(07·天津D篇)

In meditation(冥想)，people sit quietly and focus their attention on their breath .As they breathe in and out ,they attend to their feelings .As thoughts go through their minds. they let them go. Breathe. Let go. Breathe. Let go.

According to a recent study at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, three months of training in this kind of meditation causes a market change in how the brain allocates(分配) attention. It appears that the ability to let go thoughts that come into mind frees the brain to attend to more rapidly changing things and events in the outside world. Expert mediators are better than other people at catching such fast-changing stimuli( 刺激),like facial expressions.

The study provides evidence for changes in the workings of the brain with mental training. People can learn and improve abilities of all sorts with practice. everything from driving to playing the piano. The study has shown that meditation is good for the brain ,It appears to reduce pressure and promote a sense of well-being.

In an experiment ,17 volunteers with no meditation experience in the experimental group spent three months meditating 10 to 12 hours a day .A control group also with no meditation experience meditated for 20 minutes a day over the same period .Both groups were then given the tests with two numbers in a group of letters. As both group looked for the numbers ,their brain activity was recorded.

Everyone could catch the first number .But the brain  recordings showed that the less experienced mediators tended to grasp the first number and hang onto it ,so they missed the second number .Those with more experience gave less attention to the first number .as if letting it go ,which led to an increased ability to grasp the second number ,This shows that attention can change with practice.

Just ask Daniel Levision, who meditated for three months as part of the study .”I am a much better listener,” he said. “I do not get lost in my own personal reaction to what people are saying.”

48.   The underlined word “them” in Paragraph 1 refers to ________.

A. feelings              B. minds               C. people                    D. thoughts

49.   Meditations manage their daily tasks better because they ________.

A. are given less pressure                        B. allocate their attention better

C. have more stimuli for life                           D. practice them more frequently

50. In the experiment ,volunteers doing meditation for longer hours ________.

A. were more likely to catch both of the members

     B. were used to memorizing numbers in groups

     C. usually ignored the first number observed

     D. paid more attention to numbers than to letters

51. The study proves that ________.

   A. meditation improves one’s health

   B. brain activity can be recorded

   C. human attention can be trained

   D. mediators have a good sense of hearing

 (07·北京B篇)

The Book Of Life

So far,scientists have named about 1.8 million living species(物种),and that’s just a small number of what probably exists on Earth.With so many plants,animal,and other living things covering the planet,it can be tough to figure out what type of grass is growing by the roadside or what kind of bird just flew by.

A soon-to-be-started Web site might help.An international team of researchers has announced the creation of Web-based Encyclopedia(百科全书) of Life (EoL).The project aims to list every species on Earth in a single,easy-to-use reference guide.

To get the encyclopedia started,the creators will use information from scientific databases(数据库)that already exist.And eventually,in special sections of the site,non-scientists with specialized knowledge will come to helf.Bird-watchers,for example, will be able to input what birds they’ve seen and where. To make sure the encyclopedia is accurate, scientists will review much of the information added to it.

As the EoL develops,you might find it useful for school. Projects,The site will feature    (以。。。。。。为特色) special pages for kids who are studying ecosystems in their neighborhoods.Another convenient feature of the EoL is that you’ll be able to pick the level of detail you want to see to match your interests,age,and knowledgs.

It now takes years for scientists to collect all the data they need to describes and analyze species.The creators of the Encyclopedia of Life hope that their new fool will speed up that process.

60.The Web based EoL aims to ___

A. fine out what covers the earth

B. list all living things on Earth

C.work out the number of birds

D.save the existing plants

61.One characteristic of the EoL is that ____

A. it is run by school students

B. it focuses on different types of grass

C. it provides different levels of information

D.it allows non-scientists to review its data

62. In the last paragraph,”that process”means ___

A. analyzing species                        B. creating a new tool

C. collecting data                           D. describing species

 (07·宁夏、海南、全国ⅠB篇)

Many animals recognize their food because they see it. So do humans. When you see an apple or a piece of chocolate you know that these are things you can eat. You can also use other senses when you choose your food. You may like it because it smells good or because it tastes good. You may dislike some types of food because they do not look, smell or taste very nice. Different animals use different senses to find and choose their food. A few animals depend on only one of their senses, while most animals use more than one sense.

Although there are many different types of food, some animals spend their lives eating only one type. The giant panda（大熊猫）eats only one particular type of bamboo（竹子）. Other animals eat only one type of food even when given the choice. A kind of white butterfly（蝴蝶）will stay on the leaves of a cabbage, even though there are plenty of other vegetables in the garden. However, most animals have a more varied diet（多样化饮食）. The bear eats fruits and fish. The fox eats small animals, birds and fruits. The diet of these animals will be different depending on the season.

Humans have a very varied diet. We often eat food because we like it and not because it is good for us. In countries such as France and Britain, people eat foods with too much sugar. This makes them overweight, which is bad for their health. Eating too much red meat and animal products, such as butter, can also be bad for the health. Choosing the right food, therefore, has become an area of study in modern life.

60. We can infer from the text that humans and animals _________.

   A. depend on one sense in choosing food        B.  are not satisfied with their food

   C. choose food in similar ways                D. eat entirely different food

61. Which of the following eats only one type of food?

   A. The white butterfly.                       B. The small bird.

   C. The bear.                                D. The fox.

62. Certain animals change their choice of food when ___________.

   A. the season changes                        B. the food color changes

   C. they move to different places                D. they are attracted by different smells

63. We can learn from the last paragraph that __________.

   A. food is chosen for a good reason            B. French and British food is good

   C. some people have few choices of food       D. some people care little about healthy diet

 (07·山东D篇)

Sports shoes that out whether their owner has enough exercise to warrant time in front of the

television have been devised in the UK.

The shoes — named Square Eyes — contain an electronic pressure sensor and a tiny

computer chip to record how many steps the wearer has taken in a day. A wireless transmitter

passes the information to a receiver connected to a television, and this decides how much evening

viewing time the wearer deserves, based on the day’s efforts.

The design was inspired by a desire to fight against the rapidly ballooning waistlines among

British teenagers, says Gillian Swan, who developed Square Eyes as a final year design project at

Brunel University to London, UK. “We looked at current issues and childhood overweight really

stood out,” she says. “And I wanted to tackle that with my design.”

Once a child has used up their daily allowance gained through exercise, the television

automatically switches off. And further time in front of the TV can only be earned through more

steps.

Swan calculated how exercise should translate to television time using the recommended daily amounts of both. Health experts suggest that a child take 12,000 steps each day and watch no more than two hours of television. So, every 100 steps recorded by the Square Eyes shoes equals

precisely one minute of TV time.

Existing pedometers （计步器） normally clip onto a belt or slip into a pocket and keep count of steps by measuring sudden movement. Swan says these can be easily tricked into recording steps through shaking. But her shoe has been built to be harder for lazy teenagers to cheat. “It is possible, but it would be a lot of effort,” she says. “That was one of my main design considerations.”

71．According to Swan, the purpose of her design project is to ________.

A．keep a record of the steps of the wearer

B．deal with overweight among teenagers

C．enable children to resist the temptation of TV

D．prevent children from being tricked by TV programs

72．Which of the following is true of Square Eyes shoes?

A．They regulate a child’s evening TV viewing time.

B．They determine a child’s daily pocket money.

C．They have raised the hot issue of overweight.

D．They contain information of the receiver.

73．What is stressed by health experts in their suggestion?

A．The exact number of steps to be taken.

B．The precise number of hours spent on TV.

C．The proper amount of daily exercise and TV time.

D．The way of changing steps into TV watching time.

74．Compared with other similar products, the new design ________.

A．makes it difficult for lazy teenagers to cheat

B．counts the wearer’s steps through shaking

C．records the sudden movement of the wearer

D．sends teenagers’ health data to the receiver

75．Which of the following would be the best title for the text?

A．Smart Shoes Decide on Television Time

B．Smart Shoes Guarantee More Exercise

C．Smart Shoes Measure Time of Exercise

D．Smart Shoes Stop Childhood Overweight

 (07·广东C篇)

Malaria, the world's most widespread parasitic(寄生虫引起的) disease, kills as many as three million people every year—almost all of whom are under five, very poor, and African. In most years, more than five hundred million cases of illness result from the disease, although exact numbers are difficult to assess because many people don't (or can't) seek care. It is not unusual for a family earning less than two hundred dollars a year to spend a quarter of its income on malaria treatment, and what they often get no longer works. In countries like Tanzania, Mozambique, and the Gambia, no family, village, hospital, or workplace can remain unaffected for long.

   Malaria starts suddenly, with violent chills, which are soon followed by an intense fever and, often, headaches. As the parasites multiply, they take over the entire body. Malaria parasites live by eating the red blood cells they infect (感染). They can also attach themselves to blood vessels in the brain. If it doesn't kill you, malaria can happen again and again for years. The disease passed on to humans by female mosquitoes infected with one of four species of parasite. Together, the mosquito and the parasite are the most deadly couple in the history of the earth—and one of the most successful. Malaria has five thousand genes, and its ability to change rapidly to defend itself and resist new drugs has made it nearly impossible to control. Studies show that mosquitoes are passing on the virus more frequently, and there are more outbreaks in cities with large populations. Some of the disease's spread is due to global warming.

    For decades, the first-choice treatment for malaria parasites in Africa has been chloroquine, a chemical which is very cheap and easy to make. Unfortunately, in most parts of the world, malaria parasites have become resistant to it. Successful alternatives that help prevent resistance are already available, but they have been in short supply and are very expensive. If these drugs should fail, nobody knows what would come next.

51. According to paragraph 1, many people don't seek care because___.

A. they are too poor

B. it is unusual to seek care

C. they can remain unaffected for long

D. there are too many people suffering from the disease

52. People suffering from malaria___.

A. have to kill female mosquitoes

B. have ability to defend parasites

C. have their red blood cells infected

D. have sudden fever, followed by chills

53. Which of the following may be the reason for the wide spread of the disease?

A. Its resistance to global warming.

B. Its ability to pass on the virus frequently.

C. Its outbreaks in cities with large populations.

D. Its ability to defend itself and resist new drugs.

54. It can be inferred from the passage that___.

A. no drugs have been found to treat the disease

B. the alternative treatment is not easily available to most people

C. malaria has developed its ability to resist parasites

D. nobody knows what will be the drug to treat the disease

55. Which of the following questions has NOT been discussed in the passage?

A. How can we know one is suffering from malaria?

B. How many people are killed by malaria each year?

C. Why are there so many people suffering from malaria?

D. What has been done to keep people unaffected for long?

 (08·福建E篇)

A new study has found no evidence that sunscreen,commonly used to reduce the risk of skin cancer,actually increases the risk.

Researchers from the University of Iowa based their findings on a review of 18 earlier studies that looked at the association between sunscreen use and melanoma（黑素瘤）.They said that  they  found flaws in studies that had reported associ-

ations between sunscreen use and higher risk of melanoma.

Most health experts believe that by protecting the skin from the harmful effects of the sun,sunscreen helps prevent skin cancer,which is increasing in incidence（发生率）faster than any other cancer in the United States.

But questions have been raised about sunscreen and whether it may have the opposite effect,perhaps by allowing people to remain exposed to the sun longer without burning.

The researchers said that among the problems with some earlier studies is that they often failed to take into account that those people most at risk for skin cancer—people with fair skin and freckles（雀斑），for example—are more likely to use sunscreen.As a result,it may appear that sunscreen users get cancer more often.

The studies,which generally relied on volunteers to recall their sunscreen use, were also unable to prove how well the products had been applied,said the new study.

72.The underlined word“flaws”in the 2nd paragraph most probably means        .

A.evidences                    B.facts                         C.faults                     D.failures

73.People with fair skin and freckles        .

A.seldom use sunscreen                                   B.are more in danger of skin cancer

C.can be free from the harm of the sun          D.often expose themselves to the sun

74.We can learn from the passage that        .

A.sunscreen users get skin cancer more often

B.the volunteers have proved the effect of sunscreen

C.the new study was based on the experiences of volunteers

D.the number of skin cancer patients is increasing in America

75.Which of the following can be the best title for this passage?

A.Sunscreen to Prevent Skin Cancer                 B.Sunscreen to Increase Skin Cancer

C.Skin Cancer Caused by Sunscreen                 D.Skin Cancer Caused by Freckles

 (08·福建D篇)

The global energy crisis is approaching.What can we do?Here are some steps you can take.

Cooling puts the greatest stress on your summer energy bill and the power grid（电网）.Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage,a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort.Clean or replace filters monthly or as needed.

For central air conditioning systems and room air conditioners,look for the ENERGY STAR,the federal government’s symbol for energy efficiency.For central air,purchase the system with the highest possible Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio(SEER).

Use energy-efficient ceiling fans either alone or with air conditioning. Ceiling fans do a great job of circulating air.When used with air conditioning,fans allow you to raise the thermostat（恒温器） and cut costs.Ceiling fans cool people,not rooms,so before you leave,turn off the ceiling fan.

Let a programmable thermostat“remember for you”to automatically adjust the indoor climate with your daily and weekend patterns to reduce cooling bills by up to 10 percent.You can come home to a comfortable house without wasting energy and creating pollution all day while you are at work.

Try to make your home airtight enough to increase your comfort,make your home quieter and cleaner and reduce your cooling costs up to 20 percent.

Cut your air conditioning load,and reduce pollution by planting leafy trees around your home and fixing reflective bricks on your roof.

Close blinds or shades on south- and west- facing windows during the day,fix shading equipment to avoid heat build-up.

Turn off everything not in use:lights,TVs,computers.And use fluorescent bulbs（荧光灯），which provide bright,warm light while using at least two-thirds less energy,producing 70 percent less heat and lasting up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs（白炽灯）.

Drive the car that gets better gas mileage whenever possible if you own more than one vehicle.If you drive 12,500 miles a year,switching 10 percent of your trips from a car that gets 20 miles per gallon to one that gets 30 mpg will save you more than $65 per year.

Carpool.The average U.S.commuter（乘车上班族）could save about $260 a year by sharing cars twice a week with two other people in a car that gets 20.1 mpg—assuming the three passengers share the cost of gas.

68.According to the passage,the thermostat is used to        .

A.make rooms quieter                                   B.control room temperature

C.turn off the air conditioner                   D.reduce room air pollution

69.We can conclude from the passage that the author probably discourages        .

A.planting leafy trees around your home

B.turning off the ceiling fan before you leave your house

C.keeping your south-facing windows open during the day

D.using fluorescent bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs

70.According to the passage,you can save fuel by        .

A.using energy-efficient ceiling fans

B.sharing cars with others on workdays

C.turning off everything not in use

D.reducing 10% of your car trips every year

71.This passage is mainly about        .

A.energy-saving tips                                  B.fuel-saving tips

C.do it yourself tips                                D.environment-protecting tips

 (08·湖南B篇)

Most young architects—particularly those in big cities—can only dream about working in a building of their own.And making that dream come true often means finding a building no one else seems to want,which is exactly what happened to David Yocum and his partner,Brian Bell.Their building is a former automobile electrical-parts firm in Atlanta.From the outside,it looks too old,even something horrible,but open the door and you are in a wide,open courtyard,lined on three sides with rusting(生锈的) walls.

In 2000,Yocum and Bell found this building in the city’s West End.Built in 1947,the structure had been abandoned years earlier and the roof of the main building had fallen down.But the price was right,so Yocum bought it.He spent eight months of his off-hours on demolition(拆除),pulling rubbish out through the roof,because it was too dangerous to go inside the building.The demolition was hard work,but it gave him time to think about what he wanted to do,and“to treasure what was there—the walls,the rust,the light,”Yocum said.“Every season,more paint falls off the walls and more rust develops.It’s like an art installation(装置) in there—a slow-motion show.”

Since the back building had been constructed without windows,an all-glass front was added to the building to give it a view of the courtyard,and skylights were installed in the roof.The back of the building is a working area and a living room for Yocum and his wife.A sort of buffer(缓冲) zone between the front and the back contains a bathroom,a kitchen and a mechanical room,and the walls that separate these zones have openings that allow views through to the front of the studio and the courtyard beyond.

Yocum and Bell,who have just completed an art gallery for the city,feel that the experience from the decoration of their building,focusing on the inside rather than the outside,has influenced their work.It has also given these architects a chance to show how they can make more out of less.

60.According to the passage,it is         for most young architects in big cities

to work in a building of their own.

A.easy                        B.unnecessary            C.unrealistic               D.common

61.Yocum bought the old building because         .

A.it was a bargain to him

B.it was still in good condition

C.it was located in the city center

D.it looked attractive from the outside

62.Working on the old building,Yocum and Bell         .

A.pulled rubbish out through the roof

B.removed the skylights from the bathroom

C.presented a slow-motion show in an art gallery

D.built a kitchen at the back part of the old building

63.It can be inferred from the passage that Yocum and Bell         .

A.benefited a lot from pulling down the roof

B.turned more old buildings into art galleries

C.got inspiration from decorating their old building

D.paid more attention to the outside of the art gallery

64.The main idea of the passage is that         .

A.people can learn a lot from their failures

B.it is worthwhile to spend money on an old building

C.people should not judge things by their appearance

D.creative people can make the best of what they have

 (08·重庆D篇)

Seeing a volcano erupt(喷发) is a wonderful experience,and you can really feel the heat by climbing to the summit(山顶) of Pacaya for a close-up view.There are guided tours every day up this highly active volcano from Antigua.Giving travelers a chance to see Mother Nature at her most powerful.

Pacaya is an easy drive from Antigua,a beautiful city with many colorful houses along its old streets that are turned into art-works during its Holy Week festival.No matter when you come to Antigua,you won’t miss the Pacaya-tour companies.

But climbing Pacaya is no easy job:it is 2,560 metres high,and reaching the summit takes two to three hours of seemingly one-step-forward and two-step-back movements.As you climb,you hear the dull sounds of eruptions high above.Steaming,hot remains from recent eruptions begin to line the path as you near the active summit:the McKenney Cone(火山锥).Just as though you were going to walk over to the edge of the cone,the road turns to the left and up to the relative safety of the old,inactive summit.

Many tours are timed so that you arrive at the cone of the volcano in plenty of time for sunset and the full contrast between the erupting red lava(熔岩) and the darkening sky.On a good day the view from the summit is extremely exciting.The active mouth boils,sending red lava over its sides,and once in a while shoots hot streams up to 100 metres into the air.There is a strong bad smell in the air even if you take care to be upwind of the cone.As evening turns deeper into the night,the burning lava quietly falls down the side of the volcano.For you,too,it is time to get down.

68.What is the main purpose of this passage?

A.To attract tourists to Pacaya.

B.To describe the beauty of Pacaya.

C.To introduce guided tours to Pacaya.

D.To explain the power of nature at Pacaya.

69.Antigua is a city         .

A.where people can enjoy cultural festivals

B.where the daring Pacaya tour starts

C.that gives a close-up view of Pacaya

D.that is famous for its tour companies

70.Climbing to the McKenney Cone,people will         .

A.walk directly to the active summit

B.hear the continuous loud noise from above

C.make greater efforts than to other summits

D.see a path lined with remains of earlier eruptions

71.Many tours are timed for people to         .

A.get down the mountain in time when night falls

B.avoid the smell from the upwind direction of the cone

C.enjoy the fantastic eruption against the darkening sky

D.appreciate the scenery of the 2,560-metre-high mountain

 (08·重庆B篇)

While all my classmates seem to be crazy about a one-way ticket to Mars(火星),

I’d rather say Mars is totally unsuitable for human existence.People won’t have enough food supplies there,and the terrible environment would make it impossible for them to live a long life.Besides,the journey won’t be safe.Can anybody explain to me just why people would go to Mars,never to return?

Steve Minear,UK

Here are the things you can think of:the desire to explore a foreign and unique environment,the excitement of being the first humans to open up a new world,the expectation of fame and glory....For scientists there is another reason.Their observations and research will probably lead to great scientific achievements.

Donal Trollop,Canada

There are already too many people on the Earth.I think that sometime before the end of the century,there will be a human colony(殖民地) on Mars.It will happen when people finally realize that two-way trips to the red planet Mars are unnecessary.Most of the danger of space flight is in the launches(发射) and landings.Cutting the trip home would therefore reduce the danger of accidents,save a lot of money,and open the way to building an everlasting human settlement in another world.

Enough supplies can be sent on ahead.And every two years more supplies and more people will be sent to the new colony.Mars has all the materials for a colony to produce or make everything it needs,and Mars is far more pleasant than the other planets in the outer space.

Paul Davies,USA

60.The main purpose of Steve Minear’s writing is         .

A.to report his classmates’ discussion

B.to invite an answer to his question

C.to explain the natural state of Mars

D.to show his agreement on going to Mars

61.Which of the following best states Donal Trollop’s idea?

A.There is a plan to send humans to Mars.

B.There are many reasons for going to Mars.

C.Scientists become famous by doing research on Mars.

D.It is possible to build an Earth-like environment on Mars.

62.Paul Davies points out that         .

A.humans need only a one-way ticket to Mars

B.two-way trips to Mars will be made safe soon

C.it is easy to reduce the danger and cost of flights to Mars

D.it is cheap to build an everlasting human settlement on Mars

63.What does Paul Davies think of human existence on Mars?

A.Humans will have to bring all they need from the Earth.

B.Humans will find Mars totally unsuitable for living.

C.Humans can produce everything they need.

D.Humans can live longer in the colony on Mars.