1 . The universe likes to be shy about its age,but astronomers believe they have a pretty good idea of the range.Currently,the most widely accepted age for the universe is around 13.8 billion years,but determining the age of...well,everything,is no easy feat(功绩）.Now, new studies have investigated the question using different methods-and they've come up with two different answers,separated by more than a billion years.

Because the universe is expanding at an accelerating pace,the further away an object is,the faster it appears to be moving away from us.This is expressed as the Hubble constant（哈勃常数, and it's a key factor in figuring out the age of the universe.After all, if we can determine how fast objects moving away from us,we can rewind that process to its beginning-the Big Bang.Researchers from the University of Oregon set out to map the distance to dozens of galaxies The team calculated that the universe is only 12.6 billion years old-that,you might notice is much younger than the 13.8 years usually stated.

In the second study,the method of figuring out the age of the universe is by mapping the oldest light we can detect.We are restoring the' baby photo' of the universe to its original condition, removing the wear and tear of time and space that distorted(扭曲）the image, says Neelima Sehgal, co-author on the study.Only by seeing this sharper baby photo or image of the universe can we more fully understand how our universe was born."In doing so,   the researcher   determined that the universe is 13.8 billion years old-in agreement with the accepted age.

The real problem though,is that the studies disagree so wildly with each other, to the tune of a billion years.But they   are not the only ones-the battle lines are commonly drawn by the methods used. Obviously, more research is needed to determine where the truth lies.

1. What do we know about the universe from the first two paragraphs?

A．It doesn't exist long.

B．It becomes larger.

C．It runs away.

D．It causes the Big Bang.

2. What makes the researchers in the first study think the universe is much younger?

A．The speed of moving objects.

B．The number of galaxies.

C．The process of the universe evolution.

D．The distance to other objects.

3. How does Neelima Sehgal explain their method in the second study?

A．By referring to a similar thing.

B．By using hard scientific data.

C．By introducing a new concept.

D．By quoting an expert's words.

4. Which can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Whose method is better?

B．Which result can you believe?

C．How old is the universe?

D．Why is the universe so old?

2 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

The polar bear is found in the Arctic Circle and some big land masses as far south as Newfoundland. While they are rare north of 88°, there is evidence     1     they range all the way across the Arctic, and as far south as James Bay in Canada. It is difficult to figure out a global population of polar bears as much of the range has been     2    (poor) studied; however, biologists calculate that there are about 20,000-25,000 polar bears worldwide.

Modern methods     3     tracking polar bear populations have been employed only since the mid-1980s, and are expensive     4    (perform) consistently over a large area. In recent years some Inuit people in Nunavut     5    (report) increases in bear sightings around human settlements, leading to a     6    (believe) that populations are increasing. Scientists have responded by     7    (note) that hungry bears may be congregating(聚集) around human settlements, leading to the illusion(错觉) that populations are     8    (high) than they actually are. Of     9     nineteen recognized polar bear subpopulations, three are declining, six     10    (be) stable, one is increasing, and nine lack enough data.

3 . What do you usually do when a flying insect lands on your arm? You may blow it away. But what if that insect is a ladybug (瓢虫)? It is possible that you would let it stay. What is it about ladybugs that we like?

Farmers once thought ladybugs were a good lucky sign. A ladybug in the field meant the crops would be successful and that the weather would be good. The farmers may have thought too highly of such a small bug, but in fact ladybugs do help out with the crops. They eat harmful insects.

Actually, it is not the adult ladybug that eats other insects. It’s the baby ladybug. When the baby ladybugs hatch(孵化), they are very hungry and will eat mites, aphids, mealybugs, green flies, and other crop-destroyers. In the 1800s, ladybugs were brought all the way from Australia to California and set free among orange trees that were dying from being eaten by insects. They completely saved all the trees.

Ladybugs go about their daily business without worrying much about anything. Very few birds or insects will eat a ladybug because it gives off a dangerous fluid (液体). Ladybugs also protect themselves by playing dead. They fall off leaves and stay still until their attacker goes away.

So the next time you see a ladybug, think about what it may be doing. Maybe it is off to save an orange tree. Maybe its next move will be to roll off a leaf and play dead or stand_up_to a bird about 100 times its size. Maybe it’s letting you know that the weather will be good tomorrow. Who knows? Ladybugs are special that way.

1. Ladybugs were brought from Australia to California in the 1800s to ____________.

A．add more ladybugs to area

B．report the weather for farmers

C．act as a lucky sign of good crops

D．save orange trees by eating insects

2. From the passage we know that _____________.

A．it’ s the adult ladybug that eats most of the harmful insects

B．ladybugs often roll off a leaf and play dead to attack the birds

C．ladybugs can give off a dangerous fluid to protect themselves

D．the baby ladybug mainly eats mites, aphids, mealybugs, and oranges

3. The underlined phrase ＂stand up to＂ most probably means ____________.

A．watch

B．support

C．admire

D．fight

4. Which of the following may the author agree with?

A．Ladybugs do harm to nature.

B．Ladybugs are unusual insects.

C．Ladybugs are dangerous insects.

D．Ladybugs eat more than they should.

4 . In 1880, fourteen-year-old Matthew Henson loved to hear sailors tell tales of their exciting lives at sea. The travel, the adventure, the danger, and the steady pay were all attracting young Henson. One day, he found a job as a cabin boy on a beautiful ship called the Katie Hinds. For the next five years, Henson sailed around the world. With the help of the ship’s captain and other members of the crew, Henson learned mathematics, navigation, history, geography, and many other subjects. By the time he left the Katie Hinds in 1885, Henson was well educated and had become an excellent seaman.
     Unable to find work anywhere else, Henson took a job in a hat shop in Washington, D.C. One day in 1887, a man came in to buy a hat. The man, Robert Peary, asked the owner if he knew anyone with experience at sea. Peary would soon travel to South America for the U.S. government. He needed experienced men to accompany him. The shop owner knew about his young employee’s skills and experience on ocean journeys, so he introduced Peary to Henson.
     Using his map-reading and sailing skills, Henson proved himself to be a worthy and smart seaman. Peary soon made Henson his assistant (助理), and they became close friends. One day Peary told Henson about his real dream: to be the first man to stand on “the top of the world” at the North Pole. He asked Henson to help him make his dream come true. Over the next five years, the two explorers made two trips together to the Arctic. However, they were not able to reach the pole either time. The cold, wind, and ice were worse than either of them had ever imagined.
     In 1908, Peary and Henson were ready to make their final attempt at reaching the North Pole. Both men were over forty years old. The years of hardship in the arctic cold had made them suffer a lot. This would be their last chance. With four Inuit (因纽特) guides, they made a mad rush straight across the ice toward the pole. Peary’s feet were injured and he had to be pulled on a dogsled. In April 1909, Henson’s instruments showed they were standing at the North Pole. Together Henson and Peary planted the American flag in the snow.
     In later years, Robert Peary and Henson were greatly honored for their achievements. Today, the two friends and fellow explorers lie in heroes’ graves not far apart in the Arlington National Cemetery.
1. In paragraph1, the author shows how Henson became ________.

A．a wonderful seaman

B．an educated captain

C．a good shop assistant

D．a successful learner

2. Paragraph 2 mainly tells us ________.

A．why Matthew Henson went to the hat shop

B．how Matthew Henson met Robert Peary

C．why Matthew Henson stopped working on the Katie Hinds

D．how Robert Peary knew Matthew Henson had sea experience

3. The following statements are TRUE except ________.

A．Henson proved himself a better seaman than Peary

B．Peary wanted Henson to help him realize his dream

C．Before their final attempt, they made two trips together

D．After they died, they were highly respected by people

4. The story between Henson and Peary could best be compared to ________.

A．treasure hunters looking for fortunes

B．sailors seeking power over others

C．soldiers fighting for their freedom

D．fighters exploring an unknown land