How far would you be willing to go to satisfy your need to know? Far enough to find out your possibility of dying from a terrible disease? These days that’s more than an academic question, as Tracy Smith reports in our Cover Story.

There are now more than a thousand genetic（基因的）tests, for everything from baldness to breast cancer, and the list is growing. Question is, do you really want to know what might eventually kill you? For instance, Nobel Prize-winning scientist James Watson, one of the first people to map their entire genetic makeup, is said to have asked not to be told if he were at a higher risk for Alzheimer’（老年痴呆症）.

“If I tell you that you have an increased risk of getting a terrible disease, that could weigh on your mind and make you anxious, through which you see the rest of your life as you wait for that disease to hit you. It could really mess you up.” Said Dr. Robert Green, a Harvard geneticist.

“Every ache and pain,” Smith suggested, could be understood as “the beginning of the end.”“That ’s right. If you ever worried you were at risk for Alzheimer’s disease, then every time you can’t find your car in the parking lot, you think the disease has started.”

Dr. Green has been thinking about this issue for years. He led a study of people who wanted to know if they were at a higher genetic risk for Alzheimer’s. It was thought that people who got bad news would, for lack of a better medical term, freak out. But Green and his team found that there was“no significant difference”between how people handled good news and possibly the worst news of their lives. In fact, most people think they can handle it. People who ask for the information usually can handle the information, good or bad, said Green.

71.The first paragraph is meant to__________.

A. ask some questions                        B. introduce the topic

C. satisfy readers’ curiosity                 D. describe an academic fact

【答案】B

【解析】通过两个问题引出话题。

72.Which of the following is true of James Watson？

A. He is strongly in favor of the present genetic tests.

B. He is more likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.

C. He believes genetic mapping can help cure any disease.

D. He doesn’t want to know his chance of getting a disease.

【答案】D

【解析】根据第二段Nobel Prize-winning scientist James Watson, one of the first people to map their entire genetic makeup, is said to have asked not to be told if he were at a higher risk for Alzheimer’。“James Watson要求如果他的基因表明他有很高的老年痴呆症的可能不要告诉他。”

73.According to Paragraphs 3 and 4, if a person is at a higher genetic risk, it is__________.

A. advisable not to let him know          B. impossible to hide his disease

C. better to inform him immediately      D. necessary to remove his anxiety

【答案】A

【解析】根据这两个自然段可知，如果你提前被告知你将来可能患某种可怕的疾病会mess you up。

74.The underlined part“freak out”in Paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to“_________”.

A. break down                     B. drop out            C. leave off            D. turn away

【答案】A

【解析】根据下文But的转折，以及no significant difference可知，freak out的意思是A（精神垮掉）。

75.The study led by Dr. Green indicates that people__________.

A. prefer to hear good news         B. tend to find out the truth

C. can accept some bad news              D. have the right to be informed

【答案】C

【解析】根据第五段内容 In fact, most people think they can handle it可知答案选C.

阅读下文，完成文后各题。

“进化”不了的爱

孙君飞

进化论包含着残酷的丛林法则，也隐含着生命的自私自利性。一个生命个体要想很好地生存下去，必须要将自己变得更优秀，学会“排他”，否则优胜劣汰的只能是自己。不过，人们在观察工蜂时，惊讶地发现，它们并未受到进化论的影响，它们混沌若当初，或者说它们完美地保持着一种纯粹而崇高的精神，这使它们成为生命进化中的另类。

工蜂属于生殖器官发育不完善的雌性蜂，即便能够产卵，也只是没有受精的卵，因此它们自身没有繁殖能力。这种缺陷可怕而又不幸，然而工蜂对此无动于衷，甘愿终身携带着缺陷而生，从未奢望将自身进化得更完美更强悍。值得称道的是，工蜂的适应性反而很强大，它们拥有相当厉害的武器——毒刺，刺上长有倒钩，一旦“亮剑”就不能回收利用。工蜂的毒刺是不折不扣的双刃剑，在伤及侵害者的同时，自己的生命也面临着终结。

蜜蜂家族中令人难以置信的社会结构更加震惊着世人的心灵，在这里一切都那么井然有序，合乎“法则”，一切又那么一往情深，合乎“生命之爱”。蜜蜂的利他主义行为也许会让达尔文难以理解，失去繁殖能力却能够将各种特征和习性一代代传承下去的工蜂可能更让达尔文目瞪口呆吧。答案其实很简单，一切都源于蜜蜂与众不同的遗传结构。换言之，存在于工蜂体内的遗传基因极其顽强，只有它们才会驱使工蜂去鞠躬尽瘁地照顾其它跟自己具有相同基因的生命，甚至为对方牺牲自己，却无怨无悔。

蜂后产下的受精卵天生高贵，常常会孵化出雌性幼蜂，而延续高贵的办法只有一个：它们只有食用了工蜂分泌的蜂王浆之后，才能发育成具有生殖能力的小蜂后，否则它们在长大后依然属于工蜂——从出生时开始，便将生命献给蜂群、终日辛劳的工蜂！

由于小蜂后的基因与工蜂的基因几乎相同，从身形外貌上看，彼此也几乎一模一样，这也许使工蜂顿感一阵甜蜜而幸福、神圣而自豪的恍然：站在我面前的，莫不是又一个“我”？我由此获得了新生，得到了永恒……工蜂在含辛茹苦喂养小蜂后的过程中，彼此的血缘关系升至最亲密最牢固。它们原本不是毫不相关的两个，而是见证生命延续、利他友爱的两个。因为相同的基因存活在它们的生命之中，工蜂在潜意识里将蜂后看得比自己的生命更为重要，为了对方、也为了另一个“我”和“我们”，它们可以在必要时完全放弃自己现实的生命及其未来。

（选自在《思维与智慧》有删节）

下列关于“工蜂”的表述，不符合原文意思的一项是

  A．作为生命个体，工蜂的生命隐含着自私自利性，要想不被淘汰，它必须将自己变得更优秀，学会“排他”。   

  B．工蜂之所以成为生命进化中的另类，是因为它们完美地保持着一种纯粹而崇高的精神，并未受到进化论的影响。   

  C．工蜂的适应性很强，尾部长有倒钩的毒刺是相当厉害的武器，在伤及侵害者的同时，工蜂的生命也意味着终结。   

  D．从出生开始，就为蜂群而终日辛劳的工蜂，能把各种特征和习性一代代传承下去，靠的是与众不同的遗传结构。

下列有关“蜜蜂繁殖"的表述，符合原文意思的一项是

  A．蜂后是具有生殖能力的雌性蜂，产下的受精卵天生高贵，孵化出雌性幼蜂，幼蜂长大以后就成为新一代蜂后。

  B．工蜂自身没有繁殖能力，属于生殖器官发育不完善的雌性蜂，即便能够产卵，也只是没有受精的卵，不能孵化幼蜂。

  C．存在于工蜂体内的遗传基因极其顽强，它驱使工蜂分泌蜂王浆，鞠躬尽瘁地照顾和自己具有相同基因的“孩子”。

  D．蜂后负责产卵，工蜂负责喂养幼蜂，因而小蜂后的基因与工蜂的基因几乎相同，身形外貌上也几乎一模一样。

下列根据原文信息所作的推断，不正确的一项是

  A．采粉、酿蜜、饲喂幼虫的工蜂是蜂群的主体，儿歌唱的“小蜜蜂，整天忙，采花蜜，酿蜜糖”，指的就是工蜂。

  B．蜜蜂家族一切都井然有序，合乎“法则”，合乎“生命之爱”，人类如果借鉴了这种社会结构．可能会更有利于社会和谐。

  C．为了蜂后和后代，工蜂不惜牺牲自己，是因为它们有奉献精神，潜意识里将蜂后和后代看得比自己的生命更重要。

  D．工蜂一生从事的是利他的事业，而不是优化自己的结构来繁衍后代，从这一点来看，    达尔文的进化论“适者生存”不科学。

阅读下列材料， 从所给的六个选项（A, B,C, D, E, F）中， 选出符合各个小题要求的最佳选项，选项中有一项是多余选

以下是复活节的活动介绍:

A. Second Church in Dorchester sponsors Easter Egg Hunt

Join the fun at the Second Chruch in Dorchester’s Easter Egg Hunt, Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 12 noon. Children aged 12 and younger are invited to the Church Lawn at the corner of Washington St. and Talbot Ave. in Codman Square to search for the hidden candy-filled egg. Bring your own basket.

This free event is fun for the whole family.

For more information call 617-825-2797, visit the website at http://www.secondchurchchnaz.org,

or email info@secondchurchnaz.org.

B. Choate Park Easter Egg Hunt

The Easter Bunny will visit Choate Park this year and will hide thousands of Easter eggs throughout the historic town park for kids to find! The special day is Saturday, March 15, at 11 a.m. at Choare Park in Medway. The Easter Egg Hunt costs $5 per child over the age of 2, and is open to children up to ten years old. Pre-registration suggested at cholatefriends@yahoo.com or by calling 508-533-3275 so there will be enough eggs for everyone.

C. Billerica Breakfast with Easter Bunny

http://www.town.billerica.ma/us/cities/billericama/docs/UploadPages?recreation.htm#Breakfast

Sunday, March 16,2008

8:30-12 noon

Shawsheen Valley Technical School Cafeteria

100 Cook Street, Billerica

$5.00 per person for a GREAT Meal and LOADS of fun!

(Includes breakfast, photo with Easter Bunny, egg hunt, hat parade, face painting & crafts!)

D. Burlington—FLASHLIGHT AT NIGHT EASTER EGG HUNT

http://www.burlington.org/reaction//Special Events.htm

Thursday, March 20, 2008

The Easter bunny will be making a special trip to Burlington to hide some eggs for Easter. This year the Easter bunny will be hiding eggs in two separate locations. Bring your flashlight and a parent and help us find the eggs that are scattered about the Town Common and Simonds Park. The Easter Bunny will be on hand for pictures, so bring your camera. The Easter egg hunt is open for residents only who have signed up and have a ticket. This is for children ages 2-5 with a parents and tickets are $6 each.

E. Wilmington

http://www.towm.wilmington.ma.us/old/rec.htm

EASTER EGG HUNT (Town Common)

The Annual Easter Egg Hunt for children aged 6 and younger will be held on Saturday, March 22 on the Town Common. In case of poor weather or ground

F. Methuen Easter Egg Hunt

http://www.ci.methuen.ma.us/

Saturday, March 22, 12:00 Noon at Veterans Park on Milk Street

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Bring a Basket! Special Appearance by the Easter Bunny!!!

Ages: Preschool to 3rd Grade.

Information: 978-983-8590

请根据下面家长和小孩的信息，为其挑选合适的活动。

76.Mr. Brown. My son is 5 years old. He loves Easter Egg Hunt. But this time I won’t be free until Saturday afternoon, March 22.

77. Mrs. Houston My husband and I will be free on March 15, so we would like to take our kid, Jason, 12, to join in some free events.

78．Mr. Robinson Judy, my daughter, is 3 years old. She loves the Easter Bunny so much that she will be happy to take a picture with it.

79．Mrs. Ryan I am available before noon on March 15 so I am taking my boy, Justin, aged 8, to try for the egg hunts.

80. Mr. William Besides egg hunts, my boy would also like to watch other performance, such as parade and painting.

That year , in the local school, there was a new math teacher, as well as some new pupils. One of the new kids was the stupidest child anyone had ever seen. It made no difference how quickly or how slowly they tried explaining numbers to him; he would always end up saying something enormously stupid. Like two plus two was five, seven times three was twenty-seven, or a triangle had thirty corners……
Before this boy arrived, math lessons had been the most boring of all. Now they were great fun. Encouraged by the new teacher, the children would listen to the pieces of nonsense spouted by the new kid, and they would have to correct his mistakes.
Whenever the new teacher asked questions, the stupid kid would stand up but made the wrong answers, the other students all wanted to be the first to find his mistakes, and then think up the most original ways to explain them. To do this they used all kinds of stuff : sweets, playing cards, oranges, paper planes, etc. It didn’t seem like any of this bothered the new kid.
However, Little Lewis was sure that it was bound to make him feel sad inside. Lewis was sure he would see him crying. So, one day, he decided to follow the new kid home after school. On leaving school, the new kid walked a few minutes to a local park, and there he waited for a while, until someone came along to meet him……
It was the new teacher!
The teacher gave the new kid a hug, and off they went, hand in hand. Following from a distance, Lewis could hear they were talking about math.
【小题1】根据短文第二三段描述，可知这位新老师的工作很有创造性，故选A。
【小题2】根据短文最后一段Following from a distance, Lewis could hear they were talking about math.描述，可知选B，这个所谓的最蠢的学生其实比其它学生知道的多。
【小题3】根据Lewis was sure he would see him crying. So, one day, he decided to follow the new kid home after school.描述，可知选B。
【小题4】联系上文To do this they used all kinds of stuff :可知选C。
【小题5】The math lessons became interesting again because of the new teacher’s ___________.

Most people feel lonely sometimes, but it usually only lasts between a few minutes and a few hours. This kind of loneliness is not serious. In fact, It is quite normal. For some people, though, loneliness can last for years. Psychologists are studying this complex phenomenon in an attempt to better understand long-term loneliness. These researchers have already identified three different types of loneliness.

The first kind of loneliness is temporary. This is the most common type. It usually disappears quickly and does not require any special attention.

The second kind, situational loneliness, is a natural result of a particular situation ---for example, a divorce, the death of a loved once, or moving to a new place. Although this kind of loneliness can cause physical problems, such as headaches and sleeplessness, it usually does not last for more than a year. Situational loneliness is easy to understand and to predict.

The third kind of loneliness is the most severe. Unlike the second type, chronic loneliness usually lasts more than two years and has no specific cause. People who experience habitual loneliness have problems socializing and becoming close to others. Unfortunately, many chronically lonely people think there is little or nothing they can do to improve their condition.

［写作内容］:

1) 以约30词概括短文的要点；

2) 以约120词就“孤独”这一话题谈谈你的看法，并包括以下要点：

a. 描述你感到孤独的某个时刻；

b. 解释你为什么觉得孤独,你怎样排除孤独感；

c. 根据你的经历，给出排除孤独的建议。

［写作要求］:

1. 可以使用实例或其他论述方法支持你的论点，也可以参照阅读材料的内容，但不得

直接引用原文中的句子；

2．作文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称。

［评分标准］:

概括准确、语言规范、内容合适、篇章连贯。