The shock of the recent earthquake in Pakistan has brought another shock: the rise of a small, mysterious island, coming out from the water.
In the aftershock of the earthquake, people living in Gawadar, near the southwest coast, began to see a strange sight. They looked out into the Arabian Sea and saw a mountain-like shape coming out of the water. “I could see this gray, dome-shaped (穹顶形状的) body in the distance, like a giant whale,” Bahram Baloch, a local journalist, told the BBC. “Hundreds of people had gathered to watch it in disbelief (怀疑).”
So what happened? The earthquake measured 7.7 in magnitude (地震级数). The force was so strong that it moved the sea floor, releasing gas. This gas pushed the seabed, mostly rock and sand, upward and out of the water. This is how mud volcanoes (泥火山) are formed. The island that measures about 20 meters high, 30 meters long and 90 meters wide is actually the tip of the mud volcano.
Is it safe? Although people have visited this new island, scientists have found dangerous gas coming from the newly formed island. “Our team found bubbles rising from the surface of the island, which caught fire when a match was lit,” said Mohammad Danish, a scientist, to Universe Today.
These mud volcanoes are not rare. But it’s striking because this one has popped up in a populated (有人居住的) area, and not far out in the sea. However, it’s not expected to last very long. Most of these mud volcanoes are swept back under the sea within one year.After the earthquake, what did people see in the sea?
A.a strange light | B.a blue whale |
C.a mysterious island | D.a mountain |
Which of the following can be filled in the box to show how mud volcanoes are formed?
A.Dangerous gas was released. |
B.Rock and sand were mixed. |
C.The storm blew up the sea. |
D.Huge waves appeared. |
According to Mohammad Danish, _______.
A.it is safe to visit mud volcanoes |
B.it is a bad time to do research |
C.gas from the newly formed island was dangerous |
D.some places on the island were on fire |
From the last paragraph, we learn that mud volcanoes _________.
A.are good places to visit |
B.often appear far out in the sea |
C.exist for years |
D.will not be swept away by waves |
In every school there is “top” crowd that sets the pace, while the others follow their lead. For example, if the crowd decides that it is smart to wear bright red sweaters, then very soon everybody is wearing bright red sweaters.
There is nothing wrong with that, except the fact that for some people bright red sweater is really unsuitable.
The situation can even become dangerous, if the top crowd decides that it is smart to drink and to drive cars at seventy miles an hour. Then the people who follow the lead are endangering their lives. They are like the sheep being led to the slaughter(屠杀).
Now it’s possible that you have come across situations like these more than once in your life. In fact you probably did something you knew to be wrong one time or another. You may have excused yourself by saying, “ Gee, the crowd does it.” Well, let the crowd do it, but don’t do it yourself. Learn to say “No”.
Develop your own standards(标准)and your own judgment. If you know the crowd is planning something you disagree to, you’d better take the courage to bow out in a polite way. You’ll have the satisfaction of standing on your own two feet.The main idea of the passage is that _____________ .
A.in every school there is a “top” crowd that sets the pace |
B.it’s a mistake to follow the “top” crowd blindly |
C.people who follow the “top” crowd are endangering their lives |
D.you probably did something wrong more than once in your life |
The author(作者)doesn’t think it good wearing red sweaters if _______.
A.the crowd is wearing them |
B.you can't afford them |
C.you don't look good in red |
D.it is against school rules |
The writer encourages the readers to ___________ .
A.respect his or her parents |
B.find excuses when he or she is wrong |
C.learn to stand on their own two feet |
D.take the advice of his or her elders |
What does the underlined phrase “bow out” in the passage probably mean?
A.鞠躬 | B.退出 | C.参与 | D.应允 |
The best title for this passage is __________ .
A.Follow the Leader | B.The “Top” Crowd |
C.Being Yourself | D.Rules for Teens |
Chinese Restaurant We specialize in banquets and parties. Authentic(正宗) Chinese food. Special lunchtime dishes. ▲licensed and BYO(bring your own) ▲SUNDAY DIM SUM(点心)LUNCH Situated in Smithfield Shopping centre. Tel: 361 9042 Place: 589 Walkley Road, Smithfield ![]() |
Hamburger Joe’s Dine in or take away 7 days a week. Friendly, polite waitress service. Pleasant, informal and air-conditioned surroundings. Time: Mon. Noon—10pm Tues. Noon—11pm Wed.—Sat. Noon—Midnight Sun. Noon—9pm Place:14 Jetty Road, Glenelg Tel: 295 7783 |
The Seafood Inn Licensed Café We offer lunch and dinner in a relaxed atmosphere(气氛)with indoor or outdoor seating. We have an interesting wine list and freshly prepared foods. Time:Tuesday to Friday 12:00—3:00 pm 6:30—11:30 pm Tel:306 2481 Place:482 Spring Street, Carlton ![]() |
Peppi’s Italian Restaurant Pasta just like Mama used to make Italian or Australian wines or BYO Time: Open 7 days for lunch and dinner Car parking available Tel:224 1086 Place:28 O’Connell ST CITV ![]() |
Pizza Palace Pizza ·Beer ·Wine Fully Licensed Full take-away service Special children’s menu Everard Park, Glenelg City |
If you’d like to order some dim sum, you should dial ______________.
A.361 9042 | B.306 2481 | C.224 1086 | D.295 7783 |
Pizza Palace is the best place for children to eat because ______________.
A.the waitress service is friendly and polite |
B.there is a special children’s menu |
C.there are indoor or outdoor seats |
D.it’ s close to Smithfield Shopping centre |
How many hours a day is the Seafood Inn open from Tuesday to Friday?
A.3. | B.5. | C.8. | D.12. |
The address of Hamburger Joe’s is ______________.
A.589 Walkley Road, Smithfield | B.14 Jetty Road, Glenelg |
C.28 O’Connell ST CITV | D.482 Spring Street, Carlton |
The following statements are true EXCEPT ___________.
A.Peppi’s Italian Restaurant allows you to bring your own drinks |
B.You can’t buy breakfast at Hamburger Joe’s |
C.You can enjoy authentic Chinese food in Chinese Restaurant |
D.You can dine in or take away from Pizza Palace |
Try this: for a whole day, forget about the clock. Eat when you’re hungry and sleep when you’re tired. What do you think will happen?
You may be surprised to find that your day is much like most other days. You’ll probably get hungry when you normally eat and tired when you normally sleep. Even though you don’t know what time it is, your body does.
Inside our bodies are several clocklike systems that follow a 24- hour cycle. Everyone is unique, which is why you might like to stay up late while your sister always wants to go to bed early.
Regularly staying up late can make kids do worse on tests and quizzes. And working shifts at night leads to higher rates of heart disease.
“There is a growing sense that when we eat and when we sleep are important parts of how healthy we are,” says Steven Shea, Director of the Sleep Disorders Research Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
“During the night, we are prepared to sleep,” Shea says. “During the day, we are prepared to eat and move around, If you reverse ( 颠倒) what you are doing, everything is out of phase. That can have adverse consequences.What does the underlined sentence suggest?
A.We don’t need to care about time. |
B.We don’t need the clock. |
C.The clock is not useful. |
D.The clock is not remembered. |
What makes some like to stay up late while others go to bed early?
A.our bodies | B.our minds | C.the clock | D.our unique system |
Steven Shea suggests ________.
A.when we eat, we are prepared to eat. |
B.when we sleep, we are prepared to sleep |
C.when we eat and when we sleep are important parts of how healthy we are |
D.we are prepared to follow clocklike system |
“Everything is out of phase.” means________.
A.everything is out of order |
B.everything is bad |
C.everything is good |
D.everything is not controlled |
Most American students have said goodbye to fancy(高级的) fruits these days. In school canteens across the country, cheaper fruits like apples and oranges have taken their places.
“People are afraid to spend now,” said Linda Morrow, who owns a shoe and handbag store. “They don’t know what the future will bring.”
During the financial crisis(金融危机), several of the country’s biggest banks have been forced to sell or close. This has made lots of Americans afraid to buy expensive goods.
Samira Marino, a restaurant owner in Miami, has found everyone is ordering water instead of juice and more people are sharing meals. In more than two dozen interviews with The Associated Press across the country last month, Americans talked about their concerns, from worries about small businesses to doubts about simply making ends meet.
The crisis began last year. Experts think it was because US banks lend money too easily. Last year a lot of people and companies, who borrowed money, have found themselves unable to pay it back. This left the banks, as well as the people who put their money in the banks, without money. Since the banks borrowed money between themselves and even across borders(国界), the whole world was in trouble.
This month the US government agreed on a $700 billion plan to try to save the financial market. But no one is sure whether it will help or not. President George W. Bush has warned it will take some time.
Last week top finance officials from 20 countries promised to work together to find a way out of the money trouble.Why are people in the US afraid to spend?
A.Because they think it’s unnecessary. |
B.Because they don’t have the habit of spending money. |
C.Because they worry about their future. |
D.Because they don’t have enough money. |
The fifth paragraph mainly _________.
A.tells what it is like in a crisis |
B.explains why there is a crisis |
C.warns people of the danger of the crisis |
D.asks people not to borrow money from banks |
People feel ______ about the US plan to save the market.
A.satisfied | B.doubtful | C.hopeless | D.angry |
The best title for the story is ________.
A.Ways to make ends meet |
B.The money problem facing the world |
C.Healthy fancy fruits |
D.The art of borrowing |
Brownie and Spotty were neighbor dogs. They loved each other and played together so often that they had worn a path through the grass of the field between their houses.
One evening, Brownie’s family noticed that their dog hadn’t returned home. They went looking for him, but with no success. Brownie didn’t show up the next day, and by the next week he was still missing.
Curiously, Spotty showed up at Brownie’s house alone. He barked loudly. But busy with their own lives, Brownie’s family just ignored (忽略) their neighbor’s nervous little dog.
Finally, one morning Spotty refused to take “no” for an answer. He followed Ted, Brownie’s owner, everywhere he went. He barked, then rushed towards a nearby empty lot and back, as if to say, “ Follow me!”
Finally, Ted followed the dog across the empty lot. The dog led the man to a tree a half-mile from the house. There Ted found Brownie alive. One of his legs was crushed (夹住) in a trap. Ted wished he had taken Spotty’s earlier appeals (求助) seriously.
Then Ted noticed something amazing. In a circle around the injured dog, he saw a lot of dog food. They were the remains of lots of meals.
Spotty had been visiting Brownie every day. He had stayed with Brownie to protect him, snuggling(依偎) with him at night to keep him warm and nuzzling(用鼻子爱抚) him to keep his spirits up. What can we learn from the first three paragraphs?
A.Brownie and Spotty didn’t like their owners. |
B.Brownie was missing for three days. |
C.Brownie’s family didn’t love him. |
D.Spotty probably knew where Brownie was. |
According to the story, which of the following is TRUE?
A.Spotty barked loudly at Ted because he was scared. |
B.Ted followed Spotty because Spotty asked him to. |
C.Spotty succeeded in escaping from the trap. |
D.Brownie had nothing to eat that whole week. |
The underlined phrase “keep his spirits up” in the last paragraph probably means______.
A.feed him | B.praise him | C.comfort him | D.protect him |
What does the story aim to tell us?
A.Dog is man’s best friend. |
B.Even dogs can have strong friendship. |
C.Dogs are one of the cleverest animals. |
D.Dogs have a special way to look for help. |