As I am taking a backward glance at my childhood and my adolescence, those happy moments are flowing through my mind   1   a movie. My mom and dad were teaching my brother and me   2  , watching the colorful sunset together,   3   the bedtime stories for us…

One particular scene is coming up to my   4   at this moment－it was an autumn night, one of the beautiful nights in four   5  . Stars were twinkling in the    6   blue sky, and tree leaves were shimmering(閃爍)   7   the silvery, full moon as they   8   slowly with the cool breeze. My brother and I went to bed reluctantly at 9:30 after playing.

Suddenly, my brother and I were woken up by my mom.

“What’s going on?” I asked in my sleepy voice   9   I was rubbing my eyes, and looking at the clock. It was   10   to the midnight.

“Come, come to the window.” She whispered.

As we were   11   into the starry sky, a shining object, flying   12   the heaven far, far away, left a bright, slightly curved, long path, as its tail was blurring(模糊) and   13  . “Wow, awesome(驚人的)!” We were   14  , and it took us a long time to   15   back into sleep.

When I was a boy, I didn’t think too much about this   16   experience. But as I’ve grown up, I began to understand it.

My parents have taken us with them to embark(著手，開始) on the adventures together, to open the windows for   17   to see the wonderful world, to   18   wonder and excitement with us…They have been passing their enthusiasm, optimism, wisdoms and many small things  19  us, things money can’t buy.

Now I have a job in a global consulting firm, and my work projects have taken me to many places and countries around the globe and those moments are   20   with me.

1．A．as                         B．like                     C．in                       D．with

2．A．swim                    B．swimming           C．to swim              D．swum

4．A．mentality               B．brain                   C．heart                   D．mind

5．A．seasons                 B．sessions              C．periods                D．parts

6．A．darkness               B．darken                 C．dark                    D．darkly

7．A．in                         B．under                  C．on                      D．above

8．A．sway                    B．swayed               C．are swaying         D．were swaying

9．A．as                         B．since                   C．which                 D．how

10．A．nearly                 B．closely                C．near                    D．close

11．A．watching             B．gazing                 C．glaring                D．glancing

12．A．through               B．off                      C．across                 D．by

13．A．fading away         B．giving away         C．running away       D．passing away

14．A．shocked              B．excited                C．surprised             D．disappointed

15．A．pull                     B．hold                    C．fall                      D．draw

16．A．real                     B．common              C．unreal                 D．uncommon

17．A．him                     B．us                       C．them                   D．me

18．A．share                  B．observe               C．separate              D．divide

19．A．in to                    B．up to                   C．on to                   D．back to

20．A．sometimes           B．never                  C．also                     D．always

On August 5 at 10:31 p.m. PST, a rover（探測器）named Curiosity touched down safely on the surface of Mars, and I was lucky enough to have a front-row seat.
My name is Clara, and when I was in Grade 6, I won the essay contest NASA held to name its next Mars rover. The essay I wrote was not even 250 words long, but somehow it was enough to change my life.
I still remember that cold December day, sitting in a science class. I’d finished a worksheet early and decided to get a Time for Kids magazine off Mrs. Estevez’s bookshelf. It was the 2008 Invention Issue, but that wasn’t the only thing that caught my eye. In the magazine, there was an article about a girl who named the Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. The article also talked about the essay contest NASA was holding to name its next Mars rover. Before I even knew anything else about it, a single word flooded my 11-year-old mind: Curiosity.
I couldn’t wait for the bell to ring so I could get started on my essay. That afternoon, I raced home from the bus stop, sat down at the computer and typed until my fingers ached. It turned out that I was just in time. A few days later, and the contest would have closed.
Five months later, shortly after I had turned 12, I was watching a National Geographic special on mammoths when the phone rang. My mom answered, and immediately, a wide smile spread across her face. When she told me that I had won, I was happier than I could ever remember being, I screamed and ran up and down the stairs and all around the house. I completely forgot about the mammoths and did not even remember to turn off the TV until it was really late.
Curiosity is such an important part of who I am. I have always been fascinated by the stars, the planets, the sky and the universe. I remember as a little girl, my grandfather and I would sit together in the backyard for hours. He’d tell me stories and point out the stars.
My grandfather lived in China, thousands of miles away from my home in Kansas. I loved the stars because they kept us together even when we were apart. They were always there, yet there was so much I didn’t know about them. That’s what I love so much about space. No matter how much we learn, it will always possess some mystery.
In the past, space exploration may have been a competition to see who got somewhere first or the fastest. But now, it is one of the few things that bring people together. Science is a language that needs no translation. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what you look like – you just have to have a thirst for knowledge and a passion for learning in order to succeed.
People often ask me why we go to faraway places like Mars. Why do we explore? My answer to that is simple: because we can; because we’re curious; because we as human beings do not just stay holed up in one place. We are constantly wondering and trying to find out what’s over the hill and beyond the horizon.
The curiosity rover is more than just a robot. It is more than just a titanium body and aluminum wheels. Curiosity represents the hard work, passion, love and commitment of thousands of people from all over the world who were brought together by science. Science is so awesome. It is breathtaking and mind-blowing; and sometimes, it’s just a little bit crazy. The discoveries we make about our world are incredibly humbling. They move us forward and have the potential to benefit all of mankind.
This December it will be four years of my life that have been tied to Curiosity in some way. I’ve met so many amazing people through this experience, from scientists to engineers to administrators to volunteers. Their devotion and enthusiasm inspire me greatly. My journey with Curiosity and the MSL mission team has shaped the person that I am today, as well as the person I would one day like to become.
I am deeply grateful to everyone who made it possible for me to have this amazing adventure.
And to you, I hope your curiosity takes you far.
【小題1】 The method the writer uses to begin the passage is _____.

On August 5 at 10:31 p.m. PST, a rover（探測器）named Curiosity touched down safely on the surface of Mars, and I was lucky enough to have a front-row seat.

My name is Clara, and when I was in Grade 6, I won the essay contest NASA held to name its next Mars rover. The essay I wrote was not even 250 words long, but somehow it was enough to change my life.

I still remember that cold December day, sitting in a science class. I’d finished a worksheet early and decided to get a Time for Kids magazine off Mrs. Estevez’s bookshelf. It was the 2008 Invention Issue, but that wasn’t the only thing that caught my eye. In the magazine, there was an article about a girl who named the Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. The article also talked about the essay contest NASA was holding to name its next Mars rover. Before I even knew anything else about it, a single word flooded my 11-year-old mind: Curiosity.

I couldn’t wait for the bell to ring so I could get started on my essay. That afternoon, I raced home from the bus stop, sat down at the computer and typed until my fingers ached. It turned out that I was just in time. A few days later, and the contest would have closed.

Five months later, shortly after I had turned 12, I was watching a National Geographic special on mammoths when the phone rang. My mom answered, and immediately, a wide smile spread across her face. When she told me that I had won, I was happier than I could ever remember being, I screamed and ran up and down the stairs and all around the house. I completely forgot about the mammoths and did not even remember to turn off the TV until it was really late.

Curiosity is such an important part of who I am. I have always been fascinated by the stars, the planets, the sky and the universe. I remember as a little girl, my grandfather and I would sit together in the backyard for hours. He’d tell me stories and point out the stars.

My grandfather lived in China, thousands of miles away from my home in Kansas. I loved the stars because they kept us together even when we were apart. They were always there, yet there was so much I didn’t know about them. That’s what I love so much about space. No matter how much we learn, it will always possess some mystery.

In the past, space exploration may have been a competition to see who got somewhere first or the fastest. But now, it is one of the few things that bring people together. Science is a language that needs no translation. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what you look like – you just have to have a thirst for knowledge and a passion for learning in order to succeed.

People often ask me why we go to faraway places like Mars. Why do we explore? My answer to that is simple: because we can; because we’re curious; because we as human beings do not just stay holed up in one place. We are constantly wondering and trying to find out what’s over the hill and beyond the horizon.

The curiosity rover is more than just a robot. It is more than just a titanium body and aluminum wheels. Curiosity represents the hard work, passion, love and commitment of thousands of people from all over the world who were brought together by science. Science is so awesome. It is breathtaking and mind-blowing; and sometimes, it’s just a little bit crazy. The discoveries we make about our world are incredibly humbling. They move us forward and have the potential to benefit all of mankind.

This December it will be four years of my life that have been tied to Curiosity in some way. I’ve met so many amazing people through this experience, from scientists to engineers to administrators to volunteers. Their devotion and enthusiasm inspire me greatly. My journey with Curiosity and the MSL mission team has shaped the person that I am today, as well as the person I would one day like to become.

I am deeply grateful to everyone who made it possible for me to have this amazing adventure.

And to you, I hope your curiosity takes you far.

1. The method the writer uses to begin the passage is _____.

A．telling a story                          B．giving an example

C．offering an explanation                   D．describing a scene

2.Why did the writer hurry home to finish the essay for the contest NASA held?

A．She had just gathered enough information from Time for Kids

B．She wanted to write down what flashed through her mind in time.

C．She knew from Mrs. Estevez the deadline for the contest was approaching.

D．She was afraid she might miss the chance to compete with the former winner.

3. The writer mentions her grandfather in order to show that ______.

A．she missed him very much.

B．he knew a great deal about space

C．he influenced her to love the stars

D．she treasured their happy moments

4.Which of the following serves as a summary of Paragraph 11?

A．The writer was inspired to be a volunteer by the people she met.

B．The writer owed her success to her team members’ encouragement.

C．The writer met many difficulties in her four-year life with Curiosity.

D．The writer has benefited a lot from her experience tied to Curiosity.

5.Which best describes the writer’s tone in the passage?

A．Sharp.            B．Proud.            C．Aggressive.        D．Enthusiastic.

6.What is conveyed in the passage?

A．Curiosity is important to human beings.

B．A thirst for knowledge helps one grow up.

C．Entering a contest is a way to achieve success.

D．Curiosity changes people’s attitude towards science.

On August 5 at 10:31 p.m. PST, a rover（探測器）named Curiosity touched down safely on the surface of Mars, and I was lucky enough to have a front-row seat.
My name is Clara, and when I was in Grade 6, I won the essay contest NASA held to name its next Mars rover. The essay I wrote was not even 250 words long, but somehow it was enough to change my life.
I still remember that cold December day, sitting in a science class. I’d finished a worksheet early and decided to get a Time for Kids magazine off Mrs. Estevez’s bookshelf. It was the 2008 Invention Issue, but that wasn’t the only thing that caught my eye. In the magazine, there was an article about a girl who named the Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. The article also talked about the essay contest NASA was holding to name its next Mars rover. Before I even knew anything else about it, a single word flooded my 11-year-old mind: Curiosity.
I couldn’t wait for the bell to ring so I could get started on my essay. That afternoon, I raced home from the bus stop, sat down at the computer and typed until my fingers ached. It turned out that I was just in time. A few days later, and the contest would have closed.
Five months later, shortly after I had turned 12, I was watching a National Geographic special on mammoths when the phone rang. My mom answered, and immediately, a wide smile spread across her face. When she told me that I had won, I was happier than I could ever remember being, I screamed and ran up and down the stairs and all around the house. I completely forgot about the mammoths and did not even remember to turn off the TV until it was really late.
Curiosity is such an important part of who I am. I have always been fascinated by the stars, the planets, the sky and the universe. I remember as a little girl, my grandfather and I would sit together in the backyard for hours. He’d tell me stories and point out the stars.
My grandfather lived in China, thousands of miles away from my home in Kansas. I loved the stars because they kept us together even when we were apart. They were always there, yet there was so much I didn’t know about them. That’s what I love so much about space. No matter how much we learn, it will always possess some mystery.
In the past, space exploration may have been a competition to see who got somewhere first or the fastest. But now, it is one of the few things that bring people together. Science is a language that needs no translation. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what you look like – you just have to have a thirst for knowledge and a passion for learning in order to succeed.
People often ask me why we go to faraway places like Mars. Why do we explore? My answer to that is simple: because we can; because we’re curious; because we as human beings do not just stay holed up in one place. We are constantly wondering and trying to find out what’s over the hill and beyond the horizon.
The curiosity rover is more than just a robot. It is more than just a titanium body and aluminum wheels. Curiosity represents the hard work, passion, love and commitment of thousands of people from all over the world who were brought together by science. Science is so awesome. It is breathtaking and mind-blowing; and sometimes, it’s just a little bit crazy. The discoveries we make about our world are incredibly humbling. They move us forward and have the potential to benefit all of mankind.
This December it will be four years of my life that have been tied to Curiosity in some way. I’ve met so many amazing people through this experience, from scientists to engineers to administrators to volunteers. Their devotion and enthusiasm inspire me greatly. My journey with Curiosity and the MSL mission team has shaped the person that I am today, as well as the person I would one day like to become.
I am deeply grateful to everyone who made it possible for me to have this amazing adventure.
And to you, I hope your curiosity takes you far

1. 1.

   The method the writer uses to begin the passage is _____

   1. A.
      telling a story
   2. B.
      giving an example
   3. C.
      offering an explanation
   4. D.
      describing a scene
2. 2.

   Why did the writer hurry home to finish the essay for the contest NASA held?

   1. A.
      She had just gathered enough information from Time for Kids
   2. B.
      She wanted to write down what flashed through her mind in time
   3. C.
      She knew from Mrs. Estevez the deadline for the contest was approaching
   4. D.
      She was afraid she might miss the chance to compete with the former winner
3. 3.

   The writer mentions her grandfather in order to show that ______

   1. A.
      she missed him very much
   2. B.
      he knew a great deal about space
   3. C.
      he influenced her to love the stars
   4. D.
      she treasured their happy moments
4. 4.

   Which of the following serves as a summary of Paragraph 11?

   1. A.
      The writer was inspired to be a volunteer by the people she met
   2. B.
      The writer owed her success to her team members’ encouragement
   3. C.
      The writer met many difficulties in her four-year life with Curiosity
   4. D.
      The writer has benefited a lot from her experience tied to Curiosity
5. 5.

   Which best describes the writer’s tone in the passage?

   1. A.
      Sharp
   2. B.
      Proud
   3. C.
      Aggressive
   4. D.
      Enthusiastic
6. 6.

   What is conveyed in the passage?

   1. A.
      Curiosity is important to human beings
   2. B.
      A thirst for knowledge helps one grow up
   3. C.
      Entering a contest is a way to achieve success
   4. D.
      Curiosity changes people’s attitude towards science

Part Three: Reading Comprehension

I.  Fill in the blanks, using the proper forms of the words below.

( respect, watch, wander off, nest, worthwhile, discover, forest, where, argue, observe, work out, sleep, behave, entertainment, understand )

A PROTECTION OF AFRICAN WILDLIFE

It is 5:45 am and the sun is just rising over Gombe National Park in East Africa. Our group are all going to visit the chimps in the     1   . Jane has studied these animals for many years and helped people   2    how much they    3   like humans.     4    a family of chimps wake up is our first activity of the day. This means going back to a place   5  we left the chimp family    6   in a tree the night before. Everybody sits and waits while the animals in the group begin to wake up and move. Then we follow as the family begins to    7   into the forest. Most of the time, chimps either feed or clean each other as a way of showing love in their family. Jane warns us that everybody will be very tired and dirty by the afternoon and she is right. But the evening makes it all    8   . The mother chimp and her babies play in the tree and, after they come into her arms, we see them go to sleep together in their    9  for the night.

Nobody before has fully understand chimp behaviour. Jane spent many years   10   and recording their daily activities. She did not study at a university but she was determined to work with animals in their own environment. When she arrived at Gombe in 1960, it was unusual for a woman to live in the forest. Only after her mother came to help her for the first few months was she allowed to begin her project. Her work changed the way people think about chimps. For example, one thing she    11   was that chimps hunt and eat meat. Until then everyone had thought chimps ate only fruit and nuts. She actually observed chimps as a group hunting a monkey and then eating it. She also discovered how chimps communicate with each other and her study of their body language helped her   12   their social system

For forty years Jane Goodall has been helping the rest of the world understand and   13 the life of these animals. She has   14   for them to be left in the wild and not used for         15    or advertisements. She has set up special places where they can live safely. Her life is very busy but as she says:

“Once I stop, it all comes crowding in and I remember the chimps in laboratories. It’s terrible. It affects me when I watch the wild chimps. I say to myself, ‘Aren’t they lucky?’ And then think about small chimps in cages though they have done nothing wrong. Once you have seen that you can never forget…”

She has achieved everything she wanted to do: working with animals in their own environment, gaining a doctor’s degree for studies, showing that women can live in the forest as men can. She inspires those who want to cheer the achievements of women.