Everybody hates rats. But in the earthquake capitals of the world – Japan, Los Angeles, Turkey – rats will soon be man’s new best friends.
What happens after an earthquake? We send in rescue dogs. Why? Because they can smell people. Dogs save lives. They help rescuers to find living people. But dogs are big and they can’t get into small spaces. So now a new research project is using a smaller animal to save lives: the rat.
How does it work? First , the rat is trained to smell people. When this happens, the rat’s brain gives a signal（信号）.This is sent to a small radio on its back, and then the rescuers follow the radio signals. When rat’s brain activity jumps, the rescuers know that someone is alive. The rat has smelled that person.
Although there are already robots which can do this job, rats are better. Christian Linster at Cornell University, New York, says, “Robots’ noses don’t work well when there are other smells around. Rats are good at that. ” Rats can also see in the dark. They are cheaper and quicker to train than dogs, and unlike robots, they don’t need electricity!
The “rat project” is not finished, but Julie Ryan of International Rescue Corps in Scotland says, “It would be fantastic. A rat could get into spaces we couldn’t get to, and a rat would get out if it wasn’t safe.” Perhaps for the first time in history, people will be happy to see a rat in a building（but only after an earthquake, of course.）
1．In the world earthquake capitals, rats will bee man’s best friends because they can .
A．take the place of man’s rescue jobs
B．find the position of people alive who are trapped in buildings
C．serve as food for people alive who are trapped in buildings
D．get into small spaces
2．From the third paragraph we know the rescuers can judge a person is alive by .
A．the noise made by the rat
B．the rat’s unusual behaviour
C．the signal sent by the radio on the rat’s back
D．the smell given off by the person
3．In doing rescue jobs, .
A．rats smell better than dogs
B．dogs don’t need to be trained to smell people
C．robots’ sense of smell can be affected by other smells around
D．rats can see in the dark and smaller than robots
4．Rats have all the following advantages except that .
A．they are more fantastic than other animals
B．they are less expensive to train than dogs
C．they don’t need electricity
D．they are small and can get into small places
5．After reading the passage we can know .
A．at present rats have taken the place of dogs in searching for people
B．the “rat project” has been finished
C．people are now happy to see a rat in a building
D．now people still use dogs and robots in saving people
Parking has long been a major headache for drivers in Shanghai. The Transportation Department is mapping out a new plan for the city’s parking system. There are one million cars on the road in Shanghai but only enough public parking space to provide room for 15percent of them. It is no wonder that local drivers get so worried trying to find a place to park.
The city is seeing a rise in private car owners. In March, the city sent out 2,000 private car licenses, the highest number of licenses ever sent out in a month. And prices rose to 14,600 yuan, 500 more than in February. Industry experts say this suggests that local people have a strong, active interest in buying cars.
By the year 2020, the number of automobiles in Shanghai will probably reach two million. If one parking lot is for each car, then a lot of parking space should be built for these vehicles.
Downtown Shanghai is most short of parking space. However, experts point out that simply building more parking lots in downtown areas is not practical and doesn’t provide an ideal solution. The idea of “ Park & Ride” system has been suggested. This means that drivers can leave their vehicles in car par nearby subway or bus stations and ride public transport to go downtown. Based on this idea, the city will limit the number of parking lots in downtown areas and demand higher parking fees but build more parking areas near main subway and bus stops.
1.The underlined phrase “ mapping out ” in the first paragraph means __________.
A. making B. arguing C. controlling D. inspiring
2. About __________ drivers can find places to park their cars in Shanghai now.
A. 850,000 B. 1,000,000 C. 150,000 D. 2,000,000
3. What does the second paragraph mainly tell us ?
A. The city sent out more private licenses in February.
B. Less and less people bought cars in March.
C. The city sent out less private licenses in March.
D. More and more people are going to buy cars.
4. According to the idea of a “ Park & Ride ” system, the city will __________.
A. send out more private car licenses
B. build more parking lots near bus stops
C. encourage people to buy more cars
D. build more parking areas in downtown
In Vietnam(越南), Tet-trung-Thu, or Mid- autumn Festival, is one of the most popular holidays. It is held on the 15th day of the 8th month in lunar calendar
Vietnamese families plan their activities around their children on this special day. In a Vietnamese story, parents were working so hard to prepare for the harvest that they left the childen playing by themselves. To make up for the lost time, parents would use the Aid-Autumn Festival as a chance to show their love and than for their children.
As a result, the Mid- autumn Festival is also called the Children’s Festival. In the USA, this tradition continues in many Vietnamese- American families. Tet-trung-Thu, activities are often centered on Children and education. Parents buy lanterns for their children so that they can take part in a lantern parade at dawn. Lanterns mean brightness, while the parade means success in school. Vietnamese markets sell different kinds of lanterns, but the most popular children’s lantern is the star lantern. Other children’s activities includes arts and crafts(手工艺) in which children make face mas and lanterns. Children also perform traditional Vietnamese dances for grown-ups and take part in contests for prizes and scholarships. Unicorn(麒麟) dancers are also very popular at Tet-trung-Thu festivities.
Like the Chinese, Vietnamese parents tell their children folk stories and serve moon-cakes and other special treats under the bright moon. A favorite folk story is about a carp(鲤鱼) that wanted to bee a dragon. The carp worked hard and finally changed itself into a dragon. Parents use this story to encourage their children to work hard so that they can bee whatever they want to be.
1. The Tet-trung-Thu Festival is held ________.
A. in China and other Asian countries. B. in Vietnamese-American families.
C. all over the world, except Vietnam. D. Across the United States.
2.In Both Vietnam and China, on Mid-autumn Festival people would ___________.
A. eat moon-cakes B. buy lanterns for children.
C. take part in contests. D. buy a carp
3.What is the center of the Mid-Autumn festival in Vietnam?
A. Family get-together. B. Children on education.
C. Relaxation and fun in the middle of the year.
D. parents having more time with their children.
4.According to the passage, parents tell their children folk stories, because __________.
A. children like listening to folk stories in the evening.
B. parents want to show their love for their children.
C. parents want to teach the children to work hard.
D. parents want to make up for the lost time.
CHINA
Coal mines claim (使…失踪) more lives
A COAL mine blast (爆炸) in Jixi, Helongjiang, left more than 100 miners dead on Thursday .Ten mines in Jixi were ordered to stop production. The government has tried to shut down thousands of small, illegal (非法的) mines in the country that do not meet safety standards(标准).
MIDDLE EAST
Bombers continues to kill
PALESTINIANS killed 32 Israelis in three major attac between Tuesday and Thursday. There were two suicide bombing (自杀性爆炸) and a militant (武装的) attack on Jewish settlement. They led to one of the highest Israeli death tolls ( 死亡人数) in such a short period over the last two years.
CHINA
Young people stand tall
The average height of Chinese young people has risen by 6 centimeters pared to that of 20 years ago. This year far exceeds (超过) the word’s average growth speed. A survey on health conducted by a panel(调研组) of Chinese students found the results. According to the world average level, youths get taller by 1 cm every 10 years.
CANADA
Talking about world issue (援助)
The Group of Eight (G8)—the US, Japan , Germany, Britain, France, Italy , Canada and Russia ---- will hold a summit(峰会)on June26 and 27 in Kananaskis, Canada. The G8 are the richest and most powerful countries in the world. G8 leaders and some African presidents will discuss strengthening global economic growth and helping Africa. Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary General, will also attend.
1. Thousands of mines have been shut because ______.
A. they have blast B. they produced less coal
C. they are very small and illegal D. they don’t meet the safety standards
2. In the last 20 years, the average growth speed of Chinese youths exceeds the world’s average level by _______.
A.1 cm B.4 cm C. 5 cm D. 6 cm
3. What’s the purpose of the Summit ?
A. to strengthen the global economic growth and helping some poor African countries.
B. To make these eight countries much more powerful.
C. To help some African president to strengthen their economic growth.
D. Kofi Annan will have an important speech on world issues.
第三部分 阅读理解（共20题，每小题2分，共40分）
“You can have the same neighbors for years,” the old man said. “You love them or you think you love them. And you hope that they love you. But do you really understand them?”
“Charlie Kemp and his family lived next door to me for fifteen years. We were good friends for all that time. I enjoy friendship-I’m sure it’s the best thing in the world. And friendship with the Kemps was easy because they seemed to wele it.”
“They were interesting and intelligent people; their home caught fire twice, and twice the whole family slept in my home. They were always losing things…money, keys, or watches. Pictures fell off the walls; the children fell out of beds…”
“I was their neighbor and their friend. Life was always interesting, never dull. Best of all I liked the whole family.”
“One day, I lit a fire in the garden and was burning some rubbish. After a while Charlie Kemp came out of his house and walked up the road.”
“’Morning Charlie,’ I said’ Lovely day, isn’t it’? He smiled at me and nodded. I went on with my work.”
“Twenty minutes later a policeman arrived. He walked into my garden and said,’ You’ll have to put out the fire. Your neighbor has plained to us. He doesn’t like the smell.’”
“My neighbor…?” I said
“Yes,” the policeman said .He took out his notebook and read, “Charlie Kemp. He lives next door, doesn’t he?”
1. ________were neighbors in this storey.
A. The old man and his family B. Charlie Kemps and his family.
C. The old man and the Kemps D. Both A and B
2. The old man found that it was very strange that_________.
A. Charlie told the police about the fire B they often lost the things
C. the fire burst the whole of the Kemps’ house D Kemp smiled to him
3. How did the old man help the kemps?
A. he found the things they lost B. he thought they were interesting and intelligent
C. he lent them money D. he let them sleep in his house after the fires
4. The story shows that__________.
A. friendship is the best thing in the world B. we never really understand our friends
C. friendship with the Kemps was easy D. friendship with the Kemps was not easy
第二节 完形填空（共20小题，每小题1.5分，共30分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
More good things e from small things
About a year ago, a couple with three children moved into the apartment next door to me.
I never heard any 36 from the children, but the parents were always shouting at the kids.
We 37 often in the hallways when we were ing or going. I 38 spoke, but the only 39 I ever got was a hello from the four – year – old girl.
I usually go out for breakfast and one day when I 40 they were just ing from their apartment and the little girl was holding the door 41 for the others. I 42 in the car doing unnecessary things because I didn’t like to be snubbed（冷落）. The parents were 43 her to hurry and get in the car, I looked up and saw the little girl was 44 holding the door open, 45 for me.
I hurried as much as I could and 46 her. She was smiling from ear to ear. That afternoon I saw a white toy bear, I 47 the little girl and said to myself, “I 48 she would like that” so I bought it. I wrote a note 49 how much her act of kindness had touched a soft spot in an old man’s 50 .
The next day there was a 51 on the door and 52 was the little girl and her father. She was so proud of her bear and thanked me. Then I 53 her mother and the other children were there in the hall too. The mother and father both thanked me.
Now when we meet in the hall we all speak, and in a 54 manner, I might add. 55 time passes, I don’t hear that shouting as often. In fact, hardly at all.
36．A．sound B．noise C．conversation D．crying
37．A．met B．saw C．visited D．gathered
38．A．never B．sometimes C．seldom D．always
39．A．reward B．action C．answer D．prize
40．A．moved B．returned C．started D．drove
41．A．open B．closed C．fit D．active
42．A．stopped B．kept C．worked D．remained
43．A．suggesting B．telling C．forcing D．making
44．A．ever B．even C．still D．yet
45．A．waiting B．calling C．leaving D．asking
46．A． replaced B．encouraged C．ignored D．thanked
47．A．thought about B．thought of C．thought over D．thought out
48．A．decide B．am lucky C．am sure D．doubt
49．A．saying B．stating C．reporting D．writing
50．A．mind B．body C．thought D．heart
51．A．hit B．knock C．drop D．beat
52．A．she B．it C．they D．he
53．A．noticed B．watched C．recognized D．felt
54．A．kindly B．politely C．coldly D．friendly
55．A．When B．Since C．As D．While
