Many animal and plant species have become extinct (灭绝的) and many more are in critical danger.
Dodo
The Dodo is a classic example of how human caused damage to the earth's biology. The flightless Dodo was native to the Island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. The easily controlled bird became a source of food for sailors and was attacked by animals introduced to the island by humans such as pigs, monkeys and rats. The population of Dodos rapidly decreased and last one was killed in 1681.
Rhinos
The Rhino (犀牛) horn is a highly prized item for Asian medicine. This has led to the animal being hunted in its natural habitat. Once widespread in Africa and Eurasia, most rhinos now live in protected natural parks and reserves（保护区）. Their numbers have rapidly decreased in the last 50 years, and the animals remain under constant threat from poachers（偷猎者）.
The Giant Panda
The future of the Giant Panda is far from certain. As few as 1,000 remain in the wild. The Chinese government has set up 33 panda reserves to protect these beautiful animals. However, The panda's distinct black and white patched coat fetches a high price on the black market and determined poachers still pose（造成）one of the most serious threats to the animals continued existence.
Whales
Despite the fact that one-third the world's oceans have been declared whale sanctuaries（保护区）, 7 out of 13 whale species remain endangered. Hunted for their rich supply of oil, their numbers have decreased to just 300. Collisions（碰撞）with ships, poisonous pollution and being caught in fishing nets are other major causes of whale deaths.
Tigers
The last 100 years has seen a 95% reduction in the numbers of remaining tigers to between 5,000 and 7,000 and The Bali, Javan, and Caspian tigers are already extinct. The South China tiger is precariously close to disappearing, with only 20 to 30 still alive. Like the Rhino horn, tigers’ bones and organs are sought after for traditional Chinese medicines. These items are traded illegally along with tiger skins.
Animal Conservation
| Wildlife |
Main features or uses |
Present state(状况) |
|
| Dodo |
|
Hunted for food; Attacked by animals |
Have become |
| Rhinos |
Horns,highly prized items for Asian |
Hunted by poachers |
Have rapidly decreased |
| Traditional Chinese medicines |
Some species extinct |
||
| Whales |
Rich |
Collisions with ships;heavily |
Only three hundred |
| The Giant Panda |
black and white patched coat |
Far from certain |
One evening in November, Berlin received a telephone call from Mrs. Green. “Please, Dr Berlin, come to my house. I had 50,000 dollars on my desk and now it is gone.”
Dr Berlin arrived at Mrs. Green’s house at eight o’clock. First he asked Mrs. Green, “When did you see the money last?”
“At seven o’clock. I put it on my desk in my living room. Then I went to wash my hair. I came back at seven thirty and the money was gone.”
“I see.” Dr Berlin said. “Were you alone in the house?”
“No. My sister’s son Jack is here, too.” Then Dr Berlin and Mrs. Green went to Jack’s room.”
“Please, sit down,” Jack said. Dr Berlin sat on the only chair in the room, and the chair was cold. He also saw some books on the ground near his feet.
“What have you been doing this evening?” Dr Berlin asked.
“I came home at six-thirty, and went right to my room. I’ve been sitting in that chair and reading all the evening. I never got up and I never left the room. Maybe somebody came into the house and took my aunt’s money.”
After hearing that, Dr Berlin was clear about who had taken the money.
59. When did Dr Berlin answer the phone from Mrs. Green?
A. At 6:30 B. At 7:00 C. After 7:30 D. At 8:00
60. Where did Mrs. Green put her money?
A. In her living room. B. In her washing room.
C. In Jack’s room. D. In her office.
61. When did the thief take Mrs. Green’s money?
A. Before Mrs. Green came back home.
B. When Jack was reading.
C. After Mrs. Green went to wash her hair.
D. When Dr Berlin was answering the phone.
62. Which of the following is WRONG?
A. Mrs. Green didn’t live alone.
B. Jack had given a careless reply (回答).
C. Dr Berlin found out who had taken the money.
D. Jack had been really reading books all that evening.
第三部分：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。
Imagine life as a game in which you are playing some five balls in the air. You name them-work, family, health, friends and spirit, and you’re keeping all these balls in the air.
You understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls are made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably (不可逆转地) scuffed (磨损), marked, damaged or even broken into pieces. They will never be the same. You must understand that and try for balance in your life. How?
Don’t undermine (逐渐损害) your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different and each of us is special. Don’t set your goals by what other people consider important. Only you know what is the best for you. Don’t take for granted the things closest to your heart. Hold on to them as you would to life, for without them, it’s meaningless. Don’t let life slip through your fingers by living in the past or in the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life. Don’t run through life so fast that you forget not only where you’ve been, but also where you are going. Don’t use time or words carelessly. Life is not a race, but a journey to be enjoyed slowly each step of the way. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift. That’s why we call it – the present.
56. What’s the best title of this passage?
A. Today Is A Present B. How to Live Your Life
C. Life Is A Game D. Imagine Life as a game
57. What does the underlined sentence mean?
A. not only where you live , but also where you’re going to live
B. all over the world
C. not only what you have done, but what you are going to do as well
D. the places you have been to as well as the places you are going to
58. Which of the following is NOT true?
A. You should try your best to keep balance in your life.
B. It’s unnecessary to compare yourself with others.
C. Life is just like a race.
D. Everyone has his own best points.
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
List Price: $16.95 Price: $14.35
Where the Wild Things Are is one of those truly rare books that can be enjoyed equally by a child and a grown-up. Max puts on his wolf suit, trying to do something bad and gets sent to bed without supper. Quite by accident, a forest grows in his room, allowing his wild behaviour to continue. Sendak’s color illustrations (插图) are beautiful, and each turn of the page brings the discovery of a new wonder.
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
List Price: $17.95 Price: $10.77
Perhaps the perfect children’s bedtime book, Goodnight Moon is a short poem of goodnight wishes from a young rabbit preparing for his own sleep. He says goodnight to every object in sight. Clement Hurd’s illustrations are simple and effective.
Happy Birthday, Baby by Dr. Smith
List Price: $9.99 Price: $9.99
The Great Birthday Bird says, “Get dressed! Today is your day. It’s the Best of the Best!” This fun-filled book can be touched, moved, and smelt, helping babies celebrate their day of all days with the Great Birthday Bird! It’s illustrated by Jan Gerardi.
You're Only Old Once! by Dr. Seuss
List Price: $11.70 Price: $10. 53
If laughter is the best medicine, then You’re Only Old Once! is a delightful new defense against aging. As we follow him through his checkup with the experts at the Golden Years Clinic, Dr. Seuss lightens the aches and pains of growing old with his unique wisdom. A perfect gift for anyone over fifty!
57. If you buy the books above, whose book will save you most?
A. Maurice Sendak’s.B. Dr. Smith’s.
C. Dr. Seuss’s.D. Margaret Wise Brown’s.
58. You’re Only Old Once! talks mainly about ________.
A. the happy time with the Great Birthday Bird
B. the adventure of a naughty boy named Max
C. some suggestions about reducing pains of aging
D. the goodnight wishes of a rabbit before sleep
59. Happy Birthday, Baby is illustrated by ________.
A. Jan GerardiB. Clement Hurd C. Sendak D. Margaret Wise Brown
60. Which book is suitable for both kids and adults?
A. Happy Birthday, Baby.B. Where the Wild Things Are.
C. Goodnight Moon.D. You’re Only Old Once!
Indonesia is known as the country of islands. It has 17,508 islands. But in recent years, the popular tourist destination has lost some of its shine.
Due to rising sea levels caused by global warming, 24 Indonesian islands have gone under the sea. Scientists say 2,000 more will disappear before 2030. In the past three years, the Southeast Asian nation also witnessed its islands destroyed by a tsunami(海啸) and typhoons.
“If no measures are taken to fight climate change, the beautiful islands will go forever,” scientists told environmental ministers from about 190 countries at a UN climate change meeting.
This week they are meeting in Bali, an Indonesian island. They are trying to reach a deal to cut the world’s emissions (排放) of CO2 , which makes the Earth warmer.
Indonesia is not alone. This year has seen more extreme weather hit the world. Canada and US suffered heavy storms and typhoons, while Australians were caught in the heaviest drought in a century.
In China, the average temperature this year went up by 1.2oC from last year, reaching the highest on record since 1951.
However, other parts of the country got too much rain. More than 700 people were killed in floods, landslides and storms. “These weather extremes are the more obvious effects of global warming,” said Song Lianchun, a climate expert.
Scientists say time is running out. To escape from the worst effects, global CO2 emissions need to be cut from the levels they were at in 2000 by 50 to 85 percent by 2050.
But in recent years climate change talks have been bogged down by arguments over who will pay the bill for cleaner technology. Developing countries are worried that the cut in emissions will slow their economic development.
“China will play a responsible and constructive rule in the meeting,” said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. The nation is now the world’s second largest greenhouse gas emitter(排放者). “However, developed nations should help developing nations deal with the global issue.”
53. Which of the following is in the correct order?
a. More and more islands are going under the sea.
b. The sea levels are continuously rising.
c. The weather is getting warmer and warmer.
d. Emission of CO2 is increasing.
A. a b c d B. b c d a C. c b a d D. d c b a
54. What does the underlined phrase “weather extremes” mean in the passage?
A. Rising temperature all over the world.
B. Bad weather like floods, drought, and landslides, etc.
C. The disappearance of more and more farmland.
D. Different amount of rain in different areas.
55. Climate change talks have been stopped because countries cannot agree on ______.
A. who should be responsible for causing climate change
B. who will pay for the cleaner technology needed
C. whether developed countries should help developing ones
D. whether developing countries should cut emissions of CO2
56. What is China’s attitude towards dealing with problems of climate change?
A. China will pay for the cleaner technology.
B. China will take an active part in dealing with climate change.
C. China thinks it is developed countries’ responsibility.
D. China will depend on developed countries to help it.
If your head is overheating, you are very likely to yawn(打哈欠) soon, according to a new study that has found the main purpose of yawning is to control brain temperature. The study explains several mysteries about yawning, such as why it’s most commonly done just before and after sleeping, why certain diseases lead to too much yawning, and why breathing though the nose often stops yawning.
“Brains are like computers,” Andrew Gallup, a researcher in the department of Biology at Binghamton University who led the study, said. “They operate best when cool.”
He and his co-workers Micheal Miller and Anne Clark did researches on yawning in parakeets(长尾小鹦鹉) , which have relatively large brains, live wild in Australia, often experience temperature changes, and, most importantly, do not yawn when others yawn, as humans and some other animals do.
For the study, the scientists put parakeets under three different conditions: increasing temperature, high temperature and normal temperature. While the frequency(频率) of yawns did not increase under the latter two conditions, it increased greatly when the researchers increased the temperature.
It’s now believed yawning operates like a radiator(散热器).
If air in the atmosphere is cooler than the brain and body temperatures, taking it in quickly cools blood, which in turn cools the brain. The new findings also explain why tired people often yawn. Both tiredness and sleep loss can increase brain temperature, while yawning can cool down the brain.
In the future, researchers may focus more on brain temperature and its role in diseases and their symptoms. But the new study on yawning changes the popular idea that yawns are just signs of getting tired of something.
49. What’s the best title for the passage?
A. Why don’t people yawn at normal temperature?
B. The yawn explained—it cools your brain.
C. Yawning operates like a radiator.
D. The cause of yawning—finally found out.
50. The main reason why researchers chose parakeets to do the research is that parakeets______.
A. have very large brains
B. live wild in Australia
C. are not affected by others’ yawning
D. experience frequent temperature changes
51. The writer may suggest doing all of the following to stop yawning EXCEPT______.
A. breathing through the nose
B. turning up the heat
C. enjoying some cool wind
D. putting a cold towel on your forehead
52. In which section of a newspaper would you most probably read this passage?
A. Discovery. B. Education. C. Health. D. Mystery.