The Human Genome 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 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 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 genetic map’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. |
For £12 you can equip an entire classroom in Burkina Faso, for £31 you can equip a school football team in Sierra Leone and for £68 you can support the whole education of a Haitian schoolgirl.
The educational presents are the latest way on the trend of charitable（慈善的）giving for Christmas. Plan UK, an international children's charity, has made its gift list focusing on helping the world's poorest countries to improve their education conditions.
"Every year we rack our brains for the perfect present and too often end up with yet another pair of socks or a useless ornament," said Marie Staunton, Plan UK's chief executive.
"This year we are offering people in the UK the chance to give twice. Buying an alternative gift for a loved one could likely save the life of some of the world's poorest children."
Plan UK is working on projects in specific countries, such as Burkina Faso, which is one of the poorest countries in the world and has a primary school enrolment rate（入学率）of just 36%. A present of £12 will help equip a classroom in Burkina Faso with chairs, desks, books and pencils.
The educational presents are the latest addition to a list of other charitable presents, including vaccinations（接种）and clean water systems.
Football strips for schoolchildren in Sierra Leone are designed to help the children have fun while continuing with the psychological healing process following the country's civil war. The £31 gift will supply the team strip, a football and a whistle to a school in Sierra Leone.
Oxfam offers similar gifts. Its Back to School kits for five pupils is a bestseller in a catalogue（目录）which includes the £24 Christmas goat, the £30 lavatory and £12 for school dinners for up to 200 children. The first paragraph is written to tell us________.
| A．the great differences between the rich and the poor. |
| B．the general conditions of education in poor countries. |
| C．the difficulty in getting good education in poor countries. |
| D．the great meaning of a little money to children in poor countries. |
The underlined phrase “rack our brains” means _____in the third paragraph.
| A．cause physical or mental hurt |
| B．think very hard |
| C．improve our intelligence |
| D．make full use of |
Which of the following is Right according to the passage?
| A．Plan UK is working on educational projects all over the world. |
| B．The sufferings brought by war still have side effects on the children in Sierra Leone. |
| C．The educational Christmas presents have been given to the children for many years. |
| D．Its Back to School kits for five pupils is a bestselling book. |
The title for the passage would probably be ______.
| A．A new way of Christmas shopping |
| B．Give a helping hand to poor children |
| C．Buy a child an education this Christmas |
| D．Plan UK, an international children's charity |
Vancouver(温哥华)
Natural Resources
As a major centre for the global forestry industry, Vancouver is host to many international forestry conferences and events, and the natural home of the massive BC forestry business. Companies such as Canfor and West Fraser Timber Co., the second and third largest lumber（木材）producers in the world, are headquartered in Vancouver. Vancouver is also a major centre for the mining industry.
International trade
International trade is a key part for Vancouver's economy. The city has Canada's largest port and is one of North America's major gateways for Pan-Pacific（泛太平洋）trade. The Port of Vancouver ranks first in North America in total foreign exports and second on the West Coast in total goods volume.
Banking and Financial
The headquarters for HSBC Canada （汇丰银行）is located in the Financial District in downtown. Canada's third largest commercial entity(实体), Jim Pattison Group is also based in Vancouver.
International relation
Vancouver is a major centre for diplomacy(外交) and foreign relations. Most countries of the world have consulate（领事馆）or general offices in the Central Business District. In fact, many major diplomatic conferences are hosted by the city - including the world famous G7 summit with President Clinton, APEC, and the World Trade Organization. Greenpeace has its world headquarters in the city. Therefore, Vancouver was among the first North American cities to declare itself a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone.
Tourism
Tourism is a leading industry to Vancouver. The Whistler-Blackcomb Resort is among the most popular skiing resorts in North America, and will be the site of the downhill events of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Vancouver's beaches, parks, waterfronts, and mountain backdrops and its multi- cultural character attract more and more tourists.
Film
Vancouver was the source of the sobriquet（绰号）"Hollywood North", for hosting the production of about ten percent of Hollywood's movies. Many U.S. television and films series are shot exclusively in Vancouver. This has partly been because of the favourable Canadian dollar exchange rate. Which of the following description about Vancouver is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．The Port of Vancouver ranks first in North America in total foreign exports |
| B．Vancouver is a film production centre and called “Hollywood North". |
| C．International forestry conferences and events were held in Vancouver. |
| D．Vancouver is a leading centre for the global agriculture and industry. |
Which of the following organizations or events is not related to Vancouver?
| A．Jim Pattison Group | B．WHO | C．Greenpeace | D．The 2010 Winter Olympics |
If you are a graduate from Shanghai Finance and Economics University, what is it that will probably attract you to visit Vancouver?
| A．Its international trade. |
| B．Its film industry |
| C．HSBC Canada |
| D．Its beautiful natural scenery |
We can infer______ from the part: International relation.
| A．Vancouver is a major centre for foreign relations. |
| B．Vancouver has hosted many major diplomatic conferences. |
| C．APEC and WTO are headquartered in Vancouver |
| D．Canada is a peace-loving country. |
The passage is probably taken from________.
| A．a magazine | B．a geography book |
| C．a newspaper | D．an entertainment book |
Do you blank out or feel so nervous in exams that you have trouble writing answers to questions that you knew just last night? If so, you likely have a case of test anxiety.
But, don't be afraid. By recognizing the problem, you are taking the first step towards overcoming it.
Believe it or not, a touch of nervousness can sharpen your mind, allowing you to perform more quickly. This is because under stress, the body releases (释放) the hormone adrenaline (肾上腺素), which prepares it for something important that will happen. However, too much anxiety can result in sleeplessness, loss of appetite（胃口）before tests, and poor performance. Some people might feel hot and tired. With great anger they often shout or complain for no reason.
If you worry a lot or are a perfectionist, you are more likely to have trouble with test anxiety. Those who have prepared poorly for a test or have had negative experiences taking tests may also experience test anxiety.
When you feel a storm of anxiety coming on, stop what you're doing and make your mind a blank. If possible, actually tell yourself to 'STOP!' This will get your mind off the stress.
Then think of being at a place of comfort and let your body relax. As you continue the test, find questions you know the answers to and answer them first. This will help restore your confidence.
Important of all, talk to yourself using positive language. Make it a habit to replace each negative thought with a logical reason. For example: "I've studied hard and I know the material, so I'm ready to do the best I can."
Another thing you can do is to learn to accept mistakes. In fact, they can be valuable learning opportunities.
Last but not least, start test preparation early - three to five days ahead of the quiz or test. After all, good study habits and skills - for example, time management and note-taking - will give you the feeling that you are in control. The best title of the passage is probably______
| A．How to beat test anxiety. |
| B．What is test anxiety. |
| C．The effects of test anxiety. |
| D．Experience test anxiety will help you. |
Those ______ more easily suffer from test anxiety.
| A．who are not well prepared for a test. |
| B．who wants everything to be perfect and highest. |
| C．who have experiences of failure in exams. |
| D．who do poorly in their study. |
The author mentions _____pieces of suggestions about how to get over test anxiety.
| A．3 | B．4 | C．5 | D．6 |
What can we infer from the passage？
| A．Mistakes sometime can be valuable and helpful. |
| B．Those who have prepared poorly for a test cause test anxiety easily. |
| C．Full test preparations will give you the feeling that you are in control. |
| D．A touch of anxiety can have a positive effect. |
The underlined word “hot” in Paragraph3 means .
| A．disappointed | B．angry | C．active | D．running a high body temperature |
Special Bridges Help Animals Cross the Road
-- Reported by Sheila Carrick
Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side.
Most people know this joke. But recently, some people have been much more concerned with how the grizzly bear and mountain lion can cross the road.
Millions of animals die each year on U.S. roads, the Federal Highway Administration reports. In fact, only about 80 ocelots, an endangered wild cat, exist in the U.S. today. The main reason? Roadkill.
"Ecopassages" may help animals cross the road without being hit by cars. They are paths both over and under roads. "These ecopassages can be extremely useful, so that wildlife can avoid human conflicts," said Jodi Hilty of the Wildlife Conservation Society.
But do animals actually use the ecopassages? The answer is yes. Paul Beier of Northern Arizona University found foot marks left by mountain lions on an ecopassage that went under a highway. This showed that the lion used the passage.
Builders of some ecopassages try to make them look like a natural part of an area by planting trees on and around them. Animals seem to be catching on. Animals as different as salamanders and grizzly bears are using the bridges and underpasses.
The next time you visit a park or drive through an area with a lot of wildlife, look around. You might see an animal overpass!The writer uses the example of “ocelots” to show that_________.
| A．wild animals have become more dangerous |
| B．the driving conditions have improved greatly |
| C．the measure for protecting wildlife fails to work |
| D．an increasing number of animals are killed in road accidents |
From the news story, we know an ecopassage is_________.
| A．an underground path for cars | B．a fence built for the safety of the area |
| C．a bridge for animals to get over a river | D．a pass for animals to cross the road |
When the writer says that animals seem “to be catching on”, he means_________.
| A．animals begin to realize the dangers on the road |
| B．animals begin to learn to use ecopassages |
| C．animals are crossing the road in groups |
| D．animals are increasing in number |
The writer asks visitors and drivers to look around when traveling because_________.
| A．wild animals may attack cars | B．wild animals may jam the road |
| C．they may see wild animals in the park | D．they may see wild animals on ecopassages |
The standard Outward Bound course lasts for three or four weeks. During that time the students live in the wilderness and go through many physical activities of ever increasing difficulty.
The first few days are given to physical conditioning and to the teaching of basic skills such as first aid, map and compass reading, rope climbing, and other similar activities.
During the second part of the course students learn how to climb rocks and cliffs, how to use canoes and rafts in swift water, and in some schools how to sail, ski, climb mountains, and make long-distance hikes.
The first two parts of the course are done in groups. Members work together and help each other to overcome the increasing number of challenges. In the third part of the course, students are sent out alone for three days to survive in the wilderness with only a few necessities.
Who are the students of Outward Bound? They are both young people and adults, men and women. The minimum age is 16.5 years. There is no maximum age. About one-third of the 6,000 persons completing the course each year are women. Businessmen, housewives, university students, professors, doctors, and lawyers are among those taking part in the course.
In recent years special courses for the busy business managers have gained in popularity. These courses last from five to ten days rather than the usual three to four weeks of the normal course.
Not all students complete the Outward Bound course. In some cases the individual cannot meet the physical challenges. In its own words Outward Bound literature says: "Make no mistake, Outward Bound is not for everybody. The courses aren't easy and are not meant to be."
Most students who finish the course share a common experience. They are surprised at themselves that they finish the course and they feel great pride in doing the impossible! The Outward Bound experience makes them feel that they are better than they know!Where are Outward Bound courses given?
| A．In the classroom. |
| B．On the playground. |
| C．In the wilderness. |
| D．In canoes and rafts. |
All of the following are true EXCEPT __________.
| A．Special courses for business executives last five to ten days longer |
| B．All of the students have to live outdoors |
| C．The students of Outward Bound are composed of both sexes over 16.5 years |
| D．More and more businessmen like the Outward Bound course |
Which of the following is TRUE?
| A．Around 6,000 people attend the course each year. |
| B．About 2,000 women attend the course each year. |
| C．About 2,000 women overcome the challenges each year. |
| D．Approximately 2,000 people overcome the challenges each year. |
When students are sent out alone for the last three days in the course, they .
| A．take anything they think necessary with them |
| B．take the equipment they found useful |
| C．are provided with everything to make them comfortable |
| D．are provided with only a few articles which are absolutely necessary |