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阅读理解

2013-06-18

阅读与作文（英语初中版） 2013年5期

（一）

Unless we spend money to spot[认出，发现] and prevent asteroids[小行星] now， one might crash into Earth and destroy life as we know it， say some scientists.

Asteroids are bigger versions of the meteoroids[流星体] that race across the night sky. Most orbit the sun far from Earth and dont threaten us. But there are also thousands of asteroids whose orbits put them on a collision course with Earth.

But $500 million worth of new telescopes right now， then spend $10 million a year for the next 25 years to locate most of the space rocks. By the time we spot a fatal one， the scientists say， well have a way to change its course.

Is it worth it？ Two things experts consider when judging any risk are. How likely the event is； How bad the consequences if the event occurs. Experts think an asteroid big enough to destroy lots of life might strike Earth once every 500，000 years. Sounds pretty rare but if one did fall. It would be the end of the world. “If we dont take care of these bid asteroids， theyll take care of us，” says one scientist. “its that simple.”

The cure， though， might be worse than the disease. Do we really want fleets[舰队，车队] of nuclear weapons sitting around on Earth？ “the world has less fear from doomsday[毁灭性] rocks than from a great nuclear fleet set against them.” Said a New York Times article.

1.What does the passage say about asteroids and meteoroids？

A.They are heavenly bodies different in composition.

B.They are heavenly bodies similar in nature.

C.They are more asteroids than meteoroids.

D.Asteroids are more mysterious than meteoroids.

2.What do scientists say about the collision of an asteroid with Earth？

A.It is very unlikely but the danger exists.

B.Such a collision might occur once every 25 years.

C.Collisions of smaller asteroids with Earth occur more often than expected.

D.Its still too early to say whether such a collision might occur.

3.What do people think of the suggestion of using nuclear weapons to alter the course of asteroids？

A.It sounds practical but it may not solve the problem.

B.It may create more problems than it might solve.

C.It is a waste of money because a collision of asteroids with Earth is very unlikely.

D.Further research should be done before it is proved applicable.

4.We can conclude from the passage that _______.

A.While pushing asteroids off course nuclear weapons would destroy the world.

B.Asteroids racing across the night sky are likely to hit Earth in the near future.

C.The worry about asteroids can be left to future generations since it is unlikely to happen in our lifetime.

D.Workable solutions still have to be found to prevent a collision of asteroids with Earth.

5.Which of the following best describes the authors tone in this passage？

A.Optimistic[乐观的] B.Critical[批评的]

C.Objective[客观的] D.Arbitrary[武断的]

（二）

The law says that women should have the chance of doing the same jobs as men and earn the same as them.

The reality is very different. Women lose because， 25 years after the Equal Pay Act， many of them still get paid less than men.

They lose because they do lower-paid jobs which men just wont consider. And they lose they are the ones who interrupt a career to have children.

All this is reported in an independent study ordered by the Governments womens unite.

The biggest problem isnt equal pay in work places such as factories. It is a sort of work women do.

Make a list of low-paid of jobs then consider who does them.

Try nurses， secretaries， cleaner， clerks， teachers in primary schools， dinner ladies， and child care helpers. Not a lot of men among that group， are there？

Yet some of those jobs are really important. Surely no one would deny that about nurses and teachers， for a start.

So why do we reward the people who do them so poorly？ There can be only one answer—because they are women.

This is not going to be put right overnight. But the Government， which employs a lot of them， and other bosses have to make a start.

It is disgraceful[可耻的] that we have gone into the 21st Century still treating women like second-class citizens.

1.Women should have the chance of doing the same jobs and be paid equally as men ____.

A. after 25 years

B. according to the law

C. as a result of the Equal Pay Act

D. because women are as strong as men

2.We can learn from the text what the problem really matters is ____.

A. that the women interrupt a career to have children

B. what sort of work women do

C. because they are women

D. what an unfair pay women get in workplaces.

3.Which of the following best describes the writers idea？

A. Women should get equal pay for equal work to that of men.

B. Women should strengthen themselves.

C. The Government ought to protect women against getting paid less than men.

D. Some of the jobs that women do are of great importance.

4.When the writer says “This is not going to be put right overnight”， he means ____.

A. we must solve the problem very quickly.

B. there is not completely fair thing all over the world.

C. we need a long time to change the unfair reality.

D. the problem that women lose will be solved soon.

5.Which do you think would be the best title for this passage？

A. Work to give women a fair pay deal.

B. Time to change the situation.

C. Equal work， equal pay.

D. Should women be treated like second-class citizens？

（三）

There have never been many adventurers. You van read stories about men called adventures. But they were really businessmen. There was something they wanted—a lady， or money， or a country， or honor. And so they got it. But a true adventure is different. He starts without any special purpose. He is ready for anything he may meet.

There have been many half-adventurers. And they were great men. History is rich with their stories. But each of them had a special purpose. They were not followers of true adventure.

In the big city of New York， Romance and Adventure are always waiting.

As we walk along the street， they are watching us. We look up suddenly and see a face in a window. The face seems to interest us strangely. Or in a quiet street， we hear a cry of fear and pain coming from a house where no one lives. A car takes us to a strange door， instead of to our own. The door opens and we are asked to enter. At every corner， eyes look toward us， or hands are raised， or fingers point. Adventure is offered.

But few of us are ready to accept. We are ready to do only the things we do every day. We wish to do only the things that everyone else does. We move on； and some day we come to the end of a long quiet life. Then we begin to think. Then， when it is too late， we are sorry that we have never known true Romance and Adventure.

1.In the authors opinion， there are _____ true adventures.

A.many B. few C. no D. a few

2.In what way does the author say a true adventure is different from a business man？

A. He is ready for anything he may meet.

B. He is not interested in money.

C. He enjoys excitement while a business man does not.

D. A true adventure is romantic， while a businessman is dull.

3.According to the passage， a cry of fear and pain coming from a house where no one lives in a quiet street means____.

A. a number B. a fight C. wealth D. adventure

4.The passage doesnt mention it， but we can infer from the passage that when most people meet an offer of adventure， they will ______.

A. grow angry but curious

B. accept the offer

C. grow embarrassed and reject the offer

D. be frightened and cry for help.

5.When do most people wish that they had known romance and adventure？

A.When they are young.

B.When it involves a beautiful lady or handsome man.

C.When something interests them strangely.

D.When they reach the end of a long quiet life.

（四）

Around the world more and more people are taking part in dangerous sports and activities. Of course， there have always been people who have looked for adventures—those who have climbed the highest mountains， traveled into unknown parts of the world or sailed in small boats across the greatest oceans. Now， however， there are people who look for an immediate excitement from a risky activity which may only last a few minutes or even seconds.

I would consider bungee jumping to be a good example of such an activity. You jump from a high place（perhaps a bridge or a hot-air balloon）200 metres above the ground with an elastic[有弹性的] rope tied to your ankles. You fall at up to 150 kilometres an hour until the rope stops you from hitting the ground. It is said that about 2 million people around the world have now tried bungee jumping. Other activities which most people would say are as risky as bungee jumping include jumping from tall building and diving into the sea from the top of high cliff.

Why do people take part in such activities as these？ Some psychologists suggest that it is because life in modern societies has become safe and boring. Not very long ago， diseases could not easily be cured， and life was a continuous battle for survival.

Nowadays， according to many people， life offers little excitement. They live and work in comparatively safe conditions； they buy food in shops； and there are doctors and hospitals to look after them if they become ill. The answer for some of these people is to look for danger in activities such as bungee jumping.

1.A best title for the text is ____.

A. Dangerous sports： what and why B. The boredom of modern life

C. Bungee jumping： Is it really dangerous？ D. The need for excitement

2.More and more people today ____.

A.are trying activities such as bungee jumping

B.are climbing the highest mountains

C.are coming close to death in sports

D.are looking for adventures such as traveling into unknown places

3.In bungee jumping， you ____.

A.jump as high as you can

B.slide down a rope to the ground

C.attach[系] yourself to a rope and fall to the ground