Doris Lessing was born in 1919 in Persia, moving as a child with her family to southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, where she stayed in school only to the age of 14.
A year after moving to London, she published her first novel in 1950. The Grass is Singing examines unbridgeable racial conflict(冲突) in colonial Africa through the eyes of a white farmer’s wife and her black servant.
Her literary breakthrough came in 1962 with publication of The Golden Notebook, seen by many, though not necessarily Lessing, as a pioneering work of modern feminism(女权运动). A separated study of the mind of the main character, Amma Wulf, the novel explores her thoughts about Africa, politics and relationships with men and sex.
Lessing’s themes changed to psychology in her works from the 1960s, and by the 1970s the was extremely interested in the Islamic mystic tradition of Sufism(苏菲教派). Her turn toward science fiction with the Canopus series in the early 1980s was not warmly received by traditionalist critics, but she has continued to win new readers and numerous literary awards, including the David Cohen British Literary Prize and the Companion of Honour from the Royal Society of Literature, both in 2001.
Following the announcement, the Horace Engdahl told VOA why he was personally so pleased with Lessing’s selection.
“She is one of the truly great writers－of novels, short stories, fiction and non-fiction,” Engdahl said. “She is one of the few writers who have had the courage to uphold the principle of equality between the male and female experience, and she has given the impulse(冲动) to numbers of other women writers. And she is really the mother of a school that is one of the most important in our contemporary literature.”
At 87, Doris Lessing is the oldest Nobel Literature winner sine the first prizes were awarded in 1901.What would be the best title for this passage?
| A．Doris Lessing writes The Golden Notebook |
| B．Doris Lessing is a pioneer of modern feminism |
| C．Doris Lessing wins the Nobel Prize for Literature |
| D．Doris Lessing is concerned about Africa |
It can be inferred from the passage that .
| A．there are only two characters in The Grass is Singing |
| B．The Golden Notebook is regarded as Lessing’s masterpiece by herself |
| C．life in Africa in her early age lays a solid foundation for her writing |
| D．Doris Lessing is strongly against traditional culture in Africa |
According to the fourth paragraph, .
| A．Lessing began to believe in Christ in the 1970s |
| B．Lessing’s science fiction won readers |
| C．Lessing had won two literary medals for her writings |
| D．Lessing changed her themes to meet the needs of traditional critics |
According to the Horace Engdahl, Lessing wins Nobel Prize mainly because .
| A．she has rich experience in living in Africa |
| B．she is a head master of an important school |
| C．she encourages women writers to struggle against men |
| D．she makes great contributions to equal rights for women |
B
Guandong province all together chose universities in Hong Kong; when the very best student of Beijing picked up HK University while giving up the nearby Peking or Tsingbua University; when the highest enrollment （录取）rate of Hong Kong Science and Industry University reached 48:1, it’s the high time to ask where the real education heaven for students in China is.
Years ago, the answer certainly would be “Peking or Tsinghua University”. But now no one could give the exact reaction without hesitation. The only sure thing is that HK universities have gradually showed an unusual attraction to a great many mainland students.
It’s no doubt to call this HK craze（狂热）,which is even out of the expectation of those HK universities themselves.
How can HK universities shake the steady foundations of Peking and Tsinghua and attract so many mainland students?
First, Hong Kong universities offer large-amount scholarship, especially for the top students who can receive the sum of scholarship as much as 400,000 HK dollars. Since higher education has become a kind of heavy burden of many families, it’s easy to understand why the reaction to the generous offering of HK universities is great.
Second, most HK universities receive professors and students from all over the world and carry out bilingual（双语）education. This kind of excellent language atmosphere is another attraction for mainland students.
Further more, university students in Hong Kong have a better chance to study abroad as exchange students.
Can mainland top universities like Peking or Tsinghua University calm as before when facing the unexpected competition from HK? Will they take relevant measures to win back the top students who once help them set the worldwide reputation? Time will explain it.
The fierce competition brought by HK universities can be a good thing for an entire improvement of education in China. After the awakening and action taking of mainland universities, they can perform better together with HK universities.
At least, it reminded the mainland universities the tuition fees（学费）are among students’ top concern when they are choosing universities. It’s time to move.
46．What is the passage mainly talking about?
A．Some thought brought by the enrollment of HK universities.
B．Higher education in Hong Kong.
C．The competition between HK University and Peking University.
D．The fall of mainland universities.
47. Top students from mainland apply for HK universities because .
A．many students now would love to study aboard to get a better experience
B．they concern only about the tuition fees when choosing universities
C．HK universities offer higher scholarship, better environment and more opportunities for their further study
D．Peking university has lost its worldwide reputation
48．What is the author’s attitude toward the competition brought by HK universities?
A．The government should take relevant measures to stop this unfair competition.
B．Mainland universities had better lower their tuition fees and win back the top students.
C．Universities both in mainland and in HK would get an entire improvement during the competition.
D．It may probably cause a complete loss both sides in the end.
49．From the passage we can see HK universities .
A．didn’t mean to enroll top students from mainland
B．didn’t expect their enrollment of mainland students would be so popular
C．have strict enrollment rules and only 1 out of 48 students can get the chance to study there
D．are proud of their teaching staff and facilities
50．What does the author mean by saying “It’s time to move” in the last paragraph?
A．Mainland universities should take measures as soon as possible to attract students.
B．The opportunities come for top students to study abroad.
C．Mainland universities should make full preparations to challenge mainland universities.
D．Top students should be offered further education free of charge.
第三部分阅读理解（共两节，满分40分）
第一节：阅读理解（共20小题，每小题2分，满分40分）
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。
A
A teenage girl is fighting for her life today after being struck by lightning as severe thunderstorms swept across Britain. The girl was one of four teenage girls from London who were hit by lightning in the Parade Ground area of Hyde Park during a storm. Earlier, Joseph Wharton, 14, died as he was struck by lightning while camping in his friend’s backyard in the West Midlands.
A spokesman for Scotland Yard said the girl remained in serious condition at St. Mary’s Hospital in Paddington. She had stooped breathing by the time the first paramedic arrived on the scene just two minutes after the strike at 5:40 p.m. yesterday.
The other three girls hit by the bolt all had injuries, and were taken to University College Hospital. Their conditions were not serious, the spokesman added. The strike lifted the girls into the air and then dropped them to the ground, a witness reported.
A spokesman for the London Ambulance Service said paramedics risked their lives to treat the girls. “The storm was still overhead and lightning was still coming down while they were treating the patients,” he said. “All staff involved acted very professionally in providing fast treatment to these patients in very difficult circumstances.” Scotland Yard said the incident was being looked into by officers from the Royal Parks’Operational Command Unit.
Joseph Wharton of Byland Way, Bloxwich, was hit during the extended thunderstorm which struck the region yesterday morning. He was pronounced dead at Walsall Manor Hospital.
He had been sleeping in a tent while staying with school friend Michael Lees at a house on nearby Cresswell Crescent.
West Midlands Ambulance Service said paramedics were called at 7:50 a.m. and unsuccessful attempts were made to revive the sports-mad teenager. A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said four or five people die each year as a result of lightning strikes in the UK.
41.All four girls _______________.
A were killed by the lightning B were seriously injured
C were being treated at the same hospital D were lifted up and dropped to the ground
42 The underlined word “bolt” probably means “ ______________”
A thunder B rain C storm D lightning
43 Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A The boy was killed after the four girls had been hit.
B The paramedics began to treat the girls after taking them to the hospital.
C First-aid was given to the girls during the storm.
D The boy was hit by lightning in the Parade Ground area of Hyde Park.
44 It can be inferred from the passage that _______.
A many British people die from lightning strikes every year
B the writer blames the government for the accident
C the paramedics could also have been hit by lighting while aiding the girls.
D Joseph had been playing in the open air before the strike
45 This passage is probably taken from a _______.
A magazine B newspaper C science fiction D weather report
C
If you gaze（凝视）through a telescope at a distant galaxy（星系）, it may glow brightly with the light of hundreds of millions of stars. Despite（尽管，不顾） all that light, most scientists think that at the center of a big galaxy lies something very dark: a black hole. A black hole is a region of space with gravity so strong that nothing can escape, not even light.
Astronomers recently announced they had observed a faraway galaxy that may have at its center two black holes, very close together. Based on their observations, the stargazers suspect one of the black holes has more mass than the other. The more mass something has, the stronger its gravitational force, so a larger black hole has a stronger gravitational attraction. The smaller black hole orbits（作轨道运行） the larger black hole, just as the earth orbits the sun.
The biggest galaxies in the universe form when two smaller galaxies collide（碰撞）. If two galaxies merge（合并）, then all of their stars start orbiting a common center. The black holes at the galaxies’ centers should come together, too. Galaxies are colliding all the time, so we should be able to find lots of black hole pairs. But that’s easier said than done—astronomers rarely find these in deep space.
To find a black hole is complicated. A black hole doesn’t produce any light, so how can you find one in space? Astronomers think when something (like dust) falls into a giant black hole, a jet of radiation, a form of energy, may stream away. If this radiation is strong enough, it forms a quasar（类星体）.
The Arizona astronomers looked at more than 17,000 quasars and finally found a galaxy that may have a double black hole at its heart. Though the finding of their research is still unconfirmed, and they may be mistaken, the truth will be revealed in the future.
63. Which of the following is TRUE about black holes?
A. A black hole is a region in galaxies with nothing in it, even a bunch of light.
B. Black holes are used by astronomers to study how quasars come into being.
C. When different galaxies meet in space, the black holes become bigger and bigger
D. Some scientists think there’s one black hole in a galaxy, but others think there’re two.
64. From the second paragraph we can infer that ________.
A. a larger black hole pushes a smaller black hole away
B. a larger black hole pulls a smaller black hole toward it
C. the places of black holes are fixed, so we can see them clearly
D. a smaller black hole moves around a larger one because of radiation
65. According to the passage, astronomers think that there should be many black hole pairs because____________.
A. a black hole can produce light
B. black holes can attract one another
C. different black hole pairs come into being with the meeting of galaxies.
D. a big black hole can usually be divided into two small black holes
B
As the summer comes, the exhausted consumers start paying attention to the latest cooling devices（仪器）in the market. With the competition rising ,buying an air conditioner (AC) is no longer a big deal; moreover the easy finance schemes make it a device for every life.
Design
Though it carries the standard design for AC, yet it looks elegant(优雅的) when fixed on your wall. As AC is exposed to exterior（外部的）climate, it is bound to get damaged and bring maintenance cost if not taken proper care of. But Haier has solved this problem by providing an anti-corrosion（抗腐蚀的）body to all its AC. It has a remote control which provides you with ultimate flexibility and you can operate it from every corner of your room.
Key Features
It’s proved that this AC steals the show by offering 1tonne cooling capacity at the EER of 9.47. This means it operates at low power and thus helps you save great energy, and consequently it wins popularity with customers. The rotary compressor（旋转式压缩机）is the secret behind its smooth and silent operation, which makes it suitable for public and silent areas.
Core Information
Apart from the above features, it attracts consumers by its unique anti-bacterial filters（过滤器）, which act as a favor to your health by destroying the harmful germs and bacteria and make you breathe very clean air.
Advantages and Disadvantages
The anti-bacterial filters prove to be a favor for our respiratory system（呼吸系统）. When compared to other famous brands such as Samsung, Onida, and LG, it offers great functions at a very friendly price. However, it lacks some additional filters which are seen in other expensive brands like Electrolux EA12SCRLA1.
Conclusion
It’s a masterpiece（杰作） due to its silent operation and uniform（均速的）cooling. Thus, if you desire cool air, then just switch to this AC and feel the magic.
59. It can be inferred from the passage that __________.
A. most customers are not satisfied with the latest AC
B. the price of AC has been lowered due to the fierce competition
C. Haier AC has special functions but no desirable shapes
D. the real secret behind Haier AC’s silent operation hasn’t been published yet
60. The underlined words “steals the show” can be replaced by________.
A. learns key technologies secretly B. puts theories into practice scientifically
C. attracts more attention and praise D. shows some advantages and disadvantages
61. Which of the following plays an important role in guaranteeing our health?
A. The anti-corrosion body. B. The remote control system.
C. The rotary compressor. D. The anti-bacterial filters.
62. Compared with other brands, Haier AC’s biggest advantage lies in ________.
A. the standard design B. the low maintenance cost
C. the best after-sales service D. the great functions at a low price
第三部分：阅读理解（共10小题；每小题2分，满分20分）
请认真阅读下列短文，从短文后所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
In meditation（冥想），people sit quietly and focus their attention on their breath. As they breathe in and out, they attend to their feelings. As thoughts go through their minds, they let them go. Breathe. Let go. Breathe. Let go.
According to a recent study at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, three months of training in this kind of meditation causes a marked change in how the brain allocates attention. It appears that the ability to let go thoughts that come into mind frees the brain to attend to more rapidly changing things and events in the outside world. Expert mediators are better than other people at catching such fast-changing stimuli, like facial expressions.
The study provides evidence for changes in the workings of the brain with mental training. People can learn and improve abilities of all sorts with practice, everything from driving to playing the piano. The study has shown that meditation is good for the brain. It appears to reduce pressure and promote a sense of well-being.
In an experiment, 17 volunteers with no meditation experience in the experimental group spent three months meditating 10 to 12 hours a day. A control group also with no meditation experience meditated for 20 minutes a day over the same period. Both groups were then given the tests with two numbers in a group of letters. As both group looked for the numbers, their brain activity was recorded.
Everyone could catch the first number. But the brain recordings showed that the less experienced mediators tended to grasp the first number and hang onto it, so they missed the second number. Those with more experience gave less attention to the first number as if letting it go, which led to an increased ability to grasp the second number. This shows that attention can change with practice.
Just ask Daniel Levision, who meditated for three months as part of the study.” I am a much better listener,” he said. “I do not get lost in my own personal reaction to what people are saying.”
56. The underlined word “them” in Paragraph 1 refers to ________.
A. feelings B. minds C. people D. thoughts
57. Meditations manage their daily tasks better because they ________.
A. are given less pressure B. allocate their attention better
C. have more stimuli for life D. practice them more frequently
58. The study proves that ________.
A. meditation improves one’s health B. brain activity can be recorded
C. human attention can be trainedD. mediators have a good sense of hearing