1 . Miss Gogers taught physics in a New York school. Last month she explained to one of her classes about sound, and she decided to test them to see how successful she had been in her explanation. She said to them, “Now I have a brother in Los Angeles.             If I was calling him on the phone and at the same time you were 75 feet away, listening to me from across the street, which of you would hear what I said earlier, my brother or you and for what reason?”
Tom at once answered, “Your brother. Because electricity travels faster than sound waves.” “That’s every good,” Miss Gogers answered; but then one of the girls raised her hand, and Miss Gogers said. “Yes, Kate.”
“I disagree,” Kate said. “Your brother would hear you earlier because when it’s 11 o’clock here it’s only 8 o’clock in Los Angeles.”
1. Miss Gogers was teaching her class_________.

A．how to telephone

B．about electricity

C．about time zone(时区)

D．about sound

2. Miss Gogers raised this question because she wanted to know whether______.

A．it was easy to phone to Los Angeles

B．her student could hear her from 75 feet away

C．her students had grasped her lesson

D．sound waves were slower than electricity

3. Tom thought that electricity was _________.

A．slower than sound waves

B．faster than sound waves

C．not so fast as sound waves

D．as fast as sound waves

4. Kate thought Tom was wrong because _______.

A．clocks in Los Angeles showed a different time from those in New York

B．electricity was slower than sound waves

C．Tom was not good at physics at all

D．Tom's answer had nothing to do with sound waves

5. Whose answer do you think is correct according to the law of physics?

A．Tom's	B．Kate's
C．Both A and B	D．Neither A nor B

2 . Born in America, I spoke English ,not Chinese, the language of my ancestors. When I was three, my parents flashed cards with Chinese _______ at my face, but I pushed them_______. My mom believed I would learn_______ I was ready. But the_______ never came.

On a Chinese New Year’s Eve, my uncle spoke to me in Chinese, but all I could do was_______ at him, confused, scratching my head . “Still can’t speak Chinese? ” He_______ me, “You can’t even buy a fish in Chinatown.”

“Hey, this is America, not China. I’ll get some_______ with or without Chinese.” I replied and turned to my mom for_______ . “Remember to ask for fresh fish, Xin Xian Yu,” she said, handing over a $20 bill. I _______ the words, running downstairs into the streets of Chinatown.

I found the fish ______ surrounded in a sea of customers. “I’d like to buy some fresh fish,” I should to the fish man. But he______ my English words and turned to serve the next customer. The laugh of the people behind increased _____ their impatience. With every _____, the breath of the dragons (龙) on my back grew stronger—my blood boiling— ______ me to cry out. “ Xian Sheng Yu, please.” “Very Xian Sheng,” I repeated. The crowd erupted into laughter. My face turned_______ and I ran back home ______ , except for the $20 bill I held tightly in my pocket.

Should I laugh or cry? They’re Chinese. I should feel right at______ . Instead, I was the joke, a disgrace (丢脸)to the language.

Sometimes, I laugh at my fish_______ , but, in the end, the joke is on _______ . Every laugh is a culture_______; every laugh is my heritage (传统) fading away.

1.

A．custom

B．games

C．characters

D．language

2.

A．ahead

B．around

C．along

D．aside

3.

A．when

B．before

C．unless

D．until

4.

A．success

B．study

C．time

D．attempt

5.

A．aiming

B．joking

C．nodding

D．staring

6.

A．cared about

B．laughed at

C．argued with

D．asked after

7.

A．right now

B．from now

C．at times

D．in time

8.

A．decision

B．permission

C．information

D．preparation

9.

A．repeated

B．reviewed

C．spelled

D．kept

10.

A．farm

B．stand

C．pond

D．market

11.

A．guessed

B．forget

C．doubted

D．ignored

12.

A．by

B．as

C．with

D．from

13.

A．second

B．effort

C．desire

D．movement

14.

A．forcing

B．allowing

C．persuading

D．leading

15.

A．bright

B．blank

C．pale

D．red

16.

A．open-mouthed

B．tongue-tied

C．empty-handed

D．broken-hearted

17.

A．service

B．home

C．risk

D．root

18.

A．trade

B．deed

C．challenge

D．incident

19.

A．it

B．us

C．me

D．them

20.

A．thrown

B．lost

C．divided

D．reflected

3 . When a storm is coming, most people leave the area as quickly ad possible and head for safety. But there are a few people who will get into their cars and go straight for the center of the storm. These people are willing to risk being killed by floods or 100-kilometer-an-hour winds for the excitement of watching the storm close up.
“Storm chasing” is becoming an increasingly popular hobby, especially in the Midwest of the United States, where there are frequent storms between March and July. A storm chaser begins the day by checking the Internet for the latest weather reports, and then drives up to 1,000 kilometers to where the storm will be and waits for it to develop.
Although anyone can do it , storm chasing is extremely dangerous. The power of a big storm can throw a cow into the air or destroy a whole house in seconds. Storm chasers are also often hurt in accidents caused by driving in a heavy rain. If you are a beginner, it is much safer to join a group for storm-chasing vacations during the storm season.
Even then, storm chasing is not all adventure and excitement . “Storm chasing is 95% driving,” says Daniel Lynch, who spends most of his summer storm-chasing. “Sometimes you can sit around for hours waiting for something to happen, and all you get is blue sky and a few light showers.”
However, for storm chasers, it is all worth it. “When you get close to a storm, it is the most exciting sight you will ever see in your life,” says Jasper Morley. “Every storm is an example of the power of nature, It is the greatest show on Earth.”
1. For storm chasing, the first thing storm chasers do is to .

A．head straight for the center of the storm

B．get into the car for safety

C．wait patiently for the storm to develop

D．collect information about a coming storm

2. Beginners of storm chasing are advised .

A．not to drive in a heavy rain

B．to do it in an organized way

C．not to get too close to a storm

D．to spend more time on it in summer

3. By saying “it is all worth it” in the last paragraph, the author means that .

A．storm chasing costs a lot of money

B．storm chasing is worth hours of waiting

C．efforts in storm chasing are well paid

D．a storm presents the greatest show on Earth

4. What can we learn from the text?

A．Sometimes storm chasers get nothing but disappointment

B．Many storm chasers get killed in the storms.

C．Storm chasing is becoming popular around the world.

D．Storm chasing is only fit for young people.

4 . A
Su Hua is studying at Cambridge, UK．She has bought a bicycle and is worried about security．Her friend, Kate, found this article and sent it to her．

1. Which part of the text gives you information on how to lock up your bicycle when you leave it?

A．Locks．

B．Marking．

C．Registration．

D．Basic Security．

2. The underlined phrase "act as a deterrent to a thief" means _____．

A．help you recognize your bike

B．help the police find your bicycle

C．stop someone stealing your bicycle

D．stop you worrying about your bike

3. The main purpose of this article is _____．

A．to tell you what to do if your bicycle is stolen

B．to suggest ways of keeping your bicycle safe

C．to give you advice on where to buy a good lock

D．to say why you shouldn't keep your bicycle in a quiet place

5 . At times my mom has been uncomfortable seeing these qualities in me. For example，when I was 12，I went to Puerto Rico all by myself to stay with my grandmother for the summer. My mom was extremely nervous about it. She kept telling me how things were different in Puerto Rico，to always put on sunscreen，not to wander away from my grandmother，and other warnings. She helped me pack and did not leave the airport until she saw my plane take off.
But despite her worries，she let me go on my own. As I moved into my teens，she continued to give me space to grow and learn，even when it might have been difficult for her. When I reached my senior year，I decided to move away for college. Once again I found that I differed from my peers：While many of them wanted to stay close to home，I couldn’t wait to be out in the world on my own. While my mom may not have been happy at the thought of my going away，she was supportive and excited for me.
One big thing I realized during my senior year，as my mom granted me more freedom，was that she actually believes in me and trusts me. That means a lot. Most of my life，and especially when I was little，the main person I tried to impress in my schoolwork or other things was my mother. I knew she expected nothing but the best from me. Sometimes it was hard to live up to her standards；getting a single B on my report card would make me feel bad because I knew she wanted me to have all A’s.
I know that her high standards have helped me stay focused on what’s important，like education，and made me who I am. I am thankful for her support and involvement in my life .Most of all I respect her. She is the strongest woman I know and that’s why I have turned out so strong and independent.
1. When the author decided to go to Puerto Rico，his mother________.

A．wanted to go with him

B．worried about his safety

C．didn’t allow him to do so

D．asked his grandmother for advice

2. The author decided to move away for college to________.

A．be different from his peers

B．keep away from his mother

C．be independent in the outside world

D．make his mother unhappy

3. We can learn from the third paragraph that the author’s mother________.

A．had a high expectation of him

B．was too strict with him

C．used to expect nothing from him

D．cared little about his learning

4. In the passage，the author mainly wants to tell us________.

A．his long way to becoming independent

B．his good relationship with his mother

C．the importance of a mother’s trust and support

D．his mother’s deep love for him

6 . Sleep deprivation(缺失)is an important hidden factor in lowering the achievement of school pupils, according to researchers carrying out international education tests.

It is a particular problem in richer countries with sleep experts linking it to the use of mobile phones and computers in bedroom late at night. Sleep deprivation is such a serious problem that lessons have to be dragged down to a lower level to suit sleep-deprived learners, the study found. The international comparison, carried out by Boston College, found the United States to have the highest number of sleep-deprived students, with 73% of 9- and 10-year-olds and 80% of 13- and 14-year-olds identified by their teachers as being negatively affected.

In literacy(读写能力) tests there were 76% of 9- and 10-year-olds lacking sleep. This was much higher than the international average of 47% of primary pupils needing more sleep and 57% among the secondary age group.

Other countries with the most sleep-deprived youngsters were New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Australia, England, Ireland and France. High-performing Finland is also among the most lacking in sleep. Countries with the best records for getting enough sleep include Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Japan and Malta.

The analysis was part of the huge date-gathering process for global education rankings, the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study(TIMSS)and Progress in International Reading Literacy Study(PIRLS)

“I think we underestimate the impact of sleep. Our data show that across countries internationally, on average, children who have more sleep achieve higher in maths, science and reading. That is exactly what our data show,” says Chad Minnich of the TIMSS and PIRLS International Study Center.

“It’s the same link for children who are lacking basic nutrition,” says Mr Minnich, based at the Lynch School of Education, Boston College. “If you are unable to concentrate, to attend mentally, you are unable to achieve at your best level, because your mind and body are in need of something more basic. Sleep is a fundamental need for all children. If teachers report such large proportions of children suffering from lack of sleep, it’s having a significant impact. But worse than that, teachers are having to adjust their instruction based on those children who are suffering from a lack of sleep. The children who are suffering from a lack of sleep are driving down instruction.”

That means that even the children who are getting enough sleep are still suffering from this sleep-related lowering.

1. What did the researchers of Boston College try to find

A．Why children don’t get enough sleep

B．How many hours children sleep every night

C．The relationship between sleep and test results

D．The relationship between sleep and health

2. Many children suffer from sleep deprivation because _________.

A．they sit in front of the TV for too long

B．they can hardly sleep soundly and deeply

C．their homework occupies too much of their time

D．modern technological devices consume a lot of their time

3. Which of the following countries has the most sleep-deprived students

A．Japan	B．Malta
C．Finland	D．Portugal

4. Why are children who get enough sleep also victims

A．Because they are disturbed by sleep-deprived students

B．Because teaching is driven down by sleep-deprived students

C．Because they have to spend time helping sleep-deprived students

D．Because the teachers waste time disciplining sleep-deprived students

7 . In Los Angeles, drivers spend sixty-one hours every year stuck in traffic. These drivers know all too well how bad the traffic can be. “There're too many cars, and you can't move around a lot.”
Professor Cyrus Shahabi also knows about traffic jams. He lives more than 65 kilometers from his office at the University of Southern California, in Los Angeles. He is always late even with the help of a navigation (导航) system.
He decided to develop a program called ClearPath for that. He says his program uses historical data to predict traffic conditions even before the driver leaves the house. “What’s unique is that we use a lot of data that’s currently become available             including traffic data, weather data, and we analyze that so that we can predict what's going to happen in front of you when you leave home.”
Professor Shahabi says his system does more than just respond to current traffic conditions. With ClearPath, he says, a driver can decide what time he wants to leave, and ClearPath will give the fastest route. It looks at the entire road network, including surface streets as well as highways, before the driver hits the road. Professor Shahabi hopes to have ClearPath available nationwide and overseas once they can collect traffic data from other cities.
“I always thought that Los Angeles had the worst traffic, but now I know that Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo, believe it or not, Singapore, Hong Kong certainly are examples that can immediately use this. ”
Professor Shahabi hopes to share this new technology with companies that already have navigation systems, such as Google and Apple.
1. Drivers in Los Angeles were mentioned in order to__________.

A．show care for them

B．introduce their life

C．solve traffic problems

D．raise the topic

2. What is unique about Clear Path?

A．It can use a lot of information all over the world.

B．It can ensure that you will never be late for work.

C．It helps drivers see clearly what happens on the road.

D．It helps drivers know the road conditions ahead of time.

3. The underlined word “hits” in the fifth paragraph probably means __________.

A．have an accident	B．get to
C．turn left or right	D．collect traffic data

4. What's Professor Shahabi’s attitude toward his invention?

A．Disappointed.	B．Proud.
C．Optimistic.	D．Worried.

8 . Are you looking for some new and exciting places to take your kids to? Try some of these places:

• visit art museums. They offer a variety of activities to excite your kids’ interest. Many offer workshops for making hand-made pieces, traveling exhibits, book signings(签名）by children’ s favorite writers, and even musical performances and other arts.

• Head to a natural history museum. This is where kids can discover the past from dinosaur models to rock collections and pictures of stars in the sky. Also, ask what kind of workshops and educational programs are prepared for kids and any special events that are coming up.

• Go to a Youtheater. Look for one in your area offering plays for children and family visitors. Pre-show play shops are conducted by area artists and educators where kids can discover the secret about performing arts. PuPPet (木 偶）making and stage make-up are just a couple of the special offerings you might find.

• Try hands-on science. Visit one of the many hands-on science museums around the Country • those science play-lands are great fun for kids and grown-ups alike. They will keep your child mentally and physically active the whole day through while pushing buttons, experimenting, and building. When everyone is tired, enjoy a fun family science show, commonly found in these museums.

1. If a child is interested in the universe, he probably will visit      .

A．a Youtheater	B．an art museum
C．a natural history museum	D．a hands-on science museum

2. What can kids do at a Youtheater?

A．Look at rock collections.	B．See dinosaur models.
C．Watch puppet making.	D．Give performances.

3. What do the words “hands-on science'' mean in the last paragraph?

A．Science games designed by kids.	B．Learning science by doing things.
C．A show of kids' science work.	D．Reading science books.

4. Whore does this text probably come from?

A．A science textbook.	B．A tourist map.
C．A museum guide.	D．A news report.

9 . Eco City Farms(生态城市农场) are becoming more popular in cities and towns around the Unites States.
Eco City Farms in Edmonton, Maryland, is located near shopping centers, car repair shops and homes. The neighborhood is a working-class community(社区). People do not have very much money. And they have limited access to fresh food in markets.
Over the past two years, the farm has attracted volunteers from the community like Marcy Clark. She schools her four children at home. On a recent day she brought them to Eco City Farms for a lesson. Her son Alston Clark thinks his experience is very valuable.“I like coming out here,”he says,“You know, you connect with the earth, where your food comes from. You appreciate the food a little bit more.”
Margaret Morgan started Eco City Farms. She thinks of it as a place where people can learn to live healthier lives. “Growing food in a community brings people together,”she continues,“Every piece of what we do here is a demonstration(示范) to show people everything about how to have an eco-friendly community.”she says. From the Eco City Farms people come to know that they are not only growing food and raising chickens and bees, but improving the soil with compost(肥料)made from food waste.
Eco City Farms is an experimental operation. The farm gets its power not from the local electricity networks, but from the sun with solar panels. In winter, the green house use a geothermal(地热)system.
Vegetables can be grown all year. So once a week, all winter long, neighbors like Chris Moss and her three children bike to the farm to pick up a share of the harvest.
“I like eating the vegetables ”say five-year-old Owen Moss.
1. What is mainly talked about in the passage?

A．Eco City Farms save a lot of energy.

B．Eco City Farms are gaining popularity.

C．Eco City Farms are influencing community life.

D．Eco City Farms helps the working-class live better.

2. According to the passage, Eco City Farms are close to the following places EXCEPT______.

A．shopping centers	B．car repair shops
C．fast-food restaurants	D．working-class community

3. What is the author’s attitude toward Eco City Farms?

A．Enthusiastic(热心的).	B．Disappointed.
C．Surprised.	D．Doubtful.

4. In which column(专栏) of a newspaper can you most probably read this article?

A．People.

B．Travel.

C．Environment.

D．Education.

10 . I did very badly at school. My headmaster thought I was_______and when I was 14 he said, “You’re never going to be_______but a failure.”
After five years of_______jobs, I fell in love with a very nice middle-class girl. It was the best_______that could have happened to me. I _______I wanted to do something positive (积极地) with my life because I wanted to prove to _______that what people said about me was_______. Especially her mother, who had said to me, “Let’s_______it, you’ve failed at everything you’ve ever done.” So I tried hard with my_______and went to college. My first novel__________while I was at college.
After college I taught during the __________in high schools and attended evening classes at London University, where I got a __________in history. I became a lecturer at a college and was thinking of__________that job to write full time__________I was offered a part-time job at Leeds University. I began to feel __________of myself — here was a working-class boy who’d__________school early, now teaching at the university.
My writing career (职业) took off when I discovered my own style. Now I’m rich and__________, have been on TV, and met lots of film stars. __________what does it mean? I__________wish all the people that have put me down had__________: “I believe in you. You’ll succeed.”1.

A．bright

B．simple

C．useless

D．hopeful

2.

A．anything

B．something

C．everything

D．nothing

3.

A．low

B．poor

C．good

D．useful

4.

A．support

B．happiness

C．surprise

D．thing

5.

A．agreed

B．decided

C．planned

D．told

6.

A．me

B．them

C．her

D．it

7.

A．wrong

B．right

C．stupid

D．faulty

8.

A．see

B．know

C．face

D．understand

9.

A．experiment

B．practice

C．writing

D．composition

10.

A．came on

B．came in

C．came out

D．came back

11.

A．day

B．night

C．month

D．year

12.

A．graduation

B．pass

C．degree

D．success

13.

A．giving in

B．giving back

C．giving out

D．giving up

14.

A．while

B．if

C．when

D．or

15.

A．shy

B．proud

C．happy

D．surprised

16.

A．left

B．attended

C．changed

D．graduated

17.

A．tired

B．calm

C．nervous

D．famous

18.

A．And

B．But

C．However

D．Well

19.

A．just

B．exactly

C．so

D．very

20.

A．praised

B．said

C．answered

D．advised