ScientistsattheCaliforniaInsti-优题课

Honeybees are disappearing for unknown reasons around the United States. Last winter, bees disappeared from 23 percent of American beekeeping businesses. Causes of the phenomenon, however, have remained a mystery.
Now, scientists from several universities and the United States Department of Agriculture say they have a possible explanation for the bee decline（数量下降）. It is a little known virus called Israeli acute--paralysis virus (IAPV) .The virus kills bees. Researchers in Israel first described it in 2004 , but until now, bee experts hadn’t paid much attention to it.
When trying to find out why the bees were disappearing, a research team at Columbia University studied bee colonies ( 群体), some with and the others without decline. The research turned up large numbers of two types of fungi (真菌) once suspected of causing the bee decline. The research results, however, showed that the fungi were almost as common in colonies without a decline as they were in colonies with a decline. The researchers concluded that the two fungi probably weren’t the cause.
Studies of the presence of IAPV, however, showed more interesting information. In those studies, done by a team at Pennsylvania State University in University Park, the virus showed up in 83 percent of samples from colonies with symptoms (症状). Only five percent of samples from symptomless colonies had it.
Scientists still don’t know whether IAPIV can single--handedly cause the bee decline. They believe that even if the virus is making colonies sick , it could have a partner in crime. It’s possible, for instance, that insects or chemicals in the environment weaken bees, making them more likely to catch IAPV.
Scientists are still trying to figure out how IAPV came to the United States. The United States currently allows bee products to be imported from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. If it turns out that this trade is spreading disease, the rules might eventually change.
68. According to the passage ，IAPV is a virus that ______.
A. hasn’t attracted much attention
B. well-known to doctors and scientist
C. was first found by Austrian researchers
D. is dangerous to animals and human beings
69. The underlined sentence in the fifth paragraph probably means______.
A. the virus could also cause other damages
B. there must be something that is the real cause
C. IAPV is not the only cause for the bee decline
D. the virus may be caused by the polluted environment
70. From the third and fourth paragraphs, we know researchers draw their conclusions by means of _______.
A. calculating B. comparing C. examining D. investigating
71. What still remains unknown to American scientists according to the passage?
A. How and why to kill IAPV.
B. How IAPV came to America.
C. Whether bee products should be imported.
D. How to change the rules of the bee products trade.
72. The best title for this passage would be _____.
A. Bee Disease B. How to Kill IAPV
C. A Virus—IAPV D. Two Types of Fungi

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64. What can be inferred from the passage?
A. Pimsleur courses are not used very widely.
B. Pimsleur courses came into being in 1960s.
C. Pimsleur courses have been used in the FBI for 40 years.
D. You can take Pimsleur courses to learn your native language.
65. According to Pimsleur courses, to improve oral ability, learners should _________.
A. gain fluency training
B. pay special attention to pronunciation
C. repeat again and again
D. recite different rules
66. Which of the following is Not the reason you choose Pimsleur Approach?
A. Covering your accent.
B. Building your confidence.
C. Learning a language easily
D. Getting your money back if failing.
67. Which of the following is TRUE of Pimsleur courses?
A. The first students graduated in 1980.
B. Lessons needn’t be learned in order.
C. Each audio CD has one fluency-oriented lesson.
D. Learners have to learn the course at the fixed time.

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Some years ago on a hot summer day in south Florida a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house.
He flew into the water , not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator (鳄鱼) was swimming toward the shore. His mother in the house was looking out the window and saw the two as they got closer and closer together . She ran toward the water , shouting to her son as loudly as he could
Hearing her voice , the littler boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him.
From the dock, the mother grabber her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of –war between the two. The alligator was much stronger that the mother , but the mother was much too passionate to let go . A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.
Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal and, on his arms, were deep scratches where his mother’s fingernails dug in to his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved.
The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma (创伤)， asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, “ But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my mum wouldn’t let go。“
Sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situation. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril (危险)and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. When the tug-of –war begins and if you have the scars of his love on your arms, be very, very grateful. He did not —and will not—let you go.
60. What was coming when the boy flew into the river?
A. Happiness. B. A fish C. Danger D. Mother
61. The underlined word “ passionate” in paragraph 4 means“ __________”
A. anxious B . eager C. curious D. full of emotion
62.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The scars on his arms are great.
B. The boy is sad because of his scars.
C. His mother is stronger that the alligator.
D. The scars on the boy were caused by the alligator.
63. Which of the following can serve as the best title for the passage?
A. Save a boy.B. Scars of love
C. Fight with an Alligator D.A brave boy

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第三部分阅读理解 (每小题2分，共40分)
第一节:阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项A、B、C、D中选出最佳选项。
Agricultural scientists in the United States have put a copy of a human gene into pigs, sheep and rabbits. They report that the gene seems to be working in some of the animals. The gene that the scientists are using controls the production of human growth hormone(荷尔蒙), a chemical necessary for growth.
They are using the human gene because it has been more closely studied than any other growth gene. The scientists hope their work will someday result in food animals that grow faster and larger or produce more milk or eggs. The research is being done by scientists at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Washington and the United States Department of Agriculture. The scientists put copies of human growth hormone into the fertilized (受精的) eggs of the female animals. When baby animals were born from the eggs, the scientists looked for evidence that the human gene had become part of the animal’s genetic material. They examined almost 200 baby pigs and found the gene in 20 of them. They found it in 28 of more than 200 rabbits, but it was in only one of 73 baby sheep. The scientists said they found the human growth chemical produced by the gene in some of the animals.
It is too soon to know if the animals will pass the human growth gene into their young, proving that the gene has become part of their genetic material. Similar research with mice two years ago produced a new kind of mouse that is two times larger than normal. The scientists hope the same thing will happen with farm animals. They say their research will permit other gene transplants that can give animals defense against diseases, or let them live in very hot or very cold places. American farmers already use chemical hormones to increase the size of cattle and the amount of milk they produce. But they have to put the hormones into the cows. If the gene transplants are fully successful, the cow’s body will produce growth hormone.
56. How many kinds of animals have scientists put copies of human gene into?
A. 2 B. 3 C. 4 D. 5
57. Why did the scientists do such a research?
A. To prove that the human gene had become part of the animal’s genetic material.
B. To expect food animals that grow faster and larger or produce more milk or eggs.
C. To find the human growth chemical produced by the gene in some of the animals.
D. To follow a similar research with mice carried out two years ago.
58. The underlined word “them” refers to ______.
A. the baby pigs B. baby animalsC. the scientists D. the baby sheep
59. What can we learn about the research with mice?
A. A new kind of mouse was produced, which is defensive against diseases.
B. The hormones from the mice were then put into the cows.
C. A new kind of mouse was produced, which is twice larger than normal.
D. Scientists found that the mice can live in very hot or very cold places.

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According to official statistics released by the Chinese government, China is expected to run out of water around the year 2030. In its directive on water use, the State Council (国务院) has stated, “Taking into full account water-saving, by 2030 our country’s water use will reach or approach the total volume of exploitable water resources (可利用的水资源总量), and the drought-fighting situation will be increasingly serious.” Such statements are certainly serious, and every man, woman and child in China must consider the situation and how it relates to their lives.
So, will China run out of water completely? The news is not all bad. Although there are serious concerns, there are some reasons to be hopeful. One of the simplest is just to consider that China has had a long history of water problems. From flooding to drought, balancing water needs has always been an issue in China; it is something that many public projects are already addressing. Some of these projects need time before their long-term value can be properly seen, but there is reason to hope that they will prove useful.
Another reason for hope lies in what seems at first to be a terrible fact: nearly 70% of China’s water is so contaminated that it is not only unsuitable for drinking but is also not useful for individual purposes. How can this be good news? Well, in recent years, the terrible situation has motivated the government and the public to become more and more committed to cleaning up these contaminated sources. Several projects have already been successful in partially cleaning these water sources. As this commitment increases, more and more of China’s water is being cleaned and made available for use.
Finally, the international community, particularly NGOs (Non Government Organizations) and the corporate community, have begun to focus on ways to help China stretch its limited water resources. Several business and NGOs are already studying the issue and investing in solutions.
It is certainly important for everyone in China to understand the situation and to take part in conserving water. Thankfully, however, the situation is not hopeless. Through the cooperation of the government, the people, NGOs and business, China can continue to find the water it needs.
72. What does the first paragraph tell us?
A. China is seriously short of water now.’
B. We still have enough water for drink and use.
C. China will be faced with serious water shortage in two decades.
D. We needn’t consider the situation for the moment.
73. Which of the following reasons to be hopeful is not mentioned?
A. Many in the international and corporate community have begun to help China.
B. China has dealt with many water problems.
C. The government and the public are becoming more and more committed to cleaning up the contaminated sources.
D. The Chinese have enough confidence and courage to overcome the difficulty.
74. Which of the following can replace the underlined word contaminated in Paragraph 3?
A. cleaned B. wasted C. polluted D. purified
75. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to this passage?
A. The international community and the corporate community have begun to help China develop it limited water resources.
B. All China’s water is so contaminated that it is unsuitable for both drinking and industrial purposes.
C. Several business and NGOs had already studied the issue and invested in solutions.
D. There is no hope for China to find the water it needs.

A．In a biography of scientists.	B．In a geography magazine.
C．In an environment report.	D．In a science report.