With the World Cup always held in the European off-season in June and July, when the tiny nation of Qatar beat out USA Australia, Japan and South Korea, as the venue（地点）of the 2022 World Cup Soccer, there were gasps of surprise from the fans – it was not just because of the size of the competitors, but also the fact that Doha sees an average top temperature of 41 degrees Celsius in June and July with the possibility of top temperatures as high as 50°C.
Since the World Cup cannot be moved to the ‘cooler’ season in January or to a neighboring country with milder weather, Qatar has to figure out a solution to make the game more comfortable. A team of engineering scientists from Qatar University (QU) have taken a more high-tech approach to solving the problem – they've reportedly developed a type of artificial "cloud" designed to float above the World Cup venues and provide fans and players with relief from the blazing sun.
The artificial clouds system was invented by a team led by Dr Saul Abdul Ghani, Head of the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department at QU, who told Gulf News that the "clouds" would be made from a lightweight carbon structure carrying a giant envelope of material containing helium（氦）gas. The "cloud" would also feature solar panels on its upper surface to power engines that allow the cloud to be moved via remote control. While the country officials have promised to improve some of the issues with solar-powered stadiums capable of reducing the temperatures inside, to a comfortable 20℃, there is still concern of how the players will be able to function in the practice fields.
The system would initially cost around US$500,000, with prices coming down with commercial scale production. However, since Qatar needs to find a solution, the money is probably to the issue. The bigger question is, will this team of scientists actually be able to conjure up（兑现）something that they have promised? We will all find out in about eleven years!By mentioning “the European off-season”, the author tells us .
| A．why the World Cup is held |
| B．where the host countries of the World Cup are |
| C．where the World Cup is usually held |
| D．when the World Cup is held |
The artificial clouds system aims to .
| A．carry a giant envelope of material containing helium gas |
| B．air-condition the venues via artificial cloud system |
| C．feature solar panels on its upper surface |
| D．allow the cloud to be moved via remote control |
Which of the following is NOT promised for 2022 World Cup by Qatar?
| A．The tournament season. |
| B．The tournament venues. |
| C．The comfortable temperature for training grounds. |
| D．The comfortable temperature for the matches. |
About how much US dollars are estimated if four artificial clouds float above stadiums?
| A．$ 1,600,000 | B．$ 2,500,000 |
| C．$500,000 | D．$ 2,200,000 |
Which of the following can best serve as the title of this passage?
| A．Will the 2020 World Cup Be Held in the Middle East? |
| B．Qatar’s 2022 World Cup in High Temperature |
| C．Will Man-Made Clouds Provide Shade at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar? |
| D．Artificial Clouds at High Cost Promising Comfortable Season |
There is a wonderful story about a young girl who had no family and no one to love her．One day, feeling very sad and lonely, she was walking through a grassland when she noticed a small butterfly caught in a thorn （荆棘）bush．The young girl carefully released the butterfly．Instead of flying away, the little butterfly changed into a beautiful fairy．The young girl rubbed her eyes in disbelief．
"For your wonderful kindness," the good fairy said to the girl, "I will give you any wish you would like．" The little girl thought for a moment and then replied, "I w ant to be happy．"
The fairy leaned toward her and whispered in her ear．Then the fairy disappeared．
As the little girl grew up, there was no one in the land as happy as she．Everyone asked her secret of happiness．She would only smile and answer, "The secret of my happiness is that I listened to a good fairy when I was a little girl．"
When she was very old and on her deathbed, the neighbors all gathered around her, that her unbelievable secret of happiness would die with her．"Tell us, please," they begged, "Tell us what the good fairy said．" The lovely old woman simply smiled and said, "She told me that everyone, no matter how secure they seemed, no matter how old or young, how rich or poor, had need of me．"_____ the girl felt sad and lonely．
| A．There were many friends but |
| B．There was nobody to love her so |
| C．There was nothing to do |
| D．Seeing the butterfly was caught |
Noticing the butterfly was caught by the thorn, the girl _____．
| A．helped the butterfly escaped from the thorn |
| B．felt sorrow, but she didn't go up to help it |
| C．fell down on it too |
| D．failed to help it release from the thorn |
The butterfly _____ after was saved by the little girl．
| A．filed away |
| B．still died |
| C．changed into a fairy |
| D．was more beautiful than before |
The only thing that the little girl wanted was _____．
| A．to be rich | B．to have her own parents |
| C．to have a lot of friends | D．happiness |
The neighbors all gathered around the old happy woman when she was dying, because _____．
| A．they loved this woman deeply and they didn't wanted her to die |
| B．the woman had lots of money to be shared as soon as she died |
| C．they wanted to know the secret of her lifetime happiness |
| D．they wanted to pray for her after her death |
Without plant, people could not live. We eat plants. We breathe the oxygen（氧气）that plants produce. And we need plants for another reason: we need them for their beauty.
Imagine a world with no plants. Imagine no flowers with their sweet smells, their beautiful colors and their lovely shapes. Imagine when the wind blows, not being able to hear the leaves in the trees or watch the branches sway（摇摆）from side to side.
Everywhere people need the beauty of plants. That is why we have parks full of trees and flowers. That is why people always try to design houses with room for some grass and a garden.
Do you talk to your plants? Do you give them love and attention?
Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird, writers of a book called THE SECRET LIFE OF PLANTS, tell of an experiment in which two seeds were planted in different places. While the plants were growing, one plant was given love and hopeful ideas. The other plant was given only hopeless ideas. After six months, the loved plant was bigger. Under the earth it had more and longer roots; above the earth, it had a thicker stem (茎) and more leaves. According to the passage, which of the following is right?
| A．If there are no flowers, there will be no sweet smells. |
| B．Without plants, we can’t hear the wind. |
| C．We plant trees to watch the branches sway from side to side. |
| D．We need plants not only for food and oxygen but also for their beauty. |
In the experiment, the plants were________.
| A．talked to in two different ways |
| B．of different kinds |
| C．both given love and attention |
| D．grown in the same place |
At the end of six months,________.
| A．the plants were of the same size |
| B．one plant had longer roots while the other had a thicker stem |
| C．one plant had longer roots than the other and had a thicker stem |
| D．one plant had a thicker stem while the other plant had more leaves |
The experiment has proved（证明） that________.
| A．without plants people could not live |
| B．we should talk to plants and give them love |
| C．we should grow as many plants as possible |
| D．plants need plenty of water, sunshine and attention |
A recently study found people’s lives are made shorter in North China. It is showed the life expectancy(平均寿命) had been cut down by 5.5 years there. Researchers think that the heavy air pollution in China should be to blame(承担责任). It’s really the truth. Our government has already done something. However, it doesn’t seem to work so well.
“Air pollution in China is doing harm to people’s health. The harm is much more serious than we can imagine,” said Chen Yuyu of Beijing University, one of researchers of this study.
Dirty air brings serious problems in North China. In January this year, the air pollution was worse than that in other places. That was caused by rising temperature and waste gas(废气) from coal heating.
Chinese government should strongly fight against air pollution. They should think of more proper ways to deal with the problem. People should be encouraged to take buses, ride bicycles or walk, instead of driving cars. The factories that pollute heavily should be closed.
“We need to improve our environment, although it might be expensive. Protecting our environment means protecting ourselves,” Li Hongbin, another researcher of the study said. The passage above may come from a(n) ?
| A．story | B．advertisement |
| C．report | D．diary |
Which of the following is Li Hongbin’s idea?
| A．The life expectancy had been cut by 5.5 years. |
| B．Chinese government should close some factories that pollute heavily. |
| C．People need to make pollution less, although it might cost a lot. |
| D．The air problem brings us serious problems. |
What’s the main idea of the passage?
| A．Air pollution in North China is caused by waste gas. |
| B．To save the environment, our government should do something more. |
| C．The temperature becomes higher and higher in North China. |
| D．How air pollution in North China is caused. |
Bob is listening to the radio. What is playing on each channel (频道)?
FM 88.0
Here is good news. The rain will finally stop this evening. Tomorrow we will enjoy the bright (光亮的) sun. But it will still be cold.
FM 102. 6
Jeff Bruce has a new CD. He is coming to our studio (演播室) at 7:00 this evening. Listen to our programme then. We will have questions about Jeff. If your answers are right, you will get his CD for free (免费).
FM 107.0
There is heavy traffic on Longhua Street. Are you driving to the train station? You can change to Tiyu Street.
FM 114.0
There will be a basketball match at the sports hall on May 13. Come on! You can call us at 6637-2285 to get the ticket. It will be a great match. It will be ______ tomorrow.
| A．hot | B．warm | C．cold | D．fine |
Jeff Bruce will come to the studio at ______.
| A．5:00 pm | B．6:00 pm | C．7:00 pm | D．8:00 pm |
The news on FM 107.0 is for ______.
| A．drivers | B．teachers |
| C．farmers | D．workers |
Last Sunday afternoon, 1 was having dinner in a restaurant when my friend Poor came in. Poor and I were born in the same village. We have been friends since primary school.
Now we are working in the same bank. Poor has earned a lot of money, but he has a habit of not taking money with him. Whenever he needs to use money, he would borrow money from his friends and never pays it back. Because of this, his friends don’t like going out with him. They think Poor is too mean(吝啬的）. Poor saw me and came to sit at my table. He had never borrowed any money from me. When he was eating, I asked him to lend me two dollars. To my surprise, he gave me the money without hesitation. "I have never borrowed any money from you, "Poor said. " So you can pay for my dinner. "The story happened .
| A．at home | B．in a restaurant |
| C．in a bank | D．in an office |
Poor is the name of a man and the writer .
| A．Knows him well |
| B．Doesn't know him |
| C．often lends him some money |
| D．often borrows money from him |
Poor is a man.
| A．busy | B．clever | C．rich | D．poor |
Why was Poor glad to lend the writer two dollars?
| A．Because they are brothers. |
| B．Because Poor is rich. |
| C．Because the writer is rich. |
| D．Because Poor wanted the writer to pay for the dinner. |