阅读理解

  Anthropologists are scientists that study people who often lived hundreds or even thousands of years ago.Items those men, women, and children left behind when they died-everything from clothing to jewellry and tools-tell anthropologists a lot.And sometimes even their words survive.

  Experts believe that a discovery in Mexico is the oldest example of writing ever found in the Americas.The people who created it probably lived 3,000 years ago, long before Christopher Columbus arrived in the New World.

  Workers digging in a rock mine happened to notice a stone block with marks carved onto its surface.They found the large piece of stone near the city of Cascajal, Mexico, which was once the capital of an ancient people called the Ohnec.

  “There are signs on the block that seem to show objects used by the Olmec during their religious ceremonies,”says Dr.Stephen Houston, of Brown University in the USA.

  “There is a sign that looks very similar to a knife and another that looks like the chair of a King,”he explains.

  Houston, an expert on the writing systems of ancient cultures, says the discovery is exciting because“it makes clear that the Olmec could read and write.It is like hearing voices from the past.”

  But experts don't know exactly what the writing says.Finding other examples of Olmec writing could help decipher the puzzle.

  “We could have whole sets of ancient writing which will basically make ancient people speak to us directly,”says Houston.“There are many puzzles to be solved, and this is just one of them.”

(1)

According to the passage, what items do scientists often use to learn more about the past?

[  ]

A.

Clothing and jewelry.

B.

Books and stones.

C.

Knives and chairs.

D.

People and animals.

(2)

What is important about the stone block mentioned in the passage?

[  ]

A.

It proves that people lived in this part of the world more than 3,000 years ago.

B.

It allows scientists to translate the ancient language used in this area.

C.

It is evidence of the oldest form of writing ever found in the Americas.

D.

It shows the people of the area have a written language.

(3)

Why are scientists interested in ancient languages?

[  ]

A.

It can allow them to better understand ancient societies.

B.

So they can speak directly with ancient people.

C.

It will help learn about the origins of modern languages.

D.

They can learn stories told during that time.

(4)

Which is probably the best title for the passage'!

[  ]

A.

World's First Book

B.

Oldest Writing in the New World

C.

What Does It Say?

D.

New Language Discovered

(5)

The underlined expression“decipher the puzzle”(paragraph 6)most probably means ________

[  ]

A.

discover when the Olmec people lived

B.

learn why the Olmec civilization disappeared

C.

learn how to speak Olmec

D.

find the meaning of the Olmec language

阅读理解

  During London’s 8-minute show at the Closing Ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, fans were thrilled by the performance of a young British singer with the famous rock guitarist Jimmy Page.Who was that curly-haired singer?

  She’s Leona Lewis, a 23-year-old pop and R&B singer-songwriter, and the winner of the 2006 UK television talent show The X Factor.Her UK debut single(首张单曲唱片),A Moment Like This, broke a world record after it was downloaded over 50,000 times within 30 minutes.

  Leona was a working-class girl from London, with a normal family, a steady boyfriend and a job as a receptionist when she tried out for the show.Her father was a part-time DJ, and there was always music in the house.From an early age, she was always jumping on the coffee table, singing along to Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston.When she went to stage school, everyone else in her class was richer than she was.But she didn’t feel left out.She just focused on her singing.Lewis wrote her first song at the age of twelve, and won a number of talent competitions.After leaving school, Lewis took a number of jobs to pay to get into a recording studio, including waitressing and several receptionist job.

  Her efforts finally paid off.Her first album, Spirit, released in several countries in 2008, went to No.1 in the US, New Zealand, Australia, Austria, Germany, South Africa and Swizerland.A second album is planned for release in 2009, and it has been reported that she is planning a £15 million(190 million Yuan)world tour in 2010.

  Leona has succeeded before everyone’s eyes, turning from a pretty 21-year-old in 2006 into a star singer in 2008.But to some degree, she still seems to be the girl next door.Leona has her feet on the ground.She hasn’t changed.She is very polite and respectful, but she knows what she wants.

(1)

The first paragraph is written to ________.

[  ]

A.

introduce the topic

B.

ask readers a question

C.

make a brief summary

D.

bring in a discussion

(2)

Besides Leona’s continuous efforts, ________ also contributes to her success.

[  ]

A.

her boyfriend’s support

B.

family music environment

C.

guitarist Jimmy Page’s help

D.

her working-class background

(3)

From the passage we know Leona ________.

[  ]

A.

sang her first song at the age of twelve and won a number of prizes

B.

still works as a receptionist though she is a famous singer now

C.

took interest and put a lot of efforts in music when still a child

D.

was born into a working-class family and became a DJ at an early age

(4)

This passage mainly tells us ________.

[  ]

A.

London’s 8-minute show at the Closing Ceremony

B.

the successful performance of Leona Lewis and Jimmy Page

C.

Leona Lewis’ early life story, career and achievements

D.

Leona Lewis’ albums A Moment Like This and Spirit

(B)

Sixty-year-old grandmother, Fiona McFee, is going to stop working next year and she decided to realize a childhood dream and sail around the coast of Scotland in a small boat. Although the inside of the boat is very cosy it has no running water or electricity. Fiona says she can live without these things but she plans to take her small CD player, her hot water bottle and a bag of books to make sure life isn’t too uncomfortable.

We asked her if she was afraid of being at sea for so long. She said, “Well, I’m going to take a good compass (指南针). Anyway I’m not afraid of death because I love the sea---I just hope it loves me.” Fiona certainly has plenty of energy; in her spare time, she enjoys playing the piano, rock-climbing, canoeing and dancing. Although she is sixty, she doesn’t want to have a quiet and peaceful life. “I’m looking forward to having fun in the rest of my life and that’s exactly why I’d like to be a sailor for a while.”

1.The underlined word cosy in the first paragraph means ____ .

A.bright            B.dirty             C.comfortable       D.dark

2.When Fiona McFee said “---I just hope it loves me.” What she meant was ____

A.Of course , it loves me , since I love it .

B.If I love it , it should love me.

C.I hope it will bring me a safe sailing as a return for my love of it .

D.I hope it will save my life when I am in time of danger .

3. The reason why she would like to have the sail is that ____.

A.she thinks it will be very exciting

B.she likes sports and enjoys canoeing

C.she has decided to realize a childhood dream

D.she wants to be still active when she gets old

4.What kind of person would you say the old woman is ?

A.Someone who does not show what she is feeling .

B.Someone who is very proud and sure of her success .

C.Someone who doesn’t use her head much .

D.Someone who is open , honest and brave .

5.The best title for this passage is ____ .

A.Life Begins at Sixty                      B.A Round Coast Sail

C.An Old Woman Sailor                    D.An Unusual Hobby(爱好)

 

During London’s 8-minute show at the Closing Ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, fans were thrilled by the performance of a young British singer with the famous rock guitarist Jimmy Page. Who was that curly-haired singer?

She’s Leona Lewis, a 23-year-old pop and R&B singer-songwriter, and the winner of the 2006 UK television talent show The X Factor. Her UK debut single(首张单曲唱片), A Moment Like This, broke a world record after it was downloaded over 50,000 times within 30 minutes.

Leona was a working-class girl from London, with a normal family, a steady boyfriend and a job as a receptionist when she tried out for the show. Her father was a part-time DJ, and there was always music in the house. From an early age, she was always jumping on the coffee table, singing along to Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. When she went to stage school, everyone else in her class was richer than she was. But she didn’t feel left out. She just focused on her singing. Lewis wrote her first song at the age of twelve, and won a number of talent competitions. After leaving school, Lewis took a number of jobs to pay to get into a recording studio, including waitressing and several receptionist job.

Her efforts finally paid off. Her first album, Spirit, released in several countries in 2008, went to No.1 in the US, New Zealand, Australia, Austria, Germany, South Africa and Swizerland. A second album is planned for release in 2009, and it has been reported that she is planning a £15 million (190million Yuan) world tour in 2010.

Leona has succeeded before everyone’s eyes, turning from a pretty 21-year –old in 2006 into a star singer in 2008. But to some degree, she still seems to be the girl next door. Leona has her feet on the ground. She hasn’t changed. She is very polite and respectful, but she knows what she wants.

1.The first paragraph is written to ______.

     A.introduce the topic                     B.ask readers a question

     C.make a brief summary                  D.bring in a discussion

2.Besides Leona’s continuous efforts, _____ also contributes to her success.

     A.her boyfriend’s support                    B.family music environment

     C.guitarist Jimmy Page’s help                D.her working-class background

3.From the passage we know Leona _____.    

     A.sang her first song at the age of twelve and won a number of prizes

     B.still works as a receptionist though she is a famous singer now

     C.took interest and put a lot of efforts in music when still a child

     D.was born into a working-class family and became a DJ at an early age

4.This passage mainly tells us _____.

     A.London’s 8-minute show at the Closing Ceremony

     B.the successful performance of Leona Lewis and Jimmy Page

     C.Leona Lewis’ early life story, career and achievements

     D.Leona Lewis’ albums A Moment Like This and Spirit

Anthropologists are scientists that study people who often lived hundreds or even thousands of years ago. Items those men, women, and children left behind when they died – everything from clothing to jewelry and tools -- tell anthropologists a lot. And sometimes even their words survive.

Experts believe that a discovery in Mexico is the oldest example of writing ever found in the Americas. The people who created it probably lived 3,000 years ago, long before Christopher Columbus arrived in the New World.

Workers digging in a rock mine happened to notice a stone block with marks carved onto its surface. They found the large piece of stone near the city of Cascajal, Mexico, which was once the capital of an ancient people called the Olmec.

“There are signs on the block that seem to show objects used by the Olmec during their religious ceremonies,” says Dr. Stephen Houston, of Brown University in the USA. “There is a sign that looks very similar to a knife and another that looks like the chair of a King,” he explains.

Houston, an expert on the writing systems of ancient cultures, says the discovery is exciting because “it makes clear that the Olmec could read and write. It is like hearing voices from the past.”

But experts don’t know exactly what the writing says. Finding other examples of Olmec writing could help decipher the puzzle.

“We could have whole sets of ancient writing which will basically make ancient people speak to us directly,” says Houston. “There are many puzzles to be solved, and this is just one of them.”

1.According to the passage, what items do scientists often use to learn more about the past?

       A.Clothing and jewelry.                   B.Books and stones.

       C.Knives and chairs.                      D.People and animals.

2.What is important about the stone block mentioned in the passage?

       A.It proves that people lived in this part of the world more than 3,000 years ago.

       B.It allows scientists to translate the ancient language used in this area.

       C.It is evidence of the oldest form of writing ever found in the Americas.

       D.It shows the people of the area have a written language.

3.Why are scientists interested in ancient languages?

A.It can allow them to better understand ancient societies.

B.So they can speak directly with ancient people.

C.It will help learn about the origins of modern languages.

D.They can learn stories told during that time.

4.The underlined expression “decipher the puzzle”(paragraph 6) most probably means “      ”.

       A.discover when the Olmec people lived

       B.learn why the Olmec civilization disappeared

       C.learn how to speak Olmec

       D. find the meaning of the Olmec language

5.Which is probably the best title for the passage!

       A.World’s First Book                               B.Oldest Writing in the New World

       C.What Does It Say?   D.New Language Discovered

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