The 2012 London Olympics had enough problems to worry about. But one more has just been added -- a communications blackout caused by solar storms.
After a period of calm within the Sun, scientists have detected the signs of a flesh cycle of sunspots that could peak in 2012, just in time for the arrival of the Olympic torch in London.
Now scientists believe that this peak could result in vast solar explosions that could throw billions of tons of charged matter towards the Earth, causing strong solar storms that could jam the telecommunications satellites and interact links sending five Olympic broadcast from London.
"The Sun's activity has a strong influence on the Earth. The Olympics could be in the middle of the next solar maximum which could affect the functions of communications satellites," said Professor Richard Harrison, head of space physics at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire.
At the peak of the cycle, violent outbursts called coronal mass ejections (日冕物质抛射) occur in the Sun's atmosphere, throwing out great quantities of electrically-charged matter. "A coronal mass ejection can carry a billion tons of solar material into space at over a million kilometres per hour. Such events can expose astronauts to a deadly amount, can disable satellites, cause power failures on Earth and disturb communications," Professor Harrison added. The risk is the greatest during a solar maximum when there is the greatest number of sunspots.
Next week in America, NASA is scheduled to launch a satellite for monitoring solar activity called the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), which will take images of the Sun that are 10 times clearer than the most advanced televisions available.
The Rutherford Appleton Laboratory helped to make the high-tech cameras that will capture images of the solar flares (太阳耀斑) and explosions as they occur.
Professor Richard Harrison, the lab's director, said that the SDO should be able to provide early warning of a solar flare or explosion big enough to affect satellite communications on Earth "If we have advanced warning, we'll be able to reduce the damage. What you don't want is things switching off for a week with no idea of what's caused the problem," he said.
1.The phrase "communications blackout" in paragraph 1 most probably refers to____________ during the 2012 Olympics.
A.the extinguishing of the Olympic torch |
B.the collapse of broadcasting systems |
C.the transportation breakdown in London |
D.the destruction of weather satellites |
2.According to the passage, scientists are convinced that __________.
A.the sun’s activities have little to do with the earth |
B.the London Olympic broadcasting will be possibly influenced by the 2012 peak of sunspots |
C.the 2012 Olympic Games are during the solar maximum of throwing out greatest number of sunspots |
D.solar explosion will cause strong storms on the earth |
3.What can be inferred about the solar activity described in the passage?
A.The most fatal matter from the corona falls onto Earth. |
B.The solar storm peak occurs in the middle of each cycle. |
C.It takes several seconds for the charged matter to reach Earth. |
D.The number of sunspots declines after coronal mass ejections. |
4.According to the passage, NASA will launch a satellite to _________.
A.take images of the solar system |
B.provide early warning of thunderstorms |
C.keep track of solar activities |
D.improve the communications on Earth |
5.Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?
A.Solar Storms: An Invisible Killer |
B.Solar Storms: Earth Environment in Danger |
C.Solar Storms: Threatening the Human Race |
D.Solar Storms: Human Activities to Be Troubled |
The UN Environment Programme says that rising temperatures could mean the end for some migrating animals.
Migrating or mobile animals move through several environments as they travel away from the cold of winter to warmer areas. Birds may fly from one part of the world to another, perhaps stopping at feeding grounds on the way. Whales and turtles (海龟) cover vast areas of ocean. The report says that changes in any one of the places which these animals use can cause serious harm. "Obviously these animals have developed their travelling patterns over thousands of years. But climate change is almost certain to be extreme over the next 25 to 50 years and it is extremely unlikely that these animals can change their habits fast enough," said the report author Dr Robert Hepworth.
Hardest hit by rising temperatures are turtles. Scientists have found that at higher temperatures, turtles produce far more female eggs than male ones. In parts of Malaysia, turtle birthing sites are producing only females, the report says. It also provides evidence that some turtles are more likely to develop cancer as the waters get warmer.
With birds, the main problem is climate-related damage to important areas at either end of the travels or at resting places along the way. About one-fifth of migrating birds are now in danger because of climate-related changes including rising sea levels, land loss and more violent storms, the report concludes.
Other animals picked out as particularly in danger include:
· the North Atlantic Right Whale, whose main food (tiny shrimp) is disturbed by the change in ocean flows and
· the White-Nose Dolphin, which is out-competed by other kinds of dolphins in warmer waters.
The report is not all bad news. Even with major climatic changes, protecting the environment can still help mobile animals to recover. "We need governments to start taking action at the national and international lever. “The clock is running.” said Dr Hepworth. And some animals are already adapting, with the report mentioning whales that are changing their feeding behaviour, finding new feeding grounds and new foods to eat.
1.What is the main topic of the text?
A.The effect of climate change on migrating animals. |
B.How animals are adapting to changes in temperature. |
C.The actions required to save migrating animals. |
D.The need for government policies to prevent global warming. |
2.By saying "the clock is running" in the last paragraph, Dr Hepworth means that “_______”.
A.it may be too late to save some animals |
B.it is time to start protecting the animals |
C.there is not much time to solve the problem |
D.it takes time to complete the actions |
3.According to the report, how will global warming affect turtles in the future?
A.They will only produce female babies. |
B.Their food supply will gradually disappear. |
C.Some will suffer from higher rates of cancer. |
D.They will be in greater danger because of more violent storms. |
4.Which of the following is mentioned as a consequence of rising temperatures?
A.More storms will affect the ability of whales to find their feeding grounds. |
B.20 percent of all birds are likely to die out because of land loss. |
C.Migrating animals are likely to start adapting to the changes more quickly. |
D.Warmer oceans will increase the competition between different kinds of dolphins. |
5.What can be inferred (推断) about turtles from the text?
A.They are the only animals besides humans that suffer from cancer. |
B.They have traditionally lived longer than other ocean-based animals. |
C.Those born nearer a hotter area are more likely to be female. |
D.Most kinds of turtles are likely to die out within 50 years. |
FOR many young people, having to attend school with a parent would be their worst nightmare. However, Senior 1 student Li Qinmei is happy taking her father with her as long as she can go to classes. He is disabled and unable to take care of himself.
The 16-year-old country girl in Zhucheng, Shandong Province has experienced one disaster after another in her short life. Li lost her mother at three. Four years later, her father became paralyzed after a tractor accident. At 12, her misfortune returned with the death of her grandma. Since then she has been forced to shoulder all the responsibility for her broken family.
Li learnt to cook and managed to live a life with an allowance of only 24 yuan per month. The most difficult thing she had to deal with was helping her father bathe, dress and use the toilet as he could hardly move.
"I felt embarrassed, and so did my dad. It was really hard at the beginning," she recalled.
During most of her junior school years, Li went to classes only once a month as her father was seriously ill at the time.
"I taught myself at home and asked teachers for help on my school days," she explained.
Li's hard work paid off this fall. She was admitted by Zhucheng No 1 High School, a local key school, based on her good performance in the entrance exams.
The school offered Li and her father a room on campus to live in so she could look after him during breaks.
Once in a while, Li felt sad when she saw her classmates going shopping or hanging out with friends.
"I envy them sometimes because they have both mum and dad to look after them. However, I soon feel relieved as I still have my dad with me," she said.
Li admitted that the difficulties in life had taught her to be strong.
"I believe I will go on and continue my studies at a good university," she said, in a confident tone.
Her teacher Mr. Wang has the same belief. Li made great progress in the recent monthly exams. "She works hard and is always eager to excel (好强的). It's not easy for her never to be late for school, but she has managed to make it work," Wang said.
1.Li Qinmei has to shoulder the family because ________.
A.her father was badly injured in a car accident |
B.her mother passed away when she was 3 |
C.her grandma died when she was 12 |
D.misfortune in her life forced her to do so |
2.From the passage we can infer that _________.
A.Li Qinmei doesn’t like others talking about her father |
B.many young students hate going to school with their parents |
C.Li Qinmei has made great progress in her study |
D.Li Qinmei has lost three relatives and has to take care of her father |
3.What’s the meaning of the underlined phrase “hanging out” in the passage?_________.
A.playing outside |
B.working hard |
C.exchanging ideas |
D.talking happily |
4.According to the passage, which statement is Not True? __________.
A.Li Qinmei was admitted to a local key school because of his good scores in the exams |
B.Li Qinmei is not very embarrassed when she helps her father bathe |
C.Li Qinmei often goes to attend her father after class |
D.Li Qinmei is able to go to class on time though she has to attend her father |
5.What’s the best title of the story?________.
A.Difficulties make strong |
B.A touching story |
C.A strong-minded girl-Li Qinmei |
D.Li Qinmei’s successful study life |
When China’s ancient scientific and technological achievements are mentioned, the nation will generally refer to the Four Great inventions. The four symbolic 26 (create) – compass, papermaking, printing and gunpowder -- 27 pride of China’s 5,000-thousand-year-old culture, because of their 28 (recognize) role in the development of human civilization.
29 is therefore no surprise that the recent proposal by a group of scholars 30 (redefine) the Four Great Invention has caused a heated reaction. According to the proposed new version, papermaking and printing 31 (merge) into one entry, and compass and gunpowder are delisted. The three new inclusions are silk, bronze and porcelain, 32 proposers said could more scientifically exhibit the most advanced and most influential scientific contributions of ancient China.
The question of 33 the Four Great Invention should be is of course open to the debate. The 34 (late) redefinition attempt, which is reported based on careful studies of available written records and antiques, can at least help today’s people, the younger generation, 35 particular, know more about the brilliance of ancient Chinese civilization.
Most people believe they don’t have much imagination. They are 11 . Everyone has imagination, but most of us, once we become adults, forget how to 12 it. Creativity isn’t always 13 with great works of art or ideas. People at work and in their free time 14 think of creative ways to solve problems. Maybe you have a goal to achieve, a tricky question to answer or you just want to expand your mind! Here are three techniques to help you.
Making connections. This technique involves taking 15 ideas and trying to find links between them. First, think about the problem you have to solve or the job you need to do. Then find an image, word, idea or object, for example, a candle. Write down all the ideas/words 16 with candles: light, fire, matches, wax, night, silence, etc. Think of as many as you can. The next stage is to relate the 17 to the job you have to do. So imagine you want to buy a friend an original 18 ; you could buy him tickets to match or take him out for the night.
NO limits! Imagine that normal limitations don’t 19 . You have as much time /space / money, etc. as you want. Think about your goal and the new 20 . If your goal is to learn to ski, 21 , you can now practise skiing every day of your life (because you have the time and the money). Now 22 this to reality. Maybe you can practise skiing every day in December, or every Monday in January.
Be someone else! Look at the situation from a 23 point of view. Good businessmen use this technique in trade, and so do writers. Fiction writers often imagine they are the 24 in their books. They ask questions: What does this character want? Why can’t she get it? What changes must she make to get what she wants? If your goal involves other people, put yourself in their 25 . The best fishermen think like fish!
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The murderer was brought in, with his hands ________ behind his back.
A.being tied |
B.having tied |
C.to be tied |
D.tied |