The project to build a base on the moon will begin soon after 2020, with astronauts living there within four years.
The project comes after several excellent scientists and environmentalists asked humans to look beyond Earth to ensure the survival of the species (物种).
Eventually, the moon will be a base for humans to explore the solar system and one day land on Mars.
NASA began planning for the first moon landing since 1972 when George Bush, the US president, announced his new plan for space exploration four years ago.
NASA has already talked about the design of the Orion spacecraft that will replace the old space shuttle fleet in 2010.
The plan for the moon base, however, is the first detailed explanation of how NASA intends to prepare for the first manned exploration of deep space and a possible Mars mission within 30 years.
Scientists also believe that the south pole on the moon contain rich natural gases such as the rare helium-3 that could be used as fuel for the generation of nuclear power. Besides, teams of astronauts living there for six months at a time would mine for hydrogen and oxygen to make water and possibly rocket fuel. 40. When was the plan to explore space first announced according to the passage?
A. In 1972. C. In 1968.
B. In 1950. D. In 2020.
41. The reasons why NASA has begun the plan to explore space include the followings
Except ________. A. to protect Earth space
C. to finish Mars mission
D. to show how powerful the USA is
B. to explore deep
42. In the future, when people fly to the moon, they will probably not bring with
them too much ________. A. hydrogen C. oxygen
B. food D. water
43. The passage mainly talks about ________.
A. the USA’s new plan for space exploration base on the moon
C. why to ensure the survival of the species natural resources
D. where to get new B. how to build a
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C
Have you ever tried to hold your breath for a long time and then let it out slowly? This is one of the techniques of an ancient Indian exercise known as Yoga. For thousands of years, people have used Yoga to help search for happiness and pleasure.
Students of Yoga often study for as long as 20 years before becoming masters, or Yogis. They learn many different physical exercises. These exercises are designed to put the students in good physical condition. Then they can concentrate on deep thought without worrying about physical discomforts.
Many yoga exercises require to put the body into difficult positions. Some of them are very hard to learn. Have you ever tried to cross your legs over one another? This is one of the basic Yoga positions. Most people find it difficult to stay in that position for even a few minutes. But Yogis train themselves to remain in the position for hours or even days. They are taught to overcome the physical discomforts of holding these positions. Other exercises and rules teach concentration－Yogis feel this is the key to finding inner peace. This kind of concentration is called meditation.
Yogis and many other people practice meditation. They say that it makes them feel relaxed and peaceful. Some people say that it makes them feel better－just as good exercise does. But other people think that it is a way of achieving a strong religious feeling. These people say that meditation helps them feel much closer to God.
The word Yoga itself comes from an ancient word meaning “union.” What kind of union do you think the word refers to? Why would people want to have this kind of experience?
44. From the passage we know that ________.
A. the longer you hold your breath, the healthier you are
B. when one practices Yoga, he or she should be in the state of calm and peace C. those who want to search for happiness and pleasure must practice Yoga D. those who are under the age of 20 can’t practice Yoga at all
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45. Which position of Yoga does the writer say is hard to learn?
46. According to the passage we can infer that in order to practice Yoga well, you
should ________. A. find a good trainer will-power
C. be a happy person money
47. If there was another more paragraph, the writer would ________.
A. explain what the meaning of “union” of Yoga was B. tell the readers where the word “union” came from C. remind us how difficult it was to practice Yoga D. urge the readers to practice Yoga
D. spend a lot of
B.
have
strong
D
Imagine finding out what others really think of you. A lot of people are talking about Facebook (脸谱网) that lets you know the feedback from people who know you.
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Some say it can help you be the best you possible, others fear that it’s very hurtful and scary. Where do you stand on the matter? I’ll start off by telling you a really embarrassing story.
Once, when I was out to lunch at a restaurant with some colleagues, I got up to use the restroom, and as I returned to the table, I had this feeling that people were eyeing me. I shrugged it off, thinking they were probably looking at my new pants.
Um, no. About 10 minutes later, two women walked over to my table—in front of everyone—and dropped a folded napkin in my lap. They giggled as they quickly walked away. Of course, everyone at the table stared at me as I unfolded the napkin and read what it said?
I turned around and noticed that I had a four-foot-long toilet paper hanging off of my pants.
Of course, I was glad to know the toilet paper was there. But I was so embarrassed! How I wished I’d just discovered it myself.
How does Facebook work? You download the program to your Facebook page and people can go in and anonymously (匿名) tell you what they think of you. Anything goes! You might find them out.
Psychology Today has recently talked about “how to see yourself as others see you” in this current issue in a column.
The good: A program like this could help you get a better view of yourself, fix potential problems, and become your best self.
The bad: It could also lower your self image with comments and cheap shots from people who are just trying to be hurtful, not necessarily honest. Example: Do you really need to know that someone didn’t like the clothes you wore to work today? 48. What has caused the writer to write this passage?
A. A really embarrassing story at a restaurant. B. A four-foot-long toilet paper hanging off. C. Comment on her from others.
D. Facebook a lot of people are talking about.
49. What was most probably written on the folded napkin that two women handed to
her?
A. “You have toilet paper hanging off of your pants.” B. “Your toilet paper has dropped off on the floor.” C. “Your pants look beautiful, don’t they?” D. “Turn around and see who is coming.” 50. What’s the writer’s attitude towards Facebook?
A. Negative. C. Unconcerned.
B. Positive. D. Objective.
51. What question does the writer want us to think deeply of by writing this passage?
A. Do we really want to know what people think of us?
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B. What advantages does Facebook have? C. What disadvantages does Facebook have?
D. What can we learn from the comments from others?
E
With the development of science and technology, the research of human genes is playing more and more important part in our daily life. Sometimes it is a hot topic drawing more and more attention.
Gene technology can cure serious diseases that doctors at present can almost do nothing with, such as cancer and heart disease. Every year, millions of people are murdered by these two killers. But if the gene technology is used, not only these two diseases can be cured completely, bringing happiness and more living days to the patients, but also the great amount of money people spend curing their diseases can be saved, therefore it benefits the economy as well. In addition, people can live longer.
Gene technology can help people to give birth to more healthy and clever children. Some families have hereditary diseases and their children will for sure have the family disease, which is a great trouble for these families. In the past, doctors could do nothing about them. But gene technology can solve this problem perfectly. The scientists just need to find the wrong gene and correct it, and a healthy child will be born.
Some people are worrying that the gene research can be used to clone human beings in large quantities. In the past few years, scientists have succeeded in cloning a sheep; therefore these people predict that human babies would be cloned. But I believe cloned babies will not come out in large amounts, for most couples in the world can have babies in a very normal way. Of course, the governments must take care to control gene technology.
52. What does “these two killers” in the 2 paragraph refer to?
A. Hereditary diseases and cloned baby. B. The two murderers who killed people. C. Cancer and heart disease.
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nd