第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分, 满分40分）
A
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 anyone explain to me just why people go to Mars, never to return?
Steve Minear, UK
Here are 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 too many people on the earth. I think that some time before the end of the century, there will be a human colony on Mars. It will happen when people 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 material 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
56．The main purpose of Steve Minear’s wring 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
57．Which of the following best states Donal Trollop’ 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.
58．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
59．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.
Watson entered Mr. Smith's office. The boss was a hard man. He fired people who didn't do well without giving them a second chance.
"Watson," said Mr. Smith, "this past year your department hasn't earned money. We're going to drop that department. It's finished. I’m sorry, —but you'll have to go." "But, sir — if I just had a little more time. For the moment I need the job to keep my son at Riverside School."
"What's that!" said the boss. "Riverside! I didn't know you had a boy there. That's an expensive school for a man with your salary."
"I know, sir. But he likes it there so much! He's a star athlete and the best boxer in the school. The boys call him Champ (冠军)there."
The boss sat perfectly still for a long time — a faraway (恍惚的) look in his eyes. Then, suddenly, he said, "We've got to close your department, Watson. But you'll take over a new job in another department. It means longer hours—maybe more pay. Now get out. You're here for life."
Watson got out, with surprise on his face. Then the boss took a letter from the top drawer of his desk. It was Herbie's last letter from Riverside School —written a few days before he died. He had read it over and over again with sick pain. The letter read:
I can’t say the boys here are any nicer to me than the others were. I guess it's the same everywhere when you're a cripple (跛脚的人). But don't worry about me, Dad. They've got a good chemistry department here. And there’s one boy here who is really great. He's a track star and boxing champ and just tops in chemistry. The boys call him Champ. He made them stop throwing my books around. And he knocked a boy down who hit me. He is the best friend I ever had. Dad, when I grow up, I want to do something for Champ. Something big — that he won’t even know about.
Your son,
HerbieMr. Smith wanted to fire Watson because _____.
| A．Watson would take over a new job in another department |
| B．Watson had his son study in Riverside School |
| C．Watson's son knocked a boy down who hit Herbie |
| D．Watson's department didn't earn money that year |
We can learn from the text that _____.
| A．Mr. Smith didn't know that Champ was Watson's son at first |
| B．Mr. Smith was told not to fire Watson by Herbie |
| C．Mr. Smith decided to give Watson another chance in no time |
| D．Mr. Smith wanted to realize Champ's dream |
According to the text, which words can best describe Mr. Smith?
| A．Sympathetic and grateful. | B．Selfish and greedy. |
| C．Hardworking and strict. | D．Easy-going and optimistic. |
The author wrote the text in order to _____.
| A．make our children enjoy life |
| B．share a moving story with us |
| C．provide us with tips on work |
| D．help us to deal with our boss |
Shellharbour City Library provides a range of Library Special Needs Services for people who are unable to access our library service in the usual way. As long as you live in Shellharbour City, we’ll provide a full range of library services and resources including:
● Large printed and ordinary printed books
● Talking books on tape and CD
● DVDs and music CDs
● Magazines
● Reference and information requests
You will be asked to complete a ‘Statement of Need’ application form which must be signed by a medical professional.
Home delivery service
Let us know what you like to read and we will choose the resources for you. Our staff will deliver the resources to your home for free. We also provide a service where we can choose the resources for you or someone instead of you choose the things from the library .You can also choose the resources you need personally.
Talking books and captioned videos
The library can provide talking books for people who are unable to use printed books because of eye diseases. You don’t have to miss out on reading any more when you can borrow talking books from the library. If you have limited hearing which prevents you from enjoying movies, we can provide captioned videos for you at no charge.
Languages besides English
We can provide books in a range of languages besides English. If possible, we will request these items from the State Library of NSW, Australia.
How to join?
Contact the Library Special Needs Coordinator to register or discuss if you are eligible（合适的） for any of the services we provide ---Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9am ---5pm on 4297 2522 for more information.Library Special Needs Services are meant for_____.
| A．those who are fond of reading |
| B．only those who have walking disabilities |
| C．people living in Shellharbour City with an illness or disability |
| D．those who can’t get medical help in Shellharbour City |
If people with eye diseases want to learn about history, they can choose______.
| A．talking books | B．captioned videos |
| C．magazines | D．large printed books |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．Few entertaining resources are offered here. |
| B．Books with different languages are available. |
| C．People with limited hearing have to pay for captioned videos. |
| D．People have to choose what they need by themselves. |
To get home delivery service, you must_______.
| A．only choose printed books |
| B．register ahead of time |
| C．pay the library ahead of time |
| D．have others choose the resources for you |
During the past Spring Festival, many children may have received red packets from their families. But Xing Pu, a 40-year-old economist, is asking the government to give red packets to every Chinese citizen.
Xing suggested the government give out 1,000 Yuan to each Chinese since the government income has increased rapidly in recent years. He said his suggestion would allow everyone to directly enjoy the fruits of the country's economic success, help the lower-income groups deal with rising prices and increase consumption（消费）around the country.
Recent years have seen the government carry out a series of pro-poor (扶贫) and pro-rural（惠农）policies, including increasing spending on public healthcare and calling off the agricultural tax. But the lower-income group still needs more help while being hit hard by an 11-year high in prices and recent snowstorms.
Xing said while making the draft, he has borrowed many ideas from practices in countries like the United States and Singapore. Earlier this year, the governments of the two nations offered cash handouts（救济）to their citizens as the result of a surplus in government income. As for in China, "We can even encourage the rich to donate their 1,000 Yuan red packet to the poor," said Xing.
Although Xing's suggestion has gained wide support among ordinary Chinese on the Internet, many other economists criticized it as unpractical. Even Xing himself admitted he made the suggestion without any careful calculation. But they agreed with Xing's point that the growing economic pie should be shared among the people.
"To better use the increase of money, handing out money is not a solution that holds good for all time. It could be better to improve the public service or cut the price of energy use in daily life," said Qiao Xinsheng, an economic professor.Xing Pu suggested that the government give out 1,000 Yuan to each Chinese because ____.
| A．the poor should get help from the rich |
| B．the government should help the rich |
| C．the growing economic pie should be shared among the people |
| D．the government doesn’t know how to use the money |
What has the government done to help the lower-income group?
| A．Spending less on public health care. |
| B．Increasing the agricultural tax. |
| C．Handing out money to every Chinese. |
| D．Carrying out pro-poor policies. |
According to some experts, what is better than giving out money?
| A．Supplying food to everyone every day. |
| B．Cutting the price of energy use in daily life. |
| C．Controlling the rising of prices. |
| D．Increasing the government income. |
Xing Pu's ideas of giving red packets to every Chinese citizen mainly came from ______.
| A．children receiving red packets from their families |
| B．the US and Singapore governments offering cash handouts to their citizens |
| C．the government's increasing spending on public health care |
| D．the rising prices in the country |
"The days when the management in Western companies presented gold watches to long-serving employees to thank them for loyal service is now just a memory．" says the Educational and Training Support Agency．
This new development in the shape and movement of the workforce throughout Western businesses is partly a result of the way that layers of middle management are being removed, leaving more workers responsible for their own development．
"Having workers take responsibility for their own development might be dramatic, but it is now the rule," says the Educational and Training Support Agency．
"Today, not only are workers more mobile, they have to run to keep up with changes．" says the Government-founded agency．"It is no longer enough for a worker to gain a set of skills．Workers need the ability to react and get used to changes．" This new system is also being pushed along by the way that industry is looking to its workers to renew their own skills．In the United States, some companies have contracts （合同） which repair their employees to show regularly how they have their skills up to date．
Contrary to this traditions of the past, employers in the West are now looking for autonomous learners as recruits, people who can develop their own continuing education beyond the school and university system．At the same time．businesses are developing the capacity for workers to take up autonomous learning on site in workplace, so that the skills and abilities of all workers in a business continue to improve and increase．"This．of course," says business theory．"will also improve the productivity （生产率） of the workers and therefore the profits of the company．"The management in western companies no longer presents gold watches to their employees because _____．
| A．they are not loyal to companies |
| B．other rewards replace gold watches |
| C．the way prove to be a failure |
| D．serving a company for life is rare now |
The western workforce frequently changes their jobs partly because _____．
| A．hopping from job to job has become a new trend |
| B．employees are expecting to have more experiences in their life |
| C．workers have to take more responsibility for themselves |
| D．it is easy to complete themselves by doing so |
The passage seems to suggest that the present situation in society requires that workers should
| A．show more loyalty to their companies |
| B．try to develop their skills to fit in with changes |
| C．go to college to have their skills up to date |
| D．be quick in changing their careers if there is the possibility |
The phrase "autonomous learner" in the last paragraph means _____．
| A．people who have received higher education |
| B．people who study hard themselves |
| C．people who learn things very quickly |
| D．people who continue their study beyond regular education |
Companies require their employee's development mainly because _____．
| A．it will finally help to bring more profits to the company |
| B．it can attract more workers who pay special attention to self-development |
| C．it is good for the employees to develop their skills |
| D．it will make workers more responsible and loyal to the company |
An old problem is getting new attention in the United States—bullying．Recent cases included the tragic case of a fifteen-year-old girl whose family moved from Ireland．She hanged herself in Massachusetts in January following months of bullying．Her parents criticized her school for failing to protect her．Officials have brought criminal charges against several teenagers．
Judy Kaczynski is president of an anti-bullying group called Bully Police USA．Her daughter Tina was the victim of severe bullying starting in middle school in the state of Minnesota．She said, "Our daughter was a very outgoing child．She was a bubbly personality, very involved in all kinds of things, had lots of friends．And over a period of time her grades fell completely．She started having health issues．She couldn't sleep．She wasn't eating．She had terrible stomach pains．She started clenching（紧握，紧咬） her jaw and grinding her teeth at night．She didn't want to go to school．"
Bullying is defined as negative behavior repeated over time against the same person．It can involve physical violence．Or it can be verbal—for example, insults or threats．Spreading lies about someone or excluding a person from a group is known as social or relational bullying．
And now there is cyberbullying, which uses the Internet, e-mail or text messages．It has easy appeal for the bully because it does not involve face-to-face contact and it can be done at any time．
The first serious research studies into bullying were done in Norway in the late 1970s．The latest government study in the United States was released last year．It found that about one-third of students aged twelve to eighteen were bullied at school．
Susan Sweater is a psychologist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and co-director of the Bullying Research Network．She says schools should treat bullying as a mental health problem to get bullies and victims the help they need．She says bullying is connected to depression, anxiety and anti-social behavior, and bullies are often victims themselves．From the case of Tina, we can know that _____．
| A．bullying is rare | B．victims suffered a lot |
| C．schools are to blame | D．personalities are related |
Which of the following is NOT bullying?
| A．To beat someone repeatedly． |
| B．To call someone names． |
| C．To isolate someone from friends． |
| D．To refuse to help someone in need． |
Why is cyberbullying appealing to the bully?
| A．Because it can involve more people． |
| B．Because it can create worse effects． |
| C．Because it is more convenient． |
| D．Because it can avoid cheating． |
According to Susan Sweater．_____．
| A．bullies are anti-social |
| B．bullies should give victims help |
| C．students are not equally treated |
| D．bullies themselves also need help |
Which of the following can be the best title of the text?
| A．Bullying—An Irish Girl Committed Suicide |
| B．15-year-old Irish Girl Committed Suicide |
| C．Cyberbullying—Taking Off in Schools |
| D．How to Find Bullying among Teens |