A sandstorm, also known as a dust storm, is exactly what it sounds like. A very strong windstorm especially in the desert carries clouds of sand or dust that greatly reduces visibility. This wind is usually caused by convection currents (对流气流), which are created by intense heating of the ground, and is usually strong enough to move entire sand dunes. Air is unstable when heated, and this instability in the air will cause higher winds to mix with winds in the lower atmosphere, producing strong surface winds.
Sandstorms can disturb people’s travel, and can sometimes destroy whole roads, and dry flat areas. Similar dust storms can be found on the planet Mars, and are thought to be seasonal. Today, the destruction of forests and too much farming of farmland can lead to sandstorms. Too much use of water resources can also cause sandstorms.
In the United States of America, sandstorms are rare because of the lack of large deserts and more importantly the development of proper agricultural techniques. The last recorded destructive sandstorm in American history was the Dust Bowl, which occurred on July 16, 1971 and was widely recorded by meteorologists (气象学家).
To protect themselves from sandstorms, some people wear protective suits. Special equipment can be fixed in some cars to prevent sand from getting into the engine. Sandstorms can cause coughs, and the sand and dust has also been known to carry “infectious diseases”. Sand particles, unlike dust ones, will block air passages, and cause a person who breathes them in to choke. Dust particles may cause an allergic (过敏的) reaction.
【小题1】Which of the following plays the first part in forming sandstorms?

A sandstorm, also known as a dust storm, is exactly what it sounds like. A very strong windstorm especially in the desert carries clouds of sand or dust that greatly reduces visibility. This wind is usually caused by convection currents (对流气流), which are created by intense heating of the ground, and is usually strong enough to move entire sand dunes. Air is unstable when heated, and this instability in the air will cause higher winds to mix with winds in the lower atmosphere, producing strong surface winds.

Sandstorms can disturb people’s travel, and can sometimes destroy whole roads, and dry flat areas. Similar dust storms can be found on the planet Mars, and are thought to be seasonal. Today, the destruction of forests and too much farming of farmland can lead to sandstorms. Too much use of water resources can also cause sandstorms.

In the United States of America, sandstorms are rare because of the lack of large deserts and more importantly the development of proper agricultural techniques. The last recorded destructive sandstorm in American history was the Dust Bowl, which occurred on July 16, 1971 and was widely recorded by meteorologists (气象学家).

To protect themselves from sandstorms, some people wear protective suits. Special equipment can be fixed in some cars to prevent sand from getting into the engine. Sandstorms can cause coughs, and the sand and dust has also been known to carry “infectious diseases”. Sand particles, unlike dust ones, will block air passages, and cause a person who breathes them in to choke. Dust particles may cause an allergic (过敏的) reaction.

1.Which of the following plays the first part in forming sandstorms?

A．The instability of the sand.

B．The instability of the wind.

C．The intense heating of the ground.

D．The speed of the wind.

2.From the second paragraph, we can learn that at present _______.

A．sandstorms are more often seen on Mars than on Earth

B．sandstorms have led to the lack of clean water resources

C．farming brings more harm than benefits to humans

D．human activities are a major cause of sandstorms

3.The author will most probably agree that ________.

A．there will soon be no sandstorms in the USA

B．humans haven’t thought of any way to deal with sandstorms

C．death caused by sandstorms is increasing all the time

D．humans should make more efforts to stop soil turning into desert

B

Guandong province all together chose universities in Hong Kong; when the very best student of Beijing picked up HK University while giving up the nearby Peking or Tsingbua University; when the highest enrollment （录取）rate of Hong Kong Science and Industry University reached 48:1, it’s the high time to ask where the real education heaven for students in China is.

Years ago, the answer certainly would be “Peking or Tsinghua University”. But now no one could give the exact reaction without hesitation. The only sure thing is that HK universities have gradually showed an unusual attraction to a great many mainland students.

It’s no doubt to call this HK craze（狂热）,which is even out of the expectation of those HK universities themselves.

How can HK universities shake the steady foundations of Peking and Tsinghua and attract so many mainland students?

First, Hong Kong universities offer large-amount scholarship, especially for the top students who can receive the sum of scholarship as much as 400,000 HK dollars. Since higher education has become a kind of heavy burden of many families, it’s easy to understand why the reaction to the generous offering of HK universities is great.

Second, most HK universities receive professors and students from all over the world and carry out bilingual（双语）education. This kind of excellent language atmosphere is another attraction for mainland students.

Further more, university students in Hong Kong have a better chance to study abroad as exchange students.

Can mainland top universities like Peking or Tsinghua University calm as before when facing the unexpected competition from HK? Will they take relevant measures to win back the top students who once help them set the worldwide reputation? Time will explain it.

The fierce competition brought by HK universities can be a good thing for an entire improvement of education in China. After the awakening and action taking of mainland universities, they can perform better together with HK universities.

At least, it reminded the mainland universities the tuition fees（学费）are among students’ top concern when they are choosing universities. It’s time to move.

46．What is the passage mainly talking about?

       A．Some thought brought by the enrollment of HK universities.

       B．Higher education in Hong Kong.

       C．The competition between HK University and Peking University.

       D．The fall of mainland universities.

47. Top students from mainland apply for HK universities because         .

       A．many students now would love to study aboard to get a better experience

       B．they concern only about the tuition fees when choosing universities

       C．HK universities offer higher scholarship, better environment and more opportunities for their further study

       D．Peking university has lost its worldwide reputation

48．What is the author’s attitude toward the competition brought by HK universities?

       A．The government should take relevant measures to stop this unfair competition.

       B．Mainland universities had better lower their tuition fees and win back the top students.

       C．Universities both in mainland and in HK would get an entire improvement during the competition.

       D．It may probably cause a complete loss both sides in the end.

49．From the passage we can see HK universities           .

       A．didn’t mean to enroll top students from mainland

       B．didn’t expect their enrollment of mainland students would be so popular

       C．have strict enrollment rules and only 1 out of 48 students can get the chance to study there

       D．are proud of their teaching staff and facilities

50．What does the author mean by saying “It’s time to move” in the last paragraph?

       A．Mainland universities should take measures as soon as possible to attract students.

       B．The opportunities come for top students to study abroad.

       C．Mainland universities should make full preparations to challenge mainland universities.

       D．Top students should be offered further education free of charge.

A．Importance of Transport in Trade

B．Birth of Transport-related Industries and Trade

C．Role of Transport in Trade Development

D．Another Means to Develop Trade

E．Higher Living Standard

F．Modern Life Needs Modern Traffics

1．

Transport is one of the aids to trade．By moving goods from places where they are plentiful to places where they are scarce, transport adds to their value．The more easily goods can be brought over the distance that separates producer and consumer, the better for trade．When there were no railways, no good roads, no canals, and only small sailing ships, trade was on a small scale．

2．

The great advances made in transport during the last two hundred years were accompanied by a big increase in trade．Bigger and faster ships enabled a trade in meat to develop between Britain and New Zealand, for instance．Quicker transport makes possible mass-production and big business, drawing supplies from, and selling goods to, all parts of the globe．Big factories could not exist without transport to carry the large number of workers they need to and from their homes．Big city stores could not have developed unless customers could travel easily from the suburbs and goods delivered to their homes．Big cities could not survive unless food could be brought from a distance．

3．

Transport also prevents waste．Much of the fish landed at the ports would be wasted if it could not be taken quickly to inland towns．Transport has given us a much greater variety of foods and goods since we no longer have to live on what is produced locally．Foods which at one time could be obtained only during a part of the year can now be obtained all through the year．Transport has raised the standard of living．

4．

By moving fuel, raw materials, and even power, for example, through electric cables, transport has led to the establishment of industries and trade in areas where they would have been impossible before．Districts and countries can concentrate on making things which they can do better and more cheaply than others and can then exchange them with one another．The cheaper and quicker transport becomes, the longer the distance over which goods can profitably be carried．Countries with poor transport have a lower standard of living．

5．

Commerce requires not only the moving of goods and people but also the carrying of messages and information．Means of communication, like telephones, cables and radio, send information about prices, supplies, and changing conditions in different parts of the world．In this way, advanced communication system also help to develop trade．

Even a small reduction in salt in the diet can be a big help to the heart. A new study used a computer model to predict(预测) how just three grams less a day would affect heart disease in the United States.

The study is in the New England Journal of Medicine. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo at the University of California San Francisco, is the leader of the research team. She says people would not even notice a difference in taste with three grams, or one-half teaspoon, less salt per day. The team also included researchers at Columbia University, like Weston Forbes.

The result: ten percent fewer heart attacks. Four percent fewer deaths. Eleven percent fewer new cases of heart disease. And two hundred forty billion dollars in health care savings. Thus it could prevent one hundred thousand heart attacks and ninety-two thousand deaths every year.

The government says the average American man eats ten grams of salt a day. Michael swan from the American Heart Association advises no more than three grams for healthy people. It says salt in the American diet has increased fifty percent since the nineteen seventies, while blood pressures have also risen. Less salt can mean a lower blood pressure.

 New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is leading an effort called the National Salt Reduction Initiative. The idea is to put pressure on food companies and restaurants. Mayor Bloomberg has already succeeded in other areas, like requiring fast food places in the city to list calorie information. Now a study shows how that idea can influence(影响) what parents order for their children.

53．How much salt did Americans take in per day on average in the 1970s?

  A．Three grams.    B．Five grams.  C．Seven grams.    D．Ten grams.

54．Who is head of the team studying the relation between salt reduction and heart attack?

  A．Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo.    B．Michael Bloomberg.

  C．Michael Swan.              D．Weston Forbes.

55．The text mainly tells us that__________．

  A．cutting salt intake can save more money    

B．eating less salt means more healthy life

C．cutting salt intake helps reduce calories

D．eating less salt can cure heart disease

56.According to the text, we may conclude that __________．

  A．eating salt less than 3 grams makes much difference in taste

  B．the American government thinks little of salt reduction

  C．more salt in the daily diet may result in higher blood pressure

D．100,000 Americans die from higher blood pressure each year