At first, the earth’s surface layer（層）was made up of huge blocks of hard, solid rocks. Then slowly, there rocks broke up into smaller and smaller pieces. Finally stones, pebble（卵石）and grains of sand were formed．Many sorts of plants and animals lived and died on the surface of the earth. Their remains mixed up with the stones, pebbles and formed soil. The outmost layer of the earth is soil.

There are many ways in which large pieces of rock break into smaller ones. Wind, water, heat and cold help to break up rocks. When winds blow grains of sand against a large rock for a long time, the softer layers of the rock are slowly worn away. These leave holes and crack（裂縫）in the rock, which become bigger and finally the rock breaks up into smaller pieces.

The moving water of streams and rivers also help to break up rocks. As the water moves along, it carries with it small pieces of rock. These rub the larger ones. Thus, the larger rocks are worn down to smaller pieces.

The heat of the sun is also helpful to breaking up rocks. When the sun shines, the rocks become very hot. If these rocks are suddenly cooled, they may crack. Ice also plays a part in making soil. Water in the cracks can turn into ice in cold weather. As this happens, it becomes bigger and the cracks become wider, and finally break into smaller pieces.

1．According to the passage, soil 　　 .

A．forms very slowly

B．is a mixture of stones, pebbles and sand

C．make up the layers of the earth

D．is becoming smaller and smaller

2．How many factors are mentioned in helping the forming of soil?

A．Three. 　　 B．Four. 　　 C．Five.　　　　　　 D．More than five.

3．Which of the following speeds up the breaks of rocks most?

A．Hot weather. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B．Cold water.

C．Sharp changes in temperature. 　　　　　　 D．More dead plants in the cracks.

4．Which of the following is NOT true?

　 A．The remains of many plants of animals formed soil.

B．If a large rock never moves, it will never break up.

C．Even if a large rock never moves, it will break up.

D．Ice in the cracks helps to break up rocks

5．The best title for this passage should be 　　 .

A．Soil from Rocks

B．Ways to Break up Rocks

C．Soil on the Earth

D．Soil, Outmost Layer of the Earth

When a boy with dirty spots on the face came in，people present all burst________laughing while he burst________tears.

A．into；in B．into；out　 C．out；into D．out；in

It is raining heavily and Eliza is ____________ the storm (躲雨).

There is a common belief among them _______ rubbish can and should be put into good use.

A. which　　　 B. if　　　 C. whether　　　 D. that

Sales of CDs have greatly increased since the early 1990s, when people_____ to enjoy the advantages of this new technology.

　 A. begin　　　　　 　 B. began　　　　 C. have begun　　 　 D. had begun

If you don’t know the answer to his question, don’t _______（假裝）to know it.

The reason _____ he gave for not coming to your birthday party is ______ his mother was ill.

A. what; which　　 B. why; that　　　　 C. as; which　　　　　 D. which; that

Michael __________ here to see you and he____________ a note on your desk.

A. has come; had left B. has been; has left

C. has come; left　　 D. has been; left

I want to be liked and loved for _______ I am inside.（ ）

A. who　　　　 B. where　　 C. what　　　　 D. how

I was giving a talk to a large group of people, the same talk I ________to half a dozen other groups.
A. was giving        B. am giving     C. had given   D. have given