阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项

For more than twenty years scientists have been searching for signs of life on other planets. Most of these searches have been done over the radio. The hope is that someone in outer space may be trying to get in touch with us. Scientists also have sent radio and television messages on spaceships traveling through space, on the chance that someone may be receptive to such messages.

Scientists are using powerful radio telescopes to listen to signals from about 1, 000 stars, all within 100 light years of earth. In addition, they will scan the entire sky to “listen” for radio messages from more distant stars. Using a computer, they will be able to monitor more than eight channels at one time. Scientists are looking for any signal they stands out from the background noise.

Of the 200 billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy, scientists find that five percent are like our sun. Perhaps half of them have a planet like earth. Such a planet would be a reasonable distance from the star for temperatures to be right for the evolution of life. Based on the inhabitable(that can be lived in)planets in our galaxy, most scientists agree that chances are likely that one or more of these planets support some life.

However, many scientists wonder whether intelligent life exists on other planets. Some believe that twenty years of searching without any intelligible messages shows that no one is out there. They say that the evolution of intelligence comparable to ours is unlikely.

Other scientists believe that our search hasn’t been long enough to rule out the possibility that intelligent life exists in our galaxy. Although our sun family is only about five billion years old, our galaxy is about 20 billion years old. In that time, some scientists think it is likely that civilization much more advanced than ours have developed. Perhaps these civilizations send us no signals; perhaps we have not recognized the signals they have sent us. If we hope to find intelligent life, these scientists believe that we have to keep looking.[来

1.According to the passage, how many planets in our galaxy might be inhabitable?

A. 5 billion. B. 10 billion.

C. 15 billion. D. 200 billion

2.The first paragraph in this passage is mainly about ________ .

A. how scientists are looking for signs of life on other planets

B. why scientists are looking for signs of life on other planets

C. where scientists are looking for signs of life on other planets

D. when scientists are looking for signs of life on other planets

3.The underlined word “monitor” in the passage means“ ________ ”.

A. find B. imitate

C. check D. form

4.Which of these statements is true based on the information in the passage?

A. The earth is one of the oldest planets in our galaxy.

B. Most scientists believe that there is intelligent life on other planets.

C. Scientists are trying different ways to find signs of life on other planets.

D. Scientists don’t believe that there might be life on other planets.

Christmas Eve was tomorrow. I hoped one of the packages that held a camera had already been placed under the Christmas tree. It was the only thing I wanted. I had been dropping hints to my parents. I love taking photos. My bedroom walls are covered with photos I had taken with my mom's old camera. I'm always trying to capture those perfect moments in which you can hear the laughter or touch the beautiful scene, but my camera has always seemed to fall short.

I knew Mom had put a few presents under the tree this morning, so I went on a hunt in my mom's room. I opened the door and found my Christmas present was lying unwrapped on the floor — a big pink cat. I felt so disappointed.

Mom seemed to notice that, and she tried to cheer me up. “Stacy, I got your present today. I am so excited to surprise you!” “I can't wait,” I said. The next day I couldn't wait any longer. I needed to tell her.

“Mom, may I talk to you for a second?”

“Sure, dear. What do you need to talk about?” she asked.

And so it came — how upset I was that I was getting a cat.

“Stacy, that cat is for your sister Julia!” she said with a smile.

“Then what am I getting?” I asked.

She just smiled. “You'll have to wait and see.”

Next morning, I happily got into the living room and sat next to the tree. I pulled out the box with my name on it and opened the wrapping paper to find ...

My camera! “Thank you!” I said to both Dad and Mom.

Dad picked up the camera and took a picture of Julia, Mom and me. It has become one of my favorite pictures. Just on that Christmas morning, I took lots of photos with my camera — my little sister making a face, my parents giving me a soft smile — and all of these photos have come to mean one thing to me: love.

1.The underlined phrase “dropping hints” in Paragraph 1 means _____.

A. talking often B. suggesting indirectly

C. sending presents D. taking pictures

2.Why did Stacy feel disappointed at first?

A. Her mother couldn't understand her at all.

B. Her mother didn't buy her any Christmas gift.

C. She mistook her sister's Christmas gift for hers.

D. She didn't find her present in her mom's room.

3.We can learn from the passage that _____.

A. her mother bought Stacy a camera after discovering her disappointment

B. her mother knew what gift Stacy wanted for Christmas

C. Stacy thought it's OK to have an old camera

D. Stacy finally got her gift on Christmas Eve

4.What would be the best title for the passage?

A. A Christmas gift as wished

B. Love is more important than gifts

C. A wonderful Christmas.

D. Love can not be bought

Computer power is moving into the “cloud”—networks of data centres that use the Internet to supply all kinds of services, from e-mail and social networks to data storage and analysis.

The rise of cloud computing is rapid and causing huge changes in the tech industry. The old guard is suffering: this week’s $67 billion merger (合并) between Dell and EMC, makers of computers and storage devices respectively (分别), was a marriage forced by the rise of the cloud. Disruptive (捣乱的) newcomers are blooming: if Amazon’s cloud-computing unit were a stand-alone public company, it would probably be worth almost as much as Dell and EMC combined.

The gains for customers have been equally dramatic. Compared with older IT systems, cloud computing is often much cheaper. It adds tremendous flexibility: firms that need more computing capacity no longer have to spend weeks adding new servers and installing software. In the cloud they can get hold of it in minutes. Their applications can be updated continually, rather than just every few months. Individual users can reach their e-mails, files and photos from any device. And cloud services also tend to be more secure, since providers know better than their customers how to protect their computing systems against hackers.

But cloud computing makes one problem worse. In the old IT world, once a firm or a consumer had decided on an operating system or database, it was difficult and costly to switch to another. In the cloud this “lock-in” is even worse. Cloud providers go to great lengths to make it easy to upload data. They accumulate huge amounts of complex information, which cannot easily be moved to an alternative provider.

Cloud firms also create a world of interconnected services, software and devices, which is convenient but only for as long as you don’t venture (冒险) outside their universe. Being locked in to a provider is risky. Firms can start to tighten the screws by increasing prices. If a cloud provider goes bust (崩溃), its customers may have trouble getting back their data.

These risks have already caused a debate about whether the cloud needs stricter regulation. Some European politicians want to force cloud providers to ensure that data can be moved between them. That is too heavy-handed, because strict rules will inhibit (阻碍) innovation in what is still a young industry. The history of computing suggests that common standards may well appear naturally in response to customers’ demands—just as in personal computers, where it is now much easier to use the same files on different systems.

In the meantime, a few commonsense measures can reduce the risk of lock-in. Firms that use more than one cloud provider to host their data are less affected. So are those that keep their most important information in their own data centres. Consumers can take precautions, too. Some services are better than others at enabling users to move data between providers (Google does well on this score). Cloud computing promises its users many benefits, but don’t mistake it for some sort of digital heaven.

1.The author takes “the merger between Dell and EMC” for example to show ________.

A. the influence of cloud computing on computer and storage device makers

B. the miserable sufferings of old computer companies

C. the rapid development of new computer companies

D. the interaction between old companies and newcomers

2.With wide applications of cloud computing customers can ________.

A. pay less for the older IT systems

B. gain more computing capacity quickly

C. know better about defeating the hackers

D. install software within weeks

3.The problem of “lock-in” can be dangerous because ________.

A. it should ensure data can easily be moved to another provider

B. it can create a network of services connected with devices

C. it may make it difficult for customers to recover their data

D. it will discourage an argument about stricter rules

4.It can be inferred from the last two paragraphs that ________.

A. the European politicians’ advice is perfect

B. customers’ demands play a role in setting standards

C. lock-in is caused by firms’ storing information in their own centres

D. Google enables users to provide services and move data

5.Which of the following sayings can best express the main idea of the passage?

A. Everything has its time and that time must be watched.

B. The grass looks greener on the other side of the fence.

C. A candle lights others and consumes itself.

D. Every white has its black, and every sweet has its sour.

As the labor market becomes more attractive, more companies are sending their employees to school. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is the latest company to use tuition assistance for employees – which for decades has been a part of many business’ benefits packages – as part of a renewed effort to bring in and cultivate talent. And while the impact of such programs has yet to be fully assessed, many see it as a positive – although gradual – movement.

“For workers, it gives them a better opportunity for development,” says Colleen Flaherty Manchester, a professor. “For firms, they are able to recruit the type of employees who have value education and are less likely to turn over, and thus have a higher level of retention(保留) .”

In all, 56 percent of US organizations offer undergraduate educational assistance while 52 percent offer graduate assistance.

Largely driving the trend are Millennials, who happen to be the fastest-growing people in the US workforce today and to whom the idea of tuition support from employers is especially appealing. Nearly 60 percent of Millennials surveyed said they would choose a job with strong professional-development potential over one with regular pay raises. Employers are absolutely adapting to Millennials in the workplace. They recognize that they need more experience, more knowledge, more mentoring to be successful. And they’re asking for it.

Of more than 140,000 Starbucks employees, only about 4,000 have signed up for the company’s College Achievement Plan. What the long-term effects such programs might have for companies’ retention and turnover rates remain unclear. But, the pluses of these programs are more important than the minuses. We’re going to see a lot more of this in the future.

1.Using tuition assistance for employees ________.

A. has attracted a large number of talents

B. is a trend that formed recently

C. has existed for scores of years

D. is well received by employees

2.What can we learn from what Colleen Flaherty said?

A. It is merely beneficial to employees

B. It is a win-win event for employees and employers.

C. Valuing education has become a trend for all companies.

D. It turns out to be tough for firms to find suitable employees.

3.What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 4 refer to?

A. Regular pay raises.

B. More chances to be successful.

C. Educational support.

D. Professional–development potential.

4.Which of the following statements is TRUE about the programs?

A. The programs can guarantee the employees a good job.

B. The impact of the programs remains to be estimated.

C. Employees will benefit more from the programs than companies.

D. It’s less likely that employees will remain in the same company after receiving the programs.

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