阅读下面短文,并根据短文后的要求答题(请注意问题后的字数要求)。
Scientists believe that conditions on Mars around 3.8 billion years ago were very similar to those of the early earth, when primitive organisms were spreading through our oceans. At that time, Mars would have been much warmer and wetter than it is today, with an atmosphere composed mainly of carbon dioxide, just like that of the earth at the time. Under these conditions, it is highly probable that life may have arisen on Mars as well.
But, even if life did not arise naturally on Mars, it does not mean that it could not have existed there. According to Professor Paul Davies of the University of Adelaide, Australia, life forms could have been transferred between the earth and Mars in wreckage (broke pieces) created by the impact of comet(彗星) and small planets on the surface of the two planets.
Even today, about 500 tons of material from Mars lands on earth every year. It is mainly in the form of the dust but occasionally a larger chunk(厚片,大块) strikes the earth. In 1911, a piece of Martian rock crashed in Egypt, killing a dog. According to Professor Davies, it is in these chunks of rock, which were much larger and more frequent in the past that life forms could have been transported from planet to planet.
“But how could these life forms have survived their journey through space?” says Paul Davies, “The difficulty in believing this theory is that a bacterium on its own in space has to struggle itself not only against cold but also against deadly cosmic (宇宙的) radiation. But wrapped in a rock the situation is different. A rock ten meters across would shield life inside it from a lot of radiation and the temperature might only be minus 10 or 20 degrees, the sort of thing we have on earth.”Where do some scientists suppose life probably come from? (3’) (No more than 6 words)
____________________________________________________________________________What does Professor Paul Davies believe? (3’) (No more than 6 words)
____________________________________________________________________________Why could life survive when transferred from one planet to another? (3’) (No more than 12 words)
____________________________________________________________________________According to Professor Paul Davies, how did the wreckage come into being? (3’) (No more than 10 words)
____________________________________________________________________________List at least two differences about Mars between the past and now. (3’) (No more than 16 words)
____________________________________________________________________________
We have been providing performing arts information for over 14 years. Here you can search for plays, musicals, concerts and operas across the UK.
Bob the Builder—Spud’s Big Mess at Apollo Theatre![]() Children will be happy to see and sing along with their favorite characters. Bob, with his hard-working team, builds a new eco-centered wind farm in Sunflower Valley. This show is full of fun, and provides an educational message to help children learn about caring about the environment, recycling and, of course, teamwork. [Kids show] Dates: From 1st November, 2009 to 8th May, 2010, at 19:00. Price information:£20.00 to £40.00 |
The Lion King at Sunny Theatre![]() It is taken from an African story. A young lion grows up and learns that taking over the pride requires wisdom. [Musical] Dates: From 24th September, 1999 to now. Tuesday to Saturday at 14:00. Sunday at 15:00. Not on show on Monday. Price information: £22.5 to£65.00 |
Mother Courage and Her Children at National Theatre![]() Mother Courage sells food and clothing to soldiers and tries to keep her business and children alive at all costs during the war. Her encouraging story is told through humor and song. [Play] Dates: From 9th September, 2009 to 8th December, 2009 Price information: £10.00 |
Duke Bluebeard’s Castleat Coliseum Theatre![]() Full of curiosity, Judith persuades her husband to give her the keys only to discover a glowing jewel house, a garden of flowers, a kingdom, and a lake of tears. But what is behind them? [Opera] Dates: From 6th November, 2009 to 28th November, 2009 Nov 6, 10, 12, 20, 25 at19:30. Nov 14, 28 at 18:30 Price information: £22.00 to £50.00 |
The main purpose of the text is to inform readers of____.
A.film posters |
B.performance information |
C.the theatre’s advice |
D.picture exhibitions |
Which performance will be on show for the shortest period of time?
A.Bob the Builder—Spud’s Big Mess |
B.The Lion King |
C.Mother Courage and Her Children |
D.Duke Bluebeard’s Castle |
What can we learn from the text?
A.The first three shows are inspiring. |
B.The shows are intended for children. |
C.All of them have won many awards. |
D.The characters in the shows are brave. |
TAIBEI - Increasing numbers of Taiwanese students are joining the island’s “China rush”, seeking education on the Chinese mainland.
According to official Chinese figures, the number of Taiwanese students admitted into college and postgraduate(研究生)programs on the mainland totaled 461 in 1996, 928 in 1997 and 839 in 1998.Although no latest official numbers were available,” Netbig. Com Said this number had risen between 30 to 50 percent annually in the past two years with well over 1000 entering mainland campuses last year.
The Internet site, based in the Chinese city of Shenzhen, provides education service and information on Chinese mainland college and universities. “Many Taiwanese believe a Chinese education giving more knowledge about the people and culture in the mainland will increase their chances in the Chinese job market, Net. Com vice-president Ingrid Huang said.“I believe it will give me hands-on experience in the business field in the Chinese mainland and a better understanding of the Chinese mainland people,” said Lydia Chang, a 19-year-old majoring in journalism at Shih Shin University. Chang plans to go on to get a master’s degree in business administration in Shanghai, which she says offers the best environment for such studies.
A journalism graduate student, surnamed Lin, at the National Taiwan University said he would like to study law on the Chinese mainland since “there will be better career prospects now that more Taiwanese companies are going there”. “They hope the children could build up connections which could later become useful in their business operations,” said Yang Ching-yao, professor of the Chinese mainland studies. A Netbig. Com survey showed the campuses favored by Taiwan students included Beijing, Qinghua and Renmin universities in Beijing, and Jinan and Zhongshan universities in Guangzhou. The most popular studies were law, business and Chinese medicine.
At present, Chinese Taibei doesn’t recognize diplomas earned in the Chinese mainland nor help with any inquiries about studying there. But recognizing the trend, education authorities are giving a final form to a policy accepting certificates(证书)from selected universities.More Taiwanese students study on the Chinese mainland because ___________.
A.Taiwan will reunite with the mainland sooner or later |
B.the fees asked for are lower than those of Taiwan |
C.what they have learned on the mainland will bring them a bright future |
D.there are many famous universities for them to choose |
Some business executives were sending their children to study in the Chinese mainland so that their children ___________.
A.could receive better education | B.could learn more about the policy there |
C.could do well in the business operations | D.could make more friends there |
The underlined word “it” in the third paragraph refers to __________.
A.Netbig. Com | B.a Chinese education on the mainland |
C.the Chinese job market | D.the university |
The author wrote the article to tell us ______________.
A.more Taiwanese students are studying on the mainland |
B.the number of Taiwanese students going to universities on the mainland had been increasing year after year |
C.education on the mainland is more attractive compared with that of Taiwan |
D.Taiwan and the mainland should cooperate with each other in every field. |
Which is true according to the passage?
A.Chinese Taibei recognizes diplomas earned on the Chinese mainland |
B.The number of Taiwanese students going to study on the mainland will surely be increasing in the next few years. |
C.Chinese Taibei doesn’t help with any inquiries about Taiwanese studying in the mainland |
D.Education of Taiwan is far behind the mainland. |
In the past ten years, America’s National Basketball Association (NBA) has grown increasingly dependent on the rest of the world to supply players.
When Michael Jordan and Larry Bird won gold in Barcelona in 1992, the Americans were praised for teaching the world how to play basketball. This season, however, 20 percent of NBA rosters(花名册) will be filled by non-Americans. NBA commissioner David Stem happily embraces the trend. On a visit to Paris in October, Stern outlined his vision for the future, which is likely to see Europe hosting NBA games by 2010.
The NBA is now planning to take China by storm.
“Our experience in China has been that it is going to be explosive in its growth,” said Stern. The strategy(战略,策略) in China is television. “We’ve made 14 deals in China with local and national networks on cable and satellite.” The success of Chinese centre Yao Ming has paved the way for the NBA marketing blitz in China. The NBA, which is broadcasted in more than 200 countries in 42 languages, will put that to the test in October 2004 when the Houston Rockets play two pre-season games against the Sacramento Kings in Beijing and Shanghai. The NBA knows that it needs a global market to compensate for tough times on home soil.
“It doesn’t matter where the players come from, all the NBA teams now know that they have to scout(寻找,觅得) internationally,” said Terry Lyons, the NBA’s vice-president of international public relations. “It has increased the level of competition here.” As Frenchman Tony Parker and Argentine Emanuel Ginobili showed in winning championship rings with the San Antonio Spurs last season, many people can earn the respect of their American peers. Others, such as the Houston Rockets’ Chinese centre Yao Ming — number one draft pick in 2002 — and the Detroit Pistons’ 18-year-old Serb Darko Milicic — number two overall in this year’s draft — are icons(偶像)in-waiting. It is the ultimate(最后的,根本的) revolution — the rest of the world teaching the US how to play basketball. According to the report, .
A.Michael Jordan is still playing a very important role in NBA |
B.the part played by the foreign players in NBA will be great |
C.Yao Ming is to play two pre-season games in NBA |
D.European countries will host the 2004 NBA games |
The underlined phrase “take China by storm” has the meaning of _______ ___.
A.NBA intends to make China its “marketing center” |
B.NBA is planning to set up some training centers in China |
C.there’ll be a big storm when NBA comes to China to play against the Sacramento Kings |
D.the NBA’s live basket games will be broadcasted on all the TVs in China |
What seems to be the biggest change that is happening to NBA?
A. NBA is expecting more foreign players to join the league.
B. China’s rapid development in sports affects NBA.
C. Yao Ming has taken the place of Michael Jordan.
D. The NBA will stop teaching the world how to play basketball. When the writer talked of “home soil”, he was referring to _ _.
A.farms in the States | B.native Americans |
C.the NBA training center | D.the USA |
Which of the following can be used as the best title for the passage?
A.The Non-American Basketball Players | B.NBA Is Coming to China |
C.The Foreign Ties That Bind the NBA | D.NBA Is Making Big Progress |
A couple of years ago, before a trip to China, Nicole Davis and her US women’s volleyball teammates were warned about the prominence (显著、突出) of coach “Jenny” Lang Ping in her native country.
“I was pushed over by Chinese journalists while I was just trying to put my luggage on the bus,” said Davis.
Known as the “Iron Hammer” for her punishing spikes(扣球),Lang made it possible for China to dominate in the sport in the early 1980s. She was a key player on China’s 1984 Olympic gold medal winning team.
When the US team arrived for the Olympics, Lang, 48, who is from Beijing, had to take a different route to avoid a crowd of reporters and fans.
Then came the greatest moment to Lang:While the US team was playing in a packed gym, at least 8,000 Chinese fans unfurled an American flag.
“That really says it all,” Davis said. “They look at her as an icon(偶像).I’m sure it’s hard for them to see her coaching another country, but they love her so dearly that her success is their success.”
The loyalty of the Chinese fans was tested on Friday, when China lost a match to the US.
“It’s a pity that China lost the match, but I’m still glad that Lang Ping’s team won, since she is the pride of China’s volleyball,” said Liu Chengli, a spectator. “We also cheered for
Lang’s victory.”
Lang said she just tried to stay professional when the two teams meet. “It doesn’t matter if we play China or any other team. It’s the same.” Lang said.
Davis said she and her teammates could not have imagined the passion for volleyball among Chinese because the sport was lack of popularity in the US. The reception from Chinese fans has touched the US players, said US volleyball player Lindsey Berg.
“It’s such an honor to be here and play for our coach here in China,” she said. “The amount of support that the Chinese give to her and us has been tremendous. The whole event has been unbelievable.”What’s the passage mainly about?
A.Staying professional. | B.Cheering for the Iron Hammer. |
C.A match between China and the US. | D.Lang Ping’s career as a coach. |
Lang Ping avoided meeting the reporters and fans probably because she ________.
A.was afraid to be questioned about her strategy | B.didn’t want to be paid much attention to |
C.disliked to be with her fans | D.didn’t want to disturb public order |
What does the underlined word “unfurled” exactly mean?
A.destroyed completely | B.tore into pieces |
C.spread out to the wind | D.rolled up |
What does Lang Ping mean by saying “It doesn’t matter if we play China or any other team.”?
A.American Volleyball Team will beat any team. |
B.Chinese Volleyball Team is the same as other teams. |
C.She just tried to stay professional. |
D.The results of each match will be the same. |
What impressed the US team players most?
A.The tolerance of Chinese people. | B.The popularity of volleyball in China. |
C.Lang Ping’s coaching skills. | D.The loyalty for volleyball of the Chinese. |
It is difficult for doctors to help a person with a damaged brain. Without enough blood, the brain lives for only three to five minutes. More often the doctors can’t fix the damage. Sometimes they are afraid to try something to help because it is dangerous to work on the brain. The doctors might make the person worse if he operates on the brain.
Dr. Robert White, a famous professor and doctor, thinks he knows a way to help. He thinks doctors should make the brain very cold. If it is very cold, the brain can live without blood for 30 minutes. This gives the doctor a longer time to do something for the brain.
Dr. White tried his idea on 13 monkeys. First he taught them to do different jobs, then he operated on them. He made the monkeys’ blood back to the monkeys’ brains. When the brain’s temperature was 10℃, Dr. White stopped the blood to the brain. After 30 minutes he turned the blood back on. He warmed the blood again. After their operations the monkeys were like they had been before. They were healthy and busy. Each one could still do the jobs the doctor had taught them. The biggest difficulty in operating on the damaged brain is that .
A.the time is too short for doctors | B.the patients are often too nervous |
C.the damage is extremely hard to fix | D.the blood-cooling machine might break down |
The brain operation was made possible mainly by .
A.taking the blood out of the brain | B.trying the operation on monkeys first |
C.having the blood go through a machine | D.lowering the brain’s temperature |
With Dr. White’s new idea, the operation on the damaged brain .
A.can last as long as 30 minutes | B.can keep the brain’s blood warm |
C.can keep the patient’s brain healthy | D.can help monkeys do different jobs |
What is the right order of the steps in the operations?
a. send the cooled back to the brain b. stop the blood to the brain
c. have the blood cooled down d. operate on the brain
A.a, b, c, d | B.c, a, b, d | C.c, b, d, a | D.b, c, d, a |
Which of the following is not true?
A.If there isn’t enough blood, the brain can live for only three to five minutes. |
B.If the brain is very cold, it can live without blood for half an hour. |
C.Dr. White tried his idea for thirteen times. |
D.After their operations, the monkeys were healthy and busy again. |