A few degrees can make a big difference when it comes to food storage. Foods can go bad if they get too warm. But for many of the world’s poor, finding a good way to keep food cool is difficult. Refrigerators are costly and they need electricity.

       Yet spoiled food not only creates health risks but also economic losses. Farmers lose money when they have to throw away products that they can not sell quickly.

       But in 1995, a teacher in northern Nigeria named Mohammed Bath Abba found a solution. He developed the “Pot-in-Pot Preservation/Cooling System”. It uses two round containers made of clay. A smaller pot is placed inside a larger one.

       The space between the two pots is filled with wet sand. The inner pot can be filled with fruit, vegetables or drinks. A piece of wet cloth covers the whole cooling system.

       Food stored in the smaller pot is kept from spoiling through a simple evaporation (蒸发) process. Water in the sand between the two pots evaporates through the surface of the larger pot, where drier outside air is moving.

       The evaporation process creates a drop in temperature of several degrees. This cools the inner pot and helps keep food safe from harmful bacteria. Some foods can be kept fresh this way for several weeks.

       People throughout Nigeria began using the invention. And it became popular with farmers in other African countries. Mohammed Bah Abba personally financed (资助) the first five thousand pot-in-pot systems for his own community and five villages nearby.

       In 2000, the Rolex Watch Company of Switzerland honored him with the Rolex Award for Enterprise. This award recognizes people trying to develop projects aimed at improving human knowledge and well-being.

       A committee considers projects in science and medicine, technology, exploration and discovery, the environment and cultural history. Winners receive financial assistance to help develop and extend their projects.

       The award is given every two years. The next one will be given in 2008.

77. According to the text, why will the food in the inner pot not go bad?

       A. The temperature is lower than the outside.

       B. Both of the pots are made of clay.

       C. It is covered with a wet cloth.

       D. Drier air is moving outside the pots.

78. What makes foods go bad if they get too warm according to the text?

       A. The water in the food.                           B. The air around the food.

       C. The harmful bacteria.                           D. The writer doesn’t mention it.

79. Rolex Watch Company gave Mohammed Bah Abba an award because ______________ .

       A. he saved lots of energy like electricity

B. he made a contribution to common people

       C. he was more than a good teacher

       D. he made a great discovery in Africa

80. From the text we can infer this article was probably written in _______________.

       A. 1995                    B. 2000                    C. 2004                    D. 2007

History is full of cases where dreams have been a pathway to creativity and discovery. A striking example is provided by Dr.Otto Loewi, a pharmacologist and winner of a Nobel Prize. Loewi had spent years studying the chemical transmission of nerve impulses (神经脉冲). A great breakthrough in his research came when he dreamed of an experiment three nights in a row. The first two nights he woke up and wrote down the experiment quickly and untidily on paper. But the next morning, he couldn’t tell what the notes meant. On the third night, he got up after having the dream. This time, instead of making notes he went straight to his laboratory and performed the important experiment. Loewi later said that if the experiment had occurred to him while awake he would have rejected it.

       Loewi’s experiment gives some insight into using dreams to produce creative solutions. Nervous feelings are reduced during dreaming, which may be especially useful in solving problems that require a fresh point of view.

       Being able to take advantage of dreams for solving is improved if you “set” yourself before retiring. Before you go to bed, try to think intently about a problem you wish to solve. Bury yourself in the problem by stating it clearly and reviewing all relevant information. Then use the suggestions listed in the previous section to catch your dreams. Although this method is not guaranteed (保证) to produce a creative solution or a new insight, it is certain to be an adventure. About half of a group of college students using the method for a week recalled a dream that helped them solve a personal problem.

69. The main idea of this passage is that _______.

A. very little is really known about the meaning of dreams

B. it is possible to “catch” one’s dreams by planning before going to sleep

C. dreams can be useful in producing creative solutions to one’s problems         

D. Loewi’s experiment helped in the study of transmission of nerve impulses

70. The first paragraph is mainly organized by _________________________.

A. sorting out types of experiments         

B. summarizing the work of one researcher

C. comparing and exploring historical cases  

D. telling in time order about one man’s research

71. If Loewi had thought of the experiment while awake, he would have _______________.

A. asked someone else to do it             B. thought it was a bad idea

C. tried it out on his own                 D. thought it was a wise idea

72. The author seems to support the idea of __________________ according to the passage.

A. seeking creative solutions to certain problems  

B. avoiding doing scientific experiments

C. reviewing relevant information during dreams            

D. becoming a famous scientist through dream experiments

2009 is the year of what? Yes, it’s the year of the Ox. But do you know that 2009 is also the year of the telescope? This year the world celebrates the 400^th anniversary of Galileo’s observations of the universe through an astronomical telescope (天文望远镜). In 1609, the Italian scientist first pointed a “Dutch perspective glass” at the night sky and made discoveries that changed mankind’s conceptions of the universe.

In honor of Galileo’s discoveries, the United Nations and the International Astronomical Union have declared 2009 to be the International Year of Astronomy (IYA 2009).

IYA 2009 is a yearlong celebration of astronomy. Its goal is to spread knowledge of astronomy’s contributions to society and culture and to inspire more interest in astronomy and science, especially among young people. The theme of the celebration is “The Universe, Yours to Discover.”

One interesting aim of the IYA is to encourage more diversity (多样性) in the field of astronomy and physics. IYA organizers hope that the yearlong celebration of astronomy will inspire more females and underrepresented minorities to pursue (追求) careers in science. An event that will help further that goal is 100 Hours of Astronomy (100 HA) that will fall on April. This event aims to have as many people as possible look through a telescope. From April 2^nd to 5^th, millions of people worldwide will peer through telescopes to catch their first glimpse (一瞥) of the universe, just as Galileo’s did 400 years ago. Sidewalk astronomy events will give city-dwellers (城市居民) an excellent opportunity to see the moon, the planet Saturn, and other objects in position for early evening observations.

Organizers hope that the activities of IYA will “promote (促进) a greater appreciation of the astronomy.” So join the fun. Look through a telescope this year!

65. What does the article mainly talk about?

   A. The celebrations in IYA 2009.       

   B. The activities on the 400^th anniversary of Galileo.

   C. The event of 100 Hours of Astronomy. 

   D. How to spread knowledge of astronomy.

66. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The IYA celebrations will fall on April lasting 100 hours.

B. IYA 2009 is a yearlong celebration to honor Galileo’s discoveries.

C. The aim of 100 HA is to spread knowledge of astronomy’s contributions.

D. People worldwide will have a chance to peer the universe in 100 HA.

67. What can you infer from the article?

A. More young people will take science as their career after a series of IYA events.

   B. Minorities and females take no interest in astronomy.

   C. People will have a better knowledge of the contributions of astronomy.

   D. IYA 2009 is the biggest event that takes place in the year of Ox.

68. What kind of article is it?

  A. A news report.     B. A popular reading.   C. A tourist guide.   D. A science fiction.

A handsome middle-aged man walked quietly into the café and sat down. Before he ordered, he couldn’t help but notice a group of younger men at the table next to him. It was obvious they were making fun of something about him and it wasn’t until he remembered he was wearing a small pink ribbon (丝带) on the lapel of his suit that he became aware of what the joke was all about.

   The man pretended not to notice it, but the whisper and laughter began to get to him. He looked one of the rude young men straight into the eye, placed his hand beneath the ribbon and asked, “This?”

   With that the young men all began to laugh out loud. The man he spoke to said, “Hey, sorry, man, but we were just commenting on how pretty your little pink ribbon looks against your blue jacket!”

   The middle-aged man calmly invited the joker to come over to his table, and politely seated him. As uncomfortable as he was, the young guy had to, not really sure why. In a soft voice, the middle-aged man said, “I wear this ribbon to bring awareness about breast cancer. I wear it in my mother’s honor.”

   “Oh, sorry. She died of breast cancer?”

“No, she didn’t. She’s alive and well. But her breasts nourished me as a baby, and were a soft resting place for my head when I was scared or lonely as a little boy. I’m very grateful for my mother’s breasts, and her health.”

“Umm,” the young replied, “yeah.”

“And I wear this ribbon to honor my wife,” the man continued.

“And she’s okay, too?” the young guy asked.

“Oh, yes. She’s fine. Her breasts have been a great source of loving pleasure for both of us, and with them she nurtured and nourished our daughter 23 years ago. I’m grateful for my wife’s breasts, and her health.”

“Uh, huh. And I guess you wear it to honor your daughter, also?”

“No. It’s too late to honor my daughter by wearing it now …”

Shaken and ashamed, the young guy said, “Oh, I’m so sorry, mister.”

“So, in my daughter’s memory, too, I proudly wear this little ribbon, which allows me the opportunity to enlighten others. And here…” With this, he reached in his pocket and handed the young man a little pink ribbon. The young guy looked at it, slowly raised his head and asked, “…?”      

61. The young men joked about the middle-aged man’s __________________.

A. looks               B. ribbon                    C. attitude                D. clothes

62. What may have happened to the man’s daughter?

A. She died of breast canner.                B. She was very ill with cancer.

   C. She had gone abroad.                        D. She got married and left home.

63. What will the young man probably ask?

   A. May I give it to my mother?              B. Can you help me put it on?

   C. Will you please forgive me?              D. Shall we have some drink together?

64. What is the best title for the passage?

   A. An Unusual Meeting.                        B. An Impressive Lesson.

   C. Be Grateful to Your Beloved.             D. Little Pink Ribbon

September 4 was my first day at Philips Academy, my new school. it was also my 18^th birthday. 

I received a warm ___41___ from my host family ― the Steins. Gena was my host mum, and her daughter Lily would also be a new ___42___ at Phillips. They took me to the school and ____43____ me around the campus. 

On our way to my dorm (学生宿舍), we saw a huge truck delivering a student’s bag to her room. Many students at the school were very  ___44____, and they would fill their dorms with decorations. But I was ___45___ not to because I thought it was a ___46___ of time and money. 

I had a single room, which was about the ____47____ of a Chinese college dorm ― the ones which usually hold six people. 

____48____ she helped carry my bags, Lily asked me, “What’s your favorite ___49____, Teresa?”

I thought for a moment before answering, “ Orange. ”

I didn’t know why she had asked the question. 

We ____50____  an introduction meeting after dinner. ____51_____ of the students were native English speakers, so I felt a little _____52_____. 

I returned to my room after the ____53____, tired and wanted to go to bed after a(n)  ___54____ day. 

When I opened my door, I found a big ____55_____. The bed was perfectly made with blankets and an orange sunflower pillow. On the ___56____ was a sunflower-pattern mat (垫子) while a colorful lamp ____57_____ beside the bed. 

I opened my mouth, ____58_____. How beautiful!

There was also a  ___59____ card. I touched the little pillow on the bed as I read the card. A warm current (暖流) rushed through my ____60_____. 

 He was just about to cross the street __________ a car raced by at a high speed.

   A. while           B. before         C. when            D. until

-- It’s a good idea. But who’s going to ______________ the plan?

--I believe Jim and Tim will.

   A. set aside         B. help out       C. fit in             D. carry out 

 Designed for adults only, the programme is not ____________ for children.

   A. suitable         B. aware         C. beneficial         D. comfortable

I ____________ up around 7 o’clock, but now I’m quite _________ up at 6 am.

A. used to get; used to getting          B. was used to get; used to getting

C. used to get; used to get               D. used to getting; used to getting

Mr. Marvell is said __________________ many countries, including China.

   A. have visited      B. to visit        C. to have visited     D. to be visited