Why should mankind explore space? Why should money, time and effort be spent exploring and researching something with so few apparent benefits? Why should resources be spent on space rather than on conditions and people on Earth? These are questions that, understandably, are very often asked.
Perhaps the best answer lies in our genetic makeup(基因构成) as human beings. What drove our ancestors to move from the trees into the plains, and on into all possible areas and environments? The wider the spread of a species, the better its chance of survival. Perhaps the best reason for exploring space is this genetic tendency to expand wherever possible.
Nearly every successful civilization has explored, because by doing so, any dangers in surrounding areas can be identified and prepared for. Without knowledge, we may be completely destroyed by the danger. With knowledge, we can lessen its effects.
Exploration also allows minerals and other potential (潜在的) resources to be found. Even if we have no immediate need of them, they will perhaps be useful later. Resources may be more than physical possessions. Knowledge or techniques have been acquired through exploration. The techniques may have medical applications which can improve the length or quality of our lives. We have already benefited from other spin-offs including improvements in earthquake prediction, in satellites for weather forecasting and in communications systems. Even non-stick pans and mirrored sunglasses are by-products (副产品) of technological developments in the space, the chance to save ourselves might not exist.
While many resources are spent on what seems a small return, the exploration of space allows creative, brave and intelligent members of our species to focus on what may serve to save us. While space may hold many wonders and explanations of how the universe was formed or how it works, it also holds dangers. The danger exists, but knowledge can help human being to survive. Without the ability to reach out across space, the chance to save ourselves might not exist.
While Earth is the only planet known to support life, surely the adaptive ability of humans would allow us to live on other planets. It is true that the lifestyle would be different, but human life and cultures have adapted in the past and surely could in the future.Why does the author mention the questions in Paragraph1?
| A．To express his doubts |
| B．To compare different ideas. |
| C．To introduce points for discussion |
| D．To describe the conditions on Earth. |
What is the reason for exploring space based on Paragraph2?
| A．Humans are nature-born to do so. |
| B．Humans have the tendency to fight. |
| C．Humans may find new sources of food. |
| D．Humans don’t like to stay in the same place. |
What makes it possible for humans to live on other planets?
| A．Our genetic makeup. |
| B．Resources on the earth.. |
| C．The adaptive ability of humans. |
| D．By-products in space exploration. |
It was the Year from Hell-September 1993 to September 1994-the dog died, my marriage of 24 years ended, and my house burned down. I had moved into a new rented house with my youngest son, after my husband and I split up. We'd been in the house just six weeks. I went to a dinner party one night, and as I drove home, I saw helicopters hovering in the general vicinity of my new home. Smoke was billowing into the sky, and sirens were wailing. As I got closer, I thought, Wouldn't it be awful if that was my house? Then I turned the corner, and sure enough, it was my house.
I was devastated. It had been such a horrible year, and now everything I owned had gone up in smoke. Mementos, baby pictures, family keepsakes, clothes, furniture-everything was destroyed. My marriage was gone, my dog was gone, my home was gone, and all my worldly possessions, except my car and the clothes on my back, were gone too.
My son and I stayed with a friend for a couple of nights. Then my friend Gail heard about the fire, called me up, and said, "Come move into my house. I have seven bedrooms and five bathrooms-plenty of space for you and your son." It was a sprawling ranch house on a double lot in La Jolla, with an ocean view, to boot. Gail had three kids at home, but there was still plenty of room for me and my son, Sutton. Her offer was a godsend. Little did I know that her offer of a temporary place to stay would turn into a living arrangement that lasted two and a half years.
Gail and I had a lot in common. We had both been raised Catholic and our unconscious minds had been programmed the same way-we saw ourselves as good little Catholic girls who were gonna stay married forever. But both of our husbands decided they didn't want to be married anymore, and so here we were, two single mothers, dazed, confused, and in a fog. We had followed the rules... why were we not happy? Gail and I spent the next couple of years sorting out a lot of things together.
After we moved in, I soon began to look for a permanent place to live. After a few weeks, Gail said, "Please don't leave. I've never had so much freedom!" Having me in the house meant someone to help take care of her kids, someone to share cooking and gardening, and someone to share day-to-day life. She loved having me there, and I loved being there. So we stayed.
It was an important chapter in my life. Gail and I gardened together, talking back and forth as we worked in the soil. We both needed time to heal from our divorces, time to sort out the confusion, time to get some clarity on the past and some focus on the future. It was a time of deeper insight and spiritual growth for both of us. Over time, I grew to realize how strong I really was, how even-tempered, and how I really could get my act together and go on with my life.
Gail's generosity was more than anyone could ever ask or expect from a friend. She gave me a safe haven in which to mourn and heal and grow into the next chapter of my life. She showed her love in countless ways. I am eternally grateful to have a friend like Gail.
I'm also grateful for the lessons I learned from the fire and the other losses that came so suddenly, so fast. Much to my surprise, I found gratitude among the ashes. I was tested sorely-literally trial by fire. But, like a phoenix, I rose from the ashes strong and whole. I would not be the person I am today if not for that Year from Hell.Why did the writer say Sep 1993 to Sep 1994 was the Year from Hell?
| A．She got divorced from her husband |
| B．Both of her houses were burned down |
| C．She met some misfortune one after another |
| D．Her dog was killed in the big fire |
What did the writer and Gail have in common?
| A．Both of them had one son |
| B．Both of them believed in the same faith |
| C．Both of them lost the home |
| D．Both of them decided to divorce |
How did the writer spend the days with Gail?
| A．She looked after the 4 kids alone |
| B．She planted some flowers with Gail |
| C．She shared the same bedroom with Gail |
| D．They did some cleaning together |
which is the right order of the following events?
①、She wanted to find a permanent house
②、She shared cooking with Gail
③、She went to a dinner party one night
④、She stayed with a friend for a couple of days
⑤、She lost her dog
| A．③⑤④①② | B．④①⑤③② | C．③④②⑤① | D．①③⑤④② |
What is the best title for the text?
| A．Generosity from a friend |
| B．Recover from the pain |
| C．The Year from Hell |
| D．Gratitude among the ashes |
Here 's your weekly roundup of who's hiring in town and in nearby St. Charles County and Maryland Heights.
Who's Hiring: Petco
Location: St. Charles
Job: Cashier
Description: The cashier will help achieve store sales goals while helping to provide cus tomers with the products they need for happy and healthy pets. Petco is looking to you to pro vide exceptional customer service as you perform all aspects of point of sale service - cash, credit and check sales, returns and exchanges: This means offering quick and polite response to those customers who choose to shop with us.
Requirements: While a high school diploma is preferred, you must be able to demonstrate basic math skill and strong communication skills. You must be customer service focused and able to interact professionally and effectively through both verbal and written communication with everyone with whom you come into contact.
To Apply: Apply online .
Who's Hiring: City of St. Peters
Location: St. Peters
Job: Temporary Parks Worker
Description: Performs general labor to repair and maintain parks, playgrounds. athletic fields, and trails. Operates and performs minor maintenance to light and heavy equipment, power tools, motorized equipment, and vehicles.
Requirements: Must be a U.S. Citizen. High School graduate certificate. One year of applicable experience. Ability to frequently lift and/or move up t0 50 pounds and carry it a reasonable distance, and occasionally lift and/or move more than 75 pounds.
Pay: $15.27 per hour
To Apply: Apply in person ,fax t0 636-477-1044. or mail to: #1205-Human Resources. City of St. Peters, P.O. Box 9, St.Peters M0 63376.
Who's Hiring: Commerce Bank
Location: Maryland Heights
Job: Teller
Description: Responsible for handling deposits, check cashing, money orders, official checks. traveler's checks, and saving bonds. Know customers' needs and suggest appropriate bank services. Make referrals (移交 )to sales staff to assist the branch in meeting its sales goals. Commerce Bank reserves the right to fill all Part Time Teller positions as soon as qualified candidates are identified.
To Apply: Apply online .If you want to be a cashier
| A．you should provide customers what they need for free. |
| B．you should make the customers satisfied all the time |
| C．you should exchange ideas with customers freely |
| D．you should select goods instead of helping the customers |
If you apply for the Temporary Parks worker______ .
| A．you must be an excellent athlete |
| B．you should finish the college course |
| C．you must be an American citizen |
| D．you should have your own vehicle |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．A teller should make advice for customers wisely. |
| B．A parks worker should weigh less than 75 pounds. |
| C．You must get in touch with Commerce Bank by phone. |
| D．You can earn the most if you choose City of St. Peters. |
San Francisco's Chinatown is the biggest and oldest in the country. It's the third most visited tourist destination in the city. It's also the city's most densely populated neighbor- hood. So why are. businesses in Chinatown struggling?
In this week's paper, I outline some of the reasons for why Chinatown's crowded streets and busy shops might be declining. Underneath the surface, Chinatown is falling. And the city, local organizations and businesses are trying to figure out what they can do to turn things around.
While numbers of people visit Chinatown, they don't stay long and they don't spend a lot of money. And beyond annual festivals,1ike Chinese New Years, this month's Moon Festival and last month's Sunday Streets - which drew about 15,000 t0 20.000 people – the neighborhood has a hard time attracting locals.
Can you remember the last. time you went to Chinatown ?If you can't, You're not alone. Locals told me that Chinatown doesn't have much to offer them - that the stores are all the same. There are some good eating joints, people said, but they don't know how to find them. Some people even told me that they sometimes go to extreme measures to avoid the neighborhood altogether. But when asked if the-v would like to see Chinatown gone, the answer was always a strong no.
Locals are hopeful that things will get better and traffic will increase when the Central Subway is complete. But chat's not for another five years. at least. And if' new shops or restaurants don't make their way into Chinatown. the same problem of attracting locals will exist.
Not that Chinatown's going to die. The dragon still has some fire in its belly. And many people are rooting for positive change. The question is, how does Chinatown change without losing the very importance of what makes it unique?Which can we know about Chinatown according to the passage?
| A．Businesses in Chinatown are going well. |
| B．Local people like going shopping there. |
| C．A great number of people visit it every year. |
| D．No period has seen a more prosperous Chinatown. |
According to the locals we can know that _______.
| A．Chinatown doesn't love to offer them assistance |
| B．shops in Chinatown lack their own characteristics |
| C．it is hard to buy quality goods at proper prices |
| D．they feel annoyed to see so many familiar faces |
What is the author's attitude towards Chinatown?
| A．Negative. | B．Sympathy. | C．Hopeful. | D．Indifferent. |
It can be inferred from the passage ______.
| A．the Central Subway is under construction |
| B．Chinatown has to make way for subway |
| C．many restaurants have been closed down |
| D．the locals hope Chinatown will be extinct |
The biggest danger facing airlines nowadays may not be a terrorist with a gun, but the man with portable computer in business class. In the last 16 years, pilots have reported well over 100 incidents that could have been caused by electromagnetic interference (电磁干扰). The source of this interference remains not proved, but increasingly, experts are pointing the blame at portable electronic devices such as portable computers, radio and cassette players and mobile telephones.
RTC.A. an organization which advises the aviation (航空 )industry, has suggested that all airlines ban such devices from being used during "critical" stages of flight particularly take- off and landing. Some experts have gone further, calling for a total ban during all flights .Cur- rently , rules on using these devices are left up to individual airlines. And although some air- lines prevent passengers from using such equipment during take-off and landing, most are un- willing to carry out a total ban, given that many passengers want to work during flight.
The difficulty is predicting how electromagnetic fields might affect an aircraft's computers. Experts know that portable devices send out radiation which affects those wavelengths which aircraft use for navigation and communication. But, because they have not been able to reproduce these effects in a laboratory. they have no way of knowing whether the interference might be. dangerous or not.
The fact that aircraft may be fragile to interference raises the risk that terrorists may use radio systems in order to damage navigation equipment. As worrying, though, is the passenger who can 't hear the instructions to turn off his radio because the music's too loud.What is said about the over 100 aircraft incidents in the past 16 years?
| A．They may have been caused by the damage to-the radio systems. |
| B．They may have taken place during take-off and landing. |
| C．They were proved to have been caused by the passengers portable computers. |
| D．They were suspected to have resulted from electromagnetic interference. |
Why is it difficult to predict the possible effects of electromagnetic fields on an airplane 's computers?
| A．Because it is extremely dangerous to conduct such research on an airplane. |
| B．Because it remains a mystery what wavelengths are liable to be interfered with. |
| C．Because research scientists have not been able to produce the same effects in labs. |
| D．Because experts lack adequate equipment to do such research. |
Few airlines want to perform a total ban on their passengers using electronic devices because_______
| A．they don't believe there is such a danger as radio interference |
| B．the harmful effect of electromagnetic interference is yet to be proved |
| C．most passengers refused to take a plane ,which bans the use of radio and cassette players |
| D．they have other effective safety measures to fall back on |
The passage is mainly about_________.
| A．a new rule for all airlines |
| B．the disadvantages of electronic devices |
| C．a possible cause of aircraft incidents |
| D．effective safety measures for air flight |
The connection shared by grandparents and grandchildren is something very special and despite the changing family situation, it still remains strong across generations. For most of us, our grandparents were our first best friends, the ones with whom we shared our secrets and our pain.
In majority of the cases, grandparents would have babysat their grandchildren while parents were busy working and didn't have much time for their children. Even as a kid grows up, the love and affection for grandparents never dies, and for many teens, visiting grandparents or living with them in the same house is a pleasure. Kedar Patwary, a mass communication student, says, "I often end up having long conversations with my grandfather about the evolution of Indian society and I really admire him for the patience with which he answers all my questions. "
Many teenagers feel that their parents treat them as grown-ups, while their grandparents give them much freedom.
Leela Narayanan, a grandmother. says that she loves to pamper her grandchildren and cook favorite dishes for them. She further adds that her eldest granddaughter, who is now 19, was brought up by her till she was four and the closeness they shared remains the same even now。
At times, the gap m generations plays a negative role, when grandparents find it difficult adjusting to the modern lifestyle. Technology is what works against this relationship. Youngsters' eing crazy about with gadgets leaves them with no time for their loved ones.
Maria Kutty, is a grandmother t0 12 kids. Her face lights up every time her grandchildren are mentioned. But she has one complaint. "All my children stay close to me but when they come to visit and I want to spend time with them, I can't find them anywhere. They only have time for clickety-clackety things in their hands. Sometimes they listen to loud music and talk about things I don't understand. I feel very sad when I think of all those times," she says.The author uses Kedar Patwary as an example ______.
| A．to show Indian society is full of perfect harmony |
| B．to stress all the children admire their grandparents |
| C．to show grandparents get on well with grandchildren |
| D．to indicate grandparents are all good babysitters |
What does the underlined word "pamper" mean in the passage?
| A．Spoil. | B．Raise. | C．Manage. | D．Educate. |
The gap generation sometimes is negative because_______.
| A．grandchildren can 't fit in with modern lifestyle |
| B．grandparents are eager to know more technology |
| C．grandchildren are addicted to their digital products |
| D．grandparents spared no time with their grandchildren |
How does the author develop the passage?
| A．By giving example. |
| B．By following the order of time. |
| C．By making comparisons. |
| D．By his personal experience. |