The tools that these people used were made of stones, so we call those times the Stone Age. A hard, sharp-edged piece of stone was an axe-head. These people learnt to bind (捆) the stone to a wooden handle using the tough sinews (腱) from legs of animals they had killed. Pieces of flint (燧石) were collected and smashed (粉碎) with heavier rocks to make pointed flakes (薄片) which were used as arrow tips. Flint stones with sharp edges were used as knives.

The people of the Stone Age hunted animals which included deer, wild horses and wild cattle. After eating the meat, they took the animal’s hide, stretched it out on the ground and scraped off the fat. They left hair on the outside. Then, after they had softened the hide by stamping on it, they polished (磨光) the inside with sandstone. The finished skins gave them rugs and clothes .For needles they poked (戳) thin pointed bones through the skins and stitched them with fine sinews.

We are not certain when the Stone Age began. Scientists think it could have been over a million years ago. They do know that it ended in about 3000 B.C. when people learnt to make things from copper and bronze. There were Stone Age people living in South Africa in the Kalahari Desert, Australia and New Guinea when white settlers arrived not many years ago. In distant parts of New Guinea some tribes have only just begun to use tools made of iron.

1.The reason why we call those times the Stone Age is because ______.

A. people built stone houses

B.people wore stone clothes

C.the tools people used then were made of stone

D.the caves people lived in were made of stone

2.Why did people live in caves many thousands of years ago?

A. Because they found them safe from attack.

B.Because they found them warm.

C.Because they found them big enough for them to live in.

D.Because the caves were animals’ shelters.

3.Where did the people of the Stone Age get the sinews when they made tools?

A. They got the sinews from their own legs.

B.They got the sinews from wolves and wild horses’ legs they had.

C.They picked them up when they found them.

D.They got the sinews from the legs of animals they had killed.

4.The word “hide” means ______.

A.后腿　　　　　　　　　　　　 B.兽皮　　　　　　　　　　　　 C.骨头　　　　　　　　　　　　 D.兽毛

5.The Stone Age didn’t end until ______.

A. people learnt to make things from copper and bronze

B.people learnt to use machines

C.people didn’t kill animals

D.people didn’t need rugs any more

Many thousands of years ago, people had not learned to build houses or shelters of any kind. They lived in caves where they were protected from the rain and snow. The caves were also safe places in which they could sleep without being attacked by bears or wolves.

The tools that these people used were made of stones, so we call those times the Stone Age. A hard, sharp-edged piece of stone was an axe-head. These people learnt to bind (捆) the stone to a wooden handle using the tough sinews (腱) from legs of animals they had killed. Pieces of flint (燧石) were collected and smashed (粉碎) with heavier rocks to make pointed flakes (薄片) which were used as arrow tips. Flint stones with sharp edges were used as knives.

The people of the Stone Age hunted animals which included deer, wild horses and wild cattle. After eating the meat, they took the animal’s hide, stretched it out on the ground and scraped off the fat. They left hair on the outside. Then, after they had softened the hide by stamping on it, they polished (磨光) the inside with sandstone. The finished skins gave them rugs and clothes .For needles they poked (戳) thin pointed bones through the skins and stitched them with fine sinews.

We are not certain when the Stone Age began. Scientists think it could have been over a million years ago. They do know that it ended in about 3000 B.C. when people learnt to make things from copper and bronze. There were Stone Age people living in South Africa in the Kalahari Desert, Australia and New Guinea when white settlers arrived not many years ago. In distant parts of New Guinea some tribes have only just begun to use tools made of iron.

1.The reason why we call those times the Stone Age is because ______.

A. people built stone houses

B.people wore stone clothes

C.the tools people used then were made of stone

D.the caves people lived in were made of stone

2.Why did people live in caves many thousands of years ago?

A. Because they found them safe from attack.

B.Because they found them warm.

C.Because they found them big enough for them to live in.

D.Because the caves were animals’ shelters.

3.Where did the people of the Stone Age get the sinews when they made tools?

A. They got the sinews from their own legs.

B.They got the sinews from wolves and wild horses’ legs they had.

C.They picked them up when they found them.

D.They got the sinews from the legs of animals they had killed.

4.The word “hide” means ______.

A.后腿　　　　　　　　　　　　 B.兽皮　　　　　　　　　　　　 C.骨头　　　　　　　　　　　　 D.兽毛

5.The Stone Age didn’t end until ______.

A. people learnt to make things from copper and bronze

B.people learnt to use machines

C.people didn’t kill animals

D.people didn’t need rugs any more

      In July 1994 Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, was struck by 21 pieces of  comet(彗星).When the fragments(碎片)landed in the southern part of the giant planet, the explosions were watched by scientist here on earth. But what if our own planet was hit by a comet?

       The year is 2094. It has been announced that a comet is heading towards the earth. Most of it will miss our planet, but two fragments will probably hit the southern part of the earth. The news has caused panic.

       On 17 July, a fragment four kilometers wide enters the earth’s atmosphere with a huge explosion. About half of the fragment is destroyed. But the major part survives and hits the South Atlantic at 200 times the speed of sound. The sea boils and an enormous wave is created and spreads. The wall of water rushes towards southern Africa at 800 kilometers an hour. Cities on the African coast are totally destroyed and millions of people are drowned. The waves moves into the Indian Ocean and heads towards Asia.

       Millions of people are already dead in the southern part of the earth, but the north won’t escape for long. Tons of broken pieces are thrown into the atmosphere by the explosions. As the sun is hidden by clouds of dust, temperatures around the world fall to almost zero. Crops are ruined. Wars break out as countries fight for food. A year later civilization has collapsed. No more than 10 million people have survived.

       Could it really happen? In fact, it has already happened more than once in the history of the earth. The dinosaurs(恐龙)were on the earth for over 160 million years. Then 65 million years ago they suddenly disappeared. Many scientists believed that the earth was hit by a space fragment. The dinosaurs couldn’t survive in the cold climate that followed and they became extinct. Will we meet the same end?

1. Which of the following in NOT true according to the author’s description of the disaster in 2094?

       A. The whole world becomes extremely cold.

       B. All the coastal cities in Africa are destroyed.

       C. The whole mankind becomes extinct.

       D. The visit of the comet results in war.

2. Why does the author mention dinosaur at the end of the passage?

       A. Because they could only live in the warm climate.

       B. Because they once dominated the earth.

       C. Because their extinction indicates future disasters.

       D. Because dinosaurs and humans never live in the same age

3. In writing the passage, the author intends to ____.

       A. give an accurate description of the possible disaster in the future

       B. prove that humans will sooner or later be destroyed

       C. tell the historical development of the earth

       D. warn of a possible disaster in the future

4. It can be concluded that the passage is most probably part of a(n) ____.

       A. horror story                                   B. news report

       C. research paper                               D. article of popular science