WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 — The House of Representatives, which prides itself on being " the People’s House" has been turning into, a rich men’s club.

The representatives newly elected in 1984 were almost four times as wealthy as the first term lawmakers elected only six years before, according to a new study on the members’ financial reports.

Behind this remarkable swing, the study says, there are two main factors: a court decision that outlawed limits on what candidates could give to their own campaigns, and the enormous growth in the cost of pursuing a seat in Congress. As a result, it is increasingly difficult for candidates of modest means, particularly women to amount successful challenges to entrenched office holders.

One solution, the authors contend, is a system of public financing for campaigns, but Congress seems in no mood to change the political rules any time soon.

"The lower chamber is going upper class," said Mark Green, the President of the Democracy Project, a public policy institute based in New York. ".But this evolution from a House of Representa??tives to a House of Lords denies the diversity of our democracy. It establishes a de facto property qual??ification for office that increasingly says: The people with low and middle income need not apply. "

The Democracy Project produced the study in cooperation with the United States Public Interests Research Group, a similar institute situated in Washington. But their research was not entirely theo??retical. In 1980 Mr. Green was the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Congress in New York’s 15th District, in Manhattan. The winner was. Bill Green, one of the wealthiest members of Congress.

5. What can we know from the passage?

A. The House of Representatives is poor men’s club.

B. The House of Representatives was made up of people with low and middle income.

C. The House of Representatives, was rich men’s club;

D. The House of Representatives is made up of people with low and middle income.

6. What does "this remarkable swing" in the third paragraph refer to?

A. The House of Representatives prides itself on being" the people’s House".

B. The new study based on the members’ financial reports.

C. A court decision that outlawed limits on what candidates could give to their own campaigns.

D. The representatives elected now are much wealthier than those elected a few years ago.

7. Which of the following is wrong according to the study?

A. Any honest man can become a representative of the House.

B. Women are more difficult than men to be an entrenched office holder.

C. Limits on what a candidate could give to his campaign are outlawed.

D. One must spend much money getting a seat in the Congress.

8. What is the United States Public Interests Research Group like?

A. The House of Representatives.

B. A public policy institute based in New York.

C. A public policy institute based in Washington.

D. The House of Lords.

9. What does the writer think of the study?

A. Doubtful.          B. Believable.            C. Opposed.                D. Normal.

Canada, the world’s second-largest country, has a massive Atlantic coastline (海岸线). So, the best way to experience it is by car.
★ One week
Cross over to Wolfville and the Bay of Fundy via HWY 12. Spend a day criss-crossing the country roads and grassy hills of Cape Blomidon to catch some of the most impressive views of the Fundy tides (潮水).
The next day, drive east, stopping at wineries (酿酒厂) and shopping for unique jams and other local foods at Tangled Garden, where you can also cool down with a herb-flavored ice cream.
Drive through the rural roads and maybe get lost on the way to Maitland to sign up for a day of white-water rafting, which can be relaxing and one of the most exciting experiences in your life.
On the last day, head back to Halifax via east coast Martinique Beach, one of the longest beaches in Nova Scotia, a beautiful place for stretching legs and bird watching.
★ Two weeks
With more time, you can go directly up to Cape Breton, along the circuitous (迂回的) roads of the “Cabot Trail”, over high sea vista points, where you have to watch for moose (驼鹿) on the road.
Those with more time can go to Newfoundland and continue on the “Viking Trail” that links the Gros Morne National Park with Leif Eriksson’s historic Viking settlement.
★ When to go
Outside of June to October the coast will be extremely cold and most businesses will be shut.
★ Where to stay
● Lennox Inn 1791 (Lunenburg): Canada’s oldest continually operating hotel.
● The Olde Lantern Inn & Vineyard (Grand Pre): in the heart of winery and Fundy tide country.
★ Where to eat
● Fleur de Sel (Lunenburg): widely considered this coast’s finest restaurant.
● Hall’s Lobster Pound (Hall’s Harbour): pick your lobster, get it boiled and enjoy it on a park bench.
【小题1】If choosing the one-week tour, you are advised to start from       .

A.WolfvilleB.Maitland
C.The Bay of FundyD.Halifax
【小题2】If you intend to go for a drive along the coast in Canada, you should go there       .
A.in JanuaryB.in MayC.in JulyD.in November
【小题3】We can infer from the passage that       .
A.white-water rafting is quite exciting
B.moose can be seen in large numbers in Newfoundland
C.people can be easily lost along the roads of the “Cabot Trail”
D.Lennox Inn 1791 is Canada’s oldest hotel

 Is there a limit to the number of years that a person can expect to live? Can changes in life-style add years to one’s life? Throughout history people have sought answers to these questions and others.

Various myths offer the hope of great longevity. In the imaginary land of Shangri-La, for example, people are said to lead a charmed existence for a thousand years. The Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon was convinced that he would find the Foundation of Youth in what is now the state of Florida. According to the Bible, Methuselah lived to be more than 900 years old.

The subject of longevity is fascinating, and scientists study individuals such as Jeanne Calment to learn about the aging process. Calment died in 1997 in Arles, France, at the age of 122. She never married, and she lived in her own apartment until moving to a retirement community when she was 109.

Most scientists agree that bodies will last, at best, about 125 years. This potential has changed little since modern human beings appeared more than 100 thousand years age. Recent improvements in medicine and the environment have extended life expectancy, especially for those from poorer parts of the world. It is not clear, however, whether such improvements will lengthen life expectancy beyond a certain point.

Life expectancy is the number of years an infant can be expected to live, given the conditions into which it is born. Life expectancy, therefore, is affected by nutrition, medical care, and social and political circumstances. An individual’s genetic makeup is also an important factor. Children from long-lived families can hope to enjoy long lives themselves. According to recent data, the average life expectancy worldwide in 1998 was 67 years. This can be compared with an average life expectancy of 77 in the United States.

In 1970 the average life expectancy worldwide was 61 years, or 6 years less than it was in 1998. This same period saw a drop in infant mortality -— the death of a child before the first birthday-—from 80 births out of 1,000 to 54 births out of 1,000. According to some researchers, the rise in the average life expectancy is due primarily to the drop in infant mortality. It is not so much that adults are living to an older age. It is, rather, that more people are living into adulthood because more children are surviving beyond their first birthdays.

1.Infant mortality is defined as ________ .

A. the number of children born alive

B. the kinds of behavior typical of very young children

C. the number of children, out of 1,000 births, who die before their first birthday

D. the typical and obvious thoughts of very young children

2.Although it may be possible to improve the life expectancy of a particular group of people, ________ .

A. it is more difficult to affect the rate of infant mortality

B. it is unlikely that one will be able to extend the potential life span of human beings in general

C. the process of evolution is extending the potential life span beyond 125 years

D. the potential that bodies will last, at best, about 125 years has changed much since modern human beings appeared

3.One can infer that people have at times imagined that ________ .

A. people live longer in the state of Florida

B. a long life is a burden rather than a blessing

C. it is possible to find a way to live for centuries

D. life expectancy is affected by a couple of factors

4.One can conclude that  ________ .

A. the aging process can be stopped.

B. the aging process is inevitable.

C. life expectancy in the United States will soon reach 125 years.

D. the average life expectancy worldwide is decreasing

 

Canada, the world’s second-largest country, has a massive Atlantic coastline (海岸线). So, the best way to experience it is by car.

★ One week

Cross over to Wolfville and the Bay of Fundy via HWY 12. Spend a day criss-crossing the country roads and grassy hills of Cape Blomidon to catch some of the most impressive views of the Fundy tides (潮水).

The next day, drive east, stopping at wineries (酿酒厂) and shopping for unique jams and other local foods at Tangled Garden, where you can also cool down with a herb-flavored ice cream.

Drive through the rural roads and maybe get lost on the way to Maitland to sign up for a day of white-water rafting, which can be relaxing and one of the most exciting experiences in your life.

On the last day, head back to Halifax via east coast Martinique Beach, one of the longest beaches in Nova Scotia, a beautiful place for stretching legs and bird watching.

★ Two weeks

With more time, you can go directly up to Cape Breton, along the circuitous (迂回的) roads of the “Cabot Trail”, over high sea vista points, where you have to watch for moose (驼鹿) on the road.

Those with more time can go to Newfoundland and continue on the “Viking Trail” that links the Gros Morne National Park with Leif Eriksson’s historic Viking settlement.

★ When to go

Outside of June to October the coast will be extremely cold and most businesses will be shut.

★ Where to stay

● Lennox Inn 1791 (Lunenburg): Canada’s oldest continually operating hotel.

● The Olde Lantern Inn & Vineyard (Grand Pre): in the heart of winery and Fundy tide country.

★ Where to eat

● Fleur de Sel (Lunenburg): widely considered this coast’s finest restaurant.

● Hall’s Lobster Pound (Hall’s Harbour): pick your lobster, get it boiled and enjoy it on a park bench.

1.If choosing the one-week tour, you are advised to start from       .

A.Wolfville                              B.Maitland

C.The Bay of Fundy                        D.Halifax

2.If you intend to go for a drive along the coast in Canada, you should go there       .

A.in January         B.in May            C.in July            D.in November

3.We can infer from the passage that       .

A.white-water rafting is quite exciting

B.moose can be seen in large numbers in Newfoundland

C.people can be easily lost along the roads of the “Cabot Trail”

D.Lennox Inn 1791 is Canada’s oldest hotel

 

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