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? 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. |
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. |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Robinson Crusoe is a famous novel written by Daniel Defoe. The book tells the story of a man who is shipwrecked (遭遇海难的). He spends 28 years on an island near Venezuela. The book tells the story of everything that happens to Robinson Crusoe. He hopes someone will rescue him, but he has been there for so long on his own that he also begins to fear being rescued.
Robinson Crusoe was published in 1719. Most experts believe the story is based on the life of Alexander Selkirk, who was a Scottish sailor. On an expedition (探险) in 1704, Selkirk had an argument with his ship’s captain. Selkirk thought the ship was not safe and was about to fall apart.
When the ship stopped at a remote island to get fresh water, Selkirk got off. He tried to get the other crew members to leave with him, but nobody would. The shop then sailed away without him. Selkirk spent four years and four months on his own on the island, known as Aguas Buenas.
Selkirk was finally rescued by a ship that visited the island in 1709. The ship’s captain was grateful to Selkirk because he provided food for the crew when they arrived.
Now archaeologists think they have found the remains of Selkirk’s camp on Aguas Buenas. They found two deep holes that would have held wooden posts. The archaeologists say this is evidence that Selkirk built a shelter there. The post holes are near a fresh water stream. They are located quite high up, which would have meant that Selkirk was able to watch out for the ships coming close to the island.
The most interesting evidence, the archaeologists say, is part of a piece of equipment used by sailors to navigate (导航). Historians believe Selkirk was a navigator, so the instrument could have belonged to him.
Robinson Crusoe was published ten years after Selkirk was rescued. Most experts think Daniel Defoe heard and read stories about Selkirk, which inspired him to write the book.Why did Selkirk choose to land on the remote island?
| A．Because he had quarrels with the crew members. |
| B．Because the captain ordered him to get fresh water. |
| C．Because he wanted to go on an adventure there. |
| D．Because he thought the ship he was on was in danger. |
We can infer from the text that the ship that visited Aguas Buenas in 1709 _______.
| A．lost its way while sailing |
| B．lacked fresh water upon arrival |
| C．was being navigated by Selkirk |
| D．was running out of food upon arrival |
How could Selkirk see ships that might rescue him, according to archaeologists?
| A．By asking the crew members on the ships. |
| B．By sending messages to the ships’ captains. |
| C．By watching from his shelter high on the island. |
| D．By using a piece of equipment used to navigate. |
The author wrote the text to _______.
| A．explain the origin of Robinson Crusoe |
| B．promote sales to Robinson Crusoe |
| C．criticise Alexander Selkrik’s deeds |
| D．praise Daniel Defoe for his writing inspiration |
Assistant Professor, Musical Theatre Dance
Wichita State University seeks a full-time, 9-month assistant professor, beginning in August. Applicants are required to have a degree in dance area, teaching experience at a professional or college level, ability to direct and teach stage movement. The salary depends on qualifications and experience.
For complete information visit http://finearts.wichita.edu.
Full Professor in Theatre and Dance
The Department of Theatre & Dance at the University of California at San Diego (http://www-theatre.uscd.edu) is seeking an experienced theatre artist in lighting design. Applicants must work for us for at least one year. Significant professional experience is required. This position is expected to teach at both graduate and undergraduate levels.
A review of applications will start on June 1st. Application deadline: September 1st.
Technical Director in Performing and Fine Arts
De Sales University’s Performing and Fine Arts Department seeks a highly skilled, professional technical director. The position is a 10-month staff position with the possibility of summer employment with the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. Professional experience is required; MFA is preferred.
Please email materials to john.bell@desales.edu. Screening of applications begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
Assistant Director— Media Resources Center
Maryland Institute College of Art is seeking an Assistant Director of Media Resources Center in the Academic Affairs Division.
Qualifications for the position include a degree in Art History or related fields with knowledge of art and design history, library experience, excellent interpersonal and communication skills and familiarity with photoshop and scanning.
A review of applications will begin immediately; job announcements will remain open until the position is filled. Applicants are required to work for us at least 11 months. They can send emails to jobs@mica.edu. The salary differs depending on your experience. Please include your desired salary in your application letter.If an applicant has 9.5-month free time, he or she can pay close attention to the ad of _______.
| A．Full Professor in Theatre and Dance |
| B．Assistant Professor, Musical Theatre Dance |
| C．Technical Director in Performing and Fine Arts |
| D．Assistant Director— Media Resources Center |
If you have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, you can apply to _______.
| A．Wichita State University |
| B．the University of California |
| C．De Sales University |
| D．Maryland Institute College of Art |
According to the advertisements, we can learn that _______.
| A．all the jobs mentioned in the text require experience |
| B．all the jobs mentioned above promise a good salary |
| C．all the reviews of applications will begin immediately |
| D．all the job announcements will remain open until the positions are filled |
I was stopped at a red light only a mile or so from my goal of my brother’s house. We were planning to drive down together to North Carolina to be with my father who was badly ill.
As I waited at the stop light experiencing this forced slowdown, I noticed Sharper’s Florist over to the left. It was the same place where I had experienced many things— floods of memories went through my mind as the light seemed a blessing. I noticed the wine store straight ahead where my father and I had been many times before, picking out the beer of the week. We both liked German beer.
The light finally became green and I made my left turn and drove through the poor section of our hometown. I remembered how each thanksgiving my family would be together. I also remembered how my father would take some time out of each thanksgiving to make sure there was no one hungry in the neighborhoods surrounding where we lived. I can remember as a young boy going with him to deliver some food. I was scared. I had never been into this part of town this deeply before.
My father seemed unfazed (不受困扰的) by this and went about his business. The people we went to seemed to know him and gratefully accepted what he came to offer. My father seemed able to give away the food in a way that honored those he was giving to. This was not an arrogant act. He would stop at each place and talk a little, which I can remember totally pissing me off (使…厌烦). I wanted to get the hell out of there. My father wanted to be sure everyone had food. If there were people he found who didn’t have food, he would take the time to go back and get more. That’s the kind of man he was.When the father was ill, he _______.
| A．lived in North Carolina |
| B．gave away food to the poor |
| C．came to help the poor in his hometown |
| D．stayed at the home of the author’s brother |
The author mentions the wine store to tell us _______.
| A．the same taste as his father |
| B．the life in his childhood |
| C．the experience with his father |
| D．the birthplace of his father |
The author was afraid of giving away food to the poor probably because _______.
| A．his father didn’t stay with him then |
| B．his father didn’t take good care of him |
| C．he was unfamiliar with the surroundings |
| D．he had never met with so many poor people |
The underlined word “arrogant” in the last paragraph probably means _______.
| A．angry | B．proud | C．careless | D．wild |
Is it possible to persuade mankind to live without war? War is an ancient practice which has existed for at least six thousand years. It was always bad and usually foolish, but in the past, the human race managed to live with it. Modern cleverness has changed this. Either man will end the existence of war, or war will end the existence of man. For the present, it is nuclear weapons (核武器) that cause the most serious danger, but bacteriological or chemical weapons may, before long, offer an even greater threat. If we succeeded in ending the existence of nuclear weapons, our work will not be done. It will never be done until we have succeeded in ending war. To do this, we need to persuade mankind to look up on international problems in a new way not as contests of force, in which the victory goes to the side which is most skillful in killing people, but by settling in accordance with(与、、、一致) agreed rules of law. It is not easy to change very old mental habits, but this is what must be attempted.
There are those who say that the acceptance of this or that ideology (意识形态) would prevent war. I believe this to be a big mistake. All ideologies are based upon dogmatic statements (强词夺理) ，which are, at best, doubtful, and at worst, totally false. Their supporters believe in them so deeply that they are willing to go to war in support of them.
The movement of world opinion during the past few years has been very largely such as we can welcome. It has become a common place that nuclear war must be avoided. Of course very difficult problems remain in the world, but the spirit in which they are coming nearer to is a better one than it was some years ago. It has begun to be thought, even by the powerful men who decide whether we shall live or die, that negotiations（谈判） should reach agreements even if both sides do not find these agreements wholly satisfactory. It has begun to be understood that the important struggle nowadays is not between different countries but between man and the atom bomb(原子弹).This passage implies(暗示) that war is now_______.
| A．worse than in the past |
| B．as bad as in the past |
| C．not as dangerous as in the past |
| D．as necessary as in the past |
From Paragraph 2 we learn that the writer of the passage_______.
| A．is a supporter of some modern ideologies |
| B．does not think that the acceptance of any ideologies could prevent war |
| C．believes that the acceptance of some ideologies could prevent war |
| D．does not doubt the truth of any ideologies |
According to the writer,_______.
| A．war is the only way to solve international arguments |
| B．war will be less dangerous because of the improvement of weapons |
| C．it is impossible for people to live without war |
| D．war must be ended if man wants to survive |
These days a green building means more than just the color of the paint. Green building can also refer to environmentally friendly houses, factories, and offices.
Green building means “reducing the impact (影响) of the building on the land”Taryn Holowka of the U.S Green Building Council in Washington, D. C. said.
According to Holowka, buildings account for(占了) 65 percent of total U.S. electricity use.
But green buildings can reduce energy and water use. Also, the buildings are often located near public transportation such as buses and subways, so that people can drive their cars less. That could be good for the environment, because cars use lots of gas and give off pollution. Green buildings are often built on developed land, so that the buildings don't destroy forests.
Marty Dettling is the project manager for a building that put these ideas into action. The Solaire has been called the country's first green high-rise building. According to Dettling, “We've reduced our energy use by one-third and our water by 50 percent.”
The Solaire cuts energy in part by using solar power. “On the lace(边) of the building we have solar panels which change the sun's energy into electricity,” Dettling explained.
The Solaire also has lights that automatically turn off when people leave the room. In addition, the building has lots of windows, allowing people to use the sun for light during the day. The Solaire cuts water by reusing it.
Not everyone is eager to move into a green building, however. Some people think that things like solar panels cost more money than more traditional energy sources. Anyhow, Holowka said, “It's going to be big.”A green building is often built on an area of land________.
| A．which has thick forests around |
| B．which has already been developed for building |
| C．where people of high income live |
| D．where traveling around by car is most convenient |
When Holowka says in the last paragraph, "It's going to be big", she means that green buildings________.
| A．will be more comfortable |
| B．will take the place of traditional buildings |
| C．will become popular in the future |
| D．will be more environmentally friendly |
What is the main subject discussed in the text?
| A．Dettling designed the first green building in the U. S. |
| B．Energy shortage calls for buildings of new design. |
| C．Green buildings help save environment. |
| D．The Solaire serves as a model of high buildings. |
Which of the following statements is WRONG?
| A．The Solaire can reduce the impact of the building on the land. |
| B．Everyone is not eager to move into a green building. |
| C．Marty Dettling has come up with the idea of green buildings. |
| D．In the U.S, buildings consume(消耗) more than half of the total electricity. |