Many people will remember the flight of the space shuttle （航天飞机）Challenger , in June, 1993．The achievement of Sally Ride, America’s first woman astronaut to fly into space, made this flight especially memorable．Students from two high schools in Camden, New Jersey, however, are likely to remember Norma rather than Sally whenever they think about the flight．
Norma didn’t travel alone．She brought about 100 companions along with her．Norma was an ant, a queen ant who, with her subjects, made up the first ant colony （群体） to travel into space．The ants were part of a science experiment designed by the students to test the effects of weightlessness on insects．
The equipment designed by the students for their colony functioned perfectly throughout the long space trip．The young scientists and their teachers were very sad to find that their insect astronauts had all died at some point before the container was returned to the school and opened．The problem did not occur in space, but on the ground after Challenger had landed．The container remained in the desert for nearly a week before the ant colony was removed．The hot, dry desert air dried out the colony’s container and the ants died from lack of moisture （水分）．
The project was termed a success because it did provide useful information．Students will continue their efforts to find out exactly what went wrong．They will try to prevent the same difficulties from recurring （再发生） on future missions ．They don’t want to be discouraged either by the death of the ants or by the $10,000 shuttle fare they will have to pay to send the next colony of ants into space．The story is mainly about ．
| A．Sally Ride’s first ride |
| B．space equipment for insects |
| C．a space experiment with ants |
| D．going to school in New Jersey |
The project wasn’t a failure because ．
| A．some important things were learned |
| B．dead ants are better |
| C．everything went as expected |
| D．students wrote about it |
The ants died because ．
| A．weightlessness harmed them |
| B．space caused too much pain |
| C．no one fed them in space |
| D．they dried out in the desert |
On the next space trip , ants ．
| A．will be sent without people |
| B．should not be left in the desert too long |
| C．will have to pay double fare |
| D．will escape the trip completely |
Researchers in the United States have developed the first wirelessly controlled device that can supply a drug directly into the body. A small chip is implanted (植入) under the skin. It contains the medicine, which it releases at preset times. The developers say the device could improve the lives of millions of people who take medicine for long-term illnesses. A company called Microchips began developing the device about fifteen years ago. Last month, the company released the results of its first successful tests in humans. The tests took place in Denmark with seven women with osteoporosis（骨质疏松症）.
Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and break easily. The disorder is common among older people especially women. Many patients have to give themselves daily injection（注射）of medicine. One type of treatment requires injections for two years. The patients stop taking the medicine because of the pain and stress of the injections. As a result, only twenty-five percent of the patients will go through the entire twenty-four months of treatment.
The microchip is a few centimeters long. It has small sections and each section holds a single dose（单次剂量）of medicine. The device has to be programmed with the times to release the drug. Doctors will be able to reprogram the device from a computer or even a cell phone.
For osteoporosis, the physician will program the device, and the device has the ability to release a dose at a given time, every single day. For other diseases, where the physician may want to change the dosing schedule, they will have the ability to wirelessly reprogram that dosing schedule.
The seven women in the study were ages of sixty-five to seventy. The researchers say the implants were just as effective as daily injections. And they say the medicine amounts were more exact than patients often give themselves.The best title for the passage should be ______.
| A．A New Company Called Microchips |
| B．A New Way to Take Medicine Every Day |
| C．Good News for Women with Osteoporosis |
| D．Taking Medicine, with Microchip under Skin |
What does the underlined word “released” in paragraph 1 mean?
| A．Announced. | B．Planned. | C．Got rid of. | D．Caught hold of. |
We can learn from Paragraph 2 that ______.
| A．older people especially men easily develop steoporosis |
| B．bones’ becoming weak and breaking easily causes steoporosis |
| C．a quarter of the patients will go through the entire two years of treatment |
| D．pain and stress of the injections lead all patients to stop taking medicine |
What advantages does the microchip have?
a. effective implants
b. less exact medicine amounts
c. purposely—changed dosing schedule
d. only one centimeter long and having small sections
e. improving the lives of millions of people
| A．a, b, c | B．c, d, e | C．a, c, e | D．b, c, d |
In which column of a newspaper could we find this passage?
| A．Arts. | B．Jobs. | C．Sports. | D．Medicine. |
I remember the first time that I was extremely happy. I was about 8 years old when for the first time, there was a computer in the classroom. I remember that my teacher allowed each student to take turns playing various educational games on the computer. One day, I found the source code (密码) for one of these games. Without knowing or being taught any programming language, I was able to figure out some portions of the BASIC code.
Anyone who knows a bit of programming can tell you that I just give myself an infinite (无穷大) number of lives in the game, so I can continue playing forever. This was also my first introduction to algebra (代数), and I didn’t even know it at the time. This was a decisive (决定性的) moment in my life. For the first time that I can remember, I was quite happy because of what I was learning and what I was able to do. As a result, I became enthusiastic for the rest of my life about self-learning and computers, and I was quite happy doing them, too.
I’ve noticed that people who are truly content with life are enthusiastic in what they do. This enthusiasm, along with good health, is the key to being happy. It also leads to self-confidence and fulfillment in life, too. It may also lead to success, wealth, and achievements.
Yes, success, wealth, or achievements seem to bring some people happiness, too. Yet, I don’t think they can indeed make people happy. I know plenty of people who are successful and wealthy. However, I also know several of the people with successful businesses are not happy with what they are doing. I know people who continuously buy themselves new toys, cars, computers, and televisions, yet they never seem content for too long.
Please remember that happiness comes from enthusiasm, and happiness is the journey of life, not the destination.What did the writer’s teacher ask the students to do on the computer?
| A．To play various educational games. | B．To figure out the BASIC code. |
| C．To get the knowledge of algebra. | D．To read some latest news. |
The underlined word in Paragraph 1 probably can be replaced by ______.
| A．danger | B．parts | C．health | D．value |
According to the author, what can lead a person to be happy?
| A．Success and wealth |
| B．Education and self-confidence. |
| C．Knowledge and achievements |
| D．Enthusiasm and good health. |
The author uses his own experience of being happy in order to tell us ______.
| A．it’s very easy to learn the BASIC code |
| B．he has always been happy since his childhood |
| C．concentrating on what you love makes you happy |
| D．one can solve any problem in life by himself |
What’s the main idea of the last but one paragraph?
| A．Wealth cannot bring any people any happiness. |
| B．Rich people easily feel unhappy nowadays. |
| C．One will become unhappy once he gets what he wants. |
| D．Success, wealth, or achievements can’t indeed make people happy. |
Zhang Wenchi is a 19-year-old student of Hubei Xiangyang No.1 High School. He is very brave and always helps others in need.
On March 26, 2012, Zhang donated bone marrow (骨髓) at the Navy General Hospital of Beijing. He is the youngest and the first high school student to do it. Last April, Zhang became a blood donor on his 18th birthday. He also joined the China Marrow Donor Program that day. Six months later, his bone marrow was chosen as a match for a 4-year-old leukemia (白血病) patient from Fujian.
Zhang was studying for the National College Entrance Examination (NCEE) when the call from the Chinese Bone Marrow Donors came. He found out that the patient could not wait, or things might get worse. With the support of his family and school, Zhang arrived at the hospital in Beijing the very next day.
“Saving a life is more important than taking an exam, and having the chance to help cure a patient does not allow for more thought,” Zhang said.
The transplant operation (移植手术) was a success. After that, Zhang Wenchi was in good health and he came back to school soon. Zhang said then the most important task for him was the exam. He hoped that his dream of becoming a pilot could come true.
Now the NCEE has been over for more than a month, and what about Zhang Wenchi’s marks? To our great relief, it’s known that he has earned 540 points, which means he can be admitted into Beihang University (formerly Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics). Therefore he can realize his dream of flying in the sky.
Zhang’s deed has earned him nationwide respect, and some have given him the nickname, “the most beautiful post-90s student”.Which of the following about Zhang Wenchi is right?
| A．He was born on March 26, 1993. |
| B．He donated bone marrow at a hospital in Xiangyang. |
| C．He is the first university student to donate bone marrow. |
| D．His bone marrow was chosen as a match for a patient from Fujian. |
From Zhang Wenchi’s words we know that ______.
| A．he is a little unreasonable |
| B．he is very active and outgoing |
| C．he is very kind and determined |
| D．he is always ready to quit exams |
What’s the main idea of the last but one paragraph?
| A．Zhang Wenchi’s points and our anxiety. |
| B．Zhang Wenchi’s points and his future education. |
| C．Zhang Wenchi is sure to fly in the sky tomorrow. |
| D．Beihang University has already decided to admit him. |
What’s the best title for the passage?
| A．Zhang Wenchi’s college dream |
| B．A 19-year-old student gave up exams |
| C．A 4-year-old leukemia patient was saved |
| D．Zhang Wenchi---the most beautiful post-90s student |
The text is most probably taken from ______.
| A．a computer book | B．a library guide |
| C．a project handbook | D．a newspaper report |
Online clothes shoppers will be told exactly what size is best. for them using new software which combines with their web camera or smart phone to form a“3D tape measure”.
Scientists from Surrey University and design experts from the London College of Fashion are developing a program which can take precise (精确的) waist, hip, chest and other measurements from camera images.
Using the person’s height as a starting point，the software will be able to build up a 3D image and estimate their size at various different points on the body, based on their overall proportions.
The result will be a more accurate sizing guide than previous systems based on waist size or a “small／medium／large”scale, which rely on limited measurements and the buyer’s perception of their own body size.
Shoppers and retailers(零售商)who choose to sign up for the project could save millions of pounds a year in postage costs by removing the need to order multiple sizes of the same garment(服装) and send back ill-fitting clothes, researchers claimed.
The project, sponsored by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council(EPSRC), is expected to be brought to market within two years.
After choosing an item, the shopper will activate the software, enter their height, stand in front of their webcam or smart phone in their underwear and take a photograph.
The software will not store or transmit the image to the internet, but will use it to judge the person’s dimensions at various points on their body.
Philip Delamore of the London College of Fashion said：“The potential benefits for the fashion industry and for shoppers are huge. Currently, it’s common for online shoppers to order two or three different sizes of the same item of clothing at the same time, as they’re unsure which one will fit best.”What is the essential part of a 3D tape measure?
| A．a software | B．a webcam |
| C．a microphone | D．a smart phone |
What can we learn about the 3D tape measure?
| A．It will store or transmit the image to the internet. |
| B．It is based on the buyer’s perception of their size. |
| C．It will be a co-working production. |
| D．It uses a person’s weight as a starting point. |
Compared with the traditional sizing system, a 3D tape measure is_______.
| A．quicker | B．more precise |
| C．more beautiful | D．more vivid |
How can the 3D tape measure benefit online shoppers?
| A．Online shoppers will get their ordered garment in time. |
| B．Online shoppers will get their ordered garment more quickly. |
| C．Online shoppers will get an ordered garment of high quality. |
| D．Online shoppers will get an ordered garment to their measure. |
What is the right order for a shopper to form a 3D tape measure?
①to take a photo with a webcam
②to activate the software
③to enter his／her height
④to judge his size by analyzing his image
| A．①②③④ | B．②①③④ | C．②③①④ | D．②③④① |
Americans who volunteer for the Peace Corps get a chance to help improve lives in developing countries. They also get a chance to learn more about the world, and about themselves. This week this program is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
President John Kennedy established the Peace Corps soon after he took office in 1961. It was the time of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. The new program gave Americans a chance to answer the call to service that the president made in his inaugural(就职的)speech. “Ask not what your country can do for you,” he said. “Ask what you can do for your country.” Kennedy told Peace Corps volunteers that America’s image in the countries where they were going would depend largely on them.
On August 30th, 1961, the first group of 51 Peace Corps volunteers arrived in Accra, Ghana, to serve as teachers. They had agreed to work for almost no pay. They would spend two years in Ghana helping its people and learning the reality of life in a developing country. Most of the volunteers had just completed college. About half of them taught English or health care. In the 50 years since then, more than 200，000 Americans have served as Peace Corps volunteers. They have worked in 139 countries.
The Peace Corps is a government agency that was created to promote world peace and friendship. There are three goals: First, to help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women. Second, to help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the people served. And, third. to help promote a better understanding of other people on the part of Americans.
Today, the Peace Corps has more than 8,000 volunteers and trainees in 77 countries. They work in agriculture, economic development, education, the environment and health care. Some work in programs related to youth development.
Sixty percent of current Peace Corps volunteers are women. The average age of a volunteer is 28. But the ages of Peace Corps volunteers range from 18 to 86. Some Americans join the Peace Corps after they retire. Today seven percent of volunteers are over the age of 50. And 19 percent are members of minority groups. Volunteers for the Peace Corps can _______.
| A．improve their abilities by learning in some developed countries |
| B．travel to many foreign countries to learn more about the world |
| C．have an opportunity to help all the people in developing countries |
| D．contribute to lives in developing countries and develop themselves |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?
| A．Volunteers served as teachers to work for no pay in Accra, Ghana. |
| B．Kennedy established the Peace Corps before he took office in 1961. |
| C．Most of the volunteers of the first group had just graduated from college. |
| D．America’s image in the foreign countries depends completely on volunteers. |
The fourth paragraph is mainly about _______.
| A．what the Peace Corps is and its steps |
| B．why the Peace Corps was created and what are its goals |
| C．what role the Peace Corps play in daily life |
| D．How the Peace Corps was created and its aims |
According to the text, volunteers and trainees assist in the following aspects EXCEPT _______.
| A．industry | B．environment | C．education | D．health care |
What can we learn from the last paragraph?
| A．Most of the volunteers for the Peace Corps are women. |
| B．Few minority groups joined the Peace Corps. |
| C．Half of the retired volunteers joined the Peace Corps. |
| D．People of different ages take an active part in the Peace Corps. |