Light travels at a speed which is about a million times faster than the speed of sound. In one second, light travels about 300,000km, but sound travels only 344m. You can get some idea of this difference by watching the start of a race. If you stand some distance away from the starter, you can see smoke come from his gun before the sound reaches your ears. This great speed of light produces some strange facts. Sunlight takes about 8 minutes to reach us. If you look at the light of the moon tonight, remember that the light rays（光线）left the moon 1.3 seconds before they reached you. The nearest star is so far away that the light which you can see from it tonight started to travel towards you four years ago at a speed of nearly 2 million km per minute. In some cases the light from one of tonight’s stars started on its journey to you before you were born.

Thus, if we want to be honest, we cannot say “ The stars are shining tonight.” We have to say, “ The stars look pretty. They were shining four years ago but their light has only just reached Earth.”

1. Light speed is ________ than sound speed.

A．millions times faster	B．a million times slower
C．about millions of times faster	D．about a million times faster

2.If you stand 200 meters away from a man who is firing a gun to start a race, you will find out that _____.

A．you can hear the gun before you see the smoke.

B．sound does not travel as fast as light.

C．the sound of the gun will reach you before the man fires his gun.

D．sound travels about a million times faster than light.

3.What does “ it” refer to?

A．moon light

B．light rays

C．the nearest star

D．the moon

4.The scientific way of saying “ The stars are shining tonight” should be________.

A．the stars have been shining all the time.

B．the stars seen tonight will be shining four years later.

C．the stars were shining long ago but are seen tonight.

D．the starlight seen today could be seen four years ago.

 

 

I told my friend Graham that I often cycle two miles from my house to the town centre but unfortunately there is a big hill on the route．He replied,“You mean fortunately．”He explained that I should be glad of the extra exercise that the hill provided．

    My attitude to the hill has now changed．I used to grumble as I approached it but now I tell myself the following．This hill will exercise my heart and lungs．It will help me to lose weight and get fit．It will mean that I live longer．This hill is my friend．Finally I comfort myself with the thought of all those silly people who pay money to go to a gym and sit on stationery exercise bicycles when I call get the same value for free．I have a smile of satisfaction as I reach the top of the hill．

    Problems are there to be faced and overcome．We cannot achieve anything with an easy life．Helen Keller was the first deaf and blind person to gain a university degree．Her activism and writing proved inspirational．She wrote，“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet．Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened，vision cleared，ambition inspired and success achieved.”    

   One of the main determinants of success in life is our attitude towards adversity(逆境)．From time to time we all face hardships，problems．accidents、afflictions and difficulties．Some are of our making but many confront us through no fault of our own．While we cannot choose the adversity we can choose our attitude towards it．

    Douglas Bader was 21 when in 193l he had both legs cut off following a flying accident．He was deter-mined to fly again and went on to become one of the leading flying aces in the Battle of Britain with 22 aerial victories over the Germans．He was an inspiration to others during the war．He said,“Don't listen to any-one who tells you that you can’t do this or that．That's nonsense．Make up your mind，you'll never use crutches(拐杖)or a stick，then have a go at everything．Go to school，join in all the games you can．Go anywhere you want to．But never，never let them persuade you that things are too difficult or impossible.” 

    The biographies（传记）of great people are full of examples of how they took steps to overcome the difficulties they faced．The common thread is that they did not become depressed．They chose their attitude．They chose to be positive．They took on the challenge．They won．

Nevertheless．there is still the problem of how you change your attitude towards adversity．

1. Which of the following is true according to the author of the passage?

A．Climbing hills on bicycles is the best way to take exercise．

B．People are silly to pay to go to the gym．

   C．Those who want to achieve success can't expect to live all easy lire．

   D．People's attitude towards adversity is the only factor that determines whether they will succeed．

2．By quoting what Douglas Bader said，the author intends to tell us“___________．”

A．Failure is the mother of Success．   

B．A fall into the pit，a gain in your wit．

C．If you venture nothing，you will have nothing． 

D．Nothing is difficult to the man who will try．

3．Following this passage，the author will further talk about___________．

  A．how his friend helped him to change his attitude towards the adversity he faced

  B．what steps to take to change your attitude towards the adversity you face

  C．what great people have in common

D．why it is important to keep optimistic in face of adversity

4．Which of the following can best function as the title of the passage?

A．Face adversity with a smile                       B．Different attitudes towards adversity

C．Nothing is impossible                            D．Life is full of adversity

 

We are all interested in equality, but while some people try to protect the school and examination system in the name of equality, others, still in the name of equality, want only to destroy it.

Any society which is interested in equality of opportunity and standards of achievement must regularly test its pupils. The standards may be changed ---- no examination is perfect ---- but to have no external(外部的)tests or examinations would mean the end of equality and of standards. There are groups of people who oppose this view and who do not believe either in external examinations or in any controls in schools or on teachers. This would mean that everything would depend on luck since every pupil would depend on the efficiency, the ideal and the purpose of each teacher.

Without external examinations, employers will look for employees from the highly respected schools and from families known to them ---- a form of favoritism will replace equality. At the moment, the bright child from an ill-respected school can show certificates（证书）to prove he or she is suitable for a job, while the lack of a certificate shows the unsuitability of a dull child attending a well - respected school. This defense of excellence and opportunity would disappear if external examinations were taken away, and the bright child from a poor family would be a prisoner of his or her school's fame, unable to compete for employment with the child from the favored school.

The opponents（对手）of the examination system suggest that examinations are an evil force because they show differences between pupils. According to these people, there must be no special, different, academic class. They have even suggested that there should be no form of difference in sport or any other area: all jobs or posts should be filled by unsystematic selection. The selection would be made by people who themselves are probably selected by some computer.

These people are not just against school organization, but are at war with the whole idea of modem competitive society and they are using children in schools for their destructive purposes. There is no reason why we should allow such people to determine the way our schools are organized when it is to the obvious disadvantage of the pupils, of the schools and of our society as a whole.

41．According to the passage, the writer thinks that ________.

A. changing the standards could mean the end of equality

B. standards must keep changing in order to achieve equality

C. there would be no standards without external examinations

D. we cannot have standards because examinations are not perfect

42．In the writer's opinion, what would happen if external examinations were taken away?

A. There would be no more opportunities and no more excellence.

B. Children from poor families would not be able to change schools.

C. Going to a favored school should be the only way to get a good job.

D. Schools for bright children would lose their fame.

43．The situation at the moment is that ________.

A. many children who are suitable for a job have no proof of their suitability

B. a school's fame is not important, as long as a child has a certificate.

C. children attending well - respected schools need not get certificates.

D. a bright child doesn't need a certificate a t all to get a good job.

44．Which of the following sentences is TRUE?

A. Most students from poor families can't get a good job.

B. Some people are using students to destroy our society.

C. The writer thinks it a good way to choose a job by computer.

D. The opponents of the examination want to reorganize schools.

45．The opponents would agree that _________.

A. computers should be selected to take over many jobs

B. particular people should not be chosen for particular jobs

C. well-respected schools should be got rid of as soon as possible

D. the students are not equally treated if they take external examinations

A girl who graduated from a world-famous university wanted to do translation work for authority leaders. She was so happy when she entered the British embassy(大使馆). She thought it was the greatest happiness in her life as many graduates wanted to get that job while she was one of the few people who got it!
But when she started her new job, she realized that it was just a job of answering calls and recording staff members’ starting and quitting times. It was unappreciated and was supposed to have no future. However, she didn’t feel sad about it. She learnt how to love the job. And she loved it when she was working. The names and phone numbers of the staff members were written down on the notebook so that she could remember them. When the phone calls came in, she picked it up as soon as possible. When someone asked her about who was not in the office, she would answer them the right name and the time when they left. Nobody could do that except her.
Her wonderful performance not only received the compliments from the embassy’s staff, but also the employees from the local government. And a leader of a famous company in Britain was also impressed by it and invited her to work for him. After that she became a personal translator of an important leader from Britain and appreciated by the foreigners.
We cannot choose our destiny(命运), but we can choose the attitude with which we face our life. Maybe the attitude could change our destiny. If we cry to life, life will be gray. If we smile to life, life will smile to us, too.
【小题1】What was once the girl’s greatest happiness in her life?

A．Being a translator for a leader.

B．Graduating from the university.

C．Working in the British embassy.

D．Continuing her study in the university.

【小题2】The girl was invited to work for the company mainly because of her      .

A．excellent work	B．rich knowledge
C．friendly attitude	D．excellent English

【小题3】What can we know from the passage?

A．The girl was once asked to leave the British company.

B．The foreigners were impressed by her good pronunciation.

C．People in the British embassy spoke highly of the girl.

D．The girl was famous for her remembering ability.

【小题4】The author wants to tell us that      .

A．everybody has his or her own hard times in life

B．we should take a positive attitude towards life

C．we should be ready to lend a hand to our friends

D．it is important to listen to other’s problems carefully

Since the end of World War I (WWI) in 1918，Canadians, and millions of others around the world have paused at the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month to honour the sacrifices our soldiers have made in different wars, fighting for the freedoms that we all enjoy today.
Known as Remembrance Day, the day originated as a tribute to the soldiers of WWI， a dark period for our young country, which claimed the lives of over 60,000 military personnel and civilians and over 16 million dead worldwide.
As there are no more surviving soldiers of WWI，today we rely on the wisdom and words of those soldiers who fought in the wars that followed，and this day now also recognizes their heroic contribution.
They tell us to always remember what those brave souls fought for, and all they ask in return is that we never forget.
That’s why we wear the red poppy (罂粟花);that’s why when we see a soldier in uniform we should stop him or her and say “Thank you” ; that’s why we take a pause from our busy lives for two short minutes today to honor that request.
Yet this message is fading away, year after year.
Take for example the terrible decision to allow parents to excuse students from Remembrance Day ceremonies at school.
Not only is this disrespectful, it distances the student from his or her classmates.
It is difficult to understand why any Canadian parent would want to remove their child from the time-honored tradition of reading the poem In Flanders Fields, while a wreath of poppies is laid.
It is more important than ever to teach school-aged children about our history，no matter how violent it was. Sheltering them from the realities of war is a great disservice.
Understanding why conflicts happened, or happen today, can help shape choices and decisions they make as adults.
Of course, because we live in a free society, we cannot force an individual to do something. It is unfortunate, but some parents now have their child “opt-out” of the services. These people should be reminded they are free to make such choices only because of the men and women the rest of us are remembering.
【小题1】Which of the following is true about Remembrance Day?

A． It’s only held in Canada.

B．Its ceremony lasts 11 hours.

C．It falls on November 11th each year.

D．It’s to celebrate the country’s independence.

【小题2】Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a Remembrance Day activity today?

A．Stopping at 11a.m. to remember the war dead.

B．Listening to stories told by WWI soldiers.

C．Wearing a red poppy to show respect.

D．Showing gratitude to soldiers in uniform.

【小题3】What can we learn from the passage?

A．War history is too violent for school children.

B．The writer was once a soldier in the Canadian army.

C．Few students are willing to take part in Remembrance Day ceremonies.

D．More parents are keeping their children away from frightening war stories.

【小题4】The underlined word “It” in the last paragraph probably refers to _____

A．the death of so many soldiers in wars

B．the fact that there were so many wars after WWI

C．people’s ungratefulness for the freedom they have

D．removing children from Remembrance Day events

【小题5】The writer believes that_____

A．the sacrifice of the soldiers should always be remembered

B．Remembrance Day is becoming less important for soldiers

C．schools - no longer think Remembrance Day is necessary

D．people should be forced to learn about the realities of war