阅读理解AOneeveningafterdinner,Mr.andMrs.Tisichcalledafamilymeeting.“We’vehadtomakeadifficultdecision,”Mr.Tisichannounced.“Yousee,yourmotherhasbeenofferedapostasco-directorofatelevisionstationinChicago.Unfortunately,thestationisnothere.Afterthinkinglongandhardaboutit,we’veconcludedthattherightdecisionistomovetoChicago.”Marclookedshocked,whilehissisterRachelbreathlesslystartedaskingwhenthey’dbemoving.“It’ssurprising,butexciting!”shesaid.Marcsimplysaid,“Wecan’tgo—Ican’tleaveallmyfriends.I’dratherstayhereandlivewithTommyLyons!”TheTisichshopedthatbythetimetheymovedinAugust,Marcwouldgrowmoreaccustomedtotheideaofleaving.However,heshowednosignsofacceptingthenews,refusingtopackhisbelongings.Whenthemorningofthemovearrived,Marcwasnowheretobefound.HisparentscalledTommyLyons’house,butMrs.Lyonssaidshehadn’tseenMarc.Mrs.Tisichbecameincreasinglyconcerned,whileherhusbandfeltangrywiththeirsonforbehavingsoirresponsibly.Whattheydidn’tknowwasthatMarchadstartedwalkingovertoTommy’shouse,withafaintideaofhidinginLyons’attic(阁楼)forafewdays.ButsomethinghappenedonthewayasMarcwalkedpastallthefamiliarlandscapeoftheneighborhood:thefencethatheandhismotherpainted,thetreethatheandhissisterusedtoclimb,theparkwhereheandhisfatheroftentookeveningwalkstogether.Howmuchwouldthesemeanwithouthisfamily,whomakethemspecialinthefirstplace?Marcdidn’ttakethetimetoanswerthatquestionbutinsteadhurriedbacktohishouse,wonderingiftherewereanymovingcartons(纸板箱)therightsizetoholdhisrecordcollection.56.Theconflictinthisstorywascausedby___________.A.MarcandRachel’sdifferenttempersB.aquarrelbetweenTommyLyonsandMarcC.Marc’sdisagreementwithhisparentsabouttheirmoveD.Mr.andMrs.Tisich’sremarkofMarc’sirresponsibility57.MarcandRachel’sreactionstothemoveweresimilarinthewaythatbothwere____________A.surprisedB.angryandupsetC.anxiousformoredetailsD.worriedaboutpacking58.ThereasonforMarc’sgoinghomewasthat_________________.A.hedidnotwanttobeleftbehindB.herealizedhisfamilywasessentialtohimC.hehopedtoreachanagreementwithhisparentsD.hewishedtobeamoreresponsibleperson59.Whatwouldmostlikelyhappennext?A.MarcwouldbringhisrecordsovertotheLyons’shouse.B.Mr.andMrs.Tisichwouldcallthepolice.C.Marcwouldjoinhisfamilyforhousemoving.D.Mr.andMrs.TisichwouldstartsearchingforMarc.CDesertsarefoundwherethereislittlerainfallorwhererainforawholeyearfallsinonlyafewweeks'time.Teninchesofrainmaybeenoughformanyplantstosurviveiftherainisspreadthroughouttheyear,Ifitfalls,withinoneortwomonthsandtherestoftheyearisdry,thoseplantsmaydieandadesertmayform.Sandbeginsastinypiecesofrockthatgetsmallerandsmalleraswindandweatherwearthemdown.Sanddunesareformedaswindsmovethesandacrossthedesert.Bitbybit,thedunesgrowovertheyears,alwaysmovingwiththewindsandchangingtheshape.Mostofthemareonlyafewfeettall,buttheycangrowtobeseveralhundredfeethigh.Thereis,however,muchmoretoadesertthansand.InthedesertsofthesouthwesternUnitedStates,cliffsanddeepvalleyswereformedfromthickmudthatoncelaybeneathaseamorethanmillionsofyearsago.Overthecenturies,thewaterdriedup.Wind,sand,rain,heatandcoldallworeawayattheremainingrocks.Thefacesofthedesertmountainsarealwayschanging—very,veryslowly—astheseforcesofnaturecontinuetoworkontherock.Mostdesertshaveasurprisingvarietyoflife.Thereareplants,animalsandinsectsthat:haveadaptedtolifeinthedesert.Duringtheheatoftheday,avisitormayseevery...
