Special trees that grow faster, fight pollution, produce better wood, and even sense chemical attacks are being planted by scientists in the US．

         When 40 per cent of Hawaii's US$14 million-a-year papaya （木瓜）industry was destroyed by a virus five years ago, work began on creating genetically engineered（转基因的）trees．

         Researchers successfully introduced seeds that were designed to resist the virus．Since then, more and more people have been testing genetically engineered trees．Some researchers put special bacteria into trees to help them grow faster and produce better wood．Others are trying to create trees that can clean polluted soil．Meanwhile fruit farmers are looking for trees that are strong enough to resist worms, and paper companies want trees that produce more wood and therefore more paper．

         The Pentagon （五角大楼） even gave the researchers US$500,000 this year after they developed a pine tree that changes its colours if it senses a chemical attack．So far, the poplar, eucalyptus （杨树与桉树）, apple and coffee trees are among those being engineered．All this can be done today because we have a better understanding of tree genomes （基因组）．

         However, some people fear that the genetically engineered trees will cause dangerous results．They are worried that the new trees will breed with natural species and change the balance of the forest environment．

         “It could be destructive,” said Jim Diamond, an environmentalist. “Trees are what is left of our natural environment and home to many endangered species.”

         But researchers insist that science could give nature a fighting chance against both natural and man-made dangers．They hope to answer the critics by stopping the new trees from breeding, so their effect on the environment can be controlled．

63．Which kind of tree is not the ones that scientists are planting in the US?

         A．Trees that worms can't hurt．

         B．Genetically engineered trees．

         C．Trees that can resist wind better．

         D．Trees that can protect themselves at a chemical attack．

64．What caused the American scientists to work on special trees?

         A．Tree genomes are mapped out so scientists know how to improve trees．

         B．Great numbers of trees have been lost due to attacks by viruses．

         C．Researchers successfully introduced seeds designed to resist the virus．

         D．They think science could give nature a fighting chance against both natural and man-made dangers．

65．Which of the following was probably the first kind of trees being engineered?

         A．Papaya．                     B．Pine．                           C．Apple．                        D．Poplar．

66．Why did critics think engineered trees dangerous? Because ________．

         A．these trees can destroy the balance of nature

         B．everything except trees has been genetically engineered

         C．trees are home to many endangered species

         D．these trees may affect normal trees

Today just as technology changed the face of industry, farmers have undergone an "agricultural revolution". On the farm of today, machines provide all the power.
One of the most important benefits will be the farm computer. A few forward-looking farmers are already using computers to help them run their farms more efficiently. The computers help them keep more accurate records so they can make better decisions on what crops to plant, how much livestock to buy, when to sell their products, and how much profit they can expect. Many computer companies have been developing special computer programs just for farmers. Programs are being written for hog(猪) producers, grain farmers, potato farmers, and dairy farmers. In the future, farmers will be able to purchase computer programs made to their needs. Because of the growing importance of computers on the farm, students at agricultural colleges are required to take computer classes in addition to their normal agricultural courses. There can be no doubt that farmers will rely on computers even more in the future. While the old-time farm depended on horse power, and modern farms depend on machine power, farms of the future will depend on computer power.
Another technological advance which is still in the experimental stage is the robot, a real "mechanized hired hand" that will be able to move and, in some ways, think like a human being. Unlike farmers of the present, farmers of the future will find that many day-to-day tasks will be done for them. Scientists are now developing robots that will be able to shear(修剪) sheep, drive tractors, and harvest fruit. Even complex jobs will be done by robots. For example, in order to milk their cows, farmers must first drive them into the special barn(畜棚), then connect them to the milking machines, watch the machines, and disconnect them when they are finished. In the future, this will all be done by robots. In addition, when the milking is completed, the robots will automatically check to make sure that the milk is pure. The complete mobilization of the farm is far in the future, but engineers expect that some robots will be used before long.
【小题1】Which sentence carries the main idea of the whole passage? 

A volcanic eruption in Iceland has sent ash across northern Europe. Airlines have stopped or changed the flights across the Atlantic Ocean, leaving hundreds of passengers stuck in airports.  
Grimsvom is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Europe. What makes Grimsvom different is that it lies under a huge glacier（冰川）of ice up to 12 maters thick. The hot volcano heats up the ice above it, which then forms a layer（层）of water between the glacier and the volcano This layer of water puts pressure on the volcano, keeping it stable, As the water flows out from under the glacier, the pressure lifts. The lava（岩浆）from the volcano then comes up to the surface. This is exactly what happened today.  
Now, airlines have to make changes to their flights so as not to fly through the clouds of volcanic ash. According to KLM. one of Europe’s biggest airlines, airplanes cannot go under the cloud or over it. Going through the cloud can result in ash getting stuck in the airplane’s engines, causing damage to the plane.  
The eruption has also caused problems for animals in Iceland. The volcano left ash and sharp. Glass-like rocks all over the countryside. Farmers are keeping their animals inside to stop them from eating ash- covered grass to the sharp object.  
【小题1】What makes Grimsvom different from other volcanoes? 

Nowadays, the food we eat seems to have great effects on our health. Although science has made enormous steps in making food more fit to eat, it has, at the same time, made many foods unfit to eat. Some research has shown that perhaps eighty percent of all human illnesses are related to diet and forty percent of cancer is related to the diet as well, especially cancer of the colon. Different cultures are more likely to cause certain different illnesses because of the food that is characteristic in these cultures.

That food is related to illness is not a new discovery. In 1945, government researchers realized that nitrates, commonly used to preserve color in meats, and other food additives, caused cancer. Yet, these carcinogenic additives remain in our food, and it becomes more difficult all the time to know which things on the packaging labels of processed food are helpful or harmful. The additives which we eat are not all so direct. Farmers often give penicillin to beef and living animals, and because of this, penicillin has been found in the milk of treated cow. Sometimes similar drugs are given to animals not for medical purposes, but for financial reasons. The farmers are simply trying to fatten the animals in order to obtain a higher price on the market. Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has tried repeatedly to control these procedures, the practices continue.

1.What is the best possible title of the passage?

A. Drug and Food                                 B. Food and Health

C. Cancer and Health               D. Health and Drug

2.Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A. Some of the additives in our food are added to the food itself and some are given to the living animals

B. Researchers have known about the potential dangers of food additives for about sixty-eight years.

C. Drugs are always given to animals for medical reasons

D. Food may cause forty percent of cancer in world.

3.How has science done something harmful to mankind?

A. Because of science, diseases caused by polluted food have been virtually eliminated.

B. It has caused a lack of information concerning the value of food.

C. The scientists have preserved the color of meats, but not of vegetables.

D. Because of the application of science, some potentially harmful substances have been added to food.

4.What are nitrates used for?

A. They preserve the color of meats.

B. They preserve flavor in packaged foods.

C. They are the objects of research

D. They cause the animals to become fatter.

5.The word “carcinogenic” most nearly means “_____”.

A. trouble-making                             B. color-retaining

C. cancer-causing                             D. money-making