The Book of Life
So far, scientists have named about 1.8 million living species(物种), and that’s just a small number of what probably exists on Earth. With so many plants, animals, and other living things coveting the planet, it can be tough to figure out what type of grass is growing by the roadside or what kind of bird just flew by.
A soon-to-be-started Web site might help. An international team of researchers has announced the creation of Web-based Encyclopedia(百科全书) of Life ( EoL). The project aims to list every species on Earth in a single, easy-to-use reference guide.
To get the encyclopedia started, the creators will use information from scientific databases (数据库) that already exist. And eventually, in special sections of the site, non-scientists with specialized knowledge will come to help. Bird-watchers, for example, will be able to input what birds they’ve seen and where. To make sure the encyclopedia is accurate, scientists will review much of the information added to it.
As the EoL develops, you might find it useful for school projects. The site will feature (以……为特色) special pages for kids who are studying ecosystems in their neighborhoods. Another convenient feature of the EoL is that you’ll be able to pick the level of detail you want to see to match your interests, age, and knowledge.
It now takes years for scientists to collect all the data they need to describe and analyze species. The creators of the Encyclopedia of Life hope that their new tool will speed up that process.
1.The Web-based EoL aims to__________ .
A．find out what covers the earth
B．list all living things on Earth
C．work out the number of birds
D．save the existing plants
2.One characteristic of the EoL is that__________ .
A．it is run by school students
B．it focuses on different types of grass
C．it provides different levels of information
D．it allows non-scientists to review its data
3.In the last paragraph, "that process" means__________ .
A．analyzing species B．creating a new tool
C．collecting data D．describing species
Lying in the sun on a rock, the cougar(美洲豹)saw Jeb and his son, Tom, before they saw it. Jeb put his bag down quickly and pulled his jacket open with both hands, making himself look big to the cougar. It worked. The cougar hesitated, ready to attack Jeb, but ready to forget the whole thing, too.
Jeb let go of his jacket, grasped Tom and held him across his body, making a cross. Now the cougar’s enemy looked even bigger, and it rose up, ready to move away, but unfortunately Tom got scared and struggled free of Jeb.
“Tom, no!” shouted his father.
But Tom broke and ran and that’s the last thing you do with a cougar. The second Tom broke free, Jeb threw himself on the cougar, just as it jumped from the rock. They hit each other in mid-air and both fell. The cougar was on Jeb in a flash, forgetting about Tom, which was what Jeb wanted.
Cougars are not as big as most people think and a determined man stands a chance, even with just his fists. As the cougar’s claws(爪子)got into his left shoulder, Jeb swung his fist at its eyes and hit hard. The animal howled（吼叫）and put its head back. Jeb followed up with his other fist. Then out of the corner of his eye, Jeb saw Tom. The boy was running back to help his father.
“Knife, Tom” shouted Jeb.
The boy ran to his father’s bag, while Jeb stated shouting as well as hitting, to keep the cougar’s attention away from Tom. Tom got the knife and ran over to Jeb. The cougar was moving its head in and out, trying to find a way through the wall Jeb was making out of his arms. Tom swung with the knife, into the cougar’s back. It howled horribly and ran off into the mountains.
The whole fight had taken about thirty seconds.
1.Why did Jeb pull his jacket open when he saw the cougar?
A．To get ready to fight B．To frighten it away
C．To protect the boy D．To cool down
2.What do we know about cougars?
A．They are afraid of noises
B．They hesitate before they hit
C．They are bigger than we think
D．They like to attack running people
3.How did Jeb try to hold the cougar’s attention?
A．By keeping shouting and hitting
B．By making a wall out of his arms
C．By throwing himself on the cougar
D．By swinging his fists at the cougar’s eyes
4.Which of the following happened first?
A．The cougar jumped from the rock
B．Tom struggled free of his father
C．Jeb asked Tom to get the knife
D．Jeb held Tom across his body
On a hot summer day in late August, I sought shade and a cool drink at a waterfront café on a Greek island. Over a hundred degrees in 1 air. Crowded. Tempers（脾气）of both the tourists and waiters had 2 to meet the situation, making it a rather quarrelsome environment（环境）
At the table next to mine sat an attractive, 3 couple, waiting for 4 . They held hands, whispered, kissed, and laughed. Suddenly they stood, picked up their 5 and stepped together 6 the edge of where they were sitting to place the table in the sea water. The man stepped 7 for the two chairs. He politely 8 his lady in the knee-deep water and then sat down himself. All people around laughed and cheered.
9 appeared. He paused for just a second, walked into the water to 10 the table and take their 11 , and then walked back to the 12 cheers of the rest of his 13 . Minutes later he returned carrying a bottle of wine and two glasses. Without pausing, he went 14 into the water to 15 the wine. The couple toasted（祝酒）each other, the waiter and the crowd. And the crowd 16 by cheering and throwing flowers to them. Three other tables 17 to have lunch in the water. The place was now filled with laughter.
One doesn’t step into water in one’s best summer clothes. Why not?
Customers are not served 18 . Why not?
Sometimes one should consider 19 the line of convention（常规）and enjoy 20 to the fullest.
1. A．fresh B．cool C．still D．thin
2. A．managed B．expected C．attempted D．risen
3. A．lonely B．curious C．well-dressed D．bad-tempered
4. A．cheers B．service C．attention D．flowers
5. A．metal table B．empty bottle C．chairs D．bags
6. A．on B．off C．around D．along
7. A．outside B．forward C．down D．back
8. A．led B．seated C．watched D．received
9. A．The manager B．A friend C．A waiter D．The servant
10. A．set B．wash C．remove D．check
11. A．menu B．bill C．food D．order
12. A．loud B．anxious C．familiar D．final
13. A．tourists B．customers C．fellows D．assistants
14. A．at last B．in time C．once more D．as well
15. A．change B．drink C．sell D．serve
16. A．replied B．insisted C．agreed D．understood
17. A．prepared B．joined in C．settled up D．continued
18. A．with pleasure B．in the café C．in the sea D．with wine
19. A．following B．keeping C．limiting D．crossing
20. A．life B．wine C．lunch D．time
_____different life today is ________what it was 30 years ago
A．What; from B．How; from C．How; with D．What; with
All the dishes in this menu, _____ stated otherwise, will serve two to three people.
A．as B．if C．unless D．though
——Mom，what did your doctor say?
—— He advised me to live _____ the air is fresher.
in where B. in which C. the place where D. where
