At dawn on Friday, May 19, 1780, farmers in New England stopped to wonder at the pink color of the sun. By noon the sky had darkened to midnight blackness, causing Americans, still in the painful struggle of a prolonged war of independence, to light candles and tremble at thoughts of the Last Judgment. As the birds quieted and no storm accompanied the darkness, men and women crowded into churches, where one minister commented that “The people were very attentive.” John Greenleaf Whittier later wrote that “Men prayed, and women wept; all ears grew sharp . . .”

A recent study of researchers, led by Richard Guyette from the University of Missouri’s Tree Ring Laboratory, has shown that vast forest fires in the Algonquin Highlands of southern Ontario and elsewhere in Canada brought this event upon New England. The scientists have discovered “fire scars” on the rings for that year, left when the heat of a wildfire has killed a part of a tree’s cambium (形成层). Evidence collected also points to a drought that year. An easterly wind and low barometric pressure (低气压) helped force smoke into the upper atmosphere. “The record fits pretty close,” says Guyette. “We had the right fuel, the drought. The conditions were all there.”

Lacking the ability to communicate quickly over long distances, Americans in 1780 remained in the dark about the event, which had disappeared by the next day. Over the next several months, the papers carried heated debates about what brought the darkness. Some were the voices of angry prediction, such as one Massachusetts farmer who wrote, “Oh! Backsliding New-England, attend now to the things which belong to your peace before they are forever hid from your eyes.” Others gave different answers. One stated that a “flaming star” had passed between the earth and the sun. Ash, argued another commentator. The debate, carried on throughout New England, where there were no scientific journals or academies yet, reflected an unfolding culture of scientific enquiry already sweeping the Western world, a revolution nearly as influential as the war for independence from the English.

New Englanders would not soon forget that dark day; it lived on in folklore, poems, and sermons for generations.

New Englanders crowded into churches because they were frightened by         .

A. the pink color of the sun

   B. the darkened sky at daytime

   C. the Last Judgment on Friday

   D. the American War of Independence

What can we infer about the event in New England on May 19, 1780?

   A. Prayers remained silent and attentive.

   B. Night birds no longer came out to sing.

   C. People’s ears became sharper than usual.

   D. Midday meals were served by candlelight.

According to the researchers, the origin of the event was         .

   A. an east wind

   B. a severe drought

C. some burning fuel

D. low barometric pressure

What can we know about the debates after the dark day?

A. They focused on causes of the event.

   B. They swept throughout the Western world.

C. They were organized by scientific institutions.

D. They improved Americans’ ability to communicate.

What can be the best title for the text?

   A. New England’s dark day.

   B. Voices of angry prediction.

C. There is no smoke without fire.

D. Tree rings and scientific discovery.

In the dark street, there wasn’t a single person _____ she could turn for help.

　 A. to whom 　 B. who  C. from whom 　 D. that

I saw a woman running toward me in the dark. Before I could recognize who she was, she had run back in the direction ______ she had come.

A．of which          B．from where        C．in which          D．from which

 

On hearing the news, the girl rushed out without hesitation, ______ the luggage ______ on the floor, and ______ in the dark.

A．left, lied, disappeared	B．leaving, lying, disappeared
C．leaving, lie, disappeared	D．left, lay, disappear

 

STRANGERS parties go wild these days. The main idea of them is to never let the people know who their matches are until the last minute. These are some popular practices that are storming the world’s youth on this V-day.

Speed dating

It’s exactly what the name implies. Complete with a timer, a whistle and 50 willing singles, speed dating is not the traditional dinner and a movie type of first date. Singles pay US $35 for three minutes with more than two dozen future dates. They ask questions and try to get to know each other. At the sound of a whistle, they do the same thing all over again―25 times in all.

Lock and key party

Women are given a lock and men are given a key, upon arriving at the party. Each key and lock has several matches. One can hunt for his/her later-to-be sweetheart in various groups, and try out the key or lock. Each time a lock and key match the pair are entered into a ballot (票数） for top prizes!

Dinner in the dark

Waiters wearing night vision glasses guide the guests through the pitch-black dining room. They are seated at the table and familiarized with the wine glass and plate. Food is handled with the fingers. People will not see the food they are eating or the guests at their table until the dessert course. At that moment, dining partners will appear.

Message party

Have A Cocktail, Leave A Message! When you arrive, you get a tag with a number and a pad of post-it notes. If you see someone you like, write a message on the message board. But wait… You’ve got a message… Go and collect it! You can make new friends and win lots of gifts. The more messages you leave on the bulletin board, the more chances you have of winning prizes.

What do you think the similarities of these parties are?

   A. All the parties have very strict rules for their members.

   B. If you want to go to any of the parties, you have to buy a ticket.

   C. All the parties are aimed at strangers who want to be lovers.

   D. All the parties are suitable not only for the young but for the old.

In which party does a participant have to be careful with the time?

A. Speed dating.    B. Lock and key party.    

C. Dinner in the dark.      D. Message party.

If you go to the Dinner in the dark, ____________.

    A. you have to wear night vision glasses       

B. you have to eat with your hands

    C. guests eat all the courses in the darkness

    D. your dining partners will help you choose the food

How many of the parties offer gifts or prizes?

   A. 1.                  B. 2. C. 3.               D. 4.