The year is 2094. It has been announced that a comet （彗星）is heading towards the earth. Most of it will miss our planet, but two pieces will probably hit the southern half of the earth.
On 17 July, a piece of 4 kilometers wide comet enters the Earth’s atmosphere with a massive explosion（爆炸）. 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 seabed. Huge waves are created and spread outwards form 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（淹死）.
Before the waves reach South America, the second piece of the comet lands in Argentina. Earthquakes and volcanoes ash 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, 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 people 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．A historic discovery. |
| B．An event in imagination. |
| C．A research on space. |
| D．A scientific adventure. |
When the first piece hits the South Atlantic, it causes________.
| A．an earthquake |
| B．hunger |
| C．an Earth explosion |
| D．huge waves |
Why can’t the northern half of the earth escape for long?
| A．Because the land is covered with water. |
| B．Because the light and heat form the sun cannot reach the earth. |
| C．Because people there cannot 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．animals could not live in the cold climate |
| B．what happened 65 million years ago was an invented story |
| C．the human beings will die out in 2094 |
| D．the Earth could be hit by other objects in space |
The type of things we remember are different. Although we tend to remember good things in our lives, bad things have a way of sneaking up (悄悄接近) on us. One such thing I remember happened when I was 10 years old.
I decided to ride my bicycle over a near-by stream. I carefully planned the adventure, and asked my friends to go there and have a watch. This was going to be my moment! I started riding down the hill, picking up speed and then pulled up on the handlebars (自行车把手) at the precise moment and landed face-first into the muddy stream! That painful moment is one that I will never forget. As long as I live, I will remember the pain and embarrassment at that moment. When we do something stupid or thoughtless, it has a way of sticking with us. Fortunately, good momories have a way of over-riding the bad ones. I have memories that I gladly remember, like what happened today.
I had my first conversation with my son today. It was not anything profound. It was a simple connection between father and son. It was one of those bonding moments that you can’t plan or force. They just happen on their own. I was walking into the living room where my son sat in bed watching television attentively. Then he looked up at me and pointed to the television and babbled (含糊的说) something. I asked him if he was watching SpongeBob (海绵宝宝) and he nodded his head and said,“Yes”. It was at that moment that his eyes lit up and it was as if we both realized we had communicated. And how happy I was! Sure, at eighteen months, he probably did not realize what communication was like, but his joy at that moment was evident. It was a moment I will remember all my life.
Good or bad, memories can last a lifetime. As for an unpleasant memory, though we can’t forget it we can get lessons from it and it is like a mirror that will warn us against making such mistakes again. As for a good memory, we should try our best to enjoy it during our lifetime. Such moments are the treasures that we store up forever.The author will always remember what happened when he was ten because he .
| A．drew up a careful plan before taking a ride |
| B．made a fool of himself in face of his friends |
| C．hurt himself seriously while riding down the hill |
| D．succeeded in taking a big adventure over a stream |
The underlined word “profound” in Paragraph 3 probably means “ ” .
| A．needing much thought |
| B．simple and easy to solve |
| C．very funny or interesting |
| D．that often takes place |
Why was the author so happy when hearing his son’s answer “YES”?
| A．Because his son respected the author and was very understanding. |
| B．Because it was the fist time he communicated with his little son. |
| C．Because his little son didn’t make trouble and behaved quite well. |
| D．Because his son could understand the meaning of SpongeBob. |
The author mainly tells us in the last paragraph that .
| A．one’s memories can last all one’s lifetime. |
| B．we should forget the unpleasant memories. |
| C．good memories are the treasures of our life. |
| D．how we should deal with our memories. |
Tired of all the pushing in supermarkets? Fed up with waiting in endless lines to pay for what you have bought? Angry at wasting time in traffic jams only to find no parking spaces when you eventually arrive at the store? If this is you, then online shopping is the answer to your dreams of trouble-free shopping.
Online shopping brings its own challenges. Here are a few things to bear in mind when browsing (浏览) various websites. The claim (声称) made by online sites is that shopping online is a safe and secure way to make purchases. The evidence challenges this. In any case, you only have to be the victim(受害者) of fraud (欺骗) once to experience all the problems that come with this form of stealing. Use only sites that have a trusted history and an excellent reputation(名声).
Another problem is that the appearance of items in reality is often quite different from what you see on your computer screen. This might not be a problem if you are buying washing up powder but could be a major disappointment when that beautiful blue dress you ordered turns up in green. Also, product descriptions are sometimes simply untrue! Perhaps the wisest plan is to purchase items whose design and color are not essential to customer satisfaction.
Some even argue that online shopping indirectly contributes to global warming. Yes, your car can stay parked but how are online goods delivered? Often by some large van pouring out carbon monoxide and adding to our already desperate traffic problems. You are also by now becoming increasingly irritated(使烦恼) by the fact that the delivery is late !
Without question, online shopping is here to stay and it has its benefits. However, perhaps it is not as wonderful as some of its supporters claim it to be.How can online shoppers avoid fraud?
| A．By choosing big websites. |
| B．By collecting shopping evidence. |
| C．By seeking advice from the police. |
| D．By using only trusted websites. |
What does the author tell us about online shopping in Paragraph 3?
| A．Don’t believe product descriptions easily. |
| B．Product appearances are always not good. |
| C．It is usually wise to buy colorful products. |
| D．It is normal for a blue dress to change into green. |
The author agrees with the fact that .
| A．online shopping is a safe way to make purchases |
| B．customers are never satisfied with products |
| C．online shopping has nothing to do with global warming |
| D．delivery delay often makes online shoppers unhappy |
What is the author’s attitude towards online shopping?
| A．It is very popular. |
| B．It is a wise choice. |
| C．It is a double-edged sword(双刃剑). |
| D．It is a waste of time. |
First Lady Michelle Obama is a big fan of volunteering. Volunteering means working for free to help someone else. Mrs. Obama says volunteering is very important. “It should be part of everyone’s life, ” she says.
Many teens agree. They say that helping others feels great and makes a difference. These days, more teens volunteer than work for pay. Teens clean up parks, walk dogs at animal shelters , visit the elderly and more.
Some cities ---- including Seatle, Chicago, and Washingtong,D.C. ----require high school students to volunteer. Students must volunteer in order to graduate. The student volunteers learn new skills and help their communities (社区).
Many parents are in favor of the idea ---- they say volunteering helps teens build job skills. But most teens don’t want to be forced to volunteer. They say they are busy. And they say volunteering is only fun if it’s a choice.
Read both sides of the debate (辩论) and decide.
YES
●Volunteering can help teens get into college or get a job.
●Many cities and towns need help. Volunteers can help keep important programs going.
●Not all teens will volunteer if it isn’t required. Schools should repuire students to do all they can to get ready for adult life.
NO
●Most teens are already very busy with classes, homework, jobs and sports. Forcing them to do more isn’t fair.
●It should be up to each person. Helping out doesn’t feel as good if you have to do it.
●Finding a volunteer job isn’t always easy. Students shouldn’t be kept from graduating because of something they can’t control.The writer mentions Michelle Obama in order to ,
| A．introduce the topic of the text |
| B．explain what volunteering is |
| C．tell what she does for the US |
| D．show she enjoys volunteering |
According to the text, in Chicago, .
| A．finding a volunteer job is quite easy |
| B．more people would rather work for pay |
| C．volunteering is a must for high school students |
| D．college students have to volunteer before graduation |
The underlined part “are in favor of “ in the text means”.
| A．drop | B．develop | C．catch | D．like |
Which question does the text mainly discuss?
| A．Is volunteering good for students? |
| B．What is the best time to volunteer? |
| C．Should students be required to volunteer? |
| D．Which volunteer jobs should students do? |
Moving in with a boyfriend causes women to eat more unhealthily and put on weight. But the opposite is true for men, whose long-term health benefits when they move in with a female partner.
Dieticians at Newcastle University said both partners try to please one another, and so change their dietary habits to suit their other half.
It leads men to eat more light meals, such as salads, fruit and vegetables, while women choose to make creamier, heavier dishes like curry or rich pasta sauces, which may please their partner.
Women still have the strongest long-term influence over the couple’s diet and lifestyle, as they still have the traditional role of shopper and cook in most households.
The report, by Newcastle University’s Human Nutrition Research Centre, reviewed the finding of a variety of research projects from the UK, North America and Australia, which looked at the eating and lifestyle habits of couples.
The research shows that women are more likely to put on weight and increase their consumption of foods high in fat and sugar when they move in with their partner.
Women also use food as a comfort when dealing with emotional stress and have been found to gain weight when a relationship ends, while the same finding has not been observed in men.
Many couples reported food as being central to their partnership, and eating together in the evening was particularly important to many.
Report author and registered dietician Dr. Amelia Lake said, “The research has shown that your partner is a strong influence on lifestyle and people who are trying to live healthier lives should take this factor into consideration.”The underlined word “light” (in Paragraph3) probably means _______.
| A．not very heavy | B．gentle | C．less in fat and sugar | D．not serious and important |
According to the report by Newcastle University’s Human Nutrition Research Centre,
______.
| A．eating together in the evening is a good way to communicate for couples |
| B．women put on weight only because they want to suit their other half |
| C．when men are faced with emotional stress, they will change their dietary habits |
| D．it is wrong to change your dietary habits to suit your partner |
According to the passage, moving in with a girlfriend, men _______.
| A．have to eat more unhealthy food |
| B．have few changes of their dietary habits |
| C．don’t like foods high in fat and sugar at all |
| D．try to eat foods that their girlfriends like |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．Don’t be silly any more, women! | B．Dr. Amelia Lake and his study |
| C．Boyfriends make you fat. | D．Which are better dietary habits? |
In Canada and the United States, there is a new group of children called “satellite kids”, who live in one place but whose parents live in another place.
Asians are immigrating to Canada and the United States in larger numbers than ever before. Most Asians immigrate because they believe that they can give their children a better education in the West. In Asia, especially in China, Japan, and Korea, it is difficult to go to university. Students must first pass the strict national examination. However, in Canada and the United States, it is easy to go to university and anyone who wants to go can go. As a result, Asian parents decide to leave their countries so that their children can go to university.
The problem is that when Asians arrive, they discover that finding a job and making money are more difficult in the West than in the East. Also, they find that they are very lonely, and that they miss their homes. Because of these two reasons, most Asian parents decide to go back to work while their children study in the West. Therefore, these children become “satellite kids”, and most of their parents do not know how sad it is to be a “satellite kid”.
Only until now are Canadians and Americans discovering the “satellite kid” problem. Because these children do not speak English and because their parents are not there to take care of them, they are often absent from school. To be a “satellite kid” means to grow up in a country where you know you are different and where you cannot make friends because you do not speak English well. Also, it means to grow up lonely, because your parents are elsewhere. What these “satellite kids” will probably say to their parents is that it’s better to have parents around than to have a university education.Some Asian parents send their kids abroad because _______.
| A．all foreign universities are better than the ones in their own countries |
| B．they hope their children may easily find a job there |
| C．the kids may not be accepted by universities in their own countries |
| D．the kids want to improve their English and make foreign friends |
“Satellite kids” refer to Asian kids ________.
| A．with university education | B．speaking no English |
| C．without parents | D．living abroad alone |
What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．Parents want better education for their kids. |
| B．Kids in foreign countries alone are badly in need of care from family. |
| C．Parents feel lonely and miss their families. |
| D．Canadians and Americans begin to notice the “satellite kids” problem. |