to an end. During the past ten years, meteorologists tell us the average temperature of the earth has dropped about one degree Fahrenheit. This does not seem like much, but it could have effects on wind and rain patterns which influence the overall weather picture. If these patterns change a lot, it could mean that certain regions of the world may continue to have long droughts while others will possibly suffer from widespread flooding.
What regulates (调节) the climate is not exactly known. Scientists believe that clouds may be an important factor in regulating the amount of solar (太阳的 ) heat held by the earth, which in turn determines the temperature of the planet. Another possibility is that man’s industrial and agricultural methods may be affecting the natural weather patterns. However, the weather is not understood well enough for scientists to say for certain what is happening to the climate and what side effects this will actually have on the world's population.
1. According to the passage, the climate of the world seems to . A. be getting colder B. remain the same in the past ten years C. be getting warmer D. have good effects on the world's population 2. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? A. Man's activities have no effect on the climate. B. Another ice age will come soon.
C. People don't care about the changing climate.
D. Scientists are not yet sure about the reason for the changing climate. 3. A meteorologist is a person who A. reads weather forecasts on radio or television. B. thinks there will be another ice age C. studies and knows about the weather D. believes there will be widespread flooding
4. Which of the following may affect the natural weather patterns? A. Clouds
B. The amount of heat the earth receives C. Man's industrial and agricultural methods D. All of the above
5. A best title for this passage would be . A. Droughts and Floods B. Meteorologists C. Changing Climate D. Solar Heat
Passage 17
After a busy day of work and play, the body needs to rest. Sleep is necessary for good health. During this time, the body recovers from the activities of the previous day. The rest that you get while sleeping enables your body to prepare itself for the next day. There are four levels of sleep, each being
a little deeper than the one before. As you sleep, your muscles relax little by little. Your heart beats more slowly, and your brain slows down. After you reach the fourth level, your body shifts back and forth from one level of sleep to the other.
Although your mind slows down, from time to time you will dream. Scientists who study sleep state that when dreaming occurs, your eyeballs begin to move more quickly (although your eyelids are closed). This stage of sleep is called REM, which stands for rapid eye movement.
If you have trouble falling asleep, some people recommend breathing very slowly and very deeply. Other people believe that drinking warm milk will help make you drowsy. There is also an old suggestion that counting sheep will put you to sleep!
1. This passage suggests that that not enough sleep might make you . A. dream more often B. have poor health C. nervous D. breathe quickly 2. During REM, .
A. your eyes move quickly B. you dream C. you are restless D. Both A and B 3. The average number of hours of sleep that an adult needs is . A. Not stated（说明）here B. about six hours C. about ten hours D. about eight hours 4. The word \ .
A. a little sleepy B. asleep C. sick D. stand up 5. A good title for this passage is . A. Good Health B. Dreams C. Sleep D. Work and Rest
Passage 18
The greatest attraction of walking is that we all know perfectly well how to do it. Because it is a low-impact exercise, it is a good choice for anyone who is overweight and under-exercised.
It won't stress your joints, but it will strengthen your heart and lungs, thigh muscles and burn plenty of calories（卡路里；热量）. A nice, leisurely stroll, in which you cover a mile in an hour, burns about 100 calories per mile. Speeding things up a little---to 2 miles per hours---will help you burn 200 calories, while a brisk walk---3 miles per hour---burns 300 calories an hour.
Another nice thing about walking is that you can begin your new walking program right now. The sport requires no advanced instruction and little equipment, beyond willing legs and a pair of sturdy shoes.
Walking has two other advantages: It can be done anywhere, under any conditions, and it is a very social sport. Simply grab a few friends and turn your daily coffee-and-doughnut break into on-the-road conversation time. You'll soon be entranced by the beauty of the outdoors and by the emerging beauty of the inner, thinner you.
1. What is the passage mainly about?
A. The types of walking. B. The instructions in walking. C. The advantages of walking. D. The greatest attraction of walking. 2. How many calories would be burnt if you have a brisk walk for half an hour? A. 250. B. 200. C. 100. D. 150. 3. what does the word \ A. Strong and firm. B. Cheap and soft. C. Beautiful and fashionable. D. Clean and plain.
4. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT the advantage of walking? A. We can begin our new walking program without any advanced instruction. B. We can begin our new walking program with anyone we like. C. We can begin our new walking program at any time we like. D. We can begin our new walking program at any place we like. 5. What can we infer from the passage? A. Walking can strengthen our heart and lungs.
B. Walking can help us in building up our social relationship. C. Walking can burn plenty of calories. D. Walking can be done anywhere at anytime.
Passage 19
When I was a boy, I belonged to the Boy Scouts, so I used to go camping every summer, and once something happened which I have never been able to explain.
We were camping in a place above a river. After arriving, we all rushed down to the river and had a swim. Standing by the river, we noticed that it was surrounded by cliffs. If someone wanted to reach the river at this point, he had to past our camp.
Several days later, the scoutmaster had to be away for a day. That afternoon, we had supper early. We were sitting round the fire, eating and talking, when a man walked past and went down towards the river. We all felt that this man looked very strange, but, because each of us was afraid of looking very stupid, no one said anything.
We ate rather slowly, taking as long as possible. After finishing, we collected our plates together so that we could take them to the river where we always washed them. But no one moved towards the river-we stood looking at each other ashamed. Then all shouting at once, we began talking about the man who had walked past us. We agreed how strange he looked and we wondered what he could be doing by the river. We knew that he could only return by passing through our camp.
An hour passed. Then one of the boys suggested we should creep down by the river so that we could see what the man was doing. Moving very slowly and keeping in the shadow, we crept down towards the bank. One boy climbed a tree so that he could see everything clearly. He called to us that there was no one there, so we ran down to the bank, looking everywhere carefully. We could not understand where the man had gone.
When it got dark, we went back to our camp feeling bewildered. We told the scoutmaster what had happened in the evening. Smiling, he doubted that we had seen the man, but finally suggested we go and look again. We did, but there was no one there.
Many years have passed, but I still remember it as if it were yesterday. What did we see? I do not know.
1. The writer in the text mainly tells us .
A. the story of his childhood B. a strange camping experience C. about a stranger by the river D. about a good place for camping 2. Why did the boys eat their supper slowly? A. They wanted to delay going to the river bank. B. They were waiting for their scoutmaster. C. They had a supper earlier than usual. D. They were talking while eating.
3. The word \ . A. ashamed B. nervous C. unable to understand D. eager to know something 4. When he heard what had happened, the scoutmaster .
A. realized who the man was B. started to worry about the man C. went back to look for the man D. felt it hard to believe the boys. 5. The writer still remembers the event because . A. the boys acted foolishly B. there has been no explanation for the event C. the camping place is beautiful
D. he particularly enjoyed his camping that summer
Passage 20
I grew up in a small town. My father raised chickens and ran a construction company. I was barely 10 years old when my dad gave me the responsibility (责任) of feeding the chickens and cleaning up the stable (畜栏). He believed it was important for me to have those jobs to learn responsibility. Then, when I was 22, I found a job in Natchbill at a country music club called the Natchbill Palace. I washed dishes and cooked from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm and then went on stage and sang until 2:00 in the morning. It wasn't long before I became known as a singing cook. I had been rejected so many times by record companies that it was hard not to be discouraged.
One night, a woman executive (高级经理) from a company named Warner Brothers Records came to hear me sing. When the show was over, we sat down and talked and after she left, I said to myself it was one more rejection. A few weeks later, my manager received a phone call—Warner Brothers wanted to sign me to a record deal. Soon after, I released (发行) my first record in June 1986. It sold over 2million copies. My best efforts had gone into every job I’ve ever held. It was the sense of
responsibility that made me feel like a man. Knowing that I had done my best filled me with pride. I still feel that way today, even though I have become a well-known singer.
1. Why did the father ask the writer to feed the chickens and clean up the stable? A. Because his father wanted him to learn responsibility. B. Because his father was quite busy at the moment. C. Because the writer liked to do these things. D. Because the writer grew up in a small town.
2. Why was the writer once known as the singing cook? A. Because he was a cook at a country-music club. B. Because he sang for guests while he worked as a cook. C. Because he often sang while cooking. D. Because he liked singing better than cooking.
3. Who first recognized his talents and helped make his career successful? A. Warner Brothers. B. His manager. C. His father. D. A businesswoman. 4. What made the writer proud of himself? A. His ability to live independently.
B. His sense of responsibility in whatever he did. C. His courage in the face of rejections. D. His hard work in his early days.
5. Which of the following is the best title of the passage? A. My first job. B. My life experience. C. My first record. D. Sense of responsibility.
三、选词填空
1. Mother heard her five-year-old son, Jack, 1 and found that her six-year-old daughter 2 his hair.
\ 3 , \ 4 she is pulling your hair.\
Mother got out 5 the room. It was only for a minute that she 6 a cry again. She hurried 7 the room and found the sister was crying this time. \ 8 the boy.
\ 9 , \ 10 she understands.\
1. A. crying B. was crying C. cries D. cry 2. A. pulls B. was pulling C. is pulling D. pull 3. A. his B. himself C. him D. he