【题目】 You are walking over the tan-colored(棕褐色的)sand of the empty desert when a rattlesnake appears out of the sand in front of you. Luckily it had warned you of its presence. Imagine if that same snake were moved to a green leafy rainforest. The colors that helped the snake blend into(融合)the desert would make it stand out against the green environment.

This just goes to show you that camouflage(保护色)doesn't work everywhere. Let's take a look at one animal species that is famous for changing over time to stay camouflaged: the peppered moth. Moth collectors in England noted that most peppered moths collected in the early 1800s were light gray peppered with bits of black. Many years later most of the moths collected were almost completely black. What could have caused the more common light colored moth to become rare?

During the 1800s, Europe and America experienced the Industrial Revolution. One of the new fuel sources that were heavily used during this time period was coal. As the trees darkened with soot(煤烟), the light-colored moths were easier to see. They were eaten by birds more and more, while the rare dark colored moths blended in better on the darker trees. This made them have a higher survival rate and thus they were more likely to pass their dark colored genes onto their children. Over time, the dark colored moths became the more common of the two color forms. Natural selection favored the dark moths, so they were more successful after the trees changed.

Sound a little hard to believe? Well, more changes have come about since these conditions started to reverse(转变), starting in the 1950s. Then, a Clean Air Act was introduced. Since that time, technology and cleaner burning fuels have started to decrease pollution in the areas where the peppered moth lives. The black soot no longer settles on the trees. As expected, the light peppered moth has recently been more common in the population. This is because it is better camouflaged.

1What do we know about the rattlesnake in a desert?

A.It almost has no enemies.

B.It attacks travelers often.

C.It stands out against the environment.

D.It is good at making its presence unknown.

2The underlined word "This" in Paragraph 3 refers " "

A.the soot-darkened tree

B.the Industrial Revolution

C.dark-colored moths staying camouflaged

D.light-colored moths facing more enemies

3What did the Clean Air Act bring about?

A.Damage to local ecology.B.More observations of moths.

C.An increase in the variety of moth species.D.A decrease in the number of dark-colored moths.

4What is the text mainly about?

A.Camouflage in the animal world.B.The battle between two moth species.

C.The influence of the Industrial Revolution.D.An excellent example of environmental adaptation.

【题目】Surprising uses for lemons

Lemons are tasty and healthy, but they are simply so much more than for making lemonade. 1

Lemons are used to refresh and clean a cutting board.

With garlic and onions being used widely in cooking, the struggle of washing the unpleasant smell out of a cutting board is something many people can relate to. But not only that, the cutting board can be home to all sorts of harmful bacteria.

2 Cut one in half and press the fruit against the board, wipe hard until the juices flow over the board, wash and enjoy your lemon-fresh cutting board.

Lemons are used to unclog a drain(疏通排水管).

First, several lemons are squeezed for their juices into a cup, then the drain is washed with boiling water before being filled with half a box of baking soda(苏打). Lemon juice is poured over the baking soda, causing it to bubble. 3

Another part of your kitchen you can clean with lemons is your microwave.

Putting some lemon juice into a cup of water and microwaving for 5 minutes not only loosens up stains in the microwave so they are easily wiped away, but leaves a fresh smell behind.

4

If you are lucky enough to have a dishwasher in your house, you can freshen things up by putting a few lemon slices into your dishwasher.

Lemons can be used to create a homemade face scrub(磨砂膏).

First, you need three tablespoons of olive oil, the juice of a lemon, two tablespoons of honey and half a cup of sugar.5 After the time is up, wash to brighten your skin.

A.Luckily, life has brought us lemons.

B.After 15 minutes, water flows smoothly.

C.Here are some different uses for the fruit.

D.Then combine, apply and leave on the face for 15 minutes.

E.Lemons can get rid of unpleasant smells in the kitchen.

F.Lemons can be put into your dishwasher to freshen things up.

G.Cut a lemon and squeeze it over the rubbish before throwing it away.

【题目】 The real point of human nature lies in the social bonds that we make through family, friendships, professional associations and local communities. These bonds produce a sense of common purpose and values, in which groups of people seek hard and enjoy together the things that are for the common good: a sound education, a pleasant environment to live in, a healthy population. This is what the heart of the gift economy (经济) is.

In the past, American companies operating in Japan found it difficult to attract Japanese people, even though, compared with Japanese employers, they offered more generous wages, shorter work hours and better promotion chances. But these were traditionally not so important to the employees, who did not think of their services as being ‘bought’. Rather, they felt they were entering into a long-term—“gift exchange” —relationship with their employer, which was of mutual (相互) benefit.

This relationship had many aspects. At its most basic it related the simple exchange of physical gifts. For example, if the employee got married, the company sent a gift. Another company gift which is popular among Japanese employees is the yearly company vacation. On these organized weekends co-workers share dormitories, eat together and visit the same attractions, largely at the company’s expense. For their part, the main gift given by the employees to their company is their hard work and this is why each Japanese employee gives such great attention to accuracy, and quality in their work. Even the simplest tasks are carried out with extraordinary care.

Now, neighborhood groups use online networks to share tools and skills. Someone who needs a long ladder to repair their roof does not need to go out and buy one; they simply put a message up on the neighborhood discussion board and soon a neighbor will offer theirs. Via the Internet, knowledge and advice can be shared on almost everything, from how a nuclear reactor works to how to plan your holiday. The gift economy is going through a booming time.

1What is the key point of the gift economy?

A.People’s working hard.B.People’s similar social status.

C.Sharing social interests.D.Accepting social bonds.

2Why did the Japanese show little interest in American companies?

A.The companies offered them low salaries.

B.They were difficult to get a better position.

C.The companies provided shorter vacations.

D.They didn’t want to sell their services.

3What does the yearly company vacation inspire Japanese employees to do?

A.Contribute themselves to the company.

B.Exchange physical gifts with each other.

C.Spend less money while talking vacations.

D.Organize more effective weekend parties.

4What can we infer about the gift economy from the last paragraph?

A.It is changing the Internet services.B.It benefits greatly from the Internet.

C.It is better accepted on the Internet.D.It booms the Internet development.

【题目】 In 1848 gold was found in California. Thousands of people rushed there to get some. Many people liked living there. But there wasn’t a whole lot between California (CA) and Missouri (MO), where the nearest trains ran. The train line to California wasn’t finished until 1869.

In I860 and 1861, the Pony Express was the fastest way to get news to and from the West. The trail that they rode was around 2000 miles long. It took most people weeks or months to ride that far. The Pony Express could make the trip in just ten days. Those speeds were unheard of at the time. So how did they do it? Well, they had a good system.

The Pony Express had 184 stations along the trail. The stations were around ten miles apart. This is about how far a horse could run at a gallop (疾驰) before tiring. The rider would switch to a new horse at each station. He would only take his mail pouch (邮袋) with him. Every 75-100 miles, the rider would get to a home station. At each home station, riders would rest. The mail never stopped moving, even while the horses and riders rested.

It was tough to ride for the Pony Express. Each rider had to weigh less than 125 pounds. Speed was the key. Most of the riders were teenage boys. They rode at a fast pace for up to 100 miles a day. If there were an emergency, one might have to ride 200 miles in a day.

The Pony Express filled an important role for a time, but it did not last. The Civil War started in April of 1861. On October 24th, 1861, the first telegraph line to California was finished. This linked them to the rest of the country. People could send messages in an instant. Two days later the Pony Express closed.

1Which happened first?

A.The Pony Express was started.B.The American Civil War broke out.

C.The train line to California was finished.D.Settlers rushed to California to find gold.

2How long did it take the Pony Express to send mail from CA to MO?

A.About 24 hours.B.About ten days.

C.About twenty days.D.About one month.

3What would a rider do at the home station?

A.Give his mail to a new rider.B.Rest a while and go on riding.

C.Collect new mail for customers.D.Feed the horse and check the mail.

4What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A.To prove communication industry develops rapidly.

B.To explain why horses were used to deliver mail.

C.To describe the I860 - 1861E Fastest Mail Service.

D.To tell the brave stories of the Pony Express.

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