Today we’ll talk about the history of blue jeans. For many people, blue jeans stand for (代表) American culture.
The history of blue jeans usually began with a man named Levi Strauss. He did not invent jeans. But he is the first person to produce and sell them in large numbers. Levi Strauss was born in Germany. In 1847, he and his family moved to the United States. He opened a small store and sold jeans. These pants were especially useful for miners (矿工) in California. They needed strong clothing. Levi Strauss worked with Jacob Davis, who had invented a step for making rivets (铆钉) for jeans. They helped make the blue jeans stronger.
In 1873, Strauss and Davis received a patent (专利) to own this invention. Nineteenth century workers would probably be surprised to know that their pants would one day become fashions. Today, jeans are worn by people of all ages. Jeans come in many colors other than blue and in many styles and prices. Fashion designers even create very costly jeans.
Writer James published a book called Jeans: A Cultural History of an American Icon (偶像). In the book, he says jeans serve as a sign for two American values, creativity and rebellion (叛逆).
【小题1】 Why did Jacob use rivets for jeans?

What will the house of the future look like? Could it have gardens on its walls, or a pool with fish for dinner? Architects believe that they are all possibilities. The only thing for sure is that the houses will be as green as possible.
The tree house
Many architects in the world would like to build a “tree house.” Like a leaf, the surface of the house collects sunlight during the day. The energy can be used to heat water, produce electricity, and even create fresh air for the home. The “root” (根) of the house is deep under the ground. It uses the soil (土壤) to the home’s temperature.
The Lizard house
Like a lizard (蜥蜴), changing color with the weather is the most important design of a lizard house. When it’s in the bright sun, the cover of the house will turn dark to protect it from strong heat. During dark days, it turns white and takes in as much light and heat as possible to produce energy.
Meals at home
This design is perhaps as much about the future of food production as architecture (建筑风格). It has gardens on the outside wall of the house. People can plant tomatoes, carrots and green tea on them. So every day in the morning, you just need to walk outside and collect your meals.
Learning from the past
Looking to the future isn’t the only way to be green. Sometimes, ancient techniques (古老的技术) can also help cut down energy use. For example, a chimney (烟囱) can be a useful air conditioner because it is easier of hot air to flow out at the chimney.
【小题1】What is the best title (标题) of the passage?
A. Green house of the future.
b. The greener, the better.
C. How to build green houses.
D. Changes of the houses.
【小题2】We can heat water, produce electricity or create fresh air for the home            .
A. with the root of a leaf.
b. with the energy from sunlight.
C. with the soil under the ground
D. with gardens on its walls.
【小题3】What will happen to the cover of the lizard house when it’s in the bright sun?
A. It will take in light.
b. It will produce energy.
C. It will turn dark.
D. It will turn white.
【小题4】The passage seems to tell us that meals at home in the future            .
A. will be more delicious.
b. need more cooks.
C. cost as much as possible.
D. will be greener.
【小题5】A chimney can be a useful air conditioner but it used to cause          .
A. pollution.   b. accident.     C. noise.      D. techniques.

把正确的选项填入空白处，使短文意思完整。（5分）

In many countries, people produce power from coal, but it is very dirty and causes acid rain. Some countries use nuclear energy to produce power.1         . To solve the energy problem, people all over the world are looking for new ways to produce power.

China is one of the first countries in the world to use biogas technology. 2         . This renewable energy is used in people’s everyday life.

3         . Now there are electric vehicles in many countries. They are very efficient and cost very little to run. 4          , there will be an increase in electricity needs if they are widely used.

In China, the best—known maglev train is the German—built one in Shanghai. The train can reach a top speed of 431 km per hour.5          . There is no wheel noise, because there are no wheels. However, maglev guide paths are much more expensive than traditional steel railways.

Tony: These days, the word “clone” has appeared very often in the newspapers. Do you know its meaning?
Lana: I read a report. It said that Dr. Ian Wilmut successfully cloned a lamb* named Dolly from a grown-up sheep. So people call him the “father” of Dolly.
Tony: In fact, the word “clone” means to produce the “same” animal by taking cells* from a
grown-up one. I think, if we know how to do cloning, we need only to keep a small number
of sheep, cows or horses.
Lana: What’s more, these days some people even want to clone humans. They have asked: Can we
clone ourselves?                                                       
Tony: It seems interesting. But do you think it possible to do that?
Lana: No, impossible! First, I think we cannot clone a dead person, because the cells in his body are dead already.
Tony: Then can we clone a living person?
Lana: Again no! You might clone yourself one after another, but it is only a copy, not a real you. It is only something, not a “human”.
Tony: Well, you mean that it is not a real human.
Lana: True enough! I think Dr. Wilmut would most like to make better animals, and it has nothing to do with human cloning.
【小题1】The word “clone” means_________________.
复制  B 克隆 C 抄袭   D 制造
【小题2】Dolly was the name of _______.
A. the father of a sheep  B. a famous scientist  
C. . a grown-up sheep    D a sheep that was cloned
【小题3】Lana says Dr. Ian Wilmut is the “father” of Dolly. Here, she means __________.
Dr. Ian Wilmut was the first man to clone a sheep in his lab
Dr. Ian Wilmut gave Dolly a new life
Dr. Ian Wilmut took care of Dolly like a father
D.  Dr. Ian Wilmut has a daughter whose name is Dolly
【小题4】 From the conversation,          may be clone in our life.
A a tree   B a person   C  an elephant   D  an orange
【小题5】According to the conversation, we know about         .
Scientists have successfully cloned humans. 
Dr. Wilmut likes to do human cloning.
C. Cloned animals are better than humans.  
D. Lana doesn’t think humans shouldn’t be cloned.