全新版 大学英语 快速阅读第一册 Unit8（素文整理）

Unit 8

I. Directions: Read the following passages, and then select the best choice for each of the

questions or incomplete statements.

Passage 1

快速阅读自查表 阅读和练习应完成的时间：5分22秒 实际完成时间： 做对的练习题数记录： One of the greatest mysteries in biology-how the monarch butterfly (帝王蝶) travels thousands of kilometers on its yearly migration (迁移)-has just been solved.

Monarch butterflies use the sun to set their body clocks and make their journeys, according to US scientists. No other butterfly in the world migrates like the orange and black monarchs of North America. They cannot live for long periods in cold weather. Each autumn, thousands travel up to 3,000 km to spend the winter in the mountains of Mexico. There are so many, they almost block out the sky, and you can hear their wings beating. It usually takes the butterflies two months to reach Mexico. After staying five months, they head back up north in the spring. But not one butterfly finishes the whole round-trip. They lay eggs along the way and die.

Three generations of butterflies will live and die during the spring journey alone. The fourth and final generation of the year is born in early autumn and will reach the north. But it hardly gets to rest before starting the long journey south to Mexico.

The most amazing thing about these butterflies is that they return to the very same tree in Mexico that their great-great-grandparents used the winter before. Past studies have shown that the insects use the sun as a compass (指南针) to show them the way. But experts are unsure how the butterflies change their direction as the sun moves in the sky. This new study now shows that the insects use a “circadian (生理节奏的)” clock in their bodies as part of their sun compass. In laboratory tests, monarch butterflies were found to fly in the right direction under normal daylight hours. But those flying in 24-hour light headed straight towards the sun. That is, they no longer had any sense of time.

Scientist Steven Reppert, who led the research, said: “ We have shown the need for the circadian clock for monarch butterfly migration. When the clock is interrupted, monarchs are unable to fly towards Mexico.”

(Words: 334)

1. What is the focus of the passage?

A) Monarch butterflies’ yearly migration.

B) The unique living style of monarch butterflies.

C) The guidance of the sun in monarch butterflies’ navigation.

D) Monarch butterflies use body clocks as part of their sun compass.

2. Which of the following statements is true about monarch butterflies? A) Each autumn they fly north to North America. B) In spring they fly south to Mexico.

C) Only a few of them can finish the round trip. D) Their color is orange and black.

3. The most surprising finding about the butterflies is that ________. A) not one butterfly finishes the whole-round trip

B) they can find the same tree in Mexico that their great-great-grandparents used the

winter before

C) it takes as long as two months for the butterflies to fly to Mexico D) they use the sun as a compass

4. What can be learned from the passage about past studies and the new discovery? A) Past studies discovered the new function of a body clock. B) The new study discovers the use of the sun as a compass. C) The new discovery throws light on an old mystery.

D) Past studies showed how the butterflies could change direction.

5. What was found in the laboratory?

A) Monarch butterflies lost their sense of time. B) The sun was not important in their migration.

C) Butterflies flying in 24-hour light lost their sense of time. D) Their body clocks were interrupted by the sun.

Passage 2

快速阅读自查表 阅读和练习应完成的时间：5分45秒 实际完成时间： 做对的练习题数记录：

At present, there are many ways to travel, that is, we can choose different ways to go to some place.

In China, more and more people have their own cars. Therefore, the roads are getting busier and busier and sometimes there are many traffic jams, especially in the big cities. How can we solve this problem? On the earth the population is growing larger and larger and there will be less and less space. So some scientists are trying to make a new kind of car-a flying car. A flying car is a car that not only runs on the road, but also flies in the sky whenever there is heavy traffic. It is just like a bat (蝙蝠), as it has wings. When the car runs on the ground, the wings are folded. However, when it flies, the wings are unfolded. It can fly at the height of 1,500-3,000 meters, and it can fly at the speed of 600 kilometers per hour.

There will be another kind of train in the future. Maybe it will be called the “flying train”- it looks like a plane, but it has no wings. It can run near the ground but it doesn’t touch the ground. It will be much faster than any train currently available. A Japanese scientist says this kind of flying train can be made by the year 2020.

So, perhaps it is possible that cars and trains can fly in the sky in the future. Actually, the future plane may fly not only in the sky, but also under-ground. Yes, it will be called the “underground plane.” At present, it is still just an idea in scientist’s mind. According to the idea, an underground plane has two storeys, It can hold 400 people. The plane will be 50 meters long, four meters tall and over two meters wide. It will be a rectangle (长方形). Its wings are in the middle of the plane. At the bottom, there are two pairs of wheels. They are used when the plane lands. When this plane is flying, it is one meter above the ground. Some scientists think that this kind of plane is better than the airplanes we have now.

(Words: 368)

1. Why do scientists want to make “flying car” and “flying train?” A) Because the roads are getting more and more crowded. B) Because the population on earth is increasing. C) Because we will have less and less space.

D) Because people need new modes of transportation.

2. A flyin care_________.

A) folds its wings when it runs on he ground B) flies in the sky as its name indicates C) keeps its wings unfolded.

D) is even faster than future planes

3. Which of the following statements is true about the “flying train?” A) It looks just like a plane with no wings. B) It can fly or run directly on the ground.

C) A Japanese is hopeful of making one such train. D) It may be available by 2020.

4. What will the future plane be like?

A) It flies underground as well as in the sky. B) It has two stories in the shape of a square. C) It has two pairs of wheels in the middle. D) It flies one meter under the ground.

5. It can be seen from the passage that_________. A) the modes of future transportation are unknown

B) the Japanese are ahead in terms of technological know-how C) the potential of creativity is unlimited D) people can do whatever they think of

II. Directions: Read the following passages, and then decide whether the statements are

true (T) or false (F).

Passage 3

快速阅读自查表 阅读和练习应完成的时间：6分12秒 实际完成时间： 做对的练习题数记录： Teaching developmental writing in a community college is a job I never dreamed of doing. I had planned to be a journalist. That changed after my second failed attempt at newspaper reporting. I moved back to Indianapolis and, four months later, began teaching. Then I met Steve, a student who was just like I was many years ago. At the beginning of the semester I gave my class a copy of Hubbard’s Message to Garcia. After I explained the essay’s contents, I drew their attention to one passage: “ It is not book-learning young men need, nor instruction about this or that, but a stiffening (变硬) of the vertebrae (脊椎) which will cause them to be loyal to a trust, to act promptly (迅速地), concentrate their energies; do the thing-carry a message to Garcia !”

Then I told them my story. I explained to them that my high school advisor told me, “You have a great deal of potential.” He was referring to my careless habits that affected my school work. Later, in college, I understood he was right. I carried my bad habits with me, and by the end of my sophomore (大二) year, I had been kicked out due to my below-average grades.

The following year, I worked in a café, rented a room, and steadily rebuilt my academic ability by taking independent study courses. Once I had reestablished my self-confidence, I enrolled in regular classes. During that lonely year, I read. That was when I discovered Hubbard’s writing.

Two years later, I graduated from college and became a reporter. At two different newspapers, I bungled (搞砸) my job.

During a brief time of unemployment, I re-read Hubbard’s “Message.” Four months later I was offered a job as a teacher and as a tutor.

Every year my students hear this story, and I tell them how they should make good use of their potential. When I first met Steve I told him along with the rest of the class, that succeeding in my course would only come from their “acting promptly” and “concentrating their energies”. He then said he didn’t need my class, and didn’t see the point in writing well.

At semester’s end, I returned their final assignment and wondered if they’d gotten my message. Steve didn’t pass the class. In his essays, I wrote, “ You have a great deal of potential” and left another copy of Hubbard’s essay. I hope he gets the rest of the message quicker than I did.

(Words: 409)

( ) 1. The writer was forced to leave college at the first semester due to poor academic

work.

( ) 2. The writer came across Hubbard’s writing when he felt lonely and helpless. ( ) 3. After leaving college, the writer realized that his high school advisor was right. ( ) 4. Message to Garcia tells us about the importance of book-learning.

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