NASA is moving ahead with plans to put a long-armed lander on Mars’ icy north pole to search for clues^① for water and possible signs of life.

The $386 million Phoenix Mars is planned to touch down in the Martian arctic in 2008. The stationary probe will use its robotic arm to dig into the icy land and pick up soil samples^② to analyze. In 2002, the Mars Odyssey orbiter spotted evidence of ice-rich soil near the arctic surface.

Scientists hope the Phoenix mission will find clues to the geologic history of water on the Red Planet and determine whether microbes^③ existed in the ice.

Phoenix will be the first mission of the Mars Scout program, a renewed, low-cost effort to study the Red Planet. “The Phoenix mission explores new territory in the northern plains of Mars analogous to the permafrost regions on Earth,” Peter Smith said.

True to its name, Phoenix rose from the ashes of previous^④ missions. The lander for Phoenix was built to fly as part of the 2001 Mars Surveyor program. But the program broke down after the well-known disappearance of the Mars Polar Lander in 1999. The Polar Lander lost contact during a landing attempt near the planet’s south pole after its rocket engine shut off prematurely, causing the spacecraft to fall about 130 feet to almost certain destruction.

The Phoenix probe had been in storage at a Lockheed Martin clean room in Denver before it was reused for its present mission. It will carry science instruments that were designed for the Mars Surveyor program including an improved panoramic camera and a trench-digging robotic arm. Phoenix will lift off from the Kennedy Space Center in August 2007 and land on the planet nine months later.

Notes:

clue  n. 线索

sample  n. 标本，样品

microbe  n. 微生物

previous  adj. 先前的

The passage mainly tells readers that _________.

        A. clues of water will be found in Phoenix

        B. Phoenix will be sent to find clues of water on Mars

        C. August 2007 will see Phoenix lift off

        D. the Mars Scout program will be carried out

The underlined word “prematurely” (paragraph 5) means _________.

        A. on time     B. behind the time      C. out of work       D. ahead of time

According to the passage, we know Phoenix will land on Mars _________.

A. in May 2008            B. in August 2007   

C. in August 2008          D. in September 2008

According to the passage, the name “Phoenix” is after the meaning of _________.

        A. rebirth         B. death        C. energy        D. hope

After Phoenix lands on Mars, we can infer it will firstly _________.

        A. find soil samples and send them to the earth

        B. look for the icy land to dig for the soil samples

        C. take photos and send them to the earth

        D. find the remains of the Mars Polar Lander

NASA is moving ahead with plans to put a long-armed lander on Mars’ icy north pole to search for clues^①for water and possible signs of life.
The $386 million Phoenix Mars is planned to touch down in the Martian arctic in 2008. The stationary probe will use its robotic arm to dig into the icy land and pick up soil samples^②to analyze. In 2002, the Mars Odyssey orbiter spotted evidence of ice-rich soil near the arctic surface.
Scientists hope the Phoenix mission will find clues to the geologic history of water on the Red Planet and determine whether microbes^③existed in the ice.
Phoenix will be the first mission of the Mars Scout program, a renewed, low-cost effort to study the Red Planet. “The Phoenix mission explores new territory in the northern plains of Mars analogous to the permafrost regions on Earth,” Peter Smith said.
True to its name, Phoenix rose from the ashes of previous^④missions. The lander for Phoenix was built to fly as part of the 2001 Mars Surveyor program. But the program broke down after the well-known disappearance of the Mars Polar Lander in 1999. The Polar Lander lost contact during a landing attempt near the planet’s south pole after its rocket engine shut off prematurely, causing the spacecraft to fall about 130 feet to almost certain destruction.
The Phoenix probe had been in storage at a Lockheed Martin clean room in Denver before it was reused for its present mission. It will carry science instruments that were designed for the Mars Surveyor program including an improved panoramic camera and a trench-digging robotic arm. Phoenix will lift off from the Kennedy Space Center in August 2007 and land on the planet nine months later.
Notes:
①    clue  n. 线索
②    sample  n. 标本，样品
③    microbe  n. 微生物
④    previous  adj. 先前的

1. 1.

   The passage mainly tells readers that _________.

   1. A.
      clues of water will be found in Phoenix
   2. B.
      Phoenix will be sent to find clues of water on Mars
   3. C.
      August 2007 will see Phoenix lift off
   4. D.
      the Mars Scout program will be carried out
2. 2.

   The underlined word “prematurely” (paragraph 5) means _________.

   1. A.
      on time
   2. B.
      behind the time
   3. C.
      out of work
   4. D.
      ahead of time
3. 3.

   According to the passage, we know Phoenix will land on Mars _________.

   1. A.
      in May 2008
   2. B.
      in August 2007
   3. C.
      in August 2008
   4. D.
      in September 2008
4. 4.

   According to the passage, the name “Phoenix” is after the meaning of _________.

   1. A.
      rebirth
   2. B.
      death
   3. C.
      energy
   4. D.
      hope
5. 5.

   After Phoenix lands on Mars, we can infer it will firstly _________.

   1. A.
      find soil samples and send them to the earth
   2. B.
      look for the icy land to dig for the soil samples
   3. C.
      take photos and send them to the earth
   4. D.
      find the remains of the Mars Polar Lander

Miss Green was watching TV. Suddenly the program stopped. “Now we broadcast an important notice from the  36 : At about nine this evening, an old woman of 79, named Mrs. Humney, was    37  and killed by a robber wearing a green coat. Those who can supply any clue(线索) are requested to  38  to the police.” The  39  news made the lonely girl filled with  40 . She couldn’t help looking around. But she didn’t   41  that a man was already behind the door.
Suddenly the man  42  before Miss Green. The girl didn’t know what to   43 . “Just put your necklace on the table, then I’ll  44  whether I shall be safe to stay here for the night.” said the robber. That made her even more terrified, but she tried to   45  herself.
Just then there came the whistle of a police car. Then  46   the door bell. The man said with a pistol(手枪)  47  the girl’s back, “Don’t  48  the door. Never let him in.” But the girl got    a(n)  49 . She asked the man outside the door, “Who is it?” “I’m Bull. Is there  50  unusual here?” “No , there isn’t.” Immediately she added   51 , “Only   52  and I are here.” “Good night.” Bull replied in the same loud voice.
A few minutes later, the sound of the  53  died away. “It’s well done,” the robber laughed. Almost at the same time the glass was   54  into pieces. The policemen  55  into the room and caught the robber.
“Miss Green, what you said made us take action right away,” said Bull, “for we know that you have no brother.”

完形填空（共20小题，每小题1.5分，满分30分）
Miss Green was watching TV. Suddenly the program stopped . "Now we broadcast an important notice from the  36 : At about nine this evening , an old woman of 79 ,named Mrs Humney , was 37 and killed by a robber (抢劫犯)wearing a green coat . Those who can supply any clue (线索）are requested to  38   to the police ." The  39 news made the lonely girl filled with  40  .She couldn't help looking around .But she didn't  41 that a man was already behind the door.
Suddenly the man  _42  before Miss Green . The girl didn't know what to __43 . " Just put your necklace on the table, then I’ll  44  whether I shall be safe to stay here for the night." said the robber. That made her even more terrified , but she tried to  45  herself.
Just then there came the whistle of a police car .Then  46  the door bell. The man said with a pistol(手枪） 47  the girl's back, " Don't  48  the door. Never let him in." But the girl got a(n)  49 . She asked the man outside the door , " Who is it ?" "I'm Bull. Is there  50  unusual here ?" "No, there isn't ." Immediately she added  51  ," only 52  and I are here." "Good night, " Bull replied in the same loud voice.
A few minutes later. The sound of the  53 died away. " It's well done, " the robber laughed. Almost at the same time the glass was  54  into pieces . The policemen  55  into the room and caught the robber.
"Miss Green , what you said made us take action right away, " said Bull, " for we know that you have no brother."
36. A. police        B. government          C. army                   D. prison

完形填空（共20小题，每小题1.5分，满分30分）

Miss Green was watching TV. Suddenly the program stopped . "Now we broadcast an important notice from the   36  : At about nine this evening , an old woman of 79 ,named Mrs Humney , was 37  and killed by a robber (抢劫犯)wearing a green coat . Those who can supply any clue (线索）are requested to  38   to the police ." The  39  news made the lonely girl filled with  40   .She couldn't help looking around .But she didn't  41  that a man was already behind the door.

    Suddenly the man  _42   before Miss Green . The girl didn't know what to __43  . " Just put your necklace on the table, then I’ll  44  whether I shall be safe to stay here for the night." said the robber. That made her even more terrified , but she tried to  45  herself.

    Just then there came the whistle of a police car .Then  46   the door bell. The man said with a pistol(手枪） 47  the girl's back, " Don't  48  the door. Never let him in." But the girl got a(n)  49  . She asked the man outside the door , " Who is it ?" "I'm Bull. Is there  50  unusual here ?" "No, there isn't ." Immediately she added  51   ," only 52   and I are here." "Good night, " Bull replied in the same loud voice.

    A few minutes later. The sound of the  53  died away. " It's well done, " the robber laughed. Almost at the same time the glass was  54  into pieces . The policemen  55  into the room and caught the robber.

    "Miss Green , what you said made us take action right away, " said Bull, " for we know that you have no brother."

36. A. police      B. government           C. army                     D. prison

A. hit               B. stolen                      C. robbed                    D. cheated

A .announce            B. know                    C. provide                 D. report

. A .terrible            B exciting                  C. strange                 D. funny

A. anger            B. fear                         C surprise                   D. sadness

A .feel               B. look                       C .hear                     D. notice

A. came                B .appeared                 C .walked                  D. ran

. A. say               B .make                      C. do                           D. deal

A. decide            B .consider                 C .hope                  D. doubt

A .protect            B .scare                        C. free                    D. calm

A .touched            B. hit                          C .rang                     D. struck

A .against            B .in                          C .to                     D .over

A .knock            B. shut                      C .lean                      D. open

A .belief               B. idea                         C .help                  D .voice

A. anything           B. something              C. anyone                  D. someone

. A .excited              B. anxiously             C .loudly                 D .bravely

. A .my friend        B. my neighbour            C .the robber          D. my brother

A. policeman       B. police car              C .robber                    D. footsteps

A .turned               B .brought                   C .broken                D. changed

A. slipped             B .went                       C .fell                         D. hurried