All whales fall into two groups, those with teeth and those without. Both beluga and dolphin belong to the suborder of toothed whales known as Odontoceti, along with porpoises, narwhals, pilot whales, killer whales and the largest toothed creature in the world, the sperm whale. Size differences among the Odontoceti are remarkable. A common porpoise will run only 4 or 5 feet in length and 300 pounds in weight; a sperm whale may be 10 times as long and 300 times as heavy. The beluga falls in between, weighing up to 2,000 pounds. And it does chirp. In fact, it makes a great variety of squeaking, whistling, and clicking sounds which have earned it the name of sea canary.

The toothless, or baleen, whales belong to the suborder of Mysticeti. This is a group of generally large whales, formerly abundant in all the oceans of the world. Though reduced by hunting, most species are still found along the coasts of the United States and Canada. All but two of the Mysticeti reach 40 feet or more at maturity, with the blue whale running up to 100 feet and tipping the scales at up to 130 tons. This whale is by far the largest creature that has ever lived on Earth, 4 times the weight of the largest dinosaur, 30 times that of an elephant.

72. With what topic is the passage mainly concerned?

A. Breeding habits of whales　　　　　　　　　　　 　 B. Differences between whales

C. Efforts to preserve whales　　　　　　　　　　 D. The intelligence of whales

73. All of the following whales belong to the suborder of Odontoceti except_______

A. narwhals　　　　　　　　 B. dolphins　　　　　 C. blue whales　　　　　　 D. pilot whales

74. Which of the following is mentioned by the author as a reason why the baleen whale population has been reduced?

A. Increased pollution of the seas　　　　　　　　　　　 B. Hunting

C. Insufficient supply of food　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. Disease

75. According to the passage, which of the following accurately describes the relative sized of two whales?

A. The blue whale is larger than the sperm whale.

B. The beluga is larger than the blue whale.

C. The killer whale is larger than the sperm whale.

D. The porpoise is larger than the killer whale.

About 97% of the world’s water is salty and is found in our oceans and seas. But, as we can’t drink seawater, how can it be important?

Every part of our seas and oceans contains an amazing number of animals and fish that live at different ocean depths. Most of the different species of animals and fish depend on simple plants for their food. These simple plants called algae (海藻) drift near the surface of the ocean and use sunlight to turn carbon dioxide and water into food and oxygen. In fact, algae produce over half of the oxygen people breathe. How important seawater is!

Each plant or animal in our seas and oceans is an important link in a food chain. The algae are eaten in large amounts by microscopic animals, which are in turn consumed by larger animals. These food chains are delicately balanced.

The bad news about the food chains in the oceans is that they are under threat because of man. People once thought that the oceans were so big that it didn’t matter if we dumped rubbish into them or caught huge quantities of fish and whales for food. But we now know this is not true and fish stocks in the oceans have started to drop.

Thankfully, the world is taking steps to protect the future of our oceans by introducing international agreements to protect marine habitats. Most countries have introduced fishing restrictions to protect fish stocks in the oceans and new techniques are being pioneered to cope with pollution. Finally, the importance of protecting oceans is being made known to more people. This is just the beginning of a long process to protect the oceans for our future. We depend on the oceans for fish which are an important part of the human diet. How important seawater is!

68. Which of the following is the proper order of the food chain?

A. small animals→algae→microscopic animals→large animals→man

B. algae→microscopic animals→large animals→larger animals→man

C. small animals→algae→large animals→microscopic animals→man

D. microscopic animals→algae→large animals →larger animals→man

69. People used to think that the rubbish thrown into the sea ________.

A. wouldn’t harm the fish in the sea B. would change the balance of the food chain

C. would be broken down in the sea　　 D. wouldn’t do much harm to the sea

70. From the passage, we learn that _________.

A. most fish and sea animals live at the surface of the seas

B. it is very difficult to break the balance of a food chain

C. excessive fishing has caused the decrease in fish stock

D. it won’t be long before the problems concerning oceans will be solved

71. What would be the best title of the passage?

A. The importance of seawater.

B. Life in the oceans.

C. How to protect food chains.

D. How to deal with seawater pollution.

Suppose you work in a big firm and find English very important for your job because you often deal with foreign businessmen. Now you are looking for a place where you can improve your English, especially your spoken English.

64. You can find a passage like this 　　 .

A. in books　　　　　　 B. in newspapers　　　　　 C. in magazines　　　　　　 D. in classroom

65. You work from 9:00a.m to 4:30p.m. every day. Which school will you choose?

A. Global English Center and Modern Language School

B. Global English Center and The International House of English

C. Modern Language School and The 21^st Century English Training Center.

D. The 21^st Century English Training Center and The International House of English

66. The 21^st Century English Training Center is different from the other three schools in that 　　 .

A. its teaching quality is better　　　 B. it is nearest to the city center

C. its courses are more advanced D. it requires an entrance examination

67. If you take the evening programme at The International House of English, you will pay about 　　 .

A. 60 yuan B. 240 yuan C. 720 yuan D. 960 yuan

Due to climate change, Arctic ice is breaking up earlier in the spring, and its area is decreasing. This is creating problems for polar bears that make their homes off northern Alaska and in Hudson Bay.

Polar bears off Alaska normally hunt and raise their young on ice sheets that float on the ocean. But as the ice has melted, the polar bears have been forced to spend more time on land. There, they have begun to frequent beaches, feeding on the remains of whales caught by native hunters. For polar bears, this food is less nutritious than seals that they normally catch on ice sheets. The shrinking（減少） ice has also forced more polar bears into the ocean. In the past, they only had to swim short distances between ice sheets. But as the ice has shrunk, polar bears have been forced to swim longer and longer distances in the open ocean. This poses a severe danger during rough weather, and an increasing number of drowned polar bears have been observed.

In Hudson Bay, the ice breaks up three weeks earlier in the spring now than it did 20 years ago. Polar bears on Hudson Bay fast（絕食） during the summer, waiting for ice to form in the fall to hunt. Every year, the summer gets longer, and the bears get skinnier. Over the past 25 years, the average weight of the female bears has dropped 68 kg. This loss affects their ability to reproduce, and already the number of births has dropped 15 percent. Unless the bears can learn to survive these climate changes, these giants of the ice may one day disappear.

60. What is Arctic ice doing earlier each year?

A. It’s freezing.    B. It’s hardening.   C. It’s melting.  D. It’s expanding.

61. What is true of polar bears that are spending more time on land in Alaska?

A. Their young are dying.              B. Their diet is changing. 

C. Their health is improving.          D. Their families are growing.

62. What does the writer imply about female polar bears in Hudson Bay ?

 A. They are having fewer young now.       B. They suffer from various sicknesses.

 C. They don’t need stronger protection.  D. They can’t find enough good males.

63. In which publication would you most likely find this passage?

A. Medical News  B. Society Today  C. Wildlife Journal  D. Design Magazine

After giving a talk at a high school, I was asked to pay a visit to a spe­cial student. An illness had kept the boy home, but he had expressed an interest in meeting me. I was told it would mean a great deal to him, so I agreed.

During the nine-mile drive to his home, I found out something about Matthew. He had muscular dystrophy (肌肉萎縮癥). When he was born, the doctor told his parents that he would not live to five, and then they were told he would not make it to ten. Now he was thirteen. He wanted to meet me because I was a gold-medal power lifter, and I knew about overcoming obstacles and going for my dreams.

I spent over an hour talking to Matthew. Never once did he complain or ask, “Why me?” He spoke about winning and succeeding and going for his dreams. Obviously, he knew what he was talking about. He didn’t mention that his classmates had made fun of him because he was different. He just talked about his hopes for the future, and how one day he wanted to lift weights with me. When we had finished talking, I went to my briefcase and pulled out the first gold medal I had won and put it around his neck. I told him he was more of a winner and knew more about success and overcoming obstacles than I ever would. He looked at it for a moment, then took it off and handed it back to me. He said, “You are a champion. You earned that medal. Someday when I get to the Olympics and win my own medal, I will show it to you.”

Last summer I received a letter from Matthew’s parents ,telling me that Matthew had passed away. They wanted me to have a letter he had written to me a few days before:

Dear Dick,

My mum said I should send you a thank-you letter for the picture you sent me. I also want to let you know that the doctors tell me that I don’t have long to live any more, but I still smile as much as I can.

I told you someday that I would go to the Olympics and win a gold medal, but I know now I will never get to do that. However, I know I’m a champion, and God knows that too. When I get to Heaven, God will give me my medal and when you get there, I will show it to you. Thank you for loving me.

Your friend,

Matthew

56. The boy looked forward to meeting the author because _________.

A. he was also good at weight lifting

B. he wanted to get to the Olympics and win a medal

C. he was one of the author’s fans

D. he admired the author very much

57. The underlined sentence in the third paragraph probably means that _______.

A. the boy never complained about how unlucky he was to have this disease

B. the boy never complained about not being able to go to school

C. the boy never complained why the author had never come to see him before

D. the boy never complained about not getting a medal

58. From the passage we learn that _________.

A. Matthew was an athlete

B. Matthew was an optimistic and determined boy

C. The author used to have the same disease as Matthew had

D. Matthew became a champion before he died

59. What would be the best title for this passage?

A. A sick boy.                  B. A special friend.

C. A real champion.             D. A famous athlete.

The passengers on the bus watched with sympathy as Susan made her way carefully up the steps.

She paid the driver and then, using her hands to 36 the seats, settled in one of them.
　　It had been a year since Susan became blind. As the result of an accident she was suddenly thrown into a world of 37 . Susan's husband Mark watched her 38 into hopelessness and he was 39 to use every possible means to help his wife.

Finally, Susan felt ready to 40　 to her job, but how would she get there? She used to take the bus, but she was now too 41 to get around the city by herself. Mark 42 to ride the bus with Susan each morning and evening 43 she could manage it by herself.

For two weeks, Mark 44 Susan to and from work each day. He taught her how to rely on her other 45 , specifically her hearing, to determine where she was and how to adapt to her new 46 .
　　　 At last, Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip 47 . Monday morning arrived. Before she left, she hugged her husband 48 , her eyes filled with tears of gratitude. She said good-bye and, for the first time, they went their 49 ways. Each day went perfectly, and a wild excitement 50 Susan. She was doing it!　

On Friday morning, Susan took the bus to work 51 . As she was getting off the bus, the driver Said, "Miss, I sure 52 you." Curious, Susan asked the driver 53 .
　 "You know, every morning for the 54 week, a fine-looking gentleman in a military uniform has been standing across the corner watching you until you enter your office building safely," the bus driver said.
　 Tears of happiness poured down Susan' s cheeks. She was so lucky for he had given her a gift more powerful than 55 . That is ,the gift of love that can bring light where there is darkness.

(　　 )36. A. touch　　　 B. grab　　　　　 C. count　　　　 D. feel

(　　 )37. A. weakness　　 B. sickness　　 C. darkness　　　 D. sadness
(　　 )38. A. run　　　　 B. sink　　　　　 C. jump　　　　　 D. step
(　　 )39. A. inspired　　 B. determined　 　C. honored　　　　 D. pleased

(　　 )40. A. return　　　 B. adjust　　　 C. contribute　　 D. stick
(　　 )41. A. tired　　　　 B. astonished 　 C. depressed 　　 D. frightened
(　　 )42. A. volunteered B. attempted　　　C. continued　　 D. struggled
(　　 )43. A. when　　　　　B. as　　　　　　 C. until　　　　　 D. after

(　　 )44. A. drove　　　　 B. directed　　　 C. accompanied　　 D. sent
(　　 )45. A. feelings　　　B. organs　　　　 C. skills　　　 　D. senses
(　　 )46. A. position　　　B. environment　　C. status　　　　 D. role
(　　 )47. A. on her own　 B. in person　　　C. to her benefit D. on foot
(　　 )48. A. politely　　　B. calmly　　　　 C. briefly　　　　 D. tightly
(　　 )49. A. opposite　　　B. separate　　　 C. fixed　　　　　 D. lonely
(　　 )50. A. took charge of B. took place of C. took advantage of D. took hold of

(　　 )51. A. as usual　 　 B. as a role　　 C. as well　　D. as a consequence
(　　 )52. A. respect　　　 B. envy　　　　　 C. know　　 D. support
(　　 )53. A. what　　　　 B. how　　　　　 C. why　　　　D. who
(　　 )54. A. past　　　　 B. same　　　　　 C. first　　　D. next
(　　 )55. A. courage　　　 B. will　　　　　 C. sight　　　D. wisdom

 _______the meeting himself gave them a great deal of encouragement.

A. The president will attend              B.The president to attend 

C. The president attended                 D. The president’s attending

 His first book ___________ next month is based on a true story.

A. published     B. to be published    C. to publish D. being published

 The monkey seemed to enjoy ________ with children in the park.

A. having photographed              B. being photographed

C. to be photographed                D. photographed

 I was scared _______ when I saw the tiger jumped out of the cage and ran to the little child.

A. to the death      B. of death      C. into the death   D. to death