Throughout July 1945, the Japanese mainland, from Tokyo on Honshu northward to the coast of Hokkaido, were bombed as if an invasion were about to take place. In fact, something far more threatening was at hand, as the Americans were telling Stalin at Potsdam.(伯茨坦)
In 1939 physicists in the United States had learned of experiments in Germany showing the possibility of atomic power and understood the coming damage of an atomic bomb. On August 2, 1939, Albert Einstein warned President Roosevelt of the danger of Nazi Germany’s advances in development of the atomic bomb. Eventually, the U.S. Office of Scientific Research Development was created in June 1941 and given combined responsibility with the War Department in the Manhattan Project to develop a nuclear bomb. After four years of research and development efforts, an atomic device was set off on July 16, 1945, in a desert area at Alamogordo, New Mexico, producing an explosive power equal to that of more than 15,000 tons of TNT. Thus, the atomic bomb was born. Truman, the new U.S. president, believed that this terrible object might be used to defeat Japan in a way less costly of U.S. lives than an ordinary invasion of the Japanese homeland. Japan’s unsatisfactory reply to the Allies’ Potsdam Declaration decided the matter.
On August 6, 1945, an atomic bomb, carried from Tinian Island in the Mariana in a specially equipped B-29 was dropped on Hiroshima, at the southern end of Honshu. The combined heat and explosion destroyed everything in the explosion’s immediate neighbourhood , produced fires that burned out almost 4.4 square miles completely, and killed between 70,000 and 80,000 people, in addition to injuring more than 70,000 others. A second bomb dropped on Nagasaki on August 9, killed between 35,000 and 40,000 people, injured a like number and ruined 1.8 square miles.What is the main idea of the passage?
A.An atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. |
B.After research and development efforts, an atomic bomb was born. |
C.An invasion was about to take place with the use of the atomic bomb. |
D.The birth and use of the atomic bomb ended the Second World War. |
Albert Einstein warned Roosevelt of _________.
A.Nazi Germany’ success in making an atomic bomb |
B.the possibility of atomic power from Nazi Germany |
C.Japan’s unsatisfactory reply to the Allies’ Potsdam Declaration |
D.destruction of everything from the explosion of the atomic bomb |
What made the U.S. decide to drop the atomic bombs over Japan?
A.Truman’s becoming the president of the United States. |
B.The great destruction power of the atomic bomb. |
C.Reducing the cost of its lives. |
D.Not being content with Japan’s reply. |
How many people were killed by the two bombs dropped in Japan?
A.Between 105,000 and 120,000 people. |
B.Between 35,000 and 40,000 people. |
C.Between 70,000 and 80,000 people. |
D.Between 140,000 and 150,000 people. |
Who do you think was the most important woman of the past 100 years?
Jane Addams (1860 - 1935)
Addams helped the poor and worked for peace. She created shelters, education opportunities and services for people in need. In 1931, Addams became the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Rachel Carson (1907 - 1964)
Rachel Carson was born in the rural river town of Springdale, Pennsylvania in America. The popular 1962 book “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson made people realize the dangers and the harmful effects (影响) of pollution on humans and on the world’s lakes and oceans.
Angela Merkel (1954 - )
In 2005, Germans chose Angela Merkel as their first woman head of the country. She had been a scientist in the past. As Germany’s leader, she has had an effect on the whole world.
Sandra Day O’Connor (1930 - )
When Sandra Day O’Connor finished her class at Stanford Law School, in 1952, she could not find work because she was a woman. However, she became the first woman to join the U.S. Supreme Court (最高法院) in 1981 after years of hard work.
Margaret Thatcher (1925 - )
In 1979, Margaret Thatcher became Britain’s first woman Prime Minister (首相). She served until 1990, which made her the first British leader to serve three terms in a row. Because of her high standards and strong will, people called her Britain’s Iron Lady.
Marie Curie (1867-1934)
Polish-born scientist Marie Curie discovered that some types of metal give off energy called radiation (辐射能). Her research led to new medical treatments and arms. She received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903 and in Chemistry in 1911. Who once won the Nobel Prize?
A.Jane Addams and Marie Curie. |
B.Jane Addams and Margaret Thatcher. |
C.Marie Curie and Angela Merkel. |
D.Marie Curie and Rachel Carson. |
We can infer from the text that Rachel Carson worked to _____.
A.help the poor |
B.spread geographic knowledge |
C.protect the environment |
D.protect the rights of women |
What do Angela Merkel and Margaret Thatcher have in common?
A.Both of them were scientists before coming to power. |
B.Both of them are the first woman head of their country. |
C.Both of them are famous for being strict. |
D.Both of them have worked for three terms. |
Who once failed to find a job?
A.Jane Addams. | B.Sandra Day O’Connor. |
C.Rachel Carson. | D.Margaret Thatcher. |
What would be the best title for the text?
A.Great women | B.Famous scientists |
C.Strong leaders | D.Ways to success for women |
Christmas Eve was tomorrow. I hoped one of the packages that held a camera had already been placed under the Christmas tree. It was the only thing I wanted. I had been dropping hints to my parents. I love taking photos. My bedroom walls are covered with photos I had taken with my mom’s old camera. I’m always trying to capture (捕捉) those perfect moments in which you can hear the laughter or touch the beautiful scene, but my camera has always seemed to fall short.
I knew Mom had put a few presents under the tree this morning, so I went on a hunt in my mom’s room. I opened the door and found my Christmas present was lying unwrapped on the floor — a big pink cat. I felt so disappointed.
Mom seemed to notice that, and she tried to cheer me up. “Stacy, I got your present today. I am so excited to surprise you!” “I can’t wait,” I said.
The next day I couldn’t wait any longer. I needed to tell her.
“Mom, may I talk to you for a second?”
“Sure, dear. What do you need to talk about?” she asked.
And so it came — how upset I was that I was getting a cat.
“Stacy, that cat is for your sister Julia!” she said with a smile.
“Then what am I getting?” I asked.
She just smiled. “You’ll have to wait and see.”
Next morning, I happily got into the living room and sat next to the tree. I pulled out the box with my name on it and opened the wrapping paper to find ...
My camera! “Thank you!” I said to both Dad and Mom.
Dad picked up the camera and took a picture of Julia, Mom and me. It has become one of my favorite pictures. Just on that Christmas morning, I took lots of photos with my camera — my little sister making a face, my parents giving me a soft smile — and all of these photos have come to mean one thing to me: love.The underlined phrase “dropping hints” in Para-graph 1 means _____.
A.talking often | B.suggesting indirectly |
C.sending presents | D.taking pictures |
Why did Stacy feel disappointed at first?
A.Her mother couldn’t understand her at all. |
B.Her mother didn’t buy her any Christmas gift. |
C.She mistook her sister’s Christmas gift for hers. |
D.She didn’t find her present in her mom’s room. |
We can learn from the passage that _____.
A.her mother bought Stacy a camera after discovering her disappointment |
B.her mother knew what gift Stacy wanted for Christmas |
C.Stacy thought it’s OK to have an old camera |
D.Stacy finally got her gift on Christmas Eve |
What is the last paragraph mainly about?
A.The family happiness captured by the camera. |
B.The nice Christmas that Stacy spent. |
C.The beautiful pictures that Stacy took. |
D.The true love that Stacy got from her parents. |
What would be the best title for the passage?
A.A Christmas gift as wished |
B.Love is more important than gifts |
C.A wonderful Christmas |
D.Love can not be bought |
A new plan for getting children to and from school is being started by a local government in Eastern England. This could end the worries of many parents fearful for their children's safety on the roads.
Until now the local government have only been prepared to provide bus services for children living more than three miles from their school,or sometimes less if special reasons existed. Now it has been decided that if a group of parents ask for help in organizing transport they will be prepared to go ahead,as long as the arrangement will not lose money and children taking part will be attending their nearest school.
The new plan is to be tried out this term for children living at Milton who attend Impington School.The children live just within the three—mile limit and the local government have said in the past that they will not undertake to provide free transport to the school.But now they have agreed to offer a sum of money for a bus service from Milton to Impington and back,a plan which has the support of the school’s headmaster.
Between 50 and 60 parents have said they would like their children to take part. Final calculations have still to be carried out,but a government official has said the cost to parents should be less than£20 a term.
They have been able to arrange the service at a low cost because there is already an agreement with the bus company for a bus to take children who live further away to Impington. The same bus would now just make one more journey to pick up the Milton children.The official said they would get in touch with other groups of parents who in the past had asked if transport could be provided for their children, to see if they would like to take part in the new plan. What is the aim of the plan?
A.To prevent the students road accidents |
B.To relieve the traffic pressure |
C.To save time for the parents and students. |
D.To help the parents save money. |
The new bus service will be paid for by
A.the parents | B.the local government |
C.the bus company | D.the local government and the parents |
Which of the following is possible if the plan is carried out?
A.The bus company will make much more money. |
B.The children can choose whatever school they like. |
C.The parents can get rid of their worries. |
D.The students in Impington School can have free bus rides. |
This passage is most probably ·
A.a personal letter | B.an advertisement |
C.a headmaster’s report | D.a newspaper article |
Professor Barry Wellman of the University of Toronto in Canada has invented a term to describe the way many North Americans interact(交流,沟通) these days. The term is “networked individualism”. This concept is not easy to understand because the words seem to have opposite meanings. How can we be individuals(个人,个体) and be networked at the same time? You need other people for networks.
Here is what Professor Wellman means. Before the invention of the Internet and e-mail, our social networks included live interactions with relatives, neighbors, and friends. Some of the interaction was by phone, but it was still voice to voice, person to person, in real time.
A recent research study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project showed that for a lot of people, electronic interaction through the computer has replaced this person-to-person interaction. However, a lot of people interviewed for the Pew study say that’s a good thing. Why?
In the past, many people were worried that the Internet isolated (孤立)us and caused us to spend too much time in the imaginary world of the computer. But the Pew study discovered that the opposite is true. The Internet connects us with more real people than expected—helpful people who can give advice on careers, medical problems, raising children, and choosing a school or college. About 60 million Americans told Pew that the Internet plays an important role in helping them make major life decisions.
Thanks to the computer, we are able to be alone and together with other people — at the same time!The underlined phrase “networked individualism” probably means that by using computers people ________.
A.stick to their own ways no matter what other people say |
B.have the rights and freedom to do things of their own interest |
C.do things in their own ways and express opinions different from other people |
D.are able to keep to themselves but at the same time reach out to other people |
According to the Pew study, what do many people rely on to make major life decisions?
A.Networks | B.Friends | C.Phones | D.Parents. |
It can be inferred from the Pew study that _______.
A.people have been separated from each other by using computers |
B.the Internet makes people waste a lot of time and feel very lonely |
C.the Internet has become a tool for a new kind of social communication |
D.a lot of people regard the person-to-person communication as a good thing |
Which would be the best title for this passage?
A.We’re Alone on the Internet. |
B.We’re Communicating on the Internet. |
C.We’re Alone Together on the Internet. |
D.We’re in the Imaginary World of the Internet |
Memory, they say, is a matter of practice and exercise. If you have the wish and really made a conscious(自觉的)effort, then you can quite easily improve your ability to remember things. But even if you are successful, there are times when your memory seems to play tricks on you.
Sometimes you remember things that really did not happen. One morning last week, for example, I got up and found that I had left the front door unlocked all night, yet I clearly remember locking it carefully the night before.
Memory “trick” work the other way as well. Once in a while you remember not doing something, and then find out that you did. One day last month, for example, I was sitting in a barber(理发师)shop waiting for my turn to get a haircut, and suddenly I realized that I had got a haircut two days before at the barber shop across the street from my office.
We always seem to find something funny and amusing(有趣的)in incidents caused by people’s forgetfulness or absent-mindedness. Stories about absent-minded professors have been told for years, and we never got tired of hearing new ones. Unfortunately, however, absent-mindedness is not always funny. There are times when “trick” of our memory can cause us great trouble.If you want to have a good memory, .
A.you should force yourself to remember things |
B.you should make a conscious effort of practice and exercise |
C.you should never stop learning |
D.you should try hard to remember tings |
Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A.One night the writer forgot to lock the front door. |
B.One night the writer forgot having locked the front door. |
C.The writer remembered to lock the door. |
D.the writer remembered unlocking the front door. |
In the passage, the writer seems to tell you .
A.forgetting things is serious and dangerous |
B.always forgetting things is understandable |
C.forgetting things at times is natural |
D.the way to protect yourself from memory “tricks” |
The best title for this passage is .
A.How to Get a Good Memory |
B.“Tricks” Of Memory |
C.Forgetfulness and Absent-mindedness is Dangerous |
D.Get Rid of Absent-mindedness |