Before going outside in the morning, many of us check a window thermometer (温度计) for the
temperature. This helps us decide what to wear. 1_____. We want our food to be a certain coldness
in the refrigerator. We want it a certain hotness in the oven. If we don't feel well, we use a thermometer
to see if we have a fever. We keep our rooms a certain warmth in the winter and a certain coolness in
the summer.
     Not all the thermometers use the same system to measure temperature. We use a system called the
Fahrenheit scale. But most other countries use the Centigrade scale. Both systems use the freezing and
boiling points of water as their guide. 2_____.
     The most common kind of thermometer is made with mercury (水银) inside a clear glass tube. As
mercury (or any other liquid ) becomes hot, it expands. As it gets colder, it contracts (收缩). That is
why on hot days the mercury line is high in the glass tube. 3_____.
     First. Take a clear glass juice bottle that has a cap; fill the bottle with coloured water. Tap a hole in
the center of the cap using a hammer and thick nail. Put the cap on the jar. Then stick a plastic straw
(吸管) through the nail hole. 4_____.
     Finally. Place a white card on the outside of the bottle and behind the straw. Now you can see the
water lever easily. 5_____.
     As the temperature goes down, the water will contract, and the lever in the straw will come down.
Perhaps you will want to keep a record of the water lever in the straw each morning for a week.

A. We use and depend on thermometers to measure the temperature of many other things in our daily
     lives.
B. Thermometers measure temperature, by using materials that change in the same way when they are
     heated or cooled.
C. Now that you know this rule you can make a thermometer of your own that will work.
D. The water will rise in the straw. As the temperature of the air goes up, the water will expand and rise
     even higher.
E. They label these in different ways. On the Fahrenheit scale water freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212
     degrees. On the Celsius scale water freezes at 0 degrees and boils at 100degrees.
F. Take wax (you may use an old candle if you have one) and melt some of it right where the straw is
     struck into the cap to seal (把..粘住) them together.
G. People use thermometers which are made by themselves when travelling around the world.

     We are all called upon to make a speech at some point in life, but most of us don't do a very good job.
This article gives some suggestions on how to give an effective speech.
     So, you have to give a speech-and you're terrified. You get nervous, you forget what you want to say,
you stumble over words, you talk too long, and you bore your audience. Later you think, "Thank goodness,
it's over. I'm just no good at public speaking. I hope I never have to do that again."
     Cheer up! It doesn't have to be that bad. Here are some simple steps to take the pain out of speech
making. Ask yourself the purpose of your speech. What is the occasion? Why are you speaking? Then,
gather as many facts as you can on your subject. Spend plenty of time doing your research. Then spend
plenty of time organizing your material so that your speech is clear and easy to follow. Use as many examples
as possible, and use pictures, charts, and graphs if they will help you make your points more clearly. Never
forget your audience. Don't talk over their heads, and don't talk down to them. Treat your audience with
respect. They will appreciate your thoughtfulness.
     Just remember: be prepared. Know your subject, your audience, and the occasion. Be brief. Say what you
have to say and then stop. And be yourself. Let your personality come through so that you make person-to-
person contact with your audience.
     If you follow these simple steps, you'll see that you don't have to be afraid of public speaking. In fact,
you may find the experience so enjoyable that you volunteer to make more speeches! You're not convinced
yet? Give it a try and see what happens.

1. The main idea of this article is _____.

A. you can improve your speaking ability
B. a poor speaker can never change
C. always make a short speech
D. it is hard to make a speech

2. Paragraph 2 implies (暗示) that _____.

A. many people are afraid of giving a speech
B. many people are happy to give a speech
C. many people do not prepare for a speech
D. many people talk too long

3. The phrase "talk over their heads" means _____.

A. speak too loudly
B. look at the ceiling
C. look down upon them
D. use words and ideas that are too difficult

4. All of the following statements are true except that _____.

A. few people know how to make good speeches
B. a lecturer does not need to organize his speech
C. research is important in preparing a speech
D. there are simple steps you can take to improve your speaking ability

5. The title for this passage may be _____.

A. Do Not Make a Long Speech
B. How to Give a Good Speech
C. How to Prepare for a Speech
D. Try to Enjoy a Speech

     Solar energy for your home is coming. It can help you as a single home owner. It can help the whole
country as well. Whether or not solar energy can save your money depends on many things. Where you
live is one factor and the type of home you have is another. Things like insulation (绝缘材料), present
energy costs, and the type of system you buy are added factors.
     Using solar energy can help save our precious fuel. As you know, our supplies of oil and gas are very
limited. There is just not enough on hand to meet all our future energy needs. Sooner or later Mother Nature
will say that's all. The only way we can delay hearing those words is by starting to save energy now and
by using other sources, like the sun.
     We won't have to worry about the sun's running out of energy for another several billion years or so.
Besides, the sun doesn't offer as many problems as other energy sources. For example, fossil fuel (矿物
燃料) adds to already high pollution levels. With solar energy, we will still need sources of energy, but we
won't need as much. That means we can cut down on our pollution problems. With all these good points,
why don't we use more solar power? There are many reasons for this. The biggest reason is money. Until
now, it was just not practical for a home owner to put in a solar unit. There were cheaper sources of energy.
     All that is changing now. Solar costs are starting to equal the costs of oil and electricity. Experts say
that gas, oil and electricity prices will continue to rise. The demand for electricity is increasing rapidly. But
new power plants will use more gas, oil or coal. Already in some places the supply of electricity is being
rationed (限量供应). Solar energy is now in its infancy (初期). It could soon grow to become a major part
of our nation's energy supply.

1. What's this passage mainly about?

A. Something about solar energy and pollution.
B. Solar energy.
C. Energy and pollution.
D. Energy and money.

2. Solar energy can help us _____.

A. escape punishment from nature
B. become home owners
C. get rid of present energy
D. save our precious fuel

3. The sun is an endless source of energy, and it will not run out of energy for _____.

A. several million years
B. several hundred years
C. several billion years
D. several thousand years

4. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. Energy from coal would not pollute our living environment.
B. Energy from natural gas would not pollute our living environment.
C. Energy from the sun would not pollute our living environment.
D. Energy from oil would not pollute our living environment.

5. Solar energy is now in its infancy, _____.

A. but in the future it will become an important part of our nation's energy supply
B. so we will build more power plants
C. and the supply of electricity will be rationed throughout the country
D. so we don't need it

     Before a new type of airplane 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 airplane must fly very high in the sky. Air must be pumped 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 a small part of the plane were to fail,
the plane would explode in the sky. To test the structure of the plane, the plane is lowered into a huge tank or
container 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 does not cause so much damage inside the water tank
as it would anywhere else. Engineers can discover which part of the plane has broken. Then that 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 is 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 made safe before they ever carry passengers.

1. By doing the "tank test", the engineers can find out _____.

A. the power of the airplane engines
B. the amount of air in the plane
C. the strength of the plane structure
D. the pressure inside and outside the plane

2. What will happen to the plane under the "tank test"?

A. It will be tested by pilots.
B. It will be broken.
C. It will be made stronger.
D. It will be filled with water.

3. According to the text, why are test flights most dangerous?

A. Too much air may get into the plane.
B. The plane may explode in the air.
C. The pilot may lose control of the plane.
D. The engines may be damaged.

4. What might be the most suitable title for the text?

A. How Airplanes Are Made and Tested
B. Two Important Tests on Airplanes
C. The Importance of Flying Safely
D. The Danger of Testing Airplanes

     Laptop computers are popular all over the world. People use them on trains and airplanes, in airports and
hotels. These laptops connect people to their workplace. In the United States today, laptops also connect
students to their classrooms.
     Westlake College in Virginia will start a laptop computer program that allows students to do schoolwork
anywhere they want. Within five years, each of the 1500 students at the college will receive a laptop. The
laptops are part of a ＄10 million computer program at Westlake, a 110-year-old college. The students with
laptops will also have access to the Internet. In addition, they will be able to use e-mail to "speak" with their
teachers, their classmates, and their families. However, the most important part of the laptop program is that
students will be able to use computers without going to computer labs. They can work with it at home, in a
fast-food restaurant or under the trees-anywhere at all!
     Because of the many changes in computer technology, laptop use in higher education, such as colleges
and universities, is workable. As laptops become more powerful, they become more similar to desktop
computers. In addition, the portable computers can connect students to not only the Internet, but also libraries
and other resources. State higher-education officials are studying? how laptops can help students. State
officials are also testing laptop programs at other universities, too.
     At Westlake College, more than 60 percent of the staff use computers. The laptops will allow all teachers
to use computers in their lessons. As one Westlake teacher said, "Here we are in the middle of Virginia and
we're giving students a window on the world.They can see everything and do everything."

1. The main purpose of the laptop program is to give each student a laptop to _____.

A. use for their schoolwork
B. access the Internet
C. work at home
D. connect them to libraries

2. Why is the word "speak" in the second paragraph in quotation marks (引号)?

A. They don't really talk.
B. They use the computer language.
C. Laptops have speakers.
D. None of the above reasons is correct.

3. Which of the following is true about Westlake College?

A. All teachers use computers.
B. 1500 students have laptops.
C. It is an old college in America.
D. Students there can do everything.

4. A window on the world in the last paragraph means that students can _____.

A. attend lectures on information technology
B. travel around the world
C. get information from around the world
D. have free laptops

     American and British researchers have proved that judgments based on how someone looks are important.
They found that appearance tells a lot about your personality.
     The researchers included Laura Naumann of Sonoma State University in California, and Simine Vazire of
Washington University in Saint Louis, Missouri. They were joined by Sam Gosling of the University of Texas
at Austin and Peter J. Rentfrow of Britain's Cambridge University. The results of their study were published in
the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin in December, 2009.
     The subjects (接受实验者) were asked to judge the personality of people they had never met. The judges
examined pictures of one hundred twenty-three people. The people in the photographs had been told how to
stand. They looked into the cameras without showing their feelings. The same people also were photographed
the way they themselves wanted to stand. Those who wanted to smile could smile.
     Then the judges attempted to decide what the people were like. The researchers compared the judges'
opinions with the way the people who were photographed thought of themselves. Three people who knew
those in the photographs well also provided information about their personality and behavior.
     The judges looked for ten qualities in the people in the pictures. The qualities included extroversion (having
a confident character and enjoying the company of other people) and self-esteem (being satisfied with oneself). 
     The judges also looked for signs of loneliness, conscientiousness (正义), emotional control and religious
and political beliefs.
     The researchers said the judges could identify some personalities even when people were pictured in
controlled positions. They could recognize personalities like extroversion and self-esteem. But it was hard for
the judges to decide about most other personalities under the controlled conditions. When the people smiled and
stood naturally, however, judging their personalities was easy. Then the judges' choices were correct for nine
of the ten personalities.
     Researcher Laura Nauman said that we live in the world where first impressions are important.

1. According to the passage, who were the judges?

A. The researchers of the study.
B. The subjects in the study.
C. Parents and other adults.
D. People in the photographs.

2. Which of the following qualities could the judges identify even when people were pictured in controlled
    positions?

A. Extroversion
B. Religious beliefs
C. Loneliness
D. Emotional control

3. We can infer from the passage that _____.

A. the study was carried out by four researchers from America
B. in the study126 people were photographed for judges to decide their personalities
C. the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin is an official publication (出版物).
D. it was hard to recognize personalities when the people were pictured with natural looks

4. What will the author most probably talk about next?

A. The quality of the judges.
B. The personalities of Laura Nauman.
C. Signs of emotional control.
D. The reason why one's appearance is important.