题目内容
British scientists are breeding a new generation of rice plants that will be able to grow. in soil con??taining salt water. Their work may enable abandoned farms to become productive farms once more.
Tim Flowers and Tony Yeo, from Sussex University’s School of Biological Sciences,. have spent several years researching how crops, such as rice, could be made to grow in water that has become salty. The pairs have recently begun a three-year programme, funded by the Biotechnology and Bio??logical Sciences Research Council, to establish which genes enable some plants to survive salty condi??tions. The aim is to breed this capability into crops, starting with rice.
It is estimated that each year more than 10 million hectares (公顷) of agricultural land are lost because salt gets into the soil and stunts(防碍生长) plants. The problem is caused by several factors. In the tropics, mangroves that create swamps (沼泽) and traditionally formed barriers to sea water have been cut down. In the Mediterranean, a series of droughts have caused the water table to drop, allowing sea water to seep (渗透) in. In Latin America, irrigation often causes problems when water is evaporated by the heat, leaving, salt deposits behind.
Excess salt then enters the plants and prevents them functioning normally. Heavy concentrations of minerals in the plants stop them drawing up the water they need to survive.
To overcome these problems. Flowers and Yeo decided to breed rice plants that take in very little salt and store what they do absorb in cells that do not affect the plants’ growth. They have started to breed these characteristics into a new rice crop, but it will take about eight harvests before the resul??ting seeds are ready to be considered for commercial use.
Once the characteristics for surviving salty soil are known, Flowers and Yeo will try to breed the appropriate genes into all manners of crops and plants. Land that has been abandoned to nature will then be able to bloom again, providing much needed food for the poorer countries of the world.
4. Which of the following statements about Flowers and Yeo is true?
A. They are students at Sussex University. B. They are rice breeders.
5. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a cause of the problem discussed in the passage?
A. Natural barriers to sea water have been destroyed.
B. The water table has gone down after droughts.
C. Sea level has been continuously rising.
D. Evaporation of water leaves salt behind.
6. The word "affect" in Paragraph 5 could be best replaced by________.
A. influence B. effect C. stop D. present
7. The attitude of the author towards the research project is________.
A. positive B. negative C. suspicious D. indifferent
4-7 DCAA
解析:
4. 推断题。从第二段中的Tim Flowers and Tony Yeo,from Sussex University’s School of Biological Sciences,have spent several Years researching how crops,可知,他们是来自大学的老师,他们是搭档,而不是夫妻,所以可以排除A项和C项;B项的意思更不正确。
5. 细节题。A项内容与文章中的traditionally formed barriers to sea water have been cut down一致,B项内容与文章中的a series of droughts have caused the water table to drop一致,D项 内容与文章中的when water is evaporated by the heat一致,而C项内容在文章中根本没有谈到。
6. 词义题。我们可以根据句子的意思作出推断。
7. 推断题。从文章最后一段可以看出,作者对这种实验是“肯定的”。主要表现在Land that has been abandoned to nature will then be able to. bloom again,providing much needed food for the poorer countries of the world,作者认为如果该实验成功的话,废弃的土地又会肥沃起来。
Australian Flag Designs by Readers of the Sun-Herald
We received dozens of responses after inviting readers to send in their designs for a new flag. The designs we received include:
James Anthony, Drummoyne
James reduces the Union Jack down in size and changes its shape to become a reminder of the British tradition rather than canceling it altogether. At the same time he suggests enlarging the stars of the Southern Cross. His design attempts to use the best of both worlds in a newly designed flag.
As he says, “the British part of the Australian Flag is too big and the Australian bits are too small. When you make the stars bigger the Australian flag can look impressive.”
Joe Bollen, Turranmurra
Joe’s flag has the main elements of a risen sun, white horizon(地平线), red earth at the base and the Southern Cross. He intends to make the risen sun a special Australian symbol on the flag. He believes it represents life. The Southern Cross shows that we live in the Southern Hemisphere. (半球)
Maria Ieraci, Sydney
Maria deleted the Union Jack but otherwise kept the flag as is with the Southern Cross and Federation Star. She says, ‘There is only one correct way to change the Australian flag” and that is “to drop the Union Jack ---- when Australia becomes a Republic”, which she hopes will be before 2010.
Ron Bennett, Sydney
Ron recommends using the Aboriginal colors but replacing their image of the sun with the map of Australia. He says, “Australia is unique being an island continent with an instantly recognizable outline at that” and “this will leave no doubt as to which country the flag belongs.”
【小题1】Which of the four designs can remind you of the past of the country?
A.Joe’s | B.Maria’s | C.Ron’s | D.Jame’s |
A.the spirit of the nation |
B.the position of the country |
C.the tradition of Britain |
D.the expectations of the people |
A.the British flag |
B.A former British ruler |
C.group of stars |
D.A former symbol of Australia |
Robert Frost was one of America’s best known and most honored serious writers. But his fame came late in his life.
He was born in San Francisco, California in 1874. He lived in California during his early childhood. He was named after the chief Southern general in America’s Civil War. The general’s name was Robert Edward Lee. The poet was named Robert Lee Frost, because his father wanted to honor the general.
Someone once asked another American writer, Ernest Hemingway, how to become a writer. The best thing, he said, was to have an unhappy childhood. If this is true, Robert Frost’s childhood was unhappy enough to make him a very good writer. Robert Frost’s father was a reporter who wanted to be a politician. He often drank too much wine and became angry. Robert was the victim of his anger.
Robert Frost finished high school in 1891. After high school, Robert’s grandfather offered to pay his costs at Dartmouth College. But Robert left the school after a few months. He did not like it. He spent the next few years working at different jobs. At one time, he worked in a factory. Later, he repaired shoes. He was a teacher. He was a reporter. Always, he wrote poetry.
Robert Frost attended Harvard University for two years. After that, he returned to the many jobs he held before. For a while, Frost tried to take care of a farm in the state of New Hampshire. He was not a successful farmer. And he continued to write poetry. He said that until 1930, he earned only about ten dollars a year from writing.
In 1912, he decided to try to make a new start. He took his family to Britain. The cost of living was low. In Britain, Frost found a publisher for his first book of poems. The book was called A Boy’s Will. When it appeared in 1913, Frost received high praise from British readers. Praise was something he had not received in his own country.
Ezra Pound, another American poet living in Britain, read the poems and liked them very much. He wrote a magazine article about Frost. He also helped get Frost’s second book of poems published in America. That book was called North of Boston.
【小题1】The followings are writers EXCEPT __________.
A.Robert Edward Lee | B.Robert Lee Frost |
C.Ernest Hemingway | D.Ezra Pound |
A.he had great influence on Frost’s poetry and life |
B.Frost’s poetry style was the same as Hemingway’s |
C.Frost was unhappy because he was the victim of his father |
D.Frost spent his childhood unhappily |
A.Once Frost’s first book was published he gained great praise in his country. |
B.After leaving Harvard University, he began to learn to write poetry. |
C.Frost was found lo have a gift in poetry while he studied in high school. |
D.Robert Frost’s father was angry and drank a lot because he didn’t realize his dream. |
A.Robert Frost’s unhappy childhood. |
B.Robert Frost’ s first and second book. |
C.Robert Frost’s family and jobs. |
D.Robert Frost’s life and poetry. |
Robert Frost was one of America’s best known and most honored serious writers. But his fame came late in his life.
He was born in San Francisco, California in 1874. He lived in California during his early childhood. He was named after the chief Southern general in America’s Civil War. The general’s name was Robert Edward Lee. The poet was named Robert Lee Frost, because his father wanted to honor the general.
Someone once asked another American writer, Ernest Hemingway, how to become a writer. The best thing, he said, was to have an unhappy childhood. If this is true, Robert Frost’s childhood was unhappy enough to make him a very good writer. Robert Frost’s father was a reporter who wanted to be a politician. He often drank too much wine and became angry. Robert was the victim (受害者) of his anger.
Robert Frost finished high school in 1891. After high school, Robert’s grandfather offered to pay his costs at Dartmouth College. But Robert left the school after a few months. He did not like it. He spent the next few years working at different jobs. At one time, he worked in a factory. Later, he repaired shoes. He was a teacher. He was a reporter. Always, he wrote poetry.
Robert Frost attended Harvard University for two years. After that, he returned to the many jobs he held before. For a while, Frost tried to take care of a farm in the state of New Hampshire. He was not a successful farmer. And he continued to write poetry. He said that until 1930, he earned only about ten dollars a year from writing.
In 1912, he decided to try to make a new start. He took his family to Britain. The cost of living was low. In Britain, Frost found a publisher for his first book of poems. The book was called A Boy’s Will. When it appeared in 1913. Frost received high praise from British readers. Praise was something he had not received in his own country.
Ezra Pound, another American poet living in Britain, read the poems and liked them very much. He wrote a magazine article about Frost. He also helped get Frost’s second book of poems published in America. That book was called North of Boston.
【小题1】The followings are writers EXCEPT ________.
A.Robert Edward Lee | B.Robert Lee Frost |
C.Ernest Hemingway | D.Ezra Pound |
A.he had great influence on Frost’s poetry and life |
B.Frost’ s poetry style was the same as Hemingway’s |
C.Frost was unhappy because he was the victim of his father |
D.Frost spent his childhood unhappily |
A.Once Frost’s first book was published he gained great praise in his country. |
B.After leaving Harvard University, he began to learn to write poetry. |
C.Frost was found lo have a gift in poetry while he studied in high school. |
D.Robert Frost’s father was angry and drank a lot because he didn’t realize his dream. |
A.Robert Frost’s unhappy childhood. | B.Robert Frost’s first and second book. |
C.Robert Frost’s family and jobs. | D.Robert Frost’s life and poetry. |
Robert Frost was one of America’s best known and most honored serious writers. But his fame came late in his life.
He was born in San Francisco, California in 1874. He lived in California during his early childhood. He was named after the chief Southern general in America’s Civil War. The general’s name was Robert Edward Lee. The poet was named Robert Lee Frost, because his father wanted to honor the general.
Someone once asked another American writer, Ernest Hemingway, how to become a writer. The best thing, he said, was to have an unhappy childhood. If this is true, Robert Frost’s childhood was unhappy enough to make him a very good writer. Robert Frost’s father was a reporter who wanted to be a politician. He often drank too much wine and became angry. Robert was the victim (受害者) of his anger.
Robert Frost finished high school in 1891. After high school, Robert’s grandfather offered to pay his costs at Dartmouth College. But Robert left the school after a few months. He did not like it. He spent the next few years working at different jobs. At one time, he worked in a factory. Later, he repaired shoes. He was a teacher. He was a reporter. Always, he wrote poetry.
Robert Frost attended Harvard University for two years. After that, he returned to the many jobs he held before. For a while, Frost tried to take care of a farm in the state of New Hampshire. He was not a successful farmer. And he continued to write poetry. He said that until 1930, he earned only about ten dollars a year from writing.
In 1912, he decided to try to make a new start. He took his family to Britain. The cost of living was low. In Britain, Frost found a publisher for his first book of poems. The book was called A Boy’s Will. When it appeared in 1913. Frost received high praise from British readers. Praise was something he had not received in his own country.
Ezra Pound, another American poet living in Britain, read the poems and liked them very much. He wrote a magazine article about Frost. He also helped get Frost’s second book of poems published in America. That book was called North of Boston.
【小题1】The followings are writers EXCEPT ________.
A.Robert Edward Lee | B.Robert Lee Frost |
C.Ernest Hemingway | D.Ezra Pound |
A.he had great influence on Frost’s poetry and life |
B.Frost’ s poetry style was the same as Hemingway’s |
C.Frost was unhappy because he was the victim of his father |
D.Frost spent his childhood unhappily |
A.Once Frost’s first book was published he gained great praise in his country. |
B.After leaving Harvard University, he began to learn to write poetry. |
C.Frost was found lo have a gift in poetry while he studied in high school. |
D.Robert Frost’s father was angry and drank a lot because he didn’t realize his dream. |
A.Robert Frost’s unhappy childhood. | B.Robert Frost’s first and second book. |
C.Robert Frost’s family and jobs. | D.Robert Frost’s life and poetry. |