Around 200 million years ago, the earth was 18 degrees warmer than it is now. That might be a bit hot for humans, but it was just right for the giant dinosaurs that wandered about the earth during the Mesozoic (中生代的) era. A new study found that planteating dinosaurs may have contributed to the warming of the earthby releasing significant amounts of methane (甲烷)．
The study, published in science journal Current Biology, focused on sauropods, longnecked herbivores (食草动物) that munched (用力咀嚼) on the top of trees. They were the largest of the dinosaurs; food broke down in their stomachs for long periods of time. The researchers estimate that a sauropoda released 2,675 liters of methane per day—adding up to a large amount of the greenhouse gas being pumped from dinosaur's gut into the atmosphere.
Plant eaters naturally release methane as part of their digestive process. The larger the animal, the more methane it produces. Methane, a greenhouse gas, traps heat and remains in the atmosphere for approximately 915 years, which warms the atmosphere.
Today, some animals, such as cattle, goats and sheep, produce large amounts of methane as a byproduct to their food digestion. Methane is also released from human—influenced sources such as landfill, agricultural activities, coal mining and other industrial practices—which all contribute to today's climate change, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
The researchers estimate that earth's sauropods would have produced about 520 million tons of methane per year—similar to the total amount of methane produced today by natural and manmade sources. However, the researchers warn that their numbers are estimates based on multiple assumptions about the digestive systems and populations of dinosaurs.
The author of the study David Wilkinson says the emission of methane from dinosaurs would have been just one of the causes of warm climate during the Mesozoic era. Other causes include gases produced from volcanoes, swamps, shallow seas and so on. Still, Wilkinson says，“ The amount of methane from dinosaurs is large enough to have a measurable effect.”Scientists think dinosaurs may have led to the global warming because ________.
| A．they ate everything they found |
| B．they usually had a good appetite |
| C．they released a lot of methane |
| D．there were too many dinosaurs on earth |
What do we know about dinosaurs from Paragraph 2?
| A．Sauropods fed on plants. |
| B．Sauropods were of medium size. |
| C．Dinosaurs used to live on trees. |
| D．Dinosaurs digested food quickly. |
Which of the following activities doesn't produce methane?
| A．Coal is dug out by machine. |
| B．Trees and flowers are planted. |
| C．Goats digest grass under the tree. |
| D．Food is being processed in the factory. |
How does the author make his writing reliable?
| A．By listing some facts. |
| B．By making predictions. |
| C．By citing figures. |
| D．By using mind pictures. |
David Wilkinson seems to believe that ________.
| A．methane had little effects on the earth |
| B．many other factors contributed to warm climate |
| C．other causes for warm climate were worth considering |
| D．dinosaurs were mainly to blame for global warming |
Reading is a great way to improve your English. By reading, you are receiving valuable language input. As you’re reading, you’re taking in language naturally, and you’re seeing how it all fits together. This is crucial to your learning.
The key to effective reading is to read things that you want to read. There are millions of books, magazines and websites out there. You couldn’t possibly read them at all. So the important thing is to find things that you like reading. Then, you’ll be motivated to read. And then the reading won’t be difficult. It’ll be easy! And then you’ll learn. It’s simple.
Remember: read what you want to read—what you like reading and what motivates and inspires you. But where can you start? Well, you could read a book that you’ve already read in your own language first, then in English. Magazines are also great. Find one that covers a topic you’re interested in: business, clothing, cooking…you name it, they’ll have it. Why not join a forum(论坛)？Go to google Groups，which has discussion groups based on common interests. Just type in the topic that interests you and join the chat.
Finally, how you read is also important. The best thing is to read without using a dictionary. Let the words flow over you. Just skip the parts you don’t understand. If you make your reading feel too much like work, it’ll stop being fun. Of course, you could make a note of any new words and phrases that you like or see repeated frequently, but try not to break your concentration too much. Also, set yourself mini-objectives. For example, if you’re reading a novel, read 20 pages a day. Very soon, you have been exposed to thousands of useful phrases and words. Have fun reading! You’ll learn so much!The underlined word “crucial” in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to “________”.
| A．easy | B．important | C．difficult | D．suitable |
The key to effective reading is________.
| A．to read millions of books |
| B．not to learn grammar rules |
| C．to be motivated to read |
| D．to read easy things |
You can start to read by________.
| A．reading the news in English first |
| B．reading a book that you’ve already read in English |
| C．going to Google Groups to practice spoken English |
| D．reading magazines containing topics you are interested in |
From the passage we can learn that________.
| A．when reading you needn’t look up every new word in the dictionary |
| B．the great thing about reading is that you can read without any effort |
| C．you should make notes of every new word and phrase while reading |
| D．to read is as much fun as to work |
The best title of the passage is “________”.
| A．How To Read English Novels |
| B．How To Learn English By Reading |
| C．How To Absorb Expressions And Phrases |
| D．How To Learn English Without Any Effort |
Time: July 16-20, 2016
Location: Norman Park Conference Center
Price: 500
Students who have completed the 5th, 6th or 7th grade and meet the specified requirements can take part in this exciting mission opportunity. Children will spend 5 days in the Center joining in various activities.
Our theme for this camp is “Teamwork”. The title speaks to our goal: We want this trip to help our students improve their cooperation awareness.
WHAT TO DO:
STEP ONE: FORM WORK
*Click on the link to print out the necessary forms: Propel Missions Camp Forms
*Complete the forms, printing neatly and clearly.
*Turn in your forms along with a copy of your insurance card to the office during business hours.
PARTICIPANT FORM
* This form must be signed and notarized(公证).
* Your form may be notarized at the office during normal office hours, at the Children’s reception desk before and after service times, or by a Notary Public of your choosing.
SPECIAL NEEDS FORM(If needed)
Special Needs form should be filled out only if there is a particular need (as described in the form) of which we and the camp should know.
ROOMMATE FORM
This form will help us place your child in a room with the peers(同伴) of his or her preference. We will provide a list of students attending at your request to help your child make his or her choices.
STEP TWO: READ
Click on the link and read carefully the Parent Information Packet provided by the camp: Propel Missions Camp Forms 2016
Contact Information
If interested, contact Pastor Scott at scott. Morrison@fbcvidalia.org or call the office at (912)537-4169.What does the underlined word “Cooperation” mean?
| A．Environment. | B．Teamwork. |
| C．Communication. | D．Safety. |
What do you know about the camp?
| A．It will begin on July16 and last for five days. |
| B．Students in any grade can take part in the camp. |
| C．Parents are allowed to accompany their children. |
| D．Students can join in the camp for free. |
If you want to join in the camp, you must________.
| A．be over six years old |
| B．have some experiences of camp |
| C．fill out some forms first |
| D．hand in a brief introduction of yourself |
It can be known from the passage that________.
| A．the camp will give an insurance card to every child. |
| B．there are only indoor activities for all campers |
| C．the aim of the camp is to improve the kids’ independence |
| D．there are two ways for you to contact the camp |
Which of the following is NOT true?
| A．The form you fill out should be signed and notarized. |
| B．Children can choose a roommate according to their preference. |
| C．If you have special needs, you can fill out a Special Needs form. |
| D．You should go to Norman Park Conference Center to fetch a form. |
We lived in a very quiet neighborhood. One evening I heard a loud crash in the street. Earlier that evening my wife had asked me to go to the store to get some soft drinks. It seemed that this would be a good time to let my teenage daughter Holly practice her driving, so I sent her to the store in my truck. At dinner my son talked about how much he liked my truck. I enjoyed having it, but I said: “Guy, my heart is not set on that truck. I like it but it is just metal and won't last forever. Never set your heart on anything that won't last.” After hearing the loud noise, the whole family ran outside. My son shouted: “Dad! Dad, Holly crashed your truck.”
The accident had occurred in my own driveway. Holly had crashed my truck into our other vehicle, the family van. In her inexperience, she had confused the brakes(刹车) and the gas pedal (油门). Holly was unhurt physically but when we reached her, she was crying and saying: “Oh, Dad, I'm sorry. I know how much you love this truck.” I held her in my arms as she cried.
Later that week a friend stopped by and asked what had happened to my truck. I told her the whole story. Her eyes were wet and she said: “That happened to me when I was a girl. I borrowed my dad’s car and ran into a tree that had fallen across the road. I ruined the car. When I got home, my Dad knocked me to the ground and began to kick me.”
Over 40 years later, she still felt the pain of the night. It was a deep wound on her soul. I remember how sad Holly was on the night she crashed our truck, and how I comforted her. One day, when Holly thinks back on her life, I want her to know that I love her a thousand times more than any piece of property.What caused the crash?
| A．The brakes weren't working. |
| B．The car got a flat tire and Holly lost control. |
| C．Holly was drinking a soft drink while driving. |
| D．Holly stepped on the gas pedal instead of the brakes. |
What happened to the author's friend after she ruined her dad's car?
| A．She lost the courage to drive. |
| B．Her father was violent toward her. |
| C．Her father kicked her out of the house. |
| D．She suffered physical pain for a long time |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．The author regretted sending his daughter to the store. |
| B．Holly was allowed to drive because she was older than her brother. |
| C．Seeing the crash, the author was sorry for the damage to his beloved truck. |
| D．The author made it clear that he loved his daughter more than his truck. |
What does the underlined sentence imply?
| A．The friend was seriously wounded |
| B．The wound recovered after 40 years. |
| C．The friend was deeply hurt by her father. |
| D．Parents shouldn’t beat their children. |
The purpose of writing the passage is to show us________.
| A．love is more important than possessions |
| B．parents should never let a teenager drive |
| C．it is useless blaming someone after an accident |
| D．we should always forgive others’ mistakes |
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
Hello and welcome! My name is Shelley Ann Vernon and I am glad that you want to find out more about teaching English through games. Right here you will find ways to get great results in the classroom for children aged 4 to 12; ways that from my experience will bring more success and joy into the lives of the children you teach.
You'll learn how to make your serious classes fun, how to ensure everyone gets better grades, how to help inspire the brighter kids while taking care of the slower ones, and how to associate fun with learning by teaching vocabulary and grammar through language games. Earn even more appreciation, love and respect from your students and their parents for your teaching.
The games presented here work for ESL (English as a Second Language) pupils aged 4 to 12. These games are most suitable for beginners to general level students.
Achieve results 2 X as fast.
Don't take my word for it; read evidence from teachers and parents：
She found it valuable right away!Although I only bought your book on Monday, and today is Wednesday, I want you to know how valuable I have found it to be. I have used a couple of the games in school already and the children loved them.Most importantly, they were learning and reviewing English at the same time. Can I admit that I also enjoyed my lessons more?
Gila Goldberg, Jerusalem
The games help with learning difficulties!
My daughter Aurore has learning difficulties and since coming to your classes she has gained confidence and has improved in all subjects at school.
Mrs. J. Brown, Canterbury, Kent, UK
Click here to order now with our secure server. Remember, if you are not satisfied, just let us know and we will refund(退款) you in full. You still get to keep the essential bonus material, yours for FREE, and that's a rare time saving gain, plus a value of 25 dollars.The passage is mainly written for________.
| A．students | B．girls | C．teachers | D．doctors |
Which of the following does the writer agree with?
| A．Teachers should make their classes serious. |
| B．A good class should associate fun with learning. |
| C．Only smart children can learn from the games. |
| D．Only pupils aged 2 can make good use of the games. |
If you are unsatisfied with the book, ________.
| A．you can complain to a local newspaper or Shelley Ann Vernon |
| B．you can get half your money back and keep the material |
| C．you can get 25 dollars back, but you have to return the product first |
| D．you will get your money back without returning the essential bonus material |
The writer wrote the passage to ________.
| A．tell teachers how to teach |
| B．advise games to kids |
| C．persuade teachers to buy a product |
| D．show her students' good performance |
The passage is most probably taken from a________.
| A．magazine | B．novel | C．website | D．newspaper |
More students than ever before are taking a gap-year (间隔年) before going to university. It used to be called the “year off” between school and university. The gap-year phenomenon originated with the months left over to Oxbridge applicants between entrance exams in November and the start of the next academic year.
This year, 25,310 students who have accepted places in higher education institutions have put off their entry until next year, according to statistics on university entrance provided by University and College Admissions Service (UCAS). That is a record 14.7% increase in the number of students taking a gap year. Tony Higgins from UCAS said that the statistics are good news for everyone in higher education. “Students who take a well-planned year out are more likely to be satisfied with, and complete, their chosen course. Students who take a gap year are often more mature and responsible,” he said.
But not everyone is happy. Owain James, the president of the National Union of Students(NUS), argued that the increase is evidence of student hardship – young people are being forced into earning money before finishing their education. “New students are now aware that they are likely to leave university with up to ￡15,000 in debt. It is not surprising that more and more students are taking a gap year to earn money to support their study for the degree. statistics show that over 40% of students are forced to work during term time and the figure increases to 90% during vacation periods,” he said.What do we learn about the gap year from the text?
| A．It is flexible in length. |
| B．It is a time for relaxation. |
| C．It is increasingly popular. |
| D．It is required by universities. |
According to Tony Higgins, students taking a gap year_________.
| A．are better prepared for college studies |
| B．know a lot more about their future jobs |
| C．are more likely to leave university in debt |
| D．have a better chance to enter top universities |
What would most students do on their vacation according to NUS statistics?
| A．Attend additional courses. |
| B．Make plans for the new term. |
| C．Earn money for their education. |
| D．Prepare for their graduate studies |