EVERYBODY in this world is different from one another. But do you know that understanding differences can help you better manage your money?
As we grow up, we gradually develop a set of our own values or beliefs. These are influenced by society, our family, the education we receive and so on. Once this value system is set up, it’s not easy to change later in life.
Financial experts say that everyone also has their own belief of how to manage their finances. This is part of our value system and it has a great impact on the way we look after our money.
According to our different values, experts put us in three categories. They are: the ant, the cricket and the snail.
The ant—works first
Just like ants who work heart and soul in summer in order to store food for winter, these people don’t care about enjoying the moment. They work very hard and save money they earn so that they can enjoy life when they get old and retire. The ant loves to save but they could make more out of their money if they were willing to invest in some funds and stocks with low risk.
The cricket—fun first
The cricket wants to enjoy everything now and doesn’t think too much about the future. They even borrow money when they really want something. Many young people now belong to this group. These people have little savings. When they get old, they might have problems. They should learn to save and buy insurance.
The snail—lives under pressure
The snail refers to people who make life difficult for themselves. They take big long-term loans from the bank in order to buy things such as luxury houses. They are happy to take big loans even though they are not sure they can afford it. This can cause problems in the future. They should plan more carefully.We can learn from the text that _____.
| A．we spend money because we have earned it |
| B．saving money is a good way to manage money |
| C．your way of managing money is a reflection of your value or belief |
| D．spending money is a wiser way |
Of the three types of people, the one that has no weakness is _____.
| A．the ant | B．the snail | C．none of them | D． the cricket |
If you had three dollars, you would spend all of it. Which type do you belong to?
| A．The cricket | B．The ant | C．The snail | D．None of them |
The text tells us mainly about _____.
| A．understanding differences |
| B．our own values and beliefs |
| C．living behaviors of small animal |
| D．spending nature |
Most people know that Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, and the first person to win it twice. However, few people know that she was also the mother of a Nobel Prize winner.
Born in September，1897，Irene Curie was the first of the Curies' two daughters. Along with nine other children whose parents were also famous scholars, Irene studied in their own school, and her mother was one of the teachers. She finished her high school education at the College of Sevigne in Paris.
Irene entered the University of Paris in 1914 to prepare for a degree in mathematics and physics. When World War I began, Irene went to help her mother, who was using X-ray facilities (设备）to help save the lives of wounded soldiers. Irene continued the work by developing X-ray facilities in military hospitals in France and Belgium. Her services were recognized in the form of a Military's Medal by the French government.
In 1918，Irene became her mother's assistant at the Curie Institute. In December 1924，Frederic Joliot joined the Institute, and Irene taught him the techniques required for his work. They soon fell in love and were married in 1926. Their daughter Helene was born in 1927 and their son Pierre five years later.
Like her mother, Irene combined family and career. Like her mother, Irene was awarded a Nobel Prize, along with her husband, in 1935.
Unfortunately, also like her mother, she developed leukemia because of her work with radioactivity (辐射能）. Irene Joliot-Curie died from leukemia on March 17，1956. Why was Irene Curie awarded a Military's Medal?
| A．Because she received a degree in mathematics. |
| B．Because she contributed to saving the wounded. |
| C．Because she won the Nobel Prize with Frederic. |
| D．Because she worked as a helper to her mother. |
Where did Irene Curie meet her husband Frederic Joliot?
| A．At the Curie Institute. |
| B．At the University of Paris. |
| C．At a military hospital. |
| D．At the College of Sevigne. |
When was the second child of Irene Curie and Frederic Joliot born?
| A．In 1932. |
| B．In 1927. |
| C．In 1897. |
| D．In 1926. |
In which of the following aspects was Irene Curie different from her mother?
| A．Irene worked with radioactivity. |
| B．Irene combined family and career. |
| C．Irene won the Nobel Prize once. |
| D．Irene died from leukemia. |
In 1901，H. G. Wells, an English writer, wrote a book describing a trip to the moon. When the explorers (探险者)landed on the moon, they discovered that the moon was full of underground cities. They expressed their surprise to the "moon people" they met. In turn, the "moon people" expressed their surprise. "Why, "they asked, "are you traveling to outer space when you don't even use your inner space?"
H. G. Wells could only imagine travel to the moon. In 1969, human beings really did land on the moon. People today know that there are no underground cities on the moon. However, the question that the "moon people" asked is still an interesting one. A growing number of scientists are seriously thinking about it.
Underground systems are already in place. Many cities have underground car parks. In some cities, such as Tokyo, Seoul and Montreal, there are large underground shopping areas. The "Chunnel"， a tunnel (隊道)connecting England and France, is now complete.
But what about underground cities? Japan's Taisei Corporation is designed as a network of underground systems, called "Alice Cities". The designers imagine using surface space for public parks and using under-ground space for flats, offices, shopping, and so on. A solar dome (太阳能穹顶)would cover the whole city.
Supporters of underground development say that building down rather than building up is a good way to use the earth's space. The surface, they say, can be used for farms, parks, gardens, and wilderness. H. G. Wells, "moon people" would agree. Would you? The explorers in H. G. Wells' story were surprised to find that the "moon people" ________ .
| A．knew so much about the earth |
| B．understood their language |
| C．lived in so many underground cities |
| D．were ahead of them in space technology. |
What does the underlined word "it" (in Paragraph 2)refer to?
| A．Discovering the moon's inner space. |
| B．Using the earth's inner space. |
| C．Meeting the "moon people" again. |
| D．Traveling to outer space. |
What sort of underground systems are already here with us?
| A．Offices, shopping areas and power stations. |
| B．Tunnels car parks and shopping areas, |
| C．Gardens, car parks and power stations. |
| D．Tunnels, gardens and offices. |
What would be the best title for the text?
| A．Alice Cities-cities of the future. |
| B．Space travel with H. G. Wells |
| C．Enjoy living underground |
| D．Building down, not up |
Scientists in the United States say plant life has increased on Earth in the past twenty years and that in every area of plant growth the increase is the result of weather conditions.
Eight scientists from across the United States did the study. The space agency NASA and the Department of Energy paid for it. The findings were published in the magazine Science.
The researchers spent one and a half years examining weather satellite information. The information was recorded from 1982 to 1999. That period was one of the warmest on record. Researchers found that rainfall generally increased during that time.
The satellites measured the number of leaves on plants and the amount of sunlight taken in. The scientists used that information to estimate what is called net primary production. This is the total amount of carbon stored in land plants.
The scientists report a 6% increase in stored carbon since 1982. They say gains were high in equatorial areas, especially around the Amazon River in South America. The area alone had a 1 % increase in the net primary production.
The study was led by Ramakrishna Nemani of the University of Montana in Missoula. He says reduced cloud cover led to the growth in Amazon area. He also says the lack of clouds allowed more sunlight to get through. More sunlight meant increases in photosynthesis(光合作用）. That is the process by which plants use energy from sunlight to produce the chemicals they need to grow.
Northern Canada, the north-central United States and northern Europe were second in increased plant growth. Ramakrishna Nemani says a rise in temperature helped plants there.
All together, the report says 25% of areas of plant life on Earth experienced increases. But the scientists also note the increase in the number of people on Earth and carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Ranga Myneni of Boston University in Massachusetts, another study scientist says humans use about half the net primary production on Earth. And he notes that the world population grew by 36% during the period of time studied. What's the main cause of the plant growth put forward by the study?
| A．Growth in population. |
| B．Regional features. |
| C．Seasonal variation. |
| D．Weather conditions. |
Which of the following is in charge of the study?
| A．The space agency NASA of the US. |
| B．The Department of Energy of the US. |
| C．Ramakrishna Nemani in Missoula. |
| D．Ranga Myneni in Massachusetts. |
Why do scientists believe that reduced cloud cover has led to the plant growth in the Amazon area?
| A．Because plants could take in more sunlight. |
| B．Because plants could get more rainfall. |
| C．Because plants could enjoy cooler air. |
| D．Because plants suffer less from natural disasters. |
Which of the following descriptions about the years from 1982 to 1999 is TRUE?
| A．It was the warmest on record. |
| B．Rainfall decreased little by little. |
| C．World population grew by 25%. |
| D．Stored carbon increased by 6%. |
Everything on Earth that scientists can see, measure or study is made of atoms and atoms are named by what types of elements (元素)they are. You probably know the name of many elements, such as oxygen or hydrogen. In any case, elements are everywhere: You, your -shoes, your desk, cars, water and air are all made of elements.
Now, there's a new kind on the block： copernicium.
This element was officially named on February 19，but the element itself isn't new. German scientists made and observed it in 1996. But in the 14 years since then, other scientists have been working to study and validate (证实)the original findings. Validation is an important part of the scientific process because it shows that a scientific discovery was not a mistake.
All that hard work finally paid off when the element finally received its name, copernicium, from the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. Copernicium is named in honour of Nicolaus Copernicus (哥白尼)，a 16th century Polish scholar who proposed that the earth moves around the sun and that the earth turns on its own axis.
Scientists organize all the elements on a chart called the Periodic Table. Each element gets a symbol and its own number, and copernicium gets the symbol Cn and the number 112. This number means that inside every atom of copernicium are 112 protons (质子). The lightest element hydrogen has only one proton inside each atom. Its 112 protons make copernicium the heaviest known element with a name. It was first observed by Sigurd Hofmann»a scientist in Germany. In 1996, Hofmann and his team had to figure out a way to get all the protons together and stick. They used a machine that can speed up atoms up to 10 percent the speed of light. After a week of working on these high-speed collisions(碰撞)，Hofmann's team found copernicium even though it quickly disappeared.
Now, 14 years after Hofmann's experiment, other scientists are able to make copernicium and validate Hofmann's original work. Scientists are excited about copernicium. If such a super heavy atom can be created, then even heavier elements might be waiting in the future. "One of the exciting things is, how far can we keep going?" says nuclear chemist Paul Karol. What do we know about copernicium?
| A．It is the heaviest element so far. |
| B．It was officially named in 1996. |
| C．It is a newly-discovered element. |
| D．It is the most difficult element to validate. |
Why is copernicium named after Nicolaus Copernicus?
| A．Because he proved the existence of the element. |
| B．It is named in honour of Nicolaus Copernicus. |
| C．Because he observed the element in the 16th century. |
| D．Because he designed the Periodic Table for all the elements. |
By asking “how far can we keep going?” Karol means ________ .
| A．how many elements people can find in the future |
| B．how soon people can find another new heavy element |
| C．how long people can walk carrying the heavy element |
| D．how long people can continue to research into copernicium |
What is the best title for the passage?
| A．A New Element Has Been Discovered |
| B．The Periodic Table Is Changed Again |
| C．The Heaviest Named Element Is Official |
| D．Superheavy Copernicium Needs Its Place |
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 industry!
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 clangers. The danger exists, but knowledge can help human beings 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 Paragraph 1?
| 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 Paragraph 2?
| 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. |
The underlined word “spin-offs" in Paragraph 4probably refers to ________ .
| A．survival chances |
| B．potential resources |
| C．unexpected benefits |
| D．physical possessions |
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. |