We have always been interested in the moon. 2000 years ago people already knew it moved around the earth and where it would be in the sky at different times of the year. At that time, everything about the moon was learned by watching it carefully in the sky.
When scientists could use telescopes(望远镜) to study the moon more closely, their ideas began to change. They could see the moon was made of rocks. Most scientists thought moon rocks would be different from those on Earth. This was because they believed the moon had once been a planet that had been caught in the earth’s gravity millions of years earlier.
In 1969 moon rocks were finally brought to the earth and studied. Much to their surprise, scientists found that, except for water, the moon and the earth were made of the same things. Once again new ideas were needed for this new information.
After years of study, most scientists now think that the moon was once part of Earth. They believe very early in its history, maybe 4 million years ago, something about the size of Mars hit Earth. This sent billions of rocks into space around our planet. These rocks slowly joined together and after many years became the moon.
In the future, even though our ideas about the moon may change again, we will still be interested in it.From the passage we know the moon was made of_____________.
A.earth | B.rocks | C.water | D.metal |
In the passage the writer wants to tell us ___________________.
A.why people are interested in the moon |
B.how ideas about the moon have changed over time |
C.where the moon came from in the past |
D.that people have finally learned the truth about the moon. |
Before 1969 most scientists thought the moon was ______________.
A.part of the earth billions of years earlier |
B.older than the earth |
C.a planet caught by the earth’s gravity |
D.made of the same things as the earth |
From this passage we can learn that ___________________.
A.scientists in the past were not clever |
B.the earth was once part of the moon |
C.we now know everything about the moon |
D.new information brings new ideas |
It was the last day of final exams in a university. On the steps of one building, a group of engineering students were discussing the exam. On their faces was confidence . This was their last exam and then they would graduate. With all these four years of college behind them, they felt ready to go into the world.
The professor had said they could bring any book or note they wanted, but they could not talk to each other. They went into the classroom happily. The professor gave them the papers. They smiled when they found that there were only five questions.
Three hours passed and the professor began to collect the papers. The students no longer looked so confident . The professor faced the class. No one spoke. They just held papers in their hands.
The professor then asked, "How many of you finished all five questions?"
Not a hand was raised.
"How many answered four?"
Still no hand.
"Three? Two?"
The students looked worried in their seats.
"One, then?" Certainly somebody finished one.
However, nobody replied. The professor put down the papers. "That is just what I thought," he said. "I just want to tell you that, even though you have finished four years of engineering, there are still many things about the subject you don't know. These questions you could not answer are quite common in everyday practice." Then he added with a smile, “You will all pass this course, but remember——even though you are now college graduates, your education has just begun."When did the story happen?
A.At the beginning of a new term. |
B.After graduating from the university. |
C.On the first day of the final exams. |
D.On the last day of the final exams. |
Why were the student very confident at the beginning?
A.Because they knew the coming exam would be easy |
B.Because they knew the coming exam would be difficult |
C.Because they knew the coming exam would be strange |
D.Because they knew the coming exam would be interesting |
How did the students feel when the professor began to collect the papers?
A.Happy. | B.Confident. | C.Worried | D.Proud |
Which is the best title for the passage?
A.Confident Students | B.A Common professor |
C.An Easy Exam | D.So Much to Learn |
A young man was getting ready to finish school. For a long time he had looked forward to getting a beautiful sports car. He knew his father could well afford it, so he told him that was all he wanted.
Then on the morning of his graduation (毕业), his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful gift box. Surprised, the young man opened the box and found a lovely Bible (圣经), with his name on it. Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible?" He then rushed out of the house, leaving the Bible.
Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and a wonderful family, but realizing his father was very old, he thought perhaps he should go to see him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements (安排), he received a phone telling him his father had passed away. He had to come home immediately and take care of the things that his father left him.
When he began to search through his father's important papers, he saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. He opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. As he was reading, a car key with a tag (标牌) dropped from the back of the Bible. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words ... "PAID IN FULL". Sadness and regret filled his heart.The underlined word "that" in Paragraph 1 means
A.a car | B.a box | C.a Bible | D.a phone |
The young man was angry on the morning of his graduation because
A.his father couldn't afford a car |
B.he had to stay in his study |
C.he thought he only got a Bible |
D.his father spent all the money |
Which of the following isn't mentioned in the third paragraph?
A.The young man succeeded in his business. |
B.The young man lived with his father all the time. |
C.The young man decided to see his father. |
D.The young man set up his own family. |
It can be seen from the passage that the young man
A.came to know the truth at last |
B.had to pay for the car himself |
C.became interested in the Bible |
D.got angry with his father again |
Maybe you know floods, droughts, earthquakes, sandstorms and so on. But have you ever heard of typhoons?
Typhoons are some of the worst storms, usually around the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea. Most happen in July, August and September.
How does a typhoon happen? When lots of sea water gets hot in the summer sun, it evaporates into the air. This makes the air hotter. When the air gets warm enough, it starts to move higher up into the sky. Then, cooler air around it rushes in. It fills the space that is left. After the air gets warmer, it starts to move quickly, making wind. The wind goes in circles, and it keeps moving higher in the sky. The warmer the air gets, the quicker the wind moves. And when the wind moves faster than 30 meters a second, a typhoon begins.
A typhoon has two parts. One is called the "eye". In the eye, the wind does not move so fast. The other part is the wall of clouds around the eye. This is where the strongest wind and hardest rains are.
Typhoons are very dangerous. In 2004, Typhoon Yunna killed 164 people in Zhejiang, and 24 people were missing. In May 2006, Typhoon Pearl hit Guangdong and Fujian, and thousands of houses were damaged.
What to do when a typhoon hits:
·Stay inside, close all the windows and stay away from them.
·Try to bring all of your things inside. Strong winds could even blow away your bikes!
·Listen to the radio or TV for important information.
·If you're told to go to a safer place, do so right away.Which picture can tell meaning of the underlined sentences "... it starts to move higher up into the sky. Then, cooler air around it rushes in. '?
When a typhoon comes, we cannot
A.close all the windows |
B.listen to typhoon news |
C.stay outside with our bikes |
D.stay inside the strong house |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.The warmer the air gets, the slower the wind moves. |
B.This year Typhoon Peal killed 164 people in Zhejiang. |
C.The strongest winds and hardest rains are in the eye of typhoon. |
D.A typhoon will happen when the wind goes faster than 30 meters a second. |
NOT all memories are sweet. Some people -- all their lives trying to forget bad experiences. Violence and traffic accidents can leave people with terrible physical and emotional scars (伤痕).
Now American researchers think they are close to developing a pill, which will help people forget bad memories. The pill is designed to be taken immediately after a frightening experience. They hope it might reduce, or possibly erase, the effect of painful memories.
In November, experts tested a drug on people in the US and France. The drug stops the body producing chemicals that fix memories in the brain (大脑). So far the research has suggested that only the emotional effects of memories may be reduced, not that the memories are erased.
The research has caused a great deal of discussion. Some think it is a bad idea, while others support it.
Supporters say it could lead to pills that prevent or treat soldiers' troubling memories after war. They say that there are many people who suffer from terrible memories.
"Some memories can destroy people's lives. They come back to you when you don't want to have them in a daydream or nightmare (噩梦). They usually come with very painful emotions," said Roger Pitman, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. "This could relieve a lot of that suffering."
But those who are against the research say that changing memories is very dangerous because memories give us our identity (特质). They also help us all avoid the mistakes of the past.
"All of us can think of bad events in our lives that were horrible at the time but make us who we are. I'm not sure we want to wipe those memories out, "said Rebecca Dresser, a medical ethicist.The passage is mainly about
A.a new medical invention |
B.a new research on the pill |
C.a way of erasing painful memories |
D.a discussion about the research on the pill |
The drug tested on people can
A.cause the brain to fix memories |
B.stop people remembering bad experiences |
C.prevent body producing certain chemicals |
D.erase the emotional effects of memories |
We can infer from the passage that
A.people doubt the effects of the pills |
B.the pill will stop people's bad experiences |
C.taking the pill will do harm to people's health |
D.the pill has probably been produced in America |
Which of the following does Rebecca Dresser agree with?
A.Some memories can destroy people's lives. |
B.People want to remove bad memories. |
C.Experiencing bad events makes us different from others. |
D.The pill will reduce people's sufferings from bad memories. |
In Britain you’re allowed to drive a car when you’re seventeen. You have to get a special two-year driving license before you can start. When you’re learning,someone with a full license always has to be in the car with you because you aren’t allowed to drive the car on the road alone. You don’t have to go to a driving school --- a friend can teach you. The person with you isn’t allowed to take money for the lesson unless he’s got a teacher’s license.
Before you’re allowed to have a full license, you have to take a driving test. You can take a test in your own car, but it has to be fit for the road. In the test you have to drive round for about half an hour and then answer a few questions. If you don’t pass the test, you’re allowed to take it again a few weeks later if you want to. In 1970 a woman passed her fortieth test after 212 driving lessons! When you’ve passed your test, you don’t have to take it again, and you’re allowed to go on driving as long as you like. Britain’s oldest driver was a man who drove in 1974 at the age of 100.
Before 1904 everyone was allowed to drive, even children. Then from 1904 car drivers had to have a license. But they didn’t have to take a test until 1935. On the early days of car driving, before 1878, cars weren’t allowed to go faster than four miles an hour, and someone had to lead the car with a red flag.A person can’t take money for driving lessons unless he __________.
A.has learnt to drive in a driving school |
B.has a full driving license |
C.has a full license and a teacher’s license |
D.is given a special two-year driving license |
In the driving test, one _______________________.
A.mustn’t drive his car, even though the car is fit for the road |
B.is usually asked to drive on roads for some time |
C.has to be examined(考查) only in car driving skills |
D.must drive around for more than an hour |
When can I take the driving test again if I don’t pass it?
A.a few years later |
B.right after the first test |
C.a few weeks later |
D.never |
Which of the following is NOT true?
A.There is no limit (限制)to the age of an old man who drives a car. |
B.One can take a driving test again and again until he passes it. |
C.There was a speed limit to cars before 1878. |
D.A car driver didn’t have to get a limit license until 1935. |
The best title for the passage is _____________.
A.Driving Licenses in Britain |
B.Tests for Britain People |
C.Driving Cars |
D.Young Men’s Driving Licenses |