阅读理解

　　Bright comets(彗星) are a rare(罕见的)and beautiful sight. Though we think of them as members of the sun’s family, many comets go far beyond the orbits of the planets. As a rule they return once in a while to travel around the sun

　　A comet seems to be composed of gas, dust and ice. There is a great deal of solid, frozen material. As the mass gets near the sun, the outer frozen parts begin to melt(融化), and more gases form. The pressure of the sun’s radiation(放射) drives the dust and gases outwards in a long, streaming“tail”, perhaps several tails. For this reason the tail always points away from the sun. And when the comet moves farther from the radiation, the tail gets smaller and at last disappears.

　　We owe (把……归于)our knowledge chiefly to Sir Edmond Harley(1656－1742). He saw a very beautiful one in 1682, and it led him to study comets and their orbits.

　　Then he said,“The comet of 1682 was the same one that appeared in 1531 and again in 1607. It will return in 1758 or 1759.”

　　Harley died in 1742, but people waited and watched…And sure enough, Harley’s Comet arrived, big and bright, early in 1759. The comet was named:“Comet Harley”and it comes about every 75 years.

　　Last time it returned in 1986 and was watched by hundreds of millions of people. If you were one of them, I hope you will be lucky enough to watch it again next time it appears.

1．In what way are comets different from planets?

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A．They don’t travel round the sun.

B．They are not members of the sun’s family.

C．They are nearer to the sun than planets.

D．They go far beyond the sun than planets.

2．What is the long tail of the comet composed of (由……组成)?

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A．Gas, dust and ice.

B．Radiation of the sun.

C．Solid, frozen material.

D．Dust and gases.

3．

The reason why the tail of a comet always points away from the sun is that ________.

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A．it is getting nearer to the sun

B．the dust and gases are driven outward by the pressure

C．its outer frozen parts begin to melt

D．it is moving round the sun

4．Which of the following is right?

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A．Sure enough, Harley saw the comet arrive early in 1759.

B．Harley’s Comet returned in 1758 as Harley had expected.

C．Seventeen years after Harley’ death the comet returned.

D．We’ll see Comet Harley again in 75 years.

5．When will Comet Harley return next time?

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What do literary greats Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Robert Burns have in common? They both lived and wrote in Edinburgh, along with many other big names in the field of literature. This fact helped UNESCO (联合国教科文组织) award the city the title of world's first City of Literature on October 14.

Edinburgh left a lasting impression on Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930). Although he was born there he went to school in England but returned home for medical school. After graduating he moved to London and began writing his Sherlock Holmes stories. His inspiration for the character came from one of his professors at university. Holmes' methods were so clever that they actually furthered the advance of the study of criminology (犯罪学).

Robert Burns (1759-1796) is still regarded as Scotland's national poet, more than 200 years after his death. He is celebrated all over the world through translations of his work and the annual Burns Night supper on his birthday. One of his songs, "My Love is Like a Red Red Rose" ranks among the finest love songs ever written and "Auld Lang Syne" (友谊地久天长) is sung all around the world．

As one of the first literate societies in Europe, the Scottish Parliament passed the world's first compulsory (义务) education law in 1496. By the 1790s, almost all Scots could read． Visitors to Scotland often observed that even the lowest members of society had copies of Burns' poems and other books.

Edinburgh was awarded the title of world's first City of Literature because _____.

       A．the first award ceremony of literature was held there

       B．many literary greats like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Robert Burns were born there

       C．it left a deep impression on many literary greats like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

       D． many literary greats like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Robert Burns often wrote about it

Arthur Conan Doyle was remembered mainly for his _____.

       A．detective stories   B．love poems and songs  

       C．contribution to the study of criminology       D． clever writing skill

In honour of Robert Burns, _____.

       A．"My Love is Like a Red Red Rose" and "Auld Lang Syne" are sung all around the world

       B．his works are translated into many languages every year

       C．a celebration is held more than 200 years after his death

       D． a celebration is held every year on his birthday

In the last paragraph, the writer mainly discussed _____.

       A．the impression of visitors to Scotland

       B．how Burn’s poems are popular in Scotland

       C．the possible history reasons for many literary greats in Scotland

       D． how the world’s first compulsory education law was made

 

       Archaeologists believe they are on the turning point of throwing light on the life of William Shakespeare — by excavating （发掘） what may have been the playwright’s dust hole．

       Experts have begun excavating the ruins of New Place, Shakespeare’s former home in Stratford-upon-Avon, which was destroyed 250 years ago．Although little remains of the property, the team, led by Birmingham Archaeology, believes it has identified a dust hole used by the 16th century poet．

       Small pieces of pottery （陶瓷） and broken clay pipe have already been found from a muddy hole on the site, which they claim could yield some of the most significant discoveries about Shakespeare in decades．The dig focuses on three areas of the property, which Shakespeare bought in 1597 when he returned to his home town from London having achieved fame — including the so-called knot garden at the back of the building．

       Dr Diana Owen, Director of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, which owns the site, said, “We do not know if the knot garden was an area used by Shakespeare — it may have been a yard simply used by his servants．But this could actually yield some fantastic results, especially if it was an area where rubbish was thrown or the dust hole was located．”

       Kevin Colls, from Birmingham Archaeology, added, “Through documentary evidence we know Shakespeare lived at New Place but we have very little information regarding the layout （布局） of the house and gardens at this time．Through archaeological fieldwork, in particular the dig of structural remains and the recovery of artefacts, we hope to fill in the blanks．”

       Until October, visitors will be able to watch archaeologists and volunteers at work as they excavate the remains of the house, which was knocked down in 1759．Experts hope to unearth evidence to support theories that Shakespeare wrote many of his most famous works at the property．

1．This excavation intends to ______．

       A．know something about the playwright’s dust hole

       B．search for some treasure in the dust hole

       C．explore the life of William Shakespeare

       D．find something that Shakespeare lost

2．New Place was destroyed in the ______ century．

       A．15th      B．16th      C．17th       D．18th

3．Small pieces of pottery and broken clay pipe on the site ______．

       A．could show Shakespeare’s luxurious life

       B．could lead to important discoveries about Shakespeare

       C．could show us that Shakespeare lived at New Place

       D．could prove when New Place was knocked down

4．The underlined phrase “the blanks” in Paragraph 5 refers to ______．

       A．the ruins of New Place 

       B．the smallest pieces of broken pottery

       C．three areas of the property 

       D．the layout of the house and gardens of New Place

5．What can we learn from the text?

       A．Shakespeare used to live at New Place．

       B．Shakespeare became famous after 1597．

       C．Only his servants used the knot garden．

       D．Dr Diana Owen owns Shakespeare’s property．

 

　　Do you know insurance （保险）? Buying insurance is a 1 by which people can protect themselves 2 large losses. Protection against fire is one kind of insurance. Large numbers of people pay 3 sums of money 4 an insurance company. Although thousands of people have paid for fire insurance, only 5 will lose their homes by fire. The insurance company will pay for these homes 6 the sums of money it has collected.

　　The first modern fire insurance company was 7 in London, England, in 1666. A great fire had just 8 most of the city, and people wanted to protect against 9 losses. The fire company grew rapidly. 10 other companies were founded in other areas.

　　Benjamin Franklin helped form the first fire insurance company in America in 1752. He also 11 a new kind of insurance for 12 . The new insurance would offer protection against the loss of crops 13 storm.

　　In 1759 , Benjamin Franklin helped start 14 new insurance company in America. This company , which offered 15 insurance , collected some money 16 from different men. Although a man died , his family was given a large sum of money. Today , this company is 17 in business.

　　Over the years, people have 18 from many new kinds of insurance when they have suffered from 19 accidents as car and plane crashes. Tomorrow , almost everyone has 20 kind of insurance.

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Archaeologists believe they are on the turning point of throwing light on the life of William Shakespeare — by excavating (发掘) what may have been the playwright’s dust hole.

Experts have begun excavating the ruins of New Place, Shakespeare’s former home in Stratford-upon-Avon, which was destroyed 250 years ago. Although little remains of the property, the team, led by Birmingham Archaeology, believes it has identified a dust hole used by the 16th century poet.

Small pieces of pottery (陶瓷) and broken clay pipe have already been found from a muddy hole on the site, which they claim could yield some of the most significant discoveries about Shakespeare in decades. The dig focuses on three areas of the property, which Shakespeare bought in 1597 when he returned to his home town from London having achieved fame — including the so-called knot garden at the back of the building.

Dr Diana Owen, Director of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, which owns the site, said, “We do not know if the knot garden was an area used by Shakespeare — it may have been a yard simply used by his servants. But this could actually yield some fantastic results, especially if it was an area where rubbish was thrown or the dust hole was located.”

Kevin Colls, from Birmingham Archaeology, added, “Through documentary evidence we know Shakespeare lived at New Place but we have very little information regarding the layout (布局) of the house and gardens at this time. Through archaeological fieldwork, in particular the dig of structural remains and the recovery of artifacts, we hope to fill in the blanks.”

Until October, visitors will be able to watch archaeologists and volunteers at work as they excavate the remains of the house, which was knocked down in 1759. Experts hope to unearth evidence to support theories that Shakespeare wrote many of his most famous works at the property.

This excavation intends to ______.

A. know something about the playwright’s dust hole

B. search for some treasure in the dust hole

C. explore the life of William Shakespeare

D. find something that Shakespeare lost

New Place was destroyed in the ______ century.

A. 15th            B. 16th            C. 17th            D. 18th

Small pieces of pottery and broken clay pipe on the site ______.

A. could show Shakespeare’s luxurious life

B. could lead to important discoveries about Shakespeare

C. could show us that Shakespeare lived at New Place

D. could prove when New Place was knocked down

What can we learn from the text?

A. Shakespeare used to live at New Place.

B. Shakespeare became famous after 1597.

C. Only his servants used the knot garden.

D. Dr Diana Owen owns Shakespeare’s property.