Before a new type of plane goes into service, every part of it is tested again and again.But there are two tests that are more important than all the others.
The first is called the“tank test”.A modern plane must fly very high in the sky.Air must be pumped(充入)into the plane so that the passengers can breathe.The metal structure(结构)of the plane has to be very strong for this reason.When the plane is filled with air.the air presses against the skin of the plane inside.The pressure(压力)on a small window is like a huge foot that is trying to get out.If there were something wrong with a small part, the plane would explode in the sky.To test the structure of the plane, the plane is lowered into a huge tank of water.Then it is filled with air.The pressure inside the plane is greater than it ever will be when it is high up in the air.Finally, there is an explosion.This doesn't cause so much damage inside the water tank as it would anywhere else.Engineers can discover which part of the plane has broken.Then the part is made stronger.
The most dangerous test happens when the new plane is going through test flights in the air.The test pilot must find out exactly what happens when the engines(发动机)are all shut off at once.The plane begins to fall like a stone.It's the pilot's job to find out how he can get control of the plane again.These two tests are examples of how planes are safe before they ever carry passengers.
(1)
By doing the“tank test”the engineers can find out ________.
[ ]
A.
the amount of air in the plane
B.
the strength of the plane structure
C.
the pressure inside and out side the plane
D.
the power of the plane engines
(2)
What will happen to the plane under the“tank test''?
[ ]
A.
It will be broken.
B.
It will be made stronger.
C.
It will be filled with water.
D.
It will be tested by pilots.
(3)
According to the text, why are test flights most dangerous?
[ ]
A.
The plane may explode in the air.
B.
The pilot may lose control of the plane.
C.
The engines may be damaged.
D.
Too much air may get into the plane.
(4)
What might be the most suitable title for the text?
Suppose we built a robot(机器人)to explore the planet Mars.We provide the robot with seeing detectors(探测器)to keep it away from danger.It is powered entirely by the sun.Should we program the robot to be equally active at all times?No.The robot would be using up energy at a time when it was not receiving any.So we would probably program it to stop its activity at night and to wake up at dawn the next morning.
According to the evolutionary(进化的)theory of sleep, evolution equipped us with a regular pattern of sleeping and waking for the same reason.The theory does not deny(否认)that sleep provides some important restorative functions(恢复功能).It merely says that evolution has programmed us to perform those functions at a time when activity would be inefficient and possibly dangerous.However, sleep protects us only from the sort of trouble we might walk into; it does not protect us from trouble that comes looking for us.So we sleep well when we are in a familiar, safe place, but we sleep lightly, if at all, when we fear that bears will nose into the tent.
The evolutionary theory explains the differences in sleep among creatures.Why do eats, for instance, sleep so much, while horses sleep so little?Surely cats do not need five times as much repair and restoration as horses do.But cats can afford to have long periods of inactivity because they spend little time eating and are unlikely to be attacked while they sleep.Horses must spend almost all their waking hours eating, because what they eat is very low in energy value.Moreover, they cannot afford to sleep too long or too deeply, because their survival(生存)depends on their ability to run away from attackers.
(1)
The author uses the example of the robot in space exploration to tell us ________.
[ ]
A.
the differences between robots and men
B.
the reason why men need to sleep
C.
about the need for robots to save power
D.
about the danger of men working at night
(2)
Evolution has programmed man to sleep at night chiefly to help him ________.
[ ]
A.
keep up a regular pattern of life
B.
prevent trouble that comes looking for him
C.
avoid danger and inefficient labour
D.
restore his bodily functions
(3)
According to the author, we cannot sleep well when we ________.
[ ]
A.
are worrying about our safety
B.
are overworked
C.
are in a tent
D.
are away from home
(4)
Cats sleep much more than horses do partly because cats ________.
[ ]
A.
need more time for restoration
B.
are unlikely to be attackers
C.
axe more active than homes when they are awake
D.
spend less time eating to get enough energy
(5)
Which of the following is the main idea of the passage?
[ ]
A.
Evolution has equipped all creatures with a regular pattern of sleeping and waking.
B.
The study of sleep is an important part of the evolutionary theory.
C.
Sleeping patterns must be taken into consideration in the designing of robots.
D.
The sleeping pattern of a living creature is determined by the food it eats.
阅读理解:
Our boat floated on, between walls of forest too thick to allow us a view of the land we were passing through, though we knew from the map that our river must from time to time be passing through chains of hills which crossed the jungle plains.Nowhere did we find a place where we could have landed:where the jungle did not actually spread right down into the river, banks of soft mud prevented us going ashore.In any case, what would we have sailed by landing?The country was full of snakes and other dangerous creatures, and the jungle was so thick that one would be able to advance only slowly, cutting one’s way with knives the whole way.So we stayed in the boat, hoping we reached the sea, a friendly fisherman would pick us up and take us to civilization.
We lived on fish, caught with home-made net of string(we had no hooks), and fruits and nuts we could pick up out of the water.As we had no fire, we had to eat everything, including the fish, raw I had never tasted raw fish before, and I must say I did not much enjoy the experience; perhaps sea fish which do not live in the mud are less tasteless.After eating my raw fish, I lay back and dreamed of such things as fried chicken and rice, and ice-cream.In the never-ending damp heat of the jungle, ice-cream was a particularly frequent dream.
As for water, there was a choice:we could drink the muddy river water, or die of thirst.We drank the water.Men who had just escaped what had appeared to be certain death lose all worries about such small things as diseases caused by dirty water.In fact, none of us suffered from any illness as a result.
One day we passed another village, but fortunately nobody saw us.We did not wish to risk being taken prisoners a second time:we might not be so lucky to escape in a stolen boat again.
(1)
What they could see in the boat was only ________.
[ ]
A.
high wall
B.
villagers from time to time
C.
vast land
D.
heavy woods
(2)
They couldn’t land because ________.
[ ]
A.
the mud on the shore was too soft
B.
the forest was too thick to let them go through
C.
they could not find the mark on the map
D.
they could not find anyone to lead them out of the forest
(3)
The passage infers that the forest was ________.
[ ]
A.
rich of fruits and animals to be served as food
B.
not very thick as they could advance slowly by cutting the branches
C.
full of various dangerous beings
D.
full of ancient trees
(4)
The most proper title for this passage might be ________.
[ ]
A.
Escape
B.
Scenes of a River
C.
How to Survive on a boat
D.
A New Experience
阅读理解:
It was at least two months before Christmas when nine-year-old Almie Rose told her father and me that she wanted a new bicycle.As Christmas drew near, her desire for a bicycle seemed to fade, or so we thought.We bought the latest rages.Baby-Sitter’s Club dolls, and a doll house.Then, much to our surprise, on December 23rd, she said that she “really wanted a bike more than anything else.”
It was just too late, what will all the details of preparing Christmas dinner and buying last-minute gifts, to take the time to select the “right bike” for our little girl.So here we were-Christmas Eve around 9∶00 p. m., with Almie and her six-year-old brother, Dylan, nested snug in their beds.Now we could only think of the bicycle and the disappointment of our child.“What if the bicycle out of clay(a kind of earth)and write a note that she could trade the clay model in for a real bike?” her dad asked.“This is an expensive item and she is ‘such a big girl,’ and it would be much better for her to pick it out.”So he spent the next four hours painstakingly working with clay to make a tiny bike.
On Christmas morning, we were excited for Almie to open the little heart-shaped package with the beautiful red and white clay bike and the note.Finally, she opened it and read the note aloud.“Does this mean that I trade in this bike that Daddy made me for a real one?”Beaming, I said,“Yes.”Almie had tears in her eyes when she replied,“I could never trade in this beautiful bicycle that Daddy made me.I’d rather keep this than get a real bike.”At that moment, we would have moved heaven and earth to buy every bicycle on the planet!
(1)
Which is the right time order of the following events?
a.The girl asked for a new bike
b.The girl opened the little heart-shaped package
c.The parents bought the girl a modern and popular doll.
d.The father made the girl a bike with clay.
e.The girl would rather keep the clay bike than get a real one.
[ ]
A.
b, c, e ,d
B.
a, c, d, b, e
C.
a, c, b, d, e
D.
a, b, d, c, e
(2)
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
[ ]
A.
The parents wanted the girl to have the clay bike forever.
B.
Tears were in the girl’s eyes because she didn’t like the present at all.
C.
The girl never lost her desire for a bike.
D.
The parents paid little attention to the daughter’s desire for a bike.
(3)
Why did Dad make the clay bicycle?
[ ]
A.
Because he wanted to buy a real one, but he had no money.
B.
Because he didn’t want to disappoint his daughter.
C.
Because he thought his daughter would like it.
D.
Because he wanted to give his daughter a surprise.
(4)
What can be inferred from the last sentence of the text?
[ ]
A.
The parents were happy and encouraged.
B.
The parents felt comfortable and relaxed.
C.
The parents were moved and felt proud of the girl.
D.
The parents felt disappointed and sorry for the girl.