Mission to Mars
On July 4, 1997, space exploration took a huge step. On that day, a spacecraft called Pathfinder landed on Mars. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) sent Pathfinder to discover new information about the Red Planet.
The mission was a complete success. After landing, Pathfinder sent a small rover (漫游机器人), Sojourner, onto the planet's surface. Sojourner explored more than 250 square meters of Mars. Together, designed Sojourner to last for only seven days, but little vehicle ran twelve times longer! Pathfinder surprised scientists, too. It sent back information for almost three months. That was three times longer than it was built to last.
Because Pathfinder and Sojourner ran for so long, scientists got more information than they ever dreamed of getting. For one thing, they discovered that Mars is very sandy. Pictures of sand dunes around the land site hint that Mars once had water. Scientists know that water means life. Was there ever life on Mars? We don't know yet. In addition, the Pathfinder mission told scientists that Mars is dusty. Huge "dust devils" on Mars spit enormous amounts of dust into the Martian air. Pathfinder also discovered frosty Martian temperatures at 200 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. At that temperature, a glass of water would freeze solid in just a few seconds.
In October, scientists lost Pathfinder's signal because the spacecraft's battery had run down. They tried to revive the signal but had no luck. The mission officially ended on November 4.
Scientists hope to use the knowledge from these missions to better understand how life on earth began. They will also use it to plan future Mars missions.
1. What did NASA do to get information about Mars?| A．NASA sent the spacecraft Sojourner to Mars. |
| B．NASA sent engineers on a three-month space mission. |
| C．NASA sent the spacecraft Pathfinder to Mars. |
| D．NASA sent astronauts to run tests for seven days. |
| A．Scientists found out that Mars is very cold and dusty. |
| B．Scientists got more information than they ever dreamed of getting. |
| C．Scientists learned that Mars definitely had water at one time. |
| D．Scientists found out that there was once life on Mars. |
| A．dust devils on Mars made the photographs hard to see. |
| B．Martian temperatures caused Pathfinder's battery to fail. |
| C．scientists suspect that life on Earth began on Mars. |
| D．scientists will look for signs that life existed on Mars. |
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【推荐1】Some people believe that humans could live on the planet Mars by the year 2100. Our own planet, the Earth, is becoming more and more crowded and polluted. It is hoped that people could start again and build a better world on Mars. Here is what life there could be like.
At present, our spacecraft are too slow to carry large numbers of passengers (乘客) to Mars and it would take months. With the development of technology, by the year 2100, the journey might only take about 20 minutes in spacecraft that travel at the speed (速度) of light! However, the spacecraft would travel really fast, so the journey to Mars might be quite uncomfortable. Many people would feel ill.
Humans can’t live without water, air or food. So far, nobody knows if there would be enough water or air on Mars for people. Moreover, scientists are not sure if plants could grow on Mars. Food would most probably be made like pills (药片) and would not keep long.
Compared with life on the earth, life on Mars would be better in some ways. People would have more space. They might live in houses with huge comfortable rooms. Also, robots would do lots of their work so that they could have more time to relax. There would probably be no schools. Every student would study at online schools with “e-teachers”.
Life on Mars would be interesting and challenging (充满挑战的). However, it may take hundreds of years to make it true. So the most important thing we need to do now is to protect our beautiful blue planet-the Earth!
1. People would move to Mars because ________.| A．they want to challenge themselves | B．the earth is crowded and polluted |
| C．flying to Mars would be fun | D．plants could grow better there |
| A．spaceships | B．hot-air balloons | C．space stations | D．planes |
| A．There would be enough water and air on Mars for people. |
| B．Food on Mars would be more delicious than that on the earth. |
| C．The writer thinks living on Mars would be full of challenges. |
| D．People would be busy with work on Mars. |
| A．School s on Mars | B．Food on Mars |
| C．Life on Mars | D．Environment on the Earth |
【推荐2】Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second smallest planet of the Solar System.
It is around two times smaller than Earth with a diameter of 6,779 km. If you stand on Mars and look at the Sun, it will appear about half the size we see it on Earth. Mars is widely known as the red planet. Its red appearance is caused by the rusty iron in the ground.
In many ways, Mars can be considered Earth’s brother. On Mar’s surface, we have discovered the biggest mountain in the Solar System. It is named Olympus Mons, and it is three times bigger than the largest mountain on Earth. A day on Mars is also a little longer than a day on Earth. It lasts about 24.6 hours. A year on Mars, however, or the time that takes for the red planet to circle our Sun, lasts about 687 Earth days. That is almost twice as long as a year on Earth !
In the 19th century, it was believed that life on Mars existed. An astronomer said that he “found” straight lines on Mars’s surface. Many people believed that those were the work of clever life as the straight lines were most likely to be canals for irrigation.
However, as more advanced telescopes were built, it was found that the straight lines were an optical illusion.
To this day, humans are still trying to find out whether there was life on Mars!
1. What does the first paragraph mainly talk about?| A．The size of Mars. | B．The surface of Mars. |
| C．The structure of Mars. | D．The weight of Mars. |
| A．Showed. | B．Produced. | C．Invented. | D．Lived. |
| A．the wet iron makes Mars red |
| B．whether there is life on Mars remains a mystery |
| C．a day on Earth is 0.6 hour longer than a day on Mars |
| D．Olympus Mons is smaller than any mountain in the Solar System |
| A．Fun facts about Mars. | B．Future life on Mars. |
| C．Special objects on Mars. | D．Red appearance about Mars. |
【推荐3】On the morning of Nov. 24, China made history by starting the world’s first lunar return mission of the past 44 years. On that day, a Long March 5 rocket was sent into space from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province. It’s carrying the Chang’e 5 lunar probe. The mission will last about 23 days, according to the China National Space Administration. The Chang’e 5 mission is special for several reasons.
A return mission
It’s China’s first sample return mission. This means that the Chang’e 5 probe will take back samples of the moon’s soil and rocks. The samples will return to Earth sometime in December.
The last lunar sample return mission was the former Soviet Union’s Luna 24 mission in 1976.
Larger samples
The Chang’e 5 mission plans to bring back larger samples than missions in the past. The former Soviet Union brought back 330 grams of lunar soil samples, while Chang’e 5 is aiming for 2 kilograms of lunar samples. Chang’e 5 doesn’t need a return cabin, so it only needs a small amount of fuel. This lets it carry heavier samples.
A new landing site
Chang’e 5’s lunar landing site is known as the Ocean of Storms. It’s on the near side of the moon seen from Earth. No probes have visited this site before. It’s geologically younger than the sampling sites from the US and former Soviet Union missions. The new samples will help us learn more about the moon’s history.
| A．The mission will last over three weeks. |
| B．Chang’e 5 is a carrier rocket. |
| C．The mission started 44 years ago. |
| A．Find out if there is water on the moon. |
| B．Carry soil samples from Earth to the moon. |
| C．Take back soil and rock samples from the moon. |
| A．It has a better return cabin. |
| B．It can take heavier samples back. |
| C．It can get more kinds of samples. |
| A．It is the youngest place on the moon. |
| B．Many countries have landed their probes there. |
| C．It is the part of the moon we can see from Earth. |
【推荐1】Parents often find children watch cartoons for at least three to four hours a day. Studies show that kids start watching cartoons on TV at an early age of six months, and by the time they reach the age of two or three, they become cartoon fans and they would like to spend much time on it. Parents often look upon this as a problem because most of the kids are found to become addicted to(沉迷) watching cartoons. Parents think if kids spend too much time on cartoons, they will fall behind in study.
Some people think cartoons are worth watching. It helps the working parents the most because they can do a lot of work by getting their kids involved with (涉及) cartoon programs on TV.
When they watch educational cartoons, they get to learn many things. Kids learn many things by watching such cartoon programs. They also help to improve their language. Educational cartoons help them to try different languages. Kids can learn English well with the help of those cartoon shows. At the same time, some kids can learn about the friendship and teamwork from the cartoons. It is good for them to get on well with(与……相处融洽) their friends and classmates.
So sometimes it is meaningless to stop kids from watching cartoons, but parents should make sure that their kids are watching the right things.
1. When do kids start to watch cartoons on TV?| A．When they are six months old. | B．When they are two years old. |
| C．When they are three years old. | D．When they are six years old. |
| A．Because they have nothing to do at home. | B．Because they are not cartoon fans. |
| C．Because they like to watch cartoon programs. | D．Because their parents don’t take care of them. |
| A．Because children know how to use their time. |
| B．Because children know how to get on well with others. |
| C．Because children know how to keep healthy. |
| D．Because children know how to make cartoons. |
| A．Teachers. | B．Children. | C．Cartoon producers. | D．Parents. |
| A．Kids can’t watch any kinds of cartoons. |
| B．It’s meaningful to stop kids from watching cartoons. |
| C．Kids can spend time watching cartoons on weekends. |
| D．Parents should let their kids spend some time watching the right cartoons. |
【推荐2】These days shared bikes are becoming the center of attention in my WeChat friend circle. Many of my friends are sharing photos of themselves riding bikes, especially during the weekend in natural parks, and I can see people logging in (登录) and out of shared bike apps.
I’m very happy that there are shared bikes on the road. They have saved us a lot of time during special situations, and on beautiful, clear days, people enjoy riding them outside the city.
I tried shared bikes last week, and I didn’t like them very much. I think the first shared bikes without baskets are designed for athletes. They are very hard to ride, and the seats are not comfortable. It makes me wonder whether people really like riding shared bikes or are just saying this to agree with others.
A friend secretly told me she tried the bikes to fit in. She doesn’t like bikes and finds Beijing’s roads too hard for bike riding. But recently, the only way to hang out with her friends is riding out of town together. To join in social activities, she had to pick up bike riding again.
Another friend admitted that he started talking about and sharing photos on shared bikes in order just to appear modern and fashionable to friends. He started paying attention when shared bikes first came into use.
These views will give me something new to think about when I ride these bikes again.
1. What does the writer himself think of shared bikes?| A．They are very difficult to ride. | B．Their seats are comfortable. |
| C．Athletes like shared bikes. | D．They can save us a lot of money. |
| A．told a lie | B．told the truth | C．kept a promise | D．kept a secret |
| A．It’s quite simple to use shared bikes at special time. |
| B．Some people only appear to be interested in shared bikes. |
| C．The writer likes the bikes without baskets because they are for athletes. |
| D．Some people like to share photos riding bikes because they want to agree with others. |
【推荐3】The square dancing or guang chang wu is a popular pastime among old Chinese women We can often see old women dancing in open areas in the city. Do you like this or not? Do your family members take part in it? To this kind of dancing, different people have different ideas. Now let's see together!
Wang Junkang (China) There are a lot of people against square dancing because it makes too much noise. Many people can't have a good rest, so they want to stop it. But I think if they dance near a public square, there is no problem. But when they dance near apartment blocks and neighborhoods, the government should stop them, just like in many western countries. Bebilzebub (UK) Most of the old women get together to do some exercise. This is their just hobby. And they are having a good time while They' re at it. I love cycling around a city and seeing people dancing. It's great. Long may it go on. And when I'm getting older, I'll learn to dance guang chang wu. Smartnova (US) I really hate it because I often experience it. The old women dance more than ten hours every day, often till midnight, on the ground of our apartment building with loud, noisy music. Do you want to live this kind of life with so much noise? It becomes so popular now in the cities throughout China. We must do something to stop it at once! |
1. Where do old woman often dance square dancing?
| A．In any places around them. | B．Under the tall buildings. |
| C．In open areas in the city. | D．On the playgrounds. |
| A．Because it makes the city dirty. | B．Because it makes babies cry. |
| C．Because it makes the road crowded. | D．Because it makes them not sleep well. |
| A．Bebilzebub likes to teach square dancing. |
| B．Bebilzebub likes to watch square dancing. |
| C．Bebilzebub wants to take more exercise. |
| D．Bebilzebub wants to dance square dancing. |
| A．The noise effect of guang chang wu. | B．The usage of dancing guang chang wu. |
| C．The help to the old woman. | D．How to dance guang chang wu. |
| A．In an education magazine. | B．In a children story book. |
| C．In a page of website. | D．In a fashion magazine. |
| People's Food Bank Christmas Food Tree Help to feed this year’s tree! Please give away: ◎ candies ◎ biscuits ◎ rice ◎ milk ◎ tinned food (罐头) The following people are helped by your kind donations (捐赠物) ●Poor people ●Disabled people ●Homeless people How to help: ●You can bring your donations to our food bank. ●You can give away money online. ●You can also volunteer at People’s Food Bank, If you join us , many people will have a happy Christmas! If you want more information, come here to ask our staff. You can also call us at 028-86854324 or email us at Foodbank@qq.com |
1. According to the poster you should not give away_____ to the People’s Food Bank,
| A．eggs | B．rice | C．biscuits |
| A．are too busy to cook | B．have no children | C．are blind or poor |
| A．give away food online |
| B．give away money on the Internet |
| C．do volunteer work |
| A．two | B．three | C．four |
| A．travelling magazine | B．newspaper | C．science book |
【推荐2】One day, my daughter, a mentally disabled child, pretended(假装) to be sick and didn't want to go to school, where a competition was going to be held.Although the competition was difficult for her to finish, I encouraged her to face it and told her that I would go with her.
Everything went well until it was time for the bag race.Now each child had to climb into a bag from standing area, jump to a goal line, return and climb out of the bag.
I watched Jenny standing near the end of her line of players, looking very nervous. But as Jenny’s turn to begin the race, a change took place in her team. The tallest boy in the line stood behind Jenny and put his hands on her waist(腰) . Two other boys stood a little in front of her. The moment the player in front of Jenny walked out of the bag, those two boys took the bag at once and held it open while the tallest boy lifted Jenny and dropped her into it.A girl in front of Jenny took her hand and supported her for a short time until Jenny achieved her balance. Then she jumped off, smiling and proud.
Among the cheers of teachers, schoolmates and parents, I cried and walked out of the crowds quietly. I thanked the warm, friendly people in life and her little friends. They made it possible for my disabled daughter to be like her classmates.
1. The writer's daughter pretended to be sick because_______.| A．she disliked going to school |
| B．she didn't want to take part in the competition |
| C．her classmates often laughed at her |
| D．the writer wouldn't go to school with her |
①Climb out of the bag ②Climb to a goalline
③Climb into the bag ④Return to the standing area
| A．①②③④ |
| B．③④②① |
| C．③②④① |
| D．②③①④ |
| A．As soon as | B．So that | C．Because | D．Although |
| A．to hold the bag open for her |
| B．to help her to achieve her balance |
| C．to help her climb out of the bag |
| D．to lift her and put her into the bag |
| A．She couldn't help her disabled daughter. |
| B．Her daughter successfully finished her competition. |
| C．People helped her daughter instead of laughing at her. |
| D．Her daughter was braver than she had expected. |
【推荐3】Do you know how to be a healthy kid? Here are some rules you should follow.
Keep a balance diet | Eat different food, especially fruit and vegetables. You may have your favorite food, but you'd better eat something different. If you eat different food, you will probably get more nutrients(营养物质) your body needs. |
Drink water and milk. | Drink water and milk as often as possible. When you're really thirsty, cold water is the No.1 choice. Milk is a great drink that can give you more calcium(钙) your body needs to grow strong bones. |
Listen to your body. | How do you feel when you are full? When you are eating, notice how your body feels and when your stomach feels comfortably full. Eating too much will not make you feel comfortable and will make you fat. |
Limit screen time. | Screen time is the time you watch TV, DVDs and videos, or using computers. It is good to take more exercise such as basketball, bike riding and swimming. You can't watch TV for more than two hours a day. |
| Be active. | One thing you'd like to do, as a kid, is to find out which activity you like best. Find ways to be active every day. |
Follow these rules and you can be a healthy kid.
1. You should eat different food especially__________.| A．meat | B．hamburgers | C．sweets | D．fruit and vegetables |
| A．Juice. | B．Milk | C．Cold water. | D．Tea. |
| A．five | B．nine | C．fifteen | D．thirteen |
| A．more than two hours | B．less than two hours |
| C．two to five hours | D．more than three hours |
| A．When you're eating, you don't have to notice how your body feels. |
| B．You can eat your favorite food as much as possible. |
| C．You can watch TV as long as you like to get more information. |
| D．We should try to live in an active way in our life. |
