A
    The desire to make exploration is born with man. Wherever his imagination goes, man also has a strong wish to go. A large part of human history is connected with the exploration of the world in which we live. Again and angina people have set out with surprising courage and patience to look into unknown regions and lands to see what had not yet been seen, to make known the unknown. With kites, balloons and aircraft they left the ground to pass through the lower atmosphere. Now the outer space receives their attention.
    Why should man take the trouble of conquering space? It is hard to list the specific practical benefits that will result in. But one knows, form past experience in other areas, that man will surely see and discover new thing s in space that will increase or scientific knowledge, and this new knowledge will find its way into valuable practical uses. What we learn about man himself, from his experience in space, and from the effects of space and the space flight environment on him, will be extremely valuable. The new techniques developed to carry out the exploration of space, and to keep man alive in space, will certainly find practical uses in everyday life in some way. The areas that will benefit are manifold. They include communication, generation of power, transportation and travel, food production, materials, fuels and many others. But to say definitely just what the practical results will be is almost impossible.
1. The main idea of the first paragraph is that        .
    A. man desire to explore what is unknown
    B. man often goes wherever his dreams to go
    C. man is no longer interested in the study of the land and sea now
    D. man’s history is his exploration of the world
2. The underlined word “manifold” in the second paragraph probably means        .
    A. vast           B. various        C. valuable       D. practical
3. The author seems to be in favor of        .
    A. doubting the necessity of the space exploration
    B. the exploration of space
    C. exploring more in space than in sea
    D. his experience in space
4. The underlined phrase “practical results” refers to the results        .
    A. that are obtained from experience
    B. that can be learned as knowledge
    C. that can be made use of
    D. helping us make further exploration

B
    Because he wrote his name so that it could be read easily, John Hancock has a place in the dictionary.
    John Hancock was a wealthy man who helped the patriots in the American Revolution. He was president of the Continental Congress. He was also governor of Massachusetts and one of the first men of sign the Declaration of Independence. Yet he is remembered best for his large signature.
    The story is told that when Hancock sat down to sign the Declaration of Independence, he said that he would write his signature large enough for John Bull to read without his glasses. Hancock’s signature on the Declaration is four the three-quarter inches long—an inch longer than his usual signature.
    Today John Hancock can be used to mean any person’s signature.
5. The passage is mainly about        .
    A. the American Revolution          B. John Hancock’s handwriting
    C. how an American expression began
    D. signing the Declaration of Independence
6. Hancock is remembered best because he        .
    A. was governor of Massachusetts
    B. helped the patriots in the Revolution
    C. signed his name in large letters
    D. was president of the Continental Congress
7. John Bull is        .
    A. another name for Uncle Sam       B. England’s Uncle Sam
    C. a name that stands for England   D. both B and C
8. According to the dictionary, a John Hancock is a        .
    A. governor                         B. man who sign petitions
    C. strong patriot                   D. person’s signature

Key: 1-4 ABBC  5-8 CCCD