A recent survey of 2000 parents in Britain showed that they are often afraid of science questions asked by their curious children only because they have no idea what the answer is. Here is a list of some simple questions that you can ask your parents to see if they know the answers.
Q: Why is the sky blue?
A: You probably know white sunlight is made up of seven colors. While it moves in a straight line when going through space, it starts to divide as it hits “raised area” in the atmosphere. The ones with longest wavelengths pass through easily. The blue , however , can be taken in by the gas molecules (分子) because it has a shorter wavelength , which in turn scatters (使分散) it in different directions. That’s why when you look up at the sky, it appears to be blue.
Q:Why does the moon sometimes appear during the daytime?
A: The simple answer to that is because just like any other object it is being lit by the sun. As long as it is around 45 degrees or even 90 degrees off the sun, it will receive light and be able to be seen. The only time it is not able to be seen during its 28-day orbit (轨道) around the earth is when it is right between the earth and the sun. That’s because its back , which is not lit by the sun, is facing us.
Q: Where do birds/ honeybees go in winter?
A: While the bird part is quite easy, since a lot of them get together and travel, the honeybee part is likely to puzzle your parents. It turns out that these busy insects stop being that active when the temperature drops below 50°F. Instead ,they get together in the lower central area of the hive （蜂巢）and form a ball around their queen. This helps keep both warm enough to survive the cold winter months.The sky looks blue mainly because the color blue in the sunlight_______.
| A．has the longest wavelength among all the colors |
| B．cannot be taken in by the gas molecules |
| C．doesn’t hit “raised area” in the atmosphere |
| D．cannot pass through space successfully |
How long can’t the moon be seen during the daytime in a month?
| A．2 | B．28 | C．30 | D．31 |
What do honeybees choose to do when the temperature drops below 50°F?
| A．They choose to be active in the wild. |
| B．They choose to keep themselves warm. |
| C．They choose to travel to a warm place. |
| D．They choose to get together in the upper central area of the hive. |
What is NOT explained in the passage?
| A．Why is the sky blue? |
| B．Why is the moon able to be seen during the daytime? |
| C．Why do birds travel in winter? |
| D．Where do honeybees go in winter? |
Jane Austen(1775-1817),an English novelist, started writing young and completed six novels in her life. Today Austen’s books are more popular than ever. In the last 10 years, five of her six novels have been made into Hollywood films, while her books continue to be best-sellers.
Richard Jenkyns, a professor of English at Oxford University, says that her novels are about marriage, friendships and the family, which are still with us today. “The stories are timeless,”Jenkyns said.
Pride and Prejudice(偏见)(1813) is Austen’s most famous work. It is a love story about Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. At first, these two dislike each other. Elizabeth is pretty ,smart and lively. She is proud because Darcy doesn’t know about her family. Mr. Darcy is handsome, rich and has a better family background. So, he is proud as well. At the same time, Darcy holds a prejudice against the Bennet family. He has no nderstanding of why the family, especially its mother and daughters should try so hard to find wealthy and powerful husbands. He thinks they are vulgar. Anyway, Elizabeth and Darcy finally fall in love and become a romantic couple but their families don’t want them to.
In Pride and Prejudice, some of the main things that Jane Austen wants to teach people are as follows. Opposites can attract each other. Lovers should not ony make each other feel relaxed or comfortable, but also educate and improve each other.
Austen is often called the greatest romanti writer,so it is surprising she remained unmarried. ‘Maybe she was too romantic, waiting for the perfect man,” Jenkyns says.From Paragraph 1and Paragraph 2,we can know .
| A．Jane Austen passed away in her fifties |
| B．Austen’s works remain popular today |
| C．all of Austen’s works have been made into Hollywood films. |
| D．Austen’s works are mostly about war and the family. |
Which of the following sentences is True?
| A．Elizabeth and Darcy fall in love at first sight. |
| B．Elizabeth has a better family background than Darcy. |
| C．Darcy has a first good impression of Elizabeth’s family. |
| D．Elizabeth and Darcy become a romantic couple in the end. |
What does the underlined word”vulgar” in Paragraph 3 mean?
| A．粗俗的 | B．鲁莽的 | C．吝啬的 | D．伪善的 |
From what Jenkyns says,we can learn __________.
| A．opposites can attract each other |
| B．lovers should improve each other. |
| C．Austen’s works go beyond her times |
| D．Austen married a perfect man at last |
任务型阅读阅读下面的短文，并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单词，每个空格只填1个单词。
It's important to develop the healthy habits in your daily life. The following will help you become healthier and keep perfect shape.
Eat properly. A healthy diet is very important for everybody. Breakfast is the most important meal in a day. Doctors suggest that students’ breakfast should include fruit, eggs, milk, rice or noodles, because these can offer them necessary energy, help them listen carefully in class and keep them healthy. Eat enough for lunch and little for supper. But remember that too much sugar is bad for your teeth and blood. You shouldn't have too many sweet snacks and desserts in your diet, even though such food tastes delicious.
Keep off germs(病菌). Daily tooth cleaning reduces the amount of germs which will spread diseases. Germs in the mouth are likely to enter the blood and cause illness, even heart disease. Even if you’ re not sick, always remember to cough into your arms instead of your hands because hands can spread germs to others when you touch something else. Besides, washing hands is necessary after going to the toilet or before having a meal. And you'd better rub both hands while washing them.
Exercise regularly. Regular exercise can improve your moods and balance. What’s more, it’s good for bones. There are many forms of exercise： walking or running for about 30 minutes a day playing ball games twice or three times a week, swimming or dancing often. You can choose your favorite to practise regularly. You will not only feel energetic but also think better after doing exercise.
Stay connected. Having regular communication with friends is the key to reducing stress. And sharing happiness and sadness, exchanging information with others can also help improve memory. Having a friend or a circle of friends can help you feel good.
| The ___ |
|
| Eating properly |
You should have proper breakfast because it can __ You should have enough for lunch and little for __ Sweet snacks and desserts arc tasty, _ |
| Keeping off germs |
It's necessary for you to _ |
| ___ |
You will feel __ |
| Staying connected |
It can help you feel __ |
New changes have taken place in Paris in recent years. Paris used to be among Europe’s busiest cities. Traffic jams could be seen all the time. But now there is a new 2.5 kilometre-long car-free area inside the city. The Louvre(卢浮宫) attracts world tourists. People visit there not just for the art works, but also enjoy the roof of the building which is like a flying carpet. The world’s most beautiful city is now even more beautiful.
Lijiang River National Park, China.
Lijiang River is in Guilin. It is well-known for its clear water, limestone(石灰岩洞) and green hills. The hills have beautiful names depending on different shapes, such as “Elephant Trunk”. These attract many Chinese poets and artists. The best way to enjoy Lijing River is to take an 83 km boat trip from Guilin to Yangshuo in summer.
Zurich, Switzerland
What do you think Zurich is famous for Great banks Yes. People can find many Swiss banks and foreign banks here. But the city is of great interest to many people for another reason. Zurich hosts Europe’s largest street party each year. Its Street Parade has overtaken London’s Notting Hill Carival. What’s hot in the city in 2014 In August, Zurich will host the European Athletic Championships. This gives tourists a chance to see the world’s top athletes making new records.
Adelaide, Australia
Many people may know Sydney or Melbourne. They are big cities in Australia. But Adelaide wins people’s hearts with great festivals and tasty food. Adelaide Fringe Festival is the largest art festival in Australia. Every February and March, people celebrate with outdoor art works, dance performances and live music. Adelaide has many kinds of foreign foods. British fish and chips, Italian pizza and German pork can be found in most restaurants.Tourists enjoy the art works as well as _______of the Louvre.
| A．the busy street | B．the shape of its roof |
| C．the car-free area | D．the flying carpet |
Many Chinese poets and artists are attracted by________ in Guilin.
| A．elephant trunks |
| B．warm weather |
| C．the highway to Yangshuo |
| D．the green hills and limestone caves |
Compared with London’s Notting Hill Varnival, the Street Parade in Zurich is _______.
| A．even worse | B．exactly the same |
| C．much better | D．less popular |
When and where will the 2014 European Athletics Championships be held?
| A．In August, Paris | B．In February, Europe |
| C．In March, Adelaide | D．In August, Zurich |
Betty is studying art at college. She’s travelling to some place to enjoy art work and taste foreign foods. She could go to_____
| A．Adelaide | B．Lijiang River National Park |
| C．Zurich and Paris | D．the Louvre |
Many of us don’t pay attention to the importance of eye care. It’s said that if you take care of your body, then you can be healthy. That is why our eyes should be given a lot of care. Natural eye care should be put in a number one place.
There are several causes leading to poor eyesight like not enough food, gene(基因) and aging(年龄增长). Televisions, computers and reading are also the causes of having poor eyesight.
If you happen to work in front of the computer, it is best to take a rest every once in a while. Something dirty can cause redness and they will make you feel uncomfortable. It is bad for your eyes, too. If this happens, the best way is to clean your eyes by using cold water. You must also try your best to protect your eyes from harmful thing. For example, sunglasses are not just fashion but they can also serve as a great way to protect your eyesight fromUV rays.
Eating healthy foods will do good to your eyesight. Remember that vitamins(维生素) A、C and E are good for eyes. Try to eat food groups that have these vitamins. And you should do eye exercises because exercise protects your eyesight, too. If a person exercises regularly(规律地) and eats the right kind of food, his eyes will stay in good condition for a long time.
All above are natural ways of eye care that help us keep healthy eyes. Being happy all the time can be helpful to a person’s eyesight, too. In a word, eye care is very important, no matter how old a person is.__________ is the most important way to protect our eyes.
| A．Natural eye care | B．Taking medicine |
| C．Seeing the doctor | D．Being happy all the time |
All the following causes can lead to bad eyesight except _________.
| A．age | B．height | C．reading | D．computer |
What should you do if you have to work in front of the computer?
| A．Eat healthy foods. |
| B．Clean the eyes by using cold water. |
| C．Wear a pair of sunglasses. |
| D．Have a rest after working for a while. |
What do the under words “UV rays” mean?
| A．沙土 | B．闪电 | C．紫外线 | D．超声波 |
Which is the best title of the passage?
| A．Ways of Eye Care | B．Ways of Eye Exercises |
| C．Way of Being be Happy | D．Way of Being Healthy |
阅读理解阅读下列内容，根据短文内容选择最佳答案。
Thomas Edison lit up the world with his invention of the electric light. Without him, the world might still be in the dark. However, the electric light was not his only invention. He also invented the motion picture camera and 1200 other things. About every two weeks he created something new.
Thomas Edison was born in 1847. He attended school for only three months. His mother taught him at home, but Thomas was mostly self-educated. He started experimenting at a young age.
When he was 12 years old, he got his first job. He became a newsboy on a train. He did experiments on the train in his spare time. Unluckily, his first work experience did not end well. Theyfiredhim when he accidentally set fire to the floor of the train. Then Edison worked for five years as a telegraph operator, but he continued to spend much of his time in experimenting his first patent(专利权) in 1868 for a vote recorder run by electricity.
Thomas Edison was totally deaf in one ear and hard of hearing in the other, but he thought of his deafness as a blessing in many ways. It kept conversations short, so that he could have more time for work. He always worked 16 out of every 24 hours. Sometimes his wife had to remind him to sleep and eat.
Thomas Edison died at the age of 84. He left a great many inventions that greatly improved the quality of life all over the world.How often did Edison make a new invention?
| A．About every fourteen days | B．About every seven days |
| C．About once a week | D．About twice a week |
The underlined word “fired” in the passage means “__________”
| A．Gave somebody a job | B．Set fire to somebody |
| C．Let somebody down | D．Forced somebody to leave his job |
Edison considered his deafness as______.
| A．something bad | B．a gift from god |
| C．a kind of ability | D．a disadvantage |
Which of the following sentence is NOT true according to the passage
| A．Edison had only 8 hours rest each day after his deafness ? |
| B．Edison got his education mostly by self-teaching |
| C．Edison had his first job in 1869 |
| D．Edison’s inventions greatly improved the quality of people’s life |
What does the passage mainly talk about?
| A．The function of the electric light |
| B．Edison and his experiments |
| C．The importance of inventions |
| D．The whole life of Edison. |