Today we have an equivalent need to recognize a new phase of life that comes after high sc

What are the chances that we will encounter some alien form. of life, as we explore the galaxy. If the argument about the time scale for the appearance of life on Earth is correct, there ought to be many other stars, whose planets have life, on them. Some of these stellar systems could have formed 5 billion years before the Earth. So why is the galaxy not crawling with self designing mechanical or biological life forms? Why hasn't the Earth been visited, and even colonized. I discount suggestions that UFOs contain beings from outer space. I think any visits by aliens would be much more obvious, and probably also, much more unpleasant.

What is the explanation of why we have not been visited?

One possibility is that the argument about the appearance of life on Earth is wrong. Maybe the probability of life spontaneously appearing is so low that Earth is the only planet in the galaxy, or in the observable universe, in which it happened.

Another possibility is that there was a reasonable probability of forming self-reproducing system, like cells, but most of these forms of life did not! evolve intelligence.

A third possibility is that there is a reasonable probability for life to form, and to evolve to intelligent beings, in the external transmission phase. But at that point, the system becomes unstable, and the intelligent life destroys itself. This would be a very pessimistic conclusion. I very much hope it isn' t true.

I prefer a fourth possibility: there are other forums of intelligent life out there, but we have been overlooked. There used to be a project called SETI, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. It involved scanning the radio frequencies, to see if we could pick up signals from alien civilizations. I thought this project was worth supporting, though it was cancelled due to a lack of funds. But we should have been wary of answering back, until we have developed a bit further. Meeting a more advanced civilization, at our present stage, might be a bit like the original inhabitants of America meeting Columbus. I don' t think they were better off for it.

The author thinks that______.

A．it is impossible that we encounter some alien form. of life

B．life only exists on Earth

C．it is likely that we' ll encounter some alien form. of life

D．beings from outer space will never visit the earth

There have been many great inventions, things that changed the way we live. The first great invention was one that is still very important today — the wheel. This made it easier to carry heavy things and to travel long distances. For hundreds of years after that there were few inventions that had as much effect as the wheel. Then in the early 1800's the world started to change. There was little unknown land left in the world. People did not have to explore much anymore. They began to work instead to make life better. In the second half of the 19th century many great inventions were made. Among them were the camera, the electric light and the radio. These all became a big part of our life today.

The first part of the 20th century saw more great inventions. The helicopter in 1909. Movies with sound in 1926. The computer in 1928. And jet planes in 1930. This was also a time when a new material was first made. Nylon came out in 1935. It changed the kind of clothes people wear. The middle part of the 20th century brought new ways to help people get over disease. They worked very well. They made people healthier and let them live longer lives. By the, 1960's most people could expect to live to be at least 60. By this time most people had a very good life. Of course new inventions continued to be made. But man now had a desire to explore again. The world was known to man but the stars were not. Man began looking for ways to go into space. Russia made the first step. Then the United States took a step. Since then other countries, including China and Japan, have made their steps into space. In 1969 man took his biggest step away from earth. Americans first walked on the moon. This is certainly just a beginning though. New inventions will someday allow us to do things we have never yet dreamed of.

What was the first great invention?

A．The wheel.

B．The camera.

C．Movies.

D．Nylon.

听力原文：We haven't hired a new technician yet, have we?

(A) No, you have to reach a bit higher.

(B) No, do you have someone in mind?

(C) He works in the high-tech industry.

(6)

A．

B．

C．

When a new movement in art attains a certain fashion, it is advisable to find out what its advocates are aiming at, for, however farfetched and unreasonable their principles may seem today, it is possible that in years to come they may be regarded as normal. With regard to Futurist poetry, however, the case is rather difficult, for whatever Futurist poetry may be—even admitting that the theory on which it is based may be right—it can hardly be classed as Literature.

This, in brief, is what the futurist says: for a century, past conditions of life have been conditionally speeding up, till now we live in a world of noise and violence and speed. Consequently, our feelings, thoughts, and emotions have undergone a corresponding change. This speeding up of life, says the futurist, requires a new form. of expression. We must speed up our literature too, if we want to interpret modern press. We must pour out a large stream of essential words, unhampered by stops, or qualifying adjectives, or finite verbs. Instead of describing sounds we must make up words that imitate them; we must use many sizes of type and different colored ink on the same page, and shorten or lengthen words at will.

Certainly their description of battles are confused, But it is a little upsetting to read in the explanatory notes that a certain line describes a fight between a Turkish and a Bulgarian on a bridge off which they both fall into the river—and then to find that the line consists of the noise of their falling and the weights of the officers: "Pluff! Huff! A hundred and eighty-five kilograms".

This, though it fills the law and requirements of Futurist poetry, can hardly be classed as Literature. All the same, no thinking man can refuse to accept their first proposition: that a great change in our emotional life calls for a change of expression. The whole question is really this: have we essentially changed?

This passage is mainly about ______.

A．a survey of new approaches to art

B．a review of Futurist poetry

C．about the merits of Futurist poetry

D．about laws and requirements of literature

听力原文： There have been many great inventions, things that change the way we live. The first great invention was one that is still very important today--the wheel. This made it easier to carry heavy things and to travel long distances.

For hundreds of years after that there were few inventions that had as much effect as the wheel. Then in the early 1800s the world started to change. There was little unknown land left in the world. People did not have to explore much any more. They began to work instead to make life better.

In the second half of the 19th century many great inventions were made. Among them were the camera, the electric light and the radio. These all became a big part of our life today.

The middle part of the 20th century brought new ways to help get over diseases. They worked very well. They made people healthier and let them live longer lives, By the 1960s most people could expect to live to be at least 60.

By this time most people had a very good life. Of course new inventions continued to be made. But man now had a desire to explore again. The world was known to man, but the stars were not. Man began looking for ways to go into space. Russia made the first step. Then the United States took a step. Since then other countries, including China and Japan, have made their steps into space.

(23)

A．In the second half of the 19th century.

B．In the 1960s.

C．In the first half of the 20th century.

D．In the early 1800s.

听力原文： There have been many great inventions, things that change the way we live. The first great invention was one that is still very important today--the wheel. This made it easier to carry heavy things and to travel long distances.

For hundreds of years after that there were few inventions that had as much effect as the wheel. Then in the early 1800s the world started to change. There was little unknown land left in the world. People did not have to explore much any more, They began to work instead to make life better.

In the second half of the 19th century many great inventions were made. Among them were the camera, the electric light and the radio. These all became a big part of our fife today.

The middle part of the 20th century brought new ways to help get over diseases. They worked very well. They made people healthier and let them live longer lives. By the 1960s most people could expect to live to be at least 60.

By this time most people had a very good life. Of course new inventions continued to be made. But man now had a desire to explore again. The world was known to man, but the stars were not. Man began looking for ways to go into space. Russia made the first step. Then the United States took a step. Since then other countries, including China and Japan, have made their steps into space.

(33)

A．In the second half of the 19th century.

B．In the 1960s,

C．In the first half of the 20th century.

D．In the early 1800s.

We have come to the______(conclude)that there is no life on the planet of Venus.

听力原文： There have been many great inventions, things that changed the way we live. The first great invention was one that is still very important today—the wheel. For hundreds of years after that there were few inventions that had as much effect as the wheel. Then in the early 1800's the world started to change. There was little unknown land left in the world. People did not have to explore much anymore. They began to work instead to make life better. In the second half of the 19th century many great inventions were made. Among them were the camera, the electric light and the radio.

The first part of the 20th century saw more great inventions. The helicopter in 1909. Movies with sound in 1926. The computer in 1928. And jet planes in 1930. This was also a time when a new material was first made. Nylon came out in 1935. The middle part of the 20th century brought new ways to help people get over disease. By the 1960's most people could expect to live to be at least 60. By this time most people had a very good life. Of course new inventions continued to be made. But man now had a desire to explore again. The world was known to man but the stars were not. Man began looking for ways to go into space. Russia made the first step. Then the United States took a step. This is certainly just a beginning though. New inventions will someday allow us to do things we have never yet dreamed of.

When did people stop inventing?

A．In the early 1800's.

B．In the late 1800's.

C．In the second half of the 19th century.

D．In the first part of the 20th century.