Which is safer --- staying at home, traveling to work on public transport, or working at the office? Surprisingly, each of these carries the same risk, which is very low．However, what about flying compared to working in the chemical industry? Unfortunately, the former is 65 times riskier than the latter! In fact the accident rate of workers in the chemical industry is less than that of almost any of human activity, and almost as safe as staying at home．
The trouble with the chemical industry is that when things go wrong they often cause death to those living nearby．It is this that makes chemical accidents so newsworthy．Fortunately, they are extremely rare．The most famous ones happened at Texas City （1947）, Flixborough （1974）, Seveso （1976）, Pemex （1984） and Bhopal （1984）．
Some of these are always in the minds of the people even though the loss of life was small．No one died at Seveso, and only 28 workers at Flixborough．The worst accident of all was Bhopal, where up to 3,000 were killed．The Texas City explosion of fertilizer killed 552．The Pemex fire at a storage plant for natural gas in the suburbs of Mexico City took 542 lives, just a month before the unfortunate event at Bhopal．
Some experts have discussed these accidents and used each accident to illustrate a particular danger．Thus the Texas City was caused by tons of ammonium nitrate, which is safe unless stored in a great quantity．The Flixborough fireball was the fault of management, which took risks to keep production going during essential repairs．The Seveso accident shows what happens if the local authorities lack knowledge of the danger on their doorstep．When the poisonous gas drifted over the town , local leaders were incapable of taking effective action．The Pemex fire was made worse by an overloaded site in an overcrowded suburb．The fire set off a chain reaction of exploding storage tanks．Yet, by a miracle, the two largest tanks did not explode．Had these caught fire, then 3,000 strong rescue team and fire fighters would all have died．Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．Working at the office is safer than staying at home． |
| B．Travelling to work on public transport is safer than working at the office． |
| C．Staying at home is safer than working in the chemical industry． |
| D．Working in the chemical industry is safer than traveling by air． |
Chemical accidents are usually important enough to be reported as news because .
| A．they are very rare |
| B．they often cause loss of life |
| C．they always occur in big cities |
| D．they arouse the interest of all the readers |
According to the passage, the chemical accident that caused by the fault of management happened in_________．
| A．Texas city | B．Flixborough |
| C．Seveso | D．Mexico City |
From the passage we know that “ammonium nitrate” is a kind of _____．
| A．natural gas, which can easily catch fire |
| B．fertilizer, which can't be stored in a great quantity |
| C．poisonous substance, which can't be used in overcrowded areas |
| D．fuel, which is stored in large tanks |
From the discussion among some experts we may conclude that _____．
| A．to avoid any accident we should not repair the facilities in chemical industry |
| B．the local authorities should not be concerned with the production of the chemical industry |
| C．all these accidents could have been avoided or controlled if effective measures had been taken |
| D．natural gas stored in very large tanks is always safe |
Japan’s All Nippon Airways, which has asked passengers to visit the toilet before boarding to help the environment, said Tuesday it will fit its jets with a women-only lavatory（厕所）.
ANA will introduce one female-only toilet per aircraft on international flights next month after a survey of women fliers identified(确认) it was the second most attractive service they wished for after being offered desserts. The rest of the toilets onboard will be for men and women as usual.
“We received many comments that having a women-only lavatory would be a factor in differentiating our airline from others,” said an NAN spokesman.
“Many women said that they feel uncomfortable taking their time in the lavatory knowing that a male is waiting just behind them in line,” he said. The spokesman denied that the new service was introduced following complaints about men soiling(弄脏) the bathrooms, telling reporters: “Those opinions may exist, but we do not have that data on hand”.
Since 2006 ANA has pursued (开展) a one – month awareness campaign each year in which it asks fliers on 38 domestic flights and four international flights to visit the bathroom before boarding to reduce their body weight and therefore cut he plane’s carbon-dioxide emissions.
The airline is also planning to install “washlets” in it’s aircraft-electric toilet seats with water sprays for washing-a common sight in Japan and generally a source of amusement for first-time visitors and users.
The “washlets” will be installed in the Boeing777-300ER,due to begin operating in April, and the Boeing 787 fleet set to start flying this year.What is the most attractive service to women passengers according to a survey?
| A．women passengers can visit the toilet before boarding. |
| B．women passengers can get some desserts onboard. |
| C．women passengers can visit the toilet on boards free of charge. |
| D．women passengers can use women- only lavatory onboard. |
ANA will fit its jets with a women-only bathroom in order to.
| A．cut the plan’s carbon-dioxide emissions and protect our environment |
| B．show equality between men and women |
| C．save much time for women passengers |
| D．make their airline better than other airlines |
We can infer the underlined word “domestic” in the fifth paragraph means.
| A．commercial | B．military | C．internal | D．economical |
According to the passage, which of the following statement is not true?
| A．Female- only toilet can only be found on international flights. |
| B．Women will feel uncomfortable when they know a male is waiting at the toilet door. |
| C．The rest of the toilets on international flights will be for men only. |
| D．You will be curious about “washlets” when you first see it. |
What would be the best title of the passage?
| A．Women and men are equal on ANA’s flights. |
| B．Women- only lavatories will be installed on ANA’s flights. |
| C．Visiting the bathroom before boarding to protect environment. |
| D．ANA has pursued a one- month awareness campaign. |
Children brought up on healthy diets are more intelligent compared with their junk food eating partners, a new research suggests.
Kids fed a diet packed high in fats, sugars, and processed(加工) foods had lower IQs than those fed pasta(意大利面食), salads and fruit, it was found.
The effect is so great that researchers from the University of Bristol said those children with a “healthier” diet may get an IQ improvement.
Scientists stressed good diet was essential in a child’s early as the brain grows at its fastest rate during the first three years of life.
This indicated head growth at this time is linked to intellectual ability and “it is possible that good nutrition(营养)during this period may encourage excellent brain growth”
Scientists tracked the long term health and happiness of around 14,000 children born in 1991 and 1992 as part of the West Country’s Avon Longitudinal(纵向的)Study of Parents and Children(ALSPAC).
Parents were questioned about the types and frequency of the food and drink their children consumed when they were three, four, seven and eight and a half years old. According to their different changing form, these children were marked and given grades which ranged from minus two for the most healthy to 10 for the most unhealthy.
In the research, IQ was measured of 4,000 children when they were eight and half years old, using a validated(经过认证的)test-the Wechsler Intelligence Scale(韦氏儿童智力量表)for Children.
The results found after taking account of some influential factors, a leading processed food diet at the age of three was associated with a lower IQ at the age of eight and a half, whether the diet was improved after that age.
Every 1 point increase in dietary pattern score was associated with a 1.67 fall in IQ.Scientists stressed good diet was essential in a child’s early life because.
| A．the brain grows at its fastest rate during the first three years of life. |
| B．those children with a “healthier” diet must get an IQ improvement. |
| C．children brought up on healthy diets are less intelligent. |
| D．these children were given good grades. |
Which of the following in NOT true?
| A．Those children with a “healthier” diet may get an IQ improvement. |
| B．Good nutrition at any stage may encourage excellent brain growth. |
| C．Scientists tracked the long term health and happiness of about 14,000 children. |
| D．Every 1 point increase in dietary pattern score was associated with a 1.67 fall in IQ. |
The recults found if a child ate a leading processed food diet when he was 3, he would .
| A．have a higher IQ |
| B．have a higher IQ as long as he improved his diet |
| C．have one IQ when he was 8 |
| D．have a lower IQ whether he improved his diet |
Parents were questioned except when their children were years old.
| A．3 | B．4 | C．7 | D．8 |
What is the best title of the passage?
| A．Food for thought |
| B．What is healthy food? |
| C．Healthy diet improves children’s intelligence |
| D．How to become clever? |
An Italian couple are become the world’s oldest divorcees, after the 99—year—old husband found that his 96—year—old wife had an affair(婚外情) in the 1940s.
The Italian man, called by lawyers in the case as Antonio C, looking through an old drawer when he made the discovery a few days before Christmas.
In spite of the time that had passed since the affair, he was so upset that he immediately asked his wife of 77 years, named as Rosa C, whether it was true, and demanded a divorce.
Stricken by the guilt, she reportedly admitted everything but was unable to persuade her husband to reconsider his decision, though her children also did much more work.
She wrote letters to her lover during a secret affair in the 1940s, according to court papers released in Rome this week , which made people know the truth.
The couple are now preparing to split, though the marriage they built has lasted over nearly eight decades- they have five children, a dozen grandchildren and one great- grand child.
The discovery of the letters was the final problem for their marriage which had already run into difficulty- 10 years ago the husband briefly left their house in Rome and moved in with one of his sons, only to return a few weeks later.
The Italian thought the fierce split resulted from the couple’s southern blood- he is originally from Olbia in Sardinia, while his wife was born in Naples. The couple met during the 1930s when Antonio served as a young officer.
The case appears to set a new record, at least for the age of the oldest figures- the previous oldest couple to divorce were Bertie and Jessie Wood, both aged 98, from the UK.
That pair ended their 36- year marriage in 2009 when they were both two years away from their 100th birthdays. They got married in Elstree, Hertfordshire, in 1972 having both ended previous marriages, before moving to Falmouth, Cornwall four years later.Which is true according to the text?
| A．To find his wife’ affair, Antonio C looked through an old drawer. |
| B．Rosa C’ lover may be Bertie. |
| C．Rosa C admitted what she did because she was sorry for her guilt. |
| D．The Italian thought the fierce split resulted from the discovery of the letters. |
Which word can replace the underlined one in passage5?
| A．advertised | B．announced | C．concluded | D．expressed |
Which of the following best describe Antonio C?
| A．a childish man | B．a rude man |
| C．a romantic man | D．a stubborn（固执）man |
The marriage of Antonio C and Rosa C.
| A．may come to an end because the husband sticks to his decision |
| B．appears to set a new record |
| C．may have lasted over 36 years |
| D．began in the 1930s before both ending previous marriages |
This passage may come from .
| A．a text book | B．a newspaper |
| C．a history book | D．an advertisement |
Everyone needs friends. We all like to feel close to someone. It is nice to have a friend to talk, laugh and do things with. Surely, there are times when we need to be alone. We don't always want people around. But we would feel lonely if we never had a friend.
No two people are the same. Sometimes friends don't get along well, which doesn't mean that they no longer like each other. Most of the time they will go on being friends. Sometimes friends move away, then we feel very sad. We miss them much, but we can call them and write to them. Maybe we would never see them again, and we can make new friends. It is surprising to find out how much we like new people when we get to know them. Families sometimes name their children after a close friend. Many places are named after men and women, if they are friendly to people in a town. Some libraries are named this way. So are some schools. We think of these people when we go to these places.
There's more good news for people, if they have friends. These people live longer than those people if those don't have friends. Why? It could be that they are happier. Being happy helps you stay well. Or it could be just knowing that someone cares, if someone cares about you, you take better care of yourself.The first paragraph tells us __________.
| A．none needs friends |
| B．we always need friends around us |
| C．making friends is the need in people's life |
| D．we need to be alone |
Which of the following is what the writer doesn't say in the passage?
| A．People are happy when their friends leave them. |
| B．People may never see their friends after their friends move away. |
| C．People can know their friends in different ways. |
| D．People like their friends very much if they get to know them. |
Which of the following is the most probable place people name after friendly people?
| A．A house. | B．A room. | C．A library. | D．A village. |
If people have friends, they would live longer, because __________.
| A．they feel happier and healthier |
| B．they get a lot of help from their friends |
| C．they take better care of themselves |
| D．both A and C |
This passage tells us __________.
| A．that people are all friends |
| B．that people need friends |
| C．how to get to know friends |
| D．how to name a place |
Henry Ford was the first person to build cars which were cheap，strong and fast．He was able to sell millions of models because be could produce them in large numbers at a time；that is，he made a great many cars of exactly the same kind．Ford’s father hoped that his son would become a farmer，but the young man did not like the idea and he went to Detroit（底特律）where he worked as a mechanic（机械师）．By the age of 29，in 1892，he had built his first car．However，the car made in this way，the famous “Model T” did not appear until 1908-five years after Ford had started his great motor car factory．This car showed to be well-known that it remained unchanged for twenty years．Since Ford’s time，this way of producing cars in large numbers has become common in industry and has reduced the price of many goods which would otherwise be very expensive．Henry Ford was the man to built _____ cars．
| A．cheap and strong | B．cheap and long |
| C．fast and expensive | D．strong and slow |
Ford was able to sell millions of cars，because_____．
| A．he made many great cars |
| B．his cars are many |
| C．he made lots of cars of the same kind |
| D．both A and B |
The young man became a mechanic，_______．
| A．which was his father’s will |
| B．which was against his own will |
| C．which was against his father’s will |
| D．which was the will of both |
The “Model T” was very famous_____．
| A．before 1908 | B．between 1982 and 1908 |
| C．before 1892 | D．after 1908 |
Ford built his own car factory______
| A．in 1903 | B．in 1908 | C．in 1913 | D．in 1897 |