3 . If you were bringing friends home to visit, you could show them the way. You know the landmarks—a big red house or a bus-stop sign. But what if you were swimming in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean? Could you still find your way home? A loggerhead turtle（海 龟）could.

According to Dr. Ken Lohmann, loggerheads have a magnetic（磁力的）sense based on Earth’s magnetic field. It helps them locate the best spots for finding food and their home beaches.

Scientists already know that several other animals, such as whales and honeybees, can detect（探测到）magnetic fields. The difference between them and loggerheads, however, is the way they learn to use their magnetic sense. Young whales and honeybees can learn from adults. Loggerheads are abandoned as eggs.

As newborn loggerheads have no adults to learn from, what helps them figure out how to use their magnetic sense? Lohmann thinks one of the cues was light on the sea.

Baby loggerheads hatch only at night. However, a small amount of light reflects off the ocean. The light makes that region brighter. Heading toward the light helps them get quickly out to sea, where they can find food. Lohmann tested whether newborn loggerheads use this light source to set their magnetic “compasses”（罗盘）. He and his team put some newborns in a water tank and recorded which way they swam. Around the tank, the scientists created a magnetic field that matched the Earth’s. They set a weak light to the east of the magnetic field. Then they let the newborns go.

At first, the newborns swam toward the light. After the scientists turned off the light, the turtles that had seen the light in the east always swam toward east. When the researchers reversed（颠倒）the magnetic field, these turtles turned around and swam toward the new “east”.

This and the follow-up experiments all showed that loggerheads use light from the outside world to set their magnetic “compasses” and then remember the “correct” direction. If a turtle hatches on a brightly-lit beach, that would damage its magnetic sense forever and make survival hard for the turtle.

Lohmann’s work has led others to protect the habitat of this endangered species. Yet many questions about these creatures remain unanswered, and researchers have a lot to study.

1. Loggerheads and whales differ in the way they______.

A．bring up their young

B．recognize landmarks

C．detect magnetic fields

D．learn to find directions

2. What is needed for newborn loggerheads to set their magnetic sense?

A．Weak light reflected off the ocean.	B．Help from adult loggerheads.
C．Bright sunlight from the sky.	D．Food in warmer waters.

3. In the experiment, after the newborns’ magnetic sense was set, their moving direction was determined by ____.

A．the light

B．the magnetic field

C．other unknown factors

D．the light and the magnetic field

4. What is the significance of Lohmann’s research work?

A．It enables researchers to keep track of turtles.

B．It contributes to the studies of the magnetic field.

C．It offers a new solution to environmental pollution.

D．It helps protect the loggerheads’ living environment.

5. What could be the best title of the passage?

A．Experiments on Loggerheads

B．The Survival of the Sea Turtle

C．The Loggerhead’s Built-in “Compass”

D．Comparison of Loggerheads and Other Animals

6 . With a satisfied smile, Keisha finished the last sentence of her English essay about one of her heroes, Rosa Parks, an important figure in the Civil Rights Movement.

“Keisha,” her mother shouted from downstairs. “It’s almost 4:15.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t be late. ” Keisha pulled down a storybook from her bookshelf， as she always read to the nursing home’s residents. And on an impulse（一时心血来潮）, she added her English notebook as well.

As Keisha came running in the door, the manager told her, “We have a new resident this week, Mrs. Ruby Watson. She’s still adjusting to her new surroundings. You’ll find her in Room 28. And by the way, Keisha, good luck.”

Keisha walked down the hallway at a quick pace. As she entered Room 28, she met two sharp brown eyes staring at her doubtfully.

“I’m Keisha Jackson, a volunteer,” Keisha explained. “I come here to help pass the time with residents, or read to them, or, . . .” Keisha started stammering（结巴）as Mrs.

Watson continued to stare at her.

“I didn’t request anyone to keep me company,” Mrs. Watson interrupted. “I’m alone most of the time, and that’s how I prefer it.”

“I brought along some funny stories,” Keisha said hesitantly.

“I’m not in the mood for funny stories,” Mrs. Watson replied angrily. “What else do you have?”

Nervously, Keisha opened her notebook to her essay. She read the title aloud, “Rosa

Parks: A Woman of Courage and Conviction（信念）.” She glanced at Mrs. Watson to see how she might react, but to her surprise, Mrs. Watson’s face relaxed and her eyes shone.

“Read to me about Rosa,” Mrs. Watson said.

Keisha read how Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus in 1955 inspired the protest that became a turning point in the struggle for civil rights.

“I walked with Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King,” Mrs. Watson said with pride. “That was the greatest moment of my life because…” She paused.

“Because… you were a woman of courage and conviction too.”

Sitting up straighter, Mrs. Watson said, “Yes, I was and I still am. Thank you for reminding me, Keisha. Next Thursday, I will tell you my story.”

1. Why did Keisha take her English notebook along?

A．Her mother asked her to take it.	B．She would hand it in on her way.
C．She might read her essay to someone.	D．The manager wanted to read her essay.

2. Why did the manager wish Keisha good luck before she visited Mrs. Watson?

A．Mrs. Watson could be difficult.	B．Mrs. Watson was in poor health.
C．Keisha was feeling nervous.	D．Keisha was a shy person.

3. Mrs. Watson’s eyes (Para. 10) suggested that she was ______.

A．amused	B．puzzled
C．annoyed	D．interested

4. What effect did Keisha’s essay have on Mrs. Watson?

A．It aroused her curiosity in volunteer work.

B．It built up her expectation for more visitors.

C．It awoke her pride in her struggle for civil rights.

D．It changed her attitude to the Civil Rights Movement.

5. Readers may find this story inspiring because ______.

A．a girl enjoys learning about her heroes	B．a girl helps someone feel appreciated
C．a woman overcomes hardship by herself	D．a woman gathers the courage for life

7 . In a recent series of experiments at the University of California, researchers studied toddlers’ thinking about winners and losers, bullies (欺凌) and victims.

In the first experiment, toddlers (学步儿童) watched a scene in which two puppets (木偶) had conflicting goals: One was crossing a stage from right to left, and the other from left to right. The puppets met in the middle and stopped. Eventually one puppet bowed down and moved aside, letting the other one pass by. Then researchers asked the toddlers which puppet they liked. The result: 20 out of 23 toddlers picked the higher-status puppet — the one that did not bow or move aside. It seems that individuals can gain status for being dominant (占优势的) and toddlers like winners better than losers.

But then researchers had another question: Do toddlers like winners no matter how they win? So, researchers did another experiment very similar to the one described above. But this time, the conflict ended because one puppet knocked the other down and out of the way. Now when the toddlers were asked who they liked, the results were different: Only 4 out of 23 children liked the winner.

These data suggest that children already love a winner by the age of 21-31 months. This does not necessarily mean that the preference is inborn: 21 months is enough time to learn a lot of things. But if a preference for winners is something we learn, we appear to learn it quite early.

Even more interesting, the preference for winners is not absolute. Children in our study did not like a winner who knocked a competitor down. This suggests that already by the age of 21-31 months, children’s liking for winners is balanced with other social concerns, including perhaps a general preference for nice or helpful people over aggressive ones.

In a time when the news is full of stories of public figures who celebrate winning at all costs, these results give us much confidence. Humans understand dominance, but we also expect strong individuals to guide, protect and help others. This feels like good news.

1. One of the purposes of the experiments is to ________.

A．teach toddlers how to gain higher status

B．offer toddlers a chance to watch a scene

C．observe the process of toddlers’ solving a conflict

D．find out toddlers’ attitude toward winners and losers

2. The toddlers regarded bowing and moving aside as a sign of ________.

A．obeying rules

B．gaining status

C．giving in to the other

D．showing good manners

3. What does the second experiment tell us about toddlers?

A．They are excellent learners.

B．They are always changeable.

C．They show mercy to the loser.

D．They value kindness over winning.

4. What does the author think of the results of the series of experiments?

A．Disappointing.	B．Encouraging.
C．Unexpected.	D．Controversial.

8 . Last spring, I was fortunate to be chosen to participate in an exchange study program. In my application letter, I was careful to ________ how much I wanted to see France; evidently, my excitement really came through in my words. Once I ________ that I was going, all I could think about was the fun of foreign travel and making all sorts of new and ________ friends. While traveling was inspiring and meeting people was ________, nothing about my term in France was what I ________.

The moment I arrived in Paris, I was ________ by a nice French couple who would become my host parents. My entire experience was joyous and exciting ________ I received some shocking news from my program coordinator(协调人): there had been an accident in my host parents’ extended family. They had to travel outside France for several weeks. That afternoon, I had to ________ out of one family’s house and into another. The exchange coordinator told me I’d have a ________ this time and asked whether I could share a bedroom with an English speaker. To avoid the temptation to ________ my native language, I asked not to be ________ with an English-speaking roommate. When I got to my new room, I ________ myself to my new roommate Paolo, a Brazilian, the same age as I, whom I was surprised to find playing one of my favorite CDs! In just a few hours, we knew we’d be good friends for the rest of the ________.

I left France with many ________, so when people ask me what my favorite part of the trip was, they are always ________ to hear me talk about my Brazilian friend Paolo and the scores of weekdays in class, weeknights on the town, and weekends ________ France we enjoyed together. I love how people ________ seem so different, but end up being so ________. The most valuable lesson I gained from studying in France wasn’t just to respect the French people ________ to respect all people, for your next best friend could be just a continent away. I would recommend an exchange program to anyone who wants to experience foreign cultures and gain meaningful ________.

1.

A．discuss

B．express

C．announce

D．argue

2.

A．approved

B．knew

C．warned

D．denied

3.

A．stubborn

B．anxious

C．universal

D．interesting

4.

A．boring

B．upsetting

C．thrilling

D．promising

5.

A．expected

B．liked

C．doubted

D．feared

6.

A．greeted

B．witnessed

C．sponsored

D．supported

7.

A．since

B．until

C．when

D．while

8.

A．move

B．travel

C．walk

D．rush

9.

A．housekeeper

B．leader

C．colleague

D．roommate

10.

A．learn

B．appreciate

C．speak

D．master

11.

A．contrasted

B．evolved

C．placed

D．fitted

12.

A．added

B．introduced

C．devoted

D．adapted

13.

A．term

B．week

C．month

D．vacation

14.

A．dreams

B．suitcases

C．presents

D．stories

15.

A．concerned

B．disturbed

C．embarrassed

D．surprised

16.

A．exploring

B．analyzing

C．describing

D．investigating

17.

A．need

B．shall

C．must

D．can

18.

A．generous

B．independent

C．similar

D．distant

19.

A．but

B．or

C．and

D．so

20.

A．instructions

B．friendships

C．facts

D．data

9 . To learn to think is to learn to question. Those who don't question never truly think for themselves. These are simple rules that have governed the advancement of science and human thought since the beginning of time. Advancements are made when thinkers question theories and introduce new ones. Unfortunately, it is often the great and respected thinkers who end up slowing the progress of human thought. Aristotle was a brilliant philosopher whose theories explained much of the natural world, often incorrectly. He was so esteemed by the scientific community that even 1，200 years after his death, scientists were still trying to build upon his mistakes rather than correct them!

Brilliant minds can intimidate up­and­coming thinkers who are not confident of their abilities. They often believe they are inferior to the minds of giants such as Aristotle, leading many to accept current paradigms instead of questioning them.

I, like many thinkers of the past, once believed in my mental inferiority. I was certain that my parents, my teachers-adults in general-were always right. They were like a textbook to me; I didn't question what was written on those pages. I respected them, and accepted whatever they told me. But that attitude soon changed. My mind's independence was first stimulated in the classroom.

A stern, 65­year­old elementary­school science teacher once told me that light is a type of wave. I confidently went through years of school believing that light is a wave. One day，however I heard the German exchange student mention that light could be made up of particles. As the others laughed at his statement, I started to question my beliefs.

Maybe the teachers and textbooks hadn't given me the whole story. I went to the library, did some research and learned of the light­as­a­wave versus light­as­a­particle debate. I read about Einstein's discovery of the dual nature of light and learned the facts of a paradox(悖论) that puzzles the world's greatest thinkers to this day. Light behaves as both a particle and a wave, it is both at once. I realized I had gone through life accepting only half of the story as the whole truth.

Each new year brought more new facts, and I formulated even more questions. I found myself in the library after school, trying to find my own answers to gain a more complete understanding of what I thought I already knew. I discovered that my parents and teachers are incredible tools in my quest for knowledge, but they are never the final word. Even textbooks can be challenged. I learned to question my sources, I learned to be a thinker. I once believed that everything I learned at home and at school was certain, but I have now discovered to re­examine when necessary.

Questions are said to be the path to knowledge and truth, and I plan to continue questioning. How many things do we know for sure today that we will question in the future? At this moment, I know that our sun will burn for another five billion years, and I know nothing can escape the gravity of a black hole. This knowledge, however, may change in the next 20 years-maybe even in the next two. The one thing we can control now is our openness to discovery. Questions are the tools of open minds, and open minds are the key to intellectual advancement.

1. In the first paragraph, Aristotle is taken as an example to show that ______.

A．he is the greatest and respected philosopher of all time

B．huge influence of great thinkers may block human thought

C．advancements are made when thinkers question theories

D．great thinkers often make mistakes and then correct them

2. What does the underlined word “intimidate” in Paragraph 2 mean?

A．Frighten.

B．Encourage.

C．Strength.

D．Persuade.

3. The author began to question his previous beliefs because ______.

A．what he learned from textbooks before turned out to be wrong

B．he was inspired by the different ideas from an exchange student

C．he was laughed at by other students for his unacceptable statement

D．he was not satisfied with his life and desperate to achieve success

4. According to the passage, the author ______.

A．looks down upon great thinkers all the time

B．never doubts what he has learned in the textbook

C．always throws himself into the laboratory

D．determines to be a thinker and questioner

5. We can conclude from the last paragraph that ______.

A．the author is not quite sure about his future

B．we human beings don't dare to predict future

C．theory of black holes will change in two years

D．questioning is necessary to promote advancement

6. What does the passage mainly talk about?

A．Following rules.	B．Challenging yourself.
C．Questioning giants.	D．Predicting future.