Thousands of years ago, people didn’t know that the Earth moved. They thought the sun really did move across the sky. The Greek god Helios was said to drive the sun around the sky with his chariot（战车）. But now, these ideas have all changed. Nowadays, it is the sun that drives our “chariot” around the sky.

So what does all this mean? Well, quite simply, there is now a plane （or “chariot”） that is powered by the sun. It has special parts in its wings. These parts absorb power from the sun. They absorb so much power that they can carry on flying at night. In the Greek myths（希腊神话）, Helios had to take a break at night. It seems we’re finally even more efficient than the gods themselves.

This plane is called Solar Impulse （“太阳驱动”号）. It will fly across the US in May. This is very important for the future of the world.

So why is solar energy so good for us? Well, other kinds of energy cause a few problems. If you live in China, you’ve probably noticed the pollution. This is caused by burning coal or gas to make energy. The heat and chemicals（化学制品）from this make things work. But if we use the heat from the sun, we don’t have to burn anything, and there’s no pollution.

Solar energy is not all there yet. It needs to be improved. But the best thing about it is that, unlike coal and gas, it doesn’t run out. Solar Impulse could keep flying forever. Well, actually, the sun will run out too, one day, but not for another 5 billion years. That’s a pretty long flight.

1.What does “chariot” really refer to in the last sentence of Paragraph 1?

A．The Earth.         B．The Greek god.     C．Solar Impulse.      D．Birds.

2.Which of the following is TRUE of Solar Impulse?

A．It can only fly at night.                    B．It has already flown across the US.

C．It is powered by the sun.                  D．It needs gas to work.

3.In the passage, what is mentioned as the cause of pollution in China?

A．Overpopulation.                        B．Burning coal or gas.

C．Using solar energy.                      D．Heavy traffic.

4.What does the writer mean by “That’s a pretty long flight”?

A．It takes a lot of time to get Solar Impulse going.

B．Solar Impulse moves very slowly.

C．Solar Impulse will be in use for a long time.

D．Solar Impulse has a long way to go to take the place of the sun.

5.The passage is most probably taken from___________.

A．a Greek myth      B．a science fiction     C．a story-book       D．a science magazine

1.Holly: How I miss the clear water and fresh air in my childhood! But everything has changed, that is, the clear water and fresh air are nowhere to be found again as they were. Above all, a great deal of waste hardly rots(腐烂) away.

2.Jimmy: More and more people are beginning to have a good knowledge of the

importance of a safer and cleaner environment, which in turn forces the business to be cleaned up.

3.Samantha: Organic products(有机产品) are getting more and more popular among people, but we should know the fact that organic products might also do harm to our health in some way.

4.Patria: I’m very much fond of growing some vegetables of my own in my small garden, for many vegetables on sale in markets are actually becoming more and more dangerous as a result of widespread pesticides(农药).

5.Derrick: Nowadays it is very convenient for consumers to find and buy green food in supermarkets as they are clearly marked.

E．Only a few years ago, it was impossible to find green products in supermarkets, but now there are hundreds．Some supermarket products carry labels(标签) to show that the product is green．Some companies have emphasized it in their advertising that their products are clean and safe enough for people.

F．The concern for a safer and cleaner environment is making companies rethink how they do business．No longer will the public accept the old attitude of "Buy it, use it, throw it away, and forget it." The public pressure is on, and gradually business is cleaning up its act.

完形填空。（每小题2分，共20分）

根据短文内容，从A、B、C、D 四个选项中选出一个能正确填入相应空格内的最佳答案，并把答题卡上对应题目的答案标号涂黑。

Why do we take school trips? School trips are a great chance to learn outside the classroom      41      new and interesting ways. For example, on a trip to a farm, we can see   42          of the things we        43     about so far in biology lessons. While   44       science

museums, we can see science in action.

Where can we go on a school trip? In Japan, cherry (樱花) trees are blossoming (开花) by the beginning of the year for students to take school trips. School children have picnic lunches, sing songs and dance under the trees. They       45    go boating and hiking around the lakes and hills. Some kids even take baths in hot springs. If there is     46     , don’t worry. They will go to a museum     47     .

In China, students often take school   48     to parks, museums or to visit a mountain. But nowadays it’s very popular to take an outward bound(野外拓展) trip.  Students can learn about survival skills.(生存技能)

In the UK, students go to many interesting places. They     49     shells(贝壳) on the seaside . Kids may also learn about      50        when they go to a castle(城堡) or a famous old home.

1..

完形填空。（每小题2分，共20分）
根据短文内容，从A、B、C、D 四个选项中选出一个能正确填入相应空格内的最佳答案，并把答题卡上对应题目的答案标号涂黑。
Why do we take school trips? School trips are a great chance to learn outside the classroom      41      new and interesting ways. For example, on a trip to a farm, we can see   42          of the things we        43     about so far in biology lessons. While   44       science
museums, we can see science in action.
Where can we go on a school trip? In Japan, cherry (樱花) trees are blossoming (开花) by the beginning of the year for students to take school trips. School children have picnic lunches, sing songs and dance under the trees. They       45    go boating and hiking around the lakes and hills. Some kids even take baths in hot springs. If there is     46     , don’t worry. They will go to a museum     47     .
In China, students often take school   48     to parks, museums or to visit a mountain. But nowadays it’s very popular to take an outward bound(野外拓展) trip.  Students can learn about survival skills.(生存技能)
In the UK, students go to many interesting places. They     49     shells(贝壳) on the seaside . Kids may also learn about      50        when they go to a castle(城堡) or a famous old home.
【小题1】.