The first newspaper was written by hand and put up on walls in public places. Th

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The first newspaper was written by hand and put up on walls in public places. The earliest daily newspaper was started in Rome in 59 BC. In the 700s the world’s first printed newspaper was published. Europe didn’t have a regularly printed newspaper until 1609, when one was started in Germany.
The first regularly published newspaper in English was printed in Amsterdam in 1620. In 1621, an English newspaper was started in London and was published once a week. The first daily English newspaper was the Daily Courant, which came out in March 1702.
In 1690, Benjamin Harris printed the first American newspaper in Boston .But not long after it was first published, the government stopped the paper. In 1704, John Campbell started the Boston Newspaper, the first newspaper published daily in the American colonies（殖民地）. By 1760, the colonies had more than thirty daily newspapers.There are now about 1, 800 daily papers in the United States.
Today, as a group, newspapers in English have the largest circulation (发行量)in the world .But the largest circulation for a newspaper is that of the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun . It sells more than eleven million copies every year.
小题1:The first regularly printed European newspaper started in ________.

A．Rome in 59 BC	B．Germany in 1609
C．Amsterdam in 1620	D．England in 1621

小题2:The first daily newspaper in English started in _________.

A．1620

B．1621

C．1590

D．1702

小题3:What does the author want to inform us?

A．History of newspapers

B．History of daily newspapers

C．The beginning of newspapers

D．On reading newspapers

答案

小题1:B
小题2:D
小题3:A

解析

试题分析：文章介绍了报纸发展的历史，世界各地从报纸的雏形到日报的有序发行以及殖民地报纸的发行。同时也说明了报业发展的现在的情形，发行量最大的报纸等。
小题1:B细节理解题。Europe didn’t have a regularly printed newspaper until 1609, when one was started in Germany.直到1609年欧洲才有了定期发行的报纸，首份是在德国发行。由此可推出答案应为B。
小题2:D细节理解题。The first regularly published newspaper in English was printed in Amsterdam in 1620. In 1621, an English newspaper was started in London and was published once a week. The first daily English newspaper was the Daily Courant, which came out in March 1702.句意为：第一份定期发行的英语报纸1620年阿姆斯特丹发行，1621年，伦敦发行第一份英文报纸一周发行一次，第一份英语日报出版于1702年三月，故答案应为D。
小题3: A综合理解题。第一自然段的意思是：第一份定期发行的英语报纸1620年阿姆斯特丹发行，1621年，伦敦发行第一份英文报纸一周发行一次，第一份英语日报出版于1702年三月。第二自然段的意思是：美国报纸的发行情况以及殖民地报业的情况，故答案应为A，即报纸发展的历史。
【考点】考查科普知识类文章的阅读理解。

举一反三

For thousands of years, mankind has produced plants and animals to create more desired and useful plants and animals. For example, modern com has been produced to such a large size that it is no longer able to reproduce without man’s assistance. Modern dairy cows produce too much milk and if they are not often emptied of milk, they could leak, burst, become infected, and possibly die. Besides, most dogs raised by people can not survive in the wild even with special training.
Since natural evolution is extremely slow and mankind’s selective production programs only take a few generations to produce a completely new species, natural evolution has already taken a back seat to mankind’s production programs. In addition, mankind has successfully killed off several species all together. For example, there are no more European wolves in existence and mammoths (猛犸象) probably died out because of mankind. Even certain diseases have been permanently got rid of from the planet, and dozens of other diseases will soon be too. Again, natural evolution did i»t cause most of the destruction during man’s rule of the world.
Currently, scientists are creating new species with desired characteristics in the lab significantly faster than natural evolution creates new species. In a single generation, new species can be created and destroyed by mankind, while natural evolution could take thousands of years to do the same but only accidentally. Scientists are even able to replace defective (有缺陷的) or damaged genes with different genes to attempt to cure genetic defects. This is something that natural evolution could possibly never correct.
Eventually scientists will even be able to improve the quality of people. For example, imagine not only correcting your eyesight with gene treatment, but also ensuring that all of your children do not receive your old genes of poor eyesight too. Scientists will one day be able to improve the memory and intelligence of your children, so that they will do better in school and achieve more in life. Doctors and scientists will be able to customize (订制) babies before they are born just like picking options at a car store.
小题1:According to the first paragraph,______ .
A. man-made evolution has improved all species
B. man-made evolution has weakened some species
C man-made evolution can make up for all natural losses
D. natural evolution won’t happen without man’s assistance
小题2:What does the underlined part “taken a back seat to” in Paragraph 2 mean?
A. Become powerful assistance to.
B. Become a huge barrier to.
C Speeded up the process of.
D. Played a less important role than.
小题3:What does the third paragraph mainly talk about?

A．Why natural evolution happens so slowly.

B．The way scientists adopt to have genetic defects repaired.

C．The advantages of man-made evolution over natural evolution.

D．How scientists make use of man-made evolution to create new species.

小题4:What can we infer from the passage?

A．Near-sighted parents will be able to produce babies with good eyesight in the future.

B．Doctors and scientists will be responsible for mass production of babies in the future.

C．It is natural evolution that is to blame for the destruction of European wolves and mammoths.

D．Children can now have their memory and intelligence improved with the help of gene treatment.

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Think about the different ways that people use the wind. You can use it to fly a kite or to sail a boat. Wind is one of our cleanest and richest power sources, as well as one of the oldest. Evidence shows that windmills(风车) began to be used in ancient Iran back in the seventh century BC. They were first introduced to Europe during the 1100s, when armies returned from the Middle East with knowledge of using wind power.
For many centuries, people used windmills to grind(碾碎) wheat into flour or pump water from deep underground. When electricity was discovered in the late 1800s, people living in remote areas began to use them to produce electricity. This allowed them to have electric lights and radios. However, by the 1940s when electricity was available to people in almost all areas of the United States, windmills were rarely used.
During the 1970s, people started becoming concerned about the pollution that is created when coal and gas are burned to produce electricity. People also realized that the supply of coal and gas would not last forever. Then, wind was rediscovered, though it means higher cost. Today, there is a global movement to supply more and more of our electricity through the use of wind.
小题1:From the text we know that windmills________.

A．were invented by European armies

B．have a history of more than 2,800 years

C．used to supply power to radio in remote areas

D．have rarely been used since electricity was discovered

小题2:What was a new use for wind power in the late 19^th century?

A．Sailing a boat.

B．Producing electricity.

C．Grinding wheat into flour.

D．Pumping water from underground.

小题3:One of the reasons wind was rediscovered in the 1970s is that_______.

A．wind power is cleaner

B．it is one of the oldest power sources.

C．it was cheaper to create energy from wind

D．the supply of coal and gas failed to meet needs

小题4:What would the author probably discuss in the paragraph that follows?

A．The advantages of wind power.

B．The design of wind power plants.

C．The worldwide movement to save energy.

D．The global trend towards producing power from wind.

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A warm blanket is the ideal sleep aid for a freezing winter night. The right blanket can warm your bones but the wrong one can affect your sleep. I asked experts for advice on picking the perfect blanket for a good night’s sleep. Here’s what they told me.
When it comes to sleep temperature, experts recommend following the principle: not too cold, not too hot, but just right. “People seem to sleep best at temperature between 62 and 70 degrees F,” says Dr. Alice Hoagland. When the surrounding temperature falls too low, it can rouse you from sleep. A good blanket helps drive the coldness away.
At the other extreme, overheating yourself can affect your sleep as well. “Core body temperature typically drops during the first four hour’s of sleep,” says Dr. Hoagland. This decline in body temperature helps you fall asleep and stay asleep.
“In medical care, weighted blankets are one of our most powerful tools for helping people who are anxious, upset, and possibly losing control,” says Dr. Karen Moore. These special blankets are filled with weighted pellets. Weighted blankets are also marketed for general use as an aid to sleep and relaxation. Like a firm hug, weighted blankets help us feel safe.” This is the reason why many people like to sleep under a blanket even in summer.
“If you want to try this type of blanket, the best weight depends on your body size and personal preference. However, 15 to 30 pounds is typical for adults,” Moor says. She adds that weighted blankets are not recommended for those recovering from surgery.
“People can also have serious preferences for a particular blanket,” says Dr. Hoagland. “Regularly using a favorite blanket for sleep can help to develop a conditioned response so that sleep is quicker.” In fact, many sleep centers ask patients to bring their own blanket and pillow from home, which helps them fall asleep more easily.
小题1:The author wrote the passage mainly to tell us _____.

A．the importance of blankets

B．how to choose the perfect blanket

C．different materials used to make blankets

D．the history and usage of blankets

小题2:The underlined word “rouse” in Paragraph 2 is the closest in meaning to “______”.

A．wake up

B．take up

C．make up

D．pick up

小题3:What do we know from the passage?

A．Body temperature rises when we fall asleep

B．The perfect sleep temperature should be above 70 degrees F.

C．Weighted blankets should be at least 30 pounds.

D．People are advised to use their own blankets.

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How to be Prepared
Electricity, water, gas and telephone may not be working after an earthquake. The police and fire department are likely to be tied up. You should be prepared to take care of yourself for at least three days, preferably for a week.
This list can also be applied to other disasters, such as floods or wildfires.
1. food and water (a gallon a day per person)
2. a first aid kit
3. a fire extinguisher suitable for all types of fires
4. flashlights, a portable radio extra batteries
5. blankets, clothes, shoes and money (ATMs may not work)
6. baby and pet food
It’s also a good idea to decide beforehand how and where your family will reunite if separated during a quake and to conduct in-home practice drills.
During an Earthquake
If you are indoors, stay there. Get under and hold onto a desk or table, or stand against an interior wall. Stay away from exterior walls, glass, heavy furniture, and stay away from windows and outside walls and do not use the elevator.
If you are outside, get into the open, stay into the open, stay away from buildings, power lines or anything else that could fall on you.
If you are driving, move the car out of traffic and stop, avoid parking under or on bridges or overpasses, Try to get clear of trees, light posts, signs and power lines.
If you are in a crowded public place, avoid panicking and do not rush for the exit. Stay low and cover your head and neck with your hands and arms.
After an Earthquake
If the phone is working, only use it in case of emergency. Likewise, avoid driving if possible to keep the streets clear for emergency vehicles.
Be aware that items may fall out of cupboards or closets when the door is opened, and also that chimneys can be weakened and fall with touch. Check for cracks and damage to the roof and foundation of your home.
Listen to the radio for important information and instructions. Remember that aftershocks, sometimes large enough to cause damage in their own right, generally follow large quakes.
If you leave home, leave a message telling friends and family your location.
小题1:Which of the following items is unnecessary to prepare before an earthquake？

A．Batteries

B．Cash

C．Medicine

D．Creditcard

小题2:When an earthquake comes，you should ______.

A．hideyourselfinthekitchen

B．rushfortheexitimmediately

C．stayawayfromheavyobjects

D．callthepolicerightaway

小题3:When an earthquake is over，you should______.

A．driveacartotakeyourfamilytothesafeplace

B．checkthesecurityofyourhome

C．callyourrelativestotellthemyouaresafe

D．clearupthemessassoonaspossible.

小题4:Which of the following sentences is true according to the passage？

A．You’dbettermakeitclearhowandwhereyourfamilywillreuniteifseparatedduringaquakeafterthequakehappens.

B．Ifyouareindoors,getintotheopen.

C．Ifyouareinacrowdedpublicplace,avoidpanickinganddorushfortheexit.

D．Ifthephonestillworks,onlyuseitwhennecessary.

小题5:What does the underlined word “aftershock ” mean?

A．Alessseriousquakefollowingalargeearthquakeinthesamearea.

B．Afurtherreactionfollowingtheshockofadeeplydisturbingthing.

C．Amessonehastodealwithafteraterriblething.

D．Aninstructionthegovernmentgivestosolveproblems.

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Pollutants coming from automobile operation have begun to cause many environmental problems. It has been calculated, for example, that 70% of the carbon monoxide(一氧化碳), 45% of the nitrogen oxides(氮氧化合物), and 34% of the hydrocarbon (碳氢化合物) pollution in the United States can be traced directly to automobile exhausts (废气). In addition, rubber, motor oil and other materials accumulate on roadways and are washed into streams, with effects nearly as serious as those of untreated waste water.
In an effort to improve the situation, the U.S. government has made regulations on the use of the constituents (成分) of automobile exhaust gas that are known to cause air pollution. These constituents fall roughly into three types: hydrocarbons that pass through the engine unburned; carbon monoxide, also a product of incomplete burning; and nitrogen oxides which are formed when nitrogen and oxygen are in contact at high temperatures. Besides their own poisonous character, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides react in the presence of sunlight to form harmful smog. Carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons are rather easily controlled by the use of higher burning temperatures in engines. Unfortunately, the conditions that produce minimum emission of hydrocarbons tend to raise emission of nitrogen oxides. In a way this difficulty is solved by adding recycled exhaust gas to the fuel mixture, thus avoiding the oversupply of oxygen that favors formation of nitrogen oxides.
California, which has the most strict air-pollution laws in the United States, requires further special compounding of gas to control emissions, and several states have ordered that alcohol be mixed with gas, as this will reduce emissions of the carbon monoxide by 35 per cent and the hydrocarbons by 15 per cent.
小题1:The author uses figures in Paragraph 1 ________.

A．to reflect the rapid growth of automobile use

B．to highlight the importance of environment protection

C．to show the consequence of automobile exhausts

D．to criticize the low quality of cars

小题2:How are nitrogen oxides formed according to the text?

A．Nitrogen and oxygen are put together in great heat.

B．Carbon monoxide and oxygen are mixed together.

C．Hydrocarbons pass through the engine.

D．Nitrogen is burned incompletely.

小题3:Which of the following is NOT true according to the text?

A．Carbon monoxide can be controlled in the engine.

B．Smog will form when hydrocarbons meet nitrogen oxides in the sunlight.

C．Hydrocarbons have no poisonous character themselves.

D．The conditions that decease emission of hydrocarbons will increase emission of nitrogen oxides.

小题4:According to the text, alcohol is added to gas in order to ______.

A．increase awareness of environment protection

B．control air pollution

C．increase the fuel efficiency

D．replace gas gradually

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