Passage 1 Archaeology, like many academic words, comes from Greek and means, more or less, "the study of old things." So, it is really a part of the study of history. However, most historians use paper evidence, such as letters, paintings and photographs, but archaeologists (考古学家) learn from the objects left behind by the humans of long ago. Normally, these are the hard materials that don't break down or disappear very quickly--things like human bones and objects made from stone and metal. It is very unusual to find anything more than the hard evidence of history--normally, the bacteria (细菌) in the air eat away at soft materials, like bodies, clothes and things made of wood. Occasionally, things are different. In 1984, two men made an amazing discovery while working in a bog called Lindow Moss, in the north of England. A bog is a very wet area of earth, with a lot of plants growing in it. It can be like a very big and very thick vegetable soup--walk in the wrong place and you can sink and disappear forever. The men were working when one of them saw something sticking out-- a human foot! Naturally, the men called the police, who then found the rest of the body. Was it a case of murder? Possibly--but it was a death nearly two thousand years old. The two men had found a body from the time of the Roman invasion of Britain. Despite being so old, this body had skin, muscles, hair and internal organs--the scientists who examined him were able to look inside the man's stomach and find the food that he had eaten for his last meal! Why was this man so well preserved? It was because he was in a very watery environment, safe from the bacteria that need oxygen to live. Also, the water in the bog was very acidic. The acid preserved the man's skin in the way that animal skin is preserved for leather coats and shoes. How did he die? Understandably, archaeologists and other scientists wanted to know more about the person that they called, "Lindow Man". His hands and fingernails suggested that he hadn't done heavy manual work in his life--he could have been a rich man. They found that he hadn't died by accident. The archaeologists believe that he was sacrificed to three different gods.
1. Which language does the word "archaeology" come from?
A.French.
B.Greek.
C.Roman.
D.German.
A B C D
B
2. The word "these" in the first paragraph refers to ______.
A.letters
B.photographs
C.paintings
D.objects
A B C D
D
3. Which of the following helped to preserve "Lindow Man"?
A.Ice and Low temperature.
B.Bacteria and oxygen.
C.Soil and energy.
D.Acid and water.
A B C D
D
4. According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?
A."Lindow Man" was named after the person who first found him.
B.Historians usually use paper evidence, while archaeologists use hard evidence.
C."Lindow Man" was found by two archaeologists in the south of England.
D."Lindow Man" was good at manual work.
A B C D
B
5. Which is the best title for the passage?
A.What Is Archaeology?
B.Archaeology and History
C.An Amazing Archaeological Discovery
D.The Death of "Lindow Man"
A B C D
C
Passage 2 The city has always been an engine of intellectual life, from the 18th-century cafes of London, where citizens gathered to discuss chemistry and politics, to the Left Bank bars of modern Paris, where Picasso talked about modem art. Without the metropolis, we might not have had the great art of Shakespeare. And yet, city life isn't easy. Now scientists have begun to examine how the city affects the brain, and the results are depressing. Just being in an urban environment, they have found, impairs (损害) our basic mental processes. After spending a few minutes on a crowded city street, the brain is less able to hold things in memory, and suffers from reduced self-control. While it's long been recognized that city life is exhausting, this new research suggests that cities actually dull our thinking, sometimes dramatically so. One of the main forces at work is a complete lack of nature, which is surprisingly beneficial for the brain. Studies have demonstrated, for instance, that hospital patients recover more quickly when they can see trees from their windows, and that women living in public housing are better able to focus when their apartments overlook a lawn. Even these glimpses of nature improve brain performance, it seems, because they provide a mental break from the urban life. This research arrives just as humans cross an important milestone (里程碑). For the first time in history, the majority of people live in cities. Instead of inhabiting wide-open spaces, we're crowded into concrete jungles, surrounded by traffic and millions of strangers. In recent years, it's become clear that such unnatural surroundings have important implications for our mental and physical health, and can powerfully alter how we think. This research is also leading some scientists to dabble (涉足) in urban design, as they look for ways to make the city less damaging to the brain. The good news is that even slight alterations, such as planting more trees in the inner city or creating urban parks with a greater variety of plants, can significantly reduce the negative side effects of city life. The mind needs nature, and even a little bit can be a big help.
1. Which of the following is the main idea of this passage?
A.The city inspires talented people.
B.The city hurts the brain.
C.The city has many pleasures and benefits.
D.The city seriously affects the natural balance.
A B C D
B
2. The word "metropolis" in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to "______".
A.citizen
B.nature
C.city
D.stress
A B C D
C
3. People have just come to realize that ______.
A.human attention is a scarce resource
B.city life can make people very tired
C.the city is an engine of intellectual life
D.an urban environment is damaging to the brain
A B C D
D
4. What is the factor mentioned in the third paragraph that helps the hospital patients recover more quickly?
A.Nature.
B.Better treatment.
C.Experienced doctors.
D.Good medicine.
A B C D
A
5. According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?
A.Different aspects (方面) of an urban environment, such as the crowded streets, can lead to an increase in self-control.
B.Small changes in urban design, cannot reduce the negative side effects of city life.
C.For the first time in history, the earth's population is more urban than rural.
D.A walk down a busy city street will improve brain performance.
A B C D
C
Passage 3 Breastfeeding (母乳喂养) for a month or longer appears to reduce a woman's risk of getting diabetes (糖病) later in life, according to a new study. The breastfeeding and diabetes link has been reported in other studies, according to researcher Eleanor Schwarz. Her study makes the link easier to believe. It is published in a journal of medicine in America. Schwarz and her colleagues looked at data about breastfeeding practices. They evaluated data on 2,233 women from California. Of those, 405 were not mothers, 1,125 were mothers who breastfed for at least a month, and 703 were mothers who had never breastfed. They were 40 to 78 years old. According to Schwarz's study, the risk of getting a diagnosis (诊断) of type 2 diabetes for women who breastfed all their children for a month or longer was similar to that of women who had not given birth. But mothers who had never breastfed were nearly twice as likely to develop diabetes as women who had never given birth. Mothers who never breastfed were about 1.4 times as likely to develop diabetes as women who breastfeed for one to three months, Schwarz found. While one month of breastfeeding appears to make a difference, Schwarz says, even longer is better. "Previous studies have shown the longer the morn breastfeeds, the more benefit for her body. Many experts recommend breastfeeding for six months and continuing for a year," she says. The diabetes-breastfeeding link is probably explained by belly fat. Mothers, who don't breastfeed, as they get older, may have more belly fat, as breastfeeding helps new mothers take off weight. "Belly fat increases the risk of diabetes as you get older," she says. The finding isn't surprising at all, says Kimberly Gregory. She often gives advice to women who get diabetes (occurring during pregnancy (怀孕)) that they are at risk for later getting type 2 diabetes and suggests they breastfeed. The new findings will probably inspire Gregory to add to the-advice she gives morns-to-be about the benefits of breastfeeding. She often focuses on the benefits to the baby.
1. According to the first paragraph, which of the following statements is TRUE?
A.About two thousand and two hundred old women took part in the study.
B.Eleanor Schwarz's research program was about men and women who suffered from diabetes.
C.Over one fifths of the women never got married.
D.Eleanor Schwarz's results seem more reliable.
A B C D
D
2. According to Schwarz's findings, who are more likely to get diabetes later in life?
A.Those mothers who had never breastfed.
B.Those mothers who never gave birth.
C.Those mothers who breastfed for a month.
D.Those mothers who breastfed for six months.
A B C D
A
3. Which of the following statements would Schwarz agree with?
A.Breastfeeding is not advisable because it is not good for a mom to keep a good shape.
B.Breastfeeding can greatly reduce a mother's chances of getting all kinds of serious disease.
C.Breastfeeding for a month is highly recommended: the longer, the better.
D.Breastfeeding for a month or longer makes babies smarter.
A B C D
C
4. What does the author mean by "moms-to-be" in the last paragraph?
A.Women who are pregnant, especially for the first time.
B.Women who dream of having babies for the first time.
C.Women who already have children.
D.Women who have just got babies for the first time.
A B C D
A
5. Which of the following is an appropriate title for this passage?
A.Breastfeeding May Enhance Babies' Chances of Survival
B.Breastfeeding May Lower Moms' Diabetes Risk
C.Breastfeeding May Become Very Fashionable in Near Future
D.Breastfeeding May Help Women Lose Weight
A B C D
B
Passage 4 The multi-billion-dollar Western pop music industry is under fire. It is being blamed by the United Nations for the dramatic rise in drug abuse worldwide, "The most worrying development is a culture of drug-friendliness," says the UN's International Narcotics Control Board in a report released last year. The 74-page study says the pop music, as a global industry, is by far the most influential trend-setter for young people of most cultures. "Some songs encourage people to take drugs. Certain pop stars make statements and set examples as if the use of drugs for non-medicinal purposes were a normal and acceptable part of a person's lifestyle," the study says. Surprisingly, says the Board, the effect of drug-friendly pop music seems to survive despite the occasional shock of death by overdose (过量用药). "Such incidents end to be seen as an occasion to mourn (哀悼) the loss of a role model, and not an opportunity to face the deadly effect of drug use," it notes. Since the 1970s, several internationally famous singer and movie stars--including Elvis Presley, Janice Jophlin, John Belushi, Jimi Hendrix, Jonathan Melvin and Andy Gibbs--have died of either drug abuse or drug related illnesses. With the globalization of popular music, messages promoting drug abuse are now reaching beyond their countries of origin." In most countries, the names of certain pop stars have become familiar to the members of every household," the study says. The UN study also blames the media for its description of certain drug incidents, which encourages rather than prevents drug abuse. "Over the past years, we have seen how drug abuse is increasingly regarded as being acceptable or even attractive," says Hamid Ghodse, president of the Board. "Powerful pressure groups run political campaigns aimed at legalizing controlled drugs," he says. Ghodse also points out that all these developments have created an environment which is tolerant (容忍的) of or even favorable to drug abuse and spoils international drug prevention efforts currently under way. The study focuses on demand reduction and prevention within an environment that has become tolerant of drug abuse. The Board calls on governments to do their legal and moral duties, and to act against the pro-drug (赞成吸毒) messages of the youth culture to which young people increasingly are being exposed.
1. Which of the following statements does the author tend to agree with?
A.The use of drugs for non-medicinal purposes is an acceptable part of a person's lifestyle.
B.The spreading of pop music may cause drug abuse to beyond country boundaries.
C.No efforts have been made to prevent the spreading of drug abuse.
D.Governments have no ability at act against the pro-drug messages of the youth culture.
A B C D
B
2. The expression "under fire" in the first paragraph means ______.
A.in an urgent situation
B.facing some problems
C.being criticized
D.in trouble
A B C D
C
3. From the third paragraph, we learn that the youth ______.
A.tend to mourn the pop stars who died of overdose as role modes
B.are shocked to know even pop stars may abuse drugs
C.try to face the deadly effect of drug use
D.may stop abusing drugs
A B C D
A
4. Which of the following is not mentioned as tolerant of drug abuse?
A.The spreading of pop music.
B.The media.
C.Political campaigns run by powerful pressure groups.
D.The low price of some drugs.
A B C D
D
5. According to the passage, pop music ______.
A.has a great influence on young people of most cultures
B.attracts a small number of young people
C.is not a profitable industry
D.is alone responsible for drug abuse
A B C D
A
Passage 5 There are many older people in the world and there will be many more. A little-known fact is that over 60 percent of the older people live in developing countries. According to the World Health Organization, by 2020 there will be 1 billion, with over 700 million living in developing countries. It is a surprising fact that the population ageing is particularly rapid in developing countries. For example, it took France 115 years for the proportion of older people to double from 7 percent to 14 percent. It is estimated to take China a mere 27 years to achieve this same increase. What are the implications of these increased numbers of older folk? One of the biggest worries for governments is that the longer people live, the more likelihood there is for diseases and for disability (残疾). Attention is being paid to the need to keep people as healthy as possible, including during old age, to lessen the financial burden on the state. Another significant problem is the need for the younger generations to understand and value the older people in their society. In some African countries, certainly in Asia, older people are respected and regarded as the ones with special knowledge. Yet traditions are fading away daily, which does not ensure the continued high regard of older people. As society changes, attitudes will change. Much needs to be done to get rid of age discrimination (歧视) in employment. Life-long learning programs need to be provided to enable older people to be active members in a country's development. Social security policies need to be established to provide adequate income protection for older people. Both public and private schemes are vital in order to build a suitable safety net.
1. The proportion of older people. ______.
A.is bigger in developed countries than in developing countries
B.is one-seventh of the population in developing countries
C.will increase much faster in China than in France
D.will be sixty percent in developing countries by 2020
A B C D
C
2. According to passage, which of the following are governments most worried about?
A.The diseases and disability of older people.
B.The longer life and good health of people.
C.The loss of taxes on older people.
D.The increasing respect for older people.
A B C D
A
3. It is stated directly in the passage that older people should ______.
A.be treated differently in different cultures
B.enjoy a similar lifestyle
C.be ignored as society changes
D.be valued by the younger generations
A B C D
D
4. Which of the following measure is NOT mentioned to solve the population ageing problem?
A.Getting rid of age discrimination in employment.
B.Ensuring adequate income protection for older people.
C.Providing free health care for sick older people.
D.Supplying life-long learning programs to older people.
A B C D
C
5. The author concludes in the last paragraph that ______.
A.governments have spent lots of time in solving the ageing problem
B.population ageing is a hard problem, but it needs to be solved urgently
C.people are too busy to solve the population ageing problem
D.much time and effort will be lost in solving the ageing problem
A B C D
B
Passage 6 Extensive new studies suggest that the world has made extraordinary progress in reducing poverty in recent decades. The research suggests that the pace of economic progress has been rapid and continued for decades, built on the foundations of relative political stability, rising trade, and economic liberalization (自由化) after two world wars. One new study, published recently by the Institute for International Economics in Washington, finds that the proportion of the 6.1 billion people in the world who live on $1 a day or less shrank from 63 percent in 195.0 to 35 percent in 1980 and 12 percent in 1999. By some other measures, the progress has been more modest. Still, economists agree that poverty has plunged in key nations such as India and especially China, thanks to slowing population growth as well as economic freedom. "This is a huge success for the world as a whole," says Harvard University economist Richard Cooper. "We are doing something right." The news comes as the World Bank is about to open its annual meeting in Washington-- an event that has been troubled in recent years by protests that the Bank and its sister institution, the International Monetary Fund (IMF 国际货币组织), have done too little for the world's poor. The new economic research will not put an end to that dispute. Vast populations remain poor, and many still question the wisdom of World Bank policies. Nonetheless, the research findings are helpful to understand what policies should be followed by those institutions and hundreds of other development groups working very hard to hasten the pace of world economic progress. If dramatic gains are under way, the present policies--calling for open markets, free business activities, and tight monetary control--are working and correct. But critics of IMF and World Bank policies maintain that such economic success stories as Japan, China, South Korea and Singapore are rooted in more than just "free" markets. These nations have managed to grow rapidly, and thereby reduce poverty, by limiting imports when their domestic industries were young, pushing exports to rich nations, and putting controls on purely international financial flows. The have been open to foreign-owned factories but have often insisted that those investors share the knowledge and skill on modern technologies.
1. The word "plunged" in the first paragraph means "______".
A.decreased
B.climbed
C.increased
D.dropped into water
A B C D
A
2. From the passage, we learn that ______.
A.World Bank has done nothing to help the poor in the world
B.IMF only helps the rich in the world
C.World Bank controls all the banks in the world
D.There are some demonstrations against World Bank in recent years
A B C D
D
3. According to this passage, in ______, the world had the largest number of poor people.
A.1999
B.1980
C.1950
D.1990
A B C D
C
4. According to the author, the economy of East Asian countries grew very fast because of the following measures EXCEPT ______.
A.encouraging export
B.opening up to foreign investments
C.limiting international financial flows
D.controlling import
A B C D
B
5. The best title for this passage might be ______.
A.China's Contribution to the Reduction of Poverty in the World
B.World Bank's Extraordinary Progress in Recent Decades