D
Are you afraid of sharks? You shouldn’t be! Below we cleared up the main myths about one of the world’s most perfectly formed creatures …
All sharks are the same.
This is absolutely not true. There are nearly four hundred species of sharks and they vary widely in habitat, size, features, diet and lifestyle. They range from the cigar shark, which is about 15 centimetres long, to the whale shark, which can be up to about nine meters long. More than 50 percent of sharks are less than a metre long and more than 90 percent are less than two metres long. And their habitat ranges from shallow to deep water and from the Arctic to the Tropic.
___________________
This is not true, either. In fact, many shark populations are decreasing. The chief reason for this is that hundreds of thousands of them are caught in fishing nets. Depending on where they are caught. They are either killed for their fins(鳍), which are used in shark’s fin soup, or they are tossed back into the sea because they are unwanted. Almost all sharks which are discarded in this way die. Also, sharks mature late in life and produce very few young. If the current reduction in numbers continues, the ecological balance of the oceans will be severely threatened.
Sharks will always attack you
This is nonsense. The chances of being attacked by a shark are minimal. You are 250 times more likely to be killed by lightning than by a shark, and your chances of being killed by lightning are practically zero.
However, if you are planning to take a swim in shark territory, then follow these simple rules:
Avoid swimming at dawn or duck when visibility decreases.
Avoid areas where there are breaking waves. Turbulent(汹涌的) water makes it difficult for sharks to see and determine whether you are prey(猎物).
Do not wear jewellery in the water. Sharks are attracted to shiny fishes, and jewellery may resemble their scales(鳞片).
Do not swim near schools of small fish, which are the favorite food of some sharks.
68. The underlined word “myths” in the first paragraph means ____.
A. an idea or story that many people believe but which is not true
B. something that is impossible to understand or explain or about which little is known
C. a feeling of surprise
D. something that you are curious to know
69. From the passage we can learn sharks ____.
A. look alike B. are dangerous
C. usually live in deep sea D. hardly attack people
70. Which of the following is proper for the blank in the third paragraph?
A. Sharks’ fin soup is nutritious
B. There are too many sharks in the sea
C. Many shark populations are decreasing
D. Sharks produce many young
71. Which of the following rules should you follow when you’re going to swim in shark areas?
A. Don’t swim before day breaks.
B. Choose areas where there are big waves.
C. Wear something shiny when swimming.
D. Choose areas where there are many small fish.
The income gap between China's rural and urban residents（居民） has continued to widen during the past few years in spite of rapidly rising rural incomes, Agricultural Minister Sun Zhengcai said here on Wednesday．
The income ratio（比率） between urban and rural residents was 3．28:1 in 2006, against 3．23:1 in 2003, said Sun in his report on the promotion of building a new countryside in 2007．Sun also said the net income of rural residents in different regions also varied widely．The income gap is only one of several problems in rural areas, according to Sun's report．While listing the achievements in rural areas in recent years, Sun believed that rural development still followed behind urban development．
"We have bigger pressure to ensure the supply of major agricultural products such as grain," he said．"China's urbanization（都市化） has been speeded up and more rural residents have gone to urban areas," he said．
"In this case, more agricultural producers become farm produce consumers, which created more pressure for supply," he said．
Another problem facing China's agricultural development is inadequate application of science and technology．
"Only 30 percent of scientific and technological achievements have been applied to agricultural production, which is 40 percentage points lower than developed countries," he said．
Despite increased government spending in rural areas, the infrastructure（基础下部组织） is still poor and easily hit by disasters．
According to Sun, the government spent 431．8 billion yuan （$59．15 billion） on agriculture, rural areas and farmers this year, an increase of 80．1 billion yuan over the previous year．
China set aside 11．38 billion yuan to promote a new rural cooperative medical care system and 27．98 billion yuan to support the new compulsory education mechanism in rural area to ensure that all citizens shared the fruits of China's reform and opening-up, Sun said．Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?
| A．Because of the rapidly rising rural incomes, the income gap between China's rural and urban residents will disappear this year． |
| B．The net income of rural residents in different regions is the same． |
| C．The government has taken measures to develop the economy in the rural areas． |
| D．Because of the rapidly rising rural incomes, the supply of major agricultural products is enough． |
How much is spent on agriculture, rural areas and farmers the previous year?
| A．431．8 billion yuan |
| B．511．9 billion yuan |
| C．351．7 billion yuan |
| D．80．1 billion yuan |
Which is NOT the problem in rural areas?
| A．The income gap |
| B．The inadequate application of science and technology |
| C．The supply of major agricultural products |
| D．China's urbanization |
The History of the Games
Olympia
Olympia, the site of the ancient Olympic Games, is in the western part of the Peloponnese which, according to Greek mythology, is the island of “Pelops”， the founder of the Olympic Games. Imposing temples, votive buildings, elaborate shrines and ancient sporting facilities(设备) were combined in a site of unique natural and mystical beauty.
Olympia functioned as a meeting place for worship and other religious and political practices as early as the 10th century BC. The central part of Olympia was dominated by the majestic temple of Zeus, with the temple of Hera parallel to it. The ancient stadium in Olympia could hold more than 40 000 audience, while in the surrounding area there were auxiliary(辅助的) buildings which developed gradually up until the 4th century BC. and were used as training sites for the athletes or to house the judges of the Games.
The Games and religion
The Olympic Games were closely linked to the religious festivals of the cult of Zeus, but were not a total part of a rite. Indeed, they had a secular character and aimed to show the physical qualities and development of the performances accomplished by young people, as well as encouraging good relations between the cities of Greece. According to specialists, the Olympic Games owed their purity and importance to religion.
Victory ceremonies
The Olympic victor received his first awards immediately after the competition. Following the announcement of the winner's name by the herald,_a Hellanodikis (Greek judge) would place a palm branch in his hands, while the audience cheered and threw flowers to him. Red ribbons were tied on his head and hands as a mark of victory.
The official award ceremony would take place on the last day of the Games, at the elevated vestibule of the temple of Zeus. In a loud voice, the herald would announce the name of the Olympic winner, his father's name, and his homeland. Then, the Hellanodikis placed the sacred olive tree wreath, or “kotinos”， on the winner's head. When did Olympia become the site of the Olympic Games?
A. In the 10th century BC.
B. Before the 4th century BC.
C. After the 4th century BC.
D. It was not mentioned here.Which one is true according to the passage?
| A．Zeus is the founder of the Olympic Games. |
| B．The ancient stadium in Olympia was used as training sites for the athletes in the 10th century. |
| C．The Olympic Games have much to do with the religion. |
| D．The Olympic victor would receive a golden medal. |
Can you guess the meaning of this word “herald” in the passage?
| A．The author. |
| B．The headmaster. |
| C．The announcer. |
| D．The manager. |
When the athletes won the game, ______.
| A．they were awarded immediately after the competition |
| B．they were awarded twice: The first, immediately after the competition; the second, on the last day of the game |
| C．they were awarded on the last day of the game |
| D．they were awarded on the last day of the game or immediately after the competition |
The largest earthquake (magnitude 里氏 9.5 ) of the 20th century happened on May 22, 1960 off the coast of South Central Chile.
It generated (生成) one of the most destructive Pacific-wide tsunamis (海啸 ). Near the generating area, both the earthquake and the tsunami were very much destructive, particularly in the coastal area from Concepcion to the south end of Isla Chiloe. The largest tsunami damage occurred at Isla Chiloe--the coastal area closest to the epicenter(震中). Huge tsunami waves measuring as high as 25 meters arrived within 10 to 15 minutes after the earthquake, killing at least two hundred people, sinking all the boats, and flooding half a kilometer inland.
There was large damage and loss of life at Concepcion, Chile' s top industrial city. Near the city of Valdivia, the earthquake and following aftershocks generated landslides which killed 18 people. At the port city of Valparaiso, a city of 200,000, many buildings collapsed. A total of 130,000 houses were destroyed--one in every three in the earthquake zone and nearly 2,000,000 people were left homeless.
Total damage losses, including to agriculture and to industry, were estimated (估计) to be over a half billion dollars. The total number of deaths related with both the tsunami and the earthquake was never found accurately for the region. Estimates of deaths reached between 490 to 5,7002 with no distinction(差别) as to how many deaths were caused by the earthquake and how many were caused by the tsunami. However, it is believed that most of the deaths in Chile were caused by the tsunami. Where did the largest tsunami damage occur?
| A．Concepcion. |
| B．Isla Chiloe. |
| C．Valdivia. |
| D．Valparaiso. |
What can we learn about the tsunami waves generated by the earthquake?
| A．The tsunami waves as high as 25 meters arrived immediately after the earthquake. |
| B．The tsunami waves killed 200 people and sank all the boats. |
| C．The tsunami waves were very destructive. |
| D．The tsunami waves flooded half of the inland. |
What is generally thought the main cause of deaths in Chile?
| A．Landslides. |
| B．The tsunami. |
| C．Aftershocks. |
| D．The magnitude 9.5 earthquake. |
What is the total number of deaths in the earthquake?
| A．2,000,000. |
| B．Between 490 to 5, 7002. |
| C．200,000. |
| D．It was hard to know. |
Robert Ballard was born in 1942. From an early age, he loved the sea. Ballard grew up in Southern California. He spent his free time at the beach near his home. He enjoyed fishing and swimming. He even learned to dive.
When Ballard wasn’t at the ocean, he loved reading about it. At age 10, he read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, a book which describes the undersea adventures of Captain Nemo. Ballard decided he wanted to be like Captain Nemo when he grew up. His parents helped him follow his dream.
Ballard was a hardworking student. He spent many years learning all he could about the ocean. By the age of 28, he was an expert. In 1970, he took a job as a scientist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts. There he studied underwater mountains of the Atlantic Ocean. He came up with ways to predict（预知）volcanoes under the oceans. Working with other scientists, Ballard also found previously（以前）unknown sea animals. These animals lived far below the ocean’s surface, where scientists had believed no animals could live.
By the 1980s, Ballard’s interests changed. He developed unmanned（无人的）vehicles to explore the ocean bottom. His first find, the well-known ship Titanic, made Ballard famous. He was not happy with just one big find, however. He looked for — and found — other well-known ships. One was the German battleship Bismarck. Another was the U.S.S. Yorktown, an aircraft carrier (航空母舰) that sank during World War II.
Today Robert Ballard is still an underwater explorer. He also heads an organization that encourages students to learn about science. Ballard hopes that some of the students will follow in his footsteps. After all, the world’s huge oceans are mostly unknown. Who knows what remains to be discovered under the sea?What was Ballard’s dream when he was young?
| A．To be a science teacher. |
| B．To be an underwater explorer. |
| C．To be an animal expert. |
| D．To be a famous writer. |
When Ballard worked at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, he _____.
| A．explored the undersea world by ship |
| B．thought of ideas to predict underwater volcanoes |
| C．found some unknown sea animals alone |
| D．set up an organization to teach students science |
Which is the correct order of the events mentioned in the text about Ballard?
a. He found the German battleship Bismarck.
b. He read a book about Captain Nemo.
c. He found the famous ship Titanic.
d. He became an expert in science.
| A．b-c-d-a |
| B．d-b-c-a |
| C．b-d-c-a |
| D．d-c-a-b |
What can we learn from the text?
| A．Ballard’s parents felt disappointed at his undersea adventures. |
| B．Ballard didn’t like fishing and swimming in his childhood. |
| C．Ballard was greatly influenced by 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. |
| D．Human beings have explored more than half of the sea. |
Many animal and plant species have become extinct (灭绝的) and many more are in critical danger.
Dodo
The Dodo is a classic example of how human caused damage to the earth's biology. The flightless Dodo was native to the Island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. The easily controlled bird became a source of food for sailors and was attacked by animals introduced to the island by humans such as pigs, monkeys and rats. The population of Dodos rapidly decreased and last one was killed in 1681.
Rhinos
The Rhino (犀牛) horn is a highly prized item for Asian medicine. This has led to the animal being hunted in its natural habitat. Once widespread in Africa and Eurasia, most rhinos now live in protected natural parks and reserves（保护区）. Their numbers have rapidly decreased in the last 50 years, and the animals remain under constant threat from poachers（偷猎者）.
The Giant Panda
The future of the Giant Panda is far from certain. As few as 1,000 remain in the wild. The Chinese government has set up 33 panda reserves to protect these beautiful animals. However, The panda's distinct black and white patched coat fetches a high price on the black market and determined poachers still pose（造成）one of the most serious threats to the animals continued existence.
Whales
Despite the fact that one-third the world's oceans have been declared whale sanctuaries（保护区）, 7 out of 13 whale species remain endangered. Hunted for their rich supply of oil, their numbers have decreased to just 300. Collisions（碰撞）with ships, poisonous pollution and being caught in fishing nets are other major causes of whale deaths.
Tigers
The last 100 years has seen a 95% reduction in the numbers of remaining tigers to between 5,000 and 7,000 and The Bali, Javan, and Caspian tigers are already extinct. The South China tiger is precariously close to disappearing, with only 20 to 30 still alive. Like the Rhino horn, tigers’ bones and organs are sought after for traditional Chinese medicines. These items are traded illegally along with tiger skins.
Animal Conservation
Wildlife |
Main features or uses |
Present state(状况) |
|
Dodo |
Hunted for food; Attacked by animals |
Have become |
|
Rhinos |
Horns,highly prized items for Asian |
Hunted by poachers |
Have rapidly decreased |
| Traditional Chinese medicines |
Some species extinct |
||
Whales |
Rich |
Collisions with ships;heavily |
Only three hundred |
| The Giant Panda |
black and white patched coat |
Far from certain |