The Boeing Corp. and Europe's Airbus consortium (财团) are preparing to offer bigger airplanes to the world's airlines. Now that talks on a joint project have broken down, Boeing is pushing a stretched (拓展的) version of 747, and Airbus is designing an all-new aircraft, known as the A3XX. Seating 550 passengers in the basic model, and 650 in a stretched version, the 1. 2 million pound A3XX will not only be the largest airplane in the world, but it will also be one of the most advanceD. The outer wings and the horizontal stabilizer (as big as a smaller jet's wing) will be made of carbon-fiber composite materials, and will be the largest? such structures on any aircraft except the B-2 stealth bomber (隐形轰炸机). Metal skins will be welded (焊接) together with lasers, removing thousands of fasteners. When a strong wind strikes the A3XX's 260-foot wing, movable control surfaces will prevent it from flexing (扭曲) like a giant spring. This will make the ride smoother and will save weight by reducing the load on the wing spars (翼梁). A flexible-skinned flap (副翼) will subtly change the wing's curvature (曲面) to match the airplane's changing weight as it burns fuel on each journey. The A3XX will carry up to 1,600 meals, filling more than 100 food and beverage (饮料) carts. To make more room for passengers, Airbus plans to put the carts in the lower hold; automatic conveyors and elevators will deliver them to the two passenger decks. Airlines have asked Airbus to look at extra features ranging from lower-deck sleeper cabins to a children's playroom. Airbus expects to offer the A3XX to airlines in 1998, and deliver the first aircraft in 2003.
1. The basic model of A3XX can carry more than 500 passengers.
A.Right
B.Wrong
C.Not mentioned
A B C
A
2. A3XX will fly faster while consuming less oil.
A.Right
B.Wrong
C.Not mentioned
A B C
C
3. A3XX will be bigger than the B-2 stealth bomber.
A.Right
B.Wrong
C.Not mentioned
A B C
B
4. No fasteners will be used in building A3XX because all components will be welded together.
A.Right
B.Wrong
C.Not mentioned
A B C
B
5. The wing of A3XX will not be spoiled when it is stricken by a strong wind because its surface are designed to be movable.
A.Right
B.Wrong
C.Not mentioned
A B C
A
6. Airbus plans to build a mini-restaurant in the lower hold of A3XX.
If a super-flu strikes, face masks may not protect you. Whether widespread use of masks will help, or harm, during the next worldwide flu outbreak is a question that researchers are studying furiously. No results have come from their mask research yet. However, the government says people should consider wearing them in certain situations anyway, just in case. But it's a question the public keeps asking while the government are making preparations for the next flu pandemic. So the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) came up with preliminary guidelines. "We don't want people wearing them everywhere, " said the CDC. "The overall recommendation really is to avoid exposure. " When that's not possible, the guidelines say to consider wearing a simple surgical mask if you are in one of the three following situations. First, you're healthy and can't avoid going to a crowded place. Second, you're sick and think you may have close contract with the healthy, such as a family member checking on you. Third, you live with someone who's sick and thus might be in the early stages of infection, but still need to go out. Influenza (流行性感冒) pandemics (全国流行的) can strike (打击) when the easy-to-mutate flu virus shifts to a strain that people never have experience D. Scientists cannot predict when the next pandemic will arrive, although concern is rising that the Asian bird flu might trigger one if it starts spreading easily from person to person. During the flu pandemic, you should protect yourself. Avoid crowds, and avoid close contract with the sick unless you must care for someone. Why can't mask added to this self-protection list? Because they help trap virus-laden droplets flying through the air with a cough or sneeze (打喷嚏). Simple surgical masks only filter the larger droplets (小滴). Besides, the CDC is afraid? masks may create a false sense of security. Perhaps someone who should have stayed home would don an ill-fitting (不合的) mask and hop on the subway instead. Nor does flu only spread through the air. Say someone covers a sneeze with his or her hand, then touches a doorknob or subway pole. If you touch that spot next and then put germy hands on your nose or mouth, you've been exposed. It's harder to rub your nose while wearing a mask and so your face may get pretty sweaty under masks. You reach under to wipe that sweat, and may transfer germs caught on the outside of the mask straight to the nose. These are the problems face masks may create for their users. Whether people should or should not use face masks still remains a question. The general public has to wait patiently for the results of the mask research scientists are still doing. A. Reasons for Excluding Masks from the Self-protection List B. Effort to Stop Flu Spreading C. When to Use Face Masks D. Guidelines on Mask Use E. Warnings from the CDC F. Danger of Infection through Germy Hands and Masks
1. Paragraph 2 ______
D
2. Paragraph 3 ______
C
3. Paragraph 5 ______
A
4. Paragraph 6 ______
F
A. overuse face masks B. deal with the mask problem seriously C. rub their faces and noses in the subway D. protest against the mask guidelines E. help protect people from being attacked by a flu F. announce the results of their mask research
5. The scientists are trying to find out if masks may or may not ______.
E
6. The CDC is afraid that the public may? ______.
A
7. The public will not know the answer about masks until scientists ______.
F
8. We can infer from the passage that the US authorities ______.
B
第4部分：阅读理解 下面有3篇短文，每篇短文后有5道题。请根据短文内容，为每题确定1个最佳选项。
第一篇
The Best Way to Reduce Your Weight
You hear this: "No Wonder you are fat. All you ever do is eat. " You feel sad: "I skip my breakfast and supper. I run every morning and evening. What else can I do?" Basically you can do nothing. Your genes, not your life habits, determine your weight and your body constantly tries to maintain it. Albert Stunkard of the University of Pennsylvania found from experiments that, "80 percent of the Children of two obese parents become obese, as compared with no more than 14 percent of the offspring of two parents of normal weight. " How can obese people become normal or even thin through dieting? Well, dieting can be effective, but the health costs are tremendous. Jules Hirsch, a research physician at Rockefeller University, did a study of eight fat people. They were given a liquid formula providing 600 calories (卡路里) a day. After more than 10 weeks, the subjects lost 45 kg on average. But after leaving the hospital, they all regained. The results were surprising: by metabolic measurement, fat people who lost large amounts of weight seemed like they were starving. They had psychiatric problems. They dreamed of food or breaking their diet. They were anxious and depressed (沮丧的) ; some were suicidal. They hid food in their rooms. Researchers warn that it is possible that weight reduction doesn't result in normal weight, but in an abnormal state resembling (类似) that of starved non-obese people. Thin people, however, suffer from the opposite: They have to make a great effort to gain weight. Ethan Sims, of the University of Vermont, got prisoners to volunteer to gain weight. In four to six months, they ate as much as they could. They succeeded in increasing their weight by 20 to 25 percent. But months after the study ended, they were back to normal weight and stayed there. This did not mean that people are completely without hope in controlling their weight. It means that those who tend to be fat will have to constantly battle their genetic inheritance if they want to significantly lower their weight. The findings also provide evidence for something scientists thought was true -- each person has a comfortable weight range. The range might be as much as 9 kg. Someone might weigh 60-69 kg without too much effort But going above of below the natural weight range is difficult. The body resists by feeling hungry or full and changing the metabolism to push the weight back to the range it seeks.
1. What determines your weight?
A.Your working manner.
B.Your eating habit.
C.Your life style.
D.Your genes.
A B C D
D
2. What did Jules Hirsch do in his study?
A.He let the eight fat people skip supper.
B.He let the eight fat people skip breakfast.
C.He let the eight fat people run every morning and evening.
D.He gave the eight fat people a liquid formula providing 600 calories a day.
A B C D
D
3. What happened to the eight fat people after they left the hospital?
A.They went mad.
B.They killed themselves.
C.They were back to normal weight.
D.They attempted suicide
A B C D
C
4. What did Ethan Sims make his subjects do?
A.Battle their genetic inheritance.
B.Increase their weight.
C.Stay at home.
D.Lower their weight.
A B C D
B
5. What did scientists think was true?
A.Each person has a fixed weight range.
B.Each person has a weight range of 9 kg.
C.Each person wants to control his weight.
D.Each person wants to eat to his heart's content.
A B C D
A
第二篇
Black Holes Trigger Stars' Self-destruction
Scientists have long understood that super massive (大块的) black holes weighing. Millions or billions of suns can tear apart stars that come too close. The black hole's gravity (地心引力) pulls harder on the neatest part of the star, an imbalance that pulls the star apart over a period of minutes or hours, once it gets close enough. Scientists say this uneven pulling is not the only hazard (冒险) facing the star. The strain of these unbalanced forces can also trigger (触发) a nuclear explosion powerful enough to destroy the star from within. Matthieu Brassart and Jean-Pierre Luminet of the Observatoire of the Paris in Meudon, France, carried out computer simulations of the final moments of such an unfortunate star's life, as it veered towards a supermassive black hole. When the star gets Close enough, the uneven forces flatten it into a pancake shape. Some previous studies had suggested this flattening would increase the density and temperature inside the star enough to trigger intense nuclear reactions that would tear it apart (扯开). But other studies had suggested that the picture would he complicated by shock waves generated during the flattening process and that not nuclear explosion should occur. The new simulations investigated the effects of shock waves in detail, and fund that even when their effects are included; the conditions favor a nuclear explosion. "There will be an explosion of the star. It will be completely destroyed," Brassart says. Although the explosion obliterates the star, it saves some of the start's matter from being devoured by the black hole. The explosion is powerful enough to hurt much of the star's matter out of the black hole's reach, he says. The devouring of stars by black holes may already have been observed, although at a much later stage. It is thought that several months after the event that rips the star apart, its matter starts swirling into the hole itself. It heats up as it does so, releasing ultraviolet light and X-rays. If stars disrupted (使分裂) near black holes really do explode, then they could in principle allow these events to be detected at a much earlier stage, says Jules Halpern of Columbia University in New York, US. "It may make it possible to see the disruption of that star immediately if it gets hot enough. " Brassart aggress. "Perhaps it can be observed in the X-rays and gamma rays, but it's something that needs to be more studied , "he says. Supernova researcher Chris Fryer of the Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Almos, New Mexico, US, says the deaths of these stars are difficult to simulate, and he is not sure whether the researchers have proven their case they exploded in the process.
1. Something destructive could happen to a star that gets too close to a black hole. Which of the following statements is NOT mentioned in the passage?
A.The black hole could tear apart the star.
B.The black hole could trigger a nuclear explosion in the star.
C.The black hole could dwindle its size considerably.
D.The black hole could devour the star.
A B C D
C
2. According to the third paragraph, researchers differed from each other in the problem of
A.whether nuclear reaction would occur.
B.whether the stars would increase its density and temperature.
C.whether shock waves would occur.
D.whether the uneven forces would flatten the stars.
A B C D
A
3. According to the fourth paragraph, which of the following is NOT true?
A.No nuclear explosion would be triggered inside the star.
B.The star would be destroyed completely.
C.Much of the star's matter thrown by the explosion would be beyond the black hole's reach.
D.The black hole would completely devour the star.
A B C D
D
4. What will happen several months after the explosion of the star?
A.The star's matter will move further away from by the black hole.
B.The black hole's matter will heat up.
C.The black hole's matter will swirl into the black hole.
D.The black hole's matter will release ultraviolet light and X-rays.
A B C D
C
5. According to the context, the word "disruption" in paragraph 6 means
A.confusion.
B.tearing apart.
C.interruption.
D.flattening.
A B C D
B
第三篇
Where Have All the Bees Gone?
Scientists who study insects have a real mystery on their hands. All across the country, honeybees are leaving their hives and never returning. Researchers call this phenomenon colony-collapse (瓦解) disorder. According to surveys of beekeepers (养蜂人) across the country, 25 to 40 percent of the honeybees in the United States have vanished from their hives (麻疹) since last fall. So far, no one can explain why. Colony collapse is a serious concern because bees play an important role in the production of about one-third of the foods we eat. As they feed, honeybees spread pollen from flower to flower. Without this process, a plant can't produce seeds or fruits. Now, a group of scientists and beekeepers have teamed up to try to figure out what's causing the alarming collapse of so many colonies. By sharing their expertise (专家的意见) in honeybee behavior, health, and nutrition, team members hope to find out what's contributing to the decline and to prevent bee disappearances in the future. It could be that disease is causing the disappearance of the bees. To explore that possibility, Jay Evans, a researcher at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Bee Research Laboratory, examines bees taken from colonies that are collapsing. "We know what s healthy bee should look like on the inside, and we can look for physical signs of disease," he says. And bees from collapsing colonies don't look very healthy. "Their stomachs are worn down, compared to the stomachs of healthy bees," Evans says. It may be that a parasite is damaging the bees' digestive organs. Their immune systems may not be working as they should. Moreover, they have high levels of bacteria inside their bodies. Another cause of colony-collapse disorder may be certain chemicals that farmers apply to kill unwanted insects on crops, says Jerry Hayes, chief bee inspector for the Florida Department of Agriculture. Some studies, he says, suggest that a certain type of insecticide affects the honeybee's nervous system (which includes the brain) and memory. "It seems like honeybees are going out and getting confused about where to go and what to do," he says. If it turns out that a disease is contributing to colony collapse, bees' genes could explain why some colonies have collapsed and others have not. In any group of bees there are many different kinds of genes. The more different genes a group has, the higher the group's genetic diversity. So far scientists haven't determined the role of genetic diversity (差异) in colony collapse, but it's a promising theory, says Evans.
1. What is the mystery that researchers find hard to explain?
A.Honeybees are flying all across the country.
B.25--40 percent of the honeybees in the US have died.
C.Honeybees are leaving their hives and do not return.
D.Honeybee hives are in disorder.
A B C D
C
2. Why are researchers seriously concerned with the phenomenon of colony-collapse disorder?
A.Because honeybees produce one-third of the foods we eat
B.Because honeybees feed on flowers.
C.Because honeybees eat seeds of flowers.
D.Both Ｂ and Ｃ.
A B C D
A
3. What are the possible causes of colony-collapse disorder given by the scientists?
A.Worsening environment.
B.Disease and chemicals.
C.Dwindling number of flowers around.
D.Changes in genes' structures.
A B C D
B
4. According to the fifth paragraph, which of the following about bees' genes is true?
A.Bees' genes allow them to expand their colonies.
B.Bees' genes help keep them in their hives.
C.Bees' genes make them fly from flower to flower.
D.Bees' genes could explain the collapse of some colonies.
A B C D
D
5. What explanation is given by Jerry Hayes to the phenomenon?
A.Farmers apply certain chemicals to kill unwanted bees.
B.The insecticide destroys the honeybee's nervous system.
In shopping malls, the assistants try to push you into buying "a gift to thank her for her unselfish love". When you log onto a website, a small popo-up invites you to book a bouquet for her. Commercial warmth and gratitude are the atmosphere being spread around for this special Sunday in May. 1 The popularity of Mother's Day around the world suggests that Jarvis got all she wanted. In fact, she got more-enough to make her horrified. 2 They buy, among other things, 132 million cards. Mother's Day is the No 1 holiday for flower purchases. Then there are the various commodities, ranging from jewelry and clothes to cosmetics and washing powder, which take advantage of the promotion opportunities, Because of this, Jarvis spent the last 40 years of her life trying to stop Mother's Day. One protest against (反对) the commercialization of Mother's Day even got her arrested -- for disturbing the peace, interestingly. 3 As Ralph Fevre, a reporter at the UK newspaper The Guardian, observe, traditionally "motherhood is something that we do because we think it's right." But in the logic of commercialism (商业主义), people need something in exchange for their time and energy. A career serves this purpose better. 4 So they work hard and play hard. Becoming a mother, however, inevitably handicaps career anticipation (预料). 5 According to The Guardian, there are twice as many child-free young women as there were a generation ago. Or, they put off the responsibility of parenting until later in their lives. So, Fevre writes that the meaning of celebrating Mother's Day needs to be updated: "It is to persuade people that parenting (养育) is a good idea and to honor people for their attempt to be good people. " A. The American version of Mother's Day was thought up as early as 1905, by Anna Jarvis, as a way of recognizing the real value of motherhood. B. But what's more, commercialism changes young people's attitude towards motherhood. C. Obviously, the best gift will be a phone call or a visit. D. According to a research by the US card company Hallmark, 96 percent of American consumers celebrate the holiday. E. As a result, motherhood has suffered a huge drop in status since the 1950s. F. In addition, women are being encouraged to pursue any career they desire.
1.
A
2.
D
3.
B
4.
F
5.
E
第6部分：完形填空 下面的短文有15处空白，请根据短文内容为每处空白确定1个最佳选项。
Paper or Plastic?
Take a walk along the Chesapeake Bay, and you are likely to see plastic bags floating in the water. Ever since these now ubiquitous (到处存在的) symbols of American super-consumption showed up in the supermarkets, plastic shopping bags have made their 1 into local waterways, and from there, into the bay, where they can 2 wildlife. Piles of them - the 3 takes centuries to decompose (分解) -- show up in landfills and on city streets. Plastic bags also take an environmental toll in the form of millions of barrels of oil expended every year to produce them. Enter Annapolis 4 you will see plastic bags distributed free in department stores and supermarkets. Alderman Sam Shropshire has introduced a well-meaning proposal to ban retailers (零售商) 5 distributing plastic shopping bags in Maryland's capital. Instead, retailers would be required to offer bags 6 recycled paper and to sell reusable bags. The city of Baltimore is considering a similar measure. Opponents of the idea, however, argue that 7 bags are harmful, too: they cost more to make, they consume more 8 to transport, and recycling them causes more pollution than recycling plastic. The argument for depriving Annapolis residents (居民) of their plastic bags is 9 accepted. Everyone in this 10 is right about one thing: disposable shopping bags of any type are 11 , and the best outcome would be for customers to reuse bags instead. Annapolis's mayor is investigating how to hand out free, reusable (可以再度使用的) shopping bags to city residents, a proposal that can proceed regardless of whether other bags are banned. A less-expensive 12 would be to encourage retailers to give discounts to customers 13 bring their own, reusable bags, a policy that a spokesman for the supermarket Giant Food says its chain already has in place. And this policy would be more 14 if stores imitated furniture mega-retailer Ikea and charged for disposable bags at the checkout counter. A broad ban on the use of plastic shopping bags, which would merely replace some forms of pollution with others, is not the 15 .
深色：已答题 浅色：未答题