IS THERE LIFE ON EARTH
There was great excitement on the planet of Venus(金星) this week. For the first time Venusian scientists managed to land a satellite on the planet Earth, and it has been sending back signals as well as photographs ever since.
The satellite was directed into an area known as Manhattan (named after the great Venusian astronomer Prof. Manhattan, who first discovered it with his telescope 20 000 light years ago).Because of excellent weather conditions and extremely strong signals, Venusian scientists were able to get valuable information as to feasibility(可行性) of a manned flying saucer(飞碟) landing on Earth.A press conference was held at the Venus Institute of Technology.
“We have come to the conclusion,based on last week's satellite landing,” Pro. Zog said,“that there is no life on the Earth.”
“How do you know this?” the science reporter of the Venus Evening Star asked.
“For one thing, Earth's surface in the area of Manhattan is composed of solid concrete(混凝土)and nothing can grow there. For another, the atmosphere is filled with carbon monoxide(一氧化碳) and other deadly gases and nobody could possibly breathe this air and survive.”
“What does this mean as far as our flying saucer program is concerned?”
“We shall have to take our own oxygen with us, which means a much heavier flying saucer than we originally planned. ”
“Are there any other hazards that you discovered in your studies?”
“Take a look at this photo. You see this dark cloud floating over the surface of Earth? We call this the Consolidated Edison Belt. We don't know what it is made of, but it could give us a lot of trouble and we shall have to make further tests before we send a Venus Being there.”
“If what you say is true, won't this set back the flying saucer program several years?”
“Yes, but we shall proceed as soon as the Grubstart gives us the added funds.”
“Prof. Zog, why are we spending billions and billions of zilches to land a flying saucer on Earth when there is no life there?”
“Because if we Venusians can learn to breathe in an Earth atmosphere, then we can live anywhere.”During the week of great excitement the Venusian scientists succeeded in getting important information on whether they can_______.
| A．land a satellite with Venus astronauts on Earth |
| B．make a firstrate flying saucer |
| C．get a Earth Being to Venus |
| D．direct a flying saucer into Manhattan |
According to Prof.Zog,the Venusians will have to take their own oxygen with them when they carry out their flying saucer program because_______.
| A．they need it on their way to the planet of Earth |
| B．the Earth's atmosphere is filled with deadly gases |
| C．oxygen is far from enough in the area of Manhattan where the saucer is to land |
| D．there is no air on the planet of Earth |
The “dark black cloud” on the photograph refers to_______.
| A．the polluted air floating over the surface of Earth |
| B．the mass of tiny drops of water floating above Earth |
| C．the things that are unknown to everybody |
| D．the dark clouds gathering before a storm breaks |
The author wishes to call our attention to the fact_______.
| A．that modern man has polluted his environment to such an extent that he might destroy himself if he went on like this |
| B．that there is no point in spending billions and billions of zilches to land a flying saucer on Earth |
| C．that pollution has become so serious a problem on Earth that even Venusians find life there unbearable |
| D．that it is difficult, if not altogether impossible, to land a manned flying saucer on Earth |
If two scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory are correct, people will still be driving gasoline-powered cars 50 years from now, giving out heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere — and yet that carbon dioxide will not contribute to global warming.
In a proposal by two scientists, vehicle emissions (排放) would no longer contribute to global warming. The scientists, F. Jeffrey Martin and William L. Kubic Jr., are proposing a concept, which they have named Green Freedom, for removing carbon dioxide from the air and turning it back into gasoline.
The idea is simple. Air would be blown over a liquid solution (溶液) of potassium carbonate, which would absorb the carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide would then be put to chemical reactions that would turn it into fuel: gasoline or jet fuel.
This process could change carbon dioxide from an unwanted, climate-changing pollutant into a vast resource for renewable fuels. The cycle — equal amounts of carbon dioxide produced and removed — would mean that cars, trucks and airplanes using the synthetic (合成的) fuels would no longer be contributing to global warming.
Although they have not yet built a synthetic fuel factory, or even a small model, the scientists say it is all based on existing technology. “Everything in the concept has been built, is operating or has a close cousin that is operating,” Dr. Martin said.
The Los Alamos proposal does not go against any laws of physics, and other scientists who have independently suggested similar ideas. Dr. Martin said he and Dr. Kubic had worked out their concept in more detail than previous proposals.
There is, however, a major fact that explains why no one has built a carbon-dioxide-to-gasoline factory: it requires a great deal of energy.
According to their analysis, their concept, which would cost about $5 billion to build, could produce gasoline at an operating cost of $1.40 a gallon and would turn economically practical when the price at the pump hits $4.60 a gallon.
Other scientists said the Los Alamos proposal perhaps looked promising but could not evaluate it fully because the details had not been published.
“It’s definitely worth pursuing,” said Martin I. Hoffert, a professor of physics at New York University. “It’s not that new an idea. It has a couple of pieces to it that are interesting.”
67. What is the idea of the project being discussed in the article?
A. Recycling the carbon dioxide from cars back into gasoline.
B. Create a new gasoline that gives off very little carbon dioxide.
C. Using a special liquid solution to absorb carbon dioxide from cars.
D. Build synthetic fuel factories to remove carbon dioxide from the air.
68. What’s the name given to the new concept?
A. Synthetic Fuel. B. Green Freedom.
C. Renewable Fuel. D. Carbon-dioxide-to-gasoline Factory.
69. Which of the following is NOT one of the benefits of this new concept as suggested in the article?
A. Reduction of global warming. B. Cheaper gasoline for cars.
C. Longer life of cars. C. Less pollution of the atmosphere.
70. What’s the biggest problem in realizing the concept according to the report?
A. Shortage of starting funds. B. Immature technology involved.
C. All previous similar attempts have failed.
D. The use of too much energy in running the fuel factory.
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56. You may find the above advertisement __________.
A. in a newspaper B. in a store window
C. in a website D. on a company notice-board
57. What is iPod/MP3 Transmitter?
A. An MP3 player which allows you to enjoy music wherever you are.
B. A kind of equipment that allows you to enjoy music from your iPod/MP3 player.
C. A mini radio station transmitting your music via the FM frequency to the nearest radio.
D. A radio that receives music from your MP3 player.
58. From the advertisement above, we can learn that __________.
A. the product can be used with a lot of electronic equipment
B. the transmitter can only be powered by 2 AAA batteries
C. the unit has organized cables so it is light and easy to carry
D. this item can be delivered to any place around the world
Boxing was long viewed sickly. Generally forbidden by law in earlier days, the fighting was usually done with bare fists, and matches often lasted forty or fifty rounds.
In 1882 John L. Sullivan, a fighter of great power, won the world heavyweight championship from Paddy Ryan in a bare fisted battle marked by hitting, scratching, and biting without any rule. Five years later, while fighting Patsy Cardiff at Minneapolis, Sullivan broke his right arm in the third round, but he continued fighting to the sixth round and won. In 1889, Sullivan defeated Jade Kilrain with his bare fists in another championship fight, winning twenty thousand dollars and a diamond prize medal. His admirers talked then of running him for the next governor, but he traveled to Australia for a boxing tour instead, coming back only to lose his title in a twenty-one-round match with a young Californian named James J. Corbett.
“Gentleman James” victory in this match marked a turning point, for it showed scientific boxing was over strength. But Corbett’s title ended in 1897, when another boxer, Bob Fitzsimmons, in less than three seconds, achieved his feats and then Fitzsimmons knocked out an Irishman, won the heavyweight championship of the world, and invented the terrible “solar plexus punch.”
64.Boxing matches in the early days were. - .
A. short and bloody B. usually spare-time competitions
C. governed by strict rules D. cruel
65.Sullivan held the world’s heavyweight title for. .
A.at least seven years B. only a year
C．five years D．twenty-one years
66.Sullivan’s fight with Kilrain was .
A．the first boxing championship match B. a bare-fisted championship fight
C．the last boxing match to be fought bare-fisted D．a six-round match
67. Sullivan was so popular that his admirers .
A．encouraged him to be a governor B．raised twenty thousand dollars for him
C．advised him to take boxing tour of Australia D．refused to believe he could be defeated
If you travel around the world , you will be surprised to find just how different the foreign customs can be from your own .
A visitor to India would do well to remember that people there consider it impolite to use the left hand for passing food at table . The left hand is supposed to be used for washing yourself . Also in India , you might see a man apparently shaking his head at another and assume that he is disagreeing . But in many parts of India a shake of the head is a gesture that shows agreement of acceptance .
Nodding your head when offered a drink in Bulgaria is likely to leave you thirsty . In that country you shake your head to indicate “yes” —a nod indicates “no”. The Arabs are known for their hospitality . At a meal in countries on the Arabic Peninsula , you will find that any drinking vessel （容器，器皿）is repeatedly refilled as soon as you drink it up .
In Europe it is quite usual to cross your legs when sitting talking to someone , even at an important meeting . Doing this when meeting an important person in Thailand , however , could cause offence . It is too informal an attitude for such an occasion . Also when in Thailand you are not supposed to touch the head of an adult —it’s just not done . In Japan , it is quite usual for men to plan evening entertainments for themselves and leave their wives at home . In Europe such attitudes are disappearing .
Customs vary from country to country . Visitors may be at a loss as to what to do in a foreign environment . In such circumstances , the golden rule to follow is : When in Rome , do as the Romans do .
60．In which country , a left — hand is not welcomed ? .
A．Thailand B．India C Arabic peninsula D．Bulgaria
61．In which country , if someone shakes his head at another , it shows that he agrees or accepts ?
.
A．Bulgaria B．Thailand C．China D．Arabic Peninsula
62．Which of the following is impolite in Europe ? .
A．to cross your legs
B．to touch the head of an adult
C．That men plan evening entertainment and leave their wives at home
D．To drain the glass in your hand
63．If you don’t know the customs in the country where you visit , the golden rule to follow is .
A．to do as the Romans do B．to do nothing
C．to visit Rome only D．to do as the natives do
When I was a child, I often dreamed of the time when I could leave home and escape to the city. We lived on a farm, in the winter especially, we wear quite out off from the outside world. As soon as I left school, I packed my bags and moved to the capital. However, I soon discovered that my life has its, too.
One big disadvantage is money. It costs so much to go out, not to mention basics like food and housing. Another disadvantage is pollution. I suffer from asthma (哮喘), and the air is so that I am afraid to go outside. Then there is the problem of traveling round. Although I have a car, I seldom use it because of the traffic jams. One choice is to go by bicycle, but that can be quite dangerous.
Of course there are advantages. First, there is so much to do in the city, whatever you tastes in culture or entertainment. Besides, there are wonderful jobs and greater chances of moving to a more important job or position. Finally, if you like shopping, the variety of goods is very surprising --- and, what is more, shops are often only a short walk away.
Is life better then, in the city? Perhaps it is , when you are in your teens or twenties. However, as you get older, and especially if you have small children, the peace of the countryside may seem preferable. I certainly hope to move back there soon. What was the writer always thinking about when he was a child?
| A．Staying on the farm. | B．Moving to the countryside. |
| C．Leaving home for the city. | D．Running away from the school. |
Which of the following is true about the writer?
| A．He is very old now. | B．He is in good health. |
| C．He prefers driving a car. | D．He lives in the city now. |
In the passage, the writer tries to __________.
| A．express his opinions about way of life | B．describe his life in the countryside |
| C．an interest in the outside world | D．persuade the reader to live in the city |
How is the passage mainly developed?
| A．By inferring. | B．By comparing. | C．By listing examples. | D．By giving explanations. |
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