Although cliff diving may bring great excitement, it’s a very dangerous sport that people should be careful about. It is completely wrong to think that the diver is cushioned by the water below—this could not be further from the truth. When jumping from a cliff that is over 70 feet high, a diver hits the water at over 46 mph (miles per hour). Such high speeds make the point of contact feel like a wall, so the diving skills are very important.
Professional divers are trained and well-prepared to make dives. However, non-professionals should never dive because a diver’s body position at the time of contacting water is very important to his or her safety. Because of the great danger, divers should always seriously think about their skills before trying any moves.
Although there is no truly safe way to jump off a cliff, non-professional divers are encouraged to pencil dive. To do a pencil dive, the jumpers leap their feet first off the cliff, keep arms at their sides with legs together and pointing downward. The diver should keep the body tight and vertical. This is safer because it makes the point of contact smaller when the diver enters the water and puts less stress on the body.
Wearing a wet suit while diving will result in less pain. So it is wise for new divers to wear wet suits. But professional divers suggest staying away from water shoes. Although wearing shoes might seem like a good idea, they actually increase the force of impact because they increase the surface area of the diver at impact. The increased force of impact puts stress on a diver’s body and can lead to broken bones. Without a doubt, diving without shoes is the safer way to go.
Besides the height, speed, water depth and body position, it is also important for divers to make wise decisions when they are thinking about diving. Cliff diving tests both a person’s physical and mental skills, so it is never a good idea to jump with a sudden idea. A person needs to be of sound mind and in good health to even think about a dive. One should never try a dive if he has drunk wine. What’s more, a person should never make someone who is not feeling 100% confident dive.
1.What does “this could not be further from the truth” mean?
A. There’s no doubt that this idea is definitely true.
B. This idea is thought to be completely wrong.
C. It depends on the real situation on the spot.
D. Nobody knows whether this idea is true or not.
2.Why didn’t professional divers suggest wearing shoes?
A. Because wearing shoes can put more weight on to the diver
B. Because wearing shoes can cause the diver to feel uncomfortable
C. Because wearing shoes can make the point of contact bigger
D. Because wearing shoes can certainly lead to broken bones
3.According to the passage, a good cliff diver should be __________.
A. well-prepared and skillful B. professional and strong
C. creative and smartyD. confident and brave
Over the last 70 years, researchers have been studying happy and unhappy people and finally found out ten factors that make a difference. Our feelings of well-being at any moment are decided to a certain degree by genes. However, of all the factors, wealth and age are the top two.
Money can buy a degree of happiness. But once you can afford to feed, clothe and house yourself, each extra dollar makes less and less difference. Researchers find that, on average, wealthier people are happier. But the link between money and happiness is complex. In the past half-century, the average income has sharply increased in developed countries, yet happiness levels have remained almost the same. Once your basic needs are met, money only seems to increase happiness if you have more than your friends, neighbors and colleagues.
“Dollars buy status (social position), and status makes people feel better,” say some experts, which helps explain why people who can seek status in other ways, scientists or actors, for example, may happily accept relatively poorly-paid jobs.
In his research, Professor Alex Michalos found that the people whose desires, not just for money, but for friends, family, job, health, rose furthest beyond what they already had, tended to be less happy than those who felt a smaller gap. Indeed, the size of the gap predicted happiness about five times better than income alone. “The gap measures just blow away the measures of only income.”says Michalos.
Another factor that has to do with happiness is age. Old age may not be so bad “Given all the problems of aging, how could the elderly be more satisfied?” asks Professor Laura Carstensen. In one survey, Carstensen interviewed 184 people between the ages of 18 and 94, and asked them to fill out an emotion questionnaire. She found that old people reported positive emotions just as often as young people. Some scientists suggest older people may expect life to be harder and learn to live with it, or they’re more realistic about their time running out. Older people have learned to focus on things that make them happy and let go of those that don’t.
“People realize not only what they have, but also that what they have cannot last forever,” she says. “A goodbye kiss to a husband or wife at the age of 85, for example, may bring far more complex emotional responses than a similar kiss to a boy or girl friend at the age of 20.”
1.Some actors would like to accept poorly-paid jobs because the jobs__________.
A. make them feel much better
B. provide chances to make friends
C. improve their social position
D. satisfy their professional interests
2.Professor Alex Michalos found that people feel less happy if _________.
A. the gap between reality and desire is bigger
B. they have a stronger desire for friendship
C. the hope for good health is much greater
D. their income is far below their expectation
3.We can infer from the passage that older people _________.
A. would like to have more goodbye kisses than young people
B. are used to living a hard life because they are kind to others
C. express their positive opinions just as some young people do
D. find it easier to feel happy because they are more realistic
4.According to the passage, the feeling of happiness _________.
A. increases gradually with age
B. is controlled partly by desires
C. has little to do with wealth
D. is decided mostly by genes
Geography is the study of Earth and its climates. Scientists use it to study global warming and track the weather. Governments use it to learn where people live and work and to plan what to do with the land. It is now easier than ever to use geography because of a science called space technology.
The United States launched its first satellite in 1958. Some space missions that followed were geographical studies. In fact, earth science is a big part of the work of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Astronauts looked out of the space shuttle. They decided to take photographs of Earth from their vantage point. Over the years, picture quality improved. Shuttle photography now shows land features, such as rivers. It can even show the streets of large cities. Photos of the same places at different times show how the land is changing.
NASA does not use just photographs, though. In 1958 it launched TIROS (the Television Infrared Observation Satellite). This first use of a satellite to study Earth was effective in giving weather forecasts. It led to the creation of new space tools to use in geography.
The Landsat Program began in 1972. This satellite sent detailed views of Earth from space. The pictures were so precise that scientists could count the number and kinds of crops in a field. Landsat showed where Earth’s surface had faults along which earthquakes might happen. This information helped in the planning of new cities and factories. Landsat also made discoveries. In Antarctica it located ranges of unknown mountains. It pinpointed small lakes in Virginia that were no ton maps. Landsat, now more advanced, still flies today.
Another space tool is Earth Observing-1 (EO-1). This spacecraft flies right behind Landsat. It takes pictures of the same sites. The two sets of pictures, viewed together, show how cities grow and how other places, such as rain forests, become smaller over time. This helps scientists learn how people affect geography.
One of the newest space tools is the Geographical Information Systems (GIS). GIS is computer software that helps scientists to study Earth. GIS is different from earlier space tools. Businesses, schools, and even average people — not just the government —can use it to show them how changes in the planet might affect them.
1.Why do governments study geography according to the passage?
A. To improve the environment.
B. To make the land use plan.
C. To make new discoveries.
D. To count the crops in a field.
2.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. The U.S. satellite program began in 1972.
B. Landsat was able to take pictures of other planets.
C. TIROS was successful in giving weather forecasts.
D. GIS can only be used by the government.
3.EO-1 takes photographs of the same places as Landsat because __________.
A. the two groups of pictures can show the changes of Earth
B. EO-1 is practicing for future photography missions
C. Landsat is out of date and new pictures are needed
D. Landsat can’t send detailed views of Earth from space
4.From the passage, we can infer that ___________.
A. GIS is the newest computer to study Earth
B. NASA only depends on photos to study Earth
C. satellite pictures can give more detailed information
D. recent U.S. satellites are as advanced as the old ones
Which country grows the most tea? The answer is India. It grows three times as much as China. Which country drinks the most tea? It’s neither China nor Japan. It’s Great Britain.
In the wild, tea plants may be 30 feet tall. But a plant grown for market is pruned. Pruning keeps the plant only three or four feet tall. This is an easy height for tea picking. Only the two top leaves and bud of each new shoot are picked. So to make money, tea plantations must be huge.
In general, there are two kinds of tea. Black tea and green tea. Black tea is fermented. In the process, the tea loses nearly all of its healthy qualities. Green tea is steamed right after the leaves are picked. Green tea retains its healthy qualities. For example, it may prevent heart disease.
How did we get tea bag? The answer: by accident. Tea merchants used to send samples in tin boxes. This was costly. One merchant thought of a cheaper way. He sent samples in small silk bags. Customers would cut open the bag. They would brew the leaves as usual. One customer put the bag into a pot. Then he just poured hot water over it. And the tea bag was born.
Shen Nong was the first to drink tea. (Shen was a Chinese emperor.) This was about 2737 B.C. Shen had bad digestion. So he drank several cups of hot water daily. One day something happened. Leaves from a wild tea tree fell into the hot water pot. The next cup was poured. The water was now colored. Shen sipped it. He liked it. He drank it all. Shen was proud of his new drink. He served it to his guests. Word spread. People thought this way. Tea is good enough for the Emperor. So it must be good enough for the people. Tea became the drink of China.
1.The best title for this passage should be ________________.
A. Black Tea B. Tea Plant
C. About Tea D. Tea Bag
2.One difference between green tea and black tea is that green tea __________.
A. must be pruned B. has a better taste
C. is fermented D. is healthier
3.What does the underlined word “retains” mean?
A. Keeps. B. Makes.
C. Produces. D. Loses.
4.We can know from this passage that __________.
A. tea bag was invented by a merchant
B. tea is better than any other drink
C. tea is popular in many countries
D. tea only grows in warm climates
Landing card Welcome to the United States of America 1. First (Given) name William___________ 2. Date of birth (dd/mm/yy) 12/08/94__________ 3. Flight no. AA3751___________ 4. Number of family members traveling with you None_________ 5. Country of citizenship Spain___________ 6. Purpose of visit To see family_____ 7. Are you carrying any of these things: Food, animal, plants, guns or cash over 10,000? Some chocolate___ 8. Have you had any illnesses in the last 3 months? No_____________ 9. How long will you be staying in the USA? Two weeks_______ 10. Is this your first visit to the USA? No______________ 11. In which city will you spend the most time during your stay? 12. What is your next destination? Madrid, Spain_____ |
1.When is William’s birthday?
A. August 8
C. December 8
B. August 12
D. December 12
2.Where is William from?
A. America.
C. England.
B. Spain.
D. New York.
3.How long will William stay in the USA?
A. Two weeks.
C. Two months.
B. One week.
D. One month.
4.Where can you find the card?
A. At the school.
C. In the airplane.
B. At the bus stop.
D. In the hospital.
The One Moment
A large crowd of anxious teenagers tried to crowd into the huge building all at once, but, of course, were unsuccessful. I got out of my mom’s silver Volvo and in the middle of the parking lot, examining the old building. What was beyond those , red double doors? I didn’t have an answer. My feelings were indescribable. I was nervous, but at the same time. Knots(结) were turning inside my stomach. My curiosity was getting the better of me. I got the to walk up to the doors, but I couldn’t open them just yet. I had to pause (stop) and . Whatever lay beyond those doors could change my forever! I didn’t know what the results would be. I wasn’t sure that I wanted to imagine them . My trembling arm and took hold of the handle. A gust of wind blew into my face I opened the door. My heart was rapidly and I stopped breathing. I stepped forward with my right foot and the door shut me. The nervousness left my stomach, but the excitement with me. I had finally entered high school. I had been waiting for this moment my whole life.
1.A. satB. stoodC. layD. stopped
2.A. heavyB. smallC. bigD. light
3.A. anxiousB. happyC. surprisedD. excited
4.A. strengthB. powerC. abilityD. courage
5.A. waitB. thinkC. repairD. doubt
6.A. thought B. journeyC. schoolD. life
7.A. eitherB. tooC. yetD. even
8.A. gave upB. held upC. reached outD. came out
9.A. untilB. whileC. beforeD. as
10.A. jumpingB. beatingC. hittingD. knocking
11.A. beforeB. besideC. behindD. above
12.A. stayedB. walkedC. disappearedD. agreed
