Scientists have found living organisms trapped in crystals(晶体) that could be 50,000 years old.

The organisms were found in a hot, but beautiful cave system in Naica, Mexico. These ancient life forms can be seen only with a microscope. Penelope Boston, who leads the Astrobiology Institute at NASA, the space agency of the United States, says the ancient microbes(微生物) were able to live by eating minerals such as iron.

She spoke about the discovery recently at a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. If the findings are confirmed, they will show how microbes can survive in extreme conditions. Forty different kinds of microbes and some viruses were found in the underground area. The genetic structures of these organisms are 10 percent different from those of their nearest relatives.

The caves in Naica are 800 kilometers deep. They were once used for mining lead. Before the miners began working in the caves, the area was separated from the surface and the outside world. Some of the caves are as big as the large religious centers built during Europe's Middle Ages. There are crystals covering the walls. The caves are so hot that scientists must wear special clothing to keep cool. The clothing keeps the crystals safe from human germs（病菌）or other damage. Boston said the researchers could only work for about 20 minutes at a time before they had to go to a room that was 38 degrees Celsius to cool down.

NASA officials would not let Boston share her findings with scientific experts before last week's announcement. So scientists could not say much about the findings. But Norine Noonan, a biologist with the University of South Florida, said she believed them. "Why are we surprised?" Noonan asked. "As a biologist, I would say life on Earth is extremely tough and extremely colorful."

Boston is also studying microbes commonly found inside caves in other countries, such as Ukraine and the United States. These microbes appear to be impossible to kill. Boston said they show how difficult life on Earth can be.

12. The existence of the ancient microbes relies on _______.

A. surrounding insects    B. diverse plants

C. eating minerals    D. absorbing air

13. What can we infer about the caves in Naica from the passage?

A. The walls are covered by crystals.

B. The temperature in the caves is quite low.

C. The caves have been explored since they were formed.

D. The environment in the caves is difficult to adapt to.

14. What is the biologist Norine Noonan’s attitude towards the findings?

A. Critical    B. Positive.

C. Doubtful.    D. Indifferent.

15. What’s the main idea of the passage?...

A. Living organisms bring hope to scientific research.

B. Scientists Discover 50,000-year-old “super life” in Mexico.

C. Microbes show great power to survive in terrible conditions.

D. Caves provide living environment for living organisms.

The splendid aurora light displays that appear in Earth’s atmosphere around the north and south magnetic(磁的) poles were once  mysterious phenomena. Now, scientists have data from satellites and ground-based observations from which we know that the aurora brilliance is a massive electrical discharge similar to that occurring in a neon sign.

To understand the cause of auroras, first picture the Earth enclosed by its magnetosphere(磁层), a huge region created by the Earth’s magnetic field. Outside the magnetosphere, rushing toward the earth is the solar wind, a speedily moving body of ionized(离子化的) gases with its own magnetic field. Charged particles(粒子) in this solar wind speed earthward along the solar wind’s magnetic lines of force. The Earth’s magnetosphere is a barrier to the solar winds, and forces the charged particles of the solar wind to flow around the magnetosphere itself. But in the polar regions, the magnetic lines of force of the Earth and of the solar wind gather together. Here many of the solar wind’s charged particles break through the magnetosphere and enter Earth’s magnetic field. They then rush back and forth between the Earth’s magnetic poles very rapidly and ionize and excite the atoms of the upper atmosphere of the Earth, causing them to produce aurora radiations of visible light.

The colors of an aurora depend on the atoms producing them. The leading greenish-white light comes from low energy excitation of oxygen atoms. During huge magnetic storms oxygen atoms also undergo high energy excitation and produce pink light. Excited nitrogen(氮) atoms contribute bands of color varying from blue to violet. Viewed from outer space, auroras can be seen as dimly shining belts wrapped around each of the Earth’s magnetic poles. Each aurora hangs like a curtain of light stretching over the polar regions and into the higher latitudes. When the solar flares(闪光) that result in magnetic storms and aurora activity are very strong, aurora displays may extend as far as the southern regions of the United States.

58. What is it that directly gives off aurora light?

 A. the Earth’s magnetic field     B. the solar wind’s magnetic field

 C. the Earth’s ionized particles    D. the solar wind’s charged particles

59. What does the third paragraph mainly discuss?

A. The appearance of auroras around the Earth’s poles. 

B. The periodic change in the display of auroras.

C. The factors that cause the variety of colors in auroras.

D. The covering area of auroras based on their colors. 

60. What can we infer from the passage?

 A. The magnetosphere increases the speed of particles from the solar wind.

 B. The color of greenish-white appears least frequently in an aurora display.

 C. Earth’s magnetic field contributes to the variety and difference of aurora’s colors.

D. The strength of the solar flares has a positive effect on the extending distance of aurora.

 —If we all volunteer to help, it shouldn’t take long to clear up after the party.

  — That’s right. ______.     

A. Many hands make light work     B. Something is better than nothing

   C. The more, the better            D. The sooner begun, the sooner done

 The calculations, had they been done by hand,        all practical value by the time they were finished.

A. had lost                                               B. would lose      

C. should have lost                                   D. would have lost

In the fall of 1985. I was a bright-eyed girl heading off to Howard University,   36  a legal career and dreaming of sitting on a Supreme Court bench somewhere. Twenty-one years later I am  37  a bright-eyed dreamer and one   38   quite a different tale to tell.

    My grandma, an amazing woman, graduated from college at the age of 65. She was the first in our family to   39   that goal. But one year after I started college, she  40  cancer. I made the choice to withdraw from college to   41  for her. It meant that school and my personal dream would have to wait.

    Then I got married with another  42  : building my family with a  43  of adopt and biological children. You can imagine how   44  occupied I became,  45  four boys under the age of 81. Our home was a complete zoo.   46  , I never did make it back to college full-time.  47  I never gave up on the dream , either. I had only one choice: to  48  a way. That meant talking as few as one class each semester.

     The hardest part was feeling   49   about the time I spent away from the boys. They often wanted me to stay home with them. There certainly were times I wanted to quit, But I knew I should set an example for them to  50   through the rest of their lives. In 2007, I graduated from the University of North Carolina. It took me over 21 years to get my college degree！

I am not   51  , just single-minded. It always  52  me that when you’re looking at a big challenge from the outside it looks huge, but when you’re in the midst of it, it just seems  53  . Everything you want won’t arrive in your life on one day. It’s a   54  . Remember；little steps add up   55  big dreams.

36．A．looking at            B．aiming at             C．focus on             D．relying on

37．A．still                     B．already                C．even                   D．actually

38．A．about                  B．by                       C．in                       D．with

39．A．miss                   B．have                    C．reach                  D．take

40．A．caught                B．developed            C．found                  D．defeated      

41．A．care for               B．look for               C．talk with              D．discuss with

42．A．purpose               B．idea                     C．chance                D．dream

43．A．combination         B．connection           C．community          D．committee

44．A．badly                  B．fully                    C．seriously             D．obviously

45．A．collecting            B．helping                C．raising                 D．teaching

46．A．Now surprising    B．Not satisfying      C．Not frightening    D．Not disappointing

47．A．Otherwise           B．Therefore            C．And                    D．But

48．A．suggcet               B．push                   C．find                    D．change

49．A．nervous               B．excited                C．proud                  D．guilty

50．A．set                      B．follow                 C．take                    D．make

51．A．famous               B．curious                C．special                D．clever

52．A．struck                 B．occurred             C．failed                  D．escaped

53．A．terrible                B．great                   C．strange                D．normal

54．A．program              B．process               C．competition         D．stage

55．A．make up for         B．live up to            C．make up of          D．add up to

 This event not only raised _______ of world hunger, but also raised lots of money to help starving children.

     A. information      B. knowledge   C. instruction   D. awareness

Though Brazil is one of the richest countries in the world, much of it has not yet been developed. It was mainly for this reason ____61______ the Brazilian government decided to have a new city ___62_______(build) 600 miles north-west of Rio de Janeiro. Designed by the great architect Lucio Costa, the new city, Brasilia, replaced Rio de Janeiro as the capital of Brazil in 1960. Brasilia has been _____63_________(careful) planned for modern living. Its wide roads, which can take fourteen lanes of traffic, have been kept away from ___64________(live) areas. Children do not have to cross busy streets to go to school. Housewives can visit-shopping centres ____65_______ foot, for in these specially designed areas, cars are _____66_______(necessary). At first, the government had great difficulty ____67________(persuade) people to leave Rio and to settle in Brasilia. Since 1960, ____68________, the population has been growing all the time. Brasilia has quickly established itself as the capital of the country. The idea ____69_______(have) the capital moved inland will have a great ____70_______ on the future of Brazil.

E-mail, as well as telephones, _____ an important part in daily communication.

   A. are playing         B. play          C. is playing       D. have played

 ---What impress you most when you visit the Acropolis?

   ---_________ it is that has brought the former grand palace into today’s terrible scene.

   A. What                B. Where             C. How         D. When

Among the international students in Canada who are struggling to find a job there after graduation,some of them eventually make it with relative ease.They’re the ones who’ve already built up much internship（实习）experience while still attending university,as their majors offer a co-operative program.

    Co-op programs,a feature（特色）of Canadian university programs,allow academic studies to be combined with work experience.During school years,students get to network with employers,gain internship experience in relevant fields,and earn academic credits that count toward their degree or diploma.

    Co-op programs are available in most comprehensive universities,like the University of Waterloo,Wilfrid Laurier University and York University.These programs are not only open to students majoring in business but also to many science and art majors.Statistics show that nearly 30 percent of recent foreign applicants have chosen majors that also subscribe to the co-op program.“It’s easy to understand,”said a senior education counselor.He noted that working opportunities are provided by employers that build bridges with the university and most of them are well-known companies or local government organizations.Moreover,the average salary for interns is as high as C$30,000 to C$40,000 a year.

    Students can choose to work during vacations or term times freely.The required duration of the internship for undergraduates ranges from eight to twelve months,or four to six months for graduate students.“The programs also benefit those students who want to apply for immigration,”added the counselor.“That’s because the policies of many provinces in Canada require a certain length of work experience of the applicants.”

9. What's the main characteristic of co-op programs?

A. They offer a variety of jobs in different fields.    B. They make academic credits easier to gain.

C. Employers work with students on their studies.    D. Students get work experience while at university.

10. What does the example of foreign applicants indicate?

A. Co-op programs are becoming more popular.    B. The average salary for interns will increase.

C. Co-op programs are open to all majors.         D. Companies welcome foreign students.

11. Which section of a website does the text probably come from?

A. Business.    B. Education.    C. Lifestyle.    D. Culture.

Dear Sara，

    As we drove off from Columbia University, I wanted to write a letter to you to tell you all that is on my mind.

    First, I want to tell you how 36 we are. Getting into Columbia is a real testament(证明) of what a great well-rounded student you are. Your academic, artistic, and social skills have truly 37 in the last few years. Whether it is getting the highest grade in Calculus, completing your elegant fashion design, successfully  38  your painted running shoes, or becoming one of the top speakers in Model United Nations, you have become a talented and accomplished young woman. You should be as proud of  39  as we are.

    College will be the most important  40  in your life. It is in college that you will  41  discover what learning is about. You often question “What good is this course?”. I  42  you to be inquisitive(好问的),  43  I also want to tell you: “Education is what you have  44  after all that is taught is forgotten.” What I mean by that is the materials taught isn’t as  45  as you gaining the ability to learn a new subject, and the ability to  46  a new problem. That is  47  what learning in college is about---this will be the period where you go from teacher-taught to master-inspired, after which you must become  48 . So do take each subject  49 , and even if what you learn isn’t critical for your life, the skills of learning will be something you  50  forever.

Do you best in classes, but don’t let  51  get to you. Your mother and I have no expectation for your grades. If you graduate and learn something in your four years, we would feel happy. Your Columbia degree will take you far, even if you don’t graduate with honors. So please don’t give yourself pressure. During your last few months in high school, you were so happy because there was  52  pressure and college applications are finished. But in the past few weeks, we saw you are beginning to  53  (did you know you bite your nails when you are nervous?). Please don’t be worried. The only thing that  54  is that you learned. May your years at Columbia be the  55  of your life, and may you blossom into just what you dream to be.                                                                    

Love,

                                                                        Dad (& Mom)

36. A. proud                 B. disappointed              C. sad                          D. comfortable

37. A. spread                B. developed                 C. blossomed                D. ended

38. A. buying                B. getting                      C. selling                      D. throwing

39. A. myself                B. themselves                C. yourself                   D. ourselves

40. A. decades                     B. weeks                      C. months                    D. years

41. A. truly                   B. slowly                      C. possibly                   D. hardly

42. A. encourage           B. force                        C. ask                          D. order

43. A. and                    B. or                            C. so                            D. but

44. A. gone                   B. left                           C. started                            D. ended

45. A. meaningful          B. interesting                 C. reasonable                D. important

46. A. find                    B. discover                   C. analyze                     D. discuss

47. A. consequently              B. really                        C. occasionally              D. merely

48. A. self-learner          B. self-educator            C. self-employer            D. self-feeder

49. A. carelessly            B. fully                         C. casually                    D. seriously

50. A. forget                 B. treasure                    C. understand               D. read

51. A. importance          B. interest                     C. pressure                   D. honor

52. A. much                 B. some                        C. little                         D. heavy

53. A. excite                 B. worry                      C. relax                        D. defend

54. A. matters               B. results                 C. comes                      D. goes

55. A. longest               B. hardest                     C. fastest                      D. happiest

  假设你是高三的学生李华，和表弟王强即将参加2016年的高考，在考前的100天，请你结合自己的学习生活，用英语给表弟写一封建议信。要点包括：

1．努力学习

2．调整心态

  3．锻炼身体

  4．其他方面

注意：1。字数100左右

2．可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；

3．开头语已经写好。

Dear Wang Qiang,

   How are you doing recently? ________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

                                                                                 Yours,

                                                                                  Li Hua

       RED lanterns adorn(点缀) the aisles of a small supermarket. There are stacks of red envelopes on sale, for stuffing cash in and handing out as gifts. A sign offers seasonal discounts. Such festive trappings are quite common in China in the build-up to the lunar New Year, which this year starts on January 28th. But this is Yangon, the capital of Myanmar, where Han Chinese are a mere 2.5% of the country’s population. They are a sign that Chinese New Year is becoming a global holiday.

       Several countries in Asia celebrate the lunar New Year in their own way. But dragon and lion dances in Chinatowns the world over have helped to make China’s the most famous. These days growing numbers of people who are not of Chinese descent are joining in. In Tokyo window cleaners dress up as the animals of the Chinese zodiac(十二生肖). Barcelona’s Chinese parade includes dracs (a Catalan species of dragon). America, Canada and New Zealand have issued commemorative stamps for the year of the chicken. Last year New York City made the lunar New Year a school holiday for the first time.

       The spread of the spring festival, as China calls it, is partly due to recent emigration from China: 9.5 million Chinese people have moved abroad since 1978, many of them far richer than earlier waves of migrants. It also reflects the wealth and globe-trotting ambitions of China’s new middle class: festivities in other countries are partly aimed at the 6 million Chinese who are expected to spend their weeklong holiday abroad this year. International brands are trying to lure these big spenders with chicken-themed items.

       Conscious of China’s growing economic and political clout, foreign leaders have taken to noting the occasion. Britain’s Prime Minister, Theresa May, has given a video address, a tradition started in 2014 by her predecessor, David Cameron. Last year the country’s royal family tweeted a picture of Queen Elizabeth dotting the eye of a Chinese lion-dancer’s costume. Also in 2016, Venezuela’s culture minister admitted that his country was celebrating Chinese new year for the first time—with six weeks of festivities—in a bid to improve economic ties with China. It is rumored that this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos was held a week earlier than usual to avoid clashing with Chinese New Year.

       China also sponsors related events, such as a display this year of martial arts in Cyprus and a traditional Chinese temple-fair in Harare, Zimbabwe. It may give Chinese officials satisfaction to see foreigners enjoy such festivities. They lament the growing enthusiasm among Chinese for Western celebrations such as Christmas—in December cities across China are bedecked with Santas and snowflake decorations. Chinese New Year is a welcome chance to reverse the cultural flow.

66. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

  A. Many countries in Asia are similar to each other in celebrating the Chinese lunar New Year.

B. This year’s World Economic Forum in Davos was held a week earlier than usual to avoid clashing with Chinese New Year.

  C. Venezuela is the first country in South America to celebrate the Chinese spring festival.

D. Partly owing to recent emigration from China, the Chinese spring festival could be spread worldwide.

67. Paragraph 2 is conducted by means of ________.

   A. analyzing reasons    B. giving examples  C. listing arguments    D. comparing facts

68. Which of the following has the closest meaning to the underlined word in Para 3?

   A. hook               B. attack               C. interfere              D. exclude

69. The sentence “China hopes the festival will boost its cultural ‘soft power’ abroad.” should be put at the beginning of Paragraph ________.

      A. Two                  B. Three                       C. Four                    D. Five

70. Why are Chinese officials pleased to see foreigners enjoy Chinese new year festivities?

      A. Because these activities are beneficial to improving economic ties with foreign countries.

      B. Because these activities can bring about large amounts of money.

      C. Because these activities offer a chance to promote Chinese culture.

      D. Because these activities would bring forth peace and harmony of the world.

—Has your son come back from abroad for the winter vacation?

—Yes.But he stayed at home for only a week.Now he       back to college.

A.went                         B.has gone             C.was going          D.will go

From good reading we can derive pleasure, companionship, experience, and instruction. A good book may absorb our attention so completely that for the time being we forget our surroundings and even our identity. 36    It increases our contentment when we are cheerful, and lessens our troubles when we are sad. Whatever may be our main purpose in reading, our contact with good books should never fail to give us enjoyment and satisfaction.

37    Whether the characters portrayed（描绘） are taken from real life or are purely imaginary, they may become our companions and friends. In the pages of books we can walk with the wise and the good of all lands and all times. The people we meet in books may delight us either because they resemble human friends whom we hold or because they present unfamiliar types whom we are glad to welcome as new acquaintances. 38    However, the friends we make in books need never weary us with their company. 39    When human friends desert us, good books are always ready to give us friendship, sympathy, and encouragement. One of the most valuable gifts presented by books is experience. Few of us can travel far from home or have a wide range of experiences, but all of us can lead varied lives through the pages of books. Whether we wish to escape from the seemingly dull realities of everyday life or whether we long to visit some far-off place, a book will help us when nothing else can. To travel by book we need no bank account to pay our way; no airship or ocean liner or stream-lined train to transport us; no passport to enter the land of our heart's desire.

40    The beauties of nature, the enjoyment of music, the treasures of art, the triumphs of architecture, the marvels of engineering, are all open to the wonder and enjoyment of those who read.

A. With a good book in our hands we need never be lonely.

B. The possibilities of our literary experiences are almost unlimited.

C. Our literary experiences can be limited.

D. By turning the page we can dismiss them without any fear of hurting their feelings.

E. Our human friends sometimes may bore us.

F. A good book in hand will ease our loneliness more or less.

G. Reading good books is one of the greatest pleasures in life.

I think they failed to accomplish the task, ______?

A．do I        B．don't I    C．did they      D．didn't they

 For most Chinese people, France conjures up (使人想像出) romantic ________---boating along the Seine or walking through a _______ of lavender (薰衣草) in Provence. 

   A. imagination; mountain           B. images; sea       

   C. figure; desert                                    D. character; ocean

The ticket _________ two people to the palace ball.

A. permits    B. admits    C. promise   D. awards