United States President George W.  Bush is expected to issue a directive in the next few weeks.  It will give the US Air Force a green light for the development of space weapons, US media reported last week.

This would potentially start a new global arms race, some experts have warned.

To keep that from happening, last Wednesday the White House explained that it was not considering putting weapons in space.  It said it was making a shift in US space policy to allow for protection of satellites.

But some defense analysts and arms control advocates argue that the policy will pave the way for the US to put both defensive and offensive ( 攻擊性的) weapons in space.

“No one should be fooled,” said Theresa Hitchens, an American weapons expert.

The US is now restricted by a 1996 directive  signed by President Bill Clinton.  Plans for space weapons were vetoed ( 否決) by the Clinton cabinet.  The directive emphasized the peaceful use of space , in agreement with almost unanimous (一致的 ) global opinion.

The US military has placed importance on space and has sent up numberous satellites for troop communications and to provide intelligence and data to guide bombs to their targets.

The US Air Force wants to develop space- based weapons that could strike targets anywhere in the world within 90 minutes of receiving the order to open fire.

These new weapons under development cover a wide range.  They include hunter- killer satellites and orbiting weapons.  And they use lasers, radio waves, or even dense metal tubes, known as “ Rods from God”, dropped from space to do the damage.

There are many barriers to the setting up of this kind of program, experts say.

First is the coast.  It is estimated that the budget may be US $220 billion to US $ 1 trillion ( 萬(wàn)億).

The technical difficulties of developing reliable space weapons are also a problem.

And, the program will draw strong criticism from around the world.  Experts worry about starting a space arms race.

53. Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?

A. US Military Plans           

B. The Global Arms Race

     C. A Comparison between Two Presidents

     D. President George W.  Bush and the World Peace

54. According to this passage, which of the following is NOT true?

   A.  President George W.  Bush supports space weapon development.

   B.  The space weapon program will threaten world peace

   C.  Clinton government was poorer than Bush government.

   D.  The US space weapon project is very expensive.

55. After reading this passage, it can be inferred that “___________ “.

   A.  George W.  Bush’s directive to be issued will be against global opinions

   B.  The White House is right in explaining that US new space policy aims to protect satellites

   C. US government has little difficulty in developing new space weapons

   D.  President George W.  Bush and Bill Clinton share a lot in common

56. The author’s attitude towards the coming space weapon development is _______.

   A.  optimistic     B.  critical     C.  excited     D.  indifferent

From the beginning rivers have played an important in the life of man. Man of the earliest times used the rivers as a means of travel. Today rivers still serve as a great waterway for the transport and people.

In ancient times, man settled near rivers or on river banks and built up large empires.  Water is nature’s most valuable gift to man. Man needs water to irrigate his crops, to cook and to wash. In nations all over the world, rivers mean life and wealth. They feed and clothe the nations around them.

Water is also a source of energy and power. Man build huge dams across the rivers to control the water for irrigation and get the energy needed to drive generators. The electrical power is then directed to homes, cities, factories and television stations.

Man uses water each day. In a small way rivers help to keep man in good health and provide for his amusements. Various forms of water sports keep man strong and healthy.

41. Rivers have been important to man _______.

A. since the last century                            B. since they came into being

C. since a few hundred years ago.              D. since the beginning of BC

42. Man in old times traveled from one continent to another ______.

A. by sea                    B. by air                     C. by train                 D. by bus

43. Generators are machines that are used ______.

A. to direct electrical power                         B. to control the water

      C. to build dams                                          D. to produce electricity

44. Which of the following statements is true?

A. People get energy by bu8ilding bridges across rivers.

B. In ancient times large empires grew up near dams.

C. Large rivers are still useful for transportation in modern times.

       D. People can be provided with amusements in small rivers.

It was an afternoon in the winter, some friends and I were talking at a restaurant.  We talked and talked and soon swimming became the __21___.  Suddenly I hit upon an idea.  “ Wouldn’t it be ___22_ if we went swimming? Others went swimming in winter, and __23__ couldn’t we? Besides, we could be ___24__ if we did.  ” I told them about this and they all said it was a good idea indeed.

Early in the morning, three days _25____, we four were standing at the bus stop, with bags in our hands, ___26__ for a bus to take us to the __27__.  The sky was clear, the sun was shining, but all the same, it was very cold, __28_ our heavy overcoats were not enough to keep us ___29_.  We all felt that we should go back, but no one wanted to _30_.

 We soon reached the sands.  There was nobody there, but we were not to be discouraged.  _31__ we were proud that we were the __32___ ones that dared to challenge the weather.  Besides, the sun could keep us warm.  So we _33__ ourselves quickly.

But things were not going to be so nice as we thought.  The sea wind was blowing, we felt _34___ cold and we shook from head to feet.  At last we decided to ___35__ the sea water.  We put our feet in first, only to take them back__36___.  The water was unbelievably cold.  _37__ I suggested that we should all jump in at the same time.  We all went back ten steps.  I gave the order and we all rushed forward.  We jumped.  That feeling I had when I was in the water I shall never 38  .  I was up and rushed again to the seaside.  So 39__ my friends.  We put on our clothes as quickly as possible and went home.

We four did not go to school the next three days, for we all _40_ a bad cold.  We missed the lessons, but we had this unforgettable experience.

Who would you rather ________ the watch?

　　A.  have to repair　　　　　　　　　B.  have fixed

　　C.  get repaired　　　　　　　 　　 D.  get to repair

---Alice, do you like traveling?

---Sure. I _____ to Beijing last year, but I _____ anywhere since then.

A. went; didn’t go                                         B. have gone; haven’t gone

C. went; haven’t gone                                   D. went ; hadn’t gone

---The Singaporean singer Stefanie Sun (孫燕姿) took the Most Popular Female Award in Hong Kong.

----But when she studied in middle school, no fans could have imagined how well she _______ in the world of entertainment.

 A.  would do        B.  was doing       C.  had done        D.  did 

You had one of your teeth pulled out yesterday, ______?

A. had you          B. hadn’t you       C. did you          D. didn’t you

----You keep on coughing. What’s the matter?

----Oh, I’ve got a cold. Nothing serious,  ______?

A. yet                 B. though                C. indeed               D. anyway

If he had started at nine o’clock, he _____ have been in London by eleven o’clock.

A. must                     B. may                      C. ought to          D. has to

Generous public funding of basic science would ______ a good many benefits for the country’s health, wealth and security.    

 A.  result from     B.  lead to     C.  lie in      D.  settle down