The Internationa1 Space Station allows astronauts to live in space for extended amounts of time, enabling them to explore the outside universe and conduct many experiments. However, nothing like that exists for our oceans, and thanks to the high water pressure, ocean researchers are able to explore what lies undersea for very short periods of time.
They are therefore never able to fully explore the deep inside areas of our oceans. However, if French architect Jacques Rougerie has his way, that will change soon.
Jacques has designed a ship that will allow researchers to spend a long period of time observing the sea life and conducting experiments. The huge l67ft. ship, named ‘Sea Orbiter’, consists of two areas—one above the water where the scientists and crew will live, and a lower pressurized deck (甲板), where scientists will be able to spend as much time as they wish. Since it is powered by sea currents and wind, he expects it to drift (漂流) along the oceans slowly, taking about two years to circumvent the globe.
Jacques will make their life as comfortable as possible in the ship. Besides being equipped with the latest sailing tools and communication equipment, the ship will also have a gym, a television and a DVD player! And these guys will not be eating freeze-dried food like astronauts. Instead, Jacques, an accomplished chef, plans on cooking them delicious meals every day.
The biggest problem to this giant ship is the cost, which is expected to be over $500 million—per ship! However, Jacques, who strongly believes that the secrets of our oceans may be the key to solving global warming and a vital supply for food and medicine in the future, is confident he will be able to convince governments all over the world to help out, and expects to start construction on not one, but four or five of these amazing ships soon!
【小题1】Why can’t ocean researchers explore the deep oceans for a long time?

A.Because they can’t stand the high water pressure.
B.Because it’s too cold in deep ocean.
C.Because time for experiments is too limited.
D.Because it’s dangerous to observe the sea life.
【小题2】The underlined word “circumvent ” probably means     .
A.fly awayB.go aroundC.travel throughD.move into
【小题3】From the fourth paragraph we can learn that     .
A.Jacques intends to design the ship mainly for sightseeing and traveling
B.living a comfortable life helps to do the ocean research quickly
C.it’s much more expensive to eat freeze-dried food
D.researchers on Jacques ’ ship will live more comfortably than astronauts
【小题4】In Jacques’ opinion, which of the following is not the purpose of the undersea research?
A.To find supply for food in the future.
B.To find supply for medicine in the future.
C.To draw governments’ attention to the construction of the ship.
D.To solve the global warming.
【小题5】Which of the fol1owing would be the best title for the text?
A.Sea Orbiter—the ship of the future
B.A new way to explore the deep oceans
C.A great architect—Jacques Rogerie
D.Travel around the globe in Sea Orbiter

The African elephant, the largest land animal remaining on earth, is of great importance to African ecosystem(生态系统). Unlike other animals, the African elephant is to a great extent the builder of its environment. As a big plant-eater, it largely shapes the forest-and-savanna(大草原) surroundings in which it lives, therefore setting the terms of existence for millions of other animals that live in its habitat.
It is the elephant’s great desire for food that makes it a disturber of the environment and an important builder of its habitat. In its continuous search for the 300 pounds of plants it must have every day, it kills small trees and under-bushes, and pulls branches off big trees. This results in numerous open spaces in both deep tropical forests and in the woodlands that cover part of the African savannas. In these open spaces are numerous plants in various stages of growth that attract a variety of other plant-eaters.
Take the rain forests for example. In their natural state, the spreading branches overhead shut out sunlight and prevent the growth of plants on the forest floor. By pulling down trees and eating plants, elephants make open spaces, allowing new plants to grow on the forest floor. In such situations, the forests become suitable for large hoofed plant-eaters to move around and for small plant-eaters to get their food as well.
What worries scientists now is that the African elephant has become an endangered species. If the elephant disappears, scientists say, many other animals will also disappear from vast areas of forest and savanna, greatly changing and worsening the whole ecosystem.
【小题1】What does the underlined phrase “setting the terms” most probably mean?

A.Improving the quality.
B.Worsening the state.
C.Fixing the time.
D.Deciding the conditions.
【小题2】The passage is developed mainly by_________.
A.showing the effect and then explaining the causes
B.giving examples
C.pointing out similarities and differences
D.describing the changes in space order
【小题3】What is the passage mainly about?
A.Forests and savannas as habitats for African elephants.
B.The eating habit of African elephants.
C.Disappearance of African elephants.
D.The effect of African elephants’ search for food.
【小题4】What do we know about the open spaces in the passage?
A.They are home to many endangered animals.
B.They result from the destruction of rain forests.
C.They are attractive to plant-eating animals of different kinds.
D.They provide food mainly for African elephants.


The choice to adopt and hold gratefulness is the one that is different from those who suffer misfortune and those who enjoy a full life.
My mother died when I was 24. It was a very difficult time in my life - everything seemed to fall apart. I lost my job, and then my utilities were turned off. I had to take cold showers for six months. A neighbor who knew about my situation came to my house and made me an offer. I took care of her children as a job, and I no longer went hungry. I was surprised that someone would trust me-a young woman-with her children. And it was with the very confidence that before long I began taking care of other people's children, too. I have since moved 300 miles from Boise, Idaho. For more than 23 years I have made every effort to reach out to all the kind-hearted people who helped me when I was down and out. Without their trust, I don't know what I would have done. I am very involved in my community and volunteer at the local food bank, and I help out whenever I can. I'd like to owe what I am to whoever has offered me generosity.
If you are grateful for what you already have, the world will work together to give you more to be grateful for. Otherwise, the world will give you more to complain about.
Moreover, the true master learns to be grateful, in advance, for the things that are desired, because, being grateful in advance for some attainment or accomplishment does two very important things: one-it tricks your subconscious(潜意识)into believing that the goal is certain and two…it convinces other people, with whom you must interact to achieve your desires, that you know what you are about, that you are a winner, not a whiner(哀诉者).
65. The underlined "utilities" refers to such things as ______ in the passage.
A. gas and electricity  supplies                      B. water and gas supplies
C. shower equipment and water supply          D. heating and TV signals
66. The writer was grateful mainly for ______.
A. his neighbor's donation                B. his community       
C. having got the job                    D. others' trust
67. The writer's personal story in the second paragraph tells us that ______.
A. to be grateful will get you nowhere but away from home
B. we need to be grateful to be helpful and useful
C. a grateful person is most likely to be successful
D. the fragrance (芳香) stays in the hand that gives the rose
68. The best title for the passage would be ________.
A. A Thank-You Note to Trusting Neighbor   B. You Are a Winner, Not a Whiner
C. Gratefulness Brings a Great Fullness to Life D. Be Grateful to Life in Advance

Parkour (跑酷) is a new sport that is developing quickly in the world. The aim of parkour is to jump, climb or run over any all stair, or fence on your path easily. Usually, it is done in a city environment. Practicers take very wall or roof as their training place. If you have seen the beginning of the James Bond movie Casino Royale, then you have seen an excellent example of parkour.
David Belle, a young Frenchman, developed parkour in the 1990s. His father's experiences as a fireman as well as an acrobat(杂技演员)influenced him a lot. His childhood friend, Sebastien Foucan, is the actor in the movie Casino Royale with his parkour performance. Foucan is thought to have developed free-running, which is a more artistic and skillful type of parkour. David belle traveled to India and said one way he trained was by watching a physical one. The aim is to become so skillful, and it is almost unnecessary for you to think about the different actions in running through a path full of barriers(障碍物).
Parkour is not exactly a sport. It is not developed fro competition. It is more about learning to control mind and body in difficult situations. There are many basic movements in parkour. One example is where practicers swing through the narrow space between two bars while keeping their body level with the ground. This is called the underbar. Other movements are the tic-tac and the kong vault jump. Skillful practicers seem to get out of control of gravity.
The popularity has spread largely because of parkour videos and organizations on the Internet. And if you search on the Web, you will find parkour groups performing their skills near you.
【小题1】The author wrote this text to _______

A.introduce a new sport parkourB.show how parkour is popular in the world
C.Tell the history of parkourD.explain the basic movements in parkour
【小题2】Who performed parkour in the movie Casino Royale?
A.David Belle.B.James Bond.C.Sebastien Foucan. D.David Belle's father.
【小题3】People learn about parkour mainly for ______.
A.the newspaperB.the InternetC.the radioD.TV
【小题4】Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?
A.Children should not be allowed to do parkour.
B.Casino Royale is a movie introducing parkour
C.Most of the lovers of parkour are Internet users.
D.Parkour is a mental exercise as well as a physical one

TIPPING

How much and who on your cruise(乘船旅游) should be tipped? When and how should tips be given? Generally, you should plan to tip your room steward (服务员) $3.00 to $3.50 per person, per day, and plan an equal amount for your dining room waiter, and half of that for the busboy(餐厅侍者助手).

On most ships, tip the maitre d’(侍者总管) or dining room captain only if you ask for special favors or table-side service; $5 to $10 is normal. Barmen and wine stewards are tipped 10 to 15 percent, but many cruise lines will add this tip to your bar or drink bill. Check the bill to see how it is handled. Also, tips for special services such as salon && spa treatments and room service are left to the guest, depending on services offered. Sometimes tips are placed in envelopes from your cabin’s stationery supply. Generally, passengers on cruises of 10 days or less will tip at the end of the cruise; on longer voyages, tipping weekly.

As part of a new trend that seems likely to grow, Carnival, Holland America, Norwegian, Princess and Cunard now charge tips to your account (账). Norwegian, for example, charges $10 per day, per guest, to cover service in the various dining rooms and your room steward. If you feel this amount needs to be increased or decreased, arrangements can be made onboard the ship, generally at the end of your cruise.

A few lines do not encourage tipping, including Radisson Seven Seas, Seabourn, Silversea and Windstar. Crew members are reportedly higher paid and not tip dependent. Many passengers tip anyway for outstanding service or special favors and give them tips face to face immediately they get serviced.

Tips on Tipping

Cabin steward

$3.00 to $3.50 per person per day

Waiter

$3.00 to $3.50 per person per day

Assistant waiter

$1.50 to $2.00 per person per day

Bartender, wine and deck stewards

10-15% of the bill

Maitre d’

$5.00 to $10.00 tip for each special service

1.According to the passage, if your bill for bartender and wine is $50, you will probably tip the steward ______.

A.$3.50

B.$3.00

C.$6.50

D.$10.00

2.How many ways does the passage mention on how to tip the waiters?

A.3.

B.2.

C.4.

D.5.

3. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?

A.Sometimes you must spend more money tipping waiters on cruise.

B.In the line Seabourn, you must tip crew members for the special service.

C.In some lines, you can bargain on how much to tip.

D.Generally speaking, maitre d’ can get the most tips.

4.The passage is written mainly for the readers who are ______.

A.travelers on cruise to America

B.students to foreign countries to study

C.tourists not knowing how to tip in hotels

D.travelers on cruise the first time

 

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