EWateranditsimportancetohumanl-优题课

C
When we can see well, we do not think about our eyes often．It is only when we can not see perfectly that we come to see how important our eyes are．
People who are nearsighted can only see things that are very close to their eyes．Many people who do a lot of close work, such as writing and reading, become nearsighted．Then they have to wear glasses in order to see distant things clearly．
People who are farsighted face just the opposite problem．They can see things that are far away, but they have difficulty reading a book unless they hold it at arm’s length．If they want to do much reading, they must get glasses too．
Other people do not see clearly because their eyes are not exactly the right shape．This, too, can be corrected by glasses．Some people’s eyes become cloudy because of cataracts．Long ago these people often became blind．Now, however, it is possible to operate on the cataracts and remove them．
When night falls, colors become fainter to the eyes and finally disappear．After your eyes have grown used to the dark, you can see better if you use the side of your eyes rather than the centers．Sometimes, after dark, you see a small thing to one side of you, which seems to disappear if you turn your head in its direction．This is because when you turn your head, you are looking at the thing too directly．Men on guard duty sometimes think they see something moving to one side of them．When they turn to look straight at it, they can not see it any more, and they believe they were mistaken．However, this mistake happens because the center of the eye, which is very sensitive in daylight, is not as sensitive as the sides of the eye after dark．
64．We don’t know that our eyes are of great importance until ________．
A．we think about our eyes B．we cannot see clearly
C．we wear glasses D．we have to do much reading
65．According to the passage, a ________ is more likely to be nearsighted．
A．student B．doctor C．guard D．painter
66．People who are farsighted ________ ．
A．can do a lot of close work without glasses
B．can only see things that are very close to their eyes
C．have difficulty reading a book if they hold it at arm’s length
D．can correct their eyes by glasses
67．To see a small thing at night, it is better to look ________ ．
A．with wide open eyesB．with half shut or narrowed eyes
C．straight at it D．in a slightly different direction

B
Most musicians agree that the best violins were first made in Italy．They were made in Cremona, Italy, about 200 years ago．These violins sound better than any others．They even sound better than violins made today．Violin makers and scientists try to make instruments like the old Italian violins．But they aren’t the same．Musicians still prefer the old ones．No one really knows why these old Italian violins are so special, but many people think they have an answer．
Some people think it is the age of the violins．They say that today’s violins will also sound wonderful someday．But there is a problem here．Not all old violins sound wonderful．Only those from Cremona are special．So age cannot be the answer．There must be something different about Cremona or those Italian violin makers．
Other people think the secret to those violins is the wood．The wood of the violin is very important．It must be from certain kinds of trees．It must not be too young or too old．Perhaps the violin makers of Cremons knew something special about wood for violins．
But the kind of wood may not be so important．It may be more important to cut the wood in a special way．Wood for a violin must be cut very carefully．It has to be the right size and shape．The smallest difference will change the sound of the violin．Musicians sometimes think that this was the secret of the Italians．Maybe they understood more than we do about how to cut the wood．
Size and shape may not be the answer either．Scientists measured these old violins very carefully．They can make new ones that are exactly the same size and shape．But the new violins still do not sound as good as the old one．Some scientists think the secret may be the varnish, which covers the wood of the violin and makes it look shiny．It also helps the sound of the instrument．No one knows what the Italian violin makers used in their varnish．So no one can make the same varnish today．
There may never be other violins like the violins of Cremona．Their secret may be lost forever．Young musicians today hope this is not true．They need fine violins．But there aren’t very many of the old violins left．Also, the old violins are very expensive．Recently, a famous old Italian violin was sold for about US $ 300,000!
60．This passage is about _______．
　 A．making violins 　　　　　 B．musical instruments
　 C．scientific ideas 　　　　 D．the old Italian violins
61．The best violins _______．
A．are made with modern techniques 　 B．were lost many years ago
C．were made in Italy 200 years ago D．were made by scientists．
62．Some people think that modem violins ______．
A．will sound better in the future 　 B．will sound worse in the future
C．sound wonderful naturally D．will never be as old as those from Cremona
63．Violins made today _______．
　 A．look the same as the old ones
　 B．sound the same as the old ones
　 C．are better than the old ones　
D．have the same varnish as the old ones

B
Early in the 16th century men were trying to reach Asia by traveling west from Europe. In order to find Asia they had to find a way past South America. The man who finally found the way from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific was Ferdinand Magellan (麦哲伦). Magellan sailed from Seville in August, 1519 with five ships and about 280 men. Fourteen months later, after spending the cold winter on the coast of Patagonia, he discovered the channel which is now called Magellan Strait(海峡). In November, 1520, after many months of dangers from rocks and storms, the three remaining ships entered the ocean on the other side of South America. They then continued, hoping to reach Asia. But they did not see any land until they reached the islands off the coast of Asia. Before they arrived at these islands, later known as the Philippines (菲律宾), men were dying of starvation (饥饿). While they were staying in the Philippines, Magellan was killed in battle. The remaining officers then had to get back to Spain. They decided to sail round Africa. After many difficulties, one ship with eighteen men sailed into Seville three years after leaving. They were all that remained of Magellan’s expedition. However, their achievement was great. They were the first men to sail round the world.
61. The purpose of Magellan’s expedition was to ________.
A. sail round the world
B. find a seaway from the Atlantic to the Pacific
C. make a voyage to Asia
D. carry men to Philippines
62. How long did Magellan and his sailors spend before they reach Magellan Strait?
A. 1519 B. Fourteen months C. 280 D. 1520
63. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage concerning the expedition?
A. Lack of equipment.
B. Cold winter in Patagonia.
C. The death of Magellan.
D. Dangers from rocks and storms.
64. The number of the ships lost on the whole expedition was ________.
A. two B. three C. four D. five
65. The best title for this passage is ________.
A. The Discovery of Magellan’s Strait
B. The Discovery of the Philippines
C. The Most Dangerous Expedition
D. The First Expedition to sail round the world

IV. Reading comprehension 阅读理解 2’ * 10 = 20’
A
The sky usually looks light blue. But if you went to the top of the highest mountain, where there is less air between you and the sun to scatter (使……分散，散射) the sunlight, the sky would be deep, dark blue. And if you rode in a rocket high above the earth, where there is no air at all to scatter the sunlight, the sky would be so dark that it would be black. Sometimes the sky doesn't look blue. At sunrise and sunset, the light from the sun sometimes is scattered in such a way that you see red, orange, and other colors in the sky.
56. The sky usually looks light blue because _____.
A. the sun is light and blue
B. the air is light and blue
C. the air scatters the sunlight
D. the sunlight is blue
57. The sky looks dark blue when _____.
A. there is less air between you and the sun
B. there is high mountain
C. the mountain is highest
D. you climb a mountain
58. The sky looks black if ______.
A. you ride in a rocket
B. the rocket is high in the sky
C. the rocket is high above the earth
D. there is no air to scatter the sunlight
59. Sometimes the sky doesn't look blue because ______.
A. the sun is rising
B. the sun is setting
C. the air has different colors
D. the light from the sun is scattered in a different way
60. A good title for this passage would be _______.
A. The Sky Looks Blue
B. Why the Sky Looks Colorful
C. The Beautiful Sunlight
D. Something About the Air

E
Many cities in the world are benefiting from the nocturnal (夜间活动的) activities of a group of people who call themselves guerrilla (游击队的) gardeners. Armed with trowels, spades and a van full of flowers and plants, guerrilla gardeners turn abandoned urban land into a blaze of color. In city centre locations where there was mud, weeds and empty plastic bottles, residents often wake up to find that the wasted area has been transformed overnight with brightly-colored bedding plants.
In most British cities, local governments and police turn a blind eye to the exploits (开发) of the gardeners, whose activities are always carried out under cover of nightfall. And so far, there has been nothing but praise from the astonished and delighted local residents when they find their neighborhood transformed in such a striking fashion.
Not only do the guerrilla gardeners beautify neglected places, they also return regularly to water the plants and weed the flower beds. They also make sure that at least some of the plants they bring are evergreens, which means that the area doesn’t look dismal (凄凉的) in the winter months.
The first guerrilla gardener in London was Richard Reynolds, whose day job is at an advertising agency. Mr Reynolds, a graduate of Oxford University, began his efforts two years ago when he moved to a flat in a tower block in South London. From his balcony, he could see several empty concrete pots, placed by the local governments to contain plants but never used. He went out after midnight and filled the pots with plants, and then planted more flowers in the path leading to the entrance to the block.
He then set up a website to explain his plan and called upon more gardeners to join him. Cash donations flooded in and, more importantly, volunteers rushed to be part of the campaign. Within six months, there were five hundred people in London prepared to come out at very short notice to revitalize (恢复活力) neglected parts of the urban landscape. There are now unofficial but carefully-organized groups in many cities in Britain and North America and there is also a website where would-be urban gardeners can find out the location of the next expedition.
1. According to the text, guerrilla gardeners got their names ______.
A. because of the residents’ advice B. from the local governments
C. for the nature of their work D. based on the local cultures
2. These guerrilla gardeners do their work ______.
A. at the request of the government B. nearby their house
C. often in return for others’ help D. of their own free will
3. Why do the guerrilla gardeners often return to their former working places?
A. To look after these plants. B. To enjoy these beautiful flowers.
C. To help plants live through winter months. D. To change the types of these plants.
4. Richard Reynolds decided to fill the pots with plants with the purpose of ______.
A. making the neighborhood more beautiful B. agreeing with his own job
C. advertising some products in his agency D. killing his spare time
5. It can be inferred from the text that these guerrilla gardeners ______.
A. are mainly from the United Kingdom
B. will later get well paid
C. are still not accepted by the local people
D. become more and more organized