When thinking about placing a human being in space, one of the most important questions was how to design special clothing needed to protect a person from the dangers of the space environment. The cold of space will freeze skin in a short time. The fierce heat of the sun can cause serious burns. The lack of atmosphere can cause gases in the body to expand(扩大) and even burst. With no oxygen to breathe, a human being will die in only a few moments. Radiation from the sun is another risk in space. So is damage from small pieces of rock and objects like meteoroids (陨石).
In 1933, an American flyer, Wiley Post, designed one of the first successful devices to protect a pilot at extreme heights. It was a large device that looked like a can surrounded the pilot's head. Astronauts in the American space agency (NASA) flew the first American space flights in the early 1960s. The clothing was similar to that invented by Wiley Post.
Today, astronauts wear very different protective clothing. It lets them move, do useful tasks, and stay outside their spacecraft in comfort and safety for several hours. The spacesuit is called the shuttle extravehicular mobility unit or EMU. It was designed to endure longer and to permit more movement than earlier spacesuits.
The EMU has a number of parts that an astronaut can link together by using only one hand, which makes it possible for each astronaut to select the parts that fit correctly.
Nowadays, NASA scientists are also considering the kind of spacesuits that would be needed for exploration on the planet Mars. Because of the gravity on Mars, spacesuits may have to be designed to be lighter than suits used in orbit or on the moon. The equipment may also have to protect astronauts from dust carried in the winds on Mars. And, they must be easy to repair and keep clean during a longer flight to and from the red planet.
1.Which of the following is NOT mentioned about the dangers of space environment?
A. Lack of oxygen. B. Fierce heat from the sun.
C. Gases in the body. D. Radiation from the sun.
2.Which of the following statements is true, according to this passage?
A. Wiley Post designed the first protective clothing for astronauts.
B. Astronauts in earlier spacesuits had difficulty in moving, doing useful tasks and so on.
C. EMU has many parts that can be linked together by using two hands.
D. Special spacesuits have been used for exploration of the planet Mars.
3.The underlined word “endure” means _______.
A. provide B. move C. last D. live
4.The best title of the passage might be ______.
A. Space exploration
B. Astronauts’ flights
C. The Advantages of Spacesuits
D. The Development of Spacesuits
Deserts are found where there is little rainfall or where rain for a whole year falls in only a few weeks' time. Ten inches of rain may be enough for many plants to survive if the rain is spread throughout the year. If it falls within one or two months and the rest of the year is dry, those plants may die and a desert may form.
Sand begins as tiny pieces of rock that get smaller and smaller as wind and weather wear them down. Sand dunes (沙丘) are formed as winds move the sand across the desert. Bit by bit, the dunes grow over the years, always moving with the winds and changing the shape. Most of them are only a few feet tall, but they can grow to be several hundred feet high.
There is, however, much more to a desert than sand. In the deserts of the southwestern United States, cliffs (悬崖) and deep valleys were formed from thick mud that once lay under a sea more than millions of years ago. Over the centuries, the water dried up. Wind, sand, rain, heat and cold all wore away at the remaining rocks. The faces of the desert mountains are always changing –-very, very slowly ---as these forces of nature continue to work on the rock.
Most deserts have a surprising variety of life. There are plants, animals and insects that have adapted to life in the desert. During the heat of the day a visitor may see very few signs of living things, but as the air begins to cool in the evening, the desert comes to life. As the sun begins to rise again in the sky, the desert once again becomes quiet and lonely.
1.Many plants may survive in deserts when___________.
A. it is dry all the year round
B. the rain falls only in a few weeks
C. there is little rain in a year
D. the rain is spread out in a year
2.Sand dunes are formed when____________.
A. sand piles up little by little
B. there is plenty of rain in a year
C. the sea has dried up over the years
D. pieces of rock get smaller
3.The underlined sentence in the third paragraph probably means that in a desert there is_____.
A. too much sand
B. more sand than before
C. nothing except sand
D. something else besides sand
4.It can be learned from the text that in a desert____________.
A. there is no rainfall throughout the year
B. life exists in rough conditions
C. all sand dunes are a few feet high
D. rocks are worn away only by wind and heat
In addition to seeing wonderful films, one of the joys of coming to the Quad Cinema is to hang out in the area. The Quad Cinema is located right in the heart of Greenwich Village, perhaps the most charming and interesting neighborhood in the city. Here are some attractions we recommend, all within a comfortable walk from the Quad Cinema:
Washington Square Park
As one of the best－known of New York City's 1,900 public parks, it is a landmark in the Manhattan neighborhood of Greenwich Village, as well as a meeting place and center for cultural activity. Come on a Sunday when it's most lively and festive.
New York University
It surrounds Washington Square. See the wonderful Bobst Library and visit the amazing bookstores. NYU is now considered one of the most powerful universities in the world.
Judson Memorial Church
Located in the south of Washington Square between Thompson Street and Sullivan Street, opposite Washington Square Park, this beautiful church was completed in 1892. The Judson Memorial Church is most famous for its vocal participation in social events.
Washington Mews
It is a hidden, private street in New York City between Fifth Avenue and University Place, just north of Washington Square Park. It was first developed as a mews(马厩街) that serviced horses from homes in the area. Since the 1950s the former stables have served as housing, offices and other facilities for New York University.
Jefferson Market Courthouse
Built in 1833 as a market, it was later changed to a courthouse, and in the 1950s it was emptied and close to being destroyed. It was saved and turned into a library. Many consider it to be the most beautiful building in the village.
1.What is the author's purpose of writing this passage?
A. To suggest the Quad Cinema is the best place.
B. To introduce some attractions around the Quad Cinema.
C. To show the Quad Cinema attracts a lot of customers.
D. To tell readers to enjoy their life fully.
2.Where is the Judson Memorial Church?
A. In the south of Washington Square.
B. Behind Washington Square Park.
C. Opposite Thompson Street.
D. Close to New York University.
3.When Washington Mews came into being, ________.
A. it was designed for a university
B. it was intended for keeping horses
C. it was used as a park for horses
D. it was filled with free facilities
My parents knew their wealth: each other, their six children, and their faith. They tried to live simple lives so that they could have time for what was most important.
They didn’t busy themselves buying a bigger house, because that would mean working harder to pay the monthly mortgage(按揭贷款), working overtime or taking a second job. Who would go running with me then? Who would read stories to me?
They didn’t burden themselves with buying an expensive car because that would mean worrying about installment(分期付款) bills. Besides, walking to the shopping centre every Saturday afternoon with me gave my dad his needed exercise, and made me feel so special.
One of my heart’s delights was seeing Dad and Mom in their bedroom at night, after our nightly family prayer. The lights were turned off, and I’d see the figure of my father seated on his old chair and Mom standing behind him, gently massaging his shoulders. I’d hear them talk about what happened during their day. Even as a child, I sensed their quiet pleasure in being together.
My question today: Could they have done this rich practice each night and nourished(滋润) their marriage if they had been busy paying for expensive clothes for themselves or their kids, or if they had been worrying about monthly bills for new hi-tech equipment? I don’t think so. And I’ve made a choice: I don’t want that of life either.
1.Which of the following is TRUE about the author’s family?
A. There were six people in the family.
B. They decided to buy a bigger house.
C. They lived an easy and happy life.
D. They had a second-hand car.
2.What did the parents regularly do with the author?
A. They wrote stories together.
B. They read newspapers together.
C. They went shopping together each day.
D. They regularly took exercise together.
3.The author believed that his/her parents’ happiness was because of_______.
A. their attitude towards life
B. their love for each other
C. Their common interests
D. their ability to communicate with each other
4.It can be inferred from the last paragraph that the author __________.
A. got bored with his/her parents’ way of educating kids
B. was influenced by his/her parents’ lifestyle
C. didn’t want to follow his/her parents’ advice
D. didn’t want to live the same life as his/her parents
书面表达
近年来，桂林开展了“绿色出行”（Green Transportation）计划，向市民提供了大批量的公共自行车。学校将举办以此为主题的演讲比赛，请你以“Let’s Ride Bicycles”为题，撰写一篇演讲稿，主要内容包括：
1. 表明观点：倡导“绿色出行”
2. 简述倡导“绿色出行”的理由（如：环境保护，有益健康等）
要求：1. 可适当增加细节使行文连贯 2. 书写规范，卷面整洁 3. 字数：100词左右 （开头已给，不计入总词数）
Good afternoon, everyone! ___________________________________________________.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
短文改错
假定英语课老师要求同桌交换修改作文，请你修改同桌的一下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句最多两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意： 1. 每处错误及修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
It is well-known that good habits do us good all our life. Entered high school, I took delight in having fast food and often eat too much. In the end, I was so serious overweight that I suffered a lot from my awkward appearance. It made matters worse was the fact that my classmates made a fun of me at times. From now on, I made up my mind to avoiding snacks. In the meanwhile, I took off jogging to lose weight. To my surprise, it was not long until I did succeed in creating my new appearance. Only then I start to appreciate the importance of developing a good habit.
