We talk every day. When we have good news, we like to share it with our good friends and when something terrible happens, we tell it to others soon. But can you imagine that a tree can talk and share news too ? Of course, no tree moves lips and says words just as people do. Strange as it may sound, though, some trees do manage to communicate with each other.
Willow (柳树) trees are the best-known of these trees. When insects begin nibbling (叮咬) a willow tree, the tree sends out a special smell at once. This smell tells the other willows that harmful insects are coming near. All of them quickly make a chemical (化学物质) in their leaves. This chemical is bad to the insects. The insects do not like it and they fly away soon. In this way, the willow trees protect themselves from the insects.
The next time when you take a walk in the woods, maybe the trees are “talking” to each other quietly. And when someone says that trees cannot “talk”, please tell them that even trees give messages to each other, too.
【小题1】Willow trees send messages with_____________.
| A.words | B.movements | C.smells | D.sounds |
| A.树干 | B.嘴唇 | C.枝条 | D.手势 |
| A.speak just as people do | B.tell stories to others |
| C.communicate with each other | D.kill insects in the woods |
a. The willow tree gives out a smell.
b. The willow trees make a chemical in their leaves.
c. Insects fly away because of the chemical.
d. Insects begin nibbling a willow tree.
| A. d---a---b---c | B. d---b---a---c |
| C. a---b---c---d | D. d---c---b---a |
Strong earthquakes hit the east of Japan in the afternoon of March 11, causing several meter-high tsunami(海啸), which killed more than 10,000 people in areas along the coast. Several nuclear plants(核电站) at the coast were broken by the earthquake and tsunami. People living near the plants have been asked to move away. People living within 30 kilometers of the first plant are asked to stay indoors and close all windows.
The breaking of the nuclear plants is causing electricity shortages(电力短缺) in Eastern Japan. As a result, electricity is cut off for 3-hour periods in the area of Tokyo and some other areas during daytime. In order to save electricity, some shops, restaurants and tourist places in the areas are closed for some time every day. But all major airports and train lines are still open and operating.
For the above reasons, tourists are advised not to visit the eastern areas in the near future. Visits to Western Japan are not affected by the event. People who plan to travel over the coming weeks and months are advised to pay attention to the situation for a few more days before making decisions.
【小题1】This passage may probably be written by a _____.
| A.scientist | B.traveler | C.story writer | D.news reporter |
| A.there would be more earthquakes and tsunamis |
| B.several nuclear plants had been broken |
| C.there were serious electricity shortages |
| D.their houses were washed away by the tsunami |
| A.avoid making electricity shortages even worse |
| B.avoid more people getting together |
| C.rebuild their broken buildings |
| D.keep away from nuclear radiation(核辐射) |
| A.The earthquake happened before the tsunami. |
| B.The earthquake happened after the tsunami. |
| C.There was no electricity in Eastern Japan. |
| D.People were not allowed to visit Western Japan. |
Everybody dreams. But only some people remember their dreams. Our dreams often include all the senses—smells, sounds, sights, tastes and things we touch.
Early in the twentieth century, two famous scientists developed their personal ideas about dreams. Austrian psychiatrist(奥地利心理学家) Sigmund Freud believed people often dream about things they want but can’t have. Swiss(瑞士) psychiatrist Carl Jung worked closely with Freud for several years, but he believed dreams provide solutions to problems we face when we are awake.
Other researchers are studying how dreaming helps our bodies work with problems and very sad emotions(感情). Robert Stickgold is a professor of psychiatry (心理学教授). He says that when we dream, the brain is trying to make sense of the world. He does not agree with Sigmund Freud that dreaming is the way we express our hidden feelings and desires(愿望).
Scientists believe it is important to keep researching dreams. Yet there is still no agreement on exactly how the brain works when we are dreaming or why we dream.
【小题1】Dreams .
| A.are remembered by everyone |
| B.express all that we think in our mind |
| C.include few senses and things we touch |
| D.include all the senses and things we touch |
| A.believe dreams can help people understand all the problems that they face |
| B.believe when we dream, the brain is trying to make sense of the world |
| C.study dream and dreaming and have their own different ideas |
| D.have the same idea that people often dream about the things they want |
| A.The fact of Dreams | B.The Ways of Dreams |
| C.The Solutions to Dreams | D.The Mystery of Dreams and Dreaming |
Everyone has got two personalities — the one that is shown to the world and the other that is secret and real. You don't show your secret personality when you're awake because you can control yourself, but when you're asleep, your sleeping positionshows the real you. In a normal night, of course, you often change your sleeping positions(姿势). The important position that best shows your secret personality is the one that you go to sleep.
If you go to sleep on your back, you're a very open person. You normally trust(信任) people and you are easily influenced by new ideas. You don't like to make people unhappy, so you never express your real feelings. You're quite shy and you aren't very confident.
If you sleep on your stomach, you are a person who likes to keep secrets. You worry a lot and you're always easily becoming sad. You never want to change your ideas, but you are satisfied with your life the way it is. You usually live for today not for tomorrow.
If you sleep on curled up (蜷缩), you are probably a very nervous person. You have a low opinion of yourself and often protect yourself from being hurt, so you are very defensive. You're shy and you don't usually like meeting people. You like to be on your own.
If you sleep on your side, you have usually got a well-balanced personality. You know your strength and weakness. You're usually careful. You have a confident personality. You sometimes feel worried, but you don't often get unhappy. You always say what you think, even if it makes people angry.
【小题1】You may find the passage in ________.
| A.a science magazine | B.a guide book |
| C.a sports newspaper | D.a story book |
| A.on curled up | B.on her stomach |
| C.on her back | D.on her side |
| A.易怒的 | B.攻击性的 | C.外向的 | D.有戒心的 |
What does it feel like to break a bone (骨头)? It’s different for everyone, but the pain is often sharp (严重). If the break is small, however, the person may not feel much pain at all. If you think that you or someone else has broken a bone, the most important things to do are to stay calm, make the hurt person comfortable, and call the doctor. Do not move the injured body part since movement could make it worse.
To treat the break, the doctor will need to take an X-ray. This gives the doctor the information he or she needs to set (接上) the bone: to put it back to its normal place. If the bone is large or it is broken in more than one place, the doctor may need to use metal pins (钢钉) to set it. After the bone has been set, the next step is usually putting on a cast, the special, hard thing that will keep the bone in place for a month or two.
Your bones are excellent at healing themselves. Broken bones will produce many new cells (细胞) and tiny blood vessels (血脉). These cover both ends of the broken part, and close up the break until the bone is as whole and strong as before.
【小题1】Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
| A.How to Know if a Bone is Broken |
| B.How Broken Bones Heal Themselves |
| C.Common Causes (原因) of Broken Bones |
| D.What You Should Know about Broken Bones |
| A.asking the doctor for help | B.comforting the hurt person |
| C.moving the injured part | D.staying calm |
a. take an x-ray b. use metal pins to set it c. put it back to its normal place d. put on cast
| A.a→b→c→d | B.a→c→b→d | C.a→d→c→b | D.d→a→b→c |
The building is shaking. A woman with a baby in her arms is trying to open the door, but fails. Finding no way, she rushes into her bedroom and there they survive the earthquake.
In a factory building, as the workshop floor swings under the terrible shaking, workers run for safety. Some hide(隐藏) under the machines and survive , but others who try to run outside are killed by the falling ceilings.?
These scenes, played by actors and actresses, are from a film of science education 《Making a Split Second Decision》 shown in 1998 on China Central TV in memory of Tangshan Earthquake.
By studying actual cases in the earthquake areas and scientific experiments, experts(专家)find that buildings remain untouched for the first 12 seconds of an earthquake.
In this short time, one has the best chance of surviving an earthquake by staying near the inside walls, in bedrooms and under beds, experts concluded in the film. “Earthquakes seem to catch the lives of those who run,” said many survivors in the earthquake areas, describing how their friends were killed on the doorways or along the stair steps as they tried to get out of the building.
Their advice was proved in the film, “Take a hiding-place where you are rather than run, unless you are sure you can reach a safe open place in ten seconds.”
【小题1】The word “survive” appears in the passage several times. It probably means in Chinese.
| A.遇难 | B.幸存 | C.恐惧 | D.摇晃 ? |
| A.the factory building was shaking terribly |
| B.they were making a film |
| C.they didn’t have enough time to run outside |
| D.they were too nervous |
| A.cry for help |
| B.not move and lie on the floor at once |
| C.run down the steps as fast as you can |
| D.find a safe place and hide in at once or run out in ten seconds |
| A.In a magazine. | B.In an advertisement. |
| C.In a history book. | D.In a poster |
Animals grow up in different ways. They have lots of lessons to learn.
Some animals are born helpless but their mothers protect them. A newborn kangaroo is the size of a bee. She stays in her mother’s safe pouch. She doesn’t open her eyes for at least five months. A newborn monkey cannot walk. He is carried by his mother.
Other baby animals can walk soon after they’re born. They learn to run with their mother when danger is near. A baby zebra(斑马)can run an hour after she is born.
Some baby animals are born in a place that is safe. Other baby animals are born in the open. Baby wolves are born in large holes. A baby elephant is born on open, grassy land. Other elephants make a circle(圈)to protect her.
Animals that drink their mothers’ milk are called mammals. A mother bear’s milk is fatty and rich. Baby bears need lots of fat to keep warm in winter. They have milk for six months. Baby zebras drink milk for six months or more! As baby animals grow they need solid(固体的)food. Baby lions eat what their mother can catch.
【小题1】Which baby animals don’t open their eyes for at least five months?
| A.Lions. | B.Zebras. | C.Kangaroos. | D.Elephants. |
| A.Drink milk. | B.Walk by herself. |
| C.Run with her mother. | D.Make a circle to protect herself. |
| A.Baby wolves are born in the open. |
| B.Newborn lions only eat solid food. |
| C.Newborn monkeys can walk but can’t jump. |
| D.Baby bears need lots of fat to keep warm in winter. |