阅读下列短文, 从所给的四个选项中, 选出最佳答案。

　　

    There are many stories about snakes, and I find it interesting to　　 try to imagine how such stories got started. One common and colorful　　 misbelief is that the familiar garter snake (无毒小蛇) swallows (吞)　　 its young to protect them. The habits of this harmless snake are well　　 known in the United States since it usually lives in areas such as　　 parks and gardens. Like all snakes, the garter swallows the whole　　 creatures it uses for food. However, unlike most other common snakes,　　 the garter bears its young alive, in litters (一窝) of up to 50. My　　 guess is that our forefathers, observing the garter snakes' behavior　　 simply took it as true that the snake had swallowed its little ones in　　 time of danger, and was now setting them free again. This idea has　　 continued to exist in American people's tales to this very day.

　　 　　 　　

(1) The author wondered _____________.

[    ]

A. how the stories of snakes got started　　 　　   

B. if garter snakes harm people　　 　　   

C. if garter snakes lay eggs　　 　　   

D. how the garter snake swallowed and protected its young　　 　　

(2) What is true about the garter snake?

[    ]

A. It eats its young alive.　　 　　   

B. It frightens people.　　 　　  

C. It is often found in people's homes.　　 　　   

D. It doesn't lay eggs.　　 　　

(3) From the story we know the garter snake _________.

[    ]

A. gives birth to young ones one by one　　 　　   

B. swallows its young when in danger　　 　　   

C. sets its young free when danger was gone　　 　　   

D. swallows the whole creatures for food like other snakes　　 　　

(4) What does the author think of the story about garter snake?

[    ]

A. Imaginative　　B. True　　 　　   

C. Interesting　　D. Believable　　 　　

(5) The underlined word "bears" probably means ________.

[    ]

A. keeps　　   B. gives birth to 　　  

C. swallows　　D. carries away from   

阅读下列短文, 从所给的四个选项中, 选出最佳答案。

    Dolphins (海豚) are a type of small whale. They are interesting to　　 scientists because of their intelligence (聪明), their speed, and some　　 unusual characteristics of their bodies.

　　

    Dolphins can make many different types of sounds. People at sea　　 noticed that dolphins often rode for a long time on the pressure wave　　 of a moving ship, either in front or behind the ship.

　　

    Since the dolphins' natural home is the sea, it is difficult to　　 study their normal behavior in captivity (监禁). Recently, however,　　 scientists have been able to study the sounds of dolphins. They make　　 low-pitched (低音的) sounds like barks, whistles, and screams. They　　 also make very high-pitched sounds, much higher than the ones that　　 people are able to hear.

　　

    Scientists have also learned that dolphins can remember sounds　　 about as well as people can. But scientists have not found any　　 evidence of a human type of language among dolphins.

　　

    A special quality of their skin makes it possible for them to　　 move quickly through the water with the least amount of turbulence　　 (水流涌动). Scientists have used information from studies of the body　　 shape and movement of dolphins to improve the designs of ship and　　 airplanes.

(1)  Scientists are interested in dolphins because __________.

[    ]

A. they can swim　　　　  B. they can sing 　　   

C. they are whale-like　　D. they swim very fast 　　

(2)  From the passage we know that dolphins usually live in _______.

[    ]

A. the lakes　　 B. the rivers 　　   C. the oceans　　D. the zoos 　　

(3)  Dolphins have ______________.

[    ]

A. good memory　　B. bad memory 　　   C. no memory　　  D. nothing unusual 　　

(4)  We know _____________ about the dolphins behaviors from the passage.

[    ]

A. a lot　　  B. a little 　　   C. nothing　　D. much 　　

(5)  The writer wants to tell us that _____________.

[    ]

A. we should learn something from the dolphins 　　   

B. dolphins are a special kind of whale 　　   

C. there are a good many useful animals like dolphins 　　   

D. dolphins are useful in making ships and airplanes

阅读下列短文, 从所给的四个选项中, 选出最佳答案。

　　

    O. Henry's last words, spoken with a smile, were "I don't want to　　 go home in the dark." If he could return to us he would find that he　　 didn't go home in the dark, but that an increasing radiation shines　　 about his name and fame. His novels appear today not only in English　　 but also in French, German, Swedish, and Japanese.

　　

    In his boyhood it was not writing that interested O. Henry, but it　　 was the cartoonist (漫画家的) art. To our way of thinking, no such　　 youthful genius in pencil sketch (素描) had yet appeared. Later on he　　 tried his hand as editor of "The Rolling Stone" in Austin, Texas, and　　 as reporter on the Houston "Post". After his move to New York, he　　 showed great interest in drama (戏剧), poem, the musical comedy (喜　　 剧), and the personal novel.

　　

(1) Which of the following sentences is true? 

[    ]

A. Henry liked visiting other countries.　　 　　   

B. Henry's last words have been put into many languages.　　 　　   

C. Henry read his works in several languages.　　 　　   

D. Henry's dying speech was "I don't want to go home in the dark."　　 　　

(2) As a cartoonist, O. Henry showed _________.

[    ]

A. his laziness　　　　B. no genius in pencil sketch　　 　　   

C. creative ability　　D. writing genius　　 　　

(3)   Henry did not consider becoming a writer until _________.

[    ]

A. He left home 　　　　　　　　　　   B. he worked as an editor 　　   

C. he learned several languages 　　   D. he came to New York

阅读理解　　

  A British sociologist has advanced the theory that many working-class children are unsuccessful at school because of the nature of their language. They use what he terms a “restricted” code of speech, whereas most teachers use an“elaborated” code, which is familiar to middle-class children.

　　

　　Working-class language is a language of personal experience and direct command, rather than rationalization and distinction between subtleties. In school, however, the latter abilities are demanded of children. Middle-class children, who have been brought up in such a way as to enable them to respond to argument and reasoning, are able to cope with the classroom situation much better than their teacher's saying.

　　So it seems that working-class children fail to take full advantage of the educational system, not because they are less bright than middle-class children, but because the language of the classroom is alien to them.

(1) How is working-class said to differ from middle-class language?

[　　]

A．Working-class language is poor and limited.

B．Working-class language is not good for children.

C．Working-class language is easy to learn.

D．Working-class language is difficult to understand.

(2) What advantage do middle-class children have over working-class children at school?

[　　]

A．Middle-class children can do much better in the classroom.

B．Middle-class children can't understand what teacher said.

C．Middle-class children are cleverer than working-class children.

D．Teachers care more about middle-class children.

(3) Why is the language of the classroom alien to working-class children?

[　　]

A．Because teachers' language is not easy to learn.

B．Because teachers are middle-class people.

C．Because teachers' language is close to the middle-class language.

D．Because working-class children are less bright.

(4) Why do middle-class children seem to be more intelligent than working-class children?

[　　]

A．Because their parents are more strict with them.

B．Because they have been brought up by their parents.

C．Because working-class children are not working hard.

D．Because they can understand their teachers better.

(5) How might the gap between working-class children and their teachers be narrowed?

[　　]

A．Working-class children should be kept away from their families.

B．Teachers should learn the working-class language.

C．Both the working-class children and their teachers should learn from each other.

D．Working-class parents should receive more education.

阅读下列短文, 从所给的四个选项中, 选出最佳答案。

　　     Scientists are developing a new kind of machine to take the place　　 of human beings. This machine can do jobs in places that are too　　 dangerous for human beings. For example, it is being developing to　　 work in nuclear (原子核的) power center, deep under the oceans and in　　 outer space.

　　

　　     John Marrit, a psychologist (心理学家) in Williamburg,　　 Massachusetts, helped develop the new machine. This is how it works. A　　 machine is placed in an area (地区) far away from the person who　　 operates it. The person wears a special hard hat with television　　 screens (屏幕) and sound equipment. The screens and sound equipment　　 let the person see and hear exactly what the machine is seeing and　　 hearing. Mr. Marrit says this gives the person the feeling of being in　　 the same place as the machine. The idea, he says, is "being there　　 without going there". The person uses an electronic control to make　　 the machine move. The machine copies the person's movements exactly.　　 If the person raises his right arm, the machine raises the right arm,　　 too. This means an expert can direct the machine to destroy a bomb (炸　　 弹) without going near the bomb himself.　　

(1) According to the passage, the new kind of machine is ________.

[    ]

A. in existence　　　　B. only an idea　　 　　   

C. being trying out　　D. under experiment　　 　　

(2)  Which of the following shows the correct position of 

the person　　  who operates the machine?

 [    ]

(3) The main difference between such a new machine 

 and a robot is___________.

[    ]

A. the new machine is less advanced than a robot　　 　　   

B. the new machine is more difficult to control　　 　　   

C. a robot can't work without being operated　　 　　   

D. a robot can't be used in places faraway　　 　　

(4) The idea "being there without going  there" 

suggests that _________.

[    ]

A. the person operating the machine doesn't go there but can do everything there as if he were there  　　   

B. the machine does all the operator wants to do 　　   

C. the machine can do everything instead of the operator 　　  

D. the person who operates the machine can get there without  moving

阅读下列短文, 从所给的四个选项中, 选出最佳答案。

    Fire-officer Jack Forman was shocked when he arrived at a　　 Mildehall house fire last night to find the fire was at the home of　　 his son David.

　　     The fire was at Birchgrove street.　　 　　Fire-officer Forman said that action by neighbours had saved the　　 house.

　　     Mrs. Barbara Allsopp and mother of three, Mrs. Ann Everett, used　　 buckets of water to prevent the fire spreading.

　　     Mrs. Allsopp said, "We were filling buckets of water from a tap　　 (水龙头) with a fire extinguisher (灭火器) hanging above it. But we　　 were so busy running backwards and forward with the water that we　　 didn't notice it."　　 In spite of their efforts, damage amounting to at least ￥300 was　　 caused. Part of the house structure was burned, bed and bedding　　 destroyed and other furniture badly damaged.

　　     The owners of the house, Mr. David Forman, 22, and his wife,　　 Lesley, 20, who have been married six months, were out babysitting.　　 　　

(1) Why was Jack Forman shocked when he arrived at the fire?

[　　]

A. Because the fire was at night. 　　

B. Because it was his son's home that was on fire. 　　

C. Because he was not able to save the house. 　　

D. Because he found people didn't use the extinguisher.

(2) Was the house saved?

[　　]

A. No, because the firemen arrived too late. 　　

B. Yes, because fire extinguisher was used. 　　

C. Yes, because neighbours helped to fight the fire. 　　

D. No, because the firemen pull it down. 　　

(3) Mrs. Allsopp and Mrs. Evertt didn't use the fire extinguisher　　 　　 because__________.

[　　]

A. they didn't know how it worked. 　　

B. they had no time to use it. 　　

C. they didn't want to use it. 　　

D. they didn't see it.　　

(4) Was the house badly damaged?

[　　]

A. No, because Mrs. Allsopp and Mrs. Everett put the fire out. 　　

B. Yes, although Mrs. Allsopp and Mrs. Everett put the fire out. 　　

C. No, only a bed was burned. 　　

D. Yes, it was almost burned out.　　

(5) Where were the owners of the house during the fire?

[　　]

A. They were sitting with their baby. 　　

B. They were in the house. 　　

C. They were not at home.　　

D. They were with their father.

阅读下列短文, 从所给的四个选项中, 选出最佳答案。

　　     Time is divided into years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes,　　 and seconds. Of these seven divisions only two are set by nature, the　　 year and the day. Every one of the remaining five is an invention of　　 man and could be changed by man at will. For example, nothing would　　 prevent us from having a week of five days instead of seven, and then　　 the weeks would fit into ordinary years without a day over as now. We　　 could have 20 instead of 24 hours a day, 100 minutes an hour, and 100　　 seconds a minute. However, the length of the year is fixed by the　　 earth's revolution (公转) and the length of the day by the earth's　　 rotation (自转).　　

(1) Of these seven divisions _________.

[　　]

A. five are invented by man

B. five are set by nature

C. all are set by man

D. only two are invented by man

(2) A minute ___________.

[　　]

A. is fixed to have sixty seconds forever

B. could have one hundred seconds at man's will

C. is now sixty seconds and cannot be changed into one hundred seconds

D. can be called other names

(3) The year ____________.［　　］

A. is fixed by the revolution of the sun

B. is set by the earth's revolution

C. is an invention of man and it could be changed by him at will

D. cannot be divided into other time units

(4) If a week had five days instead of seven, we could _______.

[　　]

A. have a leap year (闰年) every other year

B. divide an ordinary year into weeks with no days left

C. always have a leap year

D. have no leap year at all

(5) The length of the day ____________.

[　　]

A. is always the same whatever we may call it

B. is not the same in all seasons

C. has something to do with the moon's motion

D. would be changed if we divided it into 20 hours instead of 24

阅读下列短文, 从所给的四个选项中, 选出最佳答案。　　 　　

　　 　　 　　 　　

    Astronomers (天文学家) can tell just how hot the surface of the　　 moon gets. The side of the moon toward the sun gets two degrees hotter　　 than boiling water. The night side reaches 243 degrees below zero.

　　 　　 　　 　　

　　     In an eclipse (日蚀、月蚀), the earth's shadow falls on the moon.　　 Then the moon's temperature may drop 300 degrees in a very short time.

　　 　　 　　 　　

　　     A temperature change like this cannot happen on the earth. Why　　 does it happen on the moon? Astronomers think that the surface of the　　 moon is dust. On the earth, rocks store heat from the sun. When the　　 sun goes down, the rocks stay warm. But the dust of the moon cannot　　 store heat. So when the moon gets dark, the heat goes away quickly.　　 The moon gets very cold.　　

　　 　　 　　

(1) Astronomers have found the moon's surface is _____.

[    ]

A. always hotter than boiling water　　  

B. either very hot or very cold　　 　　   

C. usually many degrees below zero　　   

D. about the same as that of the earth　　 　　

(2) During an eclipse, the moon is ___________.

[    ]

A. turning away from the sun　　 　　   B. in the shadow of the sun　　 　　   

C. in the shadow of the earth　　 　　  D. in direct sunlight　　 　　

(3)  Temperature on the moon change __________.

[    ]

A. rapidly　　　　B. by only a few degrees　　 　　   

C. very slowly　　D. only when there is an eclipse　　 　　

(4) Temperatures on the earth change ____________.

[    ]

A. less than those on the moon　　 　　   

B. more slowly than those on the moon　　 　　   

C. more quickly than those on the moon　　   

D. Both A and B.　　 　　

(5) The surface of the moon is probably _________.

[    ]

A. rock that stores heat　　 　　   

B. dust that stores heat　　 　　   

C. dust that can't store heat　　 　　   

D. rock that doesn't store heat

　　British tourists going abroad are often advised to drink only boiled or bottled water. The few occasions when I have ignored this have been followed by expensive visits to the doctor's .

　　Now it seems visitors to Britain may soon be given a similar warning. At present, we take for granted our endless supply of fresh, clean tap-water, but this may alter unless farmers can be persuaded to change the fertilizers they use.

　　These fertilizers contain nitrates , which also occur naturally and are essential to life, but are poisonous in excess . It is the farmers who are responsible for the dangerous increase in the amount of nitrates absorbed into our water supply.

　　As it is very different and expensive to remove nitrates from our drinking water, the authorities believe that the nitrates should be prevented from getting into our water in the first place. This, they say, is the farmers' responsibility. While changing farming methods may well reduce the amount of crops we grow, the expense of importing food will probably be less than that of purifying the water.

(1) What warning may visitors to Britain soon be given?

[　　]

A．Please drink boiled or bottled water only .

B．Please don't drink water.

C．Please drink our fresh, clean tap-water.

D．Please follow the doctor's advice .

(2) What does the writer mean by“we take for granted”?

[　　]

A．We are not worried about it .

B．We are trying to use it.

C．We think it is natural and safe to drink tap-water.

D．We don't think it is safe to use tap-water.

(3) When are nitrates dangerous?

[　　]

A．When there are too many nitrates in water.

B．When there are a few in water.

C．When people drink the nitrates absorbed into the water supply .

D．When people drink the water which contains too many nitrates.

(4) What do the authorities claim is the farmers' responsibility?

[　　]

A．Farmers are using the fertilizers which contain nitrates .

B．It is difficult and expensive to remove nitrates from our drinking water.

C．Nitrates should be prevented from getting into the drinking water.

D．Farmers should change their way of farming by stopping using nitrate-containing fertilizers .

(5) Why may farmers reluctant to stop using nitrate-containing fertilizers?

[　　]

A．Because they don't want to import food .

B．Because they can't make enough money .

C．Because they may reduce their agricultural production .

D．Because they may not increase the amount of the nitrates in the water.

　　Doctors estimate that about 40 % of women over thirty in Britain are overweight . This figure may well be misleading as certainly large numbers of overweight people never seek medical advice .

　　Many women are very worried about being overweight . They feel that it shows a lack of will-power or self-control on their part. In addition, fat women do not conform to the modem ideal of beauty exemplified by fashion models and young film stars who are all incredibly thin.

　　Apart from aesthetic reasons, there are strong medical grounds for not overeating. Overweight people are prone to heart disease and are easily tired by physical activity . Losing weight would certainly make them feel healthier and increase their life expectancy .

　　Some women feel guilty about being fat and their guilt is repressed by eating more. It is a vicious circle. On the other hand, there are women who unnecessarily lose weight in order to conform to a model of social acceptability. Some of them end up by starving themselves to death! So perhaps it might be better to try to remove fat people's unhappiness than to try to remove the fat .

(1) Why may doctors underestimate the percentage of overweight women?

[　　]

A．Because large numbers of overweight people never seek medical advice .

B．Because about 40 % of women over thirty in Britain are overweight .

C．Because many women are very worried about being overweight ,

D．Because the number of overweight women is reducing.

(2) Why are many women worried about being overweight?

[　　]

A．Because they feel it wrong to be overweight .

B．Because they feel guilty when others say they are overweight .

C．Because they think fat women are not as beautiful as young film stars .

D．Because they can't control themselves ,

(3)What are the medical advantages of losing weight for fat people?

[　　]

A．It would help people to live a long life .

B．It would make them more happier .

C．It would make them feel healthier and live a happier life .

D．It would make them feel tired .

(4) Explain what the writer means by“a vicious circle” .

[　　]

A．Some women are worried about eating more .

B．Some women are unhappy in order to remove fat .

C．Some women are not healthy in order to lose weight .

D．Most of the women have starved to death .

(5) Why might it be better to try to remove fat people's unhappiness than to try to remove the fat?

[　　]

A．Because eating less can not bring them happiness .

B．Because eating enough food to keep themselves alive is more important .

C．Because they can not lose weight by eating less .

D．Because fat people can also live a happy life.