Thinking is something you choose to do as a fish choose to live in water. To be human is to think. But thinking may come naturally without your knowing how you do it. Thinking about thinking is the key to critical（判断性的） thinking. When you think critically, you take control of your thinking processes(过程). Otherwise, you might be controlled by the ideas of others. Indeed, critical thinking is at the heart of education.
The word “critical” here has a special meaning. It does not mean taking one view against another view, as when someone criticizes another person for doing something wrong. The nature of critical thinking is thinking beyond the easily seen—beyond the pictures on TV, the untrue reports in the newspapers, and the faulty reasoning.
Critical thinking is an attitude as much as an activity. If you are curious about life and desire to dig deeper into it, you are a critical thinker. If you find pleasure in deep thinking about different ideas, characters, and facts, you are a critical thinker.
Activities of the mind and higher-order reasoning are processes of deep and careful consideration. They take time, and do not go hand in hand with the fast speed in today’s world: fast foods, instant coffee, and self-developing film. If you are among the people who believe that speed is a measure of intelligence（智力）, you may learn something new from a story about Albert Einstein. The first time Banesh Hoffman, a scientist, was to discuss his work with Albert Einstein, Hoffman was too nervous to speak. But Einstein immediately put Hoffman at ease by saying, “Please go slowly. I don’t understand things quickly.”
Critical thinking is important to us because if we do not think critically, ______.
| A．it will be hard for us to think naturally and fast |
| B．we might be controlled by other people’s ideas |
| C．we will follow the ideas of others naturally |
| D．we might be fooled by other people’s ideas |
If you are a critical thinker, you will ______.
| A．think deeply about different ideas |
| B．trust the reports in the newspapers |
| C．take one view against another view |
| D．criticize other people for their mistakes |
In the last paragraph, “something new” suggests that ______
| A．the smarter you are , the faster you do things |
| B．the faster you do things, the smarter you become |
| C．speed can improve intelligence |
| D．intelligence is not decided by speed |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．Thinking and Critical Thinking |
| B．Understanding Critical Thinking |
| C．Thinking is Natural and Human |
| D．Thinking Fast Means Intelligence |
The first field season is now over at the hut village of the workmen who built the tombs in the Valley of the Kings．However，the archaeologists working on the excavation(挖掘)have found that they still have a great deal to do．The sun，the wind and tourists have left their mark on the village，originally discovered by Bernard Bruyhre in 1935．
“From our modern perspective，it is upsetting to see how the village was first excavated and then left to be destroyed．Passers-by have used the huts as rubbish dumps and restrooms，”says Jaana Toivari—Viitala，a teacher at the University of Helsinki．“Fortunately，while we still have some surface cleaning to do，conservation are off to a good start．’’
The hut viliage offers rare insight into everyday life in ancient Egypt．
“In the early twentieth century，archaeologists were only interested in the tombs of kings． The workmen’s huts they discovered were seen as a necessary evil in the quest for the real trea sures．’，
“Now several international research groups on different excavations are examining everyday life and work in the Valley of the Kings．This seems to be a trend in archaeology right now．”Toivari-Viitala says．
Her research group wants to find out why the hut village was built on the slope of a mountain，halfway between the construction site and Deir-el-Medina．They are also interested in how many workers lived in the village at a time，when they lived there，and what their role was in the construction work．
“Comparing the names found in the village and in Deir-el-Medina provides useful information．Judging from the construction methods，settlement in the village can be divided into two separate periods：the initial settlement and a later one．”
For the time being，much is up to guessing，but Toivari-Viitala believes that the coming four field seasons，three months each，will see results．
“The working conditions are not nearly as difficult as I thought they would be． The cool winds in the mountains nicely alleviate the heat．”
The research group working on the“Workmen’s huts in the Theban mountains”project is planning to return to the Valley of the Kings in October．
71．What does the passage mainly talk about?
A．The hut village in the Valley of the Kings．
B．The excavation of the tombs in the Valley．
C．The archaeologists working on the excavation．
D．Everyday life and work in the Valley of the Kings．
72．Which of the following is NOT true of the hut village according to the passage?
A．It has been damaged a lot．
B．It can tell us a lot about ancient Egypt．
C．It has attracted archaeologists’attention．
D．It has a lot of real treasures somewhere in it．
73．What’s the new trend in archaeology right now according to Toivari-Viitala?
A．Being interested in the tombs of kings．
B．Examining everyday life and work in the Valley of the Kings．
C．Using the huts as rubbish dumps and restrooms．
D．Guessing what the result will be beforehand．
74．From the passage we know that the author is one of．
A．the workmen who built the tombs in the Valley of the Kings
B．the archaeologists working on the excavation of the village
C．those in favour of Toivari-Viitala’s ideas and plans
D．the passers-by who used the huts as dumps and restrooms
75．We can infer from the passage that
A．people know little about the hut village by now
B．the workmen’s huts were not discovered until very recently
C．the research group working on the workmen’s huts will suffer a lot
D．the hut village is much more valued by archaeologists than the tombs
Every time an election rolls around，people want to know what each candidate’s stance(立场)is on the issue that are important to them．In deciding which candidate 1 want to vote for, there are two main issues for me：the economy and education．
These issues are important to me because they affect me the most right now．The economy affects everyone，and education is important because t am about to enter college． When I looked at how each candidate views these issues，one man stood out to me，and that is Demoeratic candidate Barack Obama．
I like a11 of Senator Obama’s ideas for improving the economy．He wants to bring the troops home from Iraq，thereby saving the $12 billion we spend there every month．Anotller point that Obama makes is that the United States’current energy policy is hurting the econmny.He believes thal if new energy bills are passed，it will help tile U．S． get out of its currenr economic slump，and I agree．With these ideas and strategies，I slrongly believe that Obama can improve the current state of the economy．
Obama also has a plan to improve education．He believes that we need to start educating children at a young age．He also hopes to close the gap of achievement between students,which means improving schools that need help．He wants to pay teachers more and treat them like professionals，but in exchange he calls for higher responsibility．
Obama also has a plan to make college more affordable．He wants public colleges to be free for students who maintain a”B”average during high school．And he plans to give a $4，000 tax credit for college and university students who complete 100 hours of community service each year·I belleve these ideas to improve education are good enough and will help many students．
Therefore，there is no longer any doubt in my mind who will be receiving my vote：Barack Obama．
66．According to the passage，if a candidate wants to win the election he must
A．care more about the education in the U．S．
B．issue plans trying to satisfy everyone
C．make college more affordable
D．narrow the gap of achievement between students
67．We may learn from the passage that the author is a(n)．
A．college student B．economist C．senior high student D．candidate
68．What interests the author most in Obama’s stance is．
A．economy and education B．the military and education
C．foreign affairs and education D．the military and economy
69．Which of the following are among Obama’s promises?
a．to bring troops home from Iraq b．to reduce income tax
c．to start early education d．to develop American economy
e．to offer free college education for all f．to pass new energy bills
A．a，b，c，d，e，f B．a，b，c，d，e C．a，c，d，f D．c，d，e，f
70．What’s the main idea of the passage?
A．American economy should develop quickly
B．Obama’s new life as president
C．How to win an election
D．Why I vote for Obama
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。
Alice watched from her brother’s New Orleans house as Hurricane Katrina split trees, broke windows, and swallowed cars, including her own, A few miles away ,her best friend ,Pat also a nurse. was supervising patients in the high-risk hospital when the river banks broke, For the next six days, Pat and her crew lived there until a rescue boat picked them up,
Both of them were evacuated to safer parts of the States, Weeks later, they ,like thousands of others,returned to find their homes uninhabitable, their jobs gone,
The following spring, as she was rebuilding her life, Alice contacted an information centre for returning, residents, When asked if she would head a desperatedly needed clinic, Alice said she’d do ti ,but only with Pat ,It took Pat less then five minutes to say yes, And after consulting with her children, she offered her damaged home as the new clinic.
As word spread ,help poured in , Groups raised money and donated medical equipment ,exam tables, free ductwork, other supplies and even labor, Bedrooms were transformed into exam rooms and Pat’s living room into a waiting room.
On February 27,2007,the clinic opened, with patients lined up around the block, Those who came in that first day were very sick with problems from not taking their medicine for a year after Katrina, Over 1,200 people have made their way to the clinic, whose decoration passes what Pat calls the mama test.:”Would your mama feel comfortable here?” Until recently, it was the only health-care facility in there, “It’s a relief to have a clinic right here in the neighborhood where I can check my pressure.”says Latoya Owens, 30, who suffers from hypertension.
“This is the most rewarding thing I ‘ve ever done ,” says Alice .Adds Pat ,”I ‘m alleviating（减轻）some suffering in an underserved population. I listen to their stories, and I cry a lot, People outside New Orleans think things are back to normal here, but we are far from that.”
56 When Hurricane Katrina arrived，．
A Alice was driviilg to her brother’s hous B．Pal was visiting in a hospital
C houses were destroyed D peoplc were rescued to safety
57．What does the fifth paragraph mainly 1elI us?
A．The clinic opened a year after Hurricane Katrina．
B．The clinic helped local people a lot．
C．The clinic was the only one of its kind in the neighborhood．
D．The clinic was decorated to people’s satisfaction．
58．Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage'
A．Things in New Orleans were much worse than people thought．
B．Alice felt happy and satisfied about what she was doing．
C．Pat thought a lot before agreeing to work together with Alice．
D．People were ready to help when disasters happened．
59．Pat cried a lot probably because．
A．she was sad about what people had suffered
B．she was moved by people’s help to the clinic
C．work in the clinic was too difficult
D．she lost her job and home during Hurricane Katrina
60．The underlined word“evacuated’’in the second paragraph most probably means“”
A．foreed B．attached C．related D．moved
III 阅读（共两节，满分40分）
第一节阅读理解（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
The hole in the Earth's ozone layer (臭氧层) has until now protected Antarctica from the worst effects of global warming. But scientists have warned that as the hole closes up in the next few decades, temperatures on the continent could rise by around 3oC on average, with melting ice contributing to a global sea level increase of up to 1.4 metres.
In the past decades the western Antarctic has seen rapid ice loss as the world has warmed, but the other parts of the continent have, paradoxically, been cooling, resulting in a 10% increase in ice in the seas around the region. This is because the hole in the ozone layer has increased cold winds in Antarctica, making much of the continent surface colder than usual.
But now that the gasses that cause the ozone hole have been banned, scientists expect the hole to repair itself within the next 50 to 60 years. By then the cooling effect will have faded out and the Antarctic will face the full impact of global warming. This means an increase in average air temperatures of around 3OC and a reduction in sea ice by around a third.
The biggest threat to the continent comes from warming seas. Robert Johnson, a scientist who monitors Antarctica ice sheets, said, "The ice sheets in Antarctica are hundreds of metres thick. But once warm ocean waters start flowing underneath, the ice will begin thinning and could break up very quickly. "Thinning ice sheets cause ice to break away from the continent and to melt even faster. Escaping ice from western Antarctica has already resulted in a 10% rise in global sea level in recent decades.
Johnson believes that international action to reduce global warming is required immediately or it may be too late. "Everything is connected - Antarctica may be a long way away but it is an important part of the Earth's system," said Johnson. "It contains 90% of the world's ice, 70% of the world's fresh water and that is enough, if it melts completely, to raise sea levels by 63 metres."
Even in a worse-case situation scientists don't expect the ice to entirely disappear, but predict that, because of the melting ice sheets, average sea level rise will be around 1.4 metres higher by the end of the century.
41. The underlined word "paradoxically" (in Paragraph 2) most probably means "__".
A. rapidly B. approximately C. contradictorily D. apparently
42. What is the effect of the hole in the ozone layer on Antarctica?
A. It is causing the ice to melt faster.
B. It is making much of the continent colder.
C. It is making the effects of global warming in the region worse.
D. It is reducing the amount of water in Antarctica.
43. What do scientists think is the biggest danger facing Antarctica?
A. Rising sea levels. B. Warming sea water temperature.
C. Water pollution. D. Growing ice sheets.
44. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. Antarctica is currently experiencing the full effects of global warming.
B. The average temperature has increased by 3OC in recent decades.
C. Antarctica contains most of the world's fresh water.
D. Ten percent of Antarctica's ice has already been lost.
45. The best title for the passage is ______.
A. Our planet in danger B. Antarctica melting away
C. Action plan to save Antarctica D. Let's save the ozone layer
The Parthenon in Athens is a building with a long and complex history. Built nearly 2,500 years ago as a temple celebrating the Greek goddess Athena, it was for thousands of years the church of the Virgin Mary of the Athenians, then a mosque (清真寺), and finally a ruin. The building was changed and the sculptures much damaged over the centuries. By 1800 only about half of the original sculptural decoration remained.
Between 1801 and 1805, Lord Elgin, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, which controlled Athens, acting with the full knowledge and permission of the Ottoman authorities, removed about half of the remaining sculptures from the fallen ruins and from the building itself. Lord Elgin loved Greek history and transported the sculptures back to Britain. The arrival of the sculptures in London had a huge effect on the European public, greatly increasing interest in ancient Greek culture and influencing contemporary artistic trends. These sculptures were acquired from Lord Elgin by the British Museum in 1816 and since then they have all been on display to the public, free of charge.
Since the early 1980s, however, the Greek government has argued for the permanent removal to Athens of all the Parthenon sculptures in the British Museum. They have also challenged the British Museum Board of Trustees' legal title to the sculptures.
The British Museum, however, insists that it exists to tell the story of cultural achievement throughout the world, from the dawn of human history over two million years ago until the present day. The museum considers itself an important resource for the world: the breadth and depth of its collection allows the world public to re-examine cultural identities and explore the complex network of interconnected world cultures.
It also says that, within the context of this unparalleled collection, the Parthenon sculptures are an important representation of ancient Athenian civilization. Each year millions of visitors admire the artistry of the sculptures and gain insights on how ancient Greece influenced - and was influenced by - the other civilizations that it encountered.
51. For most of its history people went to the Parthenon to ______.
A. admire the goddess Athena B. pray to their god
C. search for sculptures D. learn about its complex history
52. The underlined "it" (in Paragraph 4) refers to "_________".
A. the British Museum B. the Greek government
C. the Parthenon D. the British Museum Board of Trustees
53. What can we infer from the passage?
A. The sculptures introduced ancient Greek culture to the west.
B. Ancient Greek culture has greatly influenced world culture.
C. The British Museum has made much money from the Parthenon sculptures.
D. The British Museum is the place most capable of preserving these sculptures.
54. What can we learn about Lord Elgin from the passage?
A. He is greatly admired in Greece.
B. He worked for the Ottoman Empire.
C. He saved the Parthenon sculptures from being destroyed.
D. He had a deep interest in Greek culture.
55. The author's main intention in writing this passage is to tell _____.
A. the history of the Parthenon and its sculptures
B. what people can see in the British Museum
C. why the British Museum refuses to return the sculptures
D. the influence of Greece on British culture