| ( )1. A. spend ( )2. A. and ( )3. A. Subjects ( )4. A. With ( )5. A. diary ( )6. A. courses ( )7. A. beyond ( )8. A. careful ( )9. A. possess ( )10. A. Gradually ( )11. A. through ( )12. A. So ( )13. A. deal with ( )14. A. argue ( )15. A. much ( )16. A. cost ( )17. A. contribute ( )18. A. Therefore ( )19. A. courage ( )20. A. decision | B. gain B. or B. ideas B. Before B. report B. benefits B. about B. proud B. apply B. Finally B. across B. Thus B. look into B. doubt B. full B. pay B. appeal B. Otherwise B. desire B. purpose | C. complete C. but C. Procedures C. During C. note C. challenges C. over C. tired C. include C. Luckily C. of C. Since C. point out C. overlook C. less C. care. C. attend C. Besides C. emotion C. solution | D. save D. for D. Examples D. After D. notice D. features D. in D. aware D. develop D. Hopefully D. on D. While D. take down D. admit D. more D. praise D. belong D. However D. spirit D. result |
| 阅读理解。 | |||
| Have you ever noticed the colour of the water in a river or stream after a heavy rainfall? What do you think caused this change in colour? It is soil that has been washed into the river from the riverbank or from the nearby fields. Components of Soil Soil is made up of a number of layers (层), each having its own distinctive colour and texture. The upper layer is known as the litter. It acts like a blanket, limiting temperature changes and reducing water loss. The topsoil layer is made up of small particles of rock mixed with rotten plant and animal matter called humus (腐殖质), which is black and gives the topsoil its dark colour. This layer is usually rich in nutrients, oxygen, and water. Below the topsoil is the subsoil, a layer that contains more stones mixed with only small amounts of organic matter. This layer is lighter in colour because of the lack of humus. Beneath the soil lies a layer of bedrock. Soil forms from the bottom up. Over time bedrock is attacked by rain, wind, frost, and snow. It is gradually broken down into smaller particles in a process called weathering. Plants begin to grow, and rotten materials enrich the topsoil. Most of the soil in Eastern Canada, for example, was formed from weathered rock that was exposed when the ice disappeared l2,000 years ago. Water Beneath the Soil Surface water collects and flows above the ground in lakes, ponds and rivers. Once in the soil or rock, it is called groundwater. Gravity pulls groundwater through the soil in a process called percolation (渗透). Eventually the water reaches a layer called the water table. Under this is bedrock through which water cannot percolate. As water percolates downward, it dissolves organic matter and minerals from the soil and carries them to deeper layers. This causes a serious problem because plants require these nutrients for growth. Soil pH Soil can be acidic neutral or basic. The pH of the soil is determined by the nature of the rock from which it was formed and by the nature of the plants that grow and rot in it. The acidity of rain and snow can lower the pH of the groundwater that enters the soil. By burning fossil fuels such as coal,oil and gasoline, humans have been contributing to higher levels of acidity in many soils. When fossil fuels are burned, gases are released into the air and then fall back to earth as acid rain. Acid soil increase the problem of carrying nutrients to lower soil levels. As nutrients are removed, soil is less fertile. Plants grow more slowly in acidic soil, and also become easily attacked by diseases. | |||
| 1. The layer of soil that provides necessary nutrients for plant growth is called _____. | |||
| A. 1itter B. topsoil C. humus D. subsoil | |||
| 2. According to the text, which of the following is NOT true? | |||
| A. Soil forms from weathered rock on the earth surface. B. The deeper layer of soil is darker in colour than the surface soil. C. Air pollution is partially responsible for acid soil. D. Groundwater tends to carry away nutrients for plant growth. | |||
| 3. We can infer from the passage that the water table lies _____. | |||
| A. between the topsoil layer and the subsoil layer B. in the subsoil layer above bedrock C. between the subsoil layer and bedrock D. in the bedrock layer beneath the subsoil | |||
| 4. The underlined word "dissolve" is used to express the idea that organic matter and minerals from soil are _____. | |||
| A. rushed away into the river B. cleaned and purified by water C. destroyed and carried away by water D. mixed with water and become part of it | |||
| 阅读理解。 | |||
| The surprising experiment I am about to describe proves that air is all around you and that it proves down upon you. Air pressure is a wonderful force. When you swim underwater, you can feel water push down your body. The air all around you does the same. However, your body is so used to it that you do not notice this. The pressure is caused by a layer of air called the atmosphere. This layer surrounds the Earth, extending to about five kilometers above the Earth"s surface. The following experiment is an easy one that you can do at home. But make sure that you are supervised, because you will need to use matches. Now for the experiment! What you need ·A hard-boiled egg without the shell ·A bottle with a neck slightly smaller than the egg ·A piece of paper ·A match Method 1) Check that the paper will sit firmly on the neck of the bottle. 2) Tear the paper into strips and put the strips into the bottle. 3) Light the paper by dropping a burning match into the bottle. 4) Quickly sit the egg on the neck of the bottle. Result Astonishingly, the egg will be sucked into the bottle. Your friends will be amazed when you show them the experiment. But be careful when you handle matches. Why it happened As the paper burns, it needs oxygen and uses up the oxygen (air) in the bottle. The egg acts as a seal in the neck of the bottle, so no more air can get inside. This reduces the air pressure inside the bottle. The air pressure must equalize, so more air from outside must enter the bottle. The outside air pressure against the egg and then the egg is pushed into the bottle! This proves that air is all around and that it is pressing down on it. | |||
| 1. Why is there the need to take care when you are doing the experiment? | |||
| A. The bottle could break. B. You need to light the paper with a match. C. The egg needs to be shelled. D. The egg has to be perfectly placed on the neck of the bottle. | |||
| 2. In the experiment, the burning inside the bottle can _____. | |||
| A. equalize the air pressure inside and outside B. make a seal in the neck of the bottle C. finish up the oxygen inside the bottle D. produce more oxygen inside the bottle | |||
| 3. How did the egg put into the bottle? | |||
| A. The oxygen inside the bottle sucked the egg in. B. It became salt without the shell. C. The neck of the bottle was wide enough. D. The outside air pressure forced it into the bottle. | |||
| 4. The experiment is carried cut to prove _____. | |||
| A. water pushes on your body when you swim underwater. B. the earth is surrounded by a layer of air called the atmosphere. C. the pressure of air around us has a powerful force. D. the air pressure is not equalized around us. | |||
| 阅读理解。 | |||
| A volcanic eruption in Iceland has sent ash across northern Europe. Airlines have stopped or changed the flights across the Atlantic Ocean, leaving hundreds of passengers stuck in airports. Grirmsvom is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Europe. What makes Grimsvom different is that it lies under a huge glacier (冰川) of ice up to 12 maters thick. The hot volcano heats up the ice above it, which then forms a layer (层) of water between the glacier and the volcano. This layer of water puts pressure on the volcano, keeping it stable. As the water flows out from under the glacier, the pressure lifts. The lava (岩浆) from the volcano then comes up to the surface. This is exactly what happened today. Now, airlines have to make changes to their flights so as not to fly through the clouds of volcanic ash. According to KLM. one of Europe"s biggest airlines, airplanes cannot go under the cloud or over it. Going through the cloud can result in ash getting stuck in the airplane"s engines, causing damage to the plane. The eruption has also caused problems for animals in Iceland. The volcano left ash and sharp. Glass-like rocks all over the countryside. Farmers are keeping their animals inside to stop them from eating ash-covered grass to the sharp object. | |||
| 1. What makes Grimsvom different from other volcanoes? | |||
| A. It is below ice B. It lies under the sea C. It is the largest volcano D. It is lava affects the airlines | |||
| 2. What keeps Grimsvotn still? | |||
| A. The slow flow of water B. The low water temperature C. The thick glacier D. The water pressure | |||
| 3. Which of the following is the result of the volcanic eruption? | |||
| A. People stop traveling in Europe B. Airlines suffer from the loss of planes C. It becomes dangerous for animals to eat outside D. Farmers have lost many of their animals | |||
| 4. This text is most probably taken from _____. | |||
| A. a research paper B. a newspaper report C. a class presentation D. a geography textbook. | |||
| 阅读理解。 | |||
| Howling is a behavior commonly observed among a wolf pack. As pack animals, wolves work together to hunt and rely on howling as an important means of communication among each other. There are different explanations of a wolf"s howl and it appears that there may be more to discover. One theory is that wolves howl to bond better together. It"s almost as if howling together helps the pack stay together. Perhaps something is similar to people feeling a sense of involvement with each other when singing a song together. But this theory may be wrong, explains Fred H. Harington, a professor who studies wolf behavior. Indeed, there have been times when wolves have been seen one moment howling in a chorus, and the next, quarreling among each other. It appears that usually the lowest-ranking members of the pack may actually be "punished" for joining in the chorus at times. So is howling a way to strengthen a social bond or just a way to reconfirm status among its members? - Why do wolves howl for sure? What is clear, however, is that howling is often used among packmates to locate each other. Hunting grounds are distant and it happens that wolves may separate from one another at times. When this happens, howling appears to be an excellent means of gathering. Howling, interestingly, is a contagious behavior. When one wolf starts to howl, very likely others will follow. This is often seen to occur in the morning, as if wolves were doing some sort of "roll call" where wolves all howl together to report their presence. | |||
| 1. What the possible similarity between wolves" howling together and human"s singing in chorus? | |||
| A. The act of calling each other. B. the sense of accomplishment. C. The act of hunting for something. D. The sense of belonging to a group. | |||
| 2. Why does Harrington think the "social bond" theory may be wrong? | |||
| A. Wolves separate from each other after howling. B. Wolves tend to protect their hunting grounds. C. Wolves sometimes have quarrels after howling together. D. Wolves of low rank are encouraged to join in the chorus. | |||
| 3. Researchers are sure that wolves often howl to _____. | |||
| A. show their ranks B. find their companions C. report the missing ones D. express their loneliness | |||
| 4. "Howling… is a contagious behavior" (in the last paragraph) means _____. | |||
| A. howling is a signal for hunting B. howling is a way of communication C. howling often occurs in the morning D. howling spreads from one to another |