The killer bees are coming! By the time you read this they will have reached Texas. They will also reach all the warmer areas of the United States. Scientists as well as farmers wait for them with a mixture of fear and wonder.

The killer bees should not be coming at all. Nature did not put them on this direct path for the United States; human beings did. The killer bees are from Africa. But in 1957 a scientist from Brazil got some of these killer bees for his experiments. The aim(目的)was to produce a better bee. However, an accident happened: a guest beekeeper let twenty-six of the queen bees escape by mistake. Before long, groups of killer bees took off for the woods.

Since that time, the wild killer bees have multiplied(繁殖)many times over. By 1998, their population was over 1015, They have spread all over South America, Central America, and most of Mexico. The United States is the next stop.

Are the killer bees really killers? Yes, they are. In their first thirty years in America, they have killed thousands of hens, pigs, and other animals. While no one knows the exact(确切的)number, it is believed that several hundred people have also been killed.

So be careful! Killer bees are on the way, Scientists have no idea what to do with them yet. There must be a way.

1. The killer bees were brought to Brazil in order to 　　　　 .

A. develop a better bee

B. kill the local bees

C. make an African bee

D. produce wild bees

2．The killer bees’ becoming wild in America resulted from(由……导致) a mistake by　　　　 .

A．a beekeeper　　　　   B. a guest

C. a queen　　　　　　    D. a scientist

3. We know from the passage that the killer bees will spread to the United States 　　　　 .

A. from east　　　　　　  B. from north

C. from south　　　　     D. from west

4. The passage suggests that to all the creatures on the earth,　　　　 .

A. beekeepers are the most dangerous energy

B. experiments are often very dangerous

C. the greatest danger often comes from man himself

D. warmer areas are full of fear and wonder

5. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A. It seems that the spread of the killer bees can’t be stopped now.

B. The scientists sent the killer bees out specially to make a better bee.

C. If we don’t take some measures, the killer bees will spread all over the world.

D. The killer bees are really killers that can also kill people.

 

The killer bees are coming! By the time you read this they will have reached Texas. They will also reach all the warmer areas of the United States. Scientists as well as farmers wait for them with a mixture of fear and wonder.

The killer bees should not be coming at all. Nature did not put them on this direct path for the United States; human beings did. The killer bees are from Africa. But in 1957 a scientist from Brazil got some of these killer bees for his experiments. The aim(目的)was to produce a better bee. However, an accident happened: a guest beekeeper let twenty-six of the queen bees escape by mistake. Before long, groups of killer bees took off for the woods.

Since that time, the wild killer bees have multiplied(繁殖)many times over. By 1998, their population was over 1015, They have spread all over South America, Central America, and most of Mexico. The United States is the next stop.

Are the killer bees really killers? Yes, they are. In their first thirty years in America, they have killed thousands of hens, pigs, and other animals. While no one knows the exact(确切的)number, it is believed that several hundred people have also been killed.

So be careful! Killer bees are on the way, Scientists have no idea what to do with them yet. There must be a way.

1. The killer bees were brought to Brazil in order to 　　　　 .

A. develop a better bee

B. kill the local bees

C. make an African bee

D. produce wild bees

2．The killer bees’ becoming wild in America resulted from(由……导致) a mistake by　　　　 .

A．a beekeeper　　　　   B. a guest

C. a queen　　　　　　    D. a scientist

3. We know from the passage that the killer bees will spread to the United States 　　　　 .

A. from east　　　　　　  B. from north

C. from south　　　　     D. from west

4. The passage suggests that to all the creatures on the earth,　　　　 .

A. beekeepers are the most dangerous energy

B. experiments are often very dangerous

C. the greatest danger often comes from man himself

D. warmer areas are full of fear and wonder

5. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A. It seems that the spread of the killer bees can’t be stopped now.

B. The scientists sent the killer bees out specially to make a better bee.

C. If we don’t take some measures, the killer bees will spread all over the world.

D. The killer bees are really killers that can also kill people.

 

    One day I got a duck from a friend who lived two miles south of my house. I brought the duck home in a bag. It was obvious that the duck missed his family very much upon his arrival. Left to himself, he would at once turn his head homeward. I tried to shut him together with other ducks for several days, but with no use at all. There seemed to be but one thought in the mind of him, and that was home.

So I decided to let him out, but I kept about fifty yards behind him. I followed, thinking he would soon lose his way and came back. But he seemed to have an exact map of the country in his mind. Soon he met a dog. He paused and looked at the animal for a moment, and then turned to the right along a road which led to a railroad station. He had now gone about half the distance, and was getting tired. A little pool of water by the roadside caught his eyes. Into it he bathed, drank, and rested for a few moments, and then started homeward again. For a while, he realized that he had got into the wrong direction, and turned his face southward again. Finally we came in sight of the home path, which led up to the farmhouse.

It was now nearly night and I had no time to watch the experiment further. But as he neared the path he seemed suddenly to see some familiar things, and rushed at the top of his speed. I followed close behind. Into the house yard he rushed with uplifted wings as if he was eagerly telling his partners the story of his adventures.

56. What does the author think about the duck?

A. Interesting and careful.

B. Curious and enthusiastic(热情的).

C. Intelligent（聪明的） and determined（意志坚定的）.

D. Brave and experienced.

57. As soon as the duck arrived at a new place, he seemed ________ .

A.glad   B.nervou   C.tired     D. homesick

58. The underlined part“the experiment” in the last paragraph refers to“________ ”.

A. if the duck had the ability to get on well with other ducks.

B. if the duck was born with a good sense of direction.

C. if the duck could discover the author.

D. if the duck could find his way home.

59. What’s the purpose of the writer’s writing the text?

A. To share us a duck’s interesting trip.

B. To present his opinions about a duck’s remarkable （非凡的）experience.

C. To express his curiosity about a duck’s interesting trip.

D. To examine why a duck would like to rush on its own.

As computers become all the more popular in China, Chinese people are increasingly relying on computer keyboards to input Chinese characters. But if they use the computer too much, they may end up forgetting the exact strokes of each Chinese character when writing on paper. Experts suggest people, especially students, write by hand more.
Do you write by hand more or type more? In Beijing, students start using a computer as early as primary school. And computer dependence is more widespread among university students. Almost all their assignments and essays are typed on a computer.
All the students interviewed say they usually use a computer.
It’s faster and easier to correct if using a computer. And that’s why computers are being applied more and more often to modern education. But when people are taking stock in computers increasingly, problems appear.
“When I’m writing with a pen, I find I often can’t remember how to write a character, though I feel I’m familiar with it.”
“I’m not in the mood to write when faced with a pen and paper.”
Many students don’t feel this is something to worry about. Now that it’s more convenient and efficient to write on a computer, why bother to handwrite?
Many educators think differently. Shi Liwei, the headmaster of a famous primary school in the capital said, “Chinese characters enjoy both practical and aesthetic (审美的) value. But those characters typed with computer keyboards only maintain their practical value. All the artistic beauty of the characters is lost. And handwriting contains the writer’s emotion. Through one’s handwriting, people can get to know one’s thinking and personality. Beautiful writing will give people a better first impression of them.”
To encourage students to handwrite more, many primary schools in Beijing have made writing classes compulsory(必修的) and in universities, some professors are asking students to turn in their homework and essays written by hand.
【小题1】Which of the following can best serve as the title of the passage?

A．The Importance of Handwriting and Typing.

B．To type or to Handwrite.

C．Writing by Computer will Replace Writing by Hand.

D．Practical and Aesthetic Value of Chinese Characters.

【小题2】The students interviewed prefer to write using a computer mainly because __________.

A．they are usually asked to e-mail their homework and essays.

B．they can correct the mistakes they make quickly and conveniently.

C．they found it not easy to remember how to write a character.

D．computers have become a trend and fashion in China.

【小题3】Which of the following statements in NOT the advantage of handwriting?

A．Handwriting contains the writer’s emotion.

B．The writer’s thinking and personality are shown in his or her handwriting.

C．Handwriting can impress people well and build one’s self-confidence.

D．Chinese characters enjoy both practical and aesthetic value.

【小题4】The underlined expression “taking stock in” probably means ___________.

A．getting bored with

B．getting dependent on

C．becoming curious about

D．getting curious about

【小题5】We can draw the conclusion from the passage that ___________.

A．more and more students will give up writing on a computer.

B．writing by hand will give way to typing by computer one day.

C．more and more students will pay attention to handwriting.

D．the typing article better expresses one’s emotion and quality.