There have been many great inventions or things that changed the way we live. The first great invention was the one that is still very important today——the wheel. This made it easier to carry heavy things and to travel long distance.
For hundreds of years after that there were few inventions that as much effect as the wheel . Then in the early 1800s the world started to change. There was little unknown land left in the world. People didn’t have to explore much any more. They began to work instead to make life better.
In the second half of the 19th century many great inventions were made. Among them were the camera, the light and the radio. These all play a big part in our daily life today.
The first part of the 20th century saw more great inventions. The helicopter in 1909, movies with sound in 1926, the computer in 1928, jet planes in 1930. This was also a time when a new material was first made. Nylon came out in 1935. It changed the kind of clothes people wore.
The middle part of the 20th century brought new ways to help people get over diseases. They worked very well. They made people healthier and allowed them to live longer. By the 1960s most people could expect to live to be at least 60.
By this time most people in developed countries had a very good life. Of course new inventions continued to be made. But man now had a desire(渴望) to explore again. The earth was known to man but the stars were not. Man began looking for ways to go into space. Russia made the first step. Then United States took a step. Since then other countries , including China and Japan, have made their own steps into space.
In 1969 man took his biggest step away from earth. Americans first walked on the moon. This is certainly just a beginning, though. New inventions will some day allow us to do things we have never yet dreamed of.
1. This passage talks mainly about .
A. why cars were very important
B. when light was invented
C. how inventions affect people’s daily life
D. which country made the first step into space
2.According to the passage man didn’t have a desire to explore a lot .
A. at the beginning of 1800s B. in the 1960s
C. since the 1900s D. from the 1800s to 1960s
3.In the 1800s, people began to work in order to make
A. explorations B. their life better C. discoveries D. a trip to space
4. Nylon came out of five years later than .
A. radio B. camera C. jet planes D. movies
5.People can live longer lives because that help cure diseases have worked very well.
A. doctors B. new ways C. medicines D. new hospitals
Because earthquakes happen without warning, it’s important to take steps now to prepare. Because you don’t know where you will be when an earthquake happens, prepare some supplies for your home, workplace, and car.
1. Water.
A person needs at least 1/2 gallon of water daily just for drinking. Store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day and be prepared for a 72-hour period. It is suggested that you buy bottled water. Keep bottled water in its original container and do not open it until you need to use it. Also, do check the “use by” date.
2. Food.
It’s always a practical idea to keep a supply of non-perishable(不易腐烂的) food on hand. Have an enough supply of canned food, powdered milk, dried fruits, non-salted nuts and canned juices for at least 72 hours.
3. Flashlights(手电筒) and spare batteries.
Keep a flashlight beside your bed, at your place of work, and in your car. Do not use matches or candles after an earthquake until you are sure that no gas leaks.
Prepare a battery-powered radio and spare batteries. Most telephones will be out of order, so radios will be your best source of information.
4. Clothes.
If you live in a cold place, you must think about warmth. You might not have heat after an earthquake. Think about your clothing and bedding supplies.
1. Why should people prepare themselves for an earthquake?
A. Because earthquakes can be known before they happen.
B. Because earthquakes take place without warning.
C. Because earthquakes usually take place in the neighborhood.
D. Because it’s people’s daily work to prepare the earthquakes.
2. About the prepared water, which description is RIGHT?
A. A person should prepare 0.5 gallon of water for one day.
B. You’d better use your own containers to keep water.
C. You’d better open the bottled water when you buy it.
D. You shouldn’t open the bottled water until you need it.
3. You should prepare all of the following except ______.
A. powdered milk B. fresh vegetables
C. dried fruits D. canned juices
4.According to the article we know that ______.
A. we need to prepare some supplies only at home
B. a telephone is the most important prepared thing
C. flashlights but not matches are first used after earthquakes
D. clothes are used to protect your head
5. If you live in a cold place, you should prepare _______.
A. some warm clothes and bedding supplies B. some hot water
C. some batteries D. some flashlights
Whenever the sun dropped and the blue sky came up, my father and I used to climb the mountain near my house. Walking together, my father and I used to have a lot of conversations through which I learned lessons from his experiences. He always told me, “You should have goals like climbing the mountain.” Without the mountain-climbing that we both enjoyed, we couldn’t have enough time to spend together because my father was very busy. I really got a lot from the mountain-climbing. It gave me time to talk with my father and to be in deep thought as well as develop my patience.
Once we climbed a very high mountain. It was so challenging for me because I was only ten years old. During the first few hours of climbing, I enjoyed the flowers and trees, and the birds’ singing. But as time passed, I got a pain in both of my legs. I wanted to quit climbing, but my father said to me, “You can always see a beautiful sky at the top of the mountain, but you can’t see it before you reach the top. Only there can you see all of the nice things, which is just like your life.”
At that time, I was too young to understand his words. But later after that, I got to know the meaning of hope in life. I found myself standing at the top of the mountain, and the sky was as clear as crystal.
1. The passage tells us that mountain-climbing was ______ for the father and the son.
A. hard B. enjoyable C. painful D. comfortable
2. The underlined word “crystal” in the passage means _______.
A. 岩石 B. 火焰 C. 水晶 D.寒冰
3. Which of the following is the closest in meaning to the father’s words in the second paragraph?
A. You will get all you need at the top of the mountain.
B. The sky is always as clear as crystal.
C. You can find life is full of nice things.
D. Never give up half-way.
4. We can infer(推断) from the last paragraph that ______.
A. the writer was very successful in his life
B. the writer reached the top of the mountain
C. though the writer was young, he could understand his father
D. the writer used to stop half-way when he climbed the mountain
5. The best title for the passage is ______.
A. Reaching the Top of the Mountain
B. Standing at the Top of the Mountain
C. Conversations between Father and Son
D. How to Get to the Top of the Mountain
The 2010 Winter Olympic Games will take place in Vancouver and Whistler(惠斯勒) from February 12 to 28. As the world’s 1._____ athletes will compete there, Canada is preparing for it well.
It will be broadcasted(播出) in Canada’s two 2._____languages——English and French. Billions of television viewers worldwide will 3.______ the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Athletes from more than 80 4.______ will compete in 86 medal events over 17 days. Then the Paralympics(残奥会) will 5._____ from March 12 to 21. Canada has 6._____ millions of dollars preparing. Thousands of spectators will visit the country. Canada will be 7._____ it all.
The building of Olympic gyms began in 2005. Opening and closing ceremonies will be held indoors, at BC Place Stadium. It’ll 8.______55,000 seats. Some competitions, 9.______ ski, and bobsled, will take place in Whistler. It’s a ski village. During the Games, roads will be closed. More than 15,000 policemen will work to 10.______ the peace throughout the Games.
The United States is the only country to host the Winter Games four times. Team USA hopes 2010 will be a golden year.
11. A. worst B. best C. cleverest D. tallest
12. A. special B. unusual C. official D. ordinary
13.A. watch B. notice C. look D. hear
14. A. cities B. towns C. villages D. countries
15. A. run B. begin C. stop D. end
16. A. paid B. took C. cost D. spent
17. A. full of B. ready for C. worried about D. afraid of
18. A. give B. serve C. hold D. host
19. A. with B. including C. as D. so
20. A. keep B. make C. let D. protect
-I hear Huang Gang made an English speech at the graduation ceremony yesterday.
-______ , and ______.
A. So he did, so did I B. So did he, so I did
C. So he was, so was I D. So was he, so I was
The plane ______ when we got to the airport.
A. had taken off B. was taken off C. will take off D. is taking off
