As Apple tries to maintain its growth and success in China, the world's largest smart-phone market is becoming even more critical. Apple's shares(股份) fell sharply as the company's earnings for the holiday quarter through December disappointed investors.
The sales of the iPhone, which include both the iPhone 5 and older models, came in at the low end of analysts' expectations, while the company's income plan for the second quarter was below analysts' forecasts, though Apple is known to give conservative (保守的) forecasts.
Some analysts have said that for Apple to regain its growth, the company needs a more aggressive strategy(进攻型策略) for markets, or more specifically for China, where the market for smart phones has been expanding more rapidly than anywhere else. In China, demand is particularly great for inexpensive phones that run on Android(安卓) operating system, sold by many Chinese phone makers as well as South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co.
But Apple says it's already enjoying strong growth in China. "We saw big growth in iPhones," Chief Executive Tim Cook said. He said that the company has been quickly expanding its sales channels in China, including the number of Apple stores. "This isn't nearly what we need, we're not even close to that, but we're making great progress.” he said.
In China, a big missing piece for Apple is China Mobile Ltd. , the biggest local telecom carrier that doesn't yet sell the iPhone. Earlier this month, Mr. Cook met China Mobile Chairman Xi Guohua in Beijing and discussed cooperation, stirring hopes that the world's largest mobile carrier may soon start offering the iPhone.
Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported that Apple is working on a lower-end iPhone that could launch as early as this year. But one possible challenge for Apple in China is that low-priced Android-based phones are getting better in terms of quality. A report from CLSA in late November showed that many smart-phones sold at about1,000 yuan ($160) came with higher- resolution screens, better cameras and more powerful processors than phones at that price did a year earlier.Apple's shares dropped sharply because in December______________.
| A．the iPhone wasn't popular in China |
| B．its product quality was widely criticized |
| C．the earnings for the holiday quarter was disappointing |
| D．the investors were not satisfied with Apple's management |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．Apple tends to offer a lower sales forecast. |
| B．China Mobile Ltd began to team up with Apple. |
| C．Cook is pessimistic about what Apple did in China. |
| D．Apple didn't take measures to develop Chinese market. |
The author uses the report from CLSA to prove _____.
| A．their prices are actually lower than a year earlier |
| B．Apple in China has ability to deal with any problem |
| C．low-ended Android-based phones are progressing fast |
| D．the promotion of lower-end iPhone will face a challenge |
The main purpose of the passage is to show the readers ______________.
| A．Apple's high popularity in China |
| B．the challenge Apple faces in China |
| C．the approaching failure Apple will suffer in China |
| D．Apple's aggressive strategy in its market expansion |
Chocolate is good for your heart, skin and brain．Usually, people think that chocolate is bad for their health．They describe chocolate as“something to die for”or say“death by chocolate”．Now they should bite their tongues! Evidence is showing that some kinds of chocolate are actually good for you in the following ways:
A happier heart
Scientists at Harvard University recently examined 136 studies on cocoa—the main ingredient in chocolate and found that it does seem to strengthen the heart．Studies have shown heart benefits from increased blood flow．These benefits are the result of coca’s chemicals, which seem to prevent both cell damage and inflammation（炎症）．
Better blood pressure
If yours is high, chocolate may help．Jeffrey Blumberg from Tufts University recently found that people with high blood pressure who ate 3．5 ounces of dark chocolate per day for two weeks saw their blood pressure drop quickly．
Muscle magic
Chocolate milk may help you recover after a hard workout（锻炼）．In a small study at Indiana University, people who drank chocolate milk between workouts did better on a tiredness test than those who had some sports drinks．
Better for your skin．German researchers gave 24 women a half-cup of special cocoa every day．After three months, the women’s skin was moister（滑润的）and smoother．The research shows that chocolate helps protect and increase blood flow to the skin, improving its appearance．
Brain gains
It sounds almost too good to be true, but research suggests that chocolate may improve your memory, attention span, reaction time, and problem-solving by increasing blood flow to the brain．
52. What’s the meaning of “bite their tongues”in the first paragraph?
A. Stop talking． B. Speak up． C. Think of it． DvListen to it
53. What’s the meaning of the underlined sentence in the fourth paragraph?
A. Sports drinks are better than chocolate milk．
B. Sports drinks can make people easy to be tired．
C. Drinking milk can keep you energetic at work．
D. We should drink chocolate milk between times when we work hard．
54. The conclusion that chocolate may help lower blood pressure was made by_________．
A. scientists at Harvard University
B. Jeffrey Blumberg from Tufts University
C. scientists at Indiana University
D. German researchers
55. What’s the best title for this passage?
A. Chocolate, a Healthy Food B. More Chocolate, Less Health
C. Chocolate and Blood Pressure D. Advice on Eating Chocolate
Eleven-year-old Evan Green doesn’t want to save just one tree－he wants to save a whole rainforest!
In the Redwood City, Calif., a boy started a group called the Red Dragon Conservation Team four years ago to do just that. So far, the team’s members have raised $4,500. That’s enough to purchase and protect more than 16 acres of rainforest in Costa Rica through the Center for Ecosystem survival.
Every year, thousands of square miles of rainforest are destroyed worldwide. Logging（伐木）and farming are mostly likely to blame, scientists say. The loss is terrible news for animals and people. Even though rainforests cover less than 2 percent of the earth, they are home to half the world’s plants and animals. Rainforests also provide water and help control the earth’s climate.
Evan’s work to save the rainforests recently earned him a Barron prize for Young Heroes. The prizes are given to children or teenagers who have made a positive difference in the world. Evan’s goal is “to save enough rainforests to last forever”. He won’t have to do it alone. His actions have already inspired other kids to chip in. One girl asked for donations instead of presents on her birthday. She raised $850. Other kids are starting their own conservation teams.
Evan says everyone can help the planet－even by taking small steps such as recycling. He and his family try to make a difference every day. “We recycle, we try to limit our garbage… we’ve been walking a little more, and we buy local food,” Evan said.
48. How much does it cost to buy and protect an acre of rainforest in Costa Rica?
A. About $4,500.B. About $850.C. About $280.D. About $1,000.
49. The underlined phrase “chip in” in Paragraph 4 probably means “________”.
A. look atB. contribute money
C. ask for birthday presentsD. donate gifts
50. What Evan said in the last paragraph suggests that _________.
A. we can all do something to protect the earth
B. actions speak louder than words
C. we should learn to recycle from now on
51. What would be the best title for the passage?
A. Evan Green-a famous teenager B. The Red Dragon Conservation Team
C. Rainforests are being destroyed D. Boy gathers support for rainforests
第三部分阅读理解（共两节，有16小题，满分32分）
第一节：阅读下面短文并做每篇后面的题目。从A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出能回答所提问题或完成所给句子的最佳答案。（本节有11小题；每小题2分，共22分）
A quarrel at home may result in you falling ill. Don’t laugh, it’s true. Family matters including living habits and even the way we speak have a big effect on our health, doctors say.
Wang Xiaoyu, a Senior 2 girl from Xichang, Sichuan Province, fainted (晕倒) in class when she heard her classmates quarrel at the top of their voices. Quarrels between her parents also put the girl into a coma. It is because she is suffering from depression (抑郁症), caused by bad relations at home, doctors explained.
“We don’t get sick or stay well by ourselves,” says Dr Robert Ferrer from the US. Ferrer shows that family forces may explain up to a quarter of health problems, in his recent research.
The genes you get from your family may cause illness. If one of your parents has a heart attack, your risk of being affected may double. But effects on health are not only written in our DNA.
Unrelated people who live under the same roof also get similar problems. Diet, lifestyle and environment affect our health, too.
Ferrer’s research also found that if teenagers feel they are ignored or unimportant at home they are more likely to get sick.
We may never fully understand all the effects that families have on our health. But just as individual (个别的) problems can have effects on others, a small improvement can have big benefits, Ferrer said.
45. Which of the following can best explain why Wang Xiaoyu fainted in class?
A. Because her classmates often quarreled in class.
B. Because her parents used to quarrel.
C. Because of her depression caused by bad family relations.
D. Because her classmates shouted loudly at her.
46. According to Dr Ferrer, which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. We get sick or stay well by ourselves.
B. Only the genes we get from our family have a big effect on our health.
C. Our health has nothing to do with diet, lifestyle and environment.
D. Teenagers who are ignored at home get sick more easily than those who are not.
47. The best title for this passage is ________.
A. Family relations. B. The reasons why we get sick.
C. Happy family makes you healthy.D. A research about teenagers’ health.
EVENTS
Long March exhibit
The Shanghai History Museum is putting on an exhibition to mark the 60th anniversary of the Long March. On show are more than 220 photos and 40 items that explain with pictures how the communist Red Army drew back from its besieged(被围困的) bases in Jiangxi Province and fought its way to northern Shanxi Province in the mid-1930s. Explanations are all in Chinese. The show will end on November 20.
Time: 10:00 am-4:00 pm
Address: 1286 Hongqiao Road
Admission: 8 yuan for Chinese /15 yuan for foreigners
Thai elephants
Eight elephants from Thailand are entertaining visitors at Changfeng Park by riding bikes, playing basketball, balancing on a beam, dancing and blowing a mouthorgan. People are encouraged to have a tug-of-war(拔河比赛)with the animals or lie on the ground and have the elephants walk over them. The elephants give three shows a day at 9:30 am, 3:30 pm and 8:00 pm and there is an additional show at l:30 pm at weekends. The show will end on November 15.
Address: 189 Daduhe Road
Admission: 30-40 yuan
Dancing dolphins
Dolphins jumping from the water to touch a ball, swaying their bodies to music, kissing people and doing math by tapping their tails have made the dolphinarium in Peace Park an attraction for children. Seals and sealions also perform.
Hours: 10:30 am, 4:00 pm, and 7:30 pm
Admission: 20 yuan for adults and 10 yuan for children.
51. The passage is from_____________.
A. newspaper B. story book C. history book D. geography magazine
52. If you go to visit the Long March exhibit with an Australian, how much will you payaltogether for the admission?
A. 16 yuan. B. 23 yuan. C. 30 yuan.D. 20 yuan.
53. At the exhibition, you will see ______.
A. many articles written by famous writers
B. many things left by the Red Army
C. books on the Long March
D. many photos and pictures about the Long March
54. Which of the following is NOT done by the Thai elephants?
A. Riding bicycles. B. Blowing a mouth-organ.
C. Doing math. D. Having a tug-of-war with people.
55. The dolphinarium in Peace Park is a hall where you can see ______.
A. not only dolphins but also seals and sea lions perform B. only dolphins perform
C. only seals and sea lions perform D. only seals perform
If you dream of going someplace warm to escape the cold winter weather, a trip to a recently discovered planet would certainly warm you right up. The planet, named OCLE-TR-56b, has temperatures of more than 3,000 °F. “This is the hottest planet we know about,” says Dr. Dimitar Sasselov, a scientist who led the discovery team. “It is hot enough to have an iron fog and to rain hot iron droplets(细沫).”
The new planet is 30 times farther away than any planet discovered by scientists before. It is in the Milky Way but it is not in our solar system. The new planet moves around a star much like our sun, however. Scientists discovered the planet by using a new planet-searching method, called “transit technique”. They were able to catch sight of the planet when it moved in front of its star, causing the star’s light to dim. Scientists compare the method to discovering the shadow of a bee flying in front of a searchlight 200 miles away. “We believe the door has been opened wide to go and discover planets like Earth,” says Sasselov.
48. We can infer from the passage that____.
A. there is iron on the new planet
B. we could go to the new planet in winter
C. the star could block our view of the new planet
D. scientists are studying the weather on the new planet
49. The “transit technique” can_____.
A.help dim the light of a star B. help scientists with a searchlight
C .help discover a bee on a planetD .help find a planet moving before its star
50. Which is the best title for the passage?
A. New Planet-searching Technique B. New Distant Discovery
C. Space Searching D.Dream Planet