1 . Since people first launched   rockets   into space in the 1950s, we have been leaving behind all sorts of   things. Some of them,   like the camera, were lost by astronauts while they did work outside their spacecraft. But much of the space junk is made up of little pieces of things that were once bigger objects, until they struck each other and broke apart.

Some things we send into space fall back toward Earth and burn up in the atmosphere. But larger pieces sometimes survive the extreme heat and hit the ground or the ocean at great speeds. So there is always concern that something may fall from the sky and do some harm.

But space junk falling on roofs is not the biggest worry. Scientists are concerned about the “Kessler” problem. Imagine what happens when an empty rocket strikes another while orbiting the earth.   Two   big things become many smaller things.   They   then hit other things. The pieces get smaller and smaller until they form a cloud of junk that blocks the path of future space vehicles.

Marco Castronuovo, an Italian Space Agency researcher, says launching a satellite into space that would get very close to some of the larger pieces of space junk. The satellite would connect a small rocket to the useless object. When the rocket explodes, it pushes the junk into a lower and slower orbit, nearer the Earth. After a time,   the junk burns up in the atmosphere. Mr.Castronuovo has proposed using a number of small satellites with robotic arms. One arm would catch the space junk, and another arm would connect the rocket. He imagines that each satellite could jump from one large piece of junk to another. He thinks this method could destroy about ten large objects each year.

Scientists have been concerned about space junk for many years. Right now, the costs of the clean­up have been too great. Mr.Castronuovo says his system could be put in place for a much more reasonable amount of money. So what can be done to clean up the space around our planet?

1. We can learn from the text that much of the space junk ________.

A．was left by the astronauts on purpose

B．is mainly made up of broken spaceship

C．is usually made of small pieces of things

D．burns up before it reaches the atmosphere

2. Now scientists are most worried that space junk will ________.

A．harm the future space vehicles

B．do some harm to the atmosphere

C．fall on people's house roofs

D．destroy the habitat of wildlife

3. It implies in the last but one paragraph that ________.

A．clearing up the space will actually cost little

B．small rockets also do harm to the atmosphere

C．only robots can clear up the space completely

D．it is still difficult for us to clear up the space

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．Space junk threatens earth's orbital environment.

B．Scientists use different methods to clear up space junk.

C．Spacecrafts will meet with a lot of space junk in the future.

D．Marco comes up with many methods to deal with space junk.

2 . The question of what children learn, and how they should learn it, is continually being debated and redebated. Nobody dares any longer to defend the old system, the parrot-fashion (way of learning by repeating what others say) of learning lessons, the grammar-with-a-whip(鞭子) system, which was good enough for our grandparents. The theories of modern psychology have stepped in to argue that we must understand the needs of our children. Children are not just small adults; they are children who must be respected as such.

Well, you may say, this is as it should be, and a good idea. But think further. What happens? “Education” becomes the responsibility not of teachers, but of psychologists. What happens then? Teachers worry too much about the psychological implications (暗示) of their lessons, and forget about the subjects themselves. If a child dislikes a lesson, the teacher feels that it is his fault, not the child’s. So teachers worry whether history is “relevant” to modern young children. And do they dare to recount stories about violent battles? Or will this make the children themselves violent? Can they tell their classes about children of different races, or will this encourage racial hatred? Why teach children to write grammatical sentences? Oral expression is better. Sums? Arithmetic? No; real-life mathematical situations are more understandable.

You see, you can go too far. Influenced by educational theorists, who have nothing better to do than write books about their ideas, teachers leave their teaching-training colleges filled with grand, psychological ideas about children and their needs. They make complicated preparations and try out their “modern methods” on the long-suffering children. Since one “modern method” rapidly replaces another, the poor kids will have well been fed up by the time they leave school. Frequently the modern methods are so complicated that they fail to be understood by the teachers, let alone the children; even more often, the relaxed discipline so necessary for the “informal” feeling the class must have, prevents all but a handful of children from learning anything.

1. Under the old system, children were           .

A．made to learn passively

B．spoiled by their parents

C．treated as adults

D．were forced to become parrots

2. Modern psychologists hold the view that           .

A．children must be understood and respected

B．children are small adults and they know what they need

C．children are better off without learning lessons

D．education of children is the responsibility of psychologists

3. What happens when teachers pay too much attention to the psychological implications during a lesson?

A．They find that children dislike the lessons.

B．They tend to blame students for their failure in teaching.

C．They don’t pay enough attention to students’ actual lessons.

D．They no longer want to teach children history.

4. How do you understand the underlined sentence at the end of the passage?

A．Children will learn well in a relaxed classroom atmosphere.

B．Only a few children will actually learn when there is no discipline.

C．Relaxed discipline is necessary for children to develop.

D．No children will learn anything without strict discipline.

5. What is the author’s attitude toward the theories of modern psychology?

A．Uninterested.	B．Tolerant.
C．Satisfied.	D．Critical.

3 . Doctors say anger can be an extremely harmful emotion, unless you learn how to deal with it. They warn that angry feeling can lead to heart disease, stomach problems, headaches, emotional problems and possibly cancer.

Anger is a normal emotion that we all feel from time to time. Some people express anger openly in a calm, reasonable way. Others burst with anger, losing control of themselves. But still other people control their anger. They cannot or will not express it.

For years many doctors thought that controlling one’s anger was more dangerous to a person’s health than expressing it. They said that when a person is angry, the brain lets out the same hormones that are produced during tense situations. They speed the heart rate, raise blood pressure, and narrow the blood vessels. In general, the person feels excited and ready to act.

Doctors said that controlling these feelings only makes the feelings continue. And this can lead to many medical problems. Doctors thought a person could prevent these problems by letting the anger out by expressing it freely. But recently some doctors held a different view. They said that people who express anger too often and violently did become, in fact, more and not less angry. They said this, too, can cause medical problems.

Some doctors say that both controlling and expressing anger can be dangerous. They believe that those who express anger strongly may be more likely to develop heart disease, and they believe that those who keep their anger inside may face a greater danger of high blood pressure.

Doctors say the solution is learning how to deal with anger. They say the first step is to admit that you are angry and to recognize the real cause of the anger, then decide if the cause is serious enough to get angry about. If it is, they say, “Do not express your anger while angry. Wait until your anger has cooled down and you are able to express yourself calmly and reasonably.”

1. Which of the following is the more recent view about the expression of anger?

A．It is dangerous both to express anger violently and to control one’s anger.

B．One can avoid his medical problems by expressing his anger freely.

C．One’s heart rate will not change if his anger is kept unexpressed.

D．One is likely to suffer from high blood pressure in a fit of great anger.

2. When you get angry, which of the following should you do for the sake of health?

A．Controlling your anger and then studying its cause.

B．Letting out your anger freely and then studying its cause.

C．Studying its cause and waiting till it cools down.

D．Waiting till it has cooled down and then studying its cause.

3. Which of the following can best replace the title of the passage?

A．Different Ways of Dealing with Anger

B．The Danger of Anger and Its Solution

C．New Medical Discoveries about Anger

D．An Argument between the New and Old Views about Anger

4 . If you make a list of the top ten most challenging jobs in the world, chances are that being a teacher will not make the cut. But think about the daunting task millions of educators face each day as they try to teach a group of often unfriendly, disorderly kids into intelligent, well­rounded individuals. That surely has to be the toughest job in the world, especially taking into consideration that there is no promotion waiting for them even if they are wildly successful!

What if these all­important individuals that we often take for granted disappear from our lives? That was what Project Ed and Participant Media’s Teach Campaign asked filmmakers of all ages to envision(想象) for their recently held contest.

Their short films were called “A World without Teachers”, whose intention was to inspire more young people to become teachers. However, the 62 amazing video submissions also serve as a reminder of how terrible things would be if we didn’t have these selfless individuals guiding us through life. What was interesting is that even the youngest contestants did not appear to take delight in the idea of not having anybody telling them what to do.

High­school student Savannah Wakefield considered if art as we know it today would have been different without teachers. Would C. Monet have discovered his talent for impressionism?

Los Angeles­based Miles Horst，who won the 1,000­dollar prize for the best adult submission, envisions a world where teachers are replaced by a “brain box” in his video. Youth category winner Marina Barham’s video describes a fact we all know but often forget. Teachers don’t just teach, they inspire—something that no electronic device, no matter how smart, can do!

So the next time you think your teacher is being “mean” for trying to channel you in the right direction, imagine a life without him/her. We have a feeling that it will not appear as rosy!

1. Project Ed and Participant Media’s Teach Campaign asked contestants to         .

A．inspire more young people to become teachers

B．point out which teacher has inspired them most

C．imagine what the world would be without teachers

D．describe what effect teachers would have on our life

2. What does Marina Barham’s video seem to tell us?

A．Teachers prefer to inspire their students instead of teaching.

B．The role of teachers cannot be replaced by anything else.

C．The function of teachers cannot be forgotten by the world.

D．Teachers often show the right direction to their students.

3. The author’s attitude towards the function of teachers is         .

A．critical	B．doubtful
C．neutral	D．positive

5 . Niagara Falls

The Niagara Falls consist of three sections.The large Canadian falls—with their distinctive curved shape—are also known as the Horseshoe Falls.They are separated by Goat Island from the American Falls，which are separated from the narrow Bridal Veil Falls by a small island at their south end.Each side of the falls offers a different perspective，and it is always best to visit both sides to maximize your experience.

Views of Niagara Falls are free and accessible.Access to the riverside walks and parks offer great views.You can walk across to Goat Island on the bridge on foot.

Cave of the Winds，＋1 716­278­1730.Daily 9 AM－7：30 PM from Spring 2016.A lift takes you 175 feet down to a walkway that leads you right to the bottom of the Bridal Veil Falls.You will definitely get a feel for the true power of the falls! This is the closest you can get to the falls on either side without actually leaping into them! Raincoats and slippers are provided，and you will definitely need them.Adults： 12；6－12 years old： 8；younger children：Free，but must be 42 inches or taller.

Maid of the Mist.A boat ride，taking you down around the bottom of the falls.Some information is given about the falls，but the real experience is looking up at the falls from below and feeling the mist coming off the falls(hence the name)．Wear a raincoat to avoid getting wet.Boats leave from both the American and Canadian sides，so you may want to check the exchange rates to see which will be more cost­effective when you visit! April－October.

The Niagara Gorge Discovery Center.Although it’s easy to enjoy the falls visually，the Discovery Center provides another way to appreciate the magnificence of the falls.Exhibits show the history of the entire area，including the falls，how they were originally formed，and how they’ve changed over time.

Aquarium of Niagara,701 Whirlpool St，toll­free：＋1 800­500­4609.9AM－5PM.The aquarium at Niagara Falls： 10.

Niagara Scenic Trolley.Use this to get around the park more quickly if needed. 2 adults/ 1 children for the entire day.Hop on and off.

You can combine all these attractions with a Niagara USA Discovery pass for 35，which you can purchase at the attractions.

Must stay a night and see the night view of the Niagara Falls.It is equally beautiful.

During the winter season，a lot of repair work of the falls，tours，and surroundings takes place.Many areas，such as Terrapin Point and Luna Island，are closed due to slippery conditions.Winter brings a different kind of beauty to the falls and a visit during that time is certainly worthwhile，but if you want to experience the full range，plan to come in the warmer months.

1. How much do the Browns(Mr.Brown，Mrs.Brown，an 8­year­old，a 4­year­old) need to pay to visit Cave of the Winds?

A． 12.	B． 24.
C． 32.	D． 35.

2. What can we learn from the text?

A．Tourists in Niagara Falls can enjoy the full range of scenery in winter.

B．Tourists in Niagara Gorge Discovery Center can have a feel of history.

C．Tourists are provided with boat rides from both the American and Canadian sides all year round.

D．The Niagara Falls have three sections：the large Canadian falls，the Horseshoe Falls and the American Falls.

6 . Before I turned 29，my parents moved to Queensland，where I arrived for a visit six months later.I ______ upon my mother with hugs，and for the first time in my life I said，“I love you，Mom！” Then I gently ______，expecting some kind of reciprocation.But it never came.Instead，she appeared ______ in horror.

When I was back at work，I overheard a workmate on a call to her mother and she concluded it with “I love you，Mum.” As ______ as that.Why wasn’t it like that in mine？Something had to be done about this ______ situation once and for all.

My ______ came the next Sunday during my weekly phone call to my mother.After we had shared our usual pleasantries and ______，I took a deep breath and asked，“Do you love me，Mum？” After a short ______，she replied，“I love you.Don’t be silly.You know we never said things like that in my family.”

“Well，I want it to be said in ours.From now on I want to ______ our conversations with ‘I love you.’”

In May 2000 my mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.She was ______ to hospital，and I phoned every day to ______ her.One evening when I rang，a nurse answered the phone and regretfully informed me that my mother’s condition had rapidly worsened.She wasn’t expected to ______ it through the night.

Knowing I couldn’t get a flight in time，I asked the nurse to put the phone next to my mother’s ear so I could talk to her.“She’s ______ conscious，” the nurse replied.“It’s unlikely she’ll hear you.” But I didn’t care.I wanted to do it ______.

____ she’d placed the phone by my mother’s ear，I started ______ and telling Mum over and over again that I loved her.At first，all I could hear was “Hmmmm”—but then，like a miracle，with a deep ______ she said，“Love you...love you，darling.” It was the last thing she said before drifting into ______.

Although I was overwhelmed by her death，the surprising part was how well I ______.Of course，losing a parent is extremely painful and I shed many tears，but receiving those lovely last words made it much more ______.I had closure in the best possible way.

1.

A．fell

B．struck

C．relied

D．depended

2.

A．pushed off

B．turned up

C．pulled away

D．looked on

3.

A．deserted

B．frozen

C．guilty

D．clumsy

4.

A．simple

B．sacred

C．apparent

D．original

5.

A．stress

B．crisis

C．emergency

D．love

6.

A．potential

B．opportunity

C．inspiration

D．choice

7.

A．interests

B．secrets

C．expectations

D．updates

8.

A．preparation

B．friction

C．hesitation

D．identification

9.

A．end

B．start

C．continue

D．hold

10.

A．permitted

B．admitted

C．allowed

D．sentenced

11.

A．check on

B．attend to

C．call on

D．see to

12.

A．take

B．face

C．make

D．cool

13.

A．entirely

B．absolutely

C．slightly

D．barely

14.

A．therefore

B．otherwise

C．anyway

D．somehow

15.

A．Before

B．Once

C．Unless

D．Since

16.

A．whispering

B．yelling

C．screaming

D．sobbing

17.

A．sigh

B．conversation

C．thought

D．sleep

18.

A．calmness

B．unconsciousness

C．hardness

D．sickness

19.

A．prayed

B．clarified

C．coped

D．concluded

20.

A．authentic

B．arbitrary

C．precise

D．bearable

7 . A young school teacher had a dream that an angel appeared to him and said, “You will be given a child who will grow up to become a world _______. How will you prepare her so that she will realize her intelligence, develop both her confidence and sensitivity, be open-minded, yet _______ in character? In short, what kind of education will you _______ so that she can become one of the world's truly great leaders?”

The young teacher _______ in a cold sweat. It had never occurred to him before ---any one of his present or future students could be the person _______in his dream. Was he preparing them to rise to any position which they may _______? He thought, “How might my _______ change if I knew that one of my students were this person?” He _______began to formulate (规划;想出)a plan in his mind.

This student would _______experience as well as instruction. She would need to know how to solve problems of various kinds. She would need to know the value of lifelong learning in order to keep a curious and ________ mind.

His teaching   ________. Every young person who walked through his________became, for him, a future world leader. He saw each one, not ________ they were, but as they could be. He ________ the best from his students, yet tempered（使缓和）it with pity. He taught each one as if the future of the ____________ depended on his instruction.

After many years, a woman he knew ________ to a position of world fame. He realized that she must ________ have been the girl described in his dream. Only she was not one of his ________, but rather his daughter. For of all the ________ teachers in her life, her father was the best.

Where and how you will ________ this child is a mystery. But believe that one child's future may depend upon the influence only you can provide, and something remarkable will happen.

1.

A．leader

B．destroyer

C．rescuer

D．protector

2.

A．bad

B．weak

C．special

D．strong

3.

A．afford

B．provide

C．receive

D．have

4.

A．shook

B．feared

C．awoke

D．stood

5.

A．described

B．appeared

C．imagined

D．lived

6.

A．buy

B．send

C．make

D．desire

7.

A．performance

B．teaching

C．acting

D．learning

8.

A．gradually

B．gladly

C．suddenly

D．finally

9.

A．like

B．have

C．need

D．mean

10.

A．actual

B．dependent

C．absent

D．active

11.

A．worked

B．changed

C．developed

D．finished

12.

A．classroom

B．office

C．house

D．mind

13.

A．like

B．unlike

C．likely

D．as

14.

A．begged

B．expected

C．forced

D．learned

15.

A．world

B．school

C．class

D．family

16.

A．appeared

B．stood

C．rose

D．raised

17.

A．completely

B．nearly

C．hardly

D．surely

18.

A．children

B．students

C．friends

D．followers

19.

A．male

B．wise

C．various

D．language

20.

A．raise

B．help

C．love

D．meet

8 . Your Genes, Your Future

How would you feel if someone gave you an envelope with a description of every one of your genes? Supposing this information could tell you what illnesses you were likely to get, or even what illness you might die of, would you open the envelope?

It's a difficult question to answer. But the fact is that scientists have already begun to discover how certain genes influence us. And in the next decade, they will learn a lot more.

We have known for a long time that many of our physical characteristics are inherited（继承）. For example, our eye colour and certain diseases are decided by our genes. As long as you have a good diet, scientists can predict your height by looking at your parents' heights. And we now know that the need to wear glasses has a genetic cause. Our eating habits also appear to be decided by our genes!

With other characteristics, things are not so clear. Certainly, scientists have now shown that some traits（特性，特质） are strongly influenced by our genes. Do you prefer getting up early or late? To a great extent, it's your genes that decide. Do you enjoy dangerous sports such as car racing? There is a gene that influences how much excitement we need.

But with most psychological characteristics, scientists are learning that both our genes and our environment affect us. This is true of things such as how violent we are, and how well we get on with other people. So, even though scientists may soon be able to describe our genes in detail, it does not mean they will be able to predict our future with any real success.

Nevertheless, the fact is that scientists will be able to "read" our genes in the near future. This will create new problems. To give a few examples, insurance companies may not want to insure people whose genes predict certain illnesses. Employers may not want to employ people who have a gene for violence. One thing is already clear -- with these new developments, life is going to become even more complicated!

1. Which characteristics is mostly likely to be inherited?

A．Eye color.	B．Interest.
C．Future.	D．Ability.

2. What kind of problem will these new developments create?

A．You may die of a certain illness described in the envelope.

B．There will be an increased number of violent people.

C．People may take part in dangerous sports such as car racing.

D．Insurance companies may refuse to insure people with a gene for certain disease.

3. Why won’t scientists be able to tell us a lot about our future?

A．Because we’re affected not only by our genes but also by our environment.

B．Because scientists will not be able to read our genes in the near future.

C．Because life in the future will be more complicated.

D．Because scientists can’t describe our genes in detail.

9 . Walt had a strong commercial sense of what would appeal to the public.Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and finally the other Disney theme parks around the world all came about because Walt Disney insisted that he could build an amusement park that was so much bigger and better than other amusement parks that it shouldn’t even be called an amusement park.

In 1940, he disclosed a plan to show Disney characters in their fantasy surroundings at a park across the street from the Disney studio in Burbank.

The idea of an amusement park grew in Walt’s mind as he traveled through the US and Europe and visited attractions of all kinds.Walt was sure that an amusement park would be successful in the United States if it offered a “good show” that families could enjoy together, was clean, and had friendly employees.

In 1948, he shared his concept with trusted friends, a modest amusement park with a central village including a town hall, a small park, railroad station, movie theater, and small stores.Outlying areas would include a carnival(联欢) area and a western village.Soon he added spaceship and submarine rides, a steamboat, and exhibit halls.

Four years later, he decided on “Disneyland” for the name and formed a company to develop the park, Disneyland, Inc.

In 1953, he got Stanford Research Institute to examine the economic future of Disneyland and to find the perfect location.

They broke ground in July, 1954, and one year later, Disneyland opened.Within 7 weeks, a million visitors had visited Disneyland, making it one of the biggest tourist attractions in the US.

Walt combined his talent and his sense of what the public would want with lots of hard work. In 1960, with a mixture of huge successes and failures, Disney had created something that was successful beyond Walt’s own dreams.

1. What did Walt Disney want to show in his plan?

A．His commercial sense.

B．Disney studio.

C．Disney characters.

D．Fantasy surroundings.

2. What would a successful amusement park be like in Walt’s opinion?

A．Its service was free.

B．It could show fantastic programs.

C．It included attractions of all kinds.

D．It could make families satisfied.

3. Which of the following is the correct order about Disneyland?
a. It opened.
b. The perfect location was found.
c. They broke ground.
d. It proved to be a great success.
e. Its name was decided.
f. Walt shared its outline with his friends.

A．f, e, b, c, a, d	B．e, b, c, a, d, f
C．f, e, c, b, a, d	D．a, e, b, c, f, d

10 . A new collection of photos brings an unsuccessful   Antarctic voyage back to life.

Frank Hurley's   pictures would   be outstanding—undoubtedly first­rate photo­journalism—if they had been made last week.In fact，they were shot from 1914 through 1916, most of them after a disastrous shipwreck(海难), by a cameraman who had no reasonable expectation of survival.Many of the images were stored in an ice chest, under freezing water, in the damaged wooden ship.

The ship was the Endurance, a small, tight, Norwegian­built three­master that was intended to take Sir Ernest Shackleton and a small crew of seamen and scientists, 27 men in all，to the southernmost shore of Antarctica's Weddell Sea.From that point Shackleton wanted to force a passage by dog sled (雪橇) across the continent.The journey was intended to achieve more than what Captain Robert Falcon Scott had done.Captain Scott had reached the South Pole early in 1912 but had died with his four companions on the march back.

As writer Caroline Alexander makes clear in her forceful and well­researched story The Endurance, adventuring was even then a thoroughly commercial effort.Scott's last journey，completed as he lay in a tent dying of cold and hunger, caught the world's imagination, and a film made in his honor drew crowds.Shackleton, a onetime British merchant­navy officer who had got to within 100 miles of the South Pole in 1908, started a business before his 1914 voyage to make money from movie and still photography.Frank Hurley, a confident and gifted Australian photographer who knew the Antarctic，was hired to make the images, most of which have never before been published.

1. What do we know about the photos taken by Hurley?

A．They were made last week.

B．They showed undersea sceneries.

C．They were found by a cameraman.

D．They recorded a disastrous adventure.

2. Who reached the South Pole first according to the text?

A．Frank Hurley.

B．Ernest Shackleton.

C．Robert Falcon Scott.

D．Caroline Alexander.

3. What does Alexander think was the purpose of the 1914 voyage?

A．Artistic creation.	B．Scientific research.
C．Money making.	D．Treasure hunting.