1 . Last week I took a journey deep into space, to the end of the solar system, and was pulled into a black hole. Then I took a trip to Brazil and experienced surviving an airplane crash in the jungle. After that, I joined some divers and went to the bottom of the ocean to see strange blind creatures that have never seen sunlight. For a break, I took part in some car racing and then skied down some of the most difficult mountains in the world. I ended my travels by meeting face to face with a dinosaur, the terrible T-Rex, and survived the experience!
I did all this in one great day at Futuroscope. Opened in 1987, Futuroscope is one of the largest space-age parks in the world. This science and technology-based theme park in France uses the most advanced technology. Its 3-D cinemas and giant movie screens provide brand new experiences of the earth and beyond. Visitors can get close to parts of the world they have never experienced, going to the bottom of the ocean, flying through the jungle or visiting the edges of the solar system. The amazing, up-to-date information together with many opportunities for hands-on learning makes the world come to life in a completely new way for visitors. Learning centers throughout the park let visitors try their own scientific experiments, as well as learn more about space travel, the undersea world and much more.
I bought tickets for myself and my friends at the park’s entrance, but tickets are also available online. Futuroscope is not only for individuals, but is also the perfect mix of fun and learning for class outings. Classes or other large groups that let Futuroscope know their plans in advance can get the group admission rate. For anyone coming from out of town, Futuroscope has many excellent hotels nearby, most of which provide a shuttle service to the park. If driving, Futuroscope is within easy reach of the freeway. Plan your trip well before starting, since Futuroscope has so many shows, activities and great souvenir shops that it is difficult to see them all. Come ready to walk a lot—be sure to wear some comfortable sneakers or other walking shoes!
1. At Futuroscope, the author ________.A.got caught by a dangerous dinosaur |
B.got severely hurt in an airplane crash |
C.skied down some difficult mountains |
D.saw strange blind creatures in a jungle |
A.A school built in 1987 in France. |
B.A stadium for people to do exercise. |
C.A science and technology-based theme park. |
D.A museum with 3-D cinemas and giant movie screens. |
A.Blind creatures. | B.Visitors. | C.Scientists. | D.Dinosaurs. |
A.By buying tickets online. |
B.By paying extra money. |
C.By getting familiar with the ticket seller. |
D.By letting Futuroscope know their plans ahead of time. |
2 . A 6.2-magnitude earthquake hit the Northern California coast on Monday, bringing significant shaking but likely slight damage to the less-populated area.
The earthquake occurred just after noon and was centered off the coast about 337 kilometers northwest of San Francisco, just off a tiny town called Petrolia that’s home to fewer than 1,000 people. The nearest population center, Eureka, is about 72 kilometers north. That left only about 25,000 people in the range of strong or very strong shaking, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS), though residents as far away as Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area reported feeling trembling.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s office of emergency services closed a few roads. The USGs said the earthquake caused losses about less than $ 10 million and no deaths had been reported. The area last suffered an earthquake of a similar magnitude in 1993, when one person died.
“The shaking lasted for about 20 seconds. Glass bottles fell off the shelves at the store, breaking into pieces on the floor, but no one was hurt,” Petrolia General Store manager Jane Dexter said. “It was bigger than anything I’ve felt in my life, ” she added.
California’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) said 2,500 people were told about the earthquake before shaking began through the state’s early warning system called My Shake. “It is a very useful tool to announce warning tips. It saved us indeed. Yet, we still have to remain very careful...as large aftershocks (余震) will occur along the North Coast over the next few days, ” OES Director Mark Ghilarducci said in a statement.
1. What can we learn about the earthquake on Monday?A.It occurred on the Northern California coast. |
B.It brought significant damage to the area. |
C.It caused strong shaking in the whole nation. |
D.It destroyed a small town completely. |
A.The store had to be rebuilt. |
B.She never felt such a big earthquake. |
C.Some workers got badly injured. |
D.No one would go shopping at the store. |
A.Unloading the warning system. |
B.Keeping staying in shelters. |
C.Working from home over the next few days. |
D.Watching out for the aftershocks. |
A.A weather forecast. | B.A lab report. |
C.A news report. | D.A travel guide. |
3 . The best thing to start your day is a good breakfast. In fact, many people believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. In China, porridge (粥), noodles and milk are common breakfast foods. What are breakfasts in other countries like? Let’s take a look!
The US
In the US, a good Sunday morning starts with eggs, bacon (培根) and pancakes. On busy weekdays, most people in the US like to have milk, bread and fruit for breakfast. Some people also drink coffee.
Canada
In Canada, people mainly eat toast, eggs and bacon for breakfast. However, Canadian bacon is quite unlike the bacon of the United States. It is served in thin round slices (薄片). Besides, coffee and fruit juice are their favorites.
Britain
The British breakfast is similar to the American breakfast. A basic British breakfast includes eggs, bacon and tomatoes. These foods are popular among young people in Britain. Usually, British people have coffee, tea or milk to drink. Some people also like to drink orange juice.
Japan
Most people in Japan these days—at least in big cities—eat a quick Western-style breakfast including eggs, toast, juice and coffee. Those who prefer more traditional foods are likely to have tea and soup with rice. Rice is necessary for a Japanese-style breakfast. Japanese people also add eggs to their rice.
1. In which country are pancakes popular for breakfast?A.China. | B.Canada. | C.Britain. | D.America. |
A.Rice. | B.Bacon. | C.Juice. | D.Toast. |
A.Two. | B.Three. | C.Four. | D.Five. |
1. What’s the percentage of left-handed people according to the speaker?
A.About 15%. | B.About 10%. | C.About 5%. |
A.A weak left brain. | B.A strong right brain. | C.A strong left brain. |
A.Recognize faces. | B.Listen to music. | C.Remember new words. |
1. What does the woman say about the man?
A.He is good at singing. |
B.He is the top student in their class. |
C.He can play computer games well. |
A.Organize a competition. |
B.Fix some machines. |
C.Go to a party. |
A.An apple. | B.A music box. | C.An Apple iPod. |
A.Go to the church. | B.Buy Christmas gifts. | C.Go home. |
1. What size of the pizzas does the man order?
A.Small. | B.Medium. | C.Large. |
A.Sausage, chicken and onions. |
B.Sausage, mushrooms and onions. |
C.Chicken, peppers and extra cheese. |
A.$ 3. | B.$ 14. | C.$ 20. |
1. What happened to the woman last week?
A.She lost her car. | B.She lost her way. | C.She broke her phone. |
A.A friend. | B.A thief. | C.The woman. |
A.The police station. | B.The seller’s home. | C.The car shop. |
1. Why did the man give the woman a call?
A.To visit her. | B.To ask her for help. | C.To borrow her bike. |
A.On the street. | B.In the museum. | C.In the woman’s house. |
A.Buy tables. | B.Have a picnic. | C.Go to the supermarket. |
A.In a repair shop. | B.In a cell phone store. | C.In a gym. |