NASA’s Mars detector (探测器), Opportunity, succeeded in finding signs that water once existed on the planet. Opportunity landed on Mars in January. Scientists now believe that the planet could once have supported life.

This discovery was chosen by Science, one of the world’s leading magazines, as the most important scientific achievement of 2004 last Friday.

“This little, wheeled, one-armed box went around another planet and has done something no human has ever managed,” according to Science. “It has discovered another place in the universe where life could once have existed.”

“Although we still can’t say that life could have existed in this environment, it is now certain that there was water on Mars,” said Steve Squyres, one of the scientists working on the Mars mission. The evidence comes from pictures and chemical readings taken by Opportunity. It includes marks on rocks like those caused by flowing water on Earth and salty chemicals like those found in dried-out sea-beds. Scientists said the new evidence proved beyond doubt that water has existed on Mars. But it is still unknown whether the water on Mars was like an ocean or justice.

While Opportunity has not found any signs of life, the presence of water means life is possible. “In everything we know about life on Earth, there is no example without liquid water,” Squyres said. “So water is important for the search for life on Mars.”

Researchers agree that a future mission (任务) should bring back physical samples (样品). But some scientists worry about the risk that this could introduce dangerous foreign creatures to Earth. “The problem here is how to get the samples back,” Squyres replied. “I think it is our responsibility to limit any risk.”

1.________ prove that water existed on Mars.

A．The physical samples with salty chemicals

B．The marks on rocks and salty chemicals

C．Scientific achievements of 2004

D．Creatures from Mars

2.Which of the following is TURE according to the text?

A．It is now certain that there was water on Mars.

B．The water on Mars was like an ocean.

C．Evidence of life on Mars has been found.

D．Search for life on Mars is a great risk to humans.

3.How did scientists draw the conclusion that there was water on Mars?

A．The world’s leading magazine has announced the fact.

B．Scientists have taken many pictures and chemical readings on the Mars.

C．Astronauts have got some rocks from Mars.

D．Scientists have made a study of the pictures and readings sent back by Mars detector.

4.It can be inferred that, if the creatures from Mars came to Earth, ________.

A．they would be kind to humans

B．they would be cruel to humans

C．they would be a great danger to Earth

D．it would be hard to say whether it would be a good news or bad news

 

The drug store was closing for the night and Alfred Higgins was about to go home when his new boss approached him.

“Empty your pockets please, Alfred,” Sam Carr demanded in a firm voice.

Alfred pretended to be shocked but he knew he had been caught. From his coat he withdrew a make-up kit, a lipstick and two tubes of toothpaste.

“I’m disappointed in you, Alfred!” said the little gray-haired man.

“Sorry, sir. Please forgive me. It’s the first time I’ve ever done such a thing,” Alfred lied, hoping to gain the old man’s sympathy.

Mr Carr’s brow furrowed as he reached for the telephone, “Do you take me for a fool? Let’s see what the police have to say. But first I’ll call your mother and let her know her son is heading to jail.”

“Do whatever you want,” Alfred shot back, trying to sound big. But deep down he felt like a child. He imagined his mother rushing in, eyes burning with anger, maybe in tears. Yet he wanted to come quickly before Mr. Carr called the police.

Mr. Carr was surprised when Mrs. Higgins finally arrived . She was very calm, quiet and friendly. “Is Alfred in trouble?” she asked.

“He’s been stealing from the store,” the old man coolly replied.

Mrs. Higgins pulled out her hand and touched Mr. Carr’s arm with great gentleness as if she knew just how he felt. She spoke as if she did not want to cause him any more trouble. “What do you want to do, Mr.Carr?”

The woman’s calm and gentle manner disarmed the once-angry store-owner, “I was going to get a cop. But I don’t want to be cruel. Tell your son not to come back here again and I will let it go.” Then he warmly shook Mrs. Higgins’ hand.

Mrs. Higgins thanked the old ma for his kindness, then mother and son left. They walked along the street in silence. When they arrived home his mother simply said, “Go to bed, you fool.”

In his bedroom, Alfred heard his mother in the kitchen. He felt no shame, only pride in his mother’s actions. “She was smooth!” he thought. He went to the kitchen to tell her how great she was, but was shocked by what he saw.

His mother’s face looked frightened, broken. Not the cool, bright face he saw earlier. Her lips moved nervously. She looked very old. There were tears in her eyes.

This picture of his mother made him want to cry. He felt his youth ending. He saw all the troubles he brought her and the deep lines of worry in her grey face. It seemed to him that this was the first time he had ever really seen his mother.

1.Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A．It was the first time Alfred had stolen anything.

B．Mr. Carr set a trap to catch Alfred stealing.

C．Alfred tried to sound big to hide his fear.

D．Mr. Carr had planned to forgive Alfred from the beginning.

2.What does the underlined word “disarmed” probably mean?

A．annoyed

B．got over

C．convinced

D．made less angry

3.What was the mother’s attitude towards Alfred?

A．She felt disappointed with him.	B．She was strict with him.
C．She was supportive of him.	D．She was afraid of him.

4.What impressed Alfred most about his mother at the drugstore was_______.

A．how angry she was	B．how effective she handled Mr. Carr.
C．that she was able to save him	D．that she didn’t cry

5.From the last paragraph, we know Alfred________.

A．was no longer a youth.	B．felt proud of his mother
C．wanted his mother to be happy	D．felt guilty and regretful for his deed.

 

The drug store was closing for the night and Alfred Higgins was about to go home when his new boss approached him.

“Empty your pockets please, Alfred,” Sam Carr demanded in a firm voice.

Alfred pretended to be shocked but he knew he’d been caught. From his coat he withdrew a make-up kit, a lipstick and two tubes of toothpaste.

“I’m disappointed in you, Alfred!” said the little gray-haired man.

“Sorry, sir. Please forgive me. It’s the first time I’ve ever done such a thing,” Alfred lied, hoping to gain the old man’s sympathy.

Mr Carr’s brow furrowed as he reached for the phone, “Do you take me for a fool? Let’s see what the police have to say. But first I’ll call your mother and let her know her son is heading to jail.”

“Do whatever you want,” Alfred shot back, trying to sound big. But deep down he felt like a child. He imagined his mother rushing in, eyes burning with anger, maybe in tears. Yet he wanted her to come quickly before Mr. Carr called the police.

Mr. Carr was surprised when Mrs Higgins finally arrived. She was very calm, quiet and friendly. “Is Alfred in trouble?” she asked.

“He’s been stealing from the store,” the old man coolly replied.

Mrs. Higgins put out her hand and touched Mr. Carr’s arm with great gentleness as if she knew just how he felt. She spoke as if she did not want to cause him any more trouble. “What do you want to do, Mr. Carr?”

The woman’s calm and gentle manner disarmed the once-angry store-owner. “I was going to get a cop. But I don’t want to be cruel. Tell your son not to come back here again, and I’ll let it go.” Then he warmly shook Mrs. Higgins’s hand.

Mrs. Higgins thanked the old man for his kindness, then mother and son left. They walked along the street in silence. When they arrived home his mother simply said, “Go to bed, you fool.”

In his bedroom, Alfred heard his mother in the kitchen. He felt no shame, only pride in his mother’s actions. “She was smooth!” he thought. He went to the kitchen to tell her how great she was, but was shocked by what he saw.

His mother’s face looked frightened, broken. Not the cool, bright face he saw earlier. Her lips moved nervously. She looked very old. There were tears in her eyes.

This picture of his mother made him want to cry. He felt his youth ending. He saw all the troubles he brought her and the deep lines of worry in her grey face. It seemed to him that this was the first time he had ever really seen his mother.

1.Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. It was the first time Alfred had stolen anything.

B. Alfred tried to sound big to hide his fear.

C. Mr. Carr set a trap to catch Alfred stealing.

D. Mr. Carr had planned to forgive Alfred from the beginning.

2. What does the underlined word “disarmed” probably mean?

A. annoyed                          B. made less angry

C. convinced                       D. got over

3.What was the mother’s attitude toward Alfred?

A. She felt disappointed with him.

B. She was very strict with him.

C. She was supportive of him.

D. She was afraid of him.

4.What impressed Alfred most about his mother at the drugstore was ________.

A. how angry she was

B. that she didn’t cry

C. that she was able to save him

D. how effectively she handled Mr. Carr

5. From the last paragraph, we know that Alfred ________.

A. was no longer a youth

B. felt proud of his mother

C. wanted his mother to be happy

D. felt guilty and regretful for his deed

 

NASA’s Mars detector (探测器), Opportunity, succeeded in finding signs that water once existed on the planet. Opportunity landed on Mars in January. Scientists now believe that the planet could once have supported life.
This discovery was chosen by Science, one of the world’s leading magazines, as the most important scientific achievement of 2004 last Friday.
“This little, wheeled, one-armed box went around another planet and has done something no human has ever managed,” according to Science. “It has discovered another place in the universe where life could once have existed.”
“Although we still can’t say that life could have existed in this environment, it is now certain that there was water on Mars,” said Steve Squyres, one of the scientists working on the Mars mission. The evidence comes from pictures and chemical readings taken by Opportunity. It includes marks on rocks like those caused by flowing water on Earth and salty chemicals like those found in dried-out sea-beds. Scientists said the new evidence proved beyond doubt that water has existed on Mars. But it is still unknown whether the water on Mars was like an ocean or just ice.
While Opportunity has not found any signs of life, the presence of water means life is possible. “In everything we know about life on Earth, there is no example without liquid water,” Squyres said. “So water is important for the search for life on Mars.”
Researchers agree that a future mission (任务) should bring back physical samples (样品). But some scientists worry about the risk that this could introduce dangerous foreign creatures to Earth. “The problem here is how to get the samples back,” Squyres replied. “I think it is our responsibility to limit any risk.”
【小题1】________ prove that water existed on Mars.

A．The physical samples with salty chemicals

B．The marks on rocks and salty chemicals

C．Scientific achievements of 2004

D．Creatures from Mars

【小题2】Which of the following is TURE according to the text?

A．It is now certain that there was water on Mars.

B．The water on Mars was like an ocean.

C．Evidence of life on Mars has been found.

D．Search for life on Mars is a great risk to humans.

【小题3】How did scientists draw the conclusion that there was water on Mars?

A．The world’s leading magazine has announced the fact.

B．Scientists have taken many pictures and chemical readings on the Mars.

C．Astronauts have got some rocks from Mars.

D．Scientists have made a study of the pictures and readings sent back by Mars detector.

【小题4】It can be inferred that, if the creatures from Mars came to Earth, ________.

A．they would be kind to humans

B．they would be cruel to humans

C．they would be a great danger to Earth

D．it would be hard to say whether it would be a good news or bad new

根据对话情景和内容，从对话后所给的选项中选出能填人每一空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该选项涂黑。选项中有两个为多余选项。

Jane: Oh, that's Mr. Taylor. He is so boring.

Mother: What do you mean?

Jane:    1.  And he's so quick tempered, mum.

Mother:   2.   Are you sure, darling?

Jane: Yes, he gets angry very quickly.

Mother :   3. 

Jane: And do you know, he spends all his time looking at his reflection in the window, admiring himself.

Mother : Really?   4.   

Jane: Because he is vain, that's why! And conceited (自负的). He thinks he knows everything.

Mother: Oh, Jane. Be reasonable. I'm sure you're exaggerating (夸张), Mr. Taylor seems such a nice and kind man.

Jane:   5.   He's mean (小气的) and cruel.

Mother: Cruel? Now how can a history teacher be cruel?

Jane: Because he only gave me two out of ten marks in my history test.

Mother: Oh, now I understand, Jane. I think you'd better get on with your homework.

A. Well, he isn't.

B. And why does he do it ?

C. His lessons send me to sleep.

D. That's doesn't sound like Mr. Taylor at all.

E. Quick tempered? Mr. Taylor ?

F. Yes, he does.

G. He doesn’t like me.