The secret of carrier pigeons' unbelievable ability to find their way home has been discovered by scientists: the feathered navigators follow the roads just like we do.
Scientists at Oxford University spent 10 years studying homing pigeons using global positioning satellite (GPS) and got a surprising result. The birds often don't use the sun to decide their directions. Instead, they fly along motorways, turn at crossings and even go around roundabouts (绕道) , adding miles to their journeys.
“It really has knocked our research team sideways to find that after a decade-long international study, pigeons appear to ignore their inbuilt directional instincts (本能) and follow the road system,” said Prof Tim Guilford, reader in animal behavior at Oxford University's Department of Zoology.
Guilford said pigeons use their own navigational system (导航系统) when doing long distance trips or when a bird does a journey for the first time.
“But once homing pigeons have flown a journey more than once, they can fly home on a habitual route, much as we do when we are driving or walking home from work,” said Guilford.
“In short, it looks like it is mentally easier for a bird to fly down a road. They are just making their journeys as simple as possible.”
1. What would be the best title of the passage?
A. Birds Follow Roads as We Do.
B. Why Pigeons Can Fly Long Distance?
C. How Pigeons Find Their Ways Home?
D. Why Crows Fly the Shortest Distance?
2.What does the underlined words "the feathered navigators" refer to?
A. The pigeons.
B. The crows.
C. Dogs.
D. Animals that can swim.
3.Scientists used to think that homing pigeons often find their directions _______.
A. by global positioning satellite
B. by the sun
C. by the road system
D. by following other birds
Volunteers Wanted
Ecuador
A village in Ecuador has recently developed a ecotourism (生态旅游) project that needs volunteers with a background in tourism. This is an unpaid, challenging job that might last one year. You must be enthusiastic and speak good level of Spanish. You will need to cover your food and lodging on your own.
To find out more information, e-mail volunteer@ ecuador.org.
Bali
Would you like to teach English or computer skills to our local school children in a lovely village in the mountains of Bali? There are also western children homeschooling here, some of whom need help with their daily programs. For volunteers of homeschooling, you are required to have baby-sitter experience. Please contact me for more information at Bali@yahoo.com.
Dominica
Experience nature and adventure in Dominica, the island of the Caribbean. Be part of a happy team, doing things from gardening, to building tree houses, to maintaining hydro systems.
For more information please e-mail info@Dominica.com.
1.A college graduate who speaks good Spanish and is interested in ecotourism had better work in ______.
A. an island of Dominica B. a village in Ecuador
C. the mountains of Bali D. a house in Caribbean
2.One who wants to teach small children English will contact ______.
A. volunteer@org B. info@Dominica.com
C. volunteer@ ecuador.org D. Bali@yahoo.com
3.Which is NOT a required task for a volunteer at the island of Dominica?
A. Gardening.
B. Building tree houses.
C. Swimming in the pool.
D. Maintaining hydro systems.
When I was growing up, I was unhappy to be seen with my father. He was disabled and quite short. He used to walk together with me and his hand was on my arm for balance. At this time, people would look at us strangely. I was afraid to look at others but he never cares.
It was difficult to coordinate our steps — his slow, mine impatient. But each time, he always said, “You set the pace, I'll follow you.”
He never talked about himself as a disabled man and nor did he envy other people’s good fortune or health. What he looked for in others was a “good heart” — a good heart in man.
Now that I am older, I believe that is a right standard to judge people, even though I still don’t know exactly what a “good heart” is. But I know the times when I don’t have it. Unable to take part in many activities, my father still tried to participate in some way. When I played ball, he “played” it too. When I joined the Navy, he “joined” too. He often introduced me, saying “This is my son, but it is also me, and I could have done this if things had been different.”
He has been gone many years, but I am so sorry for my unwillingness to walk with him. I never told him how I regretted it. I think of him often when I complain about small affairs and when I don’t have a “good heart ”. At such times, I want to put my hand on his arm and say, “You set the pace, I'll try to follow you. ”
1.The author felt unhappy walking with his father because ______.
A. he was pitiful for his father’s disability
B. it was easy for them to walk together
C. he didn’t want others to know he had a disabled father
D. his father often blamed him
2.In his father’s view, the most important quality a good person should have is ______.
A. excellent health B. a good heart
C. smart hands D. beautiful appearance
3.What does the underlined word “coordinate” mean?
A.行走 B.协调 C. 抚平 D. 暂停
4.According to the last paragraph, by saying “You set the pace. I will try to follow you.” the author means that ______.
A. he will follow father’s standards of being a good man
B. his father didn’t participate in any activities
C. he is glad to walk on his own
D. he still cares more about the appearance
假定你是新华中学的学生李华，得知某英文报招聘兼职记者，你有意应聘，请按以下要点给报社写一封自荐信。
要点：1.表示感兴趣；
2.说明优势：知识面、英语水平、合作精神、相关经历；
3.希望得到回复。
注意：1. 可以适当增加细节；
2. 开头与结尾已写好，不计入总词数；
3. 词数100左右。
Dear Sir or Madam,
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Yours faithfully,
Li Hua
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（不多于3个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
A: Well, what do you think? McDonald’s is going to build 1. new restaurant in our hometown.
B: 2. (certain)not! I hate all that expensive, 3. (taste) food. Where are they going to build it?
A: Over there where that old restaurant is.
B: But where are we going to eat our local dishes? I love to eat 4. there. It’s so friendly. Why are they closing?
A: McDonald’s offered that old restaurant a lot of money, so they wanted to sell. I think we will all benefit. An old part of town 5. (improve) and we shall have 6. (many) jobs.
B: Don’t you believe it ! I 7. (read) read about these kinds of restaurants. They provide a terrible diet for young children. How does McDonald’s know that we want their restaurant here? Nobody has asked our opinions.
A: Well, since you are against it, why not take part in a meeting to vote 8. whether we want McDonald’s 9. not? You may give the reasons why you don’t want it 10. (build) . I will give the reasons for building it.
B: That seems a very good idea. Let’s do that.
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从21—40各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
Jack and his 11-year-old son, Tony, love basketball very much. On Tony’s birthday, Jack decided to drive him Chicago, more than two hours’ distance, for the first game of the World Championships. They had no but hoped to buy two from other people.
After arriving in Chicago, they in the streets for two hours carrying a which said, “We need two tickets”. the cheapest ticket was $175 and they could not it. They were about to leave when a man them. He pulled out two tickets and them to Jack. “How much do you want?” “ ! No money is needed!” said the man.
When asked, the man , “I am working for Joe, who hasn’t a World Championships for 16 years. But he is ill and can’t make it this time. So he told me to give the two tickets away. The only he set is to give the tickets to people I think will be deserving. A lot of people looked as if they might just take the tickets and them right away. Then I saw you. You seemed very and you made me my Dad and myself when I was a child. I wanted to go to see a World Championships game with my father at that time. But I never got the …”
How important and the game was to Jack and his son! Here is Jack said, “It’s the most worth thing that happened to us. My boy and I must have turned to each other 30 times during the game. I can’t forget that night.”
1.A. in B. to C. through D. for
2.A. tickets B. cards C. passes D. money
3.A. rode B. ran C. walked D. cried
4.A. book B. photo C. magazine D. sign
5.A. But B. And C. Or D. So
6.A. offer B. afford C. keep D. hold
7.A. invited B. asked C. stopped D. beat
8.A. handed B. sent C. left D. threw
9.A. Cheap B. Expensive C. Terrible D. Free
10.A. agreed B. explained C. examined D. appeared
11.A. delayed B. won C. lost D. missed
12.A. record B. time C. rule D. point
13.A. lend B. sell C. tear D. make
14.A. boring B. interesting C. smart D. anxious
15.A. think of B. care for C. give up D. belong to
16.A. really B. very C. well D. nearly
17.A. ability B. right C. chance D. dream
18.A. unpleasant B. funny C. disappointing D. unforgettable
19.A. which B. what C. that D. how
20.A. hating B. discussing C. remembering D. playing
