For more than twenty years scientists have been searching for signs of life on other planets. Most of these searches have been done over the radio. The hope is that someone on outer space may be trying to get in touch with us. Scientists also have sent radio and television messages on spaceships travelling through space, on the chance that someone may be receptive to such messages.

Scientists are using powerful radio telescopes to listen to signals from about 1,000 stars, all within 100 light years of earth. In addition, they will scan the entire sky to “listen” for radio messages from more distant stars. Using a computer, they will be able to monitor more than eight channels at one time. Scientists are looking for any signal that stands out from the background noise.

Of the 200 billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy(银河星系), scientist find that five percent are like our sun. Perhaps half of them have a planet like earth. Such a planet would be a reasonable distance from the star for temperatures to be right for the evolution of life. Based on the inhabitable (that can be lived in) planets in our galaxy, most scientists agree that chances are likely that one or more of these planets supports some life.

However, many scientists wonder whether intelligent life exists on other planets. Some believe that twenty years of searching without any intelligible message shows that no one is out there. They say that the evolution of intelligence comparable to ours is unlikely.

Other scientists believe that our search hasn’t been long enough to rule out the possibility that intelligent life exists in our galaxy. Although our sun family is about 20 billion years old. In that time, some scientists think it is likely that civilizations much more advanced than ours have developed. Perhaps these civilizations send us no signals; perhaps we have not recognized the signals they have sent us. If we hope to find intelligent life, these scientists believe that we have to keep looking.

1. According to the passage, how many planets in our galaxy might be inhabitable?

A. 5 billion.　　　　　　 B. 10 billion.

C. 15 billion.　　　　　　 D. 200 billion.

2. The first paragraph in this passage is mainly about 　　　　 .

A. how scientists are looking for signs of life on other planets

B. why scientists are looking for signs of life on other planets

C. where scientists are looking for signs of life on other planets

D. when scientists are looking for signs of life on other planets

3. The underlined word “monitor” in the second paragraph means “　　　　 ”.

A. find　 B. follow　 C. check　 D. form

4. Which of these statements is TRUE based on the information in the passage?

A. The earth is one of the oldest planets in our galaxy.

B. Most scientists believe that there is intelligent life on other planets.

C. Scientists are trying different ways to find signs of life on other planets.

D. Scientists don’t believe that there might be life on other planets.

The True Story of Treasure Island

It was always thought that Treasure Island was the product of Robert Louis Stevenson’s imagination. ___1___，recent research has found the true story of this exciting work.

Stevenson, a Scotsman, had lived　 2　 for many years in 1881 he returned to Scotland for a　 3　 . With him were his American wife Fanny and his son　 4　　 .

Each morning Stevenson would take them out for a long　 5　 over the hills. They had been　 6　 this for several days before the weather suddenly took a turn for the worse, Kept indoors by the heavy rain. Lloyd felt the days　 7　 . To keep the boy happy Robert asked the boy to do some　 8　 .

One morning, the boy came to Robert with a beautiful map of an island. Robert　 9　 that the boy had drawn a large cross in the middle of　 10　 . “What’s that?” he asked “That’s the　 11　 treasure “said the boy Robert suddenly　 12　 something of an adventure story in the boy’s　 13　 While the rain was pouring, Robert sat down by the fire to write a story. He would make the　 14　 a twelve-year-old boy just like Lloyd. But who would he the pirate（海盗）?

Robert had a good friend named Henley, who walked around with the　 15　 of a wooden leg. Robert had always wanted to　 16　 such a man in a story 17　 Long John Silver the pirate with a wooden leg, was　 18　 .

So thanks to a　 19　 .September in Scotland a friend with a wooden leg and the imagination of a twelve-year-old boy we have one of the greatest　 20　 stories in the English language.

难易度：难

1．A．However B．Therefore C．Besides D．Finally

2．A．alone　 B．next door C．at home D．abroad

3．A．meeting B．story　 C．holiday D．jib

4．A．Lloyd　 B．Robert C．Henley D．John

5．A．talk B．rest　 C．walk　 D．game

6．A．attempting B．missing C．planning　 D．enjoying

7．A．quiet　 B．dull　 C．busy　 D．cold

8．A．cleaning B．writing C．drawing D．exercising

9．A．doubted B．noticed C．decided D．recognized

10．A．the sea B．the house C．Scotland　 D．the island

11．A．forgotten B．buried C．discovered D．unexpected

12．A．saw B．drew　 C．made　 D．learned

13．A．book　 B．reply　 C．picture D．mind

14．A．star　 B．hero　 C．writer D．child

15．A．help　 B．problem C．use D．bottom

16．A．praise B．produce C．include D．accept

17．A．Yet B．Also　 C．But D．Thus

18．A．read　 B．born　 C．hired　 D．written

19．A．rainy B．sunny　 C．cool　 D．windy

20．A．news　 B．love　 C．real-life D．adventure

EVENTS(赛事)

Bicycle tour and race

　  A bike tour and race will be held on August 26 and 27(Sat. & Sun. ). At 5:30am, the riders will leave Tian'anmen Square and ride the first 35 kilometers as a training leg. Then the next 55 kilometers leg, from Yanjiao to Jixian, will be the first competitive part of the tour. The riders and their bikes will then be taken from Jixian to Changli.

　　The second racing leg of the tour will be from Changli to the seaside of Nandaibe, covering a distance of 20 kilometers. Saturday night includes the stay at Nandaihe and supper. Sunday morning is free for play at the seaside. At noon all the people and their bikes will be taken back to Beijing.

　　Cost: 200 Yuan   Telephone: 4675027

Brazilian footballers

　　The Brazilian Football Club will play Beijing Guo'an Team at the Workers Stadium on August 26. The club has four national team players. Also coming is 1994 US World Cup star　Romario ho has promised to play for at least 45 minutes.

　　Ticket prices: 60,100,150 Yuan

　　Time/Date: 4:30 pm, August 26(Sat.)   Telephone:  5012372

Rock climbing

The Third National Rock Climbing Competition will be held on August 26-27 at the Huairou Mountain-climbing Training Base. More than 10 teams from Beijing, Wuhan, Dalian, Jilin and other places will take part in it. A Japanese team will give an exhibition climbing. Free for spectators(观众).

　　Take a long-distance bus from Dongzhimen to Huairou.

　　Time/Dates: 9-12 am, August 26 and 27

　　Telephone: 7143177, 7144850, Wang Zhenghua

1. If you take part in the bike tour, you will ride for _________.

   A. 35 kilometers          B. 55 kilometers   C. 75 kilometers     D. 110 kilometers

2. The underlined word "leg" in "Bicycle tour and race" probably means ________.

   A. race 　    B. practice          C. part of the training   　  D. part of the tour

3. What is special about the Rock climbing competition?

   A. A foreign team takes part in it.      　　

B. You can watch it without paying.

C. You don't have to be a sportsman to take part.

D. The bus trip to the place of the competition is free.

4. If you want to find something to do for Saturday afternoon, which telephone number will you call?

A. 4675027　　　　B. 7143177         C. 5012372　　　　D. 7144850

The pop star walked out of the stage, ____ her hands elegantly to her crazy fans.

A. waving　 B. was waving C. waved　 D. to wave

   There are many kinds of friends. Some are always    36    you, but don't understand you. Some say only a few words to you, but understand you. Many people will step in your life, but only    37    friends leave footprints.

    I shall always recall（回忆）the autumn and the girl with the    38 . She will always bring back the friendship between us. I know she will always be my best friend.

    It was the golden season. I could see the yellow leaves    39    on the cool   40  . In such a season, I liked walking alone in the leaves,   41  to the sound of them.

    Autumn is a   42  season and life is uninteresting. The free days always get me   43  . But one day, the sound of a violin   44   into my ears like a stream (小溪) flowing in the mountains. I was so surprised that I jumped to see what it was. A young girl, standing in the wind, was   45   in playing her violin.

    I had   46   seen her before. The music was so nice that I listened quietly. Lost in the music, I didn't know that I had been   47   there for so long but my existence (存在) did not seem to disturb her.

    Leaves were still falling. Every day she played the violin in the corner of the building   48  I went downstairs to watch her performance. I was the only listener. The autumn seemed no longer lonely and life became   49   .  50   we didn't know each other, I thought we were already good friends. I believe she also loved me.

    Autumn was nearly over. One day, when I was listening carefully, the sound suddenly 51 . To my astonishment (惊讶), the girl came over to me.

   “You must like violin.” she said.

   “Yes. And you play very well. Why did you stop?” I asked.

    Suddenly, a  52   expression appeared on her face and I could feel something unusual.

    “I came here to see my grandmother, but now I must leave. I once played very badly. It was your listening every day that   53   me.” she said.

    “In fact, it was your playing  54   gave me a meaningful autumn,” I answered, “Let's be friends.”

    The girl smiled, and so did I.

    I never heard her play again in my life. I no longer went downstairs to listen like before. Only thick leaves were left behind. But I will always remember the fine figure (身影) of the girl. She is like a  55   —so short, so bright, like a shooting star giving off so much light that it makes the autumn beautiful.

36. A. for        B. against     C.to        D. with

37. A. good      B. true        C. new      D. old

38. A. sound     B. song        C. violin    D. play          

39. A. shaking    B. hanging     C. falling    D. floating

40. A. wind      B. snow       C. air       D. rain

41.A.watching 　 B. seeing      C.listening   D. hearing

42. A. lively  　  B. lovely      C. harvest    D. lonely

43. A. up        B. down       C off        D. over

44. A. flowed     B. grew       C. entered    D. ran

45. A. active      B lost        C. busy       D. interested

46.A. never       B. once       C. often      D. usually

47. A. waiting     B. stopping    C. standing    D. hearing

48. A. because     B. so         C. when      D. but

49. A. moving     B. encouraging   C . exciting  D. interesting

50. A. But        B. Though      C. However   D. Even          

51. A. stopped      B. began       C. gone      D. changed

52. A. happy        B. sad        C. strange     D. surprised

53. A encouraged    B. surprised    C. excited     D. interested

54. A. which        B. it          C. that       D. who

55. A. song         B. fire         C.  sister    D. dream