Getting close to active or erupting volcanoes can be dangerous. But for Michael Rampino, it’s all in a day’s work. Rampino is a volcanologist, a scientist who studies volcanoes and how they affect our planet. Rampino has been close to red-hot lava flows (熔岩流) in Hawaii and explosive volcanoes in Indonesia. He knows when to get close to an active volcano and when to back away.
Rampino wasn’t always a volcanologist. He worked for NASA for seven years. He studied rocks until he began to research climate change and the effects that volcanoes have on climate. He became interested in the subject. “Once I started working with volcanoes,” Rampino said, “I was hooked.”
Rampino is a professor at New York University. As part of his job, he travels to areas where volcanoes have been active. “Active” means they have erupted within the past few centuries and probably will erupt again. Rampino studies the deposits (沉积物) of ash and other materials from the eruptions. The ash may hold clues to what happened to the Earth in the distant past. It may also help scientists predict what could happen to Earth’s climate in the future.
Rampino doesn’t work alone. He works with a team of scientists who use computers to stimulate (模拟) the effects volcanoes have on Earth’s atmosphere.
Being a volcanologist may be hard work, but it’s also fun. “It’s cool traveling the world studying “to understand the events that have shaped Earth’s history.”To Rampino, being close to active volcanoes is _____.
| A．scary but necessary | B．adventurous but meaningful |
| C．impossible and unnecessary | D．dangerous but urgent |
The underlined word “hooked” in Paragraph 2 probably means “_____”.
| A．trapped | B．touched | C．attracted | D．frightened |
Rampino’s study on volcanoes might help _____.
| A．warn people to protect the environment |
| B．support the study of Earth’s future climate |
| C．tell the future eruption time of the volcanoes |
| D．reduce the possibility of the volcanoes’ eruptions |
In which part of a newspaper could we find this text?
| A．People. | B．History. | C．Climate. | D．Business. |
Five years ago, I was sent to a better middle school. For me, everything there was new and strange. After I had been there for two months, there was an important test in the middle of the term. It covered all my courses. In that test, I didn’t get a good grade, but most of my classmates got an A.
It made me upset for a long time. I felt everything in the world was changing. I thought my classmates were all better than me. During those days I was very unhappy.
One day, my aunt, after talking with my teachers, talked to me. She told me to think about what I had done in the past and what I should do in the future. I was shocked by her words. I thought about what I had done during the past months, and I found I had done nothing to improve my grades. I thought I should work harder.
After that, I paid more attention to the teachers’ talking in the classes, and I asked my teachers or my classmates when I didn’t understand something. I studied very late at night when I met with difficult problems. Most of all, I came to understand the importance of taking notes in class. As a result, I did better in some tests.
About three months later, the most important test came at the end of the term. This time, I stood out not only in my class but also in the grade. From then on, I have tried to do my best when I do something because I know if I want something, I should work hard for it. Why did the writer fall behind in the new middle school? _________
| A．Because the teachers didn’t treat him well enough. |
| B．Because the subjects were becoming more difficult. |
| C．Because he hated the life in the new school. |
| D．Because he didn’t put his heart into study. |
What did the writer’s aunt do to help him out? _________
| A．She punished him for not working hard. |
| B．She helped him find out the reasons for his poor performance. |
| C．She forced him to work harder. |
| D．She asked his teachers to talk with him about his problems. |
Which of the following studying methods helped the writer most?_________
| A．Asking teachers for help when in difficulty. |
| B．Working deep into the night every day. |
| C．Making notes in class. |
| D．Listening to every word his teachers said. |
What does the underlined sentence in the last paragraph mean? __________
| A．The writer failed again in the exam. |
| B．The writer did very well in the exam. |
| C．The writer became the cleverest in the class. |
| D．The writer was very proud of his progress. |
There are two types of people in the world．Although they have equal degree of health and wealth and other comforts of life, one becomes happy and the other becomes unhappy．This is because of the different ways in which they consider things, persons, events and the resulting effects upon their minds．
People who are to be happy pay their attention to the good side of things: the pleasant parts of conversation, the well prepared dishes, the goodness of the wine and the fine weather．They enjoy all the cheerful things．Those who are to be unhappy think and speak only of the opposite things．Therefore, they are continually dissatisfied．By their remarks, they sour the pleasure of society, hurt many people, and make themselves disagreeable everywhere．The habit may be strong, but it may be cured when those who have it realize its bad effects on their interests and tastes．I hope this little warning may help them change this habit．
Although in fact it is chiefly an act of the imagination, it has serious results in life since it brings on deep sorrow and bad luck．Nobody loves them, and no one treats them with more than the most common politeness and respect.This frequently puts them in bad temper and draws them into arguments．they should change their bad habits .If they do not, it will be good for others to avoid any contact with them．Otherwise, it can be disagreeable and sometimes very inconvenient, especially when one becomes mixed up in their quarrels． People who are unhappy _______．
| A．always consider things differently from others |
| B．usually are affected by the results of certain things |
| C．usually misunderstand what others think or say |
| D．always discover the unpleasant side of certain things |
We can conclude from the passage that _______
| A．we should pity all such unhappy people |
| B．such unhappy people are dangerous to social life |
| C．people can get rid of the habit of unhappiness |
| D．unhappy people can not understand happy persons |
If such unhappy persons insist on keeping the habit, the author suggests that people should ____
| A．prevent any communication with them |
| B．show no respect and politeness to them |
| C．persuade them to recognize the bad effects |
| D．quarrel with them until they realize the mistakes |
The Japanese have always loved fresh fish. But the waters close to Japan have not held many fish for decades. So fishing boats went farther than ever.but If the return trip took more than a few days, the fish were not fresh. The Japanese did not like the taste.
Then fishing companies equipped their boats with freezers. They would freeze them at sea. Freezers allowed the boats to go farther and stay longer. However, the Japanese could taste the difference between fresh and frozen and they did not like frozen fish.
So fishing boats were equipped with fish tanks. They would stuff fish in the tanks（水槽）,fin（ 鱼翅）to fin .After a little thrashing(颠簸) around, the fish stopped moving. They were tired and dull, but alive. Unfortunately, the Japanese could still taste the difference. The Japanese preferred the lively taste of fresh fish, not sluggish fish.
To keep the fish tasting fresh, the Japanese fishing companies still put the fish in the tanks. But now they add a small shark to each tank. The shark eats a few fish, but most of the fish arrive in a very lively state. The fish are challenged.
Have you realized that some of us are also living in a tank but most of the time tired & dull, so we need a Shark in our life to keep us awake and moving. If your challenges are the correct size, and if you are regularly defeating those challenges, you are Conqueror. You think of your challenges and get energized. You are excited to try new solutions. You are alive! Here is some advice for you :
1. Instead of avoiding challenges, jump into them and enjoy the game. If your challenges are too large or too numerous, do not give up. Instead, reorganize. Find more determination, more knowledge, more help.
2. God didn't promise days without pain, laughter(笑) without sorrow, sun without rain, but he did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears and light for the way.
3. Disappointments are like road blocks, they slow you down a bit but you enjoy the smooth road afterwards. Don't stay on the bumps too long. Move on! Why did fishing companies equip their boats with freezers?
| A．to keep the fish taste fresh | B．to increase the price of the fish |
| C．to avoid challenges in the market | D．to keep the fish alive |
Which of the following is right?
| A．The Japanese don’t like sluggish fish, so the Japanese fishing companies won’t put the fish in the tanks |
| B．Since the waters close to Japan have not held many fish for decades, they have to go farther to catch fish. |
| C．Road blocks slow you down and stop you going on . |
| D．If your challenges are too large or too numerous, give it up first. |
The topic of the passage may be ___
| A．avoid challenges | B．keep your life active |
| C．ways to keep fish fresh | D．some advice for you |
“we need a Shark in our life to keep us awake and moving”means ____
| A．we need challenges of too large or too numerous to make us energized. |
| B．we have to accept being beaten by those challenges in life. |
| C．You are excited to try new solutions. |
| D．The society we live in is like the fish tank,we need some challenges to keep us energized. |
In Europe ,many people make friends between their countries through town twinning .Town or city twinning means two towns in different countries agree and decide to become “twins”with a sister relationship .
The people find pen friends in the twin town .They exchange newspapers and stamps .The school teachers discuss teaching methods with the teachers in the twin town .Officials visit the twin town for celebrations .Ordinary people travel to the twin town ,too,but not very often if it is far away .
Sometimes ,school even exchange their classes for two or three weeks !For example ,German middle school students study for a while at the school in their twin town in Britain ,staying with British families .A few months later ,their British friends come to study in Germany .
Many British towns are so pleased with the results of the twinning that they set out to find more than one twin town !
Tonbridge ,a small town in Kent ,for example ,has twin towns in both Germany and France .Richmond near London has relationships with Germany ,France and even a town in a Balkan country .
Town twinning can help make friends .It helps students improve their language skills ,and also helps people to understand the differences between nations .Which is the best title for the passage ?
| A．Town Twinning | B．Friendly Town |
| C．Exchanging Teachers and Students | D．Peace and Understanding |
Which of the following is Not mentioned in the passage ?
| A．Twin towns exchange newspapers and stamps . |
| B．Twin towns exchange business skills . |
| C．Schools in twin towns exchange classes for a period of time . |
| D．Ordinary people travel to the twin towns . |
Twin towns develop ______.
| A．between European countries and China |
| B．in the English-speaking countries only |
| C．in the same country |
| D．between different countries |
How many countries are mentioned in this passage ?
| A．7 | B．6 | C．3 | D．4 |
The secret of happiness
An old man walked slowly with a cane(手杖)into the restaurant .His old jacket, worn-out shoes and warm personality made him stand out from the usual crowd.
A young waitress watched him move toward a table by the window. She ran over to him, and said: “Here, sir……let me help you with that chair.”
Without saying a word, he smiled and nodded(点头)a thank you. She pulled the chair away from the table and helped him sit. Then she put his came against the table.
“Thank you, miss.”he said, kindly.
“You’re welcome, sir.”she said.
After he had finished his breakfast, the waitress brought him the change(零钱)from his bill. He left it on the table. She helped him up and walked with him to the front door.
When she went to clean his table, she found a business card under his plate and note on a napkin(纸巾). Under the napkin was a 100-dollar bill.
The note on the napkin read: “Dear miss, I respect you very much and I can see you respect yourself, too. It shows by the way you treat others. (3)You have found the secret of happiness. Your kindness will shine through to all those who meet you.”
The man she had waited on was the owner of the restaurant where she worked. This was the first time that she or any of the other workers had ever seen him in person.
By Steve BrunkhorstThe old man left﹩100 under the napkin because he
| A．had a habit of giving tips to waitresses |
| B．thought the meal was delicious |
| C．wanted to thank the waitress for her good attitude |
| D．learned the secret of happiness from the waitress |
What do we know about the waitress and the old man?
| A．The waitress knew who the old man was from the note. |
| B．The waitress knew the old man before she served him. |
| C．The old man wanted to have the waitress as his secretary. |
| D．It was the first time that the waitress had ever seen her boss. |
We can tell from the story that the old man went to the restaurant to .
| A．have a good meal |
| B．enjoy good service |
| C．see the restaurant for himself |
| D．show his love for common people |
The underlined phrase“waited on”means .
| A．looked at | B．served | C．waited for | D．Found |