Who was the first person to reach the North Pole?The ice of the Arctic Ocean is sea,nor land,so whoever reached it first couldn't leave a flag or any other sign on it to provide evidence.The arguments are continuing today.

Here are three explorers who claimed they were the first to reach the North Pole.

Ahwelah,Cook Expedition

I joined Frederick Cook's expedition to the North Pole in August 1907.I am an Inuit and I know how to survive in the Arctic.We set off from Greenland in February 1908.By April we were close to the North Pole.It was hard;the ice was broken and we had to push the sleds up and down the walls of ice.However on 21 April,Dr.Cook calculated our location with his scientific instruments and told us we were there.We were very happy,because we were really at the top of the world!

Matthew,Peary Expedition

When Robert Peary set out for the North Pole in 1908,I was proud to be chosen to join him.We set out from New York City on a hot day in July 1908,accompanied by sleds and dogs pulling our supplies.When we got to the North Pole in April 1909,we checked carefully with our scientific instruments.It was a great moment when we found we had made it.We hugged each other and jumped up and down with happiness.I knew this was true,because I was there.

Oscar,Amundsen Expedition

The great explorer Norwegian,Ronald Amundsen,was definitely the first to fly over the North Pole.In 1926,I was lucky to join him on an airship,the Norge,which flew across the North Pole on its way from Spitsbergen to Alaska.Amundsen took careful readings indicated by the instruments as we crossed the great white ocean,and when we reached the North Pole we all cheered and had a drink to celebrate.

21.It is difficult to decide who first reached the North Pole because      .

A.there were too many explorers                                        B.no signs were left on the North Pole

C.there was too much ice on the North Pole                       D.no explorers ever claimed they were the first

22.Why was Ahwelah chosen to join the expedition?

A.He knew how to survive the hard conditions.                   B.He knew how to calculate their locations.

C.He was familiar with the sailing route.                       D.He offered his scientific instruments.

23.Oscar insisted that he was among the first who      .

A.sailed across Alaska                             B.flew on an airship

C.flew over the North Pole                        D.joined the Amundsen expedition

24.Which is the best title for this passage?

A.The Mysterious Arctic Ocean                    B.Stories of Exploring the Oceans

C.Witnesses of Historical Moments                          D.Races to the North Pole

In the 1860's,a girl named Jane Addams lived in a lovely house in Cedarville,Illinois.One morning,her dad, Mr.Addams,took Jane to a town near Cedarville.Jane stared at the houses with torn curtains.Children in rags played in the street."These people are very poor,"explained Mr.Addams."They can't afford nice houses."

Jane thought,"When I grow up,I'm going to build an enormous house near these old houses.Then I can help these people."

Even as a student at Rockford Female Seminary she and her friend Ellen Gates Starr often talked about helping the poor."So many want to go to foreign lands and be missionaries,"Jane said."Doesn't anyone think about the poor people at home?"

After seminary,Jane started medical school.But then she started having back problems.She was in such severe pain that she could hardly sit up.Finally,she quit school and had an operation.Her family suggested that she go to Europe to rest.

After two years,Jane returned home.She had seen a building in the slums（贫民窟）of London called a settlement house.Poor people could go there and find friends.It was like the house Jane had dreamed of."My house will be in Chicago,"she told Ellen,"because in Chicago there are immigrants from so many places.They must be lonely."

Finding a large house in the middle of a slum isn't easy.Jane and Ellen searched and searched,and finally,they saw a big brick house.It had belonged to a very wealthy man,Charles Hull,but now it was empty.

Miss Culver,Mr.Hull's cousin owned the house."My cousin,"she explained,"always wanted to give back to Chicago.Perhaps this is my chance to make his wishes come true.I will only charge you a dollar a year for the place." So Jane and Ellen happily paid the dollar.Then they started cleaning and painting the old mansion.Jane's other friends joined them,too.They invited children to come play there,and then a lady named Jenny Dow decided to set up a kindergarten.

The kindergarten grew,and other projects were started.Before long,Hull House was filled with people who laughed and talked and learned new things.

25.When she was young,Jane wished to      .

A.build a large house for the poor people

B.go abroad and become a missionary

C.have the slums repaired in Chicago

D.set up a kindergarten for the kids

26.Miss Culver charged only one dollar for the house because      .

A.Mr.Hull used to be a wealthy man

B.she wanted to return the house to Jane

C.she wanted to realize her cousin's wish

D.Jane agreed to paint and clean the house

27.One reason Jane decided to build her dream house in Chicago is that      .

A.she spent her own childhood in the city

B.she wanted to make more friends in the city

C.she saw there were too many slums in the city

D.she wished to help the immigrants find more friends

In the dead of winter,we don't typically think about spending time outdoors,but according to many physicians we should.The sun is our greatest source of a vitamin that is essential for good health—Vitamin D.

This important vitamin strengthens bones and teeth and is linked to the prevention of heart disease,cancer and many other life-threatening diseases.The recommended daily requirement is 400-600 International Units (IU).In summer,people with dark brown eyes and darker skin turn sunlight from just 15 minutes outside without sunscreen into adequate amounts of Vitamin D.

Even during winter,just a 10-minute walk midday can keep the body's Vitamin D at healthy levels.During brief winter walks,we receive the greatest benefits when we wear no sunscreen and expose as much skin to the sun as possible.

Vitamin D can also be obtained from foods.Salmon is one of the best sources of the Vitamin.Egg yolks（蛋黄）, cheese,mushrooms and some animals organs contain smaller quantities of it.

To attract consumers,food companies add Vitamin D to some of their milk products.The practice of putting the Vitamin into milk began in the 1930s.At that time,many children were suffering from rickets,an illness that is caused by a Vitamin D deficiency（不足）.It made the children's bones soft and weak.Adding Vitamin D to milk helped to solve the problem,and it has been available ever since.

For people who still need more Vitamin D,there is another option: take Vitamin D supplements（补充）.These products are widely sold in stores.However,anyone considering taking supplements should consult a physician first.

28.During the winter months,people      .

A.aren't able to meet their deadlines                 B.often don't dress warmly enough

C.generally like to remain indoors                    D.leave lots of work for others to do

29.According to the text,Vitamin D      .

A.can be obtained by being exposed to the sun          B.can be used to cure life-threatening diseases

C.can be mainly found in some milk products              D.can make the children's bones soft and weak

30.Why is salmon mentioned in this article?

A.It's seldom prepared in.the correct way.                   B.It's a useful addition to a person's diet.

C.It has a huge impact on the environment.                D.Its advantages have been exaggerated.

31.The main purpose of this article is      .

A.to introduce a valuable nutrient                                B.to advertise Vitamin D supplements

C.to note risks associated with a nutrient                    D.to explain how a nutrient was discovered

Freaky,Fearful or Friendly?

Robotic science over the years has become an important part of humans' inquiry into the use of machines. Robots have,therefore,largely come to be considered a part of science.However,the idea of robots is also closely related to pop culture,especially movies.

Robots in early movies were often portrayed as emotionless,fearfully powerful creations.Movie-goers in the early 1920s were treated to the movie Metropolis frightening robot who,in the form of a female,had the power to destroy the man who loves it/her.In the 1930s,the Flash Gordon film series included robot soldiers,merciless killing machines.A 1940s-film series,Mysterious Doctor Satan,featured a steel "killer" robot,as well as a whole army of robots.This human tendency to view robots as evil monsters was so common that the science fiction author Isaac Asimov gave it a name in his robot novels: the "Frankenstein complex".

However,robots in movies and films are not always monsters.Some of the most well-known and beloved robots in movies these days are Transformers,which have been popular for a long time.Transformers came to China many years ago in cartoons and became an instant hit.To this day people can still remember lines from those early cartoons, bringing back memories of their childhood.

Of course,one of the movie's main attractions is the amazing special effects.Modern computer graphics and effects make the transformations of the robots an incredible sight.However,the attraction of the Transformers is not just the computer-generated special effects.The bigger picture is that Transformers come with moral conflicts.Their war is about justice and peace.The ideas rooted in the movie,such as protecting our planet and unity,are all meaningful lessons benefiting young audiences.The movie also gives children a sense of confidence,which is important in a world where children are weaker than adults.Most importantly these popular robot characters in recent movies have significantly developed people's attitudes towards robots,offering us a very human way to perceive robots.

32.Which words can best describe the feature of the robot in the movie Metropolis?

A.Kind and friendly.                                     B.Popular and beloved.

C.Emotionless and merciless.                                             D.Intelligent and mechanical.

33.What does the underlined word "it" refer to in paragraph 2?

A.The early movies about robots.                                       B.The science fictions about robots.

C.Mysterious Doctor Satan in the movie.                            D.The human tendency to view robots as evil monsters.

34.It can be inferred that Transformer movies      .

A.left Chinese audiences a deep impression                      B.were most famous for their lines

C.have replaced those of monsters                                    D.are popular with children only

35.Which of the following has most greatly influenced people's attitudes towards robots?

A.The special visual effects generated by the computers.  B.The incredible wars between human and robots.

C.The popular characters of robots in the movies.                    D.The moral conflicts brought by the movies.

Friendship is a special gift from heaven._36_As a child,you make friends looking at a person that supports you when you are playing and something is not working out right for you.With the course of time,you move ahead and make some more friends in your high school or in the university but they are not the same.But the relationship you have with your childhood friends is special and unique.

_37_You never forget the first friends you make and the reason is probably the sincerity and love you have for them.The memories and moments you spend with them are special,precious and joyful.It is priceless and incomparable.However,sometimes you get so busy with your life later on that you don't get time for such relationships._38_You raise a family,have kids and then there are some more responsibility you have to fulfill.

It is important that you still share your wealth of happiness and blessings with your childhood friends._39_They would appreciate it that you keep them in mind.Thanksgiving,Christmas and Easter are the occasions that are the best for wishing your friends with the surprising sentences._40_It would make them feel that you still care about them.They will be delighted and happy to have a friendly conversation with you.If you guys live in the same town, you can plan up lunch or tea parties together.Be a resource of compassion,pleasure and love as you were in your childhood.

A.You can also call them if you haven't had any conversation with them for a while.

B.We like people who have good judgment and appreciate our finer qualities!

C.You get caught up with the routine and schedule you have the whole time.

D.Send your childhood friends cards or gifts when it is their birthday.

E.Kindness can be another way to signal friendliness to others.

F.Childhood friendship is innocent,free from cares.

G.You make friends throughout your life.