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　　Imagine a sports stadium filled with national soccer team colors. They are on flags, on fan's clothing, and even painted on faces and hair. Imagine the roar of the crowd when the ball flies past the goalkeeper to score. Imagine victory parties in streets and restaurants.

　　All this is more than just imagination for nearly a million World Cup ticket holders. Fans have paid between US $300 and US $750 to watch their teams perform all sorts of fancy footwork this month. When it's all over, only one team will become the new world soccer champion.

　　The world has been gearing up for the World Cup for two years. National teams from every continent competed first in their own regions. Then World Cup action kicked off on May 31 in Seoul before a crowd of almost 65, 000.

　　For a whole month, 32 teams will compete. They'll play in 10 cities in Korea and in 10 cities in Japan. On June 30, more than 70, 500 fans will pack Yokohama's International Stadium to watch the best two teams vie for the World Cup trophy.

　　But the playing field isn't the only battleground. Contending for TV rights is just as hard a game. Kirch, a German company, owns the rids. They sold the rights among various South American countries for a total of US $944 million. And the United Kingdom may have paid up to US $240 million(the price was not revealed).

　　So if you're not lucky enough or rich enough to be a ticket holder, just turn on the 1'V. See the colors, hear the roar, watch the footwork, and imagine being there yourself.

1．They in the first paragraph refers to ________.

[　　]

A．many football players

B．the teams from all over the world

C．different colors of each team

D．many football fans

2．The competition will last for ________.

[　　]

A．two months

B．one month

C．less than one month

D．less than two months

3．The final will be held ________.

[　　]

A．in Seoul

B．in Yokohama

C．between Seoul and Yokohama

D．in a unknown stadium

4．From the passage we know ________.

[　　]

A．competitions for TV rights is no less fierce than football ones

B．UK has paid $240 million to Germany for TV rights

C．only Germany has got the TV rights

D．Kirch is interested in football

5．Which of the following is right?

[　　]

A．It took Japan and Korea two years to get ready for the World Cup.

B．Nearly one million football fans have been waiting for two years.

C．The competitions began two yeas ago in each region.

D．It is the same to enjoy the World Cup by watching TV.

Mars Was Not Always Bitterly Cold
Scientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have reported evidence that Mars was warmer and wetter long ago than it is today.  The Caltech scientists say they have directly established the temperature of Mars four billion years ago. At least, they established the surface temperature on part of the planet at that time. The researchers say it is the first such evidence to be discovered and presented.
The Caltech scientists say carbonate（碳酸盐） minerals formed on Mars at about eighteen degrees Celsius. They reached the finding after studying a meteorite（陨石） that had its beginnings near the Martian surface.
Today, the average temperature on Mars is sixty-three degrees below zero Celsius.
The finding was reported on the website of the National Academy of Sciences. Caltech Assistant Professor Woody Fischer helped to prepare the report. He says eighteen degrees Celsius is not especially cold or hot. He says this makes the finding extremely interesting. Knowing the temperature can give scientists an idea of the climate on Mars long ago. It can also help them decide whether the planet had liquid water. Spacecraft orbiting Mars have shown what appear to be rivers, lakebeds and mineral deposits. These pictures suggest that, at one time, water did flow there. Mars Rover vehicles and other spacecraft have confirmed the information.
Caltech Geology Professor John Eiler was another writer of the report. He says knowing the temperature of Mars from long ago provides valuable information. It shows that early in the planet's history, at least part of Mars could support a climate like that of Earth.
The meteorite the scientists examined is one of the oldest known rocks in the world. It is called the Allan Hills meteorite. Its name came from the place in Antarctica where it was found in 1984. The meteorite is believed to have blown loose from the Mars' surface when another space rock struck its "home."
【小题1】 The underlined word “establish” in Paragraph 1 probably means “___________”.

A．to set up

B．to make people accept a belief

C．to discover or prove

D．to start having a relationship with others

【小题2】How did the scientists reach the finding?

A．By studying Allan Hills meteorite.

B．By using spacecraft orbiting Mars.

C．By studying minerals gathered on Mars

D．By studying a meteorite on the Martian surface.

【小题3】According to the fourth paragraph, what have spacecraft orbiting Mars done?

A．Measuring the temperature of Mars.

B．Taking photos of the surface of Mars.

C．Confirming that there is water flowing on Mars.

D．Finding where human beings will probably land on Mars.

【小题4】How did Allan Hills meteorite get its name?

A．From its original place on Mars.

B．From where it was found on the earth.

C．From the name of the scientist who found it.

D．From the name of the aircraft that discovered it

【小题5】 Where can we most probably read this passage?

A．In a biography of scientists.

B．In a geography magazine.

C．In an environment report.

D．In a science report.

Whether it’s a carol（圣诞颂歌）service or an evening of karaoke in the pub, many people will enjoy a good old singsong this Christmas. Singing aloud will not just lift the spirits---it’s good for your physical health as well. Filling the lungs（肺）with air, increasing the heart rate and getting blood pumping round the body faster can all help our physical health.
For the past few years Heart Research UK has been Funding a Christmas campaign aimed at getting people singing, simply for the benefit it can bring. The organizer of the campaign says singing is a safe, simple and social activity that everyone can enjoy. “Singing is linked to long life, stress reduction, and general health protection. It also brings a great amount of happiness. It is impossible to sing well with a long face because it affects your pitch（音高）.”
Professor Graham Welch, who leads the International Music Education Research Centre at the University of London, has spent more than 30 years studying the effects of singing. He says that singing is a form of exercise. It means we’re also having a strong aerobic activity（有氧运动）when we’re singing, which results in increasing the feeling of pleasure while decreasing that of stress.
“And communal（共同的）singing—like in a singing group, a church service or even a singsong in the pub—helps improve our sense of self-respect. It increases our sense of satisfaction with ourselves, a greater sense of feeling included. ”
Helen Astrid, a singing teacher, also sees the great effects that singing brings. “It lifts us up on a spiritual level, it helps our self-respect, and it’s great for all ages from small kids to grannies—you can have a good sing and let your hair down.”
But she warns people not to have too many beers or glasses of wine, though a glass may help them gather courage before taking to the stage during the holidays.
【小题1】Heart Research UK holds a campaign to __________.

A．encourage people to sing for God at Christmas

B．study the effects of singing on people

C．get people to sing and improve their health

D．bring happiness to people during holidays

【小题2】 What are the benefits of singing according to Graham Welch?
a. Singers’ living longer.
b. Singers’ general health protection.
c. Singers’ feeling happier.
d. Singers’ stress reduced.
e. Singer’s self-respect improved.

A．a, b, c

B．b, c, d

C．c, d, e

D．a, b, e

【小题3】 The underlined part “let your hair down” probably means __________.

A．feel at ease	B．protect yourself
C．dress casually	D．cover your nervousness

【小题4】 What can we infer from the passage?

A．Singing at Christmas is good for health.

B．In a low mood one is not able to sing well.

C．Experts have disagreement on singing.

D．Singing is the same as other aerobic activities.

【小题5】Which is the best title of the passage?

A．Karaoke—Best Place for Singing!

B．Christmas—Best Time for Singing!

C．Singing—Healthy but Difficult

D．For Health—Let’s Sing!