The Internet, mobile phones and Ipads are part of our lives now. Technology is greatly affecting all ways of our lives, from the ways we work to the ways we play. And it even causes a number of social problems such as cloning humans.
　　We have had lots of technology and it has changed our lives a lot. There is no doubt that humans will continue to use more and more technology. Here are some examples of modern technology that will change our ideas and will affect our lives greatly.
　　Global positioning system (GPS) (全球定位系统)
　　It’s a system that uses radio signals from satellites to show exact(精确地) information. It tells you where the user is on the earth in all weather conditions. It’s made up of three parts: satellites, control equipments (设备) on land and receivers.
　　Space Technology
　　Russian and American scientists have worked together for the international Space Station (ISS) for a long time. They hope the ISS will provide a long-lasting lab. Such a lab will bring humans limitless(无限的) advantages. It’s even hoped that one day space technology will take humans to their new houses in space.
Underwater Robot
Hercules is a kind of underwater robot with some high technology equipments. It will be used to search for ancient ships which were destroyed into the deep sea during their journey long ago.
The world is changing so quickly that it’s hard for us to catch up with all the new inventions because they seem to come out every month. It’s important for us to learn about new technology and the role that it plays in our lives. So we should be willing to accept modern technology, or we will fall behind the times.
【小题1】______ can tell you where the user is on the earth exactly.

The word “day” has two meanings. When we talk about the number of days in a year, we are using “day” to mean 24 hours. But when we talk about day and night, we are using “day” to mean the time between sunrise and sunset. Since the earth looks like a ball, the sun can shine on only half of it at a time. Always one half of the earth is having day and the other half night. A place is moved from day into night and from night into day over and over by the spinning（旋转）of the earth. At the equator（赤道）day and night are sometimes the same length（长度）. They are each twelve hours long. The sun rises at 6 o’clock in the morning and sets at 6 o’clock in the evening. For six months the North Pole is tilted（倾斜）toward the sun. In those months the Northern Hemisphere（半球）gets more hours of sunlight than the Southern Hemisphere. Days are longer than nights. South of the equator nights are longer than days. For the other six months the North Pole is tilted away from the sun. Then the Southern Hemisphere gets more sunlight. Days are longer than nights. North of the equator nights are longer than days. Winter is the season of long nights. Summer is the season of long days.
（  ）6.When the Western Hemisphere is having day, the Eastern Hemisphere is having ________.
　　     A. both day and night              B. day
　　     C. neither day nor night            D. night
（  ）7. A place is moved from day into night and from night into day over and over by ________ of the earth.
　　     A. the pushing                    B. the pulling
C. the spinning                    D. the passing
（  ）8. At the equator day is as long as night ________.
　　        A. sometimes     B. never       C. usually        D. always
（  ）9. When the North Pole is tilted toward the sun, the Northern Hemisphere gets ________ sunlight.
　　    A. less           B. more       C. all            D. no
（  ）10. When it is winter in China,  ________.
　　    A. the USA is tilted toward the sun
　　    B. the South Pole is tilted away from the sun
　　    C. the North Pole is tilted toward the sun
　　    D. the North Pole is tilted away from the sun

For as long as I can remember, Grandma’s plentiful tomato garden has been a sign of summer’s end. Each September, just as the decreased heat of the sun suggests cooler days, Grandma requests (ask for something) my help in her tomato garden. I’m sure that she cannot pick tomatoes without my youthful eyes and quick mind. She says we need to examine each tomato and agree on its readiness for picking. While Grandma’s request for my help in the tomato garden is always the same, her desire for my help seems to increase each year.

　　Grandma has eyes for finding even the tomatoes hidden by undergrowth and other tomatoes. I, however, just turn circles looking for the ones I think Grandma will like. I spot what looks like a ripe（成熟的）tomato, head in its direction, and then get sidetracked by another that appears to be equally ripe. I usually end up watching Grandma and trying to stay out of her way, which seems the only way my eyes and mind are useful.

　　There we are, lost in the tomato vines（藤）. Grandma’s eyes are always knowing, and they are no different in the vegetable garden. From afar she spots (notice) what looks like a ripe tomato. As she walks toward the garden, she evaluates the tomato for a second time, but from a different angle. I already know it will end up in the basket with the pile of others Grandma has carefully chosen. However, Grandma acts as if she needs a final look to be sure. She calls me to her side, kneels beside the vine while enjoying the warmth of the fading sunlight on her face, and grasps the tomato in her hand. She turns each round, red ball toward the sunlight before disconnecting it from the vine with a half-hearted smile.

　　She then looks at me. I nod my head and smile. Grandma assumes I smile in agreement with her tomato selection. I know I smile, instead, at her.

1.Why does Grandma ask the author to go to the tomato garden with her?

A．He can help pick more tomatoes.

B．He can learn the hardship of labor.

C．She enjoys staying with him while working.

D．She tries to share tomato harvest with him.

2.The second paragraph shows that the writer _________.

A．isn’t good at picking tomatoes

B．doesn’t like to stay with Grandma

C．thinks his eyes and mind are useful

D．is trying to be out of Grandma’s sight

3.What’s the best title of the story?

A．Gardening—good for my Grandma.

B．Growing Grandma.

C．Gardening—good for my growth.

D．Picking tomatoes.