At dawn on Friday, May 19, 1780, farmers in New England stopped to wonder at the pink color of the sun. By noon the sky had darkened to midnight blackness, causing Americans, still in the painful struggle of a prolonged war of independence, to light candles and tremble at thoughts of the Last Judgment. As the birds quieted and no storm accompanied the darkness, men and women crowded into churches, where one minister commented that “The people were very attentive.” John Greenleaf Whittier later wrote that “Men prayed, and women wept; all ears grew sharp . . .”

A recent study of researchers, led by Richard Guyette from the University of Missouri’s Tree Ring Laboratory, has shown that vast forest fires in the Algonquin Highlands of southern Ontario and elsewhere in Canada brought this event upon New England. The scientists have discovered “fire scars” on the rings for that year, left when the heat of a wildfire has killed a part of a tree’s cambium (形成层). Evidence collected also points to a drought that year. An easterly wind and low barometric pressure (低气压) helped force smoke into the upper atmosphere. “The record fits pretty close,” says Guyette. “We had the right fuel, the drought. The conditions were all there.”

Lacking the ability to communicate quickly over long distances, Americans in 1780 remained in the dark about the event, which had disappeared by the next day. Over the next several months, the papers carried heated debates about what brought the darkness. Some were the voices of angry prediction, such as one Massachusetts farmer who wrote, “Oh! Backsliding New-England, attend now to the things which belong to your peace before they are forever hid from your eyes.” Others gave different answers. One stated that a “flaming star” had passed between the earth and the sun. Ash, argued another commentator. The debate, carried on throughout New England, where there were no scientific journals or academies yet, reflected an unfolding culture of scientific enquiry already sweeping the Western world, a revolution nearly as influential as the war for independence from the English.

New Englanders would not soon forget that dark day; it lived on in folklore, poems, and sermons for generations.

New Englanders crowded into churches because they were frightened by         .

A. the pink color of the sun

   B. the darkened sky at daytime

   C. the Last Judgment on Friday

   D. the American War of Independence

What can we infer about the event in New England on May 19, 1780?

   A. Prayers remained silent and attentive.

   B. Night birds no longer came out to sing.

   C. People’s ears became sharper than usual.

   D. Midday meals were served by candlelight.

According to the researchers, the origin of the event was         .

   A. an east wind

   B. a severe drought

C. some burning fuel

D. low barometric pressure

What can we know about the debates after the dark day?

A. They focused on causes of the event.

   B. They swept throughout the Western world.

C. They were organized by scientific institutions.

D. They improved Americans’ ability to communicate.

What can be the best title for the text?

   A. New England’s dark day.

   B. Voices of angry prediction.

C. There is no smoke without fire.

D. Tree rings and scientific discovery.

 At one point, the peace talks between the two countries seemed close to       .

At dawn on Friday, May 19, 1780, farmers in New England stopped to wonder at the pink color of the sun. By noon the sky had darkened to midnight blackness, causing Americans, still in the painful struggle of a prolonged war of independence, to light candles and tremble at thoughts of the Last Judgment. As the birds quieted and no storm accompanied the darkness, men and women crowded into churches, where one minister commented that “The people were very attentive.” John Greenleaf Whittier later wrote that “Men prayed, and women wept; all ears grew sharp . . .”

A recent study of researchers, led by Richard Guyette from the University of Missouri’s Tree Ring Laboratory, has shown that vast forest fires in the Algonquin Highlands of southern Ontario and elsewhere in Canada brought this event upon New England. The scientists have discovered “fire scars” on the rings for that year, left when the heat of a wildfire has killed a part of a tree’s cambium (形成层). Evidence collected also points to a drought that year. An easterly wind and low barometric pressure (低气压) helped force smoke into the upper atmosphere. “The record fits pretty close,” says Guyette. “We had the right fuel, the drought. The conditions were all there.”

Lacking the ability to communicate quickly over long distances, Americans in 1780 remained in the dark about the event, which had disappeared by the next day. Over the next several months, the papers carried heated debates about what brought the darkness. Some were the voices of angry prediction, such as one Massachusetts farmer who wrote, “Oh! Backsliding New-England, attend now to the things which belong to your peace before they are forever hid from your eyes.” Others gave different answers. One stated that a “flaming star” had passed between the earth and the sun. Ash, argued another commentator. The debate, carried on throughout New England, where there were no scientific journals or academies yet, reflected an unfolding culture of scientific enquiry already sweeping the Western world, a revolution nearly as influential as the war for independence from the English.

New Englanders would not soon forget that dark day; it lived on in folklore, poems, and sermons for generations.

1.New Englanders crowded into churches because they were frightened by         .

A. the pink color of the sun

   B. the darkened sky at daytime

   C. the Last Judgment on Friday

   D. the American War of Independence

2.What can we infer about the event in New England on May 19, 1780?

   A. Prayers remained silent and attentive.

   B. Night birds no longer came out to sing.

   C. People’s ears became sharper than usual.

   D. Midday meals were served by candlelight.

3.According to the researchers, the origin of the event was         .

   A. an east wind

   B. a severe drought

C. some burning fuel

D. low barometric pressure

4.What can we know about the debates after the dark day?

A. They focused on causes of the event.

   B. They swept throughout the Western world.

C. They were organized by scientific institutions.

D. They improved Americans’ ability to communicate.

5.What can be the best title for the text?

   A. New England’s dark day.

   B. Voices of angry prediction.

C. There is no smoke without fire.

D. Tree rings and scientific discovery.

At dawn on Friday, May 19, 1780, farmers in New England stopped to wonder at the pink color of the sun. By noon the sky had darkened to midnight blackness, causing Americans, still in the painful struggle of a prolonged war of independence, to light candles and tremble at thoughts of the Last Judgment. As the birds quieted and no storm accompanied the darkness, men and women crowded into churches, where one minister commented that “The people were very attentive.” John Greenleaf Whittier later wrote that “Men prayed, and women wept; all ears grew sharp . . .”

A recent study of researchers, led by Richard Guyette from the University of Missouri’s Tree Ring Laboratory, has shown that vast forest fires in the Algonquin Highlands of southern Ontario and elsewhere in Canada brought this event upon New England. The scientists have discovered “fire scars” on the rings for that year, left when the heat of a wildfire has killed a part of a tree’s cambium (形成层). Evidence collected also points to a drought that year. An easterly wind and low barometric pressure (低气压) helped force smoke into the upper atmosphere. “The record fits pretty close,” says Guyette. “We had the right fuel, the drought. The conditions were all there.”

Lacking the ability to communicate quickly over long distances, Americans in 1780 remained in the dark about the event, which had disappeared by the next day. Over the next several months, the papers carried heated debates about what brought the darkness. Some were the voices of angry prediction, such as one Massachusetts farmer who wrote, “Oh! Backsliding New-England, attend now to the things which belong to your peace before they are forever hid from your eyes.” Others gave different answers. One stated that a “flaming star” had passed between the earth and the sun. Ash, argued another commentator. The debate, carried on throughout New England, where there were no scientific journals or academies yet, reflected an unfolding culture of scientific enquiry already sweeping the Western world, a revolution nearly as influential as the war for independence from the English.

New Englanders would not soon forget that dark day; it lived on in folklore, poems, and sermons for generations.

66. New Englanders crowded into churches because they were frightened by         .

   A. the pink color of the sun       B. the darkened sky at daytime

   C. the Last Judgment on Friday   D. the American War of Independence

67. What can we infer about the event in New England on May 19, 1780?

   A. Prayers remained silent and attentive.      B. Night birds no longer came out to sing.

   C. People’s ears became sharper than usual.   D. Midday meals were served by candlelight.

68. According to the researchers, the origin of the event was         .

   A. an east wind   B. a severe drought   C. some burning fuel  D. low barometric pressure

69. What can we know about the debates after the dark day?

A. They focused on causes of the event.

   B. They swept throughout the Western world.

C. They were organized by scientific institutions.

D. They improved Americans’ ability to communicate.

70. What can be the best title for the text?

   A. New England’s dark day.

   B. Voices of angry prediction.

C. There is no smoke without fire.

D. Tree rings and scientific discovery.

At the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, the sports of canoe (划船) racing was added to the list of international competition. The 1team in the four-man canoe race was the United States team. One member of that team was a young man named Bill Havens.
As the time for the Olympics 2, it became clear that Bill’s wife would give birth to their first child at about the 3that the U.S. team would be competing in the Pairs games. In 1924 there were no planes form Paris to the United States, only 4ships. Bill found himself in a dilemma (左右为难的困境).
Bill’s wife insisted that he go to Paris. 5, competing in the Olympics was a lifelong dream. But Bill felt 6and, after much soul-searching, decided to remain home, where he could 7his wife when the child arrived. He considered being at her 8his highest priority (优先考虑的事), even higher than going to Paris to fulfill his 9.
The team won the gold medal in Paris. And Bill’s wife was 10 in giving birth to their child. 11, Bill could have competed in the event and returned home 12to be with he when she gave birth.
People said, “What a shame!” But Bill said he had no 13. For the rest of his life, he 14he had made the better decision.
Bill Havens knew what was most important to him. Not everybody 15that out. Not everybody has the strength to say no to something he or she truly 16 in order to say yes to something that truly 17. Peace begins to 18our lives when we learn to say yes to the things that really matter.
Twenty eight years later, Bill 19 a telegram. It was from Finland, where the 1952 Olympics were being held. The telegram read, “Dad, I won. I’m bringing home the gold medal you 20while waiting for me to be born.”

1. 1.
   1. A.
      new
   2. B.
      favorite
   3. C.
      special
   4. D.
      weak
2. 2.
   1. A.
      arrived
   2. B.
      passed
   3. C.
      neared
   4. D.
      ended
3. 3.
   1. A.
      moment
   2. B.
      opportunity
   3. C.
      time
   4. D.
      promise
4. 4.
   1. A.
      fast
   2. B.
      old
   3. C.
      small
   4. D.
      slow
5. 5.
   1. A.
      In all
   2. B.
      After all
   3. C.
      As a result
   4. D.
      As usual
6. 6.
   1. A.
      honored
   2. B.
      worried
   3. C.
      conflicted
   4. D.
      delighted
7. 7.
   1. A.
      persuade
   2. B.
      accompany
   3. C.
      support
   4. D.
      satisfy
8. 8.
   1. A.
      place
   2. B.
      side
   3. C.
      door
   4. D.
      mercy
9. 9.
   1. A.
      duty
   2. B.
      promise
   3. C.
      dream
   4. D.
      demand
10. 10.
    1. A.
       favoring
    2. B.
       successful
    3. C.
       safe
    4. D.
       late
11. 11.
    1. A.
       In addition
    2. B.
       For example
    3. C.
       In fact
    4. D.
       At last
12. 12.
    1. A.
       on time
    2. B.
       in time
    3. C.
       on purpose
    4. D.
       in need
13. 13.
    1. A.
       judgments
    2. B.
       excuse
    3. C.
       choices
    4. D.
       regrets
14. 14.
    1. A.
       believed
    2. B.
       wished
    3. C.
       wondered
    4. D.
       proved
15. 15.
    1. A.
       puts
    2. B.
       takes
    3. C.
       figures
    4. D.
       gives
16. 16.
    1. A.
       trusts
    2. B.
       wants
    3. C.
       understands
    4. D.
       respects
17. 17.
    1. A.
       matters
    2. B.
       happens
    3. C.
       appears
    4. D.
       continues
18. 18.
    1. A.
       turn into
    2. B.
       look into
    3. C.
       settle on
    4. D.
       rely on
19. 19.
    1. A.
       discovered
    2. B.
       wrote
    3. C.
       sent
    4. D.
       received
20. 20.
    1. A.
       grasped
    2. B.
       offered
    3. C.
       took
    4. D.
       lost