The earth is not the only body that travels around the sun. With it are eight other planets, fellow members of the sun’s family.
Two of them, Mercury (水星) and Venus, are nearer while the other six, namely Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, also in their given order from the sun, are farther from the sun than the earth is. The farther they are, the longer trips they make around the sun. People noticed long ago that these traveling bodies moved around in the sky in definite paths. It is a force called gravity that holds them in their paths.
We know that every little bit of matter in the universe pulls upon every other bit of matter. The pull between two bodies is proportional (成比例的) to the product of their masses. Because the sun is so large the pull between the sun and the planets are thus great. If it were not for this pull, the planets would fly off into space. In the same way there exists a pull between the earth and the moon, which keeps the moon traveling in its orbit around our planet, the earth. Gravity holds you to its surface, and pulls back to it the ball which you throw into the air. Of course the ball also pulls on the larger earth but the earth is so much larger that the pull is not noticed.
Now remember that large bodies exert a greater pull than smaller ones which contain less material. But each object in the universe, no matter how small, pulls on all other objects to some degree.
【小题1】There are ________ that travel around the sun in the sun’s family.

阅读理解

　　On August 27, 2003, Mars was recorded as being just 34,646,418 miles away from us. The planet moved closer to earth than at any time in the last 5,000 years. If that doesn't sound close, just remember that it was five times as distant only six months ago.

　　“You can't miss Mars. It's bright and red.”said Myles Standish, an American astronomer. Mars is so close because of something called "opposition". This means the sun. the earth and Mars are positioned in a straight line and, as a result, they're closer (remember, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line) .

　　For the next few weeks the planet should shine brighter than any other star, apart from the moon and Venus (金星) .

　　It won’t be difficult to see Mars. You can use a telescope if you have one, but you won't need it. Mars will be so bright that even the lights of the city shouldn't get in the way. All you need to do is to go outside and look up at the sky. Mars can be found a little to the south and a little to the east.

　　But the planet will not seem very big; it will shine like a coin seen from 500 feet away. Even though Mars is twice the size of the moon, it is 145 times as distant. And it might not be red, either. If there are dust storms on Mars, it will look mostly gold. If you do see red, then you’re seeing the surface of the planet.

　　Make sure you go outside and have a look: the next time Mars will be this close will be August 28, 2287．

　　Cool facts about Mars:

　　The last time it rained on Mars was about 3 billion years ago. You’d have more time on Mars. The Martian day is 24 hours 37 minutes. What would you do with an extra half hour? Gravity (引力) is less on Mars than on the earth. So someone who weighs 100 pounds here would weigh only 38 pounds on Mars.

1．On February 27, 2003, Mars was about－miles away from the earth.

[　　]

2．Why was Mars so close to us on August 27, 2003?

[　　]

A．Because something is called“opposition”.

B．Because it has been moving to us in the last 5, 000 years.

C．Because the sun, the earth and Mars are positioned in a straight line.

D．Because of some unknown reasons.

3．Which of the following is TRUE about Mars?

[　　]

A．Mars will be the third brightest star in the night sky for the next few weeks.

B．For the next few weeks, Mars will be the brightest star in the night sky.

C．Mars will look red if there're dust storms on it.

D．Mars is 145 times larger than the moon.

4．If you stayed on Mars for a week, you actually stayed there for ________. And if you weighed 46 pounds on Mars, you would weigh about ________ pounds on the earth.

[　　]

A．less than 7 days; 110

B．six days and four more hours; 175

C．more than 7 days; 175

D．seven days and four more hours; 121

完形填空(共20小题；每小题1.5分，共30分)

    阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel. Green said, "Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would ___36__."

Blue interrupted, "You only think about the __37__, but consider the sky and the sea．__38__ the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea．Without my peace, you would all be __39__."

Yellow chuckled , "You are all so serious. I bring laughter, fun, and __40__ into the world．"

Orange started next to blow her trumpet, "I am the color of health and strength. I may be __41__, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. When I fill the sky __42__, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another __43__ to any of you."

Red could stand it __44__ and he shouted out, "I am the ruler of all of you. I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to __45__ truth. I am also the color of passion and of love."

Then came Purple and Indigo （深蓝）. …

The colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own __46__. Their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder. Rain started to pour down __47__. The colors crouched down __48__, drawing close to one another for comfort.

In the midst of the clamor （叫嚷）, rain began to speak, "You foolish colors, fighting __49__ yourselves, each trying to dominate __50__. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, __51__? Join hands with __52__ and come to me."

Doing as they were told, the colors __53__ and joined hands. They formed a colorful rainbow. From then on, whenever a good rain ___54__ the world, a rainbow appears in the sky. They remember to __55__ one another.

A．stay            B．leave             C．go out              D．die

A．earth           B．moon              C．star                D．sun

A．That is             B．I am              C．It is               D．This is

A．anything        B．nothing           C．something           D．everything

A．warmth      B．sadness           C．depression           D．anxiety

A．usual           B．normal            C．common              D．scarce

A．at midnight B．at noon or at night C．at sunrise or sunset D．during the day

A．gift            B．honor            C．thought              D．respect

A．for more        B.any more          C．very much            D．no longer

A．turn to             B．fight for        C．struggle with        D．bend over

A．superiority         B．disadvantages    C．inferiority              D．weakness

A．gently          B．quietly         C．violently             D．peacefully

A．with care       B．in fear          C．by chance             D．on purpose

A．among       B．by               C．for                   D．against

A．others          B．themselves        C．the other            D．the rest

A．equal and simple    B．ordinary and similar C．more or less D．unique and different

A．each other      B．me               C．one another           D．them

A．combined        B．separated        C．united                D．divided

A．cleans          B．washes           C．brightens              D．dampens

A．appreciate      B．quarrel with    C．ignore                 D．praise