阅读理解。
     Children are missing an important part of their education because parents cannot afford their
after-school activities. Half of parents in Wales are saying"no"to after-school activities because they
cannot afford them according to a poll for Save the Children.
     The government said providing free or subsidized(补助的)leisure activities for children from poorer
background is essential to reducing child poverty in the UK. Of those who pay for activities, Save the
Children said almost half of parents had to pay more than ￡10 per child per week. Many parents were
paying more than $20 per week, the survey found.
     "What happens after the school gates close at 3:30 pm is just as momentous as what goes on in the
school day,"said Sally Copley at Save the Children. "Children who do after-school activities have more
confidence, see the world in different ways and have a stronger sense of identity(认同感). All this finally
translates into doing better in exams and getting a better career."
     Half of parents in Wales of 4-to-18-year-olds said their child did some form of sporting activity, the
most popular pastime(消遣). Other popular choices included drama/dance (26%), Brownies/Scouts(童
子军)(18%)and music lessons(13%). Almost a third of parents said activities they would like their child
to take part in were located more than six miles from where they lived.
     Save the Children said its research highlighted that children from poorer backgrounds did not have the
same chances as their better-off friends. Many local governments have offered a wide range of
after-young people in their area. The Welsh Assembly Government's community-focused schools
programme supports local education authorities to develop a range of out-of-school-hours learning
opportunities and childcare for children and young people.
1. The government should ________to reduce child poverty according to the passage.
A. provide free or subsidezed leisure activities for poorer children.
B. provide low-cost leisure activities for all the children.
C. help most families to pay for leisure activities.
D.demand the rich to support the poor children.
2. The underlined word "momentous" in Para.3 most probably means__________.
A. active        
B. violent            
C. doubtful    
D. important
3. According to Sally Copley, we can learn the after-school activities__________.
A. may help children make money for their families.
B. can help children learn better and find better jobs.
C. get children adapt to the society and start their own business.
D. make children lack confidence and a sense of identity.
4. What would children best like to choose as their after-school activity according to the fourth paragrph?
A. Drama of dance
B. Brownies or Scouts
C. Sporting activity
D. Music lessons
阅读理解。
     In the summer of 1978 an English farmer was driving his tractor through a field of wheat when he
discovered that some of his wheat was lying flat on the ground. The flattened wheat formed a circle
about six meters across. Around this circle were four smaller circles of flattened wheat. The five circles
were in a formation like five dots. During the following years, farmers in England found the strange circles
in their fields more and more often.
     The circles are called "crop circles" because they appear in the fields of grain ? usually wheat or corn.
The grain in the circles lies flat on the ground but is never broken; it continues to grow, and farmers can
later harvest it. Farmers always discover the crop circles in the morning, so the circles probably form at
night. They appear only in the months from May to September.
     At first, people thought that the circles were a hoax. Probably young people were making them as a
joke, or farmers were making them to attract tourists. To prove that the circles were a hoax, people tried
to make circles exactly like the ones that farmers had found. They couldn't do it. They couldn't enter a
field of grain without leaving tracks, and they couldn't flatten the grain without breaking it.
Many people believe that beings from outer space are making the circles to communicate with us from
far away and that the crop circles are messages from them.
      Scientists who have studied the crop circles suggested several possibilities. Some scientists say that a
downward rush of wind leads to the formation of the circles - the same downward lash of air that
sometimes causes an airplane to crash. Other scientists say that forces within the earth cause the circles
to appear. There is one problem with all these scientific explanations: crop circles often appear in
formations, like the five-dot formation. It is hard to believe that any natural force could form those.
1. In the summer of 1978, an English farmer discovered in his field that ______.  
A. some of his wheat had been damaged
B. some of his wheat had fallen onto the ground
C. his grain was growing up in circles
D. his grain was moved into several circles
2. The underlined word "hoax" in Paragraph 3 is probably ______.    
A. an attempt made to fool people
B. a special way to plant crops
C. an experiment for the protection of crops
D. a research on the force of winds
3. Which of the following may prove that the crop circles are not made by man? 
A. The farmers couldn't step out of the field.
B. The farmers couldn't make the circles round.
C. The farmers couldn't leave without footprints.
D. The farmers couldn't keep the wheat straight up.
4. One explanation given by scientists for the crop circles is that they are made by _____.  
A. airplane crashes        
B. air movement
C. unknown flying objects  
D. new farming techniques
阅读理解。
     Education is an expensive part of American life. Its size is matched by its variety. Differences in
American schools compared with those found in the majority of other countries lie in the fact that
education here has long been intended for everyone. Schools are expected to meet the needs of every
child, regardless of ability, and also the needs of society itself. This means that public schools offer more
than academic subjects. It surprises many people when they come here to find high schools offering such
courses as typing, sewing, radio repair, computer programming or driver training, along with traditional
academic subjects such as mathematics, history, and languages.  Students choose their courses
depending on their interests, future goals, and level of ability. The basic goal of American education is to
develop every child to the utmost of his or her own possibilities, and to give each one a sense of
community.
     Schools have traditionally played an important role in creating national unity and "Americanizing" the
millions of immigrants who have poured into this country from many different backgrounds and origins.
Schools still play a large role in the community, especially in the small towns.
     The teaching may seem unfamiliar to many, not only because it is informal, but also because there is
not much emphasis on learning facts.  Instead, Americans try to teach their children to think for themselves and to develop their own intellectual and creative abilities. Students spend much time learning how to use
materials, libraries, statistics, and computers. Americans believe that if children are taught to reason well
and to research well, they will be able to find whatever facts they need throughout the rest of their lives.
Knowing how to solve problems is considered more important than the accumulation (积累) of facts.
     This is America's answer to the searching question that thoughtful parents all over the world are asking
themselves in the fast-moving time, "How can one prepare today's child for a tomorrow that one can
neither predict nor understand?"  
1. The underlined words "reason well" probably means _____
A. persuade firmly          
B. list the reasons clearly
C. think logically            
D. conclude immediately
2. It is implied in the passage that _____. 
A. all high-school students take the same courses
B. every student must take practical ability training courses
C. every public school offers the same academic subjects
D. the subjects every student takes may vary
3. American schools place great emphasis on the learners' _____.
A. knowledge              
B. accumulation of facts
C. creativity                
D. ability to work with hands
4. What makes American education different from others'? 
A. The large number of schools.  
B. The variety of the courses.
C. Its consideration for immigrants.
D. The basic goal of the education.
阅读理解。
     根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项，选项中有两项
为多余选项。
                                                                 Studying abroad     
      1._____     Semester, summer, and year-long programs allow you to attend school, take intensive 
language courses, or perform community service in another country. Read on to learn more about study 
abroad programs.
     Why Study Abroad? Besides the excitement of travel, one reason to study abroad is that you will 
experience new customs, holidays, foods, art, music, and politics firsthand. "Obviously, I learned the
 language and am now fluent.  2._____   " says Andrew, who studied in Poitiers, France.     
     3._____  Christina studied in Caracas, Venezuela, a city of 10 million people and a huge change from
 her hometown of 35,000! Christina says she learned how to better stand up for herself and her beliefs 
and to express herself in another language. What could make you more confident than that?
     Living away from home can also help you adjust in the transition to college and adulthood. Matthew 
says he returned from studying in Australia with confidence, social skills, and a genuine interest in 
international affairs that really set him apart from his peers. "   4._____    "
     And speaking of college, improving your language skills might help you get into choice colleges and 
even land future jobs. Colleges and employers know that studying abroad provides leadership skills in a 
world that is increasingly globally interconnected.     
    5._____     You're not likely to suffer from disappointment, depression or general boredom while 
you're studying in a different learning environment.
A. Most of all, it's fun!
B. Finally, it is really a thrill to experience a different culture.
C. Another reason for studying abroad is that you'll gain self-confidence.
D. But the most important is that you can visit so many world-famous attractions.
E. But perhaps more important was how much I learned about cultures, people, and myself.
F. After having gone abroad in high school, I found the transition to college to be a piece of cake.
G. Join a study abroad program, where high school and college students live with a host family in 
    a foreign country.
阅读理解。
     The best way to come first is to go last. An analysis of almost 50 years of competitions—including
 Eurovision Song Contests and world skating championships—has found that contestants are more likely
 to win if they are among the last to appear before the judges.    
     The study by an American university appears to provide scientific proof that the best man, or woman, 
does not always win.    
     It found that, on average, the last competitor to appear in the Eurovision Song Contest was more than
 twice as likely to win as the one who went on first.    
     The first rounds of figure-skating championships, for which the running order is selected at random, 
showed more dramatic results. The final skater had a 14 percent chance of victory, making him or her
 more than four times as likely to win as the first skater.    
     The study showed a gradual worsening of chances for competitors who appeared earlier in the
 running order. A contestant who appears first in a contest is two percent less likely to win than one who
 appears second. A contestant who appears second is two percent less likely to win than one who
 appears third, and so on.    
     The findings are published in the March issue of Acta Psychologica, a scientific journal.    
     Robert Hardman, a senior lecturer in psychology at London Metropolitan University who specializes 
in the science of decision-making, said that the results were interesting. He suggested that the effect was
 caused by the limitations of the human memory.    
     "When people make comparisons, they aren't really able to make a lot of fine-grade discrimination. 
When contestants appear at the beginning of a contest, judges have little to compare them to and are 
perhaps wary (谨慎的) of the scores they give," he said.    
     "Later on, when judges are able to compare the contestants to those that have gone before, they
 might give more extreme marks because they feel more confident about their judgments." 
1. Robert Hardman's words mainly tell about his  _____.   
A. own achievement in the research
B. explanation for the findings   
C. suggestion to solve the problem
D. comments on the findings
2. The first skater in the first round of figure skating championships had about a   ____ percent
     chance of winning.  
A. two          
B. three            
C. four             
D. five
3. According to the study, the best competitor does not always win possibly because  he/she  _____ .  
A. fails to show his/her very best
B. is mistakenly put in the running order   
C. meets with unfair judges
D. appears too early before the judges
4. Judging from the context, the underlined word "worsening" in the 5th paragraph should mean _____  .   
A. decrease in number
B. increase in degree  
C. reduction in possibility             
D. rising in quantity
5. What may be a problem with the judges according to the article?   
A. They can't remember things well enough.   
B. They believe the first is seldom the best.    
C. They don't really know what is good.   
D. They show favor towards the contestants they like.
阅读理解。
     Meals at the family dinner table could be the key to preventing a generation of  teenage girls from
developing eating disorders (紊乱).
     New research shows girls who regularly have family meals are much less likely to adopt extreme
weight-control behaviors such as vomiting, and using diet pills.
     The research, published in the international journal Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent
Medicine, surveyed students aged 13 to 17 in 2003 and followed them up five years later. Regular
family meals were found to have a protective effect regardless of the age, weight, socioeconomic status,
dieting habit or relationship with the family.
     Belinda Dalton, director of the eating disorder clinic The Oak House, said eating with family helped
"normalize" young people's relationship with food.
     "When teens are feeling that they are not managing, they turn to something that they can control and
food is something available and accessible for them to control. Clearly, if they are sitting with their family
on a regular basis, then their family can be more in control of their eating," Ms Dalton said.
     "It's about young people feeling connected within their family, and that builds self-esteem and a sense
of worth and works very actively against someone developing an eating disorder.
     An eating disorder expert, Kirsty Greenwood, said meal times were often difficult for sufferers. "It's
typical that they feel very ashamed of their eating habits and often won't eat with other people. Perhaps
it's because they haven't experienced the important of the family meal while growing up," she said.
     The study found eating regular family meals made no difference to the future eating habits of boys.
1. The author writes this passage with the purpose of _______.
A. stressing the necessity of family meals for the teenage girls
B. showing the results of a research
C. providing some suggestions on family dinner
D. presenting the difference in eating habits between boys and girls
2. Which of following is NOT a benefit of regular family meals?
A. They decrease the trend towards extreme weight control behaviors
B. They can help girls to have a better relationship with food
C. They can help girls to work against the development of an eating disorder.
D. They provide girls with the chance of getting control of food.
3. What does the underlined "that" in Paragraph 6 refer to?
A. Young people
B. Having a good relationship with the family
C. Feeling connected with the family
D. Self-esteem and a sense of worth
4. We can infer from the text that ______.
A. Ms Dalton advises parents to get children under full control
B. Kirsty Greenwood suggests that the time for meals be fixed
C. the effect of regular family meals on boys differs from that on girls
D. experience is more important than indirect knowledge
阅读理解。
     With the Tesla Roadster and other plugin (插入式) electric vehicles hitting the road, demand is
growing for accessible refueling points to recharge them. Carbon Day Automotive,a Chicagobased
company,has now demonstrated a solarpowered recharging point,known as the Solar PlugIn Station,
which lets motorists easily charge their cars using electricity that has been produced without any
environmental damage.
     The Solar PlugIn Station has gone on show in Chicago as part of the city's bid to host the 2016
Olympic Games. According to Carbon Day Automotive,the Solar PlugIn Station on show in Chicago
is part of the vital infrastructure (基础设施) required for electric vehicles in Chicago and was the focus
of a recent visit by the International Olympic Committee.
     These solarpowered electricity points will be used daily to fuel the city's electric vehicles with power
from the sun. By producing the electricity from pollutionfree solar cell,the CO2 emissions are reduced to
zero.
"Solar energy and electric vehicles are a partnership that is one more step to reducing our dependence
on foreign oil," says Richard Lowenthal,CEO of Coulomb Technologies. Coulomb Technologies recently
developed the components (部件) required for individual recharging stations,marketed as ChargePoint
Networked Charging Stations. Carbon Day Automotive is the Midwest distributor for the ChargePoint
stations.
     The Solar PlugIn Station consists of giant solar panels (电池板) that shade the tiny ChargePoint
Networked Charging Station. The solar panel is connected to an underground battery pack,ready for
everyday refueling.
     "Without these stations it would be like driving around in a traditional car without the availability of
gas stations," says Scott Emalfarb,CEO at Carbon Day."The day of true plugin electric vehicles will be
here sooner than most people realize and the world needs to be ready to accommodate them."
1. The Solar PlugIn Station is used as part of the bid to host the Olympics mainly because ______.
A. it's environmentally friendly
B. it makes up for the lack of electricity
C. it's a new idea and attracts people's attention
D. it brings convenience to electric vehicle users
2. The passage implies that when the Solar PlugIn Station becomes popular,________.
A. more visitors will come to Chicago
B. more space for electric vehicles will be needed
C. the citizens of Chicago will be able to go to work faster
D. the cost of electric vehicles will be lower than traditional cars
3. What would be the best title for the passage?
A. Chicago Will Soon Be Full of Electric Vehicles
B. Chicago Calls on People to Buy Electric Vehicles
C. Chicago Fights for Its Bid to Host the 2016 Olympics
D. Chicago Shows Its Solarpowered Recharging Stations
阅读理解。
     British paychologists have found evidence of a link between excessive (过度的) Internet use and
depression, a research has shown.
     Leeds University researchers, writing in the Psychopathology journal, said a small part of Internet
users were classed as Internet addicts and that people in this group were more likely to be depressed
than non-addicted users.
     The article on the relationship between excessive Internet use and depression is from a
questionnaire-based study of 1,319 young people and adults.
     The respondents answered questions about how much time they spent on the Internet and what they
used it for; they also complete the Beck Depression Inventory---a series of questions designed to
measure the seriousness of depression.
     The six-page report,by the university's Institute of Psychological Science, said 18 of the people who
complete the questionnaire were Internet addict."Our research indicates that excessive Internet use is
associated with depression, but what we don't know is which comes first-are depressed people drawn
to the Internet or does the Internet cause depression?" the article's lead author Dr Catriona Morrison
said."What is clear is that, for a small part of people, excessive use of the Internet could be warning signal
for depressive tendencies."
     The age range of all respondents was between 16 and 51 years, with an average age of 21.24. The
average age of the 18 Internet addicts was 18.3 years. By comparing the levels of depression within this
group to that within a group of 18 non-addicted Internet users, researchers found the Internet addicts
had a higher chance of developing depression than non-addicts. They also discovered that addicts spent
more time visiting sexually pleasing website, online gaming sites and online communities.
     "The public speculation (推测) was further proved by this study. That's to say, over-engaging in
websites which serve to replace normal social function might be linked to psychological disorders like
depression and addiction," Morrison said."We now need to consider the wider social influence of this
relationship and clearly prove the effects of excessive Internet use on mental health."
1. Internet addicts are people who ______ according to the passage.
A. use the Internet more than enough     
B. feel depressed when using the Internet
C. seldom connect to the Internet        
D. feel depressed without the Internet
2. What is confirmed by the study according to the passage?
A. Depression leads to excessive use of Internet
B. Depression results from excessive use of Internet
C. Excessive use of internet usually accompanies depression
D. Excessive use of internet is usually earlier to depression
3. It is thought by the public that online communities______.
A. can never replace normal social function
B. are intended to replace normal social function
C. are associated with psychological disorders
D. shouldn't take the blame for psychological disorders
4. According to Dr Catriona Morrison, the public speculation________.
A. lacks scientific evidence      
B. helps clarify their study
C. finds a theoretical basis      
D. has little scientific value
阅读理解。
     Since the 1970s, scientists have been searching for ways to link the brain with computers.
Brain-computer interface (界面) (BCI) technology could help people with disabilities send commands
to machines.
     Recently, two researchers, Jose Milan and Michele Tavella from the Federal Polytechnic school in
Lausanne, Switzerland, demonstrated (展示)a small robotic wheelchair directed by a person's thoughts.
     In the laboratory, Tavella operated the wheelchair just by thinking about moving his left or right hand.
He could even talk as he watched the vehicle and guided it with his thoughts.
     "Our brain has billions of nerve cells. These send signals through the spinal cord (脊髓) to the muscles
to give us the ability to move. But spinal cord injuries or other conditions can prevent these weak electrical signals from reaching the muscles," Tavella says.  "Our system allows disabled people to communicate
with external world and also to control devices."
     The researchers designed a special cap for the user. This head cover picks up the signals from the
scalp (头皮) and sends them to a computer. The computer interprets the signals and commands the
motorized wheelchair. The wheelchair also has two cameras that identify objects in its path. They help
the computer react to commands from the brain.
     Prof. Milan, the team leader, says scientists keep improving the computer software that interprets
brain signals and turns them into simple commands. "The practical possibilities that BCI technology offers
to disabled people can be grouped in two categories: communication, and controlling devices. One
example is this wheelchair."
     He says his team has set two goals. One is testing with real patients, so as to prove that this is a
technology they can benefit from. And the other is to guarantee that they can use the technology over
long periods of time.
1. BCI is a technology that can _______.

A. help to update computer systems      
B. link the human brain with computers
C. help the disabled to recover          
D. control a person's thoughts

2. How" did Tavella operate the wheelchair in the laboratory?
A. By controlling his muscles.            
B. By talking to the machine.
C. By moving his hand.                  
D. By using his mind.
3. Which of the following shows the path of the signals described in Paragraph 5?
A. scalp→computer→cap→wheelchair
B. computer→cap→scalp→wheelchair
C. scalp→cap→computer→wheelchair
D. cap→computer→scalp→wheelchair
4. The team will test with real patients to _____.
A. make profits from them          
B. prove the technology useful to them
C. make them live longer           
D. learn about their physical condition
5. Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
A. Switzerland, the BCI Research Center ks5u
B. New Findings About How the Human Brain Works
C. BCI Could Mean More Freedom for the Disabled
D. Robotic Vehicles Could Help to Cure Brain Injuries
阅读理解。
     Why should mankind explore space? Why should money, time and effort be spent exploring and
researching something with so few apparent benefits? Why should resources be spent on space rather
than on conditions and people on Earth? These are questions that, understandably, are very often asked.
     Perhaps the best answer lies in our genetic makeup (基因构成) as human beings. What drove our
ancestors to move from the trees into the plains, and on into all possible areas and environments? The
wider the spread of a species, the better its chance of survival. Perhaps the best reason for exploring
space is this genetic tendency to expand wherever possible.
Nearly every successful civilization has explored, because by doing so, any dangers in surrounding areas
can be identified and prepared for. Without knowledge, we may be completely destroyed by the danger. With knowledge, we can lessen its effects.
      Exploration also allows minerals and other potential (潜在的) resources to be found. Even if we
have no immediate need of them, they will perhaps be useful later. Resources may be more than physical
possessions. Knowledge or techniques have been acquired through exploration. The techniques may
have medical applications which can improve the length or quality of our lives. We have already benefited
from other spin-offs including improvements in earthquake prediction, in satellites for weather
forecasting and in communications systems. Even non-stick pans and mirrored sunglasses are by-products (副产品)  of technological developments in the space.
     While many resources are spent on what seems a small return, the exploration of space allows creative, brave and intelligent members of our species to focus on what may serve to save us. While space may
hold many wonders and explanations of how the universe was formed or how it works, it also holds
dangers. The danger exists, but knowledge can help human beings to survive. Without the ability to reach
out across space, the chance to save ourselves might not exist.
     While Earth is the only planet known to support life, surely the adaptive ability of humans would allow
us to live on other planets. It is true that the lifestyle would be different, but human life and cultures have
adapted in the past and surely could in the future.
1. Why does the author mention the questions in Paragraph 1?
A. To express his doubts.
B. To compare different ideas.
C. To introduce points for discussion.
D. To describe the conditions on Earth.
2. What is the reason for exploring space based on Paragraph 2?
A. Humans are nature-born to do so.  
B. Humans have the tendency to fight.
C. Humans may find new sources of food.
D. Humans don't like to stay in the same place.
3. The underlined word "spin-offs" in Paragraph 4 probably refers to______.

A. survival chances  
B. unexpected benefits
C. potential resources
D. physical possessions

4. What makes it possible for humans to live on other planets?
A. The adaptive ability of humans.
B. Resources on the earth..
C. Our genetic makeup.
D. By-products in space exploration.
5. Which of the statements can best sum up the passage?
A. Space exploration has created many wonders.
B. Space exploration provided the best value for money.
C. Space exploration can benefit science and technology.
D. Space exploration may help us avoid potential problems on Earth.
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