New findings from Queen’s University biologists show that in the plant world, bigger isn’t necessarily better.
“Until now most of the thinking has suggested that to be a good competitor in the forest, you have to be a big plant,” says Queen’s Biology professor Lonnie Aarssen. “But our research shows it’s virtually the other way around.”
Previous studies showed that larger plant species monopolize(壟斷) sunlight, water and other resources, limiting the number of smaller plant species that can exist around them. But the research has proved that this is not generally the case in natural vegetation.
In the Queen’s project, PhD student Laura Keating targeted the largest “host plants” of 16 woody plant species growing in the Okanogan Valley, British Columbia. The research team calculated the number and variety of plants that neighbored each large host plant. They then randomly selected plots without host plants and calculated the plant species there as well. The research showed that the massive trees have no effect on the number of species with which they coexist.
Smaller plants have many advantages over their overbearing neighbors, Professor Aarssen notes. Larger species generate physical space niches under their shelters where smaller species grow well. Smaller plants are much more effective than large trees at using available resources. They also produce seeds at a much younger age and higher rate than their bigger counterparts, and settle down much more quickly—thuscompeting with the newly-born plants of larger species.
小題1: What’s the main idea of the text?
A．Smaller plants may have many advantages over their neighbors.
B．In the plant world, the bigger is better than the smaller one.
C．To be a good competitor in the forest, you have to be a small plant.
D．Queen’s University’s students made a new research.
小題2: The underlined word “this” in Para. 3 refers to the view that _____.
A．large and small plants can grow together in harmony
B．larger plant species limit their smaller neighbors’ growth
C．small plant species have their own advantages
D．large and small plant species can never coexist
小題3:What can we learn according to the text?
A．Larger plant species limit the number of smaller ones around them.
B．Smaller plants can limit the number of plant species around them.
C．Smaller plants produce seeds at a higher rate than their bigger counterparts.
D．Larger trees are more effective than small plants at using available resources.
小題4:Which is the CORRECT order in the Queen’s project?
a. Randomly selected plots without host plants and-calculated the plant species.
b. Calculated the number and variety of plants that neighbored each large host plant.
c. Selected the largest individuals or "host plants" of 16 woody plant species.
A．a(chǎn), b, cB．c, b, a
C．b, c, aD．a(chǎn), c, b

小題1:A
小題2:B
小題3:C
小題4:B

小題1: A 主旨大意題。結(jié)合文章第一段及最后一段可知，本文主要是講述科學家的新發(fā)現(xiàn)：低矮植物比高大植物更有優(yōu)勢。
小題2: B 詞義猜測題。this指代文中l(wèi)arger plant species monopolize sunlight, water and other resources, limiting the number of smaller plant species that can exist around them這一觀點。
小題3:C 細節(jié)理解題。由最后一段They also produce seeds at a much younger age and a higher rate than their bigger counterparts可知C項正確。
小題4:B 事件排序題。由文章第四段可知選B。
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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Depression (抑郁癥) is a serious problem today.Depression causes workers to be unproductive，causing companies and countries to lose billions of dollars.One expert says that depression is like cancer because it is “widespread，costly and deadly”．Depression hits one person in five around the world.
Although people have believed depression to be a problem among the rich and educated，studies show that depression is a problem among everyone.Over any six­month period，between five to seven percent of the world’s population will be suffering from a serious depression.Suicide rates among people suffering from the disease in its extreme，or clinical form were 80 percent higher than in the population at large，and sufferers were four times more likely to have heart attacks.People who suffer from depression often have problems sleeping，getting up on time，and doing work productively.
Depression，which researchers agree has its origin in the genes，brings loss of confidence and ability to concentrate—making it impossible for employees and managers to work efficiently.
Depression is made more serious in China by Chinese’s inability to face it.Many people believe that depressed people are either weak or lazy.Besides，there is no good treatment，with few specialists available.“Most patients in China just don’t get help，”a Chinese doctor says.“In my hospital，I have to see 30 or 40 patients in a morning，just have time to say ‘Hello，how do you feel？’”
In Western countries，people are not afraid to admit that they have depression，but most do not tell it to their boss，because they fear that they will be stricken_off_the_rolls.“In my experience，aging bosses are the most willing to admit they have it.Because they feel the most secure about themselves，” an American doctor says.
Hopefully，in the near future，people around the world will be able to admit that they have depression so that they can get the right treatment.
小題1:Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A．It is widely believed that everyone may suffer from depression.
B．Depression brings great problems to its sufferers in their life and work.
C．Depression is a commonly­existing problem only in rich countries.
D．The poorer and the less educated a person is，the less he will suffer from depression.
小題2:．Compared to normal people，the depressed people are likely to be________.
A．very unconfident and often absent­minded
B．easy to avoid being hit by heart attacks
C．working efficiently and productively
D．either weak or lazy
小題3:Depression becomes more serious in China because of________.
A．the understanding of the problem
B．the lack of treatment and doctors
C．their unwillingness to tell it to their boss
D．the doctors’ careless work
小題4:What can we infer from the passage?
A．People are suffering from depression because of the shortage of specialists.
B．The aging bosses around the world dare to say they are depressed.
C．More and more patients will turn to specialists for help.
D．Western people are braver than Chinese people.
小題5:What does the underlined words in the 5th paragraph mean?
A．Hired.B．Dismissed.
C．Promoted.　D．Recommended.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

A world-famous Canadian author, Margaret Atwood, has created the world’s first long-distance signing device(裝置), the LongPen.
After many tiring……from city to city, Atwood thought there must be a better way to do them . She hired some technical experts and started her own company in 2004. Together they designed the LongPen. Here’s how it works: The author writes a personal message and signature on a computer tablet(手寫板) using a special pen. On the receiving end, in another city, a robotic arm fitted with a regular pen signs the book. The author and fan can talk with each other via webcams(網(wǎng)絡攝像機) and computer screens。
Work on the LongPen began in Atwood’s basement(地下室). At first, they had no idea it would be as hard as it turned out to be. The device went through several versions, including one that actually had smoke coming out of it. The investing finally completed, teat runs w ere made in Ottawa, and the LongPen was officially launched at the 2006 London Book Fair. From here , Atwood conducted two transatlantic book signings of her latest book for fans in Toronto and New York City.
The LongPen produces a unique signature each time because it copies the movement of the author in real time. It has several other potential applications. It could increase credit card security and allow people to sign contracts from another province. The video exchange between signer and receiver can be recorded on DVD for proof when legal documents are used.
“It’s really fun”, said the owner of a bookstore, who was present for one of the test runs. “Obviously you can’t shake hands with the author but there are chances for a connection that you don’t get from a regular book signing..
The response to the invention has not been all favorable. Atwood has received criticism from authors who think she is trying to end book tours. But she said, “It will be possible to go to places that you never got sent to before because the publishers couldn’t  afford it.”
小題1:Why did Atwood decide to invent the LongPen?
A. To set up her own company
B. To win herself greater popularity
C. To write her books in a new way
C. To make book signings less tiring
小題2:How does the LongPen work?
A．I copies the author’s signature and prints it on a book.
B．It signs a book while receiving the author’s signature.
C．The webcam sends the author’s signature to another city.
D．The fan uses it to copy the author’s signature himself.
小題3:What do we know about the invention of the LongPen?
A．It has been completed but not put into use.
B．The basement caught fire by accident.
C．Some versions failed before its test run.
D．The designers were well-prepared for the difficulty.
小題4:How could the LongPen be used in the future?
A．To draft legal documents.
B．To improve credit card security
C．To keep a record of the author’s ideas.
D．To allow author and fan to exchange videos
小題5:What could be inferred from Paragraphs 5 and 6?
A．Atwood doesn’t mean to end book tours.
B．Critics think the LongPen is of little use
C．Bookstore owners do not support the LongPen
D．Publishers dislike the LongPen for its high cost

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

We sometimes think global warming or climate change is a problem very far away from our lives, and that only the government needs to worry about it. But it's hardly possible to completely stay out of it ­ scientists are now 95 percent sure that humans have been the “dominant cause” of global warming trends since the 1950s.
One of the conclusions of a report released on Sept 27 by the United Nations says that human activities have caused global temperatures to rise by 0.89 0C between 1901 and 2012. That might not seem like a lot, but the truth is that a major part of that heat has been absorbed into the oceans, which is not surprising given that they cover two thirds of Earth's surface. Also, water has a much greater capacity (容量) to absorb heat than the air does, according to The Economist.　
While many greenhouse gases occur naturally and are needed to keep the Earth warm enough to support life, humans' use of fossil fuels is the main source of excess (多余的) greenhouse gases. According to CNN, by driving cars, using electricity produced by burning coal and oil or heating our homes with coal or natural gas, we release a large amount of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Your body can barely feel a difference of 0.89 0C, but the Earth's ecosystems are so sensitive that even small changes can disturb them. It often starts with the smallest creatures at the bottom of the food chain, eventually affecting bigger animals, many of which could end up becoming extinct.
Global warming is also linked to an increase in extreme weather. A larger amount of carbon dioxide traps more energy inside the atmosphere. This changes the patterns of storms and rainfall in many regions and can lead to droughts and floods. Worse still, melting sea ice in warmer oceans is causing sea levels to rise at a speed of more than three millimeters per year, according to The Guardian, which also increases the risk of flooding.
“The report should serve as another wake­up call that our activities today have a profound impact on society, not only for us, but for many generations to come，” French Michel Jarraud, secretary­general of the World Meteorological Organization, said at a news conference.
小題1:The underlined word “dominant” in the first paragraph means “ ________”．
A．common　　　　 　　　B．indirect
C．secondaryD．leading
小題2:Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A．Greenhouse gases have been proven to harm merely the Earth .
B．There is little we can do to prevent global warming.
C．Global warming can increase the chances of droughts and floods.
D．The hugeness of oceans makes them better absorbers of heat than the air.
小題3:The rise in global temperatures between 1901 and 2012 ________.
A．is more harmful to smaller creatures than bigger ones
B．is not serious because most of the extra heat has been absorbed by the oceans
C．has made the Earth's ecosystems more sensitive to changes
D．is likely to cause many species to become extinct
小題4:What is Michel Jarraud's attitude toward the report released by the UN?
A．Negative.B．Supportive.
C．Doubtful.D．Uninterested.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

The first robot rover to land on the Moon in nearly 40 years, China's Jade Rabbit, has begun sending back photos, with shots of its lunar lander(登月飛行器). Jade Rabbit rolled down a ramp lowered by the lander and on to the volcanic plain known as Sinus Iridum at 04：35 Beijing time on Saturday (20：35 GMT)．It moved to a spot a few metres away, its historic short journey recorded by the lander. On Sunday evening the two machines began photographing each other. A Chinese flag is clearly visible on the Jade Rabbit as it stands deployed on the Moon's surface.

Ma Xingrui, chief mander of China's lunar programme, declared the mission (任務)a “plete success”. The first soft landing on the Moon since 1976 is the latest step in China's ambitious space programme, says BBC science reporter Paul Rincon.
The lander will operate there for a year, while the rover is expected to work for some three months. The Chang'e­3 mission landed some 12 days after being launched atop a Chinese­developed Long March 3B rocket from Xichang in the country's south. The official Xinhua news service reported that the lander began its descent(下降)on Saturday just after 13：00 GMT, touching down in Sinus Iridum (the Bay of Rainbows) 11 minutes later. “I was lucky enough to see a prototype rover(原型月球車) in Shanghai a few years ago ­ it's a wonderful technological achievement to have landed，” Prof Andrew Coates, from UCL's Mullard Space Science Laboratory, told BBC News.
Chang'e­3 is the third unmanned rover mission to touch down on the lunar surface, and the first to go there in more than 40 years. The last was an 840kg (1,900lb) Soviet vehicle known as Lunokhod­2, which was kept warm by polonium(釙)­210. But the six­wheeled Chinese vehicle carries a more sophisticated payload(復雜的有效負荷), including ground­penetrating radar which will gather measurements of the lunar soil and crust.
小題1:What does the text mainly talk about?
A．China's space and aeronautics industry develops quickly.
B．The importance of China's space and aeronautics industry.
C．China's Jade Rabbit Moon rover sends back first photos.
D．Chang'e­3 is the third unmanned rover mission to touch down on the lunar surface.
小題2:After ________ years' hard and scientific work, the first soft landing on the Moon has made such great progress.
A．nearly 40B．37
C．64D．more than 40
小題3:The purpose that the Chinese moon rover has visited the moon is to ________.
A．do some research about the moon
B．be the first settler on the moon
C．to plant the Chinese flag onto the moon
D．send a lovely jade rabbit onto the moon
小題4:From the text, we know that the lander began its descent on Saturday just after ________ Beijing time.
A．13：00B．20：00
C．22：00D．21：00

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空

　　It was July 1976. An unmanned spaceship, Viking One, had arrived at Mars. On July 20th, the spaceship　　. Part of it continued toward a landing on the planet. It fell　　through the late afternoon Mars’ sky.
Forty kilometers above the planet, the thin　　began to slow its fall. Six kilometers above the planet a big parachute(降落傘)opened. The landing craft fell more slowly. Then, three rocket engines　　. And the landing craft set down　　on the surface. 　　in the Viking One Lander immediately sent a message to the earth. It said, “I am here. I am down safely. I am beginning my work. ”
The message　　at the speed of light. It took twenty minutes to reach the earth, more than three hundred and twenty million kilometers　　. Scientists and engineers at the control center　　.
Moments later, television receiver in the control center began to　　the first picture from Viking One. People at the center could see the feet of the landing craft sitting firmly on the　11　soil of Mars. Those pictures were our first　　look at the planet. They showed a red surface, full of rocks, with no sign of　　. It was our first look at a planet that is full of surprises, mysteries and promise. Viking One was launched toward Mars in August, 1975. The spaceship had two　　: an orbiter(軌道飛行器)and a lander(著陸器). The orbiter would circle　　Mars. It would take pictures of Mars’ surface. It would　　the atmosphere.
The　　would go down to the surface. It would carry　　to dig up and study soil and　　.
It also would report about any evidence of life on the planet. The lander would send this　　to the orbiter and then back to the earth.
小題1:
A．separated　　　　　　B．a(chǎn)ppeared
C．workedD．started
小題2:
A．correctlyB．slowlyC．quickly　　D．directly
小題3:
A．a(chǎn)irB．universe
C．spaceD．a(chǎn)tmosphere
小題4:
A．firedB．fell C．openedD．floated
小題5:
A．heavilyB．softly
C．suddenly D．immediately
小題6:
A．A computer B．A rocket
C．A pilotD．An astronaut
小題7:
A．spreadB．traveled C．shot D．moved
小題8:
A．farB．long C．distantD．a(chǎn)way
小題9:
A．shouted B．watched
C．cheeredD．welcomed
小題10:
A．makeB．take C．show D．search
小題11:
A．redB．brownC．gray D．black
小題12:
A．carefulB．closeC．real D．clear
小題13:
A．menB．life C．treesD．a(chǎn)ir
小題14:
A．partsB．rocketsC．enginesD．centers
小題15:
A．throughB．towardsC．over D．a(chǎn)round
小題16:
A．enter B．examine
C．collectD．discover
小題17:
A．orbiterB．lander
C．spaceshipD．rocket
小題18:
A．engineers B．a(chǎn)stronauts
C．parachutesD．instruments
小題19:
A．surfaceB．treesC．rocksD．pictures
小題20:
A．spaceshipB．rocket
C．landerD．information

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

DNA left at a crime scene could be used in the future to build up a picture of an offender’s face, it was revealed tonight.
A first step towards genetic mugshots has been taken by researchers in the US who link specific DNA markers with face shape. To identify the genes, they focused on known mutations(突變) that cause changes of the face and head. Normal versions of these genes were found to influence individual features. For instance, one gene affected the lips, another the shape and configuration of bones around the eyes, and a third the appearance of the mid-face and skull. In total, 20 genes had “significant effects” on facial appearance.
Lead scientist Professor Mark Shriver, from Pennsylvania State University, said: “We use DNA to match to an individual or identify an individual, but you can get so much more from DNA. Currently we can’t go from DNA to a face, or from a face to DNA, but it should be possible.” The implications are far reaching, raising the possibility of creating a data bank of facial types based on genetic markers. DNA from a crime scene could then be used to produce a rough image of the face of an offender or victim. Such genetic mugshots may be more reliable than computer-generated “e-fits” based on witnesses’ recollections. Other uses of the technique might include proving the identity of fathers in paternity cases, or visualising our remote ancestors from fossil DNA.
The scientists wrote in the online journal Public Library of Science Genetics: “Such predictive modelling could be forensically useful; for example, DNA left at crime scenes could be tested and faces predicted in order to help to narrow the pool of potential suspects. Further, our methods could be used to predict the facial features of descendants, deceased ancestors, and even extinct human species. In addition, these methods could prove to be useful diagnostic tools.” The team developed a model which first established a range of physical face shapes from people of mixed West African and European ancestry from the US, Brazil and Cape Verde. Measurements were taken of thousands of point co-ordinates on grids placed over 3D images of the faces.
Statistical methods were then used to determine the relationship between facial differences and the effects of gender, ethnic ancestry and individual gene variants.
小題1:The underlined word “mugshots” in the second paragraph most probably means _________.
A．different facesB．characteristicsC．pictures of faces D．genders
小題2:What can be inferred from the passage?
A. DNA has been used to build up a picture of an offender’s face.
B. It may be much easier to catch criminals with the help of DNA.
C. In all, 20 genes had “significant effects” on facial appearance.
D. One gene can affect more than one part of your face.
小題3:According to Professor Mark Shriver, we know_________.
A．they can merely match to an individual or identify an individual
B．there is a possibility of going from DNA to a face
C．DNA could be used to produce a rough image of an offender’s face
D．this technology is more reliable than computer-generated “e-fits”
小題4:What is the most possible title of the passage?
A．Creating a data bank of DNA
B．Recognizing the DNA of criminals
C．Predicting the location of offence using DNA
D．Building image of offender’s face from DNA

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

IT’S never a real problem for us when the weather gets cold. We can put on more clothes, stay next to a fireplace, turn on the air conditioner or simply travel to a warmer city to spend the winter – people have many different ways of coping with the cold.
But things are not as easy for plants. Unlike humans, plants can’t move to escape the cold or generate heat to keep themselves warm. So how do they manage to survive the freezing winter?
It turns out that plants have their own strategies too, said a study published on Dec 22 in the journal Nature.
According to researcher Amy Zanne of George Washington University, US, the cold is a big challenge for plants. Their living tissues can be damaged when they freeze. “It’s like a plant’s equivalent to frostbite (凍瘡),” Zanne told Science Daily. Also, the process of freezing and thawing (解凍) can cause air bubbles to form in the plant’s water transport system. “If enough of these air bubbles come together as water thaws they can block the flow of water from the roots to the leaves and kill the plant,” she explained.
To live through cold weather, plants have developed three traits, according to the study. Some plants, such as oak trees, avoid freezing damage by dropping their leaves before the winter chill sets in – effectively shutting off the flow of water between roots and leaves – and growing new leaves and water transport cells when the warm spring returns.
Other plants, pine trees for example, protect themselves by narrowing their water transport cells, which makes it easier for cells to travel among air bubbles.
The third strategy is also the most extreme – some plants die on the ground in winter and start growing as new plants from seeds when conditions get warmer.
However, the study also found that these smart strategies were developed very slowly – over millions of years of evolution. This leads scientists to worry that plants may not be able to deal with human-caused climate change, which has only started occurring over the past few decades.
Scientists are hoping that this study can help people find possible ways to save plants from the threat of climate change.
小題1:What is the article mainly about?
A．Why plants are not afraid of the winter chill.
B．The ways that plants survive cold weather.
C．Changes in plants’ water transport system in winter.
D．How plants evolve to keep up with climate change.
小題2:According to the article, if a plant freezes in the winter, ______.
A．it produces more living tissues to stay alive
B．its leaves quickly fall out and its roots begin to die
C．lots of air bubbles form in its water transport system
D．its water transport system could be blocked in the spring
小題3:How do oak trees usually survive the cold winters?
A．By dropping their leaves before winter.
B．By narrowing their water transport cells.
C．By widening their water transport cells.
D．By leaving only the seeds alive and growing from the seeds in the spring.
小題4:What are scientists worried about when it comes to plants according to the article?
A．Plants may not be able to adapt to the increasingly cold climate.
B．Human activities might have a great impact on the pace of plants’ evolution.
C．Plants may not be able to evolve fast enough to adapt to human-caused climate change.
D．The strategies plants develop are not good enough to protect them against cold.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Vans, Keds, Dollies—they sound like the names of rock bands，but if you have teenagers, you'll know they’re actually the latest in teenage footwear.
But experts are now warning that the current shoe fashions will be causing teenagers discomfort in the short term and storing up years of foot, knee and back pain in the future. Here, the experts identify the problems caused by teenagers’ shoe choice.
KEDS/VANS

Slip­on shoes with elastic (彈性的) sides are particularly popular among teenage boys—with Keds and Vans the most sought-after brands.
The main problem is that they are just too flat—so flat that the heel, which strikes the ground first, also becomes damaged and painful.
BALLET PUMPS

The worst shoes of all are such light and thin dolly shoes. The problem is partly their flatness, as with Keds and Vans. However ballet pumps, which have no string or heel, have other specific problems.
“As the shoe has no fastening device, it relies on the toes to keep the shoe on, causing an awkward gait (步法) , this leads to short—and long-term problems such as calluses (繭子), heel and knee pain.”
WEDGES AND STILETTOS

These shoes can also cause problems with gait. They may look good, but the heels on these are so high they can force the wearer’s body weight forward, making them very unstable.
Teens who wear these shoes regularly are also in danger of joining those millions of women with constant back pain.
SCHOOL SHOES
So what do podiatrists (足科醫(yī)生)have on their wish list, especially for everyday wear?
Something in a natural, breathable fabric, with a string to hold it on，with a small heel and a deep toe­box that does not press the toes，such as Clark's，Marks & Spencer or Rhino.
If your teen insists on wearing “bad” shoes, get them some simple foot orthotics(矯形器) in the shoes. These support and correct the movement of the foot and, properly fitted by a podiatrist, can often transform their walk and halt the damage.
小題1:Of all the shoes mentioned in the passage, which can cause the worst problems?
A．Ballet Pumps.B．Wedges & Stilettos.C．Keds and VansD．Marks & Spencer.
小題2:The underlined word “halt” in the last paragraph probably means________.
A．increaseB．stopC．worsenD．cure
小題3:From this passage we can infer________.
A．podiatrists are expert at producing branded shoes
B．fashionable shoes all have orthotics in them
C．experts are strongly against wearing popular shoes
D．trendy shoes may ruin teenager’ health

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