A scientist working at her lab bench and a six﹣old baby playing with his food might seem to have little in common．After all，the scientist is engaged in serious research to uncover the very nature of the physical world，and the baby is，well，just playing…right？Perhaps，but some developmental psychologists （心理学家）have argued that this"play"is more like a scientific investigation than one might think．
Take a closer look at the baby playing at the table．Each time the bowl of rice is pushed over the table edge，it falls in the ground﹣﹣﹣and，in the process，it brings out important evidence about how physical objects interact（相互作用）； bowls of rice do not float in mid﹣are，but require support to remain stable．It is likely that babies are not born knowing this basic fact of the universe；nor are they ever clearly taught it．Instead，babies may form an understanding of object support through repeated experiments and then build on this knowledge to learn even more about how objects interact．Though their ranges and tools differ，the baby's investigation and the scientist's experiment appear to share the same aim（to learn about the natural world ），overall approach （gathering direct evidence from the world），and logic （are my observations what I expected？）．
Some psychologists suggest that young children learn about more than just the physical world in this way﹣﹣﹣that they investigate human psychology and the rules of language using similar means．For example，it may only be through repeated experiments，evidence gathering，and finally overturning a theory，that a baby will come to accept the idea that other people can have different views and desires from what he or she has，for example，unlike the child，Mommy actually doesn't like Dove chocolate．
Viewing childhood development as a scientific investigation throws light on how children learn，but it also offers an inspiring look at science and scientists．Why do young children and scientists seem to be so much alike？Psychologists have suggested that science as an effort﹣﹣﹣the desire to explore，explain，and understand our world﹣﹣﹣is simply something that comes from our babyhood．Perhaps evolution provided human babies with curiosity and a natural drive to explain their worlds，and adult scientists simply make use of the same drive that served them as children．The same cognitive systems that make young children feel good about feel good about figuring something out may have been adopted by adult scientists．As some psychologists put it，"It is not that children are little scientists but that scientists are big children．"
50．According to some developmental psychologists，
| A． |
a baby's play is nothing more than a game． |
| B． |
scientific research into babies； games is possible |
| C． |
the nature of babies'play has been thoroughly investigated |
| D． |
a baby's play is somehow similar to a scientist's experiment |
51．We learn from Paragraph 2 that
| A． |
scientists and babies seem to observe the world differently |
| B． |
scientists and babies often interact with each other |
| C． |
babies are born with the knowledge of object support |
| D． |
babies seem to collect evidence just as scientists do |
52．Children may learn the rules of language by
| A． |
exploring the physical world |
| B． |
investigating human psychology |
| C． |
repeating their own experiments |
| D． |
observing their parents'behaviors |
53．What is the main idea of the last paragraph？
| A． |
The world may be more clearly explained through children's play． |
| B． |
Studying babies'play may lead to a better understanding of science． |
| C． |
Children may have greater ability to figure out things than scientists． |
| D． |
One's drive for scientific research may become stronger as he grows． |
54．What is the author's tone when he discusses the connection between scientists'research and babies'play？
| A． |
Convincing． |
B． |
Confused． |
| C． |
Confident． |
D． |
Cautious． |
A HOUSE WITH A HISTORY
Foulsham House is a fine,stone house of the 1790s.It stands by the River Byre,in twenty－five hectares（公顷）of the best farmland in the southwest.
Smithson built the house,and the story goes back to George,the young Prince of Wales,who fell in love with the beautiful lady Kitty Wake,at one of the first Lord Foulsham’s wild woods parties.In the past many great men rode on the hills about Foulsham House,and many fine ladies took tea in the Green Room.
The house has eight bedrooms,three bathrooms,two living－rooms and a dining room with a real Adam fire－place（壁炉）.The gentleman’s library has a view over the park and the river.All rooms are light and airy（空气通畅的）,with wood,high windows,and wood floors.
At the back of the house,where the third Lord Foulsham kept the horses,there is garage－space（停车的地方）for four cars.In many other ways,this house of the 1790s meets the needs of the 2000s.
If you wish to know more about Foulsham House,write to:
Harvey,Platt,Longford & Sons,
Castle Green, Gilham, Byreside.The writer writes this passage to ________.
| A．persuade people to buy it |
| B．give some information about Foulsham House |
| C．tell a love story |
| D．describe the beauty of a best farmland |
People say that ________.
| A．Smithson built the house for Lord Foulsham’s wild parties |
| B．Prince George fell in love with Kitty Wake at Foulsham House |
| C．Prince George and Kitty Wake fell in love with the Green Room |
| D．Lord Foulsham fell in love with a lady in Wales |
The library ________.
| A．has a fine view of the park and the river |
| B．is where great men and fine ladies took tea |
| C．has an Adam fire－place,and a real wood floor |
| D．has eight bedrooms,three bathrooms and two living－rooms |
All the rooms in the house ________.
| A．have a view over the park and the river |
| B．are light,and have good windows to let in fresh air |
| C．have high floors and wood windows |
| D．have fire－places and wood floors |
Who are these people rushing by you in the street? More than 215 million people now call America “home”, but most of them can trace their families back to other parts of the world. If you look at the names on shop windows, you will see that Americans come from many different lands. The idea that these people, who once were strangers to the United States, have lost the customs and cultures of their original countries and have become “American” is really not true. In fact, what exists in America is more often a kind of “side-by-side” living in which groups of people from other countries often have kept many of their customs and habits. They join the general American society only in certain areas of their lives—such as in schools, business, and sports—but they keep many of their own native customs and manners socially and at home. This living “side-by-side” has both advantages and disadvantages. Sometimes it may cause disagreements to develop between groups whose ways of life are very different from one another. However, there are also great advantages that come from the variety of cultures brought by settlers from other lands. There is great freedom of choice among ideas and dress, food, and social customs in America. Everyone can find some part of his or her familiar world in the United States, in churches, music, food, national groups, or newspapers.More than 215 million people call America “home” because_______.
| A．they have their houses there |
| B．they settle there now |
| C．they want to make their home there |
| D．they like that land very much |
“Side-by-side” living style means _______.
| A．to make friends with native people |
| B．to keep their own customs while sharing American ones in certain areas |
| C．the groups of people who live nearby |
| D．that they get closer to American society |
according to the passage, people in the USA ________.
| A．share American customs and culture |
| B．live in a kind of “side-by-side” society |
| C．keep their own customs and habits firmly |
| D．make no choice to accept American customs |
Which of the following statements is true?
| A．They always stick to their own customs and habits. |
| B．“Side-by-side” living style is not suitable. |
| C．They face the society they are not familiar with. |
| D．The advantages coming from the variety of cultures make life in America colorful. |
Which is the best title for this passage?
| A．Advantages and Disadvantages. |
| B．Different Customs and Habits. |
| C．Home for the People. |
| D．“Side-by-side” Living Style in America. |
In 1901, H. G. Wells, an English writer, wrote a book describing a trip to the moon. When the explorers (探险者) landed on the moon, they discovered that the moon was full of underground cities. They expressed their surprise to the “moon people” they met. In turn, the “moon people” expressed their surprise. “Why?” they asked, “are you traveling to outer space when you don’t even use your inner space?”
H. G. Wells could only imagine travel to the moon. In 1969, human beings really did land on the moon. People today know that there are no underground cities on the moon. However, the question that the “moon people” asked is still an interesting one. A growing number of scientists are seriously thinking about it.
Underground systems are already in place. Many cities have underground car parks. In some cities, such as Tokyo, Seoul and Montreal, there are large underground shopping areas. The “Chunnel”, a tunnel (隧道) connecting England and France, is now complete.
But what about underground cities? Japan’s Taisei Corporation is designing a network of underground systems, called “Alice Cities.” The designers imagine using surface space for public parks and using underground space for flats, offices, shopping, and so on. A solar dome (太阳能穹顶) would cover the whole city.
Supporters of underground development say that building down rather than building up is a good way to use the earth’s space. The surface, they say, can be used for farms, parks, gardens, and wilderness. H. G. Wells “moon people” would agree. Would you?The explorers in H. G. Wells’ story were surprised to find that the “moon people” .
| A．knew so much about the earth |
| B．understood their language |
| C．lived in so many underground cities |
| D．were ahead of them in space technology |
What does the underlined word “it” (paragraph 2) refer to?
| A．Discovering the moon’s inner space. |
| B．Using the earth’s inner space. |
| C．Meeting the “moon people” again. |
| D．Traveling to outer space. |
What sort of underground systems are already here with us?
| A．Offices, shopping areas, power stations. |
| B．Tunnels, car parks, shopping areas. |
| C．Gardens, car parks, power stations. |
| D．Tunnels, gardens, offices. |
What would be the best title for the text?
| A．Alice Cities—cities of the future |
| B．Space travel with H. G. Wells |
| C．Enjoy living underground |
| D．Building down, not up |
As the world watched the twin towers of the World Trade Center come under attack, a common phrase was repeated:” It looks like a movie.”
But this time there was no superman to save the people or the famous building. The attack destroyed one of the world's highest skyscrapers and left 5,000 people dead or missing.
Movie fans have become used to such events after years of Hollywood films showing disasters, terrorism and danger. The Empire State Building, the White House, New York City and even the American president himself have all been threatened(威胁) by terrorist attacks in these exciting films. The film” True Lies”, released in 1994, is considered to be a good example of this kind of movie. The special effects, including explosions and missiles, make the action look like a real thing.
“Independence Day” in 1996 took this type of movie one step further by blowing up the White House. This science fiction(科幻) movie is about a war between human beings and aliens from another planet. In the movie, the World Trade Center towers are destroyed.
Violence has become a major part of Hollywood movies. And this is what people enjoy. Soon after the attacks, many famous film companies stopped the planned releases of some of their new movies, especially if their films showed terrorist attacks or plane crashes. “Swordfish” was top of the American box office in June. But the movie's story was frighteningly similar to the Sept. 11 disaster. The film would have been stopped in American and British cinemas after the attack. But it's unlikely that Hollywood will stay quiet for long. It is already waiting for the feeling in America to calm down.What is the main subject of the newspaper article?
| A．The relationship between the Sept. 11 attack and Hollywood films. |
| B．The effect of the Sept. 11 attack and Hollywood films. |
| C．The response Hollywood made to the Sept. 11 attack. |
| D．The result of Hollywood films showing violence and disasters. |
Which of the following is TRUE?
| A．Hollywood made a lot of money out of the film “Swordfish” in June. |
| B．Hollywood stopped making films showing terrorism and disasters after the Sept. 11 attack. |
| C．“Swordfish” was not allowed to be shown after the Sept. 11 attack. |
| D．The World Trade Center was destroyed because no superman came to save I t. |
From this article we know that _____.
| A．Hollywood is a film making center making films of violence and disasters. |
| B．too many Hollywood films showing terrorism and disasters resulted in the Sept. 11 attack. |
| C．people who were used to the Hollywood films were not shocked at the Sept. 11 attack. |
| D．in fact, the Sept. 11 attack had nothing to do with Hollywood films. |
The First of May is a Bank Holiday—the first public holiday of the year in England.
Most people consider it a special day ,the beginning of summer ,a day when the light lasts long into the evening ,and when we can look for warm weather .We don't always get it .We feel disappointed ,but not surprised if there are cold winds and frosts at night in May .Winter should be over .Most people know that in the past ,when farming occupied almost everyone ,the changing seasons were of great importance .In that older time there was every reason to celebrate May Day .Customs of those celebrations remain.
Of these customs ,the best known is the choosing of a May Queen and the dancing round Maypole .Even these customs are little more than memories now—but in the last century it was quite common in villages and small towns ,and even in schools and colleges ,for a pretty and popular girl to be chosen Queen of the May .It was a great honour to be chosen .For a day she wore a light and flowery dress, carried garlands（花环）,and was ceremonially crowned with flowers .She presided over a procession ,as a rule with a number of attendants ,and over the Maypole dancing and all kinds of entertainment .The Maypole was slender（苗条的） tree trunk ,cut off its branches, with beautiful ribbons fastened to the top .The dancing was designed in such a way that the dancer's movements move the ribbons into a pattern. This, as you can imagine ,required skill from the dancer ,and was not achieved without practice .
It's the Celtic（凯尔特的）people who celebrated the First of May as a spring festival .Their celebration seems to have had little to do with taking pleasure in early ,beautiful flowers and in warmer weather! They called it Beltane—the fire of the god Bel .They lit fires ,in the expectation that their blaze would help the sun in its struggle to regain its strength. They drove their cattle between banks of flame in the expectation that the terrified beasts would be purified（净化） and protected from disease .A tree ,which must have been blackened with smoke ,stood in the middle of the fires ,and is thought to have been the origin of the Maypole .Their priests（牧师） made sacrifices to the goods in the hope of good harvests and sufficient store of food for the winter. There was dancing certainly ,but it was noisy and cheerful ,since its purpose was not to weave a pattern of colored ribbons ,but to drive out evil spirits from the earth and to arouse those kind spirits.The main purpose of the passage is to show ________.
| A．the reason why they celebrate May Day |
| B．the start and customs of May Day |
| C．the way they celebrate May Day |
| D．the choosing of a May Queen during May Day |
According to the passage ,which sentence is NOT true?
| A．In the old days they celebrated May Day for the changing of the seasons. |
| B．In England summer begins at the first of May. |
| C．The custom of the choosing of a May Queen still exists in the present May Day celebration. |
| D．The Celtic people celebrated the first of May as a spring festival. |
From the surrounding words and sentences we know that the word “presided” means ________.
| A．管理 | B．越过 | C．指挥 | D．主持 |
The best title for this passage is ________.
| A．The First of May | B．The Beginning of Summer |
| C．May Queen | D．The Holiday of the Year |