The ozone layer(臭氧层) is a thin layer of gas around the earth. It forms a special “blanket” around the planet. This “blanket” protects the earth from dangerous rays produced by the sun. Without the ozone layer, the earth’s climate could warm to dangerous levels. This increase in temperature would threaten our survival. Scientists recently have discovered a hole in the ozone layer above the Antarctica. Now there is great concern that this warning has started, endangering all life on the earth.
What has destroyed part of the ozone layer? Scientists do not know for sure. They suspect that our popular spray cans (喷漆罐) have played a part in the damage. Many spray cans contain dangerous gases. These gases might have destroyed the ozone layer fifteen miles above the earth’s surface, The chemicals used in refrigerators (冰箱) and air conditioners may contribute to the problem, too.
Many scientists believe that the destruction of the ozone layer is a serious problem for people everywhere. Global warming could change weather patterns around the world. Farmers and ranchers(牧场主) could find it more and more difficult to produce enough food for the earth’s people. If more of the sun’s dangerous rays reached the earth, there also could be an increase in skin cancers. Some skin cancers might cause people to die. Although some scientists do not believe there is a serious danger, obviously no one wants to take any chance on such a possibility.
Can scientists repair the hole in the ozone layer? They really don’t know the answer to that question. Can people do anything to save the ozone layer that the earth still has? Scientists stress the need to limit the use of spray cans and other items that contain the dangerous gases. This will not be an easy task. People all over the world use these items. Solving the problem certainly will require commitment and cooperation from everyone. The ozone layer exists to _____.
| A．warm the earth to a proper level for life |
| B．protect the earth from dangerous sun rays |
| C．make all life on the earth in a dangerous situation |
| D．prevent human beings from being harmed from the earth |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Scientists aren’t sure what has destroyed part of the ozone layer. |
| B．Scientists recently have discovered a hole in the Antarctica. |
| C．Scientists prove that spray cans have destroyed part of the ozone layer. |
| D．Global warming doesn’t affect weather patterns around the world. |
The following may do harm to the ozone layer EXCEPT ______.
| A．spray cans | B．refrigerators | C．ranchers | D．air conditioners |
Saving the ozone layer needs everyone’s effort because _____.
| A．scientists are badly in need of others’ help |
| B．items containing dangerous gases should be forbidden |
| C．scientists can’t afford so much money to take measures |
| D．people all over the world use items containing dangerous gases |
Are you an optimist? Do you look at your glass and see it as half full? Do you believe that every cloud has a silver lining and that things generally turn out for the best? Do you believe that if something is meant to be, it will be? If you reply “yes” to all of these questions, then you are an optimist. You probably are enthusiastic, cheerful and outgoing. You may be successful at work and in love.
But you may be misguided because things don’t turn out for the best. You may believe that when one door closes another one opens (for example, you may fail to obtain a new job; another chance will come around soon). Wrong. When one door closes, another door slams (砰然关上) in your face. That’s bitter reality.
Now a book has been published which confirms what pessimists (悲观者) have suspected all along. It’s called The Positive Power of Defensive Pessimism. Its author argues that defensive pessimism can lead to positive results. Defensive pessimism is a strategy used to manage fear, anxiety and worry. Defensive pessimists prepare for the things by setting low outcomes for themselves. They carefully consider everything that may go wrong and plan for ways to handle these problems. And this gives them a sense of control. Lawrence Sanno, a psychology professor, says, “What’s interesting about defensive pessimists is that they tend to be very successful people, so their low opinion of the situation’s outcomes is not realistic. They use it to motivate themselves to perform better.”
So far, so good. This is not rocket science. Defensive pessimists prepare carefully and consider what might go wrong, whether at work, on date or even in a sports game. It makes sense to have a back-up plan. There are many sayings in English urging caution. For example, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” And “Don’t count your chickens until they hatch.” To have a confident and optimistic approach to life’s problems is good. But listen to what Woody Alien, the American comedian says, “Confidence is what you have before you understand the problem.”
There are pros and cons to being an optimist and a pessimist. Don’t feel bad if you see the glass half empty. You are a realist. But lighten up and hook up with someone who sees the same glass half full.What’s the passage mainly about?
| A．The benefits of defensive pessimism. |
| B．A book that has recently been published. |
| C．The dangers of being too optimistic. |
| D．How to become successful in life. |
The underlined sentence “This is not rocket science” (Para. 4) means __________.
| A．there is no real proof | B．it is quite simple to understand |
| C．the cost is not so high | D．it’s not a dangerous thing to do |
Which of the following English expressions would a defensive pessimist believe?
| A．Whatever will be, will be. | B．The glass is half full not half empty. |
| C．Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. | D．Every cloud has a silver lining. |
The writer would probably describe himself as __________.
| A．a realist | B．an optimist | C．a defeatist | D．a scientist |
Have you ever considered all the English expressions that include words about clothes? Let’s see if I can name a few proverbs “off the cuff” since I haven’t prepared for it.
| English expressions with “pants” |
| People wear pants to cover the lower part of their bodies. We sometimes say that people who are restless or nervous have “ants in their pants.” They might also “fly by the seat of their pants” -- they use their natural sense to do something instead of their learned knowledge. Sometimes, people may “get caught with their pants down” -- they are found doing something they should not be doing. And, in every family, one person takes control. Sometimes a wife tells her husband what to do. Then we say “she wears the pants in the family.” |
| When people want to say something about money |
| Pants usually have pockets to hold things. Money that is likely to be spent quickly can “burn a hole in your pocket.” Sometimes you need a belt to hold up your pants. If you have less money than usual, you may have to “tighten your belt” -- you may have to live on less money and spend your money carefully. But once you have succeeded in budgeting your money, you will have that skill “under your belt.” I always praise people who can save their money and not spend too much. I really “take my hat off to them.” Yet, when it comes to my own money, I spend it “at the drop of a hat” — immediately, without waiting. And sadly, you cannot “pull money out of a hat” —you cannot get money by inventing or imagining it. |
| English expressions with “shoes” |
| Boots are a heavy or strong kind of shoes. People who are “too big for their boots” think they are more important than they really are. I dislike such people. I really do. You can bet your boots on that! Yet, truly important people are hard to replace. Rarely can you “fill their shoes” -- or replace them with someone equally effective. |
| English expressions with “shirt” |
| My father is an important person. He runs a big company. He wears a suit and tie and a shirt with sleeves that cover his arms. Some people who do not know him well think he is too firm and severe. They think he is a real “stuffed shirt.” But I know that my father “wears his heart on his sleeve” —he shows his feelings openly. And, he knows how to “keep his shirt on”—he stays calm and never gets angry or too excited. |
What is this passage mainly about?
| A．Which words can be used to describe my father. |
| B．Why English expressions include words about clothes. |
| C．What people mean when they use some proverbs. |
| D．How to say English correctly and properly. |
Which of the following proverbs are not related to money?
| A．tighten one’s belt | B．take one’s hat off to them |
| C．burn a hole in one’s pocket | D．get caught with their pants down |
Tim often considers himself the most important person in the world, which is far from the truth .We may say ______.
| A．he “wears his heart on his sleeve ”. | B．he “bet his boots on that ”. |
| C．he is “too big for their boots”. | D．he “ fill their shoes”. |
If you want to praise somebody for his calmness when facing danger, you may say______.
| A．“Amazing! How can you keep your shirt on at that time!” |
| B．“You really fill your shoes” |
| C．“Awesome ! You wear your heart on your sleeve!” |
| D．“Cool! You are truly a stuffed shirt”. |
MELBOURNE, Australia – A kangaroo frightened by a man walking his dog attacked the pair, throwing the pet underwater and hitting the owner in the stomach with its back legs. The Australian, Chris Rickard, was in stable condition Monday after the attack, which ended when the 49-year-old struck the kangaroo in the throat.
Rickard said he was walking his blue dog, Rocky, on Sunday morning when they surprised a sleeping kangaroo in Arthur's Creek northeast of Melbourne. The dog chased the animal into a pond, when the kangaroo turned and knocked the pet underwater.
When Rickard tried to pull his dog free, the kangaroo turned on him, attacking with its back legs and tearing a deep cut into his stomach and across his face.
"I thought I might take action to drag the dog out from under his grasp, but I didn't expect him to actually attack me," Rickard, 49, told The Herald Sun newspaper. "It was a shock at the start because it was a kangaroo, about 5 feet high, they don't go around killing people."
"I was stuck having to hold on to the dog with both hands because it was half drowned and I couldn't really see anything because the kangaroo just attacked me.”
He added, "All I could do was just keep pushing for the bank and he was trying to push me under the water, so at that point I struck him in the throat and that made him back off a little bit.
"I don't think I'll ever be able to watch kangaroo programs quite the same as I used to — it might bring back a couple of bad memories.”
Kangaroos rarely attack people but will fight if they feel threatened.
Dogs often chase kangaroos, which have been known to lead the pets into water and defend themselves there.
Rickard said he ended the attack by hitting the kangaroo in the throat adding Rocky was "half-drowned" when he pulled him from the water.Rickard and his pet dog were attacked when _________.
| A．swimming in the pond | B．he was teasing a kangaroo |
| C．he was walking his dog | D．dragging his dog out from water |
In Australia, kangaroos ________.
| A．get along rather peacefully with people | B．are only seen in zoos |
| C．frequently attack people and pets | D．can be found swimming in ponds |
The kangaroo attacked the man and his dog probably because ________.
| A．the man struck it in the throat | B．it wanted to drown the dog |
| C．the man wanted to drown it | D．the dog chased it |
As a result of the attack, ________.
| A．the kangaroo was killed |
| B．Rickard was left a deep impression |
| C．kangaroos should be under stricter protection |
| D．the dog was drowned dead |
Five Ways to Rock the Rest of the Semester
With exams around the corner, how can you possibly pack in one more English word, let alone the causes of the Cold War? Don’t worry. Here is our handy guide to help you
Power Down
So you stayed up too late last night reading Mockingjay for the fifth time. Oops! When you’re that fired, your schoolwork suffers. Instead of studying inefficiently while you are sleepy, allow yourself a 15-minute afterschool power nap. Studies show that even a few minutes of shut-eye can improve memory and concentration.
Take Notes
Not quite grasping that super complicated concept in your chemistry class? You may need to change the way you take notes. Instead of recording every word your teacher says, try using visual hints like pictures, symbols and word bubbles. You can even switch computer fonts or pen color for the important stuff.
Dream On
Your bed’s not just for zzz’s. Experts say it may be good to study in bed, too. Why? We’re able to absorb more right before bed because we’re less distracted and the new information stays in our minds as we sleep. So, slide into bed with a textbook or notes, read for 15 minutes, and then turn off the lights for some sweet and smart dreams.
Brain Food
You’re in the middle of a biology exam when your mind goes blank. You knew this stuff cold at home, but now you can’t tell a ribosome from a chloroplast. What’s going on? Your brain’s in need of some refueling. Have some snacks like apple slices or cheese before class, and have plenty of water, too. If your teacher doesn’t mind, pop in a piece of gum during an exam. Some scientists think the chewing increases the flow of oxygen to the brain.
Smart Move
Ugh! You’re taking an English test and you cannot remember the past participle of “understand”. What to do? Skip it. Test taking is all about timing, so don’t waste it on tricky questions. Move ahead and answer everything you know before returning to the ones you don’t. Chances are, once you get back to the toughies, you’ll recall the answer or at the very least, you’ll have a little more time to come up with one that works.When taking notes, we can do all these except ______.
| A．draw pictures | B．change the typeface | C．switch on the computer | D．colour the key points |
According to the passage, _____.
| A．it’s good to study under the covers for some time every day |
| B．you cannot skip the difficult questions and go on to the rest |
| C．you can have some snacks and drink enough water to refresh yourself in exams |
| D．when taking notes, you should record whatever the teacher says |
What does the underlined phrase “knew this stuff cold” mean?
| A．had no clue about it | B．were a cold fish | C．knew it was cold | D．were familiar with |
You have been working on your essay for two hours and your eyes feel tired, you’d better
| A．Power down | B．dream on | C．eat brain food | D．make a smart move |
Not long ago, many people believed that babies only wanted food and to be kept warm and dry. Some people thought babies were not able to learn things until they were five or six months old.
Yet doctors in the United States say babies begin learning on their first day of life. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development is a federal government agency. Its goal is to determine which experiences can influence healthy development in people.
Researchers at the institute note that babies are strongly influenced by their environment. They say a baby will smile if her mother does something the baby likes. A baby learns to get the best care possible by smiling to please her mother or other caregiver. This is how babies learn to connect and communicate with other people.
The researchers say this ability to learn exists in a baby even before birth. They say newborn babies can recognize and understand sounds they heard while they were still developing inside their mothers.
Another study has suggested that low birth weight babies with no evidence of disability may be more likely than other children to have physical and mental problems.
American researchers studied almost five hundred boys and girls. They were born in, or admitted to, one of three hospitals in New Jersey between 1984 and 1987. At birth, each child weighed fewer than two thousand grams.
The boys and girls had an average age of sixteen at the time of the study. They were asked to complete intelligence and motor skill tests in their homes. Their test results were compared with those of other children their age.According to the passage, some people used to think that babies began to learn _________.
| A．on their first day of life | B．even before they were born |
| C．before five or six months old | D．at or after five or six months old |
Babies learn to connect and communicate with other people through_____________.
| A．smiles | B．cries | C．facial expressions | D．body language |
The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development tries to find out ________.
| A．what affects people’s healthy development |
| B．what influences babies’ learning ability |
| C．how to cure some children’s health problems |
| D．how to develop children’s learning ability |
What will be mentioned in the following passage?
| A．The evaluation method of the tests. |
| B．The cause of low birth weight babies. |
| C．The result of the intelligence and motor skill tests. |
| D．The evidence proving babies began to learn before birth. |