Last night’s meteor (流星) shower left many people in the community dissatisfied a
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Last night’s meteor (流星) shower left many people in the community dissatisfied and demanding answers. According to Gabe Rothschild, Emerald Valley’s mayor, people gathered in the suburbs of the city, carrying heavy telescopes, expecting to watch the brightly burning meteors passing through the sky. What they found instead was a sky so brightened by the city’s lights that it darkened the light of the meteors passing overhead.
“My family was so frustrated,” admitted town resident Duane Cosby, “We wanted to make this an unforgettable family outing, but it turned out to be a huge disappointment.”
Astronomers—scientists who study stars and planets—have been complaining about this problem for decades. They say that light pollution prevents them from seeing objects in the sky that they could see quite easily in the past. They call on people and the government to take measures to fight against it.
There is yet a population besides professional and amateur star observers that suffers even more from light pollution. This population consists of birds, bats, frogs, snakes, etc. For example, outdoor lighting severely affects migrating (迁徙的) birds. According to the International Dark-Sky Association, “100 million birds a year throughout North America die in crashes with lighted buildings and towers.”
Countless more animal casualties (伤亡) result from the use of artificial lighting. Clearly, people enjoy the benefits of lighting their evenings. But some scientists think it can be harmful for humans, too. They worry that exposure to light while sleeping can increase a person’s chances of getting cancer.
Emerald Valley is only one community that is becoming aware of the negative effects of light pollution. For years, Flagstaff, Arizona, has enforced lighting regulations in its city in order to assist astronomers at the Lowell Observatory. Similar efforts have been made worldwide, and a movement is underway to remind us to turn off lights when we are not using them, so that other creatures can share the night.
小题1:It happened last night that _____.| A．the city’s lights affected the meteor watching | | B．the meteors flew past before being noticed | | C．the city light show attracted many people | | D．the meteor watching ended up a social outing |
小题2:What do the astronomers complain about?| A．Meteor showers occur less often than before. | | B．Their observation equipment is in poor repair. | | C．Light pollution has remained unsolved for years. | | D．Their eyesight is failing due to artificial lighting. |
小题3:What is the author concerned about according to Paragraph 4?| A．Birds may take other migration paths. | | B．Animals’ living habits may change suddenly | | C．Varieties of animals will become sharply reduced | | D．Animals’ survival is threatened by outdoor lighting. |
小题4:Lighting regulations in Flagstaff, Arizona are put into effect to _____.| A．lessen the chance of getting cancer | | B．create an ideal observation condition | | C．ensure citizens a good sleep at night | | D．enable all creatures to live in harmony |
小题5:What message does the author most want to give us?| A．Saving wildlife is saving ourselves. | | B．Great efforts should be made to save energy. | | C．Human activities should be environmentally friendly. | | D．New equipment should be introduced for space study.. |
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答案
小题1:A
小题2:C
小题3:D
小题4:B
小题5:C |
解析
【文章大意】许多人想在晚上看流星雨，结果由于光线太亮，影响了他们的观看效果。由此引发了人们对光污染的思考。本文是一篇议论文，文章由一个事例引发出要讨论的话题。
小题1:第一段的最后一句话a sky so brightened by the city’s lights that it darkened the light of the meteors passing overhead表明答案为A。
小题2:题干中的Astronomers出现在第三段，文中有一句话have been complaining about this problem for decades，第一段就提到了光线太亮，这句话的后面又提到了light pollution。结合选项，答案为C。
小题3:第四段第一句话就告诉我们除了专业及业余的观星者之外，还有些群体也收到了光污染的影响。而这些群体指的就是birds、bats等动物。D项的意思是“动物的生存受到户外灯光的影响”。
小题4:题干中的信息告诉我们答案应该出现在最后一段，根据“in order to assist astronomers at the Lowell Observatory”，答案显然为B。
小题5:文中作者反复强调光污染问题对人类的一些活动和动物的影响。这显然是强调环境问题。 |
举一反三
College is a lifetime investment (投资) — the gift of a college education can open the door to a world of opportunity for your child or grandchild. Savings（储蓄）, even not so many at a time, can make a big difference.
With the cost of a college education continuing to rise, the key is to start saving early and regularly. By saving a set amount at set times, your money can grow as your child does. According to the College Board, the average cost for four-year public colleges has increased by nearly 51% over the last 10 years and these costs will almost certainly continue to rise. Saving for college can help with the increasing cost of a college education and help you be well prepared when your child is ready for college.
Saving for your child’s college education is an investment in their future. The savings you make today will pay off in increased earnings in the future. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, college graduates earn an average of $1 million more than high school graduates during their careers. The value of your investment in a college education will continue to grow for a lifetime.
Set your college saving goals realistically. You may not be able to save enough for all four years’ fees, but you could save enough to give your child the right start.
More and more families depend on student loans(贷款) to pay for college. By saving for college, families will have less burden of paying off loans and help their children leave school without worrying about paying off loans.
小题1:From the second paragraph we can learn that_______________.| A．the College Board increased public college costs | | B．public college costs will increase by 51% in the next ten years | | C．it’s not too late to start saving when your child is ready for college | | D．saving can help deal with the rising cost of college education |
小题2:Savings for college education _____________.| A．will increase in the value in the future | B．make one earn a lot | | C．help create good jobs | D．are wise for businessmen to invest |
小题3:Which of the following is TRUE about saving for college?| A．You should save to help children get scholarships more easily. | | B．It’s better to increase the savings as the child grows. | | C．It’s better to save early and regularly. | | D．You should set a further and bigger saving goal. |
小题4:Who are the expected readers of the passage?| A．Parents. | B．High school students. | C．Educators | D．Bankers. |
小题5:Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?| A．When to Save for Children’s College Costs | | B．How to Make a Good Investment | | C．Why We Should Save for Children’s College Costs | | D．How Much Four-Year College Costs |
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There are quite a few advantages of wearing school uniforms. The idea may seem disagreeable at first, but considering all the positive effective coming from wearing uniforms you would be more likely to enjoy them.
Teachers love school uniforms because it helps provide an orderly learning environment. Having students dressed in uniforms may teach them how to present themselves in a neat（整洁的）and professional manner. It gives students the opportunity to learn how to dress like young ladies and gentleman. And they can focus their attention on academics rather than style.
Purchasing school uniforms is easy and needs less hesitation(犹豫) and consideration. No matter what the school’ s policy is, there are only specific essential(基本的) pieces to the wardrobe（服装） that are necessary, so it won’t break the bank. A few wardrobe items can last a long time. Parents could also enjoy an easy morning, as it will take less time to choose a set of clothes for the school day.
Students wearing uniforms will feel less pressure about what to wear or not to wear when their classmates are dressed similarly. Getting dressed before school becomes less of a chore when students are limited in their choices, so there shouldn’t be any trouble about choosing an outfit for the day and getting ready quickly. Some students may not like the lack of individuality(个性) with a uniform, but some school dress code policies may offer them the opportunities to show their unique styles.
Uniforms today are also becoming trendier and can be seen in many areas of pop culture. Celebrities and fashion designers are using uniforms as inspiration for new looks which also appeal to students.
小题1:What would be the best title for the text?| A．How to dress properly. | | B．The history of school uniforms. | | C．The advantages of school uniforms. | | D．How to deal with pressure in school. |
小题2:Teachers think that wearing school uniforms ________________.| A．is just a tradition that students should follow | | B．makes students feel less pressure in study | | C．helps students put more effort into their studies | | D．makes students lose their independence and identity |
小题3:The underlined part “it won’t break the bank” in Paragraph 3 probably means “___________”.| A．a school uniform doesn’t cost a lot of money | | B．a school uniform should be worn every day | | C．parents will have to go to the bank many times | | D．parents who work in a bank can afford the uniform |
小题4:We can infer from the text that school uniforms _________.| A．are not popular with fashion designers | | B．were not accepted by parents in the past | | C．will be designed by students themselves | | D．will be more fashionable in the future |
小题5:The author’s attitude towards students’ wearing school uniforms is ___________.| A．negative | B．supportive | C．doubtful | D．unclear |
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Ever since man began to use the telephone, there have been new problems arising from the carrying of messages. At first, each message was carried by a pair of overhead wires. As a result, telephone exchanges were soon surrounded by thousands of wires. The wires were then replaced by cables (电缆)，each containing many pairs of wires. Each cable is capable of carrying many messages. These cables, laid underground, replaced the overhead wires.
The more extensive telephone services have become, the more demand for these services has increased, particularly the demand for long-distance services. In China, for example, this growth is now over 30% every year. Long-distance telephone exchanges are usually in crowded cities, where is not easy to lay new labels for expanding services.
The use of radio to send telephone message and to link all telephone exchanges makes it possible to get rid of overhead wires and some underground cables.
Now man has invented the microwave system ( 微波系统 ). In a microwave system messages from various places can be brought together, and then they are sent out and received by radio. After that, the messages are split into their original form. Finally, they are sent to the places where they are going to be sent.
小题1:The word “message” ( in paragraph 1) is close in meaning to “______”.| A．electricity | B．industry | C．information | D．wave |
小题2:A cable is different from an overhead wire, because it ________.| A．is made of wood | | B．needs more exchange | | C．carries more messages | | D．is much longer |
小题3:What does the word extensive mean？| A．growing | B．using | C．holding | D．understanding |
小题4:The best title for the passage would be “________”.| A．The Telephone and Its Past | | B．From the Wire to the Microwave System | | C．The Needs for Better Telephones | | D．How to Use the Telephone |
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The rat is named Lola and she’s at the top of her class of risk-running animals being trained to smell out landmines (地雷) in Colombia, home to the world’s highest number of mine-related deaths and injuries last year. Of the victims, many are children who died in the accidents while walking to school or playing in the countryside.
The smartest rat among the first six that the government is teaching to locate landmines equipment planted by rebels(叛乱者) has a 90 percent success rate in locating landmines material in her lab training.
Police animal trainers, tired of seeing their landmines-smelling dogs blown up by stepping on mines, hope the white-furred, pink-eyed creature will lead her classmates through coming open field tests and then into the country mine fields before the end of the year. It takes about 400 grams of pressure to detonate (引爆) a mine while Lola only weighs about 220 grams. “The dogs can easily set off the landmines, sometimes killing people nearby,” they said.
Police animal trainer Jose Pineda says that rats have more sensitive noses than dogs, which should allow them to better smell out mines in difficult terrain (地形).
Plus, it takes the police about six months to train mine-smelling dogs. Training the rats is expected to take about half that time once the program is established.
Trainers think that they are much smarter than the dogs. The second-best scorer in the laboratory is Lucrecia, with an 83 percent success rate. Males, such as one named Runcho, have fallen behind until now but may do better in the coming field tests. Pineda said that the next step of training will present new challenges to the rats as they are sure to meet distractions (分心的事) in the open.
小题1:What do the underlined words “the accidents” in the first paragraph mean? | A．Children were shot while playing outside. | | B．A buried landmine was walked on and set off. | | C．A rebel blew up a landmine and killed children. | | D．Children got hurt in traffic accidents on the way to school. |
小题2:Which of the following is NOT a reason why rats are chosen to find buried landmines? | A．They have a good sense of smell. | | B．They are too light to set off buried landmines. | | C．They can smell all kinds of explosive materials. | | D．They cost people less time in terms of training |
小题3:What can we learn from the last paragraph?| A．Rats will perform as well in the open air as in the lab. | | B．Until now, female rats are better than the male ones. | | C．Trainers should have chosen only female rats for the program. | | D．Because they are foolish, dogs are not preferred for the program. |
小题4:What would be the best title for the passage? | A．Dogs Bring Peace to the People in Colombia | | B．Colombia Develops a New Way to Reduce Deaths | | C．Buried Landmines are a Great Danger to Colombians | | D．Colombian Police Train Rats to Sniff Out Landmines |
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Medicine comes in lots of different packages. Painkillers in a tablet can make your headache go away. Antibiotic cream (抗菌素膏) from a tube can prevent your cuts from becoming infected. But can medicine come packaged in chicken eggs?
A team of scientists from Scotland say “yes”. They’ve engineered special chickens that lay eggs with disease-treating drugs inside.
These eggs come from chickens that have been engineered to produce certain drugs inside their egg whites.
These drugs are made of molecules called proteins(蛋白质). Animals make thousands of proteins — they’re the main element in skin, hair, milk and meat. Since animals can make proteins easily, they’re good candidates (候选者) for making protein drugs.
Researchers have already made cows, sheep and goats produce protein drugs in their milk. But chickens are cheaper to take care of, need less room, and grow faster than these other animals. Those qualities could make chickens a better choice to become living drug factories, says Simon Lillico of the Roslin Institute near Edinburgh, Scotland.
Lillico and a team of researchers changed chickens’ DNA — the code that tells cells how to make proteins — so that the birds’ cells made two protein drugs. One drug can treat skin cancer, and the other treats a nerve disease called multiple sclerosis (多发性硬化).
The scientists changed the chickens’ DNA so that the birds made these drugs only in their egg whites. This protects the chickens’ bodies from the drugs’ possible harmful effects and makes it easy for scientists to collect the drugs.
小题1:If you cut your finger, you may use ________ to cure it.| A．painkillers in a tablet | B．antibiotic cream from a tube | | C．chicken eggs | D．protein drugs |
小题2:Which of the following statements is NOT true?| A．Scientists from Scotland have succeeded in packing medicine into chicken eggs. | | B．The drugs are made of molecules called proteins. | | C．Scientists chose chickens for their experiments because chicken eggs taste delicious. | | D．The animals are good candidates for making protein drugs. |
小题3:The drugs in special chicken eggs can ________.| A．treat lung cancer | B．help reduce headache | | C．change people’s DNA | D．treat multiple sclerosis |
小题4:We can infer from the passage that ________.| A．eating eggs is the best choice for the patients now | | B．scientists changed the chicken’s DNA and put all the drugs in chicken eggs | | C．we may eat special eggs as drugs when we are sick in the future | | D．the drugs produce harmful effects on the chicken’s bodies |
小题5:The best title for the passage is ________.| A．Chicken Eggs to Replace Medicine | B．Chicken Eggs as Drug | | C．Chicken Eggs and Medicine | D．Chicken Eggs and Animal Milk |
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