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和D）中，选出最佳选项。
On the evening of June 21, 1992, a tall man with brown hair and blue eyes entered the beautiful hall of the Bell Tower Hotel in Xi’an with his bicycle. The hotel workers received him and telephoned the manager, for they had never seen a bicycle in the hotel ball before though they lived in “the kingdom of bicycles”.
Robert Friedlander, an American, arrived in Xi’an on his bicycle trip across Asia which started last December in New Delhi, India.
When he was 11, he read the book Marco Polo and made up his mind to visit the Silk Road. Now, after 44 years, he was on the Silk Road in Xi’an and his early dream were coming true. Robert Friedlander’s next destinations(目的地) were Lanzhou, Dunhuang, Urumqi, etc. He will complete his trip in Pakistan.
1. The best headline (标题) for this newspaper article would be ___________.
A. The Kingdom of Bicycles B. A Beautiful Hotel in Xi’an
C. Marco Polo and the Silk Road D. An American Achieving His Aims
2. The hotel workers told the manager about Friedlander coming to the hotel because ___________.
A. he asked to see the manager
B. he entered the hall with a bike
C. the manager had to know about all foreign guests
D. the manager knew about his trip and was expecting him
3. Friedlander is visiting the three countries in the following order, _________.
A. China, India, and Pakistan B. India, China, and Pakistan
C. Pakistan, China, and India D. China, Pakistan and India
4. What made Friedlander want to come to China?
A. The stories about Marco Polo. B. The famous sights in Xi’an.
C. His interest in Chinese silk. D. His childhood dreams about bicycles.
New Zealand
| What can you see? Mountains, volcanoes, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, forests, beaches. Both islands are mountainous. In fact, only 30% of New Zealand is flat. |
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The Maoris When the Maoris first arrived in New Zealand, they lived in villages and were excellent fishermen, hunters and farmers. About 50 years ago many Maoris started to live and work in the large cities and took jobs in government, industries, medicine and education. They are proud of their culture and are determined to keep many of the customs which are part of their way of life. |
| Who can you meet? Most people live on North Island. Eighty-five percent of New Zealanders are “pakeha” (“white men”), which means their “great grandfathers” came from Europe. Ten percent are Maoris. The Maoris came to New Zealand from the Polynesian islands probably around the tenth century. The “pakeha” started to arrive in New Zealand from Europe about 200 years ago as farmers and traders. |
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Fact box: New Zealand Position: South of the Equator (赤道); nearest neighbour: Australia, 1600 km away. Size: Two main islands — North Island and South Island: together they are 268.680 sq. km. Population: 4 million Capital: Wellington Languages: English and Maori |
1. Which of the following is a fact about New Zealand?
A. 20% of the population being Maoris. B. Four million white people.
C. About 1600 km south of the Equator. D. Nearly 1/3 of the country being plains(平原).
2. The country’s population is mainly made up of .
A. the white people and the Polynesians B. the white people and the “pakeha”
C. the Maoris and the white people D. the Maoris and the Polynesians
3. When did the white people begin to live in New Zealand?
A. 1000 years ago. B. 200 years ago.
C. 85 years ago. D. 50 years ago.
4. What do the Maoris value most in life?
A. Living in small villages. B. Developing farming skills.
C. Keeping their own culture. D. Taking up government jobs.
Central Park
Outside among the trees, watch the wildlife — both the human and animal varieties. Call (212)360 — 3465 or (212)360 — 2726 for events and tours. Central Park stretches from 59th to 110th Sts., and from 5th Ave. to Central Park. West.
Empire State Building
This is among the most striking building in the city, the nation,even the world. The observation dock (瞭望台) on the 86th floor is open to general public, offering a wonderful view of the second floor youll find the New York Skyride, a simulated (模拟的) helicopter ride. Over Manhattan.5th Ave. at 34th St., Midtown/ (212)736 — 3100.
Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum
Five blocks west of Time Square, this museum has hundreds of air, deep-sea and space exhibit’s. Walk the fight deck of the 900-foot-long aircraft carrier Intrepid,see dozens of old and modern aircraft and ride the Intrepid Navy Flight Simulator.Pier 86,W. 46th St.and 12th Ave./(212)245-0072.
Madison Square Garden
If it’s big, it probably happens at the Garden. Check out sporting events, concerts and much more.Tours are available. 7th Ave, btwn. 31th and 33th Sts., Midtown/(212)4656-741.
1. The New York Skyride is for ______.
A. sightseeing B. fight training
C. model plane-sports D. city transportation
2. If a visitor is interested in music,he will probably go to______.
A. Central Park B. Empire State Building
C. Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum D. Madison Square Garden
3. What is the purpose of these texts?
A. To provide information of living in New York.
B. To provide directions of city traffic in New York.
C. To give visitors a guide to New York.
D. To give a brief introduction to the history of New York.
The following table shows some results of a survey （调查）in which 800 Japanese school pupils were asked to give their impressions（印象）of their classroom teachers. The pupils’ impressions were found to differ depending on whether the teacher was new (with less than three years’ experience), middle-standing(ten to twenty years), or veteran（有经验的）（twenty to thirty years）. The numbers in the table show the percentage of the pupils who answered “very satisfied” or “extremely satisfied” for each question item （项目）
| Question Items |
New |
Middle-standing |
Veteran |
| 1.Shows sense of humor in class 2.Explains clearly 3.Teaches in a relaxed（放松的）manner. 4. Writes neatly on the blackboard 5. Lets pupils ask questions in class 6. Makes checks in notebooks 7. Speaks loudly and clearly 8. Treats pupils equally 9. Cares about pupils opinions 10. Spends time with pupils between classes |
42 33 30 9 18 22 45 43 47 25 |
56 58 46 43 30 30 85 58 43 10 |
70 68 65 56 47 43 54 42 17 6 |
1. The pupils’ evaluation（评价）can be said to rise at a steady rate（比率）as their teachers’ experience increases in Question Items______.
A. I and 4 B. 3 and 5 C. 6 and 8 D. 9 and 10
2. In contrast（对比）to the new teachers, the middle-standing and veteran teachers seem to have made a remarkable（显著的）improvement in their ability to _______.
A. be fair to any pupil B. evaluate pupils’ progress
C. present materials clearly D. understand and play with pupils
3. Pupils seem to regard the new and the middle-standing teachers as being more_____.
A.relaxed in class than the veterans
B.interested in pupils’ ideas than the veterans
C.neat in appearance than the veterans
D.skilful at explaining than the veterans
4. Which of the following statements is true according to the table?
A.In the new teachers’ classes, pupils seem to ask questions more freely.
B.Pupils seem to be quite satisfied with the amount（量）of time their teachers spend with
them between classes.
C.The evaluation of the middle-standing teachers is lower than that of the veterans in seven
items.
D.Though veterans do not play games with pupils during breaks, their teaching is rated
highly.
Seriously dry conditions are affecting the lives of 50 million people in Southwestern China. Premier Wen Jiabao has visited drought -plagued Yunnan Province and called for intensified（加强的）and consistent efforts to relieve the situation. Qujing is one of the regions suffering most from the drought in Yunnan province.
Premier Wen Jiabao’s 3 - day visit aimed at comforting affected locals and directing relief work.
He visited a number of farms and spoke to the local people. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said,“As long as we unite together, we can surely overcome this big disaster. ”
Premier Wen called on villagers to dig more wells and construct additional aqueducts （高架）, while also encouraging them to save water. The drought has made more than 16 million people and 11 million livestock short of drinking water. Wen Jiabao told local authorities that priority（首要事情）should be given to guarantee the water supply for locals.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao inspects the cracked bottom of the Degehaizi Reservoir in Luliang County, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, March 20, 2010. During a three -day inspection trip in the drought -plagued Yunnan Province ending on Sunday, Premier Wen visited Qujing City, one of the regions that suffered the most from the severe（十分严重的）drought ravaging since last October, to comfort the affected locals and direct relief work. （Xinhua/Yao Dawei）
The drought has also affected more than 4 million hectares of farmland with almost a quarter of that unable to yield crops any more.
The Premier asked the farmers to do what they can to make preparations for spring farming. He also warned locals of possible wildfires and urged local officials to maintain the stability of market prices and social stability.
Since autumn last year, southwest China, including Yunnan, Sichuan and Guizhou provinces, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chongqing Municipality, have received only half the amount of rainfall they usually get.
1. What’s the main idea of paragraph one?
A. People in Yunnan province face the most serious situation.
B. Southwestern China, especially Qujing suffers from the severe drought.
C. Premier Wen calls on people to relieve tile drought.
D. 50 million people in Qujing are affected by the drought.
2. Which of tile following shows Premier Wen’s attitude towards the drought?
A. worried but confident B. optimistic
C. upset D. pessimistic
3. According to the text, which statement is false?
A. Premier Wen’s visit is to comfort the locals and guide relief work.
B. The drought led to a quarter of farmland being unable to yield crops any more.
C. Wildfires have been caused by the drought several times.
D. The officials are urged to maintain the social stability.
4. The best title for the passage would be ________.
A. Premier Wen pays a visit to Qujing
B. The severe drought affects the Southwestern China
C. Chinese Premier urges redoubled drought - relief efforts
D. The practial ways to deal with the severe drought
BEIJIG—The two-day visit to Washington has been heavy for British Prime Minister Gordon Brown as he attempts to improve ties with Washington and promote his international image ahead of the upcoming G-20 economic summit in London.
Special Relationship
Brown had been praising the “ special relationship” between Britain and the United States before he traveled to Washington. “There is no international partnership in recent history that has served the world better than the special relationship between Britain and the United States,” Brown said in an article in The Sunday Times of London. Su
ch enthusiasm was quickly responded by Barak Obama, the new leader of the world’s largest economy. “The special relationship between the United States and Great Britain is one that is not just important to me, it is important to the American people,” told reporters after meeting with Brown.
Brown was the first European leader to meet Obama at the White House, and this might help the British leader make his image smooth among countrymen in a turbulent(动荡)time and put him in a bette
r position to appear side by side with Obama at the April G-20 summit that will consider the international economic crisis.
Global New Deal
The talks between Brown and Obama were expected to focus mainly on measures to jump-start international economic growth in the most serious downturn in decades. Brown will first promote his “goal new deal” with Obama before taking the G-20 talks. The prime minister, who is chairing the G-20 gathering, has said he would push for deep adjustable changes and joint efforts from all of the world’s major economies, developed and developing, to correct financial rules and inspire the global economy.
However, as pointed out by many analysts, there is the potential for bitterness between Britain and the United States. That’s because no small number of Britons believe themselves to be victims of a crisis which they say was set off by the United States. Meanwhile, analysts say it was unrealistic to expect another honeymoon for British-US ties as Obama seems to have attached more importance to the Pacific region than to Europe.
1 Brown paid the two-day visit to Washington in order to _______.
A. improve the ties with the US and his image
B. make Obama’s international image better
C. congratulate Obama on coming into power
D. prepare for the coming G-20 economic summit
2. The April G-20 summit will mainly focus on how ________.
A. to solve the international energy crisis
B. to solve the international economic crisis
C. to relax current international tension
D. to achieve the double-win goal lately
3. According to many analysts, there is the potential for bitterness between the UK and the US because___________.
A. Obama is less friendly to Brown than Brown to Obama
B. Obama hasn’t visited the UK yet as a new president
C. Obama seems to have attached more importance to Europe than to the Pacific region
D. many Britons believe themselves to be the victims of a crisis caused by the US
4. The underlined part in the last paragraph suggests that___________.
A. Britons expect too much from Obama
B. Britain and USA used to have close relationship
C. the relationship between the two countries will break up
D. Obama and the first lady will not spend their honeymoon in Britain
Earlier this month, the United States Library of Congress named Katherine Paterson the national ambassador for young people’s literature.
She is only the second person to hold the position. S
he replaces writer Jon Scieszka,who had served since two thousand eight.
The librarian of Congress, James Billington, said Miz Paterson “represents the finest in literature for young people”. He spoke of the importance of reading in the lives of America’s young people.Miz Paterson has written more than thirty books. She is among only five writers to have won two Newbery Medals. These are among the most important children’s book awards in the United States.
“Bridge to Terabithia” won a Newbery Medal in nineteen seventy-seven. Her book “Jacob Have I
Loved” won the award in nineteen eighty-one.
Katherin
e Paterson’s books for children are often quite complex. “Bridge to Terabithia” includes
adult themes like depression and death. The book has caused debate because of its place on school
library bookshelves. Some parents think it is too adult for young children. Miz Paterson says the idea
for the book came from a real life experience. Her son’s best friend died in nineteen seventy-four
when she was struck by lightening.
Katherine Paterson is seventy-seven. She began writing as a young mother with three children. But
she says her interest in writing came as a surprise. As a child she had thought about becoming a
Christian religious worker in foreign countries like her parents were.
Katherine Paterson spoke to a gathering of children when she was named ambassador on January
fifth in Washington. She said: “Read for your life. Read for your life as a member of a family, as a part
of a community, as a citizen of
this country and a citizen of the world.
1. The Newbery medal is designed for ______.
A. writers with best books for grown-ups B. children with best books on adult themes
C. writers with best books for children D. children with best books on nature
2. Which of the following is NOT true about the book Bridge to Terabithia?
A. Its topics include depression and death. B. It won a Newbery Medal in the 1980s.
C. Some people think it’s for adults only. D. The idea for it came directly from real life.
3. As a child, Katherine_______.
A. had bad relations with her parents B. showed great interest in writing books
C. hoped to take part in religious activities D. began writing books with serious themes
4. The national ambassador for young people’s literature as a position started in_____.
A. 1977 B. 1981 C. 2008 D. 2009
As an effect of the high fuel prices spent on bus transportation, some American schools are changing to a four-day week. That means longer days instead of the traditional Monday through Friday schedule.
Having been approved for three years and beginning in the fall, students in the Maccray school district in Minnesota will be in school from Tuesday to Friday. Each school day will be 65 minutes longer. Officials say the district expects to save about sixty-five thousand dollars a year in transportation costs.
In new Mexico, the first school district changed to a four-day week in 1974 because of the Arab oil boycott(抵制). Now, 17 out of 89 districts use it.
In Custer, South Dakota, students have been going to school four days a week since 1995. Superintendent(主管人)Tim Creal says the change has saved about one million dollars over just the past eight years. He sees other benefits, too. Students get more instructional time, and activities that used to take up class time are now held on non-school days. He says that in the future, the growth of online classes could make it possible to require even fewer days in school. High fuel prices are driving college students to take more online classes.
A four-day school week sounds like a great idea for students and teachers, but working parents may have to pay for child care for that fifth day.
1. According to Tim Creal, what makes it possible to have even fewer days in school?
A. The increasing number of private tutors.
B. The development of teaching methods.
C. The increase in the number of online classes.
D. The growth in the income of Americans.
2. It can be learned from the passage that______
A. students will be in school from Monday to Tuesday.
B. four-day week was first carried out in South Dakota.
C. Maccray will save one million dollars every year.
D. Minnesota state has approved the four-day week plan.
3. The passage is mainly about______
A. some school’s four-day week plan B. districts using a four-day week.
C. how to save on transportation fees. D. expense of school transportation.
三．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中，选出最佳选项;并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
In front of 60,000 fans, the former Olympic and world champion, Liu Xiang got his third National Games gold medal in the final of the men’s 110 meters hurdles at the Olympic Sports Center in Ji Nan, Shandong province．
Before winning this game, Liu joined in the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix meet(上海国际田径黄金大奖赛) in September, 2009 and won the second place in men’s 110 meters hurdles with a very slight loss to his solid rival–American athlete, Terrence Trammell．That was the first time that he had shown up on the track and in public after his 13 month’s lay–off．So, this game on October 25, in 11th Chinese National Games was very critical for him to handle．After crossing the finishing line, Liu said, “The most important thing was to finish the race safely and smoothly．The result is not very good but the effort was not bad．”
With the final result of 13.34 seconds, Liu became the first Chinese hurdler to win a National Games title three times．“I’m feeling very good now,” Liu said．“I started to compete at the National Games at the age of 18 and now I’m 26．I hope I can run at the Games again in four years’ time because, for all Chinese athletes, is a dream and it is also my starting point．I would just like to thank all the people who have supported me and all the spectators who cheered for me here．”
It is hard for most of Liu’s fans to forget the heartbroken moment at Bird’s Nest last year at the Beijing Olympics because of the foot injury．Thirteen months later, however, the strong-minded man thrilled the home crowd with the strong comeback and would gain another take–off in his career．“I never thought of coming back when I got injured and I felt my future was in doubt,”Liu said, “But now I have seen there is still a future．”
1．When will the 12th Chinese National Games be held?
A．2012 B．2013 C．2014 D．2015
2．Which of the following statement is TRUE?
A．Liu Xiang was very confident after he knew his foot was badly injured．
B．Liu Xiang beat Terrence Trammell in the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix meet．
C．Liu Xiang had won three gold medals in the National Games before October 25, 2009．
D．Liu Xiang couldn’t have won this gold medal without his strong will and people’s support．
3．What’s the best title for the article?
A．A Legend–Liu Xiang B．Liu Xiang Is Back
C．Champion of The National Games D．Never Give Up
Chinese press, thousands of tourists and space experts from Japan, Germany, Italy and other countries have gathered at China’s Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwestern Sichuan Province on Tuesday, October 23 to witness the historic moment-the launch of the nation’s first moon orbiter (人造卫星), which is scheduled to take place at 6:05 p.m.on Wednesday．
Space center experts were worried earlier in the day when Xichang experienced an unexpected rainfall from about 4:05 a.m．till 7:10 a.m．on Wednesday, but they were able to breathe a sigh of relief when the weather cleared．Both national and local meteorological observatories (气象台)forecast cloudy weather for the launch site on Wednesday afternoon．However they said they believed it would not affect the launch mission, an opinion which was shared by technological staff at the site．
Local villagers within a radius of 2.5 km of the launch site and under the trajectory(轨道) of the carrier have been told to move to safe areas two hours prior to the planned launch．Tourists have been charged 800 yuan (105 U.S.dollars) to witness the launch of China’s first lunar satellite．A local travel agency has said that the two observation platforms are capable of holding 2,000, but it is not known how many people paid for the chance．
The moon orbiter, Chang’e-1, named after a legendary Chinese goddess who flew to the moon, and the carrier Long March 3A have passed all pre-launch tests．
China hopes to become the 17th nation to join the International Space Station (ISS) project, and carried out its first piloted space flight in October 2003, making it only the third country in the world after the Soviet Union and the United States to have sent men into space．In October 2005, China completed its second manned space flight, with two astronauts on board．
1．Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?
A．China counting down to launch of its first lunar satellite
B．Chang’e-1 lunar satellite and its launch
C．Chang’e-1 lunar satellite to conduct 1st orbit transfer
D．China hopes to join the International Space Station
2．Space center experts believed _______．
A．rainfall would come as soon as possible．
B．the cloudy weather wouldn’t affect the mission．
C．All the 2,000 tourists should paid 800 yuan each to witness the launch．
D．The mission was the third time of China’s manned flight．
3．Please arrange the time order of the following events according to the passage．
a．Local villagers have been told to move to safe areas．
b．Unexpected shower fell on the early morning of Wednesday．
c．The moon mission is scheduled to take place．
d．Journalists and tourists gathered at the Satellite Launch Centre．
A．b c d a B．a b c d C．d b a c D．c d a b
4．It can be implied from the passage that _____________．
A．China has become the 17th country to join the International Space Station
B．China will launch its manned spaceship to the moon soon
C．China is the third nation to send men into space
D．China is pioneering in the space exploration now
In 1961, scientist set up gigantic, sensitive instruments to collect radio waves from the far reaches of space, hoping to discover in them some mathematical pattern indicating that the waves were sent out by other intelligent beings. The first attempt failed, but someday the experiment may succeed.
What reason is there to think that we may actually detect intelligent life in outer space？To begin with, modern theories of the development of stars suggest that almost every star has some sort of family of planets. So any star like our own sun （and there are billions of such stars in the universe） is likely to have a planet situated at such a distance that it would receive about the same amount of radiation as the earth.
Furthermore, such a planet would probably have the same general composition as our planet; so, allowing a billion years or two or three, there would be a very good chance for life to develop, if current theories of the origin of life are correct.
But intelligent life？Life that has reached the stage of being able to send radio waves out into space in a deliberate pattern？Our own planet may have been in existence for five billion years and may have had life on it for two billion, but it is only in the last fifty years that intelligent life capable of sending radio waves into space has lived on earth. From this it might seem that even if there were no technical problems involved, the chance of receiving signals from any particular earth-type planet would be extremely small.
This does not mean that intelligent life at our level does not exist somewhere. There are such an unimaginable number of stars that, even at such miserable possibility, it seems certain that there are millions of intelligent life forms scattered through space. The only trouble is, none may be within easy distance of us. Perhaps none ever will be; perhaps the distances that separate us from our fellow “creatures” of this universe will forever remain too great to be conquered. And yet it is conceivable that someday we may come across one of them or, frighteningly, one of them may come across us. What would they be like, these outside-the-earth creatures？
1.What point is the author making by stating that almost every star has some sort of family of planets？
A. Sooner or later intelligent beings will be found on one of the stars.
B. There must be one or two of the planets on which there are no intelligent beings.
C. There are sufficient planets for there to be one that enjoys the same conditions as the earth does.
D. One or two billion years later intelligent beings will generate on those planets.
2.What is the main topic of the passage？
A. Some probable intelligent life forms on other planets.
B. Various stages undergone by the intelligent life on other planets.
C. Grounds for probable existence of intelligent life on other planets.
D. The possibility of intelligent life existing on our planet.
3.Which of the following can be inferred from the passage？
A. An encounter is probable between people from the earth and intelligent beings from another planet.
B. Though the first attempt failed, scientists did discover the radio waves sent out by other intelligent beings.
C. Other intelligent beings were able to send our radio waves into space well before the last fifty years.
D. It is certain that there are millions of intelligent beings scattered in space but only too far away.
4.According to the author, what is the difference between “we may come across one of them” and “one of them may come across us”？
A. The earth would be dangerously disadvantaged if it is sought after by possibly much more developed creatures.
B. It would prove that there are too many outside-the-earth creatures if “one of them comes across us”.
C. The history of the development of the earth would be proved to be shorter than that of “them” if “they” come across us.
D. it would prove that the distance in between is not so great as we think if “we come across one of them” someday.
Los Angeles June 14, 2006 – Hollywood actress Daryl Hannah was arrested yesterday after spending two weeks sitting in a walnut tree on an urban farm a few kilometers from downtown Los Angeles. She was one of 40 people, including celebrities from the music and movie world, who were protesting at the proposed destruction of the 14 – acre farm. Police officers cut away branches from the tree and used a fire engine to reach Ms Hannah and her co – protester, environmentalist John Quigley. The two of them raised their fists in defiance（反抗）as they were removed.
Protesters, some of whom had chained themselves to concrete –filled barrels（桶），said that it was essential to keep the farm operating, as it provided food for hundreds of poor families in the area. About 350 people grow produce and flowers on the farm, which has been there for more than a decade and is situated in an inner –city area surrounded by warehouses and railroad tracks. However, the local authority recently approved plans for the area to be cleared and redeveloped for the construction of a huge new warehouse.
Ms Hannah, 45, star of films such as Splash and Kill Bill was not thrilled about being arrested. “But I felt it was important to show my support for the people,” she said. “This farm should be a model for sustainable (可持续的) urban agriculture. It needs to be replicated, not eradicated.”
The record length for a tree protest is held by a woman called Julia Hill, who remained on top of a 30-metre-high redwood tree in Northern California for 738 days from December 1997 to December 1999. She was successful in saving the tree and those around it from destruction. Ms Hill was also at the Los Angeles urban farm project this week, but her presence failed to stop the inevitable (不可避免的). No sooner had the protesters been removed than earth-moving machines moved in and began to clear the land.
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1．Daryl Hannah was involved in a protest to .
A．save an agricultural city farm from destruction
London: What could possibly he wrong with planting trees? The benefits are obvious: they firm the soil, absorb extra water and take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
However, it now turns out that planting trees could add to global warming. Tree roots do a great job of keeping soil firmly on the ground and out of the wind's power. The problem is that some of those dust clouds play an important part in taking in carbon dioxide.
Huge dust storms blow out over the oceans from dry parts of North Africa and central Asia. Tons of dust are lifted and left as a thin film over the ocean surface.
Dust from China is carried east and left in the Pacific Ocean. If a tree-planting program there is successful and the dust supply reduced, the final result may be that less carbon dioxide gets locked away in the ocean.
Andy Ridgwell, an environmental scientist from the University of East Anglia, has spent the past few years studying dust and says his work shows clearly the complexity of the system and the importance of not working uselessly with it without understanding the results. For this reason the need is to focus on cutting carbon dioxide giving off rather than dealing with the land surface aimlessly.
An American scientist, Robert Jackson, has shown that when native grassland areas are occupied by trees, carbon is lost from the soil. "We are studying why the soil carbon disappears, but one theory is that trees do a lot more of their growing above ground compared to grasses, so less carbon goes directly into the soil from trees. " said Jackson.
In wet areas of the world, the gain from trees absorbing carbon dioxide above ground seems to be outweighed by the loss of carbon from the soil below ground.
Countries that plan to combat global warming by planting trees may have to think again. Solutions to environmental problems are often more complex than they first appear, and understanding the Earth's climate is a very great challenge.
64. People usually hold the opinion that _______.
A. huge dust storms can destroy carbon dioxide
B. huge dust storms can destroy the oceans on the earth
C. planting trees could reduce global warming
D. planting trees is the only way to control huge dust storms
65. Andy Ridgwell, the environmental scientist, believes that _______.
A. environmental problems are more complex than expected
B. trees shouldn't have been planted in dry places
C. dust plays a more important part than trees
D. carbon dioxide is harmful to everything
66. Robert Jackson's experiment proves that _______.
A. carbon can turn grass into dust
B. trees hold more carbon than grass
C. less carbon can make trees grow faster
D. grassland areas should be covered by forests
67. The underlined word "combat" in the last paragraph means _______.
A. learn about B. give up C. live with D. fight against
Jan. 7, 2008 --- French President Nicolas Sarkozy would marry his girlfriend, former supermodel Carla Bruni on Feb. 8 or 9, media reported Monday.
The report said that in December --- less than a month after Sarkozy met Bruni --- he gave her a heart-shaped diamond engagement ring.
Carla Bruni, Italian singer, former model an
d girlfriend of France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy, holds the hand of her son Aurelien while wearing a pink heart-shaped ring during a visit to the ancient Jordanian ruins of Petra Jan. 5, 2008. French newspapers reported that Sarkozy would marry her early in February.
Sarkozy and his wife of 11 years, Cecilia, divorced in October. Their marital（婚姻）problems became well known in May 2005 when she appeared in public at the side of event organizer Richard Attias.
A marriage to Bruni, a one-time star of the catwalks who is now a singer, would be Sarkozy’s third: He divorced his first wife, Marie, in the late 80s --- after he had met and befriended Cecilia.
Political analyst Dominique Moisi said that a Sarkozy proposal to Bruni could be part of his desire to head off any future arguments, and the speed of their visit to the ancient Jordanian ruins of Petra Jan. 5, 2008 would fit with his personality as a busy man in a hurry.
“Apparently, he’s going to marry her, so the problem will be behind him,” Moisi said. “He will increase the opportunities to travel with her, and to say to the French, ‘You see, I must remarry… You need a first lady.’”
Bruni, an Italian-born French citizen, has dated famous men including Mick Jagger and Donald Trump. She has also reportedly been linked to singer Eric Clapton and actor Vincent Perez.
53. What is the correct order of Sarkozy’s marital history?
A. Long marriage to Cecilia
B. Visiting ruins with Bruni
C. Getting divorced from Marie
D. Giving Bruni a diamond ring
E. To marry the former supermodel
A. c-a-b-d-e B. e-d-c-a-b C. c-a-d-b-e D
. a-c-d-b-e
54. What did Moisi really intend to inform the readers?
A. The president will spend more time staying with Bruni
B. Sarkozy is good at balancing state and personal affairs
C. It is not easy for President Sarkozy to seek a new love
D. It is a doubt whether the marriage would have a bright future
55. The possible purpose of the last paragraph is to _________
A. provide some unknown stories about Bruni’s love affairs
B. show uncertainty about the former supermodel’s loyalty
C. imply that past experiences have little effect on a person
D. prove Bruni one of the most popular and attractive females
56. Which would be the best title for the news?
A. Bruni, France’s first lady
B. A third marriage to fail
C. France to have first lady
D. President’s new girl friend
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