阅读理解。

     When people want to know about the weather, they usually go to their radios, TVs, newspapers, or to the

Internet. However, you can also find many weather signs among wildlife, because of their highly developed

senses. Drops in air pressure (压力) produce an effect on small animals in many ways. Mice and deer are

good weather indicators. People who spend a lot of time outdoors have observed that, before a storm, field

mice come out of their holes and run around. Deer leave high ground and come down from the mountains.

     Birds are especially good weather indicators because they also show the effect of a pressure drop in many

ways. For example, some birds become irritable (急躁的) and quarrelsome and will fight over a piece of bread.

Other birds chirp (叽叽喳喳) and sing just before a storm. It seems they know they won't get another chance

for an hour or two. Birds also seek safe places before a storm. You will sometimes see birds settling in trees

or gathering together on a wire close to a building. Pre-storm low pressure makes the air so thin that birds

have difficulty flying.

     It is unusual to see many birds flying overhead in the summertime, rather than during the periods in the

spring or autumn. Watch for other weather signs if you see this. If they fly in the wrong direction, they may

be flying ahead of a storm.

     By paying closer attention to some important signs in nature, we can become better prepared for any kind

of weather.

1. The word "indicators" in paragraph 1 probably means _____.

A. maps

B. services

C. signs

D. stations

2. There will be a storm if birds _____. 

A. make more noise than usual

B. fly in different directions

C. come down from tall trees

D. share a piece of bread

3. How can birds sense the coming of a storm? 

A. By feeling a drop in air temperature.

B. By noticing the change of wind directions.

C. By feeling a drop in air pressure.

D. By noticing the movements of other animals.

4. The best title for the text would be _____. 

A. Signs of a Storm

B. Drops in Air Pressure

C. Animals'Sharp Senses

D. Nature's Weather Signs

阅读理解。

     Not long ago, an airplane was flying over New Zealand. There was a television camera crew on board.

Suddenly, out in the night sky, a bright sphere came into view. Everyone on board saw it and everyone

thought, "UFO"-Unidentified Flying Object (不明飞行物). The camera crew went into action and started

filming. That week people all over the world saw the film of this mysterious light on their television screens.

What was it? Was it a spaceship full of visitors from another planet? The captain of the aeroplane and the

film crew believed it was. Other observers had many different explanation. Some said it was Venus. Others

said it was just a trick of light.

     An air traffic controller (机场导航员) also saw it on his radar screen. He thought that a flock of birds

was causing dots on his radar screen when the "UFO" appeared.

     Most astronomers now believe that what these people saw was almost certainly the planet Venus. At that

time of year it is very bright and easy to see. And from a more aeroplane it can appear to be moving fast. So

far there is no proof that UFOs or spaceships from other planets do exist. These years investigators of UFOs

here investigated thousands of sightings-or occasions when people said they saw a UFO. Ninety percent of

these turned out to have a simple explanation.

     However, it's a good idea to keep an open mind. Scientists in some countries are trying to persuade their

governments to help them study UFOs. And they are planning to co-operate internationally on reporting and

investigating sightings of UFOs.

     After all, it is quite possible that there is life out there in the universe. And if something is alive, it is quite

possible that it will come to visit us.

1. So far there is no proof that _____. [ ]

A. UFOs are just a trick of light

B. UFOs are aeroplanes from the planet Venus

C. there are UFOs or spaceships from outer space

D. other planets exist

2. Scientists in many countries _____. [ ]

A. have investigated that UFOs are spaceships from other planets

B. are helping their governments study UFOs

C. are planning to co-operate internationally in the study of UFOs

D. believe that there is certainly life on the other planets

3. Which one of the following statements is true according to the passage? [ ]

A. People didn't see the film of that mysterious light on their television screens.

B. These years investigators of UFOs have simply explained most of sightings-or occasions when people 

     said they saw a UFO.

C. Life out there in the universe does exist.

D. Even if there is life on the other planets it will not visit us.

4. In the last paragraph, "something" probably refers to _____. [ ]

A. a certain thing that scientists are studying

B. an imaginary man

C. an animal

D. intelligent life