated in China
D.
a time for families to get together
阅读理解
In the US, the most popular way to welcome the new year is with a big party.Some parties are at private homes.But in recent years, it has become more and more common for Americans to go to a hotel or eating-place on the night of December 31st.There, they can eat a big dinner, drink champagne, and dance to orchestra music.
Most New Year’s parties are usually noisy.People shout and sing.And often, guests blow on small noisemakers when the new year arrives at midnight.This tradition of noise making is believed to start centuries ago.People thought that loud sounds would drive away the bad spirits of the old year.
The biggest, noisiest New Year’s party in the US takes place in Times Square in New York.Thousands of people gather(聚集)there.Some of them ring bells and set fireworks.Others blow whistles of car horns(喇叭).And at twelve o’clock, they begin to cheer as an electric sign in the shape of a red apple lights up on top of a tall building.
The Times Square celebration includes another well-known American tradition.Since 1929, the band of musician Guy Lombardo has given a concert on New Year’s Eve.Guy Lombardo died in 1977.But, Bill Lombardo, has kept the tradition alive with a band concert at a New York city hotel.When the crowds in Times Square start cheering the arrival of the new year, television cameras show the band playing the song Auld Lang Syne.
(1)
The most usual way to welcome the new year in the US is _________.
[ ]
A.
to go shopping
B.
to meet friends
C.
to travel abroad
D.
to hold a big party
(2)
The biggest New Year’s party in the US is _________.
[ ]
A.
in Central Park
B.
in Hollywood
C.
in Times Square
D.
in Disneyland
(3)
In the past, some American people made big noise when the new year arrived _________
[ ]
A.
to express their friendship
B.
to drive away the bad spirits
C.
to make others more excited
D.
to give best wishes to each other
(4)
In 1929 a concert on New Year’s Eve was given by _________.
[ ]
A.
the band of Guy Lombardo
B.
the band of Bill Lombardo
C.
the band of Johann Strauss
D.
the band of Elvis Aaron Presley
阅读理解
On New Year's Eve,people in Italy throw out all the old things.So there are chairs,beds,clothes and plates in the streets.In Spain,the New Year comes more quietly.In the evening people come together to the streets.Each holds a bag of grapes.When twelve o'clock comes,people start eating the grapes.
In Japan,people eat noodles on New Year's Eve.This food is said to bring long life.Early the next morning,some families climb Mount Fuji.There they watch the first sunrise of the New Year.
(1)
This story is about New Year's Eve in _________.
A.Italy B.Spain C.Japan D.all of the above
[ ]
(2)
People in Spain welcome New Year by _______ after twelve.
A.eating grapes B.eating noodles C.throwing the old things D.watching the sunrise
[ ]
(3)
People in both Spain and Japan _______ to welcome the New Year.
A.throw things away B.ge together C.eat some food D.climb a mountain
[ ]
(4)
Japanese climb Mount Fuji to __________.
A.look at the stars B.look for New Year's wishes C.see the sun coming up D.have a rest
[ ]
(5)
The people in ________ get long life from their New Year's food.