On August 5 at 10:31 p.m. PST, a rover（探测器）named Curiosity touched down safely on the surface of Mars, and I was lucky enough to have a front-row seat.
My name is Clara, and when I was in Grade 6, I won the essay contest NASA held to name its next Mars rover. The essay I wrote was not even 250 words long, but somehow it was enough to change my life.
I still remember that cold December day, sitting in a science class. I’d finished a worksheet early and decided to get a Time for Kids magazine off Mrs. Estevez’s bookshelf. It was the 2008 Invention Issue, but that wasn’t the only thing that caught my eye. In the magazine, there was an article about a girl who named the Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. The article also talked about the essay contest NASA was holding to name its next Mars rover. Before I even knew anything else about it, a single word flooded my 11-year-old mind: Curiosity.
I couldn’t wait for the bell to ring so I could get started on my essay. That afternoon, I raced home from the bus stop, sat down at the computer and typed until my fingers ached. It turned out that I was just in time. A few days later, and the contest would have closed.
Five months later, shortly after I had turned 12, I was watching a National Geographic special on mammoths when the phone rang. My mom answered, and immediately, a wide smile spread across her face. When she told me that I had won, I was happier than I could ever remember being, I screamed and ran up and down the stairs and all around the house. I completely forgot about the mammoths and did not even remember to turn off the TV until it was really late.
Curiosity is such an important part of who I am. I have always been fascinated by the stars, the planets, the sky and the universe. I remember as a little girl, my grandfather and I would sit together in the backyard for hours. He’d tell me stories and point out the stars.
My grandfather lived in China, thousands of miles away from my home in Kansas. I loved the stars because they kept us together even when we were apart. They were always there, yet there was so much I didn’t know about them. That’s what I love so much about space. No matter how much we learn, it will always possess some mystery.
In the past, space exploration may have been a competition to see who got somewhere first or the fastest. But now, it is one of the few things that bring people together. Science is a language that needs no translation. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what you look like – you just have to have a thirst for knowledge and a passion for learning in order to succeed.
People often ask me why we go to faraway places like Mars. Why do we explore? My answer to that is simple: because we can; because we’re curious; because we as human beings do not just stay holed up in one place. We are constantly wondering and trying to find out what’s over the hill and beyond the horizon.
The curiosity rover is more than just a robot. It is more than just a titanium body and aluminum wheels. Curiosity represents the hard work, passion, love and commitment of thousands of people from all over the world who were brought together by science. Science is so awesome. It is breathtaking and mind-blowing; and sometimes, it’s just a little bit crazy. The discoveries we make about our world are incredibly humbling. They move us forward and have the potential to benefit all of mankind.
This December it will be four years of my life that have been tied to Curiosity in some way. I’ve met so many amazing people through this experience, from scientists to engineers to administrators to volunteers. Their devotion and enthusiasm inspire me greatly. My journey with Curiosity and the MSL mission team has shaped the person that I am today, as well as the person I would one day like to become.
I am deeply grateful to everyone who made it possible for me to have this amazing adventure.
And to you, I hope your curiosity takes you far.
1. The method the writer uses to begin the passage is _____.
A．telling a story B．giving an example
C．offering an explanation D．describing a scene
2.Why did the writer hurry home to finish the essay for the contest NASA held?
A．She had just gathered enough information from Time for Kids
B．She wanted to write down what flashed through her mind in time.
C．She knew from Mrs. Estevez the deadline for the contest was approaching.
D．She was afraid she might miss the chance to compete with the former winner.
3. The writer mentions her grandfather in order to show that ______.
A．she missed him very much.
B．he knew a great deal about space
C．he influenced her to love the stars
D．she treasured their happy moments
4.Which of the following serves as a summary of Paragraph 11?
A．The writer was inspired to be a volunteer by the people she met.
B．The writer owed her success to her team members’ encouragement.
C．The writer met many difficulties in her four-year life with Curiosity.
D．The writer has benefited a lot from her experience tied to Curiosity.
5.Which best describes the writer’s tone in the passage?
A．Sharp. B．Proud. C．Aggressive. D．Enthusiastic.
6.What is conveyed in the passage?
A．Curiosity is important to human beings.
B．A thirst for knowledge helps one grow up.
C．Entering a contest is a way to achieve success.
D．Curiosity changes people’s attitude towards science.
Surviving treasures from the National Museum of Afghanistan
AFGHANISTAN
CROSSROADS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD
3 MARCH — 3 JULY 2013
At the heart of the silk road, Afghanistan linked the great trading routes of ancient Iran, Central Asia, Indian and China, and the more distant cultures of Greece and Rome.
Nearly lost during the years of civil war and later Taliban (塔利班) rule, precious objects that reveal this diverse past were bravely hidden in 1989 by officials from the National Museum of Afghanistan to save them from destruction.
The surviving treasures date from 2000 BC to the 1st century AD and included rich gold ornaments (装饰品) found at a burial site and limestone (石灰石) sculptures of a Greek city.
This is a unique opportunity to discover the story of Afghanistan’s ancient culture, its immense fragility, and the remarkable dedication (奉献) shown to its survival and protection.
DETAILED INFORMATION
OPENING HOURS
The exhibition is open late on Fridays until 20:30.
￡10, members free
EXHIBITION AND EVENTS BOOKING
www.britishmuseum.org
020 7323 8181
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR VISIT
﹡On weekdays, take advantage of a classic afternoon tea package in the Court Restaurant for just ￡26 (including exhibition ticket).
﹡The exhibition catalogue (￡25 paperback) and other related titles are available in the museum shops or online at www.britishmuseum.org/shop.
﹡The exhibition Multimedia Guide (￡1) is available at the exhibition entrance.
﹡If you are visiting with a group, ask for the group ticket price. Details on group lecture packages are available at www.britishmuseum.org/groupvisits.
SPECIAL EVENTS
﹡Nowruz
Monday 18 March, 17:30.
Nowruz, or New Year, is celebrated in many countries from Afghanistan and Iran to Uzbekistan.
17:30~18:00 Entrance to exhibition.
19:00 Talks and discussion on Nowruz.
￡15 (including exhibition entry).
﹡Performance: The art of the Afghan rubab.
Tuesday 14 May, 16:30~17:30.
Afghan rubab virtuoso Soudi Homayun Sakhi and tabla player Yusuf Mahmoud give a performance of a full raga and folk pieces.
￡5, members ￡3.
﹡Easter holiday activities
Thursday 18 ~ Monday 22 April,11:00~16:00.
Explore the rich culture of Afghanistan. Listen to stories of Alexander the Great, try making a kite and be inspired by the treasures from the Hill of Gold.
Suitable for all ages.
Free, just drop in.
1. If you arrive at the museum on April 20th, what can you enjoy?
A．Near Year celebration.
B．Performance: The art of the Afghan rubab.
C．Easter holiday activities.
D．The exhibition without any special events.
2.When seeing “The art of the Afgahan rubab”, a tourist can pay less by ________.
A．booking tickets online
B．attending talks and discussion on Nowruz
C．calling at 020 7323 8181
D．becoming a member of the British Museum
3.Which of the following statements is true?
A．Of all the special events Performance costs least.
B．Museum officials saved these objects from destruction.
C．The Multimedia Guide is offered to visitors without any charge.
D．You can learn details about group visit either on website or by phone.
4. Where can you most probably find this passage?
A．In a high school text book. B．In a history magazine.
C．In a state-owned newspaper. D．In a traveler’s booklet.
Many trees in the Brackham area were brought down in the terrible storms that March. The town itself lost two great lime trees from the former market square. The disappearance of such striking features had changed the appearance of the town center entirely, to the annoyance of its more conservative inhabitants(居民).
Among the annoyed, under more normal circumstances, would have been Chief Inspector Douglas Pelham, head of the local police force. But at the height of that week's storm, when the wind brought down even the mature walnut tree in his garden, Pelham had in fact been in no fit state to notice. A large and healthy man, he had for the first time in his life been seriously ill with an attack of bronchitis.
When he first complained of an aching head and tightness in his chest, his wife, Molly, had tried to persuade him to go to the doctor. Convinced that the police force could not do without him, he had, as usual, ignored her and attempted to carry on working. Predictably, though he wouldn't have listened to anyone who tried to tell him so, this had the effect of fogging his memory and shortening his temper.
It was only when his colleague, Sergeant Lloyd, took the initiative (主动) and drove him to the doctor's door that he finally gave in. By that time, he didn't have the strength left to argue with her. In no time at all, she was taking him along to the chemist's to get his medicine and then home to his unsurprised wife who sent him straight to bed.
When Molly told him, on the Thursday morning, that the walnut tree had been brought down during the night, Pelham hadn’t been able to take it in. On Thursday evening, he had asked weakly about damage to the house, groaned (含糊不清地说) thankfully when he heard there was none, and pulled the sheets over his head.
It wasn't until Saturday, when the medicine took effect, his temperature dropped and he got up, that he realized with a shock that the loss of the walnut tree had made a permanent difference to the appearance of the living-room. The Pelhams’ large house stood in a sizable garden. It had not come cheap, but even so Pelham had no regrets about buying it. The leafy garden had created an impression of privacy. Now, though, the storm had changed his outlook.
Previously, the view from the living-room had featured the handsome walnut tree. This had not darkened the room because there was also a window on the opposite wall, but it had provided interesting patterns of light and shade that hid the true state of the worn furniture that the family had brought with them from their previous house.
With the tree gone, the room seemed cruelly bright, its worn furnishings exposed in all their shabbiness. And the view from the window didn’t bear looking at. The tall house next door, previously hidden by the tree, was now there, dominating the outlook with its unattractive purple bricks and external pipes. It seemed to have a great many upstairs windows, all of them watching the Pelhams' every movement.
“Doesn’t it look terrible?” Pelham whispered to his wife. But Molly, standing in the doorway, sounded more pleased than dismayed. “That's what I’ve been telling you ever since we came here. We have to buy a new sofa, whatever it costs.”
1.Why were some people in Brackham annoyed after the storm?
A．No market could be held.
B．The police had done little to help.
C．The town looked different.
D．Fallen trees had not been removed.
2.In the third paragraph, what do we learn about Chief Inspector Pelham’s general attitude to his work?
A．He finds it extremely annoying.
B．Не is sure that he plays an important role.
C．Не considers the systems are not clear enough.
D．He does not trust the decisions made by his superiors.
3. What aspect of the Pelhams’ furniture does “shabbiness” in paragraph 8 describe?
A．its condition. B．its colour. C．its position. D．its design.
4.As a result of the storm, the Pelhams’ living-room _____.
A．was pleasantly lighter B．felt less private
C．had a better view D．was in need of repair
5.Why did Molly sound pleased by her husband’s comment?
A．It proved that he was well again.
B．She agreed about the tree.
C．She thought he meant the sofa.
D．It was what she expected him to say.
完形填空（共20小题；每小题1分，满分20分）
While attending a conference, I returned to my hotel room late one rainy evening．The overhead light outside my door was 1 and I had difficulty finding the keyhole．When I finally 2 to open the door, I 3 around the wall for a light switch．I found a 4 where a switch was once installed．．．but no switch．
No discouraged easily, I remembered seeing a 5 by the bed when I put away my luggage 6 in the day．I found the bed in the dark and felt around until I found the lamp, but when I switched it on, 7 happened! Now what?
Though I knew that it was dark outside my window 8 the outdoor light was burned out, I thought that 9 if I opened the curtains I might be able to use the light from the 10 to find another lamp．So I 11 my way slowly across the room to the curtains and．．．no draw-string!
I finally stumbled （跌跌撞撞） around until I found a desk lamp that actually 12 ! That evening I discovered in a whole new way just how dark the world can be and how necessary 13 is．
But even more necessary than 14 light is the light that shines from people—the light of
love, sympathy and 15 ．Because, for many people, the world is a dark and 16 place．
It is the shining that is important, for someone today just may be stumbling in discouragement or fear and in 17 of some light．
So let your light shine．Whatever light you 18 may be a beacon （灯塔） of hope and encouragement in someone’s darkness．And if you feel that your light is 19 a candle in a forest, remember this—there isn’t enough darkness in the world to 20 the light of one small candle．
1. A．broken B．burning C．shining D．smooth
2. A．managed B．attempted C．succeeded D．meant
3. A．touched B．felt C．turned D．looked
4. A．light B．plate C．lamp D．signal
5. A．lamp B．switch C．desk D．window
6. A．later B．earlier C．sooner D．first
7. A．something B．everything C．nothing D．anything
8. A．since B．unless C．when D．although
9. A．certainly B．surely C．absolutely D．perhaps
10. A．stars B．room C．street D．shop
11. A．forced B．made C．struggled D．pushed
12. A．closed B．failed C．did D．worked
13. A．love B．thinking C．dream D．light
14. A．spiritual B．physical C．mental D．inner
15. A．faith B．soul C．mind D．attention
16. A．mixed B．fancy C．lonely D．complicated
17. A．lack B．favor C．need D．face
18. A．offer B．receive C．devote D．throw
19. A．only B．even C．ever D．much
20. A．give out B．leave out C．take out D．put out
-- Sorry, it's already 6 o’clock. I have to be off for an appointment.
--- OK. ________.
A．It couldn’t be better B．You really have me there
C．Let’s call it a day D．Take your time
--Why do you choose to work in an international travel agency?
---Well, you know, English is my ________. So it is my best choice.
A．strength B．talent C．ability D．skill
