The Virgin Oceanic Submarine (潜水艇)is an entirely new type of vessel that can dive to 37,000 feet and fly through the ocean using wings . similar to an airplane' s wings. It will be able to dive 7 miles straight down to the deepest place on the planet, the bottom of the Mariana Trench (海沟)where only one other vessel has ever gone before. Unlike the last Mariana Trench dive, the Virgin Oceanic Submarine will be able to fly around and explore while it is there.

This amazing new submarine is what Richard Branson invented for his fellow adventurer and dear friend, Steve Fossett, who had dreamed of piloting it himself, but when he was flying over the Nevada desert he failed to return. Branson has now Finished what Fossett wished, and he hopes that the successful Virgin Oceanic Submarine will open the door to new exploration and scientific discovery.

This undersea adventure is very much like Branson's space adventure. Branson's company, Virgin Galactic, travels into space using a space plane. The space adventure rose from the success of the vehicle Space Ship One which has completed its task and Branson's boyhood dream of exploring space: Virgin Galactic is now testing the first Space Ship Two model, with a plan for tourism in space when all testing is finished.

Just as Branson uses new technology to explore our planet and beyond it, he also uses it to save our planet. He created a challenge with a $25 million prize for technology which would remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Naturally, this challenge is called the Virgin Earth Challenge, This idea came from seeing the X- Prize succeed in stimulating (刺激）the invention that finally created Space Ship One. No new technology has yet hit the marketplace as a result of this challenge.

Branson' s genius for seeing something great and making it happen first became apparent when he started selling "cut-out" records. He was soon able to create his own recording studio with the. profits. From there, Branson proceeded to discover and promote new musical artists. His instinct for finding innovative (创新的）artists is the same instinct he now applies to finding innovative technology.

While the new Virgin Oceanic Submarine has not yet proved itself, there is little doubt that it will.

47.    What do we know about the Virgin Oceanic Submarine from the passage?

A. It is able to fly across the Pacific Ocean.

B. It has ever gone to the Mariana Trench before.

C. It's advanced because it can fly and explore in deep water.

D. Its wings are much bigger than an airplane' s wings.

48.Branson created a challenge with a $25 million prize in order to_____.

A. explore our planet and the universe

B. remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere

C. stimulate people to create a new space ship

D. finish his boyhood dream of exploring space

49.What is the author's attitude towards the new Virgin Oceanic Submarine?

A. Positive.                 B. Doubtful.           C. Indifferent. D. Critical.

50.    What is this passage mainly about?

A. An introduction to Richard Branson,

B. Richard Branson's and Steve Fossett’s dream.

C. The achievements in exploring the earth.

D. The new Virgin Oceanic Submarine.

On Saturday August 12, 2000, during Northern Fleet training exercises in the Barents Sea, the Russian nuclear submarine(潜水艇) Kursk sank in about 100 meters of water with some 118 sailors aboard. It's known later that several officers were also aboard, observing the training exercises. The Kursk is lying on the ocean floor in the Barents Sea. The Russian Navy said that it was listing 30 degrees to port. Other sources reported it was listing as much 60 as degrees. According to a Russian newspaper, when the submarine Kursk failed to make contact with the naval command at the right time later that day, Northern Fleet Commander Admiral Vyachesav Popov ordered rescue ships into the area. It took hours to find the submarine, as it didn't launch(发射) a marking buoy(浮) before sinking.

Russian Navy Chief insisted that the submarine Kursk had been involved(卷入) in a major collision(碰撞), but a great deal of information shows that this is not true. Up till now, it's believed that an explosion in the torpedo compartment(鱼雷舱) in the nose of the Kursk was the likely cause. Now Russian government officially asked Norway for help in recovering of sailors' bodies first of all, and Norway has agreed to offer all help. But Russian insisted that only Russians work inside the submarine Kursk and that the work last for about 10～18 working days. It is expected to recover only 25～35 bodies from the Kursk.

It was not until October 25, when a team of Russian divers entered the submarine Kursk, some 350 feet below the surface, that truth became clear. On November 7, in the morning, owing to(由于)  the icy and the cold weather, a special rescue meeting held on Murmansk decided to stop the whole bodies recovering operation.

1. From the text we can infer that _______ led to the sinking of the submarine Kursk.

A. a small fighting with another foreign submarine

B. an explosion inside the submarine Kursk

C. a great collision inside the submarine Kursk

D. an attack from another foreign submarine

2. After Kursk accident occurred, Northern Fleet Commander Popov _______.

A. decided to recover all the sailors' bodies immediately

B. went to apply to Norway for help at once

C. decided to find out the real cause of sinking at once

D. sent several rescue ships into the Barents Sea

3. Which of the following is NOT true according to the text?

A. The Norwegians were willing to offer all help.

A. If the rescue work did within 10～18 days, there would be about 30 sailors to be recovered.

B. It was not believed that there were many unclear weapons inside the Kursk.

C. A team of divers from Norway entered the submarine Kursk successfully on Oct. 25

D. It's reported that a major collision was unlikely to cause the sinking of the Kursk.

4. Why did Russia insist that only Russian divers can work inside the submarine Kursk?

A. Because the Barents Sea is very icy and the weather is too cold.

B. Because Russia feared that the top secrets inside the Kursk will be let out.

C. Because Russian divers are much more skilled than those from Norway.

D. Because Russian government wants to bring the cost down to the lowest degree.

5. The underlined words “make contact with” in the first paragraph refers to the idea that the submarine Kursk can't_______.

A. get in touch after much effort with the naval command

B. send up the nuclear weapons in the training exercises

C. get the naval officers to return to the Northern Fleet

D. get in touch after much effort with Russian government

On Saturday August 12, 2000, during Northern Fleet training exercises in the Barents Sea, the Russian nuclear submarine(潜水艇) Kursk sank in about 100 meters of water with some 118 sailors aboard. It's known later that several officers were also aboard, observing the training exercises. The Kursk is lying on the ocean floor in the Barents Sea. The Russian Navy said that it was listing 30 degrees to port. Other sources reported it was listing as much 60 as degrees. According to a Russian newspaper, when the submarine Kursk failed to make contact with the naval command at the right time later that day, Northern Fleet Commander Admiral Vyachesav Popov ordered rescue ships into the area. It took hours to find the submarine, as it didn't launch(发射) a marking buoy(浮) before sinking.

Russian Navy Chief insisted that the submarine Kursk had been involved(卷入) in a major collision(碰撞), but a great deal of information shows that this is not true. Up till now, it's believed that an explosion in the torpedo compartment(鱼雷舱) in the nose of the Kursk was the likely cause. Now Russian government officially asked Norway for help in recovering of sailors' bodies first of all, and Norway has agreed to offer all help. But Russian insisted that only Russians work inside the submarine Kursk and that the work last for about 10～18 working days. It is expected to recover only 25～35 bodies from the Kursk.

It was not until October 25, when a team of Russian divers entered the submarine Kursk, some 350 feet below the surface, that truth became clear. On November 7, in the morning, owing to(由于)  the icy and the cold weather, a special rescue meeting held on Murmansk decided to stop the whole bodies recovering operation.

From the text we can infer that _______ led to the sinking of the submarine Kursk.

A. a small fighting with another foreign submarine

B. an explosion inside the submarine Kursk

C. a great collision inside the submarine Kursk

D. an attack from another foreign submarine

After Kursk accident occurred, Northern Fleet Commander Popov _______.

A. decided to recover all the sailors' bodies immediately

B. went to apply to Norway for help at once

C. decided to find out the real cause of sinking at once

D. sent several rescue ships into the Barents Sea

Which of the following is NOT true according to the text?

A. The Norwegians were willing to offer all help.

A. If the rescue work did within 10～18 days, there would be about 30 sailors to be recovered.

B. It was not believed that there were many unclear weapons inside the Kursk.

C. A team of divers from Norway entered the submarine Kursk successfully on Oct. 25

D. It's reported that a major collision was unlikely to cause the sinking of the Kursk.

Why did Russia insist that only Russian divers can work inside the submarine Kursk?

A. Because the Barents Sea is very icy and the weather is too cold.

B. Because Russia feared that the top secrets inside the Kursk will be let out.

C. Because Russian divers are much more skilled than those from Norway.

D. Because Russian government wants to bring the cost down to the lowest degree.

The underlined words “make contact with” in the first paragraph refers to the idea that the submarine Kursk can't_______.

A. get in touch after much effort with the naval command

B. send up the nuclear weapons in the training exercises

C. get the naval officers to return to the Northern Fleet

D. get in touch after much effort with Russian government

On Saturday August 12, 2000, during Northern Fleet training exercises in the Barents Sea, the Russian nuclear submarine(潜水艇) Kursk sank in about 100 meters of water with some 118 sailors aboard. It's known later that several officers were also aboard, observing the training exercises. The Kursk is lying on the ocean floor in the Barents Sea. The Russian Navy said that it was listing 30 degrees to port. Other sources reported it was listing as much 60 as degrees. According to a Russian newspaper, when the submarine Kursk failed to make contact with the naval command at the right time later that day, Northern Fleet Commander Admiral Vyachesav Popov ordered rescue ships into the area. It took hours to find the submarine, as it didn't launch(发射) a marking buoy(浮) before sinking.
Russian Navy Chief insisted that the submarine Kursk had been involved(卷入) in a major collision(碰撞), but a great deal of information shows that this is not true. Up till now, it's believed that an explosion in the torpedo compartment(鱼雷舱) in the nose of the Kursk was the likely cause. Now Russian government officially asked Norway for help in recovering of sailors' bodies first of all, and Norway has agreed to offer all help. But Russian insisted that only Russians work inside the submarine Kursk and that the work last for about 10～18 working days. It is expected to recover only 25～35 bodies from the Kursk.
It was not until October 25, when a team of Russian divers entered the submarine Kursk, some 350 feet below the surface, that truth became clear. On November 7, in the morning, owing to(由于)  the icy and the cold weather, a special rescue meeting held on Murmansk decided to stop the whole bodies recovering operation.

1. 1.

   From the text we can infer that _______ led to the sinking of the submarine Kursk.

   1. A.
      a small fighting with another foreign submarine
   2. B.
      an explosion inside the submarine Kursk
   3. C.
      a great collision inside the submarine Kursk
   4. D.
      an attack from another foreign submarine
2. 2.

   After Kursk accident occurred, Northern Fleet Commander Popov _______.

   1. A.
      decided to recover all the sailors' bodies immediately
   2. B.
      went to apply to Norway for help at once
   3. C.
      decided to find out the real cause of sinking at once
   4. D.
      sent several rescue ships into the Barents Sea
3. 3.

   Which of the following is NOT true according to the text?

   1. A.
      The Norwegians were willing to offer all help.
4. 4.

   Why did Russia insist that only Russian divers can work inside the submarine Kursk?

   1. A.
      Because the Barents Sea is very icy and the weather is too cold.
   2. B.
      Because Russia feared that the top secrets inside the Kursk will be let out.
   3. C.
      Because Russian divers are much more skilled than those from Norway.
   4. D.
      Because Russian government wants to bring the cost down to the lowest degree.
5. 5.

   The underlined words “make contact with” in the first paragraph refers to the idea that the submarine Kursk can't_______.

   1. A.
      get in touch after much effort with the naval command
   2. B.
      send up the nuclear weapons in the training exercises
   3. C.
      get the naval officers to return to the Northern Fleet
   4. D.
      get in touch after much effort with Russian government