The rise of the so-called “boomerang generation” is revealed in official figures showing that almost one in five graduates in their late 20s now live with their parents.
By contrast, only one in eight university graduates had failed to fly the nest by the same age 20 years ago. It also found that grown-up sons are twice as likely as their sisters to still be living with their parents in their late 20s. With nearly a quarter of men approaching 30 still living at home, the findings are bound to lead to claims of a “generation of mummy’s boys”.
Young professionals in their late 20s or early 30s have been nicknamed the “boomerang generation” because of the trend toward returning to the family home having initially left to study. Recent research has suggested that young people in Britain are twice as likely to choose to live with their parents in their late 20s than their counterparts elsewhere in Europe.
Rising property prices, mounting student debts and the effects of recession on the job market have forced a wave of young people to move back into the family home at an age when they would normally be moving out. But commentators warned that the phenomenon may have more to do with young people facing “dire” prospects than simply a desire to save money.
While the proportion of those of university or college age moving out from the family home has continued to
rise in the last 20 years, among those in their mid and late 20s the trend has been reversed. Overall 1.7 million people aged from 22 to 29 now share a roof with their parents, including more than 760,000 in their late 20s. In 1988, 22.7 per cent of men aged 25 to 29 were still living with their parents bu
t last year the proportion was 24.5 per cent. What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．The economic crisis has shown its effect on the young generation. |
| B．More young professionals are returning home to live. |
| C．British parents are suffering more loads from their grown-up children. |
| D．Britain is suffering more than any other country in Europe. |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．Male children seem to more independent than females. |
B．Eighty percent of university graduates were able to live indepen den tly two decades ago. |
| C．The grown-up children choose to live with their parents only to save money. |
| D．More and more children are moving out at university age. |
What does the underlined word “dire” probably mean?
| A．promising. | B．inconvenient. | C．very bad. | D．hopeful |
The following factors may account for the phenomenon excep
t _____.
| A．that living prices have risen a lot. |
| B．that it’s difficult to land a job. |
| C．that education has already cost them a lot |
| D．that parents can help them more |
Habits are a funny thing. We reach for them mindlessly, setting our brains on auto-pilot and relaxing into the unconscious comfort of familiar routine. “Not choice, but habit rules the unreflecting creatures,” William Wordsworth said in the 19th century. In the ever-changing 21st century, even the word “habit” carries a negative meaning.
So it seems contradictory to talk about habits in the same context as innovation (创新). But brain researchers have discovered that when we consciously develop new habits, we create parallel （平行的）paths, and even entirely new brain cells, that can jump our trains of thought onto new, innovative tracks.
Rather than dismissing ourselves as unchangeable creatures of habit, we can instead direct our own change by consciously developing new habits. In fact, the more new things we try, the more creative we become.
But don’t bother trying to kill off old habits; once those ruts of procedure are worn into the brain, they’re there to stay. Instead, the new habits we deliberately press into ourselves create parallel pathways that can bypass those old roads.
“The first thing needed for innovation is attraction to wonder,” says Dawna Markova, author of The Open Mind. “But we are taught instead to ‘decide’, just as our president calls himself ‘the Decider’.” She adds, however, that “to decide is to kill off all possibilities but one. A good innovational thinker is always exploring the many other possibilities.”
“All of us work through problems in ways of which we’re unaware,” she says. Researchers in the late 1960s discovered that humans are born with the ability to approach challenges in four primary ways: analytically, procedurally（程序上的）, collaboratively (合作地) and innovatively. At the end of adolescence, however, the brain shuts down half of that ability, preserving only those ways of thought that have seemed most valuable during the first decade or so of life.
The current emphasis on standardized testing highlights analysis and procedure, meaning that few of us use our innovative and collaborative ways of thought. “This breaks the major rule in the American belief system—that anyone can do anything,” explains M. J. Ryan, author of the 2006 book This Year I Will … and Ms. Markova’s business partner. “That’s a lie that we have preserved, and it fosters（培养）commonness. Knowing what you’re good at and doing even more of it creates excellence.” This is where developing new habits comes in. Brain researchers have discovered that .
| A．the forming of new habits can be guided | B．the development of habits can be predicted |
| C．the regulation of old habits can be transformed | |
| D．the track of new habits can be created unconsciously |
The underlined word “ruts” in Paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to .
| A．zones | B．connections | C．situations | D．tracks |
Which of the following statements most probably agrees with Dawna Markova’s view?
| A．Decision makes no sense in choices. | B．Curiosity makes creative minds active. |
| C．Creative ideas are born of a relaxing mind. | D．Formation of innovation comes from fantastic ideas. |
The purpose of the author writing this article is to persuade us .
| A．to give up our traditional habits deliberately | B．to create and develop new habits consciously |
| C．to resist the application of standardized testing | D．to believe that old habits conflict with new habits |
One of the most difficult things for children to deal with when moving to a new town is leaving their friends and making new ones.
We once moved and one of our new neighbors told us about a summer camp at the Recreation Center all the kids went to. My husband and I looked into it and we found it was unbelievably cheap. I had the kids sign up (报名) the next day so that they could know more kids there.
Another thing we did was to have them sign up for sports when school started. They were happy to be on teams with new friends they made. This also gave me a chance to meet new people and from them I sometimes got some useful ideas for my new books.
If you’re just moving to a new house in the same city you live in now, it won’t really be a problem unless your kids are changing schools. If they are, it is a great idea to have them take the address book to school. Thus, your children won’t feel “lost” without their old friends.
If you’re able to, over the summer vacation, try inviting the friend your child misses most to come and visit your new home for a week, or even a few weeks. I know this can be difficult if that child has to fly, but maybe you can work out a plan with the child’s parents. Think how happy the kids will be when they meet!
The author had her kids sign up for the summer camp mainly because _____.
| A．she could afford the cost | B．she was asked to do so by her kids |
C．it could give  her kids a chance to meet more kids |
|
| D．it could make the summer holiday not so boring |
What is probably the author?
| A．A housewife. | B．A business woman. | C．A teacher. | D．A writer. |
What we can’t learn from the passage is that ____.
| A．a summer camp at the Recreation Center was very cheap |
| B．having the kids take part in sports is good for both the author and her kids |
| C．parents should ask their children not to think of their old friends |
| D．parents should create more chances for children to make new friends |
The purpose of the passage is to teach parents how to ______ when they move to a new place.
| A．get used to the new life in a short time |
| B．help their children make new friends and keep the old ones |
| C．get along with their new neighbors |
| D．help their children get used to the new school life |
Burns can be caused by fire, the sun, chemicals, heated objects or fluids, and electricity. They can be minor problems or life-threatening emergencies. Distinguishing a minor burn from a more serious burn involves determining the degree of damage to the tissues of the body. If you are not sure how serious the burn is, seek emergency medical help.
First-degree burns are those in which only the outer layer of skin is burned. The skin is usually red and some swelling (肿大) and pain may occur. Unless the burn involves large portions of the body, it can be treated at home.
Second-degree burns are those in which the first layer of skin has been burned through and the second layer of skin is also burned. In these burns, the skin reddens intensely and blisters (水泡) develop. Severe pain and swelling also occur. Second-degree burns require medical treatment.
Third-degree burns are the most serious and involve all layers of skin. Fat, nerves, muscles, and even bones may be affected. Areas may be charred black or appear a dry white. If nerve damage is substantial, there may be no pain at all. These burns require emergency medical attention.
Follow these steps when treating minor burns at home:
1) If the skin is not broken, run cool water over the burn for several minutes.
2) Cover the burn with a sterile (消过毒的) bandage or clean cloth.
3) Take aspirin to relieve any swelling or pain.
Seek emergency treatment immediately for major burns. Before an emergency unit arrives, follow these steps:
1) Remove the person from the source of the burn (fire, electrical current, etc.).
2) If the person is not breathing, begin mouth-to-mouth resuscitation (人工呼吸) immediately.
3) Remove all clothing to stop further burning. If the clothing is stuck to the burn, do not attempt to remove it.
4) Cover the burned area with a cool, moist, sterile banda
ge or clean cloth. Do not place any creams, ointments (药膏) or ice on the burned area or break blisters.
5) Monitor the patient for signs of shock, and treat accordingly. The underlined sentence in the first paragraph probably means “______”.
A. They can be dangerous if you don’t treat them seriously
Ｂ. They range from slight burns to deadly ones
C. They seldom cause deaths even if not treated properly
D. They usually cause deaths if not treated properlyBurns are divided into different degrees according to _______.
| A．what kind of treatment they need |
| B．what kind of tissue of the body is damaged |
| C．whether there is pain and what degree of pain there is |
| D．which layer of skin is burned |
From the passage we learn that ___
____.
| A．if there is severe pain, then you need medical treatment |
| B．first-degree burns don’t require medical treatment |
| C．burns without pains can be treated at home |
| D．the larger the swelling is, the more serious it is |
It can be inferred from the passage that ______
.
| A．you shouldn’t cover the burn with a bandage or cloth if it is severe |
| B．you shouldn’t move the person unless you know how to do first aid |
| C．you shouldn’t run cool water over the burn if the skin is broken |
| D．you shouldn’t place any wet towels on the burned area |
where do you probably find the passage?
| A．a fashion magazine | B．a guide book |
| C．a book on first aid | D．a section about culture in the newspaper |
THIS was the year the Earth struck back.
Earthquakes, heat waves, floods, volcanoes, super typhoons, snow storms, landslides and droughts killed at least a quarter of a million people in 2010 – the deadliest year in more than a generation. More people were killed worldwide by natural disasters this year than have been killed in terrorism attacks in the past 40 years combined.
"It just seemed like it was back-to-back and it came in waves," said Craig Fugate, who heads the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency. It handled a record number of disasters in 2010.
And we have ourselves to blame most of the time, scientists and disaster experts say.
Even though many catastrophes have the ring of random chance, the hand of man made this a particularly deadly, costly, extreme and weird（古怪的） year for everything from wild weather to earthquakes.
Poor construction and development practices conspire to make earthquakes more deadly than they need be. More people live in poverty in vulnerable（脆弱的） buildings in crowded cities. That means that when the ground shakes, the river breaches, or the tropical cyclone hits, more people die.
Disasters from the Earth, such as earthquakes and volcanoes "are pretty much constant," said Andreas Schraft, vice president of catastrophic perils for the Geneva-based insurance giant Swiss Re. "All the change that's made is man-made."
The January earthquake that killed well more than 220,000 people in Haiti is a perfect example. Port-au-Prince has nearly three times as many people - many of them living in poverty - and more poorly built shanties than it did 25 years ago. So had the same quake hit in 1985 instead of 2010, total deaths would have probably been in the 80,000 range, said Richard Olson, director of disaster risk reduction at Florida International University.
In February, an earthquake that was more than 500 times stronger than the one that struck Haiti hit an area of Chile that was less populated, better constructed, and not as poor. Chile's bigger quake caused fewer than 1,000 deaths.
Climate scientists say Earth's climate also is changing, bringing extreme weather, such as heat waves and flooding.
In the summer, one weather system caused oppressive heat in Russia, while farther south it caused flooding in Pakistan that inundated 161,200 square kilometers, about the size of Wisconsin. That single heat-and-storm system killed almost 17,000 people, more people than all the worldwide airplane crashes in the past 15 years.
Scientists have calculated that the killer Russian heat wave—setting a national record of 43.9℃—would happen once every 100,000 years without global warming.What is responsible for the most human deaths in 2010?
| A．Natrual disasters. | B．Terrorist attacks. |
| C．Poor buildings. | D．Too rapid developrnent. |
According to Andreas Schraft, .
| A．earthquakes are happening more often because of human beings |
| B．earthquakes are causing more damage because of human beings |
| C．stronger houses should be built to limit storm damage |
| D．Port—au—Prince is now overpopulated |
The main point of the article is to
| A．list the natural disasters that occurred in 2010 |
| B．give the details of some natural disasters of 2010 |
| C．warn that more natural disasters are to strike |
| D．blame humanity for not helping those affected by the disasters |
What is red but green, open but closed and old but new?
The answer is: London’s new double-decker（双层）buses.
Red double-deckers are a symbol of the city. Their status was sealed (确定) in 2008 when one bus made the longer-than-usual trip to Beijing to collect a special passenger: the Olympic Flame.
On November 11, a life-size model of the new bus was shown to the media. The Guardian reported that the new design shares some of the features of the much-missed double-decker Routemaster bus. The original Routemaster was introduced in 1956 but December 2005 saw the end of the old bus’s general service. It was because the bus was difficult for some passengers to use and not environmentally fr
iendly. But it can still be seen on two heritage routes in the city.
Its replacements —boxy, modern double—deckers—have failed to win Londoners’ affection.
London mayor Boris Johnson told the BBC that the new buses were “a combination of nostalgia（怀旧）and the latest technology”. “Standing on the back platform of this bus brings a sense of nostalgia but also shows the best part of the latest technology and design, making this bus fit for the 21st Century,” he said.
The new bus also returns to the driver—and—conductor model—a key feature of the original version. It will be quieter than the old type and have a platform offering passengers the traditional hop—on hop—off service.
The first five new buses will be seen on the roads by early 2012.Which of the following shows that red double—deckers are a symbol of London?
| A．They have a long history and are seen everywhere in London. |
| B．They have nothing in common with the traditional Routemaster bus. |
| C．One such bus went from London to Beijing to collect the Olympic Flame. |
| D．They carried British athletes from London to attend the Beijing Olympics. |
Which of the following is true of the original Routemaster?
| A．The bus came into use in the 1960s. |
| B．The bus was banned because it was harmful to the environment. |
| C．Passengers didn’t like the bus because it was slow. |
| D．Visitors to London cannot see such buses on the roads any more. |
According to London mayor Boris Johnson, the new Routemaster .
| A．has not been as well received as was expected |
| B．will be widely used in London in 2012 |
C．is the mo st environmentally friendly bus in the UK |
| D．combines the latest technology with key traditional features |
What is the characteristic of the new red double – deckers?
| A．The buses will make no noises. |
| B．The buses will have no conductors. |
C．They will be equipped with air – conditioning. |
| D．The bus platform will offer passengers a traditional service. |
Parking has long been a major headache for drivers in Shanghai. The Transportation Department is mapping out a new plan for the city’s parking system. There are one million cars on the road in Shanghai but only enough public parking space to provide room for 15 percent of these vehicles. It is no wonder that local drivers get so worried trying to find a place to park.
The city is seeing a rise in private car owners. In March, the city sent out 2,000 private car licenses, the highest number of licenses ever sent out in a month. And prices rose to 14,600 yuan, 500 more than in February. Industry experts say this suggests that local people have a strong, active interest in buying cars.
By the year 2020, the number of automobiles in Shanghai will probably reach two million. If one parking lot is for each car, then a lot of parking space should be built for these vehicles.
Downtown Shanghai is most short of parking space. However, experts point out that simply building more parking lots in downtown areas is not practical and doesn’t provide an ideal solution. The idea of “ Park & Ride” system has been suggested. This means that drivers can leave their vehicles in car parks nearby subway or bus stations and ride public transport to go downtown. Based on this idea, the city will limit the number of parking lots in downtown areas and demand higher parking fees but build more parking areas near main subway and bus stops.The underlined phrase “mapping out” in the first paragraph means __________.
| A．making | B．arguing | C．commanding | D．requesting |
About __________ drivers can find places to park their cars in Shanghai now.
| A．850,000 | B．1,000,000 | C．150,000 | D．2,000,000 |
What can we infer from the second paragraph?
| A．The city sent out more private licenses in February. |
| B．Less and less people bought cars in March. |
| C．The city sent out less private licenses in March. |
| D．More and more people are going to buy cars. |
According to the idea of a “ Park & Ride ” system, the city will __________.
| A．send out more private car licenses |
| B．build more parking lots near bus stops |
| C．encourage people to buy more cars |
| D．build more parking areas downtown |
Harry’s father bought a magazine which gave its readers information about all kinds of products and helped them make the best choice while buying.
Harry borrowed his father’s magazine when he needed a new computer. “I’ll read it and choose the best one.” He said.
The magazine described these computers.
| The DGT PC450 |
The BNK 975XF: AT $3,200 |
The CGP 8PT |
 This computer comes with lots of good software. However it does not have much memory and is rather slow. At $2,850 it’s not very good value for money. |
 This is the most expensive computer we tested. However it is also the most reliable (可靠的). It is very fast and has lots of memory. It is worth the extra money if you can afford it. |
 At only $1,900. It has lots of memory and is quite fast. However it broke down twice while we were testing it and we cannot recommend (建议) it for reliability. |
Harry chose the BNK 975XF. “I know it’s expensive,” he said, “but it will be with me for a long time and do everything I want it to do.” Harry wants to buy a computer, so he borrowed ___________ from his father.
| A．a magazine about all kinds of products | B．a computer magazine |
| C．a shopping book | D．a book about all kinds of computers |
____________ doesn’t have much memory and is rather slow.
| A．The BNK 975XF | B．The DGT PC450 |
| C．The CGP 8PT | D．Harry’s computer |
The CGP 8PT is _____________ among the three kinds of computers.
| A．the fastest | B．the most expensive | C．the cheapest | D．the slowest |
Harry chose the BNK 975XF because _________.
| A．it is the most expensive | B．it has lots of good software |
| C．it has much memory | D．it would work for him for a long time |
“Who needs a shopping mall if you have Taobao?” says Wang Lin,28,a writer in Beijing.
Taobao,China’s largest online shopping site,has become an important part of Wang Lin’s life.She spends lots of money on Taobao.
A growing number of Chinese Internet users like Wang have found the joys of online shopping .Most online sho
ppers are students or young workers .More women shop on line than men.Clothes and home-use products are the most popular on line.
It was reported that more than 250 billion yuan was spent on online shopping last year, 80% through Taobao.
Taobao means “looking for treasure”in Chinese.People can find almost everything they need on Taobao,from clothes to books ,from candies to DVD players .
You may question the security of online shopping ,Wang Lin said, “”It’s very safe and convenient .Unless you receive the products from the sellers and are satisfied with them,the shop owner will not get the money .You can also get your money back if you want to return the products.”What are the most popular on line?
A．Cand les and DVD players |
B．Clothes and books. |
| C．Clothing and home-use products. | D．Toys for children |
Taobao is ____________.
| A．a shopping mall | B．an online shopper |
| C．an online shopping site | D．a clothes store |
What does the underlined word “security”mean?
A．质量 B安全 C 信誉 D. 数量.Which is the best title of the passage?
| A．Wang Lin’s life. | B．Online shopping in China. |
C．Sho pping on line is not safe. |
D．Shopping on line is easy |
Three years ago I listened to a lecture on cognition (认知) that changed the way I think about intelligence. There are two types of cognition. The first is normal cognition: the ability to regain knowledge from memory. The second type of cognition is metacognition: the ability to know whether or not you know.
Does this affect intelligence? In traditional education, intelligence is measured by cognitive ability. Some people can easily produce everything they know on a test. But others are awarded with poor grades and considered inferior. But does this inability make them any less intelligent? If the question came up on a task, they could refer to a book or a quick Google search. In reality they’re just as effective as the people that ace a test. They just can’t prove it as easily.
Metacognition is more important to success than cognition. A person with poor cognitive ability, but great metacognitive ability might do poorly in school, but when faced with a challenge, they understand their abilities and take the best course of action. For example, when faced with a question, a person with strong metacognitive
ability will deal with it like this. If he knows the answer, but can’t come up with it, he can always do a bit of research. If he knows for sure that he doesn’t know, then he can start educating himself. Because he’s aware of his ignorance, he doesn’t act with foolish confidence. These people might not seem intelligent at first glance, but because they know what they know, they make better decisions and learn the most important things.
However, people with great cognitive ability but poor metacognitive ability may be considered excellent at a young age for acing every test and getting great SAT scores. Unfortunately, they’ve been ruined by poor metacognition: they think they know everything but they really don’t. They are overconfident, fail to learn from mistakes, and don’t understand the slight differences of personal relationships, showing disregard for persons with lower cognitive ability. They may make the worst decisions.
The most important mental power is the ability to know what you don’t know. The recognition of a fault is the first step to improvement. Don’t try to hide a lack of knowledge. For intelligent people this is the toughest lesson to learn.People with great cognitive ability tend to _________.
| A．do well in tests | B．be considered inferior |
| C．be more effective than others | D．do research when faced with a task |
The underlined phrase “take the best course of action” probably means _________.
| A．starting educating himself | B．taking action during the course |
| C．making the right decision | D．coming up with many ideas |
People with poor metacognition may not succeed because they_________.
| A．lack basic moral values | B．have improper self-evaluation |
| C．fail to communicate with others | D．show little respect for others |
The author probably supports the idea that _________.
| A．intelligence is measured by cognitive ability |
| B．cognition is the most important mental power |
| C．the toughest lesson is to distinguish the two types of cognition |
| D．the awareness of one’s ignorance contributes to one’s improvement |
The word “conservation” has a thrifty meaning. To conserve is to save and protect, to leave what we ourselves enjoy in such a good condition that others may also share the enjoyment. Our forefathers had no idea that human population would increase faster than the supplies of raw materials: most of them, even until very recently, had the foolish idea that the treasures were “limitless” and could “last forever”. Most of the citizens of earlier generations knew little or nothing about the complicated and delicate system that runs all through nature, and which means that, as in a living body, an unhealthy condition of one part will sooner or later be harmful to all the others.
Fifty years ago, nature study was not part of the school work; scientific forestry was a new idea; wood was still cheap because it could be brought in any quantity from distant woodlands; soil destruction and river floods were not national problems; nobody had yet studied long-term climatic cycles in relation to proper land use; even the word “conservation” had nothing of the meaning that it has for us today.
For the sake of ourselves and those who will come after us, we must now set about correcting the mistakes of our forefathers. Conservation should be made part of everybody’s daily life. To know about the water table in ground is just as important to us as a knowledge of the basic math formulas. We need to know why all watersheds (上游集水区) need the protection of plant life and why the running current of streams and rivers must be made to give their full benefit to the soi
l before they finally escape to the sea. We need to be taught the duty of planting trees as well as of cutting them. We need to know the importance of big, grown trees, because living space for most of man’s fellow creatures on this planet is figured not only in square measure of surface but also in cubic (立方体的) volume above the earth. In a word, it should be our goal to restore as much of the original beauty of nature as we can.The author’s attitude towards the use of natural resources is _________.
| A．positive | B．uninterested | C．optimistic | D．critical |
According to the author, the greatest mistake of our forefathers was that _________.
| A．they had no idea about scientific forestry |
| B．they had little or no sense of environmental protection |
| C．they were not aware of the importance of nature study |
| D．they had no idea of how to make good use of raw materials |
To avoid repeating the mistakes of our forefathers, the author suggests that _________.
| A．we plant more trees |
| B．natural sciences be taught to everybody |
| C．environmental education be directed toward everyone |
| D．we return to nature |
How can you understand the underlined sentence in the last paragraph?
| A．Our living space on the earth is getting smaller and smaller. |
| B．Our living space should be measured in cubic volume. |
| C．We need to take some measures to protect space. |
| D．We must preserve good living conditions for both birds and animals. |
What will we be eating in the future? Here are the top factors that will be affecting the food that ends up on our tables in the new century.
Genetically engineered food Many crops are already genetically engineered, often to produce more food, fight against pests or improve nutrition. But concern is growing over the lasting effects of changing nature. While existing research has found little harm in genetic engineering, a recent study found the flower powder of a genetically engin
eered corn can kill the normal butterfly. This finding made many people nervous and brought attention to the topic.
Dining out Americans are increasingly eating meals away from home, both in sit-down restaurants and in fast food outlets. In the last decade alone there was a 14 percent decrease in the number of meals eaten at home. At the same time, restaurants are just beginning to really open their doors on the Internet. Websites exist to make restaurant reservations (预约), view menus, and get tips from your favorite chefs. The dining out trend and the demand for high-quality, chef-prepared food have encouraged chefs to spend time out of the kitchen — teaching classes, appearing on TV, and writing cookbooks.
Eating in Eating in doesn’t always mean cooking. Ready-made meals and froz
en food sold in supermarkets taste better all the time. Restaurants are offering neatly packaged “food to go”, and meals can be ordered over the Internet. Cooking is not as much as a necessity, as it is a hobby or a special treat.
Agriculture Although American farmers have been hit hard recently by bad weather, low prices and decreasing government help, they can increase grain production not using old farming methods.Which of the following is the main reason for genetically engineered crops?
| A．To lead to more food and better nutrition. | B．To kill the normal butterfly. |
| C．To reduce the harm done by insects. | D．To change the nature of the crops. |
From the passage, we learn that _________.
| A．eating out is not popular among the old people in USA |
| B．it is now easier for people to get information about eating out |
| C．it is popular for restaurants to send out information on the Internet |
| D．the trend of eating out is causing many chefs to give up their jobs |
In the future, cooking at home will probably _________.
| A．still be the job of most housewives |
| B．take up most of people’s free time |
| C．bring much joy to more people |
| D．lead to many restaurants closing down |
According to the passage, farmers should _________ to get a higher grain production.
| A．turn to better farming methods | B．ask for the support of the government |
| C．raise the prices of crops | D．not care about the effects of bad weather |
Running like the wind, roaring like thunder, tigers have long been feared and respected as a king of the animal world．But last week a report said that there are no more than 30 wild tigers left in south China．
This was the conclusion of a team of scientists from China's State Forestry Administration and the World Nature Fund．
The South China tiger, also known as the Chinese tiger, is native to southern China．In the 1950's, there were over 4000 tigers found in mountain forests in the country．But due to the destruction of their natural habitat and uncontrolled hunting, it has been pushed on to the list of the world's top ten most endangered species．
Sixty-six of the big cats can be found in the cages of a dozen zoos around China．But they are nothing like their wild cousins．They have lost their natural skills such as hunting and killing．If they were set free they could not look after themselves．
"Breeding has damaged the quality of the species", said Pei Enle, deputy director of the Shanghai Zoo．
To reintroduce the species into the wild, the country started a programme to send five to ten young tigers to South Africa．Four of them have already arrived．Progress has been made as two elder tigers have recovered some of their instincts（本能）and can hunt wild animals by themselves at the African base．
" South Africans are very experienced in reintroducing big animals to the wild．The country has very good natural conditions for the tigers to learn in", said Lu Jun, office director of the National Wildlife Research and Development Center．" We tried in Fujian Province, but it was not successful as there was not a complete eco-chain（生物链） and there was a lack of space．"
The tigers should return to China in 2007 when the reservations in Fujian are ready．
1．What is the main reason for the South China tiger becoming one of the world's top ten most endangered species?
A．Because it has lost its n
atural instincts． B．Because there is not a complete eco-chain．
C．Because there is no space for it． D．Because uncontrolled hunting has destroyed its natural living conditions．
2．How is the programme of sending several tigers to South Africa getting on?
A．Its effect still remains to be seen．
B．Two tigers can already compete with their wild cousins．
C．Some of the tigers are already on the road to recovering their natural skills．
D．The tigers should be able to recover their instincts completely by 2007．
3．By saying " but they are nothing like their wild cousins", the writer means that ______．
A．they are no longer feared by other wild animals
B．they don't know how to hunt or kill
C．a complete change has resulted in the species because of breeding
D．to reintroduce them into the wild has become an urgent task
4．What is the purpose of sending young tigers to South Africa?
A．To help the tigers recover their ability to live in the wild．
B．To provide them with a better environment．
C．To get the tigers to go on a tour．
D．To find a complete eco-chain for them．
5．Which one is not the reason for South Africa being chosen as the training place?
A．Because the tigers can hunt wild animals by themselves at the African base．
B．Because South Africans are skilled at dealing with the tigers．
C．Because there is a complete eco-chain and enough space there．
D．Because the country has good natural conditions for the tigers to learn in．
It is the first report that home-grown food has been contaminated by radioactivity, largely Iodine(碘)-131, since the ministry ordered radiation( powerful and harmful rays that are sent out from radioactive substances) tests on food and water at the end of March in 14 mainland regions including Beijing, Tianjin, and some coastal provinces.
Sample inspections conducted on Tuesday found low levels of radioactive iodine in spinach( a kind of green vegetables) planted in Beijing, Tianjin and Henan province --- about 1-3 becquerels per kilogram (Bq/kg), the statement said.
"The contamination level detected is too low to be harmful to public health," it said.
According to health experts, radioactive iodine can accumulate in humans once ingested in high concentrations and increases the risk of thyroid cancer. But it decays naturally within weeks.
Leafy vegetables grown in the open like spinach, lettuce and leek are among the first foods to be tainted by radioactive deposits.
Raw milk is also susceptible to radioactive contamination as livestock feed on grass.
Tests carried out in March showed spinach and milk taken from farms near Japan's nuclear-stricken area had exceeded(go beyond) government-set safety limits for radiation.
No cases of tainted water or milk have been reported in China but the ministry vowed to further strengthen monitoring.
Wang Zhongwen, a researcher at the China Institute of Atomic Energy's radiation safety department, told China Daily on Wednesday that currently China only had the means to conduct food radiation tests in a few regions.
The statement also said that recent rain in Beijing and Tianjin meant radioactive substances could have fallen on vegetables.
Chen Jicang, a vegetable dealer in Beijing, said on Wednesday that concerns are growing among consumers, businesses and governments across the world.
"We have yet to see any impact on our business from the radiation, but we will keep a close eye on how the issue develops," he said.
He added that most vegetables consumed in Beijing are produced locally, and he might switch to other varieties if spinach sales suffer.
Yang Guoshan, a researcher of radiation medical science at the Academy of Military Medical Sciences, said people could safely eat products that contain low levels of Iodine-131.
"The radiation level is so low that residents don't need to spend any extra effort on cleaning them," he said.
Gao Jie, a 52-year-old resident in Tianjin said she is deeply worried because spinach is a staple part of her family's diet.
"If spinach is radioactive, is there any possibility that other types of vegetables are safe?"
Trace levels of radioactive isotope cesium-137 and -134 were detected in the air in 21 provinces and regions on Wednesday, up from 17 on Tuesday, according to China's National Nuclear Emergency Coordination Committee. What does the underlined word mean in para 1?
| A．protected | B．contained | C．polluted by dangerous substances | D．tested |
Why are the spinach and milk taken from nuclear-stricken area not safe?
| A．Because tests have been carried out there. |
| B．Raw milk is sensitive to radioactive contamination as livestock（家畜）feed on grass. |
| C．The amount of radioactive substances goes beyond the safe limits for radiation. |
| D．Japan is a nuclear-stricken area. |
Where do you think this passage comes from?
| A．a magazine | B．CCTV news | C．a journal | D．a novel |
What is not mentioned in the passage?
| A．Consumers became concerned about the safety of vegetables. |
| B．People need to clean vegetables completely before cooking because of radiation. |
| C．Food and water have to be tested since the end of March in 14 mainland regions |
| D．Low levels of radioactive iodine has been found in spinach in Tianjin |
What do you think is mainly talked about in the passage?
| A．How the radioactivity came into being |
| B．What we should do in face of radioactivity. |
| C．Radioactivity has no side effect on human being. |
| D．Home-grown food has been affected by radioactivity. |
Forget Twitter and Facebook, Google and the Kindle. Television is still the most influential medium around. Indeed ,for many of the poorest regions of the world, it remains the next big thing——finally becomes globally available. And that is a good thing, because the TV revolution is changing lives for the better.
Across the developing world, around 45% of families had a TV in 1995; by 2005 the number had climbed above 60%. That is some way behind the U.S. , where are more TVs than people, and where people now easily get access to the Internet. Five million more families in sub-Saharan Africa will get a TV over the next five years. In 2005 , after the fall of the Taliban（塔利班）,which had outlawed TV, 1 in 5 Afghans had one. The global total is another 150 million by 2013——pushing the numbers to well beyond two thirds of families.
Television’s most powerful effect will be on the lives of women. In India, researchers Robert Jensen and Emily Oster found that when TVs reached villages, women were more likely to go to the market without their husbands’ approval and less likely to want a boy rather than a girl. They were more likely to make decisions over child health care. TV is also a powerful medium for adult education. In the Indian state of Gujarat, Chitrageet is a popular show that plays Bollywood songs with words in Gujarati on the screen. Within six months, viewers had made a small but significant improvement in their reading skills.
Too much TV has been associated with violence, overweight and loneliness. However, TV is having a positive influence on the lives of billions worldwide. The underlined word “outlawed” in paragraph 2 probably means “ ”.
| A．allowed | B．forbidden | C．offered | D．refused |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Americans used to get access to the Internet easily. |
| B．The world’s TV sets will total 150 million by 2013. |
| C．45% of families in the developing countries had a TV in 2005. |
| D．Over two thirds of families in the world will have a TV by 2013. |
The author intends to .
| A．stress the advantages of TV to people’s lives |
| B．persuade women to become more independent |
| C．encourage people to improve their reading skills |
| D．introduce the readers some websites such as Google |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．TV Will Rule the World | B．TV Will Disturb the World |
| C．TV Will Better the World | D．TV Will Remain in World |
From the passage, we know _______________.
| A．It is impossible for women in India to get access to TVs now. |
| B．Robert Jensen and Emily Oster are Indian women. |
| C．Women in India are more likely to want a girl than a boy because of the arrival of TV. |
| D．Viewers of a popular TV show can improve their reading skills greatly in half a year. |
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