Electric ears are dirty.In fact, not only are they dirty, they might even be more dirty than their gasoline-powered cousins.
People in California love to talk about "zero-emissions vehicles", but people in California seem to be clueless about where electricity comes from. Power plants mostly use fire to make it. Aside from the new folks who have their roofs covered with solar cells, we get our electricity from generators. Generators are fueled by something---usually coal, oil,but also by heat generated in nuclear power plants. There are a few wind farms and geothermal plants as well, but by far we get electricity mainly by burning something.
In other words, those "zero-emissions" cars are likely coal-burning cars. It's just because the coal is burned somewhere else that it looks clean. It is not. It's as if the California Greens are. covering their eyes---"If I can't see it, it's not happening." Gasoline is an incredibly efficient way to power a vehicle; a gallon of gas has a lot of energy in it.But when you take that gas (or another fuel) and first use it to make electricity, you waste a nice part of that energy, mostly in the form of wasted heat---at the generator, through the transmission lines, etc.
A gallon of gas may propel your car 25 miles. But the electricity you get from that gallon of gas won't get you nearly as far---so electric cars bum more fuel than gas-powered ones. If our electricity came mostly from nukes; or geothermal,or hydro, or solar, or wind,then an electric car truly would be clean. But for political, technical,and economic reasons,we don't use much of those energy sources.
In addition,electric cars' batteries which are poisonous for a long time will eventually end up in a landfill.And finally, When cars are the polluters, the pollution is spread across all the roads. When it's a power plant, though, all the junk is in one place. Nature is very good at cleaning up when things are too concentrated, but it takes a lot longer when all the garbage is in one spot.
小題1: What does "clueless" mean in paragraph 2?

A．People are seeing the California Greens everywhere.

B．People in California love to talk about zero-emissions vehicles.

C．People in California love to have their roofs covered with solar cells.

D．People there have no idea that so far electricity mainly comes from burning

coal, oil,etc.
小題2: What is the main idea of the passage?

A．Electric cars are not clean at all

B．Electric cars are better than gasoline-powered ones.

C．People cast doubts on electric cars' batteries.

D．Gasoline is an efficient way to powera vehicle.

小題3: The electricity we get from a gallon of gas may make our ear run         

A．not less than 25 miles	B．more than 25 miles
C．no more than 25 miles	D．not more than 25 miles

小題4: According to the passage, electric cars                 .

A．do not burn fuel and more environmentally-friendly

B．a(chǎn)re toxic because it is difficult for nature to clean it up when their batteries are buried in one spot.

C．a(chǎn)re very good at cleaning up when things are not too concentrated

D．a(chǎn)re poisonous for a long time and will eventually end up in a landfill

小題5: It can be inferred from the passage that                 

A．being green is good and should be encouraged in communication

B．electric cars are not clean in that we get electricity mainly by burning something

C．zero-emissions vehicles should be chosen to protect our environment

D．electric cars are now the dominant vehicle compared with gasoline-powered

cousins

完形填空（共20小題;每小題1.5分,滿分30分）
閱讀下面短文,從短文后各題所給的四個選項(xiàng)（A、B、C、和D)中，選出可以填入空白處
的最佳選項(xiàng)，并標(biāo)在答題卷的相應(yīng)位置。用答題卡的考生，先把選出的最佳選項(xiàng)標(biāo)在試卷的
相應(yīng)位置，再轉(zhuǎn)涂到答題卡上。
Today’ s English learner has a wide choice of dictionaries. There are ______36 with AmericanEnglish, with British English, with idioms or slang, and 37 with pictures. One of the most 38______dictionaries I have seen among many students is the 39______ electronic dictionary. All you have to do is to ______40 a word in your language and you can see it and 41______ it in English. That* s great, right? Well, I think it* s great, too…but only sometimes.
Bilingual electronic dictiooaries are fast and ______42 . They can be great 43 you are traveling and need information quickly. 44______ I am against electronic dictionaries and even bilingual 45______dictionaries in many cases. Let me explain.
When you reach an intermediate(中等的）level of English, you know 46 ______of the language to ask the meaning of certain things while using English. Translating between languages in your head ______47 time. You should be translating as little as possible and 48 ______in English as much as possible. I strongly recommend that intermediate and advanced students should 49 ______an English-English dictionary that is made ______50 for your understanding. For example，F(xiàn)oreign Language Teaching and Research Press has good dictionaries for students and 51______ publishing houses do, too.
I also feel that paper dictionaries are better for studying than electronic dictionaries. True, they take longer to use. But, for some reason, the information you______ 52 seems to stay in your head longer. It may be______ 53 you are forced to spell the word in your head and therefore "see it" more clearly in your ______54 .
So what do you do if you have checked an English - English dictionary and still don ’ t understand something? Go to your bilingual dictionary. It is useful sometimes. Just remember to
try to  ___55 in English a  s much as   possible.              
小題1:  

A． dictionaries

B． books

C． magazines

D． papers

小題2:  

A． still

B． even

C． yet

D． just

小題3:  

A． interesting

B． useful

C． expensive

D． popular

小題4:  

A． saying

B． talking

C． speaking

D． telling

小題5:  

A． take down

B． get across

C． type in

D． say out

小題6:  

A． observe

B． feel

C． hear

D． say

小題7:  

A． difficult

B． vital

C． helpful

D． easy

小題8:  

A． when

B． as

C． after

D． before

小題9:  

A． So

B． And

C． But

D． While

小題10:  

A． plastic

B． paper

C． electric

D． visual

小題11:  

A． enough

B． little

C． most

D． few

小題12:  

A． spends

B． costs

C． takes

D． invests

小題13:  

A． writing

B． typing

C． thinking

D． reflecting

小題14:  

A． borrow

B． buy

C． keep

D． Use

小題15:  

A． especially

B．specially

C． generally

D． extremely

小題16:

A．a(chǎn)nother B．other C． the other D． others

小題17:  

A． refer to

B．check in

C． look up

D． put in

小題18:  

A． why

B．because

C． when

D． where

小題19:  

A． mind

B．ears

C． eyes

D． heart

小題20:. 

A． speak

B．stay

C． save

D． remember

It is commonly believed among many Chinese that Westerners who take “Yes’，and “No” by their facial expressions are more straightforward than Chinese. Normally Westerners don * t have to adopt Chinese ways like sweeping the floor or constantly checking the clock to indicate to a guest that it’ s time to leave. They don’ t have to hesitate in saying “No” when they are not able to, or don’ t want to, offer help to a friend in need. There is no embarrassment attached to this behavior. But it is too simple to conclude that Westerners are more direct speakers than the Chinese.
There are many occasions when the way Westerners express themselves makes Chinese look more straightforward and honest. When I was a fresh international student，the director of our program once asked students in an e-mail what we thought about a young professor. I simply said ’ “She seems to know a lot but doesn* t know how to teach. ” And the director replied with “Thank you for being honest. ”
Only years later when I better understood the new culture，I realized why I had gone too far. If that question were asked now，the reply would have three paragraphs devoted to the qualities of the professor before the last line came out — ” There are some gaps in her teaching method. ” Still tough, but at least it wouldn't be considered rude.
Indeed, the reserved social norms and the deeply - rooted “face issue" make honest speaking risky in China ； Americans have their own ways of being polite. This results partly from political correctness. It also results from several generations of people who have been told they have done well even when they have failed. It may not be unfair to suggest that many Americans are oversensitive and obsessed with a perfect self image.
So，the next time you hear about indirect Chinese，it would be worth challenging the source and pointing out that the cultural comparisons are much more complex. But maybe you should do it in a roundabout way，to be polite.
小題1:The passage mainly aims to ?

A． tell us something about culture distinctions

B． remind us of the conflicts between cultures

C． ask us to take positive attitudes to Chinese cultures

D． keep us informed of the various communications

小題2:According to the passage, the young professor lacked   .

A． confidence in her job
B． teaching experience
C． interaction with her students m	D．responsibility for her students

小題3:   The underlined words “obsessed with" (para.4) probably means   .

A．satisfied with

B．proud of

C．a(chǎn)ddicted to

D．stuck in

小題4:   It can be inferred from the passage that    .

A． the writer has a good knowledge of American culture

B． Americans are much more straightforward than Chinese

C． the new professor was very angry with the writer' s comments

D． different culture backgrounds make cultures comparison complicated

Many teenagers feel that the most important people in their lives are their friends. They believe that their family members, especially their parents, don’t know them as well as their friends do. In large families, it is often for brothers and sisters to fight with each other and then they can only go to their friends for advice. It is very important for teenagers to have one good friend or many friends. Even when they are not with their friends, they usually spend a lot of time talking among themselves on the phone. This communication is very important in children’s growing up, because friends can discuss something difficult to say to their family members.
However, parents often try to choose their children’s friends for them. Some parents may even stop their children from meeting their good friends. The question of “choice” is an interesting one. Have you ever thought of the following questions?
Who choose your friends?
Do you choose your friends or your friends choose you?
Have you got a good friend your parents don’t like?
小題1: Many teenagers think their _______ know them better than their parents do.

A．friends

B． teachers

C．brothers and sisters

D． classmates

小題2:When teenagers stay alone, the usual way of communication is to _________.

A．go to their friends	B．talk with their parents
C．have a discussion with their family	D．talk with their friends on the phone

小題3: Which of the following sentences is TRUE?

A．Parents should like everything their chil­dren enjoy.

B．In all families, children can choose everything they like.

C．Parents should try their best to understand their children better.

D．Teenagers can only go to their friends for help.

小題4: The main idea of this passage is that ___________.

A．Teenagers need friends

B．Friends can give good advice

C．Parents often choose their children’s friends for them

D．Good friends can communicate with each other

The audience starts to scream and young people all over Britain turn on their TVs. Yes, it’s Top of the Pops!
Top of the Pops is an amazing 34 years old. Pop stars from all over the world appear on this successful TV programme. After 1,800 shows, it’s still the most popular pop music show in Britain. So what’s the secret?
“We get lots of bands to perform live in the studio,” says producer Chris Cowey. “That just doesn’t happen on other shows.”
Chris starts planning the programme over a week before it goes out. His first job is to decide which bands to have on the show. When the chart of the top twenty songs is produced on Sunday, Chris can start to book the bands.
Monday starts with Chris meeting his sound, lighting and camera workers. They listen to each song and plan the show.
Tuesday is paperwork day. There are bookings to make sure of letters to answer and lots of phone calls to make. The show is on Thursday. Bands arrive at the studio from 10 o’clock in the morning and start practising. Tonight’s presenter, Jo Whiley, practices too.
First the bands go to make up. Judy and Issy are the make-up artists. “We see the stars with no make-up on, looking terrible,” says Issy. Then the bands go to the costume department where Marianne dresses the stars.
Back in the studio things are happening. The audience are practicing their dance moves! It takes over two hours to record the whole programme, then Chris edits it all night long. The final version is exactly 29 minutes long.
31. What make(s) Top of the Pops still the most popular in Britain?
A. The live performances in the studio.
B. The jobs carefully done by the workers of the TV station.
C. The great fame of the bands.
D. The large numbers of pop fans in Britain.
32. When the bands receive the invitations to the performance, _________.
A. they must decide on the songs
B. they don’t have to decide what songs they will perform
C. the songs that will be performed haven’t been decided on
D. they have no idea what songs they will perform
33．The underlined word “costume”（in Paragraph 7） probably means        .
A. makeup        B. stage         C. studio       D. clothes
小題1:How is a music programme made at the TV station?

小題2:Which is the proper title for the passage?

A．More Popular, More Successful

B．A Stage for Pop Stars

C．Go Backstage of Top of the Pops.

D．A Popular Live Band.

Most young people enjoy some forms of physical activity. It may be walking, cycling, or swimming, or in winter, skating or skiing. It may be a game of some forms—football, basketball, hockey, golf or tennis. It may be mountaineering.
Those who have a passion of climbing high and difficult mountains are often looked upon with astonishment. Why are men and women willing to suffer cold and hardship, and to take risks in high mountains? This astonishment is caused, probably, by the difference between mountaineering and other forms of activity to which men give their leisure.
Mountaineering is a sport and not a game. There are no man-made rules, as others, as there are for such games as golf and football. There are, of course, rules of different kinds which would be dangerous to ignore, but it is this freedom from man-made rules that makes mountaineering attractive to many people. Those who climb mountains are free to use their own methods.
If we compare mountaineering with other more familiar sports we might think that one big difference is that mountaineering is not a “team game”. We should be mistaken in this. There are, it is true, no “ matches” between “teams” of climbers, but when climbers are on a rock face linked by a rope on which their lives may depend, there is obviously teamwork.
The mountain climber knows that he may have to fight forces that are stronger and more powerful than man. He has to fight the forces of nature. His sport requires high mental and physical qualities.
A mountain climber continues to improve in skill year by year. A skier is probably past his best by the age of thirty. But it is not unusual for men of fifty or sixty to climb the highest mountains in the Alps. They may take more time than younger men, but they perhaps climb with more skills and less waste of effort, and they certainly experience equal enjoyment.
小題1: What sports are popular among people in winter in the passage?

A．Soccer and golf.	B．Skiing and skating.
C．Cycling and hockey.	D．Mountaineering.

小題2: The underlined word “passion” in Paragraph 2 could best be replaced by ______.
A. strong emotion               B. good way  
小題3:Mountaineering is a sport, not a game because_______.

A．it has man-made rules

B．it is too dangerous for climbers

C．it can’t bring people joy or leisure

D．it is free for climbers to use their own methods

小題4: We know from the passage that _______.

A．mountaineering has no appeal for people

B．physical quality is more important than mental one for climbers

C．a(chǎn) mountain climber passes his best by the age of thirty

D．it is possible for an old man of fifty or sixty to climb the Alps

小題5: What is the best title for the passage?

A．Sports in winter	B．Team work in climbing
C．Mountaineering	D．The quality for mountaineering

NEW YORK - People who keep doing some work in their field after they retire may enjoy better physical and mental health than those who stop work completely or switch to another area of work, according to a U.S. study.
Researchers from the University of Maryland said the findings suggest that prospective retirees should consider moving into so-called "bridge employment" as a transition to full retirement.
"In essence, if someone is in a field where part-time work or self-employment is possible, he or she should consider it as they plan for retirement," researcher Dr. Mo Wang, an assistant professor of psychology, told Reuters Health.
For their study, Wang and his colleagues used data on more than 12,000 workers in a U.S. health study begun in 1992. Participants, who were between the ages of 51 and 61 at the outset, were surveyed every two years over a six-year period.
Overall, Wang's team found, people who went into some form of bridge employment reported lower rates of major diseases like high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and arthritis during the study period than their counterparts who went straight into full retirement.
The findings were not explained by older age or worse initial health among people who opted for full retirement, the investigators report in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology.
On top of their better physical health, "bridge" workers also tended to report fewer mental health problems, such as depression.
The same mental health benefits were not seen, however, when retirees took part-time work in other fields -- possibly, Wang said, because many of these people may have taken those jobs out of financial need rather than choice.
He noted that the lack of benefit could also stem from the fact that these retirees had to adjust to an unfamiliar job position or had to make lifestyle changes.
Bridge work, particularly in one's accustomed field, may benefit physical and mental health for a number of reasons, according to Wang.
In general, he explained, such work may help older adults maintain the active lifestyles they had during their careers and decrease any stress they might feel from the transition into retirement.  wwwWang said when it comes to mental health, for instance, bridge work may help by allowing people to keep some of the "role identity" that they have formed over their careers.
Staying active in general, not only through work, can also benefit retirees' physical health, Wang noted. He added, however, that any mental health benefits are likely to depend on the type of activity -- whether it is something that the person truly enjoys, and that helps ease any stress of moving into retirement.
"These findings," Wang said, "suggest that for retirees and prospective retirees, carefully considering whether to engage in bridge employment -- and if so, what types of bridge employment -- is quite important."
小題1: What does the underlined phrase “at the outset” mean?__________

A．a(chǎn)t least

B．a(chǎn)t least

C．a(chǎn)t the beginning

D．a(chǎn)t last

小題2: People who went into some form of bridge employment have less chances to get the following diseases, EXCEPT___________.

A．a(chǎn)rthritis

B．heart disease

C．diabetes

D．low blood pressure

小題3:Which of the following statement is WRONG?_________

A．As long as retirees move into “bridge employment”, they must be healthier than those who do not.

B．The participants in the study were between 51 and 61 years old.

C．The bridge workers are also less likely to get depression.

D．Staying active is beneficial to the retirees’ physical health.

小題4:What can we infer from the passage?________

A．The study was begun in 1992 and lasts for two 6-year periods

B．If a bridge worker is older than 61 years old, it does not mean that he will get a better health than others who enjoy full retirement.

C．Only by moving into “bridge employment” can the retirees enjoy better health both physically and psychologically.

D．Any activity can benefit the retirees’ mental health.

小題5:Which is the best title of the passage?

A．A US study

B．Bridge Work

C．Working after retiring can be good for your health

D．Stay active

For Chinese wanting to work as nurses in the United Sates, the arrival of the test of the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) may be a welcome move.
The CGFNS has a certification programme for people wanting to work as registered nurses in the US. The first CGFNS test in China is to be held in Beijing in July. Registrations is open till April 9. According to US labour law, nurses have to pass the National Council License Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) before they can practise. However, the NCLEX-RN is only useful in the US, making it difficult for people from other countries to get in. But, the US expects a shortage of 50,000 nurses by 2010. So, the CGFNS has not replaced the NCLEX-RN, which is still needed for work as a registered nurse in the US.
So what exactly does CGFNS do?
First of all, it helps international nurses qualify for a work visa for the US. Nurses educated abroad who do not have a US license by the NCLEX-RN, must get the CGFNS certificate. “But not everyone who gets a CGFNS certificate can get a work visa. There are many requirements for a visa, and the CGFNS is just one,” said John Ratigan, immigration officer for the CGFNS.
The certificate helps applicants meet requirements for the NCLEX-RN. Forty-two states require a CGFNS certificate from nurses educated abroad before taking the NCLEX-RN examination.
About 85 percent of those who passed the CGFNS have passed the NCLEX-RN. According to Barbara Michols, chief executive officer of CGFNS, “the CGFNS is cost-efficient for the Chinese. If they can’t pass the CGFNS here in China, their chances of passing the NCLEX-RN for the US are tiny. This saves time and money on visa applications and the long trip. ” In a word, to get a CGFNS certificate, a person must have: a credentials review, the CGFNS qualifying exam of nursing knowledge and an English language proficiency exam.
小題1:   We can infer from the text that to people hoping to work as registered nurses in the US, CGFNS tests can be taken _____.

A．nowhere but in the US	B．somewhere outside the US
C．in every country but the US	D．both in China and the US

小題2: According to American labour law, people cannot work as nurses until they pass                   _____.

A．NCLEX-RN	B．CGFNS
C．CGFNS and NCLEX-RN	D．CGFNS or NCLEX-RN

小題3:We can learn from the text that _____.

A．if you get a CGFNS certificate, you can pass the NCLEX-RN in the US and get visa applications

B．if you pass the NCLEX-RN in the US, you can get a CGFNS certificate and get visa applications

C．if you can't pass the NCLEX-RN in the US, you will not be able to pass the CGFNS examination

D．if you get a CGFNS certificate, you will be more likely to pass the NCLEX-RN examination

小題4:The sentence "CGFNS holders have a higher rate of success on the NCLEX-RN examination" can be arranged at the beginning of Paragraph _____.

A．Two

B．Four

C．Five

D．Six

小題5:What is probably the best title of this passage?

A．The CGFNS helps international nurses

B．The first CGFNS test in China

C．The CGFNS and the NCLEX-RN

D．Working as registered nurses in the US

Most people want to be successful, but never stop to think what it will really take to get there in their chosen field. If it means going back to college for 2 years of night school, could you do it ? If it means reading a book a week for about 6 months in order to really master a new skill ? If you aren’t prepared to do any of those things because they are outside of your comfort zone, then you can forget being succesful. I guarantee you will never reach your goals in life, unless your goals are to be ordinary.
The biggest killer by far is the dreaded “ comfort zone ” where most people live in their entire life. And the funny thing is that people just can’t wrap their heads around the fact that people who have reached some success get tons of time to just relax, but only because they’ve earned it ! If you haven’t built a successful business, or in some way built a career that allow you so much freee time, then you are stuck in the grinding world of nine-to-five jobs everyone else. So how comfortable is that ?
So what can you do about it ? Well, find a way to make something happen in your life--- build a business around your favourite hobby, write a book and publish it, or take a course in stock trading and become an expert at that, working on making enough money to retire. If you don’t take massive action that puts your way of your comfort zone, you will never be successful at much of anything. I promise--- and I don’t make many promises !
Finding real happiness in life can be a mystery for many. That’s why I wrote The Road to Happiness for those who want real success and happiness in life, including spirituality and all the gifts life has to offer.
Don’t wander aimlessly through life. Get focused on your goals, start helping others in need, and live life to the fullest ! Life is too short to be anything but happy. Visit my website and find what you’ve been missing. Sign up for my newsletter and get seven free ebooks, too ! Read hundreds of articles while you’re there in the article section, which is updated daily.
小題1:This text must be taken from __________.

A．a(chǎn) radio program	B．a(chǎn) website
C．a(chǎn) newspaper	D．a(chǎn) TV program

小題2: If you want to be successful in life, what should you do first ?

A．We should think what it really takes to be successful in our chosen field.

B．We should focus our full attention on the work in our chosen field.

C．We should live out of the “ comfort zone ” all through our life.

D．We should work together with other people to reach our goals in time.

小題3: According to this text, why do some people have so much free time to relax ?

A．Because they have enough money to do so.

B．Because they don’t want to be successful.

C．Because they have already earned it through hard work.

D．Because they only work nine to five every day.

小題4: The writer thinks it necessary for you to __________ if you want to be successful.

A．do a lot of actual wotk	B．write a book and publish it
C．take a course in stock trading	D．make enough money to retire

Unlike Britain, the US does not have a national health care service. Most people buy medical insurance to help pay for medical care. The government only helps pay for some medical care for the old and the people who are on low incomes. The problems of those who cannot afford insurance have become an important political subject.
In Britain, when people are ill, they usually go to a family doctor first. However, people in America sometimes go straight to an expert. Children are usually taken to a doctor who is an expert in the treatment of children. In Britain, if a patient needs to see a specialist doctor, their family doctor will usually recommend a specialist, which will save more time and money both for the patients and the public fund（基金）.
In Britain, doctors do not go to people’s homes when they are ill. People always make appointments to see the doctor in the doctor’s office. In a serious situation, people call for an ambulance. In America, hospitals must treat all seriously ill patients, even if they do not have medical insurance. The gov-ernment will then help pay for some of the cost of the medical care.
小題1:The majority of Americans pay for medical care    .

A．through the national health care service	B．by buying medical insurance
C．with the help of the government
D．by increasing their income

小題2:The author implies in Paragraph 2 that     .

A．Americans don’t trust family doctors

B．family doctors are helpless to the patients

C．he is more in favor of the British medical care service

D．sick children should go to family doctors first

小題3: In the States, seriously ill patients will     .

A．be treated if they have an insurance

B．go to see the doctor by making an appointment

C．receive treatment even without insurance

D．normally go to see an expert for treatment

小題4:Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?

A．Health Care in the United States and Britain

B．Types of Doctors in the United States

C．Treatment of Sick Children in the United States

D．Medical Insurance in the United States and Britain