After sunset on our last day at the farm I walked out into the desert. In this, the first pleasant moment for a walk after long hot hours, I thought I was the only thing out of doors. Suddenly I stopped. Before me a rattlesnake lay fixed, its head not yet drawn back to strike but only turned a little to watch what I would do. Many snakes will run away at the sight of a man but this rattlesnake felt no necessity to get out of any-body's way. He held his ground in calm watch-fullness waiting for me to show my intentions. My first aim was to take no notice of him; I had never killed an animal if I was not forced to kill. But I remembered that there were children, dogs and horses at the farm as well as men and women with thin clothes on; my duty was to kill the snake. I went back to the farm and returned with a stick. The rattlesnake had not moved; he lay like a wire but more quickly than I could stride he shot into a bush and set up his rattling, warning me by this that I had made an unreasonable attack and attempted to take his life and that if I insisted he would have no choice but to take mine if he could. For a moment I listened to this terrifying sound and then I struck into the bush with my stick and, chop-ping about, dragged him out of the bush with his back broken. w.wHe struck once more at the stick but a moment later his neck was broken and he was soon dead althoughwww..com when I picked him up by the tail his mouth opened, proving that a dead snake may still bite. There was blood in his mouth and poison was dropping; it was not only a dis-gusting(令人作呕的) sight but a pitiful one too. I dropped the body into a green bush and, as I did so, I saw him in my imagination, crawling over the sands as he might have done if I had let him go.

49. At the sight of the author, the rattlesnake        .

A. shot into a bush

B. lay motionless but got ready to meet danger

C. drew itself up to strike

D. took no notice of his presence

50. The author had to kill the rattlesnake because       .

A. it stood in his way

B. it attempted to take his life

C. it presented a disgusting sight

D. its presence was a danger to the people and animals at the farm

51. Which of the following best describes the rattlesnake?

A. It attacked man without any reason.

B. It would not attack unless it was attacked.

C. It ran away at the sight of man.

D. It exposed itself to danger.

52. It is implied at the end of the passage that the author____.

A. regretted having killed the snake

B. was glad that he had killed the snake

C. felt a little sorry for the snake

D. could not help thinking about the dead snake

Seven Health Facts about Coffee

Whe.n you’re consideringyour.morning coffee, here are some healthfacts to keep in mind:

1, Coffee Reduces Your Risk of Diabetes（糖尿病）

In a 2005 review of nine studies, researchers found that for those that drank four to six cups of coffee per day, versus only. Two or fewer, their risk for Type 2 diabetes decreased by almost 30 percent. The number decreased:d by 35 percent when people drank more than six cups per da3day.And if you’re picturing yourself f running around the’office with your eyes bugging out of your head, no worries because caffeinated and decaffeinated coffees provided much the same results.

2. Coffee Fights Free Radicals（自由基）

We often forget that coffee is actually a plant and like all plant foods, the coffee bean contains more than 1,000 naturally occurring substances called phytochemicals, which may help prevent disease. Many of these phytochemicals are antioxidants which protect the cells from damage from free radicals.

3. Coffee Improves Memory and Cognition

Researchers reported that volunteers who drank caffeinated coffee in the morning performed better than nondrinkers on tests that involved learning new information. Coffee can also improve cognitive function as we age. One study found that combining coffee with a sweet treat had an even bigger impact.

4. Coffee Can Increase Osteoporosis（骨质疏松）

It s true that coffee can cause the body to excrete calcium in urine. We don’t want the.body to rid itself of calcium because this can lead to osteoporosis. According to The Diet Channel,about five milligrams of calcium is lost per every six ounces of coffee consumed. But these calcium losses can be counter balanced with two tablespoons of milk or yogurt per cup of coffee.

5. Coffee Causes Wrinkles

Even tho,ugh coffee has antioxidants, if you drink too much of it, it can cause wrinkling of the skin. This is a result of dehydration(脱水) which is the worst thing for your skin. So when you’re drinking that morning cup or two, make sure that you’re pairing it with water. Even better,add one tablespoon of chia seeds to your water and let them sit for 30 minutes. The chia seeds keep you even more hydrated than regular water.

6, Coffee Can Actually Cause Weight Gain

The blood sugar changes that a caffeine high produces can contribute enormously to a strong desire for it,’according to iVillage. Coffee is also socially connected to food. For example,we pair coffee with dessert or that morning powdered doughnut. Additionally, when we crash fiom our caffeine high that’s when we reach for all sorts of fatty snacks’ to keep us going.

7. Conventional Coffee Is Laden with Pesticides（杀虫剂）

The coffee plant is one of the most heavily sprayed crops. Lt’s coated with chemicals,pesticides, and herbicides, nothing you’d want to be swallowing. If you do drink coffee, make sure that it’s the organic variety, free from assorted chemicals that.leech into our ground water and can make us sick down the road.

If you switch to decaffeinated coffee, make sure the caffeine（咖啡因） is removed in a natural way without the use of chemicals to do it. Often times, conventional decaffeinated coffee has more chemicals than regular.

41. If you want to decrease the risk of diabetes by 35070, you need to take at least       cups of coffee every day.

A. seven       B. six    C. five      D. four

42.lf you are a heavy drinker of coffee, a far better way to avoid wrinkling of your skin is to drink water      .

A.less than usual   B. regularly       C. with sugar      D. with chia seeds

43. Which of the following statements is wrong?

A. Adding two spoons of milk to a cup of coffee can prevent calcium losses.

B. Decaffeinated coffee has different effects from caffeinated coffee as to diabetes.

C. Many phytochemicals protect the cells from damage from fiee radicals.

D. The organic variety of coffee p/ant is free from assorted chemicals.

44. The author has a/an           attitude towards drinking of coffee.

A. positive     B, negative       C. objective        D. imaginative