Have you seen the film Star Wars? If you have, you’ll know what an energy–gun is, and a light–sword too. The gigantic space ship in Star Wars can destroy a whole planet in a second or two, and it does so. Fortunately, it isn’t our planet; it belongs to a distant system, far out in space.

The great empty spaces of the universe are no problem in star Wars. The fighters know how to fold space over, like a sheet of paper, so that very distant stars are brought close together; they call it “hyperspace”. This means, of course, that their ships don’t have to creep along at the speed of light. If they did that, they would take years, even centuries, to reach the battlefield. Hyperspace allows them to travel as “supralight” speed and get there in a couple of hours. It’s good clean fun (健康无害的娱乐) though.

We certainly don’t know all about physics yet, but we do have the work of Albert Einstein. He asked us to believe that nothing could travel faster than light through an empty space --- but don’t let that miserable idea spoil the film for you, even though all our observations up to now have shown that Einstein was dead right --- forget it. Sit back and watch those energy–shells blow up the hated enemy. The Star Wars princess is extremely beautiful.

The more we “discover”, the more we must admire Einstein. He knew it all before us --- by about 1910 in fact. We observe certain very high speed particles (微粒), and they behave exactly as Einstein predicted they would. We can give them a speed almost equal to light, but they never quite reach light speed. He predicted that a very fast–moving object, as it flashed by a stationary observer(静止的参照物), would seem to have much greater weight than usual. And that, too, was proved correct.

So far as scientific theory or evidence is concerned, there is no such thing as hyperspace, no such speed as supralight. Space is as we know it, and light speed is the highest possible speed. “But,” say the story-writers, “that’s only true at present. We don’t know all about physics yet. Who knows --- who knows if there isn’t another set of facts just waiting to be discovered; another universe perhaps, just round the corner?”

Einstein seems to have been prepared for that too. In his theories he emphasized the word “relative”. Everything --- speed, weight, time, etc. --- is relative to something else. Nothing, by itself is real or absolute. So if there is another universe somewhere, we shall only know about it relative to ourselves. So far there’s no sign of it. But for the future, well, who knows?

51．What is the purpose of science – fiction stories and films?

They point out the way ahead, and scientists are grateful.

They encourage us in our searching for the truth.

They show us what the future universe will be like.

They are written and made to entertain us.

52．If you see Star Wars, what might spoil it for you, according to the passage?

       A．Einstein’s theories.           

B．The uncomfortable surroundings of the theatre.

       C．The ugly actress and actors.   

D．The rude audience.

53．Einstein predicted that the increase in weight          .

applies only to big things, like huge space–ships

is apparent only to the stationary observer

is a real increase       

remains even after the objective has stopped moving

54．Einstein’s theories emphasized          .

       A．everything is relative to something else         B．the universe is infinite (无限的)

       C．light speed is the highest possible speed      D．there is another universe somewhere

55．Although Einstein did not observe the behavior of high–speed objects,         .

his theories predicted they travels at light speed

his theories predicted them with great accuracy

he knew they would be discovered       

he predicted them in the year 1910

阅读理解

　　In 1959 an ordinary American family paid $989 for a year's supply of food. In 1972 the family paid $1311. Why does food cost so much?

　　Vegetables cost more when they have been washed and cut and sometimes even cooked before being packaged. Chicken costs more when it has been cut into pieces by someone other than the one who buys it. A family should expect to pay more when several“TV dinners”are taken home from the store. These are fully cooked meals, including meat, vegetables, and so on, all arranged on a metal dish. The dish is put into the fire and heated while the housewife is doing something else(cleaning the house, perhaps, or resting or watching TV). Such a convenience costs money. It transfers(转换) much of the time and work of meal preparation from the kitchen to the food plant.

　　Economists tell us that many modern housewives have jobs outside their home. They make money that helps to pay the family food bills. The housewife naturally has less time and energy for cooking after a day's work．She wants to buy many kinds of food that can be put on her family's table easily and quickly.

　　“If the housewife wants all kinds of these,”the economists say,“that is her right, but she must be prepared to pay for those who make her work easier.”

1．The price of food increased by _____ in the United States from the year 1959 to 1972.

[　　]

A．about fifty percent

B．about twenty percent

C．nearly one third

D．nearly two thirds

2．According to the passage,“TV dinners”are usually _____.

[　　]

A．expensive food sold by TV stations

B．meat mixed with vegetables

C．fully-cooked food sold in shops

D．heated vegetables cooked on TV

3．The reason why food costs so much in America now is that _____.

[　　]

A．the price of everything has increased as well

B．a lot of work of food preparation has been done by food plants

C．American housewives have less time and energy

D．there isn't enough food for so many people

阅读理解

　　In 1959 an ordinary American family paid $989 for a year's supply of food. In 1972 the family paid $1311. Why does food cost so much?

　　Vegetables cost more when they have been washed and cut and sometimes even cooked before being packaged. Chicken costs more when it has been cut into pieces by someone other than the one who buys it. A family should expect to pay more when several“TV dinners”are taken home from the store. These are fully cooked meals, including meat, vegetables, and so on, all arranged on a metal dish. The dish is put into the fire and heated while the housewife is doing something else(cleaning the house, perhaps, or resting or watching TV). Such a convenience costs money. It transfers(转换) much of the time and work of meal preparation from the kitchen to the food plant.

　　Economists tell us that many modern housewives have jobs outside their home. They make money that helps to pay the family food bills. The housewife naturally has less time and energy for cooking after a day's work．She wants to buy many kinds of food that can be put on her family's table easily and quickly.

　　“If the housewife wants all kinds of these,”the economists say,“that is her right, but she must be prepared to pay for those who make her work easier.”

1．The price of food increased by _____ in the United States from the year 1959 to 1972.

[　　]

A．about fifty percent

B．about twenty percent

C．nearly one third

D．nearly two thirds

2．According to the passage,“TV dinners”are usually _____.

[　　]

A．expensive food sold by TV stations

B．meat mixed with vegetables

C．fully-cooked food sold in shops

D．heated vegetables cooked on TV

3．The reason why food costs so much in America now is that _____.

[　　]

A．the price of everything has increased as well

B．a lot of work of food preparation has been done by food plants

C．American housewives have less time and energy

D．there isn't enough food for so many people

Dear Mr. Perkins,

    We would like to introduce ourselves. Our company was organized only two years ago, but we are one of the largest boat companies in California. As you know, your son has bought a boat from us recently, and I think you know how pleased be is with our product. Also, John Webb, one of your son's friends, has bought a boat from us and, we understand, is very happy with his boat. We are always happy to know that our customers are satisfied. We are writing to you now because, as you know, your son has decided to buy a larger boat, and we need your signature on the loan (贷款) papers. The loan application has already been signed by Danny. As you will see, there is one form to fill out, and there are three contracts to sign. Danny’s 26-foot boat was returned to our San Pedro Dock yesterday, and we are pleased to say that the new 36-foot “Challenger” will be delivered in two weeks from today. It is being inspected by our manager right now. The auto-pilot (自动领航仪) has already been installed by our mechanic. It looks as though everything will be ready in time for delivery. All we need are the signed contracts from you.

   Thank you.

                                                           Tony Valention

56. The main aim of the letter Tony wrote to Mr. Perkins is to __________.

    A. tell him to sign the contracts                   B. thank him for buying a new boat

    C. tell about something of his company        D. ask him to pay for his boat right away

57. The underlined word “contracts” means ________.

    A. application forms from the buyers                  B. letters sent by the sellers

    C. formal agreements having the force of law      D. designs of a new product

58. From the passage we can see that the boat company __________.

    A. isn’t an old one                                     B. is a world-famous one

    C. is developing slowly                                 D. has to advise customers to buy its boats