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 sill soon contact 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,” say Shostak and Barnett. 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 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 way, 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 could make contact 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 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
Taking part in charity is not just for adult people. Kids can do it too! Melvin Sheppard, 14, an American student, has done charity work for 8 years. He has also encouraged his classmates to join him.
Melvin studies at William Allen Middle School in Philadelphia. Recently, he collected $ 1,500 by himself and $487 from his classmates to donate to Cooper University Hospital.
Melvin was born nine weeks premature (早产的) in Cooper University Hospital, weighing 2.6kg. His father told him how Cooper saved his life, so he feels thankful to the hospital.
Melvin's classmates joined him once they found out about his kind behavior. Their teacher, Michael Bemer, also held a class with them about helping others. "It wasn't really about the money," Bemer said. "It was about the fact that they were doing something good."
"It feels great, helping someone that I know." said Jordan, Melvin' s classmate. Melvin's neighbors also helped out.
Since Melvin was 6, he and his parents have given money to Cooper University Hospital every year. This year, Gray E. Stahl, the head of the hospital, went to Melvin's school to accept the money.
The money goes to a part of the hospital that helps about 500 young patients every year.
"When they leave, we call them graduates," Stahl said, "my workmates and I are pleased when our graduates and their families do well, like Melvin and his family."
1.When did Melvin start to do charity work?
A. When he was 14 years old.
B. When he was 8 years old.
C. When he was 6 years old.
D. When he was born.
2.How much did Melvin and his classmates collect recently?
A. $ 487. B. $ 1,013. C. $ 1,500. D. $1,987.
3.Who does the underlined word “them” in the passage refer to ?
A. Melvin and his family.
B. the hospital's patients.
C. Stahl's workmates.
D. Melvin and his classmates.
4.Which of the following is TRUE?
A. Melvin gives money to his school every year.
B. Melvin's parents show little interest in charity.
C. Melvin was born nine weeks earlier than expected.
D. Melvin's classmates think that he is wasting time.
5.What can we learn from the passage?
A. Kids can hardly do anything for charity.
B. Everyone is supposed to do charity work.
C. Doing charity work is only about money.
D. There's no doubt that adults can do charity work better that kids.
书面表达
要点：1. 我的家乡过去是一个安静的地方，四周青山环绕，空气新鲜。
2. 几年间，我家乡已经发生了很大的变化。高楼大厦随处可见。
3. 人们乘公交车去城市更快更容易。很多人买了私家车。
4. 但是，这些变化也给我们带来了许多麻烦，例如 ：……
5. 我希望我的家乡将来会变得越来越美丽。
注意：1.所写短文必须包括以上内容，自由发挥的内容必须围绕主题；
2.词数80个左右，第四要点须用1-2句话作适当发挥
The Changes to My Hometown
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任务型阅读 根据所读内容，在空格里填入一个最恰当的单词。
The students and teachers at Fairfield School think it’s necessary to look after the environment! This is what they’ve been doing:
Growing vegetables
Fairfield School students have their own vegetable garden. Both children and teachers plant and water the seeds (种子), then they pick the vegetables. And the vegetables are used in school meals. Now they can enjoy healthy food at lunchtime. “School meals are tastier than ever before!” says one pupil.
Recycling
The students don’t just bring their books to school ----- they bring their rubbish(垃圾) too! There are recycling bins (回收箱) in the playground for cans, plastic bottles, batteries and paper. The teachers give a prize to the student who works hardest to recycle every month.
Planting trees
‘This used to be one of the least beautiful areas of the city with no green areas,’ says the head teacher Lynne Johnson. ‘Now every child has planted their own tree, which he or she looks after during the week. They’ve made the view from the classroom more beautiful!’
Finding cleaner ways to get around
Everyone walks or rides to Fairfield School. “When the roads are busy, it’s faster to ride bikes than to go by car anyway,” says one student. Even the teachers don’t use their cars. “We can’t encourage our students to look after the environment if we don’t do it ourselves!” says one teacher.
Fairfield School is 1. after the environment. | |
Growing vegetables | Students and teachers plant and water vegetables in the garden. They also eat them for school 2.________. |
Recycling | Students also bring3._______ things to school, such as cans, plastic bottles, batteries and paper. The students who does best in recycling can get a prize every month. |
4._______ trees | The school wasn’t beautiful5._______any green areas in the past. But now every student has his or her own tree, which has made the view from the classroom more beautiful. |
Finding cleaner ways to get around | Students and teachers don’t drive to school any more, they are protecting the environment together. |
完成句子,按所给汉语，用英语完成下列句子。
1.我妈妈去美国三个星期了。My mother __________________________________________.
2.你什么时候动身去广州？When ______________________________________Guangzhou?
3.你们是通过发邮件相互保持联系的吗？Do you ____________________________by mail?
4.这里曾经有一个非常美丽的湖，但是现在它已经变得非常脏了。
There____________a very beautiful lake, but now it ________________________________.
5.对我来说，想和以前那样经常看电视是不可能了。It is _____________________________.
6.你的电脑买了多久了？_________________________________________your computer?
动词填空用括号内所给动词的适当形式填空。
1.--- What do you think of the story? --- It’s great! I ___________________ (read) it again.
2.After Sam finished the letter, he sat there silently, _____________(not know) what to do next.
3.Lei Feng always did what he could _______________ (help) people in need.
4.They will come to see him if it ____________ (not be) rainy tomorrow.
5.We ____________ (enjoy) our trip very much. It was great fun!
6.John couldn’t stop ______________ (laugh) when he heard the joke.
7.There _______________ (be) great changes in Wuxi in the past few years.
8.This is the most terrible film I __________( see). I don’t want to see it any more.
