| A．Cool. | B．Warm. | C．Cold. |
2 . A newly discovered planet looks just right for life as we know it, according to an international group of astronomers. Orbiting a star about 500 light-years away, the planet called Kepler-186f is about the same size as Earth. It orbits its star at the right distance for liquid water on the surface. That is a necessary condition for life as we know it.
But it is not exactly like Earth, NASA planetary scientist Elisa Quintana said. "It's more of an Earth's cousin. It's not an Earth's twin. It shares the same characteristics as Earth, but their parent stars are very different," said Quintana.
Kepler-186f orbits a star that is smaller and cooler than our sun. But, writing in the journal Science, the astronomers say the planet appears to be a closer relative than most of the hundreds of others discovered so far. Some are massive gas-covered giants with thick, crushing atmospheres. Others orbit too close to their stars and are too hot for life.
Two planets discovered last year are in the right orbit and might be good candidates for life, Quintana says, but they are a bit bigger than Earth. "For the first time, we can actually say we now have a planet that is both Earth-sized and orbits in its star's habitable zone," she said.
It may be the first time, but it probably is not the last, says Massachusetts Institute of Technology astrophysicist Sara Seager. "We've been waiting decades to understand how common habitable planets might be, and it's looking like they're really common. And this gives us excitement and motivation to take the next step," said Seager.
The next step would be to look for signs of life in the atmospheres of these distant worlds. That would take a more sophisticated (高端的；复杂的) space telescope. But budget cuts threaten that mission, says University of California at Los Angeles astrophysicist Ben Zuckerman, "In principle, we could do this in the next few decades. But in practice, because there's no money, it's not gonna happen. It's not gonna happen in my lifetime, for example."
Leaving earthbound concerns behind, NASA's Elisa Quintana believes that when the next-generation space telescope is launched, it will find that we are not alone in the universe.
1. What does the underlined word "That" (Paragraph 1) refer to________| A．The right distance. | B．Liquid water. |
| C．The right size. | D．A star. |
| A．is more of an Earth's cousin than an Earth's twin |
| B．has a lot in common with Earth, including their parent stars |
| C．is a lot bigger than Earth |
| D．is smaller and cooler than our sun |
| A．Where there is water, there is life |
| B．A planet exactly like Earth found |
| C．Life discovered on Kepler-186f |
| D．New Earth-size planet found |
3 . The Smilodon and the Tiger
The smilodon (剑齿虎) died out probably about ten thousand years ago.
Tigers are not
Another main difference between today’s tiger and the smilodon is the size of the smilodon’s
The smilodon lived in North and South America from about two million years ago until about ten thousand years ago. Tigers,
| A．Although | B．As | C．If | D．Or |
| A．close | B．beloved | C．young | D．healthy |
| A．watch | B．study | C．catch | D．save |
| A．fun | B．problems | C．danger | D．differences |
| A．cute | B．small | C．sociable | D．normal |
| A．arrived | B．lived | C．learned | D．waited |
| A．killing | B．sharing | C．hunting | D．frightening |
| A．older | B．thicker | C．brighter | D．shorter |
| A．low | B．top | C．similar | D．reduced |
| A．hiding | B．escaping | C．returning | D．practicing |
| A．follow | B．test | C．locate | D．surprise |
| A．tail | B．ears | C．teeth | D．head |
| A．except for | B．because of | C．instead of | D．along with |
| A．broken | B．replaced | C．found | D．cleaned |
| A．good | B．dirty | C．warm | D．soft |
| A．whiter | B．prettier | C．stronger | D．wider |
| A．at first | B．of course | C．as a result | D．at last |
| A．stopped | B．changed | C．developed | D．disappeared |
| A．dying out | B．coming back | C．running off | D．moving around |
| A．train | B．feed | C．protect | D．visit |
4 . Driving to a friend’s house on a recent evening,I was attracted by the sight of the full moon rising just above my friend’s rooftops.I stopped to watch it for a few moments,thinking about what a pity it was that most city people,myself included,usually miss sights like this because we spend most of our lives indoors.
My friend had also seen it.He grew up living in a forest in Europe,and the moon meant a lot to him then.It had touched much of his life.
I know the feeling.Last December I took my seven-year-old daughter to the mountainous jungle of northern India with some friends.We stayed in a forest rest-house with no electricity or hot water.Our group had campfires outside every night,and indoors when it was too cold outside.The moon grew to its fullest during our trip.Between me and the high mountains lay three or four valleys.Not a light shone in them and not a sound could be heard.It was one of the quietest places I had ever known,a bottomless well of silence.And above me was the full moon,which struck me deeply.
Today our lives are filled with glass,metal,plastic and fibre-glass.We have televisions,cellphones,heaters,ovens,air-conditioners,cars and computers.
Struggling through traffic that evening at the end of a tiring day,most of it spent indoors,I thought:before long,I would like to live in a small cottage.There I will grow vegetables and read books and walk in the mountains.I may become an old man there,and wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled and measure out my life in coffee spoons.But I will be able to walk outside on a cold silent night and touch the moon.
1. The writer felt sorry for himself because .| A．there was too much pollution |
| B．he usually missed the full moon sights |
| C．he didn’t adapt to modern inventions |
| D．there were too many accidents on the road |
| A．No modern equipment. |
| B．Complete silence. |
| C．The nice full moon. |
| D．The high mountains. |
| A．show that the writer likes city life very much |
| B．tell us that people greatly benefit from modern life |
| C．explain that people have few chances to enjoy nature |
| D．show that we can also enjoy nature at home through them |
| A．Touched by the Moon |
| B．The Pleasures of Modern Life |
| C．A Bottomless Well of Silence |
| D．Break away from Modern Life |
The most powerful earthquake in the past 40 years caused a tsunami crashed into coastlines across Asia yesterday,
Indian officials said as many as 1, 900 had been killed
Thousands of people are still missing, and the number of deaths is expected
6 . Scientists have long known that a crow （乌鸦）native to New Caledonia is able to use tools. The birds use them to remove food from deep holes. Now, American researchers have discovered a second species of crow with the same ability. They reported on their experiments with Alala crows, which are from the Hawaiian Islands.
In the experiment, the researchers placed pieces of food in holes inside the wood. The holes were too deep for the crows to reach with their beaks(鸟喙). But, by using small pieces of wood held in their beaks, Alala crows quickly got the food. They used small objects as tools, sometimes changing them by shortening too-long sticks. They also made tools from plant materials.
“The crows use their beaks as people use thumbs on their hands. Tool use is rare in the animal kingdom. ” said Chritian Rutz of University of St. Andrews. “Current evidence strongly suggests that tool use is part of the species’ natural behavioral pattern(行为模式). These birds had no special training in the study, yet most of them were skilled at handling stick tools. ”
Bird experts claim finding out that the crows use tools is important discovery. “It makes us rethink how to look at the whole tool-use idea now and encourages us to go out and look for things that we may have ignored before. ”
All the Alala crows left in the world live in Hawaii. There were less than 20 Alalas left in the late 1990s when scientists decided to bring them into a protected area. Now, it is reported that there are over 100 birds living there. Scientists plan to release a small number of the birds back into the wild later.
1. What are the findings of American researchers?| A．Alala crows can also use tools. |
| B．It’s difficult for birds to look for food. |
| C．New Caledonia is home to some crows. |
| D．The Hawaiian Islands are full of rare birds. |
| A．The holes were very big and wide. |
| B．Alala crows could only use short sticks. |
| C．Alala crows got the food by working together. |
| D．Alala crows would deal with tools if necessary. |
| A．Using tools comes naturally to Alala crows. |
| B．Using stick tools is not easy for Alala crows. |
| C．Alala crows’ beaks look like people’s hands. |
| D．Alala crows won’t use tools without being trained. |
| A．Move all of them out of Hawaii. | B．Increase the population of them. |
| C．Set some of them free in nature. | D．Build more protected areas for them. |
7 . Women facing breast cancer (乳腺癌) report that their cats rank among the most important supporters, alongside parents and siblings (兄弟姐妹) they rely on to help them through their treatment.
Fish, a breast cancer survivor, relied on the companionship of her two cats, Phoebe and Jack, during her treatments. “They were the perfect companions when I needed them most,” Fish says. “They gave silent strength.” Fish is far from the only breast cancer survivor to show the power of her cat. A recent Purina Cat Chow national survey of breast cancer survivors with cats points out this important relationship.
Dr. Karen Sueda, at the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, says, “Whether pet owners are fighting diseases such as breast cancer or going through a rough period in life such as job loss or some stress, their cats often display intuitive (直觉的) behavior of knowing when they need extra support.”
Hearing countless stories from breast cancer patients and survivors of how they have been emotionally supported by their cats, Purina Cat Chow honors this exceptional relationship and is doing its part to help the fight against breast cancer. This year, in a partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Purina Cat Chow will donate more than $200,000 to the cause and invites consumers to help us raise awareness of breast cancer.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to find the cures. The organization has invested (投资) $1.3 billion in ending breast cancer, becoming the world’s largest source of non-profit funds (资金) devoted to the fight against breast cancer.
1. To many women with breast cancer, cats can _______.| A．bring strength and support to them. |
| B．teach them how to relax |
| C．know about what they think about. |
| D．help the patients to be optimistic |
| A．often collects cancer patients’ information |
| B．hopes to find more breast cancer patients |
| C．will help spread the knowledge about breast cancer |
| D．aims to find the best treatment for breast cancer |
| A．Unconcerned. | B．Supportive. | C．Doubtful. | D．Surprised. |
8 . After traveling ten years and hundreds of millions of kilometers, a small probe (探测器) called Philae has for the first time landed on the surface of a comet, a solar system object made of ice and rock.
Philae was sent from the European Space Agency’s main Rosetta spaceship early Wednesday, November 12, 2014. Originally, the mission of the spaceship was to target Comet 46P but when the launch was delayed due to problems with the Ariane 5 launch vehicle, the mission was redirected to Comet 67P, to study the appearance and materials that make up Comet 67P.
The Philae research probe left its mother ship Rosetta and then began a trip toward the comet and landed on its surface hours later. The effort to land on the comet was considered dangerous because just before the planned landing, scientists identified problems in Philae’s active descent system thruster (推进器) used to land the probe.
Rosetta has been orbiting Comet 67P since August 2014. However, it was sent up into space in March of 2004. The spaceship circled the sun until it was in position to meet with the comet.
Comets are the most primitive (原始的) objects in the solar system. Scientists think that they have kept a record of the physical and chemical processes that occurred during the early period when planets were formed. By studying Comet 67P’s make-up and history, scientists wish to unlock the secret of the solar system and even the origin of human lives.
The Philae probe did a series of scientific experiments. Philae examined the materials that make up the comet looking for organic, or carbon-based materials, and inorganic materials. It lasted until March 2015, when the comet was too close to the sun and the surface temperature was too high for Philae to operate.
1. What was Rosetta launched to do?| A．To send Philae to Comet 67P safely. |
| B．To study the appearance of Comet 46P. |
| C．To collect information about Comet 67P. |
| D．To research on the make-up of the solar system. |
| A．Due to technological issues. |
| B．As a result of power failure. |
| C．Because of lack of experience. |
| D．Due to problems in radio systems. |
| A．Challenging. | B．Satisfying. | C．Meaningful. | D．Impractical. |
| A．Philae landing on Comet 67P |
| B．Another comet found in space |
| C．One step further in geography research |
| D．Great improvement in spaceship design |
9 . Lack of airflow in your home can cause indoor air pollution and worsen health issues. Your furniture, the materials in your walls and your carpet can hold poisons, Before buying an expensive air cleaner,you'd better try out a few houseplants first 一they' re much cheaper and look a lot nicer.
Snake Plant
Perfect for your bedroom, this plant is unique in its ability to give off oxygen at night. Snake plants are also able to produce enough oxygen in an air-sealed room for people to breathe normally.It's one of the best plants for filtering (过滤) some harmful gases. Water it once a week, being sure to let the soil dry in- between waterings, and keep it by a window.
Peace Lily
If you' re somebody that loves flowers in the house, this is a great option for you. A peace lily produces fragrant flowers all summer long , and effectively removes formaldehyde(甲醛) from the air. It grows best in shady areas and with the soil kept damp. Be careful though, as this plant can be poisonous if eaten by children or pets.
Bamboo Palm
This fast growing houseplant looks splendid and is safe for children and pets. It will add damp to the air in the dry winter months and remove indoor air pollutants. It grows well in indirect sunlight away from any cold drafts. .Take care of it by keeping the soil wet and misting ts leaves.
Red Edged Dracaena
This drought tolerant plant is good for beginners. It grows well in sunlight. Wipe the underside of the leaves regularly with a damp cloth to make sure it can properly filter your air.Place it in a semi-shaded area and mist the soil with room-temperature water. Careful,it's not pet-friendly.
1. How does a snake plant help you?| A．It produces enough oxygen. | B．It gives off a fragrant smell. |
| C．It keeps the indoor air wet. | D．It makes the bedroom prettier. |
| A．A snake plant. | B．A peace lily. | C．A bamboo palm. | D．A red-edged dracaena. |
| A．They prefer dry conditions. | B．They do good to kids and pets. |
| C．They reduce indoor pollution. | D．They're suitable for beginners. |
10 . Earth's forests are emptying.
Half of their inhabitants(栖息动物) have disappeared in the last 40 years, according to a latest report from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
The report tracked populations of 268 species of forest-dwelling birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles worldwide between 1970 and 2014(the most recent year for which data is available). The results show that forest animal populations have declined by 53% worldwide, and humans are to blame.
More than 80%of all land animal, plant, and insect species call forests home. However, a combination of habitat destruction, hunting, the spread of invasive species, climate change, and diseases are killing off forest animals, the researchers said.
Without those animals, forests can't perform the functions we rely on, since animals pollinate(授粉) forest plants, spread seeds, and nourish the soil with their waste.
“Forests depend on a complete animal world to perform. functions essential to life,” Susanne Winter, a program director at the WWF, told Eco Watch.
One of the most critical roles forests play is in easing climate change. Trees suck enormous amounts of carbon dioxide out of the air and embed (吸纳) the carbon in their wood and the soil. A recent study found that planting new trees over an area the size of the US could suck away two-thirds of all the carbon dioxide emissions that humans have pumped into the atmosphere.
“Without animals, it is harder for forests to absorb carbon, as tree species important for protecting the climate could be lost without animals,” Winter said. Without them, those trees would have difficulty reproducing and forests would lose their best carbon-storing trees.
“Forests are our greatest natural ally in the fight against global warming,” Winter said. “If we want to reverse the worldwide decline in biodiversity and prevent the climate crisis, we need to protect the forests and the species living there.”
1. What do we know from the passage?| A．Half of earth's forests have emptied. |
| B．268 forest-living species have died out. |
| C．The number of forest animals has decreased. |
| D．80% of forest animals have lost their homes. |
| A．Five. | B．Four. | C．Three. | D．Two. |
| A．Nourishing the soil. | B．Producing carbon dioxide. |
| C．Pollinating forest plants. | D．Easing climate change. |
| A．Forests will disappear eventually. |
| B．We can't reverse the decline in biodiversity. |
| C．Forests can suck away all the carbon dioxide emissions. |
| D．Animals are vital to forests when it comes to reproducing. |
