In times of economic crisis, Americans turn to their families for support. If the Great Depression is any guide, we may see a drop in our skyhigh divorce rate. But this won’t necessarily represent an increase in happy marriages. In the long run, the Depression weakened American families, and the current crisis will probably do the same.

　　We tend to think of the Depression as a time when families pulled together to survive huge job losses. By 1932, when nearly one-quarter of the workforce was unemployed, the divorce rate had declined by around 25% from 1929. But this doesn’t mean people were suddenly happier with their marriages. Rather, with incomes decreasing and insecure jobs, unhappy couples often couldn’t afford to divorce. They feared neither spouse could manage alone.

　　Today, given the job losses of the past year, fewer unhappy couples will risk starting separate households. Furthermore, the housing market meltdown will make it more difficult for them to finance their separations by selling their homes.

　　After financial disasters family members also tend to do whatever they can to help each other and their communities. A 1940 book “The Unemployed Man and His Family”, described a family in which the husband initially reacted to losing his job “with tireless search for work.” He was always active, looking for odd jobs to do.

　　The problem is that such an impulse is hard to sustain. Across the country, many similar families were unable to maintain the initial boost in morale(士气). For some, the hardships of life without steady work eventually overwhelmed their attempts to keep their families together. The divorce rate rose again during the rest of the decade as the recovery took hold.

　　Millions of American families may now be in the initial stage of their responses to the current crisis, working together and supporting one another through the early months of unemployment.

　　Today’s economic crisis could well generate a similar number of couples whose relationships have been irreparably(无法弥补地)ruined. So it’s only when the economy is healthy again that we’ll begin to see just how many broken families have been created.

1.In the initial stage, the current economic crisis is likely to __________.

A. tear many troubled families apart

B. bring about a drop in the divorce rate

C. contribute to enduring family ties

D. cause a lot of conflicts in the family

2.In the Great Depression many unhappy couples chose to stick together because_______.

A. starting a new family would be hard

B. they expected things would turn better

C. they wanted to better protect their kids

D. living separately would be too costly

3.In addition to job losses. What stands in the way of unhappy couples getting a divorce?

A. Mounting family debts

B. A sense of insecurity

C. Falling housing prices

D. Difficulty in getting a loan

4.What will the current economic crisis eventually do to some married couples?

A. It will irreparably damage their relationship

B. It will undermine their mutual understanding

C. It will help strengthen their emotional bonds

D. It will force them to pull their efforts together

5.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A. The economic recovery will see a higher divorce rate

B. Few couples can stand the test of economic hardships

C. A stable family is the best protection against poverty.

D. Money is the foundation of many a happy marriage

In times of economic crisis. Americans turn to their families for support. If the Great Depression is any guide, we may see a drop in our skyhigh divorce rate. But this won't necessarily represent. an increase in happy marriages. In the long run, the Depression weakened American families, and the current crisis will probably do the same.

　　We tend to think of the Depression as a time when families pulled together to survive huge job losses, By 1932. when nearly one-quarter of the workforce was unemployed, the divorce rate had declined by around 25% from 1929 But this doesn't mean people were suddenly happier with their marriages. Rather, with incomes decreasing and insecure jobs, unhappy couples often couldn't afford to divorce. They feared neither spouse could manage alone.

　　Today, given the job losses of the past year, fewer unhappy couples will risk starting separate households, Furthermore, the housing market meltdown will make it more difficult for them to finance their separations by selling their homes.

　　After financial disasters family members also tend to do whatever they can to help each other and their communities, A 1940 book. The Unemployed Man and His Family, described a family in which the husband initially reacted to losing his job "with tireless search for work."He was always active, looking for odd jobs to do.

　　The problem is that such an impulse is hard to sustain Across the country, many similar families were unable to maintain the initial boost in morale(士气). For some, the hardships of life without steady work eventually overwhelmed their attempts to keep their families together. The divorce rate rose again during the rest of the decade as the recovery took hold.

　　Millions of American families may now be in the initial stage of their responses to the current crisis, working together and supporting one another through the early months of unemployment.

　　Today's economic crisis could well generate a similar number of couples whose relationships have been irreparably(无法弥补地)ruined. So it's only when the economy is healthy again that we'll begin to see just how many broken families have been created.

1.In the initial stage, the current economic crisis is likely to __________.

A.tear many troubled families apart

B.contribute to enduring family ties

C.bring about a drop in the divorce rate

D.cause a lot of conflicts in the family

2.In the Great Depression many unhappy couples close to stick together because

A.starting a new family would be hard

B.they expected things would turn better

C.they wanted to better protect their kids

D.living separately would be too costly

3.In addition to job losses. What stands in the way of unhappy couples getting a divorce?

A.Mounting family debts

B.A sense of insecurity

C.Difficulty in getting a loan

D.Falling housing prices

4.What will the current economic crisis eventually do to some married couples?

A.It will force them to pull their efforts together

B.It will undermine their mutual understanding

C.It will help strengthen their emotional bonds

D.It will irreparably damage their relationship

5.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A.The economic recovery will see a higher divorce rate

B.Few couples can stand the test of economic hardships

C.A stable family is the best protection against poverty.

D.Money is the foundation of many a happy marriage

People of Burlington are being disturbed by the sound of bells. Four students from Burlington College of Higher Education are in the bell tower of the ___1___ have made up their minds to ___2___ the bells nonstop for two weeks as a protest (抗议) against heavy trucks which run ___3___ through the narrow High Street.

“They not only make it ___4___ to sleep at night, but they are ___5___ damage to our houses and shops of historical ___6___,” said John Norris, one of the protesters.

“__7___ we must have these noisy trucks on the roads,” said Jean Lacey, a biology student. “Why don’t they build a new road that goes ___8___ the town? Burlington isn’t much more than a ___9___ village. Its streets were never ___10___ for heavy traffic.”

Harry Fields also studying ___11___ said they wanted to make as much ___12___ as possible to force the ___13___ to realise what every body was having to ___14___. “Most of them don’t ___15___ here anyway,” he said, “They come in for meetings and that, and the Town Hall is soundproof(隔音), ___16___ they probably don’t ___17___ the noise all that much. It’s high time they realized the ___18___.”

The fourth student, Liza Vernum, said she thought the public were ___19___ on their side, and even if they weren’t they soon would be.

___20___ asked if they were ___21___ that the police might come to ___22___ them.

“Not really,” she said, “Actually we are ___23___ bell-ringers. I mean we are assistant bell-ringers for the church. There is no ___24___ against practising.”

I ___25___ the church with the sound of the bells ringing in my ears.

1. A. college   B. village       C. town   D. church

2. A. change   B. repair  C. ring    D. shake

3. A. now and then B. day and night     C. up and down      D. over and over

4. A. terrible   B. difficult     C. uncomfortable   D. unreasonable

5. A. doing     B. raising       C. putting       D. producing

6. A. scene     B. period C. interest       D. sense

7. A. If   B. Although    C. When  D. Unless

8. A. to   B. through      C. over    D. round

9. A. pretty     B. quiet   C. large   D. modern

10. A. tested   B. meant C. kept    D. used

11. A. well     B. hard    C. biology      D. education

12. A. effort   B. time    C. trouble       D. noise

13. A. townspeople B. other students    C. government officials  D. truck drivers

14. A. stand    B. accept C. know  D. share

15. A. shop     B. live     C. come  D. study

16. A. but       B. so       C. or       D. for

17. A. notice   B. mention     C. fear    D. control

18. A. event    B. loss     C. action D. problem

19. A. hardly  B. unwillingly C. mostly       D. usually

20. A. I   B. We     C. She     D. They

21. A. surprised     B. afraid  C. pleased       D. determined

22. A. seize    B. fight   C. search D. stop

23. A. proper  B. experienced       C. hopeful      D. serious

24. A. point    B. cause  C. need   D. law

25. A. left      B. found  C. reached      D. passed

People of Burhngton are being disturbed by the sound of bells. Four students from Burlington College of Higher Education are in the bell tower of the  1  have made up their minds to 2the bells nonstop for two weeks as a protest (抗议） against heavy trucks which run  3 through the narrow High Street."They not only make it 4to sleep at night. but they are 5damage to our houses and shops of historical  6  said John Norris.one of the protesters." 7 we must have these noisy trucks on the roads," said Jean Lacey. a biology stu-dent. "why don't they build a new road that goes  8the town, Burlington isn't much more than a  9 village. Its streets were never  10 for heavy traffic."Harry Fields also studying  11said they wanted to make as much  12as possible to force the  13 to realise what every body was having to  14 "Most of them don't  15 here anyway."he said."they come in for meetings and that.and the Town Hall is soundproof(隔音）. 16 they probably don't  17 tbe noise all that much, It's high time they realised  18  .The fourth student.Liza Vernum.said she thought the public were  19 on their side.and even if they weren't they soon would be. 20 asked if they were  21 that the police might come to  22them."Not really."she said."actually we are  23 bell-ringers.I mean we are assistant bell-ringers for the church.There is no 24 against practising."I 25the church with the sound of the bells ringing in my ears.

1. A.college                           B.village                      C.town                 D.church

2. A.change                           B.repair                        C.ring                   D.shake

3. A.now and then                  B. day and night            C. up and down    D. over and over

4. A.terrible                           B. diffcult                    C uncomfortable   D.unokeasabt

5. A.doing                             B. raising                     C. Putting               D. producing

6. A.If                                   B. Although                 C.wben                  D. Unless

7. A.to                                  B. through                    C.over                    D. round

8. A.pretty                             B.quiet                        C. Iarge                  D. modern

9 A.well                                B.hard                         C. biology               D.education

10.A.effort                            B.time                          C.trouble                 D.noise

11.A.townspeople          B.other students        

C. government officials    D. truck drivers

12.A.stand                             B.accept                      C.know                  D.share

13. A.shop                            B.live                          C.come                  D.study

14. A.event                            B.loss                         C.action                    D.problem

15. At hardly                          B.unwillingly                C.mostly                   D. usually

16 A.I                                   B.we                           C.She                        D.They

17. A.seize                             B.fight                         C.search                   D.stop

18. A.proper                         B.experienced               C.hopeful                  D.serious

19. A.point                            B.cause                        C.need                      D.law

20.A.left               B.found                   C.reached             D.passed

　 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 in outer space may be trying to et in touch with us. Scientists also have sent radio and television messages on space-ships traveling 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(扫视)the entire sky to “listen” to 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 stand out from the background noise.

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

　 However, many scientists wonder whether intelligent(有智力的)life exists on other planets. Some believe that twenty years of searching without any intelligible messages 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 only about five billion years old, our galaxy is about 20 billion years old. In that time, some scientists think it is likely that civilization(文明)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 passage means ____.

　 A. find　　　　　 B. follow　　　　 C. check　　　　 D. form