American beekeeping operations have been hit hard by what scientists call Colony Collapse Disorder. Almost half of their worker bees have disappeared during the past season. C.C.D. has also been reported in Israel, Europe and South America. Bees fly away from the hive and never return. Sometimes they are found dead; other times they are never found. Many crops and trees depend on pollination （授粉） by bees to help them grow.

    A new report says virus may be at least partly responsible for the disorder in honey bee colonies in the United States. This virus is called Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus. It was first identified in Israel in 2004. Ian Lipkin at Columbia University in New York and a team reported the new findings in Science magazine. Doctor Lipkin says the virus may not be the only cause. He says it may work with other causes to produce the collapse disorder.

    The team found the virus in colonies with the help of a map of honey bee genes that was published last year. They examined thirty colonies affected by the disorder. They found evidence of the virus in twenty – five of them, and in one healthy colony. The next step is further testing of healthy hives.

    The researchers suggested that the United States may have imported the disorder in bees from Australia. They say the bees may carry the virus but not be affected.

    The idea is that unlike many American bees, the ability of Australian bees to fight disease has not been hurt by the varroa mite. This insect attacks honey bees, which could make the disorder more likely to affect a hive. Australian bee producers reject these suspicions.

    And some researchers suspect that bee production in the United States is down mainly because of the weather. Honey bees gather nectar（花蜜） from flowers and trees. The sweet liquid gives them food and material to make honey. But cold weather this spring in the Midwest reduced the flow of nectar in many flowers. Many bees may have starved. Dry weather in areas of the country could also be playing a part.

    Wayne Esaias is a NASA space agency scientist who keeps bees in his free time. He lives in central Maryland, where he has found that flowers are blooming a month earlier than they did in 1970, which may be partly responsible for the disorder. Wayne Esaias is organizing a group of beekeepers to document nectar flow around the country.

What is the author’s attitude to the causes of the bee disorder?

    A. critical         B. neutral

    C. supportive      D. negative

What is the passage mainly about?

    A. American beekeeping industry has been strongly influenced by the bee disorder.

    B. Studies are being carried out on the causes of the bee disorder, but questions remain.

    C. How the causes of the bee disorder in U.S have been found.

    D. The bee production in U.S is down.

How many possibilities may be involved in the bee disorder according to the passage?

    A. Three    B. Four C. Five D. Six

We can infer that         from the passage.

    A. Israeli acute paralysis virus should be responsible for the disorder.

    B. The solution to the disorder will be found eventually.

    C. American bees are more likely to defend themselves against hurt from other insects than Australian ones.

    D. Many crop and plant production in U.S may be influenced by the bee disorder.

短文改错（共10小题，每小题10分，满分10分）

假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换个性作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除、或修改。

增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号 ，并在其下面写出该加的单词。

删除：把多余的词用斜线（﹨）划掉。

修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写上修改后的词。

注意：1.每处错误以及修改均仅限一词。

2.只允许修改10处， 从第11处不计分。

In order to realize his dream, Bill Gates, richest man in the world, gave up studying in Harvard University, that is the most famous in the world. He set up a company and researching the computer software. As an old saying go, “Interest is the best teacher.” I quite agree with this idea. I began to be crazy about English when I was a little girl. I got interesting in foreign cultures or customs. To meet me curiosity, I read English stories every day. It seemed to be the best “meal” of a day. As a result, I always did extreme well in English exam. Interest is the key of success.

I _____ to get in touch with Tony, my childhood friend, but without success. .

A. adapted       B. adopted       C. attempted      D. appealed

—-Hurry up! There's a bus coming!

    —Why run? There will be __   ___ one in two or three minutes．

        A．another          B．other       C．the other   D．any other

Reading provides the mind only with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes ________ we read ours.

    A. that               B. what           C. which             D. it

— I regret to say that I          have shouted at you the other day．

— Forget it． I was a bit out of control myself．  

    A． shouldn't   B． mustn't C． couldn't    D． mightn't

There is even an animal whose tail will _____ so that it can run away if someone grabs it.

 A. break down     B. break up        C. break out     D. break off

He makes it a         to put some money aside each month.

    A．principal    B．principle    C．essential    D．discipline

The magnificent tower must be saved, ________ the cost!

A. however      B. whichever            C. whatever             D. wherever

One of the most important things in education is to let students ____ positive emotions and experience in the process of their learning.

A. require     B. acquire     C. demand     D. clarify