Thousands of dead red-winged blackbirds fell from the sky in an Arkansas town on New Year’s Eve after massive injuries, tests by Arkansas officials concluded on Monday. Some 5,000 birds mysteriously fell from the sky in Beebe, Arkansas after dark on New Year’s Eve. “The birds suffered from acute physical injuries leading to internal hemorrhage（大量出血） and death. There was no sign of infectious disease,” the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission said in a statement. The birds were otherwise healthy, it said.

One theory is that birds were frightened by New Year's fireworks and flew into buildings or other objects. “Loud noises were reported shortly before the birds began to fall from the sky,” the statement said, adding that blackbirds have poor night vision and seldom fly at night.

　　Another theory was that severe weather such as lightning accounted for the loud noises but this was discounted because the violent weather had already left the area. “We’re leaning more toward a stress event," said Arkansas Game and Fish Commission spokesman Keith Stephens.

The commission also is trying to determine what caused the deaths of up to 100,000 fish over a 20-mile stretch of the Arkansas River near a dam in Ozark, 125 miles west of Beebe. The fish were discovered on December 30. Stephens said the commission expected results on the fish tests in probably a month. Since almost all the fish were one species -- bottom-feeding drum, Stephens said, the test was very important. Stephens also said: “The events do not appear related.” Both that section of the river and the air at the site of the bird deaths were tested for toxins(毒素). Beebe is a town of about 4,500 people located 30 miles northeast of the state capital.

What is NOT the probable reason why the dead red-winged blackbirds fell from the sky?

A. Internal hemorrhage                B. Fireworks

C. Lightning weather                          D. Murder

In the third paragraph, the underlined word discounted probably mean________.

A. not to reduce cost                           B. not to believe

C. to make up a part                          D. to explain mystery

According to Stephens, we can infer the probable cause of the dead fish is _________.A. cold weather                                  B. poor management  

C. disease                                         D. lack of food

The passage is mainly developed by __________.

A. analyzing causes                           B. making comparisons

C. examining differences                    D. following the time order

Thousands of dead red-winged blackbirds fell from the sky in an Arkansas town on New Year’s Eve after massive injuries, tests by Arkansas officials concluded on Monday. Some 5,000 birds mysteriously fell from the sky in Beebe, Arkansas after dark on New Year’s Eve. “The birds suffered from acute physical injuries leading to internal hemorrhage（大量出血） and death. There was no sign of infectious disease,” the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission said in a statement. The birds were otherwise healthy, it said.
One theory is that birds were frightened by New Year's fireworks and flew into buildings or other objects. “Loud noises were reported shortly before the birds began to fall from the sky,” the statement said, adding that blackbirds have poor night vision and seldom fly at night.
　　Another theory was that severe weather such as lightning accounted for the loud noises but this was discounted because the violent weather had already left the area. “We’re leaning more toward a stress event," said Arkansas Game and Fish Commission spokesman Keith Stephens.
The commission also is trying to determine what caused the deaths of up to 100,000 fish over a 20-mile stretch of the Arkansas River near a dam in Ozark, 125 miles west of Beebe. The fish were discovered on December 30. Stephens said the commission expected results on the fish tests in probably a month. Since almost all the fish were one species -- bottom-feeding drum, Stephens said, the test was very important. Stephens also said: “The events do not appear related.” Both that section of the river and the air at the site of the bird deaths were tested for toxins(毒素). Beebe is a town of about 4,500 people located 30 miles northeast of the state capital.
【小题1】What is NOT the probable reason why the dead red-winged blackbirds fell from the sky?

第二节：完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从16-35各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
The Price of a Dream
　　I grew up poor—living with my wonderful mother. We had little money, but plenty of love and attention. I was 　16　 and energetic. I understood that no matter how poor a person was, he could still 　17　 a dream.
My dream was 　18　. By the time I was sixteen, I started playing baseball. I could throw a ninety-mile-per-hour fastball and 　19　 anything that moved on the football field.
I was also  20　. My high school coach was John, who not only believed in me, but also taught me 　21　to believe in myself. He 　22　 me the difference between having a dream and remaining true to that dream. One particular 　23　 with Coach John changed my life forever.
　　A friend recommended me for a summer job. This meant a chance for money in my pocket—money for a new bike, new clothes and the 　24　 of savings for a house for my mother. Then I realized I would have to 　25　 up summer baseball to handle the work schedule, and that meant I would have to tell John I wouldn’t be playing.
　　When I told John, he was 　26　 as I expected him to be. “You have your whole life to work,” He shouted. “Your 　27　 days are limited. You can’t afford to waste them.” I stood before him with my head 　28　, trying to think of the right　29　　that would explain to him why my dream of buying my mom a house and having money in my pocket was worth facing his 　30　 in me.
　　“How much are you going to make at this job, son?” He asked. “3.5 dollars an hour,” I replied.
　　“Well,” he asked, “is $ 3.5 an hour the price of a dream?”
　　That simple question made  31    for me the difference between  32 　something at once and having a 　33　. I decided myself to play sports that summer and the ___34    year after I finished high school, I was hired by the Pittsburgh Pirates to play baseball, and was 　35　 a $ 20,000 contract. Finally, I bought my mother the house of my dream!
16. A. happy                 B. polite　             C. shy　                        D. honest
17. A. live                    B. have　　　       C. make　　　           D. need
18. A. athletics                 B. music　　　     C. business　　              D. money
19. A. kick                   B. play                   C. pass　　　　             D. hit
20. A. right                   B. popular　　       C. lucky　　　             D. honest
21. A. how                   B. why　　　        C. when　　　           D. whether
22. A. gave                   B. taught　　　     C. brought　　　          D. asked
23. A. accident                 B. matter　　      C. problem　　            D. experience
24. A. aim　　　　    B. idea　　　       C. start　　　　           D. purpose
25. A. keep　　　      B. end　　　       C. give　　　　           D. pick
26. A. mad　　　　     B. mournful　             C. frightened　           D. shameful
27. A. living　　　     B. playing　　        C. working　　            D. dreaming
28. A. moving　　      B. nodding　　       C. shaking　　           D. hanging
29. A. answers　　      B. excuses　　        C. words　　　            D. ways
30. A. sadness　　    B. regret　            C. hopelessness           D. disappointment
31. A. direct　　　　  B. clear　　           C. straight　　　      D. bare
32. A. wanting　　　    B. changing　　       C. dreaming　　           D. enjoying
33. A. wish　　　　　 B. goal　　　                 C. score　　　　      D. desire
34. A. following　　　 B. same　　           C. previous　　            D. very
35. A. charged　　　　B. got　　　　         C. offered　　       D. presented

Thousands of dead red-winged blackbirds fell from the sky in an Arkansas town on New Year’s Eve after massive injuries, tests by Arkansas officials concluded on Monday. Some 5,000 birds mysteriously fell from the sky in Beebe, Arkansas after dark on New Year’s Eve. “The birds suffered from acute physical injuries leading to internal hemorrhage（大量出血） and death. There was no sign of infectious disease,” the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission said in a statement. The birds were otherwise healthy, it said.

One theory is that birds were frightened by New Year's fireworks and flew into buildings or other objects. “Loud noises were reported shortly before the birds began to fall from the sky,” the statement said, adding that blackbirds have poor night vision and seldom fly at night.

　　Another theory was that severe weather such as lightning accounted for the loud noises but this was discounted because the violent weather had already left the area. “We’re leaning more toward a stress event," said Arkansas Game and Fish Commission spokesman Keith Stephens.

The commission also is trying to determine what caused the deaths of up to 100,000 fish over a 20-mile stretch of the Arkansas River near a dam in Ozark, 125 miles west of Beebe. The fish were discovered on December 30. Stephens said the commission expected results on the fish tests in probably a month. Since almost all the fish were one species -- bottom-feeding drum, Stephens said, the test was very important. Stephens also said: “The events do not appear related.” Both that section of the river and the air at the site of the bird deaths were tested for toxins(毒素). Beebe is a town of about 4,500 people located 30 miles northeast of the state capital.

1.What is NOT the probable reason why the dead red-winged blackbirds fell from the sky?

A. Internal hemorrhage                  B. Fireworks

C. Lightning weather                            D. Murder

2.In the third paragraph, the underlined word discounted probably mean________.

A. not to reduce cost                            B. not to believe

C. to make up a part                            D. to explain mystery

3.According to Stephens, we can infer the probable cause of the dead fish is _________.[来

A. cold weather                                   B. poor management  

C. disease                                    D. lack of food

4.The passage is mainly developed by __________.

A. analyzing causes                             B. making comparisons

C. examining differences              D. following the time order

第二节 完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）

阅读下列短文，从每小题的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项

The spaceship was docking（太空对接），and Angela was excited. Some students from Earth were arriving to study the colony（聚居地）.Angela and her friend, Jason, were going to take the students through Spatial（太空的）City.

　　Then she realized that Jason was _36_ and waving. She hurried to _37_ the visitors, but when she _38_ the group, she couldn’t believe what she saw. These weren’t Earth people! They were very _39_ . Angela could almost see through them!

　　Angela was frightened. Who were these visitors？ What had happened to the students from Earth？

　　“You were _40_ who we are.” The tallest visitor said. “I am Obediah.”

　　“Did you _41_ my mind？”Angela asked.

　　“Of course. We all have that _42_ .” Obediah said. Then he pointed at Jason. “You don’t believe we came from Earth，do you？”

　　“No, I don’t. Where are you from？”Jason asked.

　　“We lived on Earth many centuries ago,” Obediah said. “We’ve been _43_ to visit you.”

　　“Why？ Who do you want to see？”Angela asked，moving away.

　　Obediah did not answer. He quickly _44_ his arms，and they became wings. Others in his group did the same，and _45_ Angela and Jason were _46_ away from the dock（对接平台）to a lift.

　　“Take us to the living and farming areas.” Obediah said.

　　Angela and Jason were pulled　47_ the lift. It went from the inner hub of the Colony to an outer rim where there were homes and _48_ . Now Angela was really frightened，and she _49_ that Jason was frightened，too.

　　When they left the _50_ , Obediah and his group began to fly over the homes and apartment buildings. Angela and Jason could only _51_ . There was man-made gravity in the colony, so they could not even _52_ in the air.

　　“I’ll run to get help.” Jason whispered. “I’m pretty worried. Look at them! They’re all over the colony!”

　　Angela _53_ her head and looked at Jason.“ _54_ will believe this story when we tell it.” she said.

　　“I 　55_ don’t believe it.” Jason said. “But I saw it!”

36．A．smiling 　　　　   B．singing 　　　　   C．speaking 　　　　 D．whispering

37．A．see 　　　　　　  B．find 　　　　　    C．meet 　　　　　   D．hide

38．A．joined 　　　　     B．visited　　　　　   C．questioned　　　    D．reached

39．A．tiny　　　　　　   B．thin 　　　　　     C．clean 　　　　　   D．thick

40．A．asking 　　　　    B．knowing 　　　     C．reading 　　　　   D．wondering

41．A．feel 　　　　　     B．read 　　　　　    C．catch 　　　　　   D．understand

42．A．talent　　　　　    B．skill 　　　　　    C．power 　　　　     D．right

43．A．waiting　　　　     B．looking 　　　　   C．meaning 　　　　  D．hoping

44．A．pointed 　　　　   B．bent 　　　　　    C．dropped 　　　　  D．raised

45．A．suddenly 　　　    B．slowly　　　　　   C．finally　　　　　   D．usually

46．A．kept 　　　　　    B．pushed 　　　　    C．taken 　　　　      D．led

47．A．into 　　　　　    B．onto 　　　　　    C．from 　　　　       D．over

48．A．houses 　　　　    B．apartments 　　     C．gardens　　　　     D．buildings

49．A．suspected 　　　    B．understood 　        C．agreed 　　　　　 D．knew

50．A．home 　　　　　  B．lift 　　　　　      C．room 　　　　      D．spaceship

51．A．stay 　　　　　    B．run 　　　　　     C．fly 　　　　　      D．watch

52．A．stand 　　　　　   B．float 　　　　 　  C．talk 　　　　　　 D．pull

53．A．shook 　　　　    B．raised 　　　　　  C．nodded 　　　　   D．moved

54．A．Someone 　　　   B．Anyone 　　　　   C．No one 　　　　   D．Everyone

55．A．actually 　　　　  B．really 　　　　　  C．surely 　　　　    D．clearly