Why should mankind explore space? Why should money, time and effort be spent exploring and researching something with so few apparent benefits? Why should resources be spent on space rather than on conditions and people on Earth? These are questions that, understandably, are very often asked.
Perhaps the best answer lies in our genetic makeup(基因构成) as human beings. What drove our ancestors to move from the trees into the plains, and on into all possible areas and environments? The wider the spread of a species, the better its chance of survival. Perhaps the best reason for exploring space is this genetic tendency to expand wherever possible.
Nearly every successful civilization has explored, because by doing so, any dangers in surrounding areas can be identified and prepared for. Without knowledge, we may be completely destroyed by the danger. With knowledge, we can lessen its effects.
Exploration also allows minerals and other potential (潜在的) resources to be found. Even if we have no immediate need of them, they will perhaps be useful later. Resources may be more than physical possessions. Knowledge or techniques have been acquired through exploration. The techniques may have medical applications which can improve the length or quality of our lives. We have already benefited from other spin-offs including improvements in earthquake prediction, in satellites for weather forecasting and in communications systems. Even non-stick pans and mirrored sunglasses are by-products (副产品) of technological developments in the space.
While many resources are spent on what seems a small return, the exploration of s
pace allows creative, brave and intelligent members of our species to focus on what may serve to save us. While space may hold many wonders and explanations of how the universe was formed or how it works, it also holds dangers. The danger exists, but knowledge can help human being to survive. Without the ability to reach out across space, the chance to save ourselves might not exist.
While Earth is the only planet known to support life, surely the adaptive ability of humans would allow us to live on other planets. It is true that the lifestyle would be different, but human life and cultures have adapted in the past and surely could in the future.Why does the author mention the questions in Paragraph 1?
| A．To express his doubts. | B．To compare different ideas. |
| C．To introduce points for discussion. | D．To describe the conditions on Earth. |
What is the reason for exploring space based on Paragraph 2?
| A．Humans are nature-born to do so. |
| B．Humans have the tendency to fight. |
| C．Humans may find new sources of food. |
| D．Humans don’t like to stay in the same place. |
The underlined word “spin-offs” in Paragraph 4 probably refers to______.
| A．survival chances | B．unexpected benefits |
| C．potential resources | D．physical possessions |
What makes it possible for humans to live on other planets?
| A．The adaptive ability of humans. | B．Resources on the earth.. |
| C．Our genetic makeup. | D．By-products in space exploration. |
Which of the statements can best sum up the passage?
| A．Space exploration has created many wonders. |
| B．Space exploration provided the best value for money. |
| C．Space exploration can benefit science and technology. |
| D．Space exploration may help us avoid potential problems on Earth. |
Grace Kane hangs onto an Olympic dream of clinging to a granite (花岗岩) wall by her fingertips 70 feet from the ground. The fearless girl is only 10, but already has scaled great heights in the sport of rock climbing.
Last week, Kane won a bronze in the 11andyounger sport class at the USA Climbing Youth National Championships in Atlanta. She was the only competitor of the 31 there with no climbing coach or topflight facilities in which to train. Climbing will become an exhibition at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics in Brazil. The hope of enthusiasts is that the sport will gain full status in 2020.“I’m already training for that,” said Kane. “Climbing is my passion, my love, and I want to make something of it.”
Her dad took her to climb rocks on her fourth birthday for the first time and today he can’t keep up with her, “It’s the freedom to let loose,” she said. “When I’m up there, I’m so focused and don’t hear anything. I always feel comforted knowing people are supporting me.”
The bronze in Atlanta qualified Kane for the USA team and November’s International Championships in Ecuador. That’s a trip she might have to miss because it’s too expensive.
Kane held a backyard music concert---she played the guitar and the piano and wrote inspirational songs---and raised $600 for her $1,500 trip to Atlanta. She’s also been sponsored by a shoe company, but must rely heavily on donations from family and friends for travel expenses.
Her mom Heather Kane said the family has chosen “to do whatever we need to help her achieve her goals”. One of Grace’s biggest challenges is finding balance in her life. There’s school, her music and church to fit around climbing.
“Climbing is going to mean sacrificing things other kids might pursue,” Grace said. “But it doesn’t bother me. It’s like playing the piano; you can’t take a break or you’ll lose your touch.”What would be the best title of the passage?
| A．Rock climbing gains popularity |
| B．Grace Kane likes challenges |
| C．A young climber follows her dream |
| D．An amazing victory for a young rock climber |
We can learn from the second paragraph that rock climbing ________.
| A．is not an exhibition at the Olympics now |
| B．is an official event at the Olympics now |
| C．is not open to children |
| D．will gain full status in 2020 |
Which of the following is TRUE about Grace Kane?
| A．She is only interested in rock climbing. |
| B．She is a girl with many talents. |
| C．Rock climbing has affected her study. |
| D．She has won gold medals in several matches. |
One of Grace’s biggest challenges is to ________.
| A．find a capable coach for her |
| B．get qualified for the USA team |
| C．raise enough money for International competitions |
| D．keep balance between rock climbing and other activities |
I paid a visit to Cambridge last January. Though the trip took me 5 hours and it rained the whole day with strong winds there, the town deserved a visit.
The bus started at 6:10 a. m. It stopped at 4 airports before we finally arrived，which wasted more time than we expected. Tired with long sitting，one passenger stood up to relax his numbed legs. The driver asked him to sit down but in vain. So he pulled up and said seriously, “Either you get off or sit down.” To him, safety is the first policy.
Cambridge consists of over thirty colleges. The oldest part of the university was built in the 13th century while the newest was founded in the mid 1960s.The number of the students is so great that many students live in lodgings（出租房）and move into college for their final year.
Cambridge is called a university town because there is no clear separation between the university buildings and the rest of the city. The university is not just one part of the town；it is all over the town. The heart of Cambridge has shops，pubs，and supermarkets，but most of it is university-colleges，departments，libraries，clubs and other places for university staff and students. Students fill the shops，cafes，banks and churches，making these as well part of the university.
With over 10,000 undergraduates and postgraduates, the town is a busy place indeed. Students here are not allowed to keep cars. If you happen to be walking in the street during a break，better stop a moment to avoid the boiling sea of bicycles hurrying in all directions，carrying students from one college or lecture room to another.The writer believed that the trip took more time because of________
| A．bad weather | B．unexpected stops of the bus |
| C．one passenger | D．an accident on the way |
Why is Cambridge called a university town？
| A．It has 10，000 undergraduates and postgraduates. |
| B．There are over thirty colleges in the town. |
| C．All the students and staff live in the town. |
| D．The university and town are fully combined. |
It can be inferred that most Cambridge students take _______as their first means of transport.
| A．boats | B．cars | C．bicycles | D．buses |
D
The year is 2094. It has been announced that a comet (彗星) is heading towards the Earth . Most of it will miss our planet , but two pieces will probably hit the southern half of the Earth .
On 17 July , a piece four kilometers wide enters the Earth’s atmosphere (大气层) with a massive explosion . About half of the piece is destroyed , but the remaining part hits the South Atlantic at 200 times the speed of sound . The sea boils and a huge hole is made in the sea bed . Huge waves are created and spread outwards from the hole . The wall of water , a kilometer high , rushes towards southern Africa at 800 kilometers an hour . Cities on the African coast are totally destroyed and millions of people re drowned .
Before the waves reach South America , the second piece of the comet lands in Argentina . Earthquakes and volcanoes are set off in the Andes Mountains . The shock waves move north into California and all around the Pacific Ocean . The cities of Los Angeles , San Francisco and Tokyo are completely destroyed by earthquakes . Millions of people in the southern half of the earth are already dead, but the north won’t escape for long . Because of the explosions , the sun is hidden by clouds of dust , temperatures around the world fall to almost zero .Crops are ruined . The sun won’t be seen again for many years . Wars break out as countries fight for food . A year later , no more than 10 million people remain alive .
Could it really happen ? In fact , it has already happened more than once in the history of the Earth . The dinosaurs were on the Earth for over 160 million years . Then 65 million years ago they suddenly disappeared . Many scientists believe that the Earth was hit by a piece of object in space . The dinosaurs couldn’t live through the cold climate that followed and they died out . Will we meet the same end ?What is mainly described in the passage ?
| A．A historic discovery . | B．An event of imagination |
| C．A research on space . | D．A scientific adventure . |
When the first piece hits the South Atlantic , it causes .
| A．an earthquake | B．damages to cities |
| C．an Earth explosion | D．huge waves |
Why can’t the northern half of the earth escape for long ?
| A．Because the land is covered with water |
| B．Because the light and heat from the sun can not reach the earth . |
| C．Because people there can not live at the temperature of zero . |
| D．Because wars break out among countries . |
C
8：30 PM
Outlook
Outlook is back with a new series of reports to keep you up date with all that’s new in the world of entertainment. Stories go all the way from the technical to the romantic, from stage to screen. There will be reports of the stars of the moment, the stars of the future and the stars of the past. The director with his new film，he designer with the latest fashion and the musician with the popular song are part of the new Outlook . The program is introduced by Fran Levine.
9:00 PM
Discovery
When a 10-year-old boy gets a first class degree in mathematics or an 8-year-old plays chess like a future grand master， they are considered as geniuses . Where does the quality of genius come from? Is it all in the genes (基因) or can any child be turned into a genius ? And if parents do have a child who might become a genius in the future，what should they do? In this 30-minute film, Barry Johnson , the professor at School of Medicine , New York University will help you discover the answer .
10:00 P
Science/Health
Is it possible to beat high blood pressure without drugs? The answer is “yes”, according to the researchers at Johns Hopkins and three other medical centers . After a study of 800 persons with high blood pressure , they found that after 6 months , those devoted to weight loss—exercise and eating a low—salt , low-fat food—lost about 13 pounds and became fitter . Plus , 35% of them dropped into the “normal” category(范畴). This week, Dr . Alan Duckworth will tell you how these people reduce their blood pressure to a level similar to what’s achieved with Hypertension drugs .The main purpose of writing these three texts is .
| A．to invite people to see films |
| B．to invite people to topic discussions |
| C．to attract more students to attend lectures |
| D．to attract more people to watch TV programs |
From Outlook , you can get a great deal of information about .
| A．story tellers | B．famous stars | C．film companies | D．music fans |
Who will be most probably interested in Discovery ?
| A．Parents who want to send their children to a school of medicine . |
| B．Children who are good at mathematics . |
| C．Parents who want their child to become another Albert Einstein . |
| D．Children who are interested in playing chess . |
In Science / Health; “Johns Hopkins” is .
| A．a famous university | B．a medical center |
| C．a well-known doctor | D．a drug company |
According to the third text , which of the following has almost the same effect as Hypertension drug ?
| A．Exercise plus a healthy diet . | B．Loss of thirteen pounds in weight . |
| C．Six months of exercise without drugs . | D．Low-salt and low-fat food . |
B
If a person forgets names, places or facts —and has trouble with everyday things like reading or shopping —it may not mean you are getting old. It could be Alzheimer’s disease. So it’s important to see a doctor as soon as you can.
There is no cure for Alzheimer’s. But a drug called ARICEPT has been used by millions of people to help their symptoms (症状).
In studies, ARICEPT has been proved to work for Alzheimer’s. It has helped people improve their memory over time. It has also helped them to keep doing everyday things on their own.
Ask your doctor if ARICEPT is right for you or your loved one. It is the Number One drug for Alzheimer’s in the world. The sooner you know it’s Alzheimer’s, the better ARICEPT can help.
ARICEPT is good for many but may not be good for everyone. Some people may experience not sleeping well, feeling very tired, or not wanting to eat . In studies, these side effects weren’t serious at all and went away over time. Some people taking ARICEPT may feel light-headed. In this case you should tell your doctors because your condition may get worse.If one suffers from Alzheimer’s, .
| A．he has trouble with his memory |
| B．he can’t do everyday things on his own |
| C．he often forgets things because he is old |
| D．he can’t move about |
What is ARICEPT?
| A．A medicine to cure Alzheimer’s |
| B．A medicine to delay signs of aging . |
| C．A medicine to reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s . |
| D．A medicine to cure brain damage . |
One who is taking ARICEPT should go to see a doctor if he .
| A．can’t fall asleep | B．feels tired out |
| C．has no desire to eat | D．feels like a drunken man |