If your cellphone suddenly stops working, don’t blame the service provider．The malfunction（故障） might well have been caused by something bigger -- a solar storm．Experts expect that Earth will see more solar activity in the near future．The malfunction of electronic devices will just one of the effects．
Sunspots（太陽黑子） serve as an indicator of the sun’s activity．For the past two years, sunspots have mostly been missing．Their absence, the most prolonged in nearly 100 years, has taken even seasoned sun watchers by surprise．
When the number of sunspots drops at the end of each 11-year cycle, solar storms die down and all become much calmer. This “solar minimum” doesn’t last long. Within a year, sunspots and solar storms begin to build toward a new crescendo, the next solar maximum.
What’s special about this latest cycle is that the sun is having trouble starting the next solar cycle. The sun began to calm down in late 2007, so no one expected many sunspots in 2008. They should return in 2010. Scientists have predicted that the next solar cycle could be the most active on record: more sunspots and more solar storms. However, sunspots are mostly missing now.
Since the earth is in close contact with the sun, strong solar activities can bring trouble to our life. People of the 21st century rely on high-tech systems for the basics of daily life. Air travel and radio communications can be affected by strong solar activities. A big solar storm could cause 20 times more economic damage than Hurricane Katrina.
What the sun will do next is beyond our ability to predict. Most astronomers think that the solar cycle will go on but at low level. However, there is also evidence that the sun is losing its ability to produce sunspots. By 2015, they could be gone altogether.
【小題1】The sun watcher feel surprised at            .

If your cellphone suddenly stops working, don’t blame the service provider．The malfunction（故障） might well have been caused by something bigger -- a solar storm．Experts expect that Earth will see more solar activity in the near future．The malfunction of electronic devices will just one of the effects．

Sunspots（太陽黑子） serve as an indicator of the sun’s activity．For the past two years, sunspots have mostly been missing．Their absence, the most prolonged in nearly 100 years, has taken even seasoned sun watchers by surprise．

When the number of sunspots drops at the end of each 11-year cycle, solar storms die down and all become much calmer. This “solar minimum” doesn’t last long. Within a year, sunspots and solar storms begin to build toward a new crescendo, the next solar maximum.

What’s special about this latest cycle is that the sun is having trouble starting the next solar cycle. The sun began to calm down in late 2007, so no one expected many sunspots in 2008. They should return in 2010. Scientists have predicted that the next solar cycle could be the most active on record: more sunspots and more solar storms. However, sunspots are mostly missing now.

Since the earth is in close contact with the sun, strong solar activities can bring trouble to our life. People of the 21st century rely on high-tech systems for the basics of daily life. Air travel and radio communications can be affected by strong solar activities. A big solar storm could cause 20 times more economic damage than Hurricane Katrina.

What the sun will do next is beyond our ability to predict. Most astronomers think that the solar cycle will go on but at low level. However, there is also evidence that the sun is losing its ability to produce sunspots. By 2015, they could be gone altogether.

1.The sun watcher feel surprised at            .

    A．the longest sunspots’ absence   B．the largest sunspot number

    C．the malfunction of electronic devices              D．the serious damage by sunspots

2.What does the underlined word “crescendo” in paragraph 3 most probably mean?    A．small number         B．high level

    C．usual cycle                      D．fresh start

3.We can infer that in the past two years         .

    A．solar activities have brought much trouble to our life

    B．the number of sunspots has increased to a large extent

    C．the solar minimum took the place of the solar maximum

    D．our cellphones have seldom been interrupted by the solar storm

4.Which statement does the text lead you to believe?

    A．Solar activities do no harm to our daily life.

    B．Hurricane Katrina is also a type of solar storms.

    C．It’s difficult to predict sunspots.

    D．From  now on there’ re no sunspots.

5.What is the passage mainly about?

    A．The earth is in close contact with the sun.

    B．Sunspots can cause trouble to our life.

    C．Introduction of sunspots.

    D．Introduction of the solar storm．

If your cellphone suddenly stops working, don’t blame the service provider．The malfunction（故障） might well have been caused by something bigger -- a solar storm．Experts expect that Earth will see more solar activity in the near future．The malfunction of electronic devices will just one of the effects．
Sunspots（太陽黑子） serve as an indicator of the sun’s activity．For the past two years, sunspots have mostly been missing．Their absence, the most prolonged in nearly 100 years, has taken even seasoned sun watchers by surprise．
When the number of sunspots drops at the end of each 11-year cycle, solar storms die down and all become much calmer. This “solar minimum” doesn’t last long. Within a year, sunspots and solar storms begin to build toward a new crescendo, the next solar maximum.
What’s special about this latest cycle is that the sun is having trouble starting the next solar cycle. The sun began to calm down in late 2007, so no one expected many sunspots in 2008. They should return in 2010. Scientists have predicted that the next solar cycle could be the most active on record: more sunspots and more solar storms. However, sunspots are mostly missing now.
Since the earth is in close contact with the sun, strong solar activities can bring trouble to our life. People of the 21st century rely on high-tech systems for the basics of daily life. Air travel and radio communications can be affected by strong solar activities. A big solar storm could cause 20 times more economic damage than Hurricane Katrina.
What the sun will do next is beyond our ability to predict. Most astronomers think that the solar cycle will go on but at low level. However, there is also evidence that the sun is losing its ability to produce sunspots. By 2015, they could be gone altogether

1. 1.

   The sun watcher feel surprised at______.

   1. A.
      the longest sunspots’ absence
   2. B.
      the largest sunspot number
   3. C.
      the malfunction of electronic devices
   4. D.
      the serious damage by sunspots
2. 2.

   What does the underlined word “crescendo” in paragraph 3 most probably mean?

   1. A.
      small number
   2. B.
      high level
   3. C.
      usual cycle
   4. D.
      fresh start
3. 3.

   We can infer that in the past two years______.

   1. A.
      solar activities have brought much trouble to our life
   2. B.
      the number of sunspots has increased to a large extent
   3. C.
      the solar minimum took the place of the solar maximum
   4. D.
      our cellphones have seldom been interrupted by the solar storm
4. 4.

   Which statement does the text lead you to believe?

   1. A.
      Solar activities do no harm to our daily life
   2. B.
      Hurricane Katrina is also a type of solar storms
   3. C.
      It’s difficult to predict sunspots
   4. D.
      From now on there’ re no sunspots
5. 5.

   What is the passage mainly about?

   1. A.
      The earth is in close contact with the sun
   2. B.
      Sunspots can cause trouble to our life
   3. C.
      Introduction of sunspots
   4. D.
      Introduction of the solar storm．

Federal regulators Wednesday approved a plan to create a nationwide emergency alert (警報(bào)) system using text messages delivered to cell phones.

Text messages have exploded in popularity in recent years, particularly among young people. The wireless industry’s trade association, CTIA, estimates (估計(jì)) more than 48 billions text messages are sent each month.

The plan comes from the Warning Alter and Response Network Act, a 2006 federal law that requires improvement to the nation’s emergency alter system. The act tasked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with coming up with new ways to alter the public about emergencies.

“The ability to deliver accurate and timely warning and alters through cell phone and other mobile services is an important next step in our efforts to help ensure that the American public has the information they need to take action to protect themselves and their families before, and during, disasters and other emergencies,” FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said following approval of the plan.

Participation in the alter system by carriers — telecommunication companies — is voluntary, but it has received solid support from the wireless industry.

The program would be optional for cell phone users. They also may not be charged for receiving alters.

There would be three types of messages, according to the rules.

The first would be a national alter from the president, likely involving  a terrorists attack or natural disaster. The second would involve “approaching threats,” which could include natural disasters like hurricanes or storms or even university shootings. The third would be reserved for child abduction (綁架)emergencies, or so-called Amber Alerts.

The service could be in place by 2010.

61. What is the purpose of the approval plan?

A. To warn people of emergencies via message.

B. To popularize the use of cell phone.

C. To estimate the monthly number of messages.

D. To promote the wireless industry.

62. The improvement to the present system is in the charge of ______.

A. CTLA.   B. the Warning Alert and Response Network

C. FCC    D. federal regulators

63. The carriers’ participation in the system is determined by _______.

A. the US federal government   B. mobile phone users

C. the carriers themselves       D. the law of the United States

64. Which of the following is true of cell phone users?

They must accept the alert service. 

B. They may enjoy the alert service for free.

C. They must send the alerts to others.

D. They may choose the types of messages.

65. An alert message will NOT be sent if __________.

A. a child loses his way         B. a university shooting happens

C. a natural disaster happens   D, a terrorist attack occurs

66. Which of the following would be the best title for the test?

A. Cell Phone Alerts Protecting Students

B. Cell Phone Alerts by Wireless Industry

C. Cell Phone Alerts Natural Disasters

D. Cell Phone Alerts Coming Soon