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' space 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 Paragraphl ?
| A．To express his doubts． |
| B．To introduce points for discussion． |
| C．To compare different ideas． |
| D．To describe the conditions on Earth． |
What is the reason for exploring space based on Paragraph2 ?
| 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 3 probably refers to ．
| A．survival chances | B．potential resources |
| C．unexpected benefits | D．physical possessions |
What makes it possible for humans to live on other planets'?
| A．Our genetic makeup． | B．The adaptive ability of' humans． |
| C．Resources on the earth． | D．By-products in space exploration． |
Which of the following 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． |
Most likely, you aren’t the family breadwinner. But doing a small job or getting a weekly allowance(零花钱) would put some money in your pocket. For kids and grown-ups alike, money is easy to spend. If you aren’t careful, it can be going in no time.
Being responsible with your money is an important skill to learn — and the sooner you start the better. Whether you are tracking your spending or saving for something special, creating a budget(预算) can help you deal with your expenses and plan for the future. All you need are paper and a pencil — and some self-control.
First, take a look at our sample monthly budget. Then, use a separate sheet of paper to plan your own. In the first two columns(栏), list your sources(来源) of income and how much you expect to earn from them. In the third and fourth columns, list what you expect to spend your money on and the amount.
The left-hand total should be more than or equal to the right-hand total. If it is, you have an effective budget.
Budgets are not complex, but sticking to them can be tough. When planning your budget, be realistic about your expenses. If you know that you drop $18 at a movie, don’t write $12 in that space simply because you wish you were spending less.
If you are eyeing a big purchase, such as a $150 skateboard, spend less and save more until you have the total amount. No matter how attractive it may be, avoid spending your savings. One day, you will thank yourself!
| Monthly Income |
Amount |
Monthly Expense |
Amount |
| Allowance (零花钱) |
$20.00. |
Snacks |
$20.00 |
| Money earned selling drinks |
$25.00 |
Music downloads |
$12.00 |
| Money earned babysitting |
$12.50. |
Movies |
$18.00 |
| Money earned delivering newspapers |
$30.00 |
Video rental |
$10.00 |
| Total |
$87.50 |
Total |
$66.00 |
46. Who is the passage written for?
A. Children. B. Parents. C. Breadwinners. D. Bank managers.
47. The purpose of making a budget is to help people _________.
A. learn to be realistic B. increase their saving
C. manage their money well D. test their power-control
48. What should people do when planning a budget?
A. Fill in the expenses as they really are.
B. Avoid spending money on expensive things.
C. Set aside a fixed amount of money as savings.
D. List income and expenses on two pieces of paper.
49. Which of the following budgets is effective?
A.
| Monthly Income |
Amount |
Monthly Expenses |
Amount |
| Allowance(零花钱) |
$20.00 |
Money earned walking dogs |
$20.00 |
| Bus fares |
$40.00 |
Movies |
$28.00 |
| Total |
$60.00 |
Total |
$48.00 |
B.
| Monthly Income |
Amount |
Monthly Expenses |
Amount |
| Allowance(零花钱) |
$20.00 |
Movies |
$30.00 |
| Money earned washing cars |
$10.00 |
Bus fares |
$10.00 |
| Total |
$30.00 |
Total |
$40.00 |
C.
| Monthly Income |
Amount |
Monthly Expenses |
Amount |
| Allowance(零花钱) |
$27.50 |
Money earned selling drinks |
$22.00 |
| Money earned |
$22.50 |
Birthday gifts |
$28.00 |
| Total |
$50.00 |
Total |
$50.00 |
D.
| Monthly Income |
Amount |
Monthly Expenses |
Amount |
| Allowance(零花钱) |
$26.00 |
Radio rentals |
$22.00 |
| Money earned doing yard work |
$24.00 |
Birthday gifts |
$28.00 |
| Total |
$50.00 |
Total |
$50.00 |
50. The passage mainly tells us ________.
A. the importance of making a budget B. how to make a budget
C. how to form good habits D. how to spend money
Ⅲ. 阅读（共两节，满分40分）
第一节 阅读理解（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从41—55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。
Although April did not bring us the rains we all hoped for, and although the Central Valley doesn’t generally experience the sound and lightning that can go with those rains, it’s still important for parents to be able to answer the youthful questions about thunder and lightning.
The reason these two wonders of nature are so difficult for many adults to explain to children is that they are not very well understood by adults themselves. For example, do you know that the lightning we see flashing down to the earth from a cloud is actually flashing up to a cloud from the earth? Our eyes trick us into thinking we see a downward motion when it’s actually the other way round. But then, if we believed only what we think and we see, we’d still insist that the sun rises in the morning and sets at night.
Most lightning flashes take place inside a cloud, and only a relative few can be seen jumping between two clouds or between earth and a cloud. But, with about 2,000 thunderstorms taking place above the earth every minute of the day and night, there’s enough activity to produce about 100 lightning strikes on earth every second.
Parents can use thunder and lightning to help their children learn more about the world around them. When children understand that the light of lightning flashing reaches their eyes almost at the same moment, but the sound of the thunder takes about 5 seconds to travel just one mile, they can begin to time the interval(间隔) between the flash and the crash to learn how close they are to the actual spark(闪光).
1. According to the author, in the area of the Central Valley, ___________.
A. rains usually come without thunder and lightning
B. it is usually dry in April
C. children pay no attention to the two natural wonders
D. parents are not interested in thunder and lightning
2. We believe that lightning is a downward motion because ___________.
A. we were taught so by our parents from our childhood
B. we are taken in by our sense of vision
C. it is a common natural sight
D. it is a truth proved by science
3. What is TRUE about lightning according to the passage?
A. Only a small number of lightning flashes occur on earth.
B. Lightning travels 5 times faster than thunder.
C. Lightning flashes usually jump from one cloud to another.
D. There are far more lightning strikes occurring on earth than we can imagine.
4. The underlined word “activity” is most closely related to the word(s)___________.
A. “cloud” B. “lightning strikes”
C. “lightning flashes” D. “thunderstorms”
5. It can be concluded from the passage that____________.
A. we should not believe what we see or hear
B. things moving downward are more noticeable
C. people often have wrong ideas about ordinary phenomena (现象)
D. adults are not as good as children in observing certain natural phenomena
第二节：信息匹配：（共5小题，每题2分，满分10分）
阅读下列应用文及相关信息，并按照要求匹配信息。请在答题卡上将对应题号的相应选项字母涂黑。
首先，请阅读下列部门介绍。
Student Service Centre
The staff members are available to consult on career choice and applications for higher education.
Room Number:113
Tel: 8072 9771
Accommodation office
Mrs. J Marble is available each afternoon from 1:30 to 4:30 pm to assist students with problems relating to housing.
Room Number: 114
Tel: 8072 9772
Medical Room
Mrs. J Wright, the college nurse, is available each morning from 9:30 to 12:00 am. The college doctor is in attendance on Wednesday morning.
Room Number: 115
Tel: 8072 9773
Sports Office
Mrs. B Marie can provide information about sporting and keep-fit activities from 5:00 to 6:00 pm in the afternoon.
Room Number: 207
Tel: 8072 9774
Food Service
Mr. G Nunn is the manager and will do his best to help if you require a special diet on condition that you have already paid the tuition.
Room Number: 222
Tel: 8072 9775
Self Access Language Learning Centre
Students can attend a drop-in basis from 9:00 to 4:15 pm to improve your ability of listening and speaking.
Room Number: 203
Tel: 8072 9776
请阅读以下相关学生的信息，然后匹配他/她拟联系的部门：
56. Tom is a freshman. He is too busy to take exercise and becomes too fat. He needs to take some action not to be so fat.
57. Jim is to finish his study in college. He is considering whether to go to work or go on further study. He needs some help about it.
58. Lily is going to finish her study in college and has an interview for a job in an
export company of which the manager told him to improve his expression in English.
59. Li Lei can eat as much as he can, but he feels exhausted all the time. He doesn’t know why. He needs some help.
60. Lucy has been in the college for two months when she suddenly falls ill. The doctor asks her only to have some liquid food. She needs some help from a particular department.
In the United States, friendships can be close, constant, intense, generous, and real, yet fade away in a short time if circumstances change. Neither side feels hurt by this. Both may change Christmas greetings for a year or two, perhaps a few letters for a while — then no more. If the same two people meet again by chance, even years later, they pick up the friendship where it left off and are delighted.
In the States, you can feel free to visit people’s homes, share their holidays, enjoy their children and their lives without fear that you are taking on a lasting obligation. Do not hesitate to accept hospitality because you cannot give it in return, No one will expect you to do so for they know you are far from home. Americans will enjoy welcoming you and be pleased if you accept their hospitality easily.
Once you arrive there, the welcome will be full and warm and real. Most visitors find themselves readily invited into many homes there. In some countries it is considered inhospitable to entertain at home, offering what is felt as “merely” home cooked food, not ”doing something” for your guest. It is felt that restaurant entertaining shows more respect and welcome. Or for various other reasons, such as crowded space, language difficulties, or family customs, outsiders are not invited into homes.
In the United States, both methods are used, but it is often considered more friendly to invite a person to one’s home than to a public place, expect in purely business relationships. So, if your host or hostess brings you home, do not feel that you are being shown inferior treatment.
Don’t feel neglected if you do not find flowers awing you in your hotel room either. Flowers are very expensive there, and hotel delivery is uncertain that the arrival times are delayed, changed, or canceled — so flowers are not customarily sent as a welcoming touch. Please do not feel unwanted! Outward signs vary in different lands; the inward welcome is what matters, and this will be real.
1. In the United States, you will find friendships _____ if circumstances change.
A. die suddenly B. pass away
C. disappear gradually D. last forever
2. Americans ______ their foreign friends to make a return for their hospitality.
A. ask B. wish C. never allow D. don’t expect
3. In some other countries, giving a dinner party at home is considered ____ than in a restaurant.
A. less friendly B. less hospitable
C. more natural D. more popular
4. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
A. Flowers are available at all time
B. Flowers are expensive.
C. Flowers are signs of outward welcome.
D. Flowers are not necessarily sent to guests.
5. Which of the following is the best title for this passage?
A. American Hospitality B. American Friendship
C. American Invitation D. American Welcome
In William Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar, there is major difference between two of the characters, Brutus and Mark Antony, Brutus was very honorable and Antony was very persuasive. When Brutus spoke at Caesar’s funeral, he appealed to the people’s logic and Antony spoke to the emotions of the people. Antony was very smart and used his brain frequently during the play and Brutus was very naive(天真的，率直的) about many of things.
Brutus was very honorable in the way that he always told people the truth. Antony was persuasive in the way that he used people to get whatever he wanted. For example, Antony used Lepidus to seek revenge on all of the conspirators (同谋者，阴谋者) to take the blame for their deaths. Brutus’ speech at Caesar’s funeral was very short and to the point and spoke to the logic of the people in the crowd. For example, Brutus spoke in a detached way about Caesar’s death while Antony spoke to the emotions of the crowd by crying and talking about all the good things that Caesar did for Rome. Antony’s intelligence was very apparent throughout the play and Brutus appeared to be naive about many things. Antony as smart in the way that he controlled people to his own advantage. Brutus appeared to be naive throughout the whole play because he believed everyone was as honorable as he. Brutus did not question what he was told, assuming it was always true.
In conclusion, in William Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar, there is a major difference between the two characters, Brutus and Mark Antony. The strongest contrast between the two characters appears to be their ability and inability to be both honorable and persuasive.
46. The author wrote this passage by _____
A. number B. contrast C. question D. narration
47. A lot of difference is mentioned in the passage between _____
A. Shakespeare and Antony B. Julius and Antony
C. Brutus and Antony D. Julius and Brutus
48. Which of the following adjectives can be used to describe Antony’s character?
A. Honorable and naïve
B. Persuasive and smart
C. Honorable and smart
D. Simple and frank
49. What’s the Chinese meaning of the underlined “to the point”?
A. 离题的 B. 中肯的 C. 优美的 D.动听的
50. From the passage, we can conclude that ______
A. Shakespeare was a great scientist
B. Shakespeare was a well-known musician
C. Shakespeare was a famous artist
D. Shakespeare was a famed playwright