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．

 

How Long Can People Live?

She took up skating at age 85, made her first movie appearance at age 114, and held a concert in the neighborhood on her 121^at birthday.

When it comes to long life, Jeanne Calment is the world’s record holder. She lived to the ripe old age of 122. So is 122 the upper limit to the human life span（寿命）? If scientists come up with some sort of pill or diet that would slow aging, could we possibly make it to 150 or beyond?

Researchers don’t entirely agree on the answers. “Calment lived to 122, so it”

wouldn’t surprise me if someone alive today reaches 130 or 135," says Jerry Shay at the University of Texas．

       Steve Austad at the University of Texas agrees．"People can live much longer than we think," he says．"Experts used to say that humans couldn't live past 110．When Calment blew past that age, they raised the number to 120．So why can't we go higher? "

       The trouble with guessing how old people can live to be is that it's all just guessing．"Anyone can make up a number," says Rich Miller at the University of Michigan．"Usually the scientist who picks the highest number gets his name in Time magazine．"

       Won't new anti-aging techniques keep us alive for centuries? Any cure, says Miller, for aging would probably keep most of us kicking until about 120．Researchers are working on treatments that lengthen the life span of mice by 50 percent at most．So, if the average human life span is about 80 years, says Miller, "adding another 50 percent would get you to 120．"

       So what can．we conclude from this little disagreement among the researchers? That life span is flexible, but there is a limit, says George Martin of the University of Washington．"We can get flies to live 50 percent longer," he says．"But a fly's never going to live 150 years．" Of course, if you became a new species, one that ages at a slower speed, that would be a different story, he adds．

       Does Martin really believe that humans could evolve （进化） their way to longer life? "It's pretty cool to think about," he says with．a smile．

What does the story of Jeanne Calment prove to us?

       A．People can live to 122．

       B．Old people are creative,,

       C．Women are sporty at 85．

       D．Women live longer than men．

According to Steve Austad at the University of Texas, _____．

       A．the average human life span could be 110

       B．scientists cannot find ways to slow aging

       C．few people can expect to live to over 150

       D．researchers are not sure how long people can live

Who would agree that a scientist, will become famous if he makes the wildest guess at longevity?

       A．Jerry Shay．        B．Steve Austad        C．Rich Miler      D．George Martin

What can we infer from the last three paragraphs?

       A．Most of us could be good at sports even at 150．

       B．The average human life span cannot be doubled

       C．Scientists believe mice are aging at a slower speed than before．

       D．New techniques could be used to change flies into a new species

Someday a stranger will read your e-mail without your permission or scan the Website you've visited，Or perhaps someone will casually glance through your credit card purchases or cell phone bills to find out your shopping preferences or calling habits.

In fact, it's likely that some of these things have already happened to you. Who would watch you without your permission? It might be a spouse, a girl friend, a marketing company, a boss, a cop or a criminal. Whoever it is, they will see you in a way you never intended to be seen ---- the 21st century replacement of being caught naked.

Psychologists tell us boundaries are healthy, that it's important to reveal yourself to friends, family and lovers in stages, at appropriate times. But few boundaries remain. The digital bread crumbs(碎屑) you leave everywhere make it easy for strangers to reconstruct who you are, where you are and what you like. In some cases, a simple Google search can reveal what you think. Like it or not, increasingly we live in a world where you simply cannot keep a secret.

The key question is: Does that matter?

For many Americans, the answer apparently is "no."

When opinion polls ask Americans about privacy, most say they are concerned about losing it. A survey found a strong bad feeling about privacy, with 60 percent of respondents saying they feel their privacy is "slipping away, and that bothers me."

But people say one thing and do another. Only a tiny part of Americans change any behaviors in an effort to preserve their privacy. Few people turn down a discount at tollbooths(收费站) to avoid using the EZ-Pass system that can track automobile movements. And few turn down supermarket loyalty cards. Privacy economist Alessandro Acquisti has run a series of tests that reveal people will give away personal information like Social Security numbers just to get their hands on a pitiful 50-cents-off coupon(优惠卷)。

But privacy does matter ---- at least sometimes. It's like health: When you have it, you don't notice it. Only when it's gone do you wish you'd done more to protect it.

51. What does the author mean by saying "the 21st century replacement of being caught naked"?

A. People's personal information is easily accessed without their knowledge.

B. In the 21st century people try every means to look into others' secrets.

C. People tend to be more frank with each other in the information age.

D. Criminals are easily caught on the spot with advanced technology.

52.What would psychologists advise on the relationships between friends?

A. Friends should open their hearts to each other.

B. Friends should always be faithful to each other.

C. There should be a distance even between friends.

D. There should be fewer arguments between friends.

53. Why does the author say "we live in a world where you simply cannot keep a secret"？

A. Modern society has finally developed into an open society.

B. People leave traces around when using modern technology.

C. There are always people who are curious about others' affairs.

D. Many search engines benefit from giving away people's identities.

54. What do most Americans do as for privacy protection?

A. They change behaviors that might disclose their identity.

B. They use various loyalty cards for business transactions(交易)..

C. They rely most and more on electronic devices.

D. They talk a lot but hardly do anything about it.

55. According to the passage, privacy is like health because ___.

A. people will make every effort to keep it.

      B. its importance is rarely understood

C. it is something that can easily be lost

      D. people don't treasure it until they lose it

I am so worried about global warming. We need stop cutting down all of the trees so that they can absorb the carbon dioxide. I think the Kyoto Protocol （京都议定书) to stop pollution is a great idea ,and I hope our country will decide to follow it, too.

                                                             — Eli S.,10,Texa

People should do all they can to help stop pollution, even if it is something as little as recycling your soda can. Every little thing helps. Maybe schools can put recycling bins in classrooms. Students can bring in all of their cans and bottles and see how many the school can collect.

                                                  — Lindsey A.,11, Massachusett

The United States should take action to help stop pollution. Since we are one of the richest countries, we should at least spend a little money to help.

                                                  — Aaron z,11,Massachusett

It is not good that the United States is not following the Kyoto Protocol. The U.S. is one of the most pollution emitting (污染物排放)countries in the world. Even if the rest of the world agrees to follow those rules, without the U. S. and its big businesses agreeing, global warming will still be a big problem.

                                                         —Augustine S.,11,Ohio

The world needs to learn more about global warming problems. If we do not do something soon then some of Earth’s coolest animals will become extinct. People should use solar power instead of things that pollute the atmosphere!

                                                    — Jillian J.,10,Pennsylvania

Global warming is very dangerous, and it must be prevented. Even if people think that it cannot be stopped ,we should  at least try. Stopping global warming is more important than keeping our businesses going. What about the penguins(企鹅)and the polar bears? We can’t just let them become extinct.

                                                        —Samantha R.,11,Illinois

Why does Lindsey suggest schools put recycling bins in classrooms?

  A. To keep the classroom clean          B. To help protect wild animals.

  C. To help protect our earth.     D. To collect waste in classroom.

Augustine worries that global warming problems will be difficult to solve because       .

  A. many people think that global warming cannot be stopped

  B. more and more trees are being cut down

  C. American government spends little money stopping pollution

  D. the U.S. refuses to follow the Kyoto Protocol

Jillian and Samantha believe that      .

  A. solar power is earth-friendly energy   

B. global warming threatens animals’ survival

C. America is the richest country in the world

D. the penguins and the polar bears are dying out

  What do the six children mainly talk about?

     A. Environmental problems.         B. The Kyoto Protocol.

     C. Animal protection.              D. The climate change.