From the health point of view we are living in an amazing age. We are free from many of the most dangerous diseases. A large number of once deadly illnesses can now be cured by modern medicine. It is almost certain that one day medicines will be found for the most stubborn remaining diseases. The expectation of life has increased greatly. But though the possibility of living a long and happy life is greater than ever before, every day we witness the unbelievable killing of men, women and children on the roads. Man vs the motor-car! It is a never-ending battle which man is losing.
Thousands of people the world over are killed or horribly killed each year and we are quietly sitting back and letting it happen.
It has been rightly said that when a man is sitting behind a steering wheel(方向盘), his car becomes the extension of his personality. There is no doubt that the motor-car often brings out a man’s very worst qualities. People who are normally quiet and pleasant may become unrecognizable when they are behind a steering-wheel. They say, they are ill-mannered and aggressive, willful as two-year-olds and completely selfish. A.. their hidden angers and disappointments seem to be brought to the surface by the act of driving.
The surprising thing is that society smiles so gently on the motorist and seems to forgive his behavior. Everything is done for his convenience. Cities are allowed to become almost uninhabitable because of heavy traffic; towns are made ugly by huge car parks; the countryside is ruined by road networks; and the deaths become nothing more than a number every year, to be easily forgotten.
It is high time a world rule was created to reduce this senseless waste of human life. With regard to driving, the laws of some countries are unbelievable lenient(宽容的) and even the strictest are not strict enough. A rule which was universally accepted could only have an obviously beneficial effect on the accident rate. Here are a few examples of some of the things that might be done. The driving test should be standardized and made far more difficult than it is; all the drivers should be made to take a test every three years or so; the age at which young people are allowed to drive any vehicle should be raised to at least 21; all vehicles should be put through strict tests for safety each year. Even the smallest amount of alcohol in the blood can damage a person’s driving ability. Present drinking and driving laws(where they exist) should be made much stricter. Speed limits should be required on all roads. Governments should lay down safety specifications for car factories, as has been done in the USA. All advertising stress power and performance should be banned. These measures may not sound good enough. But surely nothing should be considered as too severe if it results in reducing the number of deaths. After all, the world is for human beings, not motor-cars. .What is the main idea of this passage?
A.Traffic accidents are mainly caused by motorists. |
B.Thousands of people the world over are killed each year. |
C.The laws of some countries about driving are to lenient. |
D.Only stricter traffic laws can prevent accidents. |
. What does the author think of society toward motorists?
A.Society laughs at the motorists. | B.Huge car parks are build in the cities and towns. |
C.Victims of accidents are nothing. | D.Society forgives their rude driving |
.What does the author mean by saying “his car becomes the extension of his personality” in Paragraph 2?
A.Driving can show his hidden qualities | B.Driving can show the other part of his personality |
C.Driving can bring out his character | D.Driving can represent his manners |
. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a way against traffic accidents?
A.Perfect the road network | B.Stricter driving tests |
C.Test drivers every three years | D.Raise age limit and lay down safety specifications |
. The author’s attitude towards the traffic situation is ______.
A.confused | B.discontented | C.appealing | D.doubtful |
第二部分阅读理解
(共25小题。第一节每小题2分,第二节每小题1分;满分45分)
第一节阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
D
When people lose legs after accidents or illnesses, emergency care and artificial limbs(假肢)often allow them to walk again. Newts (蝾螈) in the same situation, on the other hand, can grow limbs back on their own! Scientists have known for a long time that certain animals can re–grow limbs, but they haven’t quite figured out how these creatures do it.
Researchers have now come up with some new ideas. Their work may give people the ability to re – grow lost limbs. The researchers started with two simple experiments:when you cut a newt’s leg at the ankle, only the foot grows back;when you cut off a leg at the very end, the whole leg grows back. In both cases, the re–growth begins with stem cells. Stem cells can develop into nearly any type of cell in the body.
How do a newt’s stem cells know when to grow only a foot and when to re–grow a whole leg?
This question relates to another mystery. In newts, a cut–off leg will grow back only if the nerve bundle(神经束)in it also grows back , but if something prevents the nerve bundle from growing, the stem cells at the wound won’t re–grow a new leg.
In its study, a British team focused on a protein called nAG. When the team prevented nerves in a limb from growing, but added the nAG protein to stem cells in the limb, the limb still re–grew. That protein seems to guide limb re–growth. People have proteins that are similar to nAG. Further research into these materials may someday help human limbs recover by themselves.In the experiments, the researchers cut off a newt’s foot or leg to find out _____.
A.what stem cells were | B.whether they would grow back |
C.how long it would take to re–grow | D.how they would re – grow |
A newt will re–grow its leg if _____.
A.its ankle was cut off but the nerve bundle was good |
B.its leg was cut off and the nerve bundle stopped growing |
C.its leg was cut off and the nerve bundle could grow back |
D.its ankle and the nerve bundle were cut off |
What do the underlined words “these materials” refer to?
A.Nerve bundles and proteins. | B.Proteins similar to nAG. |
C.Stem cells and proteins. | D.Stem cells and nerve bundles. |
The first sentence of the passage _____.
A.acts as a lead–in |
B.shows where researchers got their new ideas |
C.states the author’s opinion |
D.describes the result of researchers’ studies |
第二部分阅读理解
(共25小题。第一节每小题2分,第二节每小题1分;满分45分)
第一节阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
C
Pocket Tape – Recorders “Family and Home Magazine” test what’s on the market now.
Pearlcorder S702 $ 64
This simple model at the bottom of the Olympus range scored the most points for its excellent quality of recording. Background noise hardly affects the sound and recording from a pocket is perfectly possible, but it doesn’t turn off automatically.
Tape length:30 minutes per side. Weight:240g.
Sony M9 $ 49.95
Small and very good looking, Sony’s latest offering scored most for appearance. Sounds clear, but there is slight machine noise. The big control buttons are a great improvement on some of the complicated little controls on other tape – recorders. Doesn’t switch off automatically, but a red light shows if the machine is still running.
Tape length:60 minutes per side. Weight:195g.
Sony M400 $ 115
Lots of little control buttons that make a noise are difficult to use. Recording was good but machine noise lost points. Tape counter and automatic switch – off when tape has finished recording or rewinding are useful.
Tape length:60 minutes per side. Weight:230g.
Imperial OEM MC7 $ 29.95
Cheap and simple compared with the rest, but recording was good as long as there was no background noise. Use only its own – make of cassette. No light to show it is on;no fast – forward button and the record button makes a loud noise.
Tape length:30 minutes per side. Weight:285g.
Philips 585 $ 80
Handsome and simple to use, but recording is very poor at more than the recommended distance of 5 cm – designed for dictation. No recording light.
Tape length:15 minutes per side. Weight:220g.The machine that produces the best recording with the least unwanted noise is the _____.
A.Pearlcorder S702 | B.Sony M9 |
C.Sony M400 | D.Imperial OEM MC7 |
If you want a machine which turns off automatically and weighs very little you should choose the _____
A.Pearlcorder S702 | B.Sony M9 |
C.Sony M400 | D.Philips 585 |
Which of the following allows you to record longest but costs you least?
A.Philips 585 | B.Imperial OEM MC7 |
C.Sony M400 | D.Sony M9 |
What disadvantage does only the Imperial OEM MC7 have?
A.No light shows when it is on. | B.It requires a special cassette. |
C.It picks up background noise . | D.The record button makes a noise. |
第二部分阅读理解
(共25小题。第一节每小题2分,第二节每小题1分;满分45分)
第一节阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
B
There are some very good things about open education. This way of teaching allows the students to grow as people, and to develop their own interests in many subjects. Open education allows students to be responsible for their own education, as they are responsible for what they do in life. Some students do badly in a traditional classroom. The open classroom may allow them to enjoy learning. Some students will be happier in an open education school. They will not have to worry about grades or rules. For students who worry about these things a lot, it is a good idea to be in an open classroom.
But many students will not do well in an open classroom. For some students, there are too few rules. These students will do a little in school. They will not make good use of open education. Because open education is so different from traditional education, these students may have a problem getting used to making so many choices. For many students it is important to have some rules in the classroom. They worry about the rules even when there are no rules. Even a few rules will help this kind of students. The last point about open education is that some traditional teachers do not like it. Many teachers do not believe in open education. Teachers who want to have an open classroom may have many problems at their schools.
You now know what open education is. Some of its good points and bad points have been explained. You may have your own opinion about open education. The writer thinks that open education is a good idea, but only in theory. In actual fact, it may not work very well in a real class or school. The writer believes that most students, but of course not all students, want some structure in their classes. They want and need to have rules. In some cases, they must be interesting. They would not study those subjects if they did not have to. Open education allows the students to _____.
A.grow as the educated | B.be responsible for their future |
C.develop their own interests | D.discover subjects outside class |
Open education may be a good idea for students who _____.
A.enjoy learning with teachers’ help | B.worry about grades at school |
C.do well in a traditional classroom | D.are responsible for their life |
Some students will do little in an open classroom because _____.
A.there are too few rules | B.they hate activities |
C.there are no teachers | D.they worry about the rules |
Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?
A.Some traditional teachers do not like it. |
B.Many teachers do not believe in open education. |
C.Teachers may have problems in open classrooms. |
D.The teacher’s feelings and attitudes are important. |
Which of the following best summarizes the passage?
A.Open education is like a coin that has two sides. |
B.Open education is better than traditional education. |
C.Teachers dislike open education. |
D.Open education is a good idea in practice. |
The spread of worsening international financial crisis has seriously affected world economic growth and stability. The ongoing financial crisis is rarely seen in history. Countries and organizations have taken measures in response, and we hope these measures will produce good results soon. Countries in Asia and Europe are an important force for international financial stability and world economic growth. I suggest that we make greater efforts in the following aspects:
First, countries should run their own affairs well. In the face of the crisis, it is important for leaders to act in the fundamental and long-term interests of the people and use necessary monetary and regulatory tools to regain market confidence as soon as possible and maintain economic growth.
Second, set up coordination(调和) and cooperation among governments. The financial departments, central banks and financial regulators around the world should closely follow the development of the crisis and study its trend and impact.
Third, strengthen regional financial dialogue and cooperation. Members of the Eurozone have reached agreement on the basic principles to tackle the financial crisis. We in Asia are also exploring the possibility of expanding the size of bilateral(双边的)currency swap( 互惠外汇信贷)arrangements under the 10+3 framework .
Fourth, push forward the reform of the international monetary and financial systems. The present crisis has exposed the weaknesses in the existing international financial system and governance structure. It is important to do three things in this regard: first, increase the say and representation of developing countries in international financial organizations; second, expand the space of the regulation of the international financial system, and third, establish a reasonable global financial rescue mechanism(机制).According to the passage, members of the Eurozone reached agreement on
________.
A.how to deal with the financial crisis |
B.how to regain market confidence |
C.how to maintain economic growth |
D.how to study the crisis trend |
Which word has the same meaning with the underlined word maintain ?
A.mainly | B.keep | C.increase | D.decrease |
According to the passage, which of the following sentence is True?
A.Global issues included energy, food, the environment, fashion etc. |
B.There was no financial crisis in history. |
C.Facing the crisis, the first thing the countries should do is to do their own business well. |
D.Asian countries are the most important force for the world economic growth. |
The passage mainly talks about ___________________.
A.What we should do during the financial crisis. |
B.We should draw serious lessons from the financial crisis. |
C.Countries and organizations have taken measures in response to the financial crisis. |
D.We should set up coordination and cooperation among governments. |
Some houses are designed to be smart. Others have smart designs. An example of the second type of house won the Award of Excellence from the American Institute of Architects.
Located on the shore of Sullivan’s Island off the coast of South Carolina, the award-winning cube-shaped beach house was built to replace one damaged by Hurricane Hugo years ago. In September 1989, Hugo struck South Carolina, killing 18 people and damaging or destroying 36,000 homes in the state.
Before Hugo, many new houses built along South Carolina’s shoreline were poorly constructed, according to architect Ray Huff, who created the cleverly-designed beach house. Now all new shoreline houses are required to meet stricter, better-enforced codes. The new beach house on Sullivan’s Island should be strong enough not to be damaged by a Category 3 hurricane with peak winds of 179 to 209 kilometres per hour.
At first sight, the house on Sullivan’s Island looks anything but(根本不) hurricane-proof. Its redwood shell makes it look like “a large party lantern” at night. But looks can be deceiving. The house’s wooden frame is strengthened with long steel rods(杆) to give it extra strength.
To further protect the house from hurricane damage, Huff raised it 2.7 meters off the ground on timber pilings(木桩) buried deep in the sand. Pilings might appear insecure, but they are strong enough to support the weight of the house. They also raise the house above storm waves. The pilings allow the waves to run under the house instead of running into it. “The waves of water come ashore at tremendous speeds and cause most of the damage done to beach-front buildings,” said Huff.
Huff designed the timber pilings to be partially concealed(隐藏) by the house’s ground-to-roof shell. “The shell masks the pilings so that the house doesn’t look like it’s standing with its legs pulled up,” said Huff. In the event of storm, the shell should break apart and let the waves rush under the house, the architect explained.After Hurricane Hugo, new houses built along South Carolina’s shore line are required
to.
A.be easily pulled down | B.look smarter in design |
C.meet stricter building standards | D.be designed to be cube-shaped |
The award-winning beach house is quite strong because .
A.it is strengthened by steel rods | B.it is made of redwood |
C.it is in the shape of a shell | D.it is built with timber and concrete |
Huff raised the house 2.7 meters off the ground on timber pilings in order to .
A.avoid peak winds of about 200 km/h |
B.bury stronger pilings deep in the sand |
C.break huge sea waves into smaller ones |
D.prevent the waves from running into it |
It can be inferred from the passage that the house’s shell should be .
A.smooth | B.waterproof | C.easily broken | D.extremely hard |