When you are curious about something and want to know more about it, you can use the way of asking questions. Asking questions is the first step to make discoveries and find interesting answers. The following steps can guide you during the research.
Step 1 Write down the subject that you are interested in on a piece of paper. Just get the main idea down. For example, you might write:
Discover more about robots.
Step 2 Stop and think for a moment about what you have already known about your subject. List what you have already known like the sentences below:
1. The first robot appeared in the USA in 1959.
2. A robot can do housework and act as a teacher.
3. Sometimes a robot catches viruses and causes a lot of problems.
Step 3 What can you do with what you want to learn? By asking questions, start writing down questions about the robots on the paper:
1. What might robots be like in the future?
2. What other things can robots do for people?
3. What kind of power will robots possibly use in five years?
Step 4 Armed with your list of questions, you can now go to the nearest library or computer to begin your research. As you learn more about your subject, you'll probably discover some new questions.
For example, you might discover that robots can help scientists explore dangerous places, like the sea and outer space. How? What happened? Asking new questions can help you research your subject more widely.
The next time you find something interesting to research, take time to organize your thinking by asking good questions. And remember that learning more always brings more questions.
【小题1】What does the writer advise us to do when we’re curious about something?

A．To read more books about it.	B．To look it up in the dictionary.
C．To turn to the teacher for help.	D．To raise questions and find the answers.

【小题2】What does the underlined part “Armed with your list of questions” mean?

A．Writing down your list of questions.	B．Discussing your questions with others.
C．Taking your list of questions with you.	D．Putting your list of questions under your arm.

【小题3】What might be the correct order of the steps when you do research?
① List what you want to learn.        ② Find new problems.
③ List what you’ve already known.    ④ Choose a research subject.

A．④③①②

B．④①③②

C．②③④①

D．③②①④

【小题4】 What might be the best title for this passage?

A．Doing Research onRobots	B．Asking Good Questions While Doing Research
C．Having Interesting Answers on Robots	D．Finding Subjects before Doing Research

As you are soon on your way to Eastern Europe, here are a few tips on what you should pack. In general, pack lightly, with only the most basic clothes. People dress casually(随便地) in Eastern Europe, so you don’t need to bring along your smartest clothing.
Batteries: If your camera, flash, or other appliances run on batteries, bring enough supply along. Certain types of batteries don’t exist in Eastern Europe, and those that do often don’t last very long.
Cash: We have found it good to have supply of small-unit U.S. bills($1and $5) to use in hard–currency stores, to buy international train tickets, etc. The hard–currency stores never seem to have the right change.
Electric Current Adapter(转换器): If you bring any appliances, remember that the electricity in Eastern Europe uses 220 volts A.C., not the standard 110 volts of North America. A 110 volts appliance will soon burn out when attached to an unchanged 220-volt plug.
Language Tools: One of Europe’s biggest challenges is communicating with the local people since their languages are so different from our own. To help overcome difficulties, you might buy phrasebooks before you go — you won’t find them once you are in Eastern Europe.
Money Belt: A money belt is especially helpful when you have many documents to carry around ( as you always do in Eastern Europe). The best one we find is made by Eagle Greek Travel Gear, 143 Cedros Ave. (P. O. box 651), Solona Beach, CA 92075 (tel. 619/755 – 9399, or toll free 800/874 – 9925) outside California.
Traveler’s Checks: These are necessary. Bring your traveler’s checks in small to medium unit ($10, $20, or $50) to change a little bit at a time, so as not to be left with a lot of local money. To be on the safe side, be sure to copy down the check numbers in two places, just in case something happens to the checks.
【小题1】How many tips are mentioned in the passage?

A．6

B．7

C．8

D．9

【小题2】Which of the following things may be the biggest challenge in Eastern Europe?

A．Appliances.

B．Money.

C．Language.

D．Clothes.

【小题3】Which of the following statements is NOT a fact according to the passage?
A. No shop in Eastern Europe accepts hard currency.
B. Travelers may need to carry many documents in Eastern Europe.
C. The electricity in Eastern Europe uses 220 volts A.C.
D. Eastern European languages can be a problem to foreign travelers.
【小题4】What’s the writer’s purpose of writing this passage?

A．To tell you it’s not easy to stay in Eastern Europe.

B．To give you some advice on what you should pack when you’re in Eastern Europe.

C．To tell you something about the life in Eastern Europe.

D．To show you the life in Eastern Europe is different from that in your country.

【小题5】What do the underlined words “change” and “check” probably mean according to the given dictionary entries(词条)?
change
1. [V] to become different 改变；变化
2. [V] to exchange money into the money of another country 兑换
3. [U] the money that you get back when you have paid for sth giving more money than the amount it costs 找给的零钱；找头
check
1. [V] to examine sth to see if it is correct, safe or acceptable 检查；审查
2. [C] an act of making sure that sth is safe, correct or in good condition by examining it 检查；查看
3. [C] a printed form that you can write on and sign as a way of paying for sth instead of using money 支票

A．1; 3

B．3; 3

C．2; 3

D．2; 2

A new supermarket put on a notice inside the entrance. It said, “Remember, once a week, one of our customers(顾客) gets free goods(things that cost nothing). This may be your lucky day!” All the housewives who went to the supermarket had one great hope: to be the lucky customer who didn’t have to pay for her shopping.
For several weeks Mrs. Blake hoped to be the lucky customer. Unlike many other customers, she never gave up hope. The cupboards in her kitchen were full of things she did not need. She dreamed of the day, when the manager of the supermarket would come and say to her, “Madam, this is your lucky day and everything in your basket is free.”
One Friday morning, after she finished her shopping and had taken all the things to her car, she found that she had forgotten to buy tea. She went to the supermarket, got the tea and went towards the check-out. As she did so, she saw the manager of the supermarket come to her. “Madam,” he said, “congratulations! You are our lucky customer and everything in your basket is free!”
【小题1】From the notice in the new supermarket, we know that       .

A．customers could buy things at lower prices once a week

B．the customer who bought the least goods didn’t have to pay

C．just one customer could get free goods once a week

D．the first customer who bought goods in the supermarket was the lucky one

【小题2】 What was Mrs. Blake’s hope?

A．To buy something cheaper in the supermarket.

B．To see the manager of the supermarket.

C．To buy everything she needed in the supermarket.

D．To be the lucky customer.

【小题3】 Why did Mrs Blake go back to the market after her shopping?

A．Because she wanted to see who would be the lucky customer.

B．Because she forgot to buy one more thing.

C．Because she had to pay for her shopping.

D．Because she wanted to get another chance to be the lucky customer.

【小题4】Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage?

A．The manager of the market was a clever businessman.

B．In fact the notice for free goods was a trick (诡计).

C．Mrs. Blake’s dream came true at last.

D．Mrs. Blake did shopping every week in the past several weeks.

【小题5】What would Mrs. Blake probably say when she heard the manager’s words?

A．“Oh, my God!”	B．“How lucky I am!”
C．“Bad luck!”	D．“It’s very kind of you!”

Stephen Hawking was one of the most famous scientists in this century. He was born in 1942. he’s a world well-known on space and time. Stephen is researching some very big questions, such as: How did the universe begin? How will it end?
Stephen was a student at Oxford University. He studied math and science. Then, at the age of twenty, he became sick. He was so young, but the doctors said to his family, “He has only two more years to live.” As a matter of fact, the doctors were wrong---- he didn’t die. He can’t walk now but he uses a wheelchair(轮椅). He can’t feed himself and get in or out of bed himself. But he refused to give in to the condition. He talks with the help of a computer. After Oxford, Stephen went to Cambridge University. Three years later, in 1965, he became a doctor of philosophy(哲学).
Because of his serious health problems, it was difficult for him to draw diagrams(图表) or to write. So he started to think in pictures. With this new way of thinking, he became one of the most famous scientists in the world. In 1891, he met the Pope(教皇) in Rome. They talked about his ideas. Then in 1988, he wrote his first important book, A Brief History of Time. It sold more than 5.5 million copies in 33 different languages. He was once invited to China, he impressed us with his self-confidence, humorous and witty(风趣的) conversation.
根据短文内容，选择最佳答案。
【小题1】Which of the following is NOT true?

A．Stephen is good at thinking.	B．Stephen cannot walk.
C．Stephen has had the answers to some very big questions.	D．Stephen had once studied math and science at Oxford University.

【小题2】 How old was Stephen when he became a doctor of philosophy?

A．21

B．23

C．27

D．25

【小题3】A Brief History of Time is ________.

A．a book which is well-known all over the word

B．a book about Rome’s history

C．Stephen’s talk collection with the Pope in Rome

D．Stephen’s talk collection with me in China

【小题4】 Stephen’s studies DO NOT relate(涉及) to ________ according to the passage.

A．science

B．math

C．philosophy

D．art

【小题5】The right order of Stephen’s main experiences in ________.
a. He went to Cambridge University.
b. He became very ill.
c. He wrote his first import book.
d. He met the Pope in Rome.

A．c- a- b- e- d

B．a- b- c- d- e

C．c- b- a –e –d

D．a- c- b- e- d

A young man was walking through a supermarket to pick up a few things when he noticed an old lady following him round. Thinking nothing of it, he continued.

Finally, he went to the check-out line, but the old lady got in front of him. "Excuse me," she said, "I'm sorry if my staring at(盯着看) you has made you feel uncomfortable,it's just because you look like my son, whom I haven't seen for a long time"

"What a pity," replied the young man, "is there anything I can do for you?"

"Yes," she said, "as I'm leaving, can you say 'Good bye, mother’? It would make me feel so much better."

"Sure," answered the young man. So, when the old woman was leaving, he called out, "Goodbye, mother !"

As he stepped up to the check-out counter(收银台), he saw that his total was $127. 50. "How can that be?" he asked, "I only buy a few things!"

The clerk replied, "Your mother said that you would pay for her. "

1.The young man was __ that day.

A. doing some shopping     B. having a walk         C. visiting his mother

2.The old lady stood__ the young man on the check-out line.

A.beside         B.behind           C.before

3.__ wasn't an honest person in this story?

A. The clerk          B. The old lady          C. The young man

4. At last, what the young man had to pay was __ what he expected.

A. more than          B. less than                 C. as much as

5. We know from the story that the old lady__

A. liked shopping       B. had a son             C. paid nothing