Stepping into a pool of water is common enough, but who could ever imagine stepping into a pool of fish? In February of 1974, Bill Tapp, an Australian farmer, saw a rain of fish that covered his farm. How surprised he must have been when he heard many fish hitting against his roof!

　　 What caused this strange occurrence? This is a question that had long puzzled people who study fish. The answer turned out to be a combination of wind and storm.

　　When it is spring in the northern part of the world, it is fall in Australia. Throughout the autumn season, terrible storms arise and rains flood the land. The strong winds sweep over Australia like huge vacuum cleaners, collecting seaweed, pieces of wood, and even schools of fish. Strong winds may carry these bits of nature for many miles before dropping them on fields, houses, and astonished people.

　　Although they seem unusual, fish-falls occur quite frequently in Australia. When Bill Tapp was asked to describe the scene of fish, he remarked, “They look like millions of dead birds falling down.” His statement is not surprising. The wonders of the natural world are as common as rain. Nature, with its infinite wonders, can create waterfalls that flow upward and fish that fall out of the sky.

　　56. What is this passage about?

　　A. A sad story. 　　　　　　　　　　　　B. A rain of fish.

　　C. Australia’s northern part.　　　　　D. The damage done by floods.

　　57. Fish-falls occur in Australia_________ .

　　A. quite often 　　　　　　B. on large farms

　　C. only in winter　　　　　D. when the air is calm

　　58. It is a known fact that ________.

　　A. one should watch where one steps

　　B. Bill Tapp is a scientist who studies farming

　　C. the natural world can never create waterfalls that fall upward

　　D. the seasons in the southern part are different from those in the northern part

 　59. The word “infinite” is closest in meaning to _________.

　　A. easy 　　　B. difficult 　　　C. countless 　　　D. dangerous

The easy way out isn’t always easiest. I learned that lesson when I decided to treat Doug, my husband of one month, to a special meal. I glanced through my cookbook and chose a menu which included homemade bread. Knowing the bread would take time, I started on it as soon as Doug left for work. As I was not experienced in cooking, I thought if a dozen was good, two dozen would be better, so I doubled everything. As Doug loved oranges, I also opened a can of orange and poured it all into the bowl. Soon there was a sticky dough (面团) covered with ugly yellowish marks. Realizing I had been defeated, I put the dough in the rubbish bin outside so I wouldn't have to face Doug laughing at my work, I went on preparing the rest of the meal, and, when Doug got home, we sat down to Cornish chicken with rice. He tried to enjoy the meal but seemed disturbed. Twice he got up and went outside, saying he thought he heard a noise. The third time he left, I went to the windows to see what he was doing. Looking out, I saw Doug standing about three feet from the rubbish bin, holding the lid up with a stick and looking into the container. When I came out of the house, he dropped the stick and explained that there was something alive in our rubbish bin. Picking up the stick again, he held the lid up enough for me to see. I felt cold. But I stepped closer and looked harder. Without doubt it was my work. The hot sun had caused the dough to double in size and the fermenting yeast (酵母) made the surface shake and sigh as though it were breathing. I had to admit what the ‘living thing’ was and why it was there. I don’t know who was more embarrassed by the whole thing, Doug or me.　　

1.The writer’s purpose in writing this story is ________.

　　A. to tell an interesting experience

　　B. to show the easiest way out of a difficulty

　　C. to describe the trouble facing a newly married woman

　　D. to explain the difficulty of learning to cook from books

2.Why did the woman’s attempt at making the bread turn out to be unsuccessful?

　　A. The canned orange had gone bad.

　　B. She didn’t use the right kind of flour.

　　C. The cookbook was hard to understand.

　　D. She did not follow the directions closely.

3.Why did the woman put the dough in the rubbish bin?

　　A. She didn’t see the use of keeping it

　　B. She meant to joke with her husband.

　　C. She didn’t want her husband to see it.

　　D. She hoped it would soon dry in the sun.

4.What made the dough in the rubbish bin look frightening?

　　A. The rising and falling movement.

　　B. The strange-looking marks.

　　C. Its shape.

　　D. Its size.

5.When Doug went out the third time, the woman looked out of the window because she was  ________.

　　A. surprised at his being interested in the bin

　　B. afraid that he would discover her secret

　　C. unhappy that he didn't enjoy the meal

　　D. curious to know what disturbed him

阅读理解

　　Feeling tired lately? Has the doctor said he cannot find anything wrong with you? Perhaps he sent you to a hospital, but all the advanced equipment there shows that there is nothing wrong. Then consider this, you might be in a state of sub health (亚健康).

　　Sub health, also called the third state or grey state, is explained as a border line state between health and disease. According to an investigation by the National Health Organization, over 45 percent of sub healthy people are middle-aged or elderly. The percentage is seven percent higher among people who work in management positions as well as students around exam time.

　　Symptoms include a lack of energy, depression, slow reactions, insomnia(失眠), agitation(焦虑), and poor memory. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, sweating and aching in the waist and legs.

　　The key to preventing and recovering from sub health, according to some medical experts, is to form good living habits, alternate work with rest, exercise regularly, and take part in open-air activities.

　　As for meals, people are advised to eat less salt and sugar. They should also eat more fresh vegetables, fruits, fish because they are rich in nutritional elements——vitamins and trace elements——that are important to the body.

　　Nutrition experts point out that it is not good to eat too much at one meal because it may cause unhealthy change in the digestive tract(消化道). They also say that a balanced diet is very helpful in avoiding sub health.

(1)According to this passage, which of the following is right?

[　　]

A．When you are in a state of sub health, you should stay home and keep silent.

B．When you are in a state of sub health, you should to go see a doctor and buy some medicine.

C．When you are in a state of sub health, you should have yourself examined in foreign countries.

D．When you are in a state of sub health, you should find out the reasons and relax yourself.

(2)Middle-aged people may feel sub healthy, because ________.

[　　]

A．they have used up their energy

B．they have lost their living hopes

C．they have more pressure in life and work

D．they begin to get older

(3)The answer of preventing you falling into a state of sub health is that you should ________.

[　　]

A．work hard　　　　　B．sleep more

C．keep relaxed　　　　D．take more medicine

(4)The underlined word“alternate”in this passage means ________.

[　　]

A．arrange by turns　　　　B．cause to take place

C．keep up　　　　　　　   D．take up

　　The easy way out isn't always easiest. I learned that lesson when I decided to treat Doug, my husband of one month, to a special meal. I glanced through my cookbook and chose a menu which included homemade bread. Knowing the bread would take time, I started on it as soon as Doug left for work. As I was not experienced in cooking, I thought if a dozen was good, two dozen would be better, so I doubled everything. As Dong loved oranges, I also opened a can of orange and poured it all into the bowl. Soon there was a sticky dough（面团）covered with ugly yellowish marks. realizing I had been defeated, I put the dough in the rubbish bin outside so I wouldn't have to face Doug laughing at my work, I went on preparing the rest of the meal, and, when Doug got home, we sat down to Cornish chicken with rice. He tried to enjoy the meal but seemed disturbed. Twice he got up and went outside, saying he thought he heard a noise. The third time he left, I went to the windows to see what he was doing. Looking out, I saw Doug standing about three feet from the rubbish bin, holding the lid up with a stick and looking into the container. When I came out of the house, he dropped the stick and explained that there was something alive in out rubbish bin. Picking up the stick again, he held the lid up enough for me to see. I felt cold. But I stepped closer and looked harder. Without doubt it was my work. The hot sun had caused the dough to double in size and the fermenting yeast （酵母）made the surface shake and sigh as though it were breathing. I had to admit what the 'living thing 'was and why it was there. I don't know who was more embarrassed（尴尬）by the whole thing ,Doug or me?
44．The writer's purpose in writing this story is ___________
　　A．to tell an interesting experience
　　B．to show the easiest way out of a difficulty
　　C．to describe the trouble facing a newly married woman
　　D．to explain the difficulty of learning to cook from books
45．Why did the woman's attempt at making the bread turn out to be unsuccessful?
　　A．The canned orange had gone bad.
　　B．She didn't use the right kind of flour.
　　C．The cookbook was hard to understand.
　　D．She did not follow the directions closely.
46．Why did the woman put the dough in the rubbish bin?
　　A．She didn't see the use of keeping it
　　B．She meant to joke with her husband.
　　C．She didn't want her husband to see it .
　　D．She hoped it would soon dry in the sun.
47．What made the dough in the rubbish bin make the noise?
　　A．The rising and falling movement.
　　B．The strange-looking marks.
C．Its shape.                 
D．Its size.
48．When Doug went out the third time, the woman looked out of the window because she was ______________.
　　A．surprised at his being interested in the bin
　　B．afraid that he would discover her secret
　　C．unhappy that he didn't enjoy the meal
　　D．curious to know what disturbed him

Surtsey was born in 1963.Scientists saw the birth of this island. It began at 7.30 a.m. on 14th November. A fishing boat was near Iceland. The boat moved under the captain's（船长）feet. He noticed a strange smell. He saw some black smoke. A volcano（火山）was breaking out. Red-hot rocks, fire and smoke were rushing up from the bottom（底部）of the sea. The island grew quickly. It was 10 meters high the next day and 60 meters high on 18th November.

Scientists flew there to watch. It was exciting. Smoke and fire were still rushing up. Pieces of red-hot rock were flying into the air and falling into the sea. The sea was boiling and there was a strange light in the sky. Surtsey grew and grew. Then it stopped in June 1967.It was 175 meters high and 2 kilometers long. And life was already coming to Surtsey. Plants grew. Birds came. Some scientists built a house. They want to learn about this young island. A new island is like a new world.

1.Surtsey is ______.

A. an island not far from Iceland    B. a new volcano

C. a fishing boat                                D. a place in Iceland

2.When did scientist fly there to watch?

A. Before the volcano broke out.       B. As soon as the volcano broke out.

C. About four days after the volcano broke out.   

D. After the volcano stopped rushing up.

3.Put the following sentences in correct order.

a. The captain found the boat was moving.      b. A new island appeared in the sea.

c. Fire, smoke and rocks were seen rushing up.  d. A fishing boat was near Iceland.

e. The island grew quickly.

A. d-a-c-b-e 　　   B. a-b-c-d-e　　  C .a-b-e-c-d　 　  D. b-e-d-a-c

4.When was Surtsey born?

A. 1964           B. 1963          C. 1962           D. 1965