Time and how we experience it have always puzzled us．Physicists have created fascinating theories, but their time is measured by a pendulum （鐘擺） and is not psychological time, which leaps with little regard to the clock or calendar．As some-one who understood the distinction observed, "When you sit with a nice girl for two hours it seems like a minute, but when you sit on a hot stove, a minute seems like two hours．"
Psychologists have long noticed that larger units of time, such as months and years, fly on swifter wings as we age．They also note that the more time is structured with schedules and appointments, the more rapidly it seems to pass．For example, a day at the office flies compared with a day at the beach．Since most of us spend fewer days at the beach and more at the office as we age, an increase in structured tune could well be to blame for why time seems to speed up as we grow older．
Expectation and familiarity also make time seem to flow more rapidly．Almost all of us have had the experience of driving somewhere we’ve never been before. Surrounded by unfamiliar scenery, with no real idea of when we’ll arrive, we experience the trip as lasting a long time. But the return trip, although exactly as long, seems to take far less time. The novelty of the outward journey has become routine. Thus taking a different route on occasions can often help slow the clock.
When was become as identical as identical as beads（小珠子）on a string, they mix together, and even months become a single day. To counter this, try to find ways to interrupt the structure of your day—to stop time, so to speak.
Learning something new is one of the ways to slow the passage of time. One of the reasons the days of our youth seems so full and long is that these are the days of learning and discovery. For many of us, learning ends when we leave school, but this doesn’t have to be.
【小題1】The underlined sentence in Paragraph 1 is used to show        .

A．psychological time is quite puzzling

B．time should not be measured by a pendulum

C．physical time is different from psychological time

D．physical theory has nothing to do with the true sense of time

【小題2】Why do units of time fly faster as we grow older?

A．Our sense of time changes.

B．We spend less time at the beach.

C．More time is structured and scheduled.

D．Time is structured with too many appointments.

【小題3】In Paragraph 3 “novelty” probably means        .

A．excitement

B．unfamiliarity

C．imagination

D．a(chǎn)musement

【小題4】The purpose of the passage is to        .

A．give various explanations about time

B．describe how we experience time psychologically

C．show the different ideas of physicists and psychologists on time

D．explain why time flies and how to slow it down psychologically

What is your favorite color? Do you like yellow, orange, and red? If you do, you must be an optimist(樂觀者), a leader, an active person who enjoys life, people and excitement. Do you prefer grays and blues? Then you are probably quiet, shy and you would rather follow than lead. If you love green, you are strong-minded and determined. You wish to succeed and want other people to see you are successful. At least this is what psychologists tell us, and they should know, because they have been seriously studying the meaning of color preference(愛好), and the effect that colors have on human beings. They tell us that we don't choose our favorite color as we grow up. If you happen to love brown, you did so as soon as you opened your eyes, or at least as soon as you could see clearly.
A yellow room makes us feel more cheerful and more comfortable than a dark green one, and a red dress rings warmth and cheer to the saddest winter day. On the other hand, black is depressing(壓抑). Light and bright colors make people not only happier but more active. It is a fact that factory workers work better, harder, and have fewer accidents when their machines are painted orange rather than black or dark gray.
Remember, then, that if you feel low, you can always brighten your day or your life with a new shirt or a few colorful things. Remember also that you will know your friends and your enemies better when you find out what colors they like and dislike. And don't forget that anyone can guess a lot about your character when you choose a piece of handkerchief.
【小題1】According to this passage,           .

A．one can choose his color preference

B．one is born with his color preference

C．one’s color preference is changeable

D．one has to choose his favorite color as soon as he can see clearly

【小題2】The main idea of this passage is           .

A．one's color preference shows one's character

B．you can brighten your life with wonderful colors

C．psychologists have been studying the meaning of color preference

D．one's color preference has something to do with his character and colors have effects on human beings

【小題3】The writer believes that in realizing the four modernizations of country, we need more people who love          .

A．yellow

B．red

C．green

D．black

A Nobel Prize is considered by most people one of the highest international honors a person can receive. As you know, the prizes were started by a Sweden called Sweden Alfred Nobel. Alfred Nobel was born in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, and lived from 1833 to 1896.
Alfred Nobel was a chemist and inventor. He made two important inventions, so he became very rich. Although he was rich, Nobel was not a happy man. He never married or had children. Also, he was a sick man in large part of his life. Nobel died at the age of sixty-three. When he died, he left a fund of $9,000,000. The money was to be used in giving prizes to those who made outstanding achievement in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and the promotion(促進)of the world peace.
The first Nobel Prize were given on December 10^th,1901, five years after Nobel’s death. Many famous people all over the world have been given Nobel Prizes for their achievements. Albert Einstein was one of them.
Each prize has three parts. The first part is a gold medal. Second, a winner of a Nobel Prize is given a diploma saying that he has been given the prize. The third part of the prize is a large amount of money---about $40，000.
Often a prize is given to just one person, but not always. Sometimes a prize is shared. It might be given to two or more people who have worked together. It is also sometimes true that a prize is not given at all if there is no outstanding achievement. In 1972, for example, not a Nobel Prize was given. It is the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm that decides whether to give the prize or not.
【小題1】Most people think that Nobel Prize is ____ a person can receive.

A．the highest honor in the world

B．one of the highest international honors

C．a(chǎn) higher honor than others

D．a(chǎn)s high as any other honor

【小題2】Alfred Nobel who started the Nobel Prize was _____.

A．a(chǎn) rich, happy and lucky man

B．a(chǎn) poor, unhappy and unlucky man

C．a(chǎn) poor, happy and lucky man

D．a(chǎn) rich unhappy and unlucky man

【小題3】A Nobel Prize is made up of ___.

A．a(chǎn) gold medal and a large amount of money

B．a(chǎn) gold medal and a diploma

C．a(chǎn) gold medal and a diploma and a large amount of money

D．a(chǎn) diploma and a large amount of money

【小題4】A Nobel Prize is given to ___ each year.

A．just one person	B．one person
C．not always one person	D．three persons

【小題5】When he died, Nobel left an amount of money ____.

A．to his wife and children

B．to the university he used to study in

C．to his parents and his studies

D．to be spent on setting five prizes

Hello, you guys! Do you want to make e-pals via the Internet and have fun? Here’s some advice for you to follow. First take a look at www. Spoton. Community. Click on international pen-pal sites to find some of our favorite international e-pal and pen-pal web sites. Don’t forget: some e-pal services cost money and some are safer than others. Remember to read a web site safety warning before you join!
KidFu （www. Kidfu. com）says it is the safest place online for kids to chat, play games and make friends. Get your parents to help you register and then you can write things about yourself or read what other kids have written. There’re also chat monitors that make sure that the online chat rooms are safe and friendly. KidFu costs money, but the first month is free.
If you join e-PALS （www. Epals. com), you can choose a pen-pal from over 65,000 kids from 191 countries. You can also find information about how teachers can get pen-pals for their pupils. Or if you want to start sending e-mails right now, go to Europe Pages（www. europa-page. com）. Lots of young people have written their names, interests, home countries and their e-mail addresses. Just click on a name and start writing!
Well, however, there are tips that you should keep in mind: never be absorbed in the line for too long, so stay there not more than 2 hours once. Never go out with your pals without your parents’ permissions. Let your parents know about what you are doing. Then, have fun!
【小題1】If you want to choose a safer web site, you'd better click on           .

A． www. europa-page. Com	B．www. Spoton. de
C．www. e-pals. com	D．www. Kidfu. com

【小題2】A teacher can visit            to help his/her pupils to get pen-pals.

A．KidFu

B．Europe Pages

C．e-PALS

D．spoton. community

【小題3】The advantage of Europe Pages is that           .

A．you can start sending your e-mails immediately

B．you can choose more pen-pals from many countries

C．it is free and you can find names of different countries

D．it is the safest one among all the web sites

【小題4】A chat monitor mentioned in Paragraph 2 is probably           .

A．a(chǎn) person in the web site to give safe online advice

B．a(chǎn) police officer to keep order in the chat rooms

C．a(chǎn)n engineer in charge of controlling the chat

D．a(chǎn) software to keep online chatting clean and safe

Cellphones: is there a cancer link?
Could your cellphone give you cancer? Whether it could or not, some people are worrying about the possibility that phones, power lines and wi-fi could be responsible for a range of illnesses, from rashes to brain tumors.
Some say there is evidence to support the growing anxieties. David Carpenter, a professor of environmental health sciences at the university at Albany, in New York, thinks there’s a greater than 95 percent chance that power lines can cause childhood leukemia(白血病). Also there’s a greater than 90 percent chance that cellphones can cause brain tumors. “It’s apparent now that there’s a real risk,” said Carpenter.
But others believe these concerns are unjustified. Dr Martha Linet, the head of radiation epidemiology(流行病學) at the US National Cancer Institute, has looked at the same research as Carpenter but has reached a different conclusion. “I don’t support warning labels for cellphones,” said Linet. “We don’t have the evidence that there’s much danger.”
Studies so far suggest a weak connection between EMFs(電磁場) and illness — so weak that it might not exist at all. A multinational investigation of cellphones and brain cancer, in 13 countries outside the US, has been underway for several years. It’s funded in part by the European Union, in part by a cellphone industry group. The final report should come out later this year, but data so far don’t suggest a strong link between cellphone use and cancer risk.
【小題1】From the passage we can learn that some people are worried because   .

A．they have evidence the use of cellphone can lead to cancer.

B．they make a fuss over cellphone use.

C．some expert has given a warning.

D．cellphones are responsible for brain tumors.

【小題2】By saying “I don’t support warning labels for cellphones,” Dr Martha Linet has the idea that   .

A．the worrying is unnecessary.

B．cancer-warning labels should be on cellphones.

C．there is a link between cellphones and cancer.

D．cellphones have nothing to do with cancer.

【小題3】The underlined word “underway” is closest in meaning to   .

A．started.

B．kept on.

C．gone on.

D．in progress.

【小題4】Which of the following best describes the attitude of the author towards the debate?

A．Optimistic.

B．Objective.

C．Disapproving.

D．Casual.

Why should mankind explore space? Why should money, time and effort be spent exploring and researching something with so few obvious benefits? Why should resources be spent on space rather than on conditions and people on Earth? These are questions that, understandably, are very often asked.
Perhaps the best answer lies in our genetic makeup (基因構(gòu)成) as human beings. What drove our ancestors to move from the trees into the plains, and on into all possible areas and environments? The wider the spread of a species, the better its chance of survival. Perhaps the best reason for exploring space is this genetic tendency to expand wherever possible.
Nearly every successful civilization(文明) has explored, because by doing so, any dangers in surrounding areas can be identified and prepared for. Without knowledge, we may be completely destroyed by the danger. With knowledge, we can lessen its effects.
Exploration also allows minerals and other potential (潛在的) resources to be found. Even if we have no immediate need of them, they will perhaps be useful later. Resources may be more than physical possessions(物質(zhì)財產(chǎn)). Knowledge or techniques have been gained through exploration. The techniques may have medical applications which can improve the length or quality of our lives. We have already benefited from other spin-offs including improvements in earthquake prediction, in satellites for weather forecasting and in communications systems. Even non-stick pans and mirrored sunglasses are by-products (副產(chǎn)品) of technological developments in the space industry!
While many resources are spent on what seems a small return, the exploration of space allows creative, brave and intelligent members of our species to focus on what may serve to save us. While space may hold many wonders and explanations of how the universe was formed or how it works, it also holds dangers. The danger exists, but knowledge can help human being to survive. Without the ability to reach out across space, the chance to save ourselves might not exist.
While Earth is the only planet known to support life, surely the adaptive(適應的) ability of humans would allow us to live on other planets. It is true that the lifestyle would be different, but human life and cultures have adapted in the past and surely could in the future.
【小題1】Why does the author mention the questions in Paragraph1?

A．To express his doubts.

B．To compare different ideas.

C．To introduce points for discussion.

D．To describe the conditions on Earth.

【小題2】What is the reason for exploring space based on Paragraph2?

A．Humans are nature-born to do so.

B．Humans have the tendency to fight.

C．Humans may find new sources of food.

D．Humans don't like to stay in the same place.

【小題3】The underlined word "spin-offs" in Paragraph 4 probably refers to______.

A．survival chances	B．potential resources
C．unexpected benefits	D．physical possessions

【小題4】What makes it possible for humans to live on other planets?

A．Our genetic makeup.	B．Resources on the earth.
C．The adaptive ability of humans.	D．By-products in space exploration.

【小題5】What does the writer want to tell us in the passage?

A．Space exploration has created many wonders.

B．Space exploration provided the best value for money.

C．Space exploration can benefit science and technology.

D．The Exploration may help us avoid potential problems on Earth.

　  Animals can move from place to place, but plants cannot. When an animal is under attack, it can run away or fight back. Plants certainly cannot run away, and they lack teeth and claws. But plants can defend (保護) themselves by using both physical and chemical means.
　　Some plants have their own ways to keep animals away. For example, the leaves of the holly plant have sharp spines (刺) that discourage grass-eating animals. Holly leaves on lower branches have more spines than leaves on upper branches. This is because the lower leaves are easier for most animals to reach.
　　Some plants, such as the oak tree, have thick and hard leaves that are difficult for animals to eat. Some grasses may contain a sandy material; eating such grasses wears down the animal's teeth.
　　Many plants also have chemical defenses. Some plants produce chemicals that taste bitter or cause an unpleasant reaction. Some plants may fight against an attack by increasing the production of these chemicals. When a caterpillar (毛蟲) bites a tobacco leaf, the leaf produces a chemical messenger. This messenger sends to the roots the information to produce more nicotine. The higher levels of nicotine discourage the caterpillar.
Many plants depend on both physical and chemical defenses. A certain plant in China, for instance, has prickly (多刺的) leaves, and each prickle contains poisonous venom (毒液) A single experience with this kind of plant will teach an animal to stay away from it in the future. 
【小題1】To defend themselves, oak trees use________.

A．chemical means	B．physical means
C．bitter chemicals	D．sandy materials

【小題2】How does tobacco protect itself against an attack from a caterpillar?

A．Its leaves fight against the attack by physical means.

B．Its roots send a messenger to discourage the caterpillar.

C．Its roots increase the production of nicotine when it is attacked.

D．Its leaves produce poisonous sand to drive the caterpillar away.

【小題3】What would be the best title for this passage?

A．Plants and Animals

B．How Plants Defend Themselves

C．Attacks and Defenses

D．How Animals Eat Plant Leaves

In 1901，H. G. Wells, an English writer, wrote a book describing a trip to the moon. When the explorers landed on the moon, they discovered that the moon was full of underground cities. They expressed their surprise to the “moon people” they met. In turn, the “moon people” expressed their surprise. “Why,” they asked, “are you traveling to outer space when you don’t even use your inner space?”
H.G. Wells could only imagine travel to the moon. In 1969, human beings really did land on the moon. People today know that there are no underground cities on the moon. However, the question that the “moon people” asked is still an interesting one. A growing number of scientists are seriously thinking about it.
Underground systems are already in place. Many cities have underground car parks. In some cities, such as Tokyo, Seoul and Montreal, there are large underground shopping areas. The “Channel”，a tunnel connecting England and France, is now complete.
But what about underground cities? Japan’s Taisei Corporation is designing a network of underground systems, called “Alice Cities”. The designers imagine using surface space for public parks and using underground space for flats, offices, shopping, and so on. A solar dome would cover the whole city.
Supporters of underground development say that building down rather than building up is a good way to use the earth’s space. The space, they say, can be used for farms, parks, gardens, and wilderness. H.G. Wells “moon people” would agree. Would you?
【小題1】The explorers in H.G. Well’s story were surprised to find that the “moon people”      .

A．knew so much about the earth

B．understood their language

C．lived in so many underground cities

D．were ahead of them in space technology

【小題2】What sorts of underground system are already here with us?

A．Offices, shopping areas, power stations

B．Tunnels, car parks, shopping areas

C．Gardens, car parks, power stations

D．Tunnels, gardens, offices

【小題3】What would be the best title for the text?

A．Alice Cities—cities of the future

B．Space travel with H.G. Wells

C．Enjoy living underground

D．Building down, not up

The concept of solar power satellites, or SPS, first put forward in the 1960s, is still not widely known by the general public. For example, at many public exhibitions about energy, SPS is not even mentioned. This is mainly because very little money has been spent on SPS research
There are people who claim that SPS is unrealistic － because launch costs are much too high today; or because it is too far away. So why do we believe that it is important to continue to do researches on SPS? The reason is very simple.
Humans are going to need huge amounts of electric power in coming decades. Within 50 years the world population is expected to double, while economic growth will continue around the world, especially in the poorer countries. But existing energy sources already face serious problems. They are limited; they are polluted; they are dangerous. So 50 or 100 years from now, where is our power going to come from? Nobody knows. And so we believe that new large-scale possibilities should be studied further.
We must remember that humans have some choices concerning our future. To some extent we can choose the direction in which our civilization develops. And choices that are made in the coming decades － such as the energy sources that we will or will not use, will have major, long-term meaning for human life on earth. We believe that if research continues to show that SPS is environmentally and economically attractive, SPS will open the door to a much more attractive future for human civilization than any ground-based energy source, and one that the public will support and that young people will find challenging and exciting. Furthermore energy from SPS can be readily used in developing countries, as the SPS 2000 project will show, thus aiding economic development worldwide. In addition, by creating large commercial fund for space engineering, SPS will open the frontier of space to economic development, thus creating a limitless new field for the growth of the world economy.
【小題1】Which of the following may be the best title for the passage?

A．The Future Energy－ SPS	B．The Concept of SPS
C．Humans and SPS	D．Advantages of SPS

【小題2】Which of the following statements about SPS is TRUE?

A．The research on SPS started in the 1960s is still not appreciated by the public.

B．The research is showing SPS can benefit environment and economy at present.

C．The energy from SPS is now being used in some developing countries.

D．The public don’t know about SPS because little time is devoted to the research.

【小題3】Paragraph 3 mainly talks about ______.

A．the present serious energy problems

B．where to get energy sources in the future

C．the importance of controlling world population

D．the need to explore new energy sources

【小題4】The writer’s attitude towards the research can best be summarized by the saying “______”.

A．In time of peace prepare for war

B．Put the cart before the horse

C．One man’s meat is another man’s poison

D．Easier said than done

Many cities in the world are benefiting from the night activities of a group of people who call themselves guerrilla (游擊隊) gardeners. Armed with trowels, spades and a van full of flowers and plants, guerrilla gardeners turn abandoned urban land into a blaze of color. In city centre locations where there was mud, weeds and empty plastic bottles, residents often wake up to find that the wasted area has been transformed overnight with brightly-colored bedding plants.
In most British cities, local governments and police turn a blind eye to the effort of the gardeners, whose activities are always carried out under cover of nightfall. And so far, there has been nothing but praise from the astonished and delighted local residents when they find their neighborhood transformed in such a striking fashion.
Not only do the guerrilla gardeners beautify neglected places, they also return regularly to water the plants and weed the flower beds. They also make sure that at least some of the plants they bring are evergreens, which means that the area doesn’t look depressing in the winter months.
The first guerrilla gardener in London was Richard Reynolds, whose day job is at an advertising agency. Mr. Reynolds, a graduate of Oxford University, began his efforts two years ago when he moved to a flat in a tower block in South London. From his balcony, he could see several empty concrete pots, placed by the local governments to contain plants but never used. He went out after midnight and filled the pots with plants, and then planted more flowers in the path leading to the entrance to the block.
He then set up a website to explain his plan and called upon more gardeners to join him. Cash donations flooded in and, more importantly, volunteers rushed to be part of the campaign. Within six months, there were five hundred people in London prepared to come out at very short notice to restore neglected parts of the urban landscape. There are now unofficial but carefully-organized groups in many cities in Britain and North America and there is also a website where would-be urban gardeners can find out the location of the next expedition.
【小題1】These guerrilla gardeners do their work ______.

A．a(chǎn)t the request of the government

B．nearby their house

C．often in return for others’ help

D．out of their own free will

【小題2】Richard Reynolds decided to fill the pots with plants in order to ______.

A．plant more flowers in the path

B．beautify the neighborhood

C．a(chǎn)ttract attention for his ad agency

D．make the plants a feast for his eyes

【小題3】The guerrilla gardeners often return to their night working places with the purpose of ______.

A．looking after these plants

B．enjoying these beautiful flowers

C．helping plants live through winter months

D．changing the varieties of the plants

【小題4】It can be inferred from the text that these guerrilla gardeners ______.

A．a(chǎn)re mainly from the United Kingdom

B．will later get well paid

C．a(chǎn)re still not accepted by the local government

D．become more and more organized