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新浪首页 > 新浪教育 > 魔法英语--同步阅读 > Unit 17:Life in the future

Unit 17:Life in the future
http://www.sina.com.cn 2003/09/26 00:18  新浪教育

  Passage 1

  阅读理解一

  Scientists made a great breakthrough this year in England when the first "testtube" baby was born. The birth was the result of many years of research by doctors. The doctors did the research insgroupsto help the women who cannot conceive a baby in the normal way.

  What happened when the baby was born "from a test tube"? Well, the baby did not literally grow in a test tube. The first stage of the process was that the egg from the woman and the sperm from the man were put together in the test tube. After all, the embryo was put into the womb of a woman. This process was difficult. But it was successful, so the baby was eventually born, like any other, from a woman, only the woman wasn't the baby's real mother, but a sort of "carrier" of a baby produced by another couple.

  Obviously, this method is help to couples who can't have children because of physical problems in the woman. But very difficult moral problems arise in the kind of situation. Take, for instance, a case that happened this year. A couple who wanted a baby advertised for a woman to have a child by the father of the couple. They offered the woman a lot of money. The woman was made pregnant by artificial insemination; in this case, the woman "employed" to bear the child was its real mother. When the baby was born, the woman refused to give it back to the couple. But, in the eyes of the law, the woman had a right to keep the children because she was its biological mother.

  You could argue that we should change the law to deal with this kind of situation. In earlier times, there were always healthy babies needing adoption, because family planning methods were not so effective as they are now. These days, however, most of the children who can be adopted are over six years old, often handicapped in some way. So a couple who want a young healthy baby cannot always adopt one, this is why the "testtube" baby is in demand. But is it normally right to use this method? Should we temper with nature in this way? Even if we change the law, would this be the right step to take?

  注释

  1. conceive v.怀孕

  2. sperm n.精子

  3. embryo n.胚胎

  4. womb n.子宫

  5. pregnant adj.怀孕

  6. handicapped v.残废

  7. temper v.干预

  根据短文内容选择正确答案

  ( )1The birth of the first "test-tube" baby is a great advance _____.

  A.in birth control

  B. on medical science

  C. on the research for babies

  D. in the lives of married women

  ( )2When we say a baby was born "from a test-tube", we mean_____ .

  A. the embryo was formed in the test tube

  B. the baby grew in the test-tube before it was born

  C. the baby didn't develop in the womb of a woman

  D. the baby has no biological parents

  ( )3According to the law, who has right to keep the baby produced by the artificial method?

  A. The couple who want a baby.

  B. The person who pays the money to the real mother.

  C. The biological mother of the child.

  D. The father who advertises for a biological mother.

  ( )4According to the passage, people need "test-tube baby" because_____ .

  A. family planning methods are not effective.

  B. there are so many babies needing adoption.

  C. they are unwilling to adopt a child.

  D. they can't always adopt a young healthy baby.

  ( )5What is the author's attitude towards the artificial method ofshavingsbabies?

  A.Positive(肯定的)

  B. Enthusiastic(热心的)

  C. DoubtfulD. Natural

  

Passage 2

阅读理解二

  Can you imagine travelling to work in a oneman submarine? Some scientists believe that some day oneman submarines will be as many as automobiles are today. A famous French driver says,"One day soon, men will walk on the ocean floor as they do on the street!"Perhaps during your lifetime people will travel, work, and live in the sea.

  If human beings want to live in the ocean, many human problems will need to be studied first.

  Some of these problems, similar to those of living in outer space, are pressure, lack of oxygen and weightlessness. Many questions are still unanswered. For example, can our blood make itself fit for underwater surroundings? What will happen to our muscle if we live in the water very long? Scientists are looking for answers.

  Perhaps in the future man will live in the sea, away from the crowded and noisy cities on land. Then sea has plenty of space, not only for floating living buildings and parks, but also for storing supplies and for underwater travel.

  Some scientists believe that ocean living will benefit man in more than physical ways. In the freedom and beauty of the deep sea, man may find new sources of joy.

  注释

  1. similar adj.近似的,同样的,类似的(to)

  2. pressure n.压,压力;电压;压迫,强制,紧迫

  3. surroundings n.(pl.)周围的事物,环境

  4. muscle n.肌(肉)根据短文内容选择正确答案

  ( )1What can we do if we live in the ocean?

  A. We can have plenty of oxygen.

  B. We can be fit to live in the water very well.

  C. We needn't worry about things like weightlessness.

  D. We can travel and work in the sea.

  ( )2Why do some people hope to leave cities to live in the sea? Because_____.

  A. people think they can live crowdedly in the sea

  B. people wish to go the quiet seafloor to travel for several days

  C. people want to break away from the crowded and noisy citiesswheresthey live now

  D. only in this way can people get rid of noise pollution

  ( )3In what ways could ocean living be helpful for man?

  A. People can swim freely as much as possible.

  B. People can be interested in the new pleasure there isn't anywhere else.

  C. The sea can supply people with enough foods and other things, so people needn't work.

  D. People can go boating and go to the park as often as possible.

  ( )4Which of the following is the similar problem as that of living in outer space?

  A. We are short of oxygen.

  B. We are not familiar with the underwater surrounding.

  C. We may die of weightlessness.

  D. We can finds new joys.

  ( )5Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

  A. The scientists have not solved the problem of weightlessness underwater.

  B. The scientists have solved the problem of weightlessness when man live in space.

  C. Some scientists believe that ocean living will benefit man in no more than physical ways.

  D. Sea has plenty of space only for floating living buildings and parks.

 

 Passage 3

  完形填空

  The United States is full of cars. There are still many families __1___cars, but some families have two or __2___ more. However, cars are __3___ for more than pleasure. They are a ___4__ part of life.

  Cars are used for __5___. They are driven to offices and factories by workers who have ___6__ other way to get to their jobs. When salesmen are __7___ to different parts of the city, they have to drive insgroupsto __8___ their products. Farmers have to drive into the city insgroupsto get __9___.

  Sometimes small children must be __10___to school. In some cities school buses are used only when children __11___ more than a mile from the school. When the children are too young to walk __12___ far, their mothers take __13___ at driving them to school. One mother drives on Mondays, __14__ her own children and the __15___ children as well. ___16__ mother drives on Tuesdays, another on Wednesdays, and _17___. This is called forming a car pool. Men ___18__ form car pools, ___19__ three or four men taking turns at driving to the place __20___ they all work.

  More car pools should be formed insgroupsto __21___ fewer cars on the road and use __22___ petrol. Parking is a great __23___, and so is the traffic in the around cities. ___24__ many cars are being driven. Something will have to be ___25__ about the use of cars.

  注释

  1. salesman n.售货员,推销员

  2. product n.产品;制品;产量;出产;产物

  3. form vt.形成;构成

  4. petrol n. (英)汽油(=美gasoline)

  5. traffic n.交通,运输,客运货运业务;往来通读短文选出一个最佳答案

  ( )1A.shavingsB. keeping C. driving D. without

  ( )2A. a little B. even C. much D. quite

  ( )3A. used B. sold C. using D. brought

  ( )4A. larger B. separate C. necessary D. small

  ( )5A. joy B. business C. pleasure D. production

  ( )6A. the B. some C. no D. any

  ( )7A. walking B. sent C. running D. called

  ( )8A. buy B. show C. sell D. carry

  ( )9A. money B. supplies C. rich D. there

  ( )10A. carried B. brought C. sent D. driven

  ( )11A. live B. travel C. get D. study

  ( )12A. that B. too C. very D. this

  ( )13A. turns B. them C. cars D. buses

  ( )14A. missing B. watching C. taking D. serving

  ( )15A. smaller B. neighbours C. other D. school

  ( )16A. The other B. Another C. A D. No

  ( )17A. Thursdays B. Saturdays C. Fridays D. so on

  ( )18A. can't B. do not C. seldom D. also

  ( )19A. with B. about C. usually D. maybe

  ( )20A. when B. unless C.swheresD. if

  ( )21A. make B. show C. put D. drive

  ( )22A. fewer B. little C. more D. less

  ( )23A. trouble B. harm C. problem D. waste

  ( )24A. So B. How C. A good D. Such

  ( )25A. worries B. done C. found D. thought

  

Passage 4

  判断正误

  If you know anything about violin music, you have perhaps heard the word "Stradivarius". Stradivarius is the name for the worlds most wonderful violins. They are named after their creator, Antonio Stradivari.

  Stradivari was born in northen Italy and lived from 1644 to 1737. Cremona, the town he lived in, was a placeswheresviolins were produced. Stradivari was very young when he learned to play the violin. He grew to love the instrument so much that he began to make them himself.

  Violins were new instruments during Stradivaris time. People made them in different sizes and shapes and of different types of wood. Stradivari is said to have been very particular about the wood he selected for his violins. He took long walks alone in the forest to find just the right tree. He is also said to have used a secret and special type of varnish to put on the wood. Whatever the reasons are, his violins are the best in the world.

  Stradivari put such care and love into his violins that they are still used today. Many, of course, are in museums. But some rich musicians, who can afford the thousands and thousands of dollars they cost, own Stradivarlus vilolins.

  Stradivari passed his methods on to his sons. But the secrets of making Stradvarius violins seem to have died out with the family. Their rarity, as well as their mellow sound, made Stradivarius violins among the most prized instruments in the world.

  注释

  1. Stradivarius n.弦乐器(尤指斯特拉迪瓦里及其儿子制作的小提琴)

  2. creator n.创造者;创作者;发生的原因

  3. afford vt.(常与can, could, be able to连用)担负得起费用,花费得起

  4. varnish n.清漆,凡立水,光泽面,掩饰

  根据文章内容判断正误

  ( )1According to the passage Stradivari searched for the wood in the forest to make his violins.

  ( )2From the text we know they probably dont know how to make Stradivarius violins now.

  ( )3From the passage we can find Stradivarius in Italy.

  ( )4Stradivaris violins are still loved by people because of their sound.

  参考答案

  Passage 1

  1. B试管婴儿的成功出生是医学领域生殖科学方面的一大成就。因此正确选项是B。

  2. A试管婴儿指的是胚胎先是在试管中受精否,再放入母亲的子宫使它继续发育。

  3. C根据文章内容,试管婴儿的监护人应该是生出该试管婴儿的母亲,而不是提供卵子的母亲。

  4. D依据文章最后一段中"So a couple who want a young healthy baby cannot always adopt one,"我们知道试管婴儿满足了一些由于各种原因无法生育的夫妇的需要。

  Passage 2

  1. D依据文章第一段最后两句内容来确定正确选项。从文章中我们得知,不久的将来,人们在海洋底部的行走就象在大街上一样。可能现在的年轻一代就有希望在海底旅游、工作和生活。

  2. C文章中已说明我们现在居住的地球有些地方既拥挤又噪杂,因此未来的人们有可能逃离拥挤不堪而又喧闹的地方到海洋底部生活了。

  3. B文章最后一句已说明,人们可以在海洋底下找到一些在地球上任何其他地方都无法找到的快乐。

  4. A这是一般常识。海洋底部和外层空间一样都缺少氧气。

  5. A根据文章第三段第一句内容"Some of these problems,..."可以知道,科学家还没有办法解决在海洋底部生存遇到的失重难题。

  Passage 3

  1. Dwithout意为"没有"。本句意思是:"在美国有些家庭拥有两辆甚至更多的汽车,但仍然还有许多家庭没有汽车"。

  2. Beven用来加强语气。

  3. Abe used意为"被用";more than意为"不仅仅是"。

  4. Cnecessary意为"必要,需要",a necessary part of life意为"生活中必要的一部分"。

  5. B依据文章下文意思来确定选项。business意为"生意,业务,买卖,营业"。

  6. Chave no way意为"没有办法";no other way意为"没有其他办法"。

  7. Bbe sent意为"被送……"different parts of the city意为"城市的各个角落"。

  8. Dcarry意为"运输",其他选项意义不合题意。

  9. Bsupply意为"供应品,生活用品"。他们(农民)开车到城里买生活用品。

  10. Ddrive sb. to some place和sb. is driven to some place是固定搭配。

  11. A在有些城市,学校的汽车只接送那些家离学校较远的学生。

  12. Athat意为"如此",that相当于so, that far意为so far。

  13. Atake turns是常用短语,意为"轮流,轮换"。

  14. Ctake sb. to some place是固定搭配,其他三项不合题意。

  15. Bas well意为"也"。本句意为:他们不仅送自己的孩子上学,也包括邻居家的小孩儿。

  16. B在英语中如表示两者中的另一个用the other,如表示三个中的另一个则用another。

  17. Dand so on是"等等"的意思。

  18. Dpools意为"合伙经营",依据上下文意思确定答案。

  19. A"with+名词+ving"形式构成with复合结构。

  20. Cwhere引导定语从句。

  21. Cput sth. on some place是固定短语。

  22. D为了减少路上的车辆和节省汽油,更多的人合伙经营。less是little的比较级。

  23. Cproblem意为:"问题",park意思是"停车";park也可用作名词意思是"停车场"。本句意思为:停车是个大问题。

  24.A由many, much修饰的名词,前面用so修饰。

  25.Bsomething这里指的是"措施"。本句意为:应该对小汽车的使用采取措施了。

  Passage 4

  1. T文章第三自然段告诉我们:当时,人们用不同的木头,制做出各种各样的小提琴。

  2. T现在Stradivarius小提琴已经失传,可能再也没有人会制做出这种小提琴了。

  3. F根据文章内容,因为这种小提琴已失传,故在意大利也是找不到的。

  4. T由于Stradivarius小提琴音质优美,所以受到人们喜爱。




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