2 五年阅读高考题荟萃 科普知识类

科普知识类
第一部分 五年高考题荟萃
Passage 1
(09·上海C篇)
“Get your hands off me, I have been stolen,” the laptop, a portable computer, shouted. That is a new solution to laptop computer theft: a program that lets owners give their property a voice when it has been taken.
The program allows users to display alerts on the missing computer’s screen and even to set a spoken message. Tracking software for stolen laptops has been on the market for some time, but this is thought to be the first that allows owners to give the thief a piece of their mind.
Owners must report their laptop missing by visiting a website, which sends a message to the model: a red and yellow “lost or stolen” sign appears on its screen when it is started. Under the latest version（版本）of the software, users can also send a spoken message.
The message can be set to reappear every 30 seconds, no matter how many times the thief closes it.” One customer sent a message saying,’ You are being tracked. I am right at your door’,” said Carrie Hafeman, chief executive of the company which produces the program, Retriever.
In the latest version, people can add a spoken message. For example, the laptop’s speakers will say: “Help, this laptop is reported lost or stolen. If you are not my owner, report me now.”
The Retriever software package, which costs $29.95 but has a free trial period, has the functions of many security software programs .Owners can remotely switch to an alternative password if they fear that the thief has also got hold of the access details.
If a thief accesses the internet with the stolen laptop, Retriever will collect information on the internet service provider in use, so that the police can be alerted to its location.
Thousands of laptops are stolen every year form homes and offices, but with the use of laptops increasing, the number stolen while their owners are out and about has been rising sharply.
Other security software allows users to erase data remotely or lock down the computer.
72. The expression “to give the thief a piece of their mind “can be understood as “_______”
A. to give the thief an alert mind
B. to express the owners’ anger to the thief
C. to remind the thief of this conscience
D. to make the thief give up his mind
73. Different from other security software, Retriever can         .
A. record the stealing process          B. help recognize the lost laptop
C. lock down the computer remotely     D. send a spoken message
74. One function of the program is that it allows the owner to           at a distance.
A. change some access details for switching on the laptop
B. turn on the laptop by using the original password
C. operate the laptop by means of and alternative password
D. erase the information kept in the stolen laptop
75. Which of the following can best summarize the main idea of the passage?
A. With no Retriever, thousands of laptops are stolen every year.
B. A new soft ware provides a means to reduce laptop theft.
C. Retriever has helped to find thieves and lost computers.
D. A new program offers a communication platform with the thief.
答案  72.B  73.D  74.A  75.B
Passage 2
(09·安徽C篇)
Sometimes, the simplest ideas are the best. For example, to absorb heat from the sun to heat water, you need large, flat, black surfaces. One way to do that is to build those surfaces specially, on the roofs of buildings. But why go to all that trouble when cities are rub of black surfaces already, in the form of asphalt （柏油） roads?
Ten years ago, this thought came into the mind of Arian de Bondt, a Dutch engineer. He finally persuaded his boss to follow it up. The result is that their building is now heated in winter and cooled in summer by a system that relies on the surface of the road outside.
The heat-collector is a system of connected water pipes. Most of them ran from one side of the street to the other, just under the asphalt road. Some, however, dive deep into the ground.
When the street surface gets hot in summer, water pumped through the pipes picks up this heat and takes it underground through one of the diving pipes. At a depth of 100 metres lies a natural aquifer （蓄水层） into which several heat exchangers （交换器） have been built. The hot water from the street runs through these exchangers, warning the ground-water, before returning to the surface through another pipe. The aquifer is thus used as a heat store.
In winter, the working system is changed slightly. Water is pumped through the heat exchangers to pick up the heat stored during summer. This water goes into the building and is used to warm the place up. After performing that task, it is pumped under the asphalt and its remaining heat keeps the road free of snow and ice.
64. Which of the following is true according to the first two paragraphs?
A. Arian de Bondt got his idea from his boss.
B. Large, flat, black surfaces need to be built in cities.
C. The Dutch engineer's system has been widely used.
D. Heat can also be collected from asphalt roads.
65. For what purpose are the diving pipes used?
A. To absorb heat from the sun.
B. To store heat for future use.
C. To turn solar energy into heat energy.
D. To carry heat down below the surface.
66. From the last paragraph we can learn that __
A. some pipes have to be re-arranged in winter
B. the system can do more than warming up the building
C. the exchangers will pick up heat from the street surface
答案  64.D  65.D  66.B
Passage 3
(09·安徽E篇)
A rainforest is an area covered by tall trees with the total high rainfall spreading quite equally through the year and the temperature rarely dipping below l6℃. Rainforests have a great effect on the world environment because they can take in heat from the sun and adjust the climate. Without the forest cover，these areas would reflect more heat into the atmosphere，warming the rest of the world. Losing the rainforests may also influence wind and rainfall patterns，potentially causing certain natural disasters all over the world.
In the past hundred years，humans have begun destroying rainforests in search of three major resources（资源）：land for crops，wood for paper and other products，land for raising farm animals. This action affects the environment as a whole. For example，a lot of carbon dioxide（二氧化碳）in the air comes from burning the rainforests. People obviously have a need for the resources we gain from cutting trees but we will suffer much more than we will benefit.
There are two main reasons for this. Firstly，when people cut down trees，generally they can only use the land for a year or two. Secondly，cutting large sections of rainforests may provide a good supply of wood right now，but in the long run it actually reduces the world’s wood supply.
Rainforests are often called the world’s drug store. More than 25％ of the medicines we use today come from plants in rainforests. However，fewer than l％of rainforest plants have been examined for their medical value. It is extremely likely that our best chance to cure diseases lies somewhere in the world’s shrinking rainforests.
72. Rainforests can help to adjust the climate because they                .
A. reflect more heat into the atmosphere
B. bring about high rainfall throughout the world
C. rarely cause the temperature to drop lower than l6℃
D. reduce the effect of heat from the sun on the earth
73. What does the word “this” underlined in the third paragraph refer to?
A. We will lose much more than we can gain.
B. Humans have begun destroying rainforests.
C. People have a strong desire for resources.
D. Much carbon dioxide comes from burning rainforests.
74. It can be inferred from the text that
A. we can get enough resources without rainforests
B. there is great medicine potential in rainforests
C. we will grow fewer kinds of crops in the gained land
D. the level of annual rainfall affects wind patterns
75. What might be the best title for the text?
A. How to Save Rainforests
B. How to Protect Nature
C. Rainforests and the Environment
D. Rainforests and Medical Development
答案  72.D  73.A  74.B  75.C
Passage 4
(09·北京C篇)
How Room Designs Affect Our Work and Feelings
Architects have long had the feeling that the places we live in can affect our thoughts, feelings and behaviors, But now scientists are giving this feelings an empirical（经验的, 实证的）basis. They are discovering how to design spaces that promote creativity, keep people focused, and lead to relaxation.
Researches show that aspects of the physical environment can influence creativity. In 2007, Joan Meyers-Levy at the University of Minnesota, reported that the height of a room’s ceiling affects how people to think. Her research indicates that the higher callings encourage people to think more freely, which may lead them to make more abstract connections. Low ceilings, on the other hand, may inspire a more detailed outlook.
In addition to ceiling height, the view afforded by a building may influence an occupant’s ability to concentrate. Nancy Wells and her colleagues at Cornell University found in their study that kids who experienced the greatest increase in greenness as a result of a family move made the most gains on a standard test of attention.
Using nature to improve focus of attention ought to pay off academically, and it seems to, according to a study led by C. Kenneth Tanner, head of the School Design ＆Planning Laboratory at    University of Georgia. Tanner and his team found that students in classrooms with unblocked views of at least 50 feet outside the window had higher scores on tests of vocabulary, language arts and maths than did students whose classrooms primarily overlooked roads and parking lots.
Recent study on room lighting design suggests that dim（暗淡的）light helps people to loosen up. If that is true generally, keeping the light low during dinner or at parties could increase relaxation. Researchers of Harvard Medical School also discovered that furniture with rounded edges could help visitors relax.
So far scientists have focused mainly on public buildings. “We have a very limited number of studies, so we’re almost looking at the problem through a straw（吸管）, ”architect David Allison says. “How do you take answers to very specific questions and make broad, generalized use of them? That’s what we're all struggling with. ”
64. What does Joan Meyers-Levy focus on in her research?
A. Light
B. Ceilings
C. Windows
D. Furniture.
65. The passage tells us that____.
A. the shape of furniture may affect people, s feelings
B. lower ceilings may help improve students’ creativity
C. children in a dim classroom may improve their grades
D. Students in rooms with unblocked views may feel relaxed
66. The underlined sentence in the last paragraph probably means that _______.
A. the problem is not approached step by step
B. the researches so far have faults in themselves
C. the problem is too difficult for researchers to detect
D. research in this area is not enough to make generalized pattens
67. Which of the following shows the organization of the passage?
CP: Central Point   P: point  Sp: Sub—point（次要点）C: Conclusion
答案  64.B  65.A  66.D  67.C
Passage 5
(09·湖北B篇)
Three years ago, five parrots were set free in a wild place of Arizona, thousands of miles from the Channel Islands in Jersey sher they had been looked after by zookeepers. No evolutionary strategies informed them how to behave in this new Landscape of mountainous pine forest unoccupied by their king for 50 years. To the researchers’ surprise, they failed to make contact with a group of wild parrots imported from Mexico and set free at the same time. Within 24 hours the reintroducing ended in failure, and the poor birds were back in cages, on their way to the safety of the Arizona reintroduction programme.
Ever since then, the programme has enjoyed great success, mainly because the birds now being set free are Mexican birds illegally caught in the wild, confiscated （没收） on arrival north of the border, and raised by their parents in the safety of the programme. The experience shows how little we know about the behaviour and psychology（心理） of parrots, as Peter Bennett, a bird researcher, points out:” Reintroducing species of high intelligence like parrots is a lot more difficult. People like parrots, always treating them as nothing more than pers or valuable ‘collectables’. ”
Now that many species of parrot are in immediate danger of dying out, biologists are working together to study the natural history and the behaviour of this family of birds. Last year was an important turning point: conservationists founded the World Parrot Trust, based at Hayle in Cornwall, to support research into both wild and caged birds.
Research on parrots is vital for two reasons. Forest, as the Arizona programme showed, when reintroducing parrots to the wild, we need to be aware of what the birds must know if they are to survive in their natural home. We also need to learn more about the needs of parrots keot as pets, particularly as the Trust’s campaign does not attempt to discourage the practice, but rather urges people who buy parrots as pets to choose birds raised by humans.
55. What do we know about the area where the five parrots were reintroduced?
A. Its landscape is new to parrots of their king.
B. It used to be home to parrots of their kind.
C. It is close to where they had been kept.
D. Pine trees were planted to attract birds.
56. The reintroducing experience three years ago shows that man-raised parrots ______.
A. can find their way back home in Jersey
B. are unable to recognize their parents
C. are unable to adapt to the wild
D. can produce a new species
57. Why are researches on parrots important according to the passage?
A. The Trust shows great concern for the programme.
B. We need to knows more about how to preserve parrots
C. Many people are interested in collecting parrots.
D. Parrots’ intelligence may someday benefit people.
58. According to the passage, people are advised_______.
A. to treat wild and caged parrots equally
B to set up comfortable homes for parrots
C. not to keep wild parrots as pets
D. not to let more parrots go to the wild
答案  55.B  56.C  57.B  58.C
Passage 6
(09·四川E篇)
All too often, a choice that seems sustainable(可持续的)turns out on closer examination to be problematic. Probably the best example is the rush to produce ethanol(乙醇) for fuel from corn. Corn is a renewable resource —you can harvest it and grow more, almost limitlessly. So replacing gas with corn ethanol seems like a great idea.
One might get a bit more energy out of the ethanol than that used to make it, which could still make ethanol more sustainable than gas generally, but that’s not the end of the problem. Using corn to make ethanol means less corn is left to feed animals and people, which drives up the cost of food. That result leads to turning the fallow land –including, in some cases, rain forest in places such as Brazil—into farmland, which in turn gives off lots of carbon dioxide (CO ) into the air. Finally, over many years, the energy benefit from burning ethanol would make up for the forest loss. But by then, climate change would have progressed so far that it might not help.
You cannot really declare any practice “sustainable” until you have done a complete life-cycle analysis of its environmental(环境的) costs. Even then, technology and public keep developing, and that development can lead to unforeseen and undesired results. The admirable goal of living       sustainably requires plenty of thought on an ongoing basis.
57. What might directly cause the loss of the forest according to the text?
A. The growing demand for energy to make ethanol
B. The increasing carbon dioxide in the air
C. The greater need for farmland
D. The big change in weather.
58. The underlined word “it” in the second paragraph refers to “           ”
A. the energy benefit                       B. the forest loss
C. climate change                         D. burning ethanol
59. The author thinks that replacing gas with corn ethanol is           .
A. impractical         B. acceptable        C. admirable          D. useless
60. What does the author mainly discuss in the text?
A. Technology                            B. Sustainability
C. Ethanol energy                         D. Environmental protection
答案  57.C  58.A  59.A  60.B
Passage 7
(09·天津D篇)
Next time a customer comes to your office, offer him a cup of coffee. And when you’re doing your holiday shopping online, make sure you’re holding a large glass of iced tea. The physical sensation（感觉） of warmth encourages emotional warmth, while a cold drink in hand prevents you from making unwise decisions—those are the practical lesson being drawn from recent research by psychologist John A. Bargh.
Psychologists have known that one person’s perception（感知） of another’s “warmth” is a powerful determiner in social relationships. Judging someone to be either “warm” or “cold” is a primary consideration, even trumping evidence that a “cold” person may be more capable. Much of this is rooted in very early childhood experiences, Bargh argues, when babies’ conceptual sense of the world around them is shaped by physical sensations, particularly warmth and coldness. Classic studies by Harry Harlow, published in 1958, showed monkeys preferred to stay close to a cloth “mother” rather than one made of wire, even when the wire “mother” carried a food bottle. Harlow’s work and later studies have led psychologists to stress the need for warm physical contact from caregivers to help young children grow into healthy adults with normal social skills.
Feelings of “warmth” and “coldness” in social judgments appear to be universal. Although no worldwide study has been done, Bargh says that describing people as “warm” or “cold” is common to many cultures, and studies have found those perceptions influence judgment in dozens of countries.
To test the relationship between physical and psychological warmth, Bargh conducted an experiment which involved 41 college students. A research assistant who was unaware of the study’s hypotheses（假设）, handed the students either a hot cup of coffee, or a cold drink, to hold while the researcher filled out a short information form: The drink was then handed back. After that, the students were asked to rate the personality of “Person A” based on a particular description. Those who had briefly held the warm drink regarded Person A as warmer than those who had held the iced drink.
“We are grounded in our physical experiences even when we think abstractly,” says Bargh.
51. According to Paragraph 1, a person’s emotion may be affected by ______.
A. the visitors to his office
B. the psychology lessons he has
C. his physical feeling of coldness
D. the things he has bought online
52. The author mentions Harlow’s experiment to show that ______.
A. adults should develop social skills
B. babies need warm physical contact
C. caregivers should be healthy adults
D. monkeys have social relationships
53. In Bargh’s experiment, the students were asked to ______.
A. evaluate someone’s personality
B. write down their hypotheses
C. fill out a personal information form
D. hold coffee and cold drink alternatively
54. We can infer from the passage that ______.
A. abstract thinking does not come from physical experiences
B. feelings of warmth and coldness are studied worldwide
C. physical temperature affects how we see others
D. capable persons are often cold to others
55. What would be the best title for the passage?
A. Drinking for Better Social Relationships.
B. Experiments of Personality Evaluation.
C. Developing Better Drinking Habits.
D. Physical Sensations and Emotions.
答案  51.C  52.B  53.A  54.C  55.D
Passage 8
(09·浙江C篇)
Plants can’t communicate by moving or making sounds, as most animals do. Instead, plants
Produce volatile compounds, chemicals that easily change from a liquid to a gas. A flower’s sweet
smell, for example, comes from volatile compounds that the plant produces to attract insects such as
Bugs and bees.
Plants can also detect volatile compounds produced by other plants. A tree under attack by
Hungry insets, for instance, may give off volatile compounds that let other trees know about the
Attack. In response, the other trees may send off chemicals to keep the bugs away ---- or even
Chemicals that attract the bugs’ natural enemies.
Now scientists have created a quick way to understand what plants are saying: a chemical
Sensor（传感器）called an electronic nose. The “e-nose” can tell compounds that crop plants make
When they’re attacked Scientists say the e-nose could help quickly detect whether plants are being
Eaten by insects. But today the only way to detect such insects is to visually inspect individual
Plants. This is a challenging task for managers of greenhouses, enclosed gardens than can house
Thousands of plants.
The research team worked with an e-nose than recognizes volatile compounds. Inside the
device, 13 sensors chemically react with volatile compounds Based on these interactions, the
e-nose gives off electronic signals that the scientists analyze using computer software.
To test the nose, the team presented it with healthy leaves from cucumber, pepper and tomato
plants, all common greenhouse crops. Then scientists collected samples of air around damaged
leaves from each type of crop, These plants had been damaged by insects, or by scientists who made
holes in the leaves with a hole punch（打孔器）.
The e-nose, it turns out, could identify healthy cucumber, pepper and tomato plants based on
The volatile compounds they produce, It could also identify tomato leaves that had been damaged.
But even more impressive, the device could tell which type of damage ---- by insects or with a hole
Punch ---- had been done to the tomato leaves.
With some fine-tuning, a device like the e-nose could one day be used in greenhouses to quickly spot harmful bugs, the researchers say. A device like this could also be used to identify fruits that are perfectly ripe and ready to pick and eat, says Natalia Dudareva, a biochemist at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. who studies smells of flowers and plants. Hopefully, scientists believe, the device could bring large benefits to greenhouse managers in the near future.
49. We learn from the text that plants communicate with each other by____.
A. making some sounds                     B. waving their leaves
C. producing some chemicals                 D. sending out electronic signals
50. What did the scientists do to find out if the e-nose worked?
A. They presented it with all common crops.
B. They fixed 13 sensors inside the device.
C. They collected different damaged leaves.
D. They made tests on damaged and healthy leaves.
51. According to the writer, the most amazing thing about the e-nose is that it can___.
A. pick out ripe fruits
B. spot the insects quickly
C. distinguish different damages to the leaves
D. recognize unhealthy tomato leaves
52 We can infer from the last paragraph that the e-nose_____.
A. is unable to tell the smell of flowers
B. is not yet used in greenhouses
C. is designed by scientists at Purdue
D. is helpful in killing harmful insects
答案  49.C  50.D  51.C  52.B
Passage 9
(09·重庆C篇)
Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature .However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your sport of choice might have great influence on the environment.
Some sports are resource-hungry. Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water. Besides, all sorts of chemicals and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses（球场） in good condition. This causes major environmental effects. For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf is often held responsible for serious water shortage in some local areas.
There are many environment-friendly sports. Power walking is one of them that you could take up today. You don’t need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes; and you don’t have to worry about resources and your purse. Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit. If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones. Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and have better weight control.
Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials. But the final goal should be “green gyms”. They are better replacements for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers. Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces. There is no special requirement for you to start your membership. And best of all, it’s free.
64. Which of the following is the author most probably in favor of?
A. Cycling around a lake.
B. Motor racing in the desert.
C. Playing basketball in a gym.
D. Swimming in a sports center.
65. What do we know about golf from the passage?
A. It is popular in Portugal and Spain.
B. It causes water shortages around the world.
C. It pollutes the earth with chemicals and wastes.
D. It needs water and electricity to keep its courses green.
66. The author uses power walking as an example mainly because______.
A. it is an outdoor sport
B. it improves our health
C. it uses fewer resources
D. it is recommended by experts
67. The author writes the passage to_______.
A. show us the function of major sports
B. encourage us to go in for green sports
C. discuss the major influence of popular sports
D. introduce different types of environment-friendly sports
答案  64.A  65.B  66.C  67.B
Passage 10
(09·重庆E篇)
A recent study, while showing a generally positive attitude toward science, also suggests a widespread worry that it may be “running out of control”, This idea is dangerous.
Science can be a force for evil as well as for good. Its applications can be channeled either way, depending on our decisions. The decisions we make, personally or collectively, will determine the outcomes of science. But here is a real danger. Science is advancing so fast and is so strongly influenced by businesses that we are likely to believe whatever decisions we come to will make little difference. And, rather than fighting for the best possible policies, we may step back and do nothing.
Some people go even further. They say that despite the moral and legal objections(反对), whatever is scientifically possible will be done-somewhere , sometime. They believe that science will get out of control in the end. This belief is dangerous too, because it fuels a sense of hopelessness and discourages then from making efforts to build a safer world.
In our interconnected world, the lack of agreement in and out of the world of science can lead to the failure to control the use of science. Without a common understanding, the challenges of “controlling” science in this century will be really tough. Take human cloning for example. Despite the general agreement among scientists on its possible huge impact(影响) on traditional moral values, some countries still go ahead with the research and development of its related techniques. The outcomes are hard to predict.
Therefore, discussions on how science is applied should be extended far beyond scientific societies. Only through the untied efforts of people with hope, can we be fully safe against the misuse of science and can science best serve mankind in the future.
72. What can we conclude from the recent study?
A. People think highly of science.
B. People hold mixed opinions about science.
C. Science is getting dangerously out of control.
D. Science is used for both good and bad purposes.
73. According to the passage , what will happen if we hold that science is getting beyond control?
A. The development of science will hopelessly slow down.
B. Businesses will have even greater influence on science.
C. The public will lose faith in bringing about a bright future.
D. People will work more actively to put science under control.
74. The discussion should reach beyond scientific societies because_______
A. scientists have failed to predict the outcomes
B. the ties between different areas need strengthening
C. united efforts are necessary for the development of science
D. people need to work together to prevent the bad use of science
75. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Science and its applications bring us many dangers.
B. The development of science mostly lies in people's attitudes.
C. Mankind can largely take control of science with their efforts.
D. The future of science will be influenced by the dangerous ideas.
答案  72.B  73.C  74.D  75.B
Passage 11
(09·福建D篇)
Find Which Direction Is South
Do you have a good sense of direction? If not, please take with you a compass. But if you forget to take a compass, you can still find your way.
It’s never a good idea to imagine that the family member who was entrusted（委托）with the job of map-reading actually knows where the family is. You can tell by the slightly confused load on their faces that nothing on the ground seems to match the map. Never mind. The shu is shining and it’s still morning. If you don’t know the exact time, you can still find out where south is, but you’ll need to be patient.
①Find a straight sick and put it in the ground in a place where you can mark its shadow.
②Try to position the stick as vertically（垂直）as you can. You can check this by making a simple plumb line （铅锤线）with a piece of string and weight. You haven’t got any string? OK, use a thread from your clothes with a button tied at the end to act as a weight.
③Mark the end of the shadow cast by the stick.
④Wait approximately half an hour and mark the end of the shadow again.
⑤Keep doing this until you have made several marks.
⑥The mark nearest the stick will represent the shortest shadow, which is cast at midday, when the sun is highest in the sky and pointing to the exact south.
⑦Pick a point in the distance along the line between the shortest shadow and the stick.
⑧That point is south of where you are.
⑨Now you can turn the map, like you did before, and find which way you should be travelling.
68. To find the direction, we ought to be patient probably because
A. it is not easy to find a proper stick      B. it is not easy to position the stick
C. it takes hours to make the marks        D. it takes about half an hour to make the marks
69. The passage would probably be most helpful to       .
A. those who draw maps           B. those who get lost
C. those who make compasses       D. those who do experiments
70. Which of the following pictures best shows the way of finding the direction of south?
71. The author presents this passage by       .
A. telling an interesting story                B. describing an activity in a lively way
C. testing an idea by reasoning               D. introducing a practical method
答案  68.C  69.B  70.A  71.D
Passage 12
(09·湖南C篇)
People diet to look more attractive. Fish diet to avoid being beaten up, thrown out of their social group, and getting eaten as a result. That is the fascinating conclusion of the latest research into fish behavior by a team of Australian scientists.
The research team have discovered that subordinate fish voluntarily diet to avoid challenging their larger competitors. “In studying gobies we noticed that only the largest two individuals, a male and female, had breeding （繁殖） rights within the group,” explains Marian Wong. “All other group members are nonbreeding females, each being 5-10% smaller than its next largest competitor. We wanted to find out how they maintain this precise size separation.”
The reason for the size difference was easy to see. Once a subordinate fish grows to within 5-10% of the size of its larger competitor, it causes a fight which usually ends in the smaller goby being driven away from the group. More often than not, the evicted fish is then eaten up.
It appeared that the smaller fish were keeping themselves small in order to avoid challenging the boss fish. Whether they did so voluntarily, by restraining how much they ate, was not clear. The research team decided to do an experiment. They tried to fatten up some of the subordinate gobies to see what happened. To their surprise, the gobies simply refused the extra food they were offered, clearly preferring to remain small and avoid fights, over having a feast.
The discovery challenges the traditional scientific view of how boss individuals keep their position in a group. Previously it was thought that large individuals simply used their weight and size to threaten their subordinates and take more of the food for themselves, so keeping their competitors small.
While the habits of gobies may seem a little mysterious, Dr. Wong explains that understanding the relationships between boss and subordinate animals is important to understanding how hierarchical （等级的） societies remain stable.
The research has proved the fact that voluntary dieting is a habit far from exclusive to humans. “As yet, we lack a complete understanding of how widespread the voluntary reduction of food intake is in nature,” the researchers comment. “Data on human dieting suggests that, while humans generally diet to improve health or increase attractiveness, rarely does it improve long-term health and males regularly prefer females that are fatter than the females’ own ideal.”
65. When a goby grows to within 5-10% of the size of its larger competitor, it        .
A. faces danger                                                B. has breeding rights
C. eats its competitor                                        D. leaves the group itself
66. The underlined words “the evicted fish” in Paragraph 3 refer to        .
A. the fish beaten up                                       B. the fish found out
C. the fish fattened up                                      D. the fish driven away
67. The experiment showed that the smaller fish        .
A. fought over a feast                                                                 B. went on diet willingly
C. preferred some extra food                             D. challenged the boss fish
68. What is the text mainly about?
A. Fish dieting and human dieting.
B. Dieting and health.
C. Human dieting.
D. Fish dieting.
答案  65.A  66.D  67.B  68.D
Passage 13
(09·湖南D篇)
Andrew Ritchie, inventor of the Brompton folding bicycle, once said that the perfect portable bike would be “like a magic carpet…You could fold it up and put it into your pocket or handbag”. Then he paused: “But you’ll always be limited by the size of the wheels. And so far no one has invented a folding wheel.”
It was a rare — indeed unique — occasion when I was able to put Ritchie right. A 19th-century inventor, William Henry James Grout, did in fact design a folding wheel. His bike, predictably named the Grout Portable, had a frame that split into two and a larger wheel that could be separated into four pieces. All the bits fitted into Grout’s Wonderful Bag, a leather case.
Grout’s aim: to solve the problems of carrying a bike on a train. Now doesn’t that sound familiar? Grout intended to find a way of making a bike small enough for train travel: his bike was a huge beast. And importantly, the design of early bicycles gave him an advantage: in Grout’s day, tyres were solid, which made the business of splitting a wheel into four separate parts relatively simple. You couldn’t do the same with a wheel fitted with a one-piece inflated （充气的） tyre.
So, in a 21st-century context, is the idea of the folding wheel dead? It is not. A British design engineer, Duncan Fitzsimons, has developed a wheel that can be squashed into something like a slender ellipse （椭圆）. Throughout, the tyre remains inflated.
Will the young Fitzsimons’s folding wheel make it into production? I haven’t the foggiest idea. But his inventiveness shows two things. First, people have been saying for more than a century that bike design has reached its limit, except for gradual advances. It’s as silly a concept now as it was 100 years ago: there’s plenty still to go for. Second, it is in the field of folding bikes that we are seeing the most interesting inventions. You can buy a folding bike for less than £1,000 that can be knocked down so small that it can be carried on a plane — minus wheels, of course — as hand baggage.
Folding wheels would make all manner of things possible. Have we yet got the magic carpet of Andrew Ritchie’s imagination? No. But it’s progress.
69. We can infer from Paragraph 1 that the Brompton folding bike        .
A. was portable
B. had a folding wheel
C. could be put in a pocket
D. looked like a magic carpet
【答案】A
【解析】逻辑推理题。从文章第一段Andrew Ritchie, inventor of the Brompton folding bicycle, once said that the perfect portable bike would be “like a magic carpet…ou could fold it up and put it into your pocket or handbag”.
70. We can learn from the text that the wheels of the Grout Portable        .
A. were difficult to separate
B. could be split into 6 pieces
C. were fitted with solid tyres
D. were hard to carry on a train
71. We can learn from the text that Fitzsimons’s invention        .
A. kept the tyre as a whole piece
B. was made into production soon
C. left little room for improvement
D. changed our views on bag design
72. Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
A. Three folding bike inventors
B. The making of a folding bike
C. Progress in folding bike design
D. Ways of separating a bike wheel
答案  70.C  71.A  72.C
Passage 14
(09·江苏A篇)
When women sit together to watch a movie on TV, they usually talk simultaneously（同时的）about a variety of subjects, including children, men, careers and what' s happening in their lives. When groups of men and women watch a movie together, the men usually end up telling the women to shut up. Men can either talk or watch the screen -- they can' t do both -- and they don' t understand that women can. Besides, women consider that the point of all getting together is to have a good time and develop relationships -- not just to sit there like couch potatoes staring at the screen.
During the ad breaks, a man often asks a woman to explain the plot and tell him where the relationship between the characters is going. He is unable, unlike women, to read the subtle body language signals that reveal how the characters are feeling emotionally. Since women originally spent their days with the other women and children in the group,  they developed the ability to communicate successfully in order to maintain relationships. For a woman, speech continues to have such a clear purpose: to build relationships and make friends. For men, to talk is to relate the facts.
Men see the telephone as a communication tool for sending facts and information to other people, but a woman sees it as a means of bonding. A woman can spend two weeks on vacation with her girlfriend and, when she returns home, telephone the same girlfriend and talk for another two hours.
There is no convincing evidence that social conditioning, the fact that girls' mothers talked them more, is the reason why girls talk more than boys. Psychiatrist Dr Michael Lewis, author Social Behaviour and Language Acquisition, conducted experiments that found mothers talked  to and looked at, baby girls more often than baby boys. Scientific evidence shows parents res the brain bias of their children. Since a girl' s brain is better organized to send and receive speech ,
we therefore talk to them more. Consequently, mothers who try to talk to their sons are usually pointed to receive only short grunts in reply.
56.While watching TV with others, women Usually talk a lot because they
A. are afraid of awkward silence with their families and friends
B. can both talk and watch the screen at the Same time
C. think they can have a good time and develop relationships
D. have to explain the plot and body language to their husbands
57. After a vacation with her girlfriend, a woman would talk to her again on the phone for hours in order to              .
A. experience the happy time again            B. keep a close tie with her
C. recommend her a new scenic spot           D. remind her of something forgotten
58. What does the author want to tell us most?
A. Women' s brains are better organized for language and communication
B. Women love to talk because they are more sociable than men.
C. Men do not like talking because they rely more on facts.
D. Social conditioning is not the reason why women love talking.
59. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A. Women Are Socially Trained to Talk        B. Talking Maintains Relationships
C, Women Love to Talk                     D. Men Talk Differently from Women
答案  56.C  57.B  58.A  59.C
Passage 14
(09·江苏D篇)
Have you ever noticed the colour of the water in a river or stream after a heavy rainfall? What do you think caused this change in colour? It is soil that has been washed into the river from the riverbank or from t}le nearby fields．
Components of Soft
Soil is made up of a number of layers（层），each having its own distinctive colour and texture．The upper layer is known as the litter．It acts like a blanket．limiting temperature changes and reducing water loss．The topsoil layer is made up of small particles of rock mixed with rotten plant and animal matter called humus（腐殖质），which is black and gives the topsoil its dark colour．This layer is usually rich in nutrients，oxygen，and water．Below the topsoil is the subsoil，a layer that contains more stones mixed with only small amounts of organic matter．This layer is lighter in colour because of the lack of humus．Beneath the soil lies a layer of bedrock．
Soil forms from the bottom up．Over time bedrock is attacked by rain, wind，frost, and snow．It is gradually broken down into smaller particles in a process called weathering．Plants begin to grow，and rotten materials enrich the topsoil．Most of the soil in Eastern Canada．for example．Was formed from weathered rock that was exposed when the ice disappeared l2．000 years ag0．
Water Beneath the Soil
Surface water collects and flows above the ground in lakes．ponds．and rivers．Once in the soil or rock，it is called groundwater．Gravity pulls groundwater through the soil in a process called percolation（渗透）．Eventually the water reaches a layer called the water table．Under this is bedrock through which water cannot percolate．
As water percolates downward，it dissolves organic matter and minerals from the soil and carries them to deeper layers．This causes a serious problem because plants require these nutrients for growth.
Soil pH
Soil can be acidic．neutral．or basic．The pH of the soil is determined by the nature of the rock
from which it was formed．and by the nature of t}le plants that grow and rot in it．
The acidity of rain and snow can lower the pH of the groundwater that enters the soil．By burning fossil fuels such as coal，oil and gasoline，humans have been contributing to higher levels of acidity in many soils．When fossil fuels are burned．gases are released into the air and then fall back to earth as acid rain．Acid soil increases出e problem of carrying nutrients to lower soil levels．As nutrients are removed，soil is less fertile．Plants grow more slowly in acidic soil，and also become easily attacked by diseases．
67．The layer of soil that provides necessary nutrients for plant growth is called．
A．1itter            B．topsoil            C．humus          D．subsoil
68．According to the text．which of the following is NOT true?
A．Soil forms from weathered rock on the earth surface．
B．The deeper layer of soil is darker in colour than t}le surface soil．
C．Air pollution is partially responsible for acid soil．
D．Groundwater tends to carry away nutrients for plant growth．
69．We can infer from the passage that the water table lies       ．
A．between the topsoil layer and the subsoil layer
B．in the subsoil layer above bedrock
C．between the subsoil layer and bedrock
D．in the bedrock layer beneath the subsoil
70．The underlined word “dissolve” is used to express the idea that organic matter and minerals from soil are          ．
A．rushed away into the river
B．cleaned and purified by water
C．destroyed and carried away by water
D．mixed with water and become part of it
答案  67.B  68.B  69.C  70.D
Passage 16
(09·江西B篇)
The surprising experiment I am about to describe proves that air is all around you and that it proves down upon you. Air pressure is a wonderful force. When you swim underwater, you can feel water push down your body. The air all around you does the same. However, your body is so used to it that you do not notice this. The pressure is caused by a layer of air called the atmosphere. This layer surrounds the Earth, extending to about five kilometers above the Earth’s surface.
The following experiment is an easy one that you can do at home. But make sure that you are supervised, because you will need to use matches. Now foe the experiment！
What you need
·A hard-boiled egg without the shell
·A bottle with a neck slightly smaller than the egg
·A piece of paper
·A match
Metheod
1） Check that the paper will sit firmly on the neck of the bottle.
2） Tear the paper into strips and put the strips into the bottle.
3） Light the paper by dropping a burning match into the bottle.
4） Quickly sit the egg on the neck of the bottle.
Result
Astonishingly, the egg will be sucked into the bottle. Your friends will be amazed when you show them the experiment. But be careful when you handle matches.
Why it happened
As the paper burns, it needs oxygen and uses up the oxygen （air） in the bottle. The egg acts as a seal in the neck of the bottle, so no more air can get inside. This reduces the air pressure inside the bottle. The air pressure must equalize, so more air from outside must enter the bottle. The outside air pressure against the egg and then the egg is pushed into the bottle! The proves that air is all around and that it is pressing down on it.
60. Why is there the need to take care when you are doing the experiment?
A. The bottle could break.
B. You need to light the paper with a match.
C. The egg needs to be shelled.
D. The egg has to be perfectly placed on the neck of the bottle.
61. In the experiment, the burning inside the bottle can___.
A. equalize the air pressure inside and outside
B. make a seal in the neck of the bottle
C. finish up the oxygen inside the bottle
D. produce more oxygen inside the bottle
62. How did the egg put into the bottle？
A. The oxygen inside the bottle sucked the egg in.
B. It became salt without the shell.
C. The neck of the bottle was wide enough.
D. The outside air pressure forced it into the bottle.
63. The experiment is carried cut to prove ______.
A. water pushes on your body when you swim underwater.
B. the earth is surrounded by a layer of air called the atmosphere.
C. the pressure of air around us has a powerful force.
D. the air pressure is not equalized around us.
答案  60.B  61.C  62.D  63.C
Passage 17
(09·辽宁C篇)
A volcanic eruption in Iceland has sent ash across northern Europe. Airlines have stopped or changed the flights across the Atlantic Ocean, leaving hundreds of passengers stuck in airports.
Grirmsvom is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Europe. What makes Grimsvom different is that it lies under a huge glacier（冰川） of ice up to 12 maters thick. The hot volcano heats up the ice above it, which then forms a layer（层）of water between the glacier and the volcano This layer of water puts pressure on the volcano, keeping it stable, As the water flows out from under the glacier, the pressure lifts. The lava（岩浆） from the volcano then comes up to the surface. This is exactly what happened today.
Now, airlines have to make changes to their flights so as not to fly through the clouds of volcanic ash. According to KLM. one of Europe’s biggest airlines, airplanes cannot go under the cloud or over it. Going through the cloud can result in ash getting stuck in the airplane’s engines, causing damage to the plane.
The eruption has also caused problems for animals in Iceland. The volcano left ash and sharp. Glass-like rocks all over the countryside. Farmers are keeping their animals inside to stop them from eating ash- covered grass to the sharp object.
64. What makes Grimsvom different from other volcanoes?
A. It is below ice.
B. It lies under the sea
C. It is the largest volcano
D. It is lava affects the airlines
65. What keeps Grimsvotn still?
A. The slow flow of water
B. The low water temperature
C. The thick glacier
D. The water pressure
66. Which of the following is the result of the volcanic eruption?
A. People stop traveling in Europe
B. Airlines suffer from the loss of planes
C. It becomes dangerous for animals to eat outside
D. Farmers have lost many of their animals
67. This text is most probably taken from_
A. a research paper
B. a newspaper report
C. a class presentation
D. a geography textbook.
答案  64.A  65.D  66.C  67.B
Passage 18
(09·全国ⅡC篇)
GUATEMALA CITY （Reuters） – A fish that lives in mangrove swamps（红树沼泽）across the Americas can live out of water for months at a time, similar to how animals adapted（适应）to land millions of years ago, a new study shows.
The Magrove Rivulus, a type of small killifish, lives in small pools of water in a certain type of empty nut or even old beer cans in the mangrove swamps of Belize, the United States and Brazil. When their living place dries up, they live on the land in logs（圆木），said Scott Taylor, a researcher at the Brevard Endangered Lands Program in Florida.
The fish, whose scientific name is Rivulus marmoratus, can grow as large as three inches. They group together in logs and breathe air through their skin until they can find water again.
The new scientific discovery came after a trip to Belize.
“We kicked over a log and the fish just came crowding out,” Taylor told Reuters in neighboring Guatgemala by telephone. He said he will make his study on the fish known to the public in an American magazine early next year.
In lab tests, Taylor said he found the fish can live up to 66 days out of water without eating.
Some other fish can live out of water for a short period of time. The walking catfish found in Southeast Asia can stay on land for hours at time, while lungfish found in Australia, Africa and South America can live out of water, but only in an inactive state. But no other known fish can be out of water as long as the Mangrove Rivulus and remain active, according to Patricia Wright, a biologist at Canada’s University of Guelph.
Further studies of the fish may tell how animals changed over time.
“These animals live in conditions similar to those that existed millions of years ago, when animals began making the transition（过渡）from water onto land,” Wright said.
49. The Mangrove Rivulus is a type of fish that _______.
A. likes eating nuts
B. prefers living in dry places
C. is the longest living fish on earth
D. can stay alive for two months out of water
50. Who will write up a report on Mangrove Rivulus?
A. Patricia Wright                          B. Researchers in Guatemala
C. Scientists from Belize                     D. Scott Taylor
51. According to the text, lungfish can________
A. breathe through its skin
B. move freely on dry land
C. remain alive out of water
D. be as active on land as in water
52. What can we say about the discovery of Mangrove Rivulus?
A. It was made quite by accident
B. It was based on a lab test of sea life
C. It was supported by an American magazine
D. It was helped by Patricia Wright
答案  49.D  50.D  51.C  52.A
Passage 19
(08·宁夏、海南、全国ⅠB篇)
More than 10 years ago, it was difficult to buy a tasty pineapple．The fruits that made it to the UK were green on the outside and, more often than not, hard with an unpleasant taste within．Then in 1996, the Del Monte Gold pineapple produced in Hawaii first hit our shelves．
The new type of pineapple looked more yellowy-gold than green．It was slightly softer on the outside and had a lot of juice inside．But the most important thing about this new type of pineapple was that it was twice as sweet as the hit-and-miss pineapples we had known．In no time,the Del Monte Gold took the market by storm, rapidly becoming the world’s best-selling pineapple variety,and delivering natural levels of sweetness in the mouth,up until then only found in tinned pineapple．
In nutrition (营养) it was all good news too．This nice-tasting pineapple contained four times more vitamin C(维生素C)than the old green variety．Nutritionists said that it was not only full of vitamins,but also good against some diseases．People were understandably eager to be able to buy this wonderful fruit．The new type of pineapple was selling fast,and the Del Monte Gold pineapple rapidly became a fixture in the shopping basket of the healthy eater．
Seeing the growing market for its winning pineapple, Del Monte tried to keep the market to itself．But other fruit companies developed similar pineapples. Del Monte turned to law for help,but failed．Those companies argued successfully that Del Monte’s attempts to keep the golden pineapple for itself were just a way to knock them out of the market．
60．We learn from the text that the new type of pineapple is ________．
A．green outside and sweet inside
B．good-looking outside and soft inside
C．yellowy-gold outside and hard inside
D．a little soft outside and sweet inside
61．Why was the new type of pineapple selling well?
A．It was rich in nutrition and tasted nice．
B．It was less sweet and good for health．
C．It was developed by Del Monte．
D．It was used as medicine．
62．The underlined word“fixture”in Paragraph 3 probably refers to something________．
A．that people enjoy eating                         B．that is always present
C．that is difficult to get                             D．that people use as a gift
63．We learn from the last paragraph that Del Monte________．
A．allowed other companies to develop pineapples
B．succeeded in keeping the pineapple for itself
C．tried hard to control the pineapple market
D．planned to help the other companies
答案  60.D  61.A  62.B  63.C
Passage 20
(08·宁夏、海南C篇)
Do’s and Don’ts in Whale(鲸) Watching
The Department of  Fisheries and Oceans has developed guidelines for whale watching in Johnstone Strait,where killer whales are found on a daily basis each summer．It is strongly recommended that vessel(船只) operators follow these guidelines for all kinds of whales．
●     Approach whales from the side,not from the front or the back．
●     Approach no closer than 100 metres,then stop the boat but keep the engine on．
●     Keep noise levels down—no horns,whistles or racing of engines．
●     Start your boat only after the whales are more than 100 metres from your vessel．
●     Leave the area slowly,gradually moving faster when you are more than 300 metres from the whales．
●     Approach and leave slowly,avoiding sudden changes in speed or direction．
●     Avoid disturbing groups of resting whales．
●     Keep at low speeds and remain in the same direction if travelling side by side with whales．
●     When whales are travelling close to shore,avoid crowding them near the shore or coming between the whales and the shore．
●     Limit the time spent with any group of whales to less than 30 minutes at a time when within 100 to 200 metres of whales．
●     If there is more than one vessel at the same observation spot,be sure to avoid any boat position that would result in surrounding the whales．
●     Work together by communicating with other vessels,and make sure that all operators are aware of the whale watching guidelines．
64．For whom is this text written?
A．Tour guides．                                      B．Whale watchers．
C．Vessel operators．                                D．Government officials．
65．When leaving the observation areas,the vessel should _____．
A．move close to the beach                    B．increase speed gradually
C．keep its engine running slowly            D．remain at the back of the whales
66．When going side by side with whales, the vessel should       ．
A．keep moving in the same direction
B．surround the whales with other boats
C．travel closer and closer to the shore
D．take a good viewing position
67．What is the shortest safe distance from the whales?
A．400 metres．        B．300 metres．        C．200 metres．         D．100 metres．
答案  64.C  65.B  66.A  67.D
Passage 21
(08·江苏B篇)
We experience different forms of the Sun’s energy every day.We can see its light and feel its warmth.The Sun is the major source of energy for our planet.It causes the evaporation (蒸发) of water from the oceans and lakes.Sunlight also provides the energy used by green plants to make their own food.These green plants then provide food for all organisms(生物) on the Earth.
Much of the energy that comes from the Sun never reaches the Earth’s surface.It is either reflected or absorbed by the gases in the upper atmosphere.Of the energy that reaches the lower atmosphere,30% is reflected by clouds or the Earth’s surface.The remaining 70% warms the surface of the planet,causes water to evaporate,and provides energy for the water cycle and weather.Only a tiny part,approximately 0.023%,is actually used by green plants to produce food.
Many gases found in the atmosphere actually reflect heat energy escaping from the Earth’s surface back to the Earth.These gases act like the glass of a greenhouse in that they allow energy from the Sun to enter but prevent energy from leaving.They are therefore called greenhouse gases.
When sunlight strikes an object,some of the energy is absorbed and some is reflected.The amount reflected depends on the surface.For example,you’ve probably noticed how bright snow is when sunlight falls on it.Snow reflects most of the energy from the Sun,so it contributes to the low temperatures of winter.Dark-coloured surfaces,such as dark soil or forest,absorb more energy and help warm the surrounding air.
59.According to the passage,the root cause for weather changes on the Earth is         .
A.the atmosphere surrounding the Earth
B.water from oceans and lakes
C.energy from the Sun
D.greenhouse gases in the sky
60.Only a small part of the Sun’s energy reaches the Earth’s surface because
most of it is         .
A.absorbed by the clouds in the lower atmosphere
B.reflected by the gases in the upper atmosphere
C.lost in the upper and lower atmosphere
D.used to evaporate water from the oceans and lakes
61.We learn from the passage that         .
A.all living things on the Earth depend on the Sun for their food
B.a forest looks dark in winter because it absorbs solar energy
C.only 0.023% of the energy from the Sun is made use of on the Earth
D.greenhouse gases allow heat energy to escape from the Earth’s surface
答案  59.C  60.C  61.A
Passage 22
(08·北京B篇)
Domestic (驯养的) horses now pull ploughs, race in the Kentucky Derby, and carry people. But early horses weren’t tame (驯服的) enough to perform these kinds of tasks. Scientists think the first interactions humans had with horses were far different from those today.
Thousands of years ago, people killed the wild horses that lived around them for food. Over time, people began to catch the animals and raise them. This was the first step in domestication.
As people began to tame and ride horses, they chose to keep those animals that had more desirable characteristics. For example, people may have chosen to keep horses that had a gentle personality so they could be ridden more easily. People who used horses to pull heavy loads would have chosen to keep stronger animals. Characteristics like strength are partly controlled by the animals’ genes. So as the domesticated horses reproduced, they passed the characteristics on to their young. Each new generation of horses would show more of these chosen characteristics.
Modern-day horse breeds come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. This variety didn’t exist in the horse population before domestication. The Shetland horse is one of the smallest breeds—typically reaching only one meter tall. With short, strong legs, the animals were bred to pull coal out of mine shafts (矿井) with low ceilings. Huge horses like the Clydesdale came on the scene around 1700. People bred these heavy, tall horses to pull large vehicles used for carrying heavy loads.
The domestication of horses has had great effects on societies. For example, horses were important tools in the advancement of modern agriculture. Using them to pull ploughs and carry heavy loads allowed people to farm more efficiently. Before they were able to ride horses, humans had to cross land on foot. Riding horses allowed people to travel far greater distances in much less time. That encouraged populations living in different areas to interact with one another. The new form of rapid transportation helped cultures spread around the world.
59. Before domestication horses were ______.
A. caught for sports                                           B. hunted for food
C. made to pull ploughs                                D. used to carry people
60. The author uses the Shetland horse as an example to show ______.
A. it is smaller than the Clydesdale horse
B. horses used to have gentle personalities
C. some horses have better shapes than others
D. horses were of less variety before domestication
61. Horses contributed to the spread of culture by ______.
A. carrying heavy loads                                B. changing farming methods
C. serving as a means of transport                 D. advancing agriculture in different areas
62. The passage is mainly about _______.
A. why humans domesticated horses
B. how humans and horses needed each other
C. why horses came in different shapes and sizes
D. how human societies and horses influenced each other
答案  59.B  60.D  61.C  62.D
Passage 23
(08·辽宁D篇)
Far from the land of Antarctica (南极洲), a huge shelf of ice meets the ocean. At the underside of the shelf there lives a small fish, the Antarctic cod.
For forty years scientists have been curious about that fish. How does it live where most fish would freeze to death? It must have some secrets. The Antarctic is not a comfortable place to work and research has been slow. Now it seems we have an answer.
Research was begun by cutting holes in the ice and catching the fish. Scientists studied the fish’s blood and measured its freezing point.
The fish were taken from seawater that had a temperature of -1.88℃ and many tiny pieces of ice floating in it. The blood of the fish did not begin to freeze until its temperature was lowered to -2.05℃. That small difference is enough for the fish to live at the freezing temperature of the ice-salt mixture.
The scientists’ next research job was clear: Find out what in the fish’s blood kept it from freezing. Their search led to some really strange things made up of a protein(蛋白质) never before seen in the blood of a fish. When it was removed, the blood froze at seawater temperature. When it was put back, the blood again had its antifreeze quality and a lowered freezing point.
Study showed that it is an unusual kind of protein. It has many small sugar molecules(分子) held in special positions within each big protein molecule. Because of its sugar content，it is called a glycoprotein. So it has come to be called the antifreeze fish glycoprotein,or AFGP.
68. What is the text mainly about?
A. The terrible conditions in the Antarctic.         B. A special fish living in freezing waters.
C. The ice shelf around Antarctica.                   D. Protection of the Antarctic cod.
69. Why can the Antarctic cod live at the freezing temperature?
A. The seawater has a temperature of -1.88℃.
B. It loves to live in the ice-salt mixture.
C. A special protein keeps it from freezing.
D. Its blood has a temperature lower than -2.05℃.
70. What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 5 refer to?
A. A type of ice-salt mixture.                               B. A newly found protein.
C. Fish blood.                                                    D. Sugar molecule.
71. What does “glyco-” in the underlined word “glycoprotein” in the last paragraph mean?
A.Sugar.                         B. Ice.                          C. Blood.                      D. Molecule.
答案  68.B  69.C  70.B  71.A
Passage 24
(08·湖北E篇)
Downing the last drop of an expensive famous brand H2O as well as remembering to throw the empty bottle in the recycling bin, makes you feel pretty good about yourself, right? It shouldn’t.Even when the bottles are recycled, there are all kinds of other consequences of swallowing bottled water, says Melissa Peffers, the air-quality program manager for Environmental Defense.
The containers are often filled in faraway lands, then shipped from abroad, and stored in refrigerators at your local store.Compare that with the influence on environment of turning on your tap, filling a glass, and drinking up!
Anyone who is choosing bottled water for health reasons is misguided, says Peffers, “Most bottled water is just tap water.” And what comes out of your tap is carefully monitored to follow the strict rules.Consider another fact that bottled water is surprisingly expensive, especially when compared with the alternative, which is almost free, and it is astonishing that America’s desire for bottled water seems impossible to satisfy, reaching nearly 30 billion bottles a year.
“My parents’ generation never had bottled water,” says Isabelle Silverman, an Environmental Defense legal adviser.She has made a commitment to going bottle free.“You don’t need to fetch it home from the store, and it’s cheaper,” she adds.
Bottled water’s role as a status symbol needs to change, Peffers points out.So when a waiter at an expensive restaurant offers “And what’s your drink?” that’s no reason to forget your conviction（信念）.“Don’t be afraid to say, ‘I’ll have tap.’Say it loud enough that the other tables nearby can hear you,” Peffers says.“And then spend that money on a dessert.”
77.In the first paragraph, the underlined sentence “It shouldn’t.” suggests that people _______.
A.shouldn’t feel pleased with finishing the water in the bottle
B.shouldn’t feel good about drinking an expensive brand H2O
C.shouldn’t be content with just recycling empty bottles
D.shouldn’t be satisfied with drinking only bottled water
78.According to the author, tap water is _______.
A.as safe as bottled water                                    B.more likely to be polluted
C.healthier than bottled water                        D.less convenient than bottled water
79.The underlined part “going bottle free” (in Para.4) means “_______”.
A.making bottled water free                          B.abandoning bottled water
C.recycling used water bottles                       D.providing free water containers
80.Why does Peffers ask people to say “I’ll have tap.” loudly?
A.To encourage them to set an example for others to follow.
B.To advise them to save the money for one more dessert.
C.To remind them to be aware of their social status.
D.To persuade them to speak confidently in public.
答案  77.C  78.A  79.B  80.A
Passage 25
(08·江西A篇)
Despite the fact that it has never been seen,almost everyone is familiar with the legendary
unicorn（独角兽）．Descriptions of unicorns have been found dating from ancient times．The great philosopher Aristotle theorized that there were two types of unicorn— the so-called Indian Ass and the Oryx, a kind of antelope．Unicorns are often used in the logo of a noble family, town council or university as their special sign．Even Scotland is represented by a unicorn．
According to the legend, anyone attempting to catch a unicorn had to be extremely cautious
as it has a reputation for being very fierce．A clever trick suggested by unicorn-trappers, in order to catch this magnificent beast without being hurt by its horn, was for the hunter to stand in front of a tree and then to move quickly behind it as the unicorn charged．Hopefully, the creature could then be captured when its horn was stuck in the tree．
When hollowed out and used as a drinking-cup, the unicorn’s horn was said to have the
power to offer protection against poison．It was believed that nobody could be harmed by drinking the contents of a unicorn’s horn．Right up until the French Revolution in 1789, the French court was said to have used cups made of “unicorn” horn in order to protect the king.In addition, the horn was said to have medicinal value, so much so that it could be sold for more than ten times the price of the same weight of gold．What, then, was “unicorn” horn? We know at times the rhino (犀牛) was confused with this legendary creature．A drinking-cup supposedly made of “unicorn” horn was discovered to be made of the horn of a rhino．
56．Which of the following is TRUE of the unicorn?
A．It was not historically recorded.
B．Its horn was first used in France.
C．It was similar to the Indian Ass and the Oryx.
D．It could be the symbol of a university.
57．To catch a unicorn, the unicorn-trappers had to try all of the following EXCEPT __   _  _．
A．tempting the unicorn to attack            B．making use of the tree as a protection
C．hiding quickly behind the unicorn          D．having the unicorn horn stuck in the tree
58．The last paragraph is mainly about __    __．
A．the properties of the unicorn horn
B．the users of the unicorn horn
C．the price of the unicorn horn
D．the comparison between the unicorn horn and the rhino horn
59．In the last paragraph, the word “unicorn ” is in quotation marks (引号) because ____   _．
A．the cup is designed only for a royal family
B．the unicorn does not exist in reality
C．the unicorn is the rarest animal in the world
D．the medicinal value of the horn is appreciated
答案  56.D  57.C  58.A  59.B
Passage 26
(08·江西E篇)
Most people, when they travel to space, would like to stay in orbit for a few days or more．And this stands to reason, if you’re paying $20,000 for your trip to orbit! So in order for tourism to reach its full potential there’s going to be a need for orbital accommodation—or space hotels．What would a space hotel actually be like to visit? Hotels in orbit will offer the services you expect from a hotel—private rooms, meals, bars．But they’ll also offer two unique experiences: impressive views—of Earth and space—and the endless entertainment of living in zero gravity—including sports and other activities that make use of this．
The hotels themselves will vary greatly—from being quite simple in the early days to huge luxury structures at a later date．It’s actually surprising that as later as 1997, very few designs for space hotels were published．This is mainly because those who might be expected to design them haven’t expected launch costs to come down far enough to make them possible．
Lots of people who’ve been to space have described vividly what it’s like to live in zero gravity．There are obviously all sorts of possibilities for dancing, gymnastics, and zero-G sports．Luckily, you don’t need to sleep much living in zero gravity, so you’ll have plenty of time for relaxing by hanging out in a bar with a window looking down at the turning Earth below．
Of course all good things have come to an end, unfortunately. And so after a few days you’ll find yourself heading back though you’ll be much more expert at exercising in zero gravity than you were when you arrived．You’ll be thinking how soon you can save up enough to get back up again—or maybe you should change jobs to get to work in an orbiting hotel!
72．When traveling in space, most people would like to stay in orbit for a few days because
_______．
A．It is expensive to travel in space
B．they would find the possible life in other star systems
C．they could enjoy the luxury of space hotels
D．they want to realise the full potential of tourism
73．Which of the following is a unique experience that space hotels will offer?
A．The gravitational pull.                         B．The special views．
C．The relaxation in a bar．                             D．The space walk．
74．Which of the following is NOT discussed in the passage?
A．When was the space traveling made possible?
B．What are the unique experiences that space hotels will offer?
C．Why were there not many published designs for space hotels?
D．How can the travelers enjoy themselves in space hotels?
75．This passage is mainly about ________．
A．traveling in space                                  B．the ways of living in space hotels
C．zero gravity and space hotels                 D．the description of space hotels
答案  72.A  73.B  74.A  75.D
Passage 27
(08·陕西D篇)
Runners in a relay(接力) race pass a stick in one direction. However, merchants passed silk, gold, fruit, and glass along the Silk Road in more than one direction. They earned their living by traveling the famous Silk Road.
The Silk Road was not a simple trading network. It passed through thousands of cities and towns. It started from eastern China, across Central Asia and the Middle East, and ended in the Mediterranean Sea. It was used from about 200 B. C. to about A.D.1300, when sea travel offered new routes(路线).It was sometimes called the world’s longest highway. However, the Silk Road was made up of many routes, not one smooth path. They passed through what are now 18 countries. The routes crossed mountains and deserts and had many dangers of hot sun, deep snow and even battles. Only experienced traders could return safe.
The Silk Road got its name from its most prized product. Silk could be used like money to pay taxes or buy goods. But the traders carried more than just silk. Gold, silver, and glass from Europe were much found in the Middle East and Asia. Horses traded from other areas changed farming practices in China. Indian merchants traded salt and other valuable goods. Chinese merchants traded paper, which produced an immediate effect on the West. Apples traveled from Central Asia to Rome. The Chinese had learned to graft(嫁接)　different trees together to make new kinds of fruit. They passed this science on to others, including the Romans. The Romans used grafting to grow the apple. Trading along the Silk Road led to worldwide business 2,000 years before the World Wide Web.
The people along the Silk Road did not share just goods. They also shared their beliefs. The Silk Road provided pathways for learning, diplomacy(外交), and religion (宗教).
53. It’s probable that traders along the Silk Road needed         .
A. to remember the entire trade route                     B. to know the making of products
C. to receive certain special training                      D. to deal with a lot of difficulties
54. The Silk Road became less important because          .
A. it was made up of different routes             B. silk trading became less popular
C. sea travel provided easier routes                D. people needed fewer foreign goods
55. New technologies could travel along the Silk Road because people          .
A. learned from one another                     B. shared each other’s beliefs
C. traded goods along the route                  D. earned their living by traveling
56. What is the best title for the passage?
A. The Silk Road:Past and Present             B. The Silk Road:East Meets West
C. The Silk Road:Routes Full of Dangers           D. The Silk Road:Pathways for Learning
答案  53.D  54.C  55.A  56.B
Passage 28
(08·陕西E篇)
Did you know that women’s brains are smaller than men’s? The average women’s brain weighs 10% less than men’s. Since research has shown that the bigger the brain, the cleverer the animal, men must be more intelligent(聪明的) than women. Right? Wrong. Men and women always score similarly on intelligence tests, despite the difference in brain size. Why? After years of study, researchers have concluded that it’s what’s inside that matters, not just the size of the brain. The brain consists of  “grey matter” and       “white matter”.      While men have more of the latter ,the amount of “thinking” brain is almost exactly the same in both sexs.
It has been suggested that smaller brain appears to work faster, perhaps because the two sides of the brain are better connected in women. This means that little girls tend to learn to speak earlier, and that women can understand sorts of information from different sources at the same time. When it comes to talking to the boss on the phone, cooking dinner and keeping an eye on the baby all at the same time, it’s women who come out on top every time.
There are other important differences between two sexes. As white matter is the key to spatial(空间的) tasks, men know better where things are in relation to other things. “A great footballer always knows where he is in relation to the other players, and he knows where to go,” says one researcher. That may explain one of life’s great mysteries:Why men refuse to ask for directions … and women often need to!
The differences begin when fetuses(胎儿) are about nine weeks old, which can be seen in the action of children as young as one. A boy would try to climb a barrier (障碍物) before him or push it down while a girl would attract help from others. These brain differences also explain the fact that more men take up jobs that require good spatial skills, while more women speech skills. It may all go back to our ancestors(祖先) ,among whom women needed speech skills to take care of their babies and men needed spatial skills to hunt, according to one research.
If all this disappoints you, it shouldn’t. “The brain changes throughout our lives according to what we do with it,” says a biologist.
57. Which of the following is TRUE according to the first paragraph?
A. Women’s brain is 10% less than men’s.
B. Grey matter plays the same role as white matter.
C. Grey matter controls thinking in the brain.
D. Both sexes have the same amount of white matter.
58. What can we infer from the second and third paragraphs?
A. Women prefer doing many things at a time.
B. Men do better dealing with one job at a time.
C. Women do not need to tell directions.
D. Men have weaker spatial abilities.
59. Which of the following do you agree with according to the fourth paragraph?
A. Young boys may be stronger than young girls.
B. More women take up jobs requiring speech skills.
C. Women may have stronger feelings than men.
D. Our ancestors needed more spatial skills.
60. What is the writer’s attitude in writing this passage?
A. Defensive.          B. Persuasive.         C. Supportive.            D. Objective.
答案  57.C  58.B  59.B  60.D
Passage 29
(08·天津C篇)
Michael Fish may soon be replaced as a weather forecaster by something truly fishier—the shark(鲨鱼).
Research by a British biology student suggests that sharks could be used to predict storms.
Lauren Smith, 24, is close to completing her study on shark’s ability to sense pressure.
If her studies prove the theory, scientists may be able to monitor the behaviour of sharks to predict bad weather.
Miss Smith had previously studied the behaviour of lemon sharks in the Bahamas.
She then used their close relatives, lesser spotted dogfish, for further research at Aberdeen University.
Her work—thought to be the first of its kind to test the pressure theory—resulted from the observation that juvenile blacktip sharks off Florida moved into deeper water ahead of a violent storm in 2001.
Miss Smith said: “I’ve always been crazy about traveling and diving and this led me to an interest in sharks.”
“I was delighted to have been able to research in the area for my degree. I know there’s so much more we need to understand—but it certainly opens the way to more research.”
It has been discovered that a shark senses pressure using hair cells in its balance system.
At the Bimini Shark Lab in the Bahamas, Miss Smith fixed hi-tech sensors to sharks to record pressure and temperature, while also tracking them using GPS (Global Positioning System) technology.
In Aberdeen, she was able to study the effects of tidal(潮汐的) and temperature changes on dogfish—none of which were harmed. She also used a special lab which can mimic(模拟) oceanic pressure changes caused by weather fronts.
She is due to complete her study and graduate later this year. She says she will be looking for a job which will give her the chance to enrich her experience of shark research.
44.The passage is most probably taken from _____.
A. a short-story collection                                 B. a popular science magazine
C. a research paper                                   D. a personal diary
45. What do we learn from the first four paragraphs of the passage?
A. Sharks may be used to predict bad weather.
B. Sharks’ behaviour can be controlled.
C. Michael Fish is not qualified for his job.
D. Lauren Smith will become a weather forecaster.
46. Lauren Smith conducted her research by _______.
A. removing hair cells from a shark’s balance system
B. measuring the air pressure of weather fronts
C. recording sharks’ body temperature
D. monitoring sharks’ reaction to weather changes
47. What is the passage mainly about?
A. A popular way of forecasting weather.
B. A new research effort in predicting storms.
C. Biologists’ interest in the secrets of sharks.
D. Lauren Smith’s devotion to scientific research.
答案  44.B  45.A  46.D  47.B
Passage 30
(08·全国ⅡD篇)
Something in chocolate could be used to stop coughs and lead to more effective medicines,say UK researchers.
Their study found that theobromine,found in cocoa,was nearly a third more effective in stopping coughs than codeine,which was considered the best cough medicine at present.
The Imperial College London researchers who published their results online said the discovery could lead to more effective cough treatments.“While coughing is not necessarily harmful(有害的) it can have a major effect on the quality of life,and this discovery could be a huge step forward in treating this problem,”said Professor Peter Barnes.
Ten healthy volunteers(志愿者) were given theobromine,codeine or a placebo,a pill that contains no medicine,during the experiment.Neither the volunteers nor the researchers knew who received which pill.The researchers then measured levels of capsaicin,which is used in research to cause coughing and as a sign of how well the medicines are stopping coughs.
The team found that,when the volunteers were given theobromine,the capsaicin needed to produce a cough was around a third higher than in the placebo group.When they were given codeine they needed only slightly higher levels of capsaicin to cause a cough compared with the placebo.
The researchers said that theobromine worked by keeping down a nerve activity(神经活动),which causes coughing.They also found that unlike some standard cough treatments,theobromine caused no side effects such as sleepiness.
53.According to Professor Barnes,theobromine         .
A.cannot be as effective as codeine
B.can be harmful to people’s health
C.cannot be separated from chocolate
D.can be a more effective cure for coughs
54.What was used in the experiment to cause coughing?
A.Theobromine.              B.Codeine.                 C.Capsaicin.              D.Placebo.
55.We learn from the text that volunteers in the experiment         .
A.were patients with bad coughs
B.were divided into three groups
C.received standard treatments
D.suffered little side effects
56.Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
A.Codeine:A New Medicine
B.Chocolate May Cure Coughs
C.Cough Treatment:A Hard Case
D.Theobromine Can Cause Coughs
答案  53.D  54.C  55.B  56.B
Passage 31
(08·重庆B篇)
While all my classmates seem to be crazy about a one-way ticket to Mars(火星),
I’d rather say Mars is totally unsuitable for human existence.People won’t have enough food supplies there,and the terrible environment would make it impossible for them to live a long life.Besides,the journey won’t be safe.Can anybody explain to me just why people would go to Mars,never to return?
Steve Minear,UK
Here are the things you can think of:the desire to explore a foreign and unique environment,the excitement of being the first humans to open up a new world,the expectation of fame and glory....For scientists there is another reason.Their observations and research will probably lead to great scientific achievements.
Donal Trollop,Canada
There are already too many people on the Earth.I think that sometime before the end of the century,there will be a human colony(殖民地) on Mars.It will happen when people finally realize that two-way trips to the red planet Mars are unnecessary.Most of the danger of space flight is in the launches(发射) and landings.Cutting the trip home would therefore reduce the danger of accidents,save a lot of money,and open the way to building an everlasting human settlement in another world.
Enough supplies can be sent on ahead.And every two years more supplies and more people will be sent to the new colony.Mars has all the materials for a colony to produce or make everything it needs,and Mars is far more pleasant than the other planets in the outer space.
Paul Davies,USA
60.The main purpose of Steve Minear’s writing is         .
A.to report his classmates’ discussion
B.to invite an answer to his question
C.to explain the natural state of Mars
D.to show his agreement on going to Mars
61.Which of the following best states Donal Trollop’s idea?
A.There is a plan to send humans to Mars.
B.There are many reasons for going to Mars.
C.Scientists become famous by doing research on Mars.
D.It is possible to build an Earth-like environment on Mars.
62.Paul Davies points out that         .
A.humans need only a one-way ticket to Mars
B.two-way trips to Mars will be made safe soon
C.it is easy to reduce the danger and cost of flights to Mars
D.it is cheap to build an everlasting human settlement on Mars
63.What does Paul Davies think of human existence on Mars?
A.Humans will have to bring all they need from the Earth.
B.Humans will find Mars totally unsuitable for living.
C.Humans can produce everything they need.
D.Humans can live longer in the colony on Mars.
答案  60.B  61.B  62.A  63.C
Passage 32
(08·重庆D篇)
Seeing a volcano erupt(喷发) is a wonderful experience,and you can really feel the heat by climbing to the summit(山顶) of Pacaya for a close-up view.There are guided tours every day up this highly active volcano from Antigua.Giving travelers a chance to see Mother Nature at her most powerful.
Pacaya is an easy drive from Antigua,a beautiful city with many colorful houses along its old streets that are turned into art-works during its Holy Week festival.No matter when you come to Antigua,you won’t miss the Pacaya-tour companies.
But climbing Pacaya is no easy job:it is 2,560 metres high,and reaching the summit takes two to three hours of seemingly one-step-forward and two-step-back movements.As you climb,you hear the dull sounds of eruptions high above.Steaming,hot remains from recent eruptions begin to line the path as you near the active summit:the McKenney Cone(火山锥).Just as though you were going to walk over to the edge of the cone,the road turns to the left and up to the relative safety of the old,inactive summit.
Many tours are timed so that you arrive at the cone of the volcano in plenty of time for sunset and the full contrast between the erupting red lava(熔岩) and the darkening sky.On a good day the view from the summit is extremely exciting.The active mouth boils,sending red lava over its sides,and once in a while shoots hot streams up to 100 metres into the air.There is a strong bad smell in the air even if you take care to be upwind of the cone.As evening turns deeper into the night,the burning lava quietly falls down the side of the volcano.For you,too,it is time to get down.
68.What is the main purpose of this passage?
A.To attract tourists to Pacaya.
B.To describe the beauty of Pacaya.
C.To introduce guided tours to Pacaya.
D.To explain the power of nature at Pacaya.
69.Antigua is a city         .
A.where people can enjoy cultural festivals
B.where the daring Pacaya tour starts
C.that gives a close-up view of Pacaya
D.that is famous for its tour companies
70.Climbing to the McKenney Cone,people will         .
A.walk directly to the active summit
B.hear the continuous loud noise from above
C.make greater efforts than to other summits
D.see a path lined with remains of earlier eruptions
71.Many tours are timed for people to         .
A.get down the mountain in time when night falls
B.avoid the smell from the upwind direction of the cone
C.enjoy the fantastic eruption against the darkening sky
D.appreciate the scenery of the 2,560-metre-high mountain
答案  68.A  69.B  70.D  71.C
Passage 33
(08·湖南B篇)
Most young architects—particularly those in big cities—can only dream about working in a building of their own.And making that dream come true often means finding a building no one else seems to want,which is exactly what happened to David Yocum and his partner,Brian Bell.Their building is a former automobile electrical-parts firm in Atlanta.From the outside,it looks too old,even something horrible,but open the door and you are in a wide,open courtyard,lined on three sides with rusting(生锈的) walls.
In 2000,Yocum and Bell found this building in the city’s West End.Built in 1947,the structure had been abandoned years earlier and the roof of the main building had fallen down.But the price was right,so Yocum bought it.He spent eight months of his off-hours on demolition(拆除),pulling rubbish out through the roof,because it was too dangerous to go inside the building.The demolition was hard work,but it gave him time to think about what he wanted to do,and“to treasure what was there—the walls,the rust,the light,”Yocum said.“Every season,more paint falls off the walls and more rust develops.It’s like an art installation(装置) in there—a slow-motion show.”
Since the back building had been constructed without windows,an all-glass front was added to the building to give it a view of the courtyard,and skylights were installed in the roof.The back of the building is a working area and a living room for Yocum and his wife.A sort of buffer(缓冲) zone between the front and the back contains a bathroom,a kitchen and a mechanical room,and the walls that separate these zones have openings that allow views through to the front of the studio and the courtyard beyond.
Yocum and Bell,who have just completed an art gallery for the city,feel that the experience from the decoration of their building,focusing on the inside rather than the outside,has influenced their work.It has also given these architects a chance to show how they can make more out of less.
60.According to the passage,it is         for most young architects in big cities
to work in a building of their own.
A.easy                        B.unnecessary            C.unrealistic               D.common
61.Yocum bought the old building because         .
A.it was a bargain to him
B.it was still in good condition
C.it was located in the city center
D.it looked attractive from the outside
62.Working on the old building,Yocum and Bell         .
A.pulled rubbish out through the roof
B.removed the skylights from the bathroom
C.presented a slow-motion show in an art gallery
D.built a kitchen at the back part of the old building
63.It can be inferred from the passage that Yocum and Bell         .
A.benefited a lot from pulling down the roof
B.turned more old buildings into art galleries
C.got inspiration from decorating their old building
D.paid more attention to the outside of the art gallery
64.The main idea of the passage is that         .
A.people can learn a lot from their failures
B.it is worthwhile to spend money on an old building
C.people should not judge things by their appearance
D.creative people can make the best of what they have
答案  60.C  61.A  62.A  63.C  64.D
Passage 34
(08·福建D篇)
The global energy crisis is approaching.What can we do?Here are some steps you can take.
Cooling puts the greatest stress on your summer energy bill and the power grid（电网）.Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage,a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort.Clean or replace filters monthly or as needed.
For central air conditioning systems and room air conditioners,look for the ENERGY STAR,the federal government’s symbol for energy efficiency.For central air,purchase the system with the highest possible Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio(SEER).
Use energy-efficient ceiling fans either alone or with air conditioning. Ceiling fans do a great job of circulating air.When used with air conditioning,fans allow you to raise the thermostat（恒温器） and cut costs.Ceiling fans cool people,not rooms,so before you leave,turn off the ceiling fan.
Let a programmable thermostat“remember for you”to automatically adjust the indoor climate with your daily and weekend patterns to reduce cooling bills by up to 10 percent.You can come home to a comfortable house without wasting energy and creating pollution all day while you are at work.
Try to make your home airtight enough to increase your comfort,make your home quieter and cleaner and reduce your cooling costs up to 20 percent.
Cut your air conditioning load,and reduce pollution by planting leafy trees around your home and fixing reflective bricks on your roof.
Close blinds or shades on south- and west- facing windows during the day,fix shading equipment to avoid heat build-up.
Turn off everything not in use:lights,TVs,computers.And use fluorescent bulbs（荧光灯），which provide bright,warm light while using at least two-thirds less energy,producing 70 percent less heat and lasting up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs（白炽灯）.
Drive the car that gets better gas mileage whenever possible if you own more than one vehicle.If you drive 12,500 miles a year,switching 10 percent of your trips from a car that gets 20 miles per gallon to one that gets 30 mpg will save you more than $65 per year.
Carpool.The average U.S.commuter（乘车上班族）could save about $260 a year by sharing cars twice a week with two other people in a car that gets 20.1 mpg—assuming the three passengers share the cost of gas.
68.According to the passage,the thermostat is used to        .
A.make rooms quieter                                   B.control room temperature
C.turn off the air conditioner                   D.reduce room air pollution
69.We can conclude from the passage that the author probably discourages        .
A.planting leafy trees around your home
B.turning off the ceiling fan before you leave your house
C.keeping your south-facing windows open during the day
D.using fluorescent bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs
70.According to the passage,you can save fuel by        .
A.using energy-efficient ceiling fans
B.sharing cars with others on workdays
C.turning off everything not in use
D.reducing 10% of your car trips every year
71.This passage is mainly about        .
A.energy-saving tips                                  B.fuel-saving tips
C.do it yourself tips                                D.environment-protecting tips
答案  68.B  69.C  70.B  71.A
Passage 35
(08·福建E篇)
A new study has found no evidence that sunscreen,commonly used to reduce the risk of skin cancer,actually increases the risk.
Researchers from the University of Iowa based their findings on a review of 18 earlier studies that looked at the association between sunscreen use and melanoma（黑素瘤）.They said that  they  found flaws in studies that had reported associ-
ations between sunscreen use and higher risk of melanoma.
Most health experts believe that by protecting the skin from the harmful effects of the sun,sunscreen helps prevent skin cancer,which is increasing in incidence（发生率）faster than any other cancer in the United States.
But questions have been raised about sunscreen and whether it may have the opposite effect,perhaps by allowing people to remain exposed to the sun longer without burning.
The researchers said that among the problems with some earlier studies is that they often failed to take into account that those people most at risk for skin cancer—people with fair skin and freckles（雀斑），for example—are more likely to use sunscreen.As a result,it may appear that sunscreen users get cancer more often.
The studies,which generally relied on volunteers to recall their sunscreen use, were also unable to prove how well the products had been applied,said the new study.
72.The underlined word“flaws”in the 2nd paragraph most probably means        .
A.evidences                    B.facts                         C.faults                     D.failures
73.People with fair skin and freckles        .
A.seldom use sunscreen                                   B.are more in danger of skin cancer
C.can be free from the harm of the sun          D.often expose themselves to the sun
74.We can learn from the passage that        .
A.sunscreen users get skin cancer more often
B.the volunteers have proved the effect of sunscreen
C.the new study was based on the experiences of volunteers
D.the number of skin cancer patients is increasing in America
75.Which of the following can be the best title for this passage?
A.Sunscreen to Prevent Skin Cancer                 B.Sunscreen to Increase Skin Cancer
C.Skin Cancer Caused by Sunscreen                 D.Skin Cancer Caused by Freckles
答案  72.C  73.B  74.D  75.A
Passage 36
(07·广东C篇)
Malaria, the world's most widespread parasitic(寄生虫引起的) disease, kills as many as three million people every year—almost all of whom are under five, very poor, and African. In most years, more than five hundred million cases of illness result from the disease, although exact numbers are difficult to assess because many people don't (or can't) seek care. It is not unusual for a family earning less than two hundred dollars a year to spend a quarter of its income on malaria treatment, and what they often get no longer works. In countries like Tanzania, Mozambique, and the Gambia, no family, village, hospital, or workplace can remain unaffected for long.
Malaria starts suddenly, with violent chills, which are soon followed by an intense fever and, often, headaches. As the parasites multiply, they take over the entire body. Malaria parasites live by eating the red blood cells they infect (感染). They can also attach themselves to blood vessels in the brain. If it doesn't kill you, malaria can happen again and again for years. The disease passed on to humans by female mosquitoes infected with one of four species of parasite. Together, the mosquito and the parasite are the most deadly couple in the history of the earth—and one of the most successful. Malaria has five thousand genes, and its ability to change rapidly to defend itself and resist new drugs has made it nearly impossible to control. Studies show that mosquitoes are passing on the virus more frequently, and there are more outbreaks in cities with large populations. Some of the disease's spread is due to global warming.
For decades, the first-choice treatment for malaria parasites in Africa has been chloroquine, a chemical which is very cheap and easy to make. Unfortunately, in most parts of the world, malaria parasites have become resistant to it. Successful alternatives that help prevent resistance are already available, but they have been in short supply and are very expensive. If these drugs should fail, nobody knows what would come next.
51. According to paragraph 1, many people don't seek care because___.
A. they are too poor
B. it is unusual to seek care
C. they can remain unaffected for long
D. there are too many people suffering from the disease
52. People suffering from malaria___.
A. have to kill female mosquitoes
B. have ability to defend parasites
C. have their red blood cells infected
D. have sudden fever, followed by chills
53. Which of the following may be the reason for the wide spread of the disease?
A. Its resistance to global warming.
B. Its ability to pass on the virus frequently.
C. Its outbreaks in cities with large populations.
D. Its ability to defend itself and resist new drugs.
54. It can be inferred from the passage that___.
A. no drugs have been found to treat the disease
B. the alternative treatment is not easily available to most people
C. malaria has developed its ability to resist parasites
D. nobody knows what will be the drug to treat the disease
55. Which of the following questions has NOT been discussed in the passage?
A. How can we know one is suffering from malaria?
B. How many people are killed by malaria each year?
C. Why are there so many people suffering from malaria?
D. What has been done to keep people unaffected for long?
答案  51. A  52.C  53.D  54.B  55.D
Passage 37
(07·山东D篇)
Sports shoes that out whether their owner has enough exercise to warrant time in front of the
television have been devised in the UK.
The shoes — named Square Eyes — contain an electronic pressure sensor and a tiny
computer chip to record how many steps the wearer has taken in a day. A wireless transmitter
passes the information to a receiver connected to a television, and this decides how much evening
viewing time the wearer deserves, based on the day’s efforts.
The design was inspired by a desire to fight against the rapidly ballooning waistlines among
British teenagers, says Gillian Swan, who developed Square Eyes as a final year design project at
Brunel University to London, UK. “We looked at current issues and childhood overweight really
stood out,” she says. “And I wanted to tackle that with my design.”
Once a child has used up their daily allowance gained through exercise, the television
automatically switches off. And further time in front of the TV can only be earned through more
steps.
Swan calculated how exercise should translate to television time using the recommended daily amounts of both. Health experts suggest that a child take 12,000 steps each day and watch no more than two hours of television. So, every 100 steps recorded by the Square Eyes shoes equals
precisely one minute of TV time.
Existing pedometers （计步器） normally clip onto a belt or slip into a pocket and keep count of steps by measuring sudden movement. Swan says these can be easily tricked into recording steps through shaking. But her shoe has been built to be harder for lazy teenagers to cheat. “It is possible, but it would be a lot of effort,” she says. “That was one of my main design considerations.”
71．According to Swan, the purpose of her design project is to ________.
A．keep a record of the steps of the wearer
B．deal with overweight among teenagers
C．enable children to resist the temptation of TV
D．prevent children from being tricked by TV programs
72．Which of the following is true of Square Eyes shoes?
A．They regulate a child’s evening TV viewing time.
B．They determine a child’s daily pocket money.
C．They have raised the hot issue of overweight.
D．They contain information of the receiver.
73．What is stressed by health experts in their suggestion?
A．The exact number of steps to be taken.
B．The precise number of hours spent on TV.
C．The proper amount of daily exercise and TV time.
D．The way of changing steps into TV watching time.
74．Compared with other similar products, the new design ________.
A．makes it difficult for lazy teenagers to cheat
B．counts the wearer’s steps through shaking
C．records the sudden movement of the wearer
D．sends teenagers’ health data to the receiver
75．Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
A．Smart Shoes Decide on Television Time
B．Smart Shoes Guarantee More Exercise
C．Smart Shoes Measure Time of Exercise
D．Smart Shoes Stop Childhood Overweight
答案  71. B  72.A  73.C  74.A  75.A
Passage 38
(07·宁夏、海南、全国ⅠB篇)
Many animals recognize their food because they see it. So do humans. When you see an apple or a piece of chocolate you know that these are things you can eat. You can also use other senses when you choose your food. You may like it because it smells good or because it tastes good. You may dislike some types of food because they do not look, smell or taste very nice. Different animals use different senses to find and choose their food. A few animals depend on only one of their senses, while most animals use more than one sense.
Although there are many different types of food, some animals spend their lives eating only one type. The giant panda（大熊猫）eats only one particular type of bamboo（竹子）. Other animals eat only one type of food even when given the choice. A kind of white butterfly（蝴蝶）will stay on the leaves of a cabbage, even though there are plenty of other vegetables in the garden. However, most animals have a more varied diet（多样化饮食）. The bear eats fruits and fish. The fox eats small animals, birds and fruits. The diet of these animals will be different depending on the season.
Humans have a very varied diet. We often eat food because we like it and not because it is good for us. In countries such as France and Britain, people eat foods with too much sugar. This makes them overweight, which is bad for their health. Eating too much red meat and animal products, such as butter, can also be bad for the health. Choosing the right food, therefore, has become an area of study in modern life.
60. We can infer from the text that humans and animals _________.
A. depend on one sense in choosing food        B.  are not satisfied with their food
C. choose food in similar ways                D. eat entirely different food
61. Which of the following eats only one type of food?
A. The white butterfly.                       B. The small bird.
C. The bear.                                D. The fox.
62. Certain animals change their choice of food when ___________.
A. the season changes                        B. the food color changes
C. they move to different places                D. they are attracted by different smells
63. We can learn from the last paragraph that __________.
A. food is chosen for a good reason            B. French and British food is good
C. some people have few choices of food       D. some people care little about healthy diet
答案  60. A   61. C   62. C  63. B
Passage 39
(07·北京B篇)
The Book Of Life
So far,scientists have named about 1.8 million living species(物种),and that’s just a small number of what probably exists on Earth.With so many plants,animal,and other living things covering the planet,it can be tough to figure out what type of grass is growing by the roadside or what kind of bird just flew by.
A soon-to-be-started Web site might help.An international team of researchers has announced the creation of Web-based Encyclopedia(百科全书) of Life (EoL).The project aims to list every species on Earth in a single,easy-to-use reference guide.
To get the encyclopedia started,the creators will use information from scientific databases(数据库)that already exist.And eventually,in special sections of the site,non-scientists with specialized knowledge will come to helf.Bird-watchers,for example, will be able to input what birds they’ve seen and where. To make sure the encyclopedia is accurate, scientists will review much of the information added to it.
As the EoL develops,you might find it useful for school. Projects,The site will feature    (以。。。。。。为特色) special pages for kids who are studying ecosystems in their neighborhoods.Another convenient feature of the EoL is that you’ll be able to pick the level of detail you want to see to match your interests,age,and knowledgs.
It now takes years for scientists to collect all the data they need to describes and analyze species.The creators of the Encyclopedia of Life hope that their new fool will speed up that process.
60.The Web based EoL aims to ___
A. fine out what covers the earth
B. list all living things on Earth
C.work out the number of birds
D.save the existing plants
61.One characteristic of the EoL is that ____
A. it is run by school students
B. it focuses on different types of grass
C. it provides different levels of information
D.it allows non-scientists to review its data
62. In the last paragraph,”that process”means ___
A. analyzing species                        B. creating a new tool
C. collecting data                           D. describing species
答案  60. B  61.C    62.C
Passage 40
(07·天津D篇)
In meditation(冥想)，people sit quietly and focus their attention on their breath .As they breathe in and out ,they attend to their feelings .As thoughts go through their minds. they let them go. Breathe. Let go. Breathe. Let go.
According to a recent study at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, three months of training in this kind of meditation causes a market change in how the brain allocates(分配) attention. It appears that the ability to let go thoughts that come into mind frees the brain to attend to more rapidly changing things and events in the outside world. Expert mediators are better than other people at catching such fast-changing stimuli( 刺激),like facial expressions.
The study provides evidence for changes in the workings of the brain with mental training. People can learn and improve abilities of all sorts with practice. everything from driving to playing the piano. The study has shown that meditation is good for the brain ,It appears to reduce pressure and promote a sense of well-being.
In an experiment ,17 volunteers with no meditation experience in the experimental group spent three months meditating 10 to 12 hours a day .A control group also with no meditation experience meditated for 20 minutes a day over the same period .Both groups were then given the tests with two numbers in a group of letters. As both group looked for the numbers ,their brain activity was recorded.
Everyone could catch the first number .But the brain  recordings showed that the less experienced mediators tended to grasp the first number and hang onto it ,so they missed the second number .Those with more experience gave less attention to the first number .as if letting it go ,which led to an increased ability to grasp the second number ,This shows that attention can change with practice.
Just ask Daniel Levision, who meditated for three months as part of the study .”I am a much better listener,” he said. “I do not get lost in my own personal reaction to what people are saying.”
48.   The underlined word “them” in Paragraph 1 refers to ________.
A. feelings              B. minds               C. people                    D. thoughts
49.   Meditations manage their daily tasks better because they ________.
A. are given less pressure                        B. allocate their attention better
C. have more stimuli for life                           D. practice them more frequently
50. In the experiment ,volunteers doing meditation for longer hours ________.
A. were more likely to catch both of the members
B. were used to memorizing numbers in groups
C. usually ignored the first number observed
D. paid more attention to numbers than to letters
51. The study proves that ________.
A. meditation improves one’s health
B. brain activity can be recorded
C. human attention can be trained
D. mediators have a good sense of hearing
答案  48. D  49.B  50.A   51.C
Passage 41
(07·天津E篇)
When we think of leadership ,we often think of strength and power .But what are these really ,and how do they operate?
Leadership today is not about forcing others to do things. If this is even possible, it is short-term, and tends to backfire. If you order someone to do something against their will, they may do it because they feel they must ,but the anger they feel will do more harm in the long-term ,They will also experience fear.
Fear causes the thinking brain to shut down, making the person unable to function at his or her best .If they associate you with this emotion of fear. They will become less functional around you ,and you will have succeeded in not only shooting yourself in the foot .but possibly making a very good employee or partner unable to perform effectively .Fear has no place in leadership.
The way we influence people in a lasting way is by our own character, and our understanding and use of emotion .We can order someone to do something ,which may be part of the work day; or we can employ them at the emotional level ,so they became fully devoted to the projects and provide some of their own motivation (积极性). Today’s work place is all about relationships
Anyone works harder in a positive environment in which they are recognized and valued as a human being as well as a worker.. Everyone produces just a bit more for someone they like. Leaders understand the way things work .They know the pay check is not the single most motivating factor (因素) in the work life of most people.
The true strength of leadership  is an inner strength that comes from the confidence of emotional intelligence---knowing your own emotions , and how to handle them ,and those of others . Developing your emotional intelligence is the single best thing you can do if you want to develop your relationships with people around you, which is the key to the leadership skills.
52. An employee may have a feeling of fear in the work place when ________.
A. he is forced to do things
B. be cannot work at his best
C. he feels his brain shut down
D. he thinks of his work as too heavy
53. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. People tend to associate leadership with fear
B. Working conditions affect people’s physical health
C. Good relationship is the key to business success
D. Smart people are more functional in the work place.
54.   To positively influence employees a leader should first of all ________.
A. provide better suggestions               B. develop his own personality
C. five his employees a pay raise          D. hide his own emotion of fear
55.   Good leadership is mainly seen in a leader’s ability to ________.
A .provide a variety of project for employees
B. help raise employee’s living standards
C. give employees specific instructions
D. deal wisely with employees’ emotions
答案  52. A  53.C  54.B  55.D
Passage 42
(07·江苏D篇)
Thinking
u       Some scientists claim that we humans are the only living things that are conscious (有意识的) — we alone are aware that we are thinking.
u       No one knows how consciousness works — it is one of science’s last great mysteries.
u       All your thoughts take place in the cerebrum (大脑皮质), which is at the top of your brain, and different kinds of thought are linked to different areas, called association areas.
u       Each half of the cerebrum has four rounded ends called lobes (脑叶) — two at the front (frontal and temporal lobes) and two at the back (occipital and parietal lobes).
u       The frontal lobe is linked to your personality and it is where you have your bright ideas.
u       The temporal lobe is where you hear and understand what people say to you.
u       The occipital lobe is where you work out what your eyes see.
u       The parietal lobe is where you record touch, heat and cold, and pain.
u       The left half of the brain controls the right side of the body. The right half controls the left side.
u       One half of the brain is always dominant (in charge). Usually, the left brain is dominant, which is why 90% of people are right-handed.
68. Which part of your cerebrum is most active when you are making a telephone call?
A. The frontal lobe.                                            B. The temporal lobe.
C. The occipital lobe.                                         D. The parietal lobe.
69. Which of the following statements is true?
A. One’s personality has something to do with the frontal lobe.
B. Bright ideas come from the parietal lobe.
C. The occipital and temporal lobes are at the back of the cerebrum.
D. The occipital lobe is in charge of sound.
70. From the passage, we know the reason why around 10% of people are left-handed is that ________.
A. their frontal lobe is usually dominant
B. their temporal lobe is usually dominant
C. their right brain is usually dominant
D. their left brain is usually dominant
答案  68.B  69.A  70.C
Passage 43
(07·重庆D篇)
The African elephant, the largest land animal remaining on earth , is of great importance to African ecosystem(生态系统). Unlike other animals, the African elephant is to a great extent the builder of its environment. As a big plant-eater, it largely shapes the forest-and-savanna(大草原)surroundings in which it lives, therefore setting the terms of existence for millions of other animals that live in its habitat(栖息地).
It is the elephant's great desire for food that makes it a disturber of the environment and an important builder of its habitat. In its continuous search for the 300 pounds of plants it must have every day, it kills small trees and underbushes, and pulls branches off big trees. This results in numerous open spaces in both deep tropical forests and in the woodlands that cover part of
the African savannas. In these open spaces are numerous plants in various stages of growth that attract a variety of other plant-eaters.
Take the rain forests for example. In their natural state, the spreading branches overhead shut out sunlight and prevent the growth of plants on the forest floor. By pulling down trees and eating plants, elephants make open spaces, allowing new plants to grow on the forest floor. In such situations, the forests become suitable for large hoofed plant-eaters to move around and for small plant-eaters to get their food as well.
What worries scientists now is that the African elephant has become an endangered species. If the elephant disappears, scientists say, many other animals will also disappear from vast areas of forest and savanna, greatly changing and worsening the whole ecosystem.
67. What is the passage mainly about?
A. Disappearance of African elephants.
B. Forests and savannas as habitats for African elephants.
C. The effect of African elephants' search for food.
D. The eating habit of African elephants.
68. What does the underlined phrase “setting the terms” most probably mean?
A. Fixing the time.                                       B. Worsening the state.
C. Improving the quality.                                 D. Deciding the conditions.
69. What do we know about the open spaces in the passage?
A. They result from the destruction of rain forests.
B. They provide food mainly for African elephants.
C. They are home to many endangered animals.
D. They are attractive to plant-eating animals of different kinds.
70. The passage is developed mainly by.
A. showing the effect and then explaining the causes
B. pointing out similarities and differences
C. describing the changes in space order
D. giving examples
答案  67.C  68.D  69.D  70.A
Passage 44
(07·辽宁A篇)
What will people die of 100 years from now? If you think that is a simple question, you have not been paying attention to the revolution that is taking place in bio-technology(生物技术). With the help of new medicine, the human body will last a very long time. Death will come mainly fom accidents, murder and war. Today’s leading killers, such as heart disease, cancer, and aging itself, will become distant memories.
In discussion of technological changes, the Internet gets most of the attention these days. But the change in medicine can be the real technological event of our times. How long can humans live? Human brains were known to decide the final death. Cells(细胞) are the basic units of all living things, and until recently, scientists were sure that the life of cells could not go much beyond l20 years because the basic materials of cells, such as those of brain cells, would not last forever. But the upper limits will be broken by new medicine. Sometime between 2050 and 2100, medicine will have advanced to the point at which every 10 years or so, people will be able to take medicine to repair their organs ( The medicine, made up of the basic building materials of life, will build new brain cells, heart cells, and so on—in much the same way our bodies make new skin cells to take the place of old ones.
It is exciting to imaging that the advance in technology may be changing the most basic condition of human existence, but many technical problems still must be cleared up on the way to this wonderful future.
56. According to the passage, human death IS now mainly caused by____
A. diseases and aging                        B. accidents and war
C. accidents and aging                       D. heart disease and war
57. In the author’ s opinion, today’s most important advance in technology lies in____
A. medicine                               B. the Internet
C. brain cells                              D. human organ
58. Humans may live longer in the future because_____
A. heart disease will be far away from us
B. human brains can decide the final death
C. the basic materials of cells will last forever
D. human organs can be repaired by new medicine
59. We can learn from the passage that ______
A. human life will not last more than 120 years in the future
B. humans have to take medicine to build new skin cells now
C. much needs to be done before humans can have a longer life
D. we have already solved the technical problems in building new cells
答案  56.A  57.A  58.D  59.C
Passage 45
(07·辽宁C篇)
Most rain forests lie close to the equator( where the climate is often mild and there are long hours of sunshine. The warmth of the land heats the air above, causing it to rise and tiny drops of water to fall as rain. The rainfall can reach at least 98 inches a year. This wet, warm world with plenty of sunlight is perfect for plants to grow so the trees grow fast with green leaves all the year round, The trees themselves also have an effect on the climate. They gather water from the soil and pass it out into the air through their leaves. The wet air then forms clouds, which hang over the treetops like smoke. These clouds protect the forest from the daytime heat and nighttime cold of nearby deserts, keeping temperatures fit for plant growth
Rain forests slightly farther away from the equator remain just as warm, but they have a dry season of three months or morn when little rain falls. Tree leaves fall during this dry season and new leaves grow when the wet season or monsoon (雨季) begins. Thus these areas are known as the “monsoon forest”.
Another type of rain forest grows on tropical mountains. It is often called the “cloud forest” because clouds often hang over the trees like fog.
The rain forest is the ideal place for the growth of many different trees. Most of them depend on animals to eat their fruits and spread their seeds. When the fruits are eaten, the seeds inside them go undamaged through animals’ stomachs and arc passed out in their droppings. The seeds lying on the forest floor then grow into new trees.
64. The climate of the rain forests near the equator is______
A. mild, wet and windy
B. hot, rainy and foggy
C. hot, wet and cloudy
D. warm, wet and sunny
65. We can learn from the passage that_______
A. tree leaves are green all the lime in the monsoon forest
B. there is a dry season in the cloud forest on tropical mountains
C. clouds help the plants in the rain forest near the deserts to grow
D. the formation of climate in the rain forest has little to do with the trees
66. According to the passage,______ play with the most important role in the spreading seeds.
A. animals.            B. droppings         C. fruits              D. winds
67.This passage is most likely to be found in ______
A. a travel guide                            B. a story book
C. a technical report                         D. a geography book
答案  64.D  65.C  66.A  67.D
Passage 46
(07·福建C篇)
Scientists have found what look like caves on Mars(火星), and say they could be protecting life from the planet’s terrible environment.
The first caves discovered beyond the Earth appear as seven anysterious black dots on the pictures sent back by NASA’s Mars Odyssey orbiter. Each as large as a football field, they may be openings into natural caves below the Martian suface.
“If there is life on Mars, there is a good chance you’d find it in caves,” said Jut Wynne,one of the reseachers who noticed the features while working on a US Geological Survey Mars Cave Detection Program.
Jonathan Clarke, a geologist with the Mars Society of Australia, yesterday described the discovery as exciting.
One photo taken at night by an infrared imager(红外线成像器) showed one hole to be unusualy warm, suggesting hot air trapped during the day is flowing out.
“I said:‘Wow, that’s a cave’” Dr. Clarke said excitedly. “People have been looking for these for a long time; now we have found them.”
He agreed such caves would be perfect places to hunt for life escaping from the bitterly cold,radiatiion-soaked(充满辐射的), dry surface.
“Tiny drops of water could collect inside,” he said. “If there are gases coming out, they could provide energy for a whole range of bacteria. A cave is also a protection from radiation; the surface of Mars is exposed to high levels of space radiation.”
The caves probably formed when tube-shaped lave flows(管状岩浆流) spread across the planet long ago. The outside of the tubes cooled, forming solid walls, while something hotter inside allowed the remaining have to flow out, forming caves.
64.What does the passage mainly talk about?
A.How the caves were formed on Mars.
B.How scientists found these caves on Mars.
C.Caves on Mars may be full of hot air or a sign of life.
D.Scientiste have completely recognized the surface of Mars.
65.We can learn from the passage that           .
A.water has already been found on Mars
B.the scientists found all the caves at night
C.it is certain that there is life in these caves
D.the surface of Mars is bitterly cold, radiation-soaked and dry
66.According to the passage, Dr. Clarke was so excited because        .
A.such caves could provide energy for life
B.they had finally found the caves on Mars
C.such caves would be perfect places to hunt for life
D.scientists had long been looking for these caves
67.Necessary conditions for life on Mars mentioned in the passage may include        .
A.lava and energy
B.water and radiation from space
C.gases and lava
D.water and protection from radiation
答案  64.C  65.D  66.B  67.D
Passage 47
(07·福建E篇)
Dogs wag(摇摆) their tails in different directions depending on whether they are excited and wanting to move forward or threatened and thinking of moving back, a study has found.
Researchers in Italy  examined the tail wagging behaviour of 30 dogs, catching their responses to a range of stimuli(刺激物) with video camems. To conduct the study they chose 15 male dogs and 15 female ones aged between one and six years. The dogs were all family pets whose owners had allowed them to take part in the experiment at Bari Umversity. The dogs were placed in a large wooden box with an opening at the front to allow for them to view various stimuli. They were tested one at a time.
The researchers led by Professor Giorgio Vallortigara of the University of Trieste found that when the dogs were shown their owners—a positive expenence—their tails wagged energetically to the right side. When they were shown an unfamiliar human they wagged to the right, but with somewhat less enthusiasm. The appears of a cat again caused a right-hand side wag, although with less intensity again. The appearance of a large unfamiliar dog, similar to a German shepherd, changed the direction of tail wagging to the left. Research ers supposed the dog was thinking of moving back. When the dogs were not shown any stimuli they tended to wag their tails to the left, suggesting they preferred company. While the changes in the tail wagging were not easily noticed without the aid of video, it was thought that the findings could help people judge the mood (心情) of dogs. Computer and video systems, for example, could be used by professional dog trainers to determine the mood of dogs that they were required to approach.
71.The video cameras were used to catch the dogs’ responses because      .
A.it was easier to catch the dogs’response changes in the tail wagging
B.the dogs were put in the wooden boxes and tested one at a time.
C.they enabled the dogs’owners to know about their dogs’habit
D.the dogs wagged their tails in different directions when they were in different moods
72.The underlined word“intensity” in the passage means        .
A.surprise                   B.worry                       C.excitement                 D.interest
73.When there are no stimuli, a dog will         .
A.wag to the left                                             B.wag to the right
C.not wag at all                                               D.wag to the left and then to the right
74.The underlined word “they” refers to         .
A.the dogs                   B.the trainers                C.the systems               D.the rescarchers
75.The purpose of doing the experiment is         .
A.to train dogs for their owners                        B.to help people judge the mood of dogs
C.to help dogs find company                            D.to help people choose their pet dogs
答案  71.A  72.C  73.A  74.B  75.B
Passage 48
(07·浙江A篇)
If you were to walk up to Arthur Bonner and say, “ Hey, Butterfly Man,” his face would break into a smile. The title suits him. And he loves it.
Arthur Bonner works with the Palos Verdes blue butterfly(蝴蝶), once thought to have died out. Today the butterfly is coming back — thanks to him. But years ago if you’d told him this was what he’d be doing someday, he would have laughed, “ You’re crazy.” As a boy, he used to be “ a little tough guy on the streets”.  At age thirteen, he was caught by police stealing. At eighteen, he landed in prison for shooting a man.
“ I knew it had hury my mom,” Bonner said after he got out of prison. “ So I told myself I would not put my mom through that pain again.”
One day he met Professor Mattoni, who was working to rebuild the habitat(栖息地) for an endangered butterfly called El Segundo blue.
“ I saw the sign ‘ Butterfly Habitat’ and asked, ‘ How can you have a habitat when the butterflies can just fly away?’” Bonner recalls. “ Dr. Mattoni laughed and handed me a magnifying glass(放大镜) , ‘Look at the leaves.’ I could see all these caterpillars(蝴蝶的幼虫) on the plant. Dr Mattoni explained, ‘ Without the plant, there are no butterflies.’”
Weeks later, Bonner received a call from Dr. Mattoni, who told him there was a butterfly needed help. That was how he met the Palos Verdes blue. Since then he’s been working for four years to help bring the butterfly back. He grows astragalus, the only plant the butterfly eats. He collects butterflies and brings them into a lab to lay eggs. Then he puts new butterflies into the habitat.
The butterfly’s population, once almost zero, is now up to 900. For their work, Bonner and Dr. Mattoni receiced lots of awards. But for Bonner, he earned something more: he turned his life around.
For six years now Bonner has kept his promise to stay out of prison. While he’s bringing back the Palos Verdes blue, the butterfly has helped bring him back, too.
41. When he was young, Arthur Bonner _______.
A. broke the law and ended up in prison
B. was fond of shooting and hurt his mom
C. often laughed at people on the streeets
D. often caught butterflies and took them home
42. Bonner came to know the Palos Verdes blue after he _______.
A. found the butterfly had died out
B. won many prizes from his professor
C. met Dr. Mattoni, a professor of biology
D. collected butterflies and put them into a lab
43. From the last sentence of the text, we learn that raising butterflies has _________.
A. made Bonner famous                     B. changed Bonner’s life
C. brought Bonner wealth                    D. enriched Bonner’s knowledge
44. Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
A. A Promise to Mom                       B. A Man Saved by Butterflies
C. A Story of Butterflies                     D. A Job Offered by Dr. Mattoni
答案  41.A  42.C  43.B  44.B
Passage 49
(07·浙江B篇)
People who have lost the ability to understand or use words due to brain damage are called aphasics(失语症患者). Such patients can be extremely good at something else. From the changing expressions on speakers’ faces and the tones of their voices, they can tell lies from truths.
Doctors studying the human brain have given a number of examples of this amazing power of aphasics. Some have even compared this power to that of a dog with an ability to find out the drugs hidden in the baggage.
Recently, scientists carried out tests to see if all that was said about aphasics was true. They studied a mixed group of people. Some were normal; others were aphasics. It was proved that the aphasics were far ahead of the normal people in recognizing false speeches — in most cases, the normal people were fooled by words, but the aphasics were not.
Some years ago, Dr. Oliver Sacks wrote in his book about his experiences with aphasics. He mentioned a particular case in a hospital. Some aphasics were watching the president giving a speech on TV. Since the president had been an actor earlier, making a good speech was no problem for him. He was trying to put his feelings into every word of his speech.
But his way of speaking had the opposite effect on the patients. They didn’t seem to believe him. Instead, they burst into laughter. The aphasics knew that the president did not mean a word of what he was saying. He was lying!
Many doctors see aphasics as people who are not completely normal because they lack the ability to understand words. However, according to Dr. Sacks, they are more gifted than normal people. Normal people may get carried away by words. Aphasics seem to understand human expressions better, though they cannot understand words.
45. What is so surprsing about aphasics?
A. They can fool other people.                B. They can find out the hidden drugs.
C. They can understand language better.        D. They can tell whether people are lying.
46. How did the scientists study aphasics?
A. By asking them to watch TV together.        B. By organizing them into acting groups.
C. By comparing them with normal people.      D. By giving them chances to speak on TV.
47. What do we learn from this text?
A. What ones says reflects how one feels.
B. Aphasics have richer feelings than others.
C. Normal people often tell lies in their speeches.
D. People poor at one thing can be good at another.
答案  45.D  46.C  47.D
Passage 50
(07·湖北B篇)
How can a creature weighing over 5 tons and normally taking 150 kilograms of food and 120 liters of water per day survive in a desert environment?
In the southwest African country of Namibia, and the Sahara lands of Mali further north, the desert elephant does just that.
Although not regarded as a separate species from the African elephant, the desert cousin differs in many ways. Their bodies are smaller, to absorb less heat, and their feet are larger for easier walking across sandy surfaces. They are taller, to reach higher branches. They have shorter tusks （象牙）， and most importantly, longer trunks to dig for water in riverbeds.
Desert clephants can travel over 70 kilometers in search for feeding grounds and waterholes, and have a larger group of families, They drink only every 3-4 days, and can store water in a “bag” at the back of their throat, which is only used when badly needed. Desert elephants are careful feeders-they seldom root up trees and break fewer branches, and thus maintain what little food sources are available. Yong elephants may even eat the dung （粪便）of the female leader of a group when facing food shortage.
During drought they are unlikely to give birth to their young but with good rains the birthrate will increase greatly. Desert elephants have sand baths, sometimes adding their own urine (尿液) to make them muddy!
As we continue to overheat our weak planet, it can only be hoped that other animal species will adapt as extraordinarily well to change as the desert elephant.
65. The underlined part in Paragraph 2 means“     ”.
A.remains in the African countries
B.drinks 120 liters of water a day
C.manages to live in desert areas
D.eats 150 kilograms of food daily
66.Desert elephants are called careful feeders because they    .
A.tarely ruin trees
B.drink only every 3-4 days
C.search for food in large groups
D.protect food sources for their young
67.The author answers the question raised in the first paragraph with    .
A.stories and explanation
B.facts and descriptions
C.examples and conclusion
D.evidence and argument
68.What can be inferred from the last sentence in the passage?
A.Overheating the earth can be stopped.
B.Not all animal species are so adaptable.
C.The planet will become hotter and hotter.
D.Not all animals are as smart as desert elephants.
答案  65.C  66.A  67.B  68.B
Passage 51
(07·湖北D篇)
Over the last 70 years, researchers have been studying happy and unhappy peopke and finally found out ten factors that make a difference. Our feelings of well-being at any moment are determined to a certain degree by genes. However, of all the factors, wealth and age are the top two.
Money can buy a degree of happiness. But once you can afford to feed, clothe and house yourself, each extra dollar makes less and less difference.
Researchers find that, on average, wealthier people are happier. But the link between money and happiness is complex. In the past half-century, average income has sharply inereased in developed countries, yet happiness levels have remained almost the same. Once your basic needs are met, money only seems to increase happiness if you have more than your friends, neighbors and colleagues.
“Dollars buy status, and status makes people feel better,” conclude some experts, which helps explain why people who can seek status in other ways-scientists or actors, for example-may happily accept relatively poorly-paid jobs.
In a research, Professor Alex Michalos found that the people whose desires-not just for money, but for friends, family, job, health-rose furthest beyond what they already had, tended to be less happy than those who felt a smaller gap (差距)。Indeed, the size of the gap predicted happiness about five times better than income alone. “The gap measures just blow away the only measures of income.”says Michalos.
Another factor that has to do with happiness is age. Old age may not be so bad“Given all the problems of aging, how could the elderly be more satisfied？”asks Protessor Laura Carstensen.
In one survey, Carstensen in tervicwed 184 people between the ages of 18 and 94, and asked them to fill out an emotions questionnaire. She found that old people reported positive emotions just as often as young people, Some scientists suggest older people may expect life to be harder and learn to live with it, or they’re more realistic abour their time running out, older people have learned to focus on things that make them happy and let go of those that don’t.
“People realize not only what they have, but also that what they have cannot last forever,” she says. “A goodbye kiss to a husband or wife at the age of 85, for example, may bring far more complex emotional responses than a similar kiss to a boy or girl friend at the age of 20.”
72.According to the passage, the feeling of happiness        .
A.is determined partly by genes
B.increases gradually with age
C.has little to do with wealth
D.is measured by desires
72.Some actors would like to accept poorly-paid jobs because the jobs      .
A.make them feel much better
B.provide chances to make friends
C.improse their social position
D.satisfy their professional interests
74.Aged people are more likely to feel happy because they are more       .
A.optimistic                  B.successful              C.practical                 D.emortional
75.Professor Alex Michalos found that people feel less happy if         .
A.the gap between reality and desire is bigger
B.they have a stronger desire for friendship
C.their income is below their expectation
D.the hope for good health is greater
答案  72.A  73.C  74.C  75.A
Passage 52
(07·湖北E篇)
lmagine you’re at a party full of strangers. You’re nervous. Who are these people? How do you start a conversation? Fortunately, you’ve got a thing that sends out energy at tiny chips in everyone’s name tag (标签). The chips send back name, job, hobbies, and the time available for meeting-whatever. Making new friends becomes simple.
This hasn’t quite happened in real life. But the world is already experiencing a revolution using RFID technology.
An RFID tag with a tiny ehip can be fixed in a produet, under your pet’s skin, even under your own skin. Passive RFID tags have no energy source-batteries because they do not need it. The energy comes from the reader, a scanning device(装置),that sends out energy (for example,radio waves)that starts up the tag immediately.
Such a tag carries information speeific to that object,and the data can be updated.Already, RFID technology is used for recognizing each car or truck on the road and it might appear in your passport. Doctors can put a tiny chip under the skin that will help locate and obtain a patient’s medical records. At a nightclub in Paris or in New York the same chip gets you into the VIP (very important person)section and pays for the bill with the wave of an arm.
Take a step back:10 or 12 years ago,you would have heard about the coming age of computing. One example always seemed to surfact: Your refrigerator would know when you needed to buy more milk. The comcept was that computer chips could be put everywhere and send information in a smart network that would make ordinary life simpler.
RFID tags are a small part of this phenomenon. “The world is going to be a loosely coupled set of individual small devices, connected wirelessly,”predicts Dr.J.Reich. Human right supporters are nervous about the possibilities of such technology. It goes too far tracking school kids through RFID tags, they say. We imagine a world in which a beer company could find out not only when you bought a beer but also when you drank it. And how many beers. Accompanied by how many biscuits.
When Marconi invented radio, he thought it would be used for ship-to-shore communication. Not for pop music. Who knows how RFID and related technologres will be used in the future. Here’s a wild guess:Not for buying milk.
76.The artiele is intended to         .
A.warn people of the possible risks in adopting RFID technology
B.explain the benefits brought about by RFID technology
C.convince people of the uses of RFID technology
D.predict the applications of RFID technology
77.We know from the passage that with the help of RFID tags,people           .
A.will have no trouble getting data about others
B.will have more energy for conversation
C.will have more time to make friends
D.won’t feel shy at parties any longer
78.Passive RFID tags chiefly consist of          .
A.scanning devices                                        B.radio waves
C.batteries                                                       D.chips
79.Why are some people worried about RFID technology?
A.Because children will be tracked by strangers.
B.Because market competition will become more fierce.
C.Because their private lives will be greatly affected.
D.Because customers will be forced to buy more products.
80.The last paragraph implies that RFID technology           .
A.will not be used for such matters as buying milk
B.will be windely used, including for buying milk
C.will be limited to communication uses
D.will probably be used for pop music
答案  76.D  77.A  78.D  79.C  80.B
Passage 53
(07·湖南A篇)
In June, 2007, a group of students from eight high schools in Winnipeg, the capital of Canada’s Manitoba province, will begin test-launching (试发射) a satellite the size of a Rubik’s cube.
The one-kilogram Win-Cub satellite, named for its home city and its shape, will be put into low orbit. Once in space, it can perform for a few months or up to several years, communicating information that could help find the signs of earthquakes.
There are 80 similar satellite projects worldwide, but this is the first high-school based program of its kind in Canada. 30 Manitoba high school students are having a hand in designing and building the satellite, in cooperation with aerospace (航空航天的) experts and 10 students from the University of Manitoba, and with support from two other organizations.
The Win-Cube project is not something that goes on a piece of paper; it is real-world engineering, allowing high school students to have an opportunity to learn more about the exciting world of engineering through their participation in this challenging program. It is also taken as a wonderful example of the unique partnerships within Manitoba. Designing, building and launching a satellite with high-school participation will bring this world-class educational project into reality and Manitoba closer to space.
“These Manitoba high school students deserve congratulations for their enthusiasm, innovation (创新), and a strong love for discovery,” said Education, Citizenship and Youth Minister Peter Bjomson. “We want to make science more relevant (相关的), interesting and attractive to high school students by showing them how classroom studies can relate to practical experience in the workplace or, in this case, in space,” Bjomson added.
The Win-Cube program is mainly named at inspiring a strong desire for discovery on the part of the students. It also shows Manitoba’s devotion to research and innovation and the development of a skilled workforce—all important drivers of knowledge-based economic growth.
56. According to the passage, the Win-Cube satellite is _________.
A. named after Manitoba and its shape
B. intended for international communication
C. designed like a Rubik’s cube both in shape and size
D. challenged by university students around the world
57. According to Mr. Bjomson, ___________.
A. those Manitoba high school students are worth praising
B. the study of space can be practically made in classrooms
C. Manitoba high schools are famous for the study of space
D. scientific research is too far away from high school students
58. The primary purpose of the project is to _________.
A. find the early signs of earthquakes
B. relate studies to practical
C. help high school students study real-world engineering
D. inspire a strong desire for discovery among the students
59. The best title for this passage may be ________.
A. Manitoba School
B. Win-Cube Program
C. Space Co-operation
D. Satellite Launching
答案  56.C  57.A  58.D  59.B
Passage 54
(07·江西D篇)
Brian Walker chews pens. He bites them so hard that his boss has warned him to stop or buy his own. Kate’s weakness is more acceptable-she is unalbe to walk past a cake shop without overeating Sophin Cartier finds her cigarette habit a headache, while Alice’s thumb-sucking drives her boy friend crazy. Four people with very different habits, but they all share a common problem anxiety disorder or, in serious cases. Obessive Compulisive Disorder (OCD).
From nail-biting to too much hand-washing, overeating and internet addiction（上瘾）,OCD is widespread in almost every workplace and countless home. “It is a relatively common form of nxiety,”says Dr. Mootee. “Tbe main feature of OCD is the repetitin of unwanted bosersive（过度的） thoughts such as worries that doors are left unlocked , gas or electrical appliances are left on.” In order to fight against the an esasy chedcking door locks and gas or electrical appliandces.
Dr. Mootee says that repetitive washing, particularlu of the hands, is the most common type of OCD. She hastreated many patients who wash their hands up to 30 times a day. The technique Mootee uses to treat people with OCD is called cognitive-behavioral therapy（认知行为疗法）.“It is based on the general idea that people have the ability to change the way they think and behave,”says Mootee.
But when does a haibt become a problem?“It’s personal,”says Mootee.“Everyone has something unusual,but if you can’t put up with it, then it’s a problem and you need to do something to change it.”Mootee says many people reaist for treatmet because they fear they are“crazy”. But as people become more knoledgeable about these problems they will go and get help. The only way to coure is to coqnuer.
68.If a person suffers from OCD, be is likely to keep doing any of the following EXCEPT   .
A.chewing pens                            B.hurting himself
C.sucking fingers                           D.biting nails
69.According to the passage, a person suffering from OCD    .
A.reduces his/her anxiety by taking drugs
B.gets into unwanted hagbits to relieve stress
C.has unwanted thoughts about habits
D.has unwanted thoughts because of illness
70.Dr. Mootee’s treating lechnique is based ont eh idea that    .
A.everyong has something different
B.people can put up with their problems
C.people can chag their way of thinking and action
D.people tend to repeat their obsessive actions
71.By saying “The only way to cure is to conquer.”Dr. Mootee suggests that an OCD sufferer   .
A.has to be an extraordinary person
B.must cure his illness by himself
C.must overcome many physical illnesses
D.should have a right attitude towards the problem
答案  68.B  69.B  70.C  71.D
Passage 55
(07·四川D篇)
Sorry to say, our brains naturally start slowing down at the Cruelty young age of 30. It used to be thought that this couldn't be helped, but new studies show that people of any age can train their brains to work faster. "Your brain is a learning machine," says University of California scientist Dr. Michael Merzenich. Given the right tools, we can train our brains to act like they did when we were younger. All that's required is the practice designed just for the purpose: a few exercises for the mind.
Merzenich has developed a computer-based training method to speed up the process(过程)                         in which the brain deals with information (positscience.com). Since much of the data we receive comes through speech, the Brain Fitness Program works with language and hearing to better speed and accuracy (准确性).
Over the course of training, the program starts asking you to distinguish (辨别) sounds (between "dog" and "bog", for example) at an increasingly faster speed. It's a bit like tennis instructor, says Merzenich, hitting balls at you ~faster and faster to keep you challenged(受到挑战). You may start out slow, but before long you're pretty quick.
The biggest finding in brain research in the last ten years is that the brain at any age is highly plastic. If you ask your brain to learn, it will learn. And it may even speed up while in the process.
To keep your brain young and plastic you can do one of a million new activities that challenge and excite you: playing table tennis or bridge, doing crossword puzzles, learning a language.... "When it comes to preventing ageing, you really do 'use it or lose it' ," says Barbara Sahakian, professor at Cambridge University.
67. Dr. Merzenich’s training method mainly depends on ________.
A. speech training                             B. computer languages
C. the activities one joins in               D. the information being dealt with
68. By saying "the brain at any age is highly plastic ", the writer probably means the brain can be______.
A. used              B. mastered        C. developed             D. researched
69. What can we learn from the text?
A. Practice makes a quick mind.
B. Brain research started ten years ago.
C. Dr. Merzenich is a scientist in computer,
D. People believed nothing could stop the brain slowing down.
70. Which of the following agrees with the writer's idea?
A. The training methods work better for the old.
B. People should use the brain to stop it from ageing.
C. The training of the brain should start at an early age.
D.  It's necessary to take part in as many activities as possible.
答案  67.A  68.C  69.D  70.B
Passage 56
(07·陕西B篇)
When people want to know about the wcather, they usually go to there radios, TVs, pewspapers, or to the Internet. However, you can also find many weather signs among wildlife, because of their highly developed senses. Drops in air pressure(压力) produce an effect on small animals in many ways. Mice and deer are good weather indicators. People who spend a lot of time outdoors have observed that, before a storm, field mice come out of their holes and run around, Deer leave high ground and come down from the mountains.
Birds are especially good weather indicators because they also show the effect of a prcssure drop in many ways. For example, some birds become irritable(急躁的)and qusrrelsome and will fight over a picce of bread. Other birds chirp(叽叽喳喳)and sing just before a storm. It seems they know they won’t get snother chance for an bour on two. Birds also seek safe placcs before a storm, You will sometimes see birds settling in trees or gathering together on a wire close to a building. Pre-storm low pressure makes the are so thin that birds have difficulty flying.
It is unusual to see many birds flying overhead in the summertime, rather than during the periods in the spring or autumn. Watch for other weather signs if you see this. If they fly in the wrong direction,they may be flying abead of a storm.
By paying closer attention to some important signs in nature, we can become better prepared for any kind of weather.
45.The word“indicators”in paragraph I probably means        .
A.maps                     B.services                     C.signs                      D.stations
46.There will be a storm if birds           .
A.make more noise than usual                      B.fly in different directions
C.come down from tall trees                       D.share a piece of bread
47.How can birds sense the coming of a storm?
A.By feeling a drop in air temperature.
B.By noticing the change of wind directions.
C.By feeling a drop in air pressure.
D.By notieing the movements of other animals.
48.The best title for the text would be          .
A.Signs of a Storm                                     B.Drops in Air Pressure
C.Animals’Sharp Senses                                    D.Nature’s Weather Signs
答案  45.C  46.A  47.C  48.D
Passage 57
(06·全国ⅠA篇)
Most people think of racing when they see greyhounds（灰狗）and believe they need lots of exercise. They can actually be quite lazy!  Greyhounds are good at fast races but not long-distance running. They do need regular exercise but they like to run for a short burst and then  get back on the bed or a comfortable seat. Another misunderstanding is that greyhounds must be aggressive（好斗的）because they are big in size. In fact greyhounds love people and are gentle with children.
Greyhounds can live for 12 – 14 years but usually only race for two or three years, and after that they make great pets. They don’t need a lot of space, don’ t make a lot of noise, and don’ t eat a lot for their size.
Normally, greyhounds can be as tall as 90 cm. There is , however, a small-sized greyhound,which stands only 33 cm. Greyhounds come in a variety of colors. Grey and yellowish-brown are the most common. Others include black, white, blue, red and brown or a mix of these.
Greyhounds have smooth body coats, low body fat and are very healthy. Because they’ re slim（苗条的）they don’t have the leg problems like other dogs the same height . But they do feel the cold, especially since they would much rather be at home in bed than walking around outside.
56．The text is written mainly        .
A．to tell people how to raise greyhounds
B．to let people know more about greyhounds
C．to explain why greyhounds are aggressive
D．to describe greyhounds of different colors
57．It can be inferred that greyhounds         .
A．love big doghouses
B．like staying in bed all day
C．make the best guard dogs
D．need some exercise outdoors
58．Why does the author say that greyhounds make great pets?
A．They are big in size.
B．They live a very long life.
C．They can run races for some time.
D．They are quiet and easy to look after.
59．If you keep a pet greyhound, it is important _____________.
A．to keep it slim
B．to keep it warm
C．to take special care of its legs
D．to take it to animal doctors regularly
答案  56.B  57.D  58.D  59.B
Passage 58
(06·全国ⅠC篇)
A study of English learning problems was carried out among a total of 106 foreign students. It shows that most students considered understanding spoken English to be their biggest problem on arrival. This was followed by speaking. Writing increased as a problem as students discovered difficulties in writing papers that they were now expected to hand in. Reading remained as a significant（显著的）problem.
The information gained helped us in determining where special attention should be paid in our course. Although many students have chosen to join the course with a reasonable motivation（动机）, we considered it important to note what seemed to encourage interest. Nearly all the students have experienced some kind of grammar-based English teaching in their own country. To use the same method would be self-defeating because it might reduce motivation, especially if it has failed in the past. Therefore a different method may help because it is different.
Variety of activity was also seen as a way of maintaining（保持）or increasing motivation. Several years ago we had one timetable that operated throughout, but we soon found that both the students and the teachers lost interest by about halfway through the ten weeks. This led us to a major re-think, so finally we brought it into line with the expressed language needs of the students.
65．What is the text mainly about?
A．Foreign students have more problems.
B．There are many ways to improve English.
C．Teaching should meet students’ needs.
D．English learning problems should be studied again.
66．Writing became a bigger problem when foreign students ___________.
A．had to write their papers
B．became better at speaking
C．became less interested in reading
D．had fewer problems with listening
67．We may infer from the last two paragraphs that ___________.
A．different teaching methods should be used
B．grammar-based teaching seems to be encouraging
C．English courses are necessary for foreign students
D．teaching content should be changed halfway
68．The word “it” underlined in the last paragraph refers to “___________”.
A．re-think
B．activity
C．motivation
D．timetable
答案  65.C  66.A  67.A  68.D
Passage 59
(06·北京D篇)
While parents, particularly mothers, have always been attached to their infants (婴儿), societal conditions frequently made this attachment difficult to maintain (保持). First of all, the high infant death rate in the premodern times meant that such attachments often ended in hopelessness. Perhaps to prevent the sadness that infant death caused, a number of societal practices developed which worked against early attachment of mother and child.
One of these premodern attachment-discouraging practices was to leave infants unnamed until they had survived into the second year. Another practice that discouraged maternal (母亲的) attachment was tightly wrapping (包裹) infants. Wrapping effectively prevented the close physical interactions like stroking (抚摸) and kissing that are so much a part of modern mothers’ and fathers’ affection for their infants.
A third practice which had the same distancing effect was wet-nursing. Breast-feeding (母乳哺育) was not popular among the well-to-do in the early modern times; infants were often fed by wet nurses hired for the purpose. In some places, such as nineteenth-century France, city infants were sent to wet nurses in the country. Often a wet nurse would feed her own child first, leaving little for the city infant— who, in many case, died. In Rouen, the death rate for children sent to a wet nurse was 35 percent.
68. Babies were unnamed until they were two so that ________.
A. an old social custom could be kept up
B. maternal attachment could be maintained
C. they could have better chances to survive
D. their parents would not be too sad if they died
69. Why were babies wrapped?
A. To protect them from the cold.
B. To distance their mothers from them.
C. To make them feel more comfortable.
D. To make it easy for their mothers to hold them.
70. Wet nurses were women who _________.
A. babysat city infants
B. fed babies of other families
C. sent their babies to the country
D. failed to look after their babies
71. Which is the best title for the passage?
A. Societal Conditions in Premodern Times
B. Practices of Reducing Maternal Attachment
C. Poor Health Service and High Infant Death Rate
D. Differences between Modern and Premodern Parents
答案  68.D  69.B  70.B  71.B
Passage 60
(06·北京E篇)
A study published in September suggests there is a surprising way to get people to avoid unhealthy foods: change their memories. Scientist Elizabeth Loftus of the University of California at Irvine asked volunteers to answer some questions on their personalities (个性) and food experiences. “One week later,” Loftus says, “we told those people we’d fed their answers into our smart computer and it came up with an account of their early childhood experiences.” Some accounts included one key additional detail (细节). “You got sick after eating strawberry ice-cream.” The researchers then changed this detail into a manufactured (人为促成的) memory through leading questions— Who were you with? How did you feel? By the end of the study, up to 41% of those given a false memory believed strawberry ice-cream once made them sick, and many said they’d avoid eating it.
When Loftus published her findings, she started getting calls from people begging her to make them remember hating chocolate or French fries. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. False memories appear to work only for foods you don’t eat on a regular basis. But most important, it is likely that false memories can be implanted (灌输) only in people who are unaware of the mental control. And lying to a patient is immoral, even if a doctor believes it’s for the patient’s benefit.
Loftus says there’s nothing to stop parents from trying it with their overweight children. “I say, wake up— parents have been lying about Father Christmas for years, and nobody seems to mind. If they can prevent diseases caused by fatness and all the other problems that come with that, you might think that’s more moral lie. Decide that for yourself.”
72. Why did Loftus ask the volunteers to answer some questions?
A. To improve her computer program.
B. To find out their attitudes towards food.
C. To find out details she can make use of.
D. To predict what food they’ll like in the future.
73. What did Loftus find out from her research?
A. People believe what the computer tells them.
B. People can be led to believe in something false.
C. People tend to forget their childhood experiences.
D. People are not always aware of their personalities.
74. According to the study, people may stop having a certain food if they _______.
A. learn it is harmful for health
B. lie to themselves that they don’t want it
C. are willing to let doctors control their minds
D. think they once had a bad experience of eating it
75. What is the biggest concern with the method?
A. Whether it is moral.                      B. Who it is best for.
C. When it is effective.                      D. How it should be used.
答案  72.C  73.B  74.D  75.A
Passage 61
(06·上海B篇)
Nervous suspects（嫌疑犯）locked up in Britain’s newest police station may feel relieved by a pleasant yellow Colour on the door. If they are close to confessing a crime, the blue on the wall might tip the balance.
Gwent Police have abandoned colours such as greys and browns of the 20th-century police cell（牢房）and have used colour psychology to decorate them.
Ystrad Mynach station, which recently opened at a cost of￡5 million has four cells with glass doors for prisoners who suffer from claustrophobia（幽闭恐怖症） Designers have painted the frames yellow, which researchers say is a calming colour. Other cells contain a royal blue line because psychologists believe that the colour is likely to encourage truthfulness.
The station has 31 cells, including 12 with a “live scan” system for drunken or disturbed prisoners, which detects the rise and fall of their chest. An alarm alerts officers if a prisoner’s breathing stops and carries on ringing until the door is opened.
Designers and psychologists have worked for years on colour. Blue is said to suggest trust, efficiency, duty, logic, coolness, thinking and calm. It also suggests coldness and unfriendliness. It is thought that strong blues will stimulate clear thought and lighter, soft colours will calm the mind and aid concentration.
Yellow is linked with confidence, self-respect and friendliness Get the colour wrong and it could cause fear, depression and anxiety, but the right yellow can lift spirits and self-respect.
Ingrid Collins, a psychologist who specializes in the effects of colour, said that colour was an “energy force ” She said: “Blue does enhance communication but I am not sure it would enhance truthful communication.”
Yellow, she said, affected the mind. Red on the other hand, should never be considered because it could increase aggression Mrs Collins praised the designers for using colours in the cells Gwent is not the first British force to experiment with colour to calm down or persuade prisoners to co-operate, In the 1990s Strathclyde Police used pink in cells based on research carried out by the US Navy.
69．The expression “tip the balance ” in paragraph 1 probably indicates that the blue might    .
A．let suspects keep their balance
B．help suspects to confess their crimes
C．make suspects cold and unfriendly in law court
D．enable suspects to change their attitudes to colours
70．Which of the following colours should NOT be used in cells according to me passage?
A．Pink.                      B．Yellow                    C．Blue.                      D．Red.
71．Which of the following helps alert officers if someone stops breathing?
A．Scanning equipment.                    B．Royal blue lines.
C．Glass doors.                                               D．Yellow frames.
72．The passage is mainly concerned with                             .
A．the relationship between colours and psychology
B．a comparison of different functions of colours
C．the use of colours in cells to affect criminals’ psychology
D．scientific ways to help criminals reform themselves in prison
答案  69.B  70.D  71.A  72.C
Passage 62
(06·重庆C篇)
When a Swedish ship that sank in 1628 was recovered from the port of Stockholm, historians and scientists were overjoyed with the chance to examine the remains of the past. The ship construction showed how ships were built and operated during the seventeenth century. In this way, artifacts, objects made by human beings, provided a picture of daily life almost 400 years ago.
Underwater archaeology –the study of ships, aircraft and human settlements that have sunk under large bodies of water—is really a product of the last 50 years. The rapid growth of this new area of study has occurred because of the invention of better diving equipment. Besides the Swedish ship wreck(残骸), underwater archacologists have made more exciting discoveries such as the 5,000-year-old boats in the Mediterranean Sea.
Underwater archacology can provide facts about the past. In ancient ports all over the world are ships sunken in the past 6,000 years. There are also sunken settlements in seas and lakes telling of people’s way of life and their systems of trade in ancient times. Underwater archacologists want to study these objects to add to the world’s knowledge of history , but they have to fight two enemies. One enemy is treasure hunters who dive for ancient artifacts  that they can sell to collectors. Once sold, these objects are lost to experts. The second enemy is dredging machines (挖掘机)often used to repair ports. These machines destroy, wrecks and artifacts or bury them deeper under sand and mud. By teaching the public about the importance of underwater “museums” of the past, archaeologists are hoping to get support for laws to protect underwater treasures.
63．What purpose does Paragraph 1 serve in the passage?
A．To provide background information of the topic.
B．To attract readers’ attention to the topic.
C．To use an example to support the topic.
D．To offer basic knowledge of the topic.
64．The aim of underwater archacology is to                 .
A．exploit water bodies
B．search for underwater life
C．study underwater artifacts
D．examine underwater environment
65．Underwater archaeologists are worried because             .
A．sea hunters have better diving equipment
B．their knowledge of world history is limited
C．dredging machines cause damage to the ports
D．sold artifacts can hardly be regained for research
66．What is the main purpose of the passage?
A．to introduce a young branch of learning.
B．To discuss the scientists ’ problems.
C．To explain people’s way of life in the past.
D．To describe the sunken ships.
答案  63.B  64.C  65.D  66.A
Passage 63
(06·山东E篇)
PITTSBURGH – For most people, snakes seem unpleasant or even threatening. But Howie Choset sees in their delicate movements a way to save lives.
The 37-year-old Carnegie Mellon University professor has spent years developing snake-like robots he hopes will eventually slide through fallen buildings in search of victims trapped after natural disasters or other emergencies.
Dan Kara is president of Robotics Trends, a Northboro, Mass.-based company that publishes an online industry magazine and runs robotics trade shows. He said there are other snake-like robots being developed, mainly at universities, but didn’t know of one that could climb pipes.
The Carnegie Mellon machines are designed to carry cameras and electronic sensors and can be controlled with a joystick(操纵杆). They move smoothly with the help of small electric motors, or servos, commonly used by hobbyists in model airplanes.
Built from lightweight materials, the robots are about the size of a human arm or smaller.They can sense which way is up, but are only as good as their human operators, Choset added.
Sam Stover, a search term manager with the Federal Emergency Management Agency based in Indiana, said snake-type robots would offer greater mobility than equipment currently available, such as cameras attached to extendable roles.
“It just allows us to do something we’ve ot been able to do before,”Stover said, “We needed them yesterday.”
He said sniffer dogs are still the best search tool for rescue workers, but that they can only be used effectively when workers have access to damaged building.
Stover, among the rescue workers who handled the aftermath (后果) of Hurricane Katrina, said snake robots would have helped rescuers search flooded houses in that disaster.
Choset said the robots may not be ready for use for another five to ten years, depending on funding.
72. Which institution is responsible for the development of Choset’s robots?
A. Robotics Trends.                            B. Pittsburgh City Council.
C. Carnegie Mellon University.                  D. Federal Emergency Management Agency.
73. Choset believes that his invention ______.
A. can be attached to an electronic arm
B. can be used by hobbyists in model airplanes
C. can find victims more quickly than a sniffer dog
D. can sense its way no better than its operators
74. By saying “We needed them yesterday” (paragraph 7), Stover means that snake-like robots _____.
A. could help handle the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
B. would have been put to use in past rescue work
C. helped rescuers search flooded houses yesterday
D. were in greater need yesterday than today
75. What is the text mainly about?
A. Snake-like robots used in industries.
B. Snake-like robots made to aid in rescues.
C. The development of snake-like robots.
D. The working principles of snake-like robots.
答案  72.C  73.D  74.B  75.B
Passage 64
(06·江苏E篇)
A new eight-kilometre road is under construction that links the port area with the motorway system . It is expected to carry 20,000 trucks and cars a day, which greatly reduces the overcrowded traffic in the center of the city . As part of the project , two four-kilometre road tunnels are being built below the central area of the city , one for traffic to the north and the other for traffic to the south .The two tunnels are about 20 metres below the surface and are 12 metres wide , providing for two lanes of traffic in each direction .
In the upper part of the tunnel two air-conditioning pipes remove the waste gas of trucks and cars and keep the quality of air inside the tunnel . The lighting is at the top of the tunnel , practically at its highest point . There will also be electronic signs at frequent intervals (间隔). They show traffic conditions ahead , and can be seen clearly by drivers . The wall is made up of four main elements , which include a waterproofing covering and , on the inside of the tunnel , a concrete lining (混凝土衬砌).
Each tunnel is roughly round and the lower part of the tunnel is somewhat flat .The surface of the road lies on the base , which is made of concrete and steel  The drainage system (排水系统), just below the road surface on one side , removes any extra liquid , particularly water . In the event of fire , the fire main , which is made of steel , pipes water to many fire hydrant stations at regular intervals along the length of the tunnel . The fire main is at the side of the tunnel , and at the level of the road surface . Other systems in the tunnel will include emergency phones .
72．Each of the tunnels under construction is       .
A．eight kilometers long and twenty metres wide
B．eight kilometers long and six metres wide
C．four kilometers long and twenty metres wide
D．four kilometers long and six metres wide
73．Which part of the tunnel in the diagram is used to pipe out extra water ?
A．1.                           B．3.                           C．5.                           D．6.
74．Driving in the tunnel , one can know the traffic conditions ahead through        .
A．the lights                                                   B．the electronic signs
C．the trucks and cars                                    D．the emergency phones
75．The passage is mainly about        .
A．the construction of a road                           B．the design of a road
C．the construction of two tunnels                   D．the design of two tunnels
答案  72.D  73.C  74.B  75.D
Passage 65
(06·浙江B篇)
It’s2035. You have a job, a family and you’re about 40 years old welcome to your future life.
Getting ready for work, you pause in front of the mirror. “Turn red, ”you say. Your shirt changes from sky blue to deep red. Tiny preprogrammed electronics (智能电子元件) are rearranged in your shirt to change its color. Looking into the mirror, you find it hard to believe you’re 40. You look much younger. With amazing advances in medicine, people in your generation may live to be 150 years old. You’re not even middle – aged !
As you go into the kitchen and prepare to pour your breakfast cereal into a bowl, you bear, “To lose weight, you shouldn’t eat that ,” from your shoes. They read the tiny electronic (电子源码) on the cereal box to find out the nutrition details. You decide to listen to your shoes. “Kitchen, what can I have for breakfast?” A list of possible foods appears on the counter as the kitchen checks its food supplies.
“Ready for your trip to space ?” you ask your son and daughter. In 2005 only specially trained astronauts went into space – and very few of them. Today anyone can go to space for day trips or longer vacations. Your best friend even works in space. Handing your children three strawberries each, you “The doctor said you need these for space travel ” Thanks to medical advances, vaccination shots (防疫针) are a thing of the past. Ordinary foods contain specific vaccines. With the berries in their mouths, the kids bead for the front door.
It’s time for you to go to work. Your car checks your fingerprints and unlocks the doors “My office. Autopilot,” you command. Your car drives itself down the road and moves smoothly into traffic on the highway. You sit back and unroll your e – newspaper. The latest news down loads and fills the viewer. Looking through the pages you watch the news as video film rather than read it.
45．What changes the color of your shirt?
A．The mirror.             B．The shirt itself.        C．The counter.           D．The medicine.
46．How do the shoes know that you shouldn’t eat the breakfast cereal ?
A．By pouring the breakfast into a bowl.
B．By listening to the doctor’s advice.
C．By testing the food supplies in the kitchen.
D．By checking the nutrition details of the food.
47．The strawberries the children eat serve as      .
A．breakfast                B．lunch                     C．vaccines        D．nutrition
48．How is the text organized?
A．In order of time.                                         B．In order of frequency.
C．In order of preference.                                D．In order of importance.
答案  45.B  46.D  47.C  48.A
Passage 66
(06·福建B篇)
As skies are filled with millions of migrating(迁徙)birds, European scientists say the seasonal wonder appears to be strange; the fatter that bird, the better it flies.
The results of their study led to a theory opposite to a central one of acrodynamies (空气动力学), which says that the power needed to fly increases with weight.
For birds, obviously, the cost of flying with heavy fat is much smaller than we used to think. Researchers found that red knoll wading birds double their normal body weight of 100 grams before making their twice-a-year nonstop flight between the British Isles and the Russian Arctic. Distance; 5, 000 kilometers.
Another study in the magazine Nature measured the advantage of flying in an acrodynamic group which allows birds to save energy by flying smoothly and quietly in the lead bird’s air stream.
Flying in groups, their heart rates were 14.5 percent lower than flying alone, according to Henri, a French scientist. The findings help explain how birds completes difficult migrations. Researchers had thought that thinner, stronger birds would have the best chance to survive.
The first study suggests that building up fat to be burnt as fuel during the migration is worth more than the energy it takes to carry the additional weight.
In the study, researchers said their learn studied the birds flown at different body weights during 28 simulated(模拟的)flights. They forced a small amount of special water into the birds’ bodies so that they could measure the amount of energy burnt during the flight.
60.A red knot wading bird of 100 grams will probably weigh _____ before making its nonstop migrating flight.
A.50 grams            B.100 grams         C.150 grams          D.200 grams
61.During their migrating flight, red knot wading  birds can save energy by flying_______.
A. separately          B. alone              C. in groups          D. in pairs
62.A_______red not wading bird has a better chance to survive during its migrating flight.
A. stronger            B. weaker            C. thinner            D. fatter
63.The best title for this passage may probably be________.
A. Birds Thin Down For Journey              B. Birds Fatten Up For Journey
C. How Birds Build Up Fat For Journey         D. How Birds Burn Energy For Journey
答案  60.D  61.C  62.D  63.B
Passage 67
(06·湖南C篇)
The coyote(丛林狼).that elever animal of wide-open space .has come to the nation’s captial.In fact ,coyotes have spread to every comer of the United States,changing their behaviors to fit new envioronments and causing researchers to deal with a troublesome new kind of creature:the city coyote.
The coyote originally lived in the middle of the continent.One of its most obvious characters is its smartness, which has made the animal a notorious（臭名昭著的）pest.Hunters trapped,shot and poisoned more than a million coyotes in the 1900s.It’s still one of America’s mosthunted animals. Yet the coyote has survived.How has the coyote shown this extraordinary ability?”I guess if you wanted to use one word,it’d be ‘plasticity’.”says Erie Gese,an expert at Utah State University. Coyotes can live alon, in pairs, or in large packs like wolves,hunt at night or during the day , occupy a small region or an area up to 40 square miles,and live on all sorts of food,from lizards（蜥蜴）and shoes, to ants and melons.
Unbelicvadly  people  helpcd coyotes  increase  when  they kiltcd most of the wolves in the United States. The sprcdding of coyotes into city areas,though.is rccent.They travel at night,crossing sidcwalks and bridges.running atong roads and ducking into cuinerts (钻入涵洞)and underpasscs .No one knows why coyotes are maving into cities.but expertsexplaih that clevcter,more human-tolerant(不怕人的)coyotes are teaching urban survivalskills to new generations.
Occasionally.coyotes mighe attack human beings.There have been about 160 attacks on peoplc in reccnt years Therefore,people have bccn consistently told not feed coyotes or leave pct food unseeurcd.That ,plus a large trapping program in the neighborhood.has cur down on the coyote population.
63.The underlinged word “plasticity”in Paragraph 2refers to____________.
A.the ability to fit the environment             B.notonous smartness
C.hunting ability                           D.being human-tolerant
64.The aim of the passage is to_____________.
A.tell pcople how to fight against coyotes
B.tell us why the coyote is the most hunted animal
C.supply the reason why the coyote is a kind of motorious pest
D.explain how the coyote has spread to and survived in cities
65.According to the passage,coyote__________.
A.originally lived in the west of the continent
B.sleep dung the day but look for food at night
C.are teaching survival skills to therr younger generations
D.suffered a population deerease because pcople killed wolves
66.According to the passage,to cut dowa on the coyolc population.people are advised to_______.
A.leave pct food secured                     B.keep coyotes in small regions
C.foree coyotes to live alone                  D.avond using trapping programs
答案  63.A  64.D  65.C  66.A
Passage 68
(06·湖南D篇)
The discovery of a dwarfed (矮个的)”human being” who lived in Flores .Indonesin .up to 18,000 years ago is changing the way we think about the human family .This “Flores Human”was three foot tall and her brain was smaller than that lf the average chimp (黑猩猩).yet she and her relatives apparently lived fully human lives .They seem to have made tools ,worked together to find food and cook it,and perhaps even hurried their dead with ceremony.
It was a major surprise to find tools associated with the new human family member .The tools are like those frmmerly seen only with European fossils (化石)from our own species;Homo sapiens (智人)；and the oldest of them were made  94,000years ago .Homo sapiens is thought to have amved in the island about 40,000 years ago ,much too late to be responsible for the tools .If this tiny human made the tools ,them the inside  structure (结构)of its brain must have been more like our own than a chimp’s ,despite being just a third the size of ours.
This “new human” was suspected to be a dwarfed ranch of Homo erectus (直立人). When creatures are separated in regions with rare resources but few enemies,being big is a disadvantage, and evolution tends to shrink them, aprocess known as island dwarfing.Could natural selection make a human smaller while keeping----even improving----mental ability ?Quite possibly, believes Christopher Wills of the University of California.
Has the “Flores Human” even shown the ability of language? “I find it difficult to imagine that people could make tools.use fire ,and kill large animals without fairly advanced communication.”  Wills says .Did “Flores Human” possess the basic components of human culture ---such as the burying of the dead with ceremony ?  Emiliano Bruner of the Italian Institute points out that Indonesia’s hot,wet environment is bad for fossilization.It is reasonable to assume ,he says ,that the 18,000-year-old bones of the most complete Flores woman were well-preserved because she was buried with special care.
67.According to the passage , “Flores Human”______.
A. lived a partly human life
B. was a branch of Homo sapiens
C. used tools before Homo sapiens arrived
D. had a brain as a common chimp’s
68.The underlined part “this tiny human”in Paragraph 2 refers to _______.
A.a chimp     .       B.Flores Human       C.Homo sapiens       D.Homo sapiens
69.This passage mainly talks about______.
A. the tools made by “Flores Human”
B. the language used by “Flores Human”
C. the evolution of “Flores Human”
D. the major surprising findings about “Flores Human”
70.According to the passage ,it is believed that “Flores Human”_______.
A. was dwarfed by its enemies
B. could use language
C. left a lot of fossils in hot and wet environment
D. reached Flores 40,000 years ago
答案  67.C  68.B  69.D  70.B
Passage 69
(06·安徽C篇)
Lions are opportunists. They prefer to eat without having to do too much work. When resting in the shade, they are also watching the sky to see what is flying by, and even in the heat of the day they will suddenly start up and run a mile across the plains to find out what is going on. If another animal has made a kill, they will drive it off and take the dill for themselves. A grown lion can easily eat 60 pounds of meat at a single feeding. Often they eat until it seems painful for them to lie down.
The lioneases (母狮) , being thinner and faster, are better hunters (猎手) than the males (雄狮). But the males don’t mind. After the kill they move in and take the test share.
Most kills are made at night or just before daybreak. We have seen many, many daylight attempts but only ten kills. Roughly, It’s about twenty daytime attempts for one kill.
When lions are hiding for an attack by a water hole, they wait patiently and can charge at any second. The kill is the exciting moment in the day-to-day life of the lion, since these great animals spend most of their time, about 20 hours a day, sleeping and resting.
Lions are social cats, and when they are having a rest, they love to touch each other. After drinking at a water hole, a lioness rests her head on another’s back. When walking, young lions often touch faces with older ones, an act of close ties among members of the group.
64. By describing lions as “opportunists” in the first paragraph, the author means to say that lions       .
A. are cruel animals                                       B. are clever animals
C. like to take advantage of other animals         D. like to take every chance to eat
65. According to the text, which of the following is true?
A. Lions make most kills in the daytime.
B. Males care more about eating than active killing.
C. Lions are curious about things happening around them.
D. It doesn’t take lions too much time to make a kill.
66. How can we know that lions are social animals?
A. They depend on each other.                       B. They look after each other well.
C. They readily share what they have.             D. They enjoy each other’s company.
67. What would be the best tiltle for the text?
A. Powerful Lions                                         B. Lions at Work and Play
C. Lions, Social Cats                                     D. Lions, Skilled Hunters
答案  64.C  65.B  66.D  67.B
Passage 70
(06·安徽D篇)
To extinguish (熄灭) different kinds of fires, several types of fire extinguishers have been invented. They must be ready for immediate use when fire breaks out. Most portable (手提式的) kinds operate for less than a minute, so they are useful only on small fires. The law requires ships, trains, buses and planes to carry extinguishers.
Since fuel, oxygen (氧气) and heat must be present in order for fire to exist, one or more of these things must be removed or reduced to extinguish a fire. If the heat is reduced by cooling the material below a certain temperature, the fire goes out. The cooling method is the most common way to put out a fire. Water is the best cooling material because it is low in cost and easy to get.
Another method of extinguishing fire is by cutting off the oxygen. This is usually done by covering the fire with sand, steam or some other things. A blanket may be used do cover a small fire.
A third method is called separation, which includes removing the fuel, or material easy to burn, from a fire, so that it can find no fuel.
The method that is used to put out a fire depends upon the type of fire. Fires have been grouped in three classes. Fires in wood, paper, cloth and the like are called Class A fires. These materials usually help keep the fire on. Such fires can be stopped most readily by cooling with water.
68. If a fire breaks out on a bus, which of the follow should be ready there for you to use?
A. Sand                                                        B. Water
C. A blanket.                                                 D. An extinguisher.
69. To cover a small piece of burning wood with a basin in order to stop the fire is an example of         .
A. separating the fire                                     B. reducing the heat
C. removing the fuel                                     D. cutting off the oxygen
70. In choosing how to put out a fire, we should first be clear about          .
A. when it breaks out                                    B. how it comes about
C. what kind it is                                           D. where it takes place
71. What would the author probably discuss in the paragraph that follows?
A. Another class of fires                                       B. Another type of extinguishers
C. How fires break out.                                 D. How fires can be prevented.
答案  68.D  69.D  70.C  71.A
Passage 71
(06·辽宁B篇)
Unlike modern animal scientists, dinosaur scientists cannot sit on a hillside and use telescopes to watch dinosaurs in order to know how they lived and whether they were good parents Instead, they have to search hard for information from dinosaurs’ fossils（恐龙化石） because dinosaurs died out millions of years ago.
It’s very difficult for the scientists to reach an agreement because different results can be got from the same fossils. Many fossils of the same kind of dinosaurs have been dug out from one place. They might have formed when an entire group of dinosaurs got stuck（陷入）all at once, or they might have been the result of dinosaurs getting stuck one after another over a course of a few centuries. Thus we can say that dinosaurs might have in the first case lived in big groups and in the second lived alone.
Though there are two different results, dinosaur scientists now generally agree that at least some kinds of dinosaurs lived in big groups. “That’s pretty much settled at this point. ” says Paul Sereno. A kind of dinosaurs called Sauropods left behind tracks in the western United States that appear to run north and south, suggesting that they even moved long distances together.
As to whether dinosaurs cared for their young, dinosaur scientists have turned to the closest living relatives of dinosaurs― birds and crocodiles ― for possible models. Birds give a lot of care to their young, while crocodiles just help their young to the water. The discovered fossils of dinosaurs sitting on their gees and staying with their young suggest the parents were taking care of their babies, but we still cannot say that all dinosaurs did the same.
There is still a long way to go before the above questions could be answered. Dinosaur scientists will have to find more proof to reach an agreement.
60. Dinosaur scientists can get information directly by _______.
A. studying dinosaur fossils                           B. examining modern animals
C. watching dinosaurs                                   D. using telescopes
61. What is pretty much settled according to Paul Sereno?
A. Half of the dinosaurs lived alone.              B. Most dinosaurs moved long distances.
C. Many dinosaurs settled in the north.          D. Some dinosaurs lived in big groups.
62. Dinosaur scientists can probably know whether dinosaurs were good parents by_______.
A. watching many kinds of animals
B. studying dinosaurs’ living relatives
C. following the tracks left behind
D. working on dug-out dinosaur eggs
63. Which of the following the according to the paragraph?
A. Birds hardly ay attention to their young.
B. Baby crocodiles can look after themselves well.
C. Some dinosaurs took care of their young.
D. Birds and crocodiles take good care of their young.
答案  60.A  61.D  62.B  63.B
Passage 72
(05·全国Ⅱ、全国ⅢD篇)
You might think that “global warming” means nothing more than a rise in the world’s temperature But rising sea levels caused by it have resulted in the first evacuation（撤离）of an island nation—the citizens of Tuvalu will have to leave their homeland.
During the 20th century ,sea level rose 8—12 inches. As a result .Tuvalu has experienced lowland flooding of salt water which has polluted the country’s drinking water.
Paani Laupepa , a Tuvaluan government official ,reported to the Earth Policy Institute that the nation suffered an unusaually high number of fierce storms in the past ten years .Many scientists connect higher surface water temperatures resulting from global warming to greater and more damagingtorms.
Laupepa expressed dissatisfaction with the United States for refusing to sign the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement calling for industrialized nations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions（导致温室效应的气体排放）,which are a main cause of global warming . “By refusing to sign the agreement ,the US has effectively taken away the freedom of future generations of Tuvaluans to live where their forefathers have lived for thousands of years,” Laupepa told the BBC.
Tuvalu has asked Australia and New Zealand to allow the gradual move of its people to both countries .
Tuvalu is not the only country that is vulnerable （易受影响的）to rising sea levels .Maumoon Gayoon ,president of the Maldives ,told the United Nations that global warming has made his country of 311,000 an “endangered nation”.
54．The text is mainly about           .
A．rapid changes in earth’s temperature
B．bad effects of global warming
C．moving of a country to a new place
D．reasons for lowland flooding
55．According to scientists ,the DIRECT cause of more and fiercer storms is           .
A．greenhouse gas emissions in industrialized nations
B．higher surface water temperatures of the sea
C．continuous global warming
D．rising sea levels
56．Laupepa was not satisfied with the United States because it did not        .
A．agree to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions
B．sign an agreement with Tuvalu
C．allow Tuvaluans to move to the US
D．believe the problems facing Tuvalu were real
57．The country whose situation is similar to that of Tuvalu is          .
A．Australia         B．New Zealan       C．the Maldives     D．the United States
答案  54.A  55.A  56.D  57.B
Passage 73
(05·天津D篇)
The scene in the Hollywood movie The Day After Tomorrow, whem global warming could soon turn the global climate (气候) into a new ice age, may never occur, according to new research.
The next ice age could be 15,000 years away, say European scientists who last month announced a continuous record of 7.40,000 years of climate data (数据) obtained from the Antarctic ice.
Scientists from 10 nations have now almost completely drilled through a 3,000-meter.depth of ice high in the Antarctic mainland. They figure out that the area where summer temperatures can fall to –40℃, has at least 900,000 years of snowfalls,, kept as neatly as the growth rings of a tree. And the ice and air caught in each layer(层) have begun to answer questions about the climates in the past..
The results show that there have been eight ice ages in the past 740, 000 years and eight warmer periods. And by comparing the pattern of global conditions today with those of the past, the researchers reported in Nature that the present warm period could last another 15, 000 years.
Research suggests that there is a very close connection between greenhouse gas levels and global average temperatures. It also shows that carbon dioxide (二氧化碳) levels are the highest for at least 440,000 years.
"If people say to you: the greenhouse effect is a good thing because we would go into an ice age otherwise, our data say no, a new ice age is not hanging over our heads,”said Eric Wolff from the British Antarctic Survey. "Now we have eight examples of how the climate goes in and out of ice ages… and you can learn what the rules are that go into the climate models that tell us about the future."
Scientists found that whenever temperatures rose in the frozen record, so did carbon dioxide
level. "In 440,000 years we have never seen greenhouse gas get as thick as it is today," said Dr
Wolff.
48. In drilling through the ice in Antarctica, scientists, have found that______.
A. the lowest temperature there is –40℃
B. the depth of ice is 3,000 meters
C. the ice has existed for 15,000 years
D. snowfalls are kept in certain patterns
49. The information of the global climate conditions in the past can be obtained through______.
A. separating carbon dioxide from the air
B. examining the growth rings of trees
C. comparing temperatures in different areas
D. studying the ice and air caught in each layer
50. We can infer from Eric Wolff's words that_______.
A. there is something wrong with the data
B. greenhouse effect is always a bad thing
C. a new ice age will not come in the near future
D. greenhouse gas will get thick in the future
51. What would be the best title for the passage?
A. Research over the Antarctic area.
B. Warm period to last about 15, 000 years.
C. Report on the eight ice ages in the past.
D. Hollywood movies and the global climate.
答案  48.D  49.D  50.C  51.B
Passage 74
(05·山东E篇)
A device that stops drivers from 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 warms 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 markers 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 from 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 from 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 400 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
答案  72.A  73.D  74.C  75.D
Passage 75
(05·江苏D篇)
Animals can move from place to place, but plants cannot. When an animal is under attack, it
can run away or fight back.. Plants certainly cannot run away, and they lack teeth and claws. But
plants can defend themselves by using both physical and chemical means.
Some plants have their own ways to keep animals away. For example, the leaves of the holly plant have sharp spines (刺) that discourage grass-eating animals. Holly leaves on lower branches have more spines than leaves on upper branches. This is because the lower leaves are easier for most animals to reach..
Some plants, such as the oak tree, have thick and hard leaves that are difficult for animals to eat. Some grasses may contain a sandy material; eating such grasses wears down the animal's teeth.
Many plants also have chemical defenses. Some plants produce chemicals that taste bitter or cause an unpleasant reaction. Some plants may fight against an attack by increasing the production of these chemicals. When a caterpillar (毛虫) bites a tobacco leaf, the leaf produces a chemical messenger. This messenger sends to the roots the information to produce more nicotine. The higher levels of nicotine discourage the caterpillar.
Many plants depend on both physical and chemical defenses. A certain plant in China, for
instance, has prickly (多刺的) leaves, and each prickle contains poisonous venom (毒液) A single experience with this kind of plant will teach an animal to stay away from it in the future.
68. The holly plant has more spines on the lower leaves because most animals________.
A. are not tall enough                       B. like the lower leaves only
C. are not clever enough                     D. can get the lower leaves easily
69. To defend themselves, oak trees use________.
A. chemical means                         B. physical means
C. bitter chemicals                         D. sandy materials
70. How does tobacco protect itself against an attack from a caterpillar?
A. Its leaves fight against the attack by physical means.
B. Its roots send a messenger to discourage the caterpillar.
C. Its roots increase the production of nicotine when it is attacked.
D. Its leaves produce poisonous sand to drive the caterpillar away.
71. What would be the best title for this passage?
A. Plants and Animals                       B. How Plants Defend Themselves
C. Attacks and Defenses                     D. How Animals Eat Plant Leaves
答案  68.D  69.B  70.C  71.B
Passage 76
(05·浙江B篇)
Special Bridges Help Animals Cross the Road
----- Reported by Sheila Carrick
Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side.
Most people know this joke. But recently, some people have been much more concerned with how the grizzly bear and mountain lion can cross the road.
Millions of animals die each year on U.S. roads, the Federal Highway Administration reports. In fact, only about 80 ocelots, an endangered wild cat, exist in the U.S. today. The main reason? Roadkill.
"Ecopassages" may help animals cross the road without being hit by cars. They are paths both over and under roads. "These ecopassages can be extremely useful, so that wildlife can avoid human conflicts," said Jodi Hilty of the Wildlife Conservation Society.
But do animals actually use the ecopassages? The answer is yes. Paul Beier of Northern Arizona University found foot marks left by mountain lions on an ecopassage that went under a highway. This showed that the lion used the passage.
Builders of some ecopassages try to make them look like a natural part of an area by planting trees on and around them. Animals seem to be catching on. Animals as different as salamanders and grizzly bears are using the bridges and underpasses.
The next time you visit a park or drive through an area with a lot of wildlife, look around. You might see an animal overpass!
45. The writer uses the example of “ocelots” to show that_________.
A．wild animals have become more dangerous
B．the driving conditions have improved greatly
C．the measure for protecting wildlife fails to work
D．an increasing number of animals are killed in road accidents
46. From the news story, we know an ecopassage is_________.
A．an underground path for cars                      B．a fence built for the safety of the area
C．a bridge for animals to get over a river      D．a pass for animals to cross the road
47. When the writer says that animals seem “to be catching on”, he means_________.
A．animals begin to realize the dangers on the road
B．animals begin to learn to use ecopassages
C．animals are crossing the road in groups
D．animals are increasing in number
48. The writer asks visitors and drivers to look around when traveling because_________.
A．wild animals may attack cars                       B．wild animals may jam the road
C．they may see wild animals in the park     D．they may see wild animals on ecopassages
答案  45.D  46.D  47.B  48.D
Passage 77
(05·福建C篇)
Walk through the Amazon rainforest today and you will find it is steamy ,warm ,damp and thick .But if you had been around 15,000 years ago, during the last ice age ,would it have been the same ?For more than 30 years, scientists have been arguing about how rainforests like the Amazon might have reacted（反应）to the cold ,dry climates of the ice ages ,but until now ,no one has reached a satisfying answer.
Rainforests like the Amazon are important for mopping up CO2 from the atmosphere and helping to slow global warming . Currently the trees in the Amazon take in around 500 million tonnes of CO2 each year; equal to the total amount of CO2 giving off in the UK each year. But how will the Amazon react to future climate change? If it gets drier ,will it still survive and continue to draw down CO2 ?Scientists hope that they will be able to learn in advance how the rainforest will manage in the future by understanding how rainforests reacted to climate change in the past.
Unfortunately ,getting into the Amazon rainforest and collecting information are very difficult .To study past climate ,scientists need to look at fossilized pollen ,kept in lake muds .Going back to the last ice age means drilling deep down into lake sediments （沉淀物）,which requires specialized equipment and heavy machinery .There are very few roads and paths ,or places to land helicopters and aeroplanes .Rivers tend to be the easiest way to enter the forest ,but this still leaves vast areas between the rivers completely unsampled（未取样）.So far ,only a handful of cores have been drilled that go back to the last ice age and none of them provide enough information to prove how the Amazon rainforest reacts to climate change.
64．The underlined phrase “mopping up” in the second paragraph means      .
A．cleaning up             B．taking in                  C．wiping out              D．giving out
65．How will the Amazon rainforest react to future climate change?
A．It’ll get drier and continue to remove CO2 .
B．It’ll remain steamy ,warm ,damp and thick .
C．It’ll get warmer and then colder and drier.
D．There is no exact answer up to present.
66．What’s the main idea of the last paragraph?
A．It’s important to drill deep down into lake sediments to collect information.
B．It’s impossible to prove how climate changes in the Amazon rainforest.
C．It’s hard to collect information for studies of the past climate in the Amazon rainforest.
D．It’s necessary to have specialized equipment and machinery to study the past climate.
67．The best title for this passage may probably be        .
A．Studies of the Amazon                                 B．Climates of the Amazon
C．Secrets of the Rainforests                            D．Changes of the Rainforests
答案  64.B  65.D  66.C  67.C
Passage 78
(05·辽宁A篇)
When building houses, people used to think about not only the climate of the areas but also the building materials and the fashions for their houses. However, since electricity became more and more expensive, people began to pay much more attention to the energy they could get for their houses and the new ways they could find to protect their houses from both cold and heat.
Now, houses of an old yet new type have been widely built. In some parts of the world, people share their houses with their livestock（家畜）.During cold weather, they gather their cows, goats, or other animals and keep them on the first floor of their houses. The reasons are that the animals can be protected from the cold and that they can help to heat the houses as well. The body heat given off by the animals rises to the second floor of the houses, where people live. By sharing their houses with their livestock, people gain a source of heat.
People who live in or near cities do not usually keep livestock. However, home builders use the fact that heat rises. This natural law can be used in building houses in these areas. Instead of keeping livestock on the first floor, builders fill it with large rocks. As they are open to the sun’s rays during cold weather, these rocks take in heat. They also give off the heat, and, of course, the warm air rises into the living areas of the houses. So these houses are energy-saving.
House-building becomes a great challenge（挑战）to building designers and energy engineers. They try to meet this challenge by learning from old traditions and by using modern technology. And someday in the future, people will be able to live in more energy-saving houses.
56．What did people begin to consider as electricity was no longer cheap?
A．The climate of their areas.
B．The energy for their houses.
C．The fashions for their houses.
D．The building materials for their houses.
57．People in some areas gain a source of heat by _________.
A．keeping their livestock downstairs
B．protecting their livestock from the cold
C．sharing their houses only with their cows
D．living on the second floor with their livestock
58．The underlined words “natural law” in the third paragraph refer to the fact that ________.
A．heat raises the temperature in the houses
B．heat goes in the upward direction
C．heat goes up if temperature is raised
D．heat increases the temperature of rocks
59．From the passage, we can conclude that __________.
A．people will no longer consider building materials in the future
B．energy-saving buildings will become more popular in the future
C．almost all people will move into the houses heated by large rocks
D．energy engineers will devote themselves only to modern technology
答案  56.B  57.A  58.B  59.B
Passage 79
(05·辽宁E篇)
There are two kinds of physical activity which require special training. The first demands exact careful movements of the muscles（肌肉）. This kind of activity must be strictly controlled because even a slight movement in the wrong direction will lead a mistake. To type quickly, for example, a person needs training; the slightest movement of a finger in the wrong direction may cause a spelling mistake. A dancer who has to dance on the point of her shoes or turn around on one foot must be trained for a long period of time before she can sense her own center and balance herself. You may have seen a girl walking on a rope across an empty space, which, too, requires a lot of practice.
The second kind of physical activity needs greater strength or extra effort. Most of us get tired if we try to run half a mile without stopping, but a specially-trained person can do this without much effort. Three years ago, some scientists carried out experiments, which produced meaningful and unexpected results. They wanted to find out whether a certain amount of physical exercise would injure those suffering from heart problems. They selected some male patients and trained them in continuous bicycle riding. They were surprised to find that the harmful effect of given amount of physical effort was actually less on the hearts of these trained patients than on those of the patients who were not similarly trained. This is important because it shows that regular physical exercise enables us to make better use of the oxygen（氧气）we breathe in and that this training, in fact, reduces the amount of work our hearts do. Many tasks which are hard for untrained people are not hard at all for trained people.
72．The first kind of physical activity must be strictly controlled because _________.
A．a mistake in the wrong direction is dangerous to the fingers
B．a wrong movement in a direction will cause no mistakes
C．a movement in the wrong direction will cause a mistake
D．a slight movement of a finger will lead to a mistake
73．What must a dancer do before she can balance herself?
A．She must dance on the point of her shoes.
B．She must receive long-time training.
C．She must turn around on one foot.
D．She must perform again and again.
74．The experiments done by some scientists showed that ________.
A．some male patients were asked to ride bicycles regularly in the experiments
B．the physical exercise had more harmful effect on the hearts of the untrained patients
C．the physical exercise was harmless to the male patients with heart trouble
D．the physical exercise could be helpful for the patients to take in more oxygen
75．What would be the best title for this text?
A．Training Our Bodies                                         B．Physical Activities
C．Movement Training                                                D．Extra Body Effort
答案  72.C  73.B  74.B  75.A
Passage 80
(05·湖北A篇)
Have you ever wondered why birds sing? Maybe you thought that they were just happy .After all ,you probably sing or whistle when you are happy.
Some scientists believe that birds do sing some of the time just because they are happy .However ,they sing most of the time for a very different reason .Their singing is actually a warning to other birds to stay out of their territory.
Do you know what a “territory” is ?A territory is an area that an animal ,usually the male, claims（声称）as its own .Only he and his family are welcome there .No other families of the same species（物种）are welcome .Your yard and house are your territory where only your family and friends are welcome . If a stranger should enter your territory and threaten you ,you might shout .Probably this would be enough to frighten him away.
If so ,you have actually scared the stranger away without having to fight him .A bird does the same thing. But he expects an outsider almost any time ,especially at nesting（筑巢）season. So he is screaming all the time ,whether he can see an outsider or not .This screaming is what we call a bird’s song ,and it is usually enough to keep an outsider away.
Birds sing loudest in the spring when they are trying to attract a mate and warn others not to enter the territory of theirs.
You can see that birds have a language all their own .Most of it has to do with attracting mates and setting up territories.
56．Some scientists believe that most of the time birds’ singing is actually       .
A．an expression of happiness                          B．a way of warning
C．an expression of anger                                D．a way of greeting
57．What is a bird’s “territory”?
A．A place where families of other species are not accepted.
B．A place where a bird may shout at the top of its voice.
C．An area for which birds fight against each other.
D．An area which a bird considers to be its own .
58．Why do birds keep on singing at nesting season?
A．Because they want to invite more friends.
B．Because their singing helps frighten outsiders away.
C．Because they want to find outsiders around.
D．Because their singing helps get rid of their fears.
59．How does the writer explain birds’ singing?
A．By comparing birds with human beings.
B．By reporting experiment results.
C．By describing birds’ daily life.
D．By telling a bird’s story.
答案  56.B  57.D  58.B  59.A
Passage 81
(05·湖北D篇)
Thirteen vehicles lined up last March to race across the Mojave Desert , seeking a million in prize money . To win , they had to finish the 142-mile race in less than 10 hours . Teams and watchers knew there might be no winner at all , because these vehicles were missinge a key part drivers .
DARPA , the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency , organized the race as part of a push to develop robotic vehicles for future battlefields . But the Grand Challenge , as it was called , just proved how difficult it is to get a car to speed across an unfamiliar desert without human guidance . One had its brake lock up in the starting area . Another began by throwing itself onto a wall . Another got tied up by bushes near the road after 1.9 miles .
One turned upside down . One took off in entirely the wrong direction and had to be disabled by remote (远距离的) control . One went a little more than a mile and rushed into a fence ; another managed to go for six miles but stuck on a rock . The “winner,” if there was any , reached 7.8 miles before it ran into a long , narrow hole , and the front wheels caught on fire .
“You get a lot of respect for natural abilities of the living things,” says Reinhold Behringer , who helped design two of the car-size vehicles for a company called Sci-Autonics . “Even ants (蚂蚁) can do all these tasks effortlessly . It’s very hard for us to put these abilities into our machines .”
The robotic vehicles , though with necessary modern equipment such as advanced computers and GPS guidance , had trouble figuring out fast enough the blocks ahead that a two-year-old human recognizes immediately , Sure , that very young child, who has just only learned to walk , may not think to wipe apple juice off her face , but she already knows that when there’s a cookie in the kitchen she has to climb up the table , and that when she gets to the cookie it will taste good . She is more advanced , even months old , than any machine humans have designed .
67．Watchers doubted if any of the vehicles could finish the race because        .
A．they did not have any human guidance
B．the road was not familiar to the drivers
C．the distance was too long for the vehicles
D．the prize money was unattractive to the drivers
68．DARPA organized the race in order to          .
A．raise money for producing more robotic vehicles
B．push the development of vehicle industry
C．train more people to drive in the desert
D．improve the vehicles for future wars
69．From the passage we know “robotic vehicles” are a kind of machines that          .
A．can do effortlessly whatever tasks living thing can
B．can take part in a race across 142 miles with a time limit
C．can show off their ability to turn themselves upside down
D．can move from place to place without being driven by human beings
70．In the race , the greatest distance one robotic vehicle covered was          .
A．about eight miles                                 B．six miles
C．almost two miles                                 D．about one mile
71．In the last paragraph , the writer implies that there is a long way to go          .
A．for a robotic vehicle to finish a 142-mile race without any difficulties
B．for a little child who has just learned to walk to reach the cookie on the table
C．for a robotic vehicle to deal with a simple problem that a little child can solve
D．for a little child to understand the importance of wiping apple juice off its face
答案  67.A  68.D  69.D  70.A  71.C
Passage 82
(05·湖北E篇)
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
答案  72.A  73.B  74.C  75.A
Passage 83
(05·湖南E篇)
At Dallm/Fort Worth Airport, the lights are controlled by sensors that measure sunlight. They dim immediately when it's sunny md brighten when a passing cloud blocks the sun.
A wall of windows at a University of Pennsylvania engineering budding has built-in blinds (百页窗) controlled by a computer program that follows the sun's path.
Buildings are getting smarter -- and the next generation of building materials
expected to do even more.
Windows could catch the sun's energy to heat water. Sensors that measure the carbon
dioxide breathed out by people in a mom could determine whether the air conditioning needs to be turned up.
Many new materials and technology have been designed in the last 15 years. They now being used in a wave of buildings designed to save as much energy as possible. They include old ideas, like "green roofs," where a belt of plants on a roof helps the building keep heat in winter and stay cool in summer, and new ideas, like special coating for windows that lets light in, but keeps heat out.
As technologies such as sensors become cheaper, their uses spread.
The elevators (电梯) at Seven World Trade Center, which is under construction in New York, use a system that groups people traveling to nearby floor into the same elevator, thus saving elevator stops. People who work in the building will enter it by swiping (刷) ID cards that will tell the elevators their floor; readouts will then tell them which elevator to use. The building also has windows with a coating that blocks heal while letting in light.
More new building materials and technology are in development. A Philadelphia building farm is now working on "smart wrap" that uses tiny solar collectors to catch the
sun's energy and transmitters (传感器) the width of a human hair to move it. They are expected to change the face of the construction industry in the next ten years or so.
72. __ will be developed and used in the construcction industry.
A. "Green mops" that cool or heat buildings
B. "Smart wrap" that catches the sun's energy
C. Sunlight-measuring sensors that control lights
D. Window coating that lets light in, but keeps heat out
73. The elevators at Seven World Trade Center are special because they can ___
A. send people to floors with fewer stops
B. teach people how to use their ID cards
C. make people stay very cool in summer
D. help people go traveling in the building
74. The underlined word "it' in the last paragraph refers to _____.
A. a human being                         B. smart wrap
C. the sun's energy                        D. a transmitter
75. What might be the most suitable title for the text?
A. Buildings Are Becoming Smarter
B. Buildings Are Getting More Sunlight
C. Buildings Are Lacking in Much Energy
D. Buildings Are Using Cheaper Materials
答案  72.B  73.A  74.C  75.A
Passage 84
(05·安徽B篇)
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 car. 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
答案  60.D  61.D  62.B  63.A
第二部分 三年联考题汇编
Passage 1
(湖北省新洲区实验高中2009届高三5月检测E篇)
When your pet meets your infant, it might not be love at first sniff.
Baby's Best Friend
When Jennifer Merritt brought her baby, Arielle, home from the hospital, her cherished dogs had very different reactions. Her boxer, Sonya, was immediately gentle and protective. But Tiger, the Pomeranian, was less welcoming: "If any diapers（尿布） or toys were on the floor, he peed on them!”says the Greenbrier, Arkansas, mom. Tiger isn't the first dog to feel jealous of a baby. In the eyes of a pet’s, there's a new star in town who's stealing his spotlight. Even the most gentle animal will probably act up if he doesn't get his usual attention. These simple steps will help your pet adjust -- and keep your baby safe.
u       Introduce Them with Care
Your newborn and pet's first encounter can set the tone for their relationship. To make it as smooth as possible, try this trick from Caryn Ruiz, of Raleigh, North Carolina: "Before we left the hospital, my husband took blankets home to our dog, Daisy, so she'd know our newborn Devon's smell." When you get home, have your husband carry the baby so you can greet your pet without worrying about her jumping on you. A cat will likely walk away at first, while a dog will probably want to investigate right away.
To introduce your baby, get down on your pet's level and let her have a hello sniff. Don't panic and pull your newborn away unless your pet is barking or hissing, because it'll send the message that the baby is a threat.
u       Learn the Safety Basics
No matter how smoothly the introduction goes, there are certain safety rules you should follow, says Bonnie Beaver, DVM, past president of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Number one: Never leave your baby alone with the pet. Even the gentlest animal can react unpredictably. Your baby's crying could frighten your cat, or your dog could suddenly become territorial. Consider setting up baby gates to limit your pet's access. To keep your cat from jumping into the bassinet（有蓬的摇篮）, try putting mosquito netting over the top. Cats hate sticky paws, so keep the crib（有栏杆的摇篮） and changing table off-limits by lining the edges with sticky strips made for furniture （available in most pet stores）. You can also train your dog to sleep in a crate.
77. What is the function of the story told at the beginning of the passage?
A. To introduce the terrible pets when a mother gets a baby home.
B. To illustrate the possible situation when pet meets the new baby.
C. To explain the pets reaction towards the new- born baby.
D. To prove how friendly a pet is when it meets the new- born baby.
78. Who is Sonya that is mentioned in the 1st paragraph?
A.  A boxer of Jennifer Merritt.                        B. Jennifer’s baby.
C. A dog in Jennifer’s home.                           D. An expert on pet.
79. What can we learn from the passage?
A. Cats are more welcoming than dogs when then meet a baby.
B. You must show your baby to your pet dog when it is barking.
C. You should never keep a baby together with your pet.
D. The first introduction of your baby to your pet is important.
80. We can infer that the following part of the passage, Bonnie Beaver will focus on _________.
A.  how dangerous those pets are.                    B. other safety basics and rules
C. how to make a pet calm down                    D. other similar examples about pets
答案  77.B  78.C  79.D  80.B
Passage 2
(湖北省宜昌市一中2009届高三5月仿真模拟考试C篇)
The past ages of man have all been carefully labeled (贴标签；被称为) by anthropologists(人类学家). Descriptions like “Palaeolithic Man”, “Neolithic Man”, etc., neatly sum up whole periods. When the time comes for anthropologists to turn their attention to the twentieth century, they will surely choose the label “Legless Man”. Histories of the time will go something like this: “In the twentieth century, people forgot how to use their legs. Men and women moved about in cars, buses and trains from a very early age. There were lifts in all large buildings to prevent people from walking. This situation was forced upon earth dwellers (居住者) of that time because of miles each day. But the surprising thing is that they didn’t use their legs even when they went on holiday. They built cable railways, ski-lifts and roads to the top of every huge mountain. All the beauty spots on earth were destroyed by the presence of large car parks.”
The future history books might also record that we were deprived (剥夺) of the use of our eyes. In our hurry to get from one place to another, we failed to see anything on the way. Air travel gives you a bird’s-eye view of the world – or even less if the wing of the aircraft happens to block your way. When you travel by car or train a unclear image of the countryside constantly dirties the windows. Car drivers, in particular, are forever forces to go on and on: they never want to stop. Is it the lure of the great motorways, or what? And as for sea travel, it hardly deserves mention. It is perfectly summed up in the words of the old song: “I joined the navy to see the world, and what did I see? I saw the sea.”The typical twentieth-century traveler is the man who always says “I’ve been there.”You mention the remotest, most attractive place-names in the world like El Dorado, Kabul, Irkutsk and someone is bound to say ‘I’ve been there’ – meaning, ‘I drove through it at 100 miles an hour on the way to somewhere else. ’
When you travel at high speeds, the present means nothing: you live mainly in the future because you spend most of your time looking forward to arriving at some other place. But actual arrival, when it is reached, is meaningless. You want to move on again. By traveling like this, you stop all experience; the present is no longer a reality: you might just as well be dead. The traveler on foot, on the other hand, lives constantly in the present. For him, traveling and arriving are one and the same thing: he arrives somewhere with every step he makes. He experiences the present moment with his eyes, his ears and the whole of his body. At the end of his journey, he feels a delicious physical tiredness. He knows that sound. Pleasant sleep will be his: the reward of all true travellers.
59．Anthropologists label nowadays “Legless Man” because_____.
A. people forget how to use his legs.
B. people prefer cars, buses and trains.
C. lifts prevent people from walking.
D. there are a lot of transportation devices.
60. What does the underlined sentence “When you travel at high speeds” mean?
A. people’s focus on the future.
B. a pleasure.
C. satisfying drivers’ great thrill.
D. a necessity of life.
61. Why does the author say “we are deprived of the use of our eyes” in the second paragraph?
A. People won’t use their eyes.
B. In traveling at high speed, eyes become useless.
C. People actually can’t see anything on his way of travel.
D. People want to sleep during traveling.
62. What is the purpose of the author in writing this passage?
A. Legs become weaker.
B. Modern means of transportation make the world a small place.
C. There is no need to use eyes.
D. The best way to travel is on foot.
答案  59.A  60.A  61.C  62.D
Passage 3
(安徽省马鞍山二中2009届高三第四次模拟考试C篇)
Scientists say California's special landscapes are changing gradually as the world gets warmer. Now, with a new generation of computer models, they're trying to make clear what those changes will be: Less snow?  More wildfires?  Fewer animals?
The new computer models allow scientists to divide the state into much smaller regions than ever before------just thirty-six square miles. These regional models give scientists a way of draping climate over California's complex landscape.
Scientists want to understand how warming will affect the state's people, its economy, and the thousands of species that only live in California. The State's Climate Action Team has organized a meeting last month in Los Angeles on the economic effects of these targets.
California started the only state-run climate research program three years ago and is spending about$5 million a year on it. The goal of the research is to limit the impact of such changes.
California is part of an internationally recognized "hot spot" of biodiversity that extends north across the Oregon border and south into Baja California. It's home to 4,426 species of plants, nearly half of which are found nowhere else.
What happens in California could have broad influence. If California were a nation, it would be the fifth-biggest economy in the world and the 12th-biggest generator of greenhouse gases.
Scientists are also looking beyond the greenhouse effect. For instance, urban development warms climate; cities give off more heat than natural areas. Cities also absorb more heat from the sun. This phenomenon is known as the "urban heat island effect".
65. The writer intends to tell readers        .
A. studies on the future wildlife in California by computer
B. predicting the future economy of California caused by getting warmer
C. a programme to study the future of California carried by the California government
D. research on the future effect on California caused by getting warmer by high technology
66. The underlined word “generator” in the 6th paragraph probably has the same meaning as   .
A. producer                  B. destroyer                 C. sufferer               D.supporter
67. Which of the following statements about “urban heat island effect” phenomena is wrong? .
A. cities absorb more heat from the sun
B. cities give off more heat than natural areas
C. warming affects plants and animals
D. urban development warms climate
68. There are more than two thousand species of plants      .
A. that exist only in this area                 B. that will be harmed by the changing weather
C. that will survive in this area            D. that will die out in future
答案  65.D  66.A  67.C  68.A
Passage 4
(安徽省马鞍山二中2009届高三第四次模拟考试D篇)
With only about 1, 000 pandas left in the world, China is desperately trying to clone the animal and save the endangered species. 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(灭绝), 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 and 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(移植) the embryo into a host animal.
The entire procedure（程序） 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 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.”
69. 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
70. 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
71. From the passage we know that _______.
A. Kraemer and his team have succeeded in cloning a dog
B. scientists try to implant(移植) 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
72. Which of the following should be the best title for the passage?
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.
答案  69.B  70.A  71.D  72.C
Passage 5
(福建省厦门双十中学09届高三热身考试D篇)
Alone in the wilderness. Nothing but jungle. A world of shadow with the rays of light falling like blonde hair from the crowns of the giant trees. Jungle in the midday sun. Everything motionless. Not a sound from sky or earth. Complete silence. Only some coconuts falling, at long intervals, very far away. The world reduced to the soft touch of cool grass along my naked back, and a sweet smell of rich soil and vegetation. Stretched out with closed eyes beside my heavy burden of fruit and firewood, I enjoyed the feeling of fresh blood streaming through every part of my body and fresh jungle air filling every corner of my lungs.
Resting motionless, I could see the sun through my closed eyelids, alone in the sky, as lonely as I, and as motionless and silent as everything else. The earth had surely stopped turning and somewhere on this planet there was supposed to be roaring traffic in busy streets. What a crazy, unbelievable thought!
Another coconut fell, to make the world come to a complete standstill. I had to roll over onto my stomach to feel that at least I could move and make noises. Then I found company. A little brown ant was struggling to find its way with a bit of dry straw through the jungle of leaves and grass below my nose. I wondered if I could give the little fellow a lift with its burden, but it showed not the slightest sign of tiredness and struggled on with all six legs, head first or head last, waving its feelers energetically as if the trip had just started. Who ever saw a tired ant? Tiredness, disagreeable tiredness, is restricted to hunted animals, slaves and modern man. It is as great an effort for an office clerk to walk five blocks with a loaded brief-case as it is for a jungle-dweller to cross a valley with a goat on his back. It is as hard to get up and climb or run when you have been seated for years as it is to get up and walk when you have been in bed for months. The body is strange. Spare it, and you get really tired for almost nothing; use it, and almost nothing makes you really tired.
I rose to my feet. I had heard a horse neighing down in the valley. Above me, on the open highland plains, there were wild horses. But down in the valley there was never a horse unless there was a man on it. Somebody was making his way up the valley and my wife was alone.
68．The author mentions coconuts’ falling to          .
A．show his loneliness                                     B．add beauty to the jungle
C．express his love of nature                                   D．stress the absolute silence
69．How does the author feel about the ant?
A．He admired its attitude toward work.
B．He was amazed at its tireless efforts.
C．He showed sympathy for the little ant.
D．He was content to have it as a companion.
70．It can be inferred from the last paragraph that the author would probably          .
A．work harder than before                              B．talk to the man on the horse
C．make his way home                                    D．stay in the valley
71．We can learn from the passage that the author          .
A．enjoyed being alone                                     B．experienced a word of quietness
C．missed his busy life in the city                      D．had an unforgettable adventure
答案  68.D  69.A  70.C  71.B
Passage 6
(福建省厦门外国语学校2009届高三最后一次模拟B篇)
Do you want to see the effects of global warming? Then head north. Recent studies indicate that the North Pole could be underwater during the summer in less than 10 years, instead of coated in thick sea ice. But seeing the Arctic terrain （地带） up close isn’t easy, unless you’re handy with a dogsled. Steger is going to take all of us there．
Steger, 64, is a great polar explorer. He was the first person to make a dogsled trip to the North Pole, and is also a devoted environmentalist who was early to ring the alarm bell on global warming.
Steger is about to lead a team of six young adventurers on a 1, 400-mile, 60-day-long dogsled trip across Ellesmere Island, in the Canadian Arctic. The sea ice in that region should still be frozen. “We want to take our audience to the front lines of global warming, ” says Steger. The team will be uploading videos, stories and photos to the website global warming 101.com as they march along, allowing armchair adventurers and kids in classrooms to follow their progress day to day.
Steger’s team will include some already-famous young explorers. Sam Branson, 22-year old, is an experienced Arctic traveler. Also on the journey will be 27-year-old Norwegian Sigrid Ekran. Last year Ekran become only the second woman in history to win Rookie （新秀） of the Year for the Iditarod Sled Dog Race.
What they will see may be surprising. Even Steger doesn’t know exactly what to expect. Climate change has already reshaped the geography of the Arctic. “Within a decade or less, it’s going to be impossible to reach the North Pole by dog team, without flotation （漂浮）, ”says Steger.
60．We can learn from Paragraph 1 that                ．
A. climate change happens only in the far north
B. the effects of climate change are obvious in the Arctic terrain
C. climate change is going to be the biggest issue facing human race
D. climate change is the result of pollution
61．It can be inferred that the aim of the dogsled trip is to                   ．
A. encourage young people to explore the Arctic
B. present the Arctic terrain to geography classes
C. study the cause of climate change in polar region
D. raise awareness of the damage that climate change is causing in polar regions
62．Which of the following statements about Steger’s team is TRUE?
A. Sam Branson, a member, is skilled at travelling in the Arctic.
B. Steger, the leader is a great environmental expert.
C. Ekran, a member, is the second woman to have reached the North Pole.
D. All the members are experienced Arctic explorers.
63．Why does Steger NOT know what they will see during their trip?
A. Because it will be the first time for him to go that far north.
B. Because the sea ice in that region should still be frozen.
C. Because the geography there has changed due to warmer temperatures.
D. Because they will go there by boat instead of by sledge.
答案  60.B  61.D  62.A  63.C
Passage 7
(天水市一中2006级2008-2009学年第二学期第四次考试题D篇)
The North and South poles are remote and freezing places that receive lots of animal visitors but few human tourists.
But even if you never plan to visit the polar bears in the north or penguins in the south, now is a perfect time to start thinking about them. That’s because 2007 marks the beginning of the International Polar Year (IPY), a two-year-old activity of science projects that aim to show how important the poles are to the health of our planet. During the IPY, which will last until March 2009, thousands of researchers from more than 60 countries will conduct more than 200 projects and expeditions(远征) to both the top and bottom of the world.
In recent years, the polar regions have begun to change severely as a result of global warming. Temperatures there are rising faster than anywhere else on Earth. As a result, the ice and snow in these regions are melting（融化） at record-setting rates. One result is that sea levels are rising around the world, putting animals and people at risk.
Only by studying the poles, say IPY researchers, can we find ways to protect them and ourselves.
Both the Arctic and the Antarctic are cold and remote, but the two regions have important differences. For one thing, the Arctic is an ice-covered ocean surrounded by land. The Antarctic, on the other hand, is a continent of ice-covered land surrounded by water.
Most polar studies have focused on the Arctic, and that is where scientists have observed the most remarkable changes in the ice. During a typical year, Arctic ice expands(扩大) in the winter and shrinks(缩小) in the summer. But recently, the amount of ice covering the ocean has been steadily dropping in both seasons.
53．Which of the following might be the best tile of the passage?
A．Earth’s Poles Interest Scientists           B．The Animals of Earth’s Poles
C．Earth’s Poles in Danger                 D．The Discoveries of Earth’s Poles
54．The goal of the International Polar Year is __________.
A．to make it clear that the poles have much to do with a healthy earth
B．to provide practical theory to further develop this distant area
C．to call on as many scientists as possible to do research on the poles
D．to discover more mysteries unknown to man
55．What is the main factor that has caused the changes of the poles?
A．The increasing number of animals.         B．The development of the poles.
C．The melting of the poles.                 D．The rising temperature.
56．What unusual phenomenon worries the scientists?
A．In summer the ice of the Arctic loses faster.
B．The ice covering the Arctic shrinks even in winter.
C．The ice of the Arctic increases less than in the past.
D．The changes in the Arctic are more serious.
答案  53.D  54.A  55.D  56.B
Passage 8
(广东省湛师附中2009届高三最后一模C篇)
So far, scientists have named about 1.8 million living species （物种），and that’s just a small part of what probably exists on Earth．With so many plants，animals，fungi，and other organisms covering the planet，it can be tough to figure out what type of spider is crawling up your leg or what kind of bird just flew by．
A soon-to-be-launched Website might help．An international team of researchers has announced the creation of a Web — based Encyclopedia of Life （EOL）．The project aims to catalogue every species on Earth in a single，easy-to-use reference guide．
To get the encyclopedia started，the creators will use information from scientific databases that already exist．And eventually，in special sections of the site，nonscientists with specialized knowledge will join．Gardeners，for example，will be able to record the dates that their flowers first bloom each year．Bird-watchers will be able to input which birds they’ve seen and where．The technology for this kind of tool has only recently become available．
As the EOL develops, you might find it useful for school projects．The site will have special pages for kids who are studying ecosystems in their neighborhoods．To make sure the encyclopedia is accurate，scientists will review much of the information added to it．People who visit the site will be able to choose to skip pages that haven’t been reviewed．
Another convenient characteristic of the EOL is that you’11 be able to pick the level of detail you see to match your interests，age，and current knowledge. If you wanted to learn about polar bears for a science class report，for example，you could use the “novice” setting to get basic information about the animals．On the “expert” setting，on the other hand．you could get much more detailed information about the history，literature，and exploration of polar bears．
It now takes years for scientists to collect all the data they need to describe and analyze species．The creators of the Encyclopedia of Life hope that their new tool will speed that process．
Keep an eye on www.eol.org．Pages will begin to go up sometime next year，and you might find them useful for your school reports．The EOL team might have the basics for all 1.8 million entries online as early as 2017．Someday，you might add your own notes.
51．What is implied in the last sentence of Paragraph 1 ?
A．No one can become an expert on spiders and birds．
B．So many spiders have crawled up your leg．
C．There are far more than 1.8 million living species．
D．Scientists have named a lot of living species．
52．Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A．You can find information of all living species online in 2017．
B．Nonscientists will be able to add their own notes to the website.
C．The kids preparing school reports can not have access to the informat’0 n’
D．You are not free to choose the amount of detailed information．
53．What does the underlined word “novice” probably mean in Paragraph 5 ?
A．Beginner．       B．Specialist．       C．Scientist．        D．Pupil．
54．Who are the intended readers of this passage?
A．Students．                            B．Researchers．
C．Bird watchers or Gardeners．             D．People in general．
55．What is the best title for the passage?
A．Exploring Polar Bears．                 B．Visit Our Website Now．
C．How to Do School Projects．             D．E-book of Life．
答案  51.C  52.B  53.A  54.A  55.D
Passage 9
(哈师大附中2009年高三第四次模拟考试D篇)
Our spiritual intelligence quotient (精神智商)，or SQ, helps us understand ourselves, and live fuller, happier lives.
Though we're all born with SQ, most of us don’t even realize that we have it. Fortunately, you don't have to sign up for classes to learn how to improve your SQ. Here are some simple steps that can lead you to this new level of understanding.
Sit Quietly. The process of developing spiritual intelligence begins with solitude (独处) and silence. To tune in to your spirit, you have to turn down the volume (强度) in your busy, noisy, complicated life and force yourself to do nothing at all. Start small by creating islands for silence in your day. In the car, instead of listening to the music, use the time to think. At work, shut the door to your office between meetings, take a few breaths and let them out very, very slowly. Enjoy the stillness in your home after the kids are finally in bed.
Step Outside.  For many people, nature sets their spirit free. Go outside to watch a beautiful sunset. If you are walking with the dog, take the time to admire flower in bloom; follow the light of a bird and watch clouds float overhead.
Ask Questions of Yourself. Ask open-ended questions, such as "What am I feeling? What are my choices? Where am I heading?"
But don't expect an answer to arrive through some supernatural form of e-mail. "Rarely do I get an immediate answer to my question," says Reverend Joan Carter, a Presbyterian minister in Sausalito, California. “But later that day I suddenly find myself thinking about a problem in a perspective(角度) I never considered before.”
Trust Your Spirit. While most of us rely on gut(本能的) feeling to realize danger, spiritual intelligence pushes us, not away from, but towards some action that will lead to a greater good.
68. The passage is mainly about           .
A. what your SQ is and in what way it can benefit our life
B. what your SQ is and in what way it can be improved
C. the relationship between your SQ and your life
D. advantages and disadvantages of SQ
69. The underlined phrase "tune in to your spirit" in the third paragraph probably means to _____.
A. get your spirit relaxed                     B. keep up your spirit
C. keep seated quietly                      D. change your spirit
70. The author mentions the example of Reverend Joan Carter to show that            .
A. there are no immediate answers to your questions
B. e-mails can't keep working out a problem
C. the more questions you ask, the better answers you'll get
D. changing your way of thinking might help you solve a problem
71. From the passage, we can know that the most important thing to improve your SQ is      .
A. a peaceful mind    B. deep thought   C. spare time and hobbies   D. good spirits
答案  68.B  69.A  70.D  71.A
Passage 10
(湖北省黄冈中学2009届高三五月适应性考试（B卷）A篇)
Girls really prefer pink and boys prefer blue, recent research shows.
The reasons could have its origins in the hunt for food on the African savannah(稀树草原) thousands of years ago. Evolution may have developed women’s preference for pink, perhaps because it helped to find ripe fruit and healthy men with reddish faces, while both men and women have a natural desire for blue, according to scientists at Newcastle University.
“ Everyone in today’s western culture, from parents to toy manufactures, seems to assume that little girls like pink.” Said Prof. Anya Hulbert, who wanted to find out whether the reason was cultural or to do with biology.
A love of salmon, fuchsia and coral does seem to be rooted into females, rather than picked up from their mothers.
The participants in the study were Chinese and British. The Chinese students showed a marked preference for red, “ Culture may contribute to this natural female preference,” said Pro. Hulbert.
In her experience, 208 young adult men and women were asked to select, as rapidly as possible, their preferred color. Hulbert and her colleague Dr. Yazhu Ling marked the results and found that while men preferred blue, women tended to choose pink.
Hulbert said she could only prefer about the preference for blue: “ Here again, I would favor evolutionary arguments. Going back to our savannah days, we would have a natural preference for a clear blue sky, because it signaled good weather. Clear blue also signals a good water source.”
51. The passage mentions “ the African savannah” to show that_____.
A. the ancient Africa was a a beautiful place
B. human beings lived in Africa at first
C. women and men have different color preference
D. color preference has its historical origins
52. It can be inferred that the underlined word “ fuchsia”_____.
A. is probably a kind of toy
B. is probably pink in color
C. can be only found in Africa
D. hardly causes men’s interest
53. By saying “ the Chinese students for red.” In Para. 5, the writer means_____.
A. red is the Chinese students’ favorite color
B. the Chinese prefer red more than the British
C. culture influences people’s color preferences
D. the study was carried out by two nations
54. What can we know from the last paragraph?
A. Hulbert thinks evolution explains why people prefer blue.
B. Hulbert has a strong desire for “savannah days”.
C. Blue is a natural signal of many good things
D. While boys like blue, girls like pink.
答案  51.D  52.B  53.C  54.A
Passage 11
(江苏省金坛一中2009届高三5月模拟E篇)
Botany, the study of plants, plays a strange role in the history of human knowledge. For many thousands of years it was one field about which humans had little knowledge. It is impossible to know today just what our Stone Age Ancestors knew about plants, but from what we can observe of preindustrial societies that still exists, a detailed learning of plants and their properties（特征）must be very ancient. This is reasonable. Plants are the basis of the food pyramid for all living things, even for other plants. They have always been greatly important to the good of peoples, not only for food, but also for clothing, weapons, tools, medicines, housing, and a great many other purposes. Tribes（部落）living today in the woods of the Amazon recognize hundreds of plants and know many properties of each. To them botany, as such, has no name and is probably not even recognized as a special branch of knowledge at all.
Unfortunately, the more industrialized we become the farther away we move from direct relation with plants, and the less clear our knowledge of botany grows. Yet everyone comes unconsciously on a surprising amount of botanical knowledge, and few people will fail to recognize a rose or an apple. When our New Stone Age ancestors, living in the Middle East about 10 000 years ago, discovered that certain grasses could be harvested and their seeds planted for richer production the next season, the first great step in a new connection of plants and humans was taken. Grains were discovered and from them flowed the marvel of agriculture: planted crops. From then on, humans would increasingly take their living from the controlled production of a few plants, rather than getting a little here and a little there from many varieties that grew wild and the collected knowledge of tens of thousands of years of experience and close relations with plants in the wild would begin to disappear.
67. Which of the following assumptions（假设）about early humans is expressed in the passage?
A. They probably had wide knowledge of plants.
B. They clearly divided knowledge into separate fields
C. They did not enjoy the study of botany.
D. They placed great importance on ownership of property.
68.According to the passage, why has general knowledge of botany decreased?
A.        People no longer value plants as a useful resource.
B.        Botany is not recognized as a special branch of science.
C.        Research is unable to keep up with the increasing number of plants.
D.       Direct relation with a variety of plants has decreased.
69. In paragraph 2, the underlined word “marvel” is closest in meaning to _____.
A. edge              B. sign              C. beginning          D. wonder
70. According to the passage, what was the first great step toward the practice of agriculture?
A.   The invention of agriculture tools and machines.
B.   The development of a system of names for plants.
C.   The discovery of grasses that could be harvested and replanted.
答案  67.A  68.D  69.D  70.C
Passage 12
(江苏省启东中学2009届高三最后一卷B篇)
When a handheld video game runs out of power, all you have to do is plug it in and charge it up. Within a few years, some of you might do the same thing with mom’s car.
Automobile companies are developing vehicles that will plug into electric sockets （插座）, just like many laptops, digital cameras, cell phones and small video game players do. Called “plug-in hybrids （混合动力汽车）,” these cars will get most of their power from electricity. Their drivers will rarely have to stop at gas stations.
The technology is more than just cool. In our automobile-filled world, plug-in vehicles could reduce the amount of gasoline we use. That gas is made from crude oil, which has been kept rising in cost. Plus, driving around in these hybrids may even help the environment. Gas-burning cars produce a lot of carbon dioxide, a type of greenhouse gas. These gases stay in the atmosphere, where they trap heat and cause global warming.
The first company-produced plug-in hybrids could hit the roads by 20l0. But engineers still have a lot of work to do to make the technology practical and inexpensive.
Batteries are the biggest challenge. In the plug-in-hybrid world, Li-ion batteries are getting the most attention. These batteries can store a large amount of energy in a small package, and they last a relatively long time between charges. Li-ion batteries are standard in laptops, cell phones, heart devices and similar portable devices.
But because cars are so big and heavy, it would still require a suitcase-sized Li-ion battery to power about l2km of driving. What’s more, the batteries are extremely expensive.
“A car filled with batteries could go a long distance,” says Ted Bohn, an electrical engineer in Chicago. “But it couldn’t haul （拖拉） any people, and it would cost $l00,000.”
So researchers need to figure out how to make batteries smaller and cheaper, among other questions.
“The answers don’t exist yet,” Bohn says. “As a kid I thought someone someplace knows the answer to everything. All of these questions haven’t been decided. That’s what engineering is about — making a guess, running tests and fine-tuning results.”
59. The writer wrote this passage with the purpose of __________________.
A. how to charge the handheld video game up
B. explaining a newly-developed battery
C. introducing a new car
D. telling us how to make the new battery cheaper
60. Which is true according to the passage?
A. Plug-in hybrids will do no harm to the environment.
B. Li-lion batteries in laptops can be used on plug-in hybrids.
C. Some companies can produce plug-in hybrids now.
D. Drivers of plug-in hybrids will spend less money on gasoline.
61. From the passage, we can learn _________________.
A. we can buy one of “plug-in hybrids” now
B. all people will buy one after 20l0
C. this kind of car can carry two persons
D. some problems about “plug-in hybrids” remain to be done
答案  59.C  60.D  61.D
Passage 13
(江西省抚州一中2009届高三第四次模拟考试B篇)
How many things can you see in the night sky? A lot! On a clearnight you might see the Moon, some planets, and thousands of sparkling stars.
You can see even more with a telescope. And with bigger and bigger telescopes you can see more and more objects in the sky. And you can see those objects in more and more detail.
But scientists believe there are some things in the sky that we will never see. We won't see them with the biggest telescope in the world, on the clearest night of the year.
That's because they're invisible. They're the mysterious dead stars called black holes.
You might find it hard to imagine that stars die. After all, our Sun is a star. Year after year we see it up in the sky, burning brightly, giving us heat and light. The Sun certainly doesn't seem to be getting old or weak. But stars do burn out and die after billions of years.
As a star's gases burn, they give off light and heat. But when the gas runs out, the star stops burning and begins to die.
As the star cools, the outer layers of the star pull in toward the center. The star squashes into a smaller and smaller ball. If the star was very small, the star ends up as a cold, dark ball called a black dwarf. If the star was very big, it keeps squashing inward until it's packed together tighter than anything in the universe.
Imagine if the Earth were crushed until it was the size of a tiny marble. That's how tightly this dead star, a black hole, is packed. What pulls the star in toward its center with such power? It's the same force that pulls you down when you jump--the force called gravity. A black hole is so tightly packed that its gravity sucks in everything--even light. The light from a black hole can never come back to your eyes. That's why you see nothing but blackness.
So next time you stare up at the night sky, remember: there's more in the Sky than we can see! Scattered in the silent darkness are black holes--the great mystery of space.
60. According to the article, what causes a star to die?
A. As its gases run out, it cools down.                B. It has a collision with other stars.
C. It can only live for about a million years.
D. As it gets hotter and hotter, it explodes.
61. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. Black holes are dead stars.
B. Black holes have gravity.
C. Black holes are invisible.
D. There is nothing as mysterious as a black hole.
62. W. hat happens AFTER a star dies?
A. It becomes invisible.                          B. It fails to Earth.
C. It burns up all of its gases.                     D. It becomes brighter and easier to see.
63. Why can't you see light when you look at a black hole?
A. Because most black holes are so far away.
B. Because the gravity of a black hole is so strong that it sucks the light inward.
C. Because as the star's gases burn, it stops giving off heat and light.
D. Because as a star cools, its outer layers pull in toward its center.
答案  60.A  61.D  62.A  63.B
Passage 14
(江西省抚州一中2009届高三第四次模拟考试E篇)
Every day from the time we wake up until the time we go to bed, we are bombarded with information from all sides, from TV, radio, newspapers and books; from family, friends, and colleagues. As a new cable television subscriber, I am absolutely amazed at the quantity and varying levels of information quality on cable television. Including the networks, there are eight TV "news" organizations vying to provide us with all the information we can possibly absorb. Newspaper, magazines, books, radio, the Internet, email, snail mail, and the telephone all compete for our attention and our minds. At the office conversations around the water cooler and coffee maker serve to spread even more items of information.
There is valuable information out there about the world we live in, on topics as varied as health, safety, traffic, nutrition, business, finance, philosophy, nature, science, weather, history and the human condition. There is also a large amount of misleading and outright false information, not just on controversial subjects such as politics and religion but on any topic one can think of, including all of the topics mentioned above.
With all this information coming at us from all directions, how does one sift through it all to sort out the facts from the fiction, the truth from the lies, the more important from the less important? Should we turn off the TV, cancel our newspaper subscriptions, disconnect our phones and modems to become information "hermits"? Probably not.
A better method of sifting through the information wave without being overwhelmed and confused is to become a skeptical inquirer-or skeptic-with regard to the surrounding world. By "skeptic"-I do not mean a cynic-a person who rejects new ideas simply because they are new. A skeptic is one who questions the validity of a particular claim by calling for evidence to prove or disprove it. Skepticism is a method, not a position. It is a provisional approach to all factual claims. In terms of processing information, a skeptic needs to be able to grasp reality and acquire knowledge about the environment that agrees with reason, logic, and evidence. In other words, as skeptics, when we hear a claim that may or may not be fantastic, we should say, "That's nice, prove it."
72．The writer implies that if we want to make some judgments about some information, the first thing that we should do is to .
A. ask for the information                  B. cut off all channels of information
C. receive and go through the information   D. become information "hermits"
73. What does the author say is the more reasonable approach to processing the information wave?
A. A skeptical approach.       B. A subjective approach.
C. A cynical approach.         D. A philosophical approach.
74. What can we conclude from the difference between a skeptic and a cynic?
A. Skeptics are reasonable but cynics are too optimistic.
B. Skeptics are reasonable but cynics are too pessimistic(opposite of optimistic).
C. Skeptics take a position but cynics are extreme in their attitude.
D. Skeptics reject all new ideas but cynics only reject some of them.
75. When faced with an incredible or fantastic claim, what shall we do according to the author?
A. Ask questions and look for proof.   B. Ignore the information and its source.
C. Change the subject immediately.
D. Try to consult an expert who knows the truth.
答案  72.C  73.A  74.B  75.A
Passage 15
(江西省南昌二中2009届高三5月模拟考试C篇)
China’s government has been trying all measures to reduce pollution in the past few years. Now people can enjoy a fresh environment everywhere. The following two graphs are adopted from the column of “City Information” on the webpage of Beijing Review.
Graph 1: Olympic Cities Air Quality Report
City
Date
API
Major
Pollutant
Air Quality
Degree
Quality
Condition
Beijing
Sep. 8
37
N/A
Ⅰ
Very good
Qinhuangdao
Sep. 8
52
PM10
Ⅱ
Good
Qingdao
Sep. 8
68
PM10
Ⅱ
Good
Shanghai
Sep. 8
67
PM10
Ⅱ
Good
Shenyang
Sep. 8
88
PM10
Ⅱ
Good
Tianjin
Sep. 8
54
PM10
Ⅱ
Good
Graph 2: Chinese National Standard
API Values
Levels of health concern
Colors
When the API is in this range:
...air quality conditions are:
...as symbolized by this color:
0 to 50
Very good
Blue
51 to 100
Good
Green
101 to 150
Slight pollution
Yellow
151 to 200
Moderate pollution
Orange
201 to 250
Medium pollution
Red
251 to 300
High pollution
Purple
301 to 500
Hazardous
Brown
Notes:
**API stands for Air Pollution Index(指数).
**Particulate matter (PM10) is a major component of air pollution that threatens both our health and our environment. It consists of very small liquid and solid particles floating in the air.
**Sulfur dioxide(SO2) acts as an acid．Inhalation(吸入) results in labored breathing, coughing, or a sore throat and may cause permanent lung damage.
64．According to Graph 1, which of the following cities has the worst air pollution?
A．Qinhuangdao.                                      B．Tianjin.
C．Shenyang.                                           D．Qingdao.
65．If your city is symbolized by either red or purple, the pollution in your city is      .
A．Moderate or slight.                              B．Moderate or high.
C．Medium or slight. D．Medium or high.
66．Which of the following statements is TURE?
A．On September 8th the color-symbol of Beijing City’s air quality is “Blue”.
B．With API value below 150 the air is free from being polluted.
C．The colors from purple to Yellow indicate the air quality is becoming much worse.
D．When there are floating solid particles and dust in the air, it is dangerous pollution.
67．When more citizens are beginning to have labored breathing soon after they are in the open air, it suggests that     .
A．it is so cold that they may have caught a cold
B．there is a large amount of sulfur dioxide in the air
C．they are starting to cough or have a fever
D．they must be infected with permanent lung disease
答案  64.C  65.D  66.A  67.B
Passage 16
(江西省南昌二中2009届高三5月模拟考试E篇)
Are you one of those who always fear whenever a dog is approaching? If you are, you have got phobia (a very strong feeling of being afraid of something). Of all human fears, phobias may be the most uncontrollable. They are most often caused by a particular situation or object. In general, phobias can mainly be divided into three varieties. To begin with, agoraphobia is a fear of staying in strange surroundings, for example, an unfamiliar place, or an open area．Social phobia refers to the anxiety people show when they have to stay or perform on social events, for instance, speaking in front of the class. Lastly, there are a wide range of specific phobias. People suffering from this kind of phobia are terrified of specific objects or creatures. such as spiders, perhaps to your surprise, clowns. Besides, there are about six hundred and fifty phobias having been listed by psychologists(心理学家)as yet.
Faced with their phobias, many people choose to do nothing but just escape the situations or objects they fear. Psychologists, however, warn that if not treated properly, this kind of anxiety will get worse, so that it may disturb the sleep pattern, cause physical symptoms, and finally affect their daily activities. As for treatment, clinical research has discovered that medicine for anxiety is not successful in curing phobias. However. the anxiety disorders can be efficiently treated through cognitive behavioral therapy (认知行为疗法), through which patients are led to inspect the connections between their own fear und the situation or object, and then actively choose the acceptable treatments. Also, other treatments proved effective in reducing phobias are Meditation(quiet thought that can help people relax), listening to calming music, and so on.
72．Phobias are mainly caused by      .
A．anxiety                                              B．animal attacks
C．terrible dreams and imagination             D．a certain situation or thing
73．Which do psychologists NOT use for effective treatment of phobias?
A．To take medicine for anxiety
B．To listen to comforting light music
C．To lose oneself in a peaceful environment
D．To understand the very source of one's own anxiety
74．Which of the following statements about phobias is CORRECT?
A．Actors call help people to cure their phobias.
B．Phobias can be divided into six hundred and fifty types.
C．Those suffering from phobias may not sleep well or work normally.
D．Cognitive behavioral therapy demands little participation from patients.
75．What do those with agoraphobia feel terrified and anxious about?
A．Staying on a square.
B．Touching insects, like spiders.
C．Being harmed by virus.
D．Giving a speech in presence of many people.
答案  72.D  73.A  74.C  75.A
Passage 17
(山东省兖州市2009届高三高考仿真考试B篇)
A new study suggests that the more teenagers watch television, the more likely they are to develop depression（沮丧；抑郁）as young adults.
The researchers used a national long-term survey of adolescent health to investigate （调查）the relationship between media use and depression. They based their findings on more than four thousand adolescents who were not depressed when the survey began in 2000.
As part of the survey,  the young people were asked how many hours of television or videos they watched daily. They were also asked how often they played computer games and listened to the radio. Media use totaled an average of five and one-half hours a day. More than two hours of that was spent watching TV.
Seven years later, in 2007, more than seven percent of the young people had signs of depression. The average age at that time was twenty-one.
The researchers say they did not find any such relationship with the use of other media such as movies, video games or radio, etc. But the study did find that every extra hour of television meant an eight percent increase in the chances of developing signs of depression. Young men were more likely than young women to develop depression given the same amount of media use.
The study didn’t explore if watching TV causes depression. But one possibility is that it was taking time away from activities that could help prevent depression.
Last December, the journal Social Indicators Research published a study of activities that help lead to happy lives. Sociologists from the University of Maryland found that people who describe themselves as happy spend less time watching television than unhappy people. The study found that happy people are more likely to be socially active to read, to attend religious services and to vote.
61. The best title for this passage should be            .
A. Teens, Television and Depression
B. Men Develop Depression Easier than Women
C. Media Use is Harmful to Adolescents
D. Take Great care of Teenager’s depression
62. The result of the   research seems to prove         .
A. teenagers are more likely to develop depression than adults
B. other media uses do no harm to adolescents
C. TV probably causes teenagers to grow up with depression
D. those who watch no TV will not develop depression
63. We can learn from the survey that of all the media use            .
A. computer games are teenagers’ favorite
B. most teenagers prefer to listen to the radio
C. teenagers enjoy watching TV very much
D. newspaper is not included in the survey
64. According to the passage, what kind of activity may help prevent depression?
A. Playing computer games.                          B. Taking part in sports.
C. Listening to the radio.                                  D. Watching movies.
65. We can conclude that a teenager should          .
A. play more video games instead of watching TV
B. be active in taking part in outdoor activities
C. be more active in watching educational TV programmes
D. attend religious services and care for politics
答案  61.A  62.C  63.C  64.B  65.B
Passage 18
(山东省兖州市2009届高三高考仿真考试C篇)
It is hard to go after the blue whale, the ocean’s largest creature, which has almost been killed off by commercial whaling and is now listed as an endangered species. Attaching radio devices to it is difficult, and sightings with bare eyes are too unreliable to give real insight into its behavior.
So biologists were delighted early this year when, with the help of the Navy, they were able to track a particular blue whale for 43 days, monitoring its sounds. This was possible because of the Navy’s formerly top-secret system of underwater detecting（探测）devices across the oceans.
Tracking whales is but one example of an exciting new world just opening to civilian（平民的）scientists after the cold war as the Navy starts to share and partly uncover its global network of underwater listening system built over the decades to track the ships of potential（潜在的）enemies.
Earth scientists announced at a news conference recently that they had used the system for closely monitoring a deep-sea volcanic eruption（爆发）for the first time and that they plan similar studies.
Other scientists have proposed to use the network for tracking ocean currents and measuring changes in ocean and global temperatures.
The speed of sound in water is roughly one mile a second－slower than through land but faster than through air. What is most important, different layers of ocean water can act as channels for sounds, focusing them in the same way a stethoscope（听诊器）does when it carries faint noises from a patient’s chest to a doctor’s ear. This focusing is the main reason that even relatively weak sounds in the ocean, especially low—frequency ones, can often travel thousands of miles.
66. The passage is chiefly about           .
A. an effort to protect an endangered sea species
B. the civilian use of a military system
C. the introduction of a U. S. Navy top-secret weapon
D. a new way to look into the behavior of blue whales
67. The underwater listening system was originally designed             .
A. to detect and locate enemy boats
B. to monitor deep—sea volcanic eruptions
C. to study the movement of ocean currents
D. to replace the global radio communications network
68. What is the closest meaning of the underlined word “to track” in the second paragraph?
A. to study                B. to fight against
C. to follow                 D. to try to kill
69. It can be inferred from the passage that                 .
A. new radio devices should be developed for tracking the endangered blue whales
B. blue whales are no longer endangered with the use of the new listening system
C.opinions differ as to whether civilian scientists should be allowed to use military technology
D. military technology has great potential uses outsides. the military forces
70. Which of the following is true about the U. S. Navy underwater listening net work?
A. It is now partly accessible to civilian scientists.
B. It has been replaced by a more advanced system·
C. It became useless to the military after the cold war.
D. It is a must in protecting endangered species.
答案  66.B  67.A  68.C  69.D  70.A
Passage 19
(陕西省师大附中2009届高三第四次模拟考试A篇)
Doctors say anger can be an extremely damaging emotion, unless you learn how to deal with it. They warn that anger can lead to heart disease, stomach problems, headaches, emotional problems and possibly cancer.
Anger is a normal emotion that we all feel from time to time. Some people express anger openly in a calm reasonable way. Others burst with anger, and scream and yell. But other people keep their anger inside. They can not or will not express it. This is called repressing anger.
For years many doctors thought that repressing anger was more dangerous to a person's health than expressing it. They said that when a person is angry, the brain releases the same hormones (荷尔蒙).They speed the heart rate, raise blood pressure, or sugar into the blood, etc．In general the person feels excited and ready to act.
Some doctors say that both repressing and expressing anger can be dangerous. They believe that those who express anger violently may be more likely to develop heart disease, and they believe that those who keep their anger inside may face a greater danger of high blood pressure.
Doctors say the solution is learning how to deal with anger. They say the first step is to admit that you are angry and to recognize the real cause of the anger, then decide if the cause is serious enough to get angry about. If it is, they say, “Do not express your anger while angry. Wait until your anger has cooled down and you are able to express yourself calmly and reasonably.”
Doctors say that a good way to deal with anger is to find humor in the situation that has made you angry. They said that laughter is much healthier than anger.
41． “Damaging emotion” means that _________.
A．the emotion is harmless           B．the emotion is harmful
C．the feeling is very strong        D．the feeling is hard
42. What statement is right?
A．Were you angry, you would be cancered (得癌症).
B．Once you are angry, you must be cancered.
C．Angry as you are often, you can't be cancered,
D．Anger may cause you a cancer.
43. Expressing anger violently _________ repressing it according to some scientists.
A．is just the same as                 B．is more harmful than
C．is no better than           D．is much better than
44．According to the author, you'd better _________.
A．never be angry
B．cool it down before you express it
C．laugh and laugh when you get angry
D．admit you are wrong when you are angry
45. The passage may be taken from _________.
A. the advertisement   B. a travel book   C. a magazine   D. the diary
答案  41.B  42.D  43.C  44.B  45.C
Passage 20
(上海市崇明中学2009届高三5月高考模拟考试C篇)
Beyond two or three days, the world’s best weather forecasts are doubtful, and beyond six or seven they are worthless.
The Butterfly Effect is the reason. For small pieces of weather—to a global forecaster, small can mean thunderstorms and blizzards (暴风雪)—any prediction becomes worse rapidly. Errors and uncertainties increase, from dust devils and storms up to continent-size eddies (旋涡) that only satellites can see.
The modern weather models work with net-like points sixty miles apart, and even so, some starting data have to be guessed, since ground stations and satellites cannot see everywhere. But suppose the earth could be covered with sensors placed one foot apart, rising at one-foot intervals all the way to the top of the atmosphere. Suppose every sensor gives perfectly accurate readings of temperature, pressure, humidity (湿度), and any other data a weatherman would want. Exactly at noon a powerful computer takes all the data and calculates what will happen at each point at 12.01, then 12.02, then 12.03… the computer will still be unable to predict whether Princeton will have sun or rain one month away. At noon the spaces between the sensors will hide fluctuations (波动) that the computer will not know about. By 12.01, those fluctuations will already have created small errors one foot away. Soon the errors will have added to the ten-foot scale, and so on up to the size of the globe.
72．A weather forecast ______ in the world.
A．is reliable within one or two days
B．is doubtful beyond 24 hours
C．becomes useless beyond two or three days
D．is still worthwhile in seven days
73．Usually there is a weather sub-station ______.
A．in every city                                         B．every 60 miles
C．between two cities                                D．every one foot
74．Which of the following statements is true?
A．People have not placed sensors one foot apart in the atmosphere.
B．Scientists have already put sensors one foot apart in the world.
C．Every sensor gives perfectly accurate data a weatherman wants.
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D．Ground weather stations and satellites can see every place on earth.
75．Our computer will not be able to know about fluctuations because ______.
A．the sensors are not good enough
B．they are hidden by the spaces between the sensors
C．they are too far away
D．they move very fast
答案  72.A  73.B  74.A  75.B
Passage 21
(南昌市南昌二中高三冲刺模拟考试B篇)
In the Caucasus region of Russia, nearly 50 out of every 100,000 people live to celebrate their 100th birthday, and many don’t stop at 100! By comparison, in America only 3 people in 100, 000 reach 100. But these Russian old people aren’t alone．The Pakistanis, who live high in the Himalaya Mountains, and the Ecuadorans of the Andes Mountains seem to share the secret of long life, too．
These people remain healthy in body and spirit despite the passage of time．While many older persons in industrial societies become weak and ill in their 60s and 70s, some Caucasians aged 100 to 140, work in the fields beside their great-great-grandchildren．Even the idea of aging is foreign to them．When asked “at what age does youth end?” most of these old people had no answer．Several replied, “Well, perhaps at age 80．”
What accounts for this ability to survive to such old age, and to survive so well? First of all, hard physical work is a way of life for all of these long-lived people．They begin their long days of physical labor as children and never seem to stop．For example, Mr. Rustam Mamedov is 142 years of age．His wife is 116 years old．They have been married for 90 years．Mr. Mamedov has no intention of retiring from his life as a farmer．“Why? What else would I do?” he asks．
All these people get healthful rewards from the environment in which they work．They all come from mountainous regions．They live and work at elevations of 1,660 to 1,000 meters above sea level．The air has less oxygen and is pollution-free．This reduced-oxygen environment makes the heart and blood vessel system stronger．
Another factor that may contribute to the good health of these people is their isolation．To a great extent．They are separated from the pressures and worries of industrial society．
Inherited factors also play some role．Most of the longest-lived people had parents and grandparents who also reached very old ages．Good family genes may, therefore, be one factor in living longer．
It is clear that isolation from urban pressures and pollution, clean mountain air, daily hard word, moderate diets, good genes, and a youthful approach to life all contribute to the health and long life of all these people．
59．In the Causasus region of Russian, how many people can reach the age of 100 in 10,000?
A．5                    B．3                  C．50                D．10,000
60．The example of Mr and Mrs Mamedov implies that ___________．
A．some Caucasians aged 100 to 140 become weak．
B．some Caucasians aged 100 to 140 are too old to work in the fields．
C．physical work contributes a lot to their long life．
D．some Caucasians aged 100 to 140 are still working in the fields besides their great- great
-grandchildren．
61．What is the main way of life for all of these long-lived people?
A．Retiring from their lives as farmers        B．Having been married for 90 years
C．Hard physical work                              D．No intentions
62．At elevations of 1,220 to 1,000 meters above sea level, the air ______
A．has less oxygen                             B．is pollution
C．is pollution-free                             D．both A and C
63．The following factors except _________ contribute to the health and long life of all these people．
A．clean mountain air                          B．daily hard work
C．stress and pressure                        D．good genes
答案  59.A  60.C  61.C  62.D  63.C
Passage 22
(安徽省芜湖一中2008年高三5月最后一模E篇)
China is going green. In order to reduce air pollution and oil-shortages, automobile manufacturers have announced their plans to develop hybrid vehicles(混合燃料汽车) for the Chinese market. Toyota’s hybrid car Prius will be ready to drive in China this week. Let’s have a look at the new car.
Any vehicle is hybrid when it combines two or more sources of power. Hybrid cars run off a rechargeable battery(电池) and gasoline(汽油). Hybrid cars have special engines, which are smaller than traditional gasoline engines. They run at 99 percent of their power when the car is cruising(巡航). A specially designed battery motor provides extra power for running up hills or when extra acceleration(加速) is needed.
Step into a Prius, and turn on the engine. The first thing you notice is how much quieter it is than a traditional car. At this point, the car’s gasoline engine is dormant(休眠). The electric motor will provide power until the car reaches about 24 km/h. If you stay at a low speed, you are effectively driving an electric car, with no gasoline being used, and no waste gas gives off.
The onboard(车载的) computer makes the decision about when to use a gas engine, when to go electric, and when to use a combination of the two. If you go over 24 km/h, when you step on the gas pedal(油门), you are actually telling the computer how fast you want to go.
The electronic motor recharges automatically using a set of batteries. When driving at high speed, the gasoline engine not only powers the car, but also charges the batteries. Any time you use the brake, the electric motor in the wheels will work like a generator(发电机) and produce electricity to recharge the batteries. As a consequence, the car’s batteries will last for around 200,000 miles.
72．The author writes this passage mainly to        .
A．teach people how to drive a hybrid car
B．introduce a new kind of “green”car
C．show how to save their gasoline when driving a car
D．announce plans to develop hybrid vehicles for China
73．The first sentence probably refers to        .
A．there will be more and more green land in China
B．China is still young and lacking experience
C．China’s new cars are combinations of different green models
D．China has started producing environmentally friendly cars
74．Which of the following is NOT true?
A．The hybrid cars reduce air pollution and oil-shortages.
B．The car’s gasoline engine doesn’t work until it reaches about 24 km/h.
C．This kind of car is completely controlled by an onboard computer.
D．A specially designed battery motor provides extra power when needed.
75．What is the most important feature of hybrid cars?
A．They are powered by both a rechargeable battery and gasoline.
B．They are much quieter than traditional cars.
C．They only use 99 percent of their power to run up hills.
D．They have smaller engines than traditional gasoline ones.
答案  72.B  73.D  74.C  75.A
Passage 23
(福建省厦门双十中学2008年6月迎考热身试卷E篇)
Life on earth depends on water, and there is no substitute for it. The current assumption is that our basic needs for water — whether for drinking, agriculture, industry or the raising of fish will always have to be met . Given that premise (前提), there are two basic routes we can go: more equal access to water or better engineering solutions.
Looking at the engineering solution first, a lot of my research concentrates on what happens to wetlands when you build dams in river basins, particularly in Africa. The ecology of such areas is almost entirely driven by the seasonal changes of the river — the pulse of the water. And the fact is that if you build a dam, you generally spoil the downstream ecology. In the past, such problems have been hidden by a lack of information. But in the near future, governments will have no excuse for their ignorance.
The engineers’ ability to control water flows has created new kinds of unpredictability too. Dams in Africa have meant fewer fish, less grazing and less floodplain (洪泛区) agriculture — none of which were expected. And their average economic life is assumed to be thirty years. Dams don’t exist forever, but what will replace them is not clear.
The challenge for the future is to find new means of controlling water. Although GM technology (转基因) will allow us to breed better dry-land crops, there is no market for companies to develop crops suitable for the micro-climates of the Sahel and elsewhere in Africa. Who is going to pay for research on locally appropriate crops in the Third World?
71．What’s the main idea of this passage?
A．The engineering solutions to water resource and their limitation.
B．The challenge for the future.
C．The basic means of controlling water.
D．The challenge for developing crops.
72．Which of the following statements is NOT true for meeting our basic needs for water?
A．Water resource should be used more reasonably.
B．More dams should be built in river basins.
C．More wetlands should be protected from destruction.
D．More dry-land crops could be developed in Africa.
73．The author suggests that governments will have no excuse for their careless ignorance in the future because        .
A．the ecological destruction will be known to the public by researchers
B．the ecological destruction will no longer be a problem in the future
C．the future is an information age
D．governments will face greater challenge in the future
74．The author mentions all the problems caused by dams EXCEPT          .
A．fewer fish                                                     B．less grazing land
C．less floodplain agriculture                               D．less farming land
75．The last sentence probably implies that           .
A．no one will invest in developing locally appropriate crops in Africa
B．researchers have no interest in developing dry-land crops
C．research on locally appropriate crops in the Third World may be profitable
D．There is less water resource in the Third World
答案  71. A  72.B  73.C  74.D  75.A
Passage 24
(河南省开封市2008届第四次模拟考试C篇)
Britain is facing a sharp rise in its rat population as growing numbers of people leave fast food scraps in the street , an environment group warned . Keep Britain Tidy said the rodents(啮齿动物) were stopping their traditional hunts underground and were roaming the streets ,tempted by discarded burgers ,pizzas and crisps. "The rat population is on the rise and soon it'll be as common to see a rodent on our street as it is to see a dog or a cat," said group Director ,Sue Nelson. The practice of dumping fast food litter and scraps on the street rather than in the trash-with young men the worst offenders-was behind the rise. According to the National Rodent Survey in 2005, Britain's rat population has grown by nearly one quarter since 2000 and is now estimated at 60 million , two million more than the human population. On average a rat can give birth every 24--28 days and just a single pair of rats can produce a colony of 2,000 a year. Around 200 people a year get Weil's Disease——an infection which can lead to liver or kidney(肝肾) failure and eventually death and which is arrived in rat's waste. To highlight the issue , Keep Britain Tidy launched a cinema ad entitled "How close do you want them to get?" The advertisement gave a shocking image of a young woman sleeping in a bed of rots, echoing the nightmare scene from James Herbert's classic horror tale The Rats, in which mutant rodents begin to prey on(捕食)humans.
64. Where did the rodents use to search for food?
A. In the Street .                      B. Under the ground.
C. From the trash cans.                D. In burger shops.
65. What is the human population now according to the writer?
A. 60 million.     B. 58 million.        C. 35 million.        D. 2 million.
66. We may infer from the passage that ________.
A. Well's Disease will finally end the world
B. pizzas and crisps will become poisonous
C. rats will endanger human beings' life
D. young people are to blame for the rat population
67. By writing the passage, the author tries to _________.
A. close some of the burger and pizza restaurants
B. draw the public attention to the problem of rats
C. prevent the rats from growing up
D. make advertisement for the classic horror film The Rats
答案  64.B  65.B  66.C  67.B
Passage 25
(河南省开封市2008届第四次模拟考试D篇)
If you're training for a marathon   a proper plan for water intake (摄入) is important . Of course , there's the risk of dehydration (脱水) . But athletes now know they can also get into trouble by drinking too much. Too much water intake can lower levels of sodium (钠) in the blood  The death of a 28-year-old woman following the Boston Marathon caught the attention of many runners and led to new research.
Experts advise long distance runners to replace the liquids they sweat out. Their goal is to try to keep someone from not getting dehydrated by more than 2 percent of their body weight.
One technique for deciding how much water you need is to get the exact numbers. Runners have to weight themselves before and after a run to determine how much water they've lost. If their weight drops by more than 2 percent , they have not drunk enough water.
Hypothermia (体温过低) occurs when runners drink so much water that blood salt levels drop off . A study published last year tested 488 runners who completed the Boston Marathon and found 13 percent of them had dangerously low blood salt levels. The first sign that runners may notice is slightly swelling in the hands. They can’t get their rings off , and then they might feel sick. They may not remember where they are. In fact , most runners get enough salt to get back to normal levels by eating just one meal after a run. Contrary to the old advice that runners should drink as much as they can to prevent dehydration , the new research has shown that the body is a remarkable machine that actually tells you you need water when you feel thirsty.
68. The author of this passage is primarily concerned with ________.
A. the signs and treatment for dehydration
B. the long distance runners who need help
C. how to manage water intake during a marathon
D. a 284year-old woman who died after a Boston Marathon
69. What conclusion can we draw from the passage ?
A. Taking much salt during a run can avoid swelling on the head.
B. Either too much or too little of water intake is harmful.
C. A rich meal is helpful to our performance in a run .
D. We should take enough salt during a run.
70. According the passage, which of the following statements is correct ?
A. Too much water intake is very necessary in a long run.
B. Too much water intake can lower blood salt levels.
C. Thirteen of the 488 runners had dangerously low blood salt levels.
D. Runners should drina as much as they can to prevent dehydration.
答案  68.C  69.B  70.B
Passage 26
(河南省开封市2008届第四次模拟考试E篇)
The oldest forms of medicine are enjoying a comeback . Modern holistic medicine is an approach that treats the whole patient, not just the disease. It is a way to maintain good health rather than cure illness . The most important influences on today's holistic medicine are ancient Chinese medicine and Indian Ayurvedic medicine, both of which promoted whole body health.
Holistic medicine usually combines diet ,physical exercise and meditation, together with other alternative techniques such as massage(按摩)and acupuncture(针灸). Herbal treatment, a practice of treating illness by using plants, is influenced by the writings of Culpeper as well as Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. Homeopathy(顺势疗法)is one of the forms of holistic medicine which is widely practiced in Europe and the USA. Homeopathy began in Germany in the early 1800s, when Samuel Hahnemann described how very tiny doses(剂量)of a drug had an effect On his patients. According to Hahnemann, the more the drug was diluted(稀释), the stronger its effects . The substance selected would produce similar effects to the disease itself if given in large doses. In the UK homeopathy is regarded as a non-traditional but just about acceptable treatment.
Meditation and contemplation have an important role in holistic medicine. They were brought to Europe by Indian teachers who combined Indian Ayurvedic medicine with Western beliefs. Transcendental meditation (超脱静坐)is one of the best known of these techniques. People repeat words inside their heads to reach a state of deep relaxation.
The holistic movement has made many doctors look at the whole patient, not just the disease. Life-style, emotional problems and diet are just some of the factors that can affect a person's health. Holistic medicine emphasizes good diet, exercise and fresh air, all of which contribute to health . Some clinics now offer holistic medicine along with traditional treatments, so that their patients can choose a combination of treatments that suits them. One problem with holistic medicine is that it is difficult for people to be sure a doctor is reliable. To solve this, many countries want alternative doctors to form professional bodies.
71. Modern holistic medicine centers upon ________.
A. curing a disease                    B. herbal treatment
C. continuous development             D. keeping patients healthy
72. Which of the following does NOT belong to holistic medicine?
A. massage                          B. meditation
C. a balanced diet                     D. a knee operation
73. The principle of homeopathy is that ________.
A. the large doses of medicine that will not be harmful will take better effect
B. the disease will be cured sooner by taking larger doses of medicine
C. a small thinner dose of medicine will be more effective
D. the doses of medicine depend on how serious the illness is
74. Which of the following titles best sums up the passage?
A. Holistic Medicine                   B. Traditional Medicine Returns
C. History of Medicine                 D. Combination of Treatments Works
75. What can we infer from the passage?
A. Relaxation is the key of holistic treatment.
B. Holistic medicine needs to become more trustworthy.
C. Holistic treatment is more beneficial than traditional treatments.
D. Holistic medicine will become the most welcome treatment soon.
答案  71.D  72.D  73.C  74.A  75.B
Passage 27
(衡阳市八中2008届高三模拟试题C篇)
Desert ants on their expeditions for food use clues to lead themselves in the homeward direction, but with few landmarks in the poor land, scientists have wondered how the insects always take the most direct route and know exactly how far to march.
The new study shows that counting their steps is an important part of the scheme.
Over the years, scientists have proposed several theories for how ants find their way home. One is that they do it like honeybees and remember visual clues, but experiments showed ants can travel in the dark. Another theory is that because ants run at a steady pace, they could time how long it took them to get to and fro. Other studies have shown that once ants find a good source of food, they teach other ants how to find it.
The ant “pedometer” technique was first proposed in 1904, but it remained untested until now. Scientists trained desert ants to walk along a straight path from their nest entrance to a feeder 30 feet away. If the nest or feeder was moved, the ants would break from their straight path after reaching the expected spot and search for their goal.
Try that on stilts. They glued stilt-like extentions to the legs of some ants to lengthen stride. The researchers shortened other ants’ stride length by cutting off the ants’ feet and lower legs, reducing their legs to stumps.
The ants on stilts took the right number of steps, but because of their increased stride length, marched past their goal. Stump-legged ants, meanwhile, fell short of the goal. After getting used to their new legs, the ants were able to adjust their pedometer.
64. What is the passage mainly about?
A. Ants’ marching depends on counting their steps
B. Desert ants know how to look for food
C. The secret for ants’ marching is known to all
D. Ants know how far their food is
65. Apart from counting their steps, how can ants find their way?
A. By smelling                        B. By communicating
C.By hearing                         D. By recognising wind
66.About the ant pedometer, we know that______.
A. the technique is a recent discovery
B. ants always walk along a straight path
C. ants often change their nest to keep the pedometer
D. the pedometer needs changing depending on new situations
67. According to the passage, the “stump-legged ants”_______.
A. have longer legs than ones on stilts     B. have longer legs than the common ones
C. need more steps to reach their goal     D. can arrive at their goal as usual
答案  64. A  65.B  66.D  67.C
Passage 28
(衡阳市八中2008届高三模拟试题D篇)
Until recently, the “science of the future” was supposed to be electronics and artificial intelligence. Today it seems more and more likely that the next great breakthroughs in technology will be brought through a combination of those two sciences with organic chemistry and genetic engineering. This combination is the science of biotechnology.
Organic chemistry enables us to produce marvelous synthetic materials. However, it is still difficult to manufacture anything that has the capacity of wool to conserve heat and also to absorb moisture. Nothing that we have been able to produce so far comes anywhere near the combination of strength, lightness and flexibility that we find in the bodies of ordinary insects.
Nevertheless, scientists in the laboratory have already succeeded in “growing” a material that has many of the characteristics of human skin. The next step may well be “biotech hearts and eyes” which can replace diseased organs in human beings. These will not be rejected by the body, as is the case with organs from humans.
The application of biotechnology to energy production seems even more promising. In 1996 the famous science fiction writer, Arthur C. Clarke, many of whose previous predictions have come true, said that we may soon be able to develop remarkably cheap and renewable sources of energy. Some of these power sources will be biological. Clarke and others have warned us repeatedly that sooner or later we will have to give up our dependence on non-renewable power sources. Coal, oil and gas are indeed convenient. However, using them also means creating dangerously high levels of pollution. It will be impossible to meet the growing demand for energy without increasing that pollution to catastrophic levels unless we develop power sources that are both cheaper and cleaner.
It is attempting to think that biotechnology or some other “science of the future” can solve our problems. Before we surrender to that temptation we should remember nuclear power. Only a few generations ago it seemed to promise limitless, cheap and safe energy. Today those promises lie buried in a concrete grave in a place called Chernobyl, in the Ukraine. Biotechnology is unlikely, however, to break its promises in quite the same or such a dangerous way.
68.According to the passage, the science of the future is likely to be      .
A.biotechnology      B.electronics        C.genetic engineering         D.nuclear technology
69.Organic chemistry helps to produce materials that are     .
A.as good as wool                                  B.as good as an insect’s body
C.better than natural materials           D.not as good as natural materials
70.According to passage, it may soon be possible     .
A.to make something as good as human skin
B.to make artificial hearts and eyes
C.to transplant human organs
D.to produce drugs without side effects
71.In 1996, Arthur C. Clarke predicted that______.
A.the Chernobyl disaster would happen in two years
B.biological power sources would be put into use soon
C.oil, gas and coal could be repeatedly used in the future
D.dependence on non-renewable power sources would be reduced soon
72.What do we learn from the last paragraph?
A.Biological power will keep all its promises
B.Biotechnology can solve all our future energy problems
C.Biological power is cheaper than nuclear power
D.Biological power may not be as dangerous as nuclear power
答案  68.A  69.D  70.B  71.B  72.D
Passage 29
(辽宁省沈阳二中2008届第四次模拟考试A篇)
A recent survey by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) found that about a third of nurses in UK planned to give up their jobs in the next two years because of the amount of worries and unhappiness with their pay.
Among those under 40, the percentage of nurses planning to leave their employers increased from 32% in 2005 to 36% in 2007.
The survey also found that 71% of nurses believed they could be paid more for less effort if they left nursing, compared to 60% in 1997.
The research was published as the RCN hosted a meeting for nurse leaders to deal with the growing concerns of the nurses.
Josie Irwin, an RCN expert, said, “ Many nurses say that changes in junior doctors’ hours have resulted in an increase in their workload. Nurses are under more and more pressure.”
Ms Irwin added, “Only 22% of all nurses disagree that they are under too much pressure.”
She also said that 27% of nurses had a second job, with the main reason that they needed some extra income.
“Nurses have made it clear that while they enjoy their work, they have more to do than ever and are not being paid enough to do it.” She added. “ For this reason, the RCN is calling for a pay increase for nurses to bring their pay into line with others.”
The survey of 4,795 nurses found that some important changes to the profession had taken place in recent years. The average age of the nurses questioned was 42 ---compared to an average of 33 in 1987. The RCN said that the age increase was because people were now becoming nurses later. In the 1960s, the average age of a nurse on the completion of training was 21, but over the last 5 years it has been an average of 29.
56.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.      Nurses in Britain are badly paid.
B.      Nurses in UK tend to be older in age than before.
C.      Half of the nurses in UK want to leave their jobs.
D.     There is less work pressure on nurses in UK.
57.The main reason for the decrease of nurses is_____.
A. heavy workload and long-time training
B. poor working conditions
C. change in junior doctors’ hours
D. workload and unhappiness with the pay
58. From the passage we know______.
A. 27% of the nurses have another job for extra income.
B. Only 27% of all nurses agree that they are under too much pressure.
C. people are envious of the nurses’ job
D. Few changes to the profession of the nurses have taken place in recent years.
59.What would be the best title for this passage?
A. Nurses dislike their jobs.
B. Nurses’ low income
C. Nurses plan to give up their jobs.
D. Nurses’ pressure
答案  56.B  57.D  58.A  59.C
Passage 30
(辽宁省沈阳二中2008届第四次模拟考试B篇)
It’s not all kangaroos down there
People just naturally associate kangaroo, koala and fine beaches with Australia. Yes, you can find many fine sand beaches, white or brown, to enjoy the sunshine and seaside breeze. However, in Queensland, the eastern state of Australia, a night beach tour at this time of the year may bring you a more exciting sight of the miracle of life: You can watch hatching baby turtles making their first steps in a natural environment.
On Mon Repos beach, about 14 kilometres east of city of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia, lies Mon Repos Conservation Park.
By day, Mon Repos beach is a sweeping bay of brown sand, a quiet spot for people to sunbathe, surf and fish.
By night, it’s home to the largest concentration of endangered marine turtles on the eastern Australian mainland. And the miracle of egg laying and hatching happens from around mid-October to the end of April every year.
In order not to disturb the turtles,  tourists have to follow the instruction of the guides.
But this may make the tour more like an adventure: Tourist are usually told to huddle (蜷缩) close together, hold hands and walk close to the shoreline in the dark.
At the start of the season (October and November), tourists can view turtle laying their eggs. Turtles first use all four flippers (鳍状肢) to dig a body pit (坑) in the sand and then lay eggs in it. It’s not uncommon for a turtle to lay more than 100 eggs at a time. And her mission isn’t done until she uses her flippers to flick sand and cover the nest.
If you go there at the end of the season (March to April), you can see groups of hatchings walk down to the water. It is an astonishing sight as the small creatures，barely two minutes old, race instinctively to the sea,
If they survive, the same hatchings will return in 50 years’ time to lay eggs on the very beach where they first emerged(出现).
60. The first paragraph is intended to ________.
A. recommend the readers to have a holiday in Australia
B. give the readers an idea of the different sceneries of Australia
C. show that Australia has a variety of animals.
D. draw the readers’ attention to the topic of this article.
61. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. turtle can usually lay 100 eggs at a time.
B. It’s quite dangerous for the tourist to watch the turtles at night by the seashore.
C. Turtles usually lay eggs when they are 50 years of age.
D. If you go to the beach in October, you can see turtles lay eggs.
62. The underlined word in the passage probably refers to ______.
A. the process of hatching
B. the mother turtles
C. the end of hatching
D. newly-born turtles
63. Which of the following shows the correct relationship of the three places? (M=Mon Repos Conservation Park; Q=Queensland; B=Bundaberg)
答案  60.D  61.B  62.D  63.C
Passage 31
(山东诸城等四县市2008年高考适应性训练B篇)
Whether the eyes are “the windows of the soul” is debatable；that they are intensely important
in interpersonal communication is a fact．During the first two months of a baby's life，the stimulus
(刺激物)that produces a smile is a pair of eyes．The eyes need not be real：a mask with two dots
will produce a smile．Significantly，a real human face with eyes coveted will not motivate a smile，
nor will the sight of only one eye when the face is presented in profile(侧面)．This attraction to eyes as opposed to the nose or mouth continues as the baby matures．In one study，when American
four-year-olds were asked to draw people，75 percent of them drew people with mouths，but 99 percent of them drew people with eyes．In Japan，however，where babies ale carried on their mother's back，they do not acquire as much attachment to eyes as they do in other cultures．As a result，Japanese adults make little use of the face either to encode(把…编码)or decode(理解)meaning．In fact，Argyle reveals that the “proper place to focus one's gaze during a conversation in Japan is on the neck of one's conversation partner．”
The role of eye contact in a conversational exchange between two Americans is well defined：
speakers make contact with the eyes of their listener for about one second，then glance away as they talk；in a few moments they re-establish eye contact with the listener or reassure themselves that their audience is still attentive，then shift their gaze away once more．Listeners，meanwhile，keep their eyes on the face of the speaker，allowing themselves to glance away only briefly．It is important that they be looking at the speaker at the precise moment when the speaker reestablishes eye contact, if they are not looking，the speaker assumes that they are disinterested and either will pause until eye contact is resumed or will stop the conversation．Just how critical this eye contacting is to the maintenance(维持)of conversational flow becomes clear when two speakers are wearing dark glasses：there may be a sort of traffic jam of words caused by interruption，false starts，and unpredictable pauses．
61．The author is convinced that the eyes are
A．of extreme importance in expressing feelings and exchanging ideas
B．something through which one can see a person's inner world
C．of considerable significance in making conversations interesting
D．something the value of which is largely a matter of long debate
62．Babies will NOT be stimulated to smile by a person       ．
A．whose front view is fully perceived(感知)
B．whose face is covered with a mask
C．whose face is seen from the side
D．whose face is free of any covering
63．According to the passage，the Japanese fix their gaze on their conversation partner's neck because
A．they don't like to keep their eyes on the face of the speaker
B．they need not communicate through eye contact
C．they don't think it polite to have eye contact with him or her
D．they didn't have much opportunity to communicate through eye contact in babyhood
64．According to the passage，a conversation between two Americans may break down due to
A．one temporarily glancing away from the other
B．eye contact of more than one second
C．improperly-timed pause of eye contact
D．constant adjustment of eye contact
65．To keep a conversation flowing smoothly，it is better for the participants ．
A．not to wear sunglasses
B．not to make any interruptions
C．not to glance away from each other
D．not to make unpredictable pauses
答案  61.D  62.A  63.C  64.D
Passage 32
(浙江省金华一中2008年5月高考模拟D篇)
First it was jogging. Then aerobics（有氧运动）. Not too long ago, Americans discovered race walking.
Now Americans are into a new fitness craze. They’re taking up bicycling. Over hills and down mountainsides and across quiet country roads, Americans are busily rolling along.
The number of adults who ride for fitness is around 17 million, an increase of 70 percent over four years ago. Twice as many women as men are coming to the sport. Americans are falling in love with biking because it has speed, the benefits of jogging and beautiful scenery.
Bicycling is a very appropriate sport, which is important to people who injured their knees while jogging or whose joints are aching from aerobics. And biking is a real awakening for people who have been into race walking in the past. Race walking is as dull as watching paint dry.
The most popular kind of bicycle for people who are new to the sport is the mountain bike, which has a fixed frame with wide tires and upright handles. Mountain bikes also have many gears（齿轮） to make it easier to climb hills. About 5 million Americans ride mountain bikes, compared with 200,000 who rode them only five years ago.
Costs range from about ＄130 for a bottom-of-the-line bicycle to more than ＄2,700 for an expensive bicycle.
Mountain biking has attracted some people who race down the sides of mountains like a bat out of hell. But most riders ride slowly and they rarely venture far from home.
The biking craze has brought an unexpected profit（盈利） to clothing and bicycle accessory（附属品）makers. Last year, bikers paid ＄630 million for biking clothes and accessories.
Bicycling seems likely to continue its fantastic growth.
53. Race walking is about as dull as watching paint dry because
A. race walking is a slow-moving sport
B. the number of adults who ride for fitness has grown 70 percent in four years.
C. it has speed, the benefits of jogging and beautiful scenery.
D. Americans are taking up bicycling.
54. The bicycling craze has been a profit for            .
A. people who want to ride like a bat out of hell
B. bicycle accessory makers
C. race walkers
D. twice as many women as men
55. What does the underlined word “bottom-of-the-line” mean?
A. poor       B. modern    C. old        D. cheapest
56. The main idea of the article is _______
A. riding a bicycle is one of the most dangerous sports in America
B. Americans are rolling along
C. bicycling is the latest fitness craze to hit America
D. most people in America want to own a hand-made bicycle that can cost more than 2,700
答案  53.A  54.B  55.D  56.C
Passage 33
(2007年北京海淀区高三年级第一学期期末E篇)
The oldest forms of medicine are enjoying a comeback .Modern holistic medicine is an approach that treats the whole patient ,not just the disease .It is a way to maintain good health rather than cure illness .The most important influences on today’s holistic medicine are ancient Chinese medicine and Indian Ayurvedic medicine, both of which promoted whole body health.
Holistic medicine usually combines diet ,physical exercise and meditation, together with other alternative techniques such as massage（按摩）and acupuncture（针炙）.Herbal treatment ,a practice of treating illness by using plants, is influenced by the writings of Culpeper as well as Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. Homeopathy（顺势疗法）is one of the forms of holistic medicine which is widely practiced in Europe and the USA .Homeopathy began in Germany in the early 1800s, when Samuel Hahnemann bescribed how very tiny doses（剂量）of a drug had an effect on his patients .According to Hahnemann, the more the drug was diluted（稀释）,the stronger its effects .The substance selected would produce similar effects to the disease itself if given in large doses. In the UK homeopathy is regarded as a non-traditional but just about acceptable treatment.
Meditation and contemplation have an important role in holistic medicine. They were brought to Europe by Indian teachers who combined Indian Ayurvedic medicine with Western beliefs. Transcendental meditation（超脱静坐）is one of the best known of these techniques .People repeat words inside their head to reach a state of deep relaxation.
The holistic movement has made many doctors look at the whole patient ,not just the disease .Life-style,emotional problems and diet are just some of the factors that can affect a person’s health . Holistic medicine emphasizes good diet , exercise and fresh air ,all of which
contribute to health .Some clinics now offer holistic medicine along with traditional treatments ,so
that their patients can choose a combination of treatments that suits them. One problem with holistic medicine is that it is difficult for people to be sure a doctor is reliable. To solve this ,many countries want alternative doctors to form professional bodies.
71．Modern holistic medicine centers upon     .
A．curing a disease                                   B．herbal treatment
C．continuous development                       D．keeping patients healthy
72．Which of the following does NOT belong to holistic medicine?
A．massage                                             B．meditation
C．a balanced diet                                     D．a knee operation
73．The principle of homeopathy is that     .
A．the large doses of medicine that will not be harmful will take better effect
B．the disease will be cured sooner by taking larger doses of medicine
C．a small thinner dose of medicine will be more effective
D．the doses of medicine depend on how serious the illness is
74．Which of the following titles best sums up the passage?
A．Holistic Medicine                                 B．Traditional Medicine Returns
C．History of Medicine                             D．Combination of Treatments Works
75．What can we infer from the passage?
A．Relaxation is the key of holistic treatment.
B．Holistic medicine needs to become more trustworthy.
C．Holistic treatment is more beneficial than traditional treatments.
D．Holistic medicine will become the most welcome treatment soon.
答案  71.D  72.D  73.C  74.A  75.B
Passage 34
(北京东城区2006—2007学年度第一学期期末教学目标检测A篇)
How Do Animals Catch Their ZZZ’s?
Different creatures have developed some pretty creative ways to get their rest and stay safe. The lizard（蜥蝎）likes to sleep at the far end of small branches hanging out over a pond or lake in the rain forest. If a snake tries to slither up the branch to eat it ,it will shake the branch and knock the lizard off ,and the lizard will fall safely into the water. Chameleons can change color to match their surroundings in order to hide even while sleeping.
Corillas（大猩猩）like to sleep high in the trees. They build a new bed every night, sometimes taking up to half an hour to pile branches ,twigs ,and leaves into a comfortable bed .Birds also find it safe to sleep in the trees, but unless they have eggs or young chicks ,they don’t use a nest .They just lock their feet around a branch and hang on .A special tendon（腱）in their legs in automatically tight when they are at rest ,so they won’t let go and fall.
Dolphins live underwater ,but must come to the surface to breather .Scientists now believe that dolphins may sleep with only half their brain, while the other half stays awake to keep them safe and breathing. Seals also do this ,lying on their sides on the surface of the water with one flipper underwater paddling to keep their noses above the surface. Some ducks may also have this ability, and actually sleep with one eye closed and one eye open.
56．How many animals are mentioned in this passage?
A．6.                       B．7.                       C．8.                       D．9.
57．How does a chameleon protect itself while sleeping?
A．By changing its body colors.                 B．By hinging out over a pond.
C．By sleeping with half their brain.            D．By making beds with branches.
58．Why will not birds fall when they are at rest?
A．They build nests and sleep in them.        B．They fall asleep automatically.
C．They have a loose tendon in their legs.   D．They lock their feet around a branch.
59．What does the writer intend to tell us?
A．The cleverest animal is the gorilla because it can make beds.
B．Differences in habitat could lead to different living habits.
C．The ways animals catch their ZZZ’s are pretty much he same .
D．In order to protect themselves most animals choose not to sleep.
答案  56.C  57.A  58.D  59.B
Passage 35
(北京东城区2006—2007学年度第一学期期末教学目标检测C篇)
Britain is facing a sharp rise in its rat population as growing numbers of people leave fast food scraps in the street ,an environment group warned .Keep Britain Tidy said the rodents（啮齿动物）were stopping their traditional hunts underground and were roaming the streets ,tempted by discarded burgers ,pizzas and crisps. “The rat population is on the rise and soon it’ll be as common to see a rodent on our street as it is to see a dog or a cat,” said group Director ,Sue Nelson. The practice of dumping fast food litter and scraps on the street rather than in the trash—with young men the worst offenders—was behind the rise. According to the National Rodent Survey in 2005, Britain’s rat population has grown by nearly one quarter since 2000 and is now estimated at 60 million ,two million more than the human population. On average a rat can give birth every 24—28 days and just a single pair of rats can produce a colony of 2,000 a year. Around 200 people a year get Weil’s Disease –an infection which can lead to liver or kidney（肝肾）failure and eventually death and which is arrived in rat’s waste. To highlight the issue ,Keep Britain Tidy launched a cinema ad entitled “How close do you want them to get?” The ad gave a shocking image of a young woman sleeping in a bed of rots –echoing the nightmare scene from James Herbert’s classic horror tale The Rats, in which mutant rodents begin to prey on（捕食）humans.
64．Where did the rodents use to search for food?
A．In the Street .                                      B．Under the ground.
C．From the trash cans.                            D．In burger shops.
65．What is the human population now according to the writer?
A．60 million.           B．58 million.           C．35 million.           D．2 million.
66．We may infer from the passage that      .
A．Weil’s Disease will finally end the world
B．pizzas and crisps will become poisonous
C．rats will endanger human beings’ life
D．young people are blame for the rat population
67．By writing the passage, the author tries to       .
A．close some of the burger and pizza restaurants
B．draw the public attention to the problem of rats
C．prevent the rats from growing up
D．making advertisement for the classic horror film The Rats
答案  64.B  65.B  66.C  67.B
Passage 36
(北京市北大附中2007年5月高三最后适应测试E篇)
Even facts “forgotten” by people during a busy day may be retrieved if this is followed by a good night’s sleep.
Researchers from the University of Chicago asked volunteers to remember simple words．Many found their memories letting them down towards the end of the day, but the following morning, those who had slept well could recall much more.
Researchers, writing in the journal Nature, said the brain could “rescue” lost memories during the night.
When the brain is first asked to remember something that memory is laid down in an “unstable” state, meaning that it is possible that it could be lost．At some point, the brain consolidates those it deems important into a “stable”, more permanent state．However, the Chicago researchers suggested that it was possible for a “stable” memory to be made “unstable” again．This would mean that memories could be modified then filed away again in the face of new experiences.
The 12 volunteers tested in the experiment were played words created through a speech synthesizer which were purposely difficult to understand．Initially, the written version of the word  from the audio version only．Tests revealed that the ability to recall the right word tended to tail off as the day ended.
However, when the volunteers were retested after a good night’s sleep, they were able to recall some words that they had “ forgotten” the previous evening.
Dr Daniel, one of the study authors, said: “Sleep consolidates memories, protecting them against subsequent interference or decay．Sleep also appears to “recover” or restore memories.” He said: “If performance is reduced by decay, sleep might actively recover what has been lost.”
Dr Karim Nader, from the Department of Psychology in McGill University in Montreal, said: “Memory research is undergoing a transformation---no longer is memory thought to be a hard-writing of the brain, instead it seems to be a process of storage and restorage.”
Sleep helps some memories “mature” and also prunes out unimportant memories.
72．What does the first paragraph implies?
A．A busy day makes people forget things easily.
B．People need a good night’s sleep after a busy day.
C．A good night’s sleep helps memories.
D．A good night’s sleep helps people forget a busy day.
73．The words the 12 volunteers played in the experiment were not ____
A．created through a speech synthesizer
B．hard to understand
C．available at the beginning
D．designed to test people’s ability of understanding
74．According to the passage, memory_____
A．is a hard-writing of the brain
B．is not a process of storage
C．is not a process of restorage
D．will be mature with the help of sleep
75．Which of the following is NOT true?
A．When people first remember something, the memory is in an “unstable state”.
B．The brain will change those important unstable memories into stable.
C．Once the memory become stable, it will never become unstable again.
D．Sleep can protect memories from being harmed.
答案  72.C  73.D  74.D  75.C
Passage 37
(吉林省实验中学2007届高三第四次模拟考试A篇)
LONDON- “Everyone else has one!” Lucy declared to her parents, trying to get a mobile phone as a gift for 14th birthday. Her parents gave in.
Curious to know how her daughter would use the phone, Jane Bidder, the mother, followed Lucy to the school bus in the morning. The bus seats 20, of whom half have a mobile phone. One rings and several adolescent owners fumble with their bags.
Many parents have just come to realize that the mobile phone is no longer for traveling businessmen—it is as likely to be found in school bags.
The mobile phone seems to have become something essential for today’s teens in Britain, according to a survey published last week, by NOP, a leading market research company in Britain. Research found that 66 percent of 16 – year – olds now have access to a mobile phone.
The mobile phone has been turned into a secret messaging service by teen users. When they are talking on the mobile, their parents are not able to eavesdrop on the second line.
The interview with 2,019 young people aged 7 to 16 found that they favor the text messaging service because they offer a secret way of keeping in touch. The days of secret notes in the classroom are dying out.
For example, “cul” means “see you later”; “lol” means “laugh out loud’; and “2nite” is the abbreviation of “tonight”. All these are based on shorthand phrases on the Internet.
Many schools have banned students using mobile phones. But they are not very successful. Still phones ring in the class and disturb study. Besides, people are worried about the health risk to kids using mobile phones.
Scientists believe children are especially vulnerable（易受伤的）mobile radiation.
41．The story of Lucy is told to show us          .
A．British parents always meet their children’s needs.
B．British kids have good relationship with their parents.
C．how British parents accept the truth of teenagers owning a mobile phone.
D．why every child gets a mobile phone as a birthday present in UK
42．Which of the following statements is NOT   true according to the passage?
A．People worry about the harm to the kids’ health by using mobile phone.
B．Teenagers want to have their own secret.
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C．Lucy does not get the mobile phone she wants
D．Teenagers like to send messages to each other
43．The underlined word “eavesdrop” means          .
A．join in actively                                     B．interrupt rudely
C．watch carefully                                   D．listen secretly
44．Interviews discover children like to send messages instead of          .
A．calling each other                                 B．writing to each other
C．playing games online                            D．greeting each other
答案  41.C  42.C  43.D  44.B
Passage 38
(吉林省实验中学2007届高三第四次模拟考试D篇)
Moods, say the experts, are feelings that tend to become fixed, influencing one’s outlook for hours, days or even weeks. That’s great if your mood is a pleasant one, but a problem if you are sad, anxious, angry or simply lonely.
Perhaps the best way to deal with such moods is to talk them out; sometimes, though, there is no one to listen. Modern pharmacology（药理学）offers a lot of tranquilizers（镇静剂）. What many people don’t realize, however, is that scientists have discovered the effectiveness of several non – drug methods to set you loose from an unwanted mood. These can be just as useful as drugs, and have the added benefit of being nonpoisonous So next time you feel out of sorts, don’t head for the drug – store but try the following methods.
Of all the mood – altering self – help techniques, aerobic exercise（有氧运动）seems to be the most efficient cure for a bad mood. “If you could keep up the exercise you’d be in high spirits,” says Kathryn Lance, author of Running for Health and Beauty.
Researchers have explained biochemical an various other changes that make exercise compare favorable to drugs as a mood raiser. Physical work such as housework, however, does little. The key is aerobic exercise —running, cycling, walking, swimming or other repetitive and sustained activities that increase the heart rate, increase blood circulation and improve the body’s use of oxygen. Do some of the activities for at least 20 minutes a session three to five times a week.
53．What is the main subject of the passage?
A．How to beat a bad mood                       B．How to talk bad moods out
C．How to do physical exercises                D．How to do aerobic exercises
54．It can be inferred from the passage that            .
A．when one is in a bad mood, he or she may not work very well
B．the best way to overcome a bad mood is to talk to oneself
C．some drugs are more effective than physical exercises
D．taking drugs is at risk of being poisonous
55．The phrase “feel out of sorts”, could be best replaced by            .
A．put things in order                               B．are in a bad mood
C．search for tranquilizers                         D．want a mood - raiser
56．Which of the following best describes the organization of the this passage?
A．An exercise and its importance are explained.
B．A problem is examined and solutions are given.
C．Two different views of a problem are presented.
D．Recent developments in medicine are described.
57．According to the passage, all of the following are true except            .
A．moods can have an effect on people’s feelings
B．aerobic exercise can help people get rid of the bad moods.
C．scientists have provided people with many tranquilizers
D．swimming, or running is an effective cure for a bad mood
答案  53.D  54.B  55.B  56.A   57.A
Passage 39
(江苏省启东中学2007高考最后冲刺练习A篇)
A Battery’s Worst Nightmare (噩梦)
Portable electronics that can be carried about easily are only as good as their batteries and, let’s face it, batteries aren’t very good, especially when compared with, say, petrol, which packs 100 times a battery’s energy into an equal space. That’s why a large group of mechanical engineers (centered at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, but with partners at other universities and companies) are hard at work in an effort to replace batteries with a tiny engine that runs on fuel. Imagine a battery-free life! When the fuel runs out in your laptop or mobile phone, you just fill up and go.
The engine—about the size of a ten-cent coin—starts with a combustion chamber (燃烧室) that burns hydrogen (氢) . Its tiny parts are etched onto silicon wafers (硅片) in the same manner that computer parts are imprinted onto integrated circuits (集成电路). The first engine is made up of five wafers. And since these wafers could be produced in much the same way as computer chips, they could probably be produced quite cheaply.
But the devil in all this nice detail is efficiency（效率）. Tiny engine parts don’t always behave like their scaled-up parts of the first engine. Something between the parts can slow down the works, according to Columbia University professor Luc Frechette, one of the engine’s designers. Extreme heat from the combustion chamber is also a problem, often leaking to other parts of the engine.
The scientists’ goal is to create an engine that will operate at 10 percent efficiency —that is, 10 times better than batteries operate. Frechette says that a complete system, with all parts of place and working, will be set up in the next couple of years, but commercial models aren’t like until at least the end of the next ten years.
1. According to the passage, the title suggests that ________
A. batteries should be greatly improved
B. petrol will be used instead of batteries
C. the time of batteries will be gone forever
D. pollution caused by batteries must be solved
2. What’s the meaning of the underlined word “devil” in paragraph 3?
A. problem　  B. advantage　       C. invention　 Ｄ. technique
3. What can we infer from the passage?
A. The new invention doesn’t need any fuel.
B. The new engine has been produced in quantity.
C. The new invention is much cheaper than the battery.
D. The new engine needs to be improved before it’s on sale
4. What is the main purpose of this passage?
A. To introduce a new invention to readers.
B. To persuade readers not to use batteries.
C. To show us how the new invention works.
D. To declare when the engine will be on sale.
答案  1.C  2.A  3.D  4.A
Passage 40
(山东省滨州市2007届高三第四次模拟考试D篇)
If you have ever been rock climbing, then you will know that it is not a very easy sport. In fact you probably felt quite defeated when you first tried to do any serious climbing. Indoor and outdoor rock climbing are both extremely demanding and, like anything else, require practice, to get good at. What most people don’t know is that the sport of rock climbing is one of the most physically and mentally demanding sports there is.
There are three basic types of rock climbing. Top roping is probably one of the most common types and is basically climbing with a partner. The second type, which is very similar to top roping, is called lead climbing. In both of these types of rock climbing the climber can sit off the wall and rest on the rope.
The third type of rock climbing is called bouldering. Bouldering is a type of free climbing without any ropes. This is the most demanding of all climbing types. The climber must be able to complete the climbing without taking a rest on the rope.
Believe it or not, climbing is said to be about 75% legs and only 25% arms. To climb efficiently and successfully, a person needs to have a wonderful technique. One of the major rules of rock climbing is to always have three points touching the wall, whether it is both feet and one hand, or one foot and both hands, as it is much easier to have your weight rest on three points than on two. Another important idea to grasp is that your arms in most cases will do the climbing; they only hold you into the wall so that your legs are actually pushing you upward. Also, the closer you are to the wall, the easier it is to climb.
Rock climbing may sound a bit too extreme for the everyday person but it really is an amazing workout. Once you get into the sport, and learn how to position your body and rest your weight, then you can begin to deal with some difficult problems. The great thing about rock climbing is that it is mentally challenging as well. You are constantly analyzing the way your body moves and how to do certain moves on the wall. For anyone who wants to get into shape, rock climbing is a fun and effective way to exercise muscles.
71．What does the author think of rock climbing?
A．It is an easy sport.                                                               B．It is challenging.
C．It is quite dangerous.                            D．It is extremely difficult.
72．According to this passage, we know that __________.
A．indoor rock climbing is much easier than outdoor rock climbing
B．while rock climbing, people depend mainly on their arms
C．ordinary people can practise rock climbing
D．during climbing, the climber can always stop for a rest
73．It is much easier for a rock climber if he ___________ while climbing.
A．takes a rope                                        B．has a partner
C．has three points touching the wall          D．uses feet more often
74．___________ will make rock climb easier.
A．Keeping the body closer to the wall
B．Resting more often on the arms
C．Resting more often on the feet
D．Pushing forward without thinking of the problems
75．By rock climbing, one can _____________.
A．get more weight and stronger muscles
B．get both physical and mental exercises
C．have a terrible experience that will last long.
D．probably feel quite defeated
答案  71.B  72.C  73.C  74.A  75.B