Humans may not have landed on Mars (火星) just yet, but that isn’t stopping a European company from devising a plan to send four people to the Red Planet within the next few years. This project, called Mars One, aims to send a small group of people to Mars in 2022 and eventually establish a permanent colony on the planet.
“Everything we need to go to Mars exists,” said Mars One co-founder Bas Lansdorp in March 2014. “We have the rockets to send people to Mars, the equipment to land on Mars, the robots to prepare the settlement for humans. For a one-way mission, all the technology exists.” Yet the four astronauts chosen for the trip will be stuck on Mars—forever. And despite Mars One’s thorough planning, there are a number of challenges that may prevent the mission from ever taking place. The biggest road block could be the mission's huge cost ($6 billion). However, Lansdorp is confident that Mars One will be able to fund the project by selling the broadcast rights for the mission and subsequent experiences living on the planet.
Those broadcast rights will also play a part in helping to select the people who will be sent to Mars. Lansdorp said the company will hold a selection process similar to a reality show. Lansdorp is expecting at least 1 million applications from people around the world. In addition to the cost, several other potential problems could inhibit (阻止) the mission to Mars.
“It’s even more challenging to send people there with life support, with food, with air, with all the other things like books, entertainment, means of communication and of providing for their own resources for a long stay on Mars,” said Adam Baker, senior lecturer in space engineering at Kingston University in London. “The size of the rockets you’d need to do this would be absolutely colossal.”According to Project Mars One, humans could send four people to Mars within the next ________years.
| A．seven | B．eight | C．ten | D．six |
According to Bas Lansdorp, which of the following is NOT TRUE?
| A．Robots are prepared for the settlement for humans. |
| B．He could not come up with the fund for Mars One. |
| C．We humans have the rockets to send people to Mars. |
| D．The equipment is ready for humans to land on Mars. |
The word “colossal” in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to ___________.
| A．very large | B．very small |
| C．medium | D．average |
Which of the following is an appropriate title for this passage?
| A．Ready for a Round Trip to Mars |
| B．Ready for a Short Visit to Mars |
| C．Ready for a One-way Trip to Mars |
| D．Ready for a Walk on Mars |
I arrived late one night on a business trip, so I decided to have dinner in the hotel I stayed in. As I was finishing my meal, an elderly couple came in. They were holding hands and had lovely smiles on their faces. They sat three tables from me. I was amazed at the love they showed for each other. It stuck me because it was shortly after ending a 20-year marriage and I still had pain in my heart.
My waiter was also their waiter. As I paid my bill, I asked what their bill was. He told me, and I gave him $40 to pay their bill. He asked if I knew them and I told him “No, I just wanted to repay them for the love that they were showing to each other,” and then I left.
The next day I entered the restaurant again. After I had been seated, the waiter who served me the night before told me that the strangest thing happened after I left the restaurant. When the elderly couple went to pay for their meal, they were told that it had been paid. The waiter just told them what I said. They were amazed. They looked around, asked for the bill of two young couples who were seated together, paid their bill and left.
I smiled and ordered my meal. About 45 minutes later, I finished my meal and was about to head out, but my waiter was nowhere to be found. I explained to the hostess that I needed to pay for my meal and hurry to the airport. She smiled and explained that I would not have to pay, because she felt she should pay for my bill because of the joy brought to the faces of the elderly couple and the amazement of the young couples.
When I told her that they didn’t have to do that, she said with a smile “Love creates Love.”From the first paragraph we know the writer must feel __________.
| A．pleased | B．worried | C．sad | D．nervous |
The elderly couple paid the bill of the two young couples because they __________.
| A．knew the two young couples |
| B．were happy to pass the love they got |
| C．were always ready to help poor people |
| D．wanted to invite the young people to the meal |
The writer’s purpose of writing the passage is to __________.
| A．suggest true love never dies |
| B．share an interesting experience |
| C．encourage us to help people in need |
| D．prove a show of love really makes a difference |
"Hey, don't read in the hallway. Your eyesight will be damaged." You must have heard such warnings many times. “Don’t read in poor light!” This is one of the common beliefs that are supposed to help us live a healthy life. Such beliefs are, however, without scientific basis(根据), according to a paper published recently in the British Medical Journal.
Do you believe in the following sayings?
Reading in poor light ruins your eyesight.
In poor light, you might blink (眨眼) more, suffer from drying and have trouble focusing. But most of eye experts believe it is unlikely to do any damage forever.
We must drink at least eight glasses of water a day.
In 1945, the Nutrition Council in US suggested that people need to drink 2.5 litres of water a day. But the water contained in food, particularly fruit and vegetables, as well as in milk, juice and soft drinks, also counts towards the total.
We only use 10 percent of our brains.
This idea appears as early as 1907. People have long argued about our power of self-improvement and our brains’ possible abilities. But X-rays show that no area of the brain is silent or inactive.
Shaving your legs causes hair to grow black faster and thicker.
This theory is also illusion. Studies say that shaving has no effect on the thickness or rate of hair growth. Just over time, the edge of hair gets worn away and thus the edge of long hair becomes finer (更细). What does the paper say about some common beliefs?
| A．They are useful knowledge in life. |
| B．They help us live in healthy ways. |
| C．They are well-known theories. |
| D．They do not have scientific basis. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage ?
| A．People use 90 percent of their brains. |
| B．Shaving your legs will give you thicker hair. |
| C．Reading in poor light does harm to people’s eyes. |
| D．People need not less than eight glasses of water a day. |
The underlined word “illusion” in the last paragraph probably means “_________”.
| A．a wrong idea | B．a powerful evidence |
| C．an interesting story | D．a clear instruction |
This passage is most likely to be found in __________ .
| A．a newspaper | B．a guide book |
| C．a history textbook | D．an advertisement |
I was riding my special motorbike this past weekend and stopped at a store. As I was getting my wheelchair off the back, a man watched me from his car and I noticed a wheelchair in his back seat. We spoke for a moment and I asked him about the wheelchair. He answered that it was for his daughter. “Well, do you think she would like to go for a ride on my motorbike with me?” I asked. He seemed shocked that a total stranger would ask him this. He thought about it for a second and said, “OK, as long as I can follow you.”
He introduced me to Amy and he sat her on my back seat. Her father followed me for a few miles and she talked non-stop about what she wanted for Christmas.
As we came back to the store she said, “This ride is the best Christmas present I could ever receive. I have been in a wheelchair my whole life and didn’t know I could do this.”Then she turned to him and said, “Oh Daddy, I’m going to be OK. Mr. Bryant does all kinds of things —and I will, too.” Her father hugged me and said, “I was sitting here praying for a gift for Amy that would encourage her. She often felt that her life was dull compared to other children. God answered my prayer(祷告) just now. Now I pray that God will bless you for your gift to Amy today.” Being kind and thoughtful to others, we can be an answer to prayer.How did the father feel at first when the author invited his daughter for a ride?
| A．Anxious. | B．Embarrassed. | C．Surprised. | D．Moved. |
What can we know about the author?
| A．He was a disabled man. | B．He usually drove too fast. |
| C．He worked in a store. | D．He often helped people in trouble. |
According to the passage, the girl _____.
| A．was not allowed to do some sports |
| B．used to be a completely healthy person |
| C．was unwillingly to communicate with a stranger |
| D．usually felt sad about life because of her disability |
What did the author’s gift refer to according to the girl’s father?
| A．The motorbike. | B．The wheelchair. | C．The ride. | D．The prayer. |
| HOLIDAY HOMES IN MALLORCA Sailing and fishing in summer season. Beautifully situated houses with sights of sea and mountains, yet near to shops and restaurants. Cars and bicycles for hire. Sailing and sports clubs nearby. |
| ITALY IN COMFORT Coach trips of Italy with 21 days to visit five Italian cities. Start from London 1st May, 1st September. The trips are guided by Professor Martin Davis, head of Italian Studies, London University. See the arts and culture of historic Italy. |
| KIBBUTZ HOLIDAYS IN ISRAEL Working holidays on a kibbutz (co-operative farm)in Israel. All nationalities welcome for one to three months, if prepared to work with kibbutz members. Rooms, food and trips to historic sights all provided free—you pay only for the special low-cost return flight. |
| TWO WEEKS ON A CARIBBEAN ISLAND Two-week holidays in the Hotel Splendid, on a lovely beach with golden sands, warm sunshine and deep-blue sea. Tennis, golf, sailing and all water sports, trips around the island. Near to town of Castries with lively evening entertainment—dancing. 1 st November—31 st March£720 per person 1 st April—30 th October£850 per person |
Jack and his wife Mary, who have recently retired, want to see places of cultural and historic interest abroad, but Mary hates flying.
Peter and Maria, university students, want to travel as far as possible on little money, and would like to get to know a country by working there for three months with other young people.
Michael, a young computer programmer, has been working hard and needs a holiday to relax in winter. He would like to go somewhere warmer and sunny, where he can swim in the sea, and he enjoys sports and dancing. The best holiday for Jack and Mary would be_________ .
| A．the 21-day coach trip of Italy |
| B．the 2- week stay in the Hotel Splendid |
| C．the 14-day trip around a Caribbean island |
| D．1-3months’ holidays on a kibbutz in Israel |
The most suitable place where Peter and Maria can enjoy their holiday would be_____.
| A．an Italian city | B．a kibbutz in Israel |
| C．a Caribbean island | D．a port in Mallorca |
Michael would most probably go to ________ for his holiday.
| A．Italy | B．Israel | C．Mallorca | D．a Caribbean island |
Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE ?
| A．In Italy, one can travel with a guide. |
| B．In Israel, one can work with others. |
| C．In Caribbean, one needs to pay £720 in summer. |
| D．In Mallorca , one can hire a car for sightseeing. |
Young people can have problems with their minds. Some students become worried because they have to study very hard. Others have trouble getting on well with people like their parents and classmates.
Li Wen, a student from No.2 High School, could not follow his teachers in class and, therefore, was doing badly in his lessons. He was in such low spirits for a long time that he started to cut his finger with a knife.
Another student, 16-year-old Yang Fang from No.1 High School, was afraid of exams. Even though she was well prepared for an exam, when she looked at the exam paper, she couldn’t think of anything to write.
A recent survey from Jiefang Daily says about 18% of Shanghai teenagers have mental problems. Their troubles include being anxious and very unhappy, and having problems in learning and getting on with people.
Liang Yuezhu, an expert on teenagers from Beijing Friendship Hospital has the following advice for teenagers:
Talk to your parents or teachers often.
Take part in group activities and play sports.
Go to see a doctor if you feel unhappy or unwell.The students who often become worried or have trouble getting on with others may have ______.
| A．physical problems | B．mental problems |
| C．fights with their classmates | D．arguments with their parents |
Li Wen cut his finger with a knife because ______.
| A．he was afraid of his teacher |
| B．he was so worried about his studies |
| C．he wanted to frighten his parents |
| D．there was something wrong with his finger |
Liang Yuezhu’s advice tells us that ______.
| A．it’s necessary for the students to be with experts |
| B．only group activities and sports can help the students |
| C．it’s better for the students who have mental problems to join others |
| D．teachers and parents can’t do anything about the students’ mental problems |