B
People have always had to find ways to keep food safe to eat. Methods to dry, smoke and salt food were invented thousands of years ago. The process of canning is much more recent. This storage method keeps food safe to eat for long periods of time. Today, canning is one of the most popular methods of storing food.
Canning uses heat to kill bacteria and other micro-organisms that cause poisons to form in food. Canning also takes away the air that these organisms need to live. One popular method of canning uses a water bath.
Clean fruits or vegetables are placed in glass bottles. The food can be put into the bottles either hot or cold. The cold method is used for soft fruits and vegetables that could lose their shape or taste. Firmer fruits and most vegetables are usually cooked. They take up less space in the bottles. After the food has been placed in glass bottles, boiling water is poured into the bottles to about three centimeters below the top. Then covers are placed on the bottles, but are not turned all the way. The bottles are placed in a large container filled with warm water that is then brought to a boil. The water must completely cover the bottles, from three to five centimeters over the top. When the water boils, any air in the bottles will be expelled. The boiling continues for several minutes. Then the bottles are allowed to cool. Finally, they are placed briefly into cold water. This makes a strong barrier to keep the air out. In other words, a vacuum is created. When the bottles are completely cool, notes can be placed on them to identify what is inside. The bottles can then be stored in a cool, dark place at a temperature of between four and twenty-one degrees Celsius.
Canning allows your family to enjoy foods that might not come fresh throughout the year. It is also a good way to store food for six months to a year, or even several years, in case of an emergency. It does not cost much to continue canning every year once the equipment has been purchased.
You can get more information about canning food from the group, Volunteers in Technical Assistance. VITA is on the Internet at vita.org.
55. Which of the following is the right order of canning food?
a. put bottles in warm water. b. place notes on the bottles.
c. place bottles briefly into cold water d. pour boiling water into bottles
A. d a c b B. a b c d C. b d c a D. a d c b
56. According to the text, which of the following is right?
A. The way to can food has been found by ancient Chinese.
B. Canning uses water to kill bacteria.
C. Hard fruits are suitable for cold method.
D. The boiling water will take away the air in the bottle.
57. What does the word “vacuum” mean in the – paragraph?
A. a missing situation B. a gap C. an enclosed space without air D. a hole
58. what’s the best title of the text?
A. The advantages of canning food.
B. Canning food and health.
C. Put fruits and vegetables into cans.
D. How to make canning food.
As a professor at a large American university, there is a phrase that I often hear from students: “I’m only a 1,050.” The unlucky students are speaking of the score on the Schoolastic Aptitude Test (SAT), which is used to determine whether they will be admitted to the college or university of their choice, or even if they have a chance to get a higher education at all. The SAT score, whether it is 800, 1,100 or 1,550, has become the focus at his time of their life.
It is obvious that if students value highly their test scores, then a great amount of their self-respect is put in the number. Students who perform poorly in the exam are left feeling that it is all over.The low test score, they think, will make it impossible for them to get into a good college. And without a degree from a prestigious university, they fear that many of life’s doors will remain forever closed.
According to a study done in the 1990s, the SAT is only a reliable indicator of a student’s future performance in most cases. Interestingly, it becomes much more accurate when it is set together with other indicators--like a student’s academic proficiency(学业水平).They will never be able to test things like confidence, efforts and willpower, and are unable to give us the full picture of a student’s potentialities. This is not to suggest that we should stop using SAT scores in our college admission process. The SAT is an excellent test in many ways, and the score is still a useful means of testing students. However, it should be only one of the many methods used. The purpose of the SAT is to test students’ _________.
| A．strong will |
| B．academic ability |
| C．full potentialities |
| D．confidence in school work |
Students’ self-respect is influenced by their_______.
| A．scores in the SAT |
| B．achievements in mathematics |
| C．job opportunities |
| D．money spent on education |
“ A prestigious university” in para.2 is most probably _______.
| A．a famous school |
| B．a technical school |
| C．a traditional school |
| D．an expensive school |
The passage is mainly about_______________.
| A．how to prepare for the SAT |
| B．stress caused by the SAT |
| C．American higher education |
| D．the SAT and its effects |
What is the writer’s attitude towards the SAT?
| A．Subjective |
| B．Objective |
| C．Critical |
| D．Approving |
A metaphor is a poetic device that deals with comparison. It compares similar qualities of two dissimilar objects. With a simple metaphor, one object becomes the other: Love is a rose. Although this does not sound like a particularly rich image, a metaphor can communicate so much about a particular image that poets use them more than any other type of figurative language(修辞). The reason for this is that poets compose their poetry to express what they are experiencing emotionally at that moment. Consequently, what the poet imagines love to be may or may not be love we see it. Therefore, the poet’s job is to enable us to experience it, to feel it the same way as the poet does.
Let’s analyze this remarkably unsophisticated metaphor concerning love and the rose to see what it offers. Because the poet uses a comparison with a rose, first we must examine the characteristics of that flower. A rose is spectacular in its beauty; its petals(花瓣) are nicely soft, and its smell is pleasing. It’s possible to say that a rose is actually a feast to the senses of sight, touch, and smell. The rose’s appearance seems to border on(近似于)perfection, each petal seemingly symmetrical(对称的) in form. Isn’t this the way one’s love should be? A loved one should be a delight to one’s senses and seem perfect. However, there is another dimension added to the comparison by using a rose. Roses have thorns(刺). The poet wants to convey the idea that roses can be tricky(机警的). So can love, the metaphor tells us. When one reaches out with absolute trust to touch the object of his or her affection, ouch, a thorn can cause great harm! “Be careful,” the metaphor warns: Love is a feast to the senses, but it can overwhelm us, and it can also hurt us and cause acute suffering. This is the poet’s perception of love--a warning. What is the point? Just this: It took almost 14 sentences to clarify what a simple metaphor communicates in only four words! That is the artistry and the joy of the simple metaphor.According to the passage, what is a metaphor?
| A．A comparison between two different objects with similar features. |
| B．A contrast between two different things to create a vivid image. |
| C．A description of two similar objects in a poetic way. |
| D．A literary device specially employed in poetry writing. |
The main idea of this passage is that .
| A．rose is a good image in poetry | B．love is sweet and pleasing |
| C．metaphor is ambiguous | D．metaphor is great poetic device |
It can be inferred from the passage that a metaphor is .
| A．difficult to understand | B．rich in meaning | C．not precise enough | D．like a flower |
As is meant by the author, thorns of a rose_________.
| A．protect the rose from harm | B．symbolize reduced love |
| C．add a new element to the image of love | D．represent objects of one’s affection |
The meaning of the love-is–a-rose metaphor is that____________-
| A．love is a true joy | B．true love comes once in a lifetime |
| C．love does not last long | D．love is both good and bad experiences |
The Mystery of the Flashing Fireflies
During summer nights fireflies flash in the darkness. They look like bright spots of light dancing on the breeze. Catching them in a jar for a few minutes can be fun. Fireflies are not really flies, though. They are winged beetles. Scientists are using these special beetles to learn more about our world.
The reason a firefly flashed its light is to find a mate. There are around two thousand species, or kinds, of fireflies. Fireflies mate only with their own species. Each kind of firefly has its own flash pattern. It is important that fireflies recognize this pattern. That way they can find bugs of their own kind. The male firefly flies around in the sky while the female firefly stays close to the ground.
For many years, how a firefly flashes its light was a mystery. Scientists now know that a firefly’s light is a cold light. It gives off all of its power as light. It does not produce heat. A normal light bulb gives off only ten percent of its power as light. The rest of the power is wasted as heat. That is why a light bulb that has been on for a while is very hot. The firefly’s light does not feel hot like a light bulb.
Scientists have also learned that fireflies have a small built-in lantern. This special lantern is located inside a firefly’s body. To create light, a gas flows through tiny tubes. This causes the firefly to light up. A firefly can also turn its light on and off quickly. This puzzled scientists. They learned that short bursts of this gas make the firefly glow. When the gas fades, the light goes out. This process happens very quickly.
Scientists know that what they learn from fireflies will be important. Medical studies using fireflies are helping scientists fight illnesses in human beings. They have made new medicines from the chemicals used by fireflies to make light. Fireflies have also helped with new discoveries. New flashlights and flares have been made based on fireflies. These new flashlights and flares produce a cold light like a firefly. This way all the power makes the light shine. This little bug may be a pleasure to watch, but it is also an important part of our lives.Why did the author most likely include Paragraph 4?
| A．To explain how fireflies make light. | B．To describe different kinds of fireflies. |
| C．To show how much power fireflies use. | D．To describe why fireflies make light. |
Which of these is the best choice for a heading for Paragraph 5?
| A．The Cool Light of Fireflies | B．Watching Fireflies Flash |
| C．Understanding the Patterns | D．Learning from Fireflies |
According to the passage, a firefly’s light is different from a light bulb’s light because the firefly’s light _______.
| A．shines brighter | B．does not fade | C．lasts longer | D．is not hot |
A reader asks this question about the passage: “ How many different kinds of fireflies are there?” Which paragraph from the passage answers the question?
| A．Paragraph 2 | B．Paragraph 3 | C．Paragraph 4 | D．Paragraph 5 |
The author most likely wrote this passage in order to __.
| A．tell why fireflies light up | B．give facts about fireflies |
| C．show how fireflies help doctors | D．compare a firefly to a light bulb |
Most Americans have great respect for their flag and every school day begins with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Stars and Stripes. Written in 1892, this pledge is recited in schools before classes begin and it serves as a sign of unity and identity for the various groups of people who have come from so many different lands and cultures.
Students stand at attention with their right hand over their heart, face the flag which is displayed in the classroom before them and begin, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.” Even the immigrants who come from distant lands must recite this pledge to the flag when they become eligible for citizenship.
The American flag is also known as “Old Glory” and over the years has evolved to its present form of fifty stars and thirteen stripes. The stars represent the fifty states and the stripes stand for the original thirteen colonies.
The first version of the flag with its stars and stripes appeared in 1777, but only had thirteen stars. As each new state joined the union, a new star was added. The last star to be added was in 1960 after Hawaii became the fiftieth state. In the future if another state joins the Union, another star will be added to the field of blue. The number of stripes, however, remains consistent and never changes.
The design of the flag may have altered over the years, but the colors, red, white and blue, have remained constant. In 1782 the Congress of the United States proclaimed that red stood for hardiness and courage, white stood for purity and innocence, and blue for justice and perseverance.
It was the flag which inspired the creation of the national anthem: “The Star Spangled Banner” in 1812. President Wilson in 1916 and later President Coolidge in 1927 suggested in proclamations to fellow countrymen that a special day be set aside to honor the flag. In 1949 the American Congress gave official recognition of June 14 as Flag Day.According to the passage which of the following statements is NOT true?
| A．The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892. |
| B．Another name of the American flag is “Old Glory” or “The Stars and Stripes”. |
| C．The design of the flag has stayed the same over the years. |
| D．June 14 was set aside as Flag Day to honor the flag from 1949 on. |
What is the purpose of the Pledge of Allegiance?
| A．It opens the school day. | B．It is recited in all schools. |
| C．It is a sign of unity and nationalism. | D．It makes someone eligible for citizenship. |
What do the fifty stars on the flag represent?
| A．Purity and innocence. | B．Truth and honesty |
| C．Bravery and courage | D．The fifty states. |
The colors of the American flag ________.
| A．have changed from time to time. | B．have always been red, white and blue. |
| C．used to be only red and white. | D．used to be red and blue. |
The best title of the passage would be ________.
| A．“Old Glory”: the American Flag | B．The Pledge of Allegiance |
| C．American National Anthem | D．Flag Day |
PLAYA GRANDE, COSTA RICA----This resort town was long known for Leatherback Sea Turtle（棱皮龟）National Park, nightly turtle beach tours and even a sea turtle museum. However, on a beach where dozens of turtles used to nest on a given night, scientists spied only 32 leatherbacks all of last year.
With leatherbacks threatened with extinction, Playa Grande’s turtle museum was abandoned （抛弃）three years ago and now sits among a sea of weeds. And the beachside ticket office for turtle tours was washed away by a high tide in September. “We do not promote that as a turtle tourism destination any more because we realize there are far too few turtles to please,” said Alvaro Fonseca, a park ranger.（管理员）
Even before scientists found temperatures going up over the past decade, sea turtles were threatened by beach development, drift net fishing and Costa Ricans’ interest in eating turtle eggs. But climate change may cause the most serious harm to an animal that has lived in the Pacific for 150 million years.
Sea turtles are sensitive to numerous effects of warming. They feed on reefs, which are dying in hotter seas. They lay eggs on beaches that are being covered by rising seas and more violent waves.
More uniquely（独特地）, their gender is determined not by genes but by the egg’s temperature during development. Small rises in beach temperatures can result in all-female populations, obviously problematic for survival. If the sand around the eggs hits 30 degrees Celsius, the gender balance shifts to female; at about 32 degrees they are all female. Above 34, you get boiled eggs.
On some nesting beaches, scientists are artificially cooling nests with shade or irrigation and trying to protect broader areas of coastal property from development to ensure that turtles have a place to nest as the seas rise. Why does the resort town stop promoting its turtle tourism?
| A．It decides not to disturb the turtles’ normal life. | |
| B．Tourists have lost interest in watching turtles. | |
| C．There are only very few turtles now. | D．The turtle museum was destroyed by a high tide. |
Which of the following is the major factor in the turtles’ endangerment?
| A．The locals’ eating habit. | B．Drift net fishing. | C．Beach development. | D．Global warming. |
The underlined word “gender” in Paragraph 5 means ____.
| A．the sex of turtles | B．the habit of turtles | C．the weight of turtles | D．the kind of turtles |
We learn from the last paragraph that scientists ____.
| A．are doing research on the sea rise | B．are moving turtles to new homes |
| C．are protecting turtles’ nests | D．are going rid of sea weeds |
The passage intends to ____.
| A．introduce a special kind of sea turtle | B．explain the mystery of turtles’ eggs |
| C．show the dangers a certain kind of sea turtle is facing | |
| D．attract more visitors to a sea turtle museum |