Is there intelligent (有智力的) life on other planets? For years, scientists said “no.” or “we don’t know.” But today this is changing. Seth Shostak and Alexandra Barnett are astronomers(天文学家). They believe intelligent life exists (存在) somewhere in the universe. They also think we will soon contact (联系)these beings(人；生物).
Why do Shostak and Barnett think intelligent life exists on other planets? The first reason is time. Scientists believe the universe is about 12 billion years old. “This is long enough for other planets to have intelligent life,” Shostak and Barnett said. The second reason is size—the universe is huge. “Tools like the Hubble Telescope(哈勃望远镜) have shown that there are at least 100 billion galaxies,” says Shostak. “And our galaxy, the Milky Way, has at least 100 billion stars. Some planets going around these stars might be similar to Earth.”
In the past, it was hard to look for signs of intelligent life in the universe. But now, powerful telescopes(高倍望远镜) allow scientists to discover smaller planets—the size of Mars or Earth—in other solar systems. These planets might have intelligent life.
Have beings from space already visited Earth? “Probably not,” says Shostak. “It’s a long way away. However, intelligent beings may contact us in other ways, such as radio signals(信号). In fact, they may be trying to communicate with us now, but we don’t have the right tools to receive their messages. However, this is changing. By 2025, we can communicate with other life forms in our universe and we might help each other.”
1.Seth Shostak and Alexandra Barnett are _____.
A. astronomers B. farmers
C. singers D. drivers
2.What is the best title for Paragraph (段落)2?
A. The Age and Size of Earth
B. Our Galaxy: The Milky Way
C. Why Intelligent Life Might Exist
D. Earth: The Only Planet with Intelligent Life
3.Why was it hard to look for signs of intelligent life in the universe in the past?
A. There were not any smaller planets.
B. There were not any powerful telescopes.
C. The astronomers were not interested in them.
D. The Milky Way didn’t exist at that time.
4.Why haven’t beings from space visited us yet according to Shostak?
A. They’re afraid of us.
B. It’s a long way away.
C. They don’t want to see us.
D. They don’t know how to use radio signals.
5.What does the underlined phrase “life forms” in the last paragraph mean?
A. Messages B. Tools
C. Intelligent beings D. Radio signals
From my father I have learned a lot. And I’m very thankful to him. I remember when I was a child, my father always got up very early, quietly putting on his clothes and going off to work. To arrive in time to open his tiny store at 8:30, he needed to leave our apartment at 6:30. After all, he had to take a bus and then the subway. The last journey was a long walk through a neighborhood much of which was full of the smell of rubbish. I learned: it is very important to work. No excuse(借口).
When I was 12, I would, on some Saturdays, go to my father’s store to help out. After helping set up the outside clothing display(陈列), for the rest of the day, I’d watch to make sure no one stole anything. When I noticed someone looking unusual or strange, I would look the person in the eye, smile and say, “May I help you?” Usually that worked, but sometimes, someone would run off with something. The first time, I ran after the thief but my father shouted, “Martin, stop! There is no need to do that.” It’s true that safety is more important than money.
After 10 years of hard work, he saved up enough money to buy his first car, a cheap one—he wouldn’t buy one until he could afford to pay for it without borrowing money. I learned: buy only what you can afford. Buying necessary food and clothing won’t make us go in debt(债务). The unnecessary things won’t give us happiness, which comes from achievement only.
1. What shop did the author’s father own?
A. A bookshop. B. A coffee shop.
C. A clothing shop. D. A food shop.
2.Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. The author ran after thieves many times.
B. The author thanked his father a lot.
C. The author’s father worked very hard.
D. The author’s father made some money.
3.All the following are talked about in the passage EXCEPT .
A. the importance of working
B. the good ways to keep healthy
C. that safety comes before money
D. that it’s bad to spend more than you make
4.According to the author, what usually makes people go in debt?
A. To rent a house for the family.
B. To send their children to school.
C. To enjoy something unnecessary.
D. To buy enough food for the family.
5.What is the passage mainly about?
A. How to live a happy life.
B. What makes a person successful.
C. The help the author got from his father.
D. What the author learned from his father.
Let’s Explore The Nature!
Are you interested in animals and nature? Want to enjoy your summer holiday and learn something interesting and useful?
Here comes your CHANCE! We provide you with a THREE-DAY SUMMER PROGRAM! You can take part in many hands-on activities and meet with live animals-- giraffes, pandas, tigers, and so on! More information about the program in as follows:
Age: Students aged 8~16
Groups: There are 2 programs for you to choose from. Each program needs at most 15 students.
Program A Dates: 14~16 July, 2014 Days: Monday to Wednesday Time: 10:00 a.m.~4:00 p.m. | Program B Dates: 5~7 August, 2014 Days: Tuesday to Thursday Time: 10:00 a.m.~4:00 p.m. |
Program cost: $230 for members; $250 for non-members。
How to do: Simply come to our centre to get an application form (申请表). Send your completed form on or before 11th July, 2014(Friday).
Notes:
1. NO FREE LUNCHES ARE PROVIDED because of personal food differences. You may either bring a lunch-box or pay for lunch at our restaurants.
2. Both programs will start ONE DAY later if there is a warning of rainstorms.
COME AND JOIN US NOW!! DON’T MISS THE CHANCE!!
1. ______ can join the three-day summer program.
A. A kid of 7 B. A boy of 14
C. A girl of 17 D. A man of 26
2.If there is a rainstorm on 14th July, program A will start on ______.
A. Sunday B. Monday C. Tuesday D. Wednesday
3. Two members and one non-member should pay ______ for the program.
A. $690 B. $710 C. $730 D. $750
4. Free lunches aren’t provided because ______.
A. the lunches cost too much B. people have different tastes
C. there are many restaurants D. they may bring lunch-boxes
5. What can we know from the passage?
A. Youth Explorer is the name of the program.
B. More than 15 students are in each program.
C. We can see three kinds of animals in the program.
D. You need to hand in an application for the program.
—I don’t understand_________.
—I’m sorry. But I was doing my homework at that time.
A. why you didn’t watch the football match
B. why didn’t you watch the football match
C. why you don’t watch the football match.
D. why don't you watch the football match
The park is far away from here indeed it’s about_______walk
A. three hour B. a three hour’s
C.a three-hours D.a three-hour
The world’s population is growing and there is land and water for growing rice.
A. more; less B. larger; fewer
C. larger; less D. more; fewer
