Both warm-blooded and cold-blooded desert animals have ways to escape the desert heat. Warm- blooded desert animals, such as rats and mice, rest during the day, often staying in cool underground burrows. At night they search for food. Animals that are out during the day, such as cold-blooded lizards and snakes, are active only for short periods. As their body temperature rises, these reptiles(爬行动物) move into the shade in order to cool down. In the early evening, when the sun grows weaker, the reptiles become more active and begin their search for food again.
Getting enough water to survive is a major problem for all desert animals. Some desert animals, like desert birds, manage to find water holes. Other desert animals, such as the kangaroo rat and the related jerboa, get water only from the food that they eat. Because these animals eat mainly dry seeds, they must survive on a tiny amount of water.
Most deserts have only a small number of frogs and toads because these animals must be near water to survive. Yet even these creatures have adapted(适应) to desert conditions. When small amounts of water collect in temporary streams, the desert-living frogs and toads become active. After a rainfall, they lay their eggs. The eggs grow into tadpoles in a few days and into adults in just four weeks. When the puddles(水坑) dry up, the adult frogs or toads dig into the ground. Their metabolism(新陈代谢) slows, and they stay beneath the ground until the next rain, which may be as good as a year away. Until then, their bodily activities continue at a reduced rate.
The camel — often called the ship of the desert — is one of the most successful desert animals. Camels can go for long periods without water, but eventually they must drink. When water becomes available to them after a long drought, they may drink 95 liters of water or more. When water is not available, what helps camels survive the desert heat is the fat stored in their humps(驼峰). A camel’s hump contains about 12 kilograms of fat. Fat is rich in hydrogen. As the fat is digested, hydrogen from the fat combines with oxygen in the air that the camel breathes. The result is H2O, or water. Each kilogram of fat that a camel digests produces about a liter of water. Desert animals are usually more active at night because _____.
A.it is cooler at night |
B.it is easier to find water |
C.they like the dark |
D.they are less likely to be attacked at night |
Which of the following desert animals can get water only from the food?
A.The camel. |
B.The kangaroo. |
C.The frog. |
D.The rat. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.All the desert animals rest during the day. |
B.All the desert animals don’t rest during the day. |
C.Cold-blooded desert animals are out most of the day. |
D.None of the cold-blooded desert animals go out during the day. |
The title for this passage could probably be _____.
A.Hot Deserts |
B.Desert Animals |
C.How Desert Animals Get Water |
D.Ways To Escape the Desert Heat |
The underlined word “burrows” in the first paragraph can be replaced by _____.
A.holes |
B.caves |
C.rooms |
D.openings |
I decided to go back to school in the fall of 2008 after not being happy with my current job and financial status. I obtained my Associate’s Degree in May 2002 in Commercial Arts. After graduation, I had trouble obtaining a job in that field. For years, I was going from one job to another feeling unfilled, and I was not satisfied with the instability.
I decided to go back to school for either International Business or Psychology. I weighed the pros and cons of both professions and Psychology won. I like helping my friends and family, when they go through hard situations in their life by giving them sound advice and being honest with them. Also, I was interested in “the mind”.
I was searching for online schools because my work schedule at my current job would not allow me to attend a regular class. I was nervous about starting online classes because I heard mixed stories from other friends who were taking online classes. I decided to do it anyway to experience something different. I wanted to find an online school that was affordable and reputable. Through my search, I discovered Walden University, which is specially for working adults who want to obtain a bachelor’s degree or higher. The process of getting accepted was easy, which included writing an essay on why I wanted to attend their school, transferring my previous credits, etc.
I am currently enrolled in the Bachelors program for psychology, and I am paying for college via financial-aid loans and grants. This experience has been interesting yet trying as sometimes it was difficult to balance work, school and home life. I learned a lot about psychology and myself. For example, I like writing about current events, relationships and traveling. I thought my English composition was ordinary, but after taking a few classes at Walden University, I improved my English composition and it made me feel confident enough to start writing professionally so I became a freelance (自由撰稿) writer. Currently, I am only three classes away from obtaining my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology! It was one of the best decisions I made in my life.What did the author study originally when he was in college?
A.Psychology | B.Commercial Arts | C.International Business | D.English Composition |
What do we know about the author from Paragraph 2?
A.He decided to study International Business at first. |
B.He wanted to study two majors. |
C.He liked Psychology better. |
D.He chose his major with the help of his friends. |
Why was the author nervous about starting online classes?
A.Because he heard some negative remarks about it. |
B.Because he was worried that he didn’t have enough time to study. |
C.Because he feared he would fail the entrance exam. |
D.Because he was afraid that he didn’t have enough money. |
Which of the following best describes the author’s learning experience?
A.Dull and challenging. | B.Interesting and easy. |
C.Interesting and challenging. | D.Dull and easy |
According to the passage, the author _________.
A.was not able to find a full-time job |
B.is most interested in writing |
C.pays for his schooling with the help of his family |
D.is satisfied with his achievements. |
Looking out of the window, my son saw a tree whose branches were strongly swaying back and forth. “How does the tree move its branches like that?” He asked.
Without rising from my chair, nor looking up from my book, I started to answer, “The tree is not moving the branches, son. The wind is…” But before the words were out, I caught myself. Instead I rose from my chair and moved to the window to join my son. I looked at the tree. From inside our room, from behind the window, I could neither feel nor hear the wind. I saw instead a tree with its branches silently moving and thought to myself, from inside this room, how could I possibly be sure that the branches were moving because of the wind rather than from the tree’s own willing?
As I stood there with my son watching the tree, I became struck by the movement of the branches, the shimmer of the leaves. My mind quieted and I became less sure myself of what was causing the branches to move. Was it the wind, or was it some expressive, independent movement of the tree? “I see what you mean,” I said to my son. “The movement of the tree is very beautiful.”
“Do you think the tree is dancing?” asked my son. “Why would it be dancing?” I asked. “Maybe it is happy because the sun is shining,” he said. “Perhaps,” I said. “Or because it’s spring,” he added, “and it’s not cold any more.” “Perhaps,” I said.
As we continued to watch the tree together, I, too, began to appreciate the dance of the tree. I enjoyed the movement and sway of the branches, seeing little nuances(微妙之处) that I hadn’t noticed before. There seemed to be a rhythm to the movement, first strong and forceful, then light and gentle, then more vigorous, sometimes nearly violent.
“Are trees alive?” my son asked. “Yes, they are alive. Why do you ask?” “Because this tree looks happy,” he answered. “Can a tree be happy or sad?” “What do you mean?” I asked.
“In the winter, trees seem sad,” he said. “Their branches hang down, and they look cold and lonely. But now with the leaves on the tree and the sun shining and the birds flying, it looks happy.”What is the meaning of the underlined word “caught” in Para 2?
A.stopped | B.grasped | C.seized | D.held |
What on earth caused the tree to move?
A.The tree itself felt happy and was dancing. |
B.The tree was too sad to sway as if to get rid of all trouble. |
C.It was the warm spring. |
D.The wind did so. |
What do you think of the boy?
A.Naughty. | B.Imaginative. | C.Clever. | D.Foolish. |
Informal conversation is an important part of any business relationship.Before you start a discussion,however,make sure you understand which topics are suitable and which are considered taboo(禁忌)in a particular culture. Latin Americans enjoy sharing information about their local history, art and customs.You may expect questions about your family,and be sure to show pictures of your children.You may feel free to ask similar questions of your Latin American friends.The French think of conversation as an art form,and they enjoy the value of lively discussions as well as disagreements. For them,arguments can be interesting and they can cover pretty much or any topic ---- as long as they occur in are respectful and intelligent manner.
In the United States,business people like to discuss a wide range of topics,including opinions about work,family,hobbies,and politics. In Japan,China,and Korea,however,people are much more private.They do not share much about their thoughts,feelings,or emotions because they feel that doing so might take away from the harmonious business relationship they’re trying to build.Middle Easterners are also private about their personal lives and family matters.It is considered rude,for example,to ask a businessman from Saudi Arabia about his wife or children.
As a general rule,it’s best not to talk about politics or religion with your business friends.This can get you into trouble,even in the United States,where people hold different religious views.In addition,discussing one’s salary is usually considered unsuitable.Sports is typically a friendly subject in most parts of the world,although be careful not to criticize national sport.Instead,be friendly and praise your host’s team.The author considers politics and religion ___________.
A.cheerful topics |
B.taboo |
C.rude topics |
D.topics that can never be talked about |
Which is typically a friendly topic in most places according to the author?
A.Sports. | B.Children. |
C.Personal feelings. | D.Families. |
Why are people from Asia more private in their conversation with others?
A.They don’t want to talk much with others. |
B.They don’t want to have their good relationship with others harmed by informal conversation。 |
C.They are afraid to argue with their colleagues. |
D.They want to keep their feelings to themselves. |
What shouldn’t you do when talking about sports with colleagues from another country?
A.Praising your own country’s sports. |
B.Criticizing your own country’s sports. |
C.Praising the sports of your colleagues’ country. |
D.Criticizing the sports of your colleagues’ country. |
Some scientists say that animals in the ocean are increasingly threatened by noise pollution caused by human beings. The noise that affect sea creatures comes from a number of human activities. It is caused mainly by industrial underwater explosions, ocean drilling, and ship engines. Such noises are added to natural sounds. These sounds include the breaking of ice fields, underwater earthquakes, and sounds made by animals themselves.
Decibels(分贝)measured in water are different from those measured on land. A noise of one hundred and twenty decibels on land causes pain to human ears. In water, a decibel level of one hundred and ninety-five would have the same effect.
Some scientists have proposed setting a noise limit of one hundred and twenty decibels in oceans. They have observed that noises at that level can frighten and confuse whales.
A team of American and Canadian scientists discovered that loud noises can seriously injure some animals. The research team found that powerful underwater explosions were causing whales in the area to lose their hearing. This seriously affected the whales’ ability to exchange information and find their way. Some of the whales even died. The explosions had caused their ears to bleed and become infected.
Many researchers whose work depends on ocean sounds object to a limit of one hundred and twenty decibels. They say such a limit would mean an end to important industrial and scientific research.
Scientists do not know how much and what kinds of noises are harmful to ocean animals. However, many scientists suspect that noise is a greater danger than they believed. They want to prevent noises from harming creatures in the ocean.According to the passage, which of the following is increasingly dangerous to sea creatures?
A.The man-made noises. |
B.The noises made by themselves. |
C.The sound of earthquakes. |
D.The sound of the ice-breaking. |
As to the influence of noises on whales, which of the following statements is true?
A.They are deaf to noises. |
B.Noises at a certain level may hurt them. |
C.They are easily confused by noises. |
D.Noises will limit their ability to reproduce. |
We can know from the passage that many scientists think that the noise limit of one hundred twenty decibels would______.
A.prevent them from doing their research work |
B.benefit them a lot in their research work |
C.do good to their health |
D.increase the industrial output |
According to the passage, what will scientists most probably do in the future?
A.They will try their best to decrease noise. |
B.They will work hard to cut down noise pollution. |
C.They will study the effect of different noises. |
D.They will protect animals from harmful noises. |
Many a young person tells me he wants to be a writer. I always encourage such people,but I also explain that there's a big difference between “being a writer” and writing.In most cases these people are dreaming of wealth and fame, not the long hours alone at a typewriter. “You've got to want to write, ”I say to them, “not want to be a writer”.
The reality is that writing is a lonely, private and poor-paying affair. For every writer kissed by fortune there are thousands more whose longing is never rewarded. When I left a 20-year career in the U.S. Coat Guard to become a freelance writer, I had no hope at all.What I did have was a friend who found me a room in a New York apartment building.It didn't even matter that it was cold and had no bathroom.I immediately bought a used typewriter and felt like a real writer.
After a year or so.However, I still hadn't gotten a break and began to doubt myself.It was so hard to sell a story that I hardly made enough to eat.But I knew I wanted to write,l had dreamed about it for years.I wasn't going to be one of those people who die wondering, what if? I would keep putting my dream to the test—even though it meant living with uncertainty and fear of failure.This is the shadow land of hope,and anyone with a dream must learn to live there.The purpose of the passage is to.
A.warn young people of the hardships that a successful writer has to experience |
B.advise young people to give up their idea of becoming a professional writer |
C.show young people it's unrealistic for a writer to seek wealth and fame |
D.encourage young people to be a writer over a long period of time |
What can be concluded from the passage?
A.Real writers often find their work interesting and rewarding. |
B.A writer's success depends on luck rather than on effort. |
C.Famous writers usually live in poverty. |
D.The chances for a writer to become successful are little. |
Why did the author begin to doubt himself after the first year of his writing career?
A.He wasn't able to produce a single book. |
B.He hadn't seen a change for the better. |
C.He wasn't able to have a rest for a whole year. |
D.He found his dream would never come true. |
“…people who die wondering,what if?” refers to “those”.
A.who think too much of the dark side of life |
B.who regret giving up their career halfway |
C.who think a lot without making a decision |
D.who are full of imagination even upon death |
“shadow land” in the last sentence means.
A.the wonderland one often dreams about |
B.the bright future that one is looking forward to |
C.the state of uncertainty before one's final goal is reached |
D.a world that exists only in one's imagination |