NASA’sMarsdetector(探测器),Opport-优题课

There are many stereotypes( 定型 ) about the character of people in various parts of the United States. In the Northeast and Midwest, people are said to be closed and private. In the South and West, however, they are often thought of as being more open and hospitable . Ask someone from St. Louis where the nearest sandwich shop is, and he or she will politely give you directions. A New Yorker might eye you at first and after deciding it is safe to talk to you, might give you a rather unexpected explanation. A person from Georgia might be very kind about directing you and even suggest some different places to eat. A Texan just might take you to the place and treat you to lunch.
American stereotypes are abundant. New Englanders are often thought of as being friendly and helpful. Southerners are known for their hospitality and warmth. People from the western part of the United States are often considered very outgoing. These differences in character can be traced to different factors such as climate, living conditions, and historical development.
When travelling from place to place, Americans themselves are often surprised at the differing degrees of friendliness in the United States.
1 . The main idea of the passage is _____________.
A. even Americans are surprised at the differences among themselves
B. there are many differences in character in different parts of the USA.
C. there are many reasons for the differences
D. stereotypes about people are not necessarily true
2. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. New Yorkers are usually open with strangers.
B. People from the South are usually considered good
C. The friendliest Americans travel from place to place.
D. Different parts have different customs and habits.
3. The differences lie in the following except ______ of the parts.
A. the weatherB. the history C. geography D. the names
4 . The word "abundant" in the second paragraph may probably mean _________.
A. plentifulB. normal C. curious D. strange

Have you ever heard anyone say “It’s raining cats and dogs”? It means “It’s raining hard!”
But sometimes cats and dogs do drop from the sky! Here’s how it happens.
Not so long ago, a country far away had many large rats. The people there said, “ We need cats!” So cats were sent to them by airplane. But the country had many mountains. It was hard for an airplane to land. So the cats came down by parachute(降落伞). Did the cats like the ride? They didn’t say they didn’t! And today they are still catching rats!
In another country far away, there is snow the year around. People sometimes got lost in it.
“We need big dogs!” the people said, “The dogs could find people lost in the snow. The dogs could help bring them home. Where can we get big dogs?”
A man across the sea had big dogs to sell. “I will send dogs to you,” he said. “ I have some very big ones. They can find people lost in the snow.”
He sent the dogs by airplane.
But the airplane did not land in the snow. The dogs came down by parachute ---- you guessed it !
Did the dogs like the ride? They didn’t say they didn’t! And today they are well and happy.
They find anyone who gets lost in the snow. Then they help him get home. Good dogs!
Remember it, so you can say, “ Yes, it does rain cats and dogs sometimes. They came down by parachute!”
1.The underlined word “ it” In Paragraph 2 refers to __________.
A．the weather
B．the saying “It’s raining cats and dogs.”
C．the saying “It’s raining hard.”
D．the fact that real cats and dogs drop from the sky.
2. Cats and dogs drop from the sky because ______.
A．there are many mountains in the country.
B. it snows the year around in the country.
C. was hard for a plane to land in the two countries.
D. coming down by parachute could save money.
3．The main purpose of the passage is to _________________.
A．tell the readers cats and dogs do drop from the sky
B．tell the readers of a new meaning about an old saying.
C．show cats and dogs are our good friends.
D．show parachute is an important

第二部分：阅读理解（第一节 20小题; 第二节 5小题；每小题2分，满分50分）
第一节,阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
My grandfather was a teacher. He was the headmaster of a school for boys between thirteen and eighteen. I know that he was a kind and gentle man at heart, because when I was young, he gave me presents, and seated me on his knee, and told me stories. But I believe the boys at his school were afraid of him.
At school, when he walked into a room full of noisy boys, there was silence at once. When he looked at a boy with a certain look in his eyes, the boy went red in the face, and looked down at his shoes. If a boy brought him poor, careless work that was not the best the boy could do, my grandfather would pick up the boy’s book and throw it across the room, shouting, “Do it all again, and bring it back to me in the morning!” If the boy was late, or if he forgot to bring the work, he had to do it again, and again, and yet again. My grandfather never forgot.
He was a very different man at school from the man I saw day by day in his own home.
1. I knew my grandfather was kind and gentle, because _________
A．he was a teacher.
B．he let me sit on his knee and told me stories.
C．he told me stories about how kind he was
D．he was the headmaster of a school
2. When he looked at a boy in a certain way, the boy ________
A．went red and could not return my grandfather’s look
B．looked back at my grandfather’s red face
C. looked at his shoes to see if they were dirty.
D. went red in the face because his shoes were dirty.
3．When he received poor work, my grandfather _______.
A．would become very angry.
B．threw the work on the floor, and shouted across the room
C．threw the book at the boy.
D．went red in the face
4．He was a different man at home because ________.
A．he didn’t get angry at home as he did at school.
B．he was not as gentle at home
C．he didn’t throw books about at school like he did at home
D．he did not get angry at home.

Dear Sir
I’m interested in the furnished （备有家具的）house near Dedham which you made known in yesterday’s paper, for my husband and I are coming to England in June and need accommodation（住所）for three months. Would you please tell me exactly where it is and give me details （细目）of bus and train services in the area ？We need a house on a busy street. And I would also like to know about the local（当地的）shops. Do the local shops still supply? I know they did ten years ago.
I would be thankful also if you would tell me whether you supply sheets etc, and whether a laundry（洗衣房）calls at the house. The rent （房租）you ask sounds reasonable for the size of the house. How do you like it paid? Weekly, monthly or in advance （提前）？
I would be thankful for an early reply.
Yours
Pamda Smith
1．Pamda Smith got the news about the house from .
A．local shops B．a newspaper C．her friends D．a telephone
2．Most probably, Mr and Mrs Smith .
A．are coming to England from America B．want to live in a beautiful place
C．are very rich D．once lived in Dedham ten years ago
3．How do they need a house on a busy street?
A．The rent is the cheapest B．There is a laundry
C．They like the busy area very much D．They don’t want to drive
4．Which of the following is not true? Mr. and Mrs. Smith .
A．are not clear about the rent B．Want to be in England for three months
C．will be on holiday in England D．do not want to wash their clothes
5．In the passage, the word “accommodation” means .
A．cool weather B．good service C．furnished rooms D．beautiful scenes

When his wife died，the baby was two．They had six other children--three boys and three girls，ranging in age from 4 to 16． A few days later he became a widower, the man’s parents and his wife’s parents came to visit the family．“We’ve been talking，”they said，“about how to take care of all these children and work to make a living．So，we’ve arranged for each child to be placed with a different uncle and aunt．We’re making sure that al1of your children will be living right here in the neighborhood，so you can see them anytime…”
The man appreciated their thoughtfulnessbut refused their kindness. Over the next few weeks the man worked withhis children，assigning them chores(杂务)and giving them responsibilities．
But then another misfortunehappened．The man developed arthritis (关节炎)．His hands swelled，and he was unable to hold the handles of his farm tools. He would not be able to continue the work on his farm. He sold his farming equipment, moved the family to a small town and opened a smallbusiness．
The family was welcomedinto the new neighborhood．Word of his pleasant personality and excellent customer service began tospread in the town．People came from far and wide to do business with him．And the children helpedboth at home and at work．Their father’s pleasurein his work brought satisfaction to them，and he drew pleasure from their successes．
The children grew up and got married. Five of the seven went to college and they were married. The children’s successes were a source of prideto the father．Then came grandchildren.No one enjoyed grandchildren more than this man. As they became older, he invited them to his workplace and his small home. They brought each other great joy. Finally, the youngest daughter, the baby, who had been two years old at her mother death, got married. Finally，the man，with his life’s work completed，died．
This man’s work had been the lonely butjoyful task of raising his family．This man was my father．
I was the 1 6-year—old，the oldest of seven．
1. How old was the writer when his mother died?
A. 4 B. 2 C. 16 D. not mentioned
2. Which of the following is TRUE?
A. There were six children in the family.
B. The father wanted to give his children to his relatives.
C. The father didn’t farm any longer because of his illness.
D. The father’s life work was lonely and sadly.
3. The underlined word “widower” means ________.
A. a worker B. a farmer C. a man with many children D. a man without wife
4. The main idea of the passage is ________.
A. The father’s life work: raising his family
B. Why the father wanted to raised his family
C. How the children grew up after their mother died
D. the father’s sadness and happiness in his life
5. what is the writer’s attitude to his father?.
A. unconcerned B. criticalC. doubtful D. respectful