1、Unit 8I. Directions: Read the following passages, and then select the best choice for each of the questions or incomplete statements. Passage 1快速阅读自查表阅读和练习应完成的时间：5 分 22 秒实际完成时间：做对的练习题数记录：One of the greatest mysteries in biology-how the monarch butterfly (帝王蝶) travels thousands of kilometers on its y
2、early migration (迁移)-has just been solved.Monarch butterflies use the sun to set their body clocks and make their journeys, according to US scientists. No other butterfly in the world migrates like the orange and black monarchs of North America. They cannot live for long periods in cold weather. Eac
3、h autumn, thousands travel up to 3,000 km to spend the winter in the mountains of Mexico. There are so many, they almost block out the sky, and you can hear their wings beating.It usually takes the butterflies two months to reach Mexico. After staying five months, they head back up north in the spri
4、ng. But not one butterfly finishes the whole round-trip. They lay eggs along the way and die.Three generations of butterflies will live and die during the spring journey alone. The fourth and final generation of the year is born in early autumn and will reach the north. But it hardly gets to rest be
5、fore starting the long journey south to Mexico.The most amazing thing about these butterflies is that they return to the very same tree in Mexico that their great-great-grandparents used the winter before. Past studies have shown that the insects use the sun as a compass (指南针 ) to show them the way.
6、 But experts are unsure how the butterflies change their direction as the sun moves in the sky. This new study now shows that the insects use a “circadian (生理节奏的)” clock in their bodies as part of their sun compass. In laboratory tests, monarch butterflies were found to fly in the right direction un
7、der normal daylight hours. But those flying in 24-hour light headed straight towards the sun. That is, they no longer had any sense of time.Scientist Steven Reppert, who led the research, said: “ We have shown the need for the circadian clock for monarch butterfly migration. When the clock is interr
8、upted, monarchs are unable to fly towards Mexico.”(Words: 334)1. What is the focus of the passage?A) Monarch butterflies yearly migration.B) The unique living style of monarch butterflies.C) The guidance of the sun in monarch butterflies navigation.D) Monarch butterflies use body clocks as part of t
9、heir sun compass.2. Which of the following statements is true about monarch butterflies?A) Each autumn they fly north to North America. B) In spring they fly south to Mexico.C) Only a few of them can finish the round trip.D) Their color is orange and black.3. The most surprising finding about the bu
10、tterflies is that _.A) not one butterfly finishes the whole-round tripB) they can find the same tree in Mexico that their great-great-grandparents used the winter beforeC) it takes as long as two months for the butterflies to fly to MexicoD) they use the sun as a compass4. What can be learned from t
11、he passage about past studies and the new discovery?A) Past studies discovered the new function of a body clock.B) The new study discovers the use of the sun as a compass.C) The new discovery throws light on an old mystery.D) Past studies showed how the butterflies could change direction.5. What was
12、 found in the laboratory?A) Monarch butterflies lost their sense of time.B) The sun was not important in their migration.C) Butterflies flying in 24-hour light lost their sense of time. D) Their body clocks were interrupted by the sun.Passage 2快速阅读自查表阅读和练习应完成的时间：5 分 45 秒实际完成时间：做对的练习题数记录：At present,
13、there are many ways to travel, that is, we can choose different ways to go to some place. In China, more and more people have their own cars. Therefore, the roads are getting busier and busier and sometimes there are many traffic jams, especially in the big cities. How can we solve this problem? On
14、the earth the population is growing larger and larger and there will be less and less space. So some scientists are trying to make a new kind of car-a flying car. A flying car is a car that not only runs on the road, but also flies in the sky whenever there is heavy traffic. It is just like a bat (蝙
15、蝠), as it has wings. When the car runs on the ground, the wings are folded. However, when it flies, the wings are unfolded. It can fly at the height of 1,500-3,000 meters, and it can fly at the speed of 600 kilometers per hour.There will be another kind of train in the future. Maybe it will be calle
16、d the “flying train”- it looks like a plane, but it has no wings. It can run near the ground but it doesnt touch the ground. It will be much faster than any train currently available. A Japanese scientist says this kind of flying train can be made by the year 2020.So, perhaps it is possible that car
17、s and trains can fly in the sky in the future. Actually, the future plane may fly not only in the sky, but also under-ground. Yes, it will be called the “underground plane.” At present, it is still just an idea in scientists mind. According to the idea, an underground plane has two storeys, It can h
18、old 400 people. The plane will be 50 meters long, four meters tall and over two meters wide. It will be a rectangle (长方形). Its wings are in the middle of the plane. At the bottom, there are two pairs of wheels. They are used when the plane lands. When this plane is flying, it is one meter above the
19、ground. Some scientists think that this kind of plane is better than the airplanes we have now. (Words: 368)1. Why do scientists want to make “flying car” and “flying train?”A) Because the roads are getting more and more crowded. B) Because the population on earth is increasing.C) Because we will ha
20、ve less and less space. D) Because people need new modes of transportation.2. A flyin care_. A) folds its wings when it runs on he groundB) flies in the sky as its name indicatesC) keeps its wings unfolded.D) is even faster than future planes3. Which of the following statements is true about the “fl
21、ying train?”A) It looks just like a plane with no wings.B) It can fly or run directly on the ground.C) A Japanese is hopeful of making one such train.D) It may be available by 2020.4. What will the future plane be like?A) It flies underground as well as in the sky.B) It has two stories in the shape
22、of a square.C) It has two pairs of wheels in the middle.D) It flies one meter under the ground.5. It can be seen from the passage that_.A) the modes of future transportation are unknownB) the Japanese are ahead in terms of technological know-howC) the potential of creativity is unlimitedD) people ca
23、n do whatever they think ofII. Directions: Read the following passages, and then decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F).Passage 3快速阅读自查表阅读和练习应完成的时间：6 分 12秒实际完成时间：做对的练习题数记录：Teaching developmental writing in a community college is a job I never dreamed of doing. I had planned to be a
24、journalist. That changed after my second failed attempt at newspaper reporting. I moved back to Indianapolis and, four months later, began teaching.Then I met Steve, a student who was just like I was many years ago. At the beginning of the semester I gave my class a copy of Hubbards Message to Garci
25、a. After I explained the essays contents, I drew their attention to one passage: “ It is not book-learning young men need, nor instruction about this or that, but a stiffening (变硬) of the vertebrae (脊椎) which will cause them to be loyal to a trust, to act promptly (迅速地), concentrate their energies;
26、do the thing-carry a message to Garcia !”Then I told them my story. I explained to them that my high school advisor told me, “You have a great deal of potential.” He was referring to my careless habits that affected my school work. Later, in college, I understood he was right. I carried my bad habit
27、s with me, and by the end of my sophomore (大二) year, I had been kicked out due to my below-average grades. The following year, I worked in a caf, rented a room, and steadily rebuilt my academic ability by taking independent study courses. Once I had reestablished my self-confidence, I enrolled in re
28、gular classes. During that lonely year, I read. That was when I discovered Hubbards writing. Two years later, I graduated from college and became a reporter. At two different newspapers, I bungled (搞砸) my job. During a brief time of unemployment, I re-read Hubbards “Message.” Four months later I was
29、 offered a job as a teacher and as a tutor. Every year my students hear this story, and I tell them how they should make good use of their potential. When I first met Steve I told him along with the rest of the class, that succeeding in my course would only come from their “acting promptly” and “con
30、centrating their energies”. He then said he didnt need my class, and didnt see the point in writing well. At semesters end, I returned their final assignment and wondered if theyd gotten my message. Steve didnt pass the class. In his essays, I wrote, “ You have a great deal of potential” and left an
31、other copy of Hubbards essay. I hope he gets the rest of the message quicker than I did.(Words: 409)( ) 1. The writer was forced to leave college at the first semester due to poor academic work.( ) 2. The writer came across Hubbards writing when he felt lonely and helpless. ( ) 3. After leaving coll
32、ege, the writer realized that his high school advisor was right. ( ) 4. Message to Garcia tells us about the importance of book-learning.( ) 5. The passage is about how the author regained his self-confidence after overcoming his shortcomings, and how he shared it with his students.Passage 4快速阅读自查表阅
33、读和练习应完成的时间：6 分 1 秒实际完成时间：做对的练习题数记录：You may think that inventions are far away from your everyday life. But in fact, almost everyone can invent. Its just that they do not recognize their idea could be the start of an invention. Once inventors see their ideas have some practical value, they dont let t
34、hem slip away(溜走). For example, the inventor of the dishwasher, the American Josephine Cochrane, loved to give dinner parties. But she found it took too long to wash her dishes by hand and too many of them broke, So she decided hat a machine could do the job faster and with fewer mistakes. So, in 18
35、86, she set out to make one for herself. Like Cochranes most inventions are created to solve a problem. So, the first and most important step is to find the problem. You can start by looking at what is wrong with the things you use now. You can ask your grandparents or neighbors if they ever remembe
36、r saying, “ I wish someone would invent something for” Or you can look at people out on the street, or at school. Then you might notice situations or things in need of improvement. Remember to record your ideas and work. This will help you develop your invention and protect it when it is completed.
37、The next step is to think about possible solution. An invention is a new way of solving a problem. So think of many, varied, and unusual ways. You can often come up with a solution for a problem by looking at it from a different angle or thinking about it in a new way. And if one solution doesnt wor
38、k, can it be put to other uses? That was how yellow “post-it notes” came about-a “failed” adhesive (黏合剂 ) experiment proved a weak adhesive had good uses, too!After all, most inventions are not brand new. They do not come out of nowhere, but come out of things or ideas that already exist. And the ha
39、rdest part of inventing, even for a lot of inventors, is coming up with a problem and finding a solution. Once you have an idea, you can always get help building your invention.This problem-solving technique can also work in your everyday lives. So. Why not try it in your studies, in your relationsh
40、ip with others, or even in the way you look at the world?(Words: 392)( ) 1. The writer is encouraging in the tone of his writing.( ) 2. An inventor is good at catching ideas which have practical value.( ) 3. Most inventions are based on existing things or ideas.( ) 4. The example of “post-it notes”
41、tells us about the new function of a strong adhesive. ( ) 5. The principle of invention can also be applied to our everyday life.III. Directions: Read the following passages, and then fill in the blanks with the missing information.Passage 5快速阅读自查表阅读和练习应完成的时间：6 分 35 秒实际完成时间：做对的练习题数记录：When Bill Gates
42、 founded Corbis in 1989, he mission was to figure out how to use digital (数字的) images in the computer age. The Internet was still in its early days, and no one in the company was sure what the market might be. Gates, was a collector of fine art and rare books, believed there would be one. Microsoft
43、was already consuming (消费，利用) digitized art and photography for its CD-ROMs.In the mid 1990s, Corbis began by acquiring materials from the Bettmann archive (档案馆), news photo agencies and smaller archives. Corbis, says Chief Executive Steve Davis, wanted to be super-provider of digitized images to th
44、e world, images that would not decay (腐烂，衰败) and would be available forever. But the question of exactly how many of the pictures would be digitized remained a question. Digitizing, it turned out, involved much more than simply placing a photograph on a scanner (扫瞄仪) and then pressing a button. A lo
45、w-resolution (低清晰度 ) image for a computer screen, for example, could be created quickly and fairly cheaply, at a cost of about $3USD. But the cost of creating higher quality images-the kind suitable for ad agencies, magazines and other outlets that Corbis was seeking-was more like $70USD per image.
46、Besides the cost, there were other reasons to proceed slowly. Corbis researchers saw that only about 100,000 of the collections 11 million original images had ever been looked at by a client, and of that number, only about 75,000 had ever been sold. So Corbis set out to do a massive editing job to l
47、earn what was likely to sell in the future. In the meantime, critics said that putting only a small fraction of the collection online was basically like shrinking (缩小) the worlds photo resources. And so Corbis said the scanning would continue. Whenever a picture is sold, it would be scanned and adde
48、d to the digital files. Corbis was also facing a question faced by archivists everywhere; How many photographs are enough?Pictures are important cultural documents, but not all pictures, can be saved, nor should be, says Grant Romer, chief conservator at the George Eastman House International Museum
49、 of Photography and Film in the U.S. The cost would be too much, and anyways, “How many photographs of men with mustaches and hats do we need?” he said. Still, it is an archivists rule that the best plan is to save everything, because we are poor judges of what will be important to future generations. However, choices will inevitably have to be made, by individuals, or the marketplace, or even by nature itself. Sunlight and moisture have a way of turning a normal family photo display into nothing. ( Words: 443)1. Materials Corbis acquired at the
