Humans： It's time to abandon Earth or Race Extinction.

It could be the plot of a summer blockbuster (巨片），but this prediction isn't science fiction. It's a glimpse of the future ，according to famous British scientist Stephen Hawking.

“I see great dangers for the human race，” he said in an interview with global forum Big Think. ‘‘There have been a number of times in the past when its survival has been a question of touch and go. ”

“I believe that the long-term future of the human race must be in space”，he said. “It will be difficult enough to avoid disasters on planet Earth in the next hundred years ，let alone the next thousand, or million. ”

Hawking ，who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom last year, has recently voiced many concerns about the future of life on Earth.

"If aliens visited us ，the outcome would be as much as when Columbus landed in America, which didn't turn out well for the Native Americans，” he said. “Such advanced aliens would perhaps become nomads (游牧者），looking to conquer and colonize whatever planets they can reach. ”

But Hawking says he's still hopeful for the future of humanity. He told Big Think. "We've made remarkable progress in the last hundred years. But if we want to continue beyond the next hundred years ，our future is in space.”

Getting to another planet will prove a challenge ，not to mention colonizing it for humanity. Katherine Freese from University of Michigan told Big Think that “the nearest star to Earth is Proxima Centauri which is 4. 2 light years away. That means ，if you were traveling at the speed of light the whole time, it would take 4. 2 years to get there —or about 50,000 years using current rocket science.”

60. Humans are advised to abandon Earth mainly because _____.

A. aliens will take up our home planet soon　 B. many disasters will happen on the Earth

C. resources will be used up in the future　　 D. humans need larger space to live in

61. Thinking about the future of humans, Hawking feels that _____.

A. humans will probably become extinct　 　

B. aliens are the biggest future threat to humans

C. other planets are ready for humans to reach　

D. the earth will not be habitable for humans

62. What is the writer's key point in the last paragraph?

A. It is impossible to get to another planet in space.

B. The present means of transport are not advanced at all.

C. The near future can't see human's move to another planet.

D. The planet Proxima Centauri is the closest to the earth.

63. This passage is most probably taken from _____

A. a conference interview　　　　　　　　　　 B. a science fiction

C.　 a forum report 　　　　　　　　　D. a history book

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源： 題型：閱讀理解

       The Zhoukoudian Beijing Man Site is one of the most important world heritage sites in China．Since the discovery, which changed China’s knowledge of its history, was made in the 1920s, Zhoukoudian has become an important place for archaeologists from all over the world．At the site in the south-west suburb of Beijing, there is, for example, the earliest evidence of the use of fire by humans．It has also been proved that people lived there continuously between 500,000 and 10,000 years ago．

       Today, however, Zhoukoudian is in serious danger．Parts of the cave have been badly affected by rain and exposure to the air．Some areas are almost completely covered in weeds, causing serious damage．Pollution from nearby cement factories has also contributed to the problem．

       The site is extremely expensive to maintain and it will cost between three and five million yuan to repair it．At the moment, visitors are not allowed to visit the caves．

       Zhoukoudian is on the World Cultural Heritage List, organized by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization．The list is constantly checked．Any site which is seriously damaged or which is not properly protected is an endangered heritage, and UNESCO is very quick to do something about situations like this．They have recommended that the site be closed and repaired．If nothing is done to repair it, it could be removed from the list．

       This is a very serious matter and the Chinese Academy of Sciences is trying to raise public awareness about it．They have suggested that the general public be encouraged to help with the problem．A professor at the Academy has proposed that a fund be established to raise money．

       Dr Zhu Ming of the Academy said, “ We have requested that the government get involved, but we also need assistance from ordinary people．They can help by contributing to the cost of repairing the caves．They are a precious part of our cultural heritage—it is of vital importance that we do something．If not, it will be a catastrophe．”

Why is Zhoukoudian of great importance in China?

     A．Because the site tells some information about how man lived in the old times．

     B．Because it has brought in lots of money as a place of interest．

     C．Because it is the only place in China on the World Cultural Heritage List．

     D．Because it changed our knowledge of China’s history of the 1920’s．

What is the second paragraph about?

     A．Zhoukoudian’s discovery               B．Zhoukoudian’s future   

       C．Zhoukoudian’s in danger               D．Zhoukoudian’s protection

The following has caused the damage of the site except________________．

     A．Weeds         B．Rain      C．Fire            D．Cement factories

The passage suggests that to repair Zhoukoudian, Chinese Academy of Sciences is seeking help from_________．

     A．Archaeologists from all over the world     

       B．Government and the public

     C．Experts from UNESCO                  

       D．Visitors

Which of the following can replace the underlined word “catastrophe”?

     A．case     B．worry          C．wonder        D．disaster

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：2011屆廣東省廣州市花都區(qū)高三調(diào)研考試英語(yǔ)卷 題型：閱讀理解

                         The Zhoukoudian Beijing Man Site is one of the most important world heritage sites in China．Since the discovery, which changed China’s knowledge of its history, was made in the 1920s, Zhoukoudian has become an important place for archaeologists from all over the world．At the site in the south-west suburb of Beijing, there is, for example, the earliest evidence of the use of fire by humans．It has also been proved that people lived there continuously between 500,000 and 10,000 years ago．
Today, however, Zhoukoudian is in serious danger．Parts of the cave have been badly affected by rain and exposure to the air．Some areas are almost completely covered in weeds, causing serious damage．Pollution from nearby cement factories has also contributed to the problem．
The site is extremely expensive to maintain and it will cost between three and five million yuan to repair it．At the moment, visitors are not allowed to visit the caves．
Zhoukoudian is on the World Cultural Heritage List, organized by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization．The list is constantly checked．Any site which is seriously damaged or which is not properly protected is an endangered heritage, and UNESCO is very quick to do something about situations like this．They have recommended that the site be closed and repaired．If nothing is done to repair it, it could be removed from the list．
This is a very serious matter and the Chinese Academy of Sciences is trying to raise public awareness about it．They have suggested that the general public be encouraged to help with the problem．A professor at the Academy has proposed that a fund be established to raise money．
Dr Zhu Ming of the Academy said, “ We have requested that the government get involved, but we also need assistance from ordinary people．They can help by contributing to the cost of repairing the caves．They are a precious part of our cultural heritage—it is of vital importance that we do something．If not, it will be a catastrophe．”
【小題1】Why is Zhoukoudian of great importance in China?

A．Because the site tells some information about how man lived in the old times．
B．Because it has brought in lots of money as a place of interest．[來(lái)源:學(xué)&科&網(wǎng)]
C．Because it is the only place in China on the World Cultural Heritage List．
D．Because it changed our knowledge of China’s history of the 1920’s．
【小題2】What is the second paragraph about?
A．Zhoukoudian’s discoveryB．Zhoukoudian’s future
C．Zhoukoudian’s in dangerD．Zhoukoudian’s protection
【小題3】The following has caused the damage of the site except________________．
A．WeedsB．RainC．FireD．Cement factories
【小題4】The passage suggests that to repair Zhoukoudian, Chinese Academy of Sciences is seeking help from_________．
A．Archaeologists from all over the world
B．Government and the public
C．Experts from UNESCO
D．Visitors
【小題5】Which of the following can replace the underlined word “catastrophe”?
A．caseB．worryC．wonderD．disaster

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：2013-2014學(xué)年河南省豫東豫北十所名校高三上學(xué)期階段性測(cè)試英語(yǔ)試卷（解析版） 題型：閱讀理解

Researches at Johns? Hopkins University's. Applied Physics laboratory? ( APL)? in Laurel , Maryland have designed a new human-like robot, Its name is Robo Sally. The machine can be controlled from a distance and can he used to do work that is dangerous for human beings.

?????? Roho Sally has two long arms with human-like hands. She can use her fingers to pick up? small objects .examine them in detail and do most things that human hands can do Each finger? contains a tiny motor capable of squeezing 20 pounds of pinch foree ,.enough to defuse a bomb? under the direction of an operator. She sits on a metal base with wheels that let her move around. turn in tight spaces and climb over small objects, .

?????? Mike McLoughlin is the main investigator for the Applied Physics Laboratory's Prosthetics? Program. "The purpose of that program is to develop prosthetic arms that have all the capability? of your natural arms .and you do all the complex motions that we can do with the natural arm- with the robot. "

?????? It was a difficult job. Mr. McLoughlin says the device had to have many small motors to。 have the ability to do what a human hand does; It? also needs to have human-like strength. The? thumb was especially difficult because it permits the hand .to hold objects. And everything had.?? to fit into a space about the size of a human hand.

????? The next problem? .he says .was to figure out how to control the artificial hand. " So we had?? to figure out how to make the connection between the brain and this arm.

?????? For search-and-rescue duties.Roho Sally will be operated by a human being using a wire- less machine that is far from the robot. The operator will also wear special gloves and glasses.? The glasses permit the operator to see the robot's hands .even though they are far away.

????? Mr. McLoughlin says this kind of robots could be used in what he calls "dull , dirty or dan- gerous" situations where fine human finger movements are required. He says the technology is? not ready for everyday application .but he predicts that within five years we will see some won-? derful improvements.

1.The underlined word " defuse"? in Paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to "_________".

A. remove?????????? B. discover??????????? C. equip??????????????? D. produce

2.According to Paragraph 2.which picture is Robo Sally?

3.What can we learn ahout the prosthetic arms according to the passage?

A. They are expected to function as well as natural ones.

B. They have many large motors controlled by robots.

C. They have human-like strength to control the robot.

D. They are connected with human brains.

4.Which of the following is true about Robo Sally according to Mr. McLoughlin?

A . Its operator doesn't need? any? equipment.

B. It has been Widely used in everyday life in the USA.

C. It can work in situations which are dangerous for humans.

D. It has made much money for the designer.

 

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：2012-2013學(xué)年湖北省師大一附中高三5月模擬考試英語(yǔ)卷（解析版） 題型：閱讀理解

Oscar-winning director Ang Lee' s new epic "Life of Pi" reveals the relationship between a teenage Indian boy and a Bengal tiger. But in reality, the predators(食肉動(dòng)物)are under increasing threat from humans. Animal rights group PETA is hoping to use the popularity of the film to focus people's attention on the real life of Bengal tigers.

With the rising demand for tiger parts from East Asia, illegal hunting remains a tremendous danger for the remaining cat population. Back in 1947, there were 40,000 tigers in India, but the number is experiencing a sharp decline t0 1,706 despite campaigns to protect the animal.

Rising man-animal conflict is also one of the leading causes of decline in tiger numbers. In one of numerous reported attacks on the endangered big cats, villagers near The Bangladesh-India border, armed with sticks and boat oars, set upon the animal suspected to have attacked a local fisherman and beat it to death earlier this month. So far this year, 58 tiger deaths have been reported in the country.

"The first instinct when a tiger is spotted is to just kill it,"grieved Gurmeet Sapal, a wildlife filmmaker. "The feeling of fear and revenge is so strong that it shuts out any other emotion. What we don' t realize is that the tiger never attacks humans until it is forced to. "'

India has been struggling to stop the tiger's decline in the face of the loss of habitat as well that encourages the animals to leave the forest for food. " The tiger's rapidly exhausted prey base causes the predator to go al! out to get its food. Consequently, livestock and human beings become easy prey, which leads inevitably to conflict," says a wildlife conservationist.

Filmmaker Sapal says it is only normal for people to think of the tiger as a dangerous animal, but its image as a human killer bears some injustice. "Tigers never kill for sport nor store meat. They kill their prey only in case of hunger. " 

1.How can PETA take advantage over the hot movie “ Life of Pi ”?

A. PETA can count on the movie to promote people' s awareness of tiger' s life.

B. PETA can make enough money by encourage people to watch the movie.

C. The movie demonstrates that humans and tigers can live in harmony.

D. The movie offers a wonderful opportunity for movie to act in.

2.Why did the villagers beat the tiger to death?

A. Because it was a human killer and attempted to attack people.

B. Because it was suspected to be a threat to local people' s lives.

C. Because local people just followed their instinct to kill it.

D. Because people wanted to carry out their revenge for it.

3.According to the article, when will tigers attack and kill people?

A. When they are annoyed by people.

B. When they have conflict with people.

C. When they are driven to act in the movie.

D. When they are hungry or attacked.

4.What contributes to the facts that livestock and human beings become easy target of tigers?

A. It is easier for tigers to hunt human beings than other animal for food.

B. Tigers are losing their habitat and forced to go out of the woods.

C. People hold a strong belief that tigers are a born threat to their lives.

D. Tigers can't be treated equally as other animal in the forest

 

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：2012-2013學(xué)年上海市青浦區(qū)高考一模（即期末）英語(yǔ)試卷（解析版） 題型：其他題

Read the passage carefully. Then answer the questions or complete the statements in the fewest possible words. 

Oscar-winning director Ang Lee’s new epic “Life of Pi” reveals the relationship between a teenage Indian boy and a Bengal tiger. But in reality, the predators（食肉動(dòng)物） are under increasing threat from humans. Animal rights group PETA is hoping to use the popularity of the film to focus people’s attention on the real life of Bengal tigers.

With the rising demand for tiger parts from East Asia, illegal hunting remains a tremendous danger for the remaining cat population.  Back in 1947, there were 40,000 tigers in India, but the number is experiencing a sharp decline to 1,706 despite campaigns to protect the animal.

Rising man-animal conflict is also one of the leading causes of decline in tiger numbers. In one of numerous reported attacks on the endangered big cats, villagers near the Bangladesh-India border, armed with sticks and boat oars, set upon the animal suspected to have attacked a local fisherman and beat it to death earlier this month. So far this year, 58 tiger deaths have been reported in the country.

“The first instinct when a tiger is spotted is to just kill it,” grieved Gurmeet Sapal, a wildlife filmmaker. “The feeling of fear and revenge is so strong that it shuts out any other emotion. What we don’t realize is that the tiger never attacks humans until it is forced to.”

India has been struggling to stop the tiger's decline in the face of the loss of habitat as well that encourages the animals to leave the forest for food. “The tiger’s rapidly exhausted prey base causes the predator to go all out to get its food. Consequently, livestock and human beings become easy prey, which leads inevitably to conflict,” says a wildlife conservationist.

Filmmaker Sapal says it is only normal for people to think of the tiger as a dangerous animal, but its image as a human killer bears some injustice. “Tigers never kill for sport nor store meat. They kill their prey only in case of hunger. ” 

(Note: Answer the questions or complete the statements in no more than ten words)

1.PETA hopes “Life of Pi” can __________________________________.

2.Why did the villagers beat the tiger to death?

3.As a result of the loss of habitat, __________________________________ are more likely to be the big cat’s victims. 

4.When will tigers attack and kill people according to the article?

 

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