Edward Wilson is America’s, if not the world’s, leading naturalist. In The Future of Life, he takes us on a tour of the world’s natural resources(資源). How are they used? What has been lost? What remains and is it able to continue with the present speed of use? Wilson also points out the need to understand fully the biodiversity(生物多樣性)of our earth.
Wilson begins with an open letter to the pioneer in environment (環(huán)境) protection, Henry David Thoreau. He compares today’s Walden Pond with that of Thoreau’s day. Wilson will use such comparisons for the rest of the book. The problem is clear: man has done great damage to his home over the years. Can the earth, with human help, be made to return to biodiversity levels that will be able to support us in the future?
Biodiversity, Wilson argues, is the key to settling many problems the earth faces today. Even our agricultural crops can gain advantages from it. A mere hundred species(物種) are the basis of our food supply, of which but twenty carry the load. Wilson suggests changing this situation by looking into ten thousand species that could be made use of, which will be a way to reduce the clearing of the natural homes of plants and animals to enlarge farming areas.
At the end of the book, Wilson discusses the importance of human values in considering the environment. If you are to continue to live on the earth, you may well read and act on the ideas in this book.

1. 1.

   We learn form the text that Wilson cares most about ______

   1. A.
      the environment for plants
   2. B.
      the biodiversity of our earth
   3. C.
      the wastes of natural resources
   4. D.
      the importance of human values
2. 2.

   How many species are most important to our present food supply?

   1. A.
      Twenty.
   2. B.
      Eighty.
   3. C.
      One hundred
   4. D.
      Ten thousand.
3. 3.

   Wilson suggests that one way to keep biodiversity is to _______.

   1. A.
      learn how to farm scientifically
   2. B.
      build homes for some dying species
   3. C.
      make it clear what to eat
   4. D.
      use more species for food
4. 4.

   We can infer that the text is _______

   1. A.
      a description of natural resources
   2. B.
      a research report
   3. C.
      a book review
   4. D.
      an introduction to a scientist.
5. 5.

   Edward Wilson is _______

   1. A.
      a pioneer in environment protection
   2. B.
      an American scientist in environment protection
   3. C.
      a world-famous scientist in Asia
   4. D.
      a well-known expert in nature in U.S.A

There are two types of people in the world．Although they have equal degrees of health and wealth and the other comforts of life, one becomes happy, the other becomes miserable．This arises from the different ways in which they consider things, persons, and events, and the resulting effects upon their minds．

The people who are to be happy fix their attention on the conveniences of things, the pleasant parts of conversation, the well-prepared dishes, the goodness of the wines, and the fine weather．

They enjoy all the cheerful things．Those who are to be unhappy think and speak only of the contrary things．Therefore, they are continually discontented （不滿意的） ．By their remarks, they soar （提升） the pleasures of society, offend （冒犯 ） many people, and make themselves disagreeable everywhere．If this turn of mind were founded in nature, such unhappy persons would be the more to be pitied．

The tendency to criticize and be disgusted （厭惡） is perhaps taken up originally by imitation． It grows into a habit, unknown to its possessors．The habit may be strong, but it may be cured when those who have it are convinced of its bad effects on their interests and tastes．I hope this little warning may be of service to them, and help them change this habit．

Although in fact it is chiefly an act of the imagination, it has serious consequences in life, since it brings on deep sorrow and bad luck．Those people offend many others, nobody loves them, and no one treats them with more than the most common politeness and respect, and scarcely that．This frequently puts them in bad temper and draws them into arguments．If they aim at obtaining some advantage in rank or fortune, nobody wishes them success．Nor will anyone speak a word to favor their hopes．If they bring on themselves public disapproval, no one will defend or excuse them．

These people should change this bad habit．If they do not, it will be good for others to avoid any contact with them．

Title: Two Types of People

I am sure that the girl you are going to meet is more beautiful_______ than in her pictures.

A. in nature           B. in movement        C. in the flesh         D. in the mood

There are two types of people in the world. Although they have equal degree of health and wealth and other comforts of life, one becomes happy and the other becomes unhappy. This arises form the different ways in which they consider things, persons, events and the resulting effects upon their minds.

People who are to be happy fix heir attention on the convenience of things: the pleasant parts of conversation, the well prepared dishes, the goodness of the wine and the fine weather. They enjoy all the cheerful things. Those who are to be unhappy think and speak only of the opposite things. Therefore, they are continually dissatisfied. by their remarks, they sour the pleasure of society, offend (hurt) many people, and make themselves disagreeable everywhere. If this turn of mind was founded in nature, such unhappy persons would be the more to be pitied. The intention of criticizing （批評）and being disliked is perhaps taken up by imitation（模仿）. It grows into a habit, unknown to its possessors. The habit may be strong, but it may be cured when those who have it realize its bad effects on their interests and tastes. I hope this little warning may be of service to them, and help them change this habit.

Although in fact it is chiefly an act of the imagination, it has serious results in life since it brings on deep sorrow and bad luck. Those people offend many others; nobody loves them, and no one treats them with more than the most common politeness and respect. This frequently puts them in bad temper and draws them into arguments. Of they aim at getting some advantages in social position or fortune, nobody wishes them success. Nor will anyone start a step or speak a work to favor their hopes. If they bring on themselves public objections, no one will defend or excuse them, and many will join to criticize their wrongdoings. These should change this bad bait and bee pleased with is pleasing, without worrying needlessly about themselves and other. If they do not, it will be good for others to avoid any contact（接觸）with them. Otherwise, it can be disagreeable and

Sometimes very inconvenient, especially when one becomes missed up in their quarrels.

1.People who are unhappy      .

        A．a(chǎn)lways consider things differently from others

         B．usually are affected by the results of certain things

         C．usually misunderstand what others think or say

         D．a(chǎn)lways discover the unpleasant side of certain things

2.The phrase “sour the pleasure of society” most nearly means “     ”.

         A．have a good taste with social life               B．make others unhappy       

         C．tend so scold others openly                         D．enjoy the pleasure of life

3.We can conclude from the passage that       .

         A．we should pity all such unhappy people

         B．such unhappy people are dangerous to social life

         C．people can get rid of the habit of unhappiness

         D．unhappy people can not understand happy persons

Events Calendar

TUESDAY

Landscape Pests (害蟲)

Learn to identify, control and prevent seasonal landscape-disease and landscape-pest problems at the workshop, 3:30 pm. – 5 pm. Tuesday at the US National Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave NE, Washington. $15; registration required.

202-245-4521 or www.usna.usda.gov.

THROUGH AUGUST 3

Horticultural(園藝的) Art

Watercolors, pen-and-ink drawings and colored-pencil pieces by the Brookside Gardens School of Botanical (植物學(xué)的) Art and Illustration will be on display at the exhibit Botanic 2007: The Art and Science of Plants at Brookside Gardens Visitors Center, 1800 Glenallan Ave, Wheaton, through Aug. 3. Free. 301-962-1400 or www.brooksidegardens.org.

THROUGH SEPTEMBER 9

Botanical Art

Visit Patterns in Nature, an exhibit by Amy Lamb featuring photographs of flowers, leaves and other botanical life, at the US Botanic Garden Conservatory （溫室），West Orangerie, 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, through Sept. 9. The conservatory is open 10 am. – 5 pm. Daily. Free. 202-225-8333.

THROUGH OCTOBER 8

Botanic Garden Exhibit

Celebrating America’s Public Gardens is on view through Oct. 8 at the US Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington. The exhibit, on the Conservatory Terrace and in the National Garden, features displays of 20 public botanic gardens across the country. Hours are 10 am. – 5 pm. Daily. Free. 202-200-8956.

1.If you want to record your name for an event in advance, you may call _____.

2. If you go to Botanic Garden Exhibit, you _____.

3. From the advertisement, we learn _____.