The woman at the airline ticket counter in Munich, Germany, just shook her head. “I’m sorry, but there’s no more availability on this flight,” she said. God, I thought. My husband, Bob, and I had enjoyed every moment of our dream vacation, two weeks in Europe, but I was ready to go home to Shreveport, Louisiana, and sleep in my own bed. Bob could see how frustrated I was. “We’ll just have to try to get on the flight tomorrow,” he said. “Let’s enjoy the extra day.”

My son Joe, a First Lieutenant (中尉) in the Army 82nd Airborne Division (空降师), would be returning to Ft. Bragg in North Carolina for a short rest and recovery from his tour of duty in Baghdad, and we weren’t sure we’d be able to see him in the little time he’d be stateside. Plus, the time was so up in the air! Back at our hotel, I checked my e-mail to see if our daughter-in-law Monica had any news on when Joe was due to arrive. Sure enough, there was a message. “Joe’s been delayed again,” it read.

The next morning we made it onto our flight back to the States. Unfortunately, we had to stop in Atlanta. Our connecting flight there was delayed because of bad weather. The hours passed. I felt the frustration building. “That’s it!” I finally said. “I just want to get home!”

That’s when I saw a group of soldiers coming down the ramp(通道) from one of the gates. I thought of Joe. They’re coming back from a war, I reminded myself, while I’m coming back from vacation. What right do I have to be frustrated? Maybe the troops were God’s way of reminding me to trust in his time. Bob grabbed my arm. “Look at those soldiers coming down the ramp.”

“I see them,” I said. Bob persisted, “Do you see who’s in front?” Suddenly, all those delays across all those miles made perfect sense. I rushed toward my son Joe’s open arms.

73. Why did Bob say “Let’s enjoy the extra day”?

       A. To stay one day more.                           B. To cheer his wife up.

       C. To visit other attractions.                       D. To meet his son there.

74. In the second paragraph the author mainly tells us        .

       A. her son was a First Lieutenant in the Army 82nd Airborne Division

       B. when her son would return to the US for a short rest and recovery

       C. she didn’t know the exact time when her son would return to the US

       D. she saw if her daughter-in-law Monica knew when Joe would arrive

75. The author felt frustrated because        .

       A. their flight couldn’t land as a result of bad weather

       B. the bad weather caused their flight to be put off an hour

       C. they didn’t wait for their son Joe to match on the airport

       D. the bad weather had made their connecting flight delay

76. Where did the author happen to run into her son Joe?

       A. At the airport of Atlanta.                         B. At the airport of Shreveport.

       C. At the airport of Ft. Bragg.                     D. At the airport of Baghdad.

There was great excitement on the planet of Venus(金星) this week. For the first time Venusian scientists managed to land a satellite on the planet Earth, and it has been sending back signals as well as photographs ever since.

The satellite was directed into an area known as Manhattan (named after the great Venusian astronomer Prof. Manhattan, who first discovered it with his telescope 20000 light years ago).

Because of excellent weather conditions and extremely strong signals, Venusian scientists were able to get valuable information as to feasibility (可行性) of a manned flying saucer (碟) landing on Earth. A press conference was held at the Venus Institute of Technology.

“We have come to the conclusion, based on last week’s satellite landing,” Prof. Zog said, “that there is no life on Earth.”

“How do you know this?” the science reporter of the Venus Evening Star asked.

“For one thing, Earth’s surface in the area of Manhattan is made up of solid concrete and nothing can grow there. For another, the atmosphere is filled with carbon monoxide (一氧化碳) and other deadly gases and nobody could possibly breathe this air and survive.”

“What does this mean as far as our flying saucer program is concerned?”

“We shall have to take our own oxygen with us, which means a much heavier flying saucer than originally planned.”

“Are there any other dangers that you discovered in your studies?”

“Take a look at this photo. You see this dark black cloud hovering(盘旋) over the surface of Earth? We don’t know what it is made of, but it could give us a lot of trouble and we shall have further tests before we send a Venus Being there.”

“Over here you will notice what seems to be a river, but the satellite findings indicates it is polluted and the water is unfit to drink. This means we shall have to carry our own water, which will add even greater weight to the saucer.”

“If all you say is true, won’t this set back the flying saucer program several years?”

“Yes, but we shall continue as soon as the Grubstart gives us the added funds.” Prof. Zog replied.

During the week of great excitement the Venusian scientists succeeded in getting important information as to ____.

A. the feasibility of landing a satellite on Earth

B. the possibility of making a first-rate flying saucer

C. the feasibility of sending a Venus Being to Earth

D. the possibility of directing a flying saucer into Manhattan

According to Prof. Zog, the Venusians will have to take their own oxygen with them when they carry out their flying saucer program because ____.

A. they need it in their way to the planet of Earth

B. the Earth’s atmosphere is filled with deadly gases

C. there is a low level of oxygen for Venusians

D. there is no air on the planet of Earth

The “dark black cloud” on the photo refers to ____.

A. the polluted air hovering over the surface of Earth

B. the mass of tiny drops of water floating above Earth

C. the mass of small things moving through the air

D. the dark clouds gathering before a storm breaks

The author wishes to call our attention to the fact that ____.

A. that modern man has polluted his environment to such an extend that he might destroy himself if he went on like this

B. that there is a point in spending billions to land a flying saucer on Earth

C. that pollution has become so serous a problem on Earth that even Venusians find life there unbearable.

D. that it is difficult if not altogether impossible, to land a manned flying saucer on Earth.

There was great excitement on the planet of Venus(金星) this week. For the first time Venusian scientists managed to land a satellite on the planet Earth, and it has been sending back signals as well as photographs ever since.

The satellite was directed into an area known as Manhattan (named after the great Venusian astronomer Prof. Manhattan, who first discovered it with his telescope 20000 light years ago).

Because of excellent weather conditions and extremely strong signals, Venusian scientists were able to get valuable information as to feasibility (可行性) of a manned flying saucer (碟) landing on Earth. A press conference was held at the Venus Institute of Technology.

“We have come to the conclusion, based on last week’s satellite landing,” Prof. Zog said, “that there is no life on Earth.”

“How do you know this?” the science reporter of the Venus Evening Star asked.

“For one thing, Earth’s surface in the area of Manhattan is made up of solid concrete and nothing can grow there. For another, the atmosphere is filled with carbon monoxide (一氧化碳) and other deadly gases and nobody could possibly breathe this air and survive.” “What does this mean as far as our flying saucer program is concerned?”

“We shall have to take our own oxygen with us, which means a much heavier flying saucer than originally planned.”

“Are there any other dangers that you discovered in your studies?”

“Take a look at this photo. You see this dark black cloud hovering(盘旋) over the surface of Earth? We don’t know what it is made of, but it could give us a lot of trouble and we shall have further tests before we send a Venus Being there.”

“Over here you will notice what seems to be a river, but the satellite findings indicates it is polluted and the water is unfit to drink. This means we shall have to carry our own water, which will add even greater weight to the saucer.”

“If all you say is true, won’t this set back the flying saucer program several years?”

“Yes, but we shall continue as soon as the Grubstart gives us the added funds.” Prof. Zog replied.

During the week of great excitement the Venusian scientists succeeded in getting important information as to ____.

   A. the feasibility of landing a satellite on Earth

   B. the possibility of making a first-rate flying saucer

   C. the feasibility of sending a Venus Being to Earth

   D. the possibility of directing a flying saucer into Manhattan

According to Prof. Zog, the Venusians will have to take their own oxygen with them when they carry out their flying saucer program because ____.

   A. they need it in their way to the planet of Earth

   B. the Earth’s atmosphere is filled with deadly gases

   C. there is a low level of oxygen for Venusians

   D. there is no air on the planet of Earth

The “dark black cloud” on the photo refers to ____.

   A. the polluted air hovering over the surface of Earth

   B. the mass of tiny drops of water floating above Earth

   C. the mass of small things moving through the air

   D. the dark clouds gathering before a storm breaks

The author wishes to call our attention to the fact that ____.

   A. that modern man has polluted his environment to such an extend that he might destroy himself if he went on like this

   B. that there is a point in spending billions to land a flying saucer on Earth

   C. that pollution has become so serous a problem on Earth that even Venusians find life there unbearable.

   D. that it is difficult if not altogether impossible, to land a manned flying saucer on Earth

There was great excitement on the planet of Venus (金星) . Venusian scientists managed to land a satellite on the planet Earth, and it has been sending back signals as well as photographs ever since.

The satellite was directed into an area known as Manhattan, named after the great Venusian astronomer Professor. Manhattan, who first discovered it with his telescope 20000 light years ago.

Because of excellent weather conditions and extremely strong signals, Venusian scientists were able to get valuable information as to feasibility (可行性) of a manned flying saucer landing on Earth. A press conference was held at the Venus Institute of Technology.

"We have come to the conclusion, based on last week's satellite landing," Prof. Zog said, "that there is no life on Earth."

"How do you know this?" the science reporter of the Venus Evening Star asked.

"For one thing, Earth's surface in the area of Manhattan is made up of solid concrete and nothing can grow there. For another, the atmosphere is filled with carbon monoxide (一氧化碳) and other deadly gases and nobody could possibly breathe this air and survive."

"What does this mean as far as our flying saucer program is concerned?"

"We shall have to take our own oxygen with us, which means a much heavier flying saucer than originally planned."

"Are there any other dangers that you discovered in your studies?"

"Take a look at this photo. You see this dark black cloud hovering (盘旋) over the surface of Earth? We don't know what it is made of, but it could give us a lot of trouble and we shall have further tests before we send a Venus Being there."

"Over here you will notice what seems to be a river, but the satellite findings indicates it is polluted and the water is unfit to drink. This means we shall have to carry our own water, which will add even greater weight to the saucer."

"If all you say is true, won't this set back the flying saucer program several years?"

"Yes, but we shall continue as soon as the Grubstart gives us the added funds(资金)." Profession. Zog replied.

1.According to the passage, the Venusian scientists succeeded in getting important information about _____.

A. the feasibility of landing a satellite on Earth

B. the possibility of making a first-rate flying saucer

C. the feasibility of sending a Venus Being to Earth

D. the possibility of directing a flying saucer into Manhattan 

2.Why will the Venusian have to take their own oxygen with them when they carry out their flying saucer program because _____. 

A. they need it in their way to the planet of Earth

B. the Earth's atmosphere is filled with deadly gases

C. there is a low level of oxygen for Venusians

D. there is no air on the planet of Earth 

3.It can be inferred from the passage that ______. 

A. landing a manned flying saucer on Earth will be carried out soon

B. Venusians will land on Earth to help to stop serious pollution

C. it’s unnecessary to land a manned flying  saucer on Earth at present

D. pollution on Earth makes it impossible for Venusians to survive there

4.Where can you probably read such a passage?. 

A. In a popular magazine.          B. In a fairy tale.

C. In an observation journal        D. In science fiction

There was great excitement on the planet of Venus(金星) this week. For the first time Venusian scientists managed to land a satellite on the planet Earth, and it has been sending back signals as well as photographs ever since.

The satellite was directed into an area known as Manhattan (named after the great Venusian astronomer Prof. Manhattan, who first discovered it with his telescope 20000 light years ago).

Because of excellent weather conditions and extremely strong signals, Venusian scientists were able to get valuable information as to feasibility (可行性) of a manned flying saucer (碟) landing on Earth. A press conference was held at the Venus Institute of Technology.

“We have come to the conclusion, based on last week’s satellite landing,” Prof. Zog said, “that there is no life on Earth.”

“How do you know this?” the science reporter of the Venus Evening Star asked.

“For one thing, Earth’s surface in the area of Manhattan is made up of solid concrete and nothing can grow there. For another, the atmosphere is filled with carbon monoxide (一氧化碳) and other deadly gases and nobody could possibly breathe this air and survive.” “What does this mean as far as our flying saucer program is concerned?”

“We shall have to take our own oxygen with us, which means a much heavier flying saucer than originally planned.”

“Are there any other dangers that you discovered in your studies?”

“Take a look at this photo. You see this dark black cloud hovering(盘旋) over the surface of Earth? We don’t know what it is made of, but it could give us a lot of trouble and we shall have further tests before we send a Venus Being there.”

“Over here you will notice what seems to be a river, but the satellite findings indicates it is polluted and the water is unfit to drink. This means we shall have to carry our own water, which will add even greater weight to the saucer.”

“If all you say is true, won’t this set back the flying saucer program several years?”

“Yes, but we shall continue as soon as the Grubstart gives us the added funds.” Prof. Zog replied.

1.During the week of great excitement the Venusian scientists succeeded in getting important information as to ____.

   A. the feasibility of landing a satellite on Earth

   B. the possibility of making a first-rate flying saucer

   C. the feasibility of sending a Venus Being to Earth

   D. the possibility of directing a flying saucer into Manhattan

2.According to Prof. Zog, the Venusians will have to take their own oxygen with them when they carry out their flying saucer program because ____.

   A. they need it in their way to the planet of Earth

   B. the Earth’s atmosphere is filled with deadly gases

   C. there is a low level of oxygen for Venusians

   D. there is no air on the planet of Earth

3.The “dark black cloud” on the photo refers to ____.

   A. the polluted air hovering over the surface of Earth

   B. the mass of tiny drops of water floating above Earth

   C. the mass of small things moving through the air

   D. the dark clouds gathering before a storm breaks

4.The author wishes to call our attention to the fact that ____.

   A. that modern man has polluted his environment to such an extend that he might destroy himself if he went on like this

   B. that there is a point in spending billions to land a flying saucer on Earth

   C. that pollution has become so serous a problem on Earth that even Venusians find life there unbearable.

   D. that it is difficult if not altogether impossible, to land a manned flying saucer on Earth