1 . Earthquake forecasting is one of the most ancient skills known to mankind. From ancient Greece to the present day, countless scientists have tried to develop tools to predict earthquakes. Their attempts usually focused on searching for reliable evidences of coming quakes.

However, there are many reasons why predicting quakes is so hard. “We don’t understand some basic physics of earthquakes,” said Egill, a research professor at the California Institute of Technology. Scientists have also attempted to create mathematical models of movement, but precisely predicting would require great mapping and analysis of the Earth’s crust. Other challenges include a lack of data on the early warning signs, given that these warning signs are not yet entirely understood. Actually, real earthquake prediction is very similar to the diagnosis of potential human illnesses based on observing and analyzing each patient’s signs and symptoms. As it turns out, quake prediction is extremely difficult.

Many sources show that earthquake forecasting was a recognized science in ancient Greece. Ancient Greeks lived very close to nature and were able to detect unusual phenomena and forecast earthquakes. The first known forecast was made by Pherecydes of Syros about 2500 years ago: he made it as he scooped water from a well and noticed that usually very clean water had suddenly become muddy. Indeed, an earthquake occurred two days later, making Pherecydes famous. Nowadays, seismic and remote-sensing methods are considered to have the greatest potential in terms of solving the earthquake prediction problem.

Currently, Terra Seismic can identify a forthcoming earthquake with a high level of confidence. Generally, Terra Seismic does not predict a quake if the earthquake’s epicenter is located beyond a depth of 40 km. Fortunately, such quakes are almost always harmless, since quake’s energy reduces before reaching the Earth’s surface. “Scientists have tried every possible method to try to predict earthquakes,” Bruneau said. “Nobody has been able to crack it and make a believable prediction.”

1. What do we know about earthquake forecasting?

A．Scientists have been passionate about accurately predicting earthquakes.

B．As long as enough data is collected, earthquakes can be predicted.

C．Mathematical models of motion can simulate and predict earthquakes.

D．Scientists have not yet fully studied the structure of earthquakes.

2. How did Pherecydes successfully predict earthquakes?

A．By seismic and remote-sensing methods.

B．By observing unusual natural phenomena.

C．By living in seismic zones throughout the year.

D．By looking into data on the early warning signs.

3. What was Bruneau’s opinion about the current methods of earthquake prediction?

A．He strongly believed the Terra Seismic can solve the difficult problem.

B．He was sure that humans could accurately predict earthquakes in the future.

C．He considered it harmless to humans for an earthquake deeper than 40km.

D．He thought that scientists had no reliable method to predict earthquakes.

4. Which question does this article focus on?

A．Why do humans predict earthquakes?

B．How to protect oneself during an earthquake?

C．What methods can be used to forecast earthquakes?

D．When to achieve accurate earthquake forecasting?

2 . Each year, about 7 million tons of trash (垃圾) is found in the ocean. This trash consists of cigarette ends, medical waste, plastic, mile-long nets, etc... Those items of trash choke (窒息) many species of ocean life so quickly that they eventually become extinct. Ocean pollution harms the earth and animals, and we should stop the problem.

Some other causes of ocean pollution are waste, poisonous chemicals, and the biggest cause is littering (乱丢垃圾). How do these items end up in the ocean? Waste flows through rivers and drains (下水道) directly to the ocean, so ocean pollution continues to step up. The estimated amount of ocean pollution that floated in the sea in 2012 was 288 million tons. This huge number continues to increase by 4% each year. That means 11, 520, 000 tons of trash increase each year. Imagine the future of our ocean. Will there be any room to swim? Also 80% of the ocean is composed of plastic: plastic bottles, plastic bags, and some plastic toys.

How can ocean pollution be solved? Use fabric bags instead of plastic bags. This would reduce the plastic pollution in the ocean. Also for the waste water problem, we could use waste water treatment system. Lastly using renewable energy sources such as wind power or solar power would limit offshore drilling.

If we don’t stop the causes of ocean pollution, water temperatures will continue to rise and ocean life will become endangered. Please be mindful that what we do affects the people around us, the animals around us, and the habitats around us. So will you pay attention to this problem or wait for the next generation to?

1. What leads to the ocean pollution worst?

A．Cigarette ends.	B．Littering.
C．Medical waste.	D．Plastic.

2. How many ways are mentioned to solve the problem in Paragraph 3?

A．3	B．4
C．5	D．6

3. What’s the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To introduce what’s ocean pollution.

B．To make a survey about ocean pollution.

C．To make us know more about ocean pollution.

D．To call on everyone to fight against ocean pollution.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．The Seriousness of Ocean Pollution

B．The Solutions to Ocean Pollution

C．The Causes of Ocean Pollution

D．The Sorts of Ocean Pollution

3 . Life will be peaceful if you always do kind things. I teach my daughters to develop a habit of _______ others. The little acts of _______ give you chances to provide service for others. They can make you feel how _______ it is to be kind and helpful.

We _______ in a rural (乡村的) area. Most of what we _______ is beautiful nature. One of the exceptions to the _______ is the rubbish that some people throw out of their car windows as they drive along the rural roads. One of the few _______ of living there is short of _______ public services，such as rubbish collection, which is common in the _______.

A helping behavior that I practice regularly with my daughters is ________ rubbish in our neighborhood. My daughters often have a match to see who can collect the most rubbish. They will often say to me in a(n) ________ voice, “There’s some rubbish, Daddy —________ the car!” And if we have time, we will often get out of our car and pick it up. ________ it may seem strange, we do it. In fact, we ________it. We pick up rubbish in parks, on sidewalks, almost anywhere.

One day I saw a stranger picking up rubbish on the road. I stopped. He ________ his head and smiled, “I saw you doing this with your family. It’s a good ________ to protect our environment.”

There are many other ways to ________ kindness for others. You may share a dinner with a beggar, visit ________ old people in the nursing home, or help the blind ________ the street. You can thinkof something that can be finished ________ but helpful. It is fun, self­satisfying, and what’s more, it can set a good example. Helping others is helping yourself.

1.

A．watching

B．helping

C．welcoming

D．teaching

2.

A．carefulness

B．peace

C．kindness

D．interest

3.

A．great

B．unusual

C．easy

D．sad

4.

A．work

B．travel

C．live

D．stay

5.

A．dream

B．see

C．need

D．develop

6.

A．environment

B．weather

C．area

D．beauty

7.

A．disadvantages

B．favorites

C．wishes

D．answers

8.

A．comfortable

B．necessary

C．modern

D．excellent

9.

A．sky

B．village

C．city

D．street

10.

A．picking up

B．looking for

C．taking away

D．laughing

11.

A．surprised

B．tired

C．excited

D．angry

12.

A．speed

B．start

C．move

D．stop

13.

A．Although

B．But

C．And

D．Since

14.

A．understand.

B．experience

C．forget

D．enjoy

15.

A．covered

B．lowered

C．shook

D．raised

16.

A．sport

B．idea

C．result

D．question

17.

A．describe

B．buy

C．provide

D．make

18.

A．puzzled

B．successful

C．healthy

D．lonely

19.

A．clean

B．cross

C．repair

D．draw

20.

A．suddenly

B．impossibly

C．easily

D．hardly