閱讀理解兩則

姜紅偉　陳　娟

(A)

Scientists are making new study of color and its effects(效果) on our health. They have known for a long time that the color of a room or the color of the light in it can affect(影響) our feelings. Many prisons and hospitals have at least one room that is painted pink. Officials have found that putting an angry person into a pink room has a calming effect. Scientists also have found that light and color can produce physical changes in our bodies. Professor Falfan worked with the group of 9 disabled children at the school in Albert. Two of the children were blind. The other seven had normal sight. The scientists changed the color of the school room, then looked for changes in blood pressure, heartbeat and breathing rate. The effects of color changes were the same for the blind children as for those with normal sight. Their blood pressure dropped from about 120 to 100. Similar changes were reported in heartbeat and the breathing.

The children were also calmer and less excited. Then the colors of the room were returned to orange and white. Blood pressure, heartbeat and breathing rate went up and the children became excited again. Professor Falfan said different colors produce different level of energy. He said the differences seem to affect chemicals in the brain that carry messages from nerve(神經) to nerve and from nerve to muscle.

1. Light and color can affect all of the following EXCEPT ____.

A. ones feelings B. ones spirit

C. ones eyesight D. ones heartbeat

2. According to the passage, orange and white can make people ____.

A. calm B. upset C. excited D. sick

3. The color of pink has a calming effect, that is to say, the color affects ____.

A. the skin B. the eyes C. the brain D. the muscles

4. After reading the passage, we can conclude that ____.

A. blind people can be affected by color, too

B. ones heart will beat faster in a colorful room than in a white room

C. the chemicals in the brain change with feelings and emotions

D. if ones blood pressure drops, his breathing will get slower and slower

(B)

“會當凌絕頂，一覽眾山小”。“欲窮千里目，更上一層樓”。與地斗其樂無窮，與天斗其樂無窮，與自然斗其樂無窮也!世界最高峰——珠穆朗瑪峰已被人所征服!你知道有關這方面的詳細情況嗎?你對登山感興趣嗎?快來加入我們吧!

“Climbing Mount Qomolangma is a kind of discovery,” said a reporter of CCTV. He was sent to join the climbing team for broadcasting1 this TV program. The climbers climbed Mount Qomolangma from May 18 to 24. CCTV also sent a team to join in this most dangerous and exciting sport. They called it “Standing at the Worlds Third Pole2 in 2003”.

It is just 50 years since the first climbers got to the top of Mount Qomolangma. In 2003, nearly 600 people from all over the world will try to reach the highest mountain in the world.

As we know, Mount Qomolangma is famous for its height—8844,43 metres—in the world, so it has attracted thousands of people to climb. On May 25th, 1953, Edmund Hillary from New Zealand, and Tenzing Norgay from Nepal finally reached the top of Mount Qomolangma. This most dangerous sport in the world brings the greatest challenge and the most exciting and happiest moment to human beings because the climbers have to face the terrible cold and avalanches3, and some other difficulties. The higher they climb, the more difficulties they will meet. On the way to the top they may lose their lives at any time. It is reported that 175 climbers had to live there for ever. During the past 50 years, more than 100,000 men and women tried to get to the top, but only 1,200 have made their dreams come true. We Chinese climbers first showed our national flag to the world on the top of the mountain in 1960.

Once someone asked why the pioneers never stopped trying to reach the top. “I dont think climbing the highest mountain only means danger or death. It is really a chance to challenge. You can really understand the love of nature and the true meaning of life,” a reporter of CCTV answered.

Notes:

1. broadcast v. 播放

2. pole n. 極

3. avalanche n. 雪崩

根據短文內容，選擇最佳答案：

1. How many people succeeded in climbing up to the top of the mountain? ____.

A. 1,200 B. 10,000 C. 175 D. 600

2. What may the climbers meet when they climb Mount Qomolangma?____.

A. Avalanches, rain, strong wind and the terrible cold

B. Mist, strong wind, water and falling ice

C. The terrible cold, avalanches, mist, strong wind and falling ice

D. Rain, avalanches, mist, strong wind and falling ice

3. When did the Chinese climbing team first stand on the top of Mount Qomolangma? ____.

A. In 1953 B. In 1960 C. In 2003 D. In 1950

4. What does the sentence “It is reported that 175 climbers had to live there for ever.” mean? It means ____.

A. 175 climbers had decided to live there

B. 175 climbers didnt want to go back for ever

C. 175 climbers climbed Mount Qomolangma

D. 175 climbers lost their lives

5. What can we learn from the climbers? ____.

A. Their love of nature

B. Their spirit of meeting the challenge bravely

C. Their spirit of never giving up

D. A, B and C

Key(1)