Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan sees an epidemic(流行病) sweeping across Americas farmland. It has little to do with the usual challenges, such as flood, rising fuel prices and crop-eating insects. The country’s farmers are getting older, and there are fewer people standing in line to take their place. National agricultural census(普查) figures show that the fastest-growing group of fanners is the part over 65. Merrigan is afraid the average age will be even higher when the 2012 statistics are completed.
Merrigan, a former college professor, is making stops at universities across the country in hopes of encouraging more students to think about careers in agriculture. Aside from trying to stop the graying of .America’s farmers, her work is made tougher by a recent blog posting that put agriculture at No.1 on a list of “useless” college degrees. Top federal(联邦的) agriculture officials are talking about the posting, and it has the attention of agricultural organizations across the country.
“There couldn’t be anything that’s more incorrect.” Merrigan said. “We know that there aren’t enough qualified graduates to fill the jobs that are out there in American agriculture.”
“In addition, a growing world population that some experts predict will require 70% more food production by 2050,” she said.
“I truly believe we're at a golden age of agriculture. Global demand is at an all-time record high, and global supplies are at all-time record lows,” said Matt Rush, director of the Texas Farm Bureau. “Production costs are going to be valuable enough that younger people are going to have the opportunity to be involved in agriculture.”
The Department of Agriculture has programs aimed at developing more farmers and at increasing interest in locally grown food. The National Young Farmers’ Coalition has also been pushing for state and federal policy changes to make it easier for new farmers.
Ryan Best, president of Future Farmers of America, has been living out of a suitcase, traveling the country and visiting with high school students about careers in agriculture. The 21 -year-old Best hopes his message-that this is a new time in agriculture-will motivate the next generation to turn around the statistics. “Never before have we had the innovations(创新) in technology which have led to agriculture in this country being the most efficient it has ever been,” he said. “There’s really a place for everybody to fit in.”

1.
What is the new challenge to American agriculture?
1. A.
  Fewer and older farmers
2. B.
  Higher fuel prices
3. C.
  More natural disasters
4. D.
  Lower agricultural output
2.
Why is Merrigan visiting universities across the country?
1. A.
  To draw federal agriculture officials’ attention
2. B.
  To select qualified agriculture graduates
3. C.
  To clarify a recent blog posting
4. D.
  To talk more students into farming careers
3.
According to Matt Rush, American agriculture will provide opportunities for younger people because
1. A.
  the government will cover production costs
2. B.
  global food supplies will be even lower
3. C.
  investment in agriculture will be profitable
4. D.
  America will increase its food export
4.
What do the underlined words “to turn around the statistics” in the last paragraph mean?
1. A.
  To re-analyze the result of the national census
2. B.
  To increase agricultural production
3. C.
  To bring down the average age of farmers
4. D.
  To invest more in agriculture

Motorists over the age of 75 face compulsory tests of their eyesight and ability to drive under proposals being considered by ministers.
The biggest overhaul of motoring law in a generation could also lead to all drivers having to give assurances（保证） of their fitness to get behind the wheel every 10 years.
Other changes under consideration include issuing（发放） daylight driving licenses for motorists with night blindness, together with stricter checks on all drivers whose medical condition brought a threat to other road users.
It is understood that the proposals will be part of a review of the law governing the medical fitness of drivers that will be announced publicly by the summer.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is dealing with a rising number of motorists who are concerned that they have conditions---from failing eyesight to epilepsy---that could affect their driving.
In 2006, the DVLA dealt with 600,000 motorists whose physical ability to drive needed to be recertified（重新认证）, a 20 per cent rise on the previous year. With an ageing population, the biggest challenge is dealing with the rising number of elderly motorists. By 2021, there will be an estimated three million drivers over the age of 70 on Britain’s roads.
Drivers must renew their licenses at the age of 70 and every three years thereafter. The applicant is legally required to tell the DVLA of any conditions that could weaken their ability behind the wheel.
Ministers have ruled out a compulsory maximum age for driving but will instead rely on tightening up the checks on motorists over the age of 75. The most likely option would be tests to ensure motorists were fit to drive. They would include an eyesight test and a cognitive（认知） test that would prove a driver’s ability to react to road signs, driving conditions, pedestrians and vehicles.
However, checks are likely to be tightened at all ages. The strictest controls are expected to be imposed（强制） on motorists of any age who have had a heart attack or stroke. They could have to produce a doctor’s approval to resume（重新得到） driving. Anyone making a false declaration would be guilty of a criminal offence.

1.
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
1. A.
  The new motoring law will come into effect by the summer.
2. B.
  Drivers over the age of 75 must renew their licenses every three years.
3. C.
  Doctors will decide whether one can get their driving licenses.
4. D.
  Drivers at all ages will be expected to provide their medical condition.
2.
What is the biggest challenge to the traffic safety in Britain according to the writer?
1. A.
  Ageing population.
2. B.
  Increasing number of cars.
3. C.
  Increasing number of elderly motorists.
4. D.
  Driving conditions.
3.
The underlined word “overhaul” in Paragraph 2 means _______.
1. A.
  change
2. B.
  consideration
3. C.
  concern
4. D.
  challenge
4.
What can be learned from the passage?
1. A.
  There will be more and more aged drivers in Britain.
2. B.
  Anyone can get a driving license as long as he/she is in good health.
3. C.
  Health tends to decline as one gets old.
4. D.
  It will be guilty to make a false declaration.

On my first trip in the United States , I went to San Antonion . I was on foot . So I went to only three places there : the Alamo , the River Walk , and the Art Gallery . I especially enjoyed visiting the Alamo , a well- known building in America .
When I arrived at the Alamo , I was deeply impressed because it was well kept and in good shape . The Alamo was erected in about 1722, was later used as a fort(保垒) , and has been kept as a state monument(纪念馆) to the Texan War of Independence against Mexico . During the battle , all of the Texan defenders were killed . I was surprised at the exhibition of rifles , guns , cannons and swords .
I was especially attracted by the paintings of a war . The paintings expressed the feelings of a painter very well . Even thought about 160 years have passed since the Battle of the Alamo , the exhibit is well kept . When I came out after seeing the exhibition , I felt as if I had a victory . The outer wall of the Alamo was destroyed here and there . When I touched the wall , I could feel the damage . After the war , little remained of the Alamo . All of the windows and doors were destroyed . The top part of the gate way disappeared without a trace(遗迹) . I will remember the Alamo forever . It is one of the best places to visit in San Antonio .

1.
It can be inferred according to the passage that the author may be a____ .
1. A.
  writer
2. B.
  Chinese
3. C.
  European
4. D.
  foreigner to Americans
2.
The underlined word “erected” (in Paragraph2) means ______ .
1. A.
  found
2. B.
  invented
3. C.
  repaired
4. D.
  built
3.
People come to visit the Alamo now for ______ .
1. A.
  its height and shape
2. B.
  its history and the story about it
3. C.
  the exhibits in it
4. D.
  its shape
4.
Which of the following may be the best title for this passage ?
1. A.
  A Famous Building in America
2. B.
  My First Visit to America .
3. C.
  The Texan War of Independence against Mexico .
4. D.
  My Impressions of the Alamo in San Antonio , Texas .

People say teenagers are no good. They make too much noise in shopping malls; they drive carelessly up and down America’s main streets. And at least some of the time those things are true. But we shouldn’t forget that there are hard moments in the life of a teenager too.
I watched such a moment not long ago at a woman’s funeral which happened in a church. A teenage grandson stepped forward. Softly he began:“ I want to share a few values that Nana taught me. She never failed to see light in any situation. When our family dog would attack her, what would Nana say? ‘Oh, what beautiful markings that dog has.’ That was Nana.
“She was a strong woman who often lived in the shadow of my grandpa, who was a successful businessman in this city. But she was the one behind the scenes who provided the strength and support for Grandpa’s career,” he said, with a voice now trembling. “That was Nana’s way.”
Finally, in a voice breaking free of sorrow, he looked up and said, “Nana taught me courage. She put up a fight to the end, when she died peacefully, which is how she lived her life. That was Nana’s way, and I hope I can carry on in the same manner.”
There are no hearts as sensitive as those of teenagers, because everything is happening to them for the first time. The trouble with teenagers is that they haven’t learned to be controlled. When that boy rose to speak about the woman who had been his dearest friend, his honest voice dragged each of us out into the open where we could no longer hide. I was moved and learned a lot.

1.
According to the first paragraph, ______.
1. A.
  young people are living a hard life
2. B.
  people don’t think highly of the teenagers
3. C.
  people shouldn’t forget the young people
4. D.
  young people should keep quiet before the public
2.
From the boy’s speech, we know his grandmother ______.
1. A.
  was a weak woman living in the shadow of his grandpa
2. B.
  liked dogs very much even if they often attacked her
3. C.
  could see everything around her though she was old
4. D.
  had great influence over the boy when she was alive
3.
We can infer from the passage that the boy ______.
1. A.
  was filled with sadness and gave up finishing his talk
2. B.
  was always very good at expressing himself
3. C.
  practiced a lot in order to give a moving speech
4. D.
  had great difficulty in accepting the loss of Nana
4.
The writer wanted to tell the readers ______.
1. A.
  the young people were too weak to face certain facts
2. B.
  the young people have learned to control themselves
3. C.
  the adults could learn something valuable from the young
4. D.
  the adults should teach the young how to deal with the death

A major earthquake rocked Haiti at 4:53 pm local time on Jan.12, 2010, killing possibly thousands of people but no official figure has been released so far.
The quake, which struck about 15km (10 miles) south-west of the capital, Port-au-Prince, was quickly followed by two strong aftershocks. In the space of a minute, numerous buildings fell down. A five-story U.N. building was also brought down by the 7.3 magnitude quake, the most powerful to hit Haiti in more than 200 years according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
As night fell, the whole city is in total darkness. You can see thousands of people sitting in the streets with nowhere to go. There are people running, crying, screaming. Describing the earthquake as a "catastrophe", Haiti’s president said the cost of the damage could run into billions.
Haiti became the first independent Caribbean state in the early 19th century. Haiti's location, history and attracting climate once made it a tourist hot place. However, decades of poverty, environmental pollution and violence have left it as the poorest nation in the Americas. It has suffered a lot, including four hurricanes and storms in 2008 that killed hundreds.

1.
The great earthquake happened to the _______ of the capital city.
1. A.
  south-west
2. B.
  north-west
3. C.
  south-east
4. D.
  north-east
2.
What can we infer from the underlined sentence?
1. A.
  People in Port-au-Prince don’t like to light on.
2. B.
  The earthquake happened in the evening.
3. C.
  Electricity in the city was cut off that night.
4. D.
  There are no lights at all in Port-au-Prince.
3.
What’s the meaning of the word in bald “catastrophe”?
1. A.
  chance.
2. B.
  joke.
3. C.
  illness.
4. D.
  disaster.
4.
Which statement about Haiti is NOT true?
1. A.
  Haiti became an independent state in the early 19th century.
2. B.
  Haiti belongs to Americas, just like Canada, America and so on.
3. C.
  At one time, tourism was important to the economy of Haiti.
4. D.
  Haiti is a country where such strong quacks often take place.

Why should I teach my children history? That sounds like a stupid question to even ask. But, as I hear different home schooling teachers discuss history, I get the idea that there may be different reasons for teaching history. Let me briefly explain the three good reasons for studying history and two bad reasons for studying history.
The major reason I see for studying history is that we can learn from the past. I am convinced that the world would be a much better place if more people understood the successes and failures of the past and the things that made these successes and failures. However, as the unfortunately true statement goes "the one thing we seem to learn from history is that we don't seem to learn from history." Perhaps at least in teaching history to my children I can do a small part in changing this.
A second major reason for studying history is that it is hard to understand the current political climate in the absence of an understanding of its historical context. We cannot even understand why we are and where we are without history, much less (更不必说) try to figure out where we are going or how we should get where we want to be.
I teach my children history, for one more reason. I purchased a set of historical audio (录音机) tapes for our children. My seven-year-old son listened to them over and over. It was my hope that he would become inspired by the accomplishments of people like the Wright brothers to accomplish things by himself. I think that it is good that we celebrate the accomplishments of people like Martin Luther King Jr. if, in doing so, young people are called on to stand for the principles that he stood for and accomplish what he accomplished. I also think that by studying people like Adolph Hitler, people can learn to stand against the things that he stood for.

1.
What message can we get from the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2?
1. A.
  Many people aren't clever enough to learn well from the past.
2. B.
  Many people fail to make good use of history and make the same mistakes.
3. C.
  Many people feel it hard to understand history.
4. D.
  Many people have no interest in studying history.
2.
In Paragraph 3, the author shows that history is useful because ___________.
1. A.
  it makes the current political situation go smoothly
2. B.
  it helps us realize the importance of historical events
3. C.
  it helps us understand why things are the way they are
4. D.
  it helps people accept the present situation where they live
3.
What would be talked about in the following paragraph?
1. A.
  How to teach history effectively.
2. B.
  Some negative reasons for studying history.
3. C.
  How to get more people to study history.
4. D.
  Some bad historical figures.
4.
The main purpose of this passage is to ____________.
1. A.
  inspire the parents to teach their children history
2. B.
  show the importance of history in politics
3. C.
  explain the reasons why children study history
4. D.
  introduce the writer’s own way of teaching history

Once upon a time there was a wise man that used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.
One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought that someone would dance on the beach. So he began to walk faster to catch up.
As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn’t dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean.
As he got closer he called out, “Good morning! What are you doing?”
The young man paused, looked up and replied, “Throwing starfish in the ocean.” “I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?” “The sun is up and the tide is going out, and if I don’t throw them in they’ll die.”
“But, young man, don’t you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You can’t possibly make a difference!”
The young man listened politely, then he bent down, picked another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said, “It made a difference for that one.”
There is something very special in each and every one of us. We have all been gifted with the ability to make a difference. And if we can know that gift, we will gain through the strength of our visions the power to shape the future.
We must each find our starfish. And if we throw our starfish wisely and well, the world will be better.

1.
One day, the wise man saw the young man .
1. A.
  dancing along the beach
2. B.
  walking with a dancer
3. C.
  picking up starfish for sale
4. D.
  trying to save as many starfish as possible
2.
Near the end of the passage, “something very special” refers to .
1. A.
  the gifts from friends
2. B.
  the strength of making decision
3. C.
  our own starfish
4. D.
  the ability of shaping one’s own future
3.
From the last two paragraphs, we can learn that .
1. A.
  the wise man realized something new and important
2. B.
  the wise man thought it was foolish of the young man to throw starfish into the ocean
3. C.
  the young man had the ability to make a difference
4. D.
  it is necessary for us to save starfish on the beach
4.
The writer told this story in order to show us .
1. A.
  how and where we can write a good article
2. B.
  everyone can do something for the future
3. C.
  wise men are sometimes stupid
4. D.
  young people are actually wiser than old people

I once had my Chinese MBA students brainstorming on “two-hour business plans”. I separated them into six groups and gave them an example: a restaurant chain. The more original their idea, the better, I said. Finally, five of the six groups presented plans for restaurant chains. The sixth proposed a catering service. Though I admitted the time limit had been difficult, I expressed my disappointment.
My students were middle managers, financial analysts and financiers from state owned enterprises and global companies. They were not without talent or opinions, but they had been shaped by an educational system that rarely stressed or rewarded critical thinking or inventiveness. The scene I just described came in different forms during my two years’ teaching at the school. Papers were often copied from the Web and the Harvard Business Review. Case study debates were written up and just memorized. Students frequently said that copying is a superior business strategy, better than inventing and creating.
In China, every product you can imagine has been made and sold. But so few well developed marketing and management minds have been raised that it will be a long time before most people in the world can name a Chinese brand.
With this problem in mind, partnerships with institutions like Yale and MIT have been established. And then there’s the “thousand talent scheme”: this new government program is intended to improve technological modernization by attracting top foreign trained scientists to the mainland with big money. But there are worries about China’s research environment. It’s hardly known for producing independent thinking and openness, and even big salary offers may not be attractive enough to overcome this.
At last, for China, becoming a major world creator is not just about setting up partnerships with top Western universities. Nor is it about gathering a group of well-educated people and telling them to think creatively. It’s about establishing a rich learning environment for young minds. It’s not that simple.

1.
Why does the author feel disappointed at his students?
1. A.
  Because there is one group presenting a catering service.
2. B.
  Because the six groups made projects for restaurant chains.
3. C.
  Because all the students copied a case for the difficult topic.
4. D.
  Because the students’ ideas were lacking in creativeness.
2.
We can infer from the passage that ________.
1. A.
  China can make and sell any product all over the world
2. B.
  high pay may not solve the problem of China’s research environment
3. C.
  cooperation with institutions has been set up to make a Chinese brand
4. D.
  the new government program are aimed at encouraging imagination
3.
Which is the best title of the passage?
1. A.
  Look for a New Way of Learning.
2. B.
  Reward Creative Thinking.
3. C.
  How to Become a Creator.
4. D.
  Establish a technical Environment.

Have you ever had the strange feeling that you were being watched? You turned around and, sure enough, someone was looking right at you!
Parapsychologists (灵学家) say that humans have a natural ability to sense when someone is looking at them. To research whether such a “sixth sense” really exists, Robert Baker, a psychologist at the University of Kentucky, performed two experiments.
In the first one, Baker sat behind unknowing people in public places and stared at the backs of their heads for 5 to 15 minutes. The subjects were eating, drinking, reading, studying, watching TV, or working at a computer. Baker made sure that the people could not tell that he was sitting behind them during those periods. Later, when he questioned the subjects, almost all of them said they had no sense that someone was staring at them.
For the second experiment, Baker told the subjects that they would be stared at from time to time from behind a two way mirror in a laboratory setting. The people had to write down when they felt they were being stared at and when they weren’t. Baker found that the subjects were no better at telling when they were stared at and when they weren’t. and they were no better at telling when they were stared at than if they had just guessed.
Baker concludes that people do not have the ability to sense when they’re being stared at. If people doubt the outcome of his two experiments, said baker, “I suggest they repeat the experiments and see for themselves.”

1.
The purpose of the two experiments is to .
1. A.
  explain when people can have a sixth sense
2. B.
  show how people act while being watched in the lab
3. C.
  study whether humans can sense when they are stared at
4. D.
  prove why humans have a sixth sense
2.
In the first experiment, the subjects .
1. A.
  were not told that they would be stared at
2. B.
  lost their sense when they were stared at
3. C.
  were not sure when the would be stared at
4. D.
  were uncomfortable when they were stared at
3.
What can be learned from the passage?
1. A.
  People are born with a sixth sense.
2. B.
  The experiments support parapsychologists’ idea.
3. C.
  The subjects do not have a sixth sense in the experiments.
4. D.
  People have a sixth sense in public places.

While in Banff, make time for a walk around town. A special treat is to go up the mountainside on the Banff Gondola for a surprising view of the valley below. Here is The Pines, whose cook has developed a special way of mixing foreign food such as caribou, wild boar, and reindeer with surprising sauces.
Best time to visit is during the off-season, from early May to mid-June, or in October. This way you can avoid sharing the highway with mobile homes which can be pulled by cars. But whatever the season, take some lunch with you from Banff, because there are only a few food stops on the road.
Forty minutes north of Banff, side by side with the Banff National Park, sits world-famous Lake Louise. This surprisingly small body of water is attractive with towering mountains around it. Glaciers, huge masses of ice, moving very slowly against rocks, produce what is called glacier rock flour, making its water dark to see. It is worth taking a walk around the grounds of the Chateau Lake Louise, another beauty, proud of its early 20th century history.
Back on the road, and it’s time to continue north past the astonishing Columbia Icefield, then turn off the highway and take the short road to the base of the Athabaska Glacier. You can rent ice cleats (夹板) and do some climbing or do a more pleasant snowmobile tour. Either way, you can enjoy endless beautiful sights.
Finally you’ll reach Jasper, the usual turning around the place for the Banff-Jasper loop (回路). It’s worth riding the Jasper Skytram, and be sure to visit the wonderful Jasper Park Lodge, also dating back to the 1920s. If you can have lunch there, do it. The restaurant has an adventurous menu and their wine list would put a smile on any visitor’s face.

1.
According the passage, The Pines is a .
1. A.
  place in which you can see many mobile homes
2. B.
  mountain where you can get a good view of the valley
3. C.
  town which happens to be near the Banff National Park
4. D.
  restaurant where you can ask for some special kinds of food
2.
What will probably happen when visitors come at the end of June?
1. A.
  They may have trouble finding a restaurant.
2. B.
  They may come across traffic jams.
3. C.
  They may travel more easily with cars.
4. D.
  They may do much more sightseeing.
3.
Similar to the Chateau Lake Louise, .
1. A.
  the Banff National Park is to the west of Banff
2. B.
  the Columbia Icefield lies between Lake Louise and the Banff National Park
3. C.
  the Jasper Skytram has a history of more than 80 years
4. D.
  the Jasper Park Lodge was built in the 1920s
4.
Besides the beautiful sights in Jasper Park Lodge, visitors to Jasper can enjoy themselves by .
1. A.
  taking the Jasper Skytram and eating in the restaurant
2. B.
  taking the Banff-Jasper loop and Jasper Skytram
3. C.
  having a lot of food to order in the restaurant
4. D.
  taking the Jasper Skytram back to Banff

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What is the new challenge to American agriculture?

Why is Merrigan visiting universities across the country?

According to Matt Rush, American agriculture will provide opportunities for younger people because

What do the underlined words “to turn around the statistics” in the last paragraph mean?

Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

What is the biggest challenge to the traffic safety in Britain according to the writer?

The underlined word “overhaul” in Paragraph 2 means _______.

What can be learned from the passage?

It can be inferred according to the passage that the author may be a____ .

The underlined word “erected” (in Paragraph2) means ______ .

People come to visit the Alamo now for ______ .

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

According to the first paragraph, ______.

From the boy’s speech, we know his grandmother ______.

We can infer from the passage that the boy ______.

The writer wanted to tell the readers ______.

The great earthquake happened to the _______ of the capital city.

What can we infer from the underlined sentence?

What’s the meaning of the word in bald “catastrophe”?

Which statement about Haiti is NOT true?

What message can we get from the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2?

In Paragraph 3, the author shows that history is useful because ___________.

What would be talked about in the following paragraph?

The main purpose of this passage is to ____________.

One day, the wise man saw the young man .

Near the end of the passage, “something very special” refers to .

From the last two paragraphs, we can learn that .

The writer told this story in order to show us .

Why does the author feel disappointed at his students?

We can infer from the passage that ________.

Which is the best title of the passage?

The purpose of the two experiments is to .

In the first experiment, the subjects .

What can be learned from the passage?

According the passage, The Pines is a .

What will probably happen when visitors come at the end of June?

Similar to the Chateau Lake Louise, .

Besides the beautiful sights in Jasper Park Lodge, visitors to Jasper can enjoy themselves by .

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