(1)

With only about 1, 000 pandas left in the world, China is desperately trying to clone(克隆) the animal and save the endangered species(物种). That’s a move similar to what a Texas A & M University researchers have been undertaking for the past five years in a project called “Noah’s Ark”.

Noah’s Ark is aimed at collecting eggs, embryos(胚胎), semen and DNA of endangered animals and storing them in liquid nitrogen. If certain species should become extinct, Dr. Duane Kraemer, a professor in Texas A & M’s College of Veterinary Medicine, says there would be enough of the basic building blocks to reintroduce the species in the future.

It is estimated that as many as 2, 000 species of mammals, birds reptiles will become extinct in over 100 years. The panda, native only to China, is in danger of becoming extinct in the next 25 years.

This week, Chinese scientists said they grew an embryo by introducing cells from a dead female panda into the egg cells of a Japanese white rabbit. They are now trying to implant the embryo into a host animal.

The entire procedure could take from three to five years to complete.

“The nuclear transfer(核子移植) of one species to another is not easy, and the lack of available(capable of being used) panda eggs could be a major problem,” Kraemer believes. “They will probably have to do several hundred transfers to result in one pregnancy (having a baby). It takes a long time and it’s difficult, but this could be groundbreaking science if it works. They are certainly not putting any live pandas at risk, so it is worth the effort,” adds Kraemer, who is one of the leaders of the Project at Texas A& M, the first-ever attempt at cloning a dog.

“They are trying to do something that’s never been done, and this is very similar to our work in Noah’s Ark. We’re both trying to save animals that face extinction. I certainly appreciate their effort and there’s a lot we can learn from what they are attempting to do. It’s a research that is very much needed.”

1. The aim of “Noah’s Ark” project is to _______.

A. make efforts to clone the endangered pandas　 B. save endangered animals from dying out

C. collect DNA of endangered animals to study　 D. transfer the nuclear of one animal to another

2. According to Professor Kraemer, the major problem in cloning pandas would be the lack of _______.

A. available panda eggs　　　　　　　　B. host animals

C. qualified researchers　　　　　　　　D. enough money

3. The best title for the passage may be _______.

A. China’s Success in Pandas Cloning 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　B. The First Cloned Panda in the World

　　　 C. Exploring the Possibility to Clone Pandas　　 D. China —the Native Place of Pandas Forever

4. From the passage we know that _______.

A. Kraemer and his team have succeeded in cloning a dog

　　　 B. scientists try to implant a panda’s egg into a rabbit

　　　 C. Kraemer will work with Chinese scientists in clone researches

D. about two thousand of species will probably die out in a century

(2)

Want a glance of the future of health care? Take a look at the way the various networks of people about patient care are being connected to one another, and how this new connectivity is being exploited to deliver medicine to the patient —no matter where he or she may be.

Online doctors offering advice based on normal symptoms(症状) are the most obvious example. Increasingly, however, remote diagnosis(远程诊断) will be based on real physiological data(生理数据) from the actual patient. A group from the University of Kentucky has shown that by using personal data assistance plus a mobile phone, it is perfectly practical to send a patient’s important signs over the telephone. With this kind of equipment, the cry asking whether there was a doctor in the house could well be a thing of the past.

Other medical technology groups are working on applying telemedicine to rural(countryside) care. And at least one team wants to use telemedicine as a tool for disaster need—especially after earthquakes. On the whole, the trend is towards providing global access to medical data and experts’ opinions.

But there is one problem. Bandwidth(宽带) is the limiting factor for sending complex(复杂的) medical pictures around the world — CT photos being one of the biggest bandwidth users. Communication satellites may be able to deal with the short-term needs during disasters such as earthquakes or wars. But medicine is looking towards both the second-generation Internet and third-generation mobile phones for the future of remote medical service.

Doctors have met to discuss computer-based tools for medical diagnosis, training and telemedicine. With the falling price of broadband communications, the new technologies should start a new time when telemedicine and the sharing of medical information, experts’ opinions and diagnosis are common.

1. The writer chiefly talks about _______.

　　　 A. the use of telemedicine　　　　　　B. the on-lined doctors

　　　 C. medical care and treatment　　　　　　 D. communication improvement

2. The basis of remote diagnosis will be _______.

A. personal data assistance　　　　　　　　　　B. some words of a patient

　　　C. real physiological information　　　　　  D. medical pictures from the Internet

3. Which of the following statements is true according to the text？

　　　 A. Patients don’t need doctors in hospitals any more.

　　　 B. It is impossible to send a patient’s signs over the telephone.

　　　 C. Many teams use telemedicine dealing with disasters now.

　　　 D. Broadband communications will become cheaper in the future.

4. The “problem” in the fourth paragraph refers to the fact that _______.

　　　 A. bandwidth isn’t big enough to send complex medical pictures

　　　 B. the second-generation of Internet has not become popular yet

　　　 C. communication satellites can only deal with short-term needs

　　　 D. there is not enough equipment for spreading the medical care

(3)

Scientists are uncovering the secrets of two port cities lost under the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, a researcher said yesterday.

Herakleion and Menouthis were rich and proud cities until something reduced them to rubble (碎石) and buried them in the mud beneath 30 feet of sea water, French underwater explorer Franck Goddio said at the American Geophysical Union conference.

“This is a mystery that is ongoing,” said Goddio, a founder of the European Institute of Marine Archeology, a Paris-based underwater research organization backed by the wealthy Hilti Foundation of Liechtenstein(列支敦士登基金会).

The destruction of the twin port cities has haunted Goddio ever since he happened upon the site about 15 miles from Alexandria while exploring sunken ships from Napoleon’s fleet.

Goddio and his group of expert divers, marine archeologists(海洋考古学家) and others, are using high powered vacuums, satellite navigation systems and sophisticated sonar(声纳) to excavate(挖掘) the sunken cities from underneath a carpet of silt about one meter (three feet) high.

Walls of shops, remains of streets and gold artifacts have been found and recovered.

Some experts believe that the port cities were destroyed by a series of massive earthquakes, much like the quakes scientists believe felled Troy(特洛伊城), Jericho and other ancient cities. The uniform direction of the collapsed columns and walls suggest an earthquake, Goddio said, but no fault lines have been found nearby.

Other researchers believe a massive wave, caused by either an offshore earthquake or a distant underwater landslide, could explain the catastrophe. Still others think rising seas and a shift in the Nile River outlet doomed the cities.

“The argument, as you can see, continues,” Goddio said.

1. The reason why the two port cities disappeared under the waters of Mediterranean Sea is that ___.

A. the two port cities were destroyed by huge earthquakes

B. the disappearance of the two port cities was caused by underwater landslide

C. rising seas and a shift in the Nile River outlet doomed the cities

D. the story didn’t tell us at all

2. From the story we can draw a conclusion that _______.

A. the two port cities were famous for their wealth and the mystery

B. the two cities belonged to France

C. some mysterious creatures from other planets destroyed the two cities

D. the American Geophysical Union conference was once held in one of the two cities

3. This article is probably from _______.

A. a scientific magazine　　B. a report to the government

C. a school text book　　　D. a scientific report in a newspaper

(4)

Motherhood may make women smarter and may help prevent dementia(痴呆) in old age by bathing the brain in protective hormones(荷尔蒙) , U.S. reseachers reported on Thursday.

Tests on rats show that those who raise two or more litters of pups do considerably better in tests of memory and skills than rats who have no babies, and their brains show changes that suggest they may be protected against diseases such as Alzheimer’s(早老痴呆症). University of Richmond psychology professor Craig Kinsley believes his findings will translate into humans.

“Our research shows that the hormones of pregnancy(怀孕) are protecting the brain, including estrogen(雌激素), which we know has many neuroprotective (保护神经的) effects,” Kinsley said.　

“It’s rat data but humans are mammals just like these animals are mammals,” he added in a telephone interview. “They go through pregnancy and hormonal changes.”

Kinsley said he hoped public health officials and researchers will look to see if having had children protects a woman from Alzheimer’s and other forms of age-related brain decline.

“When people think about pregnancy, they think about what happens to babies and the mother from the neck down,” said Kinsley, who presented his findings to the annual meeting of the Society of Neuroscience in Orlando, Florida.

“They do not realize that hormones are washing on the brain. If you look at female animals who have never gone through pregnancy, they act differently toward young. But if she goes through pregnancy, she will sacrifice her life for her infant—that is a great change in her behavior that showed in genetic alterations(改变) to the brain.”

1. How do scientists know “Motherhood may make women smarter”?

A. Some researchers have told them.　  B. Many women say so.

C. They know it by experimenting on rats.　  D. They know it through their own experience.

2. What does the phrase “litters of pups” mean in the second paragraph?

A. Baby rats.　　　　　B. Animals.　　 C. Old rats.　　　　　　D. Grown-up rats.

3. What can protect the brain of a woman according to the passage?

A. Estrogen.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. The hormones of pregnancy.　　

C. More exercise.　　　　　　　　　　 D. Taking care of children.

4. “It’s rat data but humans are mammals just like these animals are mammals.” What does the sentence suggest?　　　 A. The experiments on the rats have nothing to do with humans.

B. The experiments on the rats are very important for animals.

C. The experiments on the rats are much the same on humans.

D. The experiments on the rats are much the same on other animals.

5. Which title is the best for this passage?

A. Do You Want to Be Smarter?　　　　B. Motherhood Makes Women Smarter

C. Mysterious Hormones　　　　　　 D. An Important Study

(5)

　　To get cash out in the 21st century, you won’t need a bank card, a PIN(个人识别编号) or even have to move a finger. You will simply have to look the cash machine straight in the eye, declares National Cash Registers, a multinational company that makes automated teller machines, or ATMs. NCR has shown its first example machine that is believed to be the future of banking. Instead of asking you for your PIN on a screen, the Super Teller-Stella for short, asks you orally through a loudspeaker to look straight ahead while an infrared camera turns to your head, then your eye, and finally takes an infrared photograph of your iris(虹膜). For identification(识别) purposes, an iris picture is better than a fingerprint, with around 256 noticeable characteristics compared with 40 for fingerprints. This means that the chances of someone else being recognized in your place is about 1 in 1020. Once you’ve been identified, Stella greets you by name and says: “Would you like cash or a statement?” An infrared port allows the machine to send a bank statement straight to your pocket computer.

1. What does this passage mainly talk about?

A. A new medical instrument

B. A new type of talking machine.

C. A new type of cash machine.

D. National Cash Register

2. What is this new machine called?

　　A. Stella 　　　　　　　 B. ATM 　　　　　　　　C. PIN 　　　　　　　　D. NCR

3. When you want to get cash out in the 21st century, you will _______.

A. need a bank card　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. have to put in your PIN

　　C. move your finger　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. just look directly at the teller machine

(6)

Weather changes when the temperature and the amount of water in the atmosphere change. We can see and feel water coming from the atmosphere when we have rain. But the water must somehow get back to the atmosphere. Meteorologists call this the water cycle.
　 There are many stages in the water cycle. Rain falls when water vapour in clouds condenses(凝结). Drops of water form and fall to the ground. The water soaks into the ground and feeds streams and rivers. A lot of rain falls into the sea. The heat of the sun evaporates some of the water in the ground and in the rivers, lakes, and the sea. It changes the liquid water into water vapour. The vapour rises onto the air. Water vapour is normally invisible. On a very damp or humid day, however, you can sometimes see water vapour rising from a puddle(水坑) or pond in a mist(薄雾) above the water. Water vapour also gets into the air from living things. Trees and other plants take in water through their roots and give off water vapour from their leaves. People and land animals drink water and breathe out water vapour. In all these ways the water returns to the air. There it gathers to form clouds and condenses to form rain. The rain falls to earth, and the cycle starts again. It continues even if snow or hail(冰雹) fall instead because both eventually melt to form water. The amount of water vapour in the air depends on the temperature. The air is more moist(潮湿) in the tropics(热带) than in the cold polar regions.

1. What is the main idea of the passage?

A. Water cycle. 　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　　 B. Water vapour.

C. How rain forms. 　　　　 　D. Water, vapour, rain.
2. How many ways of the water returning to the air are discussed in the text?

A. Two. 　　　　　　　 　 B. Three.　 C. Four.　　D. Five.
3. Whether water vapour can be seen or not depends on _______.
A. how much water is evaporated　　　　B. how good your eyes are

C. in which way water is evaporated　　　　　D. climate or weather
4. From the passage we get to know _______.
A. there is more water vapour in the air in the tropics than in cold polar regions
B. there is more water vapour in the air in cold polar region than in the tropics
C. it gets more rain in the tropics than in cold polar regions because there is less vapour
D. the amount of water vapour in the air depends on how often it rains

(7)

Technology is the application(应用) of knowledge to production. Thanks to modern technology, we have been able to increase greatly the efficiency of our work force. New machines and new methods have helped cut down time and expense while increasing overall output. This has meant more production and a higher standard of living. For most of us in America, modern technology is thought of as the reason why we can have cars and television sets. However, technology has also increased the amount of food available to us, by means of modern farming machinery and animal breeding techniques, and has extended our life span via(通过) medical technology.

Will mankind continue to live longer and have a higher quality of life? In large measure the answer depends on technology and our ability to use it widely. If we keep making progress as we have over the past fifty years, the answer is definitely yes. The advancement of technology depends upon research and development, and the latest statistics(统计) show that the United States is continuing to pump billions of dollars annually(每年) into such efforts. So while we are running out of some scarce resources(少的资源) we may well find technological substitutes(代用品)for many of them through our research programs.

Therefore, in the final analysis the three major factors of production(land, labor and capital) are all influenced by technology. When we need new skills, on techniques in medicine, people will start developing new technology to meet those needs. As equipment proves to be slow or inefficient, new machines will be invented. Technology responds to our needs in helping us maintain our standard of living.

1. What is the best title for the passage?

A. The definition of technology　　　　　　B. Modern technology
C. The application of technology　　　　　D. The development of technology

2. Which is the main idea of the passage?

A. Modern technology is the key to the improvement of standard of living.

B. The three major factors of production (land, labor and capital) are all influenced by technology.

C. Technology is the response to our needs.

D. The United States is making great efforts to advance its technology.

3. According to the passage, people can live a long life with the help of _______.

A. higher quality of life 　　　　　　　 B. medical technology
C. modern farming machinery　　　　　　 D. technological substitute

(8)

Space travel is definitely bad for astronauts’ bones, reducing their bone density(密度) after only a month of weightlessness, according to French research published on Friday.

Laurence Vico and his fellow workers at St Etienne University called for more research into the effects of microgravity, after their study of 15 astronauts from the Russian MIR station showed bone loss continued throughout space flights.

“Bone loss was especially striking in four astronauts, ” the scientists reported in the Lancet Medical Journal.

They measured the bone mineral density (BMD) of bones in the forearm(前臂) and lower leg of the astronauts who had spent one to six months in space.

The BMD loss was significant in the tibia(胫骨) of the lower leg, a weight-bearing bone, but barely changed in the radius(桡骨) of the forearm. “Our results indicate the need to investigate not only different bones, but also different areas of the same bone since not all sites of the skeleton (骨架) are similarly affected by space conditions, ” they added.

Without gravity the body isn’t bearing any weight so there is no need for calcium (钙) which makes bones strong, and it becomes empty into the bloodstream.

The research team suggested in future scientists should try to determine if the loss of bone density was only on weight-bearing bones on longer flights, also the possible recovery after returning to Earth.

1. French scientists did their research on Russian astronauts, because _______.

A. they only cared for the Russian astronauts

B. they were not interested in their own astronauts

C. the Russian government invited them to do their research

D. the Russian astronauts worked in space for a long time

2. Scientists have found that _______.

A. the BMD loss may cause serious illness to astronauts

B. the BMD loss may cause some change in astronauts’ bodies

C. astronauts shouldn’t care about the BMD loss

D. astronauts should take some calcium before space travel

3. What cause the BMD loss to astronauts, according to this passage?

A. The food they eat in space.　　　　　　　　　　B. The drinks they take in space.

C. The temperature in space.　　　　　　　 D. The gravity in space.

4. In the third paragraph, the word “striking” means ______.

A. unusual　　　　　　 B. simple　　　　　　　 C. weak　　　　　　　　D. slow

(9)

Some spiders hunt on the ground, others build webs to trap their food, but the grass water spider catches its prey by running along the surface of the water.

This special water spider lives on the grassy banks of streams where mosquitoes, damsel flies and other insects come to feed and breed.

Although it is one of the largest spiders in New Zealand, it has an unusual ability. It doesn’t disturb the water as it waits for its meal, and there is barely a ripple(波纹) when it skims(掠过) across the surface at lightning speed to catch its prey.

Grass water spiders deal swiftly with larger insects like damsel flies by pulling their heads under the water and holding them there until they drown.

After a meal, the grass water spider spends up to half an hour grooming(修饰) itself. It wipes its eight eyes, brushes its antennae(触角), and takes special care to clean the hairs on its body.

It is the hairs that trap tiny bubbles(泡沫) of air so that the spider can run down a blade(叶片) of grass and stay underwater for up to an hour when it is frightened. The hairs also keep the spider dry, even underwater.

It is only when the female spider is caring for the young that she does not hunt on the water. After mating, she produces a large egg sac(囊), which she carries around for five weeks. Once the eggs start to hatch, she attaches the sac to some blades of grass or a thistle. She then tears the sac open and releases the tiny spiders into the nursery web.

1. How does the grass water spider kill its prey?

A. in a web　　 B. by drowning　　　C. by poisoning 　　D. with its antennae

2. the writer describes the special spider as “special” because _______.

A. it walks on water　　　　　　　　　　B. it has eight eyes　　

C. of its hairy appearance　　　　　　 D. of the way it produces its young

3. The passage tells us that the spider ______.

A. feeds grass and thistles to its young.　　　　B. lives on blades of grass under the water

C. lives in the grass on the banks of streams　　D. eats a meal once every five weeks

4. The purpose of the passage is to _______.

A. convince readers that spiders are dangerous　　

B. indicate that the grass water spider is endangered

C. list all of the spiders that can be found in New Zealand

D. describe the characteristics of the grass water spider

(10)

Perhaps the most famous theory, the study of body movement, was suggested by Professor Ray Birdwhistell. He believes that physical appearance is often culturally programmed. In other words, we learn our looks—we are not born with them. A baby has generally informed face features. A baby, according to Birdwhistell, learns where to set the eyebrows by looking at those around-family and friends. This helps explain why the people of some areas of the United States look so much alike, new Englanders or Southerners have certain common face features that cannot be explained by genetics(遗传学). The exact shape of the mouth is not set at birth, it is learned after. In fact, the final mouth shape is not formed until well after new teeth are set. For many, this can be well into grown-ups. A husband and wife together for a long time often come to look alike. We learn our looks from those around us. This is perhaps why in a single country area where people smile more than those in other areas. In the United States, for example, the South is the part of the country where the people smile most frequently. In New England they smile less, and in the western part of New York State still less. Many southerners find cities such as New York cold and unfriendly, partly because people on Madison Avenue smile less than people on Peachtree Street in Atlanta. Georgia. People in Atlanta, Georgia. People in largely populated areas also smile and greet each other in public less than people in small towns do.

1. Ray Birdwhistell believes that physical appearance _______.

A. has little to do with culture　　

B. has much to do with culture

C. is ever changing　　　　　　

D. is different from place to place

2. According to the passage, the final mouth shape is formed _______.

A. before birth　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　B. as soon as one’s teeth are newly set

C. sometime after new teeth are set　　　D. around 15 years old

3. Ray Birdwhistell can tell what area of the United States a person is from by _______.

A. how much he or she laughs　　　　　　 B. how he or she raises his or her eyebrows

C. what he or she likes best　　　　　　　　 D. the way he or she talks

4. This passage might have been taken out of a book dealing with ________.

A. physics　　　 B. chemistry　　　　　 C. biology　　　　　　　D. none of the above

(11)

Since we are social beings, the quality of our lives depends in large measure on our interpersonal relationships. One strength of the human conditions is our possibility to give and receive support from one another under stressful(有压力的) conditions. Social support makes up of the exchange of resources among people based on their interpersonal ties. Those of us with strong support systems appear better able to deal with major life changes and daily problems. People with strong social ties live longer and have better health than those without such ties. Studies over types of illnesses, from depression to heart disease, show that the presence of social support helps people defend themselves against illness, and the absence of such support makes poor health more likely.

Social support cushions stress in a number of ways. First, friends, relatives and co-workers may let us know that they value us. Our self-respect is strengthened when we feel accepted by others in spite of our faults and difficulties. Second, other people often provide us with informational support. They help us to define and understand our problems and find solutions to them. Third, we typically find social companionship supportive. Taking part in free-time activities with others helps us to meet our social needs while at the same time distracting(转移注意力) us from our worries and troubles. Finally, other people may give us instrumental support — money aid, material resources, and needed services — that reduces stress by helping us resolve and deal with our problems.

1. Interpersonal relationships are important because they can _______.

A. make people live more easily　 B. smooth away daily problems

C. deal with life changes　　　D. cure types of illnesses

2. The researches show that people's physical and mental health _______.

A. lies in the social medical care systems which support them

B. has much to do with the amount of support they get from others

C. depends on their ability to deal with daily worries and troubles

D. is related to their courage for dealing with major life changes

3. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the underlined word “cushions” ?

　　　 A. takes place of　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　B. makes up of

　　　 C. lessens the effect of　　　　　　　　　　　 D. gets rid of

4. Helping a sick neighbor with some repair work in spare time is an example of _______.

　　　 A. instrumental support　　　　　　　　　　　 B. informational support

　　　 C. social companionship　　　　　　　　　　　D. the strengthening of self-respect

5. What is the subject discussed in the text?

A. Interpersonal relationships.　　　　　　　B. Kinds of social support.

C. Ways to deal with stress.　　　　　　　　D. Effects of stressful conditions.

(12)

LONDON — Life for Cathy Hagner and her three children is set to permanent(永久的) fast-forward.

Their full school day and her job as a lawyer's assistant are busy enough. But Hanger also has to take the two boys to soccer or hockey or basketball while dropping off her daughter at piano lessons or Girl Scout Club.

Often, the exhausted family doesn't get home until 7 pm. There is just time for a quick supper before homework. In today's world, middle-class American and British parents treat their children as if they are competitors racing for some finishing line.

Parents take their children from activity to activity in order to make their future bright. It seems that raising a genius has become a more important goal than raising a happy and well-balanced child.

“Doctors across the country are reporting a growing number of children suffering from stomachaches and headaches due to exhaustion and stress,” says child expert William Doherty of the University of Minnesota.

Teachers are dealing with exhausted kids in the classroom. It's a very serious problem. Many children attend after-school clubs by necessity. But competitive pressures also create an explosion of activities. They include sports, language, music and math classes for children as young as four.

“There is a new parenting trend(趋势) under way which says that you have to tap all your child’s potential(潜能) at a young age; otherwise you will let him down,” says Terry Apter, a Cambridge-based child and adolescent psychiatrist(青少年精神病专家).

“It isn't entirely new: there have always been pushy parents. But what was previously(以前) seen as strange behaviour is now well accepted.”

1. From the second paragraph of this passage we can find that _______.

A. Hagner wastes much time helping her children's lessons

B. Hagner doesn't spend much time on her full-time job

C. Hagner is interested in sports and music

D. Hagner busies herself by following a trend

2. British parents, as the writer described in this passage, _______.

A. treat their children as sports players

B. pay no attention to their children's lessons

C. bring up their children in a simple way

D. give their children little time to develop freely

3. The writer's opinion about after-school clubs is that ________.

A. activities in the country are too competitive

B. children should attend four clubs at a time

C. some clubs result in competitive pressures

D. clubs should have more subjects for school children

4. The last paragraph tells us that in Britain _______.

A. parents used to take their children to every club

B. parents used to be wise on how to raise children

C. parents have all benefited from children’s clubs

D. parents have come to know the standard of education

(13)

There are two types of people in the world. Although they have equal degree of health and wealth and other comforts of life, one becomes happy and the other becomes unhappy. This arises from the different ways in which they consider things, persons, events and the resulting effects upon their minds.

People who are to be happy fix their attention on the convenience of things: the pleasant parts of conversation, the well prepared dishes, the goodness of the wine and the fine weather. They enjoy all the cheerful things. Those who are to be unhappy think and speak only of the opposite things. Therefore, they are continually dissatisfied. By their remarks, they sour the pleasure of society, offend(hurt) many people, and make themselves disagreeable everywhere. If this turn of mind was founded in nature, such unhappy persons would be the more to be pitied. The intention of criticizing(批评) and being disliked is perhaps taken up by imitation(模仿). It grows into a habit, unknown to its possessors. The habit may be strong, but it may be cured when those who have it realize its bad effects on their interests and tastes. I hope this little warning may be of service to them, and help them change this habit.

Although in fact it is chiefly an act of the imagination, it has serious results in life since it brings on deep sorrow and bad luck. Those people offend many others; nobody loves them, and no one treats them with more than the most common politeness and respect. This frequently puts them in bad temper and draws them into arguments. If they aim at getting some advantages in social position or fortune, nobody wishes them success. Nor will anyone start a step or speak a word to favor their hopes. If they bring on themselves public objections, no one will defend or excuse them, and many will join to criticize their wrongdoings. These should change this bad habit and be pleased with what is pleasing, without worrying needlessly about themselves and others. If they do not, it will be good for others to avoid any contact(接触) with them. Otherwise, it can be disagreeable and sometimes very inconvenient, especially when one becomes mixed up in their quarrels.

1. People who are unhappy _______.

A. always consider things differently from others

B. usually are affected by the results of certain things

　　　 C. usually misunderstand what others think or say

D. always discover the unpleasant side of certain things

2. The phrase “sour the pleasure of society” most nearly means “_______”.

　　　 A. have a good taste with social life　　　　　　 B. make others unhappy

　　　 C. tend so scold others openly　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. enjoy the pleasure of life

3. We can conclude from the passage that _______.

A. we should pity all such unhappy people

　　　 B. such unhappy people are dangerous to social life

　　　 C. people can get rid of the habit of unhappiness

　　　 D. unhappy people can not understand happy persons

4. If such unhappy persons insist on keeping the habit, the author suggests that people should ____

　　　 A. prevent any communication with them 　B. show no respect and politeness to them

　　　 C. persuade them to recognize the bad effects D. quarrel with them until they realize the mistakes

5. In this passage, the writer mainly _______.

A. describes two types of people　 B. laughs at the unhappy people

C. suggests the unhappy people should get rid of the habits of unhappiness

D. tells people how to be happy in life

(14)

Traveling can be a way to gain life experiences, especially during Spring Break — a week long school vacation in the United States. But what if you’re a student and don’t have enough money for a trip? Don’t worry. Here are some useful suggestions.

●Save: This probably is the most important preparation for traveling. Cut expenses to fatten your wallet so you’ll have more choices about where to go and how to get there.

●Plan ahead: Don’t wait until the last minute to plan your trip. Tickets may cost more when bought on short notice. Giving yourself several months to get ready can mean security(安全) and savings.

●Do your homework: No matter where you go, research the places you will visit. Decide what to see. Travel books will provide information on the cheapest hotels and restaurants.

●Plan sensibly: Write down what you expect to spend for food and hotels. Stick to your plan or you may not have enough money to cover everything.

●Travel in groups: Find someone who is interested in visiting the same places. By traveling with others you can share costs and experiences.

●Work as you go: Need more money to support your trip? Look for work in the places you visit.

●Go off the beaten path: Tourist cities may be expensive. You may want to rethink your trip and go to a lesser-known area. Smaller towns can have many interesting activities and sights.

●Pack necessary things: The most important things to take are not always clothes: Remember medicine in case you get sick and snacks in case you cannot find a cheap restaurant.

●Use the Internet: The Net can help to save money. Some useful websites include www. Travelocity. com, www. bargains-lowest fare. com and www. Economic travel. com.

By planning sensibly, even students can enjoy the travel. Your travel experiences will be remembered for a lifetime.

1. This passage is about _______.　

A. how to plan your travel　　　　　　　　　　B. how to travel with enough money

C. how to make your travel interesting　 D. how to get life experiences

2. Before your trip, the first thing you should do is _______.　

A. to make a plan of the route 　　　　　　 B. to get information in the Internet

C. to save money by spending less 　　　D. to buy tickets in advance

3. The writer advises you _______.　

A. to share costs with any other people 　　　 B. not to go to well-known places

C. not to visit dangerous places 　　　　　 D. to buy anything you want to buy

4. During your trip, _______.　

A. you need more shoes than clothes　　 B. you shouldn’t look for work all the way

C. you can gain valuable life experiences D. you should forget to do your homework

（15）

Right is right. Right? Of course. But is left wrong? Well, the Romans used to think so. They thought left-handed people were mistakes of nature. Latin, the language of the Romans, had many words that expressed this view. Some words we use today still have this meaning. The Latin word “dexter” means “right”. The English word “dexterous” comes from this word. It means “handy” (clever with hands). So, right is handy. But the Latin word for left is “sinister”. The English word “sinister” comes from this word. Sinister means “evil” (very bad). Is it fair to call right-handed people handy and left-handed people evil? Well, fair or not, many languages have words that express such beliefs. In old English, the word for left means “weak”. That isn’t much of an improvement over “evil”.

 Not very long ago, children were often forced to write with their right hands. Doctors have since found that this can be very harmful. You should use the hand you were born to use.

People who use their left hands are just starting to get better treatment. But why they get all these bad names in the first place? One reason may be that there are not as many left-handed people as there are right-handed people. There is one left-handed person for every five right-handed ones. People who are different are often thought to be wrong. But attitudes do seem to be changing. Fair-minded right-handed people are finally starting to give left-handed people a hand.

1. What does the passage lead us to believe when one writes?

A. He can only use his right hand.

B. He can only use his left hand.

C. He can use either his left hand or his right hand.

D. He can use both his left hand and his right hand.

2. The last sentence of this article means ________.

A. Fair-minded right-handed people want to change the habit of the left-handed people

B. Fair-minded right-handed people are starting to help the left-handed people

C. Fair-minded right-handed people are starting to use left hand to write and so on

D. Fair-minded right-handed people are starting to give up using their left hands

3. After we read the article we can certainly know that _______.

A. left-handed people have been treated poorly

B. the number of the left-handed people is larger than that of right-handed people

C. right-handed people are much cleverer than left-handed people

D. left-handed people are less smart but hardworking

4. Which of the following is NOT right, according to the article?

A. At one time, left-handed people were forced to use their right hands.

B. Left-handed people today are being treated better than those in the past.

C. There are not as many left-handed people as there are right-handed people today.

D. “Dexterous” comes from Latin, means “evil” and English “sinister” means “handy”.

(16)

The Internet has led to a huge increase in credit-card (信用卡) fraud. Your card information could even be for sale in an illegal web site(非法网站).

Web sites offering cheap goods and services should be regarded with care.

On-line shoppers who enter their credit-card information may never receive the goods they thought they bought. The thieves then go shopping with your card number — or sell the information over the Internet. Computers hackers(黑客) have broken down security(安全) systems, raising questions about the safety of cardholder information. Several months ago, 25, 000 customers of CD Universe, an on-line music retailer(零售商), were not lucky. Their names, addresses and credit-card numbers were posted on a Web site after the retailer refused to pay US $157, 828 to get back the information.

Credit-card firms are now fighting against on-line fraud. Mastercard is working on plans for Web — only credit card, with a lower credit limit. The card could be used only for shopping on-line. However, there are a few simple steps you can take to keep from being cheated(欺骗).

Ask about your credit-card firm’s on-line rules: Under British law, cardholders have to pay the first US $78 of any fraudulent(欺骗性的) spending.

And shop only at secure sites; Send your credit-card information only if the Web site offers advanced secure system.

If the security is in place, a letter will appear in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen. The Website address may also start https: //—the extra “s” stands for secure. If in doubt, give your credit-card information over the telephone.

Keep your password(密码) safe: Most on-line sites require a user name and password before placing an order. Treat your passwords with care.

1. What do most people worry about the Internet according to this passage?

A. A lot of stolen credit-cards were sold on the Internet.

B. Fraud on the Internet.　　　　　　　　　 C. Many Web sites are destroyed.　　

D. Many illegal Web sites are on the Internet.

2. What is the meaning of “fraud”?

A. Cheating.　　　　　 B. Sale. 　　　　 C. Payment. 　　　　 D. Safety.

3. How can the thieves get the information of the credit card?

A. The customers give them the information. B. The thieves steal the information from Web sites.

C. The customers sell the information to them.

D. The thieves buy the information from credit-card firms.

4. How many pieces of advice does the passage give to you?

A. Four.　　　　 B. Three.　　　　C. Five.　　　　　D. Six.

5. You are shopping on the site: http: // www. Shopping. com, and you want to buy a TV set, what does this article suggest to do?

A. Order the TV set at once.　　　　　　　　 　　B. Do not buy the TV set on this site.

C. E-mail the site your credit-card information.　

D. Tell the site your password and buy the TV set for you.

(17)

“Congratulations, Mr. Jones, it’s a girl.”

Fatherhood is going to have a different meaning and bring forth a different answer from every man who hears these words. Some feel proud when they receive the news, while others worry, wondering whether they will be good fathers. Although there are some men who like children and may have had considerable experience with them, others do not particularly care for children and spend little time with them. Many fathers and mothers have been planning and looking forward to children for some time. For other couples, pregnancy(怀孕) was an accident that both husband and wife have accepted willingly or unwillingly.

Whatever the reaction to the birth of a child, it is obvious that the change from the role of husband to that of father is a difficult task. Yet, unfortunately, few attempts have been made to educate fathers in this re-socialization process. Although many good books have been written about American mothers, only recently have some books discussed the role of a father.

It is argued by some writers that the transition to the father’s role, although difficult, is not nearly as great as the transition the wife must make to the mother’s role. The mother’s role seems to require a complete transformation of daily routine and adaptation to a new life, on the other hand, the father’s role is less demanding and immediate. However, even though we have mentioned the fact that growing numbers of women are working outside the home, the father is still thought by many as the breadwinner in the household.

1. According to the author, being a father _______.

A. brings a feeling of excitement to some men

B. has a different meaning for those who have daughters

C. makes some men feel proud and others uneasy

D. means nothing but more responsibilities.

2. It is stated in the passage that ________.

A. some parents are not prepared to have a child

B. young couples do not like children at all

C. working couples do not have much time to take care of their children

D. many parents look forward to having a boy as their first child

3. The transition to the mother’s role requires that the wife _______.

A. changes her life style in a quite different way

B. makes a complete change in her everyday life to deal with the new situation

C. stays at home to take care of the baby

D. helps her husband in his re-socialization process

4. Some writers argue that with respect to the change of roles, fathers, compared with mothers, ____.

A. have to do more in the household　 B. have to make more difficult adaptations

C. have an easier job to do　　　　　 D. can usually do a better job

(18)

Industrial pollution is not only a problem for the countries of Europe and North America but also an extremely serious problem in some developing countries. For these countries, economic growth is a very important aim. They want to introduce industries, and so they put few controls on the industries which cause pollution.

Cubatao, an industrial town of 85 000 people in Brazil, is an example of the connection between industrial development and pollution. In 1954, Cubatao had no industry. Today it has more than twenty large factories, which produce many pollutants(污染物). The people of the town are suffering from the poisonous matter in their environment and the bad effects can be clearly seen. Birth shortcomings are extremely common. Among children and adults, lung problems are sometimes twelve times more common in Cubatao than in other places.

It is true that Brazil, like many other countries, has laws against pollution, but these laws are not enforced strictly enough. It is cheaper for companies to take no notice of the laws and pay the fines(罚款) than to buy the expensive equipment that will reduce the pollution. It is clear, therefore, that economic growth is more important to the government than to the health of the workers. However, the responsibility(责任) does not completely lie with the Brazilian government. The example of Cubatao shows that international companies are not acting in a responsible way either. A number of the factories in the town are owned by large companies from France, Italy, and the U. S. They are doing things in Brazil that they would not be able to do at home. If they caused the same amount of pollution at home, they would be severely(严厉地) punished or even put out of business.

1. Why don’t developing countries have strict pollution controls?

A. The new industries they want to introduce do not cause much pollution.

B. Pollution is not a serious problem for developing countries.

C. They don’t realize the balance of nature will be destroyed by some pollutants.

D. If they put stricter controls on industry, fewer companies would build new plants in developing countries.

2. What is the author’s purpose in taking Cubatao as an example?

A. To show that industry can develop very fast in developing countries.

B. To show that the pollution problem in Brazil is extremely serious.　

C. To show that industrial growth can cause pollution problems for developing countries.

D. To show that pollution is killing many people and destroying the whole economy of Brazil.

3. How is the health of the population of Cubatao?

A. There are more heart diseases among people who live near chemical factories.

B. More people suffer from lung diseases because of poisonous matter.

C. Their health is affected by pollutants the same way as that of other Brazilians.

D. Babies there are found not as bright as those who live in other places.

4. Why do some foreign companies like to set up their plants in Brazil?

A. The investment(投资) environment in Brazil is suitable for them.

B. They will not be severely punished if they cause pollution in Brazil.

C. They can make much money because they do not have to pay Brazilian workers much.

D. They can act in an irresponsible(不负责任的) way in Brazil because there are no pollution laws there.

(19)

How many men do housework? Recently a European commission(委员会) tried to find out people’s ideas and reactions to the women’s movement. As part of their survey(调查), they asked many men and women the question, “Who does the housework?” The men answered very differently from the women!

The housework they asked people about was: preparing meals, washing dishes, cleaning the house and babysitting. 48% of British husbands said they did these things. 37% of Danish(丹麦的) men helped in the house. But only 15% of Italian men said they did the housework; many of them said they never helped at all!　

But there was an interesting point of view from the wives. According to British wives, only 38% of their husbands helped in the house. And Italian wives said that their husbands hardly ever helped. The Italian and British men did not tell the truth! The Commission found that Danish men were the most truthful husbands; their answers were the same as their wives’ answers.　

Do the men you know help in the house? Do you think the survey gives a true picture in your experience? Write and tell us what you think.　

1. The survey was carried out in _______.

A. Britain　　　　 B. Italy　　　　  C. Denmark　　  D. Europe

2. The subject for the survey is_______.　

A. how many boys do the housework?　　 B. who does the housework at home

C. how many women do the housework?　 D. who are more diligent, wives or husbands

3. From the passage we can see that _______.

A. there are more husbands who did the housework than wives

B. husbands do half of the housework all the time

C. there are more wives who do the housework than husbands

D. wives do almost all the housework at home

4. More _______ husbands help in the house than _______ husbands.

A. British; Danish　　　　 B. Italian; Danish　　　

C. Danish; British　　　　 D. Italian; British

(20)

Many immigrants(移民) to the United States find the decision to seek better lives for their families in America can have an unexpected and tragic consequence(后果). Deep differences with their children develop over language and culture.

“Many immigrants arrive here without much education. Their kids soon gain language skills and also street marts(耍时髦) on how to live in America, leaving the parents at a disadvantage,” Ileana , Roses, pastor of a Methodist church group operating in Virginia, said.

“Not only that but they find they cannot relate to children who quickly absorb American culture,” she said.

According to the US Census Bureau(人口调查局), the number of foreign born or first generation Americans reached 55 million last year, a record one in five of the total population.

A government survey of 922 immigrants in 2000 found that nearly 40 percent of those who had been in the United States for more than 15 years would still like to take English classes if they had the time.

Two thirds of low income households depended on their children for translation.

Psychologists(心理学家) and sociologists say parents can lose their position of authority(权威) in a family as a result and the effects of that can be far-reaching.

Children exposed to American pop culture that glorifies(颂扬) youth and sexuality(性感) often rebel when their parents try to impose the conservative values they brought with them.

“Americanization erodes(侵蚀) all important aspects of parenting,” said Richard Weissbourd, who teaches education at Harvard University.

“I feel a part of me is dying with my children. They don’t listen to my music. I have to play it on Sunday morning when they are not around,” said an immigrant.

1. What troubles the immigrant parents most is ___________.

A. that they can’t understand the English language

B. that they lose their position of authority in their families

C. that their children have lost sense of their own national values

D. how they can master the English language as soon as possible

2. From the passage we can infer that the population of the states at present is about____.

A. 275 million　　B. 220 million　　C. 255 million　　D. smaller than 250 million

3. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. All the immigrants had expected the troubles they would meet before they went to the US.

B. Two thirds of immigrant families are low income households.

C. American culture shows a spirit against conservative social and cultural values.

D. American pop culture puts the immigrant families at a disadvantage.

4. Which of the following is probably the title of the report?

A. The Result of the US Census

B. The Differences Between Parents and Children in the US

C. The Troubles of the American Immigrants

D. Role Reversal(颠倒) Troubles Many Parents and Children

(21)

The U.S. Department of Labor statistics(统计) show that there is an oversupply of college trained workers and that this oversupply is increasing. Already there have been more than enough teachers, engineers, physicists, aerospace experts, and other specialists. Yet colleges and graduate schools continue every year to turn out highly trained people to compete for jobs that aren’t there. The result is that graduates cannot enter the professions for which they were trained and must take temporary jobs which do not require a college degree.

On the other hand, there is a great need for skilled workers of all sorts: carpenters, electricians, mechanics, plumbers, TV repairmen. These people have more work than they can deal with, and their annual incomes are often higher than those of college graduates. The old gap that white —collar workers make a better living than blue collar workers no longer holds true. The law of supply and demand now favors the skilled workmen.

The reason for this situation is the traditional myth that college degree is a passport to a prosperous future. A large part of American society matches success in life equally with a college degree. Parents begin indoctrinating(灌输) their children with this myth before they are out of grade school. High school teachers play their part by acting as if high school education were a preparation for college rather than for life. Under this pressure the kids fall in line. Whether they want to go to college or not doesn’t matter. Everybody should go to college, so of course they must go. And every year college enrollments(入学) go up and up, and more and more graduates are overeducated for the kinds of jobs available to them.

One result of this emphasis on a college education is that many people go to college who do not belong there. Of the sixty percent of high school graduates who enter college, half of them do not graduate with their class. Many of them drop out within the first year. Some struggle on for two or three years and then give up.

1. It’s implied but not stated in the passage that _______.

　　A. many other countries are facing the same problem

　　B. white-collar workers in the US used to make more money than blue-collar workers

　　C. fewer students will prefer to go to college in the future

　　D. the law of supply and demand has a strong effect on American higher education

2. Which of the following is NOT a reason why college enrollments go up every year？　　

A. Many people believe that the only way to success is a college education.

　　B. Many parents want their children to go to college.

　　C. High school teachers urge their students to go to college.

　　D. Every young man and woman wants to go to college.

3. By saying that “many people go to college who do not belong there”, the author means that ____.

　　A. many people who are not fit for college education go to college

　　B. many people who do not have enough money go to college

　　C. many people who go to college drop out within the first year

　　D. many people who go to college have their hopes destroyed

 (22)

Work is a very important part of life in the United States. When the early Protestant immigrants(新教徒移民) came to this country, they brought the idea that work was the way to God and heaven. This attitude, the Protestant Work Ethic(道德规范), still influences America today. Work is not only important for economic benefits, the salary, but also for social and psychological needs, the feeling of doing something for the good of the society. Americans spend most of their lives working, being productive. For most Americans, their work defines(给…下定义) them: they are what they do. What happens then, when a person can no longer work? Almost all Americans stop working at age sixty-five or seventy and retire. Because work is such an important part of life in this culture, retirement can be very difficult. Retirees often feel that they are useless and unproductive. Of course, some people are happy to retire; but leaving one’s job, whatever it is, is a difficult change, even for those who look forward to retiring. Many retirees do not know how to use their time or they feel lost without their jobs. Retirements can also bring financial problems. Many people rely on Social Security checks every month. During their working years, employees contribute a certain percentage of their salaries to the government. Each employer also gives a certain percentage to the government. When people retire, they receive this money as income. These checks do not provide enough money to live on, however, because prices are increasing very rapidly. Senior citizens, those over sixty-five, have to have savings in the bank or other retirement plans to make ends meet. The rate of inflation(通货膨胀) is forcing prices higher each year; Social Security checks alone cannot cover these growing expenses. The government offers some assistance(补助), Medicare(health care)and welfare(general assistance), but many senior citizens have to change their life styles after retirement. They have to spend carefully to be sure that they can afford to buy food, fuel and other necessities.

Of course, many senior citizens are happy with retirement. They have time to spend with their families or enjoy their hobbies. Some continue to work part time, others do volunteer(志愿) work. Some, like those in the Retired Business Executives Association, even help young, people to get started in new business. Many retired citizens also belong to “Golden Age” groups. These organizations plan trips and social events. There are many chances for retirees.

American society is only beginning to be concerned about the special physical and emotional needs of its senior citizens. The government is taking steps to ease the problem of limited income. They are building new housing, offering discounts(折扣) in stores and museums and on buses, and providing other services such as free courses, food service, and help with housework. Retired citizens are a rapidly growing percentage of the population. This part of the population is very important and we must meet their needs. After all, every citizen will be a senior citizen some day.

1. The author believes that work first became important to Americans because of _______.

A. religion　　　　　　　B. economy　　　　　 C. psychology　　　　　　　 D. family

2. The passage is mainly about _______.

A. money and check　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. senior and junior

C. work and retirement　　　　　　　　　　　 D. Protestants and Americans

3. When Americans stop work, it’s difficult for them to _______.

A. get Social Security checks　　　　　　　　　　 B. feel productive

C. enjoy themselves　　　　　　　　　　　　　　D. be religious

4. The author mentions _______ examples of the government' steps to ease the problem of limited income.

A. two　　　　 　 B. four　　　　 　C. five　　　　 　 D. three

(23)

Large companies need a way to reach the savings of the public at large. The same problem, on a smaller scale(小规模地), faces practically every company trying to develop new products and create new jobs. There can be little hope of raising the money needed from friends and people we know, and while banks may agree to provide short-term finance(资金), they are generally unwilling to provide money, for long-term projects. So companies turn to the public, inviting people to lend them money, or take a share(股份) in the business in exchange for a share in future interests. This they do by issuing(发行) stocks(股票) and shares in the business through the Stock Exchange. By doing so they can put into circulation(流通) the savings of single persons and institutions, both at home and abroad.

When the saver(储蓄者) needs his money back, he does not have to go to the company with whom he originally placed it. Instead he sells his shares through a stockbroker(证券经纪人) to some other saver who is seeking to invest his money.

Many of the services needed both by industry and by each of us are provided by the government or by local organizations. Without hospitals, roads, electricity, telephones and railways, this country could not work. All these require continuous spending on new equipment and new development if they are to serve us properly, requiring more money than it is raised through taxes alone. The government, local organizations and nationalized industries therefore frequently need to borrow money to finance(给…提供资金) major capital spending, and they, too, come to the Stock Exchange.

There is hardly a man or woman in this country whose standard of living does not depend on the ability of his or her employers to raise money to finance new development. In one way or another his new money must come from the savings of the country. The Stock Exchange exists to provide a channel through which these savings can reach those who need finance.

1. The money which enables these companies to go ahead with their projects is _______.

A. exchanged for part ownership in the Stock Exchange

B. raised by the selling of shares in the companies

C. repaid to its original owners as soon as possible

D. invested in different companies in the Stock Exchange

2. All the basic services on which we depend are _______.

A. unable to provide for the needs of the population

B. financed wholly by rates and taxes

C. in constant need of financial support

D. run by the government or local organizations

3. The Stock Exchange makes it possible for the government, local organizations and nationalized industries _______.

A. to make certain everybody saves money

B. to borrow as much money as they wish

C. to make certain everybody lends money to them

D. to raise money to finance new development

4. The underlined word invest probably means _______.

A. give more money with 　　　　　 B. provide less money with

C. borrow less money with　　　　　D. make more money with

(24)

As the saying goes, nothing succeeds like success. People like to deal with a successful person. Why? You see there must be a reason why the person has achieved success. And most obviously it is because he is expert at what he is doing.

When given a chance, people would deal with the best. Naturally, the best way to produce a success is to do a lot of work. Your achievement and the fame it leads to will make it known to the public how good you really are. People will know this by your completed record or simply by recognizing it upon seeing you in action. Just as it becomes quite obvious that a man is a full-time tennis player when you see him play on the tennis court, it will become obvious that you are skilled in your work when people see you do your work. But many other image building ways are practical in producing a success image, as will be discussed in the following…

1. People like to deal with a successful person probably because _______.

A. they hope to know the secret of being successful

B. they don’t believe what he has achieved

C. they are eager to show respect to him

D. they feel uncertain if he is an expert

2. How can we know how good a person is at his work?

A. Work with him.

B. Study how he has achieved success.

C. Just look at him doing his work.

D. Watch him playing tennis on the tennis court.

3. The passage mainly tells that _____.

A. success image may come after success

B. people like to deal with a successful person

C. there are many image building ways

D. success image is or has been built in one’s work

(25)

Doomed beauties such as Cleopatra and Manilyn Monroe were far from alone in their misery. Very attractive people tend to form partnerships that are less stable and satisfying than those enjoyed by plain Janes.

According to research by Dr John Blaine of the University of Southern California, relationships between people whose professions largely depend on their appearances, such as models or actors, tend to end much faster than those between lawyers, doctors or students.

Blaine said the beautiful felt different from childhood. They are treated as special, which may create both arrogance(傲慢) and insecurity. All too often, beauty can be used as an alternative to education. Often they are pushed out of their class or town, told to go off and make their fortune in Hollywood or London and, when the majority fail, they have few talents(才能) to make a living.

Blaine added that beautiful people score poorly on the “big five” — the key factors American experts consider when helping distressed couples. These are neuroticism(神经过敏), including anger and anxiety; extroversion(性格外向); openness to new experiences; agreeableness; and conscientiousness, or sticking by agreements they have made. Attractive people often see no reason to try to change until their looks start to fade.

Krista Sutherland, of the University of California Los Angeles, said partnerships that appeared to be perfect from the outside, such as the former “dream teams” of Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise or Hugh Grant and Elizabeth Hurley, where backgrounds and aspirations(抱负) are often shared, did not necessarily lead to happiness.

1. What does the underlined sentence “Doomed beauties such as Cleopatra and Manilyn Monroe were far from alone in their misery. ” means?

A. Beautiful women always felt lonely.

B. Beautiful women always were alone.

C. Many beautiful women didn’t end up with a happy life.

D. Beautiful women always lived a happy life.　

2. The underlined phrase “plain Janes” in the passage refer to ________.

A. ordinary-looking women　　　　　B. women called Jane

C. common people　　　　　　　　　　　D. attractive women　

3. We can infer in the passage that ________.

A. Hugh Grant and Elizabeth Hurley were a couple

B. Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise were very satisfied with their life

C. When they fail in Hollywood, the beautiful have little trouble in making a living

D. The marriage of the beautiful often last long　

4. Which of the following is the best title?

A. Five key factors affecting the partnership　　　 B. Beauties are doomed to fail in love

C. Beauties or common?　　　　　　　　　　　　　　D. The beautiful are different.

答案见《十处高考》1997--2006

2006年上海  C

In some children who go blind, certain parts of the brain that normally control vision appear to switch jobs and focus instead on sound, a new study has found.

The study, by researchers at the University of Montreal, involved 7 adults who could see and 12 adults who had lost their vision when they were children. Each participant sat in a room with 16 loudspeakers at different locations. The room was designed so that there were no echoes. During the experiment, the speakers irregularly produced sounds. Participants had to point to where the sounds were coming from. Meanwhile, the researchers monitored blood flow in the brains of the participants to see which brain structures were working during the task.

The results showed that five of the blind participants were very good at pointing to where sounds were coming from. In these people, blood flow increased in the visual cortex- an area at the back of the right side of the brain. This part of the brain is usually associated with vision.

The other seven blind participants showed no increase in activity in the visual cortex. These people didn't do very well at picking out where sounds were coming from. Now, the researchers are looking at whether these people have gained an enhanced sense of touch instead of sound to replace their lost vision.

The scientists say that their study shows how adaptable parts of the brain can be.

72.　 The purpose of the experiment described in the passage is to find whether

A. blind children can regain their sight　　　　　  B. blind people have a better sense of sound

C. the sense of touch is better among blind people　 D. blood flow in the brains of blind people is slower

73. The participants of the experiment were asked ___.

A. to tell the difference between 16 sounds　　　　B. to take down the time each sound lasted

C. to identify the direction the sound came from　 D. to detect the number of the loudspeakers.

74. During the experiment, blood flow in the brains of the participants was measured in order to ___.

A. learn about the way they react to echoes

B. look for the way of enhancing hearing ability

C. find which parts of the brain were functioning

D. expose the relationship between seeing and touching

75. Which of the following statements best summarizes the main idea of the passage?

A. Most blind people have a well - developed sense of touch.

B. People go blind because of the breakdown of their visual cortex.

C. Most blind people have a better sense of sound than normal people.

D. Human brains can adjust themselves after the loss of a certain function.

2005浙江卷D

Supermarkets are trying out new computers that make shopping carts more intelligent (具备智能的). They will help shoppers find cups or toilet soap, and keep a record of the bill.

The touch-screen devices (触摸屏装置) are on show at the Food Marketing Institute's exhibition here this week. "These devices are able to create value and get you around the store quicker," said Michael Alexandor, manager of Springboard Retail Networks Inc., which makes a smart cart computer called the Concierge.

Canadian stores will test the Concierge in July. A similar device, IBM's "shopping buddy," has recently been test-marketed at Stop & Shop stores in Massachusetts.

Neither device tells you how many fat grams or calories are in your cart, but they will flash you with items on sale. The idea is to make it easier for people to buy, not to have second thoughts that maybe you should put something back on the shelf.

"The whole model is driven by advertisers' need to get in front of shoppers," said Alexandor. "They're not watching 30-second TV ads anymore."

People can use a home computer to make their shopping lists. Once at the store, a shopper can use a preferred customer card to start a system (系统) that will organize the trip around the store. If you're looking for toothpicks, you type in the word or pick it from a list, and a map will appear on the screen showing where you are and where you can find them.

The devices also keep a record of what you buy. When you're finished, the device figures out your bill. Then you go to the checker or place your card into a self-checkout stand and pay.

The new computerized shopping assistants don't come cheap. The Buddy devices will cost the average store about $160,000, and the Concierge will cost stores about $500 for each device.

53. The underlined word “they” (paragraph1) refers to_________.

　　　 A．supermarkets　　　 B．shop assistants 　 C．shopping carts　　D．shop managers

54. Which of the following is the correct order of shopping with the computerized shopping carts?

a. Start the system.　　　　　　　　　　 b. Make a shopping list.

c. Find the things you want.　　　　　　  D. Go to a self-checkout stand.

　　　 A．abdc　　　　　　　　　 B．bacd 　　　　　　　　　C．acbd　　　　　　　 D．bcad

55. We can learn from the last paragraph that_________.

A．intelligent shopping carts cost a large sum of money

B．the Concierge is cheaper than the Buddy devices

C．shop assistants with computer knowledge are well paid　　

D．average stores prefer the Concierge to the Buddy devices

56. What might be the most suitable title for the text?

　　　 A．New age for supermarkets　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　B．Concierge and Shopping Buddy

C．New computers make shopping carts smarter　 

D．Touch-screen devices make shopping enjoyable

2005北京卷B

Good tool design is important in the prevention of overuse injuries. Well-designed tools and equipment will require less force to operate them and prevent awkward（别扭的）hand positions. They will allow the worker to keep the elbows（肘）next to the body to prevent damage to the shoulder and arm.

Overuse injuries can therefore be prevented or reduced if the employer provides, and workers use:

●power tools rather than having to use muscle（肌肉）power

●tools with specially designed handles that allow the wrist（手腕）to keep straight （See figure 1）. This means that hands and wrists are kept in the same position as they would be if they were hanging relaxed at a person’s side

Figure1. Bend the tool, not the wrist

●tools with handles that can be held comfortably by the whole hand. This means having a selection of sizes—remember that tools that provide a comfortable firm Hold for a person with a very large hand may be awkward for someone with a very small hand. This is a particularly important consideration for women who may use tools originally designed for men.

●tools that do not press fingers (or flesh) between the handles, and whose handles do not have sharp edges or a small surface area.

60. What is the best title for the passage?

A. Good tool Design for Women　　　　　  B. Importance of Good Tool Design

C. Tool Design and Prevention of Injuries　　 D. Overuse of Tools and Worker Protection

61. Which of the following describes a well-designed tool?

A. It’s kept close to the body.　　　B. It fully uses muscle power.

C. It makes users feel relaxed.　　D. It’s operated with less force.

62. What is Figure 1 used to show?

A. The effective use of the tool.　　　 B. The way of operating the tool.

C. The proper design of the handle.　　D. The purpose of bending the wrist.

63. In choosing tools for women, _____of the handle is the most important.

A. the size　　 B. the edge　　C. the shape　　D. the position

2005广东卷C

　　"Have you ever been out on a boat and felt it lifted up by a wave? Or have you jumped in the water and felt the rush of energy as waves came over you.'?" asked Jamie Taylor of the Wave Energy Group at the University of Edinburgh. "There is certainly a lot of energy in waves," he said.

　　Scientists are working to use that energy to make electricity.　Most waves are created when winds blow across the ocean. "The wind starts out by making little ripples (涟漪), but if they keep on blowing, those ripples get bigger and bigger and turn into waves," Taylor said. "Waves are one of nature's ways of picking up energy and then sending it off on a journey."

　　When waves come toward the shore, people can set up darns to block the water and send it through a large wheel called a turbine (涡轮机). The turbine can then power an electrical generator to produce electricity.

　　"The resource is huge," said Janet Swain of the Worldwatch Institute. "We will never run out of wave power." Besides, wave energy does not create the same pollution as other energy sources, such as oil or coal. Oceans cover three-quarters of the Earth's surface - that would make wave power seem ideal for creating energy throughout the world, though there are some weak points yet to overcome.

　　Swain said that wave power still costs too much money. She also said that its effects on sea animals are still unknown. What is more, wave power could affect fishing and boat traffic.

　　Traditional sources of energy like oil and gas may someday run out. "Demand for energy to power our TVs and computers, drive our cars, and heat and cool our homes is rising rapidly throughout the world," Swain said. In the future when you turn on a light, an ocean wave could be providing the electricity!

64. The writer uses the two questions at the beginning of the passage to ______.

　 A. test the readers' knowledge about waves　B. draw the readers' attention to the topic

　 C. show Jamie Taylor's importance　　　　 D. invite the readers to answer them

65. The underlined phrase "picking up" (paragraph 2) is closest in meaning to ______.

　 A. starting again　 B. speeding up　 C. gathering　 D. improving

66. We can make better use of wave energy if we ______.

　 A. shorten its journey to thousands of homes

　 B. build more small power stations on the oceans

　 C. reduce the cost of turning it into electric power

　 D. quicken the steps of producing electricity

67. It can be inferred that some day we might not worry about ______.

　 A. air pollution　B. our boat traffic　 C. our power supply　 D. our supply of sea fish

2005全国I卷D

As any homemaker who has tried to keep order at the dinner table knows, there is far more to a family meal than food. Sociologist Michael Lewis has been studying 50 families to find out just how much more.

Lewis and his co-workers carried out their study by videotaping(录像) the families while they ate ordinary meals in their own homes. They found that parents with small families talk actively with each other and their children. But as the number of children gets larger, conversation gives way to the parents’ efforts to control the loud noise they make. That can have an important effect on the children. “In general the more question-asking the parents do, the higher the children’s IQ scores,” Lewis says. “And the more children there are, the less question-asking there is.”

The study also provides an explanation for why middle children often seem to have a harder time in life than their siblings(兄弟姐妹). Lewis found that in families with three or four children, dinner conversation is likely to center on the oldest child, who has the most to talk about, and the youngest, who needs the most attention. “Middle children are invisible,” says Lewis. “When you see someone get up from the table and walk around during dinner, chances are it’s the middle child.” There is, however, one thing that stops all conversation and prevents anyone from having attention: “When the TV is on,” Lewis says, “dinner is a non-event.”

66．The writer’s purpose in writing the text is to _________.

　　　 A．show the relationship between parents and children

　　　 B．teach parents ways to keep order at the dinner table

　　　 C．report on the findings of a study　　　　　　D．give information about family problems

67．Parents with large families ask fewer questions at dinner because ____________.

　　　 A．they are busy serving food to their children

　　　 B．they are busy keeping order at the dinner table

　　　 C．they have to pay more attention to younger children

　　　 D．they are tired out having prepared food for the whole family

68．By saying “Middle children are invisible” in paragraph 3, Lewis means that middle children _________.

　　　 A．have to help their parents to serve dinner　　B．get the least attention from the family

　　　 C．are often kept away from the dinner table　　D．find it hard to keep up with other children

69．Lewis’ research provides an answer to the question _________.

　　　 A．why TV is important in family life　　　　 B．why parents should keep good order

　　　 C．why children in small families seem to be quieter

　　　 D．why middle children seem to have more difficulties in life

70．Which of the following statements would the writer agree to?

　　　 A．It is important to have the right food for children.

　　　 B．It is a good idea to have the TV on during dinner.

　　　 C．Parents should talk to each of their children frequently.

　　　 D．Elder children should help the younger ones at dinner

2005湖北卷E

From the moment that an animal is born it has to make decisions . It has to decide which of the things around it are for eating , and which are to be avoided ; when to attack and when to run away . The animal is , in fact , playing a very dangerous game with its environment , a game in which it must make decision—a matter of life or death .

Animals’ ability to act reasonably is believed to come partly from what we may call “genetic (遗传性的)learning” , which is different from the individual (个体的) learning that an animal does in the course of its own lifetime . Genetic learning is learning by a species —animals of the same kind—as a whole , and it is achieved by selection of those members of each generation that happen to act in the right way . However , the role of genetic learning depends upon how similar the future environment is to the past . The more important individual experience is likely to be , the less important is genetic learning as a means of getting over the problems of the survival game . Because most animals live in ever changing evironments from one generation to the next , it is not surprising to find that very few species indeed depend wholly upon genetic learning .

In the great majority of animals , their particular ways of acting in a new environment are a compound (复合体) of individual experience added to the action patterns animals are born with .That is why animals can survive .

72．The animal’s life will come to an end 　　　　 .

　　　 A．if the animal makes a wrong decision 　 B．if the animal plays a dangerous game

　　　 C．when the animal attacks its enemy 　　　 D．when the animal runs too slowly

73．Very few species depend entirely on genetic learning because 　　　　 .

　　　 A．each generation has its own way of learning

　　　 B．their environments change all the time

　　　 C．they can act reasonably on their own

　　　 D．it takes their whole life to learn

74．When the environment doesn’t change much ,　　　　 .

　　　 A．animals cannot act in a right way

　　　 B．genetic learning is less important for animals

　　　 C．individual learning plays a less important role

　　　 D．animals cannot get over problems on their on their own

75．Animals’ living on generation after generation depends on 　　　　 .

　　　 A．their natural action pattern with their own experience

　　　 B．the lessons they have learnt during their lifetime

　　　 C．their experience in particular environments

　　　 D．the knowledge passed on by their parents

2004年（湖南卷）D

Do you want to live another 100 years or more? Some experts say that scientific advances will one day enable humans to last tens of years beyond what is now seen as the natural limit of the human life span.

"I think we are knocking at the door of immortality （永生）,' said Michael Zey, a Montclair State University business professor and author of two books on the future. "I think by 2075 we will see it and that's a conservative estimate （保守的估计）."

At the conference in San Francisco, Donald Louria, a professor at New Jersey Medical School in Newark said advances in using genes as well as nanotechnology （纳米技术） make it likely that humans will live in the future beyond what has been possible in the past. "There is a great push so that people can live from I20 to 180 years," he said. "Some have suggested that there is no limit and that people could live to 200 or 300 or 500 years."

However, many scientists who specialize in ageing are doubtful about it and say the human body is just not designed to last past about 120 years. Even with healthier lifestyles and less disease, they say failure of the brain and organs will finally lead all humans to death.

Scientists also differ on what kind of life the super aged might live. "It remains to be seen if you pass 120, you know; could you be healthy enough to have good quality of life?" said Leonard Poon, director of the University of Georgia Gerontology Centre. "At present people who could get to that point are not in good health at all."

67. By saying "we are knocking at the door of immortality", Michael Zey means _______

A. they believe that there is no limit of living

 B. they are sure to find the truth about long living

 C. they have got some ideas about living forever

 D. they are able to make people live past the present life span

68. Donald Louria’s attitude towards long living is that _______.

 A. people can live from 120 to 180

 B. it is still doubtful how long humans can live

 C. the human body is designed to last past about 120 years

 D. it is possible for humans to live longer in the future

69. The underlined "it" （ paragraph 4 ） refers to ________.

 A. a great push

 B. the idea of living beyond the present life span

 C. the idea of living from 200 to 300 years

 D. the conservative estimate

70. What would be the best title for this text?

 A. Living Longer or Not　　　　　　　 　 B. Science, Technology and Long Living

 C. No Limit for Human Life　　　　　　 D. Healthy Lifestyle and Long Living

02全国　A

　　In 1901, H.G. Wells, an English writer, wrote a book describing a trip to the moon. When the explorers（探险者） landed on the moon, they discovered that the moon was full of underground cities. They expressed their surprise to the "moon people" they met. In turn, the "moon people" expressed their surprise. "Why," they asked, "are you traveling to outer space when you don't even use your inner space？"

　　H.G. Wells could only imagine travel to the moon. In 1969, human beings really did land on the moon. People today know that there are no underground cities on the moon. However, the question that the "moon people" asked is still an interesting one. A growing number of scientists are seriously thinking about it.

　　Underground systems are already in place. Many cities have underground car parks. In some cities, such as Tokyo, Seoul and Montreal, there are large underground shopping areas. The "Chunnel", a tunnel（隧道）connecting England and France, is now complete.

　　But what about underground cities? Japan's Taisei Corporation is designing a network of underground systems, called "Alice Cities." The designers imagine using surface space for public parks and using underground space for flats, offices, shopping, and so on. A solar dome（太阳能穹顶）would cover the whole city.

　　Supporters of underground development say that building down rather than building up is a good way to use the earth's space. The surface, they say, can be used for farms, parks, gardens, and wilderness. H. G. Wells’ "moon people" would agree. Would you？

56. The explorers in H. G. Wells’ story were surprised to find that the "moon people"____.

　　A. knew so much about the earth　　B. understood their language

　　C. lived in so many underground cities　　D. were ahead of them in space technology

57. What does the underlined word "it"（Paragraph 2）refer to？

　　A. Discovering the moon's inner space.　　B. Using the earth's inner space.

　　C. Meeting the "Moon people" again.　　D. Traveling to outer space.

58. What sort of underground systems are already here with us?

　　A. Offices, shopping areas, power stations. 　　B. Tunnels, car parks, shopping areas.

　　C. Gardens, car parks, power stations. 　　D. Tunnels, gardens, offices.

59. What would be the best title for the text？

　　A. Alice Cities-cities of the future　　B. Space travel with H. G. Wells

　　C. Enjoy living underground　　D. Building down, not up

02全国B

LONDON（Reuters）-Organic fruit, delivered right to the doorstep. That is what Gabriel Gold prefers, and he is willing to pay for it. If this is not possible, the 26-year-old computer technician will spend the extra money at the supermarket to buy organic food.

"Organic produce is always better," Gold said. "The food is free of pesticides（农药）, and you are generally supporting family farms instead of large farms. And more often than not it is locally（本地）grown and seasonal, so it is more tasty. "Gold is one of a growing number of shoppers buying into the organic trend, and supermarkets across Britain are counting on more like him as they grow their organic food business. But how many shoppers really know what they are getting, and why are they willing to pay a higher price for organic produce? Market research shows that Gold and others who buy organic food can generally give clear reasons for their preferences-but their knowledge of organic food is far from complete. For example, small amounts of pesticides can be used on organic products. And about three quarters of organic food in Britain is not local but imported（进口）to meet growing demand. "The demand for organic food is increasing by about one third every year, so it is a very fast-growing market," said Sue Flock, a specialist in this line of business.

60. More and more people in Britain are buying organic food because ____.

　　A. they are getting richer　　B. they can get the food anywhere

　　C. they consider the food free of pollution　　D. they like home-grown fruit

61.Which of the following statements is true to the facts about most organic produce sold in Britain？

　　A. It grows indoors all year round.　　　B. It is produced outside Britain.

　　C. It is grown on family farms.　　D. It is produced on large farms.

62.What is the meaning of "the organic trend" as the words are used in the text？

　　A. growing interest in organic food　　B. better quality of organic food

　　C. rising market for organic food　　D. higher prices of organic food

63.What is the best title for this news story？

　　A. Organic food-healthy, or just for the wealthy？　　B. The making of organic food in Britain

　　C. Organic food-to import or not？　　　　　　　  D. Good qualities of organic food

03全国　  E

　　　At one time, computers were expected largely to remove the need for paper copies of documents（文件）because they could be stored electronically. But for all the texts that are written, stored and sent electronically, a lot of them are still ending up on paper.

　　　It is difficult to measure the quantity of paper used as a result of Internet-connected computers, although just about anyone who works in an office can tell you that when e-mail is introduced, the printers start working overtime. “I feel in my bones this revolution is causing more trees to be cut down,” says Ted Smith of the Earth Village Organisation.

　　　Perhaps the best sign of how computer and Internet use pushes up demand for paper comes from the high-tech industry itself, which sees printing as one of its most promising new markets. Several Internet companies have been set up to help small businesses print quality documents from a computer. Earlier this week Hewlett-Packard Co. announced a plan to develop new technologies that will enable people to print even more so they can get a hard copy of a business document, a medical record or just a one-line e-mail, even if they are nowhere near a computer. As the company sees it, the more use of the Internet the greater demand for printers

Does all this mean environmental concerns （环境问题） have been forgotten? Some activists suggest people have been led to believe that a lot of dangers to the environment have gone away. “I guess people believe that the problem is taken care of, because of recycling （回收利用）,”said Kelly Quirke, director of the Rainforest Action Network in San Francisco. Yet Quirke is hopeful that high-tech may also prove helpful. He says printers that print on both sides are growing in popularity. The action group has also found acceptable paper made from materials other than wood, such as agricultural waste.

72.　 The growing demand for paper in recent years is largely due to ___________.

A.　the rapid development of small businesses　　 B. the opening up of new markets

C.　the printing of high quality copies　　　　　　　　 D. the increased use of the Internet

73.　 Environmentalists believe one possible way of dealing with the paper situation is ______.

A.　to encourage printing more quality documents

B.　 to develop new printers using recycled paper

C.　to find new materials for making paper

D.　to plant more fast-growing trees

74.　 Hewlett-Packard Co. has decided to develop new technologies because ___________.

A.　people are concerned about the environment　　　　

B.　 printers in many offices are working overtime

C.　small companies need more hard copies

D.　they see a growing market for printers

75.　 What would be the best title for the text?

A. Computers and Printers　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　B. E-mail and the Business World

C. Internet Revolution and Environment　　　　　　　D. Modern Technology and New Markets

04全国　 C

When someone has deeply hurt you, it can be extremely difficult to let go of your anger. But forgiveness is possible - and it can be surprisingly helpful to your physical and mental health. In­deed, research has shown that people who forgive report more energy, better appetite （胃口） and better sleep patterns. "People who forgive show less anger and more hopefulness," says Dr. Freder­ic Luskin, who wrote the book Forgive for Good. "So it can help save on the wear and tear on our system and allow people to feel more energetic."

So when someone has hurt you, calm yourself first. Take a couple of breaths and think of some­thing that gives you pleasure: a beautiful scene in nature, someone you love. Don’t wait for an apology. "Many times the person who hurt you may never think of apologizing," says Dr. Luskin. "They may have wanted to hurt you or they just don't see things the same way. So if you wait for people to apologize, you could be waiting a very long time. "Keep in mind that forgiveness does not necessarily mean accepting the action of the person who upset you. Mentally going over your hurt gives power to the person who brought you pain. Instead, learn to look for the love, beauty and kindness around you. Finally, try to see things from the other person’s perspective 视角）. You may realize that he or she-was acting out of ignorance （无知）, fear  –  even love. To gain perspec­tive, you may want to write a letter to yourself from that person’s point of view.

65. The text is mainly written to explain _______.

　　　A. how to keep yourself from being hurt　　　B. how to stay mentally healthy

　　　C. how and when to remain calm　　　　　　　　D. why and how to pardon others

66. According to the writer, what is the right way to calm down after being hurt?

　　　A. Try to figure out why you get hurt.

　　　B. Write a letter to the person who hurt you.

　　　C. Persuade yourself to accept what others have done to you.

　　　D. Think about pleasant things and forget about the hurt.

67. Dr. Luskin advises us not to wait for an apology after being hurt because ______.

　　　A. we are not patient enough

　　　B. we’d feel worse accepting others’ apology

　　　C. people seldom want to apologize

　　　D. people don’t mean it when they apologize

04全国D

Before a new type of airplane goes into service, every part of it is tested again and again. But there are two tests that are more important than all the others.

The first is called the "tank test". A modem airplane must fly very high in the sky. Air must be pumped into the plane so that the passengers can breathe. The metal structure （结构）of the plane has to be very strong for this reason. When the plane is filled with air, the air presses against the skin of the plane inside. The pressure （压力） on a small window is like a huge foot that is try­ing to get out. If a small part of the plane were to fail, the plane would explode in the sky. To test the structure of the plane, the plane is lowered into a huge tank or container of water. Then it is filled with air. The pressure inside the plane is greater than it ever will be when it is high up in the air. Finally, there is an explosion. This does not cause so much damage inside the water tank as it would anywhere else. Engineers can discover which part of the plane has broken. Then that part is made stronger.

The most dangerous test happens when the new plane is going through test flights in the air. The test pilot must find out exactly what happens when the engines （发动机） are all shut off at once. The plane begins to fall like a stone. It is the pilot’s job to find out how he can get control of the plane again. These two tests are examples of how planes are made safe before they ever carry passengers.

68. By doing the "tank test", the engineers can find out _______.

　　　A. the amount of air in the plane　　　　　　　　　B. the strength of the plane structure

　　　C. the pressure inside and outside the plane　D. the power of the airplane engines

69. What will happen to the plane under the "tank test"?

　　　A. It will be broken.　　　　　　　　 　　 B. It will be made stronger.

　　　C. It will be filled with water.　　　　　  D. It will be tested by pilots,

70. According to the text, why are test flights most dangerous?

　　　A. The plane may explode in the air.　　　　　 B. The pilot may lose control of the plane.

　　　C. The engines may be damaged.　 　　　　　 D. Too much air may get into the plane.

71. What might be the most suitable title for the text?

　　　A. Two Important Tests on Airplanes 　　　　 B. The Importance of Flying Safely

　　　C. The Danger of Testing Airplanes 　　　　　 D. How Airplanes Are Made and Tested

04全国卷2C

It's not the flashiest car in the world. Not even close. But the 1971 Volkswagen named Helios can do something most cars can't: nm on solar energy – energy from the sun's light and heat!

　　Joshua Bechtold, 14, and the other students at the Riverside School in Lyndonville, Vermont, worked many months to get Helios ready for the 1999  American Tour de Sol （"Sol" is the Latin word for "sun"）. They named their car after Helios, the sun god in Greek mythology（神话）.

　　The 4-year-old Tour de Sol encourages the use of "green", or environmentally friendly, cars to help reduce pollution and save energy. It’s not a race. Cars are　judged on fuel efficiency（耗油量） rather than speed. In the week-long event, 44 cars took the 350-mile tour from Waterbury, Connecticut, to Lake George, New York. Of the 23 student cars, Helios was the only one built by middle school students.

　　A teacher drove Helios, but the children talked with people wherever they stopped along the mad. "That was my favorite part," says Anna Browne, 15. "We explained how the car runs.”

　　Due in part to old, inefficient batteries（电池）, Helios finished fourth - out of four - in its kind, the sun-powered class. "We were there for the fun of it," Anna says. "We're proud of Helios," says Ariel Gleicher, 14. "It's a car that's good for the environment."

64. What is special about the car Helios in the text?　　　　

　　　A. It was built by middle school students.　　B. It has an attractive design.

　　 C. It was made in 1971.　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. It won the fourth prize.

65. How many sun-powered cars took part in the race?　　　

　　　A. 1.　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. 4.　　　　　　　　　　　 C. 23.　　　　　　　　　　　 D. 44.

66. What would be the best title for the text.'?　　　　

　　 A. The Making of Helios　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. 1999 American Tour de Sol

　　 C. Sun-powered Cars on the Road　　　　　　 D. Use of Green Cars in Connecticut

67. The students felt proud of Helios because______.

　　 A. it could run as far as 350 miles　 　　　　　B. it was favored by many children

　 C. it had high-quality batteries　　　　　　　　 D. it was driven by clean energy

04北京D

　　Grown-ups know that people and objects are solid. At the movies, we know that if we reach out to touch Tom Cruise, all we will feel is air. But does a baby have this understanding?

　　To see whether babies know objects are solid, T. Bower designed a method for projecting an optical illusion（视觉影像）of a hanging ball. His plan was to first give babies a real ball, one they could reach out and touch, and then to show them the illusion. If they knew that objects are solid and they reached out for the illusion and found empty air, they could be expected to show surprise in their faces and movements. All the 16-to 24- week -old babies tested were surprised when they reached for the illusion and found that the ball was not there.

　　Grown-ups also have a sense of object permanence. We know that if we put a box in a room and lock the door, the box will still be there when we come back. But does a baby realize that a ball that rolls under a chair does not disappear and go to never-never land?

　　Experiments done by Bower suggest that babies develop a sense of object permanence when they are about 18 weeks old. In his experiments, Bower used a toy train that went behind a screen. When 16-week-old and 22-week-old babies watched the toy train disappear behind the left side of the screen, they looked to the right, expecting it to reappear. If the experimenter took the train off the table and lifted the screen, all the babies seemed surprised not to see the train. This seems to show that all the babies had a sense of object permanence. But the second part of the experiment showed that this was not really the case. The researcher substituted（替换）a ball for the train when it went behind the screen. The 22-week-old babies seemed surprised and looked back to the left side for the train. But the 16-week -old babies did not seem to notice the switch（更换）. Thus, the 16-week-old babies seemed to have a sense of “something permanence,” while the 22-week-old babies had a sense of object permanence related to a particular object.

68. The passage is mainly about _____.

　　 A. babies’ sense of sight　　 　　　　　　　　　　B. effects of experiments on babies

　　　C. babies’ understanding of objects　　 　　 D. different tests on babies’ feelings

69. In Paragraph 3, “object permanence” means that when out of sight, an object ________.

　　　A. still exists　　　　　　　 B. keeps its shape 　 C. still stays solid　　　　D. is beyond reach

70. What did Bower use in his experiments?

　　　A. A chair.　　 　　　　　B. A screen.　　 　　C. A film.　　 　　　　　 D. A box.

71. Which of the following statements is true?

　　　A. The babies didn’t have a sense of direction.

　　 B. The older babies preferred toy trains to balls.

　 C. The younger babies liked looking for missing objects.

　 D. The babies couldn’t tell a ball from its optical illusion.

04重庆D

Have you ever had the strange feeling that you were being watched? You turned around and, sure enough, someone was looking right at you!

Parapsychologists（灵学家）say that humans have a natural ability to sense when someone is looking at them. To research whether such a “sixth sense” really exists, Robert Baker, a psychologist（心理学家）at the University of Kentucky, performed two experiments.

In the first one, Baker sat behind unknowing people in public places and stared at the backs of their heads for 5 to 15 minutes. The subjects（受试者）were eating, drinking, reading studying, watching TV, or working at a computer. Baker made sure that the people could not tell that he was sitting behind them during those periods. Later, when he questioned the subjects, almost all of them said they had no sense that someone was staring at them.

For the second experiment, Baker told the subjects that they would be stared at from time to time from behind a two way mirror in a laboratory setting. The people had to write down when they felt they were being stared at and when they weren’t. Baker found that the subjects were no better at telling when they were stared at and when they weren’t. Baker found that the subjects were no better at telling when they were started at than if they had just guessed.

Baker concludes that people do not have the ability to sense when they’re being stared at. If people doubt the outcome of his two experiments, said Baker, “I suggest they repeat the experiments and see for themselves.”

68. The purpose of the two experiments is to 　　　 .

A. explain when people can have a sixth sense

B. show how people act while being watched in the lab

C. study whether humans can sense when they are stared at

D. prove why humans have a sixth sense

69. In the first experiment, the subjects　　　 .

A. were not told that they would be stared at

B. lost their sense when they were stared at

C. were not sure when they would be stared at

D. were uncomfortable when they were stared at

70. The underlined word “outcome” in the last paragraph most probably means　　　.

A. value　　　　　　　　　　 B. result　　　　　　　　　C. performance　　　　　 D. connection

71. What can be learned from the passage?

A. People are born with a sixth sense.

B. The experiments support parapsychologists’ idea.

C. The subjects do not have a sixth sense in the experiments.

D. People have a sixth sense in public places.

05安徽B

When I was small and my grandmother died, I couldn’t understand why I had no tears. But that night when my dad tried to cheer me up, my laugh turned into crying.

.　 So it came as no surprise to learn that researchers believe crying and laughing come from the same part of the brain. Just as laughing has many health advantages, scientists are discovering that so, too, does crying.

Whatever it takes for us to reduce pressure is important to our emotional (情感的) health, and crying seems to study found that 85 percent of women and 73 percent of men report feeling better after crying.

Besides, tears attract help from other people. Researchers agree that when we cry, people around us become kinder and friendly and they are more ready to provide support and comfort. Tears also enable us to understand our emotions better; sometimes we don't even know we're very sad until we cry. We learn about our emotions through Crying, and then we can deal with them.

Just as crying can be healthy, not crying — holding back tears of anger, pain or suffering — can be bad for physical (身体的) health, Studies have shown that too much control of emotions can lead to high blood pressure, heart problems and some other illnesses. If you have a health problem, doctors will certainly not ask you to cry. But when you feel like crying, don't fight it. It's a natural — and healthy — emotional response (反应).

60. Why didn't the author cry when her grandmother died?

A. Because her father did not --ant her to feel too sad.

B. Because she did not love her grandmother.

C. Because she was too shy to cry at that time.

D. Tie author doesn’t give the explanation.

61, It can be inferred from the text that ______.

A. there are two ways to keep healthy

B. crying does more good to health than laughing

C. crying and laughing play the same roles

D. emotional health has a close relationship to physical health

62. According to the author, which of the following statements is true?

A. Crying is the best way to get help from others.

B. Fighting back tears may cause some health problems.

C. We will never know our deep feelings unless we cry.

D. We must cry if we want to reduce pressure.

63. What might be the most suitable title for the text?

A. Power of Tears　　　　 B. How to Keep Healthy

C. Why We Cry　　　　　 D. A New Scientific Discovery

05山东E

　　　 A device that stops drivers form falling asleep at the wheel is about to undergo testing at Department of Transport laboratories and could go on sale within 12 months.

　　　 The system, called Driver Alert, aims to reduce deadly road accidents by 20% - 40% that are caused by tiredness. Airline pilots can also use it to reduce the 30% of all pilot-error accidents that are related to fatigue.

　　　 Driver Alert is based on a computerized wristband. The device, worn by drivers or pilots, gives out a sound about every four minutes during a car journey. After each sound the driver must respond by squeezing the steering wheel (方向盘). A sensor in the wristband detects this pressing action and measures the time between the sound and the driver’s response.

　　　 Tiredness is directly related to a driver’s response time. Usually, a watchful driver would take about 400 milliseconds to respond, but once that falls to more than 500 milliseconds, it suggests that the driver is getting sleepy.

　　　 In such cases the device gives out more regular and louder sounds, showing that the driver should open a window or stop for a rest. If the driver’s response continues to slow down, the sounds become more frequent until a nonstop alarm warns that the driver must stop as soon as possible.

　　　 The device has been delivered to the department’s laboratories for testing. If these tests, scheduled for six months’ time, are successful, the makers will bring the product to market within about a year.

72.　　 According to the text, Driver Alert ______.

A. aims to reduce tiredness-related accidents

B. has gone through testing at laboratories

C. aims to prevent drivers form sleeping

D. has been on sale for 12 months

73.　 How should a driver respond to the sounds from Driver Alert?

　　　 A. By sounding a warning.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　B. By touching the wristband.

C. By checking the driving time.　　　　　　　　　　　　D. By pressing the steering wheel.

74.　 We can learn form the text that the driver needs to stop for a break when his response time is ______.

　　　 A. about 400 milliseconds　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　B. below 500 milliseconds

　　　 C. over 500 milliseconds　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　D. about 4 minutes

75.　 When the driver gets sleepy while driving, Driver Alert ______.

　　　 A. moves more regularly　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　B. stops working properly

　　　 C. opens the window for the driver　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. sounds more frequently and loudly

05浙江D

Supermarkets are trying out new computers that make shopping carts more intelligent (具备智能的). They will help shoppers find cups or toilet soap, and keep a record of the bill.

The touch-screen devices (触摸屏装置) are on show at the Food Marketing Institute's exhibition here this week. "These devices are able to create value and get you around the store quicker," said Michael Alexandor, manager of Springboard Retail Networks Inc., which makes a smart cart computer called the Concierge.

Canadian stores will test the Concierge in July. A similar device, IBM's "shopping buddy," has recently been test-marketed at Stop & Shop stores in Massachusetts.

Neither device tells you how many fat grams or calories are in your cart, but they will flash you with items on sale. The idea is to make it easier for people to buy, not to have second thoughts that maybe you should put something back on the shelf.

"The whole model is driven by advertisers' need to get in front of shoppers," said Alexandor. "They're not watching 30-second TV ads anymore."

People can use a home computer to make their shopping lists. Once at the store, a shopper can use a preferred customer card to start a system (系统) that will organize the trip around the store. If you're looking for toothpicks, you type in the word or pick it from a list, and a map will appear on the screen showing where you are and where you can find them.

The devices also keep a record of what you buy. When you're finished, the device figures out your bill. Then you go to the checker or place your card into a self-checkout stand and pay.

The new computerized shopping assistants don't come cheap. The Buddy devices will cost the average store about $160,000, and the Concierge will cost stores about $500 for each device.

53. The underlined word “they” (Paragraph 1) refers to_________.

　　　 A．supermarkets　　　 B．shop assistants 　 C．shopping carts　　D．shop managers

54. Which of the following is the correct order of shopping with the computerized shopping carts?

a. Start the system.　　　　　　　　　　 b. Make a shopping list.

c. Find the things you want.　　　　　　  D. Go to a self-checkout stand.

　　　 A．abdc　　　　　　　　　 B．bacd 　　　　　　　　　C．acbd　　　　　　　 D．bcad

55. We can learn from the last paragraph that_________.

A．intelligent shopping carts cost a large sum of money

B．the Concierge is cheaper than the Buddy devices

C．shop assistants with computer knowledge are well paid　　

D．average stores prefer the Concierge to the Buddy devices

56. What might be the most suitable title for the text?

　　　 A．New age for supermarkets

B．Concierge and Shopping Buddy

C．New computers make shopping carts smarter

D．Touch-screen devices make shopping enjoyable