United States President George W. Bush is expected to issue a directive in the next few weeks. It will give the US Air Force a green light for the development of space weapons, US media reported last week.
This would potentially start a new global arms race, some experts have warned.
To keep that from happening, last Wednesday the White House explained that it was not considering putting weapons in space. It said it was making a shift in US space policy to allow for protection of satellites.
But some defense analysts and arms control advocates argue that the policy will pave the way for the US to put both defensive and offensive  weapons in space.
“No one should be fooled,” said Theresa Hitchens, an American weapons expert.
The US is now restricted by a 1996 directive  signed by President Bill Clinton. Plans for space weapons were vetoed by the Clinton cabinet. The directive emphasized the peaceful use of space , in agreement with almost unanimous global opinion.
The US military has placed importance on space and has sent up numberous satellites for troop communications and to provide intelligence and data to guide bombs to their targets.
The US Air Force wants to develop space- based weapons that could strike targets anywhere in the world within 90 minutes of receiving the order to open fire.
These new weapons under development cover a wide range. They include hunter- killer satellites and orbiting weapons. And they use lasers, radio waves, or even dense metal tubes, known as “ Rods from God”, dropped from space to do the damage.
There are many barriers to the setting up of this kind of program, experts say.
First is the coast. It is estimated that the budget may be US1 trillion .
The technical difficulties of developing reliable space weapons are also a problem.
And, the program will draw strong criticism from around the world. Experts worry about starting a space arms race

1. 1.

   Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?

   1. A.
      US Military Plans
   2. B.
      The Global Arms Race
   3. C.
      A Comparison between Two Presidents
   4. D.
      President George W. Bush and the World Peace
2. 2.

   According to this passage, which of the following is NOT true?

   1. A.
      President George W. Bush supports space weapon development
   2. B.
      The space weapon program will threaten world peace
   3. C.
      Clinton government was poorer than Bush government
   4. D.
      The US space weapon project is very expensive
3. 3.

   After reading this passage, it can be inferred that “___________ “

   1. A.
      George W. Bush’s directive to be issued will be against global opinions
   2. B.
      The White House is right in explaining that US new space policy aims to protect satellites
   3. C.
      US government has little difficulty in developing new space weapons
   4. D.
      President George W. Bush and Bill Clinton share a lot in common
4. 4.

   The author’s attitude towards the coming space weapon development is _______

   1. A.
      optimistic
   2. B.
      critical
   3. C.
      excited
   4. D.
      indifferent

United States President George W.  Bush is expected to issue a directive in the next few weeks.  It will give the US Air Force a green light for the development of space weapons, US media reported last week.

This would potentially start a new global arms race, some experts have warned.

To keep that from happening, last Wednesday the White House explained that it was not considering putting weapons in space.  It said it was making a shift in US space policy to allow for protection of satellites.

But some defense analysts and arms control advocates argue that the policy will pave the way for the US to put both defensive and offensive ( 攻击性的) weapons in space.

“No one should be fooled,” said Theresa Hitchens, an American weapons expert.

The US is now restricted by a 1996 directive  signed by President Bill Clinton.  Plans for space weapons were vetoed ( 否决) by the Clinton cabinet.  The directive emphasized the peaceful use of space , in agreement with almost unanimous (一致的 ) global opinion.

The US military has placed importance on space and has sent up numberous satellites for troop communications and to provide intelligence and data to guide bombs to their targets.

The US Air Force wants to develop space- based weapons that could strike targets anywhere in the world within 90 minutes of receiving the order to open fire.

These new weapons under development cover a wide range.  They include hunter- killer satellites and orbiting weapons.  And they use lasers, radio waves, or even dense metal tubes, known as “ Rods from God”, dropped from space to do the damage.

There are many barriers to the setting up of this kind of program, experts say.

First is the coast.  It is estimated that the budget may be US $220 billion to US $ 1 trillion ( 万亿).

The technical difficulties of developing reliable space weapons are also a problem.

And, the program will draw strong criticism from around the world.  Experts worry about starting a space arms race.

53. Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?

A. US Military Plans           

B. The Global Arms Race

     C. A Comparison between Two Presidents

     D. President George W.  Bush and the World Peace

54. According to this passage, which of the following is NOT true?

   A.  President George W.  Bush supports space weapon development.

   B.  The space weapon program will threaten world peace

   C.  Clinton government was poorer than Bush government.

   D.  The US space weapon project is very expensive.

55. After reading this passage, it can be inferred that “___________ “.

   A.  George W.  Bush’s directive to be issued will be against global opinions

   B.  The White House is right in explaining that US new space policy aims to protect satellites

   C. US government has little difficulty in developing new space weapons

   D.  President George W.  Bush and Bill Clinton share a lot in common

56. The author’s attitude towards the coming space weapon development is _______.

   A.  optimistic     B.  critical     C.  excited     D.  indifferent

阅读理解

阅读下列文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳答案。

The expression. “lame duck”, can be heard in almost any American town or city, especially where people discuss politics. Most often, they use it to describe a politician who has come to the end of power-a Congressman, for example, who has a few more weeks in office and will then be out of a job.

    There are a number of ideas as to where “lame duck” came from although the picture is clear enough—-a duck that has had its wings clipped, or its web feet injured, and can no longer walk or waddle ( walk with short steps, bending from one side to the other) like a healthy one.

    The term seems to have crept (move slowly and quietly with the body close to the ground) into the American language some time after the Civil War of 1861~ 1865. One explanation is that it came from the language of hunters who felt that it was foolish to waste power or time on a dead duck.

    Another explanation, however, says that the expression came from England. There it was used to describe a man who lost all his money in stocks (股票交易), was cleaned out (倾家荡产) and could not pay his debts. And—so the story does,—people showed little mercy (kindness or pity) for the poor fellow.

    But in the United States people took the phrase to describe a congressman who failed to get reelected but still had a little time in office until his successor was sworn in (be sworn in take office).

    In time, the expression was used in a broader sense, generally describing any man whose days of power were coming to the end. It has often been to describe the position of an American president in the last 2 years or so of his 2nd term. It is a difficult time for him, when Congress is ready to oppose him at every turn (at every moment; in every place). It may refuse to work with him simply because his days in the White House are numbered. His sun is setting. It is not a happy time. It is like old age coming on. And people, like animals, are cruel to lame ducks, ready to drive him out. Their eyes are already turned towards the new leader, the new man in command.

1．  It is likely that the expression “lame duck” ________.

A. has been widely used in the American language before the Civil War

    B. has quietly come into the American language some time after the year of 1865

    C. was used in the old English

    D. has been used in both the USA and the UK since 1865 to express the same meaning

2．When a person lost all his money in stocks, people ________.

    A. usually showed mercy for him

    B. always has sympathy with him

    C. hardly has sympathy with him

    D. never drove him out

3．Who was the lame duck in the USA last term?

A. George Bush.

B. Ronald Reagan.

C. John Kennedy.

D. Bill Clinton.

Today, I’m going to talk about the invention of the camera and photography. The camera is often thought to be a modern invention. But as early as 1727, a German physicist discovered that light darkened silver salt, a chemical compound. Using as a camera, a big box with a small hole to let the light in, he made temporary images on the salt. Silver salt is still the base of film today.

Then a French scientist made the first permanent picture by using a special piece of metal sensitized（使…具感光力）with silver salt. A photograph he made in 1826 still exists. The painter Daguerre improved on the process by placing common salt, the kind we eat, on the metal. This was in 1839, the official date of the beginning of photography.

But the problem was the printing of the photographs. And it was not until other scientists developed the kind of paper we now use that good printing was possible and photography became truly common. In the 1860s, Mathew Brady was able to take his famous pictures of the American Civil War, thus making portrait poses very popular.

In the 20^th century, George Eastmen of the United States simplified film-developing film, and Dr. Edwin Land invented the so-called instant camera with self-developing film. If we say that the photography came into existence in 1839, it follows that it has taken more than one hundred years for the camera to reach the present condition of technical refinement（密度）.

56. What was the basis of photography?

A. The invention of the camera.

B. The discovery that light darkens silver salt.

C. A small box with a hole to let in light.

D. Temporary images made by a scientist.

57. How was the first permanent picture made?

A. By placing common salt on a special piece of metal to catch light.

B. By using a very small and simple camera.

C. By using a special piece of metal sensitized with silver salt.

D. By making images on silver salt.

58. What does the writer regard as the official date of the beginning of photography?

A. The use of common salt in the process of making pictures.

B. The first permanent picture made by a French scientist.

C. The temporary images on the salt by a German scientist.

D. The first use of silver salt in making pictures.

59. According to the writer, why is Mathew Brady remembered today?

A. Because good printing was possible at the time.

B. Because photography had become truly common.

C. Because portrait poses were very popular in the United States.

D. Because of the photos he took during the American Civil War.