With the possible exception of equal rights, perhaps the most heated argument across the United States today is the death penalty (死刑). Many argue that it is an effective deterrent (威慑) to murder（谋杀）, while others think there is no enough proof that the death penalty reduces the number of murders. The argument advanced by those who are against the death penalty is that it is cruel and inhuman punishment, that it is a mark of a bad society and finally that it is of questionable effectiveness as a deterrent (威慑物) to crime (罪行) anyway.
In our opinion, the death penalty is a necessary action. Throughout recorded history there have always been those peculiar persons in every society who made terrible crimes such as murder. But some are more dangerous than others. For example, it is one thing to take the life of another in time of blind anger, but quite another to coldly plan and carry out the murder of one or more people in the style of a butcher. Thus, murder, like all other crimes, is a matter of different degree. While it could be argued with some reason that the criminal in the first instance should be merely kept from society, such should not be the fate of the latter type murderer.
The value of the death penalty as a deterrent to crime may be open to discussion. But the majority of people believe that the death penalty protects them. Their belief is proved by the fact that the death penalty prevents murder. For example, from 1954 to 1963, when the death penalty was carried out from time to time in California, the murder rate remained between three and four murders for each 100, 000 population. Since 1964 the death penalty has been done only once, and the murder rate has risen to10.4 murders for each 100, 000 population. The sharp climb in the state's murder rate, which began when killings stopped, does not happen by chance. It certainly shows that the death penalty does stop many murderers. If the law about death penalty is vetoed (否决), some people will be murdered----some whose lives may have been saved if the death penalty were in effect. This is really a life or death matter. The lives of thousands of people must be protected.The main purpose of this passage is to _________.
| A．speak for the majority |
| B．argue against the value of the death penalty |
| C．speak ill of the government |
| D．argue for the value of the death penalty |
Which of the following is among the heated arguments across the USA besides death penalty?
| A．Air pollution. | B．The war against Iraq. |
| C．Equal rights. | D．Election of president. |
The numbers in the last paragraph show that ______.
| A．if they stick to death penalty, the number of murders will be reduced |
| B．death penalty almost stopped from 1954 to 1963 |
| C．the population of California has risen |
| D．death penalty is of little value |
It can be inferred that the writer thinks that ______.
| A．the death penalty is the most important problem in the United States today |
| B．the second type of murderers (in Paragraph 2) should be sentenced to death |
| C．the veto of the law about death penalty is of little importance |
| D．the value of the death penalty as a deterrent to crime is not to be discussed |
Zoo elephants don’t live as long as those in the wild, according to a study sure to cause debate about keeping the giant animals on display. Researchers compared the life spans of elephants in European zoos with those living in Amboseli National Park in Kenya and others working on a timber enterprise in Buma. Animals in the wild or in natural working conditions had life expectancies twice than or more of their relatives in zoos.
Animal care activists have urged in recent years to discourage keeping elephants in zoos, largely because of the lack of space and small numbers of animals that can be kept in a group.
The researchers found that the median life span for African elephants in European zoos was 16.9 years, compared with 56 years for elephants who died of natural causes in Kenya’s Amboseli Park. Adding in those elephants killed by people in Africa lowered the median life expectancy there to 35.9 years. For the more endangered Asian elephants, the median life span in European zoos was 18.9 years, compared with 41.7 years for those working in the Burma Timber Enterprise. Median means half died younger than that age and half lived longer.
There is some good news, though. The life expectancies of zoo elephants have improved in recent years, suggesting an improvement in their care and raising, but “Protecting elephants in Africa and Asia is far more successful than protecting them in Western zoos.”
There are about 1,200 elephants in zoos, half in Europe, researchers concentrated on female elephants, which make up 80 percent of the zoo population. One amazing thing was that Asian elephants born in zoos had shorter life spans that those brought to the zoos from the wild.
Zoos usually lack large areas that elephants are used to in the wild, and that zoo animals often are alone or with one or two other unrelated animals, while in the wild they tend to live in related groups of 8 to 12 animals. In Asian elephants, baby death rates are two to three times higher in zoos than in the Burmese logging camps, and then, in adulthood, zoo-born animals die young. People are not sure why.What is argued about in this passage?
| A．Zoo elephants don’t live as long as those in the wild. |
| B．Elephants should not be on display. |
| C．Asian elephants are in danger. |
| D．Asia is far more successful in protecting elephants in zoos. |
What does the underlined word “median” mean according to the passage?
| A．Average | B．Longest. | C．Shortest. | D．Ordinary. |
Which of the following is Not the disadvantage of keeping elephants in zoos?
| A．Limited number of relatives. | B．Lack of space. |
| C．Shorter life expectancy. | D．Less attention. |
Who are expected to pay more attention to the issue addressed?
| A．Zoologists. | B．Animal care activists. |
| C．Zoo visitors. | D．The public. |
The Mayan Indians lived in Mexico for thousands of years. The Maya were so bright that they achieved a lot. They had farms, temples and cities with many buildings. They knew much about nature and the world around them. This knowledge helped them to live a better life than most people of that time.
In ancient Mexico there were many small clearings in the forest. In each clearing was a village with fields of crops around it. The Maya planted seeds after they cleared the land. A farmer was able to grow crops that produced for several people. But not every Maya had to be a farmer. Some were builders or priests (祭司).
The Maya believed in many gods. They built large temples to honor them. Skillful workers built cities around these temples. It was difficult because they had to carry all of the building materials themselves. Today, many of these ancient Mayan cities and temples are still standing.
Although the Maya worked hard to build the beautiful cities, very few of them lived in them. Usually, only the priests lived in the cities. The other people lived in small villages in the forests. Their houses were much simpler. Most Maya lived a simple life close to nature.
Measuring time correctly was important to the Maya, so Mayan priests made a system to keep track of time. They wrote numbers as dots ( … ) and bars ( — ). They also made a calendar (日历). The year was divided into 18 months of 20 days each with five days left over.
Around the year 800, the Maya left their villages and beautiful cities, never to return. No one knows why this happened. They may have died from a deadly disease. They may have left because the soil could no longer grow crops. The lost secrets of the Maya are still beyond the reach of modern people. They are still one of our greatest mysteries (神秘).The Maya lived better than most people of their times because _____.
| A．they had skillful workers |
| B．they believed in many gods |
| C．they knew better about nature |
| D．they could measure time correctly |
It can be inferred from the passage that _____.
| A．the calendar was first invented by the ancient Maya |
| B．the ancient Mayan cities and temples were well built |
| C．the ancient Mayan people led a happy life in the cities |
| D．the priests were not highly respected by the ancient Maya |
The underlined word “they” in the passage refers to _____.
| A．the Mayan people | B．the Mayan villages |
| C．the Mayan cities | D．the lost secrets of the Maya |
Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?
| A．The Life of the Maya | B．The Cities of the Maya |
| C．The Mystery of the Maya | D．The Belief of the Maya |
Mike Maietta was eating lunch when he got a text message from his mom.
“Notre Dame,” it said. “Big envelope!”
Mike, a senior at a Californian high school, shouted with joy. The big envelope meant that the excellent university in Indiana had offered him a place in its Class of 2013. But the $51,300 annual fee is a big trouble. So Mike and his parents are considering offers from several other colleges and are figuring out the costs of tuition, housing and holiday trips home.
This year, money is the driving factor(因素) for a growing number of high school seniors, who have to decide what colleges to attend this fall. Less jobs and house prices have changed family spending.
“We’re excited that Mike got into eight great schools,” said Mike’s father, an engineer at Microsoft. “But if you consider going to school out of state, you’ve got to think about all of the other costs: moving, flying back and forth for the holidays. You’re looking at about $3,000 a year, just for travel.”
As families weigh their choices, some are going back to financial aid offices hoping help packages can be increased.
Rachel Brown was happy to get a thick envelope from New York University (NYU). Although she has always wanted to live in Manhattan, she is seriously considering the University of California San Diego (UCSD), because of the high cost in New York.
“The tuition for NYU is twice as much as UCSD,” said Rachel, 17. “My mom doesn’t want me to have a big debt when I graduate, and I don’t want that either. I’d have to take out a loan of $15,000. I’ll check and see if there’s any way that NYU can offer me any financial aid.”
More than 7.6 million American students have filled out the Free Application for Students Aid, 19.9 percent increase over last year.
This month the Federal Department of Education urged college financial aid officers to give more help to certain families. A record 30,428 students applied for 2,300 places at Stanford, partly because the university increased financial aid for families earning below $10,000.Mike may give up Notre Dame because of ______.
| A．travel fees |
| B．financial concerns |
| C．poor exam results |
| D．worries about living far away from home |
The phrase “Big envelope” in paragraph 2 probably refers to“______”.
| A．A text message | B．A large gift package |
| C．An admission letter | D．A scholarship letter |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．The number of American senior students applying for financial aid is increasing. |
| B．Rachel Brown has given up NYU because of its high tuition and big debts. |
| C．It is inevitably hard for college students to borrow money to cover costs. |
| D．An interest-free loan for students helps more students apply for Stanford. |
The passage mainly focuses on ______
| A．the calculation of different costs including tuition |
| B．the extremely hard financial situation in America |
| C．the excitement of students’ being able to enter ideal colleges |
| D．the financial crisis of families over college entrance |
On August 26, 1999, New York City was struck by a terrible rainstorm. The rain caused the streets to 36 and the subway system almost came to a stop.
Unfortunately, this happened during the morning rush hour. Many people who were going to work were 37 to go home. Some battled to 38 a taxi or to get on a bus. Still others faced the 39 bravely, walking miles to get to work.
I 40 to be one of people on the way to work that morning. I went from subway line to subway line only to find that most 41 had stopped. After making my way 42 crowds of people, I finally found a subway line that was 43. Unfortunately, there were so many people waiting to 44 the subway that I could not even get down the stairs to the 45 . So I took the train going in the opposite direction, and then switched back to the downtown train.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, the train 46 my stop. Then I had to walk several blocks in the increasingly heavy rain. When I finally got to my office, I was 47 through, exhausted and 48 .
My co-workers and I spent most of the day drying off. When it was 5:00 pm, I was ready to go home. I was about to turn off my computer 49 I received an email from Garth, my Director:
I would like to thank all of you who made the effort and 50 went to work. It is always reassuring(令人欣慰), at times like these, when employees so clearly show their 51 to their jobs. Thank you.
Garth’s email was short, but I learned more from that 52 message than I ever did from a textbook. The email taught me that a few words of 53 can make a big difference. The rainstorm and the traffic 54 had made me tired and upset. But Garth’s words immediately 55 me and put a smile back on my face.
A．confusion B．flood C．sink D．crash
A．forced B．refused C．approached D．gathered
A．order B．pay C．call D．search
A．climate B．scenery C．storm D．burden
A．occurred B．promised C．deserved D．happened
A．practice B．travel C．process D．service
A．to B．through C．over D．for
A．running B．cycling C．turning D．rushing
A．get off B．take off C．take on D．get on
A．street B．ground C．floor D．platform
A．paused B．crossed C．reached D．parked
A．wet B．weak C．sick D．hurt
A．ashamed B．discouraged C．surprised D．helpless
A．while B．when C．where D．after
A．hardly B．definitely C．absolutely D．finally
A．devotion B．permission C．concern D．reaction
A．exact B．urgent C．brief D．humorous
A．promise B．appreciation C．admiration D．guidance
A．troubles B．signals C．rules D．signs
A．corrected B．supported C．amazed D．refreshed
If you have ever been rock climbing, you will know that it is not a very easy sport. In fact, you probably felt quite defeated when you first tried to do any serious climbing. Indoor and outdoor rock climbing are both extremely demanding and require practice to get good at. It is one of the most physically and mentally demanding sports.
There are three basic types of rock climbing. Top roping is the most common type and the climber need to climb with a partner. The second type, which is very similar to top roping, is called lead climbing. In both of the types, the climber can sit off the wall and rest on the rope. The third type is called bouldering. Bouldering is a type of free climbing without any ropes. This is the most demanding of all climbing types. The climber must be able to complete the climbing without taking a rest on the rope.
Believe it or not, climbing is said to be about 75% legs and only 25% arms. To climb efficiently and successfully, a person needs to have a wonderful technique. One of the major rules of rock climbing is to always have three points touching the wall, whether it is both feet and one hand, or one foot and both hands, as it is much easier to have your weight cases will not do the climbing; they only hold you into the wall so that your legs are actually pushing you upward. Also, the closer you are to the wall, the easier it is to climb.
Rock climbing may sound a bit too extreme for the everyday person, but it is really an amazing workout. Once you get into the sport, and learn how to position your body and rest your weight, then you can begin to deal with some difficult problems. The great thing about rock climbing is that it is mentally challenging as well. You are constantly analyzing the way your body moves and how to do certain moves on the wall. For anyone who wants to get into shape, rock climbing is a fun and effective way to exercise muscles.What does the author think of rock climbing?
| A．It is an easy sport. | B．It is challenging. |
| C．It is quite dangerous. | D．It is extremely difficult. |
From the text we know that _____________.
| A．indoor rock climbing is much easier than outdoor rock climbing |
| B．while rock climbing, people depend mainly on their arms |
| C．ordinary people can practise rock climbing |
| D．during climbing, the climber can always stop for a rest |
While climbing, it is much easier for a rock climber if he __________.
| A．takes a rope | B．has a partner |
| C．has three points touching the wall | D．uses feet more often |
__________ will make rock climbing easier.
| A．Keeping the body closer to the wall |
| B．Resting more often on the arms |
| C．Resting more often on the feet |
| D．Pushing forward without thinking of the problems |
By rock climbing, one can _______.
| A．get more weight and stronger muscles |
| B．get both physical and mental exercises |
| C．have a terrible experience that will last long |
| D．probably feel quite defeated |
Hundreds of secondary schools are using a controversial reward scheme which “bribes” (贿赂)pupils with iPods and DVD players to turn up in classes and do homework.
Almost one million schoolchildren have been issued with supermarket-style reward cards which allow them to collect good-behavior “points” and cash them in for prizes.
Schools taking part in the “Vivo Miles” scheme are spending several thousand pounds a year in an attempt to cut truancy (逃学) and promote achievements. The prizes are ultimately funded by the taxpayer, through school budgets. Nearly 500 secondary schools, one in six, have decided to take part in the scheme, which is intended to replace old-style rewards such as stickers and golden stars.
But the extent of rewards being offered in schools brought a warning that a generation of children is growing up expecting to be rewarded at every stage. Many youngsters are collecting points for ordinary achievements such as remembering to bring their PE kit and wearing the correct uniform.
Under the scheme, teachers award Vivo points—worth 1 penny each—according to the school’s policy. Schools typically spend￡4 to￡6 on prizes per pupil each year, although some commit considerably more. Most pupils accumulate between 400 and 600 Vivos a year. Vivo Miles insists it is “pretty rare” for a pupil to accumulate enough points to buy an iPod, which requires 3,100 Vivos.
But Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, said the scheme amounted to “bribery”. “It misleads children into thinking anything which requires effort has to have a special reward,” he said. “This ‘all must have prizes’ view is damaging to children in the long-term.” The scheme amounted to an “admission of failure” by schools. He said. “It shows a school has failed to convince children education is important.”The “Vivo Miles” scheme is aimed at ______________.
| A．increasing the income of the school |
| B．encouraging students to perform well at school |
| C．inviting more students to attend the school nearby |
| D．encouraging parents to donate to the school |
The underlined word “controversial” in the first paragraph can be replaced by __________.
| A．arguable | B．practical | C．strange | D．mature |
Those who oppose the “Vivo Miles” scheme think ______________.
| A．it helps control the problem of truancy |
| B．it teaches children the importance of saving |
| C．it will mislead children about efforts and rewards |
| D．it’s not easy to get more than 600 Vivos a year |
What’s the writer’s attitude towards the scheme?
| A．Supportive. | B．Opposed. | C．Unconcerned. | D．Objective. |
When doctors urge overweight kids to pick up more activities，reading probably isn’t what they have in mind. Yet a new study by fatness researchers at Duke University finds that the simple act of reading—depending on the choice of material—can cause weight loss in teenage girls.
The study’s experimental group included 31 fat girls aged 9 to 13，who took part in the Healthy Lifestyles Program at Duke Children’s Hospital. The girls read a novel called Lake Rescue，whose protagonist (主人公) is an overweight teenager who struggles with low selfesteem，feelings of loneliness and teasing because of her size. A group of 33 girls read a different book called Charlotte in Paris，which did not have an overweight character，and another group of 17 girls read neither book.
At the end of the sixmonth experiment，all the girls who read books had lost weight，but the girls who read Lake Rescue lost more. They lowered their body mass index (BMI) by 0.71，compared with 0.33 in the Charlotte group，an average 0.05 increase among the nonreaders.
The idea behind the study，says Dr Sarah Armstrong，director of Healthy Lifestyles，was to find a way to encourage the girls without adopting the restrictive and often authoritative voice of so many other nutrition and diet programs. Lake Rescue was the perfect instrument，says Armstrong；it presents a likable character to whom the girls could relate and whom they could learn from. As the book progresses，its protagonist learns to make healthier lifestyle choices and finds an adviser to help keep her on track. Armstrong says，“She learns that she can become healthier，and the ‘I can do it’ feeling resonates (产生共鸣) with the teenage girls.”What’s the main idea of the passage?
| A．There are different ways to help overweight kids lose weight. |
| B．Lifestyle is important for kids. |
| C．Lake Rescue is the perfect weightlosing instrument. |
| D．Reading can help kids lose weight. |
How many girls took part in the experiment?
| A．31. | B．33. | C．64. | D．81. |
What does the underlined word “She” in the last paragraph refer to?
| A．Armstrong. | B．The protagonist in Lake Rescue. |
| C．A character in Charlotte in Paris. | D．A girl in the first group. |
According to the passage we can know that ________.
| A．overweight girls are living unhappily |
| B．reading is the best way to lose weight |
| C．different reading materials play different roles in losing weight |
| D．people will become fat if they don’t read |
In which part of a newspaper can we read the above passage?
| A．Education. | B．Entertainment. | C．Health. | D．Advertisement. |
In the competition of Olympic weightlifting，the athletes try to lift the maximum (最大的) weight they can. There are special conditions they have to meet in order to compete：body weight，height and strength.
The Olympic weightlifting mainly tests the limit of explosive strength (爆发力)．There are not many lifters who really like Olympic weightlifting and the explanation is very simple：they are short of explosive strength.
The weights used for Olympic weightlifting are added in kilograms. The order by which the athletes enter the competition is not general，but it is set depending on the event. Usually the athlete with the lowest weight begins. If he/she is not successful，he/she can try later. There is a maximum of three lifts allowed for every competition.
For many years Olympic weightlifting was only for men. However，now women also take part in Olympic weightlifting. It was at the beginning of the 21st century that women’s competitions entered an organized professional environment. For women，Olympic weightlifting is more difficult because of their different body structure. However，strength training techniques (技术) are widely and successfully used by women，too.
Lots of the athletes who’ve ended up in Olympic weightlifting competitions have started with strength training only to improve their muscle condition and their body power. However，the demarcation line (界线) is not still very clear between power training and Olympic weightlifting. This is how so many lifters have got into Olympic weightlifting competition，even if their purpose was different at the beginning.In the competition of Olympic weightlifting，athletes need to be all of the following EXCEPT________.
| A．the right age | B．the right height |
| C．the right weight | D．the right strength |
How many more times can a lifter try if he/she fails for the first time?
| A．One. | B．Two. | C．Three. | D．Four. |
According to the fourth paragraph，________.
| A．men often do better than women in weightlifting |
| B．women need to use different training techniques from men |
| C．men can learn the training techniques better than women |
| D．women used not to be allowed to compete in Olympic weightlifting |
According to the passage，many athletes began to practice weightlifting because they wanted to________.
| A．take part in the Olympics |
| B．get a reward in the competition |
| C．strengthen their body power |
| D．test the limit of explosive strength |
Just a few hours ago，the Italian ship Andrea Doria was sailing through thick fog toward the city of New York. Captain Piero Calamai kept watch. He knew that many other ships were nearby. He should have slowed down because of the fog but he decided not to. He wanted to arrive on time the next morning.
At about 11∶00 PM，another ship，the Stockholm，suddenly hit the Andrea Doria. It made a huge hole in the Italian ship. Some people were badly hurt. Others fell into the sea. But one girl was saved by the Stockholm.
Linda Morgan was fourteen. She lived in Spain with her mother and her little sister. She was going to visit her father in New York. She was excited about seeing her father.
Linda had loved the trip. She wanted to have dinner with the captain on the last night at sea. The captain did not sit at his table that night，though. He was busy guiding the ship through the fog. Linda did not get to talk to him.
When Linda went to bed，everything seemed fine. Her mother turned off the lights. Linda talked to her little sister. She thought about seeing her father the next morning.
What happened next was a terrible surprise. Linda woke up not knowing where she was. She was not in her bed. When she called to her family，no one answered. Both her knees were broken.
Linda had been saved by an amazing accident. When the Stockholm made a hole in the side of the Andrea Doria，it lifted Linda out of her bed. She landed on the deck (甲板) of the Stockholm instead of falling into the ocean. A sailor heard her cries and found her.
Right now，the girl is in the hospital. She is expected to get better. Her father is at her side，glad that his little girl was saved. The Andrea Doria lies under the waves at the bottom of the sea.Why didn’t Captain Piero Calamai reduce the speed?
| A．He didn’t want to be late. |
| B．He went crazy because of the bad weather. |
| C．He thought the fog was not serious. |
| D．He had rich experience. |
When the accident happened，________.
| A．Linda was asleep |
| B．the day was about to break |
| C．few people were killed |
| D．the Andrea Doria hit a hole in the Stockholm |
What can we learn from the text?
| A．Linda hated the trip very much. |
| B．Linda was saved by the Stockholm. |
| C．Linda lived with her father in Spain. |
| D．The Andrea Doria wasn’t badly damaged. |
What’s the main idea of the passage?
| A．A little girl’s braveness moved people. |
| B．Andrea Doria sailed through thick fog. |
| C．The Italian ship Andrea Doria was hit by Stockholm. |
| D．A fourteenyearold girl was saved by accident after the crash. |
As any housewives who has tried to keep order at the dinner table knows, there is far more to a family meal than food. Sociologist Michael Lewis has been studying 50 families to find out just how much more.
Lewis carried out his study by videotaping the families while they ate ordinary meals in their own homes. They found that parents with small families talk actively with each other and their children. But as the number of children gets larger, conversation gives way to the parents’ efforts to control the loud noise they make. That can have an important effect on the children. “In general the more question-asking the parents do, the higher the children’s IQ scores,” Lewis says. “And the more children there are, the less question-asking there is.”
The study also provides an explanation for why middle children often seem to have a harder time in life than their siblings. Lewis found that in families with three or four children, dinner conversation is likely to center on the oldest child, who has the most to talk about, and the youngest, who needs the most attention. “Middle children are invisible,” says Lewis. “When you see someone get up from the table and walk around during dinner, chances are it’s the middle child.” There is, however, one thing that stops all conversation and prevents anyone from having attention: “When the TV is on,” Lewis says, “dinner is nothing.”The writer’s purpose in writing the text is to _________.
| A．show the relationship between parents and children |
| B．teach parents ways to keep order at the dinner table |
| C．report on the findings of a study |
| D．give information about family problems |
By saying “Middle children are invisible” in paragraph 3, Lewis means that middle children _________.
| A．have to help their parents to serve dinner |
| B．get the least attention from the family |
| C．are often not allowed to come to the dinner table |
| D．find it hard to get along well with other children |
Which of the following statements would the writer agree to?
| A．Parents should talk to each of their children frequently. |
| B．It is a good idea to have the TV on during dinner. |
| C．It is important to have the right food for children. |
| D．Elder children should help the younger ones at dinner. |
Astronauts on shorter shuttle missions often work very long days. Tasks are scheduled so tightly that break times are often used to finish the day's work. This type of schedule is far too demanding for long missions on the International Space Station (ISS). ISS crewmembers usually live in space for at least a quarter of a year. They work five days on and two days off to mimic the normal way they do things on Earth as much as possible. Weekends give the crew valuable time to rest and do a few hours of housework. They can communicate with family and friends by email, internet phone and through private video conferences.
While astronauts cannot go to a baseball game or a movie in orbit, there are many familiar activities that they can still enjoy. Before a mission, the family and friends of each ISS crewmember put together a collection of family photos, messages, videos and reading material for the astronauts to look at when they will be floating 370 kilometers above the Earth. During their mission, the crew also receives care packages with CDs, books, magazines, photos and letters. And as from early 2010, the internet became available on the ISS, giving astronauts the chance to do some "web surfing" in their personal time. Besides relaxing with these more common entertainments, astronauts can simply enjoy the experience of living in space.
Many astronauts say that one of the most relaxing things to do in space is to look out the window and stare at the universe and the Earth. Both the shuttle and the ISS circle the planet several times each day, and every moment offers a new view of the Earth's vast land mass and oceans.What does the word "mimic" in Paragraph 1 probably mean?
| A．copy | B．find | C．change | D．lose |
Which of the following best describes the families of the astronauts on the ISS?
| A．They are impatient and annoyed. | B．They are worried and upset. |
| C．They are caring and thoughtful. | D．They are excited and curious. |
In the final paragraph, the author shows that astronauts ________.
| A．love to see the Earth from space | B．find living in space a bit boring and tiring |
| C．regard space life as common | D．get more pleasure in space than on the Earth |
The passage mainly discusses how astronauts ________.
| A．work for longer missions in space | B．spend their free time in space |
| C．observe the Earth from space | D．connect with people on the Earth |
It seems some people have something bad to say about Facebook, the social media website that now has attracted more than 300 million members. To them I have only this to say: Stop please!
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal blamed Facebook’s ability to ruin friendships, saying that it limits communication to typing and encourages people to spend far too much time with friends they have never met.
Having used Facebook since its first year, I find these arguments false. The simple truth is that the problems are only a symptom of Facebook abuse. Like many things, it is only as harmful to your life and relationships as you allow it to be. Consider arguments against watching too much TV and overeating.
Try using Facebook to find friends who may have long ago changed their e-mail addresses and phone numbers, to find out what your old college friends are up to, to congratulate your friends on their latest birthdays, to share pictures and articles you find interesting, and to join in the discussion about them with your friends.
Sure, I had days when I wasted a little more time on Facebook than I should, but I’m not going to blame Facebook for my own laziness. If Facebook wasn’t there, I would have found something else to waste time on. To my “friends”: if you don’t feel like broadcasting your life stories on your Facebook, don’t. If you tire of my personal updates, ignore them. If you don’t want to join in the popular online games, don’t. It is a fun tool at your fingers that can be used for both good and bad. If you don’t like using Facebook, don’t.
I am now a consultant at the Department of State. I use Facebook to keep in touch with friends, family, and colleagues who live and work all over the world.Why did the article in the Wall Street Journal blame Facebook?
| A．Because it makes people spend too much time online. |
| B．Because it can make people lose their real-life friends. |
| C．Because it is as harmful to people’s lives as watching TV. |
| D．Because it encourages people to make friends with strangers. |
What does the author suggest using Facebook to do?
| A．To find out lost e-mail addresses and phone numbers. |
| B．To arrange appointments with our old college friends. |
| C．To collect interesting pictures and articles from our friends. |
| D．To keep in touch with friends who we haven’t called for long. |
We can imply from the passage that by using Facebook we can ____.
| A．read other’s personal updates |
| B．write our life stories online secretly |
| C．decide who can read our life stories |
| D．refuse to join in popular online games |
The author writes the last paragraph to ____.
| A．prove that Facebook can be well used |
| B．gain support from the Department of State |
| C．show that Facebook is used all around the world |
| D．introduce how she uses Facebook in her work as a consultant |
Forest guards in western India are using cell phones with ringtones（手机铃声）of cows mooing, goats bleating and roosters crowing to attract leopards （豹）that have wandered into human settlements, officials said on Monday.
The wild cats in the state of Gujarat often get into villages near forests in search of food, say officials, adding that this results in attacks on people. But rather than use methods such as live bait（活诱饵）like goats tied to trees to lure (引诱) the leopards, which then fall into large pits dug by guards, officials say they have found a safer method to trap the cats.
“The moos of a cow, and bleating of a goat from the phone have proved effective to trap leopards,” said D. Vasani, a senior forest official in Gujarat. “This trick works.” Vasani said forest guards have downloaded the sounds of over a dozen animals as ringtones on their mobiles which they attach to speakers and fix behind a cage. They then play the ringtone continuously for up to two hours until the curious leopard appears and moves into the cage looking for its easy meal.
At least five leopards have so far been lured from villages since the new ringtone method was introduced three months ago. The cats have all been released （释放）back into forest areas.
Wildlife activists welcomed the new initiative (新方案) saying that previous methods of trapping the cats using pits often resulted in the animals getting injured. What can be the best title of the passage?
| A．Cell Phones to Hunt Animals | B．Practical Uses of Cell Phones |
| C．Wildlife And New Technology | D．Phone Ringtones to Catch Leopards |
Forest guards in India try to catch leopards mainly because _______.
| A．leopards attack villagers | B．they want leopard fur |
| C．leopards attack animals | D．they have new ringtones |
According to the wildlife activists, the new method is _______.
| A．appreciated because it benefits leopards | B．not good because it may injure animals |
| C．effective because ringtones work | D．not safer than the former one |
We can learn from the passage except that _______.
| A．forest guards don’t mean to hurt the leopards |
| B．forest guards no longer use pits to trap leopards |
| C．forest guards used goats to attract leopards |
| D．recorded animal sound are used to lure leopards |
What will be needed to trap the leopards using the new method?
a. cell phones b. animals c. sounds of animals d. cages e. large pits
| A．abcd | B．bce | C．ade | D．acd |
For many businessmen online education has been a dream. Now it has come true. The investment (投资) in higher education, whether financial or in terms of time, has long been impossible for many of them. But well-known educational institutions have chosen to deliver an internet-based program, and these barriers have been lifted.
That is good news for people eager to improve themselves and is more attractive to employers. It is also a benefit to industry with better qualified candidates applying for jobs at every level.
Having the benefits of a higher qualification without going to the university campus is attractive to many students. Campus study means greater cost, while online programs are flexible and save time, whether at home or at work. Students can achieve their degrees without causing too much disruption to their career or home life.
In addition to affordable, flexible classes and greater convenience, students also have access to the online learning resources of many of the world’s top educational institutions. They can also communicate with their tutors no matter what time it is or whether either party is away for any reason.
This has opened up the possibility of getting a qualification from a university or college that many students could only have dreamed of in the past. It also allows specialists to get the precise qualifications and focus on their studies. As well as seeing the increase of applicants from lower-incomes and housewives, studying online in the US is even becoming popular with younger people of college age.
Employers have become increasingly welcome and positive to online qualifications as more candidates earn them, especially if they’re properly approved by the US Department of Education.
US institutions have led the way in online education provision. Many top US colleges and universities offer a range of online programs that are highly respected and in every way perfectly fit for adults who need to combine their studies with a working life. According to Paragraph 1, many US colleges and universities .
| A．have begun to lift the barriers to financial investment |
| B．have begun to run an internet-based program |
| C．have had a dream of offering online education |
| D．have gained financial investment |
Why do people choose online education?
| A．They can find jobs more easily than on-campus graduates. |
| B．They can get qualifications from US Department of Education. |
| C．They can save money and arrange their time and courses freely. |
| D．They can invest money in different courses provided online. |
The underlined word “disruption’’ in the third paragraph probably mean .
| A．dissatisfaction | B．attention | C．attraction | D．interruption |
Which would be a good title for the passage?
| A．Adult Education Online |
| B．The Best of USA’s Online Education |
| C．Top US Universities Offering Online Education |
| D．Online Education Taking the Place of Campus Education |
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