In 1901, H.G. Wells, an English writer, wrote a book describing a trip to the moon. When the explorers（探险者） landed on the moon, they discovered that the moon was full of underground cities. They expressed their surprise to the "moon people" they met. In turn, the "moon people" expressed their surprise. "Why," they asked, "are you traveling to outer space when you don't even use your inner space？"

　　H.G. Wells could only imagine travel to the moon. In 1969, human beings really did land on the moon. People today know that there are no underground cities on the moon. However, the question that the "moon people" asked is still an interesting one. A growing number of scientists are seriously thinking about it.

　　Underground systems are already in place. Many cities have underground car parks. In some cities, such as Tokyo, Seoul and Montreal, there are large underground shopping areas. The "Chunnel", a tunnel（隧道）connecting England and France, is now complete.

　　But what about underground cities? Japan's Taisei Corporation is designing a network of underground systems, called "Alice Cities." The designers imagine using surface space for public parks and using underground space for flats, offices, shopping, and so on. A solar dome（太阳能穹顶）would cover the whole city.

　　Supporters of underground development say that building down rather than building up is a good way to use the earth's space. The surface, they say, can be used for farms, parks, gardens, and wilderness. H. G. Wells’ "moon people" would agree. Would you？

56. The explorers in H. G. Wells’ story were surprised to find that the "moon people"____.

　　A. knew so much about the earth

　　B. understood their language

　　C. lived in so many underground cities

　　D. were ahead of them in space technology

57. What does the underlined word "it"（Paragraph 2）refer to？

　　A. Discovering the moon's inner space.

　　B. Using the earth's inner space.

　　C. Meeting the "Moon people" again.

　　D. Traveling to outer space.

58. What sort of underground systems are already here with us?

　　A. Offices, shopping areas, power stations.

　　B. Tunnels, car parks, shopping areas.

　　C. Gardens, car parks, power stations.

　　D. Tunnels, gardens, offices.

59. What would be the best title for the text？

　　A. Alice Cities-cities of the future

　　B. Space travel with H. G. Wells

　　C. Enjoy living underground

　　D. Building down, not up

Most children want to be pop stars or footballers when they grow up. But 11-year-old Amy Jones had the chance to 1 more about her 2 job -- a medical biologist when she won an essay writing competition for primary students.

　　 Amy's 3 for the best essay on "What I want to be when I'm older" was a day at the Oxford Medical Science Institute. Staff organized a special programme for the would-be 　4 , introducing her to the projects being worked on by medical biologists at Oxford. The sessions included a look at the 5 of medical biologists in fighting cancers and 6 to become a medical biologist.

　　 Amy said she was 7 to become a biologist after watching a television programme. In her essay she wrote: "The medical biologist plays a big role in many discoveries and it would be a challenging, exciting and 8 job."

　　 Dr Kathryn Robson, the Institute director said: "It's 9 that we encourage young people to study science and think about scientific research as a job. I hope Amy now has a better 10 of what it takes to become a medical biologist."

1.　　 2.　　 3.　　 4.　　 5.　　 6.　　 7.　　 8.　　 9.　　 10.　　

A. campaign　　　　　 B. noted　　　　　　　　　 C. focus　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. careful　　 E. released

F. fall　　　　　　　　　　 G. trend　　　　　　　 H. dead　　　　　　　　 I. major　　　　　　　　 J. extended

WASHINGTON (Reuters) — The U.S. unemployment rate probably rose in October as employers stepped up hiring only slightly, underscoring President Barack Obama’s vulnerability in next week’s presidential election.

Employers likely added 125,000 jobs to their payrolls last month, according to a Reuters survey of economists. That would be up from 114,000 in September, but would 　 41　 short of what is needed to quickly cut the jobless rate.

Indeed, economists expect the unemployment rate — a key 　　42　 in the neck-and-neck race for the White House ——to tick up by a tenth of a percentage point to 7.9 percent, reversing part of a surprise drop seen in September.

The Labor Department's closely watched report, which will be 　 43 at 8:30 a.m. (12:30 GMT) on Friday, will be the last 　44 report card on the economy before Tuesday's presidential election, which pits (使竞争）President Obama against Republican Mitt Romney.

If economists are right, it will show the eighth straight month of dull job growth, a worrisome　 45 that would likely reinforce the Federal Reserve's resolve to keep easy money policies in place until the economy shows more vigor.

"The weakness in overall economic growth momentum has 　 46 into the last quarter of the year," said Millan Mulraine, an economist at TD Securities in New York.

Romney has made the nation's feeble jobs market, which has caused Obama a lot of trouble since he took office in 2009, the centerpiece of his 　 47 . The last Reuters/Ipsos daily tracking poll showed Obama and Romney in a 　 48　 heat.

Still, the report could provide fodder for both candidates. Some economists have 　 49　 an increase in the jobless rate might have a silver lining if it is driven by Americans pouring into the labor market to restart job hunts.

　 "Just sign here, sir," the deliveryman said as he handed Oscar Reyna a package.

The package consisted of a long, narrow box ???__36___ wrapped in brown paper. ???__37___ the box, Oscar saw an umbrella inside — a very old one with a beautifully carved wooden handle. ???__38___ he had not seen it in more than 20 years, he recognized it ???__39___ .

Oscar was 16 when he first saw the ???__40___ umbrella. He had gone to a concert with his grandparents. As they were leaving, h noticed an umbrella on an empty seat, impressed by its ???__41___, Oscar felt a strong desire to find its ???__42___ .

Oscar ???__43___the manager to look in the record of advance ticket sales. Just as he thought, a name matched the seat ???__44___ Oscar had found the umbrella. The name was Mrs. Katie O'Brien.

Oscar talked his grandparents into going by Mrs. O'Brien's ???__45___ on their way home. He rang the bell, the door opened, and an elderly woman appeared. "May I__________ ???__46___　 you?" she asked.

"I'd like to return it if it's yours," Oscar said, ???__47___ the umbrella as if presenting a ???__48__ that had long been wished for.

"Why, yes! It's mine," replied Mrs. O'Brien with a ???__49___ smile and shining eyes. "It was given to me by my father years ago. Thank you so much for returning it. May I offer you a reward for your ??__50_ ?"

"No, ma'am," he said, "My grandmother says that a good deed is its own reward. "

"Well, that's ???__51___ what my father used to say. What is your name, young man?"

Years later Oscar was staring at the finely carved handle of the umbrella as he remembered Mrs. O'Brien. It was in perfect condition, considering how ???__52___ it was. Why had it arrived here today?

As if ???__53___ , a note fell from the paper. It reads: Mrs. O'Brien wanted to ???__54___ this umbrella as a present for a kind, ???__55___ gesture long ago.

36. A. carefully　　　　 B. strictly　　　　　　　 C. roughly　　　　　　 D. casually

37. A. Observing　　　 B. Seizing　　　　　　　 C. Opening　　　　　　 D. Searching

38. A. After　　　　　　　 B. When　　　　　　　　 C. Since　　　　　　　　 D. Although

39. A. clearly　　　　　　 B. fully　　　　　　　　　 C. suddenly　　　　　 D. immediately

40. A. average　　　　　 B. unusual　　　　　　 C. plain　　　　　　　　 D. typical

41. A. origin　　　　　　 B. shape　　　　　　　　 C. beauty　　　　　　　 D. history

42. A. designer　　　　 B. owner　　　　　　　 C. user　　　　　　　　　 D. seller

43. A. convinced　　　 B. forced　　　　　　　 C. encouraged　　　　 D. advised

44. A. until　　　　　　　 B. where　　　　　　　 C. which　　　　　　　 D. before

45. A. family　　　　　　 B. theater　　　　　　　 C. house　　　　　　　　 D. neighborhood

46. A. invite　　　　　　　 B. help　　　　　　　　　 C. bother　　　　　　　 D. know

47. A. holding out　　 B. turning out　　　　 C. picking up　　　　 D. putting up

48. A. chance　　　　　 B. gift　　　　　　　　　 C. fact　　　　　　　　　 D. result

49. A. wide　　　　　　　 B. confident　　　　　 C. proud　　　　　　　　 D. shy

50. A. patience　　　　　 B. kindness　　　　　　 C. courage　　　　　　 D. determination

51 A. obviously　　　　 B. naturally　　　　　　 C. exactly　　　　　　　 D. probably

52. A. nice　　　 B. rare　　　　　　　　　 C. precious　　　　　　 D. old

53. A. in contrast　 B. in answer　　　 C. in exchange　 D. in return

54. A. possess　　　　　 B. value　　　　　　　　 C. carry　　　　　　　　 D. accept

55. A. unselfish　　　　 B. significant　　　　　 C. attractive　　　　　 D. sympathetic

　A man named Smith was sitting on his roof during a flood, and the water was up to his feet. Before long a fellow in a canoe passed and shouted, "Can I give you a lift to higher ground?"

　　"No, thanks," said Smith. "I have faith in God and he will save me."

　　Soon the water rose to Smith's waist. At this point a motor boat pulled up and someone called out, "Can I give you a lift to higher ground?"

　　"No, thanks, I have faith in God and he will save me."

　　Later a helicopter flew by, and Smith was now standing on the roof with water up to his neck. "Grab the rope, "shouted the pilot. "I'll pull you up."

　　"No, thanks," said Smith. "I have faith in God and he will save me. "But after hours of struggling with water, poor exhausted Smith drowned and went to his reward. As he arrived at the Pearly Gates, Smith met God and complained about this. "Tell me, God, "he said, "I had such faith in you to save me and you let me drown. What happened?"

　　To which God replied, "What do you want from me? I sent you two boats and a helicopter."

　When the pilot asked Smith to grab the rope, ______.

　　　　A. Smith pulled the pilot up　　　　　 B. Smith did so

　　　　C. Smith didn't do so　　　　　　　　 D. Smith didn't hear him

At last, poor exhausted Smith drowned and ______.

　　　　A. went to his reward　　　　　　　　B. passed away

　　　　C. went to heaven　　　　　　　　　 D. all of the above

　What do we know about Smith? ______.

　　　　A. He was a lazy man

　　　　B. He was a lucky man who believed in God

　　　　C. He was a poor man

What do you think of this passage? This passage is very ______.

　　　　A. moving　　　　B. humorous　　　C. depressing　　　D. surprising

　　　　　D. He was a silly man who believed in God