Space is a dangerous place, not only because of meteors (流星) but also because of rays from the sun and other stars. The atmosphere again acts as our protective blanket on earth. Light gets through, and this is necessary for plants to make the food that we eat. Heat, too, makes our environment endurable. Various kinds of rays come through the air from outer space, but enormous quantities of radiation from the sun are screened off. As soon as men leave the atmosphere they are exposed to this radiation but their spacesuits or the walls of their spacecraft, if they are inside, do prevent a lot of radiation damage.
Radiation is the greatest known danger to explorers in space, The unit of radiation is called “rem” Scientists have reason to think that a man can put up with far more radiation than 0.1rem without being damaged; the figure of 60 rems has been agreed on. The trouble is that it is extremely difficult to be sure about radiation damage. A person may feel perfectly well, but the cells of his or her sex organs may be damaged, and this will not be discovered until the birth of deformed children or even grandchildren. Missions of the Apollo flights have had to cross belts of high radiation and , during the outward and return journeys, the Apollo crew accumulated(积累) a large amount of rems. So far, no dangerous amounts of radiation have been reported, but the Apollo missions have been quite short. We simply do not know yet how men are going to get on when they spend weeks and months outside the protection of the atmosphere, working in a space laboratory. Drugs might help to decrease the damage done by radiation, but no really effective ones have been found so far.
In which way is the atmosphere necessary to man according to the first paragraph?
A.It screens off the falling meteors. |
B.It provides enough light for plants to grow. |
C.It supplies the heat necessary for human survival. |
D.It protects him against the harmful rays from space. |
We know from the passage that .
A.exposure to even tiny amount of radiation is fatal( 致命的) |
B.the effect of exposure to radiation is slow in coming |
C.radiation is avoidable in space exploration |
D.astronauts in spacesuits needn’t worry about radiation damage |
The underlined word “deformed” probably means .
A.badly-shaped | B.weak |
C.naturally-grown | D.ugly |
It can be inferred from the passage that .
A.the Apollo mission was very successful |
B.astronauts will have deformed children or grandchildren |
C.protection from space radiation is no easy job |
D.radiation is not a threat to well-protected space explorers |
Would you believe that the first outstanding deaf teacher in America was a Frenchman? His name was Laurent Clerc. He became a friend of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and together they founded America's first school for the deaf.
Laurent Clerc was born in a small village near Lyons, France, on December 26, 1785. When he was one year old, he fell into a fire, losing both his hearing and his sense of smell.
At 12, Laurent entered the Royal Institution for the Deaf in Paris where he did well in his studies. After he graduated, the school asked him to stay on as an assistant teacher.
Meanwhile, in America, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet was studying to be a minister. He was very concerned about the lack of educational opportunities for the deaf. Therefore, in 1815, Gallaudet sailed to London, England to seek ideas on how to teach deaf people. While he was there, he met a French educator of the deaf who invited him to go to Paris to spend three months learning at the Royal Institution for the Deaf, the school where Laurent Clerc was teaching. Gallaudet accepted the offer. The two worked and studied well together. When the time came for Gallaudet to return, he asked Clerc to come with him. Clerc accepted on one condition: that he would stay in America only a short time.
The two men set sail on June 18, 1816. The voyage across the Atlantic Ocean took 52 days; however, Clerc and Gallaudet put the time to good use. Clerc studied English, and Gallaudet studied sign language. They discussed the school for the deaf which they planned to open. On the long trip, they had many conversations about education and deafness. The year after they arrived, they founded a school for the deaf in Harford, Connecticut.
At the school, Clerc led a busy life. He taught signs to Principal Gallaudet; he taught the pupils; and he taught hearing men who came to the school to study deaf education.
In 1819, Clerc married Eliza Crocker Boardman, one of his pupils. They had six children. He retired from teaching in 1858. Although he had intended to return to France, he never did. He died on July 18, 1869 in the United States.Why did Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet sail to London?
A.He needed to finish his studies to become a minister. |
B.It was the easiest way to get to France. |
C.He wanted to study their system of deaf education. |
D.He wanted to marry Alice Cogswell. |
On their trip from Paris to America, Clerc and Gallaudet ___________.
A.played cards and socialized |
B.studied and discussed their plans for a deaf school |
C.founded a school for the deaf |
D.Gallaudet studied English and Clerc studied Sign Language |
Which is the right order of the things Clerc did?
A.met Gallaudet, moved to America, got married, went to school in Paris. |
B.met Gallaudet, went to school in Paris, moved to America, got married. |
C.went to school in Paris, met Gallaudet, moved to America, got married. |
D.got married, went to school in Paris, met Gallaudet, moved to America. |
The main idea of this passage could best be stated as_________.
A.Clerc managed his time well, and was able to teach a lot of information in a short period of time |
B.Thomas Gallaudet was grateful to Clerc for all that he taught him |
C.Clerc preferred teaching deaf students to hearing students |
D.Clerc, an educated Frenchman, had a great impact on American Deaf Education |
TODAY, Friday, November 12
JAZZ with the Mike Thomas Jazz Band at The Derby Arms. Upper Richmond Road West, Sheen.
DISCO Satin Sounds Disco. Free at The Lord Napier, Mort lake High St., from 8a. m. to 8p.m.
Tel: 682—1158.
SATURDAY, November 13
JAZZ Lysis at The Bull’s Head, Barnes. Admission 60p.
MUSICAL HALL at The Star and Garter, Lower Richmond Road, Putney, provided by the Aba Daba Music Hall company. Good food and entertainment fair price. Tel: 789—6749.
MFAMILY night out? Join the sing-along at The Black Horse. Sheen Road, Richmond. The John Bennett Big Band at The Bull’s Head, Barnes. Admission 80p.
ATHE DERBY ARMS, Upper Richmond Road West, give you Joe on the electric accordion(手风琴).
Tel: 789—4536
SUNDAY, November 14
DISCO Satin Sounds Disco, free at The Lord Napier, Mort Lake High Street, from 8 am to 8 p.m.
FOLK MUSIC at The Derby Arms, Upper Richmond Road. The Short Stuff and residents the Norman Chop Trio. Non-remembers 70p. Tel: 688—4626. HEAVY MUSIC with Tony Simon at The Bull, Upper Richmond Road. Where and when can you hear the Norman Chop Trio?
A.At the Bull’s Head on Sunday. |
B.At the Derby Arms on Sunday. |
C.At the Bull on Saturday. |
D.At the Black Horse on Saturday. |
Where and when can you hear the Mike Thomas Jazz Band?
A.At the Derby Arms on Friday. |
B.At the Black Horse on Friday. |
C.At the Star and Garter on Saturday. |
D.At the Derby Arms on Sunday. |
You want to enjoy the electric accordion on Saturday. Which telephone number do you have to ring to find out what time it starts?
A.789—6749. | B.789—4536. | C.682—1158. | D.688—4626. |
You want to spend the Saturday by joining the entertainment with your family. Where should you go?
A.Disco at The Lord Napier. |
B.The sing-along at The Black Horse. |
C.The electric accordion at The Derby Arms. |
D.Jazz at The Bull’s Head. |
You want to spend the same day at two different places and don’t want to cross any street. Which of the following is your best choice?
A.The sing-along at the Black Horse and Jazz at The Bull’s Head. |
B.The sing-along at The Black Horse and Folk Music at The Derby Arms. |
C.Folk Music at The Derby Arms and Heavy Music with Tony Simon at The Bull. |
D.Musical Hal lat The Star &Garter and Disco at The Lord Napier. |
"Colour" and "color","favourite" and "favorite"... Have you ever wondered why Americans spell those words without a "u"? Is it because they are lazy?
Of course not. In fact,the difference in spelling was created by Noah Webster (1758-1843). He is a teacher who reformed English to make American identity stronger. Linguists (语言学家) celebrated his 250th birthday on October 16. After the Revolutionary War (1775~ 1783),Webster believed that Americans should have their own dictionary,rather than rely on British versions (版本). He dropped the British "u" in some words. And he changed "centre" into "center" for children to learn English by spelling words more like they sounded.
Webster wasn't shy about expressing his opinions. In defining (定义) preposterous (unreasonable),he wrote: "A republican government in the hands of females is preposterous."
Webster spent 28 years on the project before completing the 70,000-word dictionary in 1828 with his American-style spellings. He also added local words. His dictionary was widely used in schools. Linguists believed it helped a new nation achieve unity and cultural independence at a time when most were focused on political freedom.
"He was the shaper of our language and the shaper of American identity,"said Joshua Kendall,who is working on a biography (传记) about Webster. "He at last bonded (联合)us through our language." Which of the following would probably be the best title for the passage?
A.The shaper of American English. |
B.American identity. |
C.Webster's dictionary. |
D.Spelling differences between American and British English. |
According to the passage,when he worked on his dictionary, Noah Webster did all of the following EXCEPT.
A.voicing his opinion | B.changing "centre" into "center" |
C.adding local words | D.dropping "u" in all the British words |
Which of the following word can best describe Noah Webster’s work?
A.Interesting. | B.Meaningful. | C.Unfinished. | D.Boring. |
Why did Noah Webster create these differences in his dictionary?
A.Because he wanted to make English simple and easy. |
B.Because he wanted to show that the USA is stronger than the UK. |
C.Because he wanted to achieve political freedom. |
D.Because he wanted American English to have its own characteristics. |
When did Noah Webster probably begin his project of the dictionary?
A.In 1758. | B.In 1783. | C.In 1800. | D.In 1828. |
Started in 1636, Harvard University is the oldest of all the many colleges and universities in the United States. Yale, Princeton, Columbia and Dartmouth were opened soon after Harvard.
In the early years, these schools were much alike. Only young men went to college. All the students studied the same subjects, and everyone learned Latin, Greek and Hebrew. Little was known about science then, and one kind of school could teach everything that was known about the world. When the students graduated, most of them became ministers or teachers.
In 1782, Harvard started a medical school for young men who wanted to become doctors. Later, lawyers could receive their training in Harvard's law school. In 1825, besides Latin and Greek, Harvard began teaching modern languages, such as French and German. Soon it began teaching American history.
As knowledge increased, Harvard and other colleges began to teach many new subjects. Students were allowed to choose the subjects that interested them.
Today, there are many different kinds of colleges and universities. Most of them are made up of smaller schools that deal with(涉及)special fields of learning. There's so much to learn that one kind of school can't offer it all.The oldest university in the US is _________.
A.Yale | B.Harvard | C.Princeton | D.Columbia |
From the second paragraph, we can see that in the early years,______.
A.those colleges and universities were the same |
B.people, young or old, might study in the colleges |
C.students studied only some languages and science |
D.when the students finished their school, they became lawyers or teachers |
Modern languages the Harvard taught in 1825 were ________.
A.Latin and Greek |
B.Latin, Green, French and German |
C.American history and German |
D.French and German |
As knowledge increased, colleges began to teach_______.
A.everything that was known |
B.law and something about medicine |
C.many new subjects |
D.the subjects that interested students |
On the whole, the passage is about___________.
A.how to start a university |
B.the world-famous colleges in America |
C.how colleges have changed |
D.what kind of lesson each college teaches |
“Can I see my baby?” the happy new mother asked. When the bundle was in her arms and she moved the fold of cloth to look upon his tiny face, she gasped. The doctor turned quickly and looked out of the tall hospital window. The baby had been born without ears.
Time proved that the baby’ s hearing was perfect. It was only his appearance that was imperfect. When he rushed home from school one day and threw himself into his mother’s arms, she sighed(叹息), knowing that his life was to be unfortunate. He cried to his mum “A boy, a big boy... called me a freak (怪人).”
He grew up, handsome. A favorite with his fellow students, he might have been class president, but for that. He developed a gift, a talent for literature and music. “But you might communicate with other young people,” his mother blamed him, but felt a kindness in her heart.
Two years went by. One day, his father said to the son, “You’ re going to the hospital, son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But it’ s a secret.” The operation was a great success, and a new person appeared.
Later he married and became a lawyer. One day, he asked his father, “Who gave me the ears? Who gave me so much? I could never do enough for him or her.” “I do not believe you could,” said the father, “but the agreement was that you are not to know... not yet.”
The years kept their secret, but the day did come. He stood with his father over his mother’ s casket棺材. Slowly, tenderly, the father stretched forth a hand and raised the thick, reddish brown hair to show the mother had no outer ears.
“Mother said she was glad she never let her hair be cut,” his father whispered gently, “and nobody ever thought Mother less beautiful, did they?”Why did Mother gasp when she saw her newborn baby?
A.Because her son had a tiny face. | B.Because she saw her son crying. |
C.Because her son was born imperfect. | D.Because her son was in her arms. |
Which word can describe Mother’ s feeling when the son threw himself into her arms?
A.Nervous. | B.Sympathetic. | C.Proud. | D.Angry. |
We can infer that the person who donate the ears is_____.
A.A doctor. | B.His father. | C.His mother. | D.A stranger. |
From the passage we know the followings are True except________
A.the mother felt sorry for the son without ears |
B.the doctor didn’t like the baby |
C.the boy meant everything to the mother |
D.the father kept the secret until mother died |
The best title for the passage would be ________.
A.Mother’s hair | B.An unforgettable memory |
C.Who gave me the ears? | D.Who is my best respectable person? |