Seeing a volcano erupt is a wonderful experience, and you can really feel the beat by climbing to the summit(山顶) of Pacaya for a close-up view. There are guided tours every day up this highly active volcano from Antigua, giving travelers a chance to see Mother Nature at her most powerful.
Pacaya is an easy drive from Antigua, a beautiful city with many colorful houses along its old streets that are turned into art-works during its Holy Week festival. No matter when you come to Antigua, you won’t miss the Pacaya-tour companies.
But climbing Pacaya is no easy job: it is 2560 metres high, and reaching the summit takes two to three hours of seemingly one-step-forward and two-step-back movements. As you climb, you hear the dull sounds of eruptions high above steaming. Hot remains from recent eruptions begin to line the path as you are near the active summit; the McKenney Cone(火山锥).
Many tours are timed so when you arrive at the cone of the volcano there is plenty of time for sunset and the full contrast between the erupting red lava and the darkening sky. On a good day the view from the summit is extremely exciting. The active mouth boils, sending red lava over its sides, and once in a while shoots hot streams up to 100 metres into the air. There is a strong bad smell in the air even if you take care to be upwind of the cone. As evening turns deeper into the night, the burning lava quietly falls down the side of the volcano. For you, too, it is time to get down .What is the main purpose of this passage?
| A．To attract tourists to Pacaya. |
| B．To describe the beauty of Pacaya. |
| C．To introduce guided tours to Pacaya. |
| D．To explain the power of nature at Pacaya. |
Antigua is a city .
| A．where people can have a close-up view of the volcano |
| B．where the daring Pacaya tour starts |
| C．that lies on the summit of Pacaya |
| D．that is famous for its tour companies |
Climbing to the McKenney Cone, people will .
| A．walk down to the active summit |
| B．hear the continuous loud screams from above |
| C．make greater efforts than to other summits |
| D．see a path lined with remains of earlier eruptions |
Many tours are timed for people to .
| A．get down the mountain in time when night falls |
| B．avoid the smell from the upwind direction of the cone |
| C．enjoy the fantastic eruption against the darkening sky |
| D．appreciate the scenery of the 2560-metre-high mountain |
The short passage probably comes from___________.
| A．a travel journal | B．a popular science magazine |
| C．A novel | D．an advertisement |
I must have always known reading was very important because the first memories I have as a child deal with books. There was not one night that I don't remember mom reading me a storybook by my bedside. I was extremely inspired by the elegant way the words sounded.
I always wanted to know what my mom was reading. Hearing mom say," I can't believe what's printed in the newspaper this morning," made me want to grab it out of her hands and read it myself. I wanted to be like my mom and know all of the things she knew. So I carried around a book, and each night, just to be like her, I would pretend to be reading.
This is how everyone learned to read. We would start off with sentences, then paragraphs, and then stories. It seemed an unending journey, but even as a six-year-old girl I realized that knowing how to read could open many doors. When mom said," The C-A-N-D-Y is hidden on the top shelf," I knew where the candy was. My progress in reading raised my curiosity, and I wanted to know everything. I often found myself telling my mom to drive more slowly, so that I could read all of the road signs we passed.
Most of my reading through primary, middle and high school was factual reading. I read for knowledge, and to make A's on my tests. Occasionally, I would read a novel that was assigned, but I didn't enjoy this type of reading. I liked facts, things that are concrete. I thought anything abstract left too much room for argument.
Yet, now that I'm growing and the world I once knew as being so simple is becoming more complex, I find myself needing a way to escape. By opening a novel, I can leave behind my burdens and enter into a wonderful and mysterious world where I am now a new character. In these worlds I can become anyone. I don't have to write down what happened or what technique the author was using when he or she wrote this. I just read to relax.
We're taught to read because it's necessary for much of human understanding. Reading is a vital part of my life. Reading satisfies my desire to keep learning. And I've found that the possibilities that lie within books are limitless.
（1）Why did the author want to grab the newspaper out of mom's hands？
| A． |
She wanted mom to read the news to her. |
| B． |
She was anxious to know what had happened. |
| C． |
She couldn't wait to tear the newspaper apart. |
| D． |
She couldn't help but stop mom from reading. |
（2）According to Paragraph 3, the author's reading of road signs indicates___________.
| A． |
her unique way to locate herself |
| B． |
her eagerness to develop her reading ability |
| C． |
her effort to remind mom to obey traffic rules |
| D． |
her growing desire to know the world around her. |
（3）What was the author's view on factual reading?
| A． |
It would help her update test-taking skills. |
| B． |
It would allow much room for free thinking. |
| C． |
It would provide true and objective information. |
| D． |
It would help shape a realistic and serious attitude to life. |
（4）The author takes novel reading as a way to___________.
| A． |
explore a fantasy land |
| B． |
develop a passion for leaning |
| C． |
learn about the adult community |
| D． |
get away from a confusing world |
（5）What could be the best title for the passage？
| A． |
The Magic of Reading |
| B． |
The Pleasure of Reading |
| C． |
Growing Up with Reading |
| D． |
Reading Makes a Full Man |
History Fair Competition
Understanding history is vital to understanding ourselves as a people and as a nation.
History is much more than the study of dusty old objects and events long past. It is an essential part of who we are today and who we will become. Thornton fiddle School History Fair Competition makes understanding history exciting, engaging, and fun！
This Year's Theme
All participants must address how communication or transportation technology has promoted the quality of life for Americans throughout history. To many people, technology means computers, hand-held devices, or vehicles that travel to distant planets. However, technology is also the application of scientific knowledge to solve a problem, touching lives in countless ways.
Individuals or groups may enter one of the following categories:
Performance
Documentary（纪实作品）
Essay Writing
Category Requirements
Performance: A dramatic presentation of the topic no more than 10 minutes long. If special clothes are used, they should truly represent a given period.
Documentary: A visual presentation（such as a video, slide show, or computer project）no more than 10 minutes long. A desktop computer, screen, projector, and loudspeakers will be available. Students must provide their presentations on CDs before Friday, March 23.
Essay Writing: An academic paper of 2, 000 to 2, 500 words. No illustrations（图解）are allowed. Please do not include covers. A list of references must be included.
Important Dates
January 5
Submit a topic proposal to your history teacher. The teacher may require a second proposal if the first is off-topic or unclear.
February 5
Submit a first draft of your essay, performance script（剧本）, or documentary highlights.
February 19
A committee of teachers will evaluate materials and give opinions. Students then have an opportunity to improve their products.
March 9
Submit a final draft of your essay.
March 15
Performance and documentary committee preview
March 24
Thornton Middle School History Fair Competition
7:00A.M-9:00A.M Participants signing in at the gym
10:00A.M. -6:00PM. Competition and judges' review
7:00P.M. Awards ceremony and picnic
（1）According to Paragraph 1，what is the major goal of understanding history？
| A． |
To preserve national traditions. |
| B． |
To prepare for a history competition. |
| C． |
To better know the present and future. |
| D． |
To further explore historical mysteries. |
（2）What is the theme of this year's competition?
| A． |
Technology advances science. |
| B． |
Science interacts with technology. |
| C． |
Science has made the study of history easy. |
| D． |
Technology has improved the life of Americans. |
（3）Among the items provided by the school for a visual presentation are__________.
| A． |
special clothes and a screen |
| B． |
a desktop computer and a CD |
| C． |
a projector and special clothes |
| D． |
a desktop computer and loudspeakers |
（4）What would a participant have to do with an essay of 1,500 words to meet the category requirement?
| A． |
Include more information in the essay. |
| B． |
Remove the references. |
| C． |
Provide a cover for the essay. |
| D． |
Explain the details with illustrations. |
（5）What will the committee of teachers do on February 19?
| A． |
Preview performances and documentaries. |
| B． |
Make comments on the materials. |
| C． |
Improve the participant's first draft. |
| D． |
Collect a second proposal from the participant. |
The Intelligent Transport team at Newcastle University have turned an electric car into a mobile laboratory named "DriveLAB" in order to understand the challenges faced by older drivers and to discover where the key stress points are.
Research shows that giving up driving is one of the key reasons for a fall in health and well-being among older people, leading to them becoming more isolated(隔绝) and inactive.
Led by Professor Phil Blythe, the Newcastle team are developing in-vehicle technologies for older drivers which they hope could help them to continue driving into later life.
These include custom-made navigation(导航) tools, night vision systems and intelligent speed adaptations. Phil Blythe explains: "For many older people, particularly those living alone or in the country, driving is important for preserving their independence, giving them the freedom to get out and about without having to rely on others."
"But we all have to accept that as we get older our reactions slow down and this often results in people avoiding any potentially challenging driving conditions and losing confidence in their driving skills. The result is that people stop driving before they really need to."
Dr Amy Guo, the leading researcher on the older driver study, explains, "The DriveLAB is helping us to understand what the key points and difficulties are for older drivers and how we might use technology to address these problems.
"For example, most of us would expect older drivers always go slower than everyone else but surprisingly, we found that in 30mph zones they struggled to keep at a constant speed and so were more likely to break the speed limit and be at risk of getting fined. We're looking at the benefits of systems which control their speed as a way of preventing that.
"We hope that our work will help with technological solutions(解决方案) to ensure that older drivers stay safer behind the wheel."
32.What is the purpose of the Drivel LAB?
| A． |
To explore newmeans of transport. |
| B． |
To design new types of cars. |
| C． |
To find out older driver's problems. |
| D． |
To teach people traffic rules. |
33.Why is driving important for older people according to Phil Blythe?
| A． |
It keeps them independent. |
| B． |
It helps them save time. |
| C． |
It builds up their strength. |
| D． |
It cures their mental illnesses. |
34.What do researchers hope to do for older drivers?
| A． |
Improve their driving skills. |
| B． |
Develop driver-assist technologles. |
| C． |
Provide tips on repairing their cars. |
| D． |
Organize regular physical checkups. |
35.What is the best title for the text?
| A． |
A new Model Electric Car |
| B． |
A Solution to Traffic Problem |
| C． |
Driving Service for elders |
| D． |
Keeping Older Drivers on the Road |
After years of heated debate, gray wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park. Fourteen wolves were caught in Canada and transported to the park. By last year, the Yellowstone wolf population had grown to more than 170 wolves.Ziyuanku.com
Gray wolves once were seen here and there in the Yellowstone area and much of the continental United States, but they were gradually displacedby human development. By the 1920s, wolves had practically disappeared from the Yellowstone area. They went farther north into the deep forests of Canada, where there were fewer humans around.
The disappearance of the wolves had many unexpected results. Deer and elk populations - major food sources (来源) for the wolf - grew rapidly. These animals consumed large amounts of vegetation (植被), which reduced plant diversity in the park. In the absence of wolves, coyote populations also grew quickly. The coyotes killed a large percentage of the park' s red foxes, and completely drove away the park' s beavers.
As early as 1966,biologists asked the government to consider reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone Park.They hoped that wolves would be able to control the elk and coyote problems.Many farmers opposed the plan because they feared that wolves would kill their farm animals or pets.
The government spent nearly 30 years coming up with a plan to reintroduce the wolvers. The U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service carefully monitors and manages the wolf packs in Yellowstone.Today,the debate continues over how well the gray wolf is fitting in at Yellowstone.Elk,deer,and coyote populations are down,while beavers and red fores have made a comeback.The Yellowstone wolf project has been a valuable experiment to help biologists decide whether to reintroduce wolves to other parts of the country as well.
28.What is the text mainly about?
| A． |
Wildlife research in the United States. |
| B． |
Plant diversity in the Yellowstone area. |
| C． |
The conflict between farmers and gray wolves. |
| D． |
The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone Park. |
29.What does the underlined word "displaced" in paragraph 2 mean?
| A． |
Tested. |
B． |
Separated. |
C． |
Forced out. |
D． |
Tracked down. |
30.What did the disappearance of gray wolves bring about？
| A． |
Damage to local ecology. |
B． |
A decline in the park's income. |
| C． |
Preservation of vegetation. |
D． |
An increase in the variety of animals. |
31.What is the author's attitude towards the Yellowstone wolf project？
| A． |
Doubtful. |
B． |
Positive. |
C． |
Disapproving. |
D． |
Uncaring. |
Minutes after the last movie ended yesterday at the Plaza Theater, employees were busy sweeping up popcorns and gathering coke cups. It was a scene that had been repeated many times in the theater's 75-year history. This time, however, the cleanup was a little different. As one group of workers carried out the rubbish, another group began removing seats and other theater equipment in preparation for the building's end.
The film classic The Last Picture Showwas the last movie shown in the old theater. Though the movie is 30 years old, most of the 250 seats were filled with teary-eyed audience wanting to say good-be to the old building. Theater owner Ed Bradford said he chose the movie because it seemed appropriate. The movie is set in a small town where the only movie theater is preparing to close down.
Bradford said that large modern theaters in the city made it impossible for the Plaza to compete. He added that the theater's location(位置) was also a reason. "This used to be the center of town," he said. "Now the area is mostly office buildings and warehouses."
Last week some city officials suggested the city might be interested in turning the old theater into a museum and public meeting place. However, these plans were abandoned because of financial problems. Bradford sold the building and land to a local development firm, which plans to build a shopping complex on the land where the theater is located.
The theater audience said good-by as Bradford locked the doors for the last time. After 75 years the Plaza Theater has shown its last movie. The theater will be missed.
24. In what way was yesterday's cleanup at the Plaza special?
| A． |
It made room for new equipment. |
| B． |
It signaled the closedown of the theater. |
| C． |
It was done with the help of the audience. |
| D． |
It marked the 75th anniversary of the theater. |
25. Why was The Last Picture Showput on?
| A． |
It was an all-time classic. |
B． |
It was about the history of the town. |
| C． |
The audience requested it. |
D． |
The theater owner found it suitable. |
26. What will probably happen to the building?
| A． |
It will be repaired. |
B． |
It will be turned into a museum. |
| C． |
It will be knocked down. |
D． |
It will be sold to the city government. |
27. What can we infer about the audience?
| A． |
They are disappointed with Bradford. |
B． |
They are sad to part with the old theater. |
| C． |
They are supportive of the city officials. |
D． |
They are eager to have a shopping center. |