Shay asked, “Do you think they’ll let me play?” Shay’s father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son, mentally and physically disabled, were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence.
Shay’s father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play, not expecting much. The boy looked around and said, “We’re losing by six runs (分) and the game is in the eighth inning (局).I guess he can be on our team and we’ll try to put him in to bat in the final inning.
Shay struggled over to the team’s bench and put on a team shirt with a broad smile and his father had a small tear in his eye and warmth in heart. The boys saw the father’s joy at his son being accepted.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay’s team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the final inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously joyful just to be in the game and on the field. In the bottom of the final inning, Shay’s team scored again. Now, Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. Would they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?
Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was almost impossible. The first pitch (投) came and Shay missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to throw the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.
The pitcher could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman and Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game .Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the head of the first baseman, beyond the reach of all teammates, The audience and the players from both teams started screaming, “Shay, run to first! ” Never in his life had Shay ever run that far but made it to first base, wide-eyed and shocked..
Everyone should, “Run to second!” Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the smallest guy on their team, who had a chance to be the hero for his team for the first time, could have thrown the ball to the second baseman, but he understood the pitcher’s intentions and he too intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third baseman’s head.
All were screaming,“Shay,Shay,Shay,all the way Shay.” Shay reached third base when one opposing player ran to help him and shouted, “Shay, run to third.” As Shay rounded third, all were on their feet, crying, “Shay, run home!”Shay ran to home, stepped on the home base and was cheered as the hero who the who won the game for his team.
That day, the boys from both teams helped bring a piece true love and humanity into this world. Shay didn’t make it to another summer and died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his father so happy and coming home and seeing his mother tearfully hug her little hero of the day!Not expecting much, Shay’s father still asked the boy if Shay could play, mainly because the father _________.
A.noticed some of the boys on the field were tired |
B.guessed his presence would affect the boy’s decision |
C.learned some of the boys on the field knew Shay well |
D.understood Shay did need a feeling of being accepted |
In the bottom of the final inning Shay was given the bat because the boys _________.
A.believed they were sure to win the game | B.would like to help Shay enjoy the game |
C.found Shay was so eager to be a winner | D.fell forced to give Shay another chance |
The smallest boy threw the ball high and far over the third baseman’s head, probably because that boy ________.
A.was obviously aware of the pitcher’s purpose |
B.looked forward to winning the game for his team |
C.failed to throw the ball to the second baseman |
D.saw that Shay already reached second base |
Which of the following has nothing to do with Shay’s becoming the hero for his team?
A.The pitcher did not throw the ball to the first baseman. |
B.The audience and the players from both teams cheered for him. |
C.The opposing players failed to stop his running to home. |
D.One of the opposing players ran to help him. |
What to you think is the theme of the story?
A.True human nature could be realized in the way we treat each other. |
B.Everyone has his own strength even if mentally or physically disabled. |
C.Everyone can develop his team spirit in sports and please his parents. |
D.The results of the game should not be the only concern of the players. |
Bacteria(细菌) are extremely small living things. While we measure our own sizes in inches or centimeters, bacterial size is measured in micron. One micron is a thousandth of a millimeter; a pinhead is about a millimeter across, Rod-shaped bacteria are usually from two to four microns long, while rounded ones are generally one micron across. Thus, if you magnified a rounded bacterium a thousand times, it would be just the size of a pinhead, while a grown-up human enlarged by the same amount would be over a mile tall.
Even with an ordinary microscope(显微镜), you must look closely to see bacteria. Using a magnification of 100 times, one can hardly find bacteria. Nor can one make out anything of their structure(结构), of course. Only by using special colors, can one see that some bacteria have wavy-looking “hairs” called flagella. Others have only one flagellum. The flagella move round a central point, pushing the bacteria through the water. Many bacteria lack flagella and cannot move about by their own power, while others can move along over surface by some little-understood “machinery”.
From the bacterial point of view, the world is a very different place from what it is to humans. To a bacterium, water is as thick as molasses(糖浆) is to us. Bacteria are so small that they are affected by the movements of the chemical molecules(分子) around them. Bacteria under microscopes, even those with no flagella, often jump up and down in the water. This is because they knock with the water molecules and are pushed this way and that.
36. The underlined word magnified means _______________.
A. enlarged B. widened
C. killed D. caught
37. We know from the passage that _______________ is the smallest.
A. a pinhead B. a rounded bacterium
C. a microscope D. a rod-shaped bacterium
38. The relationship between a bacterium and its flagella is most nearly like which of the following?
A. A rider jumping on a horse back
B. A ball being hit by a bet
C. A boat powered by a motor
D. A door closed by wind
39. Why does the writer compares water to molasses in the third paragraph?
A. To tell us how difficult it is for bacteria to move through water.
B. To suggest that bacteria are fond of different liquids.
C. To show different chemicals are of different structures.
D. To show that bacteria are the best swimmers.
40. Which of the following is the main topic of the passage?
A. The characteristic (特点) of bacteria.
B. How bacteria reproduce.
C. The various parts of a bacterium’s body
D. How bacteria cause diseases.
Valentine’s Day is named for Saint Valentine an early Christmas churchman who reportedly helped young lovers. Valentine was killed for his Christian beliefs on February 14 more than 1700 years ago, but the day that has his name is even earlier than that.
More than 2,000 years ago, the ancient Romans celebrated a holiday for lovers. As part of the celebration, girls wrote their names on pieces of paper and put them in a large container. Boys reached into the container and pulled one out. The girl whose name was written on the paper became his lover or sweet heart for a year.
Lovers still put their names on pieces of paper and they sent each other Valentine’s Day cards that tell of their love. Sometimes they also sent gifts, like flowers of chocolate candy. Americans usually send these gifts and cards through the mail system. But some used another way to send this message. They have it printed in a newspaper. The cost is usually a few dollars. Some of the messages are simple and short “Jane, I love you very much”. Others say more. This one, for example, “Dan, Roses are red. Violets are blue. I hope you love me as much as I love you. Forever. May.”
Most of the newspapers that print such messages are local, but USA Today is sold throughout the United States, and 90 other countries as well. This means someone can send a Valentine message to lover in a far-away city or town almost anywhere in the world. These messages cost 80 dollars and more. An employee of USA Today says readers can have a small heart or rose printed along with their messages this year. Will this kind of Valentine’s Day message reach the one you love? Well, just make sure he or she reads the newspaper.
1. When was the day named after Valentine?
A. More than 1700 years ago before Valentine’s death
B. More than 2000 years ago
C. On February 24
D. It is not mentioned in the passage.
2. Which is not true about the Roman holiday?
A. Girls put into a container large pieces of paper with their own names on them.
B. Boys and girls became sweet hearts by chance
C. Girls and boys were not lovers for a year.
D. It was celebrated as a holiday for lovers
3. What is the cost of printing a message to show one’s love? It’s _______________.
A. a few dollars B. 80 dollars, and more C. very expensive
D. a few dollars in a local newspaper and 80 dollars in USA Today
4. What can be inferred from the passage?
A. The ancient Roman girls were more open and easy-going than boys
B. Valentine was killed for helping lovers
C. Readers of USA Today can send roses to their lovers along with printed messages
D. Valentine was honored by people for his firm Christian belief and warm heart
5. What is the purpose of the passage?
A. To briefly introduce the origin of Valentine’s Day and the modern style.
B. To advertise for USA Today.
C. To tell you that Americans are open to express their love
D. To sell roses on Valentine’s Day.
One silly question I simply can’t stand is “How do you feel?” Usually the question is asked of a man in action — a man on the go, walking along the street, or busily working at his desk. So what do you expect him to say? He’ll probably say, “Fine, I’m all right,” but “you’ve put a bug in his ear” — maybe now he’s not sure. If you’re a good friend, you may have seen something in his face, or his walk, that he overlooked that morning. It starts him worrying a little. First thing you know, he looks in a mirror to see if everything is all right, while you go merrily on your way asking someone else, “How do you feel?”
Every question has its time and place. It’s perfectly acceptable, for instance, to asked “How do you feel?” if you’re visiting a close friend in the hospital. But if the fellow is walking on both legs, hurrying to catch a train, or sitting at his desk working, it’s no time to ask him that silly question.
When George Bernard Shaw, the famous writer of plays, was in his eighties, someone asked him, “How do you feel?” Shaw put him in his place. “When you reach my age,” Shaw said, “either you feel all right or you’re dead.”
26. The passage tells us that some greetings such as “How do you feel?” __________.
A. show one’s consideration for others
B. are a good way to make friends
C. are proper to ask a man in action
D. generally make one feel uneasy
27. The question “How do you feel?” seems to be correct and suitable when asked of _________________________.
A. a man working at his work B. a person having lost a close friend
C. a stranger who looks somewhat worried D. a friend who is ill
28. The writer seems to feel that a busy man should _________________.
A. be praised for his efforts
B. never be asked any questions
C. not be troubled
D. be discouraged from working so hard
29. “You’ve put a bug in his ear” means that you’ve _________________.
A. made him laugh merrily
B. given him some kind of warning
C. shown much concern for him
D. played a joke on him
30. George Bernard Shaw’s reply in the passage shows his __________.
A. cleverness B. cheerfulness C. power and skills D. politeness
第二部分阅读理解(共25小题;每小题2分,满分50分)
阅读下面短文,掌握其大意,然后从21~45各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C、D)中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Passage A
Visitors from space may have landed on our planet dozens, even hundreds of times during the long, empty ages while Man was still a dream of the distant future. Indeed, they could have landed on 90% of the earth as recently as two or three hundred years ago, and we could never have heard of it. If one searches through old newspapers and local records, one can find many reports of strange incidents that could be interpreted(解释) as visits from outer space. A winter, Charles Fort, had made a collection of UFO sightings in his book. One is tempted(引诱) to believe them more than any modern reports, for the simple reason that they happened long before anyone had ever thought of space travel. Yet at the same time, one can’t take them too seriously, for before scientific education was widespread, even sightings of meteors(流星) and comets(彗星) gave rise to the most unbelievable stories, as they still do today.
1. According to the passage visitors from space may have landed on the earth _____.
A. long before man had dreamed of it
B. long before there were human beings
C. in the last few hundred years
D. after the space age began
2. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?
A. All observations of UFO’s are believable
B. Charles Fort sighted a lot of UFO’s himself
C. Older civilization (文明) may exist on other planets
D. People have seen visitors from other planets everywhere
3. If visitors from other planets have actually landed on the earth, one can suppose that they came to __________________.
A. make war B. communicate C. settle down D. explore
4 The passage implies that the space age has __________________.
A. made the reported sightings unbelievable
B. increased the number of UFO sightings
C. allowed more scientific study of UFO’s
D. given clearer pictures of UFO’s
5. According to the passage, __________________.
A. UFO’s are only recent observations B. UFO sightings are not new
C. UFO’s are just meteors and comets D. UFO’s are invented by people
American scientists have developed the first material that repairs itself. The material is a form of plastic that has been engineered to fill breaks in its surface.
Plastics are used today in everything from airplane wings to hundreds of object found in the home. Scientists wanted to find a way to make objects made of plastic last longer. The researchers hope their new discovery can be used to make objects that are difficult or impossible to replace.
The surface of plastic objects breaks over time. Very small breaks develop every time a plastic object is used. The researchers wanted to find out how to stop plastic from developing small breaks that weaken and destroy it. They found the answer in the chemical structure(构造)of plastic itself.
Plastic is made of monomers(单体). These monomers link together to form polymers(聚合物). Polymers give plastic its ability to be shaped and its strength. The research team found a way to make plastic that contains very small balloons filled with monomer liquid(液体). When the new plastic cracks(裂开), the monomer liquid is let out and flows into the crack. Thus the break is repaired. The repaired plastic has seventy – five percent of the strength of undamaged plastic.
The new self – repairing plastic is not yet ready for production. But it has several possible uses. One could be in space vehicles where parts cannot be repaired or replaced. Another possible use might be in bridges. And it could be used in people, to replace bone joints that have become broken or damaged.
72.Which of the following can be the best title for the article?
A.Ever-Lasting Material Invented.
B.The Chemical Structure of Plastic.
C.Plastic that Repairs Itself.
D.Small Balloons that Makes Plastic Stronger.
73.We know from the passage that the repair is done as .
A.the cracked plastic parts are changed
B.the plastic is made
C.the liquid is put into the plastic cracks
D.the plastic cracks
74.The scientist are planning to use the new material in space vehicles, bridges and people because .
A.the plastic parts in them are required to last longer
B.the plastic parts in them are easily broken or damaged
C.the new material cannot be used elsewhere
D.they want to experiment in these places first
75.What can we know about the new material mentioned in the passage?
A.It is a kind of liquid that is commonly used.
B.It is more difficult to make than common plastics.
C.Its surface does not crack so easily as other ones.
D.It makes it difficult or impossible to replace plastic objects.