Do you believe that there might be life on other planets? Would you like to be the first “Earthling” to get in touch with an alien? Well, you can start your search from home. All you need is a  computer and the Internet, and you can join the project of the US-based  National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA).

   NASA started the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) project eight years ago. Its goal is to examine the radio signals (信号) from nearby stars. Researchers believe that a large number of stars in the universe could have planets orbiting (circling) around them. And they want to know if these planets have conditions suitable for life forms.

   How does the project work? There is a huge radio telescope with a large bowl-shaped dish at Arecibo, Puerto Rico. It catches radio signals which are then fed in to SETI computers. The researchers have to study thousands of radio signals daily. They are looking for signals whose patterns (模式）would show the existence（存在）of hydrogen or water molecules that are necessary for life on Earth. They could be at it for years before showing a single positive result!

   Of course, even the researchers know that they cannot do a fast job on their own. So they want as many helpers as possible. Even you ! To join search, just download SETI’s free software (SETI @home). What happens next is fun. While you are away from your computer, the SETI program in your computer downloads the information on radio signals received by the radio telescope. It studies the information and send the result back to the research center.

   There are other benefits too of having the SETI project software in your computer. When you leave your computer unattended, instead of seeing the usual screen saver, you can feast your eyes on an amazing 3-D chart on the screen. This shows that your computer is busy studying SETI data and searching for signs of alien life!

   More than 1824500 people around the world are currently in the program and more are joining in every day. It’s slim chance, but wouldn’t it be fantastic if your computer were to be the first to discover an alien signal!

53. Why do researchers examine the radio signals from nearby stars?

A. They plan to help people who live on the stars.       

B. They need to make sure that the stars have planets.      

C. They have to keep in touch with the aliens on the stars.      

D. They wonder if the stars’ planets are suitable for life forms.

54. What does a helper’s computer do in the research?

A. It finds the radio signals.        B. It looks for other planets.      

C. It shows a positive result.        D. It studies the information.

55. What’s the writer’s purpose in writing the passage?

A. To prove the value of a research.        B. To invite people to join a project.       

C. To suggest the existence of aliens.       D. To advise people to study planets.

When do you think of a forest, what do you see? Just trees? Or do you see many other things, such as singing birds, colorful plants and wild flowers?
The forest is a whole world of its own. It is full of many different living things(生物). But even though they are all different, they have one thing in common: they all need each other in order to live on.
The trees feed the forest “people” by making food in their leaves; by using sunlight to join water and minerals(矿物) from the soil and air. Their deep network of roots joins the soil together and stops it from dying out, making it possible for living things to live in it.
Human beings(人类) are like the living things in the forest. We need one another in order to live. We need the farmers to grow our food, railroad and truck drivers to bring it to our shops and clerks(售货员) to sell it to us. We need people to prepare our food and cook it and others to take our waste things away. Then, of course, we need doctors, nurses, government leaders, mailmen, telephone operators, and many others.
We also need other human beings in another way. We need people for friendship, to talk over our problems, exchange ideas. Think how lonely and unhappy you would be if you lived all alone.
Life is a matter of giving and taking. We need to help other people as much as we need other people to help us. Think what a good feeling you have when you have done something for someone else!
【小题1】According to the text, colorful plants and flowers live on _____.

When do you think of a forest, what do you see? Just trees? Or do you see many other things, such as singing birds, colorful plants and wild flowers?

The forest is a whole world of its own. It is full of many different living things(生物). But even though they are all different, they have one thing in common: they all need each other in order to live on.

The trees feed the forest “people” by making food in their leaves; by using sunlight to join water and minerals(矿物) from the soil and air. Their deep network of roots joins the soil together and stops it from dying out, making it possible for living things to live in it.

Human beings(人类) are like the living things in the forest. We need one another in order to live. We need the farmers to grow our food, railroad and truck drivers to bring it to our shops and clerks(售货员) to sell it to us. We need people to prepare our food and cook it and others to take our waste things away. Then, of course, we need doctors, nurses, government leaders, mailmen, telephone operators, and many others.

We also need other human beings in another way. We need people for friendship, to talk over our problems, exchange ideas. Think how lonely and unhappy you would be if you lived all alone.

Life is a matter of giving and taking. We need to help other people as much as we need other people to help us. Think what a good feeling you have when you have done something for someone else!

1.According to the text, colorful plants and flowers live on _____.

2. It is the ____ that make it possible for living things to live in the forest.

3.According to the writer, human beings are ______ the forest “people”.

4.The writer mainly wants to tell us_______.

5. Which one is the relationship(关系) between a forest and your life？

How much do you know about school life in Singapore?

In Singapore, many middle school students spend a lot of time on their studies. People always think that good schooling is the ticket to success (成功). So, many of these students try their best to get good results in their exams. They have a lot of homework every day and exams are usually a big problem to them. Sometimes, a few even have to go to evening classes after school.

Schools have many activities outside school hours. The students can join in sports and games, music and dance, swimming and rock-climbing. They also join in community service（社区服务)

In their free time, most students like to listen to pop music. Hollywood movies, Hong Kong and Singapore movies are very popular, too. Some of them also spend their free time searching the Internet, e-mailing their friends, playing computer and video games.

They sometimes go to cafes, fast-food restaurants, shopping centers and big bookstores.

So life for middle school students in Singapore is not easy but rich and colorful.

53. _______go to evening classes after school in Singapore.

     A. All of the students                   B. Few of the students

     C. A few of the students                 D. Most of the students

54. Which of the following is not mentioned(提到) that the students can do outside school hours?

    A. Doing sports and playing games.        B. Listening to music and dancing.

    C. Going swimming and rock-climbing.     D. Visiting the museums.

55. The passage tells us that many students in Singapore would like to _______.

    A. go swimming                       B. write letters to their friends

    C. talk to their friends                   D. get good results in the exams

56. The meaning of the last sentence in the passage is that _______.

    A. the middle school students' life in Singapore is easy

    B. the middle school students' life in Singapore is amazing

    C. the middle school students' life in Singapore is boring

    D. the middle school students' life in Singapore is hard, but it's interesting