The Mystery of the Flashing Fireflies
During summer nights fireflies flash in the darkness. They look like bright spots of light dancing on the breeze. Catching them in a jar for a few minutes can be fun. Fireflies are not really flies, though. They are winged beetles. Scientists are using these special beetles to learn more about our world.
The reason a firefly flashed its light is to find a mate. There are around two thousand species, or kinds, of fireflies. Fireflies mate only with their own species. Each kind of firefly has its own flash pattern. It is important that fireflies recognize this pattern. That way they can find bugs of their own kind. The male firefly flies around in the sky while the female firefly stays close to the ground.
For many years, how a firefly flashes its light was a mystery. Scientists now know that a firefly’s light is a cold light. It gives off all of its power as light. It does not produce heat. A normal light bulb gives off only ten percent of its power as light. The rest of the power is wasted as heat. That is why a light bulb that has been on for a while is very hot. The firefly’s light does not feel hot like a light bulb.
Scientists have also learned that fireflies have a small built-in lantern. This special lantern is located inside a firefly’s body. To create light, a gas flows through tiny tubes. This causes the firefly to light up. A firefly can also turn its light on and off quickly. This puzzled scientists. They learned that short bursts of this gas make the firefly glow. When the gas fades, the light goes out. This process happens very quickly.
Scientists know that what they learn from fireflies will be important. Medical studies using fireflies are helping scientists fight illnesses in human beings. They have made new medicines from the chemicals used by fireflies to make light. Fireflies have also helped with new discoveries. New flashlights and flares have been made based on fireflies. These new flashlights and flares produce a cold light like a firefly. This way all the power makes the light shine. This little bug may be a pleasure to watch, but it is also an important part of our lives.
小題1:Why did the author most likely include Paragraph 4?
A．To explain how fireflies make light.B．To describe different kinds of fireflies.
C．To show how much power fireflies use.D．To describe why fireflies make light.
小題2:Which of these is the best choice for a heading for Paragraph 5?
A．The Cool Light of FirefliesB．Watching Fireflies Flash
C．Understanding the PatternsD．Learning from Fireflies
小題3:According to the passage, a firefly’s light is different from a light bulb’s light because the firefly’s light _______.
A．shines brighterB．does not fadeC．lasts longerD．is not hot
小題4:A reader asks this question about the passage: “ How many different kinds of fireflies are there?” Which paragraph from the passage answers the question?
A．Paragraph 2B．Paragraph 3C．Paragraph 4D．Paragraph 5
小題5:The author most likely wrote this passage in order to __.
A．tell why fireflies light upB．give facts about fireflies
C．show how fireflies help doctorsD．compare a firefly to a light bulb
小題1:A小題1:D小題1:D小題1:A小題1:B
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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Europe's first major university department to promote research into government and public policy will open in Oxford under new plans．
In a hugely significant move, Oxford University will create a new school of government in 2012 following a￡75 million donation by Leonard Blavatnik, the American industrialist and philanthropist（慈善家）．The school is intended to train outstanding graduates from across the world in the skills and responsibilities of government．The move is being backed by world leaders including Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton and Kofi Annan．
Andrew Hamilton, Oxford's vice - chancellor, said: "The school represents a huge milestone in Oxford's history．It will give tomorrow leaders the best of Oxford's traditional strengths alongside new and practical ways of understanding and meeting the challenges of good governance．
"The university has educated 26 British Prime Ministers and over 30 other world leaders, yet until how the major international schools of government have all been outside Europe, principally in the United States．"
Under plans, the Blavatnik School of Government will provide a series of practical courses leading to a Master's degree．It will cover a range of subjects including the humanities, social sciences, law, science, technology, health, finance, energy and security policy．
Oxford said Mr Blavatnik's donation was one of the most generous in the university' s 900 year history The university itself will be investing an additional￡26m in the school, as well as land in the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, where the school will be located．
Lord Patten, Oxford's chancellor, said: "This is a once - in - a - century opportunity for Oxford through the Blavatnik donation, Oxford will now become the world's leading centre for the training of future leaders in government and public policy - and in ways that take proper account of the very different additions, institutions and cultures that those leaders will serve．It is an important moment for the future good government throughout the world．"
小題1:What is the text mainly about?
A．Political leaders from Oxford．
B．Traditions and strengths of Oxford．
C．Oxford ways to train future leaders．
D．Oxford school of government under plans．
小題2:The move is meant to _____．
A．provide varieties of courses
B．promote popularity of Oxford
C．find talented graduates in Europe
D．educate tomorrow’s political leaders
小題3:What can students learn in the new school?
A．Politics and economics．
B．Philosophy and humanities．
C．Traditional and practical courses．
D．Modern science and technology．
小題4:Which of the following is true of the school?
A．It is named after Leonard Blavatnik．
B．It will not provide traditional courses．
C．It is wholly financed by Leonard Blavatnik．
D．It is the first international school of government.
小題5:What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A．Public policy is the present focus．
B．More world leaders will rise from Oxford．
C．World leaders need to respect each other．
D．Lord Patten has different opinions of the plan．

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Before astronauts can go into space, they have to have the right suit. That’s why NASA（美國國家航天和航空局）scientists are developing a new kind of space suit——lighter and more flexible than before. These new space suits will have lots of mobility(靈活性) for the astronauts, but will not need much maintenance. NASA wants the suits to include new technology that can help astronauts be safe in outer space.
Right now, the American space suit weighs about 275 pounds and is big and massive. But the suit is also easy to work in for long periods of time. The Russian space suit is less complicated, but is used only a few times and then gets thrown away.
“Finding the right balance is always going to be a challenge,” said a long-time astronaut Jeff Williams. Williams has worn both types of suits. Space suits protect astronauts from both extreme heat and freezing temperatures. They carry life-packs with oxygen for the astronauts. They also shield astronauts from radiation, or particles that send out harmful rays.
Scientists are using computers to design the new suits. This allows them to change the design again and again, and to even test the design out before actually making anything. “There’s a lot more capable tools and technology to get the job done——a lot more knowledge, as well,” said Joe Kosmo. Kosmo helped design, develop, and test suits during the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and shuttle periods.
These new space suits will be much lighter and use a new kind of complex material. They also will have a smaller life support backpack, thanks to tiny electronics. NASA hopes to have the first prototypes(原型) in development by 2010 and certify(證明) the suit by 2012. This will be in time for the launch of the Orion spaceship in 2014.
小題1: What characteristic does the new space suit have?
A．The new space suit will need much maintenance.
B．The new space suit will be heavier than before.
C．The new space suit will have less mobility than before.
D．The new suit will use new technology to help astronauts be safe in outer space.
小題2:What’s the disadvantage of the Russian space suit?
A．The Russian space suit is big and massive.
B．The Russian space suit is much complicated.
C．The Russian space suit is merely used a few times.
D．The Russian space suit is easy to work in for long periods of time.
小題3:The underlined word “shield” in the third paragraph might mean_______.
A．harmB．protectC．helpD．warn
小題4:Why can scientists test the design out before actually making the new space suits?
A．Because designing the new space suit is not a complex task.
B．Because computers are being used to help scientists design the new space suits.
C．Because it needs little knowledge to design the new space suits.
D．Because the scientists only change the old space suits a little and make them into the new ones.
小題5:How long will it take scientists to put the new space suits from prototypes into the first practical use?
A．Two years.B．Three years.C．Four years.D．Six years.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解


There is a definite possibility that the climate of the world may be changing. Some scientists imagine that this could even mean the beginning of another ice age. The effects of such a change in climate on the human population of the world would be startling（驚人的）.
Recent research suggests that the general warming trend of the past hundred years or so may be coming to an end. During the past ten years, meteorologists tell us the average temperature of the Earth has dropped about one degree Fahrenheit. This does not seem like much, but it could have effects on wind and rain patterns which influence the overall weather picture. If these patterns change a lot, it could mean that certain regions of the world may continue to have long droughts while others will possibly suffer from widespread flooding.
What regulates（調(diào)節(jié)）the climate is not exactly known. Meteorologists believe that clouds may be an important factor in regulating the amount of solar heat held by the Earth, which in turn determines the temperature of the planet. Another possibility is that man’s industrial and agricultural methods may be affecting the natural weather patterns. However, the weather is not understood well enough for scientists to say for certain what is happening to the climate and what side effects this will actually have on the world’s population.
小題1:According to the passage, the climate of the world seems to    .
A．be getting colderB．be getting warmer
C．remain the same in the past ten yearsD．have good effects on the world’s population
小題2:Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A．Man’s activities have no effect on the climate.
B．Another ice age will come soon.
C．People don’t care about the changing climate.
D．Scientists are not yet sure about the reason for the changing climate.
小題3:A meteorologist is a person who        .
reads weather forecasts on radio or television 
B. thinks there will be another ice age
C. studies and knows about the weather       
D. believes there will be widespread flooding
小題4: Which of the following may be the factor(s) that affect(s) the natural weather patterns?
A．Clouds.B．The amount of heat the Earth receives.
C．Man’s industrial and agricultural methods.D．All of the above.
小題5:The best title for the passage would be         .
A．Droughts and Floods.B．Meteorologists
C．The Changing ClimateD．Solar Heat

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

People with bigger brains ftend to score higher on standardized tests of intelligence， according to new study findings.
However， the study author Dr Michael A.McDaniel of the Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond emphasized that these findings represent a general trend， and people with small heads should not automatically believe they are less intelligent. For instance， Albert Einstein’s brain was “not particularly large”， McDaniel noted. “There’s some relationship between brain size and intelligence on the average， but there’s plenty of room for exceptions，” he said.
Interest in the relationship between brain size and intelligence grew in the1830s，  when German anatomist(解剖學(xué)家) Frederich Tiedmann wrote that he believed there was “an unquestionable connection between the size of the brain and the mental energy displayed by the individual man”. Since that statement， scientists have conducted numerous studies to determine if Tiedmann’s  assertion was， in fact， correct. Most studies have looked into the link between head size and intelligence. More recently， however， researchers have published additional studies on brain size and intelligence， measured using MRI scan(核磁共振成像掃描).
For his study， McDaniel analyzed more than 20 studies that looked into the relationship between brain size and intelligence in a total of 1,530 people. The studies showed that on the average， people with larger brain volume tended to be more intelligent. The relationship between brain volume and intelligence was stronger in women than men， and in adults than in children. McDaniel notes in the journal Intelligence.
McDaniel is not sure why the relationship was stronger for adults and women. “Other research has shown that women， on the average， tend to have smaller brains than men， but score just as well—if not higher—in tests of intelligence，” he said.
McDaniel insisted that the relationship between brain size and intelligence is not a “perfect” one. “One can certainly find lots of examples of smaller-sized people who are highly intelligent，” he said， “But， on the average， the relationship holds.”
小題1:. What does the text mainly talk about？
A．MRI scans are applied to intelligence.
B．On the average， a bigger brain means higher IQ.
C．Dr McDaniel did well in his intelligence study.
D．Scientists are interested in Tiedmann’s idea.
小題2: By mentioning Albert Einstein， the writer wants to show　　　　.
A．Albert Einstein was intelligent
B．the result of intelligence test was false
C．being hard working is more important than intelligence
D．brain size doesn’t necessarily decide the level of intelligence
小題3: The underlined word “assertion” in Para. 3 probably means “　　　　”.
A. experiment   B. statement  C proof      D. demand
小題4: After Frederich Tiedmann wrote his article，　　　　.
A．many scientists agreed with him
B．numerous studies have failed to prove his idea
C．MRI scan became popularly used
D．lots of researchers were interested in the connections between head size and intelligence
小題5: According to the text， Dr McDaniel’s study　　　　.
A．proves Tiedmann’s idea was completely true
B．shows women are smarter than men
C．involves many studies and a lot of people
D．explains why people with smaller brains are clever

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Astronauts’ meals have come a long way from the free-dried powders and semi—liquid pastes of decades ago，now US scientists want to grow vegetables in mini—greenhouses on the moon．
Scientists say they are looking forward to a time when residents of future lunar or even Martian outsteps will be able to dine on fresh vegetables．Paragon Space Development Corporation has unveiled what it called the first step toward growing flowers——and eventually food on the moon．
This is a sealed greenhouse that looks like a bell jar encased in a 46-cm triangular aluminiumframe．It is designed to safely land a laboratory plant on the lunar surface，and protect it while it grows．
The miniature greenhouse is to be launched into space by Odyssey Moon Ltd, a participant in the Google Lunar X Prize. This competition offers $21 million to any entrant who can launch, land and operate a rover on the lunar surface.
Paragon officials say future testing of the “Lunar Oasis” will be driven by Odyssey’s flight Schedule, which will not happen until 2012 at the earliest．
When it does lift off the greenhouse will contain the seeds of Brassica, a hardy plant related to Brussels sprouts and cabbage. Because Brassica goes from seed to flower in just 14 days, it can complete its life cycle in a single lunar night.
“Colonizing the Moon or Mars seems so far away，but it is important that we do this research now. ”Paragon president Jane Poynter said．
“It takes a long time to get a lot of research, and to get integrated, reliable efficient systems before colonists move in. ”she said．
小題1:The article is written mainly to__________．
A．predict the astronauts’ meals in the future
B．introduce an experiment “Lunar Oasis’’
C．tell us the future development of astronomy
D．focus on the human’s great progress
小題2:The article implies that__________．
A．a(chǎn)stronauts can grow flowers in space at present
B．Paragon and NASA will carry out the test separately
C．Lunar Oasis is a series of experiments carried out in space
D．the earliest testing of the Lunar Oasis may be in 2012
小題3:The underlined word “colonists” in the last paragraph probably has the meaning of______．
A．plantsB．wild beastsC．human beingsD．scientists
小題4:The seeds of Brassica will be contained in the greenhouse mainly because _________.
A．their life cycle is much shorter
B．they are more nutritious than other food
C．they are related to Brussels sprouts and cabbage
D．they are very delicious

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Parents are a child’s first teachers. But some parents never learned from good examples. In New York City, a nonprofit agency called Covenant House tries to help homeless young mothers become good parents.
The twelve or so teenagers who live at the shelter attend parenting classes four days a week. The class is called Mommy and Me. Teacher Delores Clemens is a mother of five and a grandmother. She teaches basic skills, like how to give a baby a bath and how to dress a baby depending on the season.
She remembers one student who learned from her mother not to pick up a crying baby. The mother said that would only make the child needy and overly demanding. Delores Clemens says, “that's not true. You have to hold your baby! He is crying for a reason. If you never pick him up, he's going to keep crying. Pick your baby up. Cuddle your baby. Hug him! And she started to do that. They just want a little cuddling and a little love. And it works!”
Delores Clemens says her students also learn how to be good mothers by letting themselves be mothered. Around three hundred fifty teenage mothers graduate from Covenant House's Mommy and Me class every year.
In class, with her baby son is Natasha. She lived on the streets. She is glad not only for the warmth and shelter of Covenant House. As she told reporter Adam Phillips, she is also glad for the help they offer in seeking a more secure life.
The World Health Organization says the United States has forty-one births for every one thousand girls age fifteen to nineteen. That is higher than other developed countries, as well as some developing ones. By comparison, northern neighbor Canada has fourteen births and southern neighbor Mexico has eighty-two.
小題1:What is the text mainly about?
A．Parents who are a child’s first teachers.
B．A class where teens learn mothering and are mothered.
C．A nonprofit agency that offers a more secure life.
D．A kind teacher who help homeless young mothers.
小題2:Covenant Houses’ Mommy and Me class is intended to _____.
A．help homeless young mothers become good parents
B．provide homeless young mothers with a warm shelter
C．help mothers in New York be good parents
D．teach some parents how to love their children
小題3:What can we know about Delores Clemens from the text?
A．She has a mother of five and a grandmother.
B．She thinks a crying baby should be picked up and hugged.
C．She teaches advanced skills on how to be good mothers.
D．She is very glad for the warmth and shelter of Covenant House.
小題4: According to the World Health Organization, which country has the highest births for girls age fifteen to nineteen?
A．CanadaB．the United States of AmericaC．MexicoD．Britain

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

閱讀理解D
The deserts of the world are not all covered with sand. Many of them have surfaces of rock or clay(黏土) or small stones. They are not flat, either. They often have high hills and deep valleys. There is some plants’ life in many parts of the desert. There is little rain in the desert, but it does fall often enough for most plants.
The deserts of the world are not uninhabited(無人居住的). People also live outside oases(綠洲), but these people are not farmers. They have camels, goats, donkeys, sheep, etc. These animals can live on the desert plants and do not need much water.
The people of the desert have to move constantly from place to place, they must always look for grass or desert plants for their animals. They usually live in tents. When there is no more food for their animals, they fold up their tents, put them on their camels and donkeys, and move to another place. In good years, when there is enough food for their animals, they trade their skins and their goats and camel hairs with the people of oases for wheat and fruit. But in bad years, when there is not enough food for their animals, the people of the desert would attack the oases people. But they are also hospitable, no man in the desert would ever refuse to give a stranger food and water.
小題1:According to the passage, deserts are mostly made up of ________.
A．clayB．rockC．stonesD．sand
小題2:The underlined word “hospitable” has the meaning of being ________.
A．kindB．braveC．cruelD．strange
小題3: In the desert ________.
A．It rains in spring only.
B．it rains for a short time every month
C．the rainfall is just enough for the plants
D．there is some rain, but far from enough
小題4:People live ______.
A．only inside the oasesB．both inside and outside the oases
C．only outside the oasesD．in places with regular rainfalls.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Topping the class academically was certainly an advantage. For Nigel, studying was a piece of cake. The reward was certainly much bigger compared to the little effort Nigel had made. It all began when he was selected to help the teachers in the computer laboratories. And the peak of his school career came not when he topped the class but when he was selected for the nationwide competition.
Unlike everyone else, Nigel wanted to join in the contest because he liked playing with the Lego sets(樂高積木) and making something out of them. Nigel spent two months building his robot. It was during the time that Nigel found out about the big prize for the competition as well as a competitive rival(對手), Alicia, from a neighboring school. His early intentions were forgotten. Getting the thousand-dollar prize was more important than anything else. Nigel decided to make friends with Alicia. Unaware of his intentions, she told him all about the robot that she had been building for the competition. He even helped her to put the finishing touches(收尾工作) to her robot. He was glad with the way things had progressed. His robot looked even better than Alicia's and it was able to play a ball with its arm, something Alicia had failed to do.
On the day of the competition, he saw Alicia. Everything became clear the minute she saw him among the competitors. She stared at him, puzzled at first, then angry and finally a look of helplessness came over her.
The flashbulbs (閃光燈) of the camera exploded in Nigel's face. The robot had performed actions so unique and different that the specialists' judgments were the same. Nigel was so pleased with himself that he did not even notice the girl standing a few feet away from him. Without her, he would never have won the competition.
小題1:What reward did Nigel receive for doing well in his school work?
A．He was offered a part-time job.B．He was honored with a scholarship.
C．He helped his teachers build a robot.D．He helped in the computer laboratories.
小題2:Nigel's original intention of joining the contest was to ___     .
A．win honor for his schoolB．be the top student of the school
C．build a robot with the Lego setsD．win the thousand-dollar prize
小題3:Why did Nigel help Alicia finish her robot?
A．He intended to help her.B．He was fond of building robots.
C．He wanted to be her real friend. D．He didn't want her to suspect (懷疑) him.
小題4:What is the author's attitude towards Nigel's actions?
A．Favorable B．Critical (批評的)C．Doubtful D．Sympathetic

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