A new study has found no evidence that sunscreen, commonly used to reduce the risk of skin cancer, actually increases the risk.
Researchers from the University of Iowa based their findings on a review of 18 earlier studies that looked at the association between sunscreen use and melanoma (黑素瘤).They said that they found faults in studies that had reported associations between sunscreen use and higher risk of melanoma.
Most health experts believe that by protecting the skin from the harmful effects of the sun, sunscreen helps prevent skin cancer, which is increasing in incidence (发生率) faster than any other cancer in the United States.
But questions has been raised about sunscreen and whether it may has opposite effect, perhaps by allowing people to remain exposed to the sun longer without burning.
The researchers said that among the problems with some earlier studies is that they often failed to take into account that those people most at risk for skin cancer--- people with fair skin and freckles (雀斑), for example--- are more likely to use sunscreen.As a result, it may appear that sunscreen users get cancer more often.
The studies, which generally relied on volunteers to recall their sunscreen use, were also unable to prove how well the products had been applied, said the new study.

1.
People with fair skin and freckles .
1. A.
  seldom use sunscreen
2. B.
  are more in danger of skin cancer
3. C.
  can be free from the harm of the sun
4. D.
  often expose themselves to the sun
2.
We can learn from the passage that .
1. A.
  sunscreen users get skin cancer more often
2. B.
  the volunteers have proved the effect of sunscreen
3. C.
  the new study was based on the experiences of volunteers
4. D.
  the number of skin cancer patients is increasing in America
3.
Which of the following can be the best title for this passage?
1. A.
  Sunscreen to Prevent Skin Cancer
2. B.
  Sunscreen to Increase Skin Cancer
3. C.
  Skin Cancer Caused by Sunscreen
4. D.
  Skin Cancer Caused by Freckles

On April 24^th, another natural disaster—the oil spill(泄露) in the Gulf of Mexico, happened.Millions of dollars have been used to help stop the spill and to clean up the animals, beaches, and land spoiled by the oil.Unfortunately, when many of these chemicals are used, more damage is caused to the environment, especially to lives in the sea.
But governments seem to accept the risk of transporting millions of tons of oil by ship every day so that we can fill up our cars and drive around and cause even more environmental damage.Interestingly, the biggest companies in the world produce cars, and the next biggest supply the gasoline to make them run.
Of all of today's environmental disasters, an oil spill may actually be one of the least serious.Although oil is poisonous, it is a natural material.In the end, it breaks down naturally.In 1967 the tanker Torrey Canyon sank off the Scilly Isles near the coast of England and spilled 120,000 tons of oil into the ocean.If you go there today, you will find it hard to see any sign that it ever happened.
However, we should be thinking more about reducing our dependency on oil.Governments should be encouraging research into new technologies, such as cars run by solar power（太阳能）, electricity, hydrogen, and so on.Much of this research, in the past, was stopped by the oil, gas, and coal.
If the world's millions of cars were 10% more efficient（高效_高_☆_考_♂_资_♀_源_?_网的）,we would need many fewer tankers crossing the oceans each year.If this happened, the risks of oil spills would be reduced, and the air we breathe would be cleaner and fresher, too.

1.
What is the passage mainly talking about?
1. A.
  Oil spills pollution.
2. B.
  What oil pollution is.
3. C.
  Oil tanker accidents.
4. D.
  How to reduce oil pollution.
2.
How does the author support the idea that oil spills are not as serious as people believe?
1. A.
  By giving a description.
2. B.
  By making an argument.
3. C.
  By giving an example.
4. D.
  By comparing.
3.
Which suggestion is made for reducing oil tank accidents according to the passage?
1. A.
  We should build safer tankers in the near future.
2. B.
  We should develop new technologies to cut oil use.
3. C.
  Tankers should not be allowed to sail near the coastlines.
4. D.
  Countries should build more oil pipelines under the sea.
4.
Where can you read this article?
1. A.
  In a story book.
2. B.
  In a science magazine.
3. C.
  In a novel.
4. D.
  In a travel guide.

Environmentalists said our planet was doomed to die. Now one man says they are wrong.
"Everyone knows the planet is in bad shape," thundered a magazine article last year. Species are being driven to die out at record rates, and the rivers are so poisonous that fish are floating on the surface, dead.
But there's a growing belief that what everyone takes for granted is wrong: things are actually getting better. A new book is about to overturn our most basic assumptions about the world's environment. Rivers, seas, rain and the atmosphere are all getting cleaner. The total amount of forests in the world is not declining. The Skeptical Environmentalist by Bjorn Lomborg, professor of statistics at the University of Aarhus in Denmark, is an attack on the misleading claims of environmental groups, and the "bad news" culture that makes people believe everything is getting worse.
Now the attacks are increasingly coming from left-wing environmentalists such as Lomborg, a former member of Greenpeace. The accusation is that, although the environment is improving, green groups — with profits of hundreds of mil-lions of pounds a year — are using scare tactics(谋略)to gain donations. Lomborg's book doesn't deny global warming — probably the biggest environmental threat — but destroys almost every other environmental claim with many official statistics.
The Worldwatch Institute claims that "deforestation(沙漠化) has been accelerating over the last 30 years". But Lomborg says that is simply rubbish. Since the dawn of agriculture the world has lost about 20 per cent of its forest cover, but in recent decades the forest area's depleting has come to a stop. According to UN figures, the area of forests has remained almost steady, at about 30 per cent of total land area, since the 1940s. Forests in countries such as the US, the UK and Canada have actually been expanding over the past 40 years. Despite all the warnings the Amazon rainforest has only shrunk by about 15 per cent.
Nor are all our species dying out. Some campaigners claim that 50 per cent of all species will have died out within 50 years. But other studies show only 0.08 per cent of species are dying out each year. Conservation efforts have been successful. Whales are no longer threatened and the bald eagle is off the endangered list.
Environmental groups claim that many of the improvements are the results of the success of their campaigns. Stephen Tindale, director of Greenpeace UK, said, "There are important examples, such as acid rain and ozone, where things aren't as bad as predicted, and that's because behavior has changed."

1.
In his book, The Skeptical Environmentalist, what is Lomborg's main argument?
1. A.
  Our planet is in bad shape.
2. B.
  The world's environment is improving.
3. C.
  The total amount of forests in the world is not declining.
4. D.
  Conservation efforts have been successful.
2.
What is Lomborg's main accusation of environmentalists?
1. A.
  They scared people into making donations.
2. B.
  They overturned our basic assumptions about the world's environment.
3. C.
  They changed their behavior toward the environment.
4. D.
  They only told people bad news about the environment.
3.
The underlined word "depleting" in Paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to "____".
1. A.
  reducing
2. B.
  limiting
3. C.
  expanding
4. D.
  accelerating
4.
According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?
1. A.
  The total area of forests in the world has increased significantly.
2. B.
  The effects of global warming are not as bad as first expected.
3. C.
  It appears that the bald eagle will now survive.
4. D.
  In the last 50 years the number of whales has increased.

More Chinese are seeking out the surgeon’s knife to improve their looks.Yet the tragic death of the former Super Girl Wang Bei has made people aware of the risks of cosmetic surgery, which is becoming increasingly popular. Wang Bei，24，is said to have gone under the knife in Wuhan，to jump-start her stage-show career. It seems that the ambitious singer has finally achieved the fame and influence after her death.
For years Miss Lu expected a plastic surgery to make her jaw fashionable narrow and her face smaller. She finally decided against it after hearing of the death of Wang Bei. "Wang Bei’s death rang the warning bell for me，"Miss Lu said in her blog." It was frightening and I gave up the plan. "
A common thread of online discussion is why someone considered beautiful was so dissatisfied with her looks. Some netizens said Wang was a victim of society’s impractical standard of beauty：double eyelids，and the pointed chin typical of Western actresses. Others said her death indicated the limits to which people would go to achieve fame and fortune.
Last year 15 billion yuan was spent on cosmetic surgery and the figure is expected to rise 20％ annually. The International Society of Plastic Surgery ranks China first in Asia in terms of the number of cosmetic surgeries in 2009. Worldwide, China is third, after Brazil, while the United States is first.
Nowadays，people are living longer and better. But the effect of aging off their appearance affects their mood and confidence. Many older women want to look young and beautiful. Young people, on the other hand, see cosmetic surgery as the key to wealth and love. "They want to improve their appearance to find better opportunities at work and in marriage，"says a famous plastic surgeon. "We’re living in a highly competitive society. People regard appearance as a weapon in life battle. Those who are young and naturally good-looking tell me，‘I don’t care how much I spend. Just make me look more beautiful.’ "
Advice from a surgeon and psychologist：
1.Choose regular, qualified hospitals with a good reputation.
2.Try to find an expert surgeon who will not suggest several operations over time.
3.Don’t expect too much from changing your appearance. Safety should be the first.
4.Have a realistic understanding of the risks of the surgery (death，injury and failure)and make a balanced decision.

1.
What’s the influence of Wang Bei’s death on the public?
1. A.
  People will feel alarmed at cosmetic surgery.
2. B.
  Young people will have no interest in beauty.
3. C.
  Doctors will be afraid to perform operations.
4. D.
  No one will dream of becoming a Super Girl.
2.
It is mentioned in the passage that________.
1. A.
  Miss Lu’s face is narrow and small
2. B.
  Wang Bei is a victim of the Internet
3. C.
  all Westerners have the pointed chin
4. D.
  the US ranks first in cosmetic surgery
3.
What’s the main idea of the 5th paragraph?
1. A.
  People are living 1onger and better nowadays.
2. B.
  People are living in a highly competitive society.
3. C.
  Social competition leads females to seek beauty.
4. D.
  Cosmetic surgery is the key to wealth and love.
4.
According to a surgeon and psychologist,it is better to________.
1. A.
  change your appearance sooner
2. B.
  make a reasonable decision
3. C.
  do several operations over time
4. D.
  try some different hospitals

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.”

1.
Which of the four designs can remind you of the past of the country?
1. A.
  Joe’s
2. B.
  Maria’s
3. C.
  Ron’s
4. D.
  Jame’s
2.
The Southern Cross in some of the designs represents _________.
1. A.
  the spirit of the nation
2. B.
  the position of the country
3. C.
  the tradition of Britain
4. D.
  the expectations of the people
3.
What does the Union Jack refer to?
1. A.
  the British flag
2. B.
  A former British ruler
3. C.
  group of stars
4. D.
  A former symbol of Australia

In Europe, many people make friends between their countries through town twinning. Town or city twinning means two towns in different countries agree and decide to become “twins” with a sister city relationship.
The people find pen friends in the twin town. They exchange newspapers and stamps. The school teachers discuss teaching methods with the teachers in the twin town. Officials visit the twin town for celebrations. Ordinary people travel to the twin town, too, but not very often if it is far away.
Sometimes, schools even exchange their classes for two or three weeks! For example, German middle school students study for a while at the school in their twin town in Britain, staying with British families. A few months later, their British friends come to study in Germany.
Many British towns are so pleased with the results of the twinning that they set out to find more than one twin town!
Tonbridge, a small town in Kent, for example, has twin town in both Germany and France. Richmond near London has relationships with Germany, France and even a town in a Balkan(巴尔干半岛的) country!
Town twinning can help make friends. It helps students improve their language skills, and also helps people to understand the differences between nations

1.
Twin towns develop ______
1. A.
  between European countries and China
2. B.
  in the English-speaking countries only
3. C.
  in the same country
4. D.
  between different countries
2.
How many countries are mentioned in the passage?
1. A.
  4
2. B.
  5
3. C.
  6
4. D.
  7
3.
One of the advantages of town twinning is _____
1. A.
  to earn more money
2. B.
  to set up schools
3. C.
  to improve students’ language skills
4. D.
  to develop industry and agriculture

A new plan for getting children to and from school is being started by a local government in Eastern England. This could end the worries of many parents fearful for their children's safety on the roads.
Until now the local government have only been prepared to provide bus services for children living more than three miles from their school, or sometimes less if special reasons existed.Now it has been decided that if a group of parents ask for help in organizing transport they will be prepared to go ahead, as long as the arrangement will not lose money and children taking part will be attending their nearest school.
The new plan is to be tried out this term for children living at Milton who attend Impington School.The children live just within the three-mile limit and the local government have said in the past that they will not agree to provide free transport to the school.But now they have agreed to offer a sum of money for a bus service from Milton to Impington and back, a plan which has the support of the school's headmaster.
Between 50 and 60 parents have said they would like their children to take part.Final calculations have still to be carried out, but a government official has said the cost to parents should be less than ￡20 a term.
They have been able to arrange the service at a low cost because there is already an agreement with the bus company for a bus to take children who live further away to Impington.The same bus would now just make one more journey to pick up the Milton children.The official said they would get in touch with other groups of parents who in the past had asked if transport could be provided for their children, to see if they would like to take part in the new plan.

1.
What is the aim of the plan?
1. A.
  To prevent the students' road accidents.
2. B.
  To relieve the traffic pressure.
3. C.
  To save time for the parents and students.
4. D.
  To help the parents save money.
2.
How can the local government arrange the new bus service at a low cost?
1. A.
  By letting the bus run in the morning only.
2. B.
  By limiting the number of the students.
3. C.
  By obtaining the support from the headmaster.
4. D.
  By linking the new bus service with the existing one.
3.
The new bus service will be paid for by ______.
1. A.
  the parents
2. B.
  the local government
3. C.
  the bus company
4. D.
  the local government and the parents
4.
Which of the following is possible if the plan is carried out?
1. A.
  The bus company will make much more money.
2. B.
  The children can choose whatever school they like.
3. C.
  The parents can get rid of their worries.
4. D.
  The students in Impington school can have free bus rides.
5.
This passage is most probably ______.
1. A.
  a personal letter
2. B.
  an advertisement
3. C.
  a headmaster's report
4. D.
  a newspaper article

More than seven hundred years ago, the Prince of Wales had a very big and brave dog called Gelert. One day the Prince wanted to go hunt-ing with his men. He told his dog to stay at home and look after his baby son. The baby was in a wooden cradle, which was like a small bed. When the Prince came back from hunt-ing, Gelert ran out to meet his master. He wagged his tail and jumped up to put his paws on the Prince's chest. Then the Prince saw the blood on Gelert's jaws and head.
"What have you done?" the Prince said. He rushed into his house and looked for his baby son. The cradle was lying on its side on the floor. The clothes were torn and there was blood on them.
"So you have killed my son?" the Prince said angrily. "You unfaithful dog!" He took out his sword and killed the dog. Just as Gelert was dying, he managed to bark. Then the Prince heard a baby call to the dog.
The Prince ran out of the house and saw his son lying on the ground unhurt. Near him was a dead wolf. Then the Prince knew that Gelert had defended the baby and killed the wolf.
The Prince ran back into the house but he was too late. Gelert was dead. The Prince was very sad indeed. Tears ran down his face when he realized 'he had killed his faith-ful friend. The Prince carried the body of his brave dog to the top of a mountain and buried him there. After this, the Prince never smiled again. Every morning at dawn, he walked up the mountain and stood by the dog's grave for a few minutes.
If you go to Mount Snowdon in Wales, people will show you where Gelert is buried. There is a sign by his grave. It reminds peo-ple of a brave and faithful dog.

1.
Gelert was the dog of the Prince of ___.
1. A.
  Scotland
2. B.
  England
3. C.
  Ireland
4. D.
  Wales
2.
The Prince told the dog to _____ when he was leaving.
1. A.
  watch the door
2. B.
  take care of his baby at home
3. C.
  welcome his friends
4. D.
  stop the strangers
3.
The dog was very ____ when his master came back from hunting.
1. A.
  glad
2. B.
  fearful
3. C.
  afraid
4. D.
  tired
4.
The Prince never smiled again because __
1. A.
  the wolf was killed by Gelert
2. B.
  he had buried the dog on the top of mountain
3. C.
  he had killed his faithful friend Gelert
4. D.
  Gelert had killed his baby son

When a first-time father saw his newborn son, he immediately noticed the baby's ears obviously standing out from his head. He expressed his concern to the nurse that some children might be made fun of his child. A doctor examined the baby and reassured the new dad that his son was healthy---- the ears presented only a small problem with its appearance.
But the nervous father continued. He wondered if the child might suffer psychological effects of ridicule, or if they should consider plastic surgery(整形手术). The nurse assured him that it was really no problem, and he should just wait to see if the boy grows into his ears.
The father finally felt more optimistic about his child, but now he worried about his wife's reaction to those large ears. She had been delivered by operation, and had not yet seen the child.
“She doesn't take things as easily as I do,” he said to the nurse.
By this time, the new mother was settled in the recovery room and ready to meet her new baby. The nurse went along with the dad to lend some support in case this inexperienced mother became upset about her baby's large ears.
The baby was in a blanket(毛毯) with his head covered for the short trip through the cold air-conditioned corridor. The baby was placed in his mother's arms, who eased the blanket back so that she could look at her child for the first time.
She took one look at her baby's face and looked to her husband and gasped, “Oh, Honey! Look! He has your ears!”
No problem with Mom. She married those ears...and she loves the man to whom they are attached.
The poet Kahlil Gibran said, “Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.” It's hard to see the ears when you're looking into the light.

1.
When the father first saw his baby, he was worried that________.
1. A.
  The baby might not grow up healthily.
2. B.
  The baby might be laughed at by others.
3. C.
  The baby might disappoint its mother.
4. D.
  the baby might have mental problems.
2.
According to the doctor and nurse, the baby’s ears________.
1. A.
  could not function well.
2. B.
  looked the same as others.
3. C.
  only caused a small problem.
4. D.
  needed to have plastic surgery.
3.
What is true about the baby’s mother?
1. A.
  She blamed her husband for the baby’s big ears.
2. B.
  She was the first to discover the baby’s large ears.
3. C.
  She suggested having an operation on the baby immediately.
4. D.
  She found something similar between the baby and its father.
4.
What does the underlined word they refer to in the last but on paragraph(倒数第2段)?
1. A.
  The ears.
2. B.
  The parents.
3. C.
  The doctor and nurse.
4. D.
  The problems
5.
What’s the function of the last paragraph?
1. A.
  To advise readers to listen carefully.
2. B.
  To draw a conclusion from the story.
3. C.
  To criticize the wrong attitude to physical beauty.
4. D.
  To stress the importance of doctor-patient relationship.

How many times have you gotten upset because someone wasn’t doing their job, because your child isn’t behaving？How many times have you been annoyed when you’ve planned something carefully and things didn’t go as you’d hoped?
This kind of anger and irritation happens to all of us — it’s part of the human experience.
One thing that annoys me is when people talk during a movie. Or cut me off in traffic. Actually, I have a lot of these little annoyances — don’t we all? And it isn’t always easy to find peace when you’ve become upset or annoyed.
Let me tell you a little secret to finding peace of mind: see the glass as already broken.
See, the cause of our stress, anger and irritation is that things don’t go the way we like, the way we expect them to. Think of how many times this has been true for you. And so the solution is simple: expect things to go wrong, expect things to be different than we hoped or planned, expect the unexpected to happen. And accept it.
One quick example: on our recent trip to Japan, I told my kids to expect things to go wrong — they always do on a trip. I told them, “See it as part of the adventure.”
And this worked like a charm. When we took the wrong train on a foreign-language subway system, or when it rained on the day we went to Disney Sea, or when we took three trains and walked 10 blocks only to find the National Children’s Castle closed on Mondays … they said, “It’s part of the adventure!” And it was all OK — we didn’t get too bothered.
So when the nice glass you bought inevitably falls and breaks, someday, you might get upset. But not if you see the glass as already broken, from the day you get it. You know it’ll break someday, so from the beginning, see it as already broken. Be a time-traveler, or someone with time-traveling vision, and see the future of this glass, from this moment until it inevitably breaks. And when it breaks, you won’t be upset or sad — because it was already broken, from the day you got it. And you’ll realize that every moment you have with it is precious.

1.
The author would probably agree that________.
1. A.
  we should control our anger and irritation
2. B.
  we must get well prepared for the future
3. C.
  optimism can help us overcome our anger and irritation
4. D.
  anger and irritation is an important part of our life
2.
The purpose of the author is to ___________.
1. A.
  tell us his own experience in life
2. B.
  give advice on how to find peace of mind
3. C.
  tell us a happy trip took with his children
4. D.
  advise us to see things from both sides
3.
By the underlined part, the author intends us to _____________.
1. A.
  get ready for the worst result of things
2. B.
  enjoy the process of things
3. C.
  expect little from life
4. D.
  find the relation between cause and effect
4.
The author’s children could enjoy their trip to Japan because _____________.
1. A.
  everything went smoothly
2. B.
  they had a lot of adventures
3. C.
  they had expected things to go wrong
4. D.
  they could soon get used to the customs there
5.
We can learn from the passage that the author ____________.
1. A.
  often gets angry in his life
2. B.
  can adjust his state of mind accordingly
3. C.
  always expects others to act in his way
4. D.
  has suffered a lot from his anger and irritation

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People with fair skin and freckles .

We can learn from the passage that .

Which of the following can be the best title for this passage?

What is the passage mainly talking about?

How does the author support the idea that oil spills are not as serious as people believe?

Which suggestion is made for reducing oil tank accidents according to the passage?

Where can you read this article?

In his book, The Skeptical Environmentalist, what is Lomborg's main argument?

What is Lomborg's main accusation of environmentalists?

The underlined word "depleting" in Paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to "____".

According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?

What’s the influence of Wang Bei’s death on the public?

It is mentioned in the passage that________.

What’s the main idea of the 5th paragraph?

According to a surgeon and psychologist,it is better to________.

Which of the four designs can remind you of the past of the country?

The Southern Cross in some of the designs represents _________.

What does the Union Jack refer to?

Twin towns develop ______

How many countries are mentioned in the passage?

One of the advantages of town twinning is _____

What is the aim of the plan?

How can the local government arrange the new bus service at a low cost?

The new bus service will be paid for by ______.

Which of the following is possible if the plan is carried out?

This passage is most probably ______.

Gelert was the dog of the Prince of ___.

The Prince told the dog to _____ when he was leaving.

The dog was very ____ when his master came back from hunting.

The Prince never smiled again because __

When the father first saw his baby, he was worried that________.

According to the doctor and nurse, the baby’s ears________.

What is true about the baby’s mother?

What does the underlined word they refer to in the last but on paragraph(倒数第2段)?

What’s the function of the last paragraph?

The author would probably agree that________.

The purpose of the author is to ___________.

By the underlined part, the author intends us to _____________.

The author’s children could enjoy their trip to Japan because _____________.

We can learn from the passage that the author ____________.

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