题目内容
As we know, on Saturday, millions of people around the world will celebrate Saint Patrick's Day, which honors Patron Saint (or main religious figure) of Ireland. Communities across the United States will host parades, parties, and other festivities to mark the occasion.
This year, cities like Boston, New York, and Chicago have organized massive events celebrating Saint Patrick's Day. In New York City, hundreds of thousands of people will gather to watch the Saint Patrick’s Day parade—the nation’s largest. It is one of the most watched parades in the world. Last year, almost 2 million spectators and more than 150,000 participants filled the streets. The parade, first held in 1776, is also one of the oldest.
Chicago also throws a big celebration. Every year, the Chicago River, which crosses the city, glows green as event organizers dump about 40 pounds of fluorescence, a powerful dye, into the water.
Boston keeps its parade rolling for three hours or more. It is the nation’s second-largest parade. The city will also salute one of its most famous former residents, President John F. Kennedy, by opening the exhibit "A Journey Home: John F. Kennedy and Ireland," at his official library.
Patron Saint lived in Britain in the early fifth century, when it was still part of the Roman Empire. He was captured and sold into slavery in Ireland when he was only 16．He eventually escaped slavery and turned to a life of religious devotion. He trained to become a minister and set out to spread Christianity throughout Ireland. After 30 years as a religious leader, Patrick died on March 17, 1461．Saint Patrick’s Day is always celebrated on March 17．In Ireland, it is an official holiday.
1. What’s the best title of the passage?
A. Celebrations across the Country
B. An Official Holiday in US
C. The Largest Parade in the World
D. History of Saint Patrick’s Day
2.The last paragraph is mainly about _____.
A. the cruel slave trade. B. Saint Patrick’s contribution.
C. Ireland’s Patron Saint D. activities during Saint Patrick’s Day
3. Which of the following is not correct according to the passage?
A. Parade is a most important event to observe Saint Patrick’s Day.
B. Saluting the former president has become a main event on the occasion.
C. Saint Patrick’s Day is a religious holiday.
D. The Saint Patrick’s Day parade has a history of over 230 years.
1..A
2..C
3..B
【解析】 略
Unless we spend money to spot and prevent asteroids now，one might crash into Earth and destroy life as we know it，say some scientists.
Asteroids are bigger versions of the meteoroids(流星)that race across the night sky. Most orbit the sun far from Earth and don't threaten us. But there are also thousands whose orbits put them on a collision course with Earth.
Buy $ 50 million worth of new telescopes right now. Then spend $ 10 million a year for the next 25 years to locate most of the space rocks. By the time we spot a fatal one，the scientists say，we'll have a way 
to change its course.
Some scientists favor pushing asteroids off course with nuclear weapo
ns. But the cost wouldn't be cheap. I
s it worth it? Two things experts consider when judging any risk are: 1) How likely the event is; and 2) How bad the consequences if the event occurs. Experts think an asteroid big enough to destroy lots of life might strike Earth once every 500,000 years. Sounds pretty rare-but if one did fall，it would be the end of the world. “If we don't take care of these big asteroids，they'll take care of us,” says one scientist. “It's that simple.”
The cure，though，might be worse than the disease. Do we really want fleets of nuclear weapons sitting around on Earth? “The world has less to fear from doomsday(毁灭性的) rocks than from a great nuclear fleet set against them，” said a New York Times article.
【小题1】What does the passage say about asteroids and meteoroids?
| A．They are heavenly bodies different in composition. |
| B．They are heavenly bodies similar in nature. |
C．There are more asteroids th an meteoroids. |
| D．Asteroids are more mysterious than meteoroids. |
| A．It is very unlikely but the danger exists. |
| B．Such a collision might occur once every 25 years. |
| C．Collisions of smaller asteroids with Earth occur more often than expected. |
| D．It's still too early to say whether such a collision might occur. |
| A．It sounds practical but it may not solve the problem. |
| B．It may create more problems than it might solve. |
| C．It is a waste of money because a collision of asteroids with Earth is very unlikely. |
| D．Further research should be done before it is proved applicable. |
| A．while pushing asteroids off course nuclear weapons would destroy the world |
| B．asteroids racing across the night sky are likely to hit Earth in the near future |
| C．the worry about asteroids can be left to future generations since it is unlikely to happen in our lifetime |
| D．workable solutions still have to be found to prevent a collision of asteroids with Earth. |
| A．Optimistic. | B．Critical. | C．Objective. | D．Subjective. |