While all my classmates seen to be crazy about a one-way ticket to Mars(火星), I’d rather say Mars is totally unsuitable for human existence. People won’t have enough food supplies there, and the terrible environment would make it impossible for them to live a long life. Besides, the journey won’t be safe. Can anybody explain to me just why people would go to Mars, never to return?

Steve Minear, UK

Here are the things you can think of: the desire to explore a foreign and unique environment, the excitement of being the first humans to open up a new world, the expectation of fame and glory…For scientists there is another reason. Their observations and research will probably lead to great scientific achievements.

Donal Trollop, Canada

There are already too many people on the Earth. I think that sometime before the end of the century, there will be a human colony(殖民地)on Mars. It will happen when people finally realize that tow-way trips to the red planet Mars are unnecessary. Most of the danger of space Flight is in the launches(发射) and landings. Cutting the trip home would therefore reduce the danger of accidents, save a lot of money, and open the way to building an everlasting human settlement on another world.

Enough supplies can be sent on ahead. And every two years more supplies and more people will needs, and Mars is far more pleasant than the other planets in the outer space.

Paul Davies. USA

The main purpose of Steve Minear’s writing is     .

   A. to report his classmates’ discussion   B. to invite an answer to his question

   C. to explain the natural state of Mars    D. to show his agreement on going to Mars

Which of the following best states Donal Trollop’s idea?

   A. There is a plan to send humans to Mars.

   B. There are many reasons for going to Mars.

  C. Scientists become famous by doing research on Mars.

  D. It is possible to build an Earth-like environment on Mars.

Paul Davies points out that      .

  A. humans need only a one-way ticket to Mars.

  B. two-way trips to Mars will be made safe soon

  C. it is easy to reduce the danger and cost of flights to Mars

  D. it is cheap to build an everlasting human settlement on Mars

What does Paul Davies think of human existence on Mars?

  A. Humans will have to bring all they need from the Earth.

  B. Humans will find Mars totally unsuitable for living.

  C. Humans can produce everything they need.

  D. Humans can live longer in the colony on Mars

We Americans are wasteful people, not used to saving. Early settlers, our forefathers set us an example of wasting everything, for they thought nature’s resources were so plentiful that none of them ever imagined that natural materials would be used up in time. Within a few years of the first Virginia settlement, for example, pioneers burned down their houses when they were ready to move west. They burned down their houses with only one aim to get the nails（钉子）for future use. No one ever gave a thought to the priceless hardwoods that went up in smoke. As a people we destroy many valuable things that other people save. I noticed this when I was living in Britain. I received a letter from one England’s largest banks. It was enclosed in a used envelope（信封）that had been readdressed to me. Such a practice would be unthinkable in the United States. American banks, even the smallest, always use expensive stationery（信笺）with the names of all twenty - eight vice – presidents lists on side of the page.

1.According to the passage, we know the writer is ________ .

A. a Chinese   B. a Japanese   C. an Englishman    D. an American

2.The writer thought their forefathers ________ .

A. set a good example       B. wasted many natural resources

C. knew natural resources would be used up in time  

D. made the best use of natural materials

3. Which of the following statements is wrong?

A. The writer lives in Britain now.   

B. American banks use expensive stationery.

C. Americans are not used to saving.

D. The writer’s forefathers burned down their houses in order to get the nails.

4.The purpose of the passage is to ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­________ .

A. wish Americans not to waste        B. tell us the English are a good people

C. warn Americans against saving      D. encourage people to work hard.

Death Valley is one of the most famous deserts in the United States, covering a wide area with its alkali sand．Almost 20 percent of this area is well below sea level, and Badwater, a salt water pool, is about 280 feet below sea level and the lowest point in the United States．

    Long ago the Panamint Indians called this place “Tomesha”— the land of fire．Death Valley’s present name dates back to 1849, when a group of miners coming across from Nevada became lost in its unpleasantness and hugeness and their adventure turned out to be a sad story．Today Death Valley has been declared a National Monument and is crossed by several well-marked roads where good services can be found easily．Luckily the change created by human settlement has hardly ruined the special beauty of this place．

    Here nature created a lot of surprising, almost like the sights on the moon, ever-changing as the frequent wind moves the sand about, showing the most unusual colors．One of the most astonishing and colorful parts of Death Valley is the Devil’s Golf Course, where it seems hard for one to tell reality from dreams．Sand sculptures stand on a frightening ground, as evening shadows move and lengthen．

The present name of the valley comes from _______．

       A．an Indian name           B．the death of the miners  

       C．the local people             D．a National Movement

From the passage we can learn that _______．

       A．no one had ever known the desert before the miners

       B．it’s still not easy to travel across the desert

       C．people can find gas-stations, cafes and hotels in the desert

       D．people have changed the natural sight of the desert

The Devil’s Golf Course is famous for _______．

       A．the terrible sights    B．the moon-like sights

       C．dream-like sights    D．the ever-changing sights

From the passage we can see that the writer _______ the Death Valley．

         A．appreciates      B．is fearful of         C．dislikes      D．is tired of

D
People believes that climbing can do good to health. Where can you learn the skill of climbing then? If you think that you have to go to the mountains to learn how to climb, you’re wrong. Many Americans are learning to climb in city gyms (体育馆). Here, people are learning on climbing. The climbing wall goes straight up and small holding places for hands and feet.
How do people climb the wall? To climb, you need special shoes and (保护带) around your chest to hold you. There are ropes (绳索) tied to your. The ropes hold you in place so that you don’t fall. A beginner’s wall is usually about 15 feet high, and you climb straight up. There are small pieces of metal that stick out for you to stand on and hold on to. Sometimes it’s easy to see the new piece of metal. Sometimes, it’s not. The most difficult is your fear. It’s normal for humans to be afraid of falling, so it’s difficult not to feel fear. But when you move away from the wall, the ropes hold you, and you begin to feel safe. You move slowly until you reach the top.
Climbing attracts people because it’s good exercise for almost everyone. You use your whole body, especially your arms and legs. This sport gives your body a complete workout. When you climb, both your mind and your body can become stronger.
68. What can we infer from the passage?
A. People are fairly interested in climbing nowadays.
B. It is impossible to build up one’s body by climbing.
C. People can only learn the skill of climbing outdoors.
D. It is always easy to see holding places in climbing.
69. The most difficult thing to do in wall climbing is _______.
A. to tie ropes to your                        B. to control your fear
C. to move away from the wall                D. to climb straight up
70. The word “workout” underlined in the last paragraph most probably means _________.
A. settlement              B. exercise          C. excitement           D. tiredness
71. Why does the author write this passage?
A. To tell people where to find gyms.          B. To prove the basic need for climbing
C. To encourage people to climb mountains.   D. introduce the sport of wall climbing

People believes that climbing can do good to health. Where can you learn the skill of climbing then? If you think that you have to go to the mountains to learn how to climb, you’re wrong. Many Americans are learning to climb in city gyms(体育馆). Here, people are learning on  climbing. The climbing wall goes straight up and small holding places for hands and feet.

How do people climb the wall? To climb, you need special shoes and harness(保护带) around your chest to hold you. There are ropes(绳索)tied to your harness. The ropes hold you in place so that you don’t fall. A beginner’s wall is usually about 15 feet high, and you climb straight up. There are small pieces of metal that stick out for you to stand on and hold on to. Sometimes it’s easy to see the new piece of metal. Sometimes, it’s not. The most difficult is your fear. It’s normal for humans to be afraid of falling, so it’s difficult not to feel fear. But when you move away from the wall, the harness and the ropes hold you, and you begin to feel safe. You move slowly until you reach the top.

Climbing attracts people because it’s good exercise for almost everyone. You use your whole body, especially your arms and legs. This sport gives your body a complete workout. When you climb, both your mind and your body can become stronger.

1.What can we infer from the passage?

2.The most difficult thing to do in wall climbing is _______.

3.The word “workout” underlined in the last paragraph most probably means _________.

4.Why does the author write this passage?