Scientists are worried that an asteroid(小行星) will possibly hit the earth in 2036. If scientists are right, planet earth is 24 years away from a major disaster.
Scientists have been monitoring the progress of a 390-metre-wide asteroid ever since it was discovered last June. They have announced that it could hit the earth, causing huge damage, in 2036.
NASA estimates that the impact from the asteroid named after Apophis and ancient Egyptian demon(魔鬼) would release more than 100,000 times the energy released in the nuclear explosion over Hiroshima. Thousands of square kilometers would be directly affected by the explosion. The whole planet would see the effects of the dust released into the atmosphere.
This is the worst possible scenario(情景) of any asteroid in recorded history.
Having more than 20 years’ warning of possible impact might seem plenty of time. But scientists insist that there is actually very little time left to decide.
Luckily, however, they aren’t short on ideas for deflecting the asteroid. The favored method is also probably the easiest—throwing a spacecraft at the asteroid to change its direction. The European Space Agency plans to test this in the next decade.
One idea that seems to have no support from astronomers is the use of explosive, although this sounds more likely to the public or Hollywood producer.
At present, scientists are trying to make a better estimate of how much time we have, through more observations.
In spring of next year, there will be another chance for radar observation of Apophis. This will help astronomers calculate the orbits of the asteroid more accurately.
If, at that stage, they can’t rule out an impact with the earth in 2036, the next chance to make better observations will not be until 2016, then 2029.
“If we wait until 2029 and the worst—case scenario turns out to be true, it would seem unlikely that we’d be able to do anything about 2036,” warns Prof Fitzsimmons.
小題1:What does the underlined word “deflecting” most probably mean?

A．making it smaller.

B．observing it clearly enough.

C．dividing into pieces.

D．changing its direction.

小題2:According to the scientists’ observation, _______.

A．the asteroid named Apophis will explode in 2036.

B．the asteroid named Apophis might hit the earth in 2036.

C．the asteroid named Apophis is 24 years old.

D．there is plenty of time to decide the way we deal with the asteroid.

小題3:What is the impact from Apophis if it hits the earth?

A．It will damage Hiroshima.

B．Thousands of square kilometers would see the effects of the dust released into the atmosphere.

C．It might be the worst damage caused by asteroids in recorded history.

D．The whole planet would be directly affected by the explosion.

小題4:It can be inferred from the text that _____.

A．Hollywood producers will explode Apophis to avoid its hit.

B．There are only two chances for scientists to make better observations if they can’t grasp the chance next year.

C．NASA plans to throw a spacecraft at Apophis to change its direction.

D．It is supportive from astronauts that we explode the Apophis.

The popular college rankings focus primarily on prestige as measured by the SAT scores of incoming students and how many applicants are turned away． An initiative（措施）started last fall by the Obama administration could help families go beyond these limited, and far too easily exploited, indexes to learn quickly and easily how a college is compared with its competitors nationally on important criteria like graduation rates, what a degree actually costs and how much debt a student can expect to run up by graduation day．
If the federal government makes it legally necessary to disclose this information in a clear and consistent（一貫的）way, as it should, families will be better able to make informed college choices． And this will help put pressure on colleges that perform poorly to improve．
Critics may regard this initiative as an example of government overreach． But given that the federal government spends nearly $190 billion a year on higher education aid to students, it has a legitimate interest in making sure that the money flows to the schools that best meet their responsibilities to families and students．
Congress has taken some steps to require greater transparency（透明）from colleges． The 1990 Student Right to Know Act, for example, required colleges and universities that receive federal aid to disclose graduation rates． And the 2008 Higher Education Opportunity Act required schools to offer a way for consumers to determine actual costs after student aid is taken into account．
But many colleges have done a poor job of obeying federal disclosure rules, and much of the available information is not in one place． The administration’s new efforts would enforce reporting requirements and provide some new tools．
President Obama wants to expand campus-based aid to about $10 billion from the current $2．7 billion． He has proposed moving money away from colleges that fail to control tuition increases or provide good value to others that do a better job． That is a worthy idea in principle, but he will need strong data-based evidence to determine how colleges are doing．
The transparency initiatives are a good place to start and should be embraced by both parties in Congress． If students and families, facing higher tuition and rising debt, are to make sound choices, they need more and better information．
小題1:Why did the Obama administration start the initiative last fall?

A．To require colleges to make their graduation rates known to the public．

B．To help colleges perform better in the future．

C．To help parents and students make better choices of colleges．

D．To put more pressure on colleges that are not doing well enough．

小題2:Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Critics agree that the government should require colleges to obey the disclosure rules．

B．Congress has approved and made the transparency initiatives a law．

C．SAT scores alone do not determine one’s choice of college．

D．Students and families find it very difficult to choose their ideal colleges now．

小題3:A most suitable title for the passage could be______．

A．Congress To Require Greater Transparency

B．What College Parents and Students Need to Know

C．What a Good College Is Measured By

D．Parents and Students Need to Make Wise Choices

小題4:What attitude does the author hold towards the transparency initiative?

A．supportive

B．critical

C．indifferent

D．not stated

People have been growing chrysanthemums（菊花）for more than 2,000 years. Mums make bright and colorful gardens. People in China and other Asian cultures make tea with the flowers.
One basic kind of mum is the garden mum. The other basic kind is the florist mum. The garden mum is better able to handle different growing conditions.
There are many varieties of mums. The decorative mum is often seen in gardens. Another popular type, the quill mum, has long, straight petals（花瓣）like a tube or needle.
Chrysanthemum blooms can be white, yellow, gold, red or other colors. The plants often grow one meter high.
The soil for chrysanthemums should be kept moist but well drained so it does not get too wet.
Newly-planted mums should be watered two or three times a week, depending on conditions. Plants established in the ground may do well just with normal rainfall.
Mums grow best in full sunshine. They produce colorful blooms when days get shorter and nights get longer. The life cycle of the plant depends on the amount of daylight. This is why experts advise against placing mums near night lights or street lights. The light may interfere with their normal growth cycle. The plants may develop buds too soon.
In climates where temperatures fall below freezing, plant mums at least six weeks before the first frost. That way, the plants will be well established for cold weather.
Some gardeners say the most beautiful presentation comes from planting mums close together. But be sure to leave enough space to let air flow between the plants. If not, there may be a greater chance of disease.
To get more blooms, gardeners pinch（掐）back the branches when new growth has reached fifteen centimeters. Squeeze about five to seven centimeters off each branch. Pinch it again when a branch grows another twelve to fifteen centimeters. Stop the pinching about one hundred days before you want the plants to bloom.
小題1: What has a great effect on the life cycle of the mum?

A．The conditions of the soil.	B．The amount of daylight.
C．The amount of rainfall.	D．Cold weather.

小題2:Why do gardeners pinch back the branches when new growth reaches certain length?

A．To make mums grow thick.	B．To get more blooms.
C．To prevent mums from falling ill.	D．To let air flow between the plants.

小題3: Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A．Growing mums has a very long history and all the people in the world like making tea with mums.

B．Mums can grow one meter high and the closer they are planted, the higher they grow.

C．Though planting mums close together can make them look more beautiful, enough space should be left.

D．The petals of mums are long and straight and the more water mums get, the more quickly they grow.

This selection of books and guides offers insight to hidden charm in many favorite cities and destinations and gives you the knowledge to uncover unusual sights to see and places to visit. We hope you enjoy our choices and welcome your comments. Email your feedback to books@ gounusual. com.

The following are taken from these books. You will find much more information about these hotels in the books.
Kakslauttanen Hotel

It is the home of the famous Igloo（冰屋）Village with the unique glass and snow igloos and the world’s largest snow restaurant. In addition , their guests can enjoy the winter activities including watching the Northern Lights visible generally from late August to late April. Guests can sample the peace of sleeping in snow. Their glass igloos are fantastic for lying on your bed at night, watching the Northern Lights in the warm. You can enjoy cold or warm night sleep as required.
Art Hotel in Ronda

Beautifully situated in the oldest paved street of Ronda and surrounded by historic buildings, Art Hotel is decorated with original and historical artwork and atmospheric lighting. There is lots of fun and funky touches, e. g. lights and birds nesting in old basketballs, wall murals（壁畫(huà)）of Michael Jackson , car tyres converted to occasional tables.
During your stay, all drinks, breakfast and the use of all facilities are included in the price of the room.
Otter Creek Tents
The tents are separated from the rest of the world by a quiet salt-water creek. A coconut plantation dating back to 1886, the secret location preserves the privacy and peace of guests, with the salt water of the creek keeping even the mosquitoes away.
Each tent sleeps 2 in a four-poster double bed and has a western style toilet and bathroom with running water and hot shower. The tents use the dining facilities of the charming “Elsewhere” beach houses and enjoy over a mile of the pristine（處于原始狀態(tài)的）beach where one can still see the footprints of fishermen , and during the season , possibly the prints of sea turtles.
The Original Icehotel

“Imagine a hotel built from thousands of tons of snow and ice, and rebuilt every winter”--that is ICEHOTEL in northern Lapland, Sweden.
This is the original ICEHOTEL, first created in the early 1990s. It has become the global ambassador for this genre and now licenses ICEBARs around the world too. With 80 ＋ rooms, the property is a huge undertaking to be rebuilt every year, and their expertise inspired other similar properties in North America and elsewhere.
小題1:People staying in Kakslauttanen Hotel can watch the Northern Lights EXCEPT in ________.

A．August

B．April

C．December

D．June

小題2:What is special about Otter Creek Tents?

A．You can sleep in a house made of ice there.

B．It is surrounded by a forest.

C．You can enjoy the scenes of a beach.

D．You can enjoy turtles cooked in a special way there.

小題3:If you want to experience sleeping with snow or ice around, you can choose ________.

A．Kakslauttanen Hotel and Art Hotel in Ronda

B．Otter Creek Tents and Icehotel

C．Art Hotel in Ronda and Otter Creek Tents

D．Kakslauttanen Hotel and Icehotel

小題4:What’s the author’s purpose of writing the passage?

A．To show us the advantages of staying in hotels.

B．To introduce and promote some books.

C．To encourage people to travel around the world.

D．To explain to us how people manage the hotels.

What will power your house in the future? Nuclear, wind, or solar power? According to scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US, it might be leaves –but artificial ones.
Natural leaves are able to change sunlight and water into energy. It is known as photosynthesis (光合作用). Now researchers have found a way to imitate this seemingly simple process.
The artificial leaf developed by Daniel Nocera and his colleagues at MIT can be seen as a special silicon chip (硅片) with catalysts (催化劑). Similar to natural leaves, it can split water into hydrogen and oxygen when put into a bucket of water. The hydrogen and oxygen gases are then stored in a fuel cell (電池), which uses those two materials to produce electricity, located either on top of a house or beside the house.
Though the leaf is only about the shape of a poker card, scientists claimed that it is promising to be an inexpensive source of electricity in developing countries. “One can imagine villages in India and Africa not long from now purchasing an affordable basic power system based on this technology,” said Docera at a conference of the American Chemical Society.
An artificial leaf is not a new idea. The first artificial leaf was invented in 1997 but was too expensive and unstable for practical use. The new leaf, by contrast, is made of cheap materials, easy to use and highly stable. In laboratory studies, Nocera showed that an artificial leaf prorotype (原型) could operate continuously for at least 45 hours without a drop in activity.
The wonderful improvements come from Nocera’s recent discovery of several powerful new, inexpensive catalysts. These catalysts make the energy transformation (轉(zhuǎn)換) inside the leaf more efficient with water and sunlight. Right now, the new leaf is about 10 times more efficient at carrying out photosynthesis than a natural one. Besides, the device can run in whatever water is available; that is, it doesn’t need pure water. This is important for some countries that don’t have access to pure water.
With the goal to “make each home its own power station” and “giving energy to the poor”, scientists believe that the new application could be widely used in developing countries, especially in India and rural China.
小題1:Which of the following order correctly shows how the artificial leaf is used to produce electricity?
a. artificial leaves split water into hydrogen and oxygen
b. the hydrogen and oxygen gases are stored in a fuel cell
c. the artificial leaves are put in water
d. the fuel cell uses hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity

A．cbad

B．cabd

C．bcad

D．cadb

小題2:Which of the following statements about new artificial leaves is TRUE according to the article?

A．They are inexpensive but unstable.

B．They are as efficient at carrying out photosynthesis as natural leaves.

C．They can work only in pure water.

D．They need several catalysts to help them work efficiently.

小題3:The aim of the scientists at MIT in developing the new artificial leaves is to         .

A．build-up more power stations in the world

B．provide cheaper energy for developing countries

C．offer people in developing countries access to pure water

D．gain a deeper understanding of the photosynthesis process

小題4:What is the main point of the article?

A．Introduction to the history of artificial leaves.

B．An invention copying photosynthesis.

C．Giving energy to the poor.

D．A mixture of water power and solar energy.

The area of child psychology is one of the most significant and well studied of all the branches of psychology. It aims to help with achieving a greater understanding of the behavior of children through an understanding of their minds. It deals with children who range from the prenatal(出生前的)stage right up to the stage of adolescence.
The psychologist Jean Piaget (1896-1980) has been credited with making a major breakthrough in this area when he put forward his idea that children were not actually less intelligent than adults, rather they just thought in a different way. Preciously the development of children right from birth through to adulthood was an area that was almost completely neglected. In fact very little work was done in this area. However, interest in this field has now developed to the point of being one of the most debated of all the areas of psychology.
Despite popular belief that factors such as genetics or personal characteristics are the only determining factors that influence a youth’s behavior, this is not in fact the case. In reality, development actually includes many more factors than those contained within an individual. Factors such as environment, which can include social relationships and the surrounding culture, also play important roles. Relationships with both peers and adults will no doubt affect how children think and learn, and therefore develop. These relationships can include those that are found not only within families but also in schools and peer groups.
Culturally speaking, this factor will contribute greatly to how children develop their personality concerning the values they end up holding (perhaps for a lifetime) as well as how they view such things as traditions and customs.
Nowadays, psychologists have agreed that a child’s psychology is both unique and highly complex. However, there are debates on many different points in this field and many viewpoints exist.
小題1:The word “neglected” underlined in Paragraph 2 can be replaced by “______”.

A．ignored

B．destroyed

C．developed

D．explored

小題2:What does the third paragraph mainly tell us?

A．Popular belief about child psychology.

B．The role families play in a child’s development.

C．Factors that affect a child’s development.

D．The importance of relationships to a child.

小題3:The author’s purpose in writing the passage is to ____.

A．introduce an important psychologist.

B．give a brief introduction to child psychology.

C．compare some of the areas of psychology.

D．explain the development in psychology.

Baby girls make their way directly for dolls as soon as they can crawl, while boys will head for the toy cars,  a study has shown. The findings, the first to show differences in very young babies, suggest there is a biological basis to their preferences.
Psychologists Dr Brenda Todd from City University London carried out an experiment involving 90 infants aged nine months to 36 months. The babies were allowed to choose from seven toys. Some were stereotypically boys' toys - a car, a digger, a ball and a blue teddy.  The rest were girls’ toys: a pink teddy, a doll and a cooking set. They were placed a meter away from the toys, and could pick whichever toy they liked. Their choice and the amount of time they spent playing with each toy were recorded.
Of the youngest children (nine to 14 months), girls spent significantly longer playing with the doll than boys, and boys spent much more time with the car and ball than the girls did. Among the two-and three-year-olds, girls spent 50 percent of the time playing with the doll while only two boys briefly touched it. The boys spent almost 90 percent of their time playing with cars, which the girls barely touched. There was no link between the parents’ view on which toys were more appropriate for boys or girls, and the children’s choice.
Dr Brenda Todd said: “Children of this age are already exposed to much socialization. Boys may be given ‘toys that go’ while girls get toys they can care for, which may help shape their preference. But these findings agree with the former idea that children show natural interests in particular kinds of toys. There could be a biological basis for their choices. Males through evolution have been adapted to prefer moving objects, probably through hunting instincts（本能）, while girls prefer warmer colors such as pink, the color of a newborn baby.”
小題1:Baby boys and girls have different toy preferences probably because         .

A．baby boys are much more active

B．baby girls like bright colors more

C．their parents treat them differently

D．there is a natural difference between them

小題2:What can we infer from Paragraph 3 ?

A．Nine-month-old baby boys don’t play with dolls at all.

B．Two-year-old baby girls sometimes play with cars and balls.

C．The older the babies are, the more obvious their preference is.

D．Parents should teach their babies to share each other’s toys.

小題3:What conclusion did Dr. Brenda Todd draw from the results of the study?

A．Adults purposely influence their babies preference.

B．Babies’ preference isn’t affected by social surroundings.

C．Baby boys preferring to moving toys will be good at hunting.

D．Baby girls preferring warmer colors will be warm-hearted.

小題4:We may read this article in a        section of a newspaper.

A．science

B．health

C．education

D．entertainment

Most American students go to traditional public schools．There are about 88, 000 public schools, all over the US．Some students attend about 3000 independent public schools called charter schools．
Charter schools are self-governing．Private companies operate some charter schools．They are similar in some ways to traditional public schools．They receive tax money just as other public schools do．Charter schools must prove to local or state governments that their students are learning．These governments provide the schools with the agreement called a charter that permits them to operate．
Charter schools are different because they do not have to obey most laws governing traditional public schools．Local, state, or federal governments cannot tell them what to teach．Each school can choose its own goals and decide the ways it wants to reach them．Class size is usually smaller than in traditional public schools．
The Bush Administration strongly supports charter schools as a way to re-organize public schools that are failing to educate students．But some education agencies and unions oppose charter schools．One teachers' union has just made public the results of the first national study comparing the progress of students in traditional schools and charter schools．
The American Federation of Teachers criticized the government's delay in releasing the results of the study, which is called the National Assessment of Educational Progress．Union education experts say the study shows that charter school students performed worse on math and reading tests than students in regular public schools．
Some experts say the study is not a fair look at charter schools because students in those schools have more problems than students in traditional schools．Other education experts say the study results should make charter school officials demand improved student progress．
小題1:If a private company wants to operate a charter school, it must______．

A．try new methods of teaching	B．prove its management ability
C．obey the local and state laws	D．get the government's permission

小題2:What's the government's attitude toward charter schools?

A．Doubtful

B．Supportive.

C．Subjective．

D．Optimistic．

小題3:What can we learn from the text?

A．More students choose to attend charter schools．

B．Charter schools are better than traditional schools．

C．Students in charter schools are well educated．

D．People have different opinions about charter schools．

小題4:It can be interred from the text that ___.

A．charter schools are part of the public education system

B．one-on-one attention should be paid to students

C．the number of charter schools will be limited

D．charter schools are all privately financed

Imagine the following scenario(情景): A woman buys her lunch every day from a fast food outlet near her job. After some years, she finds herself 30 pounds overweight, and feeling unhealthy. So what does she do? She chooses to bring a lawsuit against the fast food outlet, claiming that the food served there was the cause of her being overweight and in poor health.
Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t? The only thing more absurd than the story itself is the fact that is not fiction. There are people who have sued（控告）fast food chains for causing their weight problems.
This is an example of one of the ways in which many of us spend enormous amounts of energy trying to deny the undeniable and universal fact that we are all ultimately responsible for our own choices and our own lives.
How much easier would we make it for ourselves if we could accept this fact rather than resist it? But how can we embrace the truth, that we are living the lives we choose to live, that we are enjoying or suffering the consequences(結(jié)果) of our own choices, and that blaming others for our problems and shortcomings is nothing more than a comfortable fantasy?
We must acknowledge the truth of our lives, however unpleasant this may be. If we are overweight, in a bad relationship, in a dead end, we need to accept that this is where we are, at this moment in time.
Imagine that woman decided that she was unhappy with the extra pounds she’d gained after many years of eating fast food on a regular basis. Imagine that this woman took the time to really understand and accept that she and no one else was responsible for her eating choices. Having acknowledged this fact, she then decides to make the changes in her lifestyle to become the healthier, slimmer person she wants to be.
小題1:What would be the best title for the passage?

A．Be responsible for Our Own Choices.

B．Overcome the Challenges in Our Life.

C．Acknowledge the Truth Rather than Deny It.

D．More than a Comfortable Fantasy.

小題2: Why is the woman mentioned twice in the passage?

A．To show the right way of dealing with weight problems.

B．To describe a familiar scenario in life.

C．To give support to the author’s viewpoint.

D．To compare the consequences of different choices.

小題3: What can we learn from the first paragraph?

A．Fast food chains contribute little to people’s overweight problems actually.

B．Fast food outlets are responsible for many people to become overweight.

C．Many people tend to blame others for their own problems.

D．The author himself is a supporter of fast food chains.

小題4: What should a person do if he is in a bad relationship with his roommates, according to the author?

A．Acknowledge the truth of his life and let it be.

B．Think about what’s wrong with himself and then put it right.

C．Accept that this is where we are and wait for things to improve.

D．Do whatever he likes regardless of what others think and say.

Some plants get so hungry they eat flies, spiders, and even small frogs. What’s more amazing is that these plants occur naturally (in special environment) in every state. In fact, they’re found on every continent except Antarctica.
You’ve probably seen a Venus’ flytrap. It’s often sold in museum gift stores, department stores, and even supermarkets. A small plant, it grows 6 to 8 inches tall in a container. At the end of its stalks（莖）are specially modified leaves that act like traps. Inside each trap is a lining of tiny trigger(觸發(fā)) hairs. When an insect lands on them, the trap suddenly shut. Over the course of a week or so, the plant feeds on its catch.
The Venus’ flytrap is just one of more than 500 species of meat-eating plants, says Barry Meyers-Rice, the editor of the International Carnivorous Plant Society’s Newsletter. Note: Despite any science –fiction stories you might have read, no meat-eating plant does any danger to humans.
Dr. Meyers-Rice says a plant is meat-eating, only if it does all four of the following: “attract, kill, digest, and absorb” some forms of insects, including flies, butterflies, and moths. Meat-eating plants look and act like other green plants ---well, most of the time.
All green plants make sugar through a process called photosynthesis(光合作用). Plants use the sugar to make food. What makes “meat-eating” plants different is their bug-catching leaves. They need insects for one reason: nitrogen(氮). Nitrogen is a nutrient that they can’t obtain any other way. Why almost all green plants on our planet get nitrogen from the soil “Meat-eating” plants can’t. They live in places where nutrients are hard or almost impossible to get from the soil because of its acidity(酸度). So they’ve come to rely on getting nitrogen from insects and small animals. In fact, nutrient-rich soil is poisonous to “meat-eating” plants. Never fertilize(施肥)them! But don’t worry, either, if they never seem to catch any insects. They can survive, but they’ll grow very slowly.
小題1:According to the passage, carnivorous plants       .

A．only grow in wild field	B．a(chǎn)re rare to see
C．a(chǎn)re as common as flies	D．cannot grow on Antarctica

小題2:Venus’ flytrap preys on insects by          .

A．its numerous long stalks	B．a(chǎn) container where it grows
C．its insect-catching leaves	D．the lining of tiny trigger hairs

小題3:We can conclude from the third paragraph that_____.

A．carnivorous plants are dangerous

B．carnivorous plants are fictional

C．carnivorous plants occasionally eat books

D．carnivorous plants are harmless to humans

小題4:In the eyes of the author, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A．Carnivorous plants cannot grow in acid soil.

B．Carnivorous plants can grow in nutrient-poor soil.

C．Carnivorous plants will die if they cannot catch any insects

D．Carnivorous plants can get nitrogen from nutrient-rich soil.