The final event in the Olympics is the marathon. It is also usually the most exciting. As the leader comes into the stadium to run the last few meters ofthe 42-kilo-metre race, the crowd rises to its feet toshout and cheer. The name of the race comes from abattle in Ancient Greece. According to the story, asoldier ran from the scene of the battle,Marathon, toAthens, to bring the news of a Greek victory againstthe Persians. He died just after arriving.
The marathon has been an Olympic event sincethe modern Games started in 1896. At first the distance was 40 kilometres — the distance betweenMarathon and Athens. In 1908, however, at theLondon Olympics, it was changed. The King ofEngland wanted the runners to leave from his castlein Windsor and arrive m a new stadium in central
London. The distance was 26 miles — about 42kilometres. In fact, the 1908 marathon endeddramatically(戏剧性地). When the leader, an Italian,
entered the stadium he turned the wrong way and fellonto the ground. Officials picked him up and helpedhim to the finishing line,just as the second runner, anAmerican, entered the stadium. The Americans
protested （抗议） and in the end the American runnerwas declared(宣布)the winner. Since then, there havebeen many more exciting marathons.
In fact, you don't have to wait for the OlympicGames to run or watch a marathon, as there aremarathons in over sixty countries and hundreds ofcities around the world today. One of the mostfamous marathons is in New York, and is watched bytwo million people around the streets and across thebridges of the city's five boroughs(纽约市的行政区),and past New York's famous landmarks. But perhapsone of the most beautiful and extraordinary(最特别的) marathons ever is the Great Wall Marathon,which most competitors find is the toughest course torun.
The marathon is the final Olympic event becauseit is thought to be the hardest. But experts believe that most people — even people who are notparticularly good at sport — can run a marathon, ifthey train for it. When the leader came into the stadium, the crowd ______.
| A．ran to his feet happily |
| B．shouted with excitement |
| C．carried him to the line |
| D．sang and dance |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．The name of the race comes from a game in Greece. |
| B．The soldier who ran from Marathon to Athens won a gold medal. |
| C．The marathon events in the Games have the same length all the time. |
| D．From 1908, the marathon events are of the same length. |
Which is the most special of the marathon events in the world?
| A．The Marathon in New York. |
| B．The Marathon in the Beijing Olympic Games. |
| C．The Great Wall Marathon. |
| D．The Marathon in London in 2012. |
Which of the following is TRUE about the marathon?
| A．Marathon is the most important event. |
| B．Marathon is the most popular event. |
| C．Marathon is the easiest event. |
| D．Marathon is the final Olympic event. |
The Human Genome(基因组) Project, a great $3 billion, 15-year task aimed at drawing the genetic map of humans, is now more than 90 percent completed. The scientific and medical communities are very excited about the chances genetic research provides for getting rid of diseases and prolonging(延长)human life. But those communities and policy makers are also careful about the scientific door they are opening as the project uncovers the mysteries of life.
For the last few years, the genetic advances in the fast developing field of biotechnology have provided material for all kinds of work, but the developments of modern science in unlocking the secrets of human genetic code have opened a world of possibilities for human health, as well as for the population imagination.
While European and Japanese researchers are making rapid progress in decoding human DNA, the leading organization for genetic research in the Untied States, which began in 1990, is “unlocking the code” of the human body to learn how to defeat fatal diseases. Already, the Human Genome Project has become widely known and praised for finding the genes connected with as yet terrible diseases, and making progress toward separating the genes that show a sign of breast cancer(乳腺癌)or AIDS.
Once these genes are found and studied, researchers can develop new ways to attack infections, and genetic diseases. Medical companies are very interested in mapping the human genome, as they expect to develop a lot of new drugs for these illnesses.Why did the scientists work so hard at mapping the human genome?
| A．Because the human genome can destroy many illnesses. |
| B．Because the human genome’s completion can help to get rid of many diseases. |
| C．Because they wanted to be better known than others. |
| D．Because the Human Genome Project can provided a lot of chances of work. |
According to the passage, which of the following countries is the most advanced in genetic research?
| A．Japan | B．Germany |
| C．The United States | D．China |
According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
| A．If the genes can be found, scientists can study many new ways to cure illnesses. |
| B．The United States began genetic research early in the 19th century. |
| C．Many medical companies show great interest in drawing the human genome map. |
| D．The scientists have made great progress in connecting some genes with the cancers. |
What is mainly talked about in this passage?
| A．The great human genome. | B．The discovery of genes. |
| C．Unlocking the genetic code. | D．Genes and scientists. |
Although the United States covers so much land and the land produces far more food than the present population needs，its people are by now almost entirely an urban society. Less than a tenth of the people are engaged in agriculture and forestry(林业), and most of the rest live in or around towns，small and large．Here the traditional picture is changing: every small town may still be very like other small towns，and the typical small town may represent a widely accepted view of the country，but most Americans do not live in small towns any more. Half the population now lives in some thirty metropolitan areas(1arge cities with their suburbs, of more than a million people each—a larger proportion than in Germany or England，let alone France). The statistics(统计)of urban and rural population should be treated with caution because so many people who live in areas classified as rural travel by car to work in a nearby town each day. As the rush to live out of town continues，rural areas within reach of towns are gradually filled with houses, so that it is hard to say at what moment a piece of country becomes a suburb. But more and more the typical American lives in a metropolitan rather than a small town environment．If now America has 250 million people．how many of them are engaged in agriculture and forestry?
| A．About 25 million |
| B．More than 25 million |
| C．Less than 25 million |
| D．Less than 225 million |
Which of the following four countries has the smallest proportion of people living in metropolitan areas?
| A．United States | B．Germany | C．France | D．England |
What’s the meaning of the word“metropolitan”in the middle of the passage?
| A．Of a large city with its suburbs | B．Of small and large towns |
| C．Of urban areas | D．Of rural areas |
Why don’t birds get lost on their long migratory (迁居的) flights? Scientists have puzzled over this question for many years. Now they’re beginning to fill in the blanks.
Not long ago, experiments showed that birds rely on the sun to guide them during daylight hours. But what about birds that fly mainly by night? Tests with artificial stars have proved conclusively that certain night-flying birds are able to follow the stars in their long-distance flights.
One such bird, a warbler(鸣禽) , had spent its lifetime in a cage and had never flown under a natural sky. Yet it showed an inborn ability to use the stars for guidance. The bird’s cage was placed under an artificial star-filled sky at migration time. The bird tried to fly in the same direction as that taken by his outdoor cousins. Any change in the direction of the make-be-live stars caused a change in the direction of his flight. Scientists think that warblers, when flying in daylight, use the sun for guidance. But the stars are apparently their main means of navigation (导航). What do they do when the stars are hidden by clouds? Apparently, they find their way by such landmarks as mountain ranges, coast lines, and river courses. But when it’s too dark to see these, the warblers circle helplessly, unable to get their direction.The reasons why birds don’t get lost on migratory flights__________.
| A．have been known to scientists for many years |
| B．are known by everyone |
| C．have only recently been discovered |
| D．will probably remain a mystery |
Warblers migrate__________.
| A．from North America to South America |
| B．using what is apparently an inborn navigational ability |
| C．only once during their lifetime |
| D．when they are freed from their cages |
When the stars are hidden by clouds, warblers find their way by__________ .
| A．an artificial star | B．some landmarks |
| C．their inborn ability | D．A and B |
This article is a good example of the way scientists__________ .
| A．discover workable answers to universal questions by studying particular cases(特别案例) |
| B．jump to conclusions |
| C．find a law and then investigate（调查） |
| D．are disappointed by the habits of animals |
Read the following posters carefully and answer the questions below.
| Basketball Match Rockets VS Lakers DATE: July 19, 7 o’clock; Billy Basketball Club For detailed information, see Paul Burton before Friday lunch time. |
| Layla’s Disco No-shop light music show 15 Pembroke Road; Weekdays: 7 pm-11 pm; Sunday closed Over 18s only |
| Fashion Show At the Daxing Square Date: May the 1st to the 8th From 7:30 to 11:00 pm Booking agent: Peter Smith— 010-8266 1555 |
| KARMA Health Food Restaurant 6 Castle Street Hot and cold vegetable food(素食) Lunch(11:00—14:00) Self-service; Dinner(17:00—21:00) Table-service For bookings, ring 0865-5677665 |
________ can give you more information about the basketball match.
| A．John Smith. | B．Tommy Brown. | C．Paul Burton. | D．Tonny Wang. |
Who can’t be allowed to go to the Layla’s Disco?
| A．A 30-year-old worker. | B．A 50-year-old doctor. |
| C．A 22-year-old manager. | D．A 15-year-old student. |
You must phone ________ if you want to get a ticket for the fashion show.
| A．the booking agent | B．the teacher |
| C．the manager | D．a postman |
Which of the following food can you have at KARMA?
| A．Chicken. | B．Tomato. | C．Fish. | D．Beef. |
When a rather dirty, poorly dressed person kneels at your feet and puts out his hands to beg for a few coins, do you hurry on, not knowing what to do, or do you feel sad and hurriedly hand over some money? What should our attitude to beggars be? There can be no question that the world is full of terribly sad stories. It must be terrible to have no idea where our next meal is going to come from. It seems cruel not to give some money to beggars.
Certainly, most of the world’s great religions order us to be open-hearted and share what we have with those less fortunate than ourselves. But has the world changed? Maybe what was morally（道德方面）right in the old days, when one knew exactly who in the village had suffered misfortune and needed help, is no longer the best idea. Quite a few people will not give to beggars. Let us look at their arguments.
First, some believe that many city beggars dress up on purpose to look pitiable and actually make a good living from begging. Giving to beggars only encourages this sort of evil（恶行）.
Secondly, there is the worry that the money you give will be spent on beer, wine or drugs.
Thirdly, there is the opinion that there is no real excuse for begging. One might be poor, but that is no reason for losing one’s sense of pride and self-dependence.
There is an opinion that the problem should be dealt with by the government rather than ordinary people. Some people think the local government department should help the beggars
It is hard to come to any final conclusion: there are various cases and we must deal with them differently. A few coins can save a life in some situations, and even if the money is wasted, that does not take away the moral goodness of the giver.What is mainly discussed in the passage?
| A．Moral deeds of people. |
| B．Arguments on giving to beggars. |
| C．Moral goodness of the giver. |
| D．Religious activities of the church. |
What can we infer from the underlined sentence “But has the world changed?” in Para.2 ?
| A．People no longer know who suffers misfortune in the village. |
| B．Some people will not do what was morally right in the past. |
| C．We don’t meet with those who need help any more. |
| D．Now it is the government’s duty to help the beggars. |
Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?
| A．Some people dress up to pretend to be beggars. |
| B．Some beggars have no excuse for begging. |
| C．Some beggars use the money to buy drugs. |
| D．Some beggars need money for their children’s schooling. |
In the last paragraph, the writer thinks that it is hard to come to any final conclusion, because________.
| A．there is so much money wasted |
| B．there are so many beggars |
| C．the cases can be so different |
| D．there are so many different arguments |