阅读理解

阅读下面的短文，从各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中选出最佳选项。

　　Michael, a normal American, stays home on workdays. He plugs into his personal computer terminal in order to connect with the office. After work he puts on his headphones, watches a movie on his home video recorder or plays baseball on the computer. On many days, Michael doesn't talk to any other human beings, and he doesn't see any people except the ones on television. Michael is imaginary, but his life style is very possible. The inventions of modern technology seem to be cutting us off from communicating with our fellow human beings.

　　The world of business is one area in which technology is separating us. Experts say, for example, that many people will soon be able to work at home. With access (通路) to a large central computer, employees such as office clerks, insurance agents, and accountants could do their job at display terminals in their own homes. They would never have to actually see the people they're dealing with. Also, the way employees are paid will change. Workers' salaries will be automatically paid into their bank accounts ( 帐户 ), making paper checks unnecessary. No workers will stand in line to receive their pay or cash their checks. Personal banking will change, too. Customers will deal with machines

to put in or take out money from their accounts.

　　Another area in which technology is changing is entertainment. Music, for instance, was once a group experience. People listened to music at concert halls or in small social gatherings. For many people now, however, music is an individual experience. Walking along the street or sitting in their living rooms, they wear headphones to build a wall of music around them. Movie entertainment is changing, too. Movies used to be social events. Now, fewer people are going out to see a movie. Many more are choosing to wait for a film to appear on television or are borrowing videotapes to watch at home. Instead of laughing with others, viewers watch movies in their own living rooms.

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阅读理解

阅读下面的短文，从各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中选出最佳选项。

　　Across the globe, single parent homes are on the rise. In the US, the 2000 census (人口普查) showed 24.8 million, or nearly 24 percent of the nation's 105.5 million households, were traditional two-parent homes. By comparison, 9.8 million households, or 9 percent of all US households were headed by an adult raising a child alone. The 1990 census showed 26 percent of homes were led by a married mother and father, and 8 percent of homes were led by a single parent.

　　Similar increases occurred in other countries. In the UK, lone-parent homes increased from 3.3 percent in 1990 to 5.5 percent in 1999. Single parent households in Australia rose from 5.8 percent in 1990 to 7.6 percent in 1999. Belgium saw the increase from 1.8 percent lo 2.7 percent during the same period of time. These countries tend to have greater acceptance of the single parent because there are fewer nearby family members to disapprove, Riche, a Census Bureau director, said.

　　Just as in the US, those changes raised new questions about how involved government should be. in helping single parent families. Some research suggests children raised in two-parent families are better off than those who depend on one. "The position of one-parent families in any country is very much a gender (性别 ) issue -- women's opportunities, especially working-class women on low income," said Sue Cohen, coordinator ( 协调员) of the Single Action Parents Network in England~

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阅读理解

　　阅读下面的短文，从各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中选出最佳选项。

　　Sweden's pop phenomenon, which started with ABBA in the seventies, has exploded into a large industry ranging from CD sales to concert tours. But homegrown bands and CD makers are only a part of the success. World stars are beating a path to Sweden's music producers whose studios and songwriters lie behind many an American and British success.

　　Denis Pop— one of the greatest Swedish pop producers — put Sweden on the map, writing and producing hit after hit for stars as the Backstreet Boys, Boll Jovi and Britney Spears. French-Canadian Celine Dion, American Boyband 98 Degrees and American singer Jennifel Lopez turn to Sweden for songs composed by music writer and producer Arnthor Birgison.

　　All this has made Sweden the world's third biggest exporter of music But how did Sweden manage to spread its sound all over the globe?

　　Birgison, 25, believes the traditional Swedish approach to hard work and an unfriendly climate are key to the music sensation (轰动). Besides, Swedes are also very good at speaking English, which is very. important, because very little music sung in other languages succeeds anywhere outside its home country. Another piece in the puzzle is that Swedish children at an early stage get to try out musical instruments and learn music theory in school, at little cost to

their parents.

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　　阅读理解

　　阅读下面的短文，从各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中选出最佳选项。

　　Bird flu(禽流感) has puzzled scientists by striking millions of chickens in several Asian countries within a very short period of time, with the worst hit areas in Thailand, China and Viet Nam and by February 10,2004 at least 13 people were reported to have died.

　　The following is a chronology of the most recent bird flu outbreak in Asia, which also suffered outbreaks in 1997 and 1998:

　　Dec. 15, 2003 — South Korea confirms a highly contagious ( 传染的 ) type of bird flu on a chicken farm near the capital, Seoul, and begins a mass killing of poultry.(家禽) when the virus rapidly spreads across the country.

　　Dec. 31, 2003 — Taiwan reports its first case of the virus. It later destroys thousands of chickens suffering from a milder form of bird flu.

　　Jan. 8, 2004 — Viet Nam confirms that bird flu has been found on many of its poultry farms.

　　Jan. 11, 2004 — Japan says 6,000 chickens have died of bird flu on a farm, and says it is the first time the disease has been confirmed in the country.

　　Jan. 13, 2004 — The World Health Organization (WHO) confirms that the deaths of three people in Viet Nam are linked to bird flu.

　　Jan. 23, 2004 — Cambodia confirms an outbreak of bird flu on a farm on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.

　　Jan. 25, 2004 — Indonesia discovers an outbreak of bird flu among chickens but has no evidence that the disease has spread to humans. Pakistan says 2 million chickens have died of a mild form of bird flu.

　　Jan. 26, 2004 — Thailand confirms the death of a six-year-old boy, its first human death from bird flu.

　　Jan. 27, 2004 — The bird flu virus kills ducks in southern parts of China, which begins a killing of 14,000 brids to stop the spread. The agriculture ministry in Laos confirms bird flu in the area around Vientiane(万象).

　　Jan. 30, 2004 — China says tests confirm the H5NI virus in Hubei and Hunan provinces as well as the southern region of Guangxi.

　　Feb. 1, 2004— China's state television reports five more areas with suspected( 可疑的) cases of bird flu in poultry. The WHO says two sisters have died in Viet Nam after contracting bird flu and they may have caught the virus from their brother, who had also died.

　　Feb. 2, 2004 — An 18-year-ohl person dies of bird flu in Ho Chi Minh City, bringing to nine fatalities( 死亡事件) in Viet Nam. A Thai woman dies of bird flu, taking that country's toll from the virus to three. The total number of fatalities stands at 12.

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阅读理解

　　阅读下面的短文，从各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中选出最佳选项。

　　LONDON ( Reuters)— Eco tourism ( 生态旅游) is causing A．lot of damage to wildlife and may be endangering the survival(生存) of the very animals people are flocking to see, according to researchers.

　　Biologists and conservationists ( 自然环境保护论者) are worried because polar bears, dolphins, penguins and other creatures are getting stressed and losing weight and some are dying.

　　"Evidence is growing that many animals do not react well to tourists in their backyard,” New Scientist magazine said.

　　The immediate effects researchers have noticed are changes in behavior, heart rates, or stress hormone levels but they fear it could get much worse and over the long term "could endanger the survival of the very wildlife they want to see".

　　Although money produced through ecotourism, which has been growing at about 10—30 percent A．year, has major benefits for poor countries and people living in rural areas, the Swiss-based World Conservation Union and some governments fear not all projects are audited (审计) and based on environmentally friendly policies, according to the magazine,

　　"The transmission(传播) of disease to wildlife, or small changes to wildlife health through disturbance of daily life or increased stress levels, while not obvious to the casual observer, may translate to lower survival and breeding ,"said Philip Seddon, of the University of Ota go in Dunedin, New Zealand.

　　Scientists have noticed that bottleneck dolphins along the northeastern coast of New Zealand become nervously excited when tourist boats arrive. Similar changes in behavior have been observed in polar bears and yellow-eyed penguins in areas visited by eco tourists are producing smaller babies.

　　Conservationists are now calling for more research into the effect of eco tourism on animals and say the industry must be developed carefully. They also want studies done before new eco tourism projects are started.

　　“The animals’ welfare should be very important because without them there will be no eco tourism,” said Rochelle Constantine of the University of Auckland in New Zealand.

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阅读理解

　　Michael, A normal American, stays home on workdays. He plugs into his personal computer terminal in order to connect with the office. After work he puts on his headphones, watches A movie on his home video recorder or plays baseball on the computer. On many days, Michael doesn't talk to Any other human beings, And he doesn't see Any people except the ones on television. Michael is imaginary, but his life style is very possible. The inventions of modern technology seem to be cutting us off from communicating with our fellow human beings.

　　The world of business is one Area in which technology is separating us. Experts say, for example, that many people will soon be Able to work At home. With Access (通路) to A large central computer, employees such As office clerks, insurance Agents, And Accountants could do their job at display terminals in their own homes. They would never have to Actually see the people they're dealing with. Also, the way employees Are paid will change. Workers' salaries will be Automatically paid into their bank Accounts (帐户), making paper checks unnecessary. No workers will stand in line to receive their pay or cash their checks. Personal banking will change, too. Customers will deal with machines to put in or take out money from their Accounts.

　　Another Area in which technology is changing is entertainment. Music, for instance, was once A group experience. People listened to music At concert halls or in small social gatherings. For many people now, however, music is An individual experience. Walking Along the street or sitting in their living rooms, they wear headphones to build A wall of music Around them. Movie entertainment is changing, too. Movies used to be social events. Now, fewer people Are going out to see A movie. Many more Are choosing to wait for A film to Appear on television or Are borrowing videotapes to watch At home. Instead of laughing with others, viewers watch movies in their own living rooms.

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阅读理解

　　Across the globe, single parent homes Are on the rise. In the US, the 2000 census (人口普查) showed 24.8 million, or nearly 24 percent of the nation's 105.5 million households, were traditional two-parent homes. By comparison, 9.8 million households, or 9 percent of All US households were headed by An Adult raising A child Alone. The 1990 census showed 26 percent of homes were led by A married mother And father, And 8 percent of homes were led by A single parent.

　　Similar increases occurred in other countries. In the UK, lone-parent homes increased from 3.3 percent in 1990 to 5.5 percent in 1999. Single parent households in Australia rose from 5.8 percent in 1990 to 7.6 percent in 1999. Belgium saw the increase from 1.8 percent lo 2.7 percent during the same period of time. These countries tend to have greater Acceptance of the single parent because there Are fewer nearby family members to disapprove, Riche, A Census Bureau director, said.

　　Just As in the US, those changes raised new questions About how involved government should be. in helping single parent families. Some research suggests children raised in two-parent families Are better off than those who depend on one. "The position of one-parent families in Any country is very much A gender (性别 ) issue — women's opportunities, especially working-class women on low income," said Sue Cohen, coordinator (协调员) of the Single Action Parents Network in England~

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阅读理解

　　Sweden's pop phenomenon, which started with ABBA in the seventies, has exploded into A large industry ranging from CD sales to concert tours. But homegrown bands And CD makers Are only A part of the success. World stars Are beating A path to Sweden's music producers whose studios And songwriters lie behind many An Ameri can And British success.

　　Denis Pop— one of the greatest Swedish pop producers — put Sweden on the map, writing And producing hitA fter hit for stars As the Back street Boys, Boll Jovi And Britney Spears. French-Canadian Celine Dion, American Boy band 98 Degrees And American singer Jenni fel Lopez turn to Sweden for songs composed by music writer And producer Arnthor Birgison.

　　All this has made Sweden the world's third biggest exporter of music But how did Sweden manage to spread its sound All over the globe?

　　Birgison, 25, believes the traditional Swedish Approach to hard work And An unfriendly climate Are key to the music sensation (轰动). Besides, Swedes Are Also very good At speaking English, which is very. important, because very little music sung in other languages succeeds Anywhere outside its home country. Another piece in the puzzle is that Swedish children At An early stage get to try out musical instruments And learn music theory in school, At little cost to their parents.

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阅读理解

　　Bird flu(禽流感) has puzzled scientists by striking millions of chickens in several Asian countries within A very short period of time, with the worst hit Areas in Thailand, China And Viet Nam And by February 10,2004At least 13 people were reported to have died.

　　The following is A chronology of the most recent bird flu outbreak in Asia, which Also suffered outbreaks in 1997And 1998:

　　Dec. 15, 2003 — South Korea confirms A highly contagious ( 传染的 ) type of bird flu on A chicken farm near the capital, Seoul, And begins A mass killing of poultry.(家禽) when the virus rapidly spreads Across the country.

　　Dec. 31, 2003 — Taiwan reports its first case of the virus. It later destroys thousands of chickens suffering from A milder form of bird flu.

　　Jan. 8, 2004 — Viet Nam confirms that bird flu has been found on many of its poultry farms.

　　Jan. 11, 2004 — Japan says 6,000 chickens have died of bird flu on A farm, And says it is the first time the disease has been confirmed in the country.

　　Jan. 13, 2004 — The World Health Organization (WHO) confirms that the deaths of three people in Viet Nam Are linked to bird flu.

　　Jan. 23, 2004 — Cambodia confirms An outbreak of bird flu on A farm on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.

　　Jan. 25, 2004 — Indonesia discovers An outbreak of bird flu Among chickens but has no evidence that the disease has spread to humans. Pakistan says 2 million chickens have died ofA mild form of bird flu.

　　Jan. 26, 2004 — Thailand confirms the death of A six-year-old boy, its first human death from bird flu.

　　Jan. 27, 2004 — The bird flu virus kills ducks in southern parts of China, which begins a killing of 14,000 brids to stop the spread. The agriculture ministry in Laos confirms bird flu in the area around Vientiane(万象).

　　Jan. 30, 2004 — China says tests confirm the H5NI virus in Hu bei And Hunan provinces As well As the southern region of Guan gxi.

　　Feb. 1, 2004— China's state television reports five more Areas with suspected( 可疑的) cases of bird flu in poultry. The WHO says two sisters have died in Viet Nam After contracting bird flu And they may have caught the virus from their brother, who had Also died.

　　Feb. 2, 2004 —An 18-year-ohl person dies of bird flu in Ho Chi Minh City, bringing to nine fatalities( 死亡事件) in Viet Nam .A Thai woman dies of bird flu, taking that country's toll from the virus to three. The total number of fatalities stands At 12.

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阅读理解

　　LONDON ( Reuters)-Eco tourism (生态旅游) is causing A lot of damage to wildlife And may be endangering the survival(生存) of the very Animals people Are flocking to see, According to researchers.

　　Biologists And conservationists (自然环境保护论者)Are worried because polar bears, dolphins, penguins And other creatures Are getting stressed And losing weight And some Are dying.

　　"Evidence is growing that many Animals do not react well to tourists in their backyard,” New Scientist magazine said.

　　The immediate effects researchers have noticed Are changes in behavior, heart rates, or stress hormone levels but they fear it could get much worse And over the long term "could endanger the survival of the very wildlife they want to see".

　　Although money produced through eco tourism, which has been growing At About 10-30 percent A year, has major benefits for poor countries And people living in rural Areas, the Swiss-based World Conservation Union And some governments fear not All projects Are Audited (审计)And based on environmentally friendly policies, According to the magazine,

　　"The transmission(传播) of disease to wildlife, or small changes to wildlife health through disturbance of daily life or increased stress levels, while not obvious to the casual observer, may translate to lower survival And breeding ,"said Philip Seddon, of the University of Ota go in Dunedin, New Zealand.

　　Scientists have noticed that bottleneck dolphins Along the northeastern coast of New Zealand become nervously excited when tourist boats Arrive. Similar changes in behavior have been observed in polar bears And yellow-eyed penguins in Areas visited by eco tourists Are producing smaller babies.

　　Conservationists Are now calling for more research into the effect of eco tourism on Animals And say the industry must be developed carefully. They Also want studies done before new eco tourism projects Are started.

　　“The Animals’ welfare should be very important because without them there will be no eco tourism, ”said Rochelle Constantine of the University of Auckland in New Zealand.

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