An annoying problem for humans, who like to boast (夸耀) about all the distant planets and moons we have explored, is that we've never taken a good look right under our noses. The inside of the earth is relatively close, but how can we get there?
The deepest oil well enters a mere six miles into the crust (地壳) (the center of the earth is about 4,000 miles deeper). Russian scientists dug the deepest hole in Siberia, but bottomed out at about 7.5 miles below the surface. The Mohole project, a U.S. plan in the 1950s, called for drilling a hole 25 miles down to the boundary between the hard rocks of the crust and the soft mantle (地幔). Sadly the project involved government supporting.
It gets harder and harder to drill deep into the earth because rocks get softer and softer. Hard but easily broken at the surface, rocks become plastic at depth, and the pressure caused by the weight of the overlaying crust --- about 52,800 pounds per square inch at a depth of ten miles, makes further drilling impossible.
What little we know about the inside of the earth (like the fact that there's a crust, a mantle, and a core) comes from indirect evidence, such as the analysis of earthquakes.
So maybe it's time for a thorough new method to explore the earth's inside. Scientist David Stevenson says we should forget about drilling holes. Instead, we should open a crack (裂缝).
Stevenson suggests digging a crack about a half mile long, a yard wide, and a half mile deep (not with a shovel) but with an explosion on the scale of a nuclear bomb. Next, he'd pour a few hundred thousand tons of molten (熔化的) iron into the crack, along with a robot. The iron, thicker than the surrounding crust, would move downward at about 16 feet per second, carrying the robot with it and opening the crack deeper and deeper. The iron mass would drop for about a week and 2,000 miles to the outer edge of the earth core, the robot sending out data to the surface.
Stevenson compares his idea to space exploration. "We're going somewhere we haven't been before,"he says. "In all possibility, there will be surprises.”
This idea can probably be put in the drawer marked with Isn't Going To Happen. The robot would have to survive temperatures that would melt pretty much anything. But Stevenson's idea may inspire a new look at an old problem. Great things can come from what seems like impossible ideas.Going inside the earth is _____ than going into space.
| A．more interesting | B．more possible | C．easier | D．more challenging |
How deep have we gone into the earth until now?
| A．6 miles. | B．4,000 miles. | C．7.5 miles. | D．25 miles. |
Which of the following is TRUE about David Stevenson's idea?
| A．It is an inspiring but not practical idea now. |
| B．It is a practical proposal that has come into use now. |
| C．It is a good proposal that will soon be put into practice. |
| D．It is a false theory that cannot be carried out at all. |
What might be the most suitable title for the text?
| A．An Annoying Problem for Humans |
| B．To the Center of the Earth |
| C．The Mohole Project |
| D．David Stevenson's Proposal |
We may all have had the embarrassing moment: Getting half-way through a story only to realize that we’ve told this exact tale before, to the same person. Why do we make such memory mistakes?
According to research published in Psychological Science, it may have to do with the way our brains process different types of memory.
Researchers Nigel Gopie, of the Rotman Research Institute in Toronto, and Colin Macleod, of the University of Waterloo, divided memory into two kinds. The first was source memory, or the ability to keep track of where information is coming from. The second was destination memory, or the ability to recall who we have given information to.
They found that source memory functions better than destination memory, in part because of the direction in which that information is travelling.
To study the differences between source and destination memory, the researchers did an experiment on 60 university students, according to a New York Times report. The students were asked to associate (联想) 50 random ( 随意的) facts with the faces of 50 famous people. Half of the students "told" each fact to one of the faces, reading it aloud when the celebrity's (名人的) picture appeared on a computer screen. The other half read each fact silently and saw a different celebrity picture afterward.
When later asked to recall which facts went with which faces, the students who were giving information out (destination memory) scored about 16 percent lower on memory performance compared with the students receiving information (source memory).
The researchers concluded that out-going information was less associated with its environmental context （背景）---- that is, the person ---- than was incoming information.
This makes sense given what is known about attention. A person who is giving information, even little facts, will devote some mental resources to thinking about what is being said. Because our attention is limited, we give less attention to the person we are giving information to.
After a second experiment with another group of 40 students, the researchers concluded that self-focus is another factor that undermines destination memory.
They asked half the students to continue giving out random information, while the other told things about themselves. This time around, those who were talking about themselves did 15 percent worse than those giving random information.
"When you start telling these personal facts compared with non-self facts, suddenly destination memory goes down more, suggesting that it is the self-focus component ( 成分) that's reducing the memory, Gopie told Live Science.
72. The point of this article is to ____.
A. give advice on how to improve memory
B. say what causes the memory to worsen
C. explain why we repeat stories to those we've already told them to
D. discuss the differences between source and destination memory
73. What can we learn from the article?
A. Source memory helps us remember who we have told the information to.
B. One's limited attention is one of the reasons why those reading aloud to the celebrity's pictures perform worse on the memory test.
C. Silent reading is a better way to remember information than reading aloud.
D. It tends to be more difficult for people to link incoming information with its environmental context than outgoing information.
74. The underlined word "undermines" probably means ____.
A. weakens B. benefits C. explains D. supports
75. What did the scientists conclude from the second experiment?
A. Destination memory is weaker than source memory.
B. Focusing attention on oneself leads to relatively poor source memory performance.
C. Associating personal experience with information helps people memorize better.
D. Self-focus is responsible for giving information twice or more to the same person.
One day the employees of a large company in St Louis, Missouri returned from their lunch break and were greeted with a sign on the front door. The sign said: "Yesterday the person who has been hindering ((阻碍) your growth in this company passed away. We invite you to join the funeral (葬礼) in the room that has been prepared in the gym."
At first everyone was sad to hear that one of their colleagues had died, but after a while they started getting curious about who this person might be.
The excitement grew as the employees arrived at the gym to pay their last respects. Everyone wondered: "Who is this person that was hindering my progress? Well, at least he's no longer here."
One by one the employees got closer to the coffin (棺材) and when they looked inside it they became speechless. They stood over the coffin, shocked and in silence, as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul.
There was a mirror inside the coffin: Everyone who looked inside it could see himself. There was also a sign next to the mirror that said: "There is only one person who can set limits to your growth: it is YOU."
You are the only person who can revolutionize (彻底改变) your life. You are the only person who can influence your happiness, your realization and your success. You are the only person who can help yourself.
Your life does not change when your family changes, when your friends change, when your boss changes, and when your company changes.
Your life changes when YOU change, when you go beyond your limiting beliefs, when you realize that you are the only one responsible for your life.
60. The writer's purpose in writing the article is to tell us that ____.
A. the harder we work, the more successful we will become
B. our work and life are closely connected with others
C. changing our lives is down to us
D. we will have a better future if people do not hinder our development
61. People were speechless when they looked inside the coffin because ____.
A. there was nothing but a mirror inside B. they could see their own souls inside
C. their closest colleague lay inside D. what was inside told a great truth
62. Who probably wrote the sign on the front door?
A. The company boss. B. A worker who liked to make fun of others.
C. The director in charge of production. D. A worker who wanted to teach others a lesson.
63. What can we conclude from the article?
A. The employees went to the gym to join the funeral.
B. The lesson the employees learned would influence them greatly.
C. The employees’ lives depended on the attitude of their boss.
D. The employees got angry after the funeral.
In this age of Internet chat, videogames and reality television, there is no shortage of mindless activities to keep a child occupied. Yet, despite the competition, my 8-year-old daughter Rebecca wants to spend her leisure time writing short stories. She wants to enter one of her stories into a writing contest, a competition she won last year.
As a writer I know about winning contests, and about losing them. I know what it is like to work hard on a story only to receive a rejection slip from the publisher. I also know the pressure of trying to live up to a reputation created by previous victories. What if she doesn't win the contest again? That's the strange thing about being a parent. So many of our own past scars and dashed hopes can surface.
A revelation (启示) came last week when I asked her, "Don't you want to win again?" "No," she replied, "I just want to tell the story of an angel going to first grade."
I had just spent weeks correcting her stories as she spontaneously (自发地) told them. Telling myself that I was merely an experienced writer guiding the young writer across the hall, I offered suggestions for characters, conflicts and endings for her tales. The story about a fearful angel starting first grade was quickly "guided" by me into the tale of a little girl with a wild imagination taking her first music lesson. I had turned her contest into my contest without even realizing it.
Staying back and giving kids space to grow is not as easy as it looks. Because I know very little about farm animals who use tools or angels who go to first grade, I had to accept the fact that I was co-opting(借用) my daughter's experience.
While stepping back was difficult for me, it was certainly a good first step that I will quickly follow with more steps, putting myself far enough a way to give her room but close enough to help if asked. All the while I will be reminding myself that children need room to experiment, grow and find their own voices.
68. What do we learn from the first paragraph?
A. A lot of entertainments compete for children's time nowadays.
B. Rebecca is much too occupied to enjoy her leisure time.
C. Children do find lots of fun in many mindless activities.
D. Rebecca draws on a lot of online materials for her writing.
69. What did the author say about her own writing experience?
A. She did not quite live up to her reputation as a writer.
B. Her way to success was full of pains and frustrations.
C. She was constantly under pressure of writing more.
D. Most other stories had been rejected by publishers.
70. The author took great pains to correct her daughter's stories because ______.
A. she wanted to help Rebecca realize her dreams of becoming a writer
B. she was afraid Rebecca's imagination might run wild while writing
C. she did not want to disappoint Rebecca who needed her help so much
D. she believed she had the knowledge and experience to offer guidance
71. What's the author's advice for parents?
A. Children should be given every chance to voice their opinions.
B. Parents should keep an eye on the activities their kids engage in.
C. Children should be allowed freedom to grow through experience.
D. A writing career, though attractive, is not for every child to pursue.
Today's teens have a knowledge of the Internet that often surpasses that of their parents. Because so many teens are Internet savvy, it is important that they also have an understanding of the dangers that exist online and how to deal with them. Watch teens share their own "Real-Life Stories" about issues affecting them on the Internet such as cyberbullying (网络欺凌), online enticement, and giving out too much personal information.
| NSTeens - Terrible text |
| Some teens say and do terrible things to each other online because they don’t see the direct effects of their actions. So what should you do if you're cyberbullied? Watch the NSTeens in their latest video, "Terrible text," about a young girl who is troubled when a cyberbully sends mean text messages to her cell phone at all hours of the day and night. Visit NSTeens.org. |
| NetSmartz411 |
| NetSmartz411 is a parent and guardian's premier, online resource for learning about Internet safety, computers, and the Web. Search our knowledge base for answers to all of your questions about the online world! If you can’t find what you’re looking for, use the "Ask the Experts tab to send us a question. Your question will be answered by professionals who know a lot about Internet safety —— the real-life analysts at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. We handle daily reports about the online exploitation of children; and we 11 show you the steps you can take to keep the children and teens in your life safer online. Visit NetSmartz411.org. |
| CyberTipline Report |
| The CyberTipline is the place to report any incidents of Internet exploitation. If you find yourself in a situation where you need help, visit www.cybertipline.com and make a report. If you fear that you are in immediate danger, contact your local law enforcement (执法部门). |
| Real-Life Stories |
| Watch real-life stories told by teens who have been victims of Internet exploitation. Real-Life Stories |
| NetSmartzKids |
| Are you concerned about your younger siblings' (兄弟姐妹 )safety online? Visit www. NetSmartzKids.org with them to help them learn how to avoid the dangers that exist on the Internet. |
64. The ad is intended for ___________.
A. kids loving to play games online
B. only victims of Internet use
C. kids and their parents who want to learn about the safety online
D. pre-school students who know little about Internet
65. If you visit the website, you can ________.
A. share your friends "Real-life Stories about issues affecting them on the Internet
B. have an understanding of the dangers that exist online and how to deal with them
C. say and do terrible things to each other online
D. ask for help when you have difficulty with your study
66. If you visit www.cybertipline.com, you can __________.
A. contact your local law enforcement
B. search our knowledge base for answers to all of your questions about the online world
C. report any incident of Internet use
D. help your siblings learn how to avoid the dangers that exist on the Internet.
67. Which of the following stories you can share on the Real-Life Stories?
A. Teen murdered by man she met in chat room.
B. Problem of losing weight.
C. Left home alone.
D. Hurt by second hand smoke in the Internet cafe.
第三部分阅读理解(共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分)
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。并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Amelia Earhart's (1897-1937) childhood was not the typical girl's. She liked nothing better than to explore the banks of the Missouri River, where she climbed trees and hunted rats with her rifle (步枪). She also built her own roller coaster(过山车 ).
The exciting life of the American aviation (航空)pioneer is dramatized in the movie Amelia, which is due to come out on October 23.
After Earhart paid a pilot $1 to take her up for a short fly in his plane, aviation became her love and career.
As she later explained, "Never do things others can do and will do, if there are things others cannot do or will not do."
Earhart found herself a flying teacher and started to learn to fly. She took all sorts of jobs to pay for the lessons and to buy a second-hand plane on her 24th birthday.
In 1932, Earhart flew solo (单独的) across the Atlantic. She became the first woman to make the solo crossing. She also made a flying suit for women and went on to design other clothes for women who led active lives. "Now and then women should do for themselves what men have already done —— occasionally what men have not done ——thereby establishing themselves as persons, and perhaps encouraging other women toward greater independence of thought and action, she said.
When she was nearly 40, Earhart was ready for a final challenge—to be the first woman to fly around the world. However, in mid-flight, she and her navigator (导航员) disappeared in bad weather.
Earhart will be forever remembered as a brave pioneer for both aviation and for women.
56. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?
A. A movie about Earhart’s exciting life has come out.
B. Earhart never did things others could and would do.
C. Earhart’s love for aviation came after she flew a plane for a short time.
D. In Earhart's opinion, women should think and act more independently.
57. The underlined word in paragraph 2 means ____.
A. presented B. adopted C. published D. created
58. From the passage we can know that ____.
A. Earhart showed most interest in adventure trips to the Missouri River during her childhood
B. Earhart s ambition was to fly across the Atlantic
C. Earhart challenged herself constantly
D. Besides flying, Earhart also designed planes and clothes
59. You can probably find this article in ____.
A. a booklet B. a newspaper C. a guide book D. an advertisement