As I write this, I have half an eye on an old James Bond film that is showing on my computer. But this is a story about how I stopped watching TV and began reading again for pleasure, after ten years in which I hardly turned a page.
I suppose I was an enthusiastic reader of "literature" between the ages of nine and fourteen. I had enough time to be White Fang, Robinson Crusoe, and Bilbo Baggins and Jeeves. Of course there was room in the schoolboy's imagination for some real historical figures: Scott of the Antarctic, all of the Vikings, and Benjamin Franklin were good friends of mine.
Then, in adolescence, I began a long search for strange and radical (激进的) ideas. I wanted to challenge my elders and betters, and shock my fellow students with amazing points of view. Of course, the only place to look was in books. I hunted out the longest titles and the authors with the funniest names; I searched the library for completely unread books. Then I found one which became my bible for the whole of 1982, it had a title composed of eleven long words and an author whose name I didn't know how to pronounce. It was really thick and looked dead serious. Even better, it put forward a whole world-view that would take days to explain. Perfect. I took it out of the library three times, proud to see the date-stamps lined up on the empty library insert.
Later, I went to university. Expecting to spend long evenings in learned discussion with clever people, I started reading philosophy. For some reason I never found the deep-thinking intellectuals I hoped to meet. Anyway, I was ready to impress with my profound (深奥的) knowledge of post-structuralism, existentialism and situationism. These things are usually explained in rather short books, but they take a long time to get through. They were the end of my youthful reading.
Working life was hard to get used to after so much theory. It was the end of books for me. There didn't seem to be much in books that would actually get things done. To do things you had to answer the telephone and work a computer. You had to travel about and speak to people who weren't at all interested in philosophy. I didn't stop reading, you can't avoid that. I read all day. But no books came my way, only manuals (操作手册) and contracts and documents. Maybe most people satisfy their need for stories and ideas with TV and, to tell the truth, it was all I needed for ten years. In those days I only had a book "on the go" for the duration of aeroplane flights. At first I would come home and watch TV over dinner. Then, I moved the TV so I could watch it from bed. I even got a switch so I could turn it off without getting out of bed. Then, one fateful day, my TV broke and my landlady took it away.
My new TV is an extra circuit board (电路板) inside my computer. It's on a desk in front of a working chair and I can't see it from the bed. I still use it for the weather forecasts and it's nice to have it on while I'm typing this… but what to do last thing at night? Well, have another go with books.
Now, I just like books. I have a pile of nice ones by my bed and I'm reading about six at the same time. I don't want to be any of the characters. I don't care if a thousand people have already read them. I don't have to search through libraries. There are books everywhere and all of them have something to read in them. I have the strange feeling that they've been there all along, waiting for me to pick them up

  1. 1.

    The writer enjoyed reading “literature” between the ages of nine and fourteen because______.

    1. A.
      he thought it was important for a schoolboy to do so
    2. B.
      he was still too young to understand other books
    3. C.
      he believed all the real historical figures were his friends
    4. D.
      he could imagine himself being the characters in the books
  2. 2.

    “Existentialism” (in paragraph 4) is probably______.

    1. A.
      a library intended for teenagers
    2. B.
      a kind of books on traditions
    3. C.
      a philosophy theory
    4. D.
      a kind of reading skill
  3. 3.

    The main reason the writer stopped reading books was that ______.

    1. A.
      he found watching TV was more interesting
    2. B.
      he became too busy to read any books
    3. C.
      he found books were of little use to his work
    4. D.
      he had to read a lot of manuals, contracts and documents
  4. 4.

    Now the writer starts to read books again ______.

    1. A.
      to find back his youth in books
    2. B.
      for the pure pleasure of reading
    3. C.
      so as to help kill his spare time
    4. D.
      for only business purposes
  5. 5.

    Which of the following is the best title of the passage?

    1. A.
      The Years with Books
    2. B.
      Books and TV Programs
    3. C.
      Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover
    4. D.
      Reading Makes One Excellent

BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhuanet)--- A new hotel concept has been realized in a village in Northern Sweden, which aims to make the simple treehouse become a world-class destination for travellers. The Treehotel, located in a place called Harads, will consist of four rooms when it opens on July 17th: the Cabin, the Blue Cone, the Nest, and the Mirrorcube.
Two additional rooms are scheduled to open in October. The long term vision(想象) is even more expansive. “Our goal in five years is to have 24 rooms from 24 different architects,” says Treehotel co-founder Kent Lindvall.
The first six rooms were designed by five different architects. The Mirrorcube which stands four meters high and four meters wide, and the walls of which are made with a mirrored glass, has drawn widespread attention as it will be attached to a single tree. “It’s an interesting building. You can’t find anything else like this in the world today. It’s unique(独特的),” says Lindvall. “Everything will reflect in it---the trees, the birds, the clouds and the sun in the forest. So it could hardly be seen in the forest. This is untouched forest and we want to keep it the same way.”
Lindvall says the Treehotel’s vision proves a powerful draw, with enquiries(询问) coming in from far and wide. “I think what’s exciting here is that we’re just 60 km below the Arctic Circle. It means there’s a good possibility to have the northern lights in the winter and of course to have the midnight sun in the summer.”
The motto of the Treehotel is “Feel Free in a Tree” and expense will cost up to about $555.50 for two guests in the Cube, which is designed to hold up to four guests

  1. 1.

    The underlined word “expansive” probably means ______.

    1. A.
      costing a lot of money
    2. B.
      covering a large area
    3. C.
      requiring knowledge and skills
    4. D.
      increasing suddenly and rapidly
  2. 2.

    According to the passage, the Mirrorcube is a unique building because ______.

    1. A.
      everything can reflect in it
    2. B.
      it’s large with plenty of space
    3. C.
      there is a large mirror wall in it
    4. D.
      it has limited effect on local wildlife
  3. 3.

    Which of the following statements is TRUE?

    1. A.
      The Treehotel is ideally situated to enjoy the natural wonders
    2. B.
      The Treehotel is a great base to explore the many local places of interest
    3. C.
      Travellers can have a relaxed holiday at a reasonable price in the Treehotel
    4. D.
      The six rooms of the Treehotel was separately designed by 6 different architects

Hilary Smith belonged to a good family．But by the age of twenty, he had spent all the money the good old family had．He then had some trouble with the bank and was put in prison．He escaped from the prison and ran to   Australia without delay.
Hilary did not like Australia. What he could do seemed to be one of two things: die or work．Then he remembered that he was not alone in the world．He had an aunt．
She was his father's only sister, but his father used to say she brought no glory to the family．Hilary, of course, tried to discover what she had done．It seemed that she had failed to marry a nobleman．Instead, she had chosen a husband who was connected with "trade"．Of course as soon as she became "Mrs Parks" ,her brother considered her dead．Later on, Mr Parks died and left her a lot of money; but that did not bring her back to life in her brother's opinion．
Hilary discovered his aunt's address．Fortunately she remained faithful and honest to him even after she fell ill．So Hilary's star shone again, and soon he moved into her house and lived as comfortably as a sailor who had just reached harbour．He had only about a six pence in his pocket．
One thing was soon clear: his aunt was seriously ill, and nothing could cure her illness．Hilary was very worried．Fate had found a home for him, and was now going to throw him out of it．There was only one thing that could save him: her will．
"Will?" she said, "yes, I have made one．That was when I was a girl and had not much money．I left all my money to some religious people．"
"Didn't you make another will when you were married?" Hilary asked．
His aunt shook her head．"No," she said in a low voice, "There was no need．When I finally had a lot of money I found I had no relations．"
On the next day he went to the public library and examined a book of law．It told him what he already believed．When a woman is married, an earlier will lose its value．A new will must be made．If no new will is made, the money goes to the nearest relation．Hilary knew that he was his aunt's only relation．His future was safe．
After a few months had passed, Hilary's problems became serious．He badly needed money．He had expensive tastes, and owed a lot of money to shopkeepers．They trusted him because his aunt was rich; but the debt was terrible．
Unfortunately his aunt did not want to discuss money matters at all．In the end they had a quarrel about the small amount of ten pounds．Hilary was not very angry．He began to wonder about a new problem．Was it kind to want his aunt to live．any longer? Was it not better for her to die now? While he was considering what to do, his aunt told him that she was going to send for her lawyer．So she was going to make a new will, Hilary thought．She might leave all her money to someone else．Soon he reached a clear decision．He must do a great kindness to the poor old woman.
One night when the old servant who had been nursing his aunt went off, he doubled the amount of some medicine．The total amount was too great and it could just put her to sleep forever．
"Thank you," his aunt took the glass from his hand with a grateful look．"I want more than anything to sleep, and never to wake up again．Is that what you wish, Hilary? Don't blame me if I have some doubts about what you intended to do.Sick people get these ideas, you know．One thing I ought to explain to you．Mr Parks never married me．He already had a wife and couldn't marry again．That made your foolish father very angry with me．．．Well, if I am alive tomorrow I shall make another will in your favour．If I die tonight, you'll get nothing．．．No, Hilary, don't try to take the glass away．If you do that, I shall know and I don't want to know．Goodnight, Hilary．"
Then, very carefully, she raised the glass to her mouth and drank．

  1. 1.

    From the story ,we learn that Hilary's aunt was______.

    1. A.
      bad-tempered and lonely
    2. B.
      kind-hearted and wise
    3. C.
      careless about money
    4. D.
      cruel to her nephew
  2. 2.

    Why did Hilary's father consider his aunt dead?

    1. A.
      Because they lost contact with each other after her marriage．
    2. B.
      Because she married a businessman with a wife against his will．
    3. C.
      Because she broke away from the family for a better life．
    4. D.
      Because he thought she was a shame to the family
  3. 3.

    The underlined sentence "He must do a great kindness to the poor old woman" in paragraph 11 suggests that Hilary Smith ______.

    1. A.
      was determined to put his aunt's life to an end
    2. B.
      decided to do his aunt a favor to call in a lawyer
    3. C.
      made up his mind to take good care of his aunt
    4. D.
      would help his aunt to donate all her money to religious people
  4. 4.

    Which of the following is the focus of the story?

    1. A.
      Hilary's aunt's money．
    2. B.
      Hilary Smith's debts．
    3. C.
      The intended murder．
    4. D.
      Hilary's aunt's marriage．
  5. 5.

    According to the law book,______.

    1. A.
      Hilary's aunt is not allowed to make a new will．
    2. B.
      the money will go to Hilary after his aunt dies without a new will．
    3. C.
      Hilary's aunt must leave the money to the religious people after she dies．
    4. D.
      Hilary must look after his aunt till her death because he is the only relation．
  6. 6.

    Which detail from the story is the climax（高潮）of the story?

    1. A.
      Hilary escaped from the prison．
    2. B.
      Hilary quarelled with is aunt about ten pounds．
    3. C.
      Hilary's aunt drank the medicine her nephew prepared for her．
    4. D.
      Hilary's aunt made a will to leave all her money to someone else．

Last night’s meteor(流星) shower left many people in the community dissatisfied and demanding answers. According to Gabe Rothsclild, Emerald Valley’s mayor, people gathered in the suburbs of the city, carrying heavy telescopes, expecting to watch the brightly burning meteors passing through the sky. What they found instead was a sky so brightened by the city’s lights that it darkened the light of the meteors passing overhead.
“My family was so frustrated,” admitted town resident Duane Cosby, “We wanted to make this an unforgettable family outing, but it turned out to be a huge disappointment. ”
Astronomers—scientists who study stars and planets—-have been complaining about this problem for decades. They say that light pollution prevents them from seeing objects in the sky that they could see quite easily in the past. They call on people and the government to take measures to fight against it.
There is yet a population besides professional and amateur star observers that suffers even more from light pollution. This population consists of birds, bats frogs, snakes, etc. For example, outdoor lighting severely affects migrating(迁徙的)birds. According to the International Dark-Sky Association. “100 million birds a year throughout North America die in crashes with lighted buildings and towers. ”
Countless more animals casualties(伤亡）result from the use of artificial lighting. Clearly, people enjoy the benefits of lighting their evenings, but some scientists think it can be harmful for humans, too. They worry that exposure to light while sleeping can increase person’s chances of getting cancer.
Emerald Valley is only one community that is becoming aware of the negative effects of light pollution. For years, Flagstaff,Arizona,has enforced lighting regulations in its city in order to assist astronomers at the Lowell Observatory. Similar efforts have been made worldwide, and a movement is underway to remind us to turn off lights when we are not using them, so that other creatures can share the night

  1. 1.

    What is the author concerned about according to Paragraph 4?

    1. A.
      Birds may take other migration paths
    2. B.
      Animals’ living habits may change suddenly
    3. C.
      Varieties of animals will become sharply reduced
    4. D.
      Animals’ survival is threatened by outdoor lighting
  2. 2.

    Lighting regulations in Flagstaff, Arizona are put into effect to______.

    1. A.
      Lessen the chance of getting cancer
    2. B.
      create an ideal observation condition
    3. C.
      ensure citizens a good sleep at night
    4. D.
      enable all creatures to live in harmony
  3. 3.

    What message does the author most want to give us?

    1. A.
      Saving wildlife is saving ourselves
    2. B.
      Great efforts should be made to save energy
    3. C.
      Human activities should be environmentally friendly
    4. D.
      New equipment should be introduced for space study

Argentina in the late nineteenth century was an exciting place. Around 1870,it was experiencing an economic(经济的)boom, and the capital, Buenos Aires, attracted many people. Farmers, as well as a flood of foreigners from Spain and Italy, came to Buenos Aires seeking jobs. These jobs didn′t pay well, and the people felt lonely and disappointed with their new life in the city. As the unhappy newcomers mixed together in the poor parts of the city, the dance known an the tango(探戈舞)came into being
At the beginning the tango was a dance of the lower classes. It was danced in the bars and streets. At that time there many fewer women the men, so if a man didn′t want to be left out, his only choice was to dance with another man so that he could attract the attention of the few available women. Gradually, the dance spread into the upper classes of Argentinean society and became more respectable.
In Europe at this time, strong interest in dance from around the world was beginning. This interest in international dance was especially evident in Paris. Every kind of dance from ballet(芭蕾舞)to belly dancing could be found on the stages of the Paris theaters of the Paris theaters. After tango dances from Argentina arrive in Europe, they began to draw the interest of the public an they performed their exciting dance in cafes. Though not everyone approved of the new dance, saying it was a little too shocking, the dance did find enough supporters to make it popular.
The popularity（流行）Of the tango continued to grow in many other parts of the world. Soldiers who returned to the United States from World War I brought the tango to North America. It reached Japan in 1926,and in 2003 the Argentinean embassy in Seoul hired a local tango dancer to act an a kind of dance ambassador, and promote tango dancing throughout South Korea

  1. 1.

    The origin of the tango is associated with

    1. A.
    2. B.
      elly dances  B. American soldiers
    3. C.
      Spanish city
    4. D.
      the capital of Argentina
  2. 2.

    Whith of the following is true about the tango?

    1. A.
      It was created by foreigners from Spain and Italy
    2. B.
      People of the upper classes loved the tango most
    3. C.
      It was often danced by two male in the beginning
    4. D.
      A dancer in Seoul became the Argentinean ambassador
  3. 3.

    Before World War I, the tango spread to

    1. A.
      America
    2. B.
      Japan
    3. C.
      France
    4. D.
      South Korea

Animation means making things which are lifeless come alive and move.
Since earliest times, people have always been astonished by movement. But not until this century have we managed to take control of movement, to record it, and in the case of animation, to retranslate it and recreate it. To do all this, we use a movie camera and a projector（放映机）.
In the world of cartoon animation, nothing is impossible. You can make the characters do exactly what you want them to do.
 A famous early cartoon character was Felix the Cat, created by Pat Sullivan in America in the early nineteen twenties. Felix was a wonderful cat. He could do all sorts of things no natural cat could do like taking off his tail, using it as a handle and then putting it back.
Most of the great early animators lived and worked in America, the home of the moving picture industry. The famous Walt Disney cartoon characters came to life after 1928. Popeye the Sailor and his girl friend Olive Oyo were born at Max Ficischer in 1933.
But to be an animator, you don’t have to be a professional（专业人士）. It is possible for anyone to make a simple animated film without using a camera at all. All you have to do is to draw directly on to an empty film and then run the film through a projector

  1. 1.

    What does the passage mainly discuss?

    1. A.
      Animal world
    2. B.
      Movie camera
    3. C.
      Cartoon making
    4. D.
      Movement
  2. 2.

    According to the passage, Felix the Cat ______.

    1. A.
      was created by the American cartoonist Felix
    2. B.
      was designed by Pat Sullivan in the early twentieth century
    3. C.
      was unable to do what natural cats could not do
    4. D.
      was created in the United States in the nineteenth century
  3. 3.

    It can be inferred from the passage that ______.

    1. A.
      Walt Disney’s cartoon characters were born earlier that Pat Sullivan’s
    2. B.
      only professionals can create cartoon characters
    3. C.
      Popeye the Sailor and Olive Oyo were famous cartoonists
    4. D.
      the animation industry started in the United States
  4. 4.

    Which of the following statements best describes the author’s attitude towards cartoon making?

    1. A.
      Cartoon making is not a difficult job. Anyone can do it
    2. B.
      Only trained people can be employed in cartoon making industry
    3. C.
      Anyone can make cartoons under the instructions of professionals
    4. D.
      Cartoon making is no easy job. You have to spend much time drawing onto the empty film

A practical English Grammar is intended for intermediate（中级的） and post-intermediate students. We hope that more advanced learners and teachers will also find it useful.
The book is a comprehensive survey of structures and forms, written in clear modern English and illustrated with numerous examples. Areas of particular difficulty have been given special attention. Differences between conversational usage and strict grammatical forms are shown but the emphasis is on controversial forms.
In the fourth edition the main changes are as follows.
1. Explanation and examples have been brought up to date.
2. There is now more information on countable and uncountable nouns, attributive and predicative adjectives, adverbs of place, sentence adverbs, cleft sentences, prepositions, conjunctives, modal verbs, perfect tenses, infinitive constructions, the passive, purpose clauses and nouns.
3. Some material has been rearranged to make comparisons easier. For example, parts of chapters on can, may, must etc. are now grouped by functions; verbs of liking and preference have a chapter to themselves; suggestions and invitations have joined the chapter on commands, requests and advice.
4. The contents list now summaries every edition heading, and there is a new index containing many more entries references.
In this edition the sign “~” is frequently used to show a change of speaker in examples of dialogue. Note also that although the sign “="”" sometimes connects two words or expressions with the same meaning, it is often used more freely, e.g. to indicate a transformation from active to passive or direct to indirect speech.
We wish to thank all at Oxford University Press who have assisted in the preparation of the fourth edition. We would also like to thank Professor Egawa of Nihon University, Japan, Professor Rene Dirven of Duisburg University, West Germany and other colleagues for their friendly and helpful suggestions.
London, November 1985   A.J.T., A.VM

  1. 1.

    The grammar book mentioned in this passage is not suitable for ______.

    1. A.
      a middle school teacher
    2. B.
      a primary school student
    3. C.
      a senior high student
    4. D.
      a college student
  2. 2.

    According to the passage, we know that his grammar book ______.

    1. A.
      compares modern English with old English
    2. B.
      gives a large number of examples to reduce difficulty
    3. C.
      attaches more importance to conversational forms
    4. D.
      pays little attention to strict grammatical forms
  3. 3.

    Which of the following statements about the changes is TRUE?

    1. A.
      This book keeps up with the latest usages of the America English language
    2. B.
      This edition offers more information about pronouns
    3. C.
      It’s not easy for us to find the information we need in this book
    4. D.
      One particular chapter discusses verbs like “care, like, love, hate, prefer, wish”
  4. 4.

    When you see this line in the book, “Did you get a ticket? ~Yes, I managed to get one”, we can understand that ______.

    1. A.
      the two parts before and after the sign “~” mean the same
    2. B.
      the two parts before and after “~” are said by two different people
    3. C.
      the second speaker repeats what the first speaker says
    4. D.
      the topic is changed in the part after the sign “~”
  5. 5.

    In the last paragraph, the authors thank several people because______.

    1. A.
      they have helped the authors with this edition
    2. B.
      they have agreed to buy a lot of books from the authors
    3. C.
      the authors want to make use of the fames of those people
    4. D.
      those people will make advertisements for this book

Michelle Obama made a daring decision to return to the same designer who created her Inaugural (就职）Ball dress four years ago --- and the risk paid off.
The First Lady looked extremely attractive in a thin, sweeping, and ruby-colored dress by designer Jason Wu. She teamed the dramatic dress with heels by Jimmy Choo and a diamond ring by Kimberly McDonald.
She surprised the fashion establishment by returning to a Wu design which had been the custom made for her.
Four years ago at her first Inauguration Ball, Michelle shimmered（熠熠生辉）in an off-white, one-shouldered floor-length dress by the designer.
Wu, who was 26 at the time and had only been working in fashion for three years, saw his career take off after the First Lady's surprise decision to wear one of his dresses.
He said at the time that he was unaware she had chosen the dress and had been watching at home on his couch and eating pizza when she appeared.
After her 2013 decision, Wu told Women's Wear Daily: “Mrs Obama likes to keep her secrets. She fooled me again.”
Wu released a women's clothing and accessories（装饰品）collection at Target last year and continues to be popular with the First Lady for official engagements.
The sleeveless, cross-halter neck dress with low-cut back flattered（突出）49-year-old Michelle's arms and neat waist.
It had been created especially for her by Wu and was a departure from the dark and plain colour tone she stuck to at earlier inauguration events.
Mrs Obama's new hairstyle -- she had bangs（美发沙龙）cut on her birthday last week  had been loosely tousled（蓬松的）for the special night.
Vice-President Joe Biden's wife Jill also looked attractive in a blue silk dress by Vera Wang at the Inauguration Ball

  1. 1.

    What does the passage mainly talk about？

    1. A.
      Michelle Obama’s inaugural ball dress
    2. B.
      Wu, a great designer
    3. C.
      The First Lady’s secrets
    4. D.
      Mrs Obama’s 2013 decision
  2. 2.

    Michelle Obama’s brave decision proved to be a_________

    1. A.
      risk
    2. B.
      danger
    3. C.
      Surprise
    4. D.
      success
  3. 3.

    According to the passage, which of the following is correct?

    1. A.
      Mrs Obama’s inaugural dresses were made by the same designer
    2. B.
      Joe Biden’s wife Jill also had her dress created by Wu
    3. C.
      The colour tone at Michelle’s earlier inaugural events was not satifactory
    4. D.
      Mrs Obama had straight forehead hair as her new hairstyle for the special night
  4. 4.

    Which of the following best describes Jason Wu?

    1. A.
      Daring and gifted
    2. B.
      Unusual and cautious
    3. C.
      Careful and brave
    4. D.
      Talented and lucky
  5. 5.

    From the 6th and 7th paragraphs we know that________

    1. A.
      Wu was aware that Mrs Obama had chosen his work again
    2. B.
      Wu didn’t know Mrs Obama had chosen his creation again
    3. C.
      Mrs Obama told Wu to give away her secrets
    4. D.
      Mrs Obama should have told Wu the truth

Cheektowage Central Middle School can be a lot of fun. It has game nights and student dances, after-school activities, and sports teams. However, students at the school must earn the right to join in the fun. If they don’t do their homework, participate in class, and behave at all times, they’re banned(禁止) from participating in after-school activities.
Students and parents say the threat of being excluded(排除在外) appears to be working. Kenny T. of Reno, Nev., says it taught him that actions have consequences: “I learned that I need to be balanced in both my work and athletics to be rewarded for working hard.” Parent Sondra LaMacchia told The New York Times that her 14-year-old daughter is learning responsibility at Cheektowaga Central. The teen used to perform poorly in her studies, but then she was banned from a school dance. The message got through loud and clear. “It’s nobody’s fault but hers,” LaMacchia said.
Although exclusion may help teach responsibility, some psychologists say it can also be threatening, especially for students who often cause, or may cause, trouble in school. They might become more aggressive and antisocial, which is exactly what schools like Cheektowaga Central want to prevent.
Should schools exclude students from activities to get them to behave? I believe teens need school activities and that inclusion can be the answer. For some troubled students, activities can be their motivation to stay in school. “Activities such as sports may be the only thing keeping certain students in school,” says Duace Wood, a teacher at Mohonasen High School in Rotterdam, N.Y. Getting involved in after-class activities keeps troublesome students in class. Even if they don’t do as well as their classmates, they are still learning. The more time they spend at school, the less time they have to even think about starting trouble. Teams also provide support and role models, and they help build the confidence that students need to succeed. If students who don’t behave are banned from activities, they might give up on school altogether

  1. 1.

    Paragraph 2 is developed by _______

    1. A.
      analyzing causes
    2. B.
      giving examples
    3. C.
      examining differences
    4. D.
      following the time order
  2. 2.

    Parent Sondra LaMacchia supports the policy of exclusion because _______

    1. A.
      it provides role models
    2. B.
      her daughter is aggressive
    3. C.
      her daughter hates taking exercise
    4. D.
      it helps teach responsibility
  3. 3.

    In Paragraph 3 and 4, the author mainly talks about________

    1. A.
      students who are good at sports
    2. B.
      students who often cause trouble
    3. C.
      teens who do well in their studies
    4. D.
      teens who always behave themselves
  4. 4.

    What is the author’s attitude towards the school’s policy of exclusion?

    1. A.
      Negative
    2. B.
      Sympathetic
    3. C.
      Satisfied
    4. D.
      Supportive

本文介绍了美国著名的生物学家Edward Wilson 的著作The Future of Life中的一些有关如何开发、利用和保护自然资源的情况。
Edward Wilson is America’s, if not the world’s, leading naturalist. In The Future of Life, he takes us on a tour of the world’s natural resources(资源). How are they used? What has been lost? What remains and is it able to continue with the present speed of use? Wilson also points out the need to understand fully the biodiversity(生物多样性)of our earth.
Wilson begins with an open letter to the pioneer in environment (环境) protection, Henry David Thoreau. He compares today’s Walden Pond with that of Thoreau’s day. Wilson will use such comparisons for the rest of the book. The problem is clear: man has done great damage to his home over the years. Van the earth, with human help, be made to return to biodiversity levels that will be able to support us in the future?
Biodiversity, Wilson argues, is the key to settling many problems the earth faces today. Even our agricultural crops can gain advantages from it. A mere hundred species(物种) are the basis of our food supply, of which but twenty carry the load. Wilson suggests changing this situation by looking into ten thousand species that could be made use of, which will be a way to reduce the clearing of the natural homes of plants and animals to enlarge farming areas.
At the end of the book, Wilson discusses the importance of human values in considering the environment. If you are to continue to live on the earth, you may well read and act on the ideas in this book

  1. 1.

    We learn from the text that Wilson cares most about ______.

    1. A.
      the environment for plants
    2. B.
      the biodiversity of our earth
    3. C.
      the wastes of natural resources
    4. D.
      the importance of human values
  2. 2.

    How many species are most important to our present food supply?

    1. A.
      Twenty
    2. B.
      Eighty
    3. C.
      One hundred
    4. D.
      Ten thousand
  3. 3.

    Wilson suggests that one way to keep biodiversity is to ______.

    1. A.
      learn how to farm scientifically
    2. B.
      build homes for some dying species
    3. C.
      make it clear what to eat
    4. D.
      use more species for food
  4. 4.

    We can infer that the text is ______.

    1. A.
      a description of natural resources
    2. B.
      a research report
    3. C.
      a book review
    4. D.
      an introduction to a scientist
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