Astronauts’ meals have come a long way from the free-dried powders and semi-liquid pastes of decades ago，now US scientists want to grow vegetables in mini-greenhouses on the moon．
Scientists say they are looking forward to a time when residents of future lunar or even Martian outsteps will be able to dine on fresh vegetables．Paragon Space Development Corporation has unveiled what it called the first step toward growing flowers——and eventually food—on the moon.
This is a sealed greenhouse that looks like a bell jar encased in a 46-cm triangular aluminium frame(三角铝框架)．It is designed to safely land a laboratory plant on the lunar surface，and protect it while it grows．
The miniature greenhouse is to be launched into space by Odyssey Moon Ltd, a participant in the Google Lunar X Prize. This competition offers $20 million to any entrant(参加者) who can launch，land and operate a rover（漫游）on the lunar surface.
Paragon officials say future testing of the“Lunar Oasis”will be driven by Odyssey’s flight schedule，which will not happen until 2012 at the earliest．
When it does lift off the greehouse will contain the seeds of Brassica, a hardy plant related to Brussels sprouts and cabbage．Because Brassica goes from seed to flower in just 14 days，it can complete its life cycle in a single lunar night
“Colonizing the Moon or Mars seems so far away，but it is important that we do this research now，” Paragon president Jane Poynter said．
“It takes a long time to get a lot of research，and to get integrated，reliable efficient systems before colonists move in．”she said．
1. The article is written mainly to _________.
A. predict the astronauts’meals in the future
B. introduce an experiment“Lunar Oasis’’
C. tell us the future development of astronomy
D. focus on the human’s great progress
2. The article implies that __________.
A. astronauts ean grow flowers in space at present
B. Paragon and NASA will carry out the test separately
C. Lunar Oasis is a series of experiments carried out in space
D. the earliest testing of the Lunar Oasis may be in 2012
3. The underlined word “colonists”in the last paragraph probably has the meaning of _______.
A. plants B. wild beasts C. human beings D. scientists
4. The seeds of Brassica will be contained in the greenhouse mainly because _______.
A. their life cycle is much shorter
B. they are more nutritious than other food
C. they are related to Brussels sporouts and cabbage
D. they are very delicious
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 became 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(娱乐活动). 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(十几岁)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. |
A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms, though my teacher emphasized(强调) the importance again and again. But soon, the importance of English idioms was shown in an amusing experience.
One day, I happened to meet an Englishman on the road, and soon we began to talk. As I was talking about how I was studying English, the foreigner seemed to be astonished. Gently shaking his head, shrugging his shoulders, he said, “You don’t say!” “You don’t say!” I was puzzled. I thought, perhaps this is not an appropriate topic(适当的话题). “Well, I’d better change the topic.” So I said to him. “Well, shall we talk about the Great Wall? By the way, have you ever been there?” “Certainly, everyone back home will laugh at me if I leave China without seeing it. It was magnificent.” He was deep in thought when I began to talk like a tourist guide. “The Great Wall is one of the wonders in the world. We are very proud of it.” Soon I was interrupted again by his words：“You don’t say!” I couldn’t help asking, “Why do you ask me not to talk about it?” “Well, I didn’t request you to do so, ” he answered, greatly surprised. I said, “Didn’t you say’ you don’t say？” Hearing this, the Englishman laughed to tears. He began to explain, ‘You don’t say’ actually means ‘really!’ It is an expression of surprise. Perhaps you don’t pay attention to English idioms.” Only then did I know I had made a fool of myself. Since then I have been more careful with idiomatic expressions. Remember: what the English teachers said is always right to us students. A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms because _______.
| A．English idioms were not important |
| B．I was not careful with English idioms |
| C．my teacher didn’t emphasize the importance of them |
| D．I had no interest in them |
At first, on hearing “You don’t say,” I thought the foreigner meant _______.
| A．he was not interested in the topic |
| B．he was only interested in the Great Wall |
| C．I had talked too much |
| D．I had to stop talking |
The underlined word in the first paragraph probably means _______.
| A．interesting | B．important |
| C．terrible | D．unlucky |
Which of the following is true according to the passage？
| A．The Englishman left China without seeing the Great Wall. |
| B．The Englishman wanted to see the Great Wall after I talked about it. |
| C．The Englishman wanted me to act as his guide. |
| D．The Englishman visited the Great Wall and thought it worth visiting. |
After the Englishman explained the idiom, _______.
| A．I thought the Englishman had made me a fool |
| B．the Englishman became a real fool. |
| C．I felt very silly |
| D．I became more carefully in everything |
Laptop computers are popular all over the world. People use them on trains and airplanes, in airports and hotels. These laptops connect people to their workplace. In the United States today, laptops also connect students to their classrooms.
Westlake College in Virginia will start a laptop computer program that allows students to do schoolwork anywhere they want. Within five years, each of the 1500 students at the college will receive a laptop. The laptops are part of a ＄10 million computer program at Westlake, a 110-year-old college. The students with laptops will also have access to the Internet. In addition, they will be able to use e-mail to “speak” with their teachers, their classmates, and their families. however, the most important part of the laptop program is that students will be able to use computers without going to computer labs. They can work with it at home, in a fast-food restaurant or under the trees—anywhere at all!
Because of the many changes in computer technology, laptop use in higher education, such as colleges and universities, is workable. As laptops become more powerful, they become more similar to desktop computers. In addition, the portable computers can connect students to not only the Internet, but also libraries and other resources. State higher-education officials are studying how laptops can help students. State officials are also testing laptop programs at other universities, too.
At Westlake College, more than 60 percent of the staff use computers. The laptops will allow all teachers to use computers in their lessons. As one Westlake teacher said, “ Here we are in the middle of Virginia and we’re giving students a window on the world. They can see everything and do everything.”The main purpose of the laptop program is to give each student a laptop to _______.
| A．use for their schoolwork | B．access the Internet |
| C．work at home | D．connect them to libraries |
Why is the word “speak” in the second paragraph in quotation marks(引号)?
| A．They don’t really talk. | B．They use the computer language. |
| C．Laptops have speakers. | D．None of the above reasons is correct. |
Which of the following is true about Westlake College?
| A．All teachers use computers. | B．1500 students have laptops. |
| C．It is an old college in America. | D．Students there can do everything. |
A window on the world in the last paragraph means that students can _______.
| A．attend lectures on information technology |
| B．travel around the world |
| C．get information from around the world |
| D．have free laptops |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A．The program is successful. | B．The program is not workable. |
| C．The program is too expensive. | D．We don’t know the result yet. |
As you research music, you will find music that is familiar to you. You will find music which tells of interesting places and exciting things to do. You will find music which expresses feelings that are often your own.
Music is an expression of the people. As you research, you will find music of people at work and play. You will find music expressing love of the country, love of nature, and love of home.
Music is also an expression of the composer(作曲家). The composer expresses his own musical ideas. He studies the materials of music and discovers ways of using them. He looks for new kinds of musical expression.
Music can suggest actions and feelings which we all share. We can enjoy playing and singing music, dancing and listening to the music of the people and the composers of different times and places. In the first paragraph, the author tells us to_______.
| A．find entertainment(娱乐) in music | B．be friendly to music |
| C．express your feelings in music | D．discover the things and places in music |
From the second paragraph, we know that ________.
| A．if we love music, we will love the country, nature and home |
| B．music sings of the country, nature and home |
| C．you may listen to music at work or at play |
| D．music can express how people live, work and think |
By means of music, the composer wishes that ________.
| A．you would study with them |
| B．you would share his feelings and ideas |
| C．you would express your own feelings |
| D．you help discover ways of using music and new kinds of musical expression |
The last paragraph shows that music makes it possible ________.
| A．the music can express actions and feelings at the same time |
| B．bring understanding between people of different times and places |
| C．that people can enjoy playing and singing music, dancing and listening to the music at the same time |
| D．that people of different time and places can get together |
Which of the following statements is NOT true. Music expresses ________.
| A．the feelings of our own | B．people’s love of the country |
| C．the composer’s feelings | D．people’s musical ideas |
Surfing—the art of riding a wave on a pointed board—is the wildest, fastest natural water sport known to man. In recent years, it has developed into a major sport around the world, from Australia to South Africa. Australians brave(挑战) men—eating sharks to ride the green waves Down Under, Hawaiian experts risk(冒…之险) their lives on huge, thirty foot swells(浪涛) against the wind of Oahu; Californians of all ages go out the year-round. In the winter, surf-riders put on life-suits to ride grave waves so cold that their flesh turns blue.
Surfing is no sport for weak persons. Swimming a quarter of a mile or more, and pushing a surfboard out to where the swells are just right for riding, can be real work. Then, at exactly the right moment, you climb up the wave and go fast across the face of a powerful swell with the white water jumping at your feet. The huge wave bites at your shoulder, threatening(威胁) at any moment to smash your flat. In the next several seconds, a cool head and lightning—quick action back to the pressure of the attacking wave will bring your board under control for that great ride down the back of the great, green mountain of water. Once on the beach, you know why surfing is growing in popularity as an international sport, and you’re glad to be a member of this new water world.The first paragraph mainly tells us ______.
| A．people around the world go surfing all the year round |
| B．the definition(定义) of the sport |
| C．how to surf in the sea |
| D．where to surf around the world |
The author believes that surfing _______.
| A．is not an easy sport | B．can be done by anyone |
| C．should be done by everyone | D．does not require courage |
In order to experience what real surfing is, _______.
| A．you must first swim a quarter of a mile to warm your body |
| B．you will first ride on a board to reach the swells |
| C．you must first put on your life-suits before doing surfing |
| D．you must first swim to the swells with your board |
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