Stepping into a pool of water is common enough, but who could ever imagine stepping into a pool of fish? In February of 1974, Bill Tapp, an Australian farmer, saw a rain of fish that covered his farm. How surprised he must have been!
What caused this strange occurrence? This is a question that had long puzzled people who study fish. The answer turned out to be a combination of wind and storm.
When it is spring in the northern part of the world, it is fall in Australia. Throughout the autumn season, terrible storms arise and rains flood the land. The strong winds sweep over Australia like huge vacuum cleaners (吸尘器), collecting seaweed, pieces of wood, and even schools of fish. Strong winds may carry these bits of nature for many miles before vacuum dropping them on fields, houses, and astonished people.
Although they seem unusual, fish-falls occur frequently in Australia. When Bill Tapp was asked to describe the scene of fish, he remarked, “They look like millions of dead birds falling down.” His statement is not surprising. The wonders of the natural world are as common as rain. Nature, with its infinite wonders, can create waterfalls that flow upward and fish that fall out of the sky.
1. What is this passage about?
A. A sad story. B. Australia’s northern part.
C. A rain of fish. D. The damage done by floods.
2. Fish-falls occur in Australia __________.
A. quite often B. on large farms
C. only in winter D. when the air is calm
3.The underlined word “infinite” is closest in meaning to “__________”.
A. easy B. difficult C. countless D. dangerous
A sign can be found in the front yard of a house in the US. The people living here want to let their dog play outside and ensure it won’t run into the street. So, they hire a company to set up an “invisible fence”, an electric wire buried in the ground around the yard. The dog wears a special collar and when it walks near to the “fence”, the wire will send out a small shock. The dog quickly learns to stay away from the edge of the yard. As it says at the bottom of the sign, the fence will keep your dog “safe” (away from the street) and “at home” (contained inside the yard).
The small word “BRAND” printed in blue means that “Invisible Fence” is registered as the company’s brand name. Similarly, the “TM” printed after “your dog safe at home” stands for “trade mark”, a slogan registered specifically to one company.
1. The people set up an “invisible fence” _________.
A. to let their dog play outside their house
B. to keep their dog away from the edge of the yard
C. to keep their dog inside their yard
D. to warn others not to enter their house
2. Which is NOT true about the “invisible fence”?
A. The fence does not exist at all.
B. The “Invisible Fence” is the name of a company.
C. Without the special collar, the fence won’t work on the dog.
D. Science and technology play an important part in it.
3.
完形填空 (共20小题；每小题1分，满分20分)
阅读下面短文，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。
“Yes, I’ll be ready at nine. Goodbye, dear, and thanks again.” Mrs. Robinson replaced the 36 and crossed the hall into the 37 . It had not been an easy telephone call for her to make. Her daughter had been very kind, 38 , and had immediately agreed to 39 her up, but Mrs. Robinson 40 to admit that she needed help. Since her 41 passed away ten years ago, she had prided herself upon her ___42 . She had 43 to live in their little house alone and had refused to go and live with her daughter.
But on this evening, she was standing at her living-room window, 44 out at the “SOLD” notice in the small front garden. Her feeling were 45 . Naturally she was 46 at the thought of leaving here, as it was full of so many 47 .
But at the same time she was looking forward to spending her last 48 near the
sea, __49 in the little sea town where she was born. With the 50 from the sale of the house, she had bought a little flat there.
Her husband had always been very 51 this house. She hadn’t been 52__ here, but it didn’t mean as much to her as it had to him. 53 most of the people who lived in the street had 54 away, and it was this that had made her decide to sell it.
Next morning Mrs. Robinson 55 the house for the station in her daughter’s car.
1.A. book B. data C. receiver D. door
2. A. bedroom B. dining-room C. garden D. living-room
3. A. however B. of course C. therefore D. specially
4.A. pick B. bring C. cheer D. warm
5.A. liked B. hated C. tended D. pretended
6. A. lawyer B. friend C. daughter D. husband
7. A. independence B. future C. talent D. ideal
8. A. moved B. hoped C. continued D. dreamed
9.A. sticking B. staring C. reaching D. pulling
10.A. blamed B. excited C. embarrassed D. mixed
11. A. sad B. hard C. pleased D. delighted
12. A. pets B. folks C. descriptions D. memories
13. A. lives B. years C. wealth D. treasure
14. A. down B. up C. back D. away
15.A. insurance B. allowance C. reward D. money
16.A. fond of B. busy in C. afraid of D. interested in
17. A. funny B. lucky C. happy D. unhappy
18.A. Soon B. Shortly C. Recently D. Immediately
19. A. fled B. moved C. turned D. traveled
20.A. sold B. returned C. left D. locked
The two football players seem like enemies on the field but _______ they are good
friends.
A. in return B. in detail C. in reality D. in advance
Because it was hard to _____ with the money he got paid, he wanted to take ____ job.
A. make his life; a second B. make ends meet; a second
C. earn his living; the second D. make his living; the second
The old couple decided to ______ a boy and a girl though they had three of their own.
A. adapt B. admit C. abandon D. adopt
