Google has kicked off Google Science Fair (GSF) 2014, its annual online competition for

bright, creative and ambitious teenagers who want to change the world with science. While the project is led by Google, it also has the backing of the Lego Group and world-famous publications National Geographic and Scientific American. The competition is open for students aged 13 to 18, who can sign-up now, form a team and begin working on a submission.

The winner will be rewarded with a ten-day exploration to the Galapagos Islands aboard the National Geographic Endeavor, as well as a VIP tour of ‘Spaceport America’ in New Mexico. Google is also throwing in a $50,000 scholarship and $10,000 for the winner’s school to purchase cutting-edge science lab equipment.

Google suggests that each project should be “an in-depth investigation of a science question or engineering problem” but otherwise, it’s up to students to pick and develop an idea that follows the competition rules.

Completed projects need to be submitted by May 12, 2014 at 11:59 PDT. Google will announce the regional competitors in June, ahead of global finalists in August and the competition winners in September.

Interested? Here are the rules.

If you want to enter the competition as an individual (个人), you should register first. Complete requested information about yourself and your project in the registration section before creating your project. You may edit this later. Click the box stating that you have read, accept, and agree to be bound by these Official Rules and Terms.

Upon completion of registration you may begin working on your project. The project must follow the technical, creative, and legal entry requirements set out in these Official Rules and the Googlesciencefair.com Site. You will be required to complete all sections of the Project Site.

You may begin working on your project after completing the registration process, however, you may not submit it for judging until you have requested and received parental consent (允许). Once you have done this, your parent or guardian will receive an email from Google with instructions on how they can give their consent for you to participate. The project will not be judged unless this consent is received.

小题1:From the first paragraph, we can learn that ________.

GSF is a science competition

teenagers should form a team

every teenager can take part in it

GSF is organized by Google alone

小题2: What is mainly discussed in the last paragraph?

A．Parental consent.

B．Submission time.

C．Registration process.

D．Project requirements.小题3:If you plan to enter GSF alone, you ________.

A．should create your project first

B．you needn’t follow the official rules

C．you should provide some personal information

D．your should start your project before registration小题4: The main purpose of the passage is to ________.

A．offer tips on how to enter GSF

B．provide information about GSF

C．persuade teenagers to enter GSF

D．show teenagers the importance of GSF

C

Any introduction to Peking Opera would not be complete without telling of Mei Lanfang. Traditionally only men performed in Peking Opera, including the female roles. And Mei Lanfang was the very best master of the miss. During his stage life, he combined the traditions of the past with his own creations, shaping a style of his own and giving birth to “The Mei Lanfang School”. He was also the first artist to introduce Peking Opera to an overseas audience, making it popular to the world. For half a century, Mei Lanfang was a household name in China.

Mei Lanfang began his stage life at the age of 8. His teacher said he showed little hope because of his boring eyes. To improve this, he exercised them day after day. He would fly kites and look at them moving slowly in a blue sky. He also kept pigeons in order to look at them soaring higher and higher until they disappeared into the clouds. Thanks to his efforts, he managed to transform his dull eyes into a pair of bright and expressive eyes and win national fame before the age of 20.

In over 50 years on the stage, Mei Lanfang played no less than 100 different characters in the traditional Peking Opera performance. He completely changed both stage make-up and costumes, and enriched characters' gestures, expressions and poses. He also wrote many new plays, designing the dances himself. The many dances he created form part of the great legacy that he left to Peking Opera.

In 1930, Mei Lanfang started on a successful US tour. There his brilliant performances fascinated the audience, making them realize that Peking Opera was a theatrical form of great literary and artistic value.

44. Mei Lanfang was the first artist to introduce Peking Opera to ______.

A. China                B. Beijing                    C. the world                 D. schools

45. When did Mei Lanfang begin his stage life?

A. At the age of 8.   B. At the age of 20.      C. In 1930.                  D. In 1950.

46. What is the meaning of the underlined word “legacy” in paragraph 3?

A. Someone well known all over the world.

B. Someone considered to be an art treasure.

C. Something traditional combined with modern dances.

D. Something valuable passed down from generation to generation.

47. What is the main idea of the passage?

A. The history of Peking Opera.

B. Mei Lanfang’s early stage life.

C. The creations of Peking Opera by Mei Lanfang.

D. Mei Lanfang’s great contributions to Peking Opera.