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How did the sea horse get its name? It’s not hard to guess.The top half of the fish looks like a small horse.
Sea horses live in warm ocean waters all over the world. There are 32 different kinds of sea horses. Their sizes are quite different from one inch long to about one foot long. Because their fins are small, sea horses swim very slowly. They keep safe from other fish by hiding in plants and grasses. They can also change colours to keep themselves safe. Sea horses feed on live food, such as tiny shrimps. A sea horse has no teeth, so it eats the shrimp whole.
A sea horse keeps the same mate for its whole life, unlike most kinds of fish. And it’s the male sea horse, not the female, which gives birth to baby sea horses. How does this happen? Baby sea horses start out as eggs, which come from the female’s body. But the female places the eggs in the male sea horse’s pouch (育儿袋). The male carries the eggs for about three weeks until they hatch (孵化).
The number of sea horses is becoming smaller. Why is this happening? Some places where sea horses once lived have been filled in to make new land. Also, many sea horses are caught and kept in aquariums (水箱) where they can’t live long. The best place for a sea horse is the ocean. There it can find a mate and bring new sea horses into the world.
1.Sea horses do the following things except________to keep themselves safe from other fish.
A.changing colours B.changing sizes
C.hiding in plants D.hiding in grasses
2.What does a female sea horse do with her eggs?
A.She carries the eggs for about three weeks.
B.She hatches them under the water by herself.
C.She places them in the male sea horse’s pouch.
D.She hides them in plants and grasses in the water.
3.What is the best title of the passage?
A.Father Sea Horses B.All About Sea Horses
C.Kinds of Sea Horses D.How Sea Horses Grow
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Fourteen-year-old Miguel Diaz talks about an exciting science project. Last month I got the chance to take part in an underwater research project in an area of the Gulf of Mexico called the Flower Gardens. A team of professional researchers, led by the scientist Dr. Matt Phillips, was trying to learn more about the fish and different kinds of creatures（生物）that live in this part of the sea. The Flower Gardens are a long way from the shore and we spent three days on a boat.
The team used a piece of underwater equipment called a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to collect information. The ROV could measure water depth and temperature and it also had a camera that sent live film back to operate it a few times.
However, the thing I enjoyed most was diving (潜水) into the water. At first, I was quite scared---mainly because I couldn’t' t see land in any direction. But as soon as I jumped into the water, I wasn't afraid anymore. It was amazing to see the colorful fish swimming around and I could see all the ways to the Flower Gardens, which arealmost 30 meters down.
I will never forget the Flower Gardens. The trip was like a holiday but I also learnt new things about science and research projects. It was a great opportunity and it has made me think about my goals (目标) in life. The experience will help me work harder to become a scientist.
1.What did Miguel say about the ROV?
A.It was difficult to operate.
B.It could only measure water depth.
C.It was an expensive piece of equipment.
D.It recorded what was happening under water.
2.What was Miguel’s attitude (态度) towards diving?
A.His main worry was long sight of the boat.
B.He enjoyed it less than other parts of the trip.
C.His feeling changed when he was in the water.
D.He was frightened by the fish swimming around.
3.What influence has the trip had on Miguel?
A.It has changed his opinion of science.
B.It has made him more interested in the sea.
C.It has improved the way he works in a team.
D.It has encouraged him to work towards his goal.
4.What does Miguel Diaz write this article for?
A.To describe the part he played in a science project.
B.To explain how to ask for a place on a science trip.
C.To give advice on understanding difficult areas of science.
D.To encourage others to organize their science projects.
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Alfred Wegener was a scientist in the early 1900s. He had a strange theory. His theory is that 250 million years ago there was one giant continent (洲). He called the giant continents as Pangaea. He thought Pangaea changed millions of years later. It started breaking up. The continent slowly drifted apart. They became continents we know today.
Wegener made many studies. He looked at world maps and thought that some continents were like puzzle pieces. They could fit together. He went to South America as well as Africa. He looked at mountains on both continents. They would match if the continents were pushed together. Wegener found similar fossils (化石), plants and animals on both continents.
Alfred Wegener called his theory “continental drift”. In 1912, he told other scientists about his theory. Most thought Wegener was crazy. They didn't believe huge pieces of land could move.
Later, other scientists did more studies. They discovered that continents are actually moving all the time. Scientists know that the surface of Earth is not one piece. They think it's broken into large pieces of hard rock called tectonic plates (地壳板块). Scientists believe there are 30 tectonic plates on Earth and the continents lie on top of them.
Under Earth's surface is the mantle ( 地幔). The mantle is a layer ( 层) of rock about 2,900 km thick. The temperature rises to 3, 700C at the bottom of the mantle. The heat causes the mantle to become hot, molten (熔化的) rock which flows around.
The tectonic plates float like rafts on top of the hot, molten rock but they move very slowly-only about 4 inches (10 cm) each year. Since continents lie on top of the tectonic plates, they also float or move.
Today, scientists know the continents are still moving. Alfred Wegener's theory was proved correct.
1.What does a theory in the first paragraph mean in this article?
A.An idea based on studies. B.An opinion based on a feeling.
C.A correct answer to a question. D.A wrong answer to a question.
2.What was the name of Alfred Wegener's theory?
A.Pangaea. B.Continental drift. C.Tectonic plates. D.Continental plates.
3.Where did Alfred Wegener find clues to prove his theory?
A.Only in Africa. B.All over the world.
C.Only in South America. D.In both Africa and South America.
4.What did scientists in the early 1900s think about Wegener's theory?
A.They agreed with him. B.They thought it was crazy.
C.They copied his idea right away. D.They gave him praise for it.
5.Why do scientists think continents can move?
A.The heat of the tectonic plates causes continents to move.
B.The movement of ocean water causes the continents to move.
C.Continents are huge pieces of land that can be pushed together.
D.Continents lie on top of tectonic plates that float on hot, molten rock.
