THIS was the year the Earth struck back.
Earthquakes, heat waves, floods, volcanoes, super typhoons, snow storms, landslides and droughts killed at least a quarter of a million people in 2010 – the deadliest year in more than a generation. More people were killed worldwide by natural disasters this year than have been killed in terrorism attacks in the past 40 years combined.
"It just seemed like it was back-to-back and it came in waves," said Craig Fugate, who heads the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency. It handled a record number of disasters in 2010.
And we have ourselves to blame most of the time, scientists and disaster experts say.
Even though many catastrophes have the ring of random chance, the hand of man made this a particularly deadly, costly, extreme and weird（古怪的） year for everything from wild weather to earthquakes.
Poor construction and development practices conspire to make earthquakes more deadly than they need be. More people live in poverty in vulnerable（脆弱的） buildings in crowded cities. That means that when the ground shakes, the river breaches, or the tropical cyclone hits, more people die.
Disasters from the Earth, such as earthquakes and volcanoes "are pretty much constant," said Andreas Schraft, vice president of catastrophic perils for the Geneva-based insurance giant Swiss Re. "All the change that's made is man-made."
The January earthquake that killed well more than 220,000 people in Haiti is a perfect example. Port-au-Prince has nearly three times as many people - many of them living in poverty - and more poorly built shanties than it did 25 years ago. So had the same quake hit in 1985 instead of 2010, total deaths would have probably been in the 80,000 range, said Richard Olson, director of disaster risk reduction at Florida International University.
In February, an earthquake that was more than 500 times stronger than the one that struck Haiti hit an area of Chile that was less populated, better constructed, and not as poor. Chile's bigger quake caused fewer than 1,000 deaths.
Climate scientists say Earth's climate also is changing, bringing extreme weather, such as heat waves and flooding.
In the summer, one weather system caused oppressive heat in Russia, while farther south it caused flooding in Pakistan that inundated 161,200 square kilometers, about the size of Wisconsin. That single heat-and-storm system killed almost 17,000 people, more people than all the worldwide airplane crashes in the past 15 years.
Scientists have calculated that the killer Russian heat wave—setting a national record of 43.9℃—would happen once every 100,000 years without global warming.
小題1:What is responsible for the most human deaths in 2010?
A．Natrual disasters.B．Terrorist attacks.
C．Poor buildings.D．Too rapid developrnent.
小題2:According to Andreas Schraft,             .
A．earthquakes are happening more often because of human beings
B．earthquakes are causing more damage because of human beings
C．stronger houses should be built to limit storm damage
D．Port—au—Prince is now overpopulated
小題3:The main point of the article is to           
A．list the natural disasters that occurred in 2010
B．give the details of some natural disasters of 2010
C．warn that more natural disasters are to strike
D．blame humanity for not helping those affected by the disasters
小題1:A小題1:A小題1:C
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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

The Internet has opened up a whole new on-line world for us to meet, chat (聊天) and go where we’ve never been before.
But just as in face-to-face communication, there are some basic rules of behavior that should be followed when online. The basic rule is simple: treat others in the same way that you would want to be treated. Imagine how you’d feel if you were in the other person’s shoes.
For anything you’re going to send, ask yourself: “Would I say this in front of the person?” If the answer is no, rewrite and reread. Repeat the process till you feel sure that you’d feel comfortable saying the words to the person’s face.
If someone in the chat room is impolite to you, your feeling is to fight back in the same manner. But try not to do so. You should either ignore (忽略) the person, or use your chat software (軟件) to stop their messages. If it was caused by a disagreement with another member, try to fix the situation by politely discussing it. Remember to respect the beliefs and opinions of others in the chat room.
Everyone was new to the network once. Offer advice when asked by newcomers, as they may not be sure what to do or how to communicate. When someone makes a mistake whether it’s a stupid question or an unnecessarily long answer, be kind about it. If it’s a small mistake, you may not need to say anything. Even if you feel strongly about it, think twice before saying anything. Having good manners yourself doesn’t give you the right to correct everyone else.
If you do decide to tell someone about a mistake, point it out politely. At the same time, if you find you are wrong, be sure to correct yourself and apologize to those who you have offended (冒犯).
It is not polite to ask others personal questions such as their age, sex, and families. Unless you know the person very well, and you are both comfortable with sharing personal information, don’t ask such questions.
小題1:. When you send short messages to a person, you must       .
A．make sure that they don’t do harm to othersB．read them again and again
C．say something good to hearD．repeat them later to the person’s face
小題2:If you are hurt in the chat room by others, you should       .
A．fight back in the same wayB．take them seriously
C．pay no attention to themD．be angry at them
小題3:If a newcomer who communicates on line makes any mistakes, you       .
A．should point them out sharply
B．shouldn’t give any advice unless required by them
C．should say something about them
D．should correct them at once
小題4:This passage mainly tells us       .
A．some rules of Internet communication
B．ways of sending messages
C．rules of the face – to – face communication
D．ways of making friends on the Internet

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

In the United States, friendships can be close, constant, intense, generous and real, yet fade away in a short time if situations change. Neither side feels hurt by this. Both may exchange Christmas greetings for a year or two, perhaps a few letters for a while— then no more. If the same two people meet again by chance, even years later, they pick up the friendship where it left off and are delighted.
In the States, you can feel free to visit people’s homes, share their holidays, or enjoy their lives without fear that you are taking on a lasting obligation(義務). Do not hesitate to accept hospitality（好客） because you can’t give it in return. No one will expect you to do so for they know you are far from home. Americans will enjoy welcoming you and be pleased if you accept their hospitality easily.
Once you arrive there, the welcome will be full and warm and real. Most visitors find themselves readily invited into many homes there. In some countries it is considered inhospitable to entertain at home, offering what is felt as only home—cooked food, not “ doing something for your guest”. It is felt that restaurant entertaining, shows more respect and welcome. Or for other different reasons, such as crowded space, language difficulties, or family custom, outsiders are not invited into homes.
In the United States, both methods are used, but it is often considered more friendly to invite a person to one’s home than to go to a public place, except in purely business relationships. So, if your host or hostess brings you home, do not feel that you are being shown inferior treatment.
Don’t feel neglected if you do not find flowers awaiting you in your hotel room, either. Flowers are very expensive there; hotel delivery is uncertain; arrival times are delayed, changed, or canceled —— so flowers are not customarily sent as a welcoming touch. Please do not feel unwanted! Outward signs vary in different lands; the inward welcome is what matters, and this will be real.
小題1:In the United States, you will find friendships ______ if circumstances change.
A．die suddenlyB．pass away
C．disappear graduallyD．last forever
小題2:Americans _____ their foreign friends to make a return for their hospitality.
A．a(chǎn)skB．don’t expectC．never allowD．wish
小題3:In some other countries, giving a dinner party at home is considered ______ than in a restaurant.
A．less friendlyB．less hospitableC．more naturalD．more popular
小題4:According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
A．Flowers are signs of outward welcome.
B．Flowers are expensive.
C．Flowers are available at all time.
D．Flowers are not necessarily sent to guests.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

We are all interested in equality，but while some people try to protect the school and examination system in the name of equality，others，still in the name of equality，want only to destroy it．
Any society which is interested in equality of opportunity and standards of achievement must regularly test its pupils．The standards may be changed—no examination is perfect--but to have no external(外部的)tests or examinations would mean the end of equality and of standards．There are groups of people who oppose this view and who do not believe either in external examinations or in any contr schools or on teachers.This would mean that everything would depend on luck every pupll would depend on the efficiency(效率)，the ideal and the purpose of teacher．
Without external examinations， employers will 1ook for employees from highly respected schools and from families known to them--a form of favoritism will  replace equality．At the moment，the bright child from an ill—respected schoo1 can show certificates(證書)to prove he or she is suitable for a job，while the lack of a certificate shows the unsuitability of a dull child attanding a well—respected schoo1.This defence of excellence and opportunity would disappear if external examinations were taken away，and the bright child from a poor family would be a prisoner of his or her school’s fame(名譽)，unable to compete for employment with the child from the favored schoo1．
The opponents(對手)of the examination system suggest that examinations are an evil force because they show differences between pupils．According to these  people，there must be no special，different，academic class． They have even suggested that there should be no form of difference in sport or any other area：all jobs or posts should be filled by unsystematic selection．The selection would be made by people who themselves are probably selected by some computer．
小題1: The word “favoritism” in paragraph 3 is used to decribe the phenomenon that _____. 
A．bright children also need certificates to get satisfying jobs.
B．Pooor children with certificates are favored in job markets.
C．Children attending ordinary schools achieve great success.
D．children from well-respected schools tend to have good jobs.
小題2:What would happen if examinations were taken away according to the author?    
A．Children’s job opportunity would be affected by their school reputation.
B．Schools for bright children would lose their reputation
C．There would be more opportunities and excellence.
D．Children from poor families would be able to change their schools.
小題3: The opponents of the examination system will agree that _____.
A．Computers should be selected to take over many jobs.
B．Special classed are necessary to keep the school standards.
C．Jobs should not be assigned by systematic selection.
D．Schools with academic subjects should be abolished.
小題4: The passage mainly focuses on ____.
A. schools and certificates   B opportunity and employment
C. examinations and equality  D. standards and reputation

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

What will we be eating in the future? Here are the top factors that will be affecting the food that ends up on our tables in the new century.
Genetically engineered food Many crops are already genetically engineered, often to produce more food, fight against pests or improve nutrition. But concern is growing over the lasting effects of changing nature. While existing research has found little harm in genetic engineering, a recent study found the flower powder of a genetically engineered corn can kill the normal butterfly. This finding made many people nervous and brought attention to the topic.
Dining out Americans are increasingly eating meals away from home, both in sit-down restaurants and in fast food outlets. In the last decade alone there was a 14 percent decrease in the number of meals eaten at home. At the same time, restaurants are just beginning to really open their doors on the Internet. Websites exist to make restaurant reservations (預約), view menus, and get tips from your favorite chefs. The dining out trend and the demand for high-quality, chef-prepared food have encouraged chefs to spend time out of the kitchen — teaching classes, appearing on TV, and writing cookbooks.
Eating in Eating in doesn’t always mean cooking. Ready-made meals and frozen food sold in supermarkets taste better all the time. Restaurants are offering neatly packaged “food to go”, and meals can be ordered over the Internet. Cooking is not as much as a necessity, as it is a hobby or a special treat.
Agriculture Although American farmers have been hit hard recently by bad weather, low prices and decreasing government help, they can increase grain production not using old farming methods.
小題1:Which of the following is the main reason for genetically engineered crops?
A．To lead to more food and better nutrition.B．To kill the normal butterfly.
C．To reduce the harm done by insects.D．To change the nature of the crops.
小題2:From the passage, we learn that _________.
A．eating out is not popular among the old people in USA
B．it is now easier for people to get information about eating out
C．it is popular for restaurants to send out information on the Internet
D．the trend of eating out is causing many chefs to give up their jobs
小題3:In the future, cooking at home will probably _________.
A．still be the job of most housewives
B．take up most of people’s free time
C．bring much joy to more people
D．lead to many restaurants closing down
小題4:According to the passage, farmers should _________ to get a higher grain production.
A．turn to better farming methodsB．a(chǎn)sk for the support of the government
C．raise the prices of cropsD．not care about the effects of bad weather

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

A single night of taking the drug Ecstasy (搖頭丸) can cause serious brain damage and speed up the start of Parkinson’s disease, scientists say. Just two or three Ecstasy tablets can permanently destroy brain cells that affect movement and reasoning, according to American research that links the drug to Parkinson’s for the first time.
A study by a team at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, involving squirrel monkeys and baboons (狒狒) found that both species suffered permanent damage to key cells, which are lost in Parkinson’s, after receiving three low doses（劑量）of Ecstasy at three-hour periods.
The study is particularly important because baboons are one of the best animal models for the human brain. George Ricaurte, who led the research, said that the widespread abuse of drug might have caused severe damage. “The most troubling result is that young adults using Ecstasy may be increasing their risk of developing Parkinsonism as they get older.”
Alan Leshner, a former director of the US National Institute on Drug Abuse, said, “This study emphasizes the multi-aspect damage that Ecstasy causes to users. We’ve long known that repeated use damages brain cells. But this study shows that even very occasional use can have long-lasting effects on many different brain systems. It sends an important message to young people: don’t experiment with your own brain.”
Janet Betts, a mother whose teenage daughter Leah died after a single Ecstasy tablet in 1995, said, “This comes as no surprise. But people can’t see the effects at first, and they say it won’t happen to them. We’ll see the symptoms later, just as we have with smoking.”
小題1: The article is intended to ______.
A．explain the bad effects of drugs on people’s health
B．warn young people of the risk of taking the drug Ecstasy
C．persuade people out of such bad habits as smoking and using drugs
D．tell us the links between the drug Ecstasy and Parkinson’s disease
小題2: We know from the passage that a low dose of Ecstasy ______.
A．won’t cause serious brain damage
B．can permanently destroy one’s brain cells
C．will result in immediate symptoms
D．may bring on Parkinson’s at once
小題3:Why are squirrel monkeys and baboons involved in the experiments?
A．Because their brain is similar to human being’s.
B．Because these animals usually take drugs.
C．Because these animals will soon get well after the experiment.
D．Because there is a model in the animals’ brains.
小題4: The underlined word “This” in the last paragraph probably means that ______.
A．Leah died after a single Ecstasy tablet in 1995
B．taking drug has the same symptoms as smoking
C．occasional use of the drug can have long-lasting effects on the brain systems
D．people have long known that repeated use of the drug damages brain cells

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

How can you find out what is going on inside a person’s body without opening the patient’s body up? Regular X rays can show a lot. CAT scans can show even more. They can give a complete view of body organs.
What is a CAT scan? CAT stands for a kind of machine. It is a special X-ray machine that gets a 360-degree picture of a small area of a patient’s body.
Doctors use X rays to study and determine diseases and injuries within the body, X rays can find a foreign object inside the body or take pictures of some inside organs to be X-rayed.
A CAT scanner, however, uses a group of X rays to give a cross-sectional（橫截面）view of a specific part of the body. A fine group of X rays is scanned across the body and around the patient from many different directions. A computer studies the information from each direction and produces a clear cross-sectional picture on a screen. This picture is then photographed for later use. Several cross sections, taken one after another, can give clear “photos” of the entire body or of any body organs. The latest CAT scanners can even give clear pictures of active, moving organs, just as a fast-action camera can “stop the action”, giving clear pictures of what appears unclear to the eye. And because of the 360-degree pictures, CAT scans show clear and complete views of organs in a manner that was once only shown during operation or examination of a dead patient.
Frequent appearance before X rays can cause skin burns, cancer or other damage to the body. Yet CAT scans actually don’t cause the patient to more radiation than regular X rays do. CAT scans can also be done without getting something harmful into the patient, so they are less risky than regular X rays.
CAT scans provide exact, detailed information. They can quickly find such a thing as bleeding inside the brain. They are helping to save lives.
小題1:What is NOT true of a CAT scan?
A．It is safer than regular X rays.
B．It makes use of computer techniques.
C．It can stop the action of an organ for a short time.
D．It gives clear pictures of active, moving body parts.
小題2:The underlined words “a foreign object”（Para 3）most probably refer to     .
A．a(chǎn) badly injured part inside the body
B．a(chǎn) new thing that is unknown to the doctor
C．a(chǎn) strange organ that has grown in the body
D．a(chǎn)n object that gets inside the body by chance
小題3:What is the special use of the latest CAT scanners?
A．It provides clear photos of moving organs.
B．It can take 3-dimension（三維）pictures of inside organs.
C．It won’t cause serious skin burns, cancer or other damage to the body.
D．It helps to find out what is going on inside a person’s body without opening it up.
小題4:We can infer from this passage that     .
A．patients in front of CAT may suffer from a bit of radiation
B．doctors need no opening-up of the body with CAT scanners
C．CAT scanners are more expensive than regular X-ray machines
D．CAT scanners can take photos of either the whole body or a part of it
小題5:The best title of this passage might be        .
A．the Newest Medical Invention
B．New X-ray Machine to Save Lives
C．How to Avoid the Damage of X Rays
D．Advantages and Disadvantages of CAT Scanners

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Boeing said Wednesday that it was entering the space tourism business, an announcement that could bolster（增強）the Obama administration’s efforts to transform the National Aeronautics and Space Administration into an agency that focuses less on building rockets and more on nurturing a commercial space industry.
The flights, which could begin as early as 2015, would most likely launch from Cape Canaveral in Florida to the International Space Station. The Obama administration has proposed turning over to private companies the business of taking NASA astronauts to orbit, and Boeing and Bigelow Aerospace of Las Vegas won an $18 million contract this year for preliminary (初步的)development and testing of a capsule that could carry seven passengers.
Current NASA plans call for four space station crew members to go up at a time, which would leave up to three seats available for space tourists. The flights would be the first to give nonprofessional astronauts the chance to go into orbit aboard a spacecraft launched from the United States. Seven earlier space tourists have made visits to the space station, riding in Russian Soyuz capsules.
“We’re ready now to start talking to possible customers,” said Eric C. Anderson, co-founder and chairman of Space Adventures, the space tourism company based in Virginia that would market the seats for Boeing.
Boeing and Space Adventures have not set a price, although Mr. Anderson said it would be competitive with the Soyuz flights, which Space Adventures arranged with the Russian Space Agency. Guy Laliberté, founder of Cirque du Soleil, paid about $40 million for a Soyuz ride and an eight-day stay at the space station last year. But the possibilities that anyone buying a ticket will get to space on an American vehicle depend on discussions in Congress about the future of NASA.
小題1: Which of the following is most probably a private travel company?
A. Boeing.                     B. Space Adventure.
C. NASA.                       D. Russian Space Agency.
小題2: How many people can be carried along on a capsule to the space station?
A．3. B．4. C．7. D．11.
小題3: What can be inferred from the passage?
A．The American space tourism company is located in Virginia.
B．Russia has already taken lead in working on the space tourism business.
C．NASA has decided to focus less on building rockets because of the financial crisis.
D．In 2015, America would be the first country in the world to run the space tourism business.
小題4:What’s the best title of the passage?
A．Taking NASA Astronauts to Orbit.B．Living in the Space Station Space.
C．Ticket Price under Discussion.D．Boeing Could Fly You to Orbit by 2015.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

For better or worse, multiple marriages aren't just for actress Elizabeth Taylor （famous for her eight marriages） anymore．
More Americans than ever are tying the knot for the third time or more．
Lynn Y. Naugle, a 53-yeap-old family therapist in New Orleans, says that people's personal needs and desires simply change as their life evolves．
"What functions well in the first part of our lives may not function well in the second or third part of our lives," she explains．The first marriage lasted 21 years, her second marriage five years．Two years ago, she wed for a third time, and she describes this union as an "extremely easy marriage"．
Today, at an estimated one of seven weddings, the bride, the groom or both are making that trip down the aisle for at least the third time．That's twice as many as a generation ago, according to the US National Centre for Health Statistics．
In part, the sudden change in multiple marriages is a side effect of the 1970s divorce increase that has supplied an ever expanding pool of divorced singles．Even the simple fact that people are living longer has opened the door to marrying more often．No fault divorce laws （meaning no one is blamed for the failure of the marriage）, and cultural changes have also meant there's less pressure than in past generations to stay in a joyless or abusive marriage．
While a single divorce didn't block either Ronald Reagan or Bob Dole from seeking the most highly demanding job in America—the US presidency—modern society still raises an; eyebrow at more than one
marriage mistake．
Indeed, there are signs that attitudes are changing．"It's coming out of the closet or becoming more accepted," says Glenda Riley, who wrote a book on the history of divorce in the US．"There's still embarrassment on the personal level, while there is growing acceptance on the public level for three or more marriages in a lifetime．"
There is no guarantee, of course, that the third time is the best．To the contrary, second and third marriages run an equal or greater risk of divorce than first marriages, which today are given 4 out of 10 odds of failing, and they tend to end more quickly．Divorce statistics show that failed second marriages typically end two years sooner than first marriages, lasting six years on average rather than eight．That leaves some doubly divorced people open for a third try at a relatively young age．
小題1:What does the underlined phrase "tying the knot" （Para．2） mean?
A．Getting married．B．Getting engaged．
C．Having babies．D．Attending funerals,
小題2:What is NOT the reason for the increase in multiple marriages according to the passage?
A．People are healthier and enjoy a longer life than ever before．
B．Many people have become single after a divorce boom in the past years．
C．There is no divorce law restricting people to getting divorced．
D．People have less pressure to leave a joyless marriage．
小題3:What can we learn from the seventh paragraph?
A．Ronald Reagan and Bob Dole failed in seeking the job （the US presidency） because they were divorced．
B．Ronald Reagan and Bob Dole succeeded in seeking the job （the US presidency） because they were not divorced．
C．Modern society accepts multiple marriages completely．
D．There is still prejudice against multiple marriages in modern society．
小題4:Which of the statement is WRONG?
A．Acceptance to multiple marriages is different on personal level and public level．
B．Because second marriages end sooner than first ones, people get married for the third time at a relatively young age．
C．People learn from experience so that a second or third marriage is more stable
D．The first marriage lasts eight year on average．

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