B

Unless we spend money to spot and prevent asteroids (小行星) 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 weapons. But the cost wouldn't be cheap.?

  Is 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.

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 than meteoroids.

  [ D ].Asteroids are more mysterious than meteoroids.

2. We can conclude from the passage that_____ .

  [ 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.

3. Which of the following best describes the author's tone in this pass age?

  [ A ]. Optimistic.  [ B ]. Critical.  [ C ]. Objective.  [ D ]. Arbitrary.

Unless we spend money to spot and prevent asteroids (小行星) 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 weapons. But the cost wouldn't be cheap.
  Is 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.

31. 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 than meteoroids.         D. Asteroids are more mysterious than meteoroids.
32. We can conclude from the passage that_____.
  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.
33. Which of the following best describes the author's tone in this pass age?
  A. Optimistic.              B. Critical.                     C. Objective.         D. Arbitrary.

MONTREAL（Reuters）—Crossing the US－Canada border（边界） to go to church on a Sunday cost a US citizen $10 000 for breaking Washington’s strict new security（安全） rules.

The expensive trip to church was a surprise for Richard Albert，who lives right on the Canadian border. Like the other half-dozen people of Township 15，crossing the border is a daily occurrence for Albert. The nearby Quebec village of St.Pamphile is where they shop，eat and go to church.

There are many such situations in these areas along the largely unguarded 5530－mile border between Canada and the US—which in some cases actually runs down the middle of streets or through buildings.

As a result，Albert says he did not expect any problems three weeks ago when he returned home to the US after attending church in Canada，as usual. The US customs（海关） station in this area is closed on Sundays，so he just drove around the locked gate，as he had done every weekend since the gate appeared last May，following a tightening of border security. Two days later，Albert was told to go to the customs office，where an officer told him he had been caught on camera crossing the border illegally（非法）.

Ottawa has given out special passes to some 300 US citizens in that area so they can enter the country when Canadian customs stations are closed，but the US stopped a similar program last May. That forces the people to a 200－mile detour along hilly roads to get home through another border checkpoint.

Albert has requested that the customs office change their decisions on the fine，but he has not attended a Sunday church since.“I feel like I’m living in a prison，”he said.

We learn from the text that Richard Albert is ________.

A. an American living in Township 15

B. a Canadian living in a Quebec village

C. a Canadian working in a customs station

D. an American working in a Canadian church

Albert was fined because he ________.

A. failed to obey traffic rules

B. broke the American security rules

C. worked in St.Pamphile without a pass

D. damaged the gate of the customs office

The underlined word “detour” in Paragraph 5 means ________.

A. a drive through the town                 B. a race across the fields

C. a roundabout way of traveling         D. a journey in the mountain area

What would be the best title for the text?

A. A Cross－country Trip                    B. A Special Border Pass

C. An Unguarded Border                     D. An Expensive Church Visit

.Everybody likes a winner, and there are always people ready to cheer for a good winner. But who has ever heard a song for the man who comes in second？ So this is in praise of the almost winner, the nearly champion（冠军）, the next to the biggest, the second best. This is the song of Mister Two.

You hear unflattering（不讨好人的）names for Mister Two. “Alsoran”, they call him, and “runner­up”, names that make you think of a fellow who couldn’t quite make it. Don’t let that fool you. Ask the winner of any race how good a man Mister Two is. He will tell you it’s Mister Two who made him run so fast, Mister Two is always threatening to overtake and pass him.

Ask the salesman who won the contest and what kept him looking for extra order. Ask the directors of the big company why they keep changing their product, seeking the new equipment, the added advantage. What drives them？ What keeps them going？ It’s the salesman with nearly as many orders. It is the company with the product almost as good. It’s Mister Two.

In this country, we’re proud of the quality of our champions. Our big men come very big. Our fast men run very fast. Our wise men are the wisest and our greatest men are the greatest that a country could hope to be blessed with. And why is that？ It is Mister Two that makes the race always open and everybody can run. So this is for you, Mister Two. This is your song. This is for all the days you tried for first, and came in second. It’s for the nights when you wonder if you ought to go on trying, since nobody seems to notice.

We notice, Mister Two. We know the score. Winner or not, you’re a natural champion. There couldn’t be a race without you, Mister Two.

1.People usually call Mister Two unflattering names to　　　　him.

A. praise  B. encourage      C. laugh at      D. respect

2.According to the author, Mister Two is mentioned in connection with the following except　　　　.

A. business   B. sports       C. greatness    D. failure

3.It is implied in this story that　　　　.

A. Mister Two is as important as the winner

B. every leader needs someone to help him

C. the second today must be the first tomorrow

D. second place is always praised

4.The person who wins needs to understand that　　　　.

A. winning is everything

B. being Mister Two is wonderful

C. without Mister Two he would do better

D. without strong competition he wouldn’t have worked so hard

One winter during college in New York, I took an 8 am history class to fulfill a requirement. It was 36 to get up for that class, but every morning I would 37 the cold winds and went to the lecture.

The professor for the class would step 38 into the room. He was terribly nervous about the class and always fixed his eyes on his book, never 39 us.

I felt that I needed to do something to 40 the boredom, so I tried to find something in his lecture to ask him, 41 me to pay attention rather than letting my eyes close. The first time 42 I raised my hand, he was surprised but was obviously 43 to have a question to answer. I continued to do this every day. The professor seemed to become a bit more 44 and some other students even joined in. In fact, his answers were always 45. In this way, I learned quite a lot and realized the professor was indeed a/an 46 in his field.

On the last day of class we 47 our books and headed out. The professor stepped directly in front of me, with obvious 48, putting out his hand. He said, “49 you for making my class so interesting,” shaking my hand and smiling. I was so 50. To me, it had been a pleasant way to 51 the time in his lesson. I had no idea that my 52 had any effect on him or the others at all.

That 53 has stayed with me for 30 years. I don’t 54 the fact I learned in his class, but I’ll never forget the professor who taught me a lesson about the 55 of acts of kindness, indeed or not.