Ireland is the best place in the world to live for 2005, according to a life quality ranking (排名) that appeared in Britain's Economist magazine last week. The ambitious attempt to compare happiness levels around the world is based on the principle that wealth is not the only measure of human satisfaction and well-being. The index of 111 countries uses data on incomes, health, unemployment, climate, political stability, job security, gender (性别) equality as well as what the magazine calls "freedom, family and community life". Despite the bad weather, troubled health service, traffic congestion (拥挤), gender inequality, and the high cost of living, Ireland scored an impressive 8.33 points out of 10. That put it well ahead of second-place Switzerland, which managed 8.07. Zimbabwe troubled by political insecurity and hunger, is rated the gloomiest (最差的) , picking up only 3.89 points. "Although rising incomes and increased individual choices are highly valued," the report said, "some of the factors associated with modernization such as the breakdown in traditional institutions and family values in part take away from a positive impact." "Ireland wins because it successfully combines the most desirable elements of the new with the preservation of certain warm elements of the old, such as stable family and community life." The magazine admitted measuring quality of life is not a straightforward thing to do, and that its findings would have their critics. No.2 on the list is Switzerland. The other nations in the top 10 are Norway, Luxembourg, Sweden, Australia, Iceland, Italy, Denmark and Spain. The UK is positioned at No.29, a much lower position chiefly because of the social and family breakdown recorded in official statistics. The US, which has the second highest per capita GDP after Luxembourg, took the 13th place in the survey. China was in the lower half of the league at 60th.
1. For 2,005 years, Ireland has been the best place for humans to live in. ______
A.True
B.False
C.Not Given
A B C
B
[解析] 原文第一句话“Ireland is the best place in the world to live for 2005”说的是2005年这一年度世界上最适合居住的地方是爱尔兰,而题干的意思是近2005年以来爱尔兰都是世界上最适合居住的地方,与原文不符。
2. Level of education is a measure of life quality. ______
A.True
B.False
C.Not Given
A B C
C
[解析] 原文没有提到教育程度(level of education)。
3. Cost of living in Ireland is pretty high. ______
[解析] 原文第五段提到津巴布韦受困于政治不安定和饥饿(troubled by political insecurity and hunger),但未提到家庭生活。
5. Breakdown in family values does not affect the happiness level. ______
A.True
B.False
C.Not Given
A B C
B
[解析] 原文第六段“breakdown in traditional institutions and family values in part take away from a positive impact”,意思是说传统习俗和家庭价值观的崩溃会部分地削弱积极影响,故家庭价值观的崩溃是可以影响幸福水平的。该句说法不正确。
6. Ireland is positioned at No.1 because it combines the most desirable elements of the new with some good elements of the old. ______
The preservation of embryos and juveniles is a rare occurrence in the fossil record. The tiny, delicate skeletons are usually scattered by scavengers (食腐动物) weathering before they can be fossilized. Ichthyosaurs (鱼龙) had a higher chance of being preserved than did terrestrial creatures because, as marine animals, they tended to live in environments less subject to erosion. Still, their fossilization required a suite of factors: a slow rate of decay of soft tissues, little scavenging by other animals, a lack of swift currents and waves to jumble and carry away small bones, and fairly rapid burial. Given these factors, some areas have become a treasury of well-preserved ichthyosaur fossils. The deposits at Holzmaden, Germany, present an interesting case for analysis. The ichthyosaur remains are found in black, bituminous marine shales (页岩) deposited about 190 million years ago. Over the years, thousands of specimens of marine reptiles, fish and invertebrates have been recovered from these rocks. The quality of preservation is outstanding, but what is even more impressive is the number of ichthyosaur fossils containing preserved embryos. Ichthyosaurs with embryos have been reported from 6 different levels of the shale in a small area around Holzmaden, suggesting that a specific site was used by large numbers of ichthyosaurs repeatedly over time. The embryos are quite advanced in their physical development; their paddles, for example, are already well formed. One specimen is even preserved in the birth canal. In addition, the shale contains the remains of many newborns that are between 20 and 30 inches long. Why are there so many pregnant females and young at Holzmaden when they are so rare elsewhere? The quality of preservation is almost unmatched and quarry operations have been carried out carefully with an awareness of the value of the fossils. But these factors do not account for the interesting question of how there came to be such a concentration of pregnant ichthyosaurs in a particular place very close to their time of giving birth.
1. All of the following are mentioned as factors that encourage fossilization except the ______.
A.speed of burying
B.conditions of the water
C.rate at which soft tissues decay
D.cause of death of the animal
A B C D
D
[考点] 事实细节题。
[解析] 第一段中间部分提到了their fossilization required a suite of factors:软组织的腐烂速度缓慢;很少被其他动物残食;缺少混杂、冲走小骨头的快速水流和波浪;以及相当快地被掩埋。因此只有D选项,也就是动物的死因没有被提及。
2. Which of the following is true of the fossil deposits discussed in the passage? ______
A.They include examples of newly discovered species.
B.They contain large numbers of well-preserved specimens.
C.They are older than fossils found in other places.
D.They have been analyzed more carefully than other fossils.
①In 1858 Americans welcomed Alaska into the Union as the 49th state, symbolizing a change of attitude that hold in 1867, when the peninsula was purchased from Russia. Then, most Americans had little interest in 1,500,000 square kilometers "of icebergs and polar bear" —beyond Canada's western borders, far from the settled areas of the United States. ②In those sections of the state which lie above the Arctic Circle, Alaska still is a land of icebergs and polar bear. Ice buried in the earth, which is permanently frozen to a depth of 90 or more meters, From early May until early August, the midnight sun never sets on this flat, treeless region, but the sun cannot melt the icy soil more than two thirds of a meter down. ③Alaska is America's largest state, but only about 325,000 people live there. According to estimates, 800,000 hectares of its land area are fit for plowing but only about 640,000 hectares are being cultivated. ④Arctic Alaska has been the home of Eskimos for countless centuries. It is believed that the Eskimos moved there from Mongolia or Siberia, probably crossing Bering Strait, named for Vitus Bering, the Danish sea captain who discovered Alaska on his voyage for Russia in 1741. The Eskimos are the state's earliest known inhabitants. Russian fur traders established settlements but, by the time Alaska was sold to the United States, most of the traders had departed. ⑤In 1896 gold was discovered near the Klondike River in Canada just across the Alaskan border. Thousands of Americans rushed to the region on their way to Klondike; Alaska was never completely cut off again, although even today transportation is a major problem. There are only two motor routes from the U.S. mainland, and within the state, every town has its own airfield. Planes fly passengers, mail and freight to the most distant villages. ⑥The gold that changed life so suddenly for Alaska was soon ended, and although many stories about mining camps have become part of American literature, the gold from Alaskan earth contributed less to economic progress than the fish from Alaska waters. The fish caught in a single year range in value from $80 million to $90 million. Fur-bearing animals are plentiful in the forests and streams, and valuable fur seals inhabit the waters. After fishing, the state's chief industry is lumber and the production of wood pulp. In recent years, Alaska's single most important resource has become oil. The state also has large deposits of coal, copper, gold and other minerals.
1. Paragraph ①______ A. Rich Resources of the State B. Connections With the Outside World C. Transportation Problem D. The Natives of the Land E. Position and Cold Climate F. Land and Population
6. For as long as three months of a year, the sun ______ on the ice-covered land of Alaska. A. as fish does B. oil C. by the United States in the 19th century D. shines day and night E. only a very small percentage F. a limited amount of the gold found there
The Olympic Games are an international sports competition, which are held every four years in a different city. 1 Over 1 billion people watch the games on TV. The first Olympic Games were held in Greece in 776 B.C. They were called the ancient games and lasted until the 4th century A.D. 2 It was when the Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin revived the games to bring peace and friendship to the young people all over the world. Today, there are summer and winter games. Up to 1994 both games were held in the same year, but now they are staged two years apart from each other. The Summer Games are held during the summer season of the host country. They last for 16 days. Today, there are more than 270 events during the games. Over 15,000 athletes from 190 nations take part. The first separate Winter Games were held in Chamonix, France in 1924. They usually take place in February. Today, the Winter Olympics include over 60 events. Athletes from more than 60 countries participate. The International Olympic Committee or IOC is the organization that governs the games. 3 The IOC also selects the host city for the summer and winter games, at least seven years before they take place. Cities that want the games must show that: · They have enough stadiums for all events. · 4 · They can provide safety for the athletes. · They can transport athletes and spectators from one event to another. · Host cities must build an Olympic village where all athletes live during the games. The Olympic Games today have become very successful over the past years. 5 And television stations are spending more money for the rights to broadcast the games. The IOC earns more money than ever before. With this money they help athletes in poorer countries. A. It decides which sports and events are held at the games. B. The modern games began in 1896. C. Thousands of athletes from all over the world compete against each other. D. Winter sports abound in Canada, where the winter Olympics will be held in 2014. E. More and more people are able to watch them on TV. F. They have enough room for all the athletes.
[解析] 根据空格后的内容“It was when the Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin revived the games to bring peace and friendship to the young people all over the world. (当时法国人皮埃尔·德·顾拜旦复兴了比赛,以给世界各地的年轻人带来和平友谊)”,得知选项B最合适。
[解析] 根据文中空格前“The Olympic Games today have become very successful over the past years.(如今奥运会在过去几年的基础之上变得非常成功)”;以及空格后“And television stations are spending more money for the rights to broadcast the games. (而且电视台会花更多的钱用于得到比赛的转播权)”,得知选项E最合适。
Where you save your money often depends on what you are saving for. If you are saving to buy a dictionary or to go to a concert, then you probably keep your money 1 in your room. If you are 2 for a big purchase like a mountain bike or a school trip, where would you save your money? One place to save money is the bank. Putting your money in a savings account will help your money 3 more money. If you put your money in a piggy bank (猪形储蓄罐), one year later you'll still have the 4 amount of money you put in. If you put your money in a savings account, one year later,you'll have more money than you put in. Why? When you keep your money in a 5 , your money earns interest. 6 is the amount of money a bank pays you to use your money. The bank uses your money (and the money of other people, too) to loan money to people and businesses. Another way you can save money is to buy a certificate of deposit or CD. If you have some money that you don't need to use for a 7 time, this is a good way to make your money 8 . Since the bank is using your money for that time period, it will 9 you interest. You will earn more interest with a CD than in a savings account. Can you guess why? It's because you promise to leave your money in the bank for a certain period of time. Banks pay 10 rates of interest. A. long B. same C. bank D. earn E. pay F. grow G. inside H. different I. interest J. somewhere K. saving L. raise
1.
J
[解析] 此处需要填一个副词作状语。备选单词中有两个副词:somewhere意思是“在某处”,inside意思是“在内部,在里边”。分析此句可排除inside,因为此处后边已经有了地点状语in your room了,再填inside就显得重复了。此句意思是:“那么你很可能把钱放在你屋里的某个地方”,因此此题应选J。
Millions of people are using cell phones today. In many places it is actually considered 1 (usual) not to use one. They find that the phones are more than a means of 2 (communi-cate)—having a mobile phone shows that they are cool and 3 (connect). The 4 (explode) around the world in mobile phone use make some health professional worried. Some doctors are 5 (concern) that in the future many people may suffer health problems from the use of mobile phones. In England, there has been a serious debate about this issue. Mobile phone companies are worried about the negative 6 (public) of such ideas. They say that there is no 7 (prove) that mobile phones are bad for your health. On the other hand, signs of change in the issues of the brain and head can be 8 (detect) with modern scanning equipment. What is it that makes mobile phones 9 (potential) harmful? The answer is radiation. As the discussion about their safety continues, it appears that it's best to use mobile phones less often. Use your regular phone if you want to talk for a long time. Use your mobile phone only when you really need it. Mobile phones can be very useful and convenient, especially in emergencies. In the future, mobile phones may have a 10 (warn) label that says they are bad for your health. So for now, it's wise not to use your mobile phone too often.
1.
unusual
[解析] 分析本句句法得知,本句真正的主语是not to use one,在本句中one指的是a cell phone,因此真正的主语是not to use a cell phone。此空白处放在谓语be considered后面作表语成分。结合句首“Millions of people are using cell phones today”可得知使用手机是非常普通的事情。因此,应将提示词形容词usual加上否定前缀un-改成unusual放入句中,构成“it is actually considered unusual not to use one.”(不使用手机实际上是不寻常的事),双重否定即为肯定,意同“使用手机是非常普通的事”。
[范文] The diagram explains the process for the making of chocolate. There are a total of ten stages in the process, beginning with the growing of the pods on the cacao trees and culminating in the production of the chocolate. To begin, the cocoa comes from the cacao tree, which is grown in the South American and African continents and the country of Indonesia? Once the pods are ripe and red, they are harvested and the white cocoa beans are removed. Following a period of fermentation, they are then laid out on a large tray so they can dry under the sun. Next, they are placed into large sacks and delivered to the factory. They are then roasted at a temperature of 350 degrees, after which the beans are crushed and separated from their outer shell. In the final stage, this inner part that is left is pressed and the chocolate is produced.