Scientists are worried that an asteroid(小行星) will possibly hit the earth in 2036. If scientists are right, planet earth is 24 years away from a major disaster.

Scientists have been monitoring the progress of a 390-metre-wide asteroid ever since it was discovered last June. They have announced that it could hit the earth, causing huge damage, in 2036.

NASA estimates that the impact from the asteroid named after Apophis and ancient Egyptian demon(魔鬼) would release more than 100,000 times the energy released in the nuclear explosion over Hiroshima. Thousands of square kilometers would be directly affected by the explosion. The whole planet would see the effects of the dust released into the atmosphere.

This is the worst possible scenario(情景) of any asteroid in recorded history.

Having more than 20 years’ warning of possible impact might seem plenty of time. But scientists insist that there is actually very little time left to decide.

Luckily, however, they aren’t short on ideas for deflecting the asteroid. The favored method is also probably the easiest—throwing a spacecraft at the asteroid to change its direction. The European Space Agency plans to test this in the next decade.

One idea that seems to have no support from astronomers is the use of explosive, although this sounds more likely to the public or Hollywood producer.

At present, scientists are trying to make a better estimate of how much time we have, through more observations.

In spring of next year, there will be another chance for radar observation of Apophis. This will help astronomers calculate the orbits of the asteroid more accurately.

If, at that stage, they can’t rule out an impact with the earth in 2036, the next chance to make better observations will not be until 2016, then 2029.

“If we wait until 2029 and the worst—case scenario turns out to be true, it would seem unlikely that we’d be able to do anything about 2036,” warns Prof Fitzsimmons.

1.What does the underlined word “deflecting” most probably mean?

A.making it smaller.

B.observing it clearly enough.

C.dividing into pieces.

D.changing its direction.

2.According to the scientists’ observation, _______.

A.the asteroid named Apophis will explode in 2036.

B.the asteroid named Apophis might hit the earth in 2036.

C.the asteroid named Apophis is 24 years old.

D.there is plenty of time to decide the way we deal with the asteroid.

3.What is the impact from Apophis if it hits the earth?

A.It will damage Hiroshima.

B.Thousands of square kilometers would see the effects of the dust released into the atmosphere.

C.It might be the worst damage caused by asteroids in recorded history.

D.The whole planet would be directly affected by the explosion.

4.It can be inferred from the text that _____.

A.Hollywood producers will explode Apophis to avoid its hit.

B.There are only two chances for scientists to make better observations if they can’t grasp the chance next year.

C.NASA plans to throw a spacecraft at Apophis to change its direction.

D.It is supportive from astronauts that we explode the Apophis.

 

完形填空:(共20小题;每小题1.5分,满分30分)

In history,a real cowboy was a simple farm worker on horseback.He spent a long time a day outdoors working with cows.The work was dirty,tiring and not very well paid.

People in the western states had to __36__ cattle at low cost and send them by railway to the eastern __37__.But someone had to __38__ the cattle and get them to the nearest railroad.This was the job of a cowboy.Sometimes the __39__ was more than a thousand kilometers away and it could take as __40__ as six months to move the cattle.The __41__ was long but the cattle were driven __42__ as not to lose __43__.Then they could be sold at a good price.

Most cowboys were young, __44__ men.A good horse _45__ their job of moving cattle much easier.A good cowboy __46__ cows and knew how to control them.At night,he __47__ to the cows to keep them calm.

In the late 1800s,America was changing from a nation of farm to one of __48__ and cities.The cowboy seemed __49__ compared with other Americans doing ordinary jobs.

Today,the __50__ of cowboys has __51__ greatly.One change is the use of trucks.The job is not so hard __52__ it used to be.And cowboys are better __53__ now.They are _54__ to be married.Some of them are farmers or teachers or truck drivers.Some work for big companies.

__55__ at night and on weekends,they become cowboys.These part-time cowboys increase the total production of meat,keeping the beef price low.

1.

A.get

B.buy

C.sell

D.raise

 

2.

A.markets

B.countries

C.cities

D.stories

 

3.

A.deal with

B.find out

C.look after

D.pay off

 

4.

A.road

B.railroad

C.state

D.farm

 

5.

A.good

B.much

C.long

D.far

 

6.

A.journey

B.trip

C.tour

D.travel

 

7.

A.hurriedly

B.smoothly

C.slowly

D.carefully

 

8.

A.mind

B.direction

C.head

D.weight

 

9.

A.unmarried

B.proud

C.strong

D.educated

 

10.

A.had

B.made

C.found

D.helped

 

11.

A.recognized

B.understood

C.owned

D.kept

 

12.

A.whispered

B.shouted

C.cried

D.sang

 

13.

A.towns

B.factories

C.companies

D.villages

 

14.

A.free

B.brave

C.easy

D.pleased

 

15.

A.manner

B.job

C.life

D.mind

 

16.

A.changed

B.developed

C.improved

D.realized

 

17.

A.that

B.as

C.which

D.what

 

18.

A.known

B.paid

C.treated

D.dressed

 

19.

A.afraid

B.eager

C.worried

D.likely

 

20.

A.Because

B.And

C.When

D.But

 

Air pollution is damaging 60% of Europe’s prime wildlife sites in meadows, forests and bushes, according to a new report.

A team of EU scientists said nitrogen emissions(氮排放) from cars, factories and farming were threatening biodiversity. It’s the second report this week warning of the on-going risks and threats linked to nitrogen pollution.

Nitrogen in the atmosphere is harmless in its inert(惰性的) state, but the report says reactive forms of nitrogen, largely produced by human activity, can be a menace to the natural world.

Emissions mostly come from vehicle exhausts(排气), factories, artificial fertilizers(肥料) and animal waste from intensive farming. The reactive nitrogen they emit to the air disrupts the environment in two ways: It can make acidic soils too acidic to support their previous mix of species. But primarily, because nitrogen is a fertilizer, it favors wild plants that can maximize the use of nitrogen to help them grow.

In effect, some of the nitrogen spread to fertilize crops is carried in the atmosphere to fertilize weeds, possibly a great distance from where the chemicals were first applied.

The effects of fertilization and acidification favor common aggressive species like grasses, brambles and nettles. They harm more delicate species like mosses(苔藓), and insect-eating sundew plants.

The report said 60% of wildlife sites were now receiving a critical load of reactive nitrogen. The report’s lead author, Dr Kevin Hicks from the University of York’s Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), told BBC News that England’s Peak District had a definitely low range of species as a result of the reactive nitrogen that fell on the area.

“Nitrogen creates a rather big problem that seems to me to have been given too little attention,” he said. “Governments are responsible for protecting areas like this, but they are clearly failing.”

He said more research was needed to understand the knock-on effects for creatures from the changes in vegetation accidentally caused by emissions from cars, industry and farms.

At the conference, the representatives agreed “The Edinburgh Declaration on Reactive Nitrogen”. The document highlights the importance of reducing reactive nitrogen emissions to the environment, adding that the benefits of reducing nitrogen outweigh the costs of taking action.

1.The underlined word “menace” is used to express that the reactive nitrogen, largely produced by human activity can be ___________.

A. frightening              B. threatening      C. unique           D. unusual

2. We can infer from the passage that _________.

A.        it’s harmless to have reactive nitrogen existing in the atmosphere

B.        reactive nitrogen emissions help aggressive species less than crops

C.        the harm to those delicate species has a negative impact on biodiversity

D.        reactive nitrogen can fertilize soils and keep their biodiversity

3. The team of EU scientists released the second report of nitrogen emissions this week when __________.

A.        no action was taken to stop nitrogen emission

B.        governments were willing to protect areas harmed by nitrogen

C.        “The Edinburgh Declaration on Reactive Nitrogen” was agreed

D.        nitrogen emissions were threatening wildlife sites’ biodiversity

4. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A. Keeping Away From Nitrogen Emissions     B. Stopping Nitrogen Emissions

C. Air Pollution Damaging Europe’s Wildlife        D. Saving Europe’s Wildlife

 

Students and Technology in the Classroom

I love my blackberry—it’s my little connection to the larger world that can go anywhere with me . I also love my laptop computer ,as it holds all of my writing and thought .Despite this love of technology ,I know that there are times when I need to move away from these device and truly communication with others.On occasion ,I teach a course called History Matters for a group of higher education managers. My goals for the class include a full discussion of historical themes and ideas .Because I want students to thoroughly study the material and exchange their ideas with each other in the classroom ,I have a rule —no laptop ,ipads ,phones ,etc .When students were told my rule in advance of the class, some of them were not happy .

Most students assume that year reasons for this rule include unpleasant experiences in the past with students misusing technology . There’s a bit of truth to that.Some students assume that I am anti-technology . There’s no truth in that at all . I love technology and try to keep up with it so I relate to my students.

The real reason why I ask students to leave technology at the door is that I think there are very few places in which we can have deep conversions and truly engage complex ideas. Interruptions by technology often break concentration and allow for too much dependence on outside information for ideas . I want students to think differently and make connections between the course the material and the class discussion .

I’ve been teaching my history class in this way for many years and the educations reflect student satisfaction with the environment that I create .Students realize that with deep conversation and challenge , they learn at a level that helps them keep the course material beyond the classroom .

I’m not saying that I won’t ever change my mind about technology use in my history class, but until I hear a really good reason for the change ,I’m sticking to my plan. a few hours of technology-free dialogue is just too give up.

1.

some of the students in the history class were unhappy with____

A. the course material             B. others’ misuse of technology

C. discussion topics               D. the author’s class regulator

2.

the underlined word “engage ”in para.4 probably means ____

A. explore          B. accept          C. change           D. reject

3.

according to the author ,the use of technology in the classroom may ____

A. keep students from doing independent thinking

B. encourage students to have in-depth conversations

C. help students to better understand complex themes

D. affect students’ concentration on course evaluation

4.

it can be inferred from the last paragraph that the author ____

A. is quite stubborn

B. will give up teaching history

C. will change his teaching plan soon

D. values technology-free dialogues in his class

 

We all know that language can sometimes get lost in translation. But do you know that some facial 1. may also be2. in cross-cultural situations?

According to a study by Glasgow University, Europeans look3. a person's whole face 4. people from East Asia focus 5.on the eyes. Researchers recorded the eye movements of 13 Westerners and 13 Easterners as they observed pictures of expressive faces. They were asked to6.the pictures into the following categories: happy, sad, surprised, fearful, disgusted, angry, or neutral.

      The team found East Asians focus much more attention on the eyes and also make a  7.number of mistakes. Different from Europeans, they8. to have a more difficult time  9. the difference between a face that looks fearful as opposed to surprised, and disgusted as opposed to angry.

      "Westerners look at the eyes and the mouth10. , whereas Easterners11.the eyes and neglect the mouth," said researcher Rachael Jack. "This means that Easterners have12. in telling apart facial expressions that look similar around the eye region."

       Jack said that the differences in eye movement reflected a cultural13.in the way people use their faces to express themselves. Easterners use the eyes more and the mouth 14. .

       The difference in the use of text message "emoticons" (表情符号) 15. the idea. Easterners use the eyes to16. emotion, for example "^-^" for happy and "┬_┬" for sad. Westerners, 17., use the mouth, for example ":-)" for happy and ":-(" for sad.

      The researchers said their results showed communication between people is much more18. than previously thought. When it 19. communicating emotions across cultures, Easterners and Westerners can find themselves20. in translation.

21.   A. expressions     B. appearances           C. features                  D. differences

22. A. interesting      B. confusing              C. outstanding            D. surprising

23. A. across             B. for                          C. on                          D. into  

24.A. when               B. as                           C. while                      D. if

25.A. really             B. mainly                  C. slightly                   D. nearly

26.  A. make              B. turn                        C. get                         D. put

27. A. small               B. big                          C. fewer                     D. larger

28.A. need                B. attempt                  C. tend                       D. intend

29.  A. saying             B. telling                    C. knowing                  D. judging

30.A. in a different way    B. in equal measure  C. in turns                  D. alternatively

31. A. favor              B. approve                  C. find                      D. focus

32. A. difficulty         B. ability                      C. possibility               D. certainty

33. A. interest           B. gap                        C. similarity                D. concern

34. A. little                B. least                       C. less                        D. more

35. A. supports          B. opposes                  C. rejects                    D. counts

36.  A. make              B. create                     C. convey                   D. prove

37.  A. therefore         B. however                 C. although                D. moreover

38. A. separated        B. related                   C. expected                 D. complicated

39.  A. comes to         B. talks about             C. turns to                  D. gets to

40. A. puzzling          B. lost                        C. exciting                D. upset

 

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