Due to climate change, Arctic ice is breaking up earlier in the spring, and its area is decreasing. This is creating problems for polar bears that make their homes off northern Alaska and in Hudson Bay.
Polar bears off Alaska normally hunt and raise their young on ice sheets that float on the ocean. But as the ice has melted, the polar bears have been forced to spend more time on land. There, they have begun to frequent beaches, feeding on the remains of whales caught by native hunters. For polar bears, this food is less nutritious than seals that they normally catch on ice sheets. The shrinking（减少） ice has also forced more polar bears into the ocean. In the past, they only had to swim short distances between ice sheets. But as the ice has shrunk, polar bears have been forced to swim longer and longer distances in the open ocean. This poses a severe danger during rough weather, and an increasing number of drowned polar bears have been observed.
In Hudson Bay, the ice breaks up three weeks earlier in the spring now than it did 20 years ago. Polar bears on Hudson Bay fast（绝食） during the summer, waiting for ice to form in the fall to hunt. Every year, the summer gets longer, and the bears get skinnier. Over the past 25 years, the average weight of the female bears has dropped 68 kg. This loss affects their ability to reproduce, and already the number of births has dropped 15 percent. Unless the bears can learn to survive these climate changes, these giants of the ice may one day disappear.What is Arctic ice doing earlier each year?
| A．It’s freezing. | B．It’s hardening. |
| C．It’s melting. | D．It’s expanding. |
What is true of polar bears that are spending more time on land in Alaska?
| A．Their young are dying. |
| B．Their diet is changing. |
| C．Their health is improving. |
| D．Their families are growing. |
What do polar bears in Hudson Bay do during the summer?
| A．They claim territory(地域). | B．They protect mates. |
| C．They hunt animals. | D．They stop feeding |
In which publication would you most likely find this passage?
| A．Medical News | B．Society Today | C．Wildlife Journal | D．Design Magazine |
Eight – year – old Jesse Abrogate was playing in the sea late one evening in July 2001 when a 7-foot bull shark attacked him and tore off his arm. Jesse’s uncle jumped into the sea and dragged the boy to shore. The boy was not breathing. His aunt gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation (人工呼吸) while his uncle rang the emergency services. Pretty soon, a helicopter arrived and flew the boy to hospital. It was a much quicker journey than the journey by road.
Jesse’s uncle, Vance Folsenzier, ran back into to the sea and found the shark that had attacked his nephew. He picked the shark up and threw it onto the beach. A coastguard shot the fish four times and although this did not kill it, the shark’s jaws relaxed so that they could open them, and reach down into its stomach, and pull out the boy’s arm.
At the Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, Dr. Ian Rogers spent elev
en hours reattaching Jesse’s arm. “It was a complicated operation,” he said, “but we were lucky. If the arm hadn’t been recovered in time, we wouldn’t have been able to do the operation at all. What I mean is that if they hadn’t found the shark, well then we wouldn’t have had a chance.’
According to local park ranger Jack Tomosvic, shark attacks are not that common. “Jesse was just unlucky,” he says, “evening is the shark’s feeding time. And Jesse was in area without lifeguards. This would never have happened if he had been in area where swimming is allowed.’
When reporters asked Jesse’s uncle how he had had the courage to fight a shark, he replied, “I was mad and you do some strange things when you’re mad.”What was the boy doing when the accident happened?
| A．Feeding a hungry shark. | B．Jumping into the rough sea. |
| C．Dragging a boy to the shore. | D．Swimming in a dangerous area. |
In which way did the boy’s uncle help with the operation?
| A．By finding his lost arm. | B．By shooting the fish. |
| C．By flying him to hospital. | D．By blowing into his mouth. |
How was his uncle in time of danger?
| A．Careful. | B．Brave. | C．Optimistic. | D．Patient. |
Which of the following statements can be infe
rred from the passage?
| A．Jesse’s uncle was mad. |
| B．Jesse was playing in area where swimming is allowed. |
| C．It was very difficult for the doctor to reattach Jesse’s arm. |
| D．Evening is the shark’s feeding time. |
More perhaps than any other European nation, the Swiss have got used to looking after foreign travelers. As early as the 18th century, wealthy French, Germans and Italians were treating the country as an amusement center while, in the 19th century, it became the major holiday playground for the British nobles. Today, it attracts visitors from all over the world.
The Swiss are clear about the importance of tourism to their economy, which makes up about eight percent of the Gross Domestic Product, and helps industry greatly. Managers of hotels from all over the world go to Switzerland to learn how to do the job, and a high standard can be expected from the great majority of the country’s hotels, most of which are small and pride themselves on personalized service. Public transport is the best in Europe. Both the Swiss Federal railways and the private railwa
ys are fully electric-powered, and the total network consists of about 5,000 kilometers of track.
Under the Fly Baggage system passengers can check luggage in at 116 railway stations and have it automatically transferred to their flight. The national highway system is equally well planned, and the mountain roads offer views of some of the country’s most breathtaking scenery. Also serving the mountains is an effective system of railways and cable ways, while more than 160 passenger c
ars cross the lakes and rivers. Hiking in the mountains is equally popular with Swiss nationals and foreign visitors. For those who want to view the country from a great height without having to climb the mountain themselves, it is always possible to take in the view from a balloon. Compared with other European countries, Switzerland ________.
| A．places more importance on entertainment |
| B．thinks more about foreign travelers |
| C．has more convenient public transport |
| D．has more five-star hotels |
According to the passage, Switzerland is now visited by ________.
| A．wealthy French people | B．rich Germans and Italians |
| C．British nobles | D．people from various countries |
According to the passage we learn that ________.
| A．most of the hotels in Switzerland are big |
| B．all the hotels in Switzerland offer exactly the same service |
| C．most of the hotels in Switzerland offer first class service |
| D．the hotels in Switzerland are accustomed to learning from the rest of the world |
The Fly Rail Baggage system is a service to transport your luggage between the railway station and ________.
A．the airpor t |
B．the hotel | C．the motorway station | D．the cable ways |
The passage mainly tells us about ________.
| A．scenery in Switzerland | B．the life in Switzerland |
| C．tourism in Switzerland | D．the transportation in Switzerland |
Burns can be caused by fire, the sun, chemicals, heated objects or fluids, and electricity. They can be minor problems or life-threatening emergencies. Distinguishing a minor burn from a more serious burn involves determining the degree of damage to the tissues of the body. If you are not sure how serious the burn is, seek emergency medical help.
First-degree burns are those in which only the outer layer of skin is burned. The skin is usually red and some swelling (肿大) and pain may occur. Unless the burn involves large portions of the body, it can be treated at home.
Second-degree burns are those in which the first layer of skin has been burned through and the second layer of skin is also burned. In these burns, the skin reddens intensely and blisters (水泡) develop. Severe pain and swelling also occur. Second-degree burns require medical treatment.
Third-degree burns are the most serious and involve all layers of skin. Fat, nerves, muscles, and even bones may be affected. Areas may be charred black or appear a dry white. If nerve damage is substantial, there may be no pain at all. These burns require emergency medical attention.
Follow these steps when treating minor burns at home:
1) If the skin is not broken, run cool water over the burn for several minutes.
2) Cover the burn with a sterile (消过毒的) bandage or clean cloth.
3) Take aspirin to relieve any swelling or pain.
Seek emergency treatment immediately for major burns. Before an emergency unit arrives, follow these steps:
1) Remove the person from the source of the burn (fire, electrical current, etc.).
2) If the person is not breathing, begin mouth-to-mouth resuscitation (人工呼吸) immediately.
3) Remove all clothing to stop further burning. If the clothing is stuck to the burn, do not attempt to remove it.
4) Cover the burned area with a cool, moist, sterile banda
ge or clean cloth. Do not place any creams, ointments (药膏) or ice on the burned area or break blisters.
5) Monitor the patient for signs of shock, and treat accordingly. The underlined sentence in the first paragraph probably means “______”.
A. They can be dangerous if you don’t treat them seriously
Ｂ. They range from slight burns to deadly ones
C. They seldom cause deaths even if not treated properly
D. They usually cause deaths if not treated properlyBurns are divided into different degrees according to _______.
| A．what kind of treatment they need |
| B．what kind of tissue of the body is damaged |
| C．whether there is pain and what degree of pain there is |
| D．which layer of skin is burned |
From the passage we learn that ___
____.
| A．if there is severe pain, then you need medical treatment |
| B．first-degree burns don’t require medical treatment |
| C．burns without pains can be treated at home |
| D．the larger the swelling is, the more serious it is |
It can be inferred from the passage that ______
.
| A．you shouldn’t cover the burn with a bandage or cloth if it is severe |
| B．you shouldn’t move the person unless you know how to do first aid |
| C．you shouldn’t run cool water over the burn if the skin is broken |
| D．you shouldn’t place any wet towels on the burned area |
where do you probably find the passage?
| A．a fashion magazine | B．a guide book |
| C．a book on first aid | D．a section about culture in the newspaper |
Many of us already know about several American superstitions（迷信）. Having a black cat cross your path, walking under a ladder, and breaking a mirror are all bad luck. In addition, there are many other superstitions that are worth knowing. Understanding them will keep you safe from evil spirits —if you believe in such things —and impress your American friends when you mention them.
Like the superstitions in other cultures, American superstitions often involve the things important in daily life, such as health, numbers, and marriage. For example, have you ever had a cough that would not go away? According to one Amer
ican superstit
ion, you should take a piece of your hair and put it between two slices of buttered bread. Next, feed this hair sandwich to a dog and say, “Eat well, you hound, may you be sick and I be sound.” This will trick the evil spirits and help your cough. It will also raise some eyebrows if you try it.
In American superstitions, the number three is very important. Often, Americas will say, “All things come in threes.” Three is lucky because it represents the traditional family: mother, father, and child. Therefore, gifts, letters, and guests will often arrive at your home in groups of three. However, it is also possible for bad events, like accidents and funerals, to come in threes as well.
Another time peopl
e pay attention to superstitions is when they get married. During a wedding, brides must wear or carry “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue”. The old and borrowed things will bring luck to the person who gives them to the bride. The new and blue things wi
ll bring good fortune to the bride herself. The next time someone you know is getting married, be sure to recite this phrase.
As it would be unlucky to discuss one more superstition, we will wind things up here. Keep your fingers crossed, and stay lucky!The passage is most probably entitled .
| A．American’s Bad Luck | B．Cross-culture and Superstitions |
| C．American Superstitions | D．Daily Life in Superstitions |
The underlined sentence in the second paragraph “It will also raise some eyebrows if you try it.” means .
| A．when you try it, the dog will raise its eyebrows. |
| B．you will make people surprised when you try this trick |
| C．only if you raise your eyebrows can the trick work |
| D．you will believe in the trick after you try it |
In American’s view, the number three is a(n) number.
| A．lucky | B．unlucky | C．special | D．ordinary |
On the wedding, the bride often uses old and borrowed things so as to .
| A．save some money for the wedding |
| B．bring good luck to the people who give them to the bride |
| C．give the good luck to the bride herself |
| D．pass the bad luck to others |
After reading the passage, we may feel it is written in a tone.
| A．formal | B．serious | C．humorous | D．critical |
In white shirt, blue pants, black cloth shoes and two pigtails (辫子), Jingqiu gives off an air of great “pure beauty” in Zhang Yimou’s new movie Under the Hawthom Tree.《山揸树之恋》
The film tells the story of the sad romance of Jingqiu and a handsome young man named Laosan. Set at the end of the “cultural revolution” (1966-1976), the pair manage to fall in love although they come form different political environments.
Before it was released, moviegoers speculated (推测) on just what this “pure beauty” could be. Director Zhang complained of how long it had taken him to find the right girl for the part of Jingqiu—a character so innocent that she believes simply lying on the same bed with a man will make her pregnant.
It was 18-year-old Zhou Dongyu who stood out from the crowd. According to Zhang, Zhou has “eyes that are clear like a fountain on a mountainside”. Born of an ordinary worker’s family, the Shijiazhuang girl was in her final year of high school and working hard for a place in an art college.
While some teenagers co
nsider such “pure beauty” illusory (虚幻的), others believe that it speaks of something soulful.
Purity is all about the innocence that shines through from within, thinks 16-year-old Tan Mengxi of Nanjing.
“Being pure can be simple, not having complicated thoughts and being inexperienced. However, it doesn’t mean an ignorant or naive (天真的) person. So, a person is pure in his or her nature if he or she is always enthusiastic and able to deal with difficult matters independently. This purity doesn’t pass with time,” she said. What image does Jingqiu give to audiences in the movie Under the Hawthorn Tree?
| A．A simple girl. | B．A pure girl. | C．A romantic girl. | D．A silent girl. |
What kind of girl looks pure according to the passage?
| A．A girl in red shirt, blue pants, black leather shoes and two pigtails. |
| B．A girl has eyes that are clear like a fountain on a mountainside. |
| C．A girl who was born into an ordinary worker’s family. |
| D．A girl wears accessories and make-up. |
What’s the opinion of Tan Mengxi about purity?
| A．It is of whether someone is ignorant or naive. |
| B．Being pure can be simple, not having complicated thoughts and being inexperienced. |
| C．It is of whether someone is always enthusiastic. |
| D．Purity is a matter of internal quality and doesn’t pass with time. |
Which do you think is the best title for the passage?
| A．What makes a pure girl? |
| B．A debate on the movie Under the Hawthorn Tree |
| C．Opinions on the character Jingqiu |
| D．It’s hard to find the character Jingqiu |
When did the story in the movie happen？
| A．In the 1960s | B．In the 1980s |
| C．In the 1970s | D．In the 1990s. |