高中英语短文理解试题

Do dogs understand us?
Be careful what you say around your dog. It might understand more than you think.
A border collie named Rico recognizes the names of about 200 objects, say researchers in Germany. The dog also appears to be able to learn new words as easily as a 3-year-old child. Its word-learning skills are as good as those of a parrot or chimpanzee.
In one experiment, the researchers took all 200 items that Rico is supposed to know and divided them into 20 groups of 10 objects. Then the owner told the dog to go and fetch one of the items and bring it back. In four tests, Rico got 37 out of 40 commands right. As the dog couldn't see anyone to get clues, the scientists believe Rico must understand the meanings of certain words.
In another experiment, the scientists took one toy that Rico had never seen before and put it in a room with seven toys whose names the dog already knew. The owner then told Rico to fetch the object, using a word the dog had never heard before.
The correct object was chosen in seven out of ten tests, suggesting that the dog had worked
out the answer by process of elimination(排除法). A month later, Rico remembered half of the new names, which is even more impressive.
Rico is thought to be smarter than the average dog. For one thing, Rico is a border collie, a breed (品种)known for its mental abilities. In addition, the 9-year-old dog has been trained to fetch toys by their names since the age of nine months.
It's hard to know if all dogs understand at least some of the words we say. Even if they do, they can't talk back. Still, it wouldn't hurt to sweet-talk your dog every now and then. You might just get a big, wet kiss in return!
From paragraph 2 we know that __       .

A．animals are as clever as human beings

B．chimpanzees have very good word-learning skills

C．dogs are smarter than parrots and chimpanzees

D．dogs have similar learning abilities as 3-year-old children

Both experiments show that            .

A．Rico is smart enough to get all commands right

B．Rico can recognize different things including toys

C．Rico has developed the ability of learning mathematics

D．Rico won't forget the names of objects once recognizing them

Which of the following statements is true?

A．Rico has a better memory partly because of its proper early training.

B．The purpose of the experiments is to show the border collie's mental abilities.

C．The border collie is world-famous for recognizing objects.

D．Rico is born to understand its owner's commands.

What does the writer want to tell us?

A．To train your dog.	B．To talk to your dog.
C．To be careful with your dog.	D．To be friendly to your dog.

Move Earth — it’s no science fiction
LONDON — Scientists have found an unusual way to prevent our planet from overheating: move it to a cooler spot. All you have to do is send a few comets（彗星）in the direction of Earth, and its orbit will be changed. Our world will then be sent spinning into a safer, colder part of the solar system.
This idea for improving our climate comes from a group of US National Aeronautics and Space Administration（NASA） engineers and American astronomers. They say their plan could add another six billion years to the useful lifetime of our planet—effectively doubling its working life.
The plan put forward by Dr Laughlin, and his colleagues Don Korycansky and Fred Adams ,needs carefully directing a comet or asteroid so that it passes close by our planet and sends some of its gravitational energy to Earth.
“Earth’s orbital speed would increase as a result and we would move to a higher orbit away from the Sun,” Laughlin said.
Engineers would then direct their comet so that it passed close to Jupiter or Saturn. The comet would pick up energy from one of these giant planets. Later its orbit would bring it back to Earth, and the process would be repeated. In the short term, the plan provides an ideal way to global warming, although the team was actually concerned with a much greater danger. The sun is certain to heat up in about a billion years and so “seriously compromise” our biosphere（生物圈）— by cooking us.
That’s why the group decided to try to save Earth.
The plan has one or two worrying aspects, however. For a start, space engineers would have to be very careful about how they directed their asteroid or comet towards Earth. The smallest miscalculation（误算）in orbit could fire it straight at Earth—with deadly consequences.
There is also the question of the Moon. As the current issue of Scientific American magazine points out, if Earth was pushed out of its current position it is “most likely the Moon would be stripped away from Earth,” it states. This would greatly change our planet’s climate.
What makes the scientists plan to move Earth?

A．A few comets are moving to the direction of Earth.

B．Earth’s working life is coming to an end soon.

C．Earth will become too hot for mankind to keep alive.

D．The moon is moving farther and farther away from Earth.

If the plan is successful, Earth will have a working life of ______years.

A．12 billion

B．6 billion

C．18 billion

D．24 billion

What serious problems might the plan cause according to the passage?

A．The comet might hit Earth and man might lose the moon.

B．Earth might be moved too far away and man might be frozen to death.

C．The comet might hit Jupiter or Saturn and never return to Earth.

D．Earth’s working life might be greatly shortened.

What does the underlined word “compromise” mean?

A．provide

B．benefit

C．share

D．endanger

Which of the following best shows how the plan would work?

C
1992 GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION NEW CAR LIMITED WARRANTY (保修)
General Motors Corporation will provide for repairs to the vehicle during the warranty in accordance with the following terms, conditions and limitations.
WHAT IS COVERED
REPAIRS COVERED
This  warranty  covers repairs to correct any vehicle defect (缺陷) related to materials or workmanship noted during the warranty period. New or remanufactured parts will be used.
WARRANTY PERIOD
The WARRANTY PERIOD for all coverages begins on the date the vehicle is first delivered  or  put  in  use  and  ends  at the expiration (满期) of the COVERAGES shown below.
BATTERY COVERAGE
If battery replacement is required during the first year or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first, from the date of first delivery, it will be free of charge. Replacement after the first year or 12,000 miles, but before 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first, shall be subject to a prorated (按比例分配的) charge.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT COVERAGE (Air Bag)
The  Supplemental  Inflatable  Restraint  System (Air Bag) is covered for 3 years, regardless of mileage.
CORROSION (RUST-THROUGH) COVERAGE
Any body sheet metal panel (面板) that rusts-through due to corrosion (腐蚀) is covered for 6 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. Sheet metal panels may be repaired or replaced.
OBTAINING REPAIRS
To obtain warranty repairs, take the car to a Buick dealership within the WARRANTY PERIOD and request the needed repairs. A reasonable time must be allowed for the dealership to perform necessary repairs.
TOWING
TOWING is covered to the nearest Buick dealership, if your vehicle cannot be driven because of a warranted defect.
NO CHARGE
Warranty repairs, including TOWING, parts and labor, will be made at NO CHARGE.
WARRANTY APPLIES
This warranty is for GM cars registered in the United States and normally operated in the United States or Canada, and is provided to the original and any subsequent (后来的) owners of the car during the WARRANTY PERIOD.
Questions 61—65： Answer the following questions or complete the sentences.
61. General Motors Corporation will provide for repairs to the vehicle during the warranty period, with certain ________.
62. When does the warranty period for all coverages begin?
63. During  which  time  the  replacement  of  battery  is charged free?
64. According  to  the  warranty  repairs  will be made by ________.
65. What kinds of GM cars is this warranty for?

阅读下列材料, 从所给的五个选项(A、B、C、D、E)中，选出符合各小题要求的最佳选项，其中有一项是多余选项。
53. ___________ Rik has graduated from ahigh school and he wants to find a job with high pay in the town. He has just passed his driving test. He loves vehicles a lot.
54. ___________ Mrs. Sphinx is a middle aged woman. She is out of work now. It is hard for her to find a suitable job for the lack of special train when young. However, she has a large family with four children to support.
55. ___________ Christina, young and attractive, is good at English. She wants to go abroad to run a hotel after graduation. But she is lack of experience. So she needs practice.
56. ___________ Jacky is a newly-graduated college student. He majors in computer. He also plays guitar fairly well. So he entertains himself with it when he is free.

A TUTORING, English, Maths, Physics, Computer Call Miss Smith, 800-3595 GUITAR TEACHER Wants students. Folk/ Jazz, Bob, 800-7535

 

B PASSPORT AND APPLICATION PHOTOS Call 800-0552 or 800-9668, ask for Steve.

C HELP wanted for housework half a day per week. When—to be discussed. Good wages. Sylvan Street. Call 800-2817 If you are available a few hours during the day, some evenings and weekends to care for a school age child, please call Gayle Moore, days 800-1111, evenings and weekends 800-4964.

 

D PERSONS wanted for delivery work.. Own transportation. Good pay. Apply 2311 E. Stadium.    Office 101. After 9 a.m.

 

E WAITRESSES wanted to 10 a.m.—2 p.m. or 10:30 a.m.—5 p.m. Apply in person, 207S. Main. Curtis Restaurant.

 

回答问题（共3小题；每小题2分，满分6分）
阅读下面短文，根据第58至第60小题的具体要求，尽可能简要回答问题，并将答案转写到答题卡上。
In China, more and more middle school students are getting shorter sleeping time than before. More students sleep less than nine hours every night, because they have much homework to do. Some homework is given by their teachers, and some by their parents. Also, some students don’t know how to save time. They are not careful enough while they do their homework, so it takes them a lot of time. Some students spend too much time watching TV or playing computer games. They stay up very late. Some students have to get up early every morning on weekdays to get to school on time by bus of by bike . It can be a long way from home to school. It will probably make them sleepy during school hours.
Schools and parents should cut down some of the homework so that our children can enjoy more than nine hours of sleep every night for their health. For children, they should make the most (best use) of their time. When they have enough time for sleeping they will find it much better for both their study and health.
58. What make most students sleep less than nine hours every night? (回答词数不超过5个)
________________________________________________________________________
59. According to the article, who else gives children some homework to do except their teachers?
(回答词数不超过5个)
________________________________________________________________________
60. What is the possible result if the students have enough time for sleeping? (回答词数不超过14个)
_______________________________________________________________________

摘录信息（共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）
阅读下面短文，根据所读内容在文后第53至第57小题的空格里填上适当的单词或短语，并将答案转写到答题卡上。
注意：每空不超过3个单词。
Some beach creatures are wonderful -- like dolphins, but others are dangerous. Here are some examples of harmful beach creatures.
Puffer Fish
Puffer Fish, found in all Japanese seas, have very interesting features. They are very easy to catch but must not be eaten because their flesh and organs contain a poison. Anyone who does eat the flesh can become sick very quickly. They may even stop breathing.
The Blue Bottle
The Blue Bottle is found in most Caribbean waters. Blue Bottles float lightly on the surface of the water but their tentacles (触须) can be as long as 10 metres. Blue Bottles are much less dangerous than some other jellyfish but they can give a swimmer a bad sting (刺) if the swimmer accidentally touches them.
Stingrays
There are many different kinds of stingrays in Mauritius waters. They usually swim and feed on the bottom of the sea. Accidents can happen if people stand on them or try to pick them up. Stingrays have a sting on their tail. These stings have poison on them. If someone is stung the wound can easily become infected.
Title :   53   

Wildlife	Where creatures live	56	What effects on men
Puffer Fish	55	● easy to catch ● unfit to eat	● become sick ● stop breathing
54	most Caribbean waters	●their tentacles being as long as 10 metres ● less dangerous	give a sting
Stingrays	Mauritius waters	having a poisonous sting on their tail	easily    57   by the sting

摘录信息（共5小题；每小题1分，满分5分）
阅读下面短文，根据所读内容在文后第53至第57小题的空格里填上适当的单词或短语，并将答案转写到答题卡上。
注意：每空不超过3个单词。
The United States provides more than half the world’s food aid. American programs gave about two billion dollars last year.
But critics say the current system wastes money and delays the arrival of needed food. Under current law, United States government agencies have to buy Am erican-produced food. And 75% of the aid must be carried on American ships.
President of the USA wants to change the system. His plan would provide food aid by buying crops directly from farmers in the developing world. Money in the form of cash would make up about 25% of the aid. The president is calling on Congress(国会) to support the agriculture in developing countries.
Changing of World’s food aid system in USA

Current system	A waste of 53        .
Food doesn’t arrive on time.
Food must be bought from 54._____________
55________ of the aid must be carried on American ships.
New system	Crops will be 56_______ directly from farmers in the developing world.
25% of food aid will be paid 57_________

In general, people talk about two groups of colors: warm colors and cool colors. Researchers in psychology think that there are also two groups of people: people who prefer warm colors and people who prefer cool colors.
The warm colors are red, orange and yellow. Where there are warm colors and a lot of light, people usually want to be active. People think that red, for example, is exciting. Sociable people, those who like to be with others, like red. The cool colors are green, blue and violet. These colors, unlike warm colors, are relaxing. Where there are cool colors, people are usually quiet. People who like to spend time alone often prefer blue.
Red may be exciting, but one researcher says that time seems to pass more slowly in a room with warm colors than in a room with cool colors. He suggests that a warm color, such as red or orange is a good color for a living room or restaurant. People who are relaxing or eating do not want time to pass quickly. Cool colors are better for offices or factories if the people who are working there want time to pass quickly.
Researchers do not know why people think some colors are warm and other colors are cool. How ever, almost everyone agrees that red, orange, and yellow are warm and that green, blue, and violet are cool. Perhaps warm colors remind people of warm days and the cool colors remind them of cool days. Because in the north the sun is higher during summer, the hot summer sunlight appears yellow.
Which of the following colors belong to cool colors?

A．Yellow, green.	B．Blue, violet.
C．Black, blue.	D．Brown, white.

Which of the following statements is not true?

A．Sociable people like warm colors.

B．Warm colors can make people excited.

C．People who like to be with others don't like red.

D．Where there are warm colors, people want to be active.

Which is the right color for different rooms?

A．Red or orange for offices.	B．Orange for dining-rooms.
C．Blue for bedrooms.	D．Red for studies.

What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

A．It shows the reason why people think some colors are warm and others are cool.

B．Warm colors remind people of warm days.

C．Cool colors remind people of cool days.

D．People have an agreeable opinion of warm colors and cool colors.

I love exploring new places. Whether I travel across America or around the world，a new adventure is always waiting. What I don’t always enjoy is the time spent 9,000 meters（30,000 feet）in the air. Tight spaces, long hours, and unexpected-problems can make air travel stressful. Follow these six tips to make your next flight a braze.
1. Make a checklist. Before you pack，make a checklist of everything you need and mark item off as you put them in your bag. Be sure you include important documents, such as your passport.
2. Pack light. You don’t need to pack your whole closet. Choose clothes that mix and match for more variety. Wear your largest shoes on the place to save room in your bag. And pack a few old items that you can leave behind to make more room for souvenirs(纪念品) on the way home.
3. Carry on essential （基本的）items. Unfortunately, dependable baggage service is hard to come by. When you fly, be sure to pack your medicine, important documents, and a change of clothes in your carry-on bag.
4. Pack water and snacks. No one wants to get stuck on a runway for hours without food, water. But bad weather or mechanical problems could leave you stranded（进退两难的）. Pack water and crackers in your carry-on. But leave fresh foods at home. Most countries won’t allow you to bring them across their borders.
5. Stretch your legs. More and more travelers suffer from blood clots caused by sitting too long in tight spaces. You can help prevent this problem by doing stretches in your seat taking short walks every hour.
6. Entertain yourself. A long trip can either mean hours of boredom or an exciting adventure. Plan ahead to keep yourself busy with books，magazines and portable CD player. Just don’t forget to bring extra batteries.
Research airlines before you book your reservations. For just a few dollars more，some airlines offer personal entertainment systems. Singapore Air gives you nearly 70 choices of movies，music channels, and other entertainment！
With a little planning ahead，you’ll be able to sit back and enjoy the ride.
68. It is advised by the writer in this passage to _____ for your flight.
A. pack all the things you will need   
B. leave your important documents behind
C. carry some fresh foods with you   
D. take some books, magazines and CD players
69. Which of the following tips isn’t mentioned in this passage？
A. Researching airlines before reservations.    
B. Staying still during the whole flight.
C. Carrying some water and essential items.    
D. Making a list of the things you need.
70. The underlined phrase “come by” in tip 3 probably means _____.
A. receive by chance       B. obtain by effort   
C. pass by               D. offer in satisfaction
71. We can conclude from this passage that _____.
A. you will get sick during the long flight hours
B. old items are not allowed to bring back on the way home
C. you are not allowed to carry things as freely as you want
D. you can also board the plane without your passport

第三部分阅读理解(共20小题;每小题2分,满分40分)
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C、D)中，选出最佳选项。
When John Milton , writer of “Paradise Lost” ,entered Cambridge University, in 1625, he was already skilled in Latin after seven years of studying it as his second language at St. Paul’s School, London. Like all English boys who prepared for college in grammar schools ,he had learned not only to read Latin but also to speak and write it smoothly and correctly .His pronunciation of Latin was English ,however ,and seemed to have sounded strange to his friends when he later visited Italy.
Schoolboys gained their skill in Latin in a bitter way. They kept in mind the rules to make learning by heart easier. They first made a word-for-word translation and then an idiomatic translation into English .As they increased their skill ,they translated their English back into Latin without referring to the book and then compared their translation with the original .The schoolmaster was always at hand to encourage them. All schoolmasters believed Latin should be beaten in.
After several years of study ,the boys began to write compositions in imitation of the Latin writers they read. And as they began to read Latin poems ,they began to write poems in Latin .Because Milton was already a poet at ten ,his poems were much better than those painfully put together by the other boys. During the seven years Milton spent at university ,he made regular use of his command of Latin. He wrote some excellent Latin poems ,which he published among his works in 1645.
56．What does the passage mainly tell about?
A．How John Milton wrote “Paradise Lost”.  
B．How John Milton studied Latin.
C．How John Milton became famous.       
D．How John Milton became a poet.
57．Which of the following is true of John Milton’s pronunciation of Latin?
A. It has a strong Italian accent.        
B. It has an uncommon accent.　　
C. It was natural and easy to understand.　
D. It was bad and difficult to understand.
58．It can be inferred from the passage that _____.       .
A．Milton’s training in Latin was similar to that of the other boys
B．Milton hadn’t learned any foreign language except Latin before going to college
C．Milton’s Italian friends helped him with Latin when talking
D．Milton’s classmates learned Latin harder but worse than Milton.
59．What is the meaning of the underlined part “Latin should be beaten in” (Para.2)?
A．Schoolboys should be punished if they were lazy to learn Latin.
B．Schoolboys should be encouraged if they had difficulty in learning Latin.
C．Schoolboys were expected to master Latin in a short time.
D．Schoolboys had to study Latin in a hard way.

第四部分写作
第一节任务型阅读（每空一词0.5分，共5分）
More than a century after its discovery, Alzheimer’s disease is still destroying people’s brains. The cause remains unknown.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common disability or mental sickness called dementia. Dementia is the loss of thinking ability that is severe enough to interfere with daily activities.
About thirty million people around the world have Alzheimer’s disease. In the United States, more than five million people are said to suffer from this slowly increasing brain disorder (疾病).
Alzheimer’s disease generally develops differently in each person. Yet some early signs of the disease are common. The victims may not recognize changes in themselves. Others see the changes and struggle to hide them.
Probably the most common early sign is short-term memory loss. The victims cannot remember something that happened yesterday, for example. Also, the victims have increasing difficulty learning and storing new information. Slowly, thinking becomes much more difficult. The victims cannot understand a joke, or cannot cook a meal, or perform simple work.
Another sign of the disease is difficulty solving simple problems. The patients might not know what to do if food on a stove is burning. Also, people have trouble following directions or finding their way to places they have known all their lives.
Yet another sign is struggling to find the right words to express thoughts or understand what is being discussed. Finally, people with Alzheimer’s disease seem to change. Quiet people may become noisy. They may easily become angry and lose their ability to trust others.
Alzheimer’s disease affects memory and personality. The victims slowly lose their ability to deal with everyday life.
Victims of Alzheimer’s disease do die from its effects or conditions linked to it. But death may not come for many years.
Patients cannot fully recover from the disease. But many can be helped by medicine. That is especially true if the disease is found early.

Title	Alzheimer’s disease: The World’s Most Common Form of Dementia
Current situations	★ The disease was _76_  over a century ago, and is still destroying people’s brains. ★ About thirty million people worldwide _77_  from the disease. ★ More than five million Americans have this slowly increasing brain disorder.
Cause	It is still__ 78__.
_ 79_	★ Short-term memory loss. ★ The victims find it more difficult to learn and __80_ new information. ★ The victims have difficulty in thinking. ★ Solving simple problems has become difficult for them. ★ The victims struggle to express themselves __81__. ★ The victims’ __82__ seem to change .
__83__	Memory and personality are affected. The basic ability will be slowly_84__. Death may occur to victims of the disease.
Treatment	The patients can be helped at an early stage by medicine but cannot be __85__of the disease.

第II 卷（共35分）
第一部分任务型阅读（共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分）
请认真阅读下列短文，并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格中填入最适当的单词。每空格1个单词。
Homework is a great way for kids to develop independent, lifelong learning skills, so here are some general homework tips for parents:
● Make sure your child has a quiet, well-lit place to do homework.
Avoid having your child do homework with the television on or in places with other distractions, such as people coming and going.
● Make sure the materials your child needs, such as some paper, pencils and a dictionary, are available.
Ask your child if special materials will be needed for some projects and get them in advance.
● Help your child with time management.
Establish a set time each day for doing homework. Don’t let your child leave homework until just before bedtime. Think about using a weekend morning or afternoon for working on big projects, especially if the project involves getting together with classmates.
● Be positive about homework.
Tell your child how important school is. The attitude you express about homework will be the attitude your child acquires.
● When your child asks for help, provide guidance, not answers.
Giving answers means your child will not learn the material. Too much help teaches your child that when the going gets rough, someone will do the work for him or her.
Cooperation with the teacher. It shows your child that the school and home are a team. Follow the directions given by the teacher.
● Reward progress in homework.
If your child has been successful in homework completion and is working hard, celebrate that success with a special event (e.g. pizza, a walk, a trip to the park) to reinforce the positive effort.
Title: (76) ____________ for parents on their children’s homework

Right things to do	Basic requirements
(77) ___________ for homework	A separate room	◆Quiet and well-lit ◆(78) _________ TV or other distractions
Materials for homework	Things__________ (79)	◆Some paper ◆Some pencils ◆A dictionary ◆Special materials for some projects ahead of (80) ____________
Time management	(81) _______ homework	A set time each day
Weekend homework	A whole morning or afternoon
Attitudes to homework	(82)_________ of homework	◆(83)_________ by parents ◆Accepted by children
(84)_________ from parents	Dos & don’ts	◆Provide guidance ◆Cooperate with the teacher ◆Follow the teacher’s directions ◆Don’t give answers
(85) __________	Successful homework	Reward the child with a special event: ◆Their favorite food ◆Their favorite activity

It was a winter morning, just a couple of weeks before Christmas 2008．While most people were warming up their cars, Trevor, my husband, had to get up early to ride his bike four kilometers away from home to work．On arrival, he parked his bike outside the back door as he usually does．After putting in 10 hours of labor, he returned to find his bike gone．
The bike, a black Kona 18 speed, was our only transport．Trevor used it to get to work, putting in 60-hour weeks to support his young family．And the bike was also used to get groceries（食品杂货）,saving us from having to walk long distances from where we live．
I was so sad that someone would steal our bike that I wrote to the newspaper and told them our story．Shortly after that, several people in our area offered to help．One wonderful stranger even bought a bike, then called my husband to pick it up．Once again my husband had a way to get to and from his job．It really is an honor that a complete stranger would go out of their way for someone they have never met before．
People say that a smile can be passed from one person to another, but acts of kindness from strangers are even more so．This experience has had a spreading effect in our lives because it increased our faith in humanity（人性）as a whole．And it has influenced us to be more mindful of ways we, too, can share with others．No matter how big or how small, an act of kindness shows that someone cares．And the results can be everlasting（永恒的）．
72．Why was the bike so important to the couple?
A．The man’s job was bike racing．    B．It was their only possession．
C．It was a nice Kona 18 speed．       D．They used it for work and daily life．
73．We can infer from the text that       ．
A．the couple worked 60 hours a week      B．people were busy before Christmas
C．the stranger brought over the bike  D．life was hard for the young family
74．How did people get to know the couple’s problem?           
A．From radio broadcasts． B．From a newspaper．
C．From TV news．            D．From a stranger．
75．What do the couple learn from their experience?        
A．Strangers are usually of little help．      B．One should take care of their bike．
C．News reports make people famous．     D．An act of kindness can mean a lot．

You either have it, or you don’t— a sense of direction, that is. But why is it that some people could find their way across the Sahara without a map, while others can lose themselves in the next street?
Scientists say we’re all born with a sense of direction, but it is not properly understood how it works. One theory is that people with a good sense of direction have simply worked harder at developing it. Research being carried out at Liverpool University supports this idea and suggests that if we don’t use it, we’ll lose it.
“Children as young as seven have the ability to find their way around,” says Jim Martland, Research director of the project. “However, if they are not allowed out alone or are taken everywhere by car, they never develop the skills.”
Jim Martland also emphasizes that young people should be taught certain skills to improve their sense of direction. He makes the following suggestions:
If you are using a map, turn it so it relates to the way you are facing.
If you leave your bike in a strange place, put it near something like a big stone or a tree--     something easy to recognize. Note landmarks on the route as you go away from your bike. When you return, go back along the same route.
Simplify the way for finding your direction by using lines such as streets in a town, streams, or walls in the countryside to guide you. Count your steps so that you know how far you have gone and note any landmarks such as tower blocks or hills which can help to find out where you are.
Now you will never get lost again!
68. Scientists believe that _________.
A. some babies are born with a sense of direction
B. people learn a sense of direction as they grow older
C. people never lose their sense of direction
D. everybody has a sense of direction from birth
69. What is true of 7-year-old children according to the passage?
A. They never have a sense of direction without maps.
B. They should never be allowed out alone if they lack (缺乏) a sense of direction.
C. They have a sense of direction and can find their way around.
D. They can develop a good sense of direction if they are driven around in a car.
70. If you leave your bike in a strange place, you should ________.
A. tie it to a tree so as to prevent it from being stolen
B. draw a map of the route to help remember where it is
C. avoid taking the same route when you come back to it
D. remember something easily recognizable on the route
71. According to the passage, the best way to find your way around is to _________.
A. ask policemen for directions
B. use walls, streams, and streets to guide yourself
C. remember your route by looking out for steps and stairs
D. count the number of landmarks that you see

It seems that politicians around the world are thinking about the health of their countries. While in China, Chen Zhu has announced his plans for a universal health service and reform across health services. Gordon Brown, the UK Prime Minister, has also announced he is planning to make some changes in our health service.
The crux（问题的中心） of Mr. Brown's proposals are related to giving the NHS (National Health Service) a greater focus on prevention, rather than just curing patients.
He is planning to introduce increased screening for common diseases such as heart disease, strokes, and cancer, for example, breast cancer. In Britain there are 200,000 deaths a year from heart attacks and strokes, many of which might have been avoided if the condition had been known about.
Initially, the diagnostic (诊断的) tests will be available for those who are vulnerable, or most likely to have the disease. One example is a plan to offer all men over 65 an ultrasound（超声波） test to check for problems with the main artery (动脉), a condition which kills 3,000 men a year.
The opposition have criticized Mr. Brown's proposals, saying that they are just a trick, and claiming that there is no proper timetable for the changes. They also say that Mr. Brown is reducing the money available for the treatment of certain conditions while putting more money towards testing for them.
The NHS was founded in 1948, and is paid for by taxation. The idea is that the rich pay more towards the health service than the poor. However in recent years there has been a great increase in the use of private healthcare, because it’s much quicker. NHS waiting lists for operations can be very long, so many people who can afford it choose to pay for medical care themselves.
87. The underlined word vulnerable in the fourth paragraph probably means ________.
A. sick     B. weak     C. wounded     D. old
88. Which of the following is the reason for the increasing private healthcare?
A. People are paying more attention to their own health.
B. People are well off enough to pay their healthcare.
C. The NHS was not available for most of the people.
D. It’s not so convenient for people to go to the NHS for their healthcare.
89. According to the passage, the purpose of the health reform plan in the UK is to _______  
A. encourage more private healthcare.
B. focus on the prevention rather than on curing the patient.
C. deal with the main artery problems.
D. fight against the opposition in the UK.
90. The author of this passage intends to tell us _________.
A. the NHS should be reformed right away.
B. more and more people are dying from diseases.
C. the plan to reform the NHS in the UK.
D. the criticism of Mr. Brown's proposals.