肖紫珺

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。

A

Each year on February 2nd， there is a special festival called Groundhog Day （土撥鼠日）

forecasting event in Punxsutawney， Pennsylvania. When it comes， people from around the world， including 5，000 in the small town today， watch this tongue-twisting （发音饶舌的） small town for a sign from one groundhog that supposedly predicts when that years' spring will arrive.

If it's a cloudy day outside when the groundhog pops from its cave， then spring will arrive early that year. However， if it is sunny outside， the groundhog will supposedly be scared by its own shadow， hiding underground for six more weeks of cold weather.

Of course， Punxsutawney Phil's prediction is no more able to guarantee the extended forecast than your local weatherman. ABC News reports that an analysis by the National Climate Data Center found that Phil's predictions are more often wrong than right.

Philis is also found to have made some unpleasant predictions. Ever since 1887， he has predicted 99 extended winters and just 16 early springs. Nine of the years' predictions were unavailable， according to ABC.

The holiday began as a German tradition in 18th century and became even more of a cultural phenomenon after the 1993 film Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray. Punxsutawney Phil has become a celebrity in his own right.  Each year， the fatter animal with long teeth is watched by millions as he emerges from a cave in the town he is named after. Phil has become so beloved by the town that he actually lives in the local library with his “wife” Phyllis.

Taking inspiration from the hard state of Bill Murray's character in the classic film， Yahoo contributor Owen Rust says Groundhog Day is a good time to reflect on one's routines.

1. The underlined word “pops” means “___”.

A. escapes B. appears C. increases D. hides

2. The reason why Phil's predictions aren't pleasing is that ___.

A. some of the predictions were unavailable B. Phil wants to do that for fun

C. Phil likes to make unpleasant predictions   D. he has predicted more late springs

3. How does Punxsutawney Phil become a celebration？

A. By an accident.                             B. From people's life improving.

C. By his own attractive force.               D. From much money raised by the town.

4. Which does this passage mainly talk about？

A. The National Climate Data Center.     B. A German tradition.

C. A tongue-twisting small town.             D. Groundhog Day weather forecasting.

B

Mosquitoes have an extraordinary ability to target humans far away and fly straight to their unprotected skin. Regrettably， mosquitoes can do more than cause an itchy （發痒的） wound. Some mosquitoes spread several serious diseases. New research now shows how mosquitoes choose who to bite.

Mosquitoes need blood to survive. They are attracted to human skin and breath. They smell the carbon dioxide gas， which all mammals breathe out. This gas is the main way for mosquitoes to know that a warm-blooded creature is nearby.

But mosquitoes also use their eyes and sense of touch. Michael Dickinson is a professor at the California Institute of Technology. His research shows how these small insects， with even smaller brains， use three senses to find a blood meal.

Michael Dickinson's team used plumes—a material that rises into the air of carbon dioxide gas into a wind tunnel. They then used cameras to record the mosquitoes. The insects followed the plume.

Then， the scientists placed dark objects on the lighter colored floor and walls of the tunnel. Mr. Dickinson said， at first， the mosquitoes showed no interest in the objects at all. “What was quite striking and quite surprising is that the mosquitoes fly back and forth for hours. These are hungry females and they completely ignore the objects on the floor and wall of the tunnel. But the moment they get a hit of CO2， they change their behavior quite obviously and now would become attracted to these little visual blobs （斑点）.”

This suggested to the researchers that a mosquito's sense of smell is more important in the search for food. Once mosquitoes catch a smell of a human or animal， they also follow visual signals.

5. What do mosquitoes mainly use to find their targets？

A. Sense of smell. B. Sense of touch. C. Sense of sight. D. Smart brains.

6. The first response of the mosquitoes to the objects in the experiment is ___.

A. to fly to the dark ones     B. to catch and stick to them

C. to take no notice of them   D. to attach themselves to them

7. How can we avoid being attacked by mosquitoes according to the text？

A. Don't let them see us.   B. Use dark objects to stop them.

C. Make them fly back and forth for hours.

D. Attract them to objects full of carbon dioxide gas.

8. What can be the best title for the text？

A. How Do Mosquitoes Survive？   B. Why Do Mosquitoes Need Blood？

C. How Do Mosquitoes Choose to Bite You？

D. Why Do Mosquitoes Attack the Human Being？

（Key  p. 37）