The temperature of the sun is over 5000 degrees Fahrenheit at the surface, but it rises to perhaps more than 16 million degrees at the center．The sun is so much hotter than die earth that matter can exist only as a gas, except at the core．In the core of the sun, the pressures are so great against the gases that, despite the high temperature, there may be a small solid core．However, no one really knows, since the center of the sun can never be directly observed．

Solar astronomers do know that the sun is divided into five layers or zones．Starting at the outside and going down into the sun, the zones are the corona, chromosphere, photosphere, convection zone and finally the core．The first three zones are regarded as the sun's atmosphere．

But since the sun has no solid surface, it is hard to tell where the atmosphere ends and the main

body of the sun begins．

The sun's outermost layer begins about 10000 miles above the visible surface and goes outward for mllions of miles．This is the only part of the sun that can be seen during an eclipse（日食） such as the one in February 1979．At any other time, the corona can be seen only when special instruments are used on cameras and telescopes to shut out the glare of the sun's rays．

The corona is a brilliant, pearly white, filmy light, about as bright as the full moon．Its beautiful rays are a sensational sight during an eclipse．The corona's rays flash out in a brilliant fan that has wispy spikelike（一束束穗状） rays near the sun's north and south poles．The corona is thickest at the sun's equator．

The corona rays are made up of gases streaming outward at tremendous speeds and reaching a temperature of more than 2 million degrees Fahrenheit．The rays of gas thin out as they reach the space around the planets．By the time the sun's corona rays reach the Earth, they are weak and invisible．

1．Matter on the sun can exist only in the form of gas because of the sun's ___．

     A．size             B．．age                C．location           D．temperature

2．All of the following are parts of the sun's atmosphere EXCEPT the ___．

     A．corona                                        B．chromosphere     C．photosphere        D．core

3．According to the passage, as the corona rays reach –the planets, they become ___．

     A．hotter         B．clearer                C．thinner              D．stronger

4．Which of the following do the paragraphs following the passage most likely discuss?

     A．The remaining layers of the sun．

     B．The evolution of the sun to its present form．

     C．The eclipse of February 1979．

     D．All the above．

The Best Rice Cookers

☆☆☆☆Tefal Automatic 2003 Classic Rice Cooker

One of the largest rice cookers on the market, with a 2-litre capacity （容量）（up to 12 servings）．It looks "rather utilitarian", but gives "the least sticky results" and its removable power cord means it can be taken outdoors or to the table．It comes with eight recipes and once cooking is completed it automatically switches to "keep-warm mode"．Price; $29．99．Call 0800-616413 for stockists．

☆☆☆ Keiswood Rice Cooker and Steamer RC310

A "stylish looking machine with a heavy glass lid and a steam tray for steaming fish and vegetables．It cooks up to ten portions of rice（l．8-litre capacity）, and produces "good results" although the rice tends to get sticky on the bottom layer．It keeps the rice warm once cooking is completed, but the power cord is not removable．Price:$34．99．Call 01705-392333 for stockists．

☆☆☆Zojurushi Rice Cooker / Warmer NDAQ – N10W

This cooker has a one – litre capacity （five portions of rice） and keeps rice warm for up to 12 hours after cooking. The lid has a clip – lock and is sealed so cooking is pressurized. It cooks rice “perfectly”, though “at a price”. Price: $ 109.90. Call 0181 – 9982100 for stockists.

☆☆☆Magimix – 2 – Tier Steamer

    A double – layer steamer with two large stainless – steel steam baskets. Rice is cooked in a heat – proof dish which is inserted in the bottom tier （层）. It is “perfectly done” in just 20 minutes, with “no stickiness or scorching （烧焦）.” The rice can also be kept warm on half power. Price: $ 89.95. Call 01483 – 427411 for stockists.

☆☆☆Lakeland Ltd Microwave Multi – Steamer （Raf 4241）

    A four – portion steamer which takes just ten minutes in the microwave to cook four “fluffy” portions of rice. It is also suitable for vegetables, noodles and pasta and is “great for smallest quantities”. Price: $ 5.95. Call 015394 – 88100 to order.

☆☆Hinari Steam Supreme

A double – layer steamer which comes with an additional rice bowl and lid. Its main drawbacks are “time and capacity”; the rice bowl can only hold two portions and this takes 55 minutes to cool. The instructions are also confusing. “Good as a general steamer, mediocre as a rice cooker”. Price: $ 19.99. Call Alba Ltd on 0181 – 7873111 for stockists.

1．Which of the following is unlikely to be considered by a housewife who hates washing sticky cookers?

       A．Tefal Automatic 2003 Classic Rice Cooker

       B．Kenwood Rice Cooker and Steamer RC 310

       C．magimix 2 – Tier Steamer

       D．Lakeland Ltd Microwave Multi – Steamer （Ref 4241）

2．      may not be so popular with customers as others because it is time – consuming, low in capacity and vague in instructions.

       A．Zojurushi Rice Cooker / Warmer NDAQ – N10W

       B．Lakeland Ltd Microwave Multi – Steamer （Ref4241）

       C．Hinari Steam Supreme

       D．Kenwood Rice Cooker and Steamer RC 310

3．The phrase “at a price” describing Zojurushi Rice Cooker / Warmer NDAQ – N10W implies that its price is           .

       A．low               B．high                  C．above average               D．reasonable

Warning: reading too much Cinderella to your daughter may damage her emotional health in later life. A paper to be developed at the international congress of cognitive psychotherapy（认知心理疗法） in Gothenburg suggests a link between the attitudes of women abused by their parents and early exposure to the wrong sort of fairy tales. It says girls who identified with Cinderella, Rapunzel and Beauty in Beauty and the Beast were more likely to say in destructive relationships as adults.

The theory was developed by Susan Darker Smith, a psychotherapist at the University of Derby. She interviewed 67 female abuse survivors and found that 61 put up with severe abuse because they believed they could change their partners with patience, composition and love.

    The same view was taken by male survivors who had been abused as children. These women and men said they would leave a relationship rather than put up with abuse from a partner. Ms Darker Smith found the abused women were much more likely to identify with Cinderella and other submissive female characters in fairytales, who were later rescued by a stranger prince or hero.

Although most girls heard the stories, damage appeared to be done to those who adopted the submissive characters as role models. “They believe if their love is strong enough they can change their parents’ behaviors,” she said.” Overexposure in children to stories that emphasize the transformational qualities of love may make women believe they can change their partners.” For example, they might never have understood the obvious flaw（缺点）in the story of Rapunzel, who remained locked in a high tower until rescued by a knight on a white horse, who broke the door down. “The question,” said Ms Darker Smith, “is why she did not break the door down herself.”

1．The passage is especially intended for _________.

       A．parents with young daughters

       B．girls who like reading fairy stories

       C．girls who think they can change their partners

       D．parents with grown-up daughters

2．Cinderella, Rapunzel and Beauty in Beauty and the Beast are similar in that _________.

       A．they all married some princes

       B．they all changed their partners with love

       C．they were all abused by their partners

       D．they all put up with abuse

3．Which of the following statements is true of the women in a control group?

       A．They don’t believe in fairy tales.

       B．They don’t believe in the transformational qualities of love.

       C．They have also experienced abuse.

       D．They survived abuse.

4．What does the underlined word “submissive”in the 3rd paragraph probably mean?

       A．kind-hearted        B．obedient              C．gentle                 D．easy-going

Read the following text and choose the most suitable heading from the list A-F for each paragraph. There is one extra heading which you do not need.

1．          

It's something that most of us find annoying. We're on our way home after a hard day at school and trying to have a quiet chat with a classmate or get in a little reading, when our peace is disturbed by someone screaming into their cell phone: "I'M ON THE BUS!"

2．          

A survey published last week suggests Americans do not like the impolite use of today's electronic communication gadgets. Besides noisy phone users, sending and receiving e-mails while in company are also as very poor manners, reports MSNBC.com.

3．         

One of the practices that participants in the survey most objected to was the use of phones, iPods and other devices during religious festivals. Some 90 per cent of those surveyed thought this was insensitive and disrespectful.

4．       

The website quotes Dr Genevieve Bell, conductor of the survey and director of Intel's User Experience Group as saying: "Theses are issues about common sense." But she believes that the rights and wrongs of the public use of technology are still in the process of formation.

5．       

    The survey does suggest, according to MSNBC, that most Amencans accepted that the technologies are a fact of modern life. They had nothing against the use of laptops and cell phones in bathrooms. And an electronic thank-you note was just as acceptable as a handwritten one.

Read the passage carefully and answer the questions or complete the statements in the fewest possible words.

Americans are proud of their variety and individuality, yet they love and respect few things more than a uniform, whether it is the uniform of a lift operator or the uniform of a five-star

general. Why are uniforms so popular in the United States?

　　Among the arguments for uniforms, one of the first is that in the eyes of most people they look more professional than civilian clothes. People have become conditioned to expect superior quality from a man who wears a uniform. The television repairman who wears a uniform tends to inspire more trust than one who appears in civilian clothes, Faith in the skill of a garage mechanic is increased by a uniform. What easier way is there for a nurse, a policeman, a barber, or a waiter to lost professional identity than to step out of uniform?

　　Uniforms also have many practical benefits. They save on other clothes, They save on laundry bills. They are tax - deductible. They are often more comfortable and more durable than civilian clothes.

　　Primary among the arguments against uniforms is their lack of variety and the consequent loss of individuality experienced by people who must wear them. Though there are many types of uniforms, the wearer of any particular type is generally stuck with it, without change, until retirement. When people look alike, they tend to think, speak, and act similarly, on the job at least.

　　Uniforms also give rise to some practical problems. Though they are long - lasting, often their initial expense is greater than the cost of civilian clothes. Some uniforms are also expensive to maintain, requiring professional dry cleaning rather than the home laundering possible with many types of civilian clothes.

1．What surprises us is that                               .

2．What are people likely to think of a man in uniform?

3．Why are some people against uniforms?

4．The underlined sentence tells us that                             .

Translate the following sentences into English, using the word or phrase given in the brackets.

1．通常来说，锻炼有益健康。（good）

2．父母有时会发觉难以与他们十几岁的孩子交流。（it）

3．为缓解交通阻塞已采取了不少措施，然而这个问题并非马上解决。（relieve）

4．不管他是在国外还是在国内，他们总是作为中国人而感到骄傲。（proud）

5．尽管训练要求高、挑战大，但我们相信只要坚持练习，终将梦想成真。（as long as）

Wire an English composition in 120 – 150 words according the instructions given below in Chinese.

你是一名高三学生，你父母与你经常为你看电视的事闹矛盾，请以书信的形式给他们写一封信，争取得到他们的理解和支持。

The UK program, Britain's Got Talent, features three sharp-tongued judges, ______ remarks can reduce contestants ______ tears．

A．which; into          B．whose; to           C．which; to               D．whose; into

It is the very ordinariness of the participants ______ makes the talent shows ______attractive to ______ a wide audience．

A．which; so; so                                   B．that; such; so

C．which; such; such                              D．that; so; such

With his injured left foot fully healed, Yao Ming is just looking forward to playing a great  season, ______ that he can _______ his foot now．

A．saying; call on                                   B．says; hold on

C．saying; count on                                D．said; keep on