NASA has a new job listing, and it’s no joke. The US space agency (机构) is looking for a “joker” to join their planned mission (任务) to Mars.
A mission to Mars is no laughing matter. On average, the red planet is 140 million miles (225 million kilometers) away from Earth. A trip there would take around eight months in a small spacecraft. And Mars has a communications delay (延迟) of 20 minutes. This means that astronauts will have to wait 20 minutes for a reply, when an emergency happens.
“When you’re living with others in a confined space for a long period of time, such as on a mission to Mars, problems are likely to occur,” Jeffrey Johnson, a scientist at the University of Florida, told The Guardian.
This is probably why NASA wants an astronaut with a sense of humor. “These are people that have the ability to pull everyone together,” Johnson said.
In stressful situations, perhaps humor is a way to know we aren’t alone. By laughing together, we share our stress. Then we can focus on our jobs instead of just worrying.
There are other examples of team “clowns”. One example is the journey to the South Pole (南极) led by Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen. It was a difficult journey, full of danger. Adolf Lindstrom, a cook at Amundsen’s team, was a “clown”. He made people laugh through the whole journey. Amundsen later wrote that Lindstrom was the most valuable member of the team.
But if you’re hoping that your favorite TV comedian (喜剧演员) will fly to Mars, that probably won’t happen.
“Being funny won’t be enough to land somebody the job,” Johnson said. “They also need to be an excellent scientist and engineer.”
Besides, they must be in top physical condition.
1.What is NASA’s new job listing?
A.A funny engineer. B.A talented clown.
C.A good cook. D.A popular comedian.
2.What does “a confined space” in Paragraph 3 refer to?
A.a crowded space B.an empty space
C.an open space D.a small space
3.How does the author think humor can help astronauts?
A.It can stop them from feeling worried.
B.It can encourage teamwork on a mission.
C.It can help them feel less homesick.
D.It can help them know themselves better.
4.What could be the best title of the passage?
A.A New Job Listing of NASA
B.Humorous Astronauts in NASA
C.Keeping the Spirits Up
D.A mission to Mars
Games and Hobbies
There are websites for nearly every game and hobby out there.
Teen Reads
Young book lovers will enjoy TeenReads. The website features reviews of new and popular books for teenagers, along with surveys, contests and places to discuss favorite books. Teens can also work their way through the “ultimate(最终的)” reading list on the site.
TeenNick
Fans of entertainment channel TeenNick will find information on the latest shows, as well as games, videos and quizzes. While the site offers updates(新信息)on TeenNick shows, it also features stories just for teens, offering suggestions on how to survive high school or giving back to school ideas.
The InSite
The InSite is designed for teens who have an interest in improving the world. Teens can learn about social justice, how to build a positive self-image(积极的自我形象)and how to help the planet. They can also submit artwork and writing or discuss how to make the world a better place.
ChallengeYou
ChallengeYou is a computer game design website. Teens can design games on the site or play games designed by other kids and teens. They can share their games with friends or take part in weekly game-building contests. There is also a chat room and a forum(论坛)where site users can discuss game building or arrange to play together.
1.Where might you find information on the latest teenager books?
A.On TeenReads B.On TeenNick
C.On The InSite D.On ChallengeYou
2.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the text?
A.You can publish your own writing on TeenReads
B.TeenNick is mainly a place to discuss school problems
C.The InSite helps to make a better you and a better world
D.You can find information about games on all these websites
3.If you have designed a computer game and want to share it with your friends, you should go to __________.
A.TeenReads B.TeenNick
C.The InSite D.ChallengeYou
阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。
I woke up earlier than my brother as every other day of the week. I jumped out of the bed, got dressed, brushed my teeth, and had breakfast. Saying good bye to my mother, I got in the car no later than 7:05. I got to school on time, even though my brother came out of the house late as he used to.
It was a Thursday. I was walking to the chemistry rooms when my phone in my left pocket vibrated (震动). I took it out and looked at the shiny screen. As soon as I saw my father’s name on that screen I realized something was not right.
He would not call me in the middle of a school day just to talk. He would want me to focus in school and do well. I answered the phone, and my father sounded worried. He told me to find my brother as soon as possible, walk with him to the school picking-up zone and get in the car with my brother. Our driver would take us back home where my father was.
When I was in the car with my brother, my dad called the driver and told him to take us to the hospital. We were going to meet him and my mum there. As soon as my brother and I found about the change in plans, we looked at each other in the eyes. I immediately noticed the fear in my brother’s eyes.
To be honest, I was really scared too, probably more than he was. But I did not say anything. We arrived at the hospital. I saw my dad on the phone waiting for us at the entrance. He was smoking. Seeing my dad smoking made me more worried. I had never seen him smoke before. He hated it. As soon as he recognized the white car, he threw the cigarette away. I looked at my brother; he was looking out of the other window. I did not tell him what I just saw. I did not want him to worry.
注意：1. 续写短文的词数150左右；
2. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头已为你写好。
Paragraph 1:
The car stopped right in front of my dad.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:
We walked down the hall with our eyes closed.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
假定你是李华。最近在英语阅读学习上遇到困难，决定给外教Mark写信，从以下方面 寻求建议：
1. 语言知识；
2. 阅读技能；
3. 阅读素材。
注意：1. 词数80左右；
2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Mr. Mark,
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I’m looking forward to your reply.
Yours,
Li Hua
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
Easter Island, or Rapu Nui as it is known 1. (local), is home to several hundred ancient human statues. After this remote Pacific island 2. (settle) by the Polynesians (波利尼西亚人), it remained isolated (与世隔绝) for centuries. All the resources that went into the statues, some of 3. are ten metres tall and weigh over 7,000 kilos, came from the Island itself. Yet when Dutch adventurers landed in 1722, they met a Stone Age culture.
The statues, 4. (carve) with stone tools, were transported for many kilometers to the large stone platforms, without the use of animals or wheels. The identity of the statues builders was 5. doubt until well into 6. twentieth century. Thor Heyerdahl, the Norwegian 7. (explore), thought the statues had been created by the people from Peru. Bestselling Swiss author Erich Daniken believed they were built by aliens. Modem science has proved that the statues builders were Polynesians, but not how they moved their 8. (creation). Local folklore (民俗) believes that the statues walked there 9. (they), while researchers have tended to assume the ancestors dragged the statues there, 10. (use) ropes and logs.
My bed is the best part of my home, where I go to find ________ after a long stressful day. However, lately, I get ________ just looking at it. I cant fall asleep I'm a ________ of insomnia (失眠).
I'm not ________: studies show more than one in three people worldwide ________ insomnia. Some people can get to sleep on time, but ________ much too early; others get a full-night sleep but still feel very ________ when they wake up. And then there are people like me, ordinary insomniacs who toss and turn all night.
Insomnia is a side effect of ________. To find the cure, doctors first find out the ________ by keeping a “sleep diary”, in which you ________ your sleep habits. The ________ may indicate lifestyle patterns, which are causing your problem. A specialist in sleep disorders writes, “a good sleep diary can ________ allow the patients to ‘cure themselves’.”
A good nights sleep is created during the day. ________ in the beginning of the day, and stay away from caffeine in the afternoon. After dark, dim the lights and try to ________ stress. Our bodies like ________ patterns. If you can’t fall asleep, try listening to soft music. You'lI most likely be asleep.
1.A.courage B.relaxation C.decision D.wisdom
2.A.confident B.skeptical C.nervous D.curious
3.A.victim B.specialist C.recorder D.witness
4.A.sad B.alone C.pleased D.afraid
5.A.refers to B.adapts to C.benefits from D.suffers from
6.A.get up B.look up C.wake up D.turn up
7.A.exhausted B.concerned C.embarrassed D.frightened
8.A.entertainment B.anxiety C.hesitation D.loneliness
9.A.approach B.data C.symptom D.cause
10.A.develop B.record C.break D.change
11.A.effect B.cure C.doctor D.diary
12.A.seldom B.rarely C.often D.occassionally
13.A.Sleep B.Work C.Read D.Exercise
14.A.experience B.accumulate C.reduce D.inspire
15.A.consistent B.various C.normal D.irregular
