20. The best title of this article is ________.

A. A new island　　　　　 B. The birth of an island

C. A new world　　　　　 D. Scientists discovered Surtsey

(E)

On Nov.18th,1908,three men went up in a balloon(气球).They started early in London. The headman was Augusta Gaudron, and the other two men were Tannar and Maitland. They had a big balloon and they were ready for a long way.

Soon they heard the sea. They were carrying the usual rope(绳子),and it was hanging down from the basket of the balloon. At the end of the rope they had tied a metal box. This could hold water, or it could be empty. So they were able to change its weight(重量).It was for use over the sea. They were also carrying some bags of sand.

After the sun rose, the balloon went higher. It went up to 3,000 metres, and the air was very cold. The water in the balloon became ice. Snow fell past the men's basket, and they could see more snow on the ground. The men tried to throw out some more sand; but it was hard. They tried to break the icy sand with their knives, but it was not easy. The work was slow and they were still falling, so they had to drop some whole bags of sand. One of them fell on an icy lake and made a black hole in the ice

At last they pulled the box into the basket. It was still snowing; so they　climbed to get away from the snow. They rose to 5,100 metres! Everything became icy. They were so cold that they decided to land. They came down in Poland　heavily but safely. They had travelled 1,797 kilometers from London!

19. Put the following sentences in correct order.

a. The captain found the boat was moving.　　　　　　 b. A new island appeared in the sea.

c. Fire, smoke and rocks were seen rushing up.　　 d. A fishing boat was near Iceland.

e. The island grew quickly.

A. d-a-c-b-e 　B. a-b-c-d-e　C .a-b-e-c-d　D. b-e-d-a-c

18. When did scientist fly there to watch?

A. Before the volcano broke out.　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. As soon as the volcano broke out.

C. About four days after the volcano broke out.　　 D. After the volcano stopped rushing up.

17. Scientists flew there ______.

A. to watch the birth of the island　　　　　 B. to save the fishing boat

C. to learn about the island　　　　　　　　　　 D. to build a house

16. Surtsey is ______.

A. an island not far from Iceland　　　　　　　　　 B. a new volcano

C. a fishing boat　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. a place in Iceland

15. Motor homes have become popular because___________.

A. they can take people to another city when people are free

B. they can let families have a happier life when they go out for their holidays

C. some people think motor homes are cheap

D. big families can put more things in motor homes

(D)

Surtsey was born in 1963.Scientists saw the birth of this island. It began at 7.30 a.m. on 14th November. A fishing boat was near Iceland. The boat moved under the captain's(船长)feet. He noticed a strange smell. He saw some black smoke. A volcano(火山)was breaking out. Red-hot rocks, fire and smoke were rushing up from the bottom(底部)of the sea. The island grew quickly. It was 10 meters high the next day and 60 meters high on 18th November. Scientists flew there to watch. It was exciting. Smoke and fire were still rushing up. Pieces of red-hot rock were flying into the air and falling into the sea. The sea was boiling and there was a strange light in the sky. Surtsey grew and grew. Then it stopped in June 1967.It was 175 meters high and 2 kilometers long. And life was already coming to Surtsey. Plants grew. Birds came. Some scientists built a house. They want to learn about this young island. A new island is like a new world.

14. Americans usually use motor homer____________.

A. to travel with all the family members of holiday

B. to do some shopping with all the family members

C. to visit their grandparents at weekends

D. to drive their children to school every day

13. A motor home is usually owned by a family with__________.

A. a baby　　　　　　 B. much money　　　　　 C. more than two children　 D. interest in vans

12. Before Mr. Hagen and his wife bought a van, they__________.

A. sold their old house　　　　　　　　　　 B. moved to their grandparents’ house

C. built a new place for a van　　　　 D. sold their second car

11. From the passage, a van is also called ____________.

A. a motor car　　　　　　 B. a motor home　　　　 C. a motorbike　　　　　　 D. a big truck