Have you seen Jurassic Park? In this film, scientists use DNA kept for tens of millions of years to clone dinosaurs. They find trouble, however, when they realize that the cloned creatures are smarter and more dangerous than expected. That’s nothing more than a fiction.
But could we really clone endangered animals?
To date, the most successful attempt to do so was the cloning of a gaur, a rare ox-like animal from southeast Asia. Scientists used a cow to bring the cloned baby gaur, named Noah. Two days after birth, however, Noah died from a common bacterial infection. Other endangered species that may be cloned include the African bongo antelope (邦戈羚羊), the Sumatran tiger, the cheetah (猎豹), and the giant panda. Next, could we really clone extinct animals?
In theory? Yes. To do this, you need a well-kept source of DNA from the extinct animals such as wool mammoth (毛象), Tasmanian tiger, or even dinosaur, and a closely related species, still living, which could serve as a surrogate mother.
In reality? Probably not. On the one hand, it’s not likely that extinct animals’ DNA could survive undamaged for such a long time. Cloning extinct animals as wool mammoth, Tasmanian tiger, or dinosaur is much more difficult due to the lack of properly well-preserved DNA. On the other hand, for example, a gaur can have a cow as a surrogate mother, definitely not a monkey. But what about an extinct animal as unique as the panda? What species could possibly serve as a surrogate mother?
Cloning presents many exciting possibilities. However, even if extinct animals are brought back, they could not survive in today’s world. Not only do most extinct animals have no habitat to live in, but the other plants and animals they depended on for food may also be gone as well. It can be learned from the passage that ________.
A.scientists have cloned the African bongo antelope |
B.both the cheetah and the giant panda live in Asia |
C.the gaur lives in Asia and is endangered |
D.the gaur is an extinct species |
The underlined words “a surrogate mother” probably refer to a female who __________.
A.contributes its eggs to another female |
B.gives birth to a baby for another female |
C.gives birth to a baby of its own |
D.cannot give birth to a baby |
The difficulty in cloning an extinct species is the lack of ______.
A.both the well-preserved DNA and plants to live on |
B.both the habitat to live in and the well-preserved DNA |
C.both habitat to live in and plants to live on |
D.both the well-preserved DNA and a surrogate mother |
In the author’s opinion, it is possible that ______.
A.some extinct species may be cloned, but not survive |
B.extinct species may be cloned and easily survive |
C.a gaur can have a monkey as a surrogate mother |
D.all the extinct species may be cloned |
Which of the following statements is true according the passage?
A.Jurassic Park is a cloned animal. |
B.The cloned creatures are the same as the real one. |
C.We could clone extinct animals in reality. |
D.We could clone extinct animals in theory. |
D
One of the most popular new online games is Second Life.These games are also called MMOs for short.But unlike other MMOs, Second Life is not about winning or losing.Second Life is technically a computer game.But people involved in it do not consider it a game, because the players Create everything.Second Life is more for socializing and creating communities.
Users of Second Life are called residents.To take part, they must create an electronic image of themselves.Some look like humans, while others look like animals.Inside the Second Life world, residents build homes, run business, buy and sell things, work, play, and attend school.They even have relationships and get married.
Second Life was created in 2003 by Linden Lab in San Francisco, California.Linden Lab controls the website where the ever—changing world is being created.There are now about one million people around the world who are active in Second Life.The number has grown quickly since the beginning of the year when there were about one hundred thousand users.
The average age of people involved with Second Life is about thirty.However, Linden Lab recently created Teen Second Life for young users.Second Life has its own economy and its own money called Linden dollars.Millions of dollars are made and spent each month in Second Life.Users can enter Second Life for free.But they must pay for a membership if they want to own land or buy and sell goods and services.
Lately, several major companies have become involved with Second Life.They want to be part of the growing business world that exists within the made—up reality.The car maker Toyota, music producer Sony BMG, and even Reuters news agency are among businesses now existing within Second Life.
68.The best title for the passage may be.
A.Popular Computer Games B.Users of Second Life
C.Business within Second Life D.A Million People Get a Second Life
69.According to the passage, Second Life refers to a new online game.
A.about winning or losing
B.in which players can create everything
C.mostly for children
D.designed for only one player role
70.We can see from the passage that the users of the Second Life.
A.can’t create the electronic images
B.become humans and animals
C.don’t work or play
D.can even get married
71.It can be inferred from the passage that.
A.these major companies want to become the players inside the Second Life world
B.these major companies: want to make profits from Second Life
C.we can’t believe in the made—up reality inside the Second Life world
D.these major companies show no interest in Second Life
C
Can you train your cat to actually use your toilet? Can you not have to deal with litter boxes any more? Well for many people the answers to these questions are yes.
You may have heard that some people have managed to train their cats to use the human toilet, Well this is correct.One advantage to this is the fact that you no longer have to lug heavy bags of litter home from the supermarket, or worry about cleaning out the dirty litter everyday.
Like any other cat training program, training your cat to use the toilet takes times and patience, you just can put your cat on the toilet and hope that they can use it.
By slowly shaping your cat’s behavior over a couple of weeks, you too can end lugging heavy bags of cat litter home from the supermarket.First, start by slowly moving the litter box closer and closer to the toilet each day, so your cat gets used to being in the bathroom and being around the toilet.
Next, when you have had to litter box next to the toilet for several days, slowly raise the litter box higher and higher each day until it is at the level of the toilet.Then find an insert for the top of the toilet, like a shallow pan that can sit in the rim of the toilet and hold litter.
Once your cat gets used to using this litter pan on top of the toilet for a week or so, try removing the pan and your cat should be able to use the toilet.
Like any cat training program, it takes time and effort on the part of the cat owner to do this.Don’t get frustrated with your cat if she is not learning as fast as you would like, many cats learn at their own pace.With a little effort you too can have a toilet trained cat.
64.The author advises you to train your cat to use a toilet so that may.
A.keep the toilet clean
B.keep the cat clean
C.save a lot of trouble
D.save a lot of money
65.According to the passage, cat toilet training is a process.
A.quick B.Complicated C.difficult D.gradual
66.When you have managed to get your cat to use the toilet, the litter box.
A.is no longer needed B.is still needed
C.should be kept where it is D.should be put back where it was
67.We can see from the passage that“a shallow pan”(in Para 6 ).
A.is used instead of the litter box B.is used to protect the cat
C.helps to raise the litter boxD.helps to clean the toilet
B
See in your mind’s eye where you really want to be in ten years’ time.Choose your own values, activities, and relationships rather than copying tubers.
While working with troubled teens, I used to haste them do a Ten Years game in the Future exercise.I asked them to write a letter to a friend as if it was ten years in the future.Most of these boys and girls didn’t think about the next week, much less ten years to come.This lack of “foresight”was a major reason why their lives were pretty messed up.But the real story is what happened to me.I did the exercise right along with them on many occasions, writing my dreams in detail.In my letter to a friend, I had moved to the country, built my own home, authored a book, and started my own business.
Over the next ten years, something magic happened.All my dreams became true, almost as if orchestrated (精心安排) by an unseen hand.I realized that something very powerful was happening, more powerful than expected.I did write books and start my business.We did move to the country and I did build my own home.
This letter to a friend will become a magnetic factor in your life.Your vision will guide you in your yearly goals, your monthly goals, and your daily activities.
You must write your letter as if it has already happened.For example:
“Leslie, I just wanted to make contact again and tell you about my life.I started my own gardening business in 2012 and it’s really taken off.”
“Dear Harold, I met the love of my life in 2016 and we moved to Hawaii where Frank works in a bookstore and I give surfing lessons everyday.We love it.”
Remember, describe all the details as if they have already happened.This will help you make it more real for you.
Sit down and write (or type) your Ten Years in the Future letter today.
60.It seems that the author’s dream and vision became a reality because the author.
A.had put something magic in the letter
B.could foresee what would happen
C.was experienced in writing the Ten Years letter
D.took what was written in the letter as a guide in life
61.According to the author,“Leslie”in your letter should be the person that.
A.does the same exercise as you
B.will become your friend in ten years
C.you know now and may still know in the future
D.you can imagine when you write your letter
62.The author advises you to write the Ten Years in the Future letter.
A.as soon as possible
B.in ten years’ time
C.when you have time
D.as often as possible
63.Which of the following covers the topics in this text?
a.The author’s own experience with the Ten Years in the Future exercise.
b.How the author got the idea of the Ten Years in the Future exercise.
c.How to write the Ten Years in the Future letter.
d.The author’s experience of working with troubled teens.
e.The difficulty in dealing with troubled teens.
f.How to improve your letter writing skill.
A.a, d, f B.a, c, d C.b, c, d D.a, c, e
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,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
He was a funny—looking man with a cheerful face,good—natured and a great talker.He was described by his student,the great philosopher Plato,as“the best and most just and wisest man”.Yet this same man was sentenced to death for his belief.
The man was the Greek philosopher,Socrates.He was sentenced for not believing in the recognized gods and for corrupting young people.The second charge arose from his association with many young men, who came to Athens from all over the civilized world to study under him.
Socrates’ method of teaching was to ask questions and, by pretending not to know the answers,to press his students into thinking for themselves.His teaching had great influence on all the Greek and Roman schools of philosophy.Yet, for all his fame and influence, Socrates himself never wrote a word.
Socrates encouraged new ideas and thinking in the young, and this was frightening to the people who held traditional views.They wanted him silenced.Yet, many were probably surprised that he accepted death so readily.
Socrates had right to ask for less punishment, and he probably could have won over enough of the people who had sentenced him before.But Socrates, as a firm believer in law, reasoned that it was proper to accept the death sentence.So, he calmly accepted his fate and drank accept of poison in the presence of his sorrow-stricken friends and students.
56.Which of the following statements does NOT agree with the passage?
A.Socrates had a strong character.
B.young people in those days admired Socrates very much.
C.Socrates’ teaching methods had little influence on schools of philosophy.
D.Socrates attached importance to the development of his, students creative thinking.
57.Socrates was sentenced to death because.
A.he did not respect law B.he was a philosopher
C.he published philosophical articles D.his beliefs were not accepted
58.By mentioning that Socrates himself never wrote anything,the author implies that.
A.Socrates was different from many other philosophers
B.Socrates was not so learned as people thought
C.Socrates used the works of his students in teaching
D.the government forbad publishing Socrates’ works
59.Socrates accepted the death sentence to show.
A.his determination to fight against the rulers to the end
B.his recognition of the legal system
C.that he looked down upon the lawmakers
D.how brave he was
E
“You will remember this night forever,” he told me. My friend was taking me dumpster(垃圾桶)diving for the first time. We both needed costumes for a party so he decided to show me around a few of the city’s finest waste baskets. After finding costume materials in the thrift store(旧货店)dumpsters, we stopped at a grocery store. There we found a dumpster half filled with potatoes and bread. We collected bags of potatoes to share with friends and to use for cooking with Food Not Bombs(a group that shares free vegetarian food and speaks against war and poverty). I was later told that using the dumpsters could earn me the title of an urban pirate(海盗)-what a great honour!
My first dumpster dive opened new doors for me. I had struggled with spending money. Now I think it will prove difficult to buy anything after seeing what people throw away. Something about all those wasted resources is not right. It seems we are constantly buying more and more and throwing away perfectly usable items, while many cannot meet their basic needs.
People who have never done their shopping in a dumpster believe it is dirty, dangerous, and humiliating. In reality, a diver with an old pair of jeans, a flashlight and a little common sense (wear boots and gloves to guard against sharp objects)should not have any trouble staying safe and can feel good about being a resourceful and responsible consumer. Dumpstering is a good way to save money, labour, and lessen our environmental impact.
From that dumpster tour, I had a new opinion on garbage. I found I can do something in this wasteful society. By living simply and taking what little I need from others’ unwanted goods, I am able to begin to break the habits of wastefulness. The influence of that first urban pirate adventure created a continuing impact on my life.
72. What is the attitude of the author to the title of an urban pirate?
A. Tolerant B. Proud C. Respectful D. Humiliating
73. “My first dumpster dive opened new doors for me.” means .
A. it has led to a better life for me and made me wealthier
B. it has made me buy nothing later and break the habits of wastefulness
C. it has changed my views and attitudes to consumers and living
D. it has brought me good senses to be a responsible and a resourceful consumer
74. The main idea of the third paragraph is .
A. only the poor goes in for dumpstering
B. how to keep safe while dumpstering
C. the benefit and value of dumpstering
D. how to save money and lessen environmental impace
75. In the writer’s opinion, .
A. there are many objects to be recycled in the dumpster
B. there are too many people looking down upon the divers
C. the little of an urban pirate is a prejudice
D. the influence of the first urban pirate adventure had an ill effect on his life