Why should mankind explore space? Why should money, time and effort be spent exploring and researching something with so few apparent benefits? Why should resources be spent on space rather than on conditions and people on Earth? These are questions that, understandably, are very often asked．

Perhaps the best answer lies in our genetic makeup（基因构成） as human beings．What drove our ancestors to move from the trees into the plains, and on into all possible areas and environments? The wider the spread of' a species, the better its chance of' survival． Perhaps the best reason for exploring space is this genetic tendency to expand wherever possible． Nearly every successful civilization has explored, because by doing so, any dangers in surrounding areas can be identified and prepared for． Without knowledge, we may be completely destroyed by the danger． With knowledge, we can lessen its effects．

Exploration also allows minerals and other potential（潜在的） resources to be found．Even if' we have no immediate need of them, they will perhaps be useful later． Resources may be more than physical possessions． Knowledge or techniques have been acquired through exploration．The techniques may have medical applications which can improve the length or quality of our lives．We have already benefited from other spin-offs including improvements in earthquake prediction, in satellites for weather forecasting and in communications systems． Even non-stick pans and mirrored sunglasses are by-products （副产品） of technological developments in the space．

While many resources are spent on what seems a small return, the exploration of' space us．While space may hold many wonders and explanations of how the universe was formed or how it works, it also holds dangers． The danger exists, but knowledge can help human being to survive． Without the ability to reach out across space, the chance to save ourselves might not exist．

While Earth is the only planet known to support life, surely the adaptive ability of humans would allow us to live on other planets． It is true that the lifestyle would be different, but human life and cultures have adapted in the past and surely could in the future．

1.Why does the author mention the questions in Paragraphl ?

    A．To express his doubts．

    B．To introduce points for discussion．

    C．To compare different ideas．

    D．To describe the conditions on Earth．

2.What is the reason for exploring space based on Paragraph2 ?

    A．Humans are nature-born to do so．

    B．Humans have the tendency to fight．

    C．Humans may find new sources of food．

    D．Humans don't like to stay in the same place．

3.The underlined word “spin-offs” in Paragraph 3 probably refers to        ．

    A．survival chances        B．potential resources

    C．unexpected benefits     D．physical possessions

4.What makes it possible for humans to live on other planets'?

    A．Our genetic makeup．         B．The adaptive ability of' humans．

    C．Resources on the earth．     D．By-products in space exploration．

5.Which of the following statements can best sum up the passage'?

    A．Space exploration has created many wonders．

    B．Space exploration provided the best value for money．

    C．Space exploration can benefit science and technology．

    D．Space exploration may help us avoid potential problems on Earth．

Scholars and researchers have tried to discover what personality characteristics go along with success in intercultural(跨文化的)experiences. Their findings have often been unclear or incomplete. But three characteristics stand out in their reports: patience, a sense of humor, and the awareness (意识, 认识)of being unclear.

   Patience, of course, is the ability to keep calm even when things do not go as one wants them to, or hopes they will, or has even been sure they will. Impatience sometimes brings improvements in relations with other people, but usually it does not.

   A person with a sense of humor is less likely to take things too seriously and more ready to see the humor in his own reactions than a humorless person. The value of a sense of humor really needs to be paid more attention to.

   The awareness of being unclear is a more difficult concept than patience or a sense of humor. Foreigners often find themselves in situations that are unclear to the newcomers. That is, they do not know what is happening in the situation. Perhaps they do not understand the local language well enough, or they do not know how some system or organization works, or they can’t be sure of different people’s roles in what is going on. “It’s like I just got here from the moon,” a Chinese graduate student who newly arrived in the United States said, “things are just so different here.”

1.The passage mainly tells us        .

2. According to the passage, what characteristic should be most focused on?

3.“The awareness of being unclear” refers to        .

4.According to the writer, the Chinese students are        .

5.Which of the following can best sum up the passage?

Why should mankind explore space? Why should money, time and effort be spent exploring and researching something with so few apparent benefits? Why should resources be spent on space rather than on conditions and people on Earth? These are questions that, understandably, are very often asked.
Perhaps the best answer lies in our genetic makeup(基因构成) as human beings. What drove our ancestors to move from the trees into the plains, and on into all possible areas and environments? The wider the spread of a species, the better its chance of survival. Perhaps the best reason for exploring space is this genetic tendency to expand wherever possible.
Nearly every successful civilization has explored, because by doing so, any dangers in surrounding areas can be identified and prepared for. Without knowledge, we may be completely destroyed by the danger. With knowledge, we can lessen its effects.
Exploration also allows minerals and other potential (潜在的) resources to be found. Even if we have no immediate need of them, they will perhaps be useful later. Resources may be more than physical possessions. Knowledge or techniques have been acquired through exploration. The techniques may have medical applications which can improve the length or quality of our lives. We have already benefited from other spin-offs including improvements in earthquake prediction, in satellites for weather forecasting and in communications systems. Even non-stick pans and mirrored sunglasses are by-products (副产品) of technological developments in the space, the chance to save ourselves might not exist.
While many resources are spent on what seems a small return, the exploration of space allows creative, brave and intelligent members of our species to focus on what may serve to save us. While space may hold many wonders and explanations of how the universe was formed or how it works, it also holds dangers. The danger exists, but knowledge can help human being to survive. Without the ability to reach out across space, the chance to save ourselves might not exist
While Earth is the only planet known to support life, surely the adaptive ability of humans would allow us to live on other planets. It is true that the lifestyle would be different, but human life and cultures have adapted in the past and surely could in the future.
【小题1】Why does the author mention the questions in Paragraph1?

Why should mankind explore space? Why should money, time and effort be spent exploring and researching something with so few apparent benefits? Why should resources be spent on space rather than on conditions and people on Earth? These are questions that, understandably, are very often asked．

Perhaps the best answer lies in our genetic makeup（基因构成）as human beings．What drove our ancestors to move from the trees into the plains, and on into all possible areas and environments? The wider the spread of a species, the better its chance of survival．Perhaps the best reason for exploring space is this genetic tendency to expand wherever possible．

Nearly every successful civilization has explored, because by doing so, any dangers in surrounding areas can be identified and prepared for．Without knowledge, we may be completely destroyed by the danger．With knowledge, we can lessen its effects．

Exploration also allows minerals and other potential （潜在的）resources to be found．Even if we have no immediate need of them, they will perhaps be useful later．Resources may be more than physical possessions．Knowledge or techniques have been acquired through exploration．The techniques may have medical applications which can improve the length or quality of our lives．We have already benefited from other spin-offs including improvements in earthquake prediction, in satellites for weather forecasting and in communications systems．Even non-stick pans and mirrored sunglasses are by-products （副产品）of technological developments in the space industry!

While many resources are spent on what seems a small return, the exploration of space allows creative, brave and intelligent members of our species to focus on what may serve to save us．While space may hold many wonders and explanations of how the universe was formed or how it works, it also holds dangers．The danger exists, but knowledge can help human being to survive．Without the ability to reach out across space, the chance to save ourselves might not exist．

While Earth is the only planet known to support life, surely the adaptive ability of humans would allow us to live on other planets．It is true that the lifestyle would be different, but human life and cultures have adapted in the past and surely could in the future．

1.Why does the author mention the questions in Paragraph1?

A．To express his doubts．                  B．To compare different ideas．

C．To introduce points for discussion．         D．To describe the conditions on Earth．

2.What is the reason for exploring space based on Paragraph2?

A．Humans are nature-born to do so．         B．Humans have the tendency to fight．

C．Humans may find new sources of food．      D．Humans don't like to stay in the same place．

3.The underlined word "spin-offs" in Paragraph 4 probably refers to______．

A．survival chances    B．potential resources  C．unexpected benefits D．physical possessions

4.What makes it possible for humans to live on other planets?

A．Our genetic makeup．                   B．Resources on the earth．

C．The adaptive ability of humans．            D．By-products in space exploration．

5.Which of the statements can best sum up the passage?

A．Space exploration has created many wonders．

B．Space exploration provided the best value for money．

C．Space exploration can benefit science and technology.

D．Space exploration may help us avoid potential problems on Earth.

Scholars and researchers have tried to discover what personality characteristics go along with success in intercultural experiences. Their findings have often been unclear or incomplete. But three characteristics stand out in their reports: patience, a sense of humor, and the awareness of being unclear.

Patience, of course, is the ability to keep calm even when things do not go as one wants them to, or hopes they will, or has even been sure they will. Impatience sometimes brings improvements in relations with other people, but usually it does not.

A person with a sense of humor is less likely to take things too seriously and more ready to see the humor in his own reactions than a humorless person. The value of a sense of humor really needs to be paid more attention to.

The awareness of being unclear is a more difficult concept than patience or a sense of humor. Foreigners often find themselves in situations that are unclear to the newcomers. That is, they do not know what is happening in the situation. Perhaps they do not understand the local language well enough, or they do not know how some system or organization works, or they can’t be sure of different people’s roles in what is going on. “It’s like I just got here from the moon,” a Chinese graduate student who newly arrived in the United States said, “things are just so different here.”

1.The passage mainly tells us              .

A. that it’s not easy to travel abroad

B. that humor is very important in communication

C. of some characteristics in dealing with foreigners

D. of three main ways useful for communicating with foreigners

2.According to the passage, what characteristic should be most focused on?

A. Patience.                                B. The awareness of being unclear.

C. The sense of humor.                      D. Understanding each other.

3.“The awareness of being unclear” refers to            .

A. knowing the meaning of an exact situation

B. not stating clearly what happens

C. realizing the possible misunderstanding in a situation

D. being aware of the unclear situation

4.According to the writer, the Chinese students is            .

A. a hard-working student                   B. recently back from the moon

C. interested in the study of moon          D. not used to the culture in America

5.Which of the following can best sum up the passage?

A. It is necessary to learn the language before you go to the country.

B. Americans are used to the culture of other countries.

C. One needs many characteristics to live in a foreign country.

D. To live in a foreign land one should get fully prepared.[