The technology is great. Without it we wouldn’t have been able to put a man on the moon, explore the ocean’s depths or eat microwave sausages. Computers have revolutionized our lives and they have the power to educate and pass on knowledge. But sometimes this power can create more problems than it solves.

　　Every doctor has had to try their best to calm down patients who’ve come into their surgery waving an Internet print-out, convinced that they have some rare incurable disease, say, throat cancer. The truth is usually far more ordinary, though: they don’t have throat cancer, and it’s just that their throats are swollen. Being a graduate of the Internet “school” of medicine does not guarantee accurate self-health-checks.

　　One day Mrs. Almond came to my hospital after feeling faint at work. While I took her blood sample and tried to find out what was wrong, she said calmly, “I know what’s wrong; I’ve got throat cancer. I know there’s nothing you doctors can do about it and I’ve just got to wait until the day comes.”

　　As a matter of routine I ordered a chest X-ray. I looked at it and the blood results an hour later. Something wasn’t right. “Did your local doctor do an X-ray?” I asked. “Oh, I haven’t been to the doctor for years,” she replied. “I read about it on a website and the symptoms fitted, so I knew that’s what I had.”

　　However, some of her symptoms, like the severe cough and weight loss, didn’t fit with it—but she’d just ignored this.

　　I looked at the X-ray again, and more tests confirmed it wasn’t the cancer but tuberculosis (肺结核)—something that most certainly did need treating, and could be deadly. She was lucky we caught it when we did.

　　Mrs. Almond went pale when I explained she would have to be on treatment for the next six months to ensure that she was fully recovered. It was certainly a lesson for her. “I’m so embarrassed,” she said, shaking her head, as I explained that all the people she had come into close contact with would have to be found out and tested.  She listed up to about 20, and then I went to my office to type up my notes. Unexpectedly, the computer was not working, so I had to wait until someone from the IT department came to fix it. Typical. Maybe I should have a microwave sausage while I waited?

　　63. Mrs. Almond talked about her illness calmly because ______.

　　A. she thought she knew it well

　　B. she had purchased medicine online

　　C. she graduated from a medical school

　　D. she had been treated by local doctors

　　64. It was lucky for Mrs. Almond ______.

　　A. to have contacted many friends

　　B. to have recovered in a short time

　　C. to have her assumption confirmed

　　D. to have her disease identified in time

　　65. Mrs. Almond said “I’m so embarrassed” (Para. 7) because ______.

　　A. she had distrusted her close friends

　　B. she had caused unnecessary trouble

　　C. she had to refuse the doctor’s advice

　　D. she had to tell the truth to the doctor

　　66. By mentioning the breakdown of the computer, the author probably wants to prove ______.

　　A. it’s a must to take a break at work

　　B. it’s vital to believe in IT professionals

　　C. it’s unwise to simply rely on technology

　　D. it’s a danger to work long hours on computers

Scientists have discovered that living to the age of 100 may have nothing to do with the lifestyle you lead and everything to do with the type of genes you have.

For the lucky carriers of “Methuselah” genes， worries over smoking， eating unhealthily and not getting enough exercise may not be as necessary as to those of us without the special gene pattern.   The “Methuselah” genes could give extra protection against the diseases of old age such as cancer and heart disease. They could also protect people against the effects of the unhealthy lifestyles that we believe will lead us to an early death， scientists say. However， the genes are very rare.

The genes include ADIPOQ， which is found in about 10 percent of young people but in nearly 30 percent of people living past 100. They also include the CETP and the ApoC3 genes， which are found in 10 percent of young people， but in about 20 percent of people over 100 years old.

Some of those genes were discovered by a research group at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York， led by Professor Nir Barzilai. The team studied the genes of over 500 people over 100 years old， and their children.

The studies show that tiny mutations (变异) in the make-up of some genes can greatly increase a person’s lifespan. Barzilai told a Royal Society conference that the discovery of such genes gave scientists clear targets for developing drugs that could prevent age-related diseases， allow people to live longer and stay healthy.

David Gems， a researcher at University College London， believes that drugs to slow ageing will become widespread.

“If we know which genes control longevity (长寿) then we can... target them with drugs. That makes it possible to slow down ageing，” he told The Times.

“Much of the pain and suffering in the world are caused by ageing. If we can find a way to reduce that， then we are obliged to take it.”

Which genes could give extra protection against the diseases of old age？ (No more than 3 words) (2 marks)

__________________________________________________________________________　

Whom did Barzilai’s team study？ (No more than 10 words) (2 marks)

__________________________________________________________________________

What can greatly increase a person’s lifespan？ (No more than 10 words) (3 marks)

__________________________________________________________________________

What can scientists do if they are aware which genes control longevity？(No more than 6 words) (3 marks)

__________________________________________________________________________.　

What does it mean to say that we live in a world of persuasion? It means that we live among competing interests. Your roommate’s need to study for an exam may take priority（优先）over pizza. Your instructor may have good reasons not to change your grade. And the object of your romantic interest may have other choices.

　　In such a world, persuasion is the art of getting others to give fair and favorable consideration to our point of view. When we persuade, we want to influence how others believe and behave. We may not always prevail— other points of view may be more persuasive, depending on the listener, the situation, and the merits of the case. But when we practice the art of persuasion, we try to ensure that our position receives the attention it deserves.

　　Some people, however, object to the very idea of persuasion. They may regard it as an unwelcome interruption into their lives. Just the opposite, we believe that persuasion is unavoidable — to live is to persuade. Persuasion may be ethical（合乎道义的）or unethical, selfless or selfish, inspiring or degrading. Persuaders may enlighten our minds or catch our vulnerability(弱点). Ethical persuasion, however, calls on sound reasoning and is sensitive to the feelings and needs of listeners. Such persuasion can help us apply the wisdom of the past to the decisions we now must make. Therefore, the most basic part of education is learning to resist the one kind of persuasion and to encourage and practice the other.

　　Beyond its personal importance to us, persuasion is necessary to society. The right to persuade and be persuaded is the bedrock of the American political system, guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution（美国宪法）.

1.According to the passage, persuasion means ________.

2.The underlined word in the second paragraph “prevail” means“________”.

3.The passage states that some people object to persuasion because they think it is ________.

4.The passage mainly discusses ________.

Do you know what kind of things the young people are reading? More and more  36  and parents have noticed another kind of pollution, which comes from the printed papers  37  on streets.

　　These printed things 38  newspapers but have hardly anything to do with 39 . You can only find reading materials badly made up there---some are too strange for anyone to 40 ,  others are frightening stories of something  41  .However, many of the young readers are getting interested in such  42  reading, which  43 them what they should pay for their breakfast and brings them nightmares（噩梦）and immoral（邪恶）ideas in  44 .  Homework is left  45 ,  and daily games are lost.

　　These sellers shout on streets selling their papers well. The writers, publishers and printers,  46  they are, we never know,  are  47 their silent money.

The sheep-skinned wolf's story seems to have been forgotten once again .Why not 48 this kind of thing? Yes, both teachers and parents have asked each other for more strict control of the young readers.  49  ,the more you want to forbid it, the more they want to have a look at it. 50  you may even find  several children, driven by the curious natures,  51  one patched paper,  which has travelled from hand to hand.

　　It really does 52  to our society. It has already formed a sort of moral pollution. The  53  teachers and parents need more powerful support in their protection of the young generation. At the same time the young 54  need more interesting books to help them  55  those ugly papers.

阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。

There are many kinds of friends. Some are always ___1___you, but don't understand you. Some say only a few words to you, but understand you. Many people will step in your life, but only ___2___friends leave footprints (脚印).

　　I shall always recall (回忆) the autumn and the girl with the ___3___ . She will always bring back the friendship between us. I know she will always be my best friend.

　　It was the golden season. I could see the yellow leaves ___4___  on the cool ___5___. In such a season, I liked walking alone in the leaves, ____6__ to the sound of them.

　　Autumn is a __7____ season and life is uninteresting. The free days always get me ___8___ . But one day, the sound of a violin  __9____into my ears like a stream (小溪) flowing in the mountains. I was so surprised that I jumped to see what it was. A young girl, standing in the wind, was__10____ in playing her violin.

　　I had __11____ seen her before. The music was so nice that I listened quietly. Lost in the music, I didn't know that I had been ___12___ there for so long but my existence (存在) did not seem to disturb her.

　　Leaves were still falling. Every day she played the violin in the corner of the building  ___13___ I went downstairs to watch her performance. I was the only listener. The autumn seemed no longer lonely and life became ___14___.  __15____ we didn't know each other, I thought we were already good friends. I believe she also loved me.

　　Autumn was nearly over. One day, when I was listening carefully, the sound suddenly ___16___. To my astonishment (惊讶), the girl came over to me.

　　“You must like violin.” she said.

　　“Yes. And you play very well. Why did you stop?” I asked.

　　Suddenly, a __17____ expression appeared on her face and I could feel something unusual.

　　“I came here to see my grandmother, but now I must leave. I once played very badly. It was your listening every day that _18_____ me.” she said.

　　“In fact, it was your playing _19_____ gave me a meaningful autumn,” I answered, “Let's be friends.”

　　The girl smiled, and so did I.

　　I never heard her play again in my life. I no longer went downstairs to listen like before. Only thick leaves were left behind. But I will always remember the fine figure (身影) of the girl. She is like a __20____—so short, so bright, like a shooting star giving off so much light that it makes the autumn beautiful.

1..

2..