Does the crab actually keep time, or does its skin simply answer to the sun’s rays, changing colour according to the amount of light strikes it? To find out, biologists kept crabs in a dark room for two months. Even without daylight, the crab’s skin colour continued to change exactly on time.

This characteristic (特性) probably developed gradually in answer to the daily rising and setting of the sun, to help protect the crab from sunlight and enemies. After millions of years it has become completely regulated (受控制) inside the living body of the crab.

The biologists noticed that once each day the colour of the fiddler crab is especially dark, and that each day this happens fifty minutes later than on the day before. From this they discovered that each crab follows not only the rhythm of the sun but also that of the tides (潮水). The crab’s period of greatest darkening is exactly the time of low tide on the beach where it was cought!

1. The fiddler crab is like a clock because it changes colour ______.

A in a regular 24—hour rhythm B. in answer to the sun’s rays C. at low tide D. every fifty minutes 2. The crab’s changing colour ______.

A. tells the crab what time it is B. protects the crab from the sunlight and enemies C. keeps the crab warm D. is of no real use 3. When the fiddler crabs were kept in the dark , they ______.

A. did not change colour B. changed colour more quickly C. changed colour more slowly D. changed colour on the same timetable 4. The crab’s colour—changing ability was probably developed ______.

A. in the process of evolution (进化) B. over millions of years C. by the work of biologists D. both A and B 5. The best title for this selection would be ______.

A. The Sun and the Tides B. Discoveries in BiologyC. A scientific StudyD. A Living Clock 51、（1分）

Everyone knows what a needle is. Of course there are needles and needles, Needles for sewing machines, needles for injection(注射), you name it. But few people think of the wonder a needle works in the hands of those who practice acupuncture(针刺疗法).

During the past ten years of so, I have been suffering from terrible headache. It seems to be getting from bad to worse these days . Last night I got a sudden pain in my head. It was so terrible that I could hardly bear(忍受)it. Although I swallowed all kinds of pain-killers(止痛药), I didn’t feel any better, It seemed that there was nothing I could do but phone for a doctor.

One of our neighbours happened to be with us. He was not a doctor, but he timidly(胆怯地) offered his help, saying “Do you mind if I tried acupuncture on you? These needles may possibly do you some good.” I agreed. In a moment, he had taken out a few needles from his purse. Without a moment’s delay, he fixed a few needles

into the skin on my head here and there, Before long, I felt thoroughly relieved(缓解疼痛). Just then, the doctor sped through my house and said, “Where is our patient?” “Sorry, Doctor, You are too late, It’s killed!” I answered in delight. It’s miracle , isn’t it?

1. The underlined word name in the first paragraph means to

A. give a name to the needles B. name as many kinds of needle as you can think of C. call the needles by the name of needles D. say the name of a needle

2. The underlined phrase from bad to worse in the second paragraph refers to the man’s A. character B. life C. headache D. health 3. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

A. the neighbour fixed needles on his own headB. The neighbour is a kind-hearted person.

C. The man’s pain was killed before the doctor arrivedD. Soon after the acupuncture, the man was completely recovered.

4. The sentences” You are too late. It’s killed .” mean that

A. the pain was killed because the doctor came lateB. the man was killed because the doctor came too late C. before the doctor came the man’s headache was already cured D. it was too late and the man had gone way 5. The passage tells us that .

A. everyone knows that acupuncture is a miracle B. the neighbour wanted to use acupuncture on every patient

C. the effect of acupuncture on the man was unbelievable D. the patient did not believe in acupunctur 52、（1分）

People used to say, “The hand that rocks (摇) the cradle (摇篮) rules the world.” and “Behind every successful man there is a woman.”

Both these sayings mean the same thing. Men rule the world, but their mothers and wives rule them.. Most American women wish to make their husbands and sons successful, but some of them want more for themselves. They want good jobs. When they work they want to be better paid. They want to be as successful as men.

The American women’s liberation movement was started by women who didn’t want to stand behind successful men. They wanted to stand beside men, with the same chance for success. They refused to work side by side with men who do the same work for a higher pay.

A liberated woman must be proud of being a woman and have confidence (自信) in herself. If somebody says to her, “You have come a long way, baby.” she will smile and answer, “Not nearly as far as I’m going

to go, baby!”

This movement is quite new, and many American women don’t agree yet. But it has already made some important changes in women’s lives--- in men’s lives, too. 1. “Behind every successful man there is a woman” means_______.

A. men are always successful but not womenB. women are not willing to stand in front of men C. women do play an important part in men’s lives and work D. women can be as successful as men 2. Which of the following is NOT true?

A. Some American women want to work side by side with men and get the same pay for the same work.

B. Most American women want to be more successful than men. C. Not every American woman wants to get a job.

D. The American women’s liberation movement did make some changes in women’s lives. 3. According to the passage, many American women today are ________。 A. still going a long way to workB. working at easier jobs than men

C. unwilling to work side by side with menD. willing to be less important than men as they used to 4. “Not nearly as far as I’m going to go”means ______.

A. I’m still going to work farther away from home B. I’m not going to work far away from home C. I’m not satisfied with what I’ve doneD. What I have done is not far from success 5. The American women’s liberation movement ________. A. have still a long way to go B. is a failure

C. was started by many successful women D. is a new thing not accepted by the write 53、（1分）

The home computer industry has been growing rapidly in the United States for the last ten years . Computers used to be large, expensive machines that were very difficult to use . But scientists and technicians have been making them smaller and cheaper while at the same time they have been made easier to use. As a result, their popularity has been increasing as more people have been buying computers for their homes and businesses. Computers have been designed to store information and compute problems that are difficult for human beings to work out. Some have voices that speak with the operators. Stores use computers to keep records of their inventories(库存货物) and to send bills to their customers(顾客) . Offices use computers to copy letters, record business and keep in touch with other offices. People have been using computers in their homes to keep track of the money they spend.

One important new use for computers is for entertainment(娱乐). Many new games have been designed to be played on the computers. People of all ages have been playing these games, People also have been buying

home computers to play computer games, watch movies and listen to concerts at home. They have become very popular indeed.

1. Computers used to _____.

A. work rapidly B. be large and expensive C. be easy to use D. be used for fun 2. In recent years , computers are being made ______.

A. larger and more expensive B. smaller and cheaper C. more difficult to use D. to work more slowly 3. Home computers can be used for ______.

A. writing letters B. playing games C. doing business D. all of the above 4. Salesmen use computers mainly to ______.

A. check the list of goods and materials that are kept in the store houseB. play games for pleasure C. talk with their friendsD. write letters 5. The best title for the passage would be _______.

A. New Uses For Computers B. The Popularity of Home Computers C. The Home Computer Industry D. Computers At Home 54、（1分）

Hank Viscardi was born without legs. He had—not legs but stumps(残肢) that could he fitted with a kind of special boots, People stared at him with cruel interest. Children laughed at him and called him ‘Ape Man’ (猿人) because his arms practically dragged on the ground.

Hank went to school like other boys. His grades were good and he needed only eight years to finish his schooling instead of the usual twelve. After graduating from school, he worked his way through college. He swept floors, waited on table, or worked in one of the college offices. During all this busy life, he had been moving around on his stumps. But one day the doctor told him even the stumps were not going to last much longer. He would soon have to use a wheel chair.

Hank felt himself got cold all over. However, the doctor said there was a chance that he could be fitted with artificial legs(假腿). Finally a leg maker was found and the day came when Hank stood up before the mirror, For the first time he saw himself as he has always wanted to be——a full five feet eight inches tall. By this time he was already 26 years old.

Hank had to learn to use his new legs. Again and again he marched the length of the room , and marched back again. There were times when he fell down on the floor, but he pulled himself up and went back to the endless marching. He went out on the street. He climbed stairs and learned to dance. He built a boat and learned to sail it.

When World War II came , he talked the Red Cross into giving him a job. He took the regular training. he

marched and drilled along with the other soldiers. Few knew that he was legless. This was the true story of Hank Viscardi, a man without legs.

1. Children laughed at Hank and called him ‘Ape Man’ because ______. A. he didn’t talk to them B. he kept away from them

C. his arms touched the ground when he moved D. he couldn’t use his arms 2. It can be inferred from the story that five feet eight inches tall is ______.

A. an average height for a fully grown person B. too tall for an average person C. too short for an average person D. none of the above

3. The sentence “he talked the Red Cross into giving him a job” implies that the Red Cross _____. A. was only glad to give him a job B. gave him a job because he was a good soldier C. gave him a job after he talked to someone whom he knew in the organization D. was not willing to give him a job at first

4. When Hank marched and drilled along with the other soldiers, he ______.

A. did everything the other soldiers did B. did most of the things the other soldiers did C. did some of the things the other soldiers did D. took some special training 5. The writer suggests that Hank Viscardi _______.

A. had no friends B. never saw himself as different from others C. was very shy D. was too proud to accept help from others 55、（1分）

In the United States, when one becomes rich, he wants people to know it. And even if he does not become very rich, he wants people to think that he is. That is what ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ is about, It is the story of someone who tried to look as rich as his neighbours.

The expression was first used in 1913 by a young American called Arthur Momand. He told this story about himself. He began earning $ 125 a week at the age of 23. That was a lot of money in those days. He got married and moved with his wife to a very wealthy neighbourhood outside New York City. When he saw that rich people rode horses, Momand went horseback riding every day. When he saw that rich people had servants. Momand and his wife also hired a servant and gave big parties for their new neighbours.

It was like a race, but one could never finish this race because one was always trying to keep up. The race ended for Momand and his wife when they could no longer pay for their new way of life. They moved back to an apartment(公寓房间) in New York City.

Momand looked around him and noticed that many people do things just to keep up with rich life--style of their neighbours. He saw the funny side of it and started to write a series (系列) of short stories, He called it