There was great excitement on the planet of Venus (金星) this week. For the first time Venusian scientists
managed to land a satellite on the planet Earth, and it has been sending back signals as well as photographs ever
since.
     The satellite was directed into an area known as Manhattan (named after the great Venusian astronomer
Prof. Manhattan, who first discovered it with his telescope 20000 light years ago).
     Because of excellent weather conditions and extremely strong signals, Venusian scientists were able to get
valuable information as to feasibility (可行性) of a manned flying saucer (碟) landing on Earth. A press
conference was held at the Venus Institute of Technology.
     "We have come to the conclusion, based on last week's satellite landing," Prof. Zog said, "that there is no
life on Earth."
     "How do you know this?" the science reporter of the Venus Evening Star asked.
     "For one thing, Earth's surface in the area of Manhattan is made up of solid concrete and nothing can grow
there. For another, the atmosphere is filled with carbon monoxide (一氧化碳) and other deadly gases and
nobody could possibly breathe this air and survive."
     "What does this mean as far as our flying saucer program is concerned?"
     "We shall have to take our own oxygen with us, which means a much heavier flying saucer than originally
planned."
     "Are there any other dangers that you discovered in your studies?"
     "Take a look at this photo. You see this dark black cloud hovering (盤旋) over the surface of Earth? We
don't know what it is made of, but it could give us a lot of trouble and we shall have further tests before we
send a Venus Being there."
     "Over here you will notice what seems to be a river, but the satellite findings indicates it is polluted and the
water is unfit to drink. This means we shall have to carry our own water, which will add even greater weight
to the saucer."
     "If all you say is true, won't this set back the flying saucer program several years?"
     "Yes, but we shall continue as soon as the Grubstart gives us the added funds." Prof. Zog replied.

1. During the week of great excitement the Venusian scientists succeeded in getting important information as
    to _____.

A. the feasibility of landing a satellite on Earth
B. the possibility of making a first-rate flying saucer
C. the feasibility of sending a Venus Being to Earth
D. the possibility of directing a flying saucer into Manhattan

2. According to Prof. Zog, the Venusians will have to take their own oxygen with them when they carry out
    their flying saucer program because _____.

A. they need it in their way to the planet of Earth
B. the Earth's atmosphere is filled with deadly gases
C. there is a low level of oxygen for Venusians
D. there is no air on the planet of Earth

3. The "dark black cloud" on the photo refers to _____.

A. the polluted air hovering over the surface of Earth
B. the mass of tiny drops of water floating above Earth
C. the mass of small things moving through the air
D. the dark clouds gathering before a storm breaks

4. The author wishes to call our attention to the fact that _____.

A. that modern man has polluted his environment to such an extend that he might destroy himself if he went
    on like this
B. that there is a point in spending billions to land a flying saucer on Earth
C. that pollution has become so serous a problem on Earth that even Venusians find life there unbearable.
D. that it is difficult if not altogether impossible, to land a manned flying saucer on Earth

     The common cold is the world's most widespread illness, which is plagues (疫病) that flesh receives.
     The most widespread fallacy (謬誤) of all is that colds are caused by cold. They are not. They are caused
by viruses (病毒) passing on from person to person. You catch a cold, and it would be reasonable to expect
the Eskimos to suffer from them forever. But they do not. And in isolated arctic regions explorers have reported
being free from colds until coming into contact again with infected people from the outside world by way of
packages and mail dropped from airplanes.
     During the First World War soldiers who spent long periods in the trenches (戰(zhàn)壕),cold and wet, showed
no increased tendency to catch colds.
     In the Second World War prisoners at the notorious Auschwitz concentration camp (奧斯維辛集中營),
naked and starving, were astonished to find that they seldom had colds.
     At the Common Cold Research Unit. England, volunteers took part in experiments in which they gave
themselves to the discomforts of being cold and wet for long stretches of time. After taking hot baths, they put
on bathing suits, allowed themselves to be dipped with cold water, and then stood about dripping wet in drafty
room. Some wore wet socks all day while others exercised in the rain until close to exhaustion. Not one of the
volunteers came down with a cold unless a cold virus was actually dropped in his nose.
     In the cold we have nothing to do with catching colds, but why are they more frequent in the winter?
Despite the most pains-taking research, no one has yet found the answer. One explanation offered by scientists
is that people tend to stay together indoors more in cold weather than at other times, and this makes it easier
for cold viruses to be passed on.
     No one has yet found a cure for the cold. There are drugs and pain suppressors (止痛片) such as aspirin,
but all they do is to relieve the symptoms (癥狀).

1. The writer offered _____ examples to support his argument.

A. 4
B. 5
C. 6
D. 3

2. Which of the following does not agree with the chosen passage?

A. The Eskimos do not suffer from colds all the time.
B. Colds are not caused by cold.
C. People suffer from colds just because they like to stay indoors.
D. A person may catch a cold by touching someone who already has one.

3. Arctic explorers may catch colds when _____.

A. they are working in the isolated arctic regions
B. they are writing reports in terribly cold weather
C. they are free from work in the isolated arctic regions
D. they are coming into touch again with the outside world

4. Volunteers taking part in the experiments in the Common Cold Research Unit _____.

A. suffered a lot
B. never caught colds
C. often caught colds
D. became very strong

     College is a big deal for American students as well as for Chinese students. During the college application,
some parents become extremely worried. This only adds to the pressure.
     Before I applied to the colleges, I told my parents I would get everything straightened out. If I needed any
help, I promised that I would ask them.
     As it turned out, I had no problem putting everything together on my own, including my resume and a
basic outline of my activities in high school. The only part where I asked for my parents' advice was the essays.
In writing and revising the essays, I needed feedback from an audience As my parents know me better than
anyone, they were perfect for the job.
     The essays are extremely important in college admissions. In a competitive pool of applicants, the test
scores and activities, as well as the recommendations are all going to be very similar. The essays are the one
area in which students can make themselves stand out. Essays don't have to be big and complicated. I wrote
three essays, all focusing on small matters and using simple sentences. The admissions officers have to read
hundreds of essays a day; they are already tired of SAT vocabularies and long sentences. Therefore, a
straightforward writing style is refreshing to their eyes as well as their minds. Essays were the key to my
success in the admissions game, I just wrote about what I wanted to say, not what I thought the admissions
officers would like to hear.
     In my main narrative-style essay, I told the story of my American journey at the age of 14: During that
time, I was not bogged down (陷入) by trying to fit into a new environment; instead, I looked up to Mother
Teresa for guidance and strength. I found my new self and grew to love the name Teresa and the memories
it held. In my two minor essays, I explained the major events of my life, why I loved writing and why my
dad is the person who has the greatest influence on me. Both provided details of my character. The essay
about writing, which is titled, "I Shall Not Live in Vain" (inspired by an Emily Dickinson poem), earned a lot
of praise.
     It is because I really looked into my heart and thought deeply in order to reach my answers.

1. I asked my parents for advice about my essays because _____.

A. they are more experienced
B. they know me perfectly well
C. they are the only people I can rely on
D. they are extremely worried about my application

2. In order to impress the admissions officers, the applicants should write their essays _____.

A. with a big vocabulary
B. with simple sentences
C. about small matters
D. in a straightforward style

3. What helped the writer gain admissions to his or her university of choice?

A. High scores.
B. Good recommendations.
C. Good essays.
D. Interesting stories.

4. According to the passage, _____ has the greatest influence on the writer.

A. Mother Teresa
B. his or her father
C. Emily Dickinson
D. admissions officers

5. The passage is mainly about _____.

A. the writer's experience in college admissions
B. the importance of college education for students
C. how parents' worries add to students' pressure
D. the importance of essays in college admissions

     Three types of pangolins (穿山甲) exist in Africa - the giant pangolin, the tree pangolin and the most
widespread, the ground pangolin. Pangolins have small heads and long, broad tails. They are toothless and
have no external ears, although their hearing is good. Their sense of smell is well-developed, but their sight
is poor. The weight of the scales (鱗片) and skin make up about 20% of their weight.
     The common pangolin prefers sandy soils and is found in woodlands and savannas (熱帶草原), within
reach of water.
     All pangolins can roll themselves into a ball to defend themselves. The cutting action of their scales protects
them too. Pangolins also have scent glands (臭腺) that release strong, foul smelling secretions. Pangolins are
normally alone. Females are usually alone with their young. The young are 6 inches long and weigh 12 ounces
at birth. Their pale, soft scales begin to harden by the second day. The baby is folded in the mother's lap or
rolled-up body. It is nursed for 3 to 4 months and begins to eat termites (白蟻) at 1 month. At this time the
infant begins to accompany the mother, perhaps riding on the base of her tail. If the mother senses danger the
baby slips under her and is protected when she rolls up her body.
     Pangolins use their sense of smell to locate termite and ant nests. They dig up the insects with their claws
and use their extremely long tongues to eat them.

1. When pangolins are ____, they release strong, foul smelling secretions.

A. happy
B. sad
C. frightened
D. angry

2. Which of the following words best describes the function of the pangolin's scales? 

A. Heavy.
B. Beautiful.
C. Protective.
D. Hard.

3. When does the infant begin to accompany the mother pangolin?

A. At l month old.
B. At 2 months old.
C. At 2-3 months old.
D. At 3-4 months old.

4. What does the last paragraph mainly talk about?

A. The pangolin's habitat.
B. The pangolin's diet.
C. The pangolin's behavior.
D. The pangolin's appearance.

     To lift something from the floor correctly, first bend your knees and squat down. Keep your back
and hips(臀部) and waist (腰部) in a line. If you bend over, the muscles ( ~ I$1 ) in your lower back
can become hurt easily. If you keep your back and hips straight, the muscles are stronger, because they
have much more support. The other muscles can then help the lower back muscles.
     As you squat down, try to get close to the object as possible. For example, if you are going to pick
up a heavy box, squat down directly in front of it.
     Maybe you will have to spread your knees and legs. Put one knee on each side of the box. Remember at all times to keep your back straight.
     Put your hands under the object that is in front of you, between your knees.
     To lift the object, you should stand up slowly. Use your muscles in order to stand up. In other words,
lift with your legs, not with your back.

1. The underlined word "squat" means________.

A. to bend over your waist
B. to bend yourself by bending your legs
C. to lower yourself by bending your legs
D. to stand straight

2. You should keep your back straight so that________.

A. the muscles can' t be hurt
B. the muscles will have more support
C. you seem to be stranger
D. you will get more muscles

3. The correct way to lift something heavy from the floor is________.

A. to bend over from your waist first
B. to bend your knees and squat down first
C. to keep your back in a line
D. to put your hands under the object

4. What lifts the object in fact?

A. The muaelea of your arms.
B. The muscles of your back.
C. Your hands.
D. Your leg muscles.

     "Tweenager" is the new term being used in the UK to describe kids at either 8-12 or 10-13 years
old.
     More and more companies are beginning to create products and services for tweenagers. The
Disney company sells music and film to tweenagers and their parents. You can get everything from
branded lunchboxes and mobile phone covers, to monthly fan magazines and clothing. It's all about sales, which suggests that tweenagers must have more money, freedom and influence upon their parents than
they've ever had before.
     Most kids in the UK today get more pocket money than kids did a decade ago.Parents have more
money to give their kids than previously, since parents are having fewer children. In addition, the divorce
rate in the UK is continually rising and parents spend less time with their children than they used to, so
many parents try to compensate by buying presents for their children. It's a bad habit for both parents
and kids to get into, but parents are under constant pressure from commercial marketing and the pleas
of their children.
     UK kids today are very media and computer literate. A lot of kids have a TV, if not a computer, in
their bedrooms. They have access to much more information about life and the world. They may have
experienced a lot in life as well, since 24% of UK kids live in singleparent families, so people now say
that "kids are getting older younger". With such maturity at such a young age, it's no wonder tweenagers
are able to influence their parents and have more freedom than previous generations.
     UK tweenagers never used to be worried about spending money on clothes. That's changed. Now, 
they  are much more fashion conscious and concerned about their image. Many tweenagers outgrow the
bright colours and fashions of their tweenage years and go for something darker and more rebellious.
Surely none of the above is a good thing. The UK government is certainly concerned, and for that reason
has strict laws preventing companies from explicitly marketing their products and services at children.

1. Why are more products and services created for tweenagers?

A. Because children education is becoming more important.
B. Because children have more money to buy them.
C. Because it is better to study music from an early age.
D. Because more companies are creating products and services.

2. Kids today can get more money partly because ________.

A. parents always accompany their kids
B. parents have more expectation of kids
C. more and more parents divorce nowadays
D. kids know how to make money

3. Tweenagers have more freedom due to the following facts EXCEPT that ________.

A. their parents cannot influence them any more
B. they know more information than kids before
C. they become mature at a younger age
D. they have a lot of experience in life

4. What is the purpose of the passage?

A. To teach a new word "tweenager".
B. To introduce a new phenomenon.
C. To urge parents to care about their kids.
D. To blame today’s young people.

     Rooftops covered with plants - called "green roofs" - could help fight global warming, scientists
now suggest.
     Green roofs are growing more popular in cities, with the number of green roofs increasing in the
United States. In Germany, widely considered the leader in green roofing, some 12 percent of all flat
roofs are green, with the German green roof industry growing 10 to 15 percent annually.
     These roofs can reduce heating and air conditioning costs, with a roughly 10 percent reduction in
natural gas usage and a 2 percent drop in electricity use for a typical building. Moreover, green roofs
last two to three times longer than standard roofs. They also store storm water, which could otherwise
exacerbate (加劇)flooding. "They can also bring in birds and butterflies, help improve biodiversity(多
樣性)," Rowe said. In addition to taking in pollution and noise, the plants in green roofs naturally absorb
carbon dioxide, the leading greenhouse gas behind global warming. However, nobody had measured
the potential effect of green roofs on carbon dioxide levels until now.
     Scientists at Michigan State University found that replacing traditional roofing materials with green
roofs in an urban area the size of Detroit, with a population of about one million, would take in more
than 55,000 tons of carbon. That is roughly similar to getting rid of a year's worth of carbon dioxide
sent out by 10,000 mid-sized SUVs and trucks.
     The challenges green roofs now face in the United States are something about policy and costs.
"The government should not necessarily mandate(強制執(zhí)行) them, but it can provide support for them,
just as they do in Germany and elsewhere," Rowe told LiveScience. "And green roofs are more
expensive, but only initially. Over time, they're cheaper once you consider their benefits energy-wise.
It takes about 11 to 14 years to break even(不贏不虧)."

1. Which of the following is NOT true?

A. Green roofs can take in the leading greenhouse gas behind global warming.
B. It is easier for green roofs to break than standard roofs.
C. A building with a green roof takes less energy to be heated.
D. Green roofs are of higher building cost.

2. We can learn from the passage that___.

A. Rowe is not optimistic about the future of green roofs
B. Germany has made it a rule to build green roofs
C. The United States is widely considered the leader in green roofing
D. Green roofs can provide habitats for birds and butterflies

3. The underlined word in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to ____.

A. at times     
B. at first  
C. at present    
D. at last

4. Which of the following can be the best title?

A. Standard Roofs and Green Roofs
B. Green Roofs Are Growing More Popular
C. Green Roofs Help Control Global Warming,
D. Advantages of Green Roofs

     Too much TVwatching can harm children's ability to learn and even reduce their chances of getting
a college degree, new studies suggest in the latest effort to examine the effects of television on children.
     One of the studies looked at nearly 400 northern California thirdgraders. Those with TVs in their
bedrooms scored about eight points lower on math and language arts tests than children without
bedroom TVs.
     A second study, looking at nearly 1, 000 grownups in New Zealand, found lower education levels
among 26yearolds who had watched lots of TV during childhood. But the results don't prove that TV
is the cause and don't rule out that already poorly motivated youngsters (年輕人) may watch lots of TV.
     Their study measured the TV habits of 26yearolds between ages 5 and 15. Those with college
degrees had watched an average of less than two hours of TV per weeknight during childhood,
compared with an average of more than 2 hours for those who had no education beyond high school.
     In the California study, children with TVs in their rooms but no computer at home scored the lowest,
while those with no bedroom TV but who had home computers scored the highest.
     While this study does not prove that bedroom TV sets caused the lower scores, it adds to
accumulating findings that children shouldn't have TVs in their bedrooms.

1. According to the California study, the lowscoring group might ________.

A. have watched a lot of TV
B. not be interested in math
C. be unable to go to college
D. have had computers in their bedrooms

2. What is the researchers' understanding of the New Zealand study results?

A. Poorly motivated 26yearolds watch more TV.
B. Habits of TV watching reduce learning interest.
C. TV watching leads to lower education levels of the 15yearolds.
D. The connection between TV and education levels is difficult to explain.

3. What can we learn from the last two paragraphs?

A. More time should be spent on computers.
B. Children should be forbidden from watching TV.
C. TV sets shouldn't be allowed in children's bedrooms.
D. Further studies on highachieving students should be done.

4. What would be the best title for this text?

A. Computers or Television
B. Effects of Television on Children
C. Studies on TV and College Education
D. Television and Children's Learning Habits