Science, as we think, was born when the Greek philosopher (哲学家) Thales ( about 640-546 B.C.) asked a difficult question: What makes up our universe?
No one had a ready answer, so Thales went on studying the earth around him, the sky and the stars. He saw so much water on earth and so much water falling from the sky as rain that he decided water must be the basic substance (物质) of the universe.
Other Greek thinkers became interested in this question. They suggested other answers. One said that because air lies around the earth, it must be air that makes up all things. Another said that fire, appearing in different forms, was the building block of the universe.
The Greek philosophers were feeling their way towards the ideas on which chemistry is based. Centuries later, scientists proved that the universe is made up of certain basic substances. But the list is much more complicated than the Greeks realized. We now know of 103 basic substances which we call “ elements (元素)”.Thales, the famous Greek philosopher, died when he was about_________.
| A．94 years old | B．106years old | C．40 years old | D．46 years old |
The meaning of the underlined word “complicated” in the last paragraph is “_______”.
| A．not difficult | B．not simple | C．not famous | D．not different |
From the passage we know that _______.
| A．Thales asked many questions | B．Greeks were all philosophers |
| C．science began long ago | D．water and air make up all things. |
On the whole, the passage tells about _______.
| A．early tries to understand the universe | B．the famous Greek thinkers |
| C．water falling from the sky | D．air lying all around the earth |
After reading the passage, we can be sure that_______.
| A．nothing ever changes in the universe |
| B．Thales decided that the basic substance of the universe was air |
| C．the universe is made up of four different substances |
| D．the early Greek thinkers did much valuable work for the progress of science |
When I wake up on summer mornings, I know I am going to my favorite place to volunteer and make a difference in someone's life just by being with him or her -- a summer school for autistic (患孤独症的)children.
By helping the kids read or do math, I am not only teaching important skills but also helping them feel like any other kid. There are many wrong ideas about autism. The kids I work with can think and feel. They need help only in certain areas.
Of course, each kid is special. For example, some kids like to draw, and others like to sing.
At the school, the kids learn through about 20 activities. These activities can help them learn skills they will need later in life.
The very first day I volunteered, a boy came up to me, put his hand on my shoulder, and said “Hello”. From then on, I knew I could make a difference.
Another boy loved to have me read books that can help him learn to read. Sometimes he could be encouraged to read a few words or sentences. Finally, one day during reading practice, he read nearly 220 words himself!
Summer school is also a time for fun, Last summer, bagpipe(风箱)players came to perform. Most of us had our hands over our ears because they were so loud. When they asked for a volunteer from the audience, one girl raised her hand as high as she could, got up on stage, and even tried the bagpipes in front of everyone.
Through these experiences, I realize that the challenges these kids face do not stop them from doing many amazing things. I'm teaching them, but they are teaching me more.According to Paragraph 2, many people think autistic kids _________ .
| A．can't read or do math | B．don't have important skills |
| C．don’t play with other kids | D．can't think or feel |
The phrase “these experiences” in the last paragraph refers to the following EXCEPT ________ .
| A．“I” read the books for kids |
| B．a boy read nearly 220 words himself |
| C．a girl tried the bagpipes on stage as a volunteer |
| D．a boy said hello to“ me” politely |
What does the author mainly talk about in the passage?
| A．His teaching experience in a summer holiday. |
| B．How to make a difference in others' lives. |
| C．His experience as a volunteer in a special summer school. |
| D．Autistic children's hard life. |
I felt excited, curious and nervous at the same time. I was excited because I would be skipping(跳级)two grades. I was curious because I didn't know how high school students were taught. However, I was most nervous at the idea that I would be doing high school homework.
I had just walked into the class when the bell rang. This wasn't a good start. But the kid in front of me looked very friendly. Luckily, since it was the first day of school, my teacher talked for about half of the period and we just had the rest of the period to start the class. I didn't know what he was saying at first, but when I saw the problems on the paper, I knew what to do.
The next day, the kid said hi and I said hi back. We got into a conversation. It seemed that whenever I was talking to my friend, everyone stopped staring at (盯着看)me. Then the class started. It was easy. But I was still uncomfortable because I couldn't look around without meeting others’eyes, so I just kept my eyes on the whiteboard and on my textbook.
However, my friend didn't show up the next day, and the eighth graders just kept on staring at me. I didn't know why.
The next day everything changed. My friend was back to school. I was praised for my homework. Everyone stared at me less. Some started to be a little friendlier towards me. I felt at home at last here. My teachers also seemed pretty nice.If the author didn't skip, he should study in _________ .
| A．the fourth grade | B．the sixth grade |
| C．the seventh grade | D．the eighth grade |
What may make the author curious?
| A．What his old friends are doing. |
| B．How high school students study. |
| C．How he will do his high school homework. |
| D．What the eighth graders' homework is. |
Why did the author always keep his eyes on the whiteboard and the textbook?
| A．To pay attention to his teachers. |
| B．To attract his teachers' attention. |
| C．To follow his teachers' teaching. |
| D．To avoid meeting others' eyes. |
According to the passage, we know that the author ___________ .
| A．got along well with his new class very soon |
| B．felt sorry about having skipped two grades |
| C．had one friend in his class all the time |
| D．got used to others' stares in the classroom |
Two good friends, Sam and Jason, met with a car accident on their way home one night. The next morning, Sam woke up blind. His legs were broken. The doctor, Mr Lee was standing by his bed, looking at him with a thoughtful expression. When he saw Sam awake, he asked, “How are you feeling, Sam?” Sam smiled and said, “Not bad, Doctor. Thank you for doing the operation (手术).” Mr Lee was moved by Sam. When he was leaving, Sam said, “Please don’t tell Jason about it.” “... OK.” Mr Lee replied.
Months later when Jason’s wounds (伤) healed, Sam was still very sick. Neither could he see or walk. What he could do was just stay in his wheelchair all day long. At first, Jason stayed with him for a few days. But days later, Jason felt very discouraged and embarrassed to spend time staying with a disabled man like Sam. So he went to see Sam less and less. He made new friends. From then on, he didn’t go to visit Sam any more. Sam didn’t have any family or friends other than Jason. He felt very sad.
Things went from bad to worse. Sam died a year later. When Jason came, Mr Lee gave a letter to him. It was from Sam. In the letter Sam said, “Dear Jason, I am disabled. But I want you to be a healthy man. So I gave my eyes to you so that you can enjoy life as a healthy man. Now you have new friends. I’m glad to see that you are as healthy and happy as usual. I’m glad you live a happy life. You are always my best friend ... ... Sam”. When he finished reading the letter Mr Lee said, “I have promised that I will keep this a secret until Sam is gone. Now you know it.” Jason stood there. Tears ran down his face. The reason why Sam thanked Mr Lee was that ____.
| A．Mr Lee was very kind and friendly to him |
| B．Mr Lee came to see him early in the morning |
| C．Mr Lee did the operation according to his wish |
| D．Mr Lee saved both his and Jason’s lives |
Which of the following happened according to the order of time?
a. Jason made new friends. b. Sam gave his eyes to Jason.
c. Sam and Jason were caught in a car accident. d. Sam became disabled and needed friends.
e. Sam died and Jason knew the truth.
| A．dacbe | B．dcbea | C．cbdae | D．cdbea |
We can infer from the passage that ____.
| A．Sam drove too badly and caused the car accident |
| B．the unsuccessful operation led to Sam’s blindness |
| C．Jason knew how Sam helped him before Sam died |
| D．it was Jason that was made blind in the car accident |
Sam was a man who ____.
| A．thought friendship was very important |
| B．was unfriendly to his friends |
| C．felt hopeless after the car accident happened |
| D．always listened to his friends |
The underlined word “healed” in the second paragraph may mean “____”.
| A．was sleepy after working for a long time |
| B．became healthy again (after being ill) |
| C．felt surprised when hearing bad news |
| D．ran away when something bad happened |
Every English learner hopes to find a patient native speaker who will politely correct mistakes and teach him some useful new vocabulary. But native speakers can be hard to find. If you’re having trouble communicating in English, American situation comedies are one good way to help.
They can not only give you a lot of information about American culture, but also offer some useful daily expressions. Watching them will help you enlarge your vocabulary and teach you correct language usage in different situations. Best of all, situation comedies are a fun way to learn.
The Apprentice
The American reality (现实) TV show is hosted by the famous businessman Donald Trump. It’s based on the idea of the final job interview for the final job. The show picks 16 people to compete for a job with Trump’s business. Those who fail their weekly tasks have to meet with Trump. They have to explain why they should not be fired (解雇).
The Apprentice is useful for English students who want to learn how to make up a persuasive (令人信服的) argument. For example, rather than say “I think I did a good job”, one may also learn to throw off the possibility of uncertainty by saying, “I did a good job.”
Desperate Housewives (DH)
Desperate Housewives is set in an invented American town, Wisteria Lane. It follows a group of middle-aged women as they go through their daily family lives. But in fact, those women live a life of lies, secrets, criminal (犯罪的) acts, and mystery.
This program is good at expressing the funny life of American neighbors. And, it’s the perfect comedy series for foreign learners wanting to see how to hold a relaxed daily conversation.
Another reason for watching DH is to learn some expressions American families use that are not in your English language textbooks. For example, the mothers often use words such as “sport” and “you guys” to speak about their kids. According to the passage, The Apprentice and DH are introduced because _____.
| A．they are now the most popular programs |
| B．they are helpful in English learning |
| C．they are advertised for English beginners |
| D．they are enjoyed by most young people |
Through watching the two American comedy series, English learners can do the following EXCEPT _____.
| A．communicate with native speakers |
| B．know about American culture |
| C．pick up English daily expressions |
| D．learn more English words |
In the author’s opinion, learning English through TV series is _____.
| A．common | B．difficult | C．enjoyable | D．possible |
We can learn from the passage that The Apprentice _____.
| A．tells a story of school life | B．is about real life |
| C．has 15 actors | D．is about some businessmen |
Which of the following statements about DH can we get from the introduction?
| A．The story happens in a village of America. |
| B．The housewives join in the same job interview. |
| C．The women in the American town lead a life full of sadness. |
| D．It does well in describing an interesting neighborhood in America. |
If you were on the street in Mexico today you might think you were in an operating room, surrounded by doctors. You could see many concerned people with masks (口罩) trying their best to stop the swine flu (猪流感). And the masks aren’t only being used in Mexico. A friend of mine traveling from New York City to Florida was given a mask and a pair of gloves just after he reached the airport. And another friend went to get a haircut only to be faced with a hairdresser wearing a mask!
But do the masks really work? Is covering your nose and mouth the key to stopping the swine flu? To find out the truth, ABC’s reporter Sharyn Alfonsi talked with germ (细菌) expert Dr. Elaine Larsen. It turns out that when you sneeze (打喷嚏) the air coming out of your mouth at a speed of one hundred miles per hour carries germs which can travel anywhere around you and make people around you infected (被感染).
However, whether you become infected actually depends on the weather. As Sharyn reported, when you sneeze, the germs leave your body in small drops of water coming out of your mouth. If the weather is wet, the wet air will make the small drops bigger and heavier and they drop down towards our feet. If this happens, we won’t become infected. But if the air is dry, those small drops can float higher up, making it possible for them to touch someone else’s nose, mouth or their mask.
Larsen says the masks can stop the germs well but after a few hours, they start to get wet, holding a lot of germs they come across and causing you to breathe them in. The masks do work, but the key to stopping the germs is changing your masks often.According to Para.1, in Mexico you can see that ____.
| A．the patients are treated in the open air |
| B．some doctors work in the street |
| C．people speak little to each other in the street |
| D．many people wear masks in the street |
According to the passage a patient spreads germs mainly through ____.
| A．breathing | B．Speaking | C．touching others | D．sneezing |
We learn from the passage that on a wet day ____.
| A．sick people will be infected |
| B．germs can spread very far |
| C．germs spread very quickly |
| D．few people will be infected |
If you keep wearing a mask for a long time, ____.
| A．the mask will be old and worn out |
| B．you’ll love the feeling of wearing it |
| C．germs will be kept away from you |
| D．it will be easy for you to be infected |
What should we pay attention to when wearing masks?
| A．Keeping the masks dry. | B．Changing the masks often. |
| C．Choosing very thick masks. | D．Wearing big masks. |