Natural ways of keeping time


In ancient times, people had to use the sun and the moon to tell time. They got up when the sun came up and worked in the fields until the sun went down.
Man-made things
The sand clock is made of two glass balls joined by a narrow neck. The top ball was filled with sand. The sand slowly moved through the neck into the bottom ball. People knew how much time had passed when all the sand had fallen to the bottom ball.
People also made the water clock. They made a small hole near the bottom of a pot. Then they filled the pot with water. Markings inside the pot showed how much time passed as the water dripped (滴) out of the hole.
Nature’s Clocks in Living Things
◆Animals’ Body Clock
Animals do not need clocks to know time. They have a way of telling time by their bodies. Birds know when to fly to warmer places before winter. Some animals know when to keep more food for the cold winter months. Some fish know when it is time to move up the river and lay eggs.
◆Plants have their own clocks
Plants also have their own clocks to keep time. Plants know when to open flow­ers or when to drop their leaves.
◆The Body Clock in Human Beings
People also have their own body clocks. When we get used to our lives, our body clocks can be very accurate (准确的). It can tell us when it is time to wake up. It can also tell us when to eat or to go to sleep.
【小题1】How could an ancient farmer know when to go back home in the daytime?

A．By looking at the moon.	B．By looking at the stars.
C．By looking at the sun.	D．By feeling whether tired or not.

【小题2】 How many kinds of living things with nature’s clocks are mentioned here?

A．2.

B．3.

C．5

D．6.

【小题3】From the passage, we know what man-made things have in common is that_______.

A．both of them have a hole.	B．both of them are designed with glass balls.
C．both of them can be used only once.	D．both of them tell time in the same way

 A volcanic eruption in Iceland has sent ash across northern Europe. Airlines have stopped or changed the flights across the Atlantic Ocean, leaving hundreds of passengers stuck in airports.

Grirmsvom is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Europe. What makes Grimsvom different is that it lies under a huge glacier（冰川） of ice up to 12 maters thick. The hot volcano heats up the ice above it, which then forms a layer（层）of water between the glacier and the volcano This layer of water puts pressure on the volcano, keeping it stable, As the water flows out from under the glacier, the pressure lifts. The lava（岩浆） from the volcano then comes up to the surface. This is exactly what happened today.  

Now, airlines have to make changes to their flights so as not to fly through the clouds of volcanic ash. According to KLM. one of Europe’s biggest airlines, airplanes cannot go under the cloud or over it. Going through the cloud can result in ash getting stuck in the airplane’s engines, causing damage to the plane.  

The eruption has also caused problems for animals in Iceland. The volcano left ash and sharp. Glass-like rocks all over the countryside. Farmers are keeping their animals inside to stop them from eating ash- covered grass to the sharp object.  

1.What keeps Grimsvom still? 

A. The slow flow of water       B. The low water temperature 

C. The thick glacier            D. The water pressure 

2.Which of the following is true? 

A. People stop traveling in Europe   

B. Airlines suffer from the loss of planes 

C. It becomes dangerous for animals to eat outside 

D. Farmers have lost many of their animals 

3. This text is most probably taken from_______________.

A. a research paper            B. a newspaper report 

C. a class presentation          D. a geography textbook.  

 

Apparently，we are safe neither at home nor in the business office．We use water in both places，but the research shows that chemicals added to our local water supply to kill harmful bacteria can have unwanted side effects．These chemicals can cause potential harm through drinking and in seemingly harmless activities as cleaning one’s house．They are released（set free）from water by daily actions like water running out of tap，spraying from garden pipes，or splashing in dishwashers and washing machines．As the water is moving, these chemicals are released into the air and then breathed in. Once inside our bodies, they start to affect our health.

    Does this mean we should stop bathing? No, say the scientists, but we should put all pollution into perspective. Activities at home such as the burning of coal, cooking oil, or even candles release carbon monoxide and particulates such as cigarette ashes which have been proven as harmful to health as working or living near heavy traffic. New tugs, bedding, and even clothing give off that “new smell, ”which is a sure sign of chemicals. In the office, newly applied paint, newly purchased telephones and other telecommunications equipment, and computers release polluting chemicals, too. As offices and homes often have inadequate ventilation （通风）, these chemicals can build up to become health problems. Their poisonous effects are only now being slowly recognized.

    These facts suggest that, at a minimum, proper airing of newly purchased goods with an obvious chemical smell is a wise warning. Home and office windows should be opened during good weather. Even one’s car needs to be ventilated as well while in the garage.

    We need further research to understand better other potential health dangers, too. For example, the effects of overcrowding of schools （carbon dioxide build-up ）, the factory work environment （ an endless list of potentially dangerous substances ）, and even home heating and cooling （the air conditioner may be our enemies, not our friends） have only recently started to come to light. Until we understand the effects of our new technological environment better, we can only hope that “there is no place like home.”

What is the main idea of the first paragraph?

    A．The air we breathe in is harmful.

    B．The water in everyday use is unsafe.

    C．Chemicals are added to the drinking water.

    D．Chemicals are released in the running water.

In Paragraph 2, the underlined sentence means that       .

    A．bathing should be done with caution

    B．homes and offices should be aired often

    C．any pollution should be taken into consideration

    D．we should prevent any pollution from doing harm to us

What is the purpose of the passage?

    A．To call on us to guard our water.

    B．To show us that no place is like home.

    C．To make us aware of the pollution around us.

    D．To argue that neither homes nor offices are safe.

Casablanca, Sep. 24
A flood swept across the coastal plain about 100 miles southwest of here, killing hundreds of Moroccans in a market place yesterday morning.
Reports from the area said 218 bodies had been counted, and many of the people were missing.
The flood followed heavy rains, which filled the coastal plain and dry river beds and caused them to overflow. The flood, several feet high, hit the village of Khemis Nagua at midmorning yesterday as farmers from the surrounding area joined town people in an open market place. The roaring waters swept the villager’s living places, the market sheds （棚子），shoppers，cattle and farm tools for miles across the plain.
The flood was over almost as soon as it started, the reports said, as the water swept out to sea. Rescue workers quickly moved into the area from Safi, about 25 miles further south.
【小题1】You can learn from the text that ________.

A．hundreds of people died in the flood

B．the flood lasted for several days

C．heavy rains followed the flood

D．the flood hit the village at midnight

【小题2】The report mainly tells the public about__________.
A. how the flood swept the coastal plain
B. the flood in fall
C why the terrible flood took place
D. a rescue attempt
【小题3】According to the text, which of the following maps may be correct?
（ KN="Khemis" Nagua,   C=Casablanca    S= Safi）

Apparently，we are safe neither at home nor in the business office．We use water in both places，but the research shows that chemicals added to our local water supply to kill harmful bacteria can have unwanted side effects．These chemicals can cause potential harm through drinking and in seemingly harmless activities as cleaning one’s house．They are released from water by daily actions like water running out of tap，spraying from garden pipes，or splashing in dishwashers and washing machines．As the water is moving．these chemicals are released into the air and then breathed in. Once inside our bodies, they start to affect our health.

    Does this mean we should stop bathing? No, say the scientists, but we should put all pollution into perspective. Activities at home such as the burning of coal, cooking oil, or even candles release carbon monoxide and particulates such as cigarette ashes which have been proven as harmful to health as working or living near heavy traffic. New tugs, bedding, and even clothing give off that“new smell, ”which is a sure sign of chemicals. In the office, newly applied paint, newly purchased telephones and other telecommunications equipment, and computers release polluting chemicals, too. As offices and homes often have inadequate ventilation (通风), these chemicals can build up to become health problems. Their poisonous effects are only now being slowly recognized.

    These facts suggest that, at a minimum, proper airing of newly purchased goods with an obvious chemical smell is a wise warning. Home and office windows should be opened during good weather. Even one’s car needs to be ventilated as well while in the garage.

    We need further research to understand better other potential health dangers, too. For example, the effects of overcrowding of schools (carbon dioxide build-up ), the factory work environment ( an endless list of potentially dangerous substances ), and even home heating and cooling (the air conditioner may be our enemies, not our friends) have only recently started to come to light. Until we understand the effects of our new technological environment better, we can only hope that“there is no place like home.”

1.What is the main idea of the first paragraph?

    A．The air we breathe in is harmful.

    B．The water in everyday use is unsafe.

    C．Chemicals are added to the drinking water.

    D．Chemicals are released in the running water.

2.In Paragraph 2, the underlined sentence means that       .

    A．bathing should be done with caution

    B．homes and offices should be aired often

    C．any pollution should be taken into consideration

    D．we should prevent any pollution from doing harm to us

3.What is the purpose of the passage?

    A．To call on us to guard our water.

    B．To show us that no place is like home.

    C．To make us aware of the pollution around us.

    D．To argue that neither homes nor offices are safe.