1.　　 Pre-reading:

Is American football soccer?

3.Use one sentence to sum up the whole story.

(C)Whole new ball game

LAST week, millions of Chinese viewers tuned into CCTV 5 to watch two teams of men in colourful clothing chase a ball around a field.

But the New England Patriots (爱国者队) and Carolina Panthers (黑豹队) were not playing soccer--they were competing for American football's greatest prize, the Super Bowl.

The first recorded game of American football was played between a Canadian and an American university more than 100 years ago, using a mixture of soccer and rugby (英式橄榄球) rules. The Super Bowl itself was first contested in 1967, but 2004 was the first time the game reached Chinese TV screens.

In American football, teams score points by carrying a leather ball into the other team's goal area, known as the end zone. When a team carries the ball into the other side's end zone, this is called a touchdown (达阵).

Players on one team can throw the ball forward to each other or pass it from hand to hand to move up the field, while the other team tries to stop them. Players are allowed to tackle (绊倒) each other to stop the ball from moving. Sometimes this is quite physical so padding (衬垫) and helmets are worn to prevent injury. A touchdown is worth six points, and a further point can be won by kicking the ball between two upright posts. Teams can also kick a field goal (射门得分) during the game for three points. A game is made up of four quarters (节) each lasting 15 minutes.

American football is very popular because it exhibits a number of athletic skills, such as running, jumping, catching, throwing and kicking. There is also hitting and tackling, which can appear violent sometimes!

The best-known league in the United States is the National Football League (NFL), which is made up of 30 teams, and the Super Bowl is its championship game. One of the most famous players is New England star Tom Brady, who was named the Most Valuable Player as his team won the Super Bowl last week. Brady plays in the quarterback (四分卫) position, and is the player responsible for throwing the ball to his teammates.

Now the Super Bowl has arrived in China, maybe the game will become just as popular as basketball or soccer!

2. Complete the sentences by choosing the best answer.

1) For a long time, humans have used technology to study the world around us, and Mars　 is the latest place we're using robots to ______.

　 A. search B. uncover C. examine D. explore

2) Besides earth, the "red planet" is seen as _____ one place in our solar system most _____ to have life.

　　　 A. the…likely　　　　　　　　　 B. the…probably

　　　 C. /(不填)…likely　　　　　　　　 D. /(不填)…probably

3) The machines' safe landing on Mars ______ that now we have an excellent chance to look for water and other ______ of life.

A. mean…signs B. mean…proof

C. means…signs D. means…proof

4) In the past the environment of Mars ______ unfriendly to the robot explorers.

A. was B. were C. has been D. had been

5) Before Spirit and Opportunity, about three ______ ______ have been sent to Mars since the 1960s.

A. dozens…spacecrafts B. dozens…spacecraft

C. dozen…spacecrafts D. dozen…spacecraft

1.　　 Pre-reading:

Why are robots sent to Mars? Why not other planets in the solar system?

10. July 7, 2003: Opportunity rover (US). Succeeded; arrived three weeks later than Spirit, and now the two rovers are working together.

9. June 10, 2003: Spirit rover (US). Succeeded; landed on January 3 and had computer problems but soon resumed (继续) work. It is now searching for water on the planet.

8. June 2, 2003: Mars Express and Beagle 2 orbiter and lander (Europe). Failed; lost after landing on Mars.

7. Jan. 3, 1999: Mars Polar Lander (US). Failed; a software problem caused it to crash on Mars.

6. Dec. 4, 1996: Mars Pathfinder lander (US). Succeeded; reached Mars on July 4, 1997. The lander brought a rover, which could drive around on Mars like a small car. The lander and rover sent back pictures and weather information. Stopped working in 1997.

5. Nov. 16, 1996: Mars 96 orbiter and lander (Russia). Failed; fell back to Earth.