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     Why should mankind explore space? Why should money, time and effort be spent exploring and
researching something with so few apparent benefits? Why should resources be spent on space rather
than on conditions and people on Earth? These are questions that, understandably, are very often asked.
     Perhaps the best answer lies in our genetic makeup (基因构成) as human beings.What drove our
ancestors to move from the trees into the plains, and on into all possible areas and environments? The
wider the spread of a species, the better its chance of survival.Perhaps the best reason for exploring
space is this genetic tendency to expand wherever possible.
     Nearly every successful civilization has explored, because by doing so, any dangers in surrounding
areas can be identified and prepared for.Without knowledge, we may be completely destroyed by the
danger.With knowledge, we can lessen its effects.
     Exploration also allows minerals and other potential (潜在的) resources to be found.Even if we have
no immediate need of them, they will perhaps be useful later.Resources may be more than physical
possessions.Knowledge or techniques have been acquired through exploration.The techniques may have
medical applications which can improve the length or quality of our lives.We have already benefited from
other spinoffs including improvements in earthquake prediction, in satellites for weather forecasting and in
communications systems.Even nonstick pans and mirrored sunglasses are byproducts (副产品) of
technological developments in the space industry!
      While many resources are spent on what seems a small return, the exploration of space allows
creative, brave and intelligent members of our species to focus on what may serve to save us.While
space may hold many wonders and explanations of how the universe was formed or how it works, it also
holds dangers.The danger exists, but knowledge can help human beings to survive.Without the ability to
reach out across space, the chance to save ourselves might not exist.
     While Earth is the only planet known to support life, surely the adaptive ability of humans would allow
us to live on other planets.It is true that the lifestyle would be different, but human life and cultures have
adapted in the past and surely could in the future.

1. Why does the author mention the questions in Paragraph 1?

A. To express his doubts.
B. To compare different ideas.
C. To introduce points for discussion.
D. To describe the conditions on Earth.

2. What is the reason for exploring space based on Paragraph 2?

A. Humans are natureborn to do so.
B. Humans have the tendency to fight.
C. Humans may find new sources of food.
D. Humans don't like to stay in the same place.

3. The underlined word "spinoffs" in Paragraph 4 probably refers to________.

A. survival chances  
B. potential resources
C. unexpected benefits  
D. physical possessions

4. What makes it possible for humans to live on other planets?

A. Our genetic makeup.
B. Resources on the earth.
C. The adaptive ability of humans.
D. Byproducts in space exploration.
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Why You Should Celebrate Your Mistakes

  When you make a mistake, big or small, cherish(珍视)it like it’s the most precious thing in the world.Because in some ways, it is.

  Most of us feel bad when we make mistakes, beat ourselves up about it, feel like failures, get mad at ourselves.

  And that’s only natural:most of us have been taught from a young age that mistakes are bad, that we should try to avoid mistakes.We’ve been scolded when we make mistakes-at home, school and work.Maybe not always, but probably enough times to make feeling bad about mistakes an unconscious reaction.

  Yet without mistakes, we could not learn or grow.If you think about it that way, mistakes should be cherished and celebrated for being one of the most amazing things in the world:they make learning possible;they make growth and improvement possible.

  By trial and error-trying things, making mistakes, and learning from those mistakes-we have figured out how to make electric light, to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, to fly.

  Mistakes make walking possible for the smallest toddler, make speech possible, make works of genius possible.

  Think about how we learn:we don’t just consume information about something and instantly know it or know how to do it.You don’t just read about painting, or writing, or computer programming, or baking, or playing the piano, and know how to do them right away.Instead, you get information about something, from reading or from another person or from observing usually...then you construct a model in your mind...then you test it out by trying it in the real world...then you make mistakes...then you revise the model based on the results of your real-world experimentation...and repeat, making mistakes, learning from those mistakes, until you’ve pretty much learned how to do something.That’s how we learn as babies and toddlers, and how we learn as adults.Mistakes are how we learn to do something new-because if you succeed at something, it’s probably something you already knew how to do.You haven’t really grown much from that success-at most it’s the last step on your journey, not the whole journey.Most of the journey was made up of mistakes, if it’s a good journey.

  So if you value learning, if you value growing and improving, then you should value mistakes.They are amazing things that make a world of brilliance possible.

(1)

Why do most of us feel bad about making mistakes?

[  ]

A.

Because mistakes make us suffer a lot.

B.

Because it’s a natural part in our life.

C.

Because we’ve been taught so from a young age.

D.

Because mistakes have ruined many people’s careers.

(2)

According to the passage, what is the right attitude to mistakes?

[  ]

A.

We should try to avoid making mistakes.

B.

We should owe great inventions mainly to mistakes.

C.

We should treat mistakes as good chances to learn.

D.

We should make feeling bad about mistakes an unconscious reaction.

(3)

The underlined word “toddler” in Paragraph 6 probably means __________.

[  ]

A.

a small child learning to walk

B.

a kindergarten child learning to draw

C.

a primary pupil learning to read

D.

a school teenager learning to write

(4)

We can learn from the passage that __________.

[  ]

A.

most of us can really grow from success

B.

growing and improving are based on mistakes

C.

we learn to make mistakes by trial and error

D.

we read about something and know how to do it right away

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科目:高中英语 来源:江苏省仪征中学2011-2012学年高二上学期期中考试英语试题 题型:050

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Why I Don't Spare “Spare Change”

  “Poor but honest.” “The deserving(值得帮助的)poor.” These words always come to my mind when I think of “the poor.” But I also think of people who, perhaps through alcohol or drugs, have ruined not only their own lives but also the lives of others in order to give way to their own pleasure.Perhaps alcoholism and drug addiction really are “diseases,” as many people say, but my own feeling——based, of course, not on any serious study——is that most alcoholics and drug addicts belong to the “undeserving poor.” And that is largely why I don't give spare change to beggars.

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  If one believes in the value of private charity, one can either give to needy people or to charitable organizations.In giving to a beggar one may indeed be helping a person who badly needs help, but one cannot be certain that one is giving to a needy person.In giving to an organization, on the other hand, one can feel that one's money is likely to be used wisely.True, facing a beggar one may feel that this particular unfortunate person needs help at this moment——a cup of coffee or a sandwich——and the need will not be met unless I put my hand in my pocket right now.But I have come to think that the beggars whom I meet can get along without my spare change, and indeed perhaps they are actually better off for not having money to buy alcohol or drugs.

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(1)

What does the author think of beggars who take drugs?

[  ]

A.

They should be given a check-up.

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They really need money to live.

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They have no pleasure in life.

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They are not worth helping.

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Why doesn't the author give money to street people?

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A.

He doesn't think they need help.

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He doesn't have enough money to give.

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He is not convinced they will use it rightly.

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He believes they can get help from the government.

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A.

asking questions for people to think about

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giving examples to support his argument

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raising questions and answering them

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Why Rent Textbooks?

  Renting textbooks is a relatively new idea for everyone.Back in the old days, the idea of renting one never existed since the books are affordable or readily available in libraries.But the time has changed and with the changes in educational system and various economic challenges happening across the globe, the price of textbooks increased.

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A.

One can save a great deal of time in browsing for better deals online

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It brings convenience to all the users apart from saving money and time

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It saves one money and helps him spend money on what he need most in college

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[  ]

A.

renting textbooks allows you to save a lot of money

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renting a textbook can also save you a great deal of time

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textbook renting was a relatively new fashion among college students

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阅读理解

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阅读理解
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