Between 10,000 and 15,000 years ago, some humans discontinued their wandering hunting and gathering and settled down to farm. Grain was the first domesticated crop that started that farming process.
The oldest proven records of brewing are about 6,000 years old and refer to the Sumerians. Sumeria lay between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers including Southern Mesopotamia. It is said that the Sumerians discovered the fermentation (发酵) process by chance. No one knows today exactly how this occurred, but it could be that a piece of bread or grain became wet and a short time later, it began to ferment.
The Sumerians were able to repeat this process and are assumed to be the first civilized culture to brew beer. They had discovered a “divine drink” which certainly was a gift from the gods. The word beer comes from the Latin word bibere, meaning “to drink”, and the Spanish word cerveza originates from the Greek goddess of agriculture, Ceres.
A vitamin-rich porridge, used daily, beer is reported to have increased health and longevity and reduced disease and malnutrition (营养不良). The self-medicating properties of alcohol-rich beer also eased the tensions and stresses of daily living in a hostile world. The use of yeast (酵母) was not yet known at that time. The success of the fermentation process was left to chance, as the brewers unknowingly relied on yeast particles in the air.
Considerable scientific research took place in breweries (酿酒厂) in the 19th century. A famous work from 1876 by Louis Pasteur was Studies Concerning Beer where he revealed his knowledge of micro-organisms. By establishing that yeast is a living microorganism, Pasteur opened the gates for accurately controlling the conversion (转换) of sugar to alcohol.
Another discovery in beer brewing was the work of Christian Hansen, a Danish scientist, who successfully isolated a single yeast cell and induced it to reproduce on an artificial culture medium. With the resulting yeast multiplication (繁殖) methods, the purity of the fermenting process has been improved.
【小题1】According to the passage, who was the first to brew beer?

A.The Greeks.B.Christian Hansen.
C.Louis Pasteur.D.The Sumerians.
【小题2】The last two paragraphs mainly talk about        .
A.the function of micro-organisms
B.the success of the fermentation process
C.two scientific discoveries about brewing
D.the results of yeast multiplication methods
【小题3】According to the text, which of the following is NOT true?
A.Grain was the first crop used to brew beer.
B.There are some yeast particles in the air.
C.The word “beer” originates from Latin.
D.Modern beer contains more alcoholic.
【小题4】Which would be the best title for the text?
A.The beer culture.B.The history of beer.
C.The earliest brewery.D.Methods of brewing beer.

Sharks have lived in the world's oceans for millions of years. A shark has an extremely good sense of smell. It can find small amounts of substances in the water, such as blood, body liquids and chemicals produced by animals. These powerful senses help them find their food.   1. 

Sharks grow slowly. About forty percent of the different kinds of sharks lay eggs.   2.   Some sharks carry their young inside their bodies as humans do. Some sharks are not able to reproduce until they are twenty years old. Most reproduce only every two years. And they give birth to fewer than ten young sharks. For this reason, over-fishing of sharks is of special danger to the future of the animal.

  3.  .They eat injured and diseased fish. Their hunting activities mean that the numbers of other fish in the ocean do not become too great. This protects the plants and other forms of life that exist in the oceans.

People hunt sharks for sport, food, medicine and their skin. Experts say the international market for some kinds of sharks has increased greatly because many parts of a shark are valuable.   4.  . Shark liver oil is a popular source of Vitamin. The skin of a shark can be used like leather. In Asia, people enjoy a kind of soup made from shark fins. Experts say a fisherman can earn a lot of money for even one kilogram of shark fins.

Sharks are among the oldest animals on Earth.   5.   If too many sharks in one area are killed, the group of shark may never return to normal population levels

A. The others give birth to live young.

B. Sharks are important for the health of the world's oceans.

C. This is a threat to other form of life in the ocean.

D. Collectors pay thousands of dollars for the jaws of a shark.

E. Sharks are valuable to us and we can make full use of them.

F. But some sharks are in danger of disappearing from Earth.

G. Sharks eat fish, other sharks, and plants that live in the ocean

 

“When I grow up, I want to be...”

Almost all of us have thought about, or been asked to think about, our future careers. Our answers may differ greatly. Even now your aspirations may have changed from when you were in primary school.

However, it seems career options aren’t only based on personal taste. In a survey carried out by Teens, doctors, lawyers, and bankers were some of most popular careers that people said they hoped to follow. This is in line with a similar survey carried out in the UK in May 2011 by job website monster. Co.uk, in which medicine was the top choice among UK teenagers aged between 13 and 17.

Medicine and law are two of the oldest and best known professions. Their prestige (威望) may come from the fact that doctors and lawyers are some of the most esteemed members of society, and they make good money. Joining these high-profile professions is often seen as a sign of upward social mobility.

It is equally unsurprising that banking is now one of the most common career choices. Youngsters worldwide think of banking and see the money rolling in. Wealth is increasingly becoming one of the most important indicators of a successful career. British young men list the UK tycoon Alan Sugar, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg as their top role models “for their wealth”. Just as Chinese teenagers see being a banker as a good and fun pathway to “wealth”.

However, not every child has the makings of doctor, lawyer, or banker. They are those who see fulfillment and happiness in other areas, and many teenagers dare to ink more individuality into their career options. As the Teens’ survey discovered, a variety of unconventional jobs---coffee shop owner, gourmet(美食家),waiter at a fast food restaurant---are among teenagers’ career choices. They can be equally interesting and rewarding jobs.

With every choice comes responsibility and challenge, and all career paths require specific education and training, you have to learn to balance optimism and confidence with being realistic about your particular talents and skills.

1.What is the passage mainly about?

A. Careers in teenagers’ mind.

B. Choosing a good job is very important.

C. Teenagers in the UK like doctors.

D. The choice of career needs challenge.

2.What is the top career choice among UK teenagers aged between 13 and 17 according to the article?

A. Medicine        B. Law        C. Bank        D. Education

3.According to the article, all of the following are the benefits of being a doctor except_______.

A. respect from others                B. the oldest profession

C. high pay                  D. upward social mobility.

4.What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A. According to your particular talents and skills, you can choose your favorite career.

B. Specific education and training can help get a good job.

C. Whatever career you choose, you should balance optimism and confidence with being realistic about your particular talents and skills.

D. Responsibility is the most important when you choose a good job.

 

The oldest and most common source(来源) of renewaBle energy known to man, Biomass is one of the most important forms energy production in the United States and elsewhere. Since such a wide variety of Biomass materials is everywhere ---- from trees and grasses to agricultural and city ---- life wastes ----Biomass promises to play a continuing role in providing power and heat for millions of people around the world.

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists(UCS), Biomass is a kind of renewaBle energy source that produces no carBon dioxide(二氧化碳), Because the energy it contains comes from the sun. When plant matter is Burned, it gives off the sun’s energy. In this way, Biomass serves as a sort of natural Battery(电池) for storing the sun’s energy. As long as Biomass is produced continuously ----with only as much grown as is used--- the “Battery” lasts forever.

According to the Energy Information Administration, Biomass has Been one of the leading renewaBle energy sources in the United States for several years running through 2007, making up Between 0.5 and 0.9 percent of the nation’s total electricity supply. In 2008----although the numBers aren’t all in yet----wind power proBaBly took over first place Because of the rapid development of wind farms across the country.

Producing power from Biomass helps reduce some 11 million tons of carBon dioxide each year. Some homeowners also try to make their own heat By using Biomass materials. Such practice may save homeowner’s money, But it also produces a lot of pollution. So, the Best way is to encourage power plants to use it.

1.Why is Biomass considered as “ a sort of natural Battery”?

A.It Burns merely plant matter.               B.It keeps producing electricity.

C.It stores the energy from the sun.           D.It produces zero carBon dioxide.

2.We learn from the text that in 2008 ______.

A.Wind power would Be the leader of renewaBle energy.

B.there was a rapid growth of electricity production

C.Biomass might Become the main energy source

D.0.5~0.9 of power supply came from Biomass

3.Why does the author encourage power plants to use Biomass?

A.To prevent the waste of energy.            B.To increase production safety.

C.To reduce pollution.                     D.To save money.

4.Where does the text proBaBly come from?

A.A research plan.                        B.A science magazine

C.A Book review.                         D.A Business report.

 

Mars Was Not Always Bitterly Cold

Scientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have reported evidence that Mars was warmer and wetter long ago than it is today.  The Caltech scientists say they have directly established the temperature of Mars four billion years ago. At least, they established the surface temperature on part of the planet at that time. The researchers say it is the first such evidence to be discovered and presented.

The Caltech scientists say carbonate(碳酸盐) minerals formed on Mars at about eighteen degrees Celsius. They reached the finding after studying a meteorite(陨石) that had its beginnings near the Martian surface.

Today, the average temperature on Mars is sixty-three degrees below zero Celsius.

The finding was reported on the website of the National Academy of Sciences. Caltech Assistant Professor Woody Fischer helped to prepare the report. He says eighteen degrees Celsius is not especially cold or hot. He says this makes the finding extremely interesting. Knowing the temperature can give scientists an idea of the climate on Mars long ago. It can also help them decide whether the planet had liquid water. Spacecraft orbiting Mars have shown what appear to be rivers, lakebeds and mineral deposits. These pictures suggest that, at one time, water did flow there. Mars Rover vehicles and other spacecraft have confirmed the information.

Caltech Geology Professor John Eiler was another writer of the report. He says knowing the temperature of Mars from long ago provides valuable information. It shows that early in the planet's history, at least part of Mars could support a climate like that of Earth.

The meteorite the scientists examined is one of the oldest known rocks in the world. It is called the Allan Hills meteorite. Its name came from the place in Antarctica where it was found in 1984. The meteorite is believed to have blown loose from the Mars' surface when another space rock struck its "home."

1. The underlined word “establish” in Paragraph 1 probably means “___________”.

A.to set up

B.to make people accept a belief

C.to discover or prove

D.to start having a relationship with others

2.How did the scientists reach the finding?

A.By studying Allan Hills meteorite.

B.By using spacecraft orbiting Mars.

C.By studying minerals gathered on Mars

D.By studying a meteorite on the Martian surface.

3.According to the fourth paragraph, what have spacecraft orbiting Mars done?

A.Measuring the temperature of Mars.

B.Taking photos of the surface of Mars.

C.Confirming that there is water flowing on Mars.

D.Finding where human beings will probably land on Mars.

4.How did Allan Hills meteorite get its name?

A.From its original place on Mars.

B.From where it was found on the earth.

C.From the name of the scientist who found it.

D.From the name of the aircraft that discovered it

5. Where can we most probably read this passage?

A.In a biography of scientists.

B.In a geography magazine.

C.In an environment report.

D.In a science report.

 

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