Amongst the most popular books being written today are those which are usually classified as science fiction. Hundreds of titles are published every year and are read by all kinds of people. Furthermore, some of the most successful films of recent years have been based on science fiction stories.
　　 It is often thought that science fiction is a fairly new development in literature, but its ancestors can be found in books written hundreds of years ago. These books were often concerned with the presentation of some form of ideal society, a theme which is still often found in modern stories.
　　 Most of the classics of science fiction, however, have been written within the last hundred years. Books by writers such as Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, to mention just two well-known authors, have been translated into many languages.
　　 Modern science fiction writers don't write about men from Mars or space adventure stories. They are more interested in predicting the results of technical developments on society and the human mind; or in imagining future worlds which are a reflection of the world which we live in now. Because of this their writing has obvious political undertones.
　　 In an age where science fact frequently overtakes science fiction, the writers may find it difficult to keep ahead of scientific advances. Those who are sufficiently clear-sighted to see the way we are going, however, may provide a valuable lesson on how to deal with the problems which society will inevitably face as it tries to master its new technology.
　　 1. Paragraph 1____________
　　 2. Paragraph 2____________
　　 3. Paragraph 3____________
　　 4. Paragraph 4____________
　　 A. Popularity of Science Fiction
　　 B. A Fairly New Development
　　 C. Classics of Science Fiction
　　 D. Difficulty in Keeping ahead of Scientific Adventure
　　 E. Its Origin
　　 F. Themes of Modern Science Fiction
　　 5. Some form of ideal society is __________
　　 6.Books written by J. Verne are___________
　　 7.People enjoy________________________
　　 8.Works of modern science fiction have___________
　　 A) a recurrent theme
　　 B) concerned with the problems that we have to solve in the future
　　 C) reading books of science fiction
　　 D) political implications
　　 E) a current theme
　　 F) read worldwide
　　 KEY：AECFAFCD

 Alaska
　　 In 1858 Americans welcomed Alaska into the Union as the 49th state, symbolizing a change of attitude that hold in 1867, when the peninsula was purchased from Russia. Then, most Americans had little interest in 1,500,000 square kilometers "of icebergs and polar bear"-beyond Canada’s western borders, far from the settled areas of the United States.
　　 In those sections of the state which lie above the Arctic Circle, Alaska still is a land of icebergs and polar bear. Ice buried in the earth, which is permanently frozen to a depth of 90 or more meters, From early May until early August, the midnight sun never sets on this flat, treeless region, but the sun cannot melt the icy soil more than two-thirds of a meter down.
　　 Alaska is America’s largest state, but only about 325,000 people live there. According to estimates, 800,000 hectares of its land area are fit for plowing but only about 640,000 hectares are being cultivated.
　　 Arctic Alaska has been the home of Eskimos for countless centuries. It is believed that the Eskimos moved there from Mongolia or Siberia, probably crossing Bering Strait, named for Vitus Bering, the Danish sea captain who discovered Alaska on his voyage for Russia in 1741. The Eskimos are the state’s earliest known inhabitants. Russian fur traders established settlements but, by the time Alaska was sold to the United States, most of the traders had departed.
　　 In 1896 gold was discovered near the Klondike River in Canada just across the Alaskan border. Thousand of Americans rushed to the region on their way to Klondike; some never returned. Alaska was never completely cut off again, although even today transportation is a major problem. There are only two motor routes from the U.S mainland, and within the state, every town has its own airfield. Planes fly passengers, mail and freight to the most distant villages.
　　 The gold that changed life so suddenly for Alaska was soon ended, and although many stories about mining camps have become part of American literature, the gold from Alaskan earth contributed less to economic progress than the fish from Alaska waters. The fish caught in a single year range in value from $80 million to $ 90 million. Fur-bearing animals are plentiful in the forests and streams, and valuable fur seals inhabit the waters. After fishing, the state’s chief industry is lumber and the production of wood pulp. In recent years, Alaska’s single most important resource has become oil. The state also has large deposits of coal, copper, gold and other minerals.
　　 1. Paragraph 3_________
　　 2. Paragraph 4_________
　　 3. Paragraph 5_________
　　 4. Paragraph 6_________
　　 A) Rich resources of the state
　　 B) Connections with the outside world
　　 C) Transportation problem
　　 D) The natives of the land
　　 E) Cold climate
　　 F) Land and population
　　 5. For as long as three months of a year, the sun ________ on the ice-covered land of Alaska.
　　 6. According to statistics, _________ of the total area of Alaska has been used for farming.
　　 7. Alaska was originally part of Russia, but was bought _______.
　　 8. Gold did not bring to Alaska as much wealth__________
　　 A. as fish does
　　 B. because of its rich natural resources
　　 C. by the United States in the 19th century
　　 D. shines day and night
　　 E. only a very small percentage
　　 F. a limited amount of the gold found there.
　　 KEY：FDCADECA