Life in 2060
　　Let us suppose it is now about A.D. 2060. Let’s make believe (假裝；虛構(gòu)) it is about sixty years from now. Of course, things have changed and life is very different.
　　Voyages to the moon are being made every day. It is as easy to take a holiday on the moon today as it was for the people in 1960 to take a holiday in Europe. At a number of scenic spots on the moon, many hotels have been built. The hotels are air-conditioned, naturally. In order that everyone can enjoy the beautiful scenery on the moon, every room has at least one picture window. Everything imaginable is provided for entertainment (娛樂) of young and old.
　　What are people eating now? People are still eating food. They haven’t yet started to take on heir (繼承) supply of energy directly as electrical current or as nuclear power. They may some day. But many foods now come in pill form, and the food that goes into the pill continues to come mainly from green plants.
　　Since there are several times as many people in the world today as there were a hundred years ago, most of our planet’s surface has to be filled. The deserts are irrigated with water and crops are no longer destroyed by pests. The harvest is always good.
　　Farming, of course, is very highly developed. Very few people have to work on the farm. It is possible to run the farm by just pushing a few buttons now and then.
　　People are now largely vegetarians (素食者). You see, as the number of people increases, the number of animal decreases. Therefore, the people have to be vegetarians and we are healthier both in our bodies and in our minds, and we know the causes and cure of disease and pain, and it is possible to get rid of diseases. No one has to be ill any more.
　　Such would be our life in 2060.
　　
1. When was the passage written?
　　A. In about A.D. 2060.
　　B. In about 1960.
　　C. In about 2000.
　　D. In about 2004.
2. According to the passage, what will be on the moon in about A.D. 2060?
　　A. Many tourists.
　　B. Many other animals.
　　C. Many plants.
　　D. A sea.
3. What will people eat then according to the passage?
　　A. Biscuits in pill form.
　　B. Foods in pill form.
　　C. Foods in water form.
　　D. Foods in gas form.
4. The passage tells us that in 2060, ____ on the earth than now.
　　A. there are fewer population
　　B. there are more pests
　　C. there is less water
　　D. the crops are getting better
5. Why are people largely vegetarians in 2060?
　　A. Because they don’t eat meat.
　　B. Because doctors advise them not to eat meat.
　　C. Because the number of animals decreases.
　　D. Because all the animals have died of diseases.

Every autumn, as families across the United States get ready to send their kids to college, the economics of higher education receive renewed attention. College is expensive and becoming more so in the U. S. The situation raises two questions: Why does it cost so much, and how can students and their families afford it?
Several studies published in the past few weeks reflect on these questions. The findings provide comfort to poor families.
First, it appears that only the minority actually pay the "high price". A study by the US Education Department's National Center for Education Statistics found that 55 percent of college students last year received some forms of help--scholarships, loans(貸款)or jobs.
Other factors are also at work. The government has increased the size of its grants (補(bǔ)助金)to lower-income students. Grants, unlike loans, don't have to he repaid and are awarded only to college students who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree.
At the same time, most colleges are spending more on undergraduate education than they are collecting in tuition fees. A study, which is part of the Williams College Project on the Economics of Higher Education, reaches the conclusion that on average colleges “subsidize (贊助)” their students. The results of these studies, however, leave unanswered the questions of whether educational costs are higher than they need to be. Some experts argue that much of the college cost results from educational competition for fame, students and facilities.
This puts upward pressure on tuition, hut many colleges feel that good fame will enable them to attract students even if they charge them more.
Therefore, until something important changes in the marketplace, costs seem likely to continue rising. And American families will continue to beat down the doors of the high price "college in the end．
小題1: From the fourth paragraph of the passage we can conclude that _______.

A．American families earn only a little money every year

B．American families pay little attention to education

C．American students often have to stop their studies

D．American colleges have different ways to help poor students

小題2: In the writer's opinion, for students from lower-income families, the best way is ________.

A．to find a good job and make money

B．to borrow money from the banks

C．to ask for grants

D．to borrow money from friends

小題3: It can be inferred that in America _______.

A．famous colleges only accept rich students.

B．famous colleges charge their students more money

C．the government spends little money on education

D．families often break the doors of colleges

小題4: The writer of this passage seems to hold the opinion that _______.

A．college fees rise too fast for poor families.

B．poor people should borrow money from banks

C．poor people don’t need to send their children to college

D．colleges should get more money to improve themselves

In 1901, H. G. Wells, an English writer, wrote a book describing a trip to the moon. When the explorers (探險者) landed on the moon, they discovered that the moon was full of underground cities. They expressed their surprise to the “moon people” they met. In turn, the “moon people” expressed their surprise. “Why?” they asked, “are you traveling to outer space when you don’t even use your inner space?”
H. G. Wells could only imagine travel to the moon. In 1969, human beings really did land on the moon. People today know that there are no underground cities on the moon. However, the question that the “moon people” asked is still an interesting one. A growing number of scientists are seriously thinking about it.
Underground systems are already in place. Many cities have underground car parks. In some cities, such as Tokyo, Seoul and Montreal, there are large underground shopping areas. The “Chunnel”, a tunnel (隧道) connecting England and France, is now complete.
But what about underground cities? Japan’s Taisei Corporation is designing a network of underground systems, called “Alice Cities.” The designers imagine using surface space for public parks and using underground space for flats, offices, shopping, and so on. A solar dome (太陽能穹頂) would cover the whole city.
Supporters of underground development say that building down rather than building up is a good way to use the earth’s space. The surface, they say, can be used for farms, parks, gardens, and wilderness. H. G. Wells “moon people” would agree. Would you?
5. The explorers in H. G. Wells’ story were surprised to find that the “moon people”      .
A. knew so much about the earth
B. understood their language
C. lived in so many underground cities
D. were ahead of them in space technology
6. What does the underlined word “it” (paragraph 2) refer to?
A. Discovering the moon’s inner space.
B. Using the earth’s inner space.
C. Meeting the “moon people” again.
D. Traveling to outer space.
7. What sort of underground systems are already here with us?
A. Offices, shopping areas, power stations.
B. Tunnels, car parks, shopping areas.
C. Gardens, car parks, power stations.
D. Tunnels, gardens, offices.
8. What would be the best title for the text?
A. Alice Cities—cities of the future
B. Space travel with H. G. Wells
C. Enjoy living underground
D. Building down, not up

Comera is the only place in the world which has a whistle language. We do not know how and why it began because we do not know the complete history of the island. But we can certainly imagine the reasons for the beginning of the whistle language. There are many deep valleys on the island. A person on one side of valley can not easily shout to a person on the other side. But he can whistle and be heard from four miles away, and the record is seven miles. The people who live on the island usually have good teeth, and this helps them to whistle well. They must also have good ears so that they can hear other whistlers.
We can understand why the whistle language continues. It is very useful on the island, and quite easy to learn. When somebody is hurt or ill, the whistle language takes the place of telephone. If the sick person is a long way from the town, boys and men pass the news from one to another. A boy guarding cattle on a hillside whistles to a man fishing from his boat. The last one is able to describe the trouble fully and exactly to the doctor in town. People help each other in the same way when a car breaks or a cow is lost.
The whistle language is hundreds of years old, and probably it will continue to live for hundreds of years more. Radio and TV often kill the special ways of speaking in the different parts of a country. But on Comera you are nobody if you cannot whistle. Perhaps soon after TV arrives on the island, the people there will be whistling the news and other facts and opinions.
4. 小題1:If a person on Comera island is ill,      .

A．others will phone the doctor in town

B．whistle language will pass the news to the doctor

C．his family will take him to the doctor

D．people will take him to the hospital

5. 小題2:From the passage we know radio and TV       at that time.

A．killed the special way of speaking

B．whistled all the news and opinions

C．helped Comera people to communicate

D．did not appear on Comera island yet

6. 小題3:Comera island is special in that      .

A．it attracts visitors every year

B．no visitors have ever been there

C．people there have special ears to hear whistles

D．people there use the whistle language to communicate with each other

7. 小題4:Which of the following is not true according to the passage?

A．It is not easy for a person to live on Comera island if he cannot whistle.

B．The whistle language can only be found in Comera.

C．The whistle language has been used for hundreds of years on the island, but will not be used any longer.

D．The record shows that one best whistler can be heard by others seven miles away.

Body language is a very powerful tool of a communication, not only between people but in the animal world as well.
In many instances, we produce idioms which are all understandable by borrowing examples from animal communication.
For example, we know that a frightened cat will arch（拱型）. From this starting-point we might hear the expression. “He gets my back up!” meaning “He makes me angry.”
In the same manner, we know that many animals, if challenged（挑戰(zhàn)）by attackers, will not turn and run away because this will encourage the attackers to attack them more forcefully. Instead, they will move backwards slowly to get out of harm’s way, always facing their attacker. We call this action “backing off” and it can be used as well with humans as with animals.
In the case of humans, however, the back-off may not be physical but oral, as in using a kinder tone of voice and gentle words instead of fighting against the attackers.
8. 小題1:When a cat arches its back high in a rigid curve, it shows that it is       .

A．a(chǎn)ngry

B．pleased

C．frightened

D．defeated

9. 小題2:In the article “back off” means       .

A．to escape from the attackers

B．to get away quickly

C．to keep out the attackers

D．to avoid the attackers in words

10. 小題3:Which of the following is wrong according to the article?

A．To learn knowledge, humans must learn from animals.

B．Both humans and animals have the body language.

C．Both humans and animals have ways of getting out of harm.

D．“Face your attackers” means to encourage yourself.

11. 小題4:What is mentioned（提到）in this article belongs to study of English       .

A．grammar

B．idioms

C．expression

D．communication

Why don’t birds get lost on their long migratory (遷移的) flights? Scientists tried their best to find the   1  to this question for many years. The reasons have been discovered only lately.
　　  2  ago experiments showed that birds depend on the sun to guide them   3  . But what about birds that fly mainly by night?  4  with man-made stars have   5  that certain night-flying birds are able to follow the   6  in their long distance flights.
　　One such   7  , a warbler (鳴禽), had spent its lifetime in a   8  and had never flown under a natural sky. Yet is showed its   9  by birth to use the stars for guidance. The bird's cage was put under a man-made star-filled sky at migration   10 . The bird tried to fly   11  the same direction as   12  taken by other birds in the building. Any 13 in the position of the make-believe (虛構(gòu)的) stars   14  a change in the direction of its flight.
　　Scientists think that warblers,  15 flying in daylight, use the sun for guidance. But stars are clearly their important   16  of navigation(導(dǎo)航). What do they do when the stars are   17  behind the clouds? Clearly, they find their way by such land   18  as mountains, coastlines and river courses. But when it's too   19  to see these, the warblers circle  201  , unable to find out where they were.
1. A. reply           B. answer      C. discovery      D. replies
2. A. Not long        B. Long       C. Centuries       D. Years
3. A. during the night                B. during daylight hours
C. in winter                     D. in the dark
4. A. Examinations    B. Labs       C. Tests           D. In the dark
5. A. been proved     B. found       C. been found      D. proved
6. A. stars           B. moon        C. route          D. sun
7. A. star            B. scientist      C. bird           D. flight
8. A. forest          B. cage         C. nest           D. cave
9. A. strength        B. ability        C. experience     D. practice
10. A. time          B. place         C. way          D. season
11. A. to            B. towards       C. in            D. under
12. A. that          B. which         C. one           D. it
13. A. one          B. change        C. way           D. bird
14. A. caused        B. gave          C. resulted        D. meant
15. A. for           B. when         C. after           D. they are
16. A. ways         B. means         C. objects        D. homes
17. A. shown        B. covered        C. moved         D. hidden
18. A. areas         B. surface         C. marks         D. signs
19. A. far           B. high           C. dark          D. bright
20. A. helplessly     B. quickly         C. easily         D. freely

A high school in Hiroshima City has been the first to do something with DNA in the world. Its students have won praise not only for doing this research but also for presenting their findings to groups of expert scientists. The school is one of the Super Science High Schools allowed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, where students are given an opportunity to study science at an advanced level. Here, students use the same type of hitech experimental laboratories as those found at universities. In these labs, they conduct experiments and research in new fields of study not found in textbooks. As part of this science course, the students, with the help of Hiroshima University, used a machine called sequencer (音序器), and over the course of a year and a half they succeeded in decoding (解譯) the DNA. They then presented their results to academic groups. Achieving a world first might sound very wonderful, but the process of decoding the DNA involved very hard work. The students were also responsible for maintaining the equipment, and they had to read difficult research papers and put in extra study beyond their regular schoolwork.
"Researchers need to work hard. The work was tiring, but the students worked toward their ambitious goal of achieving a world first. They have a great sense of achievement, and the number of students who hope to become biologists has increased," said Taruma Akinori, who is in charge of the science course.
In addition to the results being added to the scientific community, the students’ research paper will be translated into English and made available overseas. Moreover, the students have decided to take on a new challenge in DNA decoding.
小題1:Which of the following is the most suitable title for the passage?

A．Decoding the blueprint of life

B．Super Science High School

C．More students hoping to become biologists

D．Hi-tech experimental laboratory

小題2:Up to a point, their success is due to ______.

A．hi-tech experimental facilities

B．the great pressure their school put on them

C．the increasing number of biologists

D．little interest in their regular school work

小題3: The research paper will be put into English in order to ______.

A．become an English textbook

B．help the students make English friends

C．make the results known by the whole world

D．challenge foreign scientists

小題4:The author’s attitude towards those students who have accomplished a world first in DNA decoding is ______.

A．indifferent	B．a(chǎn)dmiring
C．slighting	D．disappointed

A HOUSE WITH A HISTORY
Foulsham House is a fine,stone house of the 1790s.It stands by the River Byre,in twenty－five hectares（公頃）of the best farmland in the southwest.
Smithson built the house,and the story goes back to George,the young Prince of Wales,who fell in love with the beautiful lady Kitty Wake,at one of the first Lord Foulsham’s wild woods parties.In the past many great men rode on the hills about Foulsham House,and many fine ladies took tea in the Green Room.
The house has eight bedrooms,three bathrooms,two living－rooms and a dining room with a real Adam fire－place（壁爐）.The gentleman’s library has a view over the park and the river.All rooms are light and airy（空氣通暢的）,with wood,high windows,and wood floors.
At the back of the house,where the third Lord Foulsham kept the horses,there is garage－space（停車的地方）for four cars.In many other ways,this house of the 1790s meets the needs of the 2000s.
　　If you wish to know more about Foulsham House,write to:
Harvey,Platt,Longford & Sons,
6,Castle Green,Gilham,Byreside.
小題1:The writer writes this passage to ________.

A．persuade people to buy it

B．give some information about Foulsham House

C．tell a love story

D．describe the beauty of a best farmland

小題2:People say that ________.

A．Smithson built the house for Lord Foulsham’s wild parties

B．Prince George fell in love with Kitty Wake at Foulsham House

C．Prince George and Kitty Wake fell in love with the Green Room

D．Lord Foulsham fell in love with a lady in Wales

小題3:The library ________.

A．has a fine view of the park and the river

B．is where great men and fine ladies took tea

C．has an Adam fire－place,and a real wood floor

D．has eight bedrooms,three bathrooms and two living－rooms

The South Pole is a particular place on the earth.When people stand at the top of it looking around,they will find all directions face to north.No matter how they make their first step in which direction,they will always walk towards the north.That’s to say,only north and south exist there,neither east nor west exists.
At the top of the South Pole,any clock or watch keeps good time because all meridians（子午線） join there.All kinds of local time are completely suitable there.It is even difficult to distinguish（區(qū)別） New Year’s Eve from New Year’s Day.
The explorers and scientists from different countries always fix the time according to their own.Therefore the time by their watches was different when the people with different nationality gathered there.
The Winter Solstice（冬至日） is an important festival at the South Pole.It is always on June 21 or 22.This day is called Midwinter Festival,on which the daytime is the shortest in a year and the night the longest.All people at the South Pole extend greetings to each other and present gifts to each other.They usually give all kinds of celebrations.From that day on,the daytime will get longer day by day.
小題1:At the top of the South Pole,your watch will ________.

A．keep good time	B．be five minutes fast
C．stop	D．be ten minutes slow

小題2:The Winter Solstice is an important festival ________.

A．in the world

B．a(chǎn)t the South Pole

C．a(chǎn)t the North Pole

D．in China

小題3:On the Winter Solstice,________ is the shortest in a year.

A．the night

B．the noon

C．the morning

D．the daytime

Geologists have been studying volcanoes for a long time.Though they have learned a great deal,they still have not discovered the cause of volcanic action.They know that the inside of the earth is very hot,but they are not sure exactly what causes the great heat.Some geologists have thought that the heat is caused by the great pressure of the earth’s outer layers.Or the heat may be left from the time when the earth was formed.During the last sixty years scientists have learned about radium,uranium,thorium,and other radioactive elements.Many scientists now believe that much of the heat inside the earth is produced by radioactive elements.
Whatever the cause of the heat may be,we do know that the earth gets hotter the farther down we dig.In deep mines and oil wells the temperatures rise about 1°F for every 50 feet.At this rate of the temperature 40 miles below the earth’s surface should be over 4 000°.This is much hotter than necessary to melt rock.However,the pressure of the rock above keeps most materials from melting at their usual melting points.Geologists believe that the rock deep in the earth may be plastic,or puttylike（油灰狀的）.In other words,the rock yields slowly to pressure but is not liquid.But if some change in the earth’s crust releases the pressure,the rock melts.Then the hot,liquid rock can move up toward the surface.
小題1:The cause for the great heat inside of the earth is______.

A．great pressure of the earth’s outer layers

B．the heat left from the time when the earth was formed

C．radioactive elements giving out heat

D．not sure

小題2:According to the passage,______ prevents most rock from melting at its usual melting points.

A．the pressure of the rock itself

B．the pressure of the rock above

C．the pressure of the earth’s outer layers

D．the heat given out by some radioactive elements

小題3:According to the passage,which of the following is NOT true?

A．The farther down,the hotter the earth gets.

B．The rock deep in the earth is liquid.

C．When the pressure releases from the earth’s crust,the rock melts.

D．Rock would be melted at 4 000°.