Violent gangs. Bar fights. Broken bones. No, we aren’t talking about a late night in Downtown Chico; we’re talking about the things that come to many people’s minds when the word, motorcycle, is mentioned.

Many Chico State students have learned of the convenience of small motorcycles and scooters when it comes to parking on or near campus. Motorcycle parking is something that is available when compared to the amount of vacant automotive parking—something especially valuable when running a bit late for class. Motorcycle-riding students have also learned to appreciate the 50 to 80 average miles per gallon, especially today when it seems as if gasoline prices are shooting up faster and more often than a back alley addict.

Still, some people are reluctant to ride the steel horse. Marc Lewis, a 24-year-old Chico State anthropology student, is one of those people. “I’ve had motorcycles in the past. I know what they’re about. I want another one, for recreational purposes,” Lewis said. The only things holding Lewis back are insurance costs and what he refers to as “unsafe drivers”. Safety and insurance costs certainly are important factors.

Chris Kelley, employee of Cost-U-Less Insurance Center at 166 Cohasset Road, Suite 3, admits that motorcycle insurance can get pricey. The average price per month for Chico State students in their 20s is about $100, Kelley said. “The most expensive rate I’ve ever charged was something like $32,000 a year,” Kelley said. “The guy had a horrible record.”

If a motorcycle is something that you’ve always been curious about but have been frightened by the dangerous image it is often given, try rethinking your position. Motorcycling is one of the most diverse activities in existence. Consider the information you find here a brief introduction to several of the more popular aspects of motorcycle riding.

44. When it comes to motorcycles, one tends to think of ____.

A. a late night in Downtown Chico           B. the horse made of steel

C. the money paid for insurance               D. a horrible image motorcycles give

45. According to the second paragraph, which of the following is NOT true?

A. It is very convenient for students to ride motorcycles.

B. The campus has enough parking place for motorcycles.

C. Students are often late for class riding motorcycles.

D. Motorcycles consume less gasoline.

46. Why are some people unwilling to ride the steel horse?

A. Because they often have their bones broken.

B. Because they are worried about the costly insurance and safety problems.

C. Because they have to pay for the pricey gasoline.

D. Because they don’t want to ride it for entertainment.

47. The writer intends to tell us in the last paragraph that ____.

A. we shouldn’t buy a motorcycle due to the danger it causes

B. many people are frightened by the dangerous image

C. we shouldn’t be curious about the motorcycle any more

D. motorcycles are still popular regardless of the disadvantages

As many as 60,000 people worldwide die each year from too much sun, but simple safety steps could prevent many deaths, according to a World Health Organization report.

The report, released on Wednesday, was treated as the first overall look at the global health burden from UV radiation, which is linked to up to 90 percent of melanoma（恶性黑色素瘤） and other skin cancers. UV radiation can also cause sunburn, more rapid skin aging, eye diseases, and reactivation of the herpes（疱疹） virus that causes cold sores, and pterygium, a fleshy growth on the surface of the eye.

“We all need some sun, but too much sun can be dangerous—and even deadly,” said Dr Maria Neira, the director of WHO’s agency of public health and the environment, who released the report.

To prevent cancer and other diseases linked to UV radiation, the agency recommends that people:

— Limit time in the midday sun.

— Use shade wisely and seek shade when UV rays are most intense.

— Wear protective clothing, hats and sunglasses.

— Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor 15+.

— Avoid sunlamps and tanning parlours.

People under age 18 should not use them at all.

“The application of sunscreens should not be used to prolong sun exposure but rather to protect the skin when exposure is unavoidable,” the report warned.

The report also noted that the ground’s surface can make a difference:

— Fresh snow reflects as much as 80 percent of ultraviolet light.

— Sea foam reflects about 25 percent.

— Dry beach sand reflects about 15 percent.

Small amounts of exposure to the sun help the skin to produce vitamin D.

48. The report was highly spoken of mainly because ____.

A. it had listed up to 60,000 deaths from UV radiation

B. it related the deaths to UV radiation

C. it showed the advantages and disadvantages of UV

D. it found out the approaches to preventing deaths from UV radiation

49. According to Dr Maria Neira, which of the following is TRUE?

A. In fact we need only a small amount of sunlight.

B. Receiving large amounts of sunlight will cause deaths.

C. Midday sunlight has stronger UV radiation.

D. Melanoma will disappear if we follow the report’s advice.

50. As a construction worker, it is strongly recommended that ____.

A. he should stay inside the building                 B. he spread sunscreen on the face

C. he should wear good sunglasses                           D. he be equipped with sun protection

51. Which of the following can be the headline of the passage?

A. UV—A Deadly Killer From The Sun               B. Melanoma Can Be Prevented Today

C. UV—A Great Need For Vitamin D                   D. Teenagers Mustn’t Stay Outside

An important scientific report announced “irrefutable（不能反驳的） proof” that climate change is happening and it’s all our fault. How long has it been before people are against the global warming idea? But here’s a funny thing. Last year there was a very bad hurricane season in the Caribbean when, among other disasters, New Orleans was all but wiped off the map. We were wisely informed by the experts at the time that this was owing to global warming.

I remember watching a BBC science programme and hearing a learned professor with a beard tell us, “The increased frequency and strength of hurricanes is what we shall have to learn to expect given global warming.”

This year there have been far fewer hurricanes and those there have been were relatively mild. Why？Global warming again of course. Professor Bjorn Lomborg, author of The Skeptical Environmentalist, writes, “In the constant media reports of possible greenhouse related disasters, almost any event is now linked to climate change.” He adds, “We should not spend vast amounts of money to cut a tiny slice of the global temperature increase when this leads to a poor use of resources and when we could probably use these funds far more effectively in the developing world.” For saying this, Lomborg has had death threats.

Other scientists who do not toe the global warming-is-happening-and-it’s-all-our-fault line have received the same. There are plenty of people who count against global warming. A world of senior climatologists and meteorologists wrote to the Times last year to complain that they couldn’t get their research findings published — because they disagreed to it. We have had a warm autumn. The experts,  fanatics（狂热者） all of them, put it down to global warming. If we have an extra cold winter, they will tell us it’s a result of global warming. If my big toe feels cold or hurts badly, it will be owing to global warming.

52. The purpose of this passage may be to ____.

A. support the idea of global warming  

B. organize a debate about global warming

C. speak out against the global warming idea

D. encourage people to use money effectively

53. What happened to New Orleans last year?

A. It was badly destroyed.                          B. It disappeared in the world.

C. It witnessed global warming.               D. It experienced several disasters.

54. From the passage, we can infer that ____.

A. people are taking too many efforts to stop global warming

B. people have realized the side effect of development

C. a different idea sometimes may cost one his life

D. the majority usually stand for the correct opinion

55. The main idea of the last paragraph may be ____.

A. global warming may lead to toe’s catching cold in a sense

B. the Times refuses to publish articles on global warming

C. a warming autumn is not related to global warming at all

D. it is certainly incorrect to owe everything to global warming

书面表达 (满分25分)

当前，汽车已经是人们生活中不可缺少的一部分，请根据下列表格中的提示，写一篇关于未来汽车是什么样子的英语短文。词数：150词左右。

—I am traveling in France to spend the festival.

—_____

Tom likes sitting close to TV, so his parents try to _____ him _____ the bad habit.

Look at the news! There must be someone who _____ the news.

The fans adore him so much that they _____ excitement when they see him.

What _____ of the babies die of disease every year? asked Zhang Min’s father in a hurry.

He is too pessimistic! I can’t _____ his pessimistic view of the state of the economy.