Which is sillier: denying we ever went to the moon or trying to convince the true nonbelievers?
Once upon a time – July 20, 1969, to be specific – two men got out of their little spaceship and wandered around on the moon for a while. Ten more men walked on the moon over the next three and a half years. The end.
Unfortunately, not quite. A fair number of Americans think that this whole business of moon landings really is a fairy tale. They believe that the landings were a big hoax (骗局) staged in the Mojave Desert, to convince everyone that U.S. technology was the “bestest” in the whole wide world.
Which is the harder thing to do: Send men to the moon or make believe we did? The fact is the physics behind sending people to the moon is simple. You can do it with computers whose entire memory capacities can now fit on chips the size of postage stamps and that cost about as much as, well, a postage stamp. I know you can because we did.
However, last fall NASA considered spending $15,000 on a public-relations campaign to convince the unimpressed that Americans had in fact gone to the moon. That idea was mostly a reaction to a Fox television program, first aired in February 2001, that claimed to expose the hoax. The show’s creator is a publicity hound (猎狗) who has lived up to the name in more ways than one by hounding Buzz Aldrin, the second man on the moon. Mr. X (as I will call him, thereby denying him the joyous sight of his name in print) recently followed Buzz Aldrin around and called him “a thief, liar and coward” until the 72-year-old astronaut finally lost it and hit the 37-year-old Mr. X in the face.
Anyway, NASA’s publicity campaign began to slow down. The nonbelievers took the campaign as NASA’s effort to hide something while the believers said that $15,000 to convince people that the world was round — I mean, that we had gone to the moon — was simply a waste of money. (Actually, the $15,000 was supposed to pay for an article by James E. Oberg, an astronomy writer who, with Aldrin, has contributed to Scientific American.)
If NASA’s not paying Oberg, perhaps it could put the money to good use by hiring two big guys to drag Neil Armstrong out of the house. Armstrong is an extremely private man, but he is also the first man on the moon, so maybe he has a duty to be a bit more outspoken about the experience. Or NASA could just buy Aldrin a commemorate plaque (纪念匾) for his recent touch on the face of Mr. X. We can learn from Paragraphs 2 and 3 that some Americans believe _______.
| A．moon landings were invented |
| B．U.S. technology was the best |
| C．moon landing ended successfully |
| D．the Mojave Desert was the launching base |
According to the writer, which of the following is to blame for the story about the hoax?
| A．NASA’s publicity campaign. | B．The Fox television program. |
| C．Buzz Aldrin. | D．James E. Oberg. |
According to the writer, Mr. X _______.
| A．told a faithful story | B．was not treated properly |
| C．was a talented creator | D．had a bad reputation |
The believers think that NASA’s publicity campaign is ________.
| A．proof to hide the truth |
| B．stupid and unnecessary |
| C．needed to convince the non-believers |
| D．important to develop space technology |
The tone of the article is _______.
| A．angry | B．conversational | C．humorous | D．matter-of-fact |
The Internet has helped to connect and bring the entire world together. As a result, people now use the Internet to choose services, products and websites that come on the 1st or 2nd page of Google. The Internet has unbelievably revolutionized the whole world and the way in which businesses sell products online.
A recent survey found that Australians are going crazy for online shopping and beating world records for online purchasing. In Australia, over 10 million people now use Google, Yahoo and MSN to find products and services online. 92% of people do not go further, if they find their desired products and services on the 1st or 2nd page of their search. This proves that now consumers have changed their shopping preferences and prefer to shop online rather than visit shopping centers.
There are a number of websites in Australia selling products online. And each website is trying its best to pulltraffic towards the website. It is easy to get traffic, but the whole effort is successful only when there is a sale out of those users viewing your site.
In Australia, people are fond of 100% Australian owned and operated goods. People in Australia prefer to buy things online securely and safely. So there are a few tips that online shoppers should follow before buying online:
☆dentify your dealer and try to know the contact address of the company.
☆Carefully read the description of products before buying and take special note of refunds(退款) of products.
☆Check the cost of products and the way of payment. Also note the extra charges that may be included such as credit cards (信用卡) charges.
☆Get detailed information on confirmation of the order.
☆Check the time between the order and delivery of product.
The main benefit of online shopping is the availability of a huge variety of products in one single website. That makes the selection process easier. If you also want to make your shopping experience unforgettable, then find the best online department store for your desired products and choose the items that offer discounts and bargains online.
60. The passage is mainly about__________.
A. how we can buy things online securely and safely
B. how the Internet has changed the world and the way business is done
C. how the Internet has helped to connect and bring the entire world together
D. how the Internet has changed Australians’ shopping habit and tips for online shopping
61. T
he underlined word “traffic” in the third paragraph probably means“________”.
A. the number of visitors a
nd the number of pages they visit
B. the vehicles moving along a road or street
C. the communication between different people
D. the trade between different countries
62. We can infer from the passage that __________.
A. you will be charged more if you use a credit card
B. there are many tricks about shopping online
C. the success of an online store isn’t about getting many users
D. people don’t visit shopping centers due to the bad traffic
63. Which of the following opinions probably does the writer hold?
A. Shopping online is a good thing, so the government should encourage it.
B. Shopping online is a dangerous thing, so we should forbid it.
C. Shopping online is a new thing and we need to be careful about it.
D. Shopping online is a fashionable thing and everyone should follow it.
Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature. However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your sport of choice might have great influence on the environment.
Some sports are resource-hungry. Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water. Besides, all sorts of chemicals and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses（球场）in good condition. This causes major environmental effects. For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf is often held responsible for serious water shortage in some local areas.
There are many environment-friendly sports. Power walking is one of them that you could take up today. You don’t need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes; and you don’t have to worry about resources and your purse. Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit. If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones. Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and have better weight control.
Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials. But the final goal should be “green gyms”. They are better replacements for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers. Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces. There is no special requirement for you to start your membership. And best of all, it’s free.
72. Which of the following is the author most probably in favor of?
A. Cycling around a lake B. Motor racing in the desert
C. Playing basketball in a gym D. Swimming in a sports center
73. What do we know about golf from the passage?
A. It is popular in Portugal and Spain
Ｂ. It causes water shortages around the world
C. It pollutes the earth with chemicals and wastes
D. It needs water and electricity to keep its courses green
74. The author uses power walking as an example mainly because______.
A. it is an outdoor sport B. it improves our health
C. it uses fewer resources D. it is recommended by experts
75. The author writes the passage to ______.
A. show us the function of major sports
B. encourage us to go in for green sports
C. discuss the major influence of popular sports
D. introduce different types of environment-friendly sports.
第三部分 阅读理解 (共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分)
请认真阅读下列短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Have you ever noticed what happens to an idea once you express it? Just talking about it or writing it down causes you to make it clear in your own mind. How can you use this to increase your brain power? Start writing.
By putting thoughts into words, you are telling yourself the logic behind what you think, feel, or only partly understand. Often, explaining a thought is the process of understanding. In other words, you increase your brain power by exercising your “explain power”.
Another benefit of writing is that it helps you remember. Many, if not most, highly productive people are always taking notes. You can try keeping it all in your head, but if you keep a journal of your ideas, the next time you’re working on a big project, you’ll probably have more success.
Want to understand a topic? Write a book about it. That’s an extreme example, but if you are learning something new, write a letter to a friend about it, and you will understand it better. Want to invent something? Write an explanation of the problem—why you want to solve it, and why it is worth solving, and you’re half-way there.
Writers don’t always write because they clearly understand something beforehand. Often, they write about something because they want to understand it. You can do the same. Writing will help bring you to an understanding. Give it a try.
56．According to the passage, writing can help you a lot EXCEPT______.
A．to increase your brain power. B．to improve the ability to remember.
C．to develop your interest in study. D．to strengthen the understanding 
of a topic.
57．The underlined sentence “you’re half-way there” in the fourth paragraph means that______.
A．you are already successful
B．there’s a long way for you to go to reach your goal.
C．you are left wondering what to do
D．you have been on the way to success
58．What would be the best title for the passage?
A．A Way on How to Write. B．A More Powerful Mind Through Writing.
C．Brain Power Helps Improve Your Writing. D．How to Start Your Writing.
59．Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A．Writing can cure people o
f their brain disease.
B．People who can keep all thoughts in mind are more likely to succeed.
C．Writing a book about one topic is the only way to understand it.
D．The more you write, the more logical you will be.
New rules and behavior standards(行为规范)for middle school students came out in March .Middle school is going to use a new way to decide who will be the top students. The best students won’t only have marks. They will also be kids who don’t dye(染)their hair, smoke or drink. The following are some of the new rules.
Tell the truth.Have you ever copied someone else’s work in an exam? Don’t do it again! That’s not something an honest student should do. If you have played computer games for two hours in your room, don’t tell your parents you have done your homework.
Do more at school. Good students love animals and care for other people. April is Bird-Loving Month in China. Is your school doing anything to celebrate?
You should join! That way, you can learn more about animals and how to protect them. When more people work together, it makes it more fun for everyone.Have you ever quarreled with your teammates when your basketball team lost? Only working together can make your team stronger. Be friendly to the people you are with. Try to think of others, not only yourself.
Be open to new ideas. Have you ever thought that people could live on the moon? Maybe you’ll discover EarthII some day. Don’t look down on new ideas。 Everyone’s new ideas are important . You should welcome them, because new ideas make life better and easier for everyone.
Protect yourself. Have someone ever taken money from one of your classmates? Don’t let it happen to you . If you have to go home late. You should take care of yourself and let your parents know.
Use the Internet carefully: The Internet can be very useful for your studies. But some thinks on the Internet aren’t for kids, so try to look at Web pages that are good for you. You can use the Web for fun or homework.
( )57.When did the new rules come out ?
A. Last year. B. Last week. C. Last month.
( )58. Do you have to tell your parents if you have played computer games instead of doing your homework according to the new rule?
A. Yes, I do. B. There’s no need to do that. C No, I don’t.
( )59. What should you do if you can’t get home on time according to the new rule?
A. I wouldn’t say anything.
B. I should let my parents know.
C. I think I can take care of myself.
( )60. What is the use of the Internet for children?
A. It is used for children to play computer games all day.
B. It is used for children to study or sometimes for fun.
C. It is used for children to chat with friends.
( )61. What does the passage mainly tell us to do?
A. How to protect (保护)animals.
B. How to use the Internet.
C. How to be good students
四．阅读理解(30分，每小题2分)
An important question about eating outside is who pays for the meal. If a friend of yours asks you to have lunch with him, you may say something like this, “I’m afraid of it,I’ll have to be some place cheap, because I have very little money .”The other person may say, “ OK, I’ll meet you at McDonald’s.” This means that these two persons agree to “go Dutch”, that is, each person pays for himself. He may also say, “Oh, no. I want to take you to lunch at Smith’s,” or “I want you to try the Chinese dumplings there. They’re great.” This means the person wants to pay for both of you. If you feel friendly towards this person, you can go with him and you needn’t pay for the meal. You may just say, “Thank you.” That would be very nice.
American customs（风俗） about who pays for dates（约会） are much the same as in other parts of the world. In the old days, American women wanted men to pay for all the meals. But, today, a university girl or a woman in business world will usually pay her way during the day. If a man asks her for a dance outside the working hours, it means “Come, as my guest（客人）.” So as you can see, it is a polite thing to make the question clear at the very beginning
（）52.The passage tells us_______________ .
A. how to eat outside B. where to eat outside
C. what to eat outside D. who pays for the meal
（）53.If you have little money, ___________________.
A. you’ll have a cheap mealB. you’ll borrow some from others C. you’ll ask your friend to pay for your meal D. you won’t want your friends to ask you to dinner
( )54.“Go Dutch" in this passage means______________ .
A.去饭馆B.就餐C.订餐D.各自付款
( )55. Sometimes your friend takes you to lunch. It means_______________ .
A. He’s going to lend some money to you B. He’s going to pay for your meal,too
C. He’ll be angry with you D. He can’t understand you
( )56. In America, some girls and women now______________ .
A. Ask men to pay for their mealsB. Try to pay for the men’s meals
C. Try to pay for their own mealsD. Never have anything outside