The earth is the only planet that scientists are certain has life .What does the earth have that the other planets don’t ? For one thing , the earth has just the right temperature . As the third planet from the sun , the earth seems to be just the right distance away . The planets that are closer to the sun are so hot that their surfaces bake in the sun . The farthest planets are cold balls .
When the earth developed— which scientists believe may have happened about billions of years ago , many gases covered the earth . The gases caused the earth to be hot . But something wonderful happened . The temperature was just right for thick clouds to form . It rained very hard for a very long time . This gave the earth its oceans . Water made it possible for plants to grow . The plants created oxygen in the atmosphere . Oxygen is the gas that humans and animals breathe .
Only one other planet in the solar system seems to be something like the earth . That planet is Mars . Mars is smaller than the earth , and it is quite a bit cooler . But it is not too cold for humans . On some days , the temperatures are as cold as a winter day in the northern United States . If you wore a special spacesuit , you could walk around on Mars . You would have to bring your own air to breathe , though . The air on Mars is too thin to breathe . Mars has the largest volcano in the solar system . It is sixteen miles high . The highest volcano on the earth is five miles high . The most unexpected sight on Mars is dried-up river beds . Scientists believe that Mars was once much wetter that it is now . Does this mean there could have been living things on Mars ? Scientists are not sure , but there has been no sign so far .It is the on the earth that makes life possible .
| A．temperature | B．water | C．oxygen | D．temperature , water and oxygen |
The underlined phrase “ the third planet ” means .
| A．the sun | B．the earth | C．the moon | D．Mars |
Which planet in the solar system is most like the earth ?
| A．Mars . | B．Moon . | C．Sun . | D．Mars and Moon . |
Which of the following is TRUE ?
| A．The earth has a history of about 4 million years . |
| B．There is no air on Mars . |
| C．The largest volcano on Mars is over three times higher than the highest one on the earth |
| D．Scientists believe there are living things on Mars . |
The best title for the passage should be .
| A．Living Things on Our Earth | B．The Moon |
| C．Living Things on the Moon | D．Mars Is Most Like the Earth |
A grave of a man dating back to around 2300 BC was found by archaeologists in England On May 3, 2002. Buried with him were the tools of a hunter or warrior. There was a bone pin that may have been from a piece of clothing such as a leather coat. He carried a copper knife on his breast. The most amazing find was two gold earrings. That would have made him a man of distinction. Only a few centimeters from his head were two pots made of clay, tools and materials to make arrows, a bow and a dozen arrows for hunting and a second, smaller copper knife. Next to them lay a cushion stone, upon which the man could work metal.
His grave is the richest of any found from that period, because this man was buried with two gold earrings which are the oldest gold ever found in Britain (dated to 2470 BC). Besides, he was buried three miles from Stonehenge. Archaeologists tend to believe he was a member of a powerful class who might have organized the construction of Stonehenge.
Stonehenge was begun around 3000 BC. In about 2300 BC the huge stone circles were built. The biggest stone weighed approximately 20 tons. But the smaller blue stones, still weighing 4 tons on average, came from west Wales. It is not yet known how these were conveyed over a distance of 380 km. It is also a mystery how early man was able to construct Stonehenge without the use of modern construction machines and lorries.
He is an example of people who brought culture and new techniques from the European mainland to Britain. In terms of technical development people were going from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age and then to the Iron Age.Which are not included in the things that are found in the grave of a man?
| A．Tools, a bone pin, a bow and a cushion stone |
| B．A copper knife and two gold earrings. |
| C．Two pots, arrows and materials to make arrows. |
| D．some chicken and grains. |
The man buried in the grave might be ______ at that time.
| A．A poor man | B．a kind-hearted man |
| C．a rich man | D．an ordinary man |
Why is the man buried in the grave called the "king of Stonehenge" ?
| A．He was buried three miles from Stonehenge. |
| B．He had the oldest gold ever found in Britain. |
| C．He might be a member of a powerful class who might have organized the construction of Stonehenge. |
| D．All of the above. |
We can infer that _______ .
| A．how Stonehenge was built |
| B．the King of Stonehenge was from France |
| C．Stonehenge was built through several ages |
| D．Stonehenge was built because of war |
Villa Nicoletta, Genuine Relaxation
Somewhere in the world, there’s a place where stress isn’t allowed and peace and genuine relaxation are the only demands of the day. If you could go there, you would thoroughly enjoy yourself. There are not too many places in the world like this, but this is one of them. It’s luxurious. It’s ultra-private.
Welcome to Villa Nicoletta
Villa Nicoletta is a 4-bedroom luxury villa and an oasis(绿洲) of rest and rejuvenation（恢复活力）in a land of unspoiled peace. Located on a 70-foot cliff overlooking the north shore of the island of St. Thomas and the pretty waters of Caret Bay, Villa Nicoletta offers the finest accommodations in the Caribbean for those seeking a vacation of elegance, peace and privacy. You’ll see how the sun blankets the landscape and water in shimmering brilliance by day and how the sky twinkles like billions of bright diamonds at night.
Completed in 2000, the 3,300-square-foot Villa Nicoletta is fully equipped with state-of-the-art electronics.
When you book Villa Nicoletta, you shall book the entire villa.
Off Season: April 16 to December 14
★4 bedrooms — ＄5,700/week (8 people max)
Sleep sofa can add additional 2 people ＄200/night
Peak Season: December 15 to April 15
★4 bedrooms — ＄6,300/week (8 people max)
Sleep sofa can add additional 2 people ＄200/night The villa can be rented to a maximum of _______ people at a time.
| A．five | B．eight | C．thirteen | D．ten |
If a family with 6 people spends a fortnight’s Christmas holiday in the villa, how much will they pay?
| A．＄12,600. | B．＄15,400. | C．＄11,400. | D．＄13,200. |
Villa Nicoletta is most likely to be popular with tourists who _______.
| A．like adventure |
| B．want to escape the noisy life of the city |
| C．enjoy the winter sports |
| D．seek excitement in the sea |
We can infer that _______.
| A．you can share the villa with other tourists |
| B．the island of St. Thomas is famous for the ocean theme amusement park |
| C．fewer tourists stay in Villa Nicoletta in autumn than in spring |
| D．you can go in for extreme sports in Villa Nicoletta |
Why is pink or purple a color for girls and blue or brown for boys?
The answer depends largely on cultural values as well as personal experiences. To the Egyptians, green was a color that represented the hope and joy of spring, while for Muslims, it means heaven. Red is a symbol (象征) of good luck in many cultures. In China, children are given money in a red envelope to bring good fortune in the New Year. For many nations, blue is a symbol of protection and religious beliefs. Greek people often wear a blue necklace hoping to protect themselves against evils (灾祸).
People’s choice of colors is also influenced by their bodies’ reactions (反应) toward them. Green is said to be the most restful color. It has the ability to reduce pain and relax people both mentally and physically. People who work in green environment have been found to have fewer stomach aches.
Red can cause a person’s blood pressure to rise and increase people’s appetites (食欲). Many decorators will include different shades of red in the restaurant. Similarly, many commercial websites will have a red “Buy Now” button because red is a color that easily catches a person’s eye.
Blue is another calming color. Unlike red, blue can cause people to lose appetite. So if you want to eat less, some suggest that eating from blue plates can help.
The next time you are deciding on what to wear or what color to decorate your room, think about the color carefully. Muslims regard green as a symbol of heaven mainly because of their______.
| A．cultural values | B．commercial purposes |
| C．personal experiences | D．physical reactions to the color |
Why will many commercial websites have a red “Buy Now” button?
| A．To relax people physically. |
| B．To increase people’s appetites. |
| C．To encourage people to make a purchase. |
| D．To cause a person’s blood pressure to rise. |
What color might help lose weight according to the text?
| A．Red. | B．Green. | C．Blue. | D．Purple. |
Which of the following would be the most proper title for the text?
| A．Colors and Human Beings |
| B．The Cultural Meaning of Color |
| C．The Meaning and Function of Color |
| D．Colors and Personal Experiences |
Wildlife faces threats(威胁)from habitat destruction, pollution, and other human actions. Although protecting wildlife may seem too hard at times, even small actions in your own neighborhood can help protect many different animals. Here are some tips on how to protect wildlife through small actions.
1．Create wildlife friendly areas in your backyard.
When trying to make your garden more beautiful, you can choose plants that can provide food and shelter to native wildlife. This will also help cut down on pollution. And bird or bat houses to your yard or garden to attract and shelter these species.
2．Avoid harming the natural ecosystem(生态系统)in your area.
Some plants from other places can kill or harm native plants that provide food and shelter for wildlife.
3．Have a greener lifestyle.
By using less water and fewer fuels, you will be helping to protect the wildlife around you. Take buses or the subway when you can, turn off electric devices when you're not using them, take shorter showers, and keep your room temperature at or below 68 degrees during the winter.
4．Buy products that are wildlife friendly.
Don't buy products that are made from endangered animals. Keep in mind that some endangered animals are killed by traps, catches or hunters who are after other wildlife within the same habitat.
5．Donate money or time to organizations that protect wildlife and their habitats.
You can give money to organizations or groups that protect wildlife species in your neighborhood. We infer that the purpose of this passage is to________.
| A．tell us why protecting wildlife is extremely important now |
| B．suggest that we protect wildlife through actions |
| C．explain why protecting wildlife is not as hard as people think |
| D．give us some tips on how to protect wildlife through small actions |
Which of the following threats to wildlife is NOT mentioned in the passage?
| A．Animal diseases. |
| B．Loss of habitat. |
| C．Pollution. |
| D．Hunters. |
In which section of a newspaper would you most probably read this passage?
| A．Environment | B．Teaching |
| C．Business | D．Geography |
In Japan, people will often go out to restaurants to treat guests. The reason for this is that Japanese homes are small. If you go out to eat with your workmates, it is a custom to share the bill equally, no matter how much you eat or drink yourself.
Japanese people use chopsticks to eat. But if you eat out, you can ask for a fork or a knife. These words have been adopted(采用) from the English language into Japanese. So if you say “fork” or “knife” to a waiter, he will probably understand you. If you eat in an expensive restaurant, waiters will usually place a hot towel on your table at the end of your meal. You can wipe your face and hands with this towel.
In Japan, you can see some people slurp (出声地吃) their noodles. It is considered rude in Western restaurants, but is acceptable in Japan. Western people usually blow on hot noodles first and then eat them, while Japanese do the cooling down gesture (姿势) when they actually eat. Many feel noodles do not taste good if they are cooled with the air. It is also normal to lift the noodle or soup bowl to mouth so that food doesn’t spill.
Eating with chopsticks requires proper manners. Never leave your chopsticks standing upright, especially not on rice. It is a symbol of death, and people will find this impolite if you are not at a funeral (葬礼). Never wave your chopsticks around, nor use them to move dishes around. If you are eating from a common bowl, use the back end of the chopsticks that you have not put in your mouth to dish the food out.Japanese people often treat their guests in restaurants because_____.
| A．they need to share the bill equally |
| B．it is a traditional custom in Japan |
| C．dishes in restaurants are delicious |
| D．their homes can’t hold many people |
Which of the following can we learn from the text?
| A．A hot towel is not offered in most ordinary restaurants in Japan. |
| B．You are asked to wipe your hands after a meal in a Japanese restaurant. |
| C．The Japanese always wait until the noodles become cool. |
| D．It is impolite to lift your bowl to your mouth in Japan. |
Which of the following is the main idea of the last paragraph?
| A．How to use chopsticks in Japan. |
| B．When to use chopsticks in Japan. |
| C．The Japanese like using chopsticks. |
| D．Chopsticks are the symbol of Japan. |
Which would be the best title for the text?
| A．Treating guests in Japan. |
| B．Table manners in Japan. |
| C．Eating tools in Japan. |
| D．Eating customs in Japan. |