Some scientists warn that ice near the Earth’s Poles may indeed be melting. This “polar meltdown” may be the first sign that the Earth is heating up. We could be in very serious trouble if this trend continues. It is estimated that a meltdown of as little as 10 percent of Antarctica’s ice would raise sea levels around the globe by 4 to 9 meters. Floods would cover low-lying regions and turn coastal cities like New York and New Orleans into real life underwater world.
Scientists first predicted in the 1970s that heat trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere could cause a polar meltdown. Many now believe that human activities are turning up the heat. When we burn fossil fuels like coal and oil, we add carbon dioxide(CO2) gas to the Earth’s atmosphere. Cutting down trees also makes CO2 levels raise because trees normally soak up CO2 to make food. Scientists say higher CO2 levels strengthen the “greenhouse effect” and could increase the Earth’s temperature. In fact, CO2 levels have risen by 30 percent since the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Over the past three years, satellite measurements have shown a sea level rise of about a quarter inch worldwide. “If nothing is done to reduce fossil-fuel pollution and global warming, sea levels will rise even more.” says geologist Richard Alley.
But even Alley admits that a polar meltdown would take time. The ice in Antarctica and Arctic locks up nearly nine times the volume of water contained in all the world’s rivers and lakes. These are such big “ice cubes” and it would probably take thousands of years to melt them.
Another scientist Charles Bentley doesn’t think a meltdown will happen at all. “Even if warmer temperatures begin to melt polar-ice,” he says, “the excess moisture would most likely be redeposit as snow.” In other words, the melted ice would evaporate into the atmosphere, refreeze, and fall as rain and snow over the Poles.What consequence of global warming is mentioned in the passage?
| A．More tropical storms. | B．More tropical diseases. |
| C．Changes in farm productivity. | D．Coastal flooding. |
Which of the following statements does the second paragraph support?
| A．CO2 in the atmosphere cannot keep the heat from escaping into space. |
| B．The increase of CO2 gas may warm the planet and help to melt polar ice. |
| C．Cutting down trees helps to greatly reduce CO2 levels. |
| D．The end of the short-lived age of fossil fuels is already in sight. |
Geologist Richard Alley most likely agrees that _______.
| A．the sea-level rise can be prevented by cutting back on energy-consuming activities |
| B．the recent breaking off of ice blocks from Antarctica is just a natural part of a long-term cycle |
| C．Antarctica temperatures have significantly changed since the Industrial Revolution |
| D．the polar meltdown may be an accidental change of climate rather than a sign of global warming |
Charles Bentley believes that a polar meltdown will not occur because _______.
| A．governments around the world are beginning to reduce CO2 levels in the air |
| B．a melting of the polar ice cannot be achieved with the present technologies |
| C．the melted ice in the polar areas would change into snow and rain over the Poles |
| D．the sun’s heat would have no chance of being absorbed by the polar ice |
In which paragraph does the author mention the immense quantities of polar ice?
| A．In the second paragraph. | B．In the third paragraph. |
| C．In the fourth paragraph. | D．In the fifth paragraph. |
第三部分：阅读理解(共20小题：每小题2分，满分40分)
阅读下面短文，从每题所给的四个选项A、B、C和D中，选出最佳选项。
"BANG!" the door caused a reverberation(回声). It was just standing there, with Father standing on one side, and I on the other side.
We were both in great anger. "Never set foot in this house again!" stormed Father. With tears welling up in my eyes, I rushed out of the flat and ran along the street.
The street lights were shining rather desolately(凄凉的). I wandered aimlessly.
A young father who held a child in his arms walked past me. I felt as if I saw my childhood from another space: happy and harmonious.
But now... I don't know whether it is because I have grown up or because dad is getting old. We differ in our ways of thinking. He always forces his opinions and codes of behavior on me. Whenever I do something wrong, he never turns a blind eye to it. We are just like two people coming from two different worlds. It feels like there is an iron door between us that can never be opened.
I wandered the streets, without a destination in mind. My heart was frozen on this hot summer night. As I walked on there were fewer and fewer people on the streets, until I had only the street lights to keep me company. When I finally reached the high-rise apartment block in which I lived, I saw that the light was still on.
In fact, it was nothing. Perhaps, dad was throwing away some of his old stamps. Perhaps he thought they were useless. I never had the courage to tell him that I liked collecting stamps. I can't stand his outrageous(蛮横的) words: " I can throw you away, let alone these old papers."
All the lights were off except father's.
Dad was always like this. Maybe he didn't know how to express himself. After shouting at me, he never showed any mercy or any moments of regret. After an argument he has the habit of approaching in my sleep and then covering me with the quilt.
This was how he always was. He has been a leader for so long that telling everyone else what to do has become his second nature.
The light was still on. "Am I wrong?" I whispered, maybe... With the key in hand, I was as nervous as I had ever been. At last, I decided to open the door. As soon as I opened the door, tears ran down my cheeks. I suddenly realized that the iron door that I had imagined between us did not exist at all. Love-is second to none.
1. Decide which is the best order of the following according to what happened in the passage.
a. I opened the door and entered the house.
b. Sadly I ran out into the street.
c. I reached the place where I lived and saw my house still brightly lit.
d. I thought of my father's kindness towards me.
e. I walked about in the street without any aim.
A. b, e, d, c, a B. b, e, c, d, a C. b, e, a, c, d D. b, e, c, a, d
2. What made the writer think of his childhood?
A. The sight of the desolate street lights.
B. The sight of the empty street.
C. The sight of a father with a child in his arms.
D. The sight of light in his own house.
3. Why do you think the father often shouts at his son?
A. Perhaps the father is getting older and older.
B. Perhaps the son has already grown up.
C. Perhaps they never agree with each other.
D. Perhaps the father has got used to doing that.
4. What conclusion can you draw after reading the passage?
A. The father is actually kind to his son.
B. The father treats his son in an unfair way.
C. The father is neither kind nor cruel to his son.
D. The father is always finding fault with his son.
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 degree 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 many open spaces in both deep tropical forests and in the woodlands that cover part of the African savannas.In these open spaces are many 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 large areas of forest and savanna,greatly changing and worsening the whole ecosystem. 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. |
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. |
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. |
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 |
Three Gorges Cruises(游程)
Day 1 Home → Beijing
We will meet you at the airport in Beijing and take you to the hotel in the downtown area.
Day 2 Beijing
After breakfast, you’ll visit Tiananmen Square. Then you will go to the Forbidden City, the home of Chinese emperors for more than 500 years. In the evening you will attend a welcome party and have a chance to enjoy Beijing Roast Duck!
Day 3 Beijing → Chongqing
After breakfast, you will fly to Chongqing and visit the Chongqing Museum. Then your cruise down the Yangtze River will begin on the five-star cruise ship, Regal China. You will spend the night on the ship.
Day 4 Chongqing → Fengdu
At 8:00 a.m., the cruise will leave Chongqing. Relax on the deck, and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the river. In the afternoon, we will arrive at Ghost City — Fengdu for an excursion (短途游览) on the shore. Overnight on the ship.
Day 5 Three Gorges
You will sail through the Qutang Gorge and the Wu Gorge, and take a small boat down the Shennong Stream to enjoy the scenery.
Day 6 Three Gorges
After passing the Xiling Gorge, you will go on a morning shore excursion to the Three Gorges Dam.
Day 7 Three Gorges → Wuhan →Shanghai
At 2:30 p.m., the cruise ship will arrive in Wuhan and the cruise tour will end. You will have a chance to visit the Yellow Crane Tower（黄鹤楼）, and then you will fly to Shanghai.
Day 8 Shanghai → Home
You will visit the Shanghai Museum in the morning. After lunch, you will visit the Bund （外滩）, which is said to be a landmark of Shanghai. Then you will be seen off at Shanghai airport. How many nights will you spend on the cruise ship?
| A．2. | B．3. | C．4. | D．5. |
On which day will you have an afternoon shore excursion?
| A．Day 4. | B．Day 5. | C．Day 6. | D．Day 7. |
What is the order of the journey?
① the Wu Gorge② the Yellow Crane Tower
③ the Xiling Gorge④ the Bund
⑤ Chongqing Museum⑥ Fengdu
⑦ the Three Gorges Dam⑧ the Forbidden City
| A．⑧⑤⑥③①②⑦④ | B．⑧⑤⑥①③⑦②④ |
| C．⑧⑥③⑤②①⑦④ | D．④⑤⑥①②③⑦⑧ |
How much will a family with 2 adults and a 3-year-old child pay for the visit?
| A．US$4375. | B．US$4905. | C．US$3950. | D．US$4537.5. |
Their grandmothers fought for the vote, and their mothers have battled to have it all. Now the upcoming generation of girls have decided to turn the clock back and stay at home with their babies.
According to a survey of more than 5,000 teenage girls in Britain, their main ambition (追求的目标) is to complete university then stay at home. More than nine out of ten of the girls believe it should be up to their husbands to provide for them. And although 43 percent of those questioned believe they should continue with their education until they have achieved a university degree, one in four say getting married is the most important thing for them.
The supposedly super-modern, “fun comes first” teenage generation has proved to be very traditional in every area of their beliefs, with over 50 percent saying they would not dream of having children before
seeing a ring on their finger.
The desire to have children is beginning earlier too. On average, teenage girls plan to have their first child at 26, and most plan to have one or two more children over the following four years. The national average now is 1.64 children per couple.
“This survey doesn’t show that the battles of feminism (女权运动) have been lost,” said author Claire 
Rayner, “Feminism was never opposed (反对) to marriage or children. On the contrary, feminism was about to equal opportunities for women to do what they wanted to do, when they wanted to do it, and this is exactly what these girls are choosing to do.” The passage is mainly about ________.
| A．the result of the battles of feminism |
| B．women’s struggle for independence in the society |
| C．the girls’ desire to stay at home after they graduate |
| D．women’s social status in the modern society |
Girls prefer to be housewives rather than independent women because _______.
| A．it’s hard for women to find jobs |
| B．men would rather their wives look after babies at home |
| C．girls want to live a more comfortable life |
| D．women have a low salary |
. From the last paragraph we can see that Rayner thinks ________.
| A．women should stay at home with their babies |
| B．women should find jobs and support the family |
| C．women should be offered more job opportunities |
| D．women should live the life they like |
第三部分阅读理解（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）
Richard Charles Rodgers was born in New York City on J
une 28th, 1902. Both his parents enjoyed singing and playing the piano. His grandparents loved opera and took their grandson to many productions. Richard attended many Broadway (百老汇) shows as a child. Richard began playing the piano by the age of three. At the age of fifteen, he decided that he would work in the musical theater. In the same year, he wrote the music for a stage show presented by a local group of young people. Then, he wrote music for a production of the students at Columbia University.
Richard and his wife Dorothy had two daughters and six grandchildren. One daughter and two grandsons also write music. Richard died in 1979. Books written about his life describe him as a cold man who was often depressed (消沉的). Family members say he was only able to express himself through music.
Other future show business leaders were also involved in the Columbia productions. Two of these men would be very important in Richard’s life — Oscar Hammerstein and Lorenz Hart. Richard once said the show he liked the best was Carousel, the second musical (音乐剧) he wrote with Oscar Hammerstein. Music experts say that a Richard show is always playing somewhere in the world — on Broadway, in theaters in different countries, and in local school productions. And people all over the world still enjoy the movies linked to Richard, such as State Fair, South Pacific, Pal Joey, The Sound of Music, Oklahoma and Carousel.When did Richard Charles Rodgers decide that he would work in the musical theater?
| A．In 1967. | B．In 1917. | C．In 1907. | D．In 1905. |
Which musical is the one that he likes most?
| A．Oklahoma. | B．The Sound of Music. |
| C．State Fair. | D．Carousel. |
Which is the first musical he wrote with Oscar Hammerstein?
| A．Carousel. | B．South Pacific. | C．Not mentioned. | D．State Fair. |
What’s the best title for the passage?
| A．All the life of Richard Charles Rodgers | B．Richard Charles Rodgers’ Family |
| C．Richard Charles Rodgers’ Music | D．Richard Charles Rodgers’ Stage |