【推荐1】The question whether there is life on Mars (火星) has made the public think a lot for more than a century. A British spaceship and Europe’s Mars spaceship plan to land on Mars or enter the orbit (轨道) around it. One of the NASA’s (美国国家航空和航天局的) spaceships is expected to land on January 3, and the other is going to land on the opposite side of Mars on January 24.

Since 1960, over twenty spaceships sent to Mars have failed. Most were lost when they started flying up or landing because those were the most difficult time of any flights.

Scientists wanted to find out whether there was water on Mars. In October, a team of scientists reported that Mars was a dry wasteland (荒地). But weeks later, a second team reported differently that they had found some marks (痕迹) which showed clearly that they were made by the rivers. Such marks told us that Mars was a warmer place billions of years ago — just as life first appeared on Earth. Scientists at once asked the following questions: If what they said was true, what happened on Mars? Then what about the earth?

1. The question ________ has made the public think a lot for more than a century.

A．when Mars came into being	B．how people can fly to Mars
C．whether people can live on Mars	D．whether there is life on Mars

2. Two NASA’s spaceships ________.

A．will land on the different sides of Mars	B．will land on the same day
C．will enter the orbit around Mars	D．will land with a man

3. The most difficult time of a flight is ________.

A．flying in space	B．flying up and landing
C．entering the orbit and landing	D．leaving the earth and entering the orbit

4. According to the second team’s report, Mars was a warmer place ________.

A．thousands of years ago	B．a few years ago
C．just as life first appeared on Earth	D．just as life disappeared on Earth

5. What were scientists worried about when they asked the questions?

A．Life disappeared on Mars.	B．Spaceships couldn’t land on Mars.
C．The air on the earth got less and less.	D．The earth might be changed like Mars.

【推荐2】Unless we spend money to spot(认出，发现) and prevent asteroids(小行星) now, one might crash into Earth and destroy life as we know it, say some scientists.
Asteroids are bigger versions of the meteoroids(流星体) that race across the night sky. Most orbit the sun far from Earth and don’t threaten us. But there are also thousands of asteroids whose orbits put them on a collision course with Earth.
But $500 million worth of new telescopes right now, then spend $10 million a year for the next 25 years to locate most of the space rocks. By the time we spot a fatal one, the scientists say, we’ll have a way to change its course.
Is it worth it? Two things experts consider when judging any risk are (i) How likely the event is; (2) How bad the consequences if the event occurs. Experts think an asteroid big enough to destroy lots of life might strike Earth once every 500,000 years. Sounds pretty rare but if one did fall. It would be the end of the world. “If we don’t take care of these bid asteroids, they’ll take care of us,” says one scientist. “it’s that simple.”
The cure, though, might be worse than the disease. Do we really want fleets(舰队，车队) of nuclear weapons sitting around on Earth? “the world has less fear from doomsday(毁灭性) rocks than from a great nuclear fleet set against them.” Said a New York Times article.
1. What does the passage say about asteroids and meteoroids?

A．They are heavenly bodies different in composition.

B．They are heavenly bodies similar in nature.

C．They are more asteroids than meteoroids.

D．Asteroids are more mysterious than meteoroids.

2. What do scientists say about the collision of an asteroid with Earth?

A．It is very unlikely but the danger exists.

B．Such a collision might occur once every 25 years.

C．Collisions of smaller asteroids with Earth occur more often than expected.

D．It’s still too early to say whether such a collision might occur.

3. What do people think of the suggestion of using nuclear weapons to alter the course of asteroids?

A．It sounds practical but it may not solve the problem.

B．It may create more problems than it might solve.

C．It is a waste of money because a collision of asteroids with Earth is very unlikely.

D．Further research should be done before it is proved applicable.

4. We can conclude from the passage that __

A．While pushing asteroids off course nuclear weapons would destroy the world.

B．Asteroids racing across the night sky are likely to hit Earth in the near future.

C．The worry about asteroids can be left to future generations since it is unlikely to happen in our lifetime.

D．Workable solutions still have to be found to prevent a collision of asteroids with Earth.

5. Which of the following best describes the author’s tone in this passage?

A．Optimistic(乐观的)

B．Critical(批评的)

C．Objective(客观的)

D．Arbitrary(武断的)

【推荐3】Will humans someday live and work on Mars（火星）? Many scientists think so. In fact, they are already working on plans to turn Mars into a new Earth.

Humans need three basic things to live: water to drink, air to breathe and food to eat. Because of the shortage of those above, it is impossible to live on Mars right now. Then how can we make Mars a right place for humans to live on? The answer is to change the environment of the planet so that it is similar to Earth’s.

On Mars, the temperature is about —60℃. So one of the main purposes is to warm it up. One idea for warming Mars comes from a problem here on Earth ——climate change. Most scientists agree that Earth is becoming warmer because of increased levels of greenhouse gases（气体）in our atmosphere（大气）. We might create similar conditions on Mars by building factories that give off greenhouse gases. The gas will change the atmosphere on Mars. Rain will fall, and it may be possible to grow plants for food. There will be many difficulties in changing Mars. The program could take many centuries, and the cost will be high. We have some of the technology, such as the ability to create greenhouse gases, but not the money. Anyway, life on Mars is a real possibility for future people.

1. The writer writes this article to________.

A．talk about living conditions on Mars at present

B．talk about difficulties people meet with on Mars

C．introduce plans to turn Mars into our future home

D．introduce scientists’ discovery about our atmosphere

2. ________is the key to warming Mars.

A．Rain

B．Plant

C．Money

D．The greenhouse gas

3. What can be inferred（推断）from the passage?

A．Money is one of the difficulties to hold back the program.

B．Mars is the only planet for humans to live on in the future.

C．It is possible for people to live on Mars in the near future.

D．Technology can change Mars into a right place to live on now.

【推荐1】It is said that eyes are the windows of our soul. Therefore, in order to have healthy eyes, we have to look after them properly. Our eyes need good care every day.

First, we have to pay more attention to our diet. Have more fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, eggs and milk. They are good for our eyes. Besides, a regular amount of vitamin（维生素）A and B2 should also be taken.

Second, we must have a good sleep. It relaxes the eye muscles（肌肉）and gives them the rest they need. Sleep can help the body repair its tired tissue（组织）. Usually, we must sleep for at least eight hours every day. Lack of sleep can bring us dark circles around the eyes.

Third, it’s necessary for us to exercise our eyes every day. Blink our eyes at regular time to make the eyeballs watery.

Last, we should use our eyes correctly. For example, if a small thing goes into the eye, don’t rub（擦）it. Rubbing is harmful to our eyes. Don’t read or write in poor or bright sunlight because sunlight can cause eye tiredness. Remember to use sunglasses to stop the sunshine from shining directly into our eyes. Too much reading, writing, watching television or working on the computer can also cause eye tiredness, so a good rest is needed.

根据材料内容, 选择最佳答案。
1. How many ways to protect our eyes are given according to the passage?

A．3.

B．4.

C．5.

D．6.

2. From the passage, what kind of food good for our eyes is not included?

A．Eggs.

B．Milk.

C．Rice.

D．Vegetables.

3. How long at least should we sleep every day?

A．For seven hours.	B．For seven and half an hour.
C．For eight hours.	D．For eight and half an hour.

4. What does the underlined word “Blink” mean in Chinese?

A．眨眼

B．闭眼

C．睁眼

D．揉眼

5. What’s the passage mainly about?

A．Windows of Our Body	B．Ways of Protecting Our Eyes
C．Importance of Eye’s Health	D．Reasons for Poor Eyesight

【推荐2】No one knows when the first kite was made. The first record of a kite was more than 2, 000 years ago in China. Han Xin, the leader of an army, wanted to bring down a king. He decided to dig a tunnel（隊道）into the king’s palace. He flew a kite over the wall of the palace to make sure of the length of its string（细绳）. In this way, he could determine how long the tunnel should be. His men in the tunnel took the kite string with them. When they reached the end of the string, they knew to dig up.

Kites have been flown in Japan for hundreds of years. In the 1700s, kites were flown in autumn to give thanks for a good harvest. They were also flown to send good wishes to couples who had their first son. Today in Japan, kites are often flown as part of a celebration, such as the beginning of a new year. And there are kite festivals each year in many parts of the country.

Kites have been used for scientific purposes in the western world. In 1752, Benjamin Franklin tied a key to a kite and flew it in a storm to find out that lightning was a form of electricity. In the 1890s, Lawrence Hargrave invented the box kite to test ideas about flight. From 1898 until 1933, the United States Weather Bureau（气象局）used box kites to collect weather data. The Wright brothers also experimented（实验）with kites. What they learned helped them make the first airplane flight in 1903.

1. Why did Han Xin want to dig a tunnel?

A．To pull down the palace.	B．To fight against the king.
C．To search for the king’s treasure.	D．To find out the length of the kite string.

2. What does the underlined word “determine” in Paragraph 1 probably mean in Chinese?

A．测定

B．选择

C．了解

D．考察

3. When did the United States Weather Bureau begin to use box kites?

A．In 1752.

B．In 1898.

C．In 1903.

D．In 1933.

4. What would be the best title for the text?

A．The Invention of a Kit	B．The Production of Kites
C．The History of Kites	D．The First Record of a Kite

【推荐3】

Someone may be born smart but weak at sports. But everyone can study to become smarter and train to get better at sports. Science shows that anyone can get better skills.

Your brain is made up of billions of neurons(神经元)—a cell(细胞) that carries information within the brain. They are all connected and send messages to each other. Scientists have found that when we learn, neurons make new connections and old connections grow stronger. But if connections aren’t used, they will break down. It’s just like the English saying “use it or lose it”. So, learning is like exercise for your brain.

A mindset(思维方式) is a way of thinking. Some people have a fixed mindset. They think they are either smart or stupid and they will stay that way forever. Other people have a growth mindset and they think they can learn and get better.

According to Dr. Carol Dweck’s studies, people with a fixed mindset worry about grades. They’re afraid of looking stupid when they make mistakes. People with a growth mindset care about learning, not grades. They learn from their mistakes and try to find different ways of solving problems. They ask for help when necessary. In only two years, babies learn to walk, talk and feed themselves. They never worry about looking stupid when learning. If they make mistakes, they just try again.

Dweck’s team discovered that kids can choose to have a growth mindset. They can do better in school. So notice what mindset you have. If you ever think yourself stupid, it’s not true. You just have not learned how to do something yet.

1. According to paragraph one, how can we get better at playing tennis?

A．By practicing tennis hard.

B．By watching sports games.

C．By studying our brains.

2. What are your neurons busy doing when you learn?

A．They are losing messages.

B．They are breaking down.

C．They are making new connections.

3. What’s the Chinese meaning of the underlined word “fixed”?

A．修复的

B．固定的

C．消极的

4. What can you infer from paragraph four?

A．A student worrying about his math grades has a growth mindset.

B．A boy with a fixed mindset is ready to try to solve his problems.

C．Baby tries walking again when falling for its growth mindset.

5. The writer’s purpose of writing the passage is to _______.

A．introduce Dr. Carol Dweck’s studies

B．encourage kids to have a growth mindset

C．discuss ways to make brains work better

【推荐1】Have you ever eaten at a restaurant that serves Western food? If so, do you remember what the menu looked like? Western restaurant menus are quite different from Chinese restaurant menus. But how are they different?

Most Western restaurant menus do not have as many pictures as Chinese ones do—with a picture, you can tell what is in a dish. In some fancy（昂贵的）Western restaurants, a menu may not have any pictures at all.

But most Western menus show a list of ingredients（原料）for each dish. If you order a burger, the menu might tell you that the burger has cheese, ketchup and mustard（芥末）. The menu can also tell you how the food is cooked—for example, whether it is fried or steamed （蒸）.

Western restaurants use many different methods to design their menus and make them more attractive. In fact, there is a whole industry called “menu engineering”, according to the BBC.

Menu engineers are experts at designing menus. Their menus can increase sales and influence customers’ thoughts.

A well-designed menu can encourage customers to eat certain dishes. It can even make them believe that your restaurant’s food is of higher quality, even if they haven’t eaten the food yet.

For example, using descriptive（描述性的）words like “juicy” or “cheesy” can help dishes sell better. Instead of just writing “steak（牛排）” in their menu, a restaurant might write “sizzling steak”. This makes the steak sound more delicious.

Also, it is known that people pay the most attention to items at the top of a page. This is the best place for dishes that you want to promote.

As you can see, menus are not just simple lists of food!

1. The passage mainly compares the restaurant ________ between China and western countries.

A．food

B．menu

C．price

D．service

2. Which one can’t you know from a Western menu?

A．What is in the dishes.	B．How the dishes are cooked.
C．When your dishes will be ready.	D．Whether a burger has ketchup.

3. The writer thinks that the pictures in Chinese menus are ________.

A．useful

B．useless

C．beautiful

D．real

4. What is Paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．How Western people make their menus.

B．Why Western menus have no pictures.

C．Why Western menus list ingredients for each dish.

D．What Western menus are like.

5. What can we infer from the story?

A．It is easy to design a successful Western menu.

B．A well-designed menu can attract more customers.

C．Good menus depend on how well each dish is described.

D．Dishes at the top of a menu page are the most delicious ones.

【推荐3】

It seems that food deliverymen are always in a rush. They wear blue, red or yellow helmets（头盔）and many of them don’t follow traffic rules. They drive on the wrong side of the road and run red lights. They use mobile phones while driving.

However, not everything goes well with food deliverymen. In the first half of last year, food deliverymen had 76 traffic accidents in Shanghai. That means every two and a half days, a food deliveryman will die or get hurt on the road.

What makes deliverymen take such risks? The strict rules of the food delivery service companies and the anxious customers（焦虑的顾客）may be the answer. Many companies will fine（罚款）a deliveryman up to 2,000 yuan if he fails to deliver an order on time, reported by China Daily. Fines also go to those who get bad reviews（评价）from customers.

To solve the problem, food delivery service companies need to improve their incentive systems（激励制度）, noted CRI Online. Some cities are also taking action. Shanghai has asked companies to train their deliverymen on traffic rules and safety. Now in Shenzhen, if a deliveryman gets caught breaking traffic rules more than twice, then he will be banned（禁止）from driving food service delivery vehicles（车辆）for a whole year.

1. The first paragraph mainly tells us that many food deliverymen ________.

A．work very hard

B．break traffic rules

C．are good at driving

D．have mobile phones

2. There are ________ reasons for deliverymen to take risks of breaking traffic rules.

A．Two

B．three

C．four.

D．five

3. If a food deliveryman ________, the company will fine him.

A．delivers an order on time	B．drive on the wrong side of the road
C．runs red lights while driving	D．gets bad reviews from his customers

4. What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．It’s important for food deliverymen to deliver food on time.

B．It’s necessary for food deliverymen to follow the traffic rules.

C．It’s dangerous for food deliverymen to get caught more than twice.

D．It’s impossible for food deliverymen to drive for a whole year.