Most people know that Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, and the first person to win it twice. However, few people know that she was also the mother of a Nobel Prize winner.
Born in September, 1897, Irene Curie was the first of the Curies’ two daughters. Along with nine other children whose parents were also famous scholars, Irene studied in their own school, and her mother was one of the teachers. She finished her high school education at the College of Sevigne in Paris.
At the age of 17 Irene entered the University of Paris to prepare for a degree in mathematics and physics. When World War I began, Irene went to help her mother, who was using X-ray facilities(设备) to help save the lives of wounded soldiers. Irene continued the work by developing X-ray facilities in military hospitals in France and Belgium. Her services were recognized in the form of a Military’s Medal by the French government.
In 1918, Irene became her mother’s assistant at the Curie Institute. In December 1924, Frederic Joliot joined the Institute, and Irene taught him the techniques required for his work. They soon fell in love and were married in 1926. Their daughter Helene was born in 1927 and their son Pierre five years later.
Like her mother, Irene combined family and career. Like her mother, Irene was awarded a Nobel Prize, along with her husband, in 1935. Unfortunately, also like her mother, she developed leukemia because of her work with radioactivity(辐射能). Irene Joliot-Curie died from leukemia on March 17, 1956.
【小题1】When did Irene Curie go to the University of Paris?

A．In 1897	B．In 1914
C．In 1918	D．In 1924

【小题2】Who was not a winner of Nobel Prize?

A．Marie Curie	B．Irene Curie
C．Frederic Joliet	D．Helene Joliot

【小题3】Which of the following about Irene Curie is not true?

A．She was the elder child of Marie Curie’s

B．She got a Military’s Medal because of her services to save the wounded

C．She met her husband at the Curie institute in 1924

D．She developed leukemia but was cured

【小题4】Which part in the newspaper may the passage come from?

A．People	B．Society
C．Culture	D．History

   Isaac Asimov is one of the most famous science fiction（科幻小说）writers of all time. He moved from Russia to the United States in 1923.He was a teacher at Boston University and began writing science fiction stories in 1939.His most famous works are the Foundation books and the Robot stories. He died in 1992 at the age of 72.

"There are not many people who have invented a useful scientific term，and although I did it unknowingly，I am not going to let anyone in the world forget it，"said Isaac Asimov. He was talking about the word "robotics" —the study of robot behaviour.

Asimov wrote several stories about robots between 1940 and 1990.One of the special features of the robots in these stories was that they were programmed to follow the Three Laws of Robotics.

The First Law: A robot must not hurt a human being，or allow a human being to be hurt.

The Second Law: A robot must obey orders by human beings unless these orders conflict（冲突）with the First Law.

The Third Law: A robot must protect itself unless this conflicts with the First or Second Law.

In Asimov's stories，the robots must follow these laws so that they do not attack the humans that created them.

Some scientists think the Three Laws of Robotics are hard to realise in real life. On the other hand，some say that the laws are great for science fiction but completely useless in real life. For example，if the laws really worked，robots couldn't be used in wars，as this would break the First Law. Since the army is one of the biggest supporters for robotic research，it is very unlikely that an attempt to follow these rules will happen.

According to Asimov，one thing is certain："Robots are changing the world and driving it in directions we cannot clearly foresee（预见）."

【小题1】At Boston University, Isaac ________.

A．learned to write stories

B．started to write science fiction stories

C．taught the writing of science fiction stories

D．invented a robot for writing

【小题2】According to some scientists, the Three Laws of Robotics are ________.

A．boring	B．important
C．practical	D．unrealistic

【小题3】Based on the Three Laws of Robotics, robots can't be used ________.

A．in real life	B．in wars
C．in the army	D．in the writing

   For years considered as a foxy politician, Thomas Cromwell has been greatly rehabilitated (恢复……的名誉) by Hilary Mantel’s prize-winning novels, Wolf Hall (2009) and Bring Up the Bodies (2012). It’s true that he planned Anne Boleyn’s fall, and made a large fortune in a dishonest way, but he was also a good husband and father, charming and modest, a self-made man.

Certainly, he is one of the outstanding figures from Henry VIII’s court. Extremely hard-working, he was a productive reporter. It was not unusual for him to start work as early as 5 am and finish well after midnight.

Yet in researching the biography of Cromwell, I have discovered frustrating gaps in sources, particularly in relation to his early life.

The man who would one day become the most powerful in England was raised from such humble (卑微的) origins that nobody knows when or where he was born. As the son of a blacksmith, he suffered a miserable childhood.

I had the portrait (肖像), which now hangs in the Frick Collection in New York, of a thoughtful but rather bad-tempered official in mind. It seems to describe a cruel man of business, which was what I thought before I read Wolf Hall. But Mantel’s portrait of a rude but intelligent man who was as loyal to his family and friends as he was cruel to his enemies is really convincing.

His last letter to Henry VIII, written from the Tower in June 1540, is desperately moving. “Most gracious Prince,” he wrote with his trembling hand, “I cry for mercy, mercy, mercy !” Henry was said to have read the letter three times. But it was not enough to save Cromwell from the axe.

Within weeks of Cromwell’s death, his royal master was regretting the loss of “the most faithful servant”. But Henry’s daughter Mary destroyed all of that. Debate has taken place ever since — among historians, novelists and film-makers alike — as to who was the real Cromwell.

【小题1】Why are there few sources of Cromwell’s early life according to the passage?

A．He was a mysterious man.	B．He wanted to be a dark horse.
C．He was a man of humble birth.	D．He was misunderstood by the public.

【小题2】Before reading Wolf Hall, the author ________.

A．had only a limited understanding of Cromwell

B．had his doubts about Mantel’s portrait of Cromwell

C．thought highly of the portrait hanging in the Frick Collection

D．considered Cromwell a popular guy among his family and friends

【小题3】It can be concluded that Henry VIII ________.

A．felt great sympathy for Cromwell

B．blamed Mary for Cromwell’s death

C．seemed a bit hesitant about killing Cromwell

D．was the main reason for the debate about Cromwell

【小题4】What’s the best title for the passage?

A．Why Cromwell got successful in his career	B．How people debate on Cromwell
C．What the book Wolf Hall is about	D．What sort of man Cromwell really was

   36-year-old Victoria Murden McClure is a real adventurer. She has been on many mountaineering expeditions（探险）. She was also the youngest person in a team that skied 1，200 kilometers across Antarctica to the South Pole in 1989，and became one of only two women ever to travel to the Pole by land.

The journey across the Atlantic was her third attempt. The first time she failed because of illness，and during her second attempt，in 1998，she nearly died. She had rowed nearly 5，000 kilometers when her boat was hit by Hurricane Danielle. McClure was suddenly in the middle of 80 mph wind，and surrounded by waves that were 20 meters high.

Her little boat turned over five times. McClure was sure that she was going to die —she took the video recorder that she had brought with her and recorded a goodbye message to her family and friends. The hurricane continued into night，and The Pearl turned over five more times.

McClure was determined not to send a signal asking to be rescued-she didn't want other people to risk their lives. But after the eleventh capsizing（倾袭）of her boat，she finally sent it and a large ship came and found her. However，they couldn't get her boat out of the rough sea—it was found months later near the coast of Portugal.

Victoria Murden McClure had concussion（脑震荡）and a dislocated shoulder when she got home. Many people might have given up after an experience like this，but one year later，McClure was back in her repaired boat and tried again. This time she was successful，and although she again met a hurricane on the journey，which stopped her from breaking the record for the fastest transatlantic rowing crossing，she only overturned once！

【小题1】According to the first paragraph，we can know that in 1989 __________.

A．only two women landed on the South Pole

B．more than two people traveled to the South Pole

C．the journey to the Pole was McClure's first attempt

D．McClure was the only woman in the expedition team

【小题2】The reason why McClure nearly died on the journey across the Atlantic was that __________.

A．she was ill	B．she came across a strong wind
C．she lost her way	D．none came to her rescue

【小题3】What does the underlined words "The Pearl" refer to __________.

A．Hurricane Danielle	B．the rescue ship
C．McClure's boat	D．the expedition team

【小题4】What can we learn from the passage？

A．McClure didn't send any signal for rescue on the second journey across the Atlantic.

B．People didn't find her boat any more after the second journey across the Atlantic.

C．McClure was badly physically hurt on the second journey across the Atlantic.

D．McClure said goodbye to the transatlantic rowing crossing after the second journey across the Atlantic.

How to Be a Winner
Sir Steven Redgrave
Winner of 5 Olympic Gold Medals
“In 1997 I was found to have developed diabetes (糖尿病). Believing my career was over, I felt extremely low. Then one of the specialists said there was no reason why I should stop training and competing. That was the encouragement I needed. I could still be a winner if I believed in myself. I am not saying that it isn’t difficult sometimes. But I wanted to prove to myself that I wasn't finished yet. Nothing is to stand in my way.”
Karen Pickering
Swimming World Champion
“I swim 4 hours a day, 6 days a week. I manage that sort of workload by putting it on top of my diary. This is the key to success —you can’t follow a career in any field without being well-organized. List what you believe you can achieve. Trust yourself, write down your goals for the day, however small they are, and you’ll be a step closer to achieving them.”
Kirsten Best
Poet & Writer
“When things are getting hard, a voice inside my head tells me that I can’t achieve something. Then there are other distractions, such as family or hobbies. The key is to concentrate. When I feel tense, it helps a lot to repeat words such as ‘calm’, ‘peace’ or ‘focus’, either out loud or silently in my mind. It makes me feel more in control and increases my confidence. This is a habit that can become second nature quite easily and is a powerful psychological(心理的) tool.”
【小题1】What does Sir Steven Redgrave mainly talk about?

A．Difficulties influenced his career.

B．Specialists offered him medical advice.

C．Training helped him defeat his disease.

D．He overcame the shadow of illness to win.

【小题2】What does Karen Pickering put on top of her diary?

A．Her achievements.

B．Her daily happenings.

C．Her training schedule.

D．Her sports career.

【小题3】According to the passage, what do the three people have in common?

A．Courage.

B．Devotion.

C．Hard work.

D．Self-confidence.