Thomas Alva Edison was awarded more patents on inventions than any other American.When he died in 1931，Americans wondered how they could best show their respect for him.One suggestion was that the nation observe a minute or two of total blackout.All electric power would be shut off in homes，streets，and factories.Perhaps this suggested plan made Americans realize fully what Edison and his inventions mean to them.Electric power was too important to the country.Shutting it off for even a short time would have led to complete confusion.A blackout was out of the question.

　 On the day of Edison’s funeral，many people silently dimmed their lights.In this way they honored the man who had done more than anyone else to put the great force of electricity at his countrymen’s fingertips.

1.This selection says that Thomas Edison　　　　 .

　 A.was the only important American inventor

　 B.received the first American patent

　 C.received more patents than any other American

　 D.was the first American inventor

2.People decided to honor Edison when　　　　 .

　 A.he made the first electric light

　 B.electric power was 100 years

　 C.the country realized electricity’s importance

　 D.he died in 1931

3.The suggested plan was to　　　　 .

　 A.turn off the lights in factories and schools

　 B.observe a few minutes of total silence

　 C.dim all electric lights

　 D.shut off all electricity for a short time

4.Americans fully realized what Edison’s inventions meant when they　　　　 .

　 A.heard of his death

　 B.heard of the plan to honor him

　 C.first used electric power

　 D.tried to carry out the plan

5.The plan was never carried out because　　　　 .

　 A.not everyone wanted to honor Edison

　 B.it was too difficult

　 C.electric power was too important to the country

　 D.it honored only one of Edison’s inventions

During World Space Week, you may learn about some of Space's myths. One is: "The Great Wall of China is the only man-made object　　1　　from space with

the naked eye(肉眼)." You might be　 2　 of this claim(说法), but it's not true.

　 3　 , astronauts say that the Great Wall is just one of many man-made　　4　 that can be seen from space.

The ISS(国际空间站)　　5　 us a new way of looking at the Earth.　 6　 an orbit of 217 kilometers above the earth,　　7　 possible to see highways, airports, bridges, dams　　8　 even large vehicles. Cities can even be seen　 9　 from the International Space Station (ISS), which　　10　 about 400 kilometers above the planet.

"You can see the Egyptian　　11　 from space with a pair of binoculars (双筒望远镜). They are a little difficult to　 12　 with just your eyes," said Ed Lu, a US astronaut aboard the ISS. From the Moon, astronauts cannot 　 13　 any man-made features on Earth and the continents are very　 14　 to see. On Mars, the Earth would appear to the naked eye as　 15　 but a bright "star".

　 16　 knows who first told the Great Wall story. The 　 17　 reference to it comes in a book by a US writer called Richard Halliburton, 　 18　 in 1938. He wrote,"Astronomers say that the Great Wall is the only man-made thing on our

　 19　 seen to the human eye from the Moon." Halliburton's books sold quite well during the first half of the 20th century. So, if he didn't 　 20　 the story himself, he certainly spread it widely.

1. A. kept B. seen C. stopped D. taken

2. A. fond B. careful C. exciting D. proud

3. A. In fact B. By hand C. Step by step D. For ever

4. A. satellites B. planes C. objects D. spaceships

5. A. gives B. lifts C. holds D. carries

6. A. Though B. Through C. Off D. From

7. A. there is B. it is C. he is D. what is

8. A. so B. and C. but D. for

9. A. clearly B. wonderfully C. fiercely D. actively

10. A. raises B. spreads C. changes D. circles

11. A. golden stones B. walls C. temples D. pyramids

12. A. break up B. take on C. pick out D. carry on

13. A. make out B. get away C. come in D. go out

14. A. hard B. easy C. good D. simple

15. A. anything B. nothing C. something D. everything

16. A. Some B. Neither C. Everybody D. No one

17. A. best B. newest C. earliest D. worst

18. A. carried B. flied C. published D. replaced

19. A. planet B. star C. moon D. plane

20. A. go up B. stand up C. set up D. make up