阅读理解

　　The journey to the moon had been the first step towards future exploration(探险) in space. The distance between the Moon and Earth is very short indeed when compared with the distances between Earth and the other planets. Mars, the nearest planet to Earth is millions of miles away! Travelling to the planets will be man’s next aim. Such travels will be more challenging than the trip to the moon and certainly more adventurous.

　　Recently, two American spaceships, Vikings 1 and 2, landed on Mars trying to discover whether that planet has any life on it. So far the signs of life on Mars has neither confirmed (确认) nor ruled out. Russians have discovered that the surface of Venus (金星) is so hot that it is almost certain that there is no life there. Also the atmosphere of Venus is extremely dense (稠密的) and the pressure is nearly a hundred times greater than that of the Earth’s atmosphere.

　　Scientists believe man may find planets which have the same conditions as those we have on Earth, but man should realize Earth will be his only home for a long time and begin to love and care for it.

1．According to the passage, traveling to the planets will be ________.

[　　]

A．much easier and even more interesting

B．far more exciting and dangerous

C．man’s final aim

D．man’s first step

2．Which of the following is NOT true?

[　　]

A．Mars is nearer to the earth than the moon.

B．The moon is much nearer to the earth than Mars.

C．Of all the planets, Mars is the nearest to the earth.

D．All the planets are much farther to the earth;

3．From the passage, we can guess ________.

[　　]

A．there is life on Mars

B．there is no life on Mars

C．the atmosphere of Mars is not so dense as that of Venus

D．scientists will have little hope to find the answers

4．Man can live on under, the conditions of ________.

[　　]

A．much too hot surface

B．the same pressure as we get on earth

C．normal atmosphere as we have on earth

D．Both B and C

5．Scientists think we should take care of our earth because ________.

[　　]

A．no other planets are to take the place of the earth

B．everything needed is provided by the earth

C．the only home of man will be the earth for a long time

D．the dream to find another home for man will come true

阅读理解

　　Something big is happening to the human race-something that could be called The Great Transformation.

　　The Transformation consists of all the changes that are occurring in human life due to advancing technology. For thousands of years such progress occurred slowly. Now, everything is changing so fast that you may find yourself wondering where all this progress is really leading.

　　Nobody knows what all these changes really will mean in the long run. But this mysterious Transformation is the biggest story of all time. It is the story of the human race itself.

　　Some people worry about what will happen when the deposits of petroleum are gone, but already researchers are finding all kinds of new ways to obtain energy. Someday, solar power collected by satellites circling the earth or fission power manufactured by mankind may give us all the energy we need for an expanding civilization. Space exploration promises to open up many new territories for human settlement, as well as leading to the harvest of mineral resources like the asteroids.

　　Scientific research continues to open up previously undreamed of possibilities. Fifty years ago, few people could even imagine things like computers, lasers, and holography. Today, a host of newly emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and genetic engineering are opening up all kinds of new paths for technologists.

　　Like it or not, our advancing technology has made us masters of the earth. We not only dominate all the other animals, but we are reshaping the world’s plant life and even its soil and rocks, its waters and surrounding air. Mountains are being dug up to provide minerals and stone for buildings. The very ground under our feet is washing ways as we chop down the forests, plow up the fields, and excavate foundations for our buildings.

　　Human junk is cluttering up not only the land but even the bottom of the sea. And so many chemicals are being released into the air by human activities that scientists worry that the entire globe may warm, causing the polar icecaps (冰冠) to melt and ocean waters to flood vast areas of the land. During the twentieth century, advancing technology has enabled man to reach thousands of feet into the ocean depths and to climb the highest mountain. Mount Everest, the highest mountain of all, resisted all climbers until the 1950s. Now man is reaching beyond Earth to the moon, Mars, and the stars.

　　No one knows what the Great Transformation means or where it will ultimately lead. But one thing is sure: Human life 50 years from now will be very different from what it is today. It’s also worth nothing that our wondrous technology is posing an increasingly insistent question: When we can do so many things, how can we possibly decide what we really should do? When humans were relatively powerless, they didn’t have to make the choices they have to make today.

　　Technology gives us the power to build a magnificent new civilization－if we can just agree on what we want it to be. But today, there is little global agreement on goals and how we should achieve them. So it remains to be seen what will happen as a result of our technology. Pessimists worry that we will use the technology eventually to blow ourselves up. But they have been saying that for decades, and so far we have escaped. Whether we will continue to do so remains unknown－but we can continue to hope.

1．The Great Transformation is caused by ________.

[　　]

A．artificial intelligence and genetic engineering

B．the shortage, of natural resources

C．the development of practical science

D．unknown reasons

2．Today it is impossible for people to build a remarkable new civilization because ________.

[　　]

A．nobody is optimistic about the future

B．human beings are unable to do so

C．people disagree with each other in many ways

D．people are not interested in it

3．The more chemicals we send into the air, the less land we will possibly have because ________.

[　　]

A．chemicals will wash away fields

B．water levels will go up

C．more and more land will be covered by ice

D．none of the above

4．________ after all the petroleum is used up.

[　　]

A．We can depend on solar power or fission for energy

B．We can ask God for help

C．We will have no source to obtain energy

D．We can bum wood

阅读理解

　　In the middle of winter, when snow is falling in many parts of the United States. Scientists have sounded the sun this summer. The warning: The sun’s summer time rays are more dangerous than once thought.

　　A team of scientists from 80 nations recently reported to the United Nations that a layer of ozone(臭氧层) in the atmosphere, which protects humans from harmful levels of ultraviolet (紫外的) radiation, will be thinner over the United States this summer. The thinner layer allows more ultraviolet rays from the sun to reach earth. The extra amount of ultraviolet radiation could cause an increase in the number of cases of skin cancer.

　　Scientists first became concerned about the ozone layer in the mid-1980s when a hole was discovered in the layer above Antarctic during the winter. The hole was caused by chemicals used in refrigerators and air conditioners. When these chemicals are sent out into the atmosphere, they produce gases that destroy the ozone.

　　Concern about the protective ozone layer rose more recently when data (数据) from satellites and ground stations showed that ozone levels were dropping over areas other than Antarctic. Low ozone Levels were recorded in the spring and summer over the United States and over other populated areas in the world.

　　Although many countries have already begun stopping the use of ozone-destroying chemicals, the new findings are? expected to advance the timetable for a total ban(禁止) of the chemicals.

1．The scientists have observed the ozone layer ________.

[　　]

2．The ozone layer in the atmosphere can ________.

[　　]

A．do a lot of good to human beings in many ways

B．protect humans from diseases caused by bad weather

C．do a lot of harm to human beings in the summer time

D．protect humans from harmful levels of ultraviolet radiation

3．Scientists first found that there was a hole in the ozone layer ________.

[　　]

A．above Arctic during the winter in the mid-1980

B．above Antarctic during the winter in the mid-1980

C．over somewhere in the north of the equator in 1980

D．over somewhere in the summer time in the mid-1980s

4．The damage to the ozone layer was caused by ________.

[　　]

A．the changeable weather

B．ozone-destroying chemicals

C．chemicals from refrigerators

D．chemicals from air conditioners

5．Which of the following is NOT true?

[　　]

A．The use of ozone-destroying chemicals have already been stopped.

B．The ozone levels in the spring and summer over the USA were low.

C．More and more people have begun to protect the natural surroundings.

D．Many countries have already taken measures to protect ozone layer.

阅读理解

　　Farmer Ed Rawlings smiles as he looks at his orange trees. The young oranges are growing well in Florida’s weather. Warm sunshine and gentle rains, along with Ed Rawlings’ expert care, will produce a good crop of oranges this year.

　　But Ed has to fight against Florida’s changeable winter weather. In January and February, temperatures can destroy Ed’s entire orange crop. Having farmed in Florida for the past 35 years, Ed Rawlings is prepared for the frosts. When temperatures drop below freezing, Ed tries to save his crop by watering his orange trees. The water freezes and forms a thin layer of ice on the trees. Strange as it may sound, this thin layer of ice actually keeps the fruit warm.

　　What happens is simple. When the tree are watered, the water loses heat and becomes ice. The warmth of the heat it loses is sucked in by the fruit and keeps its temperature at a safe level. Ed Rawlings has effectively used this method to save many orange crops.

　　But Ed still faces some difficulties. The trees should be watered at the exact moment the temperature drops to the freezing point. Also, just the right quantity of water must be used. Too much water can form a thick layer of ice that will break the trees’ branches. Another difficulty is that wind blows away the heat. So Ed has to worry about not only when but also how often his trees should be watered, and how much water should be used.

　　Computer technology may hely Ed Rawlings with some of these worries. With equipment, air and soil temperatures and wind speed can be measured. The information is fed into a computer which can tell when temperatures drop to freezing. The computer can correctly decide the quantity of water to be used and how frequently the trees should be watered. Ed Rawlings will find looking after his orange trees a lot easier with the help of a computer, and we’ll all have the benefits (or advantages) of computer-age oranges.

1．The passage is mainly about ________.

[　　]

A．a farmer’s expert care for his orange trees

B．the different uses of computers

C．growing oranges in Florida’s changeable weather

D．different ways of frost protection

2．Ed tried to protect his crop by ________.

[　　]

A．using a wind machine to drive away the cold air

B．equipping his orange trees with a computer

C．watering it at the proper time

D．picking his fruit at the first sign of frost

3．In the writer’s eyes, computers ________.

[　　]

A．are too expensive for small farmers

B．can be a valuable tool for the farmer

C．can be used to help oranges grow bigger

D．cannot take the place of the farmer’s experience and judgement

4．Which of the Mowing is NOT NECESSARY for Ed Rawlings to do?

[　　]

A．He should water the orange trees as soon as the temperature drops to the freezing point.

B．He should decide the quantity of water for the orange trees.

C．He has to water the orange trees more often in January and February.

D．He has to judge how often he should water the orange tree.

5．According to the passage, the computer technology can ________.

[　　]

A．get rid of the need for frost protection

B．help the farmer get a better harvest

C．tell the farmer why outdoor temperature changes

D．prevent the temperature from dropping to the freezing point

阅读理解

　　Are you a man or a mouse? When people ask this question they want to know if you think you are a brave person or a coward. But you will never really know the answer to that question until you are tested in real life. Some people think they are brave, but when they come face to face with real danger, they act like cowards. Other people think of themselves as cowardly, but when they meet danger, they act like heroes.

　　Lenny Skutnik had always thought of himself as a nervous person. He got worried before examinations. He worried about his job and his health. All he wanted in life was to be safe and healthy. Then, on 15th January 1982, a plane crashed into the Potomac River in Washington. Lenny went to the river to see what was happening. Then he saw a woman in the ice-cold water. Suddenly Lenny did not feel afraid. He kept very calm and did a very courageous thing. He jumped into the Potomac, swam to the woman, and kept her head above the water. Seventyeight people died that day. Thanks to Lenny Skutnik, it was not seventy-nine.

　　When you are in a very dangerous situation and feel afraid, the body automatically produces a chemical in the blood. This chemical is called adrenalin(副肾素). With adrenalin in the blood system, you actually feel stronger and are ready to fight or run away. However, when you are absolutely terrified, the body can produce too much adrenalin. When this happens, the muscles become very hard and you find that you cannot move at all. You are then paralysed with fear. That is why, when we are very frightened, we sometimes say that we are ‘petrified’. This word comes from the Greek word‘petros’which means‘stone’. We are so frightened we have become like stone.

1．According to the writer’s opinion, a brave person can be judged by ________.

[　　]

2．From what Lenny did , we can conclude that ________.

[　　]

A．Lenny had a good chance

B．Lenny liked swimming

C．Lenny was brave

D．Lenny wanted to be a hero

3．In great danger, a hero always keeps ________.

[　　]

4．Adrenalin in our body is ________.

[　　]

5．If a person’s body produces too much adrenalin, he will ________.

[　　]

阅读理解

　　Health food is a general term applied to all kinds of foods that are considered more healthful than the types of foods sold in supermarkets. For example, whole grains, dried beans, and corn oil are health foods. A narrower classification of health food is natural food. This term is used to distinguish between types of the some food. Raw honey is a natural sweetener, whereas refined sugar is not. Fresh fruit is a natural food, but canned fruit, with sugars and other additives, is not. The most precise term of all and the narrowest classification within health foods is organic food, used to describe food that has been grown on a particular kind of farm. Fruits and vegetables that are grown in gardens that are treated only with organic fertilizers, that are not sprayed with poisonous insecticides, and that are not refined after harvest, are organic foods, meats, fish, dairy and poultry products from animals that are fed only organically－grown feed and that are not injected with hormones are organic foods.

　　In choosing the type of food you eat, then, you have basically two choices: inorganic, processed foods, or organic, unprocessed foods. A wise decision should include investigation of the reason why that processed foods contain chemicals, some of which are proved to be toxic and that vitamin content is greatly reduced in processed foods.

　　Bread in typically used by health food advocates as an example of a processed food. First, the seeds from which the grain is grown are treated with a chemical which is extremely toxic. Later, the grain is sprayed with a number of very toxic insecticides. After the grain has been made into flour, it is made white with another Chemical which is also toxic. Next, a dough conditioner is added along with a softener. The conditioner and softener are poisons, and in fact, the softener has sickened and kiled experimental animals.

　　A very toxic anti-fungal compound, is added to keep the bread from getting moldy.

　　Other foods from the supermarket would show a similar pattern of processing and preserving. You see, we buy our food on the basis of smell, color, and texture, instead of vitamin content, and manufacturers give us what we want－even if it is poisonous. The alternative? Eat health foods, preferable the organic variety.

1．What is the main idea of this passage?

[　　]

2．Which term is used to distinguish between types of the same food?

[　　]

3．What happens to food when it is processed?

[　　]

A．The ultimate content remains the same.

B．Vitamin information is not available after processing.

C．Vitamin content is reduced altogether.

D．The vitamin content is greatly reduced.

4．We normally buy foods on the basis of ________.

[　　]

阅读理解

　　Insurance is the sharing of risks. Nearly everyone is exposed to risk of some sort. The houseowner, for example, knows that his property can be damaged by fire; the shipowner knows that his vessel may be lost at sea; the breadwinner knows that he may die at an early age and leave his family the poorer. On the other hand, not every house is damaged by fire nor every vessel lost at sea. If these persons each put a small sum into a pool, there will be enough to meet the needs of the few who do suffer loss. In other words, the losses of the few are met from the contributions of the many. This is the basis of insurance. Those who pay the contribution are known as“insured”and those who administer the pool of contributions“insurers”.

　　Not all risks lend themselves to being covered by insurance. Broadly speaking, the ordinary risks of business and speculation cannot be covered. The risk that buyers will not buy goods at the prices offered is not of a kind that can be statistically estimated and risks can only be insured against if they can be so estimated.

　　The legal basis of all insurance is the“policy”. This is a printed form of contract on stout(结实的) paper of the best quality. It states that in return for the regular payment by the insured of a named sum of money, called the“premium”(保险费), which is usually paid every year, the insurer will pay a sum of money or compensation for loss, if the risk or even insured against actually happens. The wording of policies, particularly in marine insurance, often seems very old-fashioned, but there is a sound reason for this. Over a large number of year many law cases have been brought to clear up the meanings of doubtful phrases in policies. The law courts, in their judgments, have given these phrases a definite and indisputable meaning, and to avoid future disputes the phrases have continued to be used in policies even when they have passed out of normal use in speech.

1．The“basis of insurance” refers to ________.

[　　]

A．the losses of the few

B．the administration of contributions

C．the payment of contributions

D．exposure to risks

2．By“the pool of contributions”the writer means ________.

[　　]

A．money paid by the insured

B．money paid by the insurers

C．the cost of administering insurance

D．the amount of each premium

3．Old-fashioned wording is sometimes used in insurance policies because ________.

[　　]

A．insurance is old-fashioned

B．insurance has existed for a long time

C．it enables ordinary people to understand it

D．the meaning of such wording has been agreed upon

4．The writer of this passage seems to think that insurance is ________.

[　　]

A．a form of gambling

B．a way of making money quickly

C．old-fashioned

D．useful and necessary

阅读理解

　　Research has shown that motivation is very important in learning a language; you need to be enthusiastic about it, and to be interested in it. Different people will have different motives－the desire for promotion, the hope of being able to study abroad, curiosity about a very different culture, and pure intellectual enjoyment are only some of the possible motives. But actually wanting to learn is the most important motive of all.

　　Courage is an essential attribute in learning a language. It takes a lot of courage to speak a foreign language either in front of your friends or to native speakers, but don’t be afraid of making mistakes－that is the way we learn. Nowadays there are many different forms of English, each with its own constructions and accent, and, so long as you can make yourself understood and can understand what is said to you, you have succeeded in communicating, which is the purpose of any language.

　　Curiosity is not only a possible motivation, it is also a great help in your learning. Remember that a language is not just a grammatical system, it is the outcome of a certain culture or different cultures. It is no good learning strings of words and lists of grammatical rules unless you know as much as possible, about the background of the language, so that you can understand the ideas which are being conveyed, the references which are being made, the inferences which can be drown from the information explicitly given. So learn as much as you can about the different cultures which influence English－watch television programs, listen to the radio, try to obtain newspapers and magazines: which are written by native speakers, look at advertisements, and above all, read－not textbooks, but novels and poems and plays. The will show you how language is really used. The English language is not an abstract system; it is a living form of expression which derives much of its meaning from the context in which it is used , and much of its effect from a whole network of extralinguistic knowledge.

1．With what topic is this passage primarily concerned?

[　　]

A．Curiosity in learning a language.

B．Courage in learning a language.

C．Motivation in learning a language.

D．Qualities in learning a language.

2．The author of this passage is possible a ________.

[　　]

A．beginner of English learning

B．foreign teacher of English

C．student of Chinese literature

D．Chinese student studying abroad

3．According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?

[　　]

A．You should be prepared to make mistakes in communication.

B．Words are the basis of English learning.

C．Good pronunciation is important to an English learner.

D．Wanting to know everything does not help you in learning a language.

4．According to the author, what’s the best way of learning English?

[　　]

A．To study abroad.

B．To learn words and grammar.

C．To learn about cultures.

D．To make mistakes.

阅读理解

　　The trend towards globalization began in earnest in the early 1970s when the system of fixed exchange rates, set up after World War Ⅱ, was dismantled, This meant that the value of currencies would now be determined by the markets instead of individual governments. Over the next two decades, countries slowly began to remove their exchange controls. By 1990, nearly all world’s major economies had got rid of restrictions on how much money could be moved in and out of their countries.

　　Other factors contributing to the rise of globalization are new communications technologies, and better transportation systems. These have enabled companies to grow into multinationals (跨国公司) producing goods on one side of the planet and selling them on the other. Lower costs have also helped the price of telephone calls, for instance, is cheaper now than at any time in history.

　　But adjusting to this new“economic order”is proving difficult. In the developed world, and in particular the European Union, globalization is facing widespread public resistance. Critics complain that, without the protection of trade barriers, jobs are being lost to workers in poorer countries, and wages for employees in rich countries are falling. Opponents in the European Union point to the effects that globalization has had in the US and Britain. In those countries, wages are stagnant (停滞不前) except for a privileged few and taxes and welfare benefits have been reduced to help companies compete with industries in the developing world.

　　Opponents of globalization also point to its effects on workers in poorer countries. They agree that multinationals may be helping to reduce unemployment in the developing world but they argue that the jobs are hardly worth having since they are low-paid and exploitative. Those in favor of globalization accuse their critics of being short-sighted protectionists. They claim a more intergrated global economy will ultimate benefit everyone because it will enable countries to specialize in those areas where they perform best.

1．What does the passage mainly talk about?

[　　]

A．The system of fixed exchanged rates.

B．Globalization.

C．The European Union.

D．Computer.

2．According to the passage, what enabled many companies to grow into multinationals?

[　　]

A．Globalization.

B．Better transportation systems.

C．New communications technologies.

D．Both B and C.

3．What does the new“economic order”in paragraph 3 refer to?

[　　]

A．Producing goods on one side of the earth and selling them on the other.

B．Earning less money in the developed countries.

C．Unemployment in the developing countries.

D．Globalization.

4．In which of the following countries is globalization facing widespread public resistance?

[　　]

5．Why are some people in the developed countries against globalization?

[　　]

A．The workers in their countries lose their jobs and their wages are lower.

B．They don’t like the people form the developing countries.

C．This makes their countries poorer.

D．The society is not safe.

阅读理解

　　For most of us, body weight goes up with age－an average of one pound a year after 25, according to the American Medical Association. What’s more, added weight is likely to be composed primarily of fat, not muscle. The reasons are as follows.

　　1)As we age, most of us become less active, and the body’s basal metabolism(基础代谢) rate slows a little each year. So our food-energy requirements－the number of calories needed to maintain weight-decrease. For example, a man might require 2500 calories a day at age 20, 2000 at 35 and only 1800 at 15.

　　2)Starting in our 20s, the proportion of muscle mass to body fat tends to decline. The body of an average 20-year-old woman is 26.5 percent fat. By 35, it is 33 percent, at 50, 42 percent.

　　3)As we grow older, we shrink-not from side to side, unfortunately, but from top to bottom. In our mid-30s, we begin to lose more bone than we make. One result: less height to hang our weight on, which makes us look thicker than we once did.

　　4)Exercising becomes harder with age. Our muscles can begin to lose strength and elasticity (弹性) as early as age 20. By 40, heart and lung power has begun to drop, and the body becomes more likely to be injured.

1．What is the passage about?

[　　]

A．The reason why old people usually weigh more than they once did.

B．The reason why added weight is likely to be composed primarily of fat, not muscle.

C．The reason why we become less active when we age.

D．The reason why our body weight goes up one pound: a year after 25.

2．What does the writer mean by“As we grow older, we shrink”?

A．As we grow older, we become shorter.

B．As we grow older, we become thinner.

C．As we grow older, we become more depressed.

D．As we grow older, we become more active.

3．Why does exercising become harder with age?

[　　]

A．Our muscles are older and weaker.

B．The possibility of injury increases.

C．Heart and lung don’t work as well as before.

D．All of the above.

4．Which of the following is true according to the passage?

[　　]

A．The body weight increases as one grows older.

B．The basal metabolism rate of an active person is always very high.

C．The food-energy requirement for one certain person is fixed.

D．We need less calories to maintain our weight as we grow older.

5．Where is this passage likely to appear?

[　　]

A．In a newspaper.

B．In a magazine.

C．In a novel.

D．In an advertisement.