四會(huì)中學(xué)2009屆高三英語第1周周練

一

The octopus’s（章魚）reputation as a human-killer isn’t simply an exaggeration（夸張）―it is a total myth. The octopus can indeed be a deadly hunter, but only of its natural victims. Some shellfish（殼類動(dòng)物）and an occasional sick or incautious fish have reason to be frightened of this multi-armed hunter, but a person is much too large to interest even the biggest octopus. Even the largest among octopi is much smaller than most people imagine. Far from being large enough to swallow a ship, as monster octopi in movies have been known to do, the largest octopus, found on the Pacific coast, weighs around 110 pounds and grows to no more than ten feet in width.

The hard, parrot-like beak（喙）of an octopus is not used for attacking deep-sea divers, but for cutting open shellfish. Indeed, the octopus possesses such a tiny throat that it cannot swallow large pieces of meat. Instead, it feeds by pouring digestive juices into its victims, and then sucking up the soupy remains. A shellfish that finds itself in the grasp of an octopus has only a short time to live. But human beings are perfectly safe. Still, people rarely care to go close enough to these careful creatures to get a good look at them.

1．This passage is mainly about           .

      A．the horrors of the octopus

       B．the largest octopus in the world

       C．the octopi and their behaviour

       D．the octopus’s deadly hunting method

2．It is implied but not stated in the passage that           .

       A．people have unreasonable fears about the octopus

       B．the octopus is not interested in human beings

       C．the octopus is afraid of human beings

       D．the octopus is a very cruel sea animal

3．What does the underlined part “careful creatures” refer to in the last paragraph?

       A．Octopi.             B．Shellfish.          C．Fish.                 D．The victims.

4．The hard beak of the octopus is used for           .

      A．a(chǎn)ttacking deep-sea divers

       B．cutting up large pieces of meat

       C．cutting open its victims

       D．defending itself

5．From the passage, we can conclude that           .

       A．the octopus is not dangerous to man

       B．people often fear creatures that are not dangerous to them

       C．the octopus only hunts its natural victims

       D．things described in movies are not to be believed

二

We all hate speed cameras, don’t we? They’re not there to slow drivers down and lower the road accidents; they just make money for the government. They trick us, cost us cold hard cash, disturb us from driving properly and are unfair.

Well, here’s a surprising thing: what if there were facts that the boring cameras actually saved lives? It’s a conclusion difficult to ignore when you look at what’s happening in France, a country with a historically poor record of road safety.

There were 16,617 road deaths in 1972 in France for example, but that dropped to 8412 by 1995 following rules such as compulsory seat belt wearing in 1990 and a lowering of the blood alcohol limit to 0.05 in 1995.

Last year, the road deaths dropped below 5,000 for the first time, or 4.9 per cent less than 2004. Comparing road deaths to population in 2005, that’s about 817 per million people compared with Australia’s 806.

And guess what? Last year the number of speed cameras on French roads reached 1,000 and the government plans to double that within the next three years.

Okay, you know the arguments regarding increased traffic safety and cameras-for-income, but it seems in France there’s been a major cultural change brought on by radars and other laws. A three-hour, wine-soaked lunch with a quick rush back to the office is no longer on.

Travelling on the highways, it is rare to see anyone breaking the 130km/h speed limit when once few traveled below it. The speed cameras are clearly signed so drivers know when they are coming. There’s even an official web site listing fixed and mobile camera locations and it is updated regularly.

Maybe it is because of such transparency by government, rather than the concealment too often used by authorities in many other countries that more French can enjoy la joi de vivre thanks to speed cameras.

6．Generally, it seems to most people that speed cameras are used to           .

       A．make money for the government

       B．slow down the traffic

       C．lower the road accidents

       D．help us drive properly

7．From the passage we can learn that           .

       A．France has a very poor record of road safety

       B．we’d better ignore the evidence that speed cameras save lives

       C．France had less road deaths than Australia in 2005

       D．France does successfully in controlling road accidents

8．Which seems more effective in lowering road deaths in France according to this passage?

      A．Compulsory seat belt.                     B．Lowering blood alcohol limit.

       C．Placing more speed cameras.           D．Eating in a shorter time.

9．Now you can seldom see in France           .

       A．people drive at a speed of less than 130km/h

       B．lunch time lasts long hours with drunk people rushing back to office

       C．drivers drive according to the traffic lights

       D．police conduct traffic in streets 

10．What does the underlined word “concealment” in the last paragraph mean?

       A．Secrecy.           B．Openness.        C．Strictness.        D．Harmony.

三

Sometime early in the next century, human beings will move to Mars. They will live there for about a year, and then will be replaced with another group of pioneers. Building the base on Mars will advance our knowledge of the solar system and aid in our understanding of the earth.

We already know that Mars resembles the earth in many aspects: general size, presence of water, length of day, range of temperatures. These resemblances have caused many people to consider a centuries-long project: to terraform Mars. Terraforming means altering a planet’s surface so that Earth’s life forms can survive there. This concept, previously found only in science fiction is now being seriously considered by scientists.

Terraforming Mars is theoretically simple: add nitrogen and oxygen to the atmosphere; pump water to the surface; and add the earth’s plants and animals in the order in which they developed on Earth. But it will take at least 300 years.

Some people think that such a project is too huge for humans to undertake, but there are very good reasons to make the attempt. The earth now contains some 6 billion people, and no one has any idea of how many humans the earth can support. Our very existence and numbers are threatening many other species. We also have had some experience with terraforming our own planet: altering the landscape, the atmosphere and the climate. Currently terraforming earth has become a wiser activity as we try to control global warming, air and water pollution, and preserve some natural living places.

While the possibility of such a project is small, it is not impossible. Even if earth-bound societies come and go in the next 300 years, the project can continue through the work of the Mars settlers without the need for constant backing from the earth.

The future existence of all the people in our world may very well depend upon our ability to terraform Mars.

11．What would be the best title for this passage?

       A．Terraforming Mars.                         B．Saving the Earth.

       C．Travelling to Mars.                          D．A Newly-found Place.

12．What does the underlined word “altering” mean in the second paragraph?

       A．Warming.         B．Changing.        C．Planting.           D．Building.

13．According to the passage the main purpose of terraforming Mars is to           .

       A．do some scientific research work

       B．find out its similarity to earth

       C．a(chǎn)void the dying away of many other species

       D．find on Mars living place for the increasing human beings

14．The main reason for causing many people to consider terraforming Mars is that           .

       A．there are some resemblances between Earth and Mars.

       B．terraforming Mars is theoretically simple

       C．we have had some experience with terraforming our own planet: Earth

       D．the development of science and technology is very rapid

15．What’s the author’s attitude towards the project?

       A．Optimistic.       B．Negative.         C．Sceptical.         D．Objective.

四

When six the very best students from different cities in Guandong province all together chose universities in Hong Kong; when the very best student of Beijing picked up HK University while giving up the nearby Peking or Tsinghua University; when the highest enrollment （錄�。﹔ate of Hong Kong Science and Industry University reached 48:1, it’s the high time to ask where the real education heaven for students in China is.

Years ago, the answer certainly would be “Peking or Tsinghua University”. But now no one could give the exact reaction without hesitation. The only sure thing is that HK universities have gradually showed an unusual attraction to a great many mainland students.

It’s no doubt to call this HK craze（狂熱）,which is even out of the expectation of those HK universities themselves.

How can HK universities shake the steady foundations of Peking and Tsinghua and attract so many mainland students?

First, Hong Kong universities offer large-amount scholarship, especially for the top students who can receive the sum scholarship as much as 400,000 HK dollars. Since higher education has become a kind of heavy burden of many families, it’s easy to understand why the reaction to the generous offering of HK universities is great.

Second, most HK universities receive professors and students from all over the world and carry out bilingual（雙語）education. This kind of excellent language atmosphere is another attraction for mainland students.

Further more, university students in Hong Kong have a better chance to study abroad as exchange students.

Can mainland top universities like Peking or Tsinghua University calm as before when facing the unexpected competition from HK? Will they take relevant measures to win back the top students who once help them set the worldwide reputation? Time will explain it.

The fierce competition brought by HK universities can be a good thing for an entire improvement of education in China. After the awakening and action taking of mainland universities, they can perform better together with HK universities.

At least, it reminded the mainland universities the tuition fees（學(xué)費(fèi)）are among students’ top concern when they are choosing universities. It’s time to move.

16．What is the passage mainly talking about?

       A．Some thought brought by the enrollment of HK universities.

       B．Higher education in Hong Kong.

       C．The competition between HK University and Peking University.

       D．The fall of mainland universities.

17．Top students from mainland apply for HK universities because           .

       A．many students now would love to study aboard to get a better experience

       B．they concern only about the tuition fees when choosing universities

       C．HK universities offer higher scholarship, better environment and more opportunities for their further study

       D．Peking university has lost its worldwide reputation

18．What is the author’s attitude toward the competition brought by HK universities?

       A．The government should take relevant measures to stop this unfair competition.

       B．Mainland universities had better lower their tuition fees and win back the top students.

       C．Universities both in mainland and in HK would get an entire improvement during the competition.

       D．It may probably cause a complete loss both sides in the end.

19．From the passage we can see HK universities           .

       A．didn’t mean to enroll top students from mainland

       B．didn’t expect their enrollment of mainland students would be so popular

       C．have strict enrollment rules and only 1 out of 48 students can get the chance to study there

       D．a(chǎn)re proud of their teaching staff and facilities

20．What does the author mean by saying “It’s time to move” in the last paragraph?

       A．Mainland universities should take measures as soon as possible to attract students.

       B．The opportunities come for top students to study abroad.

       C．Mainland universities should make full preparations to challenge mainland universities.

       D．Top students should be offered further education free of charge.

五

Allen: I’ve never been a big fan of the bears, especially the vacation show. On my last trip to Disneyland (1999) we passed it by, because we didn’t want to spend the time on something we didn’t really enjoy. If we’d known it would be closed by our next visit. I’m sure we would have watched it one more time. I was just making the point that it wasn’t until Disney announced the closing that this feeling suddenly sprang (彈跳) up for the Country Bear show at Disneyland.

       But I think the idea of keeping some attractions open forever regardless of the number of visitors it gets is a mistake. We all have great memories of the Bears, but clearly very few kids today (or I should say families today) are making those same memories from this show. That may be a sad fact, but it’s a fact. For whatever reason, the show doesn’t pull in the numbers. Isn’t it right to use the Country Bear space to bring in a more popular attraction so that more kids today can make those magic memories of an attraction they like? Otherwise aren’t we just telling kids today that they “have to” make great memories of the Bears, when it’s obvious that the kids themselves are not enjoying the Bears like we did?

       Roger: I am very disappointed that they have decided to retire the Country Bear Playhouse. I remember going to the show as a child, and still enjoyed it as a teenager, and now young adult. It is true that there aren’t a lot of shows left at DL and with this one closing even less. Being at DL does require a lot of walking, and it is nice to have a few attractions that are a place to sit and enjoy a good show. I understand that DL has to develop, but there has to be some history to the Disneyland that Walt Disney first designed. There should be some parts of DL that just never go away, and this is one of them. By the time I have children it looks like there won’t be any attractions that I can say I went to as a child at the rate they are going.

Now the Bears are leaving. What I want to say is: stop trying to compete with everyone! DL is the best, because of attractions like the Country Bears. If DL insists on destroying all of its magic to make way for the latest, well, then it might as well be just another theme park.

21．What news might get people talking about the problem of the Country Bears?

       A．The Country Bear Playhouse will be closed.

       B．There will be a new attraction for our guests at Disneyland.

       C．The number of visitors to the Country Bear Playhouse is falling.

       D．The Bears will retire because of old age and can’t give shows any more.

22．Allen spoke mainly to get his point across that ________.

A．the Bears will be missed

B．we should tell kids today that they “have to ” make great memories of the Bears

C．the longtime attraction ought to make way for a future attraction

D．people never care about what they have until all is lost

23．Which is the best choice to complete Roger’s idea: “The Country Bears have been a part of Disneyland for nearly 30 years, __________.”

       A．a(chǎn)nd I feel it is time to give our bears a good rest

       B．but anyway, the attraction has lost interest

       C．but I know that Disneyland will always be changing, and I accept that

       D．a(chǎn)nd I am sad that the Bears will be leaving

24．Which of the following is not in the same group as the other three?

       A．a(chǎn)n attraction     B．the latest magic  C．the Bears      D．a(chǎn) theme park

25．Where can this passage be found?

       A．In a Web discussion zone.              

       B．In a suggestion book.

       C．In a report on the popularity of the Country Bears.

       D．In high school students’ compositions.

四會(huì)中學(xué)2009屆高三英語第1周周練答案

一．CAACA  二.  ADCBA   三.  ABDAA    四.  ACCBA    五． ACDBA