The year is 2094. It has been announced that a comet (彗星) is heading towards the Earth. Most of it will miss our plant, but two pieces will probably hit the southern half of the Earth.
On 17 July, a piece four kilometers wide enters the Earth’s atmosphere(大气层) with a massive explosion. About half of the piece is destroyed, but the remaining part hits the South Atlantic at 200 times the speed of sound. The sea boils and a huge hole is made in the sea bed. Huge waves are created and spread outwards from the hole. The wall of water, a kilometer high, rushes towards southern Africa at 800 kilometers an hour. Cities on the African coast are totally destroyed and millions of people are drowned.
Before the waves reach South America, the second piece of the comet lands in Argentina. Earthquakes and volcanoes are set off in the Andes Mountains. The shock waves move north into California and all around the Pacific Ocean. The cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco and Tokyo are completely destroyed by earthquakes. Millions of people in the southern half of the earth are already dead, but the north won’t escape for long. Because of the explosions, the sun is hidden by clouds of dust, and temperatures around the world fall to almost zero. Crops are ruined. The sun won’t be seen again for many years. Wars break out as countries fight for food. A year later, no more than 10 million remain alive.
Could it really happen? In fact, it has already happened more than once in the history of the Earth. The dinosaurs were on the Earth for over 160 million years. Then 65 million years ago they suddenly disappeared. Many scientists believe that the Earth was hit by a piece of object in space. The dinosaurs couldn’t live through the cold climate that followed and they died out. Will we meet the same end?What is mainly described in the passage?
A.An event of imagination. |
B.A scientific adventure. |
C.A research on space. |
D.A historic discovery. |
When the first piece hits the South Atlantic , it causes _____
A.an earthquake | B.damages to cities |
C.an Earth explosion | D.huge waves |
Why can’t the northern half of the earth escape for long?
A.Because the light and heat from the sun can not reach the earth. |
B.Because the land is covered with water |
C.Because people there can not live at the temperature of zero. |
D.Because wars break out among countries. |
By giving the example of dinosaurs, the author tries to prove______
A.the Earth could be hit by other objects in space |
B.what happened 65 million years ago was an invented story |
C.the human beings will die out in 2094 |
D.animals could not live in the cold climate |
We may guess that the writer is ______________.
A.worried | B.practical |
C.a scientist | D.full of imagination |
Nearly a quarter-century after a German boy threw a message in a bottle off a ship in the Baltic Sea, he’s received an answer.
A 13-year-old Russian, Daniil Korotkikh, was walking with his parents on a beach when he saw something lying in the sand.
“I saw that bottle and it looked interesting,” Korotkikh told The Associated Press on Tuesday. “it looked like a German beer bottle and there was a message inside. ”
It said, “My name is Frank, and I’m five years old. My dad and I are traveling on a ship to Denmark. If you find this letter, please write back to me, and I will write back to you.” The letter, dated 1987, included an address in the town of Coesfeld.
The boy in the letter, Frank Uesbeck, is now 29. His parents still live at the letter’s address.
The Russian boy and the German man met each other earlier this month through an internet video link. The Russian boy said he did not believe that the bottle actually spent 24 years in the sea. He believed it had been hidden under the sand where he found it for a long time.
Uesbeck was especially happy that he was able to have a positive effect on a life of a young person far away from Germany. “It‘s really a wonderful story,” he said. “And who knows? Perhaps one day we will actually be able to arrange a meeting in person. ”What is this passage mainly about?
A.Traveling on a ship. | B.A beautiful beer bottle. |
C.Message in a bottle. | D.Meeting an old friend. |
When the German boy threw the bottle into the sea, ________________.
A.he was going back home. |
B.he was traveling to Denmark by ship with his dad. |
C.he was walking with his parents on a beach. |
D.he was already 29 years old. |
According to the text, which of the following statements is TRUE?
A.Korotkikh’s parents still live in the town of Coesfeld. |
B.The German boy did not believe that the bottle actually spent 24 years in the sea. |
C.Frank Uesbeck and Daniil Korotkikh have met each other in person. |
D.Daniil Korotkikh and Frank Uesbeck have got in touch with each other. |
Why was Uesbeck very happy when he got the information of the 24 years’ beer bottle?
A.Because he could have a new friend. |
B.Because the two boys could surf the internet together. |
C.Because he could have a positive influence on a life of a young person. |
D.Because he finally got what he had lost. |
Two Chinese living in South Africa were killed in a robbery (抢劫) on February 5, bringing the total number of Chinese killed in the country to four in less than a month.
Chen Jianqing, 35, from Southeast China's Fujian Province, who ran a shop with her husband in a small town 45 kilometers away from South African capital Johannesburg, was shot dead.
"One of her business partners died later in the hospital," the Chinese consulate (领事馆) officials in Johannesburg said yesterday. "Local police are trying to find more information about the case. And we have told the victims' (遇难者的) relatives and are helping them come to Johannesburg," Consul Wu Gang told China Daily. Chen's husband was injured during the robbery but did not suffer seriously, said Wu.
The robbery happened at about 5:45 pm local time and the armed robbers ran away after taking more than 50,000 South African rand (US $8,200) and some jewelry, Xinhua News Agency reported.
The killing happened just three days after Chen Jingmin, a 23-year-old man from Qingdao, Shandong Province, was shot dead north outside Johannesburg by armed robbers. On January 10, a Hong Kong businessman was attacked and robbed at his home in Johannesburg and died the next day in the hospital. All these happened just in less than a month.
According to records, there were more than 40 robberies attacking Chinese in South Africa last year, in which eight were killed. More than 100,000 Chinese are doing various kinds of businesses in South Africa, according to a Chinese official in the country. An increasing number of them are becoming targets (目标) of robbers after buying big houses or luxury cars, the official said.The passage is probably ______.
A.a business story | B.a scientific article |
C.a newspaper report | D.an official document |
Who were killed on February 5 in a small town near Johannesburg?
A.Chen Jianqing and her husband. |
B.Chen Jianqing and one of her partners. |
C.Chen Jingmin and a Hong Kong businessman. |
D.Chen Jingmin and one of his relatives. |
How many Chinese were killed in South Africa since January ?
A.2 | B.4. | C.5. | D.8. |
_______are more likely to be robbed in South Africa.
A.Those Chinese who depend too much on local police |
B.Those Chinese who live near the capital of South Africa |
C.Those Chinese who open shops selling Chinese goods |
D.Those Chinese who leave others the impression of being rich |
Friends play a very important part in everyone’s life. Friendship usually develops during childhood. New friends are made when you progress through school. Those friends that you make as a student can usually last long. Friends influence your development, maturity (成熟) and sense of responsibility. A familiar expression is “you can tell a lot about a person by knowing who his friends are.” Friendship is based on common interests. If you like sports, most of your friends are likely to be athletic. If you enjoy reading and shopping, most of your friends do the same.
Some people call you their friends for the wrong reason. These people are not really friends. They are only “friends” on the outside, not the inside where it counts. They only want to be your friends if it is to their advantage. True friends are there whether you are rich or poor. It is easy to have many so-called “friends” if you are rich. By this time you should be able to separate your friends into the real or the “false”.
True friends are most special. They are also difficult to find. You can consider yourself very lucky if you have one true friend. This friend is eager to help you whenever necessary. He or she knows you would do the same for them. A true friend is someone you can talk to about any subject or problem. You and your true friend have good understanding of each other. True friends support you, take your side, and build up your confidence.“So-called” friends refer to .
A.fair-weather friends |
B.those who want to benefit from you |
C.the friends who are on the surface only |
D.all of the above |
Which of the following is NOT true?
A.You should tell true friends from false ones. |
B.True friendship is too difficult to find. |
C.You can share your joys and sorrows with a true friend. |
D.A true friend will stand by you whatever happens. |
The proper title for this article may be “”.
A.Friendliness | B.What friends like |
C.True Friends | D.So-called Friends |
Su Hua is studying at Cambridge, UK. She has bought a bicycle and is worried about security. Her friend, Kate, found this article and sent it to her.
Introduction
A lot of crime is against bicycles. About 150,000 bicycles are stolen every year and most are never found. You can prevent this happening by following a few careful steps.
Basic Security
Do not leave your bicycle in out-of-the-way places. Always lock your bicycle when you leave. Secure it to lampposts or trees. Take off smaller parts and take them with you, for example lights and saddles(车座).
Locks
Get a good lock. There are many different types in the shop. Buy one that has been tested against attack. Ask for a recommendation from a bike shop.
Marking
Security marking your bike can act as a deterrent(威慑) to a thief. It can also help the police find your bicycle. It should be clearly written and include your postcode and your house or flat number. This will provide a simple way to identify your bicycle.
Registration
There are a number of companies who will mark your bicycle for you. They will then put your registration number and personal details on their computer database. Then if your bicycle is found it will be easy to contact you.
Finally
Keep a record of the bicycle yourself: its make, model and registration number. You can even take a photograph of it, this will prove the bicycle belongs to you.Which part of the article gives you information on how to lock up your bicycle when you leave it?
A.Locks | B.Marking | C.Registration | D.Basic Security |
The article advises you to keep a record of your bicycle ____________.
A.in the bike shop and your computer |
B.in a police station and security company |
C.in a security company and your university |
D.by yourself and in a security company |
Which of the following statements is true?
A.More than 150,000 bicycles are stolen every year. |
B.Leave your bicycle in out-of-the-way places. |
C.Taking a photograph of your bike will help prove the bicycle belongs to you. |
D.Always lock your bicycle even if you don’t leave. |
The main purpose of this article is _____________.
A.to tell you what to do if your bicycle is stolen |
B.to suggest ways of keeping your bicycle safe |
C.to give you advice on where to buy a good lock |
D.to say why you shouldn’t keep your bicycle in a quiet place |
A couple had a son eleven years after they married. They were a loving couple and the boy was the apple of their eye. When the boy was around four years old, one day the father was very tired after work so he asked his wife to pick up their son. The mother, who was very busy in the kitchen, totally forgot about it.
Later the boy lost his way on the street. When the son was found missing, the mother hurried to look for him, but she didn’t find him. The mother felt very sad and didn’t know how to face her husband.
When the father went to the police station after hearing that the son was missing, he looked at his wife and said just four words. What do you think the four words were? The husband just said "I love you, darling."
The son was missing. If she had picked him up earlier, this would not have happened. There is no point in blaming (责备) anyone. His wife had also lost her only child. What his wife needed at that moment was comfort and understanding from her husband. That is what the husband gave his wife. Several weeks later, with the help of the police, the couple finally found their lost son. The family’s relationship became stronger over that time.
Sometimes we spend lots of time asking who is to blame. We miss many chances to give each other support and let each other feel the warmth of human relationships. Get rid of all your unwillingness to forgive, selfishness, and fears and you will find the world is much more wonderful. What is the meaning of the underlined phrase “the apple of their eye”
A.A person who always has a sweet smile in their opinion. |
B.A person who is as pretty as an apple in their opinion. |
C.A person who is loved more than anyone else in their opinion. |
D.A person who looks like an apple in their opinion. |
Why didn’t the father pick the boy up himself?
A.He was very lazy. |
B.He thought the mother had picked him up. |
C.He forgot to pick him up. |
D.He was too tired to do it. |
What can we learn from this passage?
A.Be careful in everything you do. |
B.Love is the most important thing. |
C.Learn to forgive others. |
D.Everyone can make mistakes. |
What do you think of the husband?
A.Warm-hearted. | B.Careful. | C.Hard-working. | D.Broad-minded. |