The United States space agency will send a sp...

The United States space agency will send a spacecraft to explore the sun more closely than ever before on Saturday. NASA'S Parker Solar Probe（探测器）will fly through the hot solar atmosphere and come within just 6 million kilometers of the sun's surface.

The Parker Probe will get almost seven times closer to the sun than earlier spacecraft. To do this, it will fly past Venus（金星）seven times over seven years. Each pass will change the probe's orbit by providing a gravity push. It will move ever closer to the sun and straight into the corona（日冕）, the sun's outermost atmosphere.

By exploring the sun's corona, scientists hope to learn why it is hundreds of times hotter than the sun's surface. They will also study what drives the solar wind.

The project was proposed in 1958, the same year NASA was established. Now, "it's becoming a reality," said project manager Andy Driesman.

The Parker spacecraft has a 2.4 meter heat shield（护罩）that is 11 centimeters thick. It is made of two carbon sheets. The front has a white coating to reflect sunlight. It is expected to shine red when it experiences the extreme solar heat. Almost everything on the spacecraft will be behind this shield to keep its scientific instruments relatively cool.

Besides, the spacecraft will also be traveling at a high speed. The probe will reach 690,000 kilometers per hour in the corona. The spacecraft will make its first flight past Venus in early October. Its first pass by the sun is expected in November.

The Parker Solar Probe is the first NASA spacecraft to be named after someone who is still alive. Eugene Parker is a 91-year-old professor at the University of Chicago. He predicted the existence of solar wind 60 years ago. He plans to be at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in the southern state of Florida to see the launch.

1.What's the advantage of the Parker Probe compared to the earlier ones?

A.It can change the orbit by flying past the sun.

B.It can get closer to the sun and into the corona.

C.It can study the effect of solar wind.

D.It can fly through the hot solar atmosphere without protection.

2.What can be inferred from the passage?

A.Human had little achievements in exploring the sun.

B.Eugene Parker is the first one to study the sun.

C.The Parker Probe has to get close to the sun with the help of Venus.

D.Human can get close to the sun's surface within 6 million kilometers today.

3.What can we learn about Eugene Parker?

A.He started NASA.

B.He foresaw the solar wind when he was 31.

C.He designed the Parker spacecraft.

D.He will study the sun using the Parker spacecraft.

4.Judging from the content, the passage most probably belongs to 　　　　 .

A.a story book B.an advertisement

C.a science fiction D.a news report

高一英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析

YANGON -- Myanmar has officially accepted an offer of the United States to send humanitarian aid(人道主义援助) to the country's cyclone(飓风;暴风)victims, state radio reported Friday in a night broadcast Myanmar Deputy Foreign Minister U Kyaw Thu gave the assurance Friday, saying that the country is receiving such relief aid from any country without limit at this time according to its policy(政策) of dealing with the disaster, the report said.

Kyaw Thu denied rumors about Myanmar's turning down of such relief materials from Western countries but accept those from nations in good relations with Myanmar, saying that the country has never done so in this case.

Kyaw Thu said that well wishers abroad may make cash donation through Myanmar embassies（使馆）stationed there, while those who like to donate relief goods may present at the Yangon International Airport and seaports.

According to the report, the US relief aid would arrive in Yangon in days.

A foreign ministry's statement said earlier on Friday that at this moment, the international community can best help the victims by donating emergency provisions such as medical supplies, food, cloth, electricity generator, and materials for emergency shelter or with financial assistance," adding that "Myanmar will wholeheartedly welcome such course of action".

The government and the people of Myanmar are grateful to the friendly nations, the United Nations, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, private individuals and others for their sympathy and generosity." it said.

1.Which of the following is true?

2.We Chinese may denote money to help the country's cyclone victims through_____.

3. What is Myanmar’s policy toward the aids from abroad?

4.The title that best expresses the idea of the passage is _______.

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Space is the final frontier (前沿). Sending rockets into space has become almost common. The demand for communications satellites and space-based image services is growing.

Today, space efforts cost about $200 billion a year. Joint efforts between governments and businesses are helping to lower costs and increase our understanding of the universe.

The business of space looks good for Orbital ATK, a company based in the United States. In January, the company launched its Antares rocket. The rocket was carrying the first of eight planned supply shipments to the International Space Station. Orbital ATK is one of the two American companies paid by NASA to transport supplies to the space station.

A company called Arianespace is a private European space business. Clayton Nowry heads the American division of the company. He says the increase in rocket launches is partly the result of increased demand for space-based technologies. These include high-definition (高清的) broadcasts and satellite broadband services.

While there is more demand for satellites, the end of NASA's Space Shuttle program in 2011 has hurt the space industry. Janice Starzyk works at International Launch Services. She works on education issues at the Washington Space Business Roundtable. She said, "It's a pity that the program's shutdown was a huge, huge set of lay-offs (下岗人员) in the industry."

But even as NASA reduces its spending, other countries have announced plans to explore space. In December 2013, China became just the third country to land an unmanned space vehicle on the moon. A month later, India sent its first communications satellite.

1.What makes sending rockets into space become very usual?

A.More and more people wanting to explore space.

B.Space becoming human's final home and dream.

C.Companies making every effort to earn $ 200 billion a year.

D.Increasing need for communications satellites and space-based image services.

2.Why are governments and businesses working together?

A.To earn more money from space projects.

B.To send more rockets into space and use them.

C.To produce more communications satellites for the public.

D.To keep costs down and help us learn more about the universe.

3.What do we know about Orbital ATK?

A.It's a private European space business.

B.It sent its Antares rocket in January.

C.It's a company based in the United Kingdom.

D.It's the only American company paid by NASA.

4.How may Janice Starzyk feel about the program's shutdown?

A.Hopeful. B.Content.

C.Regretful. D.Uninterested.

高一英语阅读选择简单题查看答案及解析

The United States will introduce a new exam system for students who want to study in the USA and other English-speaking countries, Xinhua News Agency reported from New York.

The exam, which means a great change from the current English level test, was introduced by Theresa Jen, associate director of the International Service of the USA College Board, America's leading educational organization.

"The Advanced Placement International English Language （APIEL） will be offered for the first time all over the world on May 10, 2012," said Jen.

However, the APIEL is a strange title to most Chinese students, and it is unlikely to soon gain the similarity(相似点) of other already existing exams, such as the TOEFL （Test of English as a Foreign Language）, the GRE （Graduate Record Examination）, or the IELTS （International English Language Testing System）.

"I have never heard of such a test and I would prefer the IELTS if I need another exam," said Xu Jingyan, a graduating student from Beijing University, who wants to study in England and has already taken the TOEFL.

Most of Xu's classmates have never heard of the APIEL. "The APIEL is made for international students who wish to get university studies in English-speaking countries, including the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia. " Jen said.

"The APIEL will be used," said Jen, "because the TOEFL can no longer perfectly show the students' abilities of using English. " Xinhua reported that a large number of foreign students who had high scores in TOEFL exam turned out to be very ordinary educational performers after being admitted.

"Compared with the TOEFL, the APIEL measures a student's ability to read, write, speak and understand 'English through testing his or her skills in listening comprehension, speaking with fluency, and writing in an organized way. " Jen said.

1.The underlined word "current" in the second paragraph means 　　　　　　　　　 .

A. high            B. present            C. low            D. formal

2.We can learn from the passage that 　　　　　　　　 .

A. the TOEFL is more popular with the Chinese than the IELTS

B. it will take quite a period of time for people to accept the APIEL

C. Chinese students will prefer the IELTS rather than the APIEL even in the future

D. a student will have to take the APIEL if he/ she wants to study in English-speaking countries from 2012

3. The APIEL is designed for students who want to study in English-speaking countries, such as 　　 .

A. the United States and Canada            B. Canada and Ireland

C. Australia and India                    D. Britain and France

4. According to the passage, the United States will introduce a new exam because 　　　　 .

A. it will bring the US government quite a lot of money

B. more and more students want to get further education in the USA

C. the existing exam systems can no longer perfectly show the students' abilities

D. the Chinese pay special attention to English studies with China's entry into the WTO

5.Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?

A. A New Exam Designed for Students

B. The Four Skills in Learning English

C. The Key to English-speaking Countries

D. TOEFL, IELTS and GRE to Be out of Date

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The United States will introduce a new exam system for students who seek to study in the USA and other English-speaking countries, Xinhua News Agency reported from New York．

The exam, which means a great change from the current English level test, was introduced by Theresa Jen, associate director of the International Service of the USA College Board, America's leading educational organization．

"The Advanced Placement International English Language （APIEL） will be offered for the first time all over the world on May 10, 2012," said Jen．

However, the APIEL is a strange title to most Chinese students, and it is unlikely to soon gain the similarity of other already existing exams, such as the TOEFL （Test of English as a Foreign Language）, the GRE （Graduate Record Examination）, or the IELTS （International English Language Testing System）．

"I have never heard of such a test and I would prefer the IELTS if I need another exam," said Xu Jingyan, a graduating student from Beijing University, who wants to study in England and has already taken the TOEFL．

Most of Xu's classmates have never heard of the APIEL．"The APIEL is made for international students who wish to get university studies in English-speaking countries, including the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia．" Jen said．

"The APIEL will be used," said Jen, "because the TOEFL can no longer perfectly show the students' abilities of using English．" Xinhua reported that a large number of foreign students who had high scores in TOEFL exam turned out to be very ordinary educational performers after being admitted．

"Compared with the TOEFL, the APIEL measures a student's ability to read, write, speak and understand 'English through testing his or her skills in listening comprehension, speaking with fluency, and writing in an organized way．" Jen said．

1.The underlined word "current" in the second paragraph means____．

A．high                   B．present               C．low                   D．formal

2.We can learn from the passage that____．

A．the TOEFL is more popular with the Chinese than the IELTS

B．it will take quite a period of time for people to accept the APIEL

C．Chinese students will prefer the IELTS rather than the APIEL even in the future

D．a student will have to take the APIEL if he/ she wants to study in English-speaking countries from 2012

3.The APIEL is designed for students who want to study in English-speaking countries, such as____．

A．the United States arid Canada              B．Canada and Ireland

C．Australia and India                        D．Britain and France

4.According to the passage, the United States will introduce a new exam because____．

A．it will bring the US government quite a lot of money

B．more and more students want to get further education in the USA

C．the existing exam systems can no longer perfectly show the students' abilities

D．the Chinese pay special attention to English studies with China's entry into the WTO

5.Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?

A．A New Exam Designed for Students

B．The Four Skills in Learning English

C．The Key to English-speaking Countries

D．TOEFL, IELTS and GRE to Be out of Date

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

An experiment which saw salad seeds sent into space has given hope for the future of growing food on another planet, according to a recently-published study.

The findings have appeared after two kilograms of seeds spent six months on board the International Space Station(ISS)with British European Space Agency(ESA)astronaut, Tim Peake, as part of his Principia mission.

There, the seeds could have absorbed up to 100 times more radiation(辐射)than on Earth while being influenced by the violent shaking from the stresses of space travel.

When the seeds returned to Earth in 2016,600,000 children from schools across Britain took part in an experiment, supported by the UK Space Agency, to plant them and monitor their growth, comparing it to that of seeds that had remained on Earth.

The results showed that, while the space seeds grew more slowly and were more sensitive to ageing, they were still able to survive.

Peake said, “When humans travel to Mars, they will need to find ways to feed themselves, and this research helps us understand some of the biology of seed storage and germination(发芽) which will be important for future space missions.”

The Royal Horticultural Society(RHS)tasked 8,600 schools and groups across Britain to take part in the controlled study, recording their results as a scientist would.

It was part of a project called Rocket Science, led by the RHS Campaign for School Gardening, in partnership with the UK Space Agency.

RHS manager Alana Cama said, “The Rocket Science experiment opened a window into space biology and allowed young people to be at the forefront of creative research.”

“This research project did more than just inspire; it furthered our understanding of the challenges around growing plants in unusual environments and the possibility of growing food on long-term space missions in the future. Inspiring a new generation of botanists and biologists will remain our goal to enrich everyone’s lives through plants.”

1.The findings of the experiment indicate that　　　　

A.salad seeds sent into space turned out a failure

B.astronauts successfully grew salad seeds on Mars

C.the future of growing plants in space looks bright

D.the radiation makes it impossible for plants to survive

2.Unlike those on Earth, the seeds sent into space　　　　　

A.can grow 100 times larger in size B.provide enough food for astronauts

C.stop growing when returning to Earth D.are more likely to show signs of ageing

3.Which word can be filled in the blank to complete the research steps?

A.update B.observe C.protect D.improve

4.What can we learn from what Alana Cama said?

A.Growing plants in unusual environments is no longer a challenging task.

B.A new generation of botanists and biologists takes the lead in the research.

C.The project inspires the interests of the young generation in creative fields.

D.The exploration of growing food in space is the central mission in the future.

高一英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析

An American spacecraft is moving closer to a dwarf planet(矮行星)called Ceres(谷神星). The American space agency's Dawn spacecraft is set to reach the planet-like object in March.

Space agency scientists will then place Dawn in an orbit(轨道) around the dwarf planet. Agency scientists want to know more about ice on Ceres. The spacecraft will gather clues about whether Ceres may have once had conditions to support life as we know it.

Dawn left Earth more than seven years ago on a trip to explore Ceres and another dwarf planet, called Vesta(灶神星). Both dwarf planets are in the main belt of asteroids(小行星), a group of large objects, between the planets Mars and Jupiter.

Marc Rayman is the chief engineer and director of the Dawn mission.

Scientists call Vesta and Ceres "protoplanets(行星) ". Mr. Rayman says they were in the process of becoming full-size planets when, in his words, "their growth was terminated(终止)."

Scientists believe Ceres is made of rock, and covered with ice.

The Dawn mission is based in Los Angeles, California. Scientists there send second-by-second commands to the spacecraft. They direct its every move, including telling it what pictures to take. Dawn will make a map of the dwarf planet. It will also try to discover how Ceres' surface has changed.

Carol Raymond is the deputy principal investigator(副首席研究员) of the project. He says Dawn made an unexpected discovery while orbiting Vesta.

"Instead of being bone dry, which we expected, there were patches on the surface of Vesta that showed significant amounts of water bound in the rocks and possibly even free water that could have flowed on the surface in the past."

She says that if Earth's water came from wet worlds like Vesta and Ceres, then life could have developed there, too.

If Dawn finds that the environment of Ceres could have supported life, scientists may seek to explore the dwarf planet with other scientific instruments.

Dawn will gather information about Ceres until the middle of 2016. It will then continue to orbit the small planet.

1.Which of the following about spacecraft Dawn is true?

A. It was sent into space in 2008.

B.　 It is orbiting around the dwarf planet Ceres.

C.　 Its destination is just the dwarf planet Ceres.

D.　 It will gather information about Ceres until early 2016.

2.What’s the meaning of the underlined word “patches”?

A. spots　　　 B. roles　　　 C. sorts　　　 D.　 kinds

3.What do we know about Vesta?

A.　 It is in the main belt of asteroids between the planets Mars and Venus.

B.　 It is another dwarf planet which Dawn will explore.

C.　 It is becoming a full-size planet.

D.　 It is made of rock, and covered with ice.

4.The passage mainly tells us ______.

A.　 Spacecraft , Dawn, is researching Ceres.

B.　 What Spacecraft , Dawn,　 is.

C. NASA Spacecraft, Dawn, is moving closer to a 'Dwarf Planet'.

D. How Dwarf Planet research program is carried out.

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

If you grew up watching the kid’s television channel Nickelodeon, you will probably understand that there is nothing greater than enjoying its special bright green slime ( 水晶泥). The week of May 11, astronauts (宇航员) aboard the International Space Station(ISS) joined the slime.

Nickelodeon sent two kilos of its green slime into space in the summer of 2019. The Slime in Space project’s idea was to create an educational trip for teachers to use in class. The green slime was also used to guide astronauts through a series of experiments that were designed to learn more about how slime acts in microgravity.

Researchers from Portland State University(PSU) were excited to design the experiments for the project. Mark Weislogel and his partner designed eight shows for NASA astronauts and European Space Agency astronaut aboard to perform.

If you’re wondering what we could hope to learn from sending slime into space, the answer lies in its very name. Slime is slimy. This is because it is a liquid that is thicker than liquids like water. This makes slime act in unexpected ways in the microgravity of the ISS. Improving our understanding of how thicker liquids act in space may help us improve the design of systems that something were designed with Earth’s gravity in mind.

“Interestingly, we consider liquid on Earth as that takes the shape of its container,” Koch tells CNN. “Water just turns into a ball in microgravity, so we’ve had to have a new understanding of different kinds of matter in space. This experiment shows how microgravity　 can help us understand things on Earth, especially the things we take for granted.”

1.In paragraph one, Nickelodeon is mentioned　　 .

A.to introduce the topic B.to attract the kids

C.to make advertisements D.to share a TV show

2.Why are the experiments with slime designed in space ?

A.Because they get students interested in space.

B.Because slime takes the shape of its container.

C.Because slime is popular with kids in the TV show.

D.Because they help us understand how slime acts in space.

3.What is Koch’s attitude towards the experiment with slime?

A.Puzzled. B.Worried. C.Uninterested. D.Positive.

4.Which of the following can be the best title of the text?

A.Microgravity makes a difference to matters.

B.Astronauts join the slime in space for science.

C.Kids join the slime so as to become astronauts.

D.Experiments are designed with slimy slime.

高一英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析

NASA has a new job listing, and it’s no joke. The US space agency (机构) is looking for a “joker” to join their planned mission (任务) to Mars.

A mission to Mars is no laughing matter. On average, the red planet is 140 million miles (225 million kilometers) away from Earth. A trip there would take around eight months in a small spacecraft. And Mars has a communications delay (延迟) of 20 minutes. This means that astronauts will have to wait 20 minutes for a reply, when an emergency happens.

“When you’re living with others in a confined space for a long period of time, such as on a mission to Mars, problems are likely to occur,” Jeffrey Johnson, a scientist at the University of Florida, told The Guardian.

This is probably why NASA wants an astronaut with a sense of humor. “These are people that have the ability to pull everyone together,” Johnson said.

In stressful situations, perhaps humor is a way to know we aren’t alone. By laughing together, we share our stress. Then we can focus on our jobs instead of just worrying.

There are other examples of team “clowns”. One example is the journey to the South Pole (南极) led by Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen. It was a difficult journey, full of danger. Adolf Lindstrom, a cook at Amundsen’s team, was a “clown”. He made people laugh through the whole journey. Amundsen later wrote that Lindstrom was the most valuable member of the team.

But if you’re hoping that your favorite TV comedian (喜剧演员) will fly to Mars, that probably won’t happen.

“Being funny won’t be enough to land somebody the job,” Johnson said. “They also need to be an excellent scientist and engineer.”

Besides, they must be in top physical condition.

1.What is NASA’s new job listing?

A.A funny engineer. B.A talented clown.

C.A good cook. D.A popular comedian.

2.What does “a confined space” in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A.a crowded space B.an empty space

C.an open space D.a small space

3.How does the author think humor can help astronauts?

A.It can stop them from feeling worried.

B.It can encourage teamwork on a mission.

C.It can help them feel less homesick.

D.It can help them know themselves better.

4.What could be the best title of the passage?

A.A New Job Listing of NASA

B.Humorous Astronauts in NASA

C.Keeping the Spirits Up

D.A mission to Mars

高一英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

The United States will hold local, state and national elections this Tuesday. It seems that the Democrats (民主党) may be in a position to end Republican control of one or both houses of Congress.

Seventy percent of the fifty states will elect governors (地方长官). If the Democrats win four more of these than they have now, the Republicans would also lose their majority at the state level.

So both parties are fighting hard. Elections in America bring a flood of political advertising, especially on television. These messages are often negative (消极的) or attack ads.

Americans traditionally say they dislike negative ads, but political experts say these ads often work. In many cases, the candidates likely to gain from negative ads say that their own campaigns (活动) were not involved. Outside groups or national party committees often pay for these ads. Some are about issues, like a candidate’s position on the war in Iraq or immigration. But political ads increasingly seem to be attacking candidates personally.

Some political watchers say this year’s election has brought more negative ads than ever before. Whether this is true remains to be proven.

But some ads have made news, like a Republican National Committee ad against Harold Ford. The ad was based on the fact that last year he attended a Super Bowl party held by the men’s magazine Playboy. The ad showed an actress with bare shoulders saying she met him at the Play boy party. "Harold, call me," she says.

The ad might have seemed humorous, except that the woman is white and Mr. Ford is black.

63. The underlined word "some" in the fourth paragraph refers to ______.

A. campaigns        B. Ads       C. groups or party committees       D. candidates

64. About political ads, the author ______.

A. doesn’t show his own opinion

B. thinks they are negative

C. considers them fair

D. disagrees with them

65. The author mainly discusses ______.

A. American elections

B. the ads campaign behind American elections

C. negative ads in the US

D. political advertising on TV

高一英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析