1 . Round and Round They Go
Space is becoming more crowded. On December 3, a Falcon 9 rocket made by Space X thundered into the sky. On board were 64 small satellites, more than any American company had launched before in one go. They have a variety of uses, from space-based- radar to the monitoring of radio-frequency- emissions.
These objects are part of the latest breed of low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites. This launch is just taste of what is planned. Space X and One Web, a communications firm, plan to launch satellites in their thousands, not hundreds. The pair are set to double the total number of satellites in orbit by 2027.
That promises to change things dramatically on Earth. LEO satellites can bring internet connectivity to places where it is still unavailable or unaffordable. This will also be a lasting source of new demand for the space economy. Morgan Stanley, a bank, projects that the space industry will grow from $350 billion in 2016 to more than $1. I trillion by 2040. New internet satellites will account for a half this increase.
For that to happen, however, three worries must be overcome. Debris(碎片)is the most familiar concern. As long ago as 1978, Donald Kessler, a scientist at NASA, proposed situation in which, when enough satellites were packed into low-Earth orbits, any collision could cause a chain reaction which would eventually destroy all space craft in its orbital plane(平面). The syndrome which bears Mr. Kessler's name weighs heavily on the minds of executives at the new satellite firms. Debris could cause entire tracts(广阔的一片) of space to be unusable for decades.
Solutions exist. One is to grab malfunction satellites and pull them down into Earth's atmosphere. Another is to monitor space more intensively for debris; a US Air Force program me called Space Fence is due to start in 2019. But technology is only part of the answer. Rules are needed to govern the safe disposal(清除) of old satellites from low-Earth orbit. The United States' Federal Communications Commission is revising its regulations with this in mind. Other countries should follow suit.
Cyber-security is a second, long-standing worry. Hackers could take control of a satellite and seal intellectual property, redirect data flows or cause a collision. The satellite industry has been slow to respond to such concerns. But as more of the world's population comes to rely on the infrastructure of space for access to the internet, the need for action intensifies.
The third issue follows from the first two. If a simple mistake or a cyber-attack can cause a chain reaction which wipes out hundreds of billions of dollars of investment, who is liable? Underwriters(保险商) are studying the plans of firms that wish to operate large numbers of satellites. But there is a long way to go before the risks are well understood, let alone priced.
As space becomes more commercialized mind-bending prospects open up: packages moved across the planet in minutes by rocket rather than by plane, equipment sent to other small planets, passengers launched into orbit and beyond. All that and more may come, one day. But such activities would raise the same questions as LEO satellites do. They must be answered before the space economy can truly develop.
1. What can we learn about LEO satellites from the passage?| A．They are supposed to limit the space economy. |
| B．They are expected to increase in large numbers. |
| C．They are designed to move beyond the Earth as far as possible. |
| D．They are mainly intended to bring internet connectivity to remote areas. |
| A．depending entirely on the modern technology |
| B．monitoring the movement of spaceships carefully |
| C．strengthening rules to remove old satellites safely |
| D．destroying all the satellites with problems instantly |
| A．Measure. | B．Increase. | C．Spread. | D．Repeat. |
| A．Lack of satellite regulations. |
| B．Loss of intellectual property. |
| C．Crisis of confidence in the field. |
| D．Slow response of satellite industry. |
| A．It should be further confirmed for its ownership. |
| B．It should be continued because of its advantages. |
| C．It should be done carefully to avoid potential risks. |
| D．It should be stopped in face of the space economy. |
2 . When my father was getting ready for work,our house was ruled by knocks and words.He used to come downstairs to breakfast.
The morning paper lay beside his plate.He always read the “Deaths” first,and then he knocked once on the table.One of my sisters brought his bread,already buttered for him.Usually he said nothing,but once I heard him say,“I love you very much,Edith.I would love more if you buttered my bread on both sides.”He read the paper all through breakfast.
Two knocks on the table meant “I am ready for my tea.”If a single knock followed that meant,“More bread,please.”
After breakfast he said,“Boots.”The paper was spread(展开) for him over the back of an armchair.Yesterday’s paper was put on the chair for his feet,and his boots were brought to him,freshly cleaned.He read standing at the same time putting on his boots.With one boot finished he said,“Bus.”At that point one of the girls went outside to the garden gate and waited there.Her job was to stop a bus when it came.It came early sometimes and it had to wait for my father. “Overcoat,hat.”One of my sisters had already brushed his overcoat.Now she held it open for him.Another girl came with his hat,nicely brushed.“Handkerchief,pipe(烟斗).”They were brought and put,with his tobacco(烟草),into his pocket.He looked out of the window and said either “Walking stick” or “Umbrella”.It was handed to him.Ready now,he was still reading the paper.He didn’t put it down until he heard the shout “Bus coming!” Then he kissed my mother and went out.The girls breathed freely.
How lucky a man was to have a wife and five daughters at home!
1. When the father made the first knock,he meant .| A．he had begun to read the morning newspaper | B．he was made to feel sad by the “Deaths” news |
| C．he would start to read the other parts of thepaper | D．his breakfast should begin |
| A．A kind of bread. | B．One of the writer’s sisters. |
| C．The writer. | D．The writer’s mother. |
| A．their father never helped them |
| B．their father always gave different instructions at the same time |
| C．each of them had to start and finish her job just on time |
| D．they were not clever or quick enough to do their jobs |
| A．Reading newspapers. | B．Having bread buttered on both sides. |
| C．Giving instructions. | D．Being clean and tidy. |
| A．the father was so lazy that he hardly did anything |
| B．the father was the “centre” of the family |
| C．every girl in the family was afraid to do wrong because they didn’t know clearly enough what to do |
| D．the father was hated by all his daughters |
3 . A thief who dropped a winning lottery ticket at the scene of his crime has been given a lesson in honesty.His victim,who picked up the ticket and then claimed the $25,000 prize,managed to trace him,and handed over the cash.The robbery happened when maths professor Vinicio Sabbatucci,58,was changing a tire on an Italian motorway.Another motorist,who stopped “to help”,stole a suitcase from his car and drove off.The professor found the dropped ticket and put it in his pocket before driving home to Ascoli in eastern Italy.
Next day,he saw the lottery results on TV and,taking out the ticket,realized it was a winner.He claimed the 60 million lire(里拉) prize.Then he began a battle with his conscience.Finally,he decided he could not keep the money despite having been robbed.He advertised in newspapers and on the radio,saying,“I’m trying to find the man who robbed me.I have 60 million lire for him—a lottery win.Please meet me.Anonymity(匿名) guaranteed.”
Professor Sabbatucci received hundreds of calls from people hoping to trick him into handing them the cash.But there was one voice he recognized and he arranged to meet the man in a park.The robber,a 35-year-old unemployed father of two,gave back the suitcase and burst into tears.He could not believe what was happening.“Why didn’t you keep the money?”he asked.The professor replied,“I couldn’t because it’s not mine.”Then he walked off,spurning the thief’s offer of a reward.
1. The underlined sentence “Then he began a battle with his conscience.” in Paragraph 2 implies all of the following except that .| A．he knew what he should do as soon as he saw the lottery results |
| B．he hesitated about keeping the money for sometime |
| C．he thought for a moment of avenging himself on the robber |
| D．he came to realize that honesty is more important than money |
| A．wanted to make fun of him | B．hoped to get the money |
| C．knew who the robber was | D．lost the lottery ticket |
| A．Excited. | B．Frightened. |
| C．Ashamed. | D．Incredible. |
| A．accepting | B．claiming |
| C．rejecting | D．cancelling |
| A．A Thief’s Lucky Day | B．A Popular Maths Professor |
| C．A Magic Lottery | D．A Reward of Honesty |
4 . The South American country of Bolivia has a highly varied climate which ranges from hot and moist in the east to high and cool in the west.In fact,the one missing element is a sea breeze,since Bolivia has no coastline.
The population of Bolivia is about three and a half million.Three-fourths of the people live in the mountainous regions,where the altitude varies from 8,000 to over 13,000 feet.The highest mountains are over 21,000 feet high.
About one-tenth of the total population is white.Some of these white citizens are descendants of the Spanish conquerors who came to South America with Pizarro in the sixteenth century.Others white citizens migrated to Bolivia from Europe and the United States because of their interest in trade.The white people in Bolivia control the government and the industries.
About one-fourth of the Bolivians are mixed Indian and white.They usually work as shopkeepers or government employees.More than half of the Bolivians are full-blooded Indians.They are the descendants of the people who made up the Inca Empire.The Inca rulers claimed that they come from a mythical race living on an island in Lake Titicaca.This lake is the largest in South America and one of the highest lakes in the world.
When the Spanish soldiers conquered the Incas,they imposed their own government on the country.They also tried to force the people to practice Roman Catholicism and to speak Spanish.However,even today,most of the Indians still speak their own languages.
1. Which of the following statements is true according to Paragraph 1?| A．West of Bolivia is the Pacific Ocean. | B．East of Bolivia is the Atlantic Ocean. |
| C．North of Bolivia is the Arctic Ocean. | D．There is no ocean around Bolivia. |
| A．2,625,000 | B．3,500,000 | C．1,750,000 | D．875,000 |
| A．English | B．French |
| C．Spanish | D．their own language |
| A．forefathers | B．offspring |
| C．ancestors | D．grandfathers |
| A．about 875,000 Bolivians are mixed Indian andwhite |
| B．some Bolivians serve as shopkeepers or government employees |
| C．Lake Titicaca is one of the highest lakes in the world |
| D．the blood relation of Bolivians |
5 . Creativity is the process of taking an idea and applying it in real life, if we aren’t creative, we can't think outside the box and question what we can do.
Asking questions is a good way of sparking creativity.
First, we can ask learners questions that have more than one possible answer.
In science: “How many ways can you find to empty a glass of water without touching it? ”
In any subject: “What else would you like to know? How do you know that is true? Is there another way of doing this?”
Second, we can encourage learners to invent their own questions, We can do this for a topic that students are familiar with in their study. Firstly, discuss what makes a good question Secondly, create questions by grouping questions into different types--open, closed, or one that challenges the imagination. Finally, put those questions in order according to their importance.
Our teachers encourage us to ask questions and not accept the standard answers without Reasoning（推理）. Our school has some activities annually to inspire creativity in every student. Our teachers encourage us to be creative and think of solutions for real-world problems. On the whole, the freedom of being allowed to be ourselves is what brings out the best in our creativity.
1. What does the underlined word “sparking” mean in the second paragraph?| A．questioning | B．knowing |
| C．causing | D．learning |
| A．telling facts | B．showing evidence |
| C．expressing an opinion | D．giving some examples |
| A．Two | B．Three |
| C．Four | D．Five |
| A．have some activities with their parents |
| B．take more opportunities to think carefully |
| C．think of solutions to problems in the real world |
| D．accept standard answers provided by their teachers |
| A．Definition of Creativity | B．Problems on Students’ Certainty |
| C．The Meaning of Certainty to Students | D．Ways of Developing Students’ Certainty |
6 . Our culture is the system we use to build our identity. All living things are part of a culture. Even animals have a culture! So what is culture? It's the way we behave in a group. It begins with each individual (单个的) family. Within our families we do things to build relationships with each other. This can include routines like daily housework and weekly shopping. It also includes traditions. Traditions are activities that are repeated on a regular basis.
Culture is not limited to individual family groups. The real strength of culture is in larger community groups. These larger groups are called societies. Every society makes rules for itself. It decides how people should act in different situations. Some of these rules are written down. Some are just things that are naturally expected of all members of that society.
Often, cultures can be recognized by what the people believe. Cultures are also known by what they choose to include in their art. Sometimes cultures may be formed by people who speak the same language. Cultures may also be known for their customs, including the foods they make and the things they do.
Our cultures help us understand who we are and what we believe. There are very strong feelings connecting us to our own society. Two different cultures may disagree on something, especially if they both feel strongly about it. When that happens, war is a common result.
People are learning better ways to communicate with each other. The more we communicate, the more we appreciate the differences in cultures.
1. The underlined word routines in Paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to _______.| A．hobbies | B．behaviors |
| C．formal activities | D．daily activities |
| A．In arts. | B．In societies. |
| C．In families. | D．In languages. |
| A．Culture doesn't exist in animals. |
| B．Culture is the way we behave. |
| C．Cultures may not agree with each other. |
| D．Cultures help us understand ourselves. |
| A．By building a wall. | B．By preparing to fight. |
| C．By communicating. | D．By making friends. |
| A．What Is Culture? | B．What Is Society? |
| C．What Is Tradition? | D．What Is System? |
When the five of them arrived at the hotel, they invited Geri to tea in the lobby (大厅). While sipping tea, the gentlemen presented her with a small gift which she eagerly opened. She was thrilled with the gift and shouted excitedly, “Oh, it’s beautiful!”
At this point, the four Japanese gentlemen stood up and, bowing only very slightly, said “Sayonara” and left immediately. Poor Geri was left astonished. What did she do wrong?
Everything! Her jeans were the first gaffe. Even if you’re coming off a bicycle in Japan, you do not meet c1ients (客人) casually dressed. The second mistake was Geri’s handling of their business cards rudely. In Japan, the business card is one of the most important communicative tools. It is always presented and accepted respectfully with both hands. However, Geri put their cards away much too quickly. In Japan, people use business cards as a conversation starter. You chat about each other’s cards and work and do not put theirs away until they gently and respectfully place yours in safekeeping. Putting it carelessly into her jeans pocket was the ultimate disrespect.
Then, the fourth horror of horrors was that Geri should not have opened the gift in front of her clients. In a land where saving face is critical, it would be embarrassing to discover the gift they gave was not as nice as the one they received. What is worse, Geri hadn’t even given them a gift!
1. In the four Japanese gentlemen’s eyes, Geri took their cards _____________.
| A．excitedly | B．embarrassingly | C．politely | D．disrespectfully |
| A．Because they couldn’t bear Geri’s behavior any longer. |
| B．Because they had finished the task. |
| C．Because Geri had something more important to do. |
| D．Because Geri felt embarrassed. |
| A．ignorance | B．sadness | C．mistake | D．carelessness |
| A．used her own card as a conversation starter |
| B．took her clients’ cards with one hand |
| C．kept her clients’ cards in a wrong place |
| D．met her clients in jeans |
| A．Honesty is the best policy. |
| B．Think twice before you take any action. |
| C．When in Rome, do as the Romans do. |
| D．Don't claim to know what you don't know. |
