These days, there are very few wild animals left in the UK. The wolves have gone. The bears have been hunted to extinction. Fortunately, there are a few badgers（獾）--- Oh, well, actually, not for long as the British government has just decided to kill them too ! But why?

Badgers are fascinating creatures. The black and white mammals live underground in “ setts ”, which they dig out of the earth. They are extremely brave, fighting off larger animals such as bears and wolves. The problem is that some badgers carry “ Bovine Tuberculosis ” ( BTB ), an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium Bovis ( M. Bovis ) which can cause TB in some other animals, including cattle.

For farmers, this is a serious issue. In 1998 in the UK, almost 6,000 cows were killed to control the disease. And in 2010, more than 30,000 animals were destroyed. It’s expensive too. Bovine TB costs the UK about ￡100 million per year. And some believe that the disease could end up costing the economy ￡9 billion over the next 40 years if nothing is done about it.

Experts say that badgers are responsible for about 50% of the infected cattle. So, after much debate, the government has agreed to a badger cull（杀戮）. This will mean about 30,000 of the innocent creatures will be wiped out to fight the disease. Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman admitted that there was “ great strength of feeling ” about it, but said, “ I believe this is the right way forward. ”

Of course, many are against the measure, including conservationists and animal rights activists. They claim that killing the badgers in controlled zones wouldn’t work because badgers from neighboring areas would simply move into the empty setts and become infected too. Furthermore, they believe that the way cattle are raised intensively, and transported around to lots of different farms during their lives is probably the biggest cause of the spread of the disease.

Most ordinary people are against the measure too. A survey suggests about two-thirds are against killing the badgers, with majorities against killing them regardless of age, region and gender. One of the alternatives to the cull involves using vaccine(疫苗) on badgers. However, this costs an average of ￡2,250 per year per square kilometer. Trapping and shooting badgers costs ￡2,500 per year, but shooting free-running badgers only costs about ￡200 per year ( per square kilometer ).

So, with that in mind, it’s easy to see how the government arrived at their decision. Money talks!

45. Why does the government want to kill the badgers ?

A. Because there is no other choice to cut the spread of the disease.

B. Because badgers carry TB, a disease which can infect other animals.

C. Because they almost wiped out an entire population of cattle.

D. Because it might be an effective way to fight TB at the least expense.

46. Which of the following statements is TRUE ?

A. Some people object to culling because it costs much more to trap and shoot badgers.

B. In the following four decades, ￡9 billion will be spent on TB.

C. Based on the survey, people of different age groups, regions and both genders are against killing the badgers.

D. Caroline Spelman thought badgers should be culled despite people’s strong reaction.

47. Who is strongly for the killing the badgers according the passage?

A. The government　　　　　 B. Most ordinary people　

C. Conservationists　　　　　 D. Animal rights activists

48. What is the author’s attitude toward government’s decision?

A. Supportive　　　　　　　　　 B. Critical　　　　　　　　　　 C. Objective　　　　　　　　 D. Unconcerned

49. Which is the best title for the passage?

A. the Control of TB　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. the Voice of the Badgers

C. Badger Danger　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. the Threat of the Badgers

In the 1960s, many young Americans were dissatisfied with American society. They wanted to end the Vietnam War and to make all of the people in the U.S. equal. Some of them decided to "drop out" of American society and form their own societies. They formed utopian communities, which they called “communes”, where they could follow their philosophy of “do your own thing”. A group of artists founded a commune in southern Colorado called "Drop City." Following the ideas of philosopher and architect Buckminster Fuller, they built dome-shaped houses from pieces of old cars. Other groups, such as author Ken Kesey’s Merry Pranksters, the followers of San Francisco poet Steve Gakin, and a group that called itself the Hog Farm, lived in old school houses and traveled around the United States. The Hog Farm became famous when they helped organize the Woodstock Rock Festival in 1969. Steve Gaskin’s followers tried to settle down on a farm in Tennessee, but they had to leave when some members of the group were arrested for growing marijuana.

　　Not all communes believed in the philosophy of “do your own thing”. However, Twin Oaks, a commune founded in Virgiania in the late 1960s, was based on the ideas of psychologist B.F.Skinner. The people who lived at Twin Oaks were carefully controlled by Skinner’s “conditioning” techniques to do things that were good for the community. In 1972, Italian architect Paolo Soleri began to build Arcosanti, a utopian city Arizsona where 2500 people will live closely together in one large building called an “archeology”. Soleri believes that people must live closely together so that they will all become one.

Why did some young Americans decide to “drop out” of society during the 1960s?

　　A. They were not satisfied with American society.

　　B. They wanted to grow marijuana.

　　C. They wanted to go to the Vietnam War.

　　D. They did not want all people to be equal.

Where did the members of the Hog Farm commune live?

　　A. In dome-shaped house.         B. In old school houses.

　　C. On a farm in Tennessee.        D. In an archeology in Arizona.

Who gave the people of Drop City the idea to build dome-shaped house?

　　A. Paolo Soleri.  　             B. B.G.Skinner.

　　C. Steve Gaskin.                D. Buckminster Fuller.

What was the Twin Oaks commune based on?

　　A. The philosophy of “do your own thing”.

　　B. Virginia in the late 1960s.

　　C. The ideas of psychologist.

　　D. The belief that people must live closely together.

What is an “archeology”?

　　A. A person who studies archaeology.

　　B. A large building where people live closely together.

　　C. A city in Arizona.

　　D. A technique to control people.

How to Be a Winner

Sir Steven Redgrave  

Winner of 5 Olympic Gold Medals  

“In 1997 I was found to have developed diabetes （糖尿病） . Believing my career （职业生涯）was over, I felt extremely low. Then one of the specialists said there was no reason why I should stop training and competing. That was it----the encouragement I needed. I could still be a winner if I believed in myself. I am not saying that it isn’t difficult sometimes. But I wanted to prove to myself that I wasn’t finished yet. Nothing is to stand in my way.”  

Karen Pickering  

Swimming World Champion  

“I swim 4 hours a day, 6 days a week. I manage that sort of workload by putting it on top of my diary. This is the key to success―you can’t follow a career in any field without being well-organized. List what you believe you can achieve. “Trust yourself, write down your goals for the day, however small they are, and you’ll be a step closer to achieving them.”  

Kirsten Best  

Poet ＆ Writer  

“When things are getting hard, a voice inside my head tells me that I can’t achieve something. Then, there are other distractions, such as family or hobbies. The key is to concentrate. When I feel tense, it helps a lot to repeat words such as ‘calm’, ‘peace’ or ‘focus’, either out loud or silently in my mind. It makes me feel more in control and increases my confidence. This is a habit that can become second nature quite easily and is a powerful psychological （心理的） tool.”  

 　　60. What does Sir Steven Redgrave mainly talk about?

　　A. Difficulties influenced his career.

　　B. Specialists offered him medical advice.

　　C. Training helped him defeat his disease.

　　D. He overcame the shadow of illness to win.

　　61. What does Karen Pickering put on top of her diary?

　　A. Her training schedule.

　　B. Her daily happenings.

　　C. Her achievements.

　　D. Her sports career.

　　62.What does the underlined word “distractions” probably refer to？

　　A. Ways that help one to focus.

　　B. Words that help one to feel less tense.

　　C. Activities that turn one's attention away.

　　D. Habits that make it hard for one to relax.

　　63. According to the passage ,what do the three people have in common?

　　A. Courage.

　　B. Devotion.

　　C. Hard work.

　　D. Self-confidence.