The desire to make explorations is born with man. Wherever his imagination goes, man also has a strong wish to go. A large part of human history is connected with the exploration of the world in which we live. Again and again people have set out with surprising courage and patience to look into unknown regions and lands to see what had not yet been seen, to make known the unknown. With kites, balloons and aircraft they left the ground to pass through the lower atmosphere. Now the outer space receives their attention.

Why should man take the trouble of conquering（征服）space? It is hard to list the specific practical benefit’s that will result in. But one knows, from past experience in other areas, that man will surely see and discover new things in space that will increase our scientific knowledge, and this new knowledge will find its way into valuable practical uses. What we learn about man himself, from his experience in space, and from the effects of space and the space flight environment on him, will be extremely valuable. The new techniques developed to carry out the exploration of space, and to keep man alive in space, will certainly find practical uses in everyday life in some way. The areas that will benefit are manifold. They include communication, generation of power, transportation and travel, food production, materials, fuels and many others. But to say definitely just what the practical results will be is almost impossible.

1.The main idea of the first paragraph is that ______.

A. man desires to explore what is unknown

B.man often goes wherever his dreams go

C.man is no longer interested in the study of the land and sea now

D.man’s history is his exploration of the world

2.The underlined word “manifold” in the second paragraph probably means ______.

A. vast　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    B.various

C.valuable　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   　　　　　　　　　　 D.practical

3.The author seems to be in favor of ______.

A. doubting the necessity of the space exploration

B.the exploration of space

C.exploring more in space than in sea

D.his experience in space

阅读理解

The desire to make explorations is born with man. Wherever his imagination goes, man also has a strong wish to go. A large part of human history is connected with the exploration of the world in which we live. Again and again people have set out with surprising courage and patience to look into unknown regions and lands to see what had not yet been seen, to make known the unknown. With kites, balloons and aircraft they left the ground to pass through the lower atmosphere. Now the outer space receives their attention.

Why should man take the trouble of conquering（征服）space? It is hard to list the specific practical benefit’s that will result in. But one knows, from past experience in other areas, that man will surely see and discover new things in space that will increase our scientific knowledge, and this new knowledge will find its way into valuable practical uses. What we learn about man himself, from his experience in space, and from the effects of space and the space flight environment on him, will be extremely valuable. The new techniques developed to carry out the exploration of space, and to keep man alive in space, will certainly find practical uses in everyday life in some way. The areas that will benefit are manifold. They include communication, generation of power, transportation and travel, food production, materials, fuels and many others. But to say definitely just what the practical results will be is almost impossible.

1.The main idea of the first paragraph is that ______.

A. man desires to explore what is unknown

B.man often goes wherever his dreams go

C.man is no longer interested in the study of the land and sea now

D.man’s history is his exploration of the world

2.The underlined word “manifold” in the second paragraph probably means ______.

A. vast　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    B.various

C.valuable　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   　　　　　　　　　　 D.practical

3.The author seems to be in favor of ______.

A. doubting the necessity of the space exploration

B.the exploration of space

C.exploring more in space than in sea

D.his experience in space

 Since the early nineties, the trend in most businesses has been toward on-demand, always-available products and services that suit the customer’s ________ rather than the company’s.

A. benefit              B. availability      C. suitability                D. convenience

The concept of solitude(独处) in the digital world is almost non-existent. In the world of digital technology, e-mail, social networking and online video games, information is meant to be ______. Solitude can be hard to discover ______it has been given up. In this respect, new technologies have ______our culture.

The desire to be connected has brought solitude to a(n)       as we've known it. People have become so      in the world of networks and connections that one can often be contacted      they'd rather not be. Today we can talk, text, e-mail, chat and blog (写博客), not only from our     , but from our mobile phones as well.

     Most developed nations have become       on digital technology simply because they've grown accustomed to it, and at this point not       it would make them an outsider.     , many jobs and careers require people to be      . From this point of view, technology has changed the culture of work. Being reachable might feel like a       to those who may not want to be able to be contacted at all times.

     I suppose the positive side is that solitude is still possible for anyone who       wants it. Computers can be shut       and mobile phones can be turned off. The ability to be "connected" and " on" has many     , as well as disadvantages. Travelers have ended up       on mountains, and mobile phones have saved countless lives. They can also make people feel       and forced to answer unwanted calls or     to unwanted texts.

     Attitudes towards our connectedness as a society       across generations. Some find today's technology a gift. Others consider it a curse. Regardless of anyone's view on the subject, it's hard to imagine what life would be like       daily advancements in technology.

1.A. updated    B. received       C. collected       D. shared

2.A. though      B. once            C. until    D. before

3.A. shaped       B. respected     C. ignored         D. preserved

4.A. edge          B. end      C. stage     D. balance

5.A. sensitive    B. intelligent      C. reachable     D. considerate

6.A. only if         B. even if         C. as if      D. if only

7.A. media        B. databases            C. monitors        D. computers

8.A. bent  B. dependent          C. hard     D. keen

9.A. finding     B. protecting     C. using    D. changing

10.A. Instead  B. Otherwise    C. Somehow      D. Also

11.A. trained    B. recommended     C. connected    D. interested

12.A. burden            B. pleasure       C. benefit D. disappointment

13.A. slightly     B. hardly         C. merely         D. really  　

14.A. down        B. out       C. up         D. in

15.A. aspects    B. weaknesses  C. exceptions    D. advantages 

16.A. lost  B. hidden          C. relaxed D. deserted

17.A. excited   B. confused       C. trapped        D. amused

18.A. turn B. reply     C. submit  D. object

19.A. arise       B. spread  C. vary      D. exist

20.A. without    B. beyond         C. within   D. despite 

An Israeli law banning too skinny models went into effect with the start of 2013. The law, approved last March in Israel, requires models to prove they have maintained a Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 18.5 for three months before a fashion show. That means a woman who is 5'8''tall can weigh no less than 119 pounds.

“This law is another step in the war against eating disorders,” said physician Adatto. “Underweight models,” he explained, “can no longer serve as role models for innocent young people who copy their false image of being skinny.”

But some critics in this country say it is misguided, focusing on weight instead of health. They also say the Israeli ban is bound to fail because of the strong power of the fashion industry. “I think it’s an approach that isn’t going to work.” Said eating disorder expert Susan Ice, who worked with an organization which creates a healthy working environment for models.

But Adatto told the reporter that he began to concern the issue after meeting an ambitious model who looked like she needed to be hospitalized. He said. “I realized that only legislation can change the situation. There was no time to waste, so many girls were dieting to death.”

However, the efforts to regulate models’ weight in Spain and Italy have not resulted in significant changes in part because of difficulties in determining reliable methods of measuring weight and health.

Still, folks including Ice say there’s no denying that images from Hollywood and the fashion industry can be difficult for young women to deal with. “Certainly I don't believe the modeling industry has caused the rise in eating disorders, but it makes it harder,” she says. “It’s a difficult recovery environment, worshiping thinness as the beauty ideal.”

1.What does BMI in the first paragraph refer to?

A. A measure of body health based on height and weight.

B. A worldwide prize for the healthiest model.

C. A new show held by those skinny models.

D. A kind of medicine to cure eating disorders.

2.One benefit the new Israeli law may bring is ________.

A. to change the working conditions of models

B. to lower the chance of skinny models’ death

C. to provide guidance for women worshiping thinness

D. to prevent models from suffering from eating disorders

3.In the opinion of the critics, the law won’t succeed because         .

A. it misleads young women to form a bad eating habit.

B. it doesn’t provide a proper approach that can work well.

C. it doesn’t create a healthy working environment for models.

D. the fashion industry is much too influential.

4.What caused Adatto to think that a law was needed to change the situation?

A. Meeting an ambitious but too skinny model.

B. Establishing his fashion model agent.

C. Being interviewed by a reporter.

D. Seeing a model die from eating disorders.

5.According to the passage, the new Israeli law banning skinny models is         .

A. practical                 B. controversial      C. acceptable                    D. Reasonable