Often we take for granted the many household items we use every day. It is difficult to imagine there was a time in the past when these inventions did not exist. Actually, several of the most common inventions have been with us for quite some time. Inventions like toothbrush, contact lenses（隐形眼镜）, and credit cards came into use long ago.
The first toothbrush was introduced in China in the late 1400s but it was only 300 years later that this simple tool came into common use in Europe. By the nineteenth century, a variety of paste and powder cleaners were available throughout Europe as dental(牙齿的) care became more widespread. The first tube of toothpaste hit the market in Great Britain in 1891.
There is evidence to show that the first contact lenses were actually suggested by an astronomer, Sir John Herschel, in 1827. However, SirJohn Herschel was never able to create a working model of his idea. It was not until 1887 that a Swiss doctor from Zurich, Dr. Eugen Frick, came up with a workable process for producing precision (精密)lenses. Dr. Frick designed a new method for producing contact lenses,and the Zeiss factory in Germany  began to produce contact lenses.
Credit cards have also been available for many years. They have been in use in the United States since the 1920s. At first, these cards were only used to buy gas in the quickly growing automobile service industry. Then, in the 1950s, Diners Club introduced the first general-purpose credit card. Today, credit cards such as Master Card, Visa, and American Express are commonly used by travelers around the world.
While it may be true that some of the greatest inventions and discoveries in history came about by chance, the majority of inventions that simplify our lives today came about through careful research and patient study. Of course, it still holds true that even with all the comforts of modern technology, inventors continue to search for ways of helping all of us get out of doing those necessary but tedious (乏味的) tasks which we still face. As the old saying goes, “Necessity is the mother of invention.”
【小题1】From the second paragraph we can learn that _____.

Often we take for granted the many household items we use every day. It is difficult to imagine there was a time in the past when these inventions did not exist. Actually, several of the most common inventions have been with us for quite some time. Inventions like toothbrush, contact lenses（隐形眼镜）, and credit cards came into use long ago.

   The first toothbrush was introduced in China in the late 1400s but it was only 300 years later that this simple tool came into common use in Europe. By the nineteenth century, a variety of paste and powder cleaners were available throughout Europe as dental(牙齿的) care became more widespread. The first tube of toothpaste hit the market in Great Britain in 1891.

 There is evidence to show that the first contact lenses were actually suggested by an astronomer, Sir John Herschel, in 1827. However, SirJohn Herschel was never able to create a working model of his idea. It was not until 1887 that a Swiss doctor from Zurich, Dr. Eugen Frick, came up with a workable process for producing precision (精密)lenses. Dr. Frick designed a new method for producing contact lenses,and the Zeiss factory in Germany  began to produce contact lenses.

 Credit cards have also been available for many years. They have been in use in the United States since the 1920s. At first, these cards were only used to buy gas in the quickly growing automobile service industry. Then, in the 1950s, Diners Club introduced the first general-purpose credit card. Today, credit cards such as Master Card, Visa, and American Express are commonly used by travelers around the world.

    While it may be true that some of the greatest inventions and discoveries in history came about by chance, the majority of inventions that simplify our lives today came about through careful research and patient study. Of course, it still holds true that even with all the comforts of modern technology, inventors continue to search for ways of helping all of us get out of doing those necessary but tedious (乏味的) tasks which we still face. As the old saying goes, “Necessity is the mother of invention.”

1.From the second paragraph we can learn that _____.

A. toothbrushes came into common use in Europe in the 17th century

B. people could enjoy a variety of paste and powder cleaners in the 18th century

C. more and more people paid attention to dental care throughout Europe in the 19th century

D. the English could use different kinds of tubes of toothpaste in the early 19th century

2.All of the following made a contribution to the invention and use of contact lenses EXCEPT _______.

A. Diners Club                       B. Sir John Herschel

C. Dr Eugen Frick                    D. the Zeiss factory

3.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the fourth paragraph?

A. Credit cards have a history of about two hundred years.

B. Three kinds of credit cards are being used in the USA.

C. The use of credit cards is closely related to the economic development.

D. American Express is only used by American travelers now.

4.The last paragraph mainly tells us that ______.

A. the greatest inventions came about by chance

B. inventions came about through careful research and patient study

C. inventors still continue to make inventions

D. necessity is the mother of invention

Often we take for granted the many household items we use every day. It is difficult to imagine there was a time in the past when these inventions did not exist. Actually, several of the most common inventions have been with us for quite some time. Inventions like toothbrush, contact lenses（隐形眼镜）, and credit cards came into use long ago.
The first toothbrush was introduced in China in the late 1400s but it was only 300 years later that this simple tool came into common use in Europe. By the nineteenth century, a variety of paste and powder cleaners were available throughout Europe as dental(牙齿的) care became more widespread. The first tube of toothpaste hit the market in Great Britain in 1891.
There is evidence to show that the first contact lenses were actually suggested by an astronomer, Sir John Herschel, in 1827. However, SirJohn Herschel was never able to create a working model of his idea. It was not until 1887 that a Swiss doctor from Zurich, Dr. Eugen Frick, came up with a workable process for producing precision (精密)lenses. Dr. Frick designed a new method for producing contact lenses,and the Zeiss factory in Germany  began to produce contact lenses.
Credit cards have also been available for many years. They have been in use in the United States since the 1920s. At first, these cards were only used to buy gas in the quickly growing automobile service industry. Then, in the 1950s, Diners Club introduced the first general-purpose credit card. Today, credit cards such as Master Card, Visa, and American Express are commonly used by travelers around the world.
While it may be true that some of the greatest inventions and discoveries in history came about by chance, the majority of inventions that simplify our lives today came about through careful research and patient study. Of course, it still holds true that even with all the comforts of modern technology, inventors continue to search for ways of helping all of us get out of doing those necessary but tedious (乏味的) tasks which we still face. As the old saying goes, “Necessity is the mother of invention.”

1. 1.

   From the second paragraph we can learn that _____

   1. A.
      toothbrushes came into common use in Europe in the 17th century
   2. B.
      people could enjoy a variety of paste and powder cleaners in the 18th century
   3. C.
      more and more people paid attention to dental care throughout Europe in the 19th century
   4. D.
      the English could use different kinds of tubes of toothpaste in the early 19th century
2. 2.

   All of the following made a contribution to the invention and use of contact lenses EXCEPT _______

   1. A.
      Diners Club
   2. B.
      Sir John Herschel
   3. C.
      Dr Eugen Frick
   4. D.
      the Zeiss factory
3. 3.

   Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the fourth paragraph?

   1. A.
      Credit cards have a history of about two hundred years
   2. B.
      Three kinds of credit cards are being used in the USA
   3. C.
      The use of credit cards is closely related to the economic development
   4. D.
      American Express is only used by American travelers now
4. 4.

   The last paragraph mainly tells us that ______

   1. A.
      the greatest inventions came about by chance
   2. B.
      inventions came about through careful research and patient study
   3. C.
      inventors still continue to make inventions
   4. D.
      necessity is the mother of invention

In a country that defines itself by ideals, not by shared blood, who should be allowed to come, work and live here? In the wake of the Sept.11 attacks these questions have never seemed more pressing.

On Dec. 11, 2001, as part of the effort to increase homeland security, federal and local authorities in 14 states staged “Operation Safe Travel”- raids（突击检查）on airports to arrest employees with false identification. In Salt Lake City there were 69 arrests. But those captured were anything but terrorists, most of them illegal immigrants from Central or South America. Authorities said the undocumented workers' illegal status made them open to blackmail(讹诈) by terrorists.

Many immigrants in Salt Lake City were angered by the arrests and said they felt as if they were being treated like disposable（一次性的） goods.

Mayor Anderson said those feelings were justified(reasonable) to a certain extent. “We’re saying we want you to work in these places, we’re going to look the other way in terms of what our laws are, and then when it’s convenient for us, or when we can try to make a point in term of national security, especially after Sept. 11. then you’re disposable. There are whole families being uprooted for all of the wrong reasons,” Anderson said.

If Sept. 11 had never happened, the airport workers would not have been arrested and could have gone on quietly living in America, probably indefinitely. And Castro, a manager at a Ben＆ Jerry’s ice cream shop at the airport, had been working 10 years with the same false Social Security card when she was arrested in the December airport raid. Now she and her family are living under the threat of deportation （驱逐出境）. Castro’s case is currently waiting to be settled. While she awaits the outcome, the government has granted her permission to work here and she has return to her job at Ben & Jerry’s.

1．According to the author, the United States claims to be a nation               .

       A．composed of people having different values

       B．encouraging individual pursuits

       C．sharing common interests

       D．founded on shared ideals

2．Undocumented workers became the target of “Operation Safe Travel” because         .

       A．evidence was found that they were potential terrorists

       B．most of them worked at airports under threat of terrorists

       C．terrorists might take advantage of their illegal status

       D．they were reportedly helping hide terrorists around the airport

3．By saying “…we’re going to look the other way in terms of what our laws are”（Line 2,Para 4）, Mayor Anderson means “                ”.

       A．we will turn a blind eye to your illegal status.

       B．we will examine the laws in a different way

       C．there are other ways of enforcing the law

       D．the existing laws must not be ignored

4．What do we learn about Ana Castro from the last paragraph?

       A．She will be deported sooner or later.      B．She is allowed to stay permanently.

       C．Her case has been dropped.    D．Her fate remains uncertain.

Space tourism might be the dream of many people on the planet, but a journey to space is not is not as easy as simply buying some tickets at a travel search engine；it is only reserved for the privileged few that can afford the cost.. One of the options that impressed me most is the one offered by a company called Space Adventures.

  What they have in place is a space tourism program that slows you to travel with the Soyuz to the International Space Station (ISS).The trip starts a few months in advance with intensive training dealing mainly with gravity operations, fight control and survival activities.

When all tins training is over, your space trip begins. The trip can be planned exactly according to your needs, whether you’re going for scientific research , or simply for an adventure. I doubt whether you will find any other kind of trip that has such a thorough preparation period beforehand.

   One of the great things to do, even if it makes your space trip a bit more expensive, is that you could go on a space walk during your trip. That would definitely be a good opportunity to dance outside with your loved one to a slow waltz…Sorry, I forget there’s no sound in space!

Whatever option you choose, the only obstacle you might face is the cost. All the other requirements seem to be less than those for getting a visa to a foreign country. Generally your height should be between 160 and 185 cm, your weight between 50and 95 kg and be in good health.

   Finally ,in answer to the question you’ve been wondering about .Granted, space tourism is expensive, but exactly how expensive would a normal scheduled flight to the ISS cost? Would you believe it costs between $30 and $40 million? A Russian language course is included!

  51. Besides the body requirements, which of the following is most likely to stop someone from going into space?

A . Their knowledge.    B . The  climate .   C . The  cost .  D. A visa

  52．Which of the following statements best describes the main idea of this passage？

A．Space tourism― a dream made reality？

B．Are you ready for space tourism？

C．How to participate in a space tourism program.

D．Why only a few privileged persons can afford space trips.

53．The word “that” in the fourth paragraph refers to           ．

A．a space walk                      B．a space tourism program

C．a space trip                        D．a space dance

54．According to the passage, who is most likely to take part in the space tourism program?

A．Mike, a millionaire, who is about 170 cm in height and weighs 98 kg. He is in good health

B．Julia, a model, whose height is 165 cm  and weight is 48 kg. She has heart disease.

C．Ivan, an office workers, is 175 cm in height and weights 70 kg. He is in excellent health condition.

D．Steven, a wealthy businessman who is very healthy, has a height of 178 cm and weighs 80 kg.

55．What’s the author’s tone in writing this passage?

A．Disapproving.    B．Humorous.   C．Positive.    D．Indifferent.