8、

6、Many kids turn up their noses at the thought of eating fish because, well, it can smell "fishy".  While it is usually a healthy source of protein in the diet, there may be several reasons to avoid biting into a forkful of fish. Before you break out the tartar sauce, learn some facts about fish to keep yourself and the environment healthy.

Some fish may contain harmful chemicals, which can be the result of both natural causes and water pollution. Mercury is a poisonous chemical, which occurs naturally in oceans and the Earth’s crust, but also comes from man-made sources, such as pesticides, burning garbage, and the releasing of fossil fuels.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a group of chemicals, can also be found in some fish. These dangerous man-made chemicals were used in many industries until 1977, when they were banned.  PCBs were released or leaked into the air and water and have been transported around the globe.

How do mercury and PCBs end up in fish and the food supply? When they are released into the air, they attach themselves to particles. These particles settle on the ground and in the water and are eventually eaten by microscopic organisms. Small fish eat the micro-organisms, and large fish eat the small fish and on up the food chain.

Because they can negatively affect your health, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advises that kids younger than 15 years old avoid fish that contain high levels of mercury and PCBs. These include shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish.

There are also many types of fish that are good for you, but because of overfishing are in danger of being wiped out. Some are being fished in the wild so much that they cannot reproduce fast enough to survive. Others are being farmed in ways that are not environmentally friendly. These fish include red snapper, Atlantic salmon, blue-fin tuna, and king crab.

Despite these problems, there are several fish that are both healthy and sustainable, such as Alaskan salmon, American catfish, Pacific cod, and several farm-raised fish and shellfish.

51. How do mercury and PCBs come to our food supply?

A. Mercury and PCBs--water --fish -- particles --food supply

B. Mercury and PCBs--particles -- organisms-- fish -- food supply

C. Mercury and PCBs--particles -- fish -- organisms -- food supply

D. Mercury and PCBs―organisms--ground and water -- fish -- food supply

52. The underlined word "they" (paragraph 5) refers to "      ".

A. fish       B. particles     C. microscopic organisms      D. mercury and PCBs

53. According to the passage which group of fish can be safely eaten by young kids?

A. Shellfish; tilefish; Alaskan salmon.

B. King crab; king mackerel; Pacific cod.

C. Pacific cod; Alaskan salmon; American catfish.

D. Pacific cod; Atlantic salmon; swordfish.

54. The writer is most likely to agree that         .

A. we should be careful when deciding what kind of fish to eat

B. overfishing is the main cause of fish poisoning

C. most types of fish can be safely raised on fish farms

D. the government should ban children under 15 from eating fish

55. It can be inferred from the passage that          .

A. children like eating fish because it smells fishy

B. if you want to be more environmentally friendly, eat less fish

C. PCBs were not allowed to be used in food industry before 1977

D. adults might be less affected by high chemical levels in fish

5、

Is the woman pictured on the right more attractive than the woman on the left?

The photograph on the right was changed using a new "beauty making" computer program,   which uses a mathematical formula involving 234 measurements of distances between facial  features to get a theoretically more attractive version, while keeping the basic appearance of the face unchanged. Unlike changes done in fashion magazine photos, wrinkles were not smoothed and hair color was not changed.

The program is the latest attempt to combine beauty and science, a subject that has drawn increasing academic interest in the last decade.

Studies have shown there is surprising agreement among people of different cultures about what makes a face attractive. Most important is symmetry (匀称), along with youthfulness, skin smoothness and vivid eyes and hair color. Yet, like the many other scientific or mathematical attempts to define beauty, this software program raises complex and difficult questions about the understanding of beauty.

"How can they prove something is more or less beautiful?" said Lois Banner, a history professor at Chicago University, who studies changing beauty standards. "There can never be a single standard of beauty because so much of it is culturally influenced."

After viewing "before" and "after" photographs of different people, Banner said the original faces were more attractive. "Irregular beauty is the real beauty," said Banner, adding that attempts to measure beauty are driven by the media’s efforts to define beauty and who is beautiful.

Martina Eckstut, the woman whose photo was beautified for this article, said she was struck by how different she looked. "I think the “after” picture looks great, but it doesn’t really look like me at all." She added, "I would like to keep my original face."

For centuries people have tried to define a universal ideal of beauty. "The first reaction we have to faces will be based on face symmetry." said Alexander Nehamas, a professor who has written about beauty. "But in real life we don’t just see a face. We see faces as people express their emotions and ideas, and all those aspects of the face are essential to our deciding whether a face or a person is beautiful."

46. How does the program work to beautify a face?

A. It changes the distances between facial features.

B. It smoothes the skin and softens the color of the hair.

C. It digitally repairs some obvious facial faults.

D. It replaces the original face with a similar one.

47. Banner believes that       .

A. there is no such thing as beauty

B. efforts to develop a beauty measure should be encouraged

C. the media is to blame for the failure to agree on beauty standards

D. it is impossible to show that one thing is more beautiful than another

48. When seeing the "after" picture, Martina Eckstut was            .

A. pleasantly surprised but thought she could look even better

B. eager to get her face changed although it didn’t look like her at all

C. amazed by the attractiveness but preferred not to have a different face

D. confused by how different she looked and had no idea what to do

49. According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. Beauty is mainly based on face symmetry.

B. There is no single standard or definition of beauty.

C. The program is likely to encourage people to change their appearance.

D. Mathematics should be used to help us create beauty.

50. The purpose of the passage is to         .

A. oppose the attempts to create artificial beauty

B. introduce a beauty program and a discussion about beauty

C. discuss what makes a person beautiful

D. show how a beauty engine can beautify a person

4、    At the Kyoto conference on global warming in December 1997, it became much clear how complex it has become to work out international agreements relating to the environment because of economic concerns unique to each country.  It is no longer enough to try to forbid certain activities or to reduce giving off certain substances.  The global challenges of the interlink between the environment and development increasingly bring us to the core of the economic life of states.  During the late 1980s we were able, through international agreements, to make deep cuts in giving off harmful substances to the ozone（臭氧）layer.  These reductions were made possible because substitutions（替代品）had been found for many of the harmful chemicals and, more important, because the harmful substances could be replaced without negative effects on employment and the economies of states.

    Although the threat of global warming has been known to the world for decades and all countries and leaders agree that we need to deal with the problem, we also know that the effects of measures, especially tough measures taken in some countries, would be of no use if other countries do not control

their giving off.  Whereas the UN team on climate change has found that the carbon dioxide would have to be cut globally by 60%.  This path does not work for several reasons.  Such deep cuts would cause a breakdown of the world economy.  Many developing countries are not yet willing to control their energy uses.  In addition, the state of world technology would not yet permit us to make such a big leap.

    We must, however, find a solution to the threat of global warming early in the 21 S` century.  Such amission would require a degree of shared vision and common responsibilities new to humanity.  Success lies in the force of imagination, in imagining what would happen if we fail to act.  Although many living in cold regions would welcome the global-warming effect of a warmer summer, few would cheer the arrival of the following tropical disease, especially where had been none.

51The main purpose or ims passage is to

    A.  convince people that global warming is a threat

    B . criticize some countries for refusing to cut down giving off harmful substances to the ozone layer.

    C.  analyze the problem of global warming

    D.  argue against making deep cuts in giving off harmful substances

52.  The reason why it is difficult to get rid of the threat of global warming is that＿.

    A.  the leaders of many countries are not fully aware of the gravity of the problem.

    B . world technology is not able to solve the problem

    C.  not.  all the countries are willing to make deep cuts in giving off harmful substances

    D.  many people welcome the global-warming effect of a warmer summer

53. In the passage the author implies that＿.

    A . it is always difficult to work out international agreements to cut down giving off harmful substances to the ozone layer

    B.  it is no longer easy to reach international agreements relating to the environment

    C.  the world has recently become aware of the threat of global warming

    D.  the problem of global warming has largely been solved

54.  According to the author, it is impossible at present to cut 60% of .  carbon dioxide globally  because

    A.  it is only a goal to be reached in the future

    B . some people are lacking in imagination

    C . some people are irresponsible

    D.  it would cause a turndown of the world economy

55. What should all countries do to help solve the problem of global warming?

    A . They should replace all the harmful substances.

    B . They should willingly undertake legal commitments, about their energy uses.

    C.  They should hold another world conference on climate change.

    D.  They should provide advanced technology.

3、    CHICAGO (AP) On Jan.  l，an order went into effect requiring that every checked bag at more than 400 of the nation's commercial airports be screened for bombs and weapons.

    Sunday was expected to the heaviest travel day since Jan.  l. Yet spot checks on Sunday at several  of the nation's airports showed no major delays caused by the new security measures.

    At the international terminal for Northwest Airlines at John F.  Kennedy International Airport in New York, passengers waited up to 30 minutes longer than usual.  Their bags were sent through giant screening machines and workers tore open taped boxes and searched through their contents before closing them up again.

    Most travelers simply accepted stricter screening developed since the terrorist attacks on Sept.  11，2001，before which only 5 percent of the roughly 2 million bags checked each day were screened for bombs.

    The U. S.  government has put an additional 23,000 people into airports to carry out the new order.

    Sonny Salgatar, a 23-year-old college student flying home to San Diego from Chicago, was told by an airport officer after the first pass that one of his bags was "hot", meaning there was something he couldn't identify and he wanted to open the bag for an inspection.

    The "hot" item turned out to be Salgatar's clothing iron.

    "Listen, anything they want to do for security is OK for me," Salgatar said.  But not all of the passengers hold the same viewpoint as Salgatar's, complaining that they had to arrive at the airport too much time ahead of their schedule.

46.  The new measure was adopted to guard against一一一一一.

    A . terrorist attacks                           B. luggage damage

    C.  flight delays                                D.  air crash

47.  The word 'hot' (Para.  7) most probably means

    A.  heated                                       B.  popular

    C.  expensive                                  D.  suspicious

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

    A . Major delays were caused after the security order went into effect.

    B . Most passengers regard the new measure as necessary.

    C.  Passengers complain about longer delay at the airport.

    D.  There will be more and stricter security measures.

49.  What was the attitude of Sonny Salgatar towards the security measure taken?

    A.  He was annoyed.                            B.  He had no objection.

    C.  He thought it useless.                      D.  He didn't worry about it.

50.  The best title of the passage might be

    A . Fear of Terrorist Attacks                 B. Latest Screening Technology

    C . New Security Measures Adopted     D.  Inspection of Bombs and Weapons

2、    One dark and stormy night, an elderly man and his wife entered the hall of a small hotel in Philadelphia, hoping to get shelter for the night.

    The clerk, a friendly man with a beautiful smile, explained that there were three conferences in town.  "All of our rooms are taken," the clerk said, "but I can't send a nice couple like you into the rain at one o'clock in the morning.  Would you perhaps be willing to sleep in my room? It's not a suite, but it will be good enough to make you comfortable for the night. " The couple agreed.

    As the elderly man paid the bill the next morning, he told the clerk, "You are the kind of person who should be the boss of the best hotel in the United States.  Maybe someday I’ll build one for you. "The clerk looked at them and smiled.  The three of them had a good laugh.

    Two years passed.  The clerk had almost forgotten the incident when he received a letter from the elderly man; asking the clerk to pay him a visit.  The elderly man met him in New York, and led him to the corner of. 1he Fifth Avenue and 34^th Street.  He then pointed to a great new building there, a reddish stone one with watchtowers thrusting up to the sky, and told the clerk that it was the hotel he had just built for him to manage.

    That wonderful building was the original Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.  And this young clerk whose names was George C.  Boldt never foresaw the return of events that would lead him into the manager of one of the world's most attractive hotels.

41 . When the elderly couple left the hotel, they

    A . took what they said as a joke

    B . wanted to build the same hotel in the future

    C . hoped that the clerk would replace the boss of the hotel

    D.  thought the clerk was talented in managing hotels

42.  Why did the elderly man build a hotel for the clerk?

    A . He was grateful to the clerk.                 B. They had a bet at first.

    C.  He wanted to please the clerk.               D.  He wanted to sell the hotel.

43. According to the text, the clerk

    A.  helped the couple because he thought they were poor

    B . hoped that the old couple could give him a large amount of money

    C.  didn't expect to receive things in return from the old couple.

    D.  became rich, thanks to his own efforts

44.  From the text, we can infer that

    A.  anybody can be a successful manager                 B.  old people are always very rich

    C.  good luck is always waiting for lucky people        D.  kindness can bring a good return

45. What do you think of the clerk?

    A.  He was willing to help.                                    B.  He was very attractive.

    C . He tried to make money for his hotel.                D.  He liked making friends.

1、      Bobks are not Nadia Konyk's thing.  Her mother, hoping to 21 her, brings home many colourful and interesting books from the library, but Nadia 22 shows an interest.  Instead, like so many other teenagers, Nadia, 15 years old, is addicted to the 23 .  She regularly spends at least six  hours a day in front of the computer.

      Nadia checks her e-mails and reads carefully through myyearbook. com, reading messages or 24 updates on her personal space on her mood.  She searches for music videos on youtube. com and logs onto gaiaonline. com, a role-playing 25 where members exchange identities as cartoon characters.

   But she spends most of her time on quizilla. com or fanfiction. net, reading and commenting on stories written by other users.

   Her mother, Deborah Konyk, would prefer that Nadia read books for a 26 , but at this point Ms.   Konyk said, "I，m just pleased that she reads something anyway. "Children like Nadia lie at the heart of a passionate debate about just what it means to read in the digital age.  As teenagers' scores on standardized reading tests have 27 , some argue that the hours  spent surfing the Internet is the enemy of reading ----reducing literacy, destroying attention spans and a 28 common culture that exists only through reading books.

    But others say the Internet has created a new kind of reading, one that schools and society should  not 29 .  The Web inspires a teenager like Nadia, who might 30 spend most of his leisure time watching television, to read and write.

26、The new machine, as is put in the report, will work twice as fast, _______ greatly reducing costs.

A. so                B. even              C. yet                D. thus