The Great Wall of China is one of Beijing’s biggest draws for tourists; despite its fame and ubiquity in postcards across the world, it rarely fails to attract tourists at the first proper sight.Yet the authorities open only certain sections of the wall as fit for viewing, and few get to visit the unauthorized sections. Fewer still are aware of the existence of at least one part of the Wall that remains in almost original condition, nearly 1,500 years after construction of legendaryfortification began. But there’s a good reason for this – it’s underwater.
American journalist Steven Schwankert has been diving since age 10. It was though his setting – up of a diving school that Schwankert came to explore some of lesser – known areas of China’s lakes – and discovered the underwater Wall under a reservoir.“The most fascinating piece of diving I ever did in China must be the Great Wall. I managed to find out about it via the Internet. It wasn’t difficult to get to Pan Jiakou in Hebei Province, near the East Qing Tomb about 4 hour’s drive from Beijing. Why do I want to dive the Great Wall? Why do people want to walk on the Great Wall? It’s the same answer.”
There are, however, advantages of visiting the Great Wall in a diving suit over being on foot. The water acts as a preservative by preventing the kind of mass tourism that has brought trouble on other parts of the Wall.“Unlike the people who walk in the Wall, we as divers never need to actually touch it. I’ve dived twice there, the last time in July. I found that the water then was much deeper than it was before – 13 meters deep.” When he first dived, parts of the Wall were visible above the surface. Now even the guard tower is completely submerged. “It’s better that the Wall is deep under water, as there are lots of boats coming in and out around that area. Their wave action could potentially damage the brickwork. So, the deeper, the better.”Steven Schwankert is most interested in .
A.collecting photos of the Wall |
B.walking along on the Wall |
C.diving the underwater Wall |
D.visiting some famous lakes |
What does the underlined word “submerged” in Paragraph 5 most probably mean?
A.Damaged by water. | B.Washed by water. |
C.Preserved by water. | D.Covered by water. |
What is the topic discussed in the last paragraph?
A.Advantages of walking on the Great Wall. |
B.Advantages of visiting the underwater Wall. |
C.The reasons why the Wall is deep under water. |
D.The reasons why the underwater Wall is protected. |
What can we infer from the text?
A.The underwater Wall will sink deeper year by year. |
B.Diving the Wall is popular with divers all over the world. |
C.Diving is a good way to visit the Wall without causing much damage. |
D.More and more tourists will come to visit the underwater Wall in China. |
“Mobile phone killed my man,” screamed one headline last year. Also came claims that an unpublished study had found that mobile phones could cause memory loss. And a British newspaper devoted its front page to a picture supposedly showing how mobile phones could heat the brain.
For anyone who uses a mobile phone, these are worrying times. But speak to the scientists whose work is the focus of these scares and you hear a different story.
One of the oddest effects comes from the now famous “memory loss” study. Alan Preece and his colleagues at the University of Bristol placed a device that imitated the microwave radiation of mobile phones to the left ear of volunteers. The volunteers were good at recalling words and pictures they had been shown on a computer screen. Preece says he still can’t comment on the effects of using a mobile phone for years on end. But he rules out the suggestion that mobile phones have an immediate effect on our cognitive(认识的)abilities. “I’m pretty sure there is no effect on short-term memory,” he says.
Another expert, Tattersall, remarked that his latest findings have removed fears about memory loss. One result, for instance, suggests that nerve cell synapses(神经元突触) exposed to microwaves become more — rather than less — receptive to undergoing changes linked to memory formation.
An even happier outcome would be that microwaves turned out to be good for you. It sounds crazy, but a couple of years ago a team led by William Adey at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in California found that mice exposed to microwaves for two hours a day were less likely to develop brain tumours when given a cancer-causing chemical.
“If it doesn’t certainly cause cancer in animals and cells, then it probably isn’t going to cause cancer in humans,” says William. And while there’s still no absolute evidence that mobile phone use does damage your memories or give you cancer, the conclusion is: don’t be afraid. Mobile phone users are worried because ______.
A.they are not sure whether mobile phones can cause memory loss |
B.it’s said that mobile phones have a lot of side effects |
C.one headline reported “Mobile phone killed my man” |
D.a British newspaper s![]() |
According to this passage, we can know that _____.
A.the mobile phone is a most wonderful invention |
B.there’s no need to worry about the radiation from mobile phones |
C.something must be done to stop people using mobile phones |
D.mobile phone companies shouldn’t cheat customers |
What would be the best title for this passage? ______.
A.New Mobile Phones. | B.Special Mobile Phones. |
C.New Special Investigation: Mobile Phones. | D.New Investigation. |
Australia -a huge island continent that lies to the south of Asia. Australia-more than two hundred years old, a nation that is still growing.
Its big cities lie on the southeast coast, this is where most Australians live. Australians prefer to own their own houses, though some live in apartments. Australians are a suburban(郊区的) people. The suburbs surround the cities for many miles, and so efficient transport is of great importance. As the economy grows, so do its industries- a higher level of production, a wider range of products.
The Australian works hard, but he likes his leisure. The climate makes outdoor activities the most popular.
Canberra, the capital of Australia, is a planned modern city located inland. Australia is governed by a parliamentary democracy(议会民主). The representatives of other countries have their embassies here. Australia wants to strengthen relations with her neighbors.
Australia is a strange land, a land of vast expanses- fertile valleys, snow fields and deserts- also a land with unique animal, many that can not be found on any other continent in the world today.
Much of the continent is dry, but man has utilized the land, made it productive, with its tools, with its technology. This is the driest continent of all, and water is a precious possession, more precious than all other natural resources. Large dams are built to collect the water, there to irrigate the fields of pastures(牧场) and crops.
But Australia is changing. The land of wool and wheat is now a land of large-scale industry and mining. The costs of developing the new mineral discoveries are enormous, but the rewards are great too.
Australia — a young and developing nation. Australia — a nation that wants to communicate with its neighbors. Australia is an island located ______ of Asia and its big cities lie ____ of the coast.
A.to the south; on the southeast | B.to the north; on the southwest |
C.to the east; on the northeast | D.to the east; on the southwest |
We can infer from the passage that the Australian likes outdoor activities for the _____ climate.
A.dull and wet | B.fine and shiny | C.gloomy and rainy | D.wet and cold |
____ is the most precious source in Australia.
A.Mineral resource | B.Animal | C.Desert | D.Water |
Which of the following statements about Australia is wrong?
A.Australians are a suburban people |
B.Australia is governed by a parliamentary democracy. |
C.Australia prefers to live in the downtown of big cities. |
D.Wool and wheat used to be the main products of Australia. |
Many animals recognize their food because they see it. So do humans. When you see an apple or a piece of chocolate you know that these are things you can eat. You can also use other senses when you choose your food. You may like it because it smells good or because it tastes good. You may dislike some types of food because they do not look, smell or taste very nice. Different animals use different senses to find and choose their food. A few animals depend on only one of their senses, while most animals use more than one sense.
Although there are many different types of food, some animals spend their lives eating only one type. The giant panda eats only one particular type of bamboo. Other animals eat only one type of food even when given the choice. A kind of white butterfly will stay on the leaves of a cabbage, even though there are plenty of other vegetables in the garden. However, most animals have a more varied diet. The bear eats fruits and fish. The fox eats small animals, birds and fruits. The diet of these animals will be different depending on the season.
Humans have a very varied diet. We often eat food because we like it and not because it is good for us. In countries such as France and Britain, people eat foods with too much sugar. This makes them overweight, which is bad for their health. Eating too much red meat and animal products, such as butter, can also be bad for the health. Choosing the right food, therefore, has become an area of study in modern life. We can infer from the text that humans and animals _________.
A.depend on one sense in choosing food | B. are not satisfied with their food |
C.choose food in similar ways | D.eat entirely different food |
Which of the following eats only one type of food?
A.The white butterfly. | B.The small bird. |
C.The bear. | D.The fox. |
Certain animals change their choice of food when ___________.
A.the season changes | B.the food color changes |
C.they move to different places | D.they are attracted by different smells |
We can learn from the last paragraph that __________.
A.food is chosen for a good reason | B.French and British food is good |
C.some people have few choices of food | D.some people care little about healthy diet |
Remembering your dreams will require some efforts on your part. But what your dreams can offer and tell you about yourself will be well worthit. Here are some tips to help recall your dreams:
1. Before going to bed, keep a clear mind. Tell yourself that “I will remember my dreams when I wake up”. This is actually a proven and effective way to recall your dreams.
2. Have a regular bedtime and wake-up time. Make this your routine. Going to bed and waking up at a regular time every day could aid in dream recollection.
3. Avoid alcohol consumption and taking medicine before going to bed. These things may prevent you from remembering your dreams.
4. Keep a pencil and a notebook next to your bed so that they will be within reach as soon as you wake up. Having a small lamp by your bedside is also a good idea, so you wake up in the middle of the night and can record your dreams immediately.
5. Do not get out of bed immediately. Upon waking from a dream, lie still in your bed, keeping your eyes closed and moving as little as possible. Let your mind wander among the images of what you have just dreamed.
6. Write down as many details in your dreams as you can, no matter how seemingly unimportant they may be. Do not judge the content or worry if they make sense.
7. Sometimes it may help to draw pictures. A picture is worth a thousand words, as the saying goes. Even if you are not an artist, a simple drawing can help to recall details of your dreams. This passage tells you ______ .
A.some useful tips to recall your dreams | B.the way to recall your dreams |
C.the reason to remember dreams | D.many details in your dreams |
Which of the following ways may NOT be useful for recalling dreams?
A.Avoiding taking alcohol and medicine. | B.Not getting out of bed immediately. |
C.Drinking a cup of hot milk. | D.Writing down as many details as possible. |
What does the underlined “it” in the first paragraph mean? ______
A.Remembering your dreams. |
B.Some tips to help recall your dreams. |
C.Your making efforts to remember your dreams. |
D.What your dreams can offer and tell you about yourself. |
The author uses the saying “A picture is worth a thousand words” to_______.
A.show that a picture is better than words |
B.say a picture is equal to thousands of words |
C.prove that it’s more important to draw pictures than to speak |
D.indicate drawing pictures really helps to recall dreams |
The government of Norway is planning to build an unusual storage center on an island in the Arctic Ocean. The place would be large enough to hold about two million seeds. The goal is to present all crops known to scientists. The British magazine New Scientist published details of the plan last month. The structure will be designed to protect the world’s food supply against nuclear war, climate change and other possible threats. It will be built in a mountain on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen. The mountain is less than one thousand kilometers from the North Pole, the northernmost position on earth.
An international group called the Global Crop Diversity Trust is working on the project. The director of the group, Cary Fowler, spoke to New Scientist. He said the project would let the world rebuild agriculture if, in his word, “the worst came to the worst”. Norway is expected to start work next year. The project is expected to cost three million dollars. Workers will drill(钻孔) deep in the side of a sandstone mountain. Temperatures in the area never rise above 0ºC. The seeds will be protected behind walls a meter thick and high-security door.
The magazine report says the collection will represent the products of ten thousand years of farming. Most of the seeds at first will e from collections at seed banks in Africa, Asia and Latin America. To last a long time, seeds need to be kept in very low temperatures. Workers will not be present all the time. But they plan to replace the air inside the storage space each winter. Winter temperatures on the island are about eighteen degrees below 0ºC. The cold weather would protect the seeds even if the air could not be replaced.
Mr. Fowler says the proposed structure will be the world’s safest gene bank. He says the plant seeds would only be used when all other seeds are gone for some reason. Norway first put forward the idea in the 1980s. But safety concerns delayed the plan. At that time, the Soviet Union was meeting in Rome of the Food and Agriculture Organization.The project is meant to ______.
A.increase the world’s food output in the future |
B.carry out some scientific experiments on plant genes |
C.build an exhibition centre of the world’s plant seeds |
D.protect crop seeds from dying out in case of possible disasters |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the above passage?
A.The government of Norway will perform the project alone. |
B.Seeds to be collected there were produced ten thousands years ago. |
C.Spitsbergen is chosen because it is free of the nuclear war forever. |
D.Temperature is a major consideration when choosing the storage place. |
We can infer from the text that _______.
A.Norway had meant to build the storage centre about 20 years before. |
B.The storage center will greatly promote world agriculture |
C.People will get newly-developed seeds from the center every year. |
D.There haven’t been any seed storage centres in the world before. |
What is probably the best title
of the passage?
A.The Best Place to Store Seeds |
B.Noah’s Ark(诺亚方舟)of Plant Seeds in Plan |
C.Concerns of World Food Supply |
D.A New Way to Feed the World |