Are you afraid of sharks? You shouldn’t be! Below we cleared up the main myths about one of the world’s most perfectly formed creatures …
All sharks are the same.
This is absolutely not true. There are nearly four hundred species of sharks and they vary widely in habitat, size, features, diet and lifestyle. They range from the cigar shark, which is about 15 centimetres long, to the whale shark, which can be up to about nine meters long. More than 50 percent of sharks are less than a metre long and more than 90 percent are less than two metres long. And their habitat ranges from shallow to deep water and from the Arctic to the Tropic.
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This is not true, either. In fact, many shark populations are decreasing. The chief reason for this is that hundreds of thousands of them are caught in fishing nets. Depending on where they are caught. They are either killed for their fins(鳍), which are used in shark’s fin soup, or they are tossed back into the sea because they are unwanted. Almost all sharks which are discarded in this way die. Also, sharks mature late in life and produce very few young. If the current reduction in numbers continues, the ecological balance of the oceans will be severely threatened.
Sharks will always attack you
This is nonsense. The chances of being attacked by a shark are minimal. You are 250 times more likely to be killed by lightning than by a shark, and your chances of being killed by lightning are practically zero.
However, if you are planning to take a swim in shark territory, then follow these simple rules:
Avoid swimming at dawn or duck when visibility decreases.
Avoid areas where there are breaking waves. Turbulent(汹涌的) water makes it difficult for sharks to see and determine whether you are prey(猎物).
Do not wear jewellery in the water. Sharks are attracted to shiny fishes, and jewellery may resemble their scales(鳞片).
Do not swim near schools of small fish, which are the favorite food of some sharks.
1.The underlined word “myths” in the first paragraph means ____.
A. an idea or story that many people believe but which is not true
B. something that is impossible to understand or explain or about which little is known
C. a feeling of surprise
D. something that you are curious to know
2.From the passage we can learn sharks ____.
A. look alike B. are dangerous
C. usually live in deep sea D. hardly attack people
3.Which of the following is proper for the blank in the third paragraph?
A. Sharks’ fin soup is nutritious
B. There are too many sharks in the sea
C. Many shark populations are decreasing
D. Sharks produce many young
4.Which of the following rules should you follow when you’re going to swim in shark areas?
A. Don’t swim before day breaks.
B. Choose areas where there are big waves.
C. Wear something shiny when swimming.
D. Choose areas where there are many small fish.
Most high schools have at least four sports they offer to their students. In many districts, there must be an equal amount of sports for boys and girls. Some schools even have sporting clubs. High school sports have been an important part of the high school curriculum(课程) for many years. However, not all parents fully realize the importance. Some children are not even allowed to participate in school sports, because of the cost, the time commitment(投入), or the possibility of injury.
The truth is that high school sports are more than just fun. They are great tools to help students learn about life. They can teach students teamwork, cooperation, and leadership, etc. Students can take these things into their everyday lives as well. When they build their confidence on the sporting field, students are also building confidence against the world. They will be able to work well with others in all other areas of their life.
High school sports are also the perfect way to keep teens away from drugs and other dangerous behaviors. Coaches are great role models that can often encourage players to be well behaved. Some schools even have limits on GPAs (grade point average) for their athletes. If a student athlete’s grades fall below a certain point, they cannot play. Students who love sports will do anything to play, including studying more. They will also be less likely to try drugs or break the law in any other manner. So, allow your children to participate in school sports. Get involved and make friends with the parents of the other students. The whole family can have a great time and learn about sports together.
1.The passage is mainly written for ____.
A. high school teachers B. high school students
C. students’ parents D. sports lovers
2.The author believes that high school sports are ____.
A. interesting and useful B. important and cheap
C. expensive but worthwhile D. dangerous but meaningful
3.What does the underlined part “Coaches are great role models” mean?
A. Coaches respect athletes’ wishes.
B. Coaches are a good example to students.
C. Coaches are good partners.
D. Coaches are great athletes.
4.Which of the following is NOT used to support the idea that school sports help keep students away from some dangerous behaviors?
A. Coaches have a positive effect on students.
B. Schools are strict with their students.
C. Students loving sports study more.
D. Parents can have a great time with their children.
By now there were several people standing around me, my mom, and the little broken bush(灌木丛).
“Son, would you like me to call an ambulance?” some men said.
“No,” my mom yelled. “I’m fine. Please go away!”
“She’s learning to ride,” I tried to explain to all those who were not going to go away.
“Oh, all right!” My mom sat up and brushed the grass and leaves off her sweater. Finally she stood up. Everyone began to clap(鼓掌), and my mom’s face turned bright pink.
“Thank you very much, but as you can see, I’m just fine.” Mom took a few steps around to show them that she wasn’t hiding a broken leg. Everyone clapped again and then went on their way.
“Enough for today?” I asked hopefully.
“No,” she said in a way that surprised me. “I almost had it, and then I let myself get scared. I know I can do it this time!” Now this sounded more like my mom, for I’d never known my mom to be afraid of anything before. I helped her pull the bike out of the bush and push it up the hill.
She didn’t look quite so pale this time. She got on the bike again and went down the hill. I ran down the hill after her. She had ridden quite a way ahead of me when she looked back over her shoulder, smiling. Then she gave me a thumbs-up(翘拇指) sign.
“No, no!” I yelled. “Use both hands!”
But it was too late. Again.
“Mom! Are you hurt?” I ran up to her in the grass.
This time she was laughing. “Did you see me? I did it! I really did it!” Then she stopped and looked at me. “I mean,” she said, “we did it.”
1.From the passage we can learn that the author ____.
A. was helping his mother learn to ride a bike
B. went on a picnic with his mother by bike
C. was learning to ride a bike by himself
D. could ride a bike as well as his mother could
2.Those people were not going to go away because they ____.
A. would wait until the police came
B. wanted to see if the author’s mother was OK
C. thought it was a terrible traffic accident
D. worried about the little broken bush
3.The underlined word “it” (in paragraph 8) most probably refers to ____.
A. the ambulance B. the sweater
C. the skill of riding a bike D. the courage to stand up
4.What happened after the author’s mother gave him a thumbs-up sign?
A. She forgot how to ride a bike. B. She broke one of her legs.
C. She was hit by something. D. She fell off the bike.
My father and I were very close. I loved pleasing him, and he was always proud of my success. If I won a spelling contest at school, he was on top of the world. Later in life whenever I got a promotion(升职), I’d call my father right away and he’d rush out to tell all his friends. In 1970, when I was named president of the Ford Motor Company, I don’t know which of us was more excited.
Like many native Italians, my parents were very open with their feelings and their loves not lonely at home, but also in public. Most of my friends would never hug their fathers. But I hugged and kissed my dad at every opportunity. Nothing could have felt more natural.
He was a curious man who was always trying new things. He was the first person in Allentown to buy a motorcycle. Unfortunately, my father and his motorcycle didn’t get along too well. He fell off it so often that he got rid of it just a month after buying it. As a result, he never again trusted any vehicle with less than four wheels.
Because of that motorcycle, I wasn’t allowed to have a bicycle when I was growing up. Whenever I wanted to ride a bike, I had to borrow one from a friend. On the other hand, my father let me drive a car as soon as I turned sixteen.
1.What nationality was my father?
A. American B. Italian C. Indian D. Britain
2.My father didn’t allow me to ride a bicycle because ___ .
A. it was made out of his motorcycle.
B. It would cost him quite a lot of money.
C. It had less than four wheels.
D. He was afraid that people would laugh at him.
3.I hugged and kissed my father at every opportunity, ___ .
A. even though I hated to do so
B. because I was told to do so by my mother
C. as I was named president of the Ford Motor company
D. for I felt it quite natural to do so
4.What does the underlined word “ vehicle” probably mean?
A. bicycle B. motorcycle
C. car D. tool used to carry goods or passengers
阅读下面的短文，掌握其大意，然后从36～55各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
“Hi, Mommy, what are you doing?” asked Susie, who was only six years old. “I’m making a casserole(炖锅菜) for Mrs. Smith next door, __1__ Mrs. Smith is very sad. She lost her daughter and has a __2__ heart. We need to take care of her a little while.” Said her mother. “ Why, Mommy?”
“You see, Susie, when someone is very, very sad, they have __3__ doing the little things like making dinner or other housework. Because we’re __4__ of a community and Mrs. Smith won’t ever be able to talk with her daughter or hug(拥抱) her. You are a very __5__ girl, Susie; maybe you’ll think of __6__ way to help take care of Mrs. Smith.”
Susie thought __7__ about this challenge and how she could do her __8__ on caring for Mrs. Smith. A few minutes later, Susie knocked on her door. After a few moments, Mrs. Smith __9__ the knock with a “Hi, Susie.”
Susie noticed that Mrs. Smith didn’t have that familiar musical __10__ about her voice when she __11__ someone.
“What can I do for you, Susie?” asked Mrs. Smith.
“My mommy says that you lost your daughter and you’re very, very sad with a broken heart.” Susie __12__ her hand out shyly. In it was a Band-Aid. “This is for your broken heart.” Mrs. Smith knelt down and hugged Susie. Through her __13__ she said, “Thank you, darling girl, this will __14__ a lot.”
Mrs. Smith __15__ Susie’s act of kindness and took it one step __16__. She bought a small key ring with a picture frame(框架) ---- the ones __17__ to carry keys and display a family __18__ at the same time. Mrs. Smith placed Susie’s Band-Aid in the frame to __19__ her to heal a little every time she sees it. It has become her symbol(象征) for healing, while not __20__ the joy and love she experienced with her daughter.
1.A. although B. because C. when D. so
2.A. broken B. absent C. sick D. gentle
3.A. trouble B. time C. interest D. danger
4.A. owners B. whole C. part D. relatives
5.A. naughty B. little C. pretty D. smart
6.A. the other B. the very C. our D. some
7.A. seriously B. deeply C. much D. little
8.A. job B. work C. part D. deed
9.A. replied B. answered to C. greeted D. responded
10.A. sound B. quality C. gift D. note
11.A. praised B. helped C. greeted D. saw
12.A. gave B. set C. took D. held
13.A. tears B. sadness C. excitement D. glasses
14.A. do B. care C. mean D. help
15.A. refused B. accepted C. received D. took
16.A. more B. forward C. further D. ahead
17.A. made B. bought C. invented D. designed
18.A. photo B. scene C. gathering D. life
19.A. force B. remind C. get D. advise
20.A. forgetting B. missing C. losing D. remembering
Sally was a bit shy, but we found her quite ____ discussing recent singing stars with others.
A. at home B. at a loss C. in public D. in common
