Every year there are hundreds of earthquakes in different parts of the world. In September, 1923, Tokyo and Yokohama were both destroyed by an earthquake and the fires that followed it. They had to be completely rebuilt. One of the most serious earthquakes was in China’s Shanxi province in 1556. It killed almost one million people.
We measure an earthquake’s strength on the Richter Scale. The Richter Scale was introduced in 1935 in Southern California in the USA. It measures earthquakes on a scale of one to ten. Any earthquake measuring five or more is usually serious.
The Earth’s crust(地壳) is made up of rock called plates. As these plates move, they sometimes crash against each other, causing the crust to quake. In cities such as Tokyo, where small quakes happen quite often, many modern buildings are designed to be flexible so when the Earth moves, they move with it.
Earthquakes can also break up gas and oil pipes. This can cause fires to break out, which can do as much damage as the earthquake itself. Another effect of earthquakes is tsunamis. These are huge waves created by earthquakes beneath the sea. They can be many meters high and cause great damage to coastal towns and cities, China, Japan, Russia and the USA have the highest occurrence(发生) of earthquakes in the world.
【小题1】The passage is mainly about       .

A．scientists who study earthquakes

B．the way of measuring earthquakes

C．a usual natural disaster

D．what people should do in the earthquake

【小题2】The earthquake in Shanxi Province       , which in NOT true?

A．happened in 1556

B．killed one million people

C．caused a lot of damage

D．was the only earthquake in China

【小题3】Earthquakes        

A．don’t cause much damage	B．are not serious
C．most possibly happen in Japan	D．happen all over the world

【小题4】According to the passage we know that tsunamis        .

A．can cause earthquakes

B．are caused by earthquakes

C．only happen on land

D．are a way of measuring earthquakes

Why should mankind explore space? Why should money, time and effort be spent exploring and researching something with so few apparent benefits? Why should resources be spent on space rather than on conditions and people on Earth? These are questions that, understandably, are very often asked．

Perhaps the best answer lies in our genetic makeup（基因构成） as human beings．What drove our ancestors to move from the trees into the plains, and on into all possible areas and environments? The wider the spread of' a species, the better its chance of' survival． Perhaps the best reason for exploring space is this genetic tendency to expand wherever possible． Nearly every successful civilization has explored, because by doing so, any dangers in surrounding areas can be identified and prepared for． Without knowledge, we may be completely destroyed by the danger． With knowledge, we can lessen its effects．

Exploration also allows minerals and other potential（潜在的） resources to be found．Even if' we have no immediate need of them, they will perhaps be useful later． Resources may be more than physical possessions． Knowledge or techniques have been acquired through exploration．The techniques may have medical applications which can improve the length or quality of our lives．We have already benefited from other spin-offs including improvements in earthquake prediction, in satellites for weather forecasting and in communications systems． Even non-stick pans and mirrored sunglasses are by-products （副产品） of technological developments in the space．

While many resources are spent on what seems a small return, the exploration of' space us．While space may hold many wonders and explanations of how the universe was formed or how it works, it also holds dangers． The danger exists, but knowledge can help human being to survive． Without the ability to reach out across space, the chance to save ourselves might not exist．

While Earth is the only planet known to support life, surely the adaptive ability of humans would allow us to live on other planets． It is true that the lifestyle would be different, but human life and cultures have adapted in the past and surely could in the future．

1.Why does the author mention the questions in Paragraphl ?

    A．To express his doubts．

    B．To introduce points for discussion．

    C．To compare different ideas．

    D．To describe the conditions on Earth．

2.What is the reason for exploring space based on Paragraph2 ?

    A．Humans are nature-born to do so．

    B．Humans have the tendency to fight．

    C．Humans may find new sources of food．

    D．Humans don't like to stay in the same place．

3.The underlined word “spin-offs” in Paragraph 3 probably refers to        ．

    A．survival chances        B．potential resources

    C．unexpected benefits     D．physical possessions

4.What makes it possible for humans to live on other planets'?

    A．Our genetic makeup．         B．The adaptive ability of' humans．

    C．Resources on the earth．     D．By-products in space exploration．

5.Which of the following statements can best sum up the passage'?

    A．Space exploration has created many wonders．

    B．Space exploration provided the best value for money．

    C．Space exploration can benefit science and technology．

    D．Space exploration may help us avoid potential problems on Earth．

 

Bored by the Chinese courses he was majoring in, Zuo Cheng, 18, couldn't imagine having to drag himself into class day after day, week after week, for four years. The Beijing Language and Culture University student decided that enough was enough. After rounds of examinations and interviews, he managed to transfer (转移) to the Department of International Accounting.

"It may seem like I've wasted a year and have to start college all over again, but now that I've settled on a field, I'll be able to concentrate." Zuo said. Zuo is not alone.

At the China Three Gorges University in Yichang in Hubei province 53 out of 59 students in the Physics Department took transfer exams last term. Unfortunately only 22 of them got a place on another major.

Jiang Xin, 20, who was able to switch to electrical engineering and automation from physics, said that physics graduates had few other choices besides going into teaching. He added that a career in education just didn't suit him.

"I should have better job prospects (前景) and the chance to earn more money once I graduate," Jiang said. Many first year college students find their majors uninteresting.

However, Shao Yanfang, who works at the admissions office of a university, advised students to consider both short-term and long-term goals. "After graduation do you want to find yourself in a job very specifically related to your college major? Or, would you like to possess the knowledge and skills that will enable you to work in many areas? These are the questions students need to consider. Above all, your choice of major should be based on your own interests, abilities and personality," Shao said.

1. After Zuo Cheng managed to transfer the collage major, he felt________.

A. sad          B. happy               C. nervous           D. pitiful

2. Which of the following statements is true?

A. A lot of students are not accustomed to the life on campus.

B. Students who attend university want to earn more money.

C. Students can change their major based on their interests.

D. Students who are weak in their study can change their major.

3. In the passage, Paragraph 3 functions as ________.

A. an example        B. an introduction   C. a conclusion        D. an explanation

4. According to Shao Yanfang, students are supposed to think about ________ when changing majors.

A. present knowledge and skills              B. short-term and long-term goals

C. future earnings and jobs                  D. relationship between friends

5. The text is written mainly for those ________.

A. Company managers                     B. Job hunters

C. Collage directors                       D. College students

 

Language learning begins with listening. Children are greatly different in the amount of listening they do before they start speaking, and later starters are often long listeners. Most children will “obey” spoken instructions some time before they can speak, though the word “obey” is hardly accurate as a description of the eager and delighted cooperation usually shown by the children. Before they can speak, many children will also ask questions by gesture and by making questioning noises.

Any attempt to study the development from the noises babies make to their first spoken words leads to considerable difficulties. It is agreed that they enjoy making noises, and that during the first few months one or two noises sort themselves as particularly expressive as delight, pain, friendliness, and so on. But since these can’t be said to show the baby’s intention to communicate, they can hardly be regarded as early forms of language. It is agreed, too, that from about three months they play with sounds for enjoyment, and that by six months they are able to add new words to their store. This self-imitation(模仿) leads on to deliberate(有意的) imitation of sounds made or words spoken to them by other people. The problem then arises as to the point at which one can say that these imitations can be considered as speech.

It is a problem we need to get our teeth into. The meaning of a word depends on what a particular person means by it in a particular situation; and it is clear that what a child means by a word will change as he gains more experience of the world. Thus the use, at seven months, of “mama” as a greeting for his mother cannot be dismissed as a meaning-less sound simply because he also uses it at another time for his father, his dog, or anything else he likes. Playful and meaningless imitation of what other people say continues after the child has begun to speak for himself. I doubt, however, whether anything is gained when parents take advantage of this ability in an attempt to teach new sounds.

1. Before children start speaking _______.

A. they need equal amount of listening

B. they need different amounts of listening

C. they are all eager to cooperate with the adults by obey spoken instructions

D. they can’t understand and obey the adult’s oral instructions

2. Children who start speaking late _______.

A. may have problems with their listening

B. probably do not hear enough language spoken around them

C. usually pay close attention to what they hear

D. often take a long time in learning to listen properly

3. A baby’s first noises are _______.

A. an expression of his moods and feelings

B. an early form of language

C. a sign that he means to tell you something

D. an imitation of the speech of adults

4. The problem of deciding at what point a baby’ imitations can be considered as speech _______.

A. is important because words have different meanings for different people

B. is not especially important because the changeover takes place gradually

C. is one that should be properly understood because the meaning of words changes with age

D. is one that should be completely ignored(忽略) because children’s use of words is of-ten meaningless

5. The speaker implies _______.

A. parents can never hope to teach their children new sounds

B. children no longer imitate people after they begin to speak

C. children who are good at imitating learn new words more quickly

D. even after they have learnt to speak, children still enjoy imitating

    Here is your best chance to travel around the UK in 2012: More than 200 B&Bs（bed & breakfast）across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are selected to offer you amazing services for your stay at their lowest prices! Don’t miss it. Just collect the vouchers（活动券）in our B&B Daily printed from 01/04/2012 to 07/04/2012 and book the stays for your travel following the terms and conditions below:

●     The offer includes a room for the night and a breakfast the next morning.

●     The offer is of two kinds: ￡20 per room, valid（有效的）during stay period of 02/04/2012—31/05/2012 and then again 01/09/2012—31/10/2012；￡35 per room, per night, valid during stay period of 01/06/2012—31/08/2012.

●     The offer is valid for a basic twin or double room only.

●     The stay must be booked directly with the chosen B&Bs before 28/04/2012.

●     Each voucher can only be used by the holder to book one room for one night.

●     If voucher holders book either the ￡20 or ￡35 per room per night, any additional services such as lunch, evening meal or activities may require an extra charge. But these are not required in order to take up the offer. Please check directly with your chosen B&Bs to see what extra services are available.

●     Vouchers must be presented on arrival. If no vouchers are presented, the B&Bs may reserve（保留）the right to charge at full price for every night of stay.

●     Vouchers may not be used together with any other offer.

●     The voucher holders must pay for the stay in full at the time of booking. Additional ￡10 may be paid to confirm（确认）the booking and will be returned on arrival.

●     The B&Bs reserve the right to refuse voucher holders’ bookings for people under the age of 18.

45. The voucher can be used for a stay at the chosen B&B on ______.

A. 09/01/2012       B. 04/02/2012       C. 01/03/2012       D. 28/04/2012

46. What right do the B&Bs reserve?

A. To charge extra ￡10 for bookings with no vouchers.

B. To refuse bookings for guest under the age of 18.

C. To charge at full price for stays not confirmed.

D. To request extra charges as tips.

47. By taking up the offer, the voucher holders can choose to ______ .

A. book either a basic twin or double room at the chosen B&Bs

B. have lunch or evening meal without paying extra money

C. use the B&B offer together with other offers

D. book the stays though B&B Daily