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.
72. Going inside the earth is _____ than going into space.
A. more interesting B. more possible C. easier D. more challenging
73. How deep have we gone into the earth until now?
A. 6 miles. B. 4,000 miles. C. 7.5 miles. D. 25 miles.
74. 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.
75. 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
Ray Travers sat back at the large desk, and looked around his plush（豪华的）office．He was tired．
Ray's eyes stopped at a painting on the wall．It was a gift given by an old friend, Bull, as a farewell gift when he left his hometown．He recalled the life spent in that small town; pleasant times．The many hours he spent talking lo his good friend, and the tales he was told about hunting in the Africa of old．
Memories flowed back more than ten years; he remembered how he enjoyed hearing about the wonderful hunting, and how he wished he could have shared those times．
Ray opened his desk drawer and brought out a wooden box．He opened the lid and exposed a work of art, a hand-made hunting knife．This was a gift from Bull, given to Ray more than 20 years ago．It was one of the first knives Bull had made, and Ray had called it "Zambezi”, the river where Bull had been so many times．
He closed the box and sat upright at his desk; he was driving himself hard, and deserved a break．Things were going well with the business, everything running smoothly．He could afford a week off!
He went back home．A week in the hometown would be like going back in history．"Man, it's going to be good," Ray said aloud, as he turned onto the highway and watched the city lights fast disappearing, as he looked in the rearview mirror．
It was well into the night when Ray pulled into an all-night gas station He walked around the gas station and the memories started … He was finally back on the road, the powerful car going its way through the night, headlights piercing （穿透） the darkness．Memories danced through the man' s mind．Memories of good times , when he knew what it was to relax , to talk, and to really visit．
Slowly entering town he looked around．Ray sat in his car, looking at the old building, smiling． Inside it was almost as though it was the same people as 15 years ago．We learn from the passage that Bull is．
| A．Ray's colleague | B．a man in Ray' s hometown |
| C．Ray's relative in Africa | D．an African woodcarving artist |
What does the author mainly want to tell us in Paragraphs 2 －5?
| A．Bull loved Africa and knew much about it． |
| B．Bull was good at making works of art． |
| C．Ray missed his hometown and relatives． |
| D．Ray missed the time he spent with Bull in his hometown． |
What do we know from the passage?
| A．Ray visited Africa together with Bull many times． |
| B．Ray and Bull often went hunting together． |
| C．Zambezi is the name of a river in Hay a hometown． |
| D．Ray planned to stay in his hometown for about a week． |
What does the under lined part in Paragraph 7 mean?
| A．Ray knew how to relax after keeping busy for along time． |
| B．Ray didn't want to leave his hometown because of so many memories． |
| C．Ray's hometown changed a lot and was worth a visit． |
| D．The visit to his hometown reminded Ray of the days together with Bull． |
What may the author talk about in the paragraph that follows the passage?
| A．The hard time Ray experienced in his career． |
| B．Why Ray left his hometown alone． |
| C．The situation in Ray's hometown． |
| D．How Ray became a successful businessman． |
Sometimes you'll hear people say that you can't love others until you love yourself. Sometimes you’ll hear people say that you can't expect someone else to love you until you love yourself. Either way, you've got to love yourself first and this can be tricky. Sure we all know that we’re the apple of our parents’eyes，and that our Grandmas think we’re great talents and our Uncle Roberts think that we will go to the Olympics. But sometimes it's a lot harder to think such nice thoughts about ourselves. If you find that believing in yourself is a challenge，it is time you build a positive self-image and learn to love yourself.
Self-image is your own mind’s picture of yourself. This image includes the way you look，the way you act，the way you talk and the way you think. Interestingly, our self-images are often quite different from the images others hold about us. Unfortunately, most of these images are more negative than they should be. Thus changing the way you think about yourself is the key to changing your self-image and your whole world
The best way to defeat a passive self-image is to step back and decide to stress your successes. That is，make a list if you need to，but write down all of the great things you do every day. Don’t allow doubts to occur in it.
It very well might be that you are experiencing a negative self-image because you can’t move past one flaw or weakness that you see about yourself. Well, roll up your sleeves and make a change of it as your primary task. If you think you’re silly because you aren’t good at math, find a tutor. If you think you’re weak because you can’t run a mile,get to the track and practice. If you think you’re dull because you don’t wear the latest trends，buy a few new clothes. But remember, just because you think it doesn’t mean it’s true.
The best way to get rid of a negative self-image is to realize that your image is far from objective，and to actively convince yourself of your positive qualities. Changing the way you think and working on those you need to improve will go a long way towards promoting a positive self-image. When you can pat yourself on the back，you’ll know you're well on your way. Good luck!You need to build a positive self-image when you___________.
| A．dare to challenge yourself | B．feel it hard to change yourself |
| C．are unconfident about yourself | D．have a high opinion of yourself |
According to the passage，our self-images___________.
| A．have positive effects | B．are hot true |
| C．are often changeable | D．have different functions |
How should you change your self-image according to the passage?
| A．To keep a different image of others. | B．To make your life successful. |
| C．To understand your own world. | D．To change the way you think. |
What is the passage mainly about?
| A．How to prepare for your success. | B．How to face challenges in your life. |
| C．How to build a. positive self-image. | D．How to develop your good qualities. |
. Who are the intended readers of the passage?
| A．Parents. | B．Adolescents. | C．Educators. | D．People in general. |
Recipients（接受者）of this year's Annenberg scholarships were announced on June 19. Brittany Blythe was one of them.
In seventh grade，Brittany Blythe dreamed of being a cheerleader（啦啦队队员）. Her school’s coaches were less than enthusiastic. “They said. ‘I don't know how you’ll be able to do it’. ”she recalls. “‘You won’t be able to do it’.”
But Brittany，now a junior at Strath Haven High School near Philadelphia，refused to give up. And when the junior school cheerleaders won a tournament last year, she was right there，dancing and cheering with the rest of the team.
Not bad for someone whose legs were cut off below the knee when she was two years old.
Brittany,18,was born without shinbones(胫骨）—“just blood and muscle tissue，”as she puts it. When she tried to walk, her legs twisted.
After the operation, she adapted quickly. “From day one，I basically jumped up and wanted to do everything,’’ she says. Prostheses(假肢)allowed her to move around upright. But too slowly to keep up with her friends. Brittany’s solution was to take the legs off and walk on her knees something she still does when safety and comfort permit.
She has been rarely discouraged. Other children laughed at her through the years，especially in junior high school，but she says the challenge only made her stronger. Now she’s trying to convince her coaches to let her remove the prostheses and be a flyer. The cheerleader who's thrown in the air and caught by her teammates.
Brittany doesn’t think her problems put her at a disadvantage. “My disability was the first thing I had to get through., and that’s going to prepare me for the future. ”she says. “It’s all just a test：If someone throws you a difficult problem，what are you going to do?” What was the coaches’ first attitude towards Brittany's dream?
| A．Supportive | B．Enthusiastic | C．Optimistic | D．Doubtful |
What was Brittany’s reaction after the operation?
| A．She abandoned herself to self-pity. |
| B．She refused to use the prostheses. |
| C．She accepted the result and tried to get used to it. |
| D．She challenged the children who laughed at her. |
What does Brittany want to achieve at the moment?
| A．To stop others’laughing at her. |
| B．To prove her coaches wrong. |
| C．To remove her prostheses. |
| D．To be a flyer. |
We can learn from the last paragraph that Brittany _________.
| A．doesn’t think she is better than others |
| B．is not well prepared for the future |
| C．takes a positive attitude towards life |
| D．likes the challenge of learning new things |
. What's the best title for the text?
| A．A new leg，a new life | B．A new cheerleader, a new record |
| C．Passing the test | D．Seeking advantages |
Federal regulators Wednesday approved a plan to create a nationwide emergency alert（警报）system using text messages delivered to cell phones.
Text messages have exploded in popularity in recent years，particularly among young people.The wireless industry’s trade association, CTIA，estimates（估计）more than 48 billion text messages are sent each month.
The plan comes from the Warning Alert and Response Network Act，a 2006 federal law that requires improvement to the nation's emergency alert system.The act tasked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with coming up with new ways to alert the public about emergencies.
“The ability to deliver accurate and timely warnings.and alerts through cell phones and other mobile services is an important next step in our efforts to help ensure that the American public.has the information they need to take action to protect themselves and their families before, and during,disasters and other emergencies. ”FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said following approval of the plan.
Participation in the alert system by carriers—telecommunications companies is voluntary, but it has received solid support from the wireless industry.
The program would be optional for cell phone users. They also may not be charged for receiving alerts.
There would be three different types of messages，according to the rules.
The first would be a national alert from the president，likely involving a terrorist attack or natural disaster.The second would involve “approaching threats，”which could include natural disasters like hurricanes or storms or even university shootings. The third would be reserved for child abduction（绑架）emergencies,or so-called Amber Alerts.
The service could be in place by 2010. What is the purpose of the approved plan?
| A．To warn people of emergencies via messages. |
| B．To popularize the use of cell phones. |
| C．To estimate the monthly number of messages. |
| D．To promote the wireless industry. |
The improvement to the present system is in the charge of ________.
| A．CTIA | B．the Warning Alert and Response Network |
| C．FCC | D．federal regulators |
The carriers' participation in the system is determined by ________.
| A．the US federal government | B．mobile phone users |
| C．the carriers themselves | D．the law of the United States |
. Which of the following is true of cell phone users?
| A．They must accept the alert service. |
| B．They may enjoy the alert service for free. |
| C．They must send the alerts to others |
| D．They may choose the types of messages |
. Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
A，Cell Phone Alerts Protecting Students
B. Cell Phone Alerts by Wireless Industry
C. Cell Phone Alefts of National Disasters
D. Cell Phone Alerts Coming Soon
While reading a story on 20-somethings complaining about how the economy was ruiningg their life plans, I couldn’t help but think the 20-somethings sounded like a bunch of spoiled who grew up expecting everything to be easy for them. As a 20-something myself, certainly share their disappointment : my husband and I probably won’t be able to buy a house until we’re in our 40s, and we two are burdened by student loans(贷款). But why should it be any different? Being young persons in America, shouldn’t they take up all of the challenges and opportunities that this country offers?
Consider some of these views shared in the story: Jennifer, 29, owner of a two-bedroom apartment with her husband, worries that she won’t be able to have children for at least a decade because they can’t afford to buy a house yet.
I read that, and I thought what planet she is living on where you need to own a house in order to have kids? Has she ever visited a developing country, or even downtown areas in this one? Home ownership is a luxury(奢华), not a fertility requirement.
A 26-year-old in the story is disappointed that he can’t afford to get a Ph. D in literature. Well, that sounds a bit like expressing disappointment that no one will pay you to write poetry on the beach in Thailand for five years.
Yes, it’s sad that these young people feel so lost. But I think the problem is their extremely high expectations, not economic reality. Beth Kobliner, author of Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties, says that she thinks people’s expectations grew up at a time when everyone’s wealth appeared to be increasing, Their parents probably saw their home values rise along with their investments. “So you have people who have grown up in an environment where people had great expectations of what living well means,” says Kobliner.
This recession(经济衰退) will certainly play a role in forcing those expectations into more realistic group. In the meantime, it seems a lot better for our mental health to focus on being grateful---for our one-bedroom apartments, for living in modern cities, or perhaps just for being able to eat three meals a day---than on longing for some kind of luxury life. . What makes the author think the 20-somethings sound like a bunch of spoiled children?
| A．They expect everything to be easy for them. |
| B．They complain that the economy is spoiling their life plans. |
| C．They are unwilling to face all of the challenges. |
| D．They are burdened by student loans. |
. The underlined word “fertility” in paragraph 3 probably means“_____”.
| A．baby production | B．pleasant | C．baby comfort | D．comfortable |
. Which of the following is NOT mentioned about the complaints of the 20-somethings?
| A．They can’t have children for at least a decade a decade to buy a house. |
| B．They have only a one-bedroom apartment to live in. |
| C．They can’t buy a house until 40 and are burdened by student loans. |
| D．They despair at not being able to afford a PH. D in literature. |
. What’s the Kobliner’s attitude towards the 20-somethings with high expectations?
| A．Unbearable | B．Opposite | C．Doubtful | D．Understanding |
What is the best title for this passage?
| A．Young people afford to continue their study |
| B．Young people can’t afford to buy a house |
| C．Young people’s high hopes create despair |
| D．The 20-somethings’ high expectations |