Unless we spend money spotting and preventing asteroids(小行星) now, one might crash into Early and destroy life as we know it, say some scientists.

Asteroids are bigger versions of the meteoroids(流星) that race across the night sky. Most orbit the sun far from Earth and don’t threaten us. But there are also thousands of asteroids whose orbits put them on a collision course with Earth.

Buy $50 million worth of new telescopes right now. Then spend $10 million a year for the next 25 years to locate most of the space rocks. By the time we spot a fatal one, the scientists say, we’ll have a way to change its course.

Some scientists favor pushing asteroids off course with nuclear weapons.  But the cost wouldn’t be cheap. Is is worth it? Two things experts consider when judging any risk are: (1)How likely the event is; and (2) How bad the consequences if the event occurs. Experts think an asteroid big enough to destroy lots of life might strike Earth once every 500 000 years. Sounds pretty rare-but if one did fall, it would be the end of the world. “If we don’t take care of these asteroids, they’ll take care of us,”says one scientist.  “It’s that simple.”

 The cure, though, might be worse than the disease. Do we really want fleets of nuclear weapons sitting around on Earth? “The world has less to fear from doomsday(世界末日) rocks than from a great nuclear fleet set against it,” said a New York Times article.

9.What does the passage say about asteroids and meteoroids?

A.They are heavenly bodies different in composition.

  B.They are heavenly bodies similar in nature.

C.There are more asteroids than meteoroids.

D.Asteroids are more mysterious than meteoroids.

10.What do scientists say about the collision of an asteroid with Earth?

A.It is very unlikely but the danger exists.

B.Such a collision might occur once every 25 years.

C.Coilisions of smaller asteroids with Earth occur more often than expected.

  D.lt’s still too early to say whether such a collision might occur.

11.What do people think of the suggestion of using nuclear weapons to alter the course of asteroids?

A.It sounds practical but it may not solve the problem.

B.It may create more problems than it might slove.

C.It is a waste of money because a collision of asteroids with Earth is very unlikely.

D.Further research should be done before it is proved applicable.

12.We can conclude from the passage that .      

A.while pushing asteroids off course nuclear weapons would destroy the world

B.asteroids racing across the night sky are likely to hit Earth in the near future

C.the worry about asteroids can be left to future generations since it is unlike to happen in our    lifetime.

D.workable solutions still have to be found to prevent a collision of asteroids with Earth

Unless we spend money to spot and prevent asteroids now，one might crash into Earth and destroy life as we know it，say some scientists.
Asteroids are bigger versions of the meteoroids(流星)that race across the night sky. Most orbit the sun far from Earth and don't threaten us. But there are also thousands whose orbits put them on a collision course with Earth.
Buy $ 50 million worth of new telescopes right now. Then spend $ 10 million a year for the next 25 years to locate most of the space rocks. By the time we spot a fatal one，the scientists say，we'll have a way to change its course.
Some scientists favor pushing asteroids off course with nuclear weapons. But the cost wouldn't be cheap. Is it worth it? Two things experts consider when judging any risk are: 1) How likely the event is; and 2) How bad the consequences if the event occurs. Experts think an asteroid big enough to destroy lots of life might strike Earth once every 500,000 years. Sounds pretty rare-but if one did fall，it would be the end of the world. “If we don't take care of these big asteroids，they'll take care of us,” says one scientist. “It's that simple.”
The cure，though，might be worse than the disease. Do we really want fleets of nuclear weapons sitting around on Earth? “The world has less to fear from doomsday(毁灭性的) rocks than from a great nuclear fleet set against them，” said a New York Times article.
【小题1】What does the passage say about asteroids and meteoroids?

A．They are heavenly bodies different in composition.

B．They are heavenly bodies similar in nature.

C．There are more asteroids than meteoroids.

D．Asteroids are more mysterious than meteoroids.

【小题2】 What do scientists say about the collision of an asteroid with Earth?

A．It is very unlikely but the danger exists.

B．Such a collision might occur once every 25 years.

C．Collisions of smaller asteroids with Earth occur more often than expected.

D．It's still too early to say whether such a collision might occur.

【小题3】 What do people think of the suggestion of using nuclear weapons to alter the course of asteroids?

A．It sounds practical but it may not solve the problem.

B．It may create more problems than it might solve.

C．It is a waste of money because a collision of asteroids with Earth is very unlikely.

D．Further research should be done before it is proved applicable.

【小题4】We can conclude from the passage that ________ .

A．while pushing asteroids off course nuclear weapons would destroy the world

B．asteroids racing across the night sky are likely to hit Earth in the near future

C．the worry about asteroids can be left to future generations since it is unlikely to happen in our lifetime

D．workable solutions still have to be found to prevent a collision of asteroids with Earth.

【小题5】Which of the following best describes the author's tone in this passage?

A．Optimistic.

B．Critical.

C．Objective.

D．Subjective.

　 Unless we spend money to spot and prevent asteroids(小行星) now, one might crash into Earth and destroy life as we know it , say some scientists.

　 Asteroids are bigger versions of the meteoroids(流星) that race across the night sky. Most orbit the sun far from Earth and don’t threaten us. But there are also thousands of asteroids whose orbits put them on a collision course with Earth.

　 Buy $ 50 million worth of new telescopes right now, Then spend $ 10 million a year for the next 25 years to locate most of the space rocks. By the time we spot a fatal one, the scientists say , we’ll have a way to change its course.

　 Some scientists favor pushing asteroids off course with nuclear weapons. But the cost wouldn’t be cheap.

　 Is it worth it? Two things experts consider when judging any risk are: 1) How likely the event is; 2) How bad the consequences if the event occurs. Experts think an asteroid big enough to destroy lots of life might strike Earth once every 500 000 years. Sounds pretty rare-but if one did fall, it would be the end of the world. “ If we don’t take care of these big asteroids, they’ll take care of us,” says one scientist. “ It’s that simple.”

　 The cure, though , might be worse than the disease. Do we really want fleets of nuclear weapons sitting around on Earth? “The world has less to fear from doomsday(毁灭性的) rocks than from a great nuclear fleet set against them,” said a New York Times article.

1. What does the passage say about asteroids and meteoroids? _________.

A. They are heavenly bodies different in composition

B. They are heavenly bodies similar in nature

C. These are more asteroids than meteoroids

D. Asteroids are more mysterious than meteoroids

2. What do scientists say about the collision of an asteroid with Earth? _______.

A It is unlikely but the danger exists

B. Such a collision might occur once every 25 years

C. Collision of smaller asteroids with Earth occur more often than expected

D. It’s still too early to say whether such a collision might occur

3. What do people think of the suggestion of using nuclear weapons to alter the course of asteroids? _______.

　 A. It sounds practical but it may not solve the problem

　 B. It may create more problems than it might solve

　 C. It is a waste of money because a collision of asteroids with Earth is very unlikely

　 D. Further research should be done before it is proved applicable

4. We can conclude from the passage that________.

　 A. while pushing asteroids off course nuclear weapons would destroy the world

　 B. asteroids racing across the night sky are likely to hit Earth in the near future

　 C. the worry about asteroids can be left to future generations since it is unlikely to happen in our lifetime

　 D. workable solutions still have to be found to prevent a collision of asteroids with Earth

 

 There is a fine line between being a concerned parent and one that doesn’t know when to let go.

      As my daughter, Nicole, prepares to leave home for college, I’m   36   how hard it is to stay on the right side of this line.   37   I tightly hold the string (绳) connecting us, Nicole,   38   to taste her independence,   39   hard at it, trying to get out of my control. We act as if we were dancing kind of tango (探戈舞). So we reached a(n)   40  . She accepted that as her mother, I had a right to express my idea and   41   suggestions. I accepted that I had to trust her   42   and respect her choices. I bit my lip a few times and Nicole shot me a few glares,   43   our agreement held.

      Thank God! She was finally accepted by a great university. When the time came for registration (注册), we went to an introductory meeting together, but then parents and students were   44  . “You may be paying the tuition (学费).” a university   45   told the parents, “but choosing classes really is the students’  46  . ”

      Obviously, I wasn’t the only parent having a hard time   47  . The night before, I had carefully read the course catalog (目录) and   48    classes I thought looked good. As Nicole went   49   to meet her adviser, we agreed to meet for lunch before registration. “  50   those courses I marked.” I called to her.

      We met three hours 1ater in the   51   hall. Nicole was excited and said to me, “Mum, I have my   52   schedule figured out. It’s great. Look at what I’m taking.” I examined the   53  . Nicole had not taken a single one of the classes I had   54  . Every class she had chosen exactly suited her interests. Though somewhat disappointed, I felt   55   that my daughter had grown into an able girl.   

36．A．discovering          B．expecting             C．wondering              D．discussing

37．A．Since                   B．Unless                 C．While                     D．Before

38．A．willing                 B．delighted              C．eager                     D．content

39．A．works                 B．pulls                    C．pushes                   D．blows

40．A．destination           B．explanation            C．conclusion             D．agreement   

41．A．shared                 B．offered                C．afforded                 D．created

42．A．consideration         B．suggestion            C．judgment                D．development

43．A．so                       B．and                      C．or                          D．but   

44．A．separated         B．warned                C．informed                D．persuaded

45．A．producer              B．translator             C．designer                  D．official

46．A．responsibility      B．activity                 C．ability                    D．quality

47．A．letting out            B．1etting go             C．letting alone            D．1etting down

48．A．improved             B．took                    C．attended                 D．marked

49．A．through               B．around                 C．off                        D．by

50．A．Think about       B．Pick out               C．Get through            D．Carry on

51．A．meeting               B．dinning                C．dancing                  D．reading

52．A．entire                   B．potential               C．regular                   D．original

53．A．program              B．notice                  C．schedule                D．course

54．A．forced                 B．provided              C．organized               D．suggested

55．A．nervous               B．proud                  C．regretful                 D．anxious