Now satellites are helping to forecast(预报)the weather. They are in space, and they can reach any part of the world. The satellites take pictures of the atmosphere(大气), because this is where the weather forms. They send these pictures to the weather stations. So meteorologists(气象学家)can see the weather of any part of the world. From the pictures, the scientists can often say how the weather will change.

Today, nearly five hundred weather stations in sixty countries receive satellite pictures. When they receive new pictures, the meteorologists compare them with earlier ones. Perhaps they may find that the clouds have changed during the last few hours. This may mean that the weather on the ground may soon change, too. In their next weather forecast, the meteorologists can say this.

The weather satellites are a great help to the meteorologists. Before satellites were invented, the scientists could forecast the weather for about 24 or 48 hours. Now they can make good forecasts for three or five days. Soon, perhaps, they may be able to forecast the weather for a week or more ahead.

1.Satellites travel 　　  .

A. above space?　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    B.above the ground

C.in the space?　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  D.in space

2.Satellites are now used in 　　  .

A. the study of space?　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    B.receiving pictures

C.comparing pictures?　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  D.weather forecasting

3.Weather satellites take pictures of the atmosphere because 　　  .

A. clouds from there

B.the weather disappears there

C.comparing pictures

D.these pictures can help forecast the weather

4.Meteorologists forecast the weather 　　  .

A. after they have compared new satellite pictures with earlier ones

B.after they have taken pictures of clouds

C.before they have received pictures

D.when they have received satellite pictures

5.Men will soon be able to forecast the weather for 　　  .

A.24 hours?　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  B.48 hours

C.168 hours or even longer?　　　　　　　　　　　　   D.a month

Remember what weight is? Weight is the gravitational pull on an object. If, somehow, the pull of gravitation changes, then the weight of the object changes. The mass of the object, the amount(数量)of matter it is made of, does not change.

If a bag of sugar weighs 6 kilograms on earth, what will it weigh on the moon? It will weigh one kilogram on the moon, 1/6 of its weight on the earth.

Here on the earth we usually talks as if weight and mass were the same thing. We use weight as a way of measuring mass. On the earth this is very convenient. A mass of sugar that weighs 6 kilograms in California will weigh about 6 kilograms in Hawaii or Canada or Germany. Because the force of gravitation in each place is practically the same.

As long as we stay on earth, using weight to measure mass works pretty well. Now, however, men have left the earth. Suddenly we realize that weight and mass are not the same thing! Away from the earth the force of gravitation changes. As the pull gravitation changes, weight changes, but the mass of an object stays the same anywhere in the universe—whether it is on earth, on the moon, or on Mars.

Have you ever wondered why the pull of gravitation on the moon is only 1/6 of the pull on the earth? Here is a reason. When the mass is less, gravitation is less. The moon has less mass than the earth. Since the moon has much less mass than the earth, it has much less gravitational force than the earth.

1.Which of the following is NOT true?

A. Few people on the earth would pay much attention to the difference between weight and mass.

B.The weight of an object hardly changes wherever on the earth it is weighed.

C.The weight of an object becomes less on the moon because the moon is far away from the earth.

D.Mass is a concept(概念)more important than weight in the study of the universe.

2.The amount of mass depends on 　　  .

A. the weight of an object?　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B.the place where it is measured

C.the size of an object?　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  D.the amount of matter it is made of

3.An astronaut, who weighed 30 pounds on the moon, is back on earth and now weighs 165 pounds. How much weight did he lose during his flight back to the earth?

A.115 pounds.　　　　　　   B.2.5 pounds.?　　　　    C.30 pounds.　　　　　　    D.15 pounds.

4.We can infer from the passage that the word “Mars” means 　　  .

A. a faraway place on the earth

B.a place deep down in the ocean

C.a kind of flying equipment like a spaceship

D.a planet which is farther away from the earth than the moon is

Because we can feel that things are very heavy, we think of “weight” as being a fixed quality, but it is not really fixed at all. If you could take a one-pound packet of butter 4 000 miles out from the earth, it would weigh only a quarter of a pound.

Why would things weigh only a quarter as much as they do at the surface of the earth if we took them 4 000 miles out into space? The reason is this: all objects have a natural gravity(引力)for all other objects; this is called gravitational attraction(万有引力). But this power of attraction between two objects gets weaker as they are farther apart. When the butter was at the surface of the earth, it was 4 000 miles from the center. When we took the butter 4 000 miles out, it was 8 000 miles from the center, which is twice the distance.

If you double the distance between two objects, their gravitational attraction decreases “two times two”. If you make the distance three times far away, it gets nine times weaker (three times three). If you make it four times far away, it gets sixteen times weaker (four times four) and so on.

So this is one of the first things we need to remember: the weight of an object in space is not the same as its weight on the surface of the earth.

1.Which of the following is right?

A.A thing has the same weight everywhere in space.

B.“Weight” is a fixed quality in an object.

C.“Weight” is not a quality in an object.

D.A thing’s weight changes with its place in space.

2.There is 　　   between 　　  .

A. gravity; objects?　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    B.power; all objects

C.gravity; the two objects only?　　　　　　　　　　  D.power; two things

3.A 400 pound man-made satellite is sent to the place 2 000 miles out from the earth. Its weight is about 　　  .

A.200 pounds　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  B.a half pounds

C.100 pounds 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D.300 pounds

4.If we make the distance between objects five times as far away, 　　  .

A. it gets twenty-five times weaker

B.their weight gets twenty-five times weaker

C.their gravity gets twenty-five times weaker

D.their gravity gets twenty-five times stronger

5.After reading this passage, we should remember that we know the usual weight of a thing 　　  .

A. because it is on the surface of the earth

B.because it is weighed

C.because it is in space

D.because it is not far away from the earth

阅读理解

  A higher reading rate, with no loss of comprehension (理解), will help you in other subjects as well as in English, and the general principle (原则) apply to any language. Naturally, you will not read every book at the same speed. You would expect to read a newspaper, for example, much more rapidly than a physics or economics textbook—but you can raise your average reading speed over the whole range of materials you wish to cover so that the percentage (百分比) gained will be the same whatever kind of reading you are concerned (有关的) with.

  The reading passages which follow are all of an average level of difficulty for your stage of instruction. They are all about five hundred words long. They are about topics of general interest which do not require a great deal of specialized knowledge. Thus they fall between the kind of reading you might find in your textbooks and the much less demanding kind you will find in a newspaper or light novel. If you read this kind of English, with understanding at four hundred words per minute, you night skim (浏览) through a newspaper at perhaps 650-700, while with difficult textbooks you might drop to two hundred or two hundred and fifty.

  Perhaps you would like to know what reading speeds are common among native English-speaking university students and how those speeds can be improved. Tests in Minnesota, U.S.A., for example, have shown that students without special training can read English of average difficulty, for example, Tolstoy’s War and Peace in translation, at speeds of between 240 and 250 words per minute with about seventy percent comprehension. Students in Minnesota claim (自称) that after twelve half-hour lessons, once a week, the reading speed can be increased, with no loss of comprehension, to around five hundred words per minute.　　　　

1．According to the passage, the purpose of effective reading with higher speed is most likely to help you　　   .

A. only in your reading of physics textbook

B. improve your understanding of an economics textbook

C. not only in your language study but also in other subjects

D. choose the suitable material to read

2．Which of the following does not describe the types of reading materials mentioned in the second paragraph?

A. Those beyond (超越) one’s reading comprehension.

B. Those concerned with common knowledge.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 

C. Those without the demand for specialized knowledge.

D. Those with the length of about five hundred words

3．The average speed of untrained native speakers in the University of Minnesota is　　   .

A. about three hundred words per minute

B. about two hundred and forty-five words per minute

C. about sixty words per minute

D. about five hundred words per minute

4．According to the passage, how fast can you expect to read after you have attended twelve half-hour lessons in the University of Minnesota?

A. You can increase your reading speed by three times.

B. No real increase in reading speed can be achieved.

C. You can increase your reading speed by four times.

D. You can double your reading speed.

5．Where do you think the passage is taken from?

A. The introduction to a book on fast reading.

B. A local newspaper for young people.

C. A school newspaper run by students.

D. The introduction to an English textbook.

阅读理解

Dear Irene,

   Many thanks for your letter of 20th December to Waiming and me. Waiming’s mother sent it to us here in England. I thought I had better reply myself since, as you know, your brother is not very good at writing letters.

   You asked whether Waiming’s application (申请) for a scholarship (奖学金) had been successful. Well, as you can see by now, it was. He is doing a one-year postgraduate course in world history here at Lancaster University. The little house we live in is near the university. We have to buy a used car which is necessary because the bus service here is poor.

   We arrived in England at the beginning of September, and stayed in London for three weeks with my cousin Kwok, who owns a large restaurant there. This was the first time he had met my husband. Then we went to Cambridge for a week, where Waiming had to attend a meeting, and after that we came  up to Lancaster and had two weeks to find somewhere to live and generally got organ iced before Waiming’s course began.

   The weather has been quite a change from home. Last week we had some snow, the first we had ever met.

   We get on very well with most of the English people we have met, although we had some difficulty at first understanding the northern accent.

   Well, that’s about all our news. Waiming’s course is going well, and if he passes his exams we will be free to return home in July.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  Love,

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   Sally

1．Which of the following refers to different person from the other three?

A. Waiming　　　　　　　　　　    B. Irene’s brother

C. Sally’s cousin　　　　　　　　    D. The writer’s husband.

2．We can infer (推论) from the first paragraph that Irene　　   .

A. does not like writing letters very much

B. does not live with her mother now

C. was in England when she wrote her letter

D. does not particularly like Sally

3．When Irene wrote the letter she knew that　　   .

A. Waiming and Sally were in England

B. Waiming had applied for a scholarship

C. Waiming’s application for a scholarship had been successful

D. Waiming was doing a one-year postgraduate course in would history

4．When Sally wrote her letter. Waiming had been living in Lancaster for about　　   .

A. three months　　　　　　　　 B. three weeks

C. five months　　　　　　　　    D. five weeks

阅读理解

In 1901, H. G. Wells, an English writer, wrote a book describing a trip to the moon. When the explorers(探险者)landed on the moon, they discovered that the moon was full of underground cities. They expressed their surprise to the “moon people” they met. In turn, “Why,” they asked, “are you traveling to outer space when you don’t even use your inner space?”

H. G. Wells could only imagine travel to the moon. In 1969, human beings did land on the moon. People today know that there are no underground cities on the moon. However, the question that the “moon people” asked is still an interesting one. A growing number of scientists are seriously thinking about it.

Underground systems are already in place. Many cities have underground car parks. In some cities such as Tokyo, Seoul and Montreal, there are large underground shopping areas. The “Chunnel”, a runnel(隧道)connecting England AND France, is now complete.

But what about underground cities? Japan’s Taisei Corporation is designing a network of underground systems, called “Alice cities”. The designers imagine using surface space for public parks and using underground space for flats, offices, shopping, and so on. A solar dome(太阳能穹顶)would cover the whole city.

Supporters of underground development say that building down rather than building up is a good way to use the earth’s space .The surface, they say, can be used for farms, parks, gardens, and wilderness .H. G. Wells’ “moon people” would agree with  you .

1．The explorers in H.G. Wells’ story were surprised to find that the “moon people”　　   .

A. knew so much about the earth

B. understood their language

C. lived in so many underground cities

D. were ahead of  them in space technology

2．What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 2 refer to?

A. Discovering the moon’s inner space.

B. Using the earth’s inner space

C. Meeting the “moon people” again

D. Traveling to outer space

3．What sort of underground systems are already here  with us?

A. Offices, shopping areas, power stations.

B. Tunnels, car parks, shopping areas.

C. Gardens, car parks, power stations.

D. Tunnels, gardens, offices.

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

A. Alice Cities—cities of the future.

B. Space travel with H. G. Wells.

C. Enjoy living underground.

D. Building down, not up.

阅读理解

Some building designers are thinking about building whole cities under glass domes(圆顶) in the desert. Of course, those heating and cooling systems(系统)will be necessary to control the climate in the domes. However, there will never be おany rain or snow, and the temperature will always be comfortable.

Perhaps everyone will live in high vertical(垂直)cities that are so large that they can contain all the necessities of life. Since vertical cities will use less land than horizontal(水平的)cities, and provide homes for people, they will be practical for small countries that have large population.

Another idea that will be helped to small countries and island countries is the floating city. Monaco has already built homes, stores, and offices on the water of the Mediterranean Sea. And a Japanese designer has suggested a plan for constructing building on bridges over Tokyo Bay(湾)。

There are some people who think we will go back to live in caves. But the caves of future will be very different from the caves of the Stone Age. Computers will control light and climate. Farms and parks will be on the land over the cave city. When people want to go to the country or a park, a short ride in a lift will take them there.

1．The text is mainly about　　   .

A. future life　　   　　　　　　　　  B. future cities

C. building designers　　　　　　　　  D. how to save land

2．What kind of city covers less land?

A. The city under glass dome in the desert.

B. The vertical city.

C. The city in the desert.

D. The horizontal city

3．People living in　　   can enjoy natural climate.

A. the cities under glass domes

B. either vertical cities or cave cities

C. both vertical cities and floating cites

D. all the above cities except the underground cities

4．Which of the drawing below gives the correct imagination that is described in text?

阅读理解

New ways of building are being tried out everywhere. There are many new shows to watch!

In England, I saw a 17-story building made right on the ground. First, the workers dug a deep hole. They build the basement. This word was the same as on any building. From then on, the work was not the same.

On the ground, the men set 40 big jacks(千斤顶)。You know what a car jack does. It lifts a car. These big jacks were to lift each floor of the building. On top of the 40 jacks, the men first built a roof. Yes, the roof of the building!

What next? The jacks lifted the floor one story high. The builders worked on this floor. It was not the bottom floor. It was on the ground then. But it was going to be floor 17. The jacks lifted floor 17.Under it, the workers built floor 16.They built it right on the ground, too.

When floor 16 was done, the jacks lifted it. Under floor 16, the men built floor 15.And so it went. The bottom floor of the building was made last.

The work went quickly. Under the roof, the man worked even in rain or snow. They didn’t need to climb to high places. And trucks brought things right to them.

It took only one man to work the jacks, He just pushed a button. right away, the jacks began to lift.

In the United States, also, some builders use big jacks. But the jacks are above the floors, not under them. The floors are made of concrete(混凝土)。They are made on the ground, one on top of another. Strong posts run through them.

At first, the floors look like a big pile of pancakes, as the picture shows. Then jacks at the top of the posts lift each floor into place. The top floor makes the roof.

In Texas, I saw a roof made in a new way. A helicopter flew over the building, again and again. Each time, it stopped to put a piece of the roof into place. The helicopter was like a bird building a nest.

What a funny way to make a roof! But the helicopter built in one morning. To make a roof like this, it take weeks.

1．What might people feel is the most special and interesting thing in the new ways of building?

A. The floor are made of concrete.

B. The roof is built first and on the ground.

C. Jacks are used for building.

D. The building is completed in a short time.

2、Which picture shows what the floors described in the 8th and 9th paragraphs look like at first?

3、What can we infer about the new way of building the writer saw in England?

A. The workers never needed to get to high places during the whole course of the building.

B. The jacks were controlled by machines.

C. The jacks were controlled by man.

D. Each floor was really one big piece.

4、What is the purpose of the writer in writing this passage?

A. To suggest a new way of building.

B. To show the advantages of modern machines.

C. Just to introduce some new ways of building.

D. To show the power of imagination.

    Charles Lamb once had the misfortune of being seated next to a very garrulous(饶舌的)and very senseless woman at dinner．She chatted and chatted and then discovering that the author was paying no attention to her whatever，rebuked(斥责)him by saying．“You seem to be none the better for what I am telling you!”

    “No，madam，”he answered，“but this gentle man beside me must be——for it all went in at one ear and out at the other．”

1．According to the passage，________.

A．Something was wrong with Charles Lamb’s ear

B．Charles Lamb disliked the talkative ones

C．Charles Lamb disliked to be with women

D．the dinner was not good enough．

2．Charles Lamb________.

A．had a good dinner at dinner

B．talked with the woman all the time

C．was a writer

D．Was not well that day

3．The gentleman________.

A．heard all that the woman had said

B．listened to the woman carefully

C．must be happy at dinner

D．didn’t talk with the woman at dinner

4．Which of the following is told of in the passage above?

A．Charles Lamb listened to what the woman said．

B．The woman was pleased when she heard what Charles Lamb said．

C．Charles Lamb didn’t listen to the woman at all．

D．What the woman said came into the gentle man’s ear through Charles Lamb’s．

5．Which of the four shows the right position Of the three persons seated at dinner?

(CL=Charles Lamb；W=the woman；G=the gentleman；O=the other persons at dinner)

阅读理解

The magician (魔术师) usually depends on his skill with his hands, and on his knowledge of psychology (心理学). Since magic tricks are meant to fool people, the use of psychology is important. The magician must keep people from noticing all the movement of his hands and from thinking about the secret parts of his equipment. He must also lead the people to draw false conclusions. The magician’s success depend on the fact that many things seen by the eye do not register (记下) on the mind.

Two basic magic tricks are making objects seem to appear or to disappear. For example, the magician puts a small ball under one of several cups. The ball then seems to jump from one cup to another or to change color. What actually happens is that the magician, by quick hand movements, hides one ball. While doing this he talks to the people and waves a brightly colored cloth with one hand. The people are too busy watching the cloth and listening to the magician’s words to notice that his other hand is hiding the ball. 

Another favorite trick is to cut or burn something, and then make it appear again. What actually happens is that the magician makes the cut or burned object disappear by quickly hiding it while the people watch something else. Then he “magically” makes it appear again by displaying another object that has not been cut or burned.

1．From the passage we know that the magician pretends to do things which　　   .

A. are possible　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. are impossible

C. make people laugh　　　　　　　　　　　　   D. we can’t see

2．An important part of a magic trick is that  　　 .

A. a bright colored cloth is used

B. it does mot take too long to prepare

C. people don’t discover how it is done

D. the magician pretends to talk to the people watching

3．The people draw false conclusions because　　   .

A. they are not as clever as the magician

B. they are led to believe what the magician does

C. there is no other explanation

D. the magician has knowledge of psychologists

4．Psychology is an important part of magic tricks because　　   .

A. most magicians are psychologists

B. it tells you the magician doesn’t burn or cut anything

C. there is a special branch of psychology devoted to magic

D. it is used to make people believe what they have seen

5．In this article the author intends to　　   .

A. make us not to believe what we have seen with our own eyes

B. expose the tricks played by the magician

C. tell the magician not to fool other people any more

D. explain how magic tricks are played