Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side.
Most people know this joke. But recently, some people have been much more worried about how the grizzly bear and mountain lion can cross the road.
“Millions of animals die each year on U.S. roads,” the Federal Highway Administration reports. In fact, only about 80 ocelots, an endangered wild cat, exist in the U.S. today. The main reason? Roadkill.
“Eco-passages” may help animals cross the road without being hit by cars. They are paths both over and under roads. “These eco-passages can be extremely useful, so that wildlife can avoid road accidents,” said Jodi Hilty of the Wildlife Protection Society.
But do animals actually use the eco-passages?  The answer is yes. Paul Beier of Northern Arizona University found foot marks left by mountain lions on an eco-passage that went under a highway.  This showed that the lions used the passage.
Builders of eco-passages try to make them look like a natural part of an area by planting trees on and around them. Animals seem to be catching on. Animals as different as salamanders（火蜥蜴）and grizzly bears are using the bridges and underpasses.
The next time you visit a park or drive through an area with a lot of wildlife, look around.  You might see an animal overpass!
【小題1】 The writer uses the example of “ocelots” to show that __________.

A．wild animals have become more dangerous

B．the driving condition has improved greatly

C．a(chǎn)n increasing number of animals are killed in road accidents

D．the measure for protecting wildlife fails to work

【小題2】From the story, we know an eco-passage is __________.

A．a(chǎn)n underground path for cars

B．a(chǎn) fence built for the safety of the area

C．a(chǎn) bridge for animals to get over a river

D．a(chǎn) path for animals to cross the road

【小題3】 When the writer says that “animals seem to be catching on” (Para. 6), he means __________.

A．a(chǎn)nimals begin to realize the dangers on the road

B．a(chǎn)nimals are crossing the road in groups

C．a(chǎn)nimals are increasing in number

D．a(chǎn)nimals begin to learn to use eco-passages

【小題4】 The writer asks visitors and drivers to look around when traveling because __________.

A．wild animals may attack cars	B．they may see wild animals on eco-passages
C．they may see wild animals in the park	D．wild animals may jam the road

【小題5】 The best title for the passage is __________.

A．Special bridges help animals cross the road

B．Endangered animals increase because of roadkill

C．Animals fail to cross the road

D．Take steps to protect animals in danger

ROME: The legend of Leonardo da Vinci is covered in mystery: How did he die?Are the remains buried in a French castle really those of the master? Was the "Mona Lisa" a self-portrait in disguise (偽裝)?
A group of Italian scientists believe the key to solving those puzzles lies with the remains, and they say they are seeking permission to dig up the body to conduct carbon and DNA testing.
If the skull is undamaged, the scientists can go to the heart of a question that has fascinated scholars and the public for centuries: the identity of the "Mona Lisa." Recreating a virtual and then physical reconstruction of Leonardo's face, they can compare it with the smiling face in the painting.
"We don't know what we'll find if the tomb is opened. We could even just find grains and dust," says Giorgio Gruppioni, an anthropologist who is participating in the project. "But if the remains are well kept, they are a biological record of events in a person's life, and sometimes in their death." Silvano Vinceti, the leader of the group, said that he plans to press his case with the French officials in charge of the said burial site at Amboise Castle early next week.
Leonardo moved to France at the invitation of King Francis I, who named him "first painter to the king." He spent the last three years of his life there, and died in 1519 at age 67. The artist's original burial place, the palace church of Saint Florentine, was destroyed during the French Revolution and remains that are believed to be his were eventually reburied in the Saint-Hubert Chapel near the castle.
"The Amboise tomb is a symbolic tomb; it's a big question mark," said Alessandro Vezzosi, the director of a museum dedicated to Leonardo in his hometown of Vinci. Vezzosi said that investigating the tomb could help identify the artist's bones with certainty and solve other questions, such as the cause of his death. He said he asked to open the tomb in 2004 to study the remains, but the Amboise Castle turned him down.
The group of 100 experts involved in the project, called the National Committee for Historical and Artistic Heritage, was created in 2003 with the aim of "solving the great mysteries of the past," said Vinceti, who has written books on art and literature.
Arguably the world's most famous painting, the "Mona Lisa" hangs in the Louvre in Paris, where it drew some 8.5 million visitors last year. Mystery has surrounded the identity of the painting's subject for centuries, with opinions ranging from the wife of a Florentine merchant to Leonardo's own mother.
That Leonardo intended the "Mona Lisa" as a self-portrait in disguise is a possibility that has interested and divided scholars. Theories have existed: Some think that Leonardo's taste for tricks and riddles might have led him to hide his own identity behind that puzzling smile; others have guessed that the painting hid an androgynous lover.
If granted access to the grave site, the Italian experts plan to use a tiny camera and radar to confirm the presence of bones. The scientists would then exhume (挖掘) the remains and attempt to date the bones with carbon testing.
At the heart of the proposed study is the effort to discover whether the remains are actually Leonardo's, including with DNA testing.
Vezzosi questions the DNA comparison, saying he is unaware of any direct descendants (后代) of Leonardo or of tombs that could be attributed with certainty to the artist's close relatives.
Gruppioni said that DNA from the bones could also eventually be compared to DNA found elsewhere. For example, Leonardo is thought to have rubbed colors on the canvas with his thumb, possibly using saliva (唾液), meaning DNA might be found on his paintings.
Even in the absence of DNA testing, other tests could provide useful information, including whether the bones belonged to a man or a woman, and whether the person died young or old.
Even within the committee, experts are divided over the identity of the "Mona Lisa."
Vinceti believes that a tradition of considering the self-portrait to be not just a faithful imitation of one's features but a representation of one's spiritual identity may have resonated (共鳴) with Leonardo.
Vezzosi, the museum director, dismissed as "baseless and senseless" the idea that the "Mona Lisa" could be a self-portrait of Leonardo. He said most researchers believe the woman may have been either a wife of the artist's sponsor, the Florentine nobleman Giuliano de Medici, or Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a rich silk merchant, Francesco del Giocondo. The traditional view is that the name "Mona Lisa" comes from the silk merchant's wife, as well as its Italian name: "La Gioconda."  
【小題1】   Where is this passage most probably taken from?

A．A magazine.

B．A newspaper.

C．A textbook.

D．A research report.

【小題2】   Why does the author ask a couple of questions in the beginning?

A．To arouse the interest of readers.	B．To puzzle Italian scientists.
C．To answer the questions himself.	D．To make fun of French officials.

【小題3】   The best title of this story might be “_____”.

A．What Is the Purpose of an Investigation?

B．How Did Leonardo da Vinci Die in France?

C．Are the Remains Really Those of the Master?

D．Did Leonardo Paint Himself as 'Mona Lisa'?

【小題4】The sentence “he plans to press his case with the French officials” (underlined in Paragraph 4) suggests that Vinceti intends to _____.

A．press the French officials to participate in their project

B．urge the French officials to open the tomb early next week

C．persuade the French officials to allow opening the tomb

D．record events in a person’s life with the French officials

【小題5】   Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A．Scholars have the same opinion on DNA testing.

B．Scientists doubt if the remains are those of da Vinci.

C．The identity of “Mona Lisa” has already been proved.

D．Alessandro Vezzosi got permission to open the tomb.

【小題6】   We can infer from the last two paragraphs that _____?

A．“Mona Lisa” is the name of the wife of a silk merchant

B．the “Mona Lisa” is a self-portrait of Leonardo da Vinci

C．experts divided the committee into several groups

D．opinions differ of the identity of the “Mona Lisa”

It was a quiet village in which there was a military camp. It was far from the towns and cities and there were some high mountains around. Of course it was a good place for training the new soldiers. But it was difficult for the young men to go outside. Mr. White, an officer of forty, was strict with them and he hardly let them leave the camp.
Once Mr. White was ill in bed. He couldn’t work and a young officer, Mr. Hunt, began to train the new soldiers instead of him. He knew the young men well and let nine soldiers go to the nearest town to have a holiday. But night fell and none came back to the camp. He was worried about it and stood at the gate. It was five to twelve when Mr. Hunt decided to go to the town and see what was happening with the young men. He started the car quickly and set off. At that moment the nine soldiers came back. It seemed they were all drunk. Of course they found the officer was angry.
“I’m sorry, sir,” said the first soldier. “I left the town on time. But something was wrong with my bus on my way here. I had to buy a horse and made it run fast. Bad luck! It died and I had to run back.”
And the other seven soldiers said they were late for the same reasons. It was the last soldier’s turn. He said, “I’m sorry, sir. I got on a bus on time, but…”
Having heard this, the officer became even angrier and stopped him at once. He called out, “If you say something was wrong with your bus, I’ll punish you at once!”
“No, no, sir,” said the young man. “My bus was all right, but the dead horses were in its way!”
【小題1】 The military camp was built in the village to _______.

A．stop the soldiers going to towns

B．stop the soldiers meeting their friends

C．train the new soldiers

D．make the young men live quietly

【小題2】 Mr. Hunt let the nine soldiers have a holiday because _______.

A．he was kind and understanding

B．they felt lonely

C．they had something important to do

D．they were the best of all the soldiers

【小題3】 The young officer was worried because _______.

A．a(chǎn) traffic accident had happened

B．he was afraid something happened to the nine soldiers

C．the nine soldiers didn’t come back on time

D．the nine soldiers drank too much in the town

【小題4】 The nine soldiers returned to the camp late because _______.

A．something was wrong with their buses

B．their horses died on the return way

C．it took them much time to run back

D．they all had drunk much in the town

【小題5】 Which statement do you think is right?

A．The officer believed only the last soldier.

B．The officer believed the nine soldiers.

C．The officer believed none of the nine soldiers.

D．The officer wouldn’t punish his soldiers.

Imagine living locked inside a closet.You can’t choose when and what to eat or how you will spend your time.You can’t even decide when the lights go on and off. Think about spending your whole life like this.
This is the life of lab animals.
Now consider the needs of these animals.Chimpanzees(黑猩猩),in their natural homes,are never separated from their families.They spend hours together every day.But in a lab,chimpanzees are put in cages alone.There are no families,only cold,hard cages,and loneliness that goes on for so many years that most of them lose their minds at last.
Worse yet are the experiments.Animals are given diseases they would never normally get.Experimenters force-feed(給……強(qiáng)行喂食) chemicals to them,conduct repeated surgeries(手術(shù)),and much more,Think of what it would be like to put up with these and then be thrown back into a cage,usually without any painkillers.Often animals see other animals being killed right in front of them.
Hundreds of thousands of animals are poisoned,blinded,and killed every year in product tests for shampoos,skin creams and new cancer drugs.Although more than 500 companies have stopped testing on animals,some of them still force chemicals into monkeys’ stomachs and rabbits’ eyes.
Although some facilities are better than others at caring for animals—not every lab worker kills a mouse by cutting off its head with scissors—there are no happy animals inside laboratories.Will the lab life end? When will it end?
【小題1】The passage mainly tells us about       .

A．a(chǎn)nimals’ lives in laboratories	B．cruel experiments on animals
C．the needs of animals in labs	D．facilities used to care for animals

【小題2】Animals in a lab         .
①are very cold,and in separate cages     
②feel lonely locked inside a cage
③aren’t fed anything but chemicals     
④are forced to undergo cruel tests
⑤are forced to eat chemicals

A．①③④

B．②③⑤

C．②④⑤

D．①④⑤

【小題3】We can infer from the passage that _________.

A．some companies have found ways to replace animal tests

B．a(chǎn)nimals normally get no strange diseases

C．a(chǎn)nimals are happy in labs with better facilities

D．painkillers can change the results of experiments

【小題4】The author’s attitude towards the future of animals for experiment can be described as _______.

A．positive

B．worried

C．satisfied

D．disappointed

In the last few years the Internet has become a widespread phenomenon(現(xiàn)象) around the world.People have started to use the computers just like they used to watch TV. Whenever we get hungry,we simply order a pizza through the Internet and while we are waiting for the food,we can send an important business e-mail concerning some sales for tomorrow.It is,in fact,very comfortable to just simply sit down and have a chat with somebody from South Africa about fishing and get some important advice.Sometimes when you are sad and are feeling lonely,if you go on the Internet,you can find good entertainment that will keep you busy.
To make a long story short,we just don’t have the time to communicate with people in person anymore.Besides,there is so much information easy to get on the Internet that when we start surfing,we find it hard for us to get away from the computer.There are a lot of people who are addicted(沉溺于) to TV and watch it 5 to 7 hours a day,while recently addiction to the Internet has become a very serious problem.You might think that these kinds of things could never happen to you,but it is not really true.To prevent yourself from getting addicted,the most important thing is to make sure that you are not spending too much time in front of the screen.Although it might seem to be easy to pull yourself away from the Web,it is simply not the case.You might have to make an effort to place some limits(限制) on yourself.
【小題1】The first paragraph of the text mainly tells us that       .

A．it is nice to have a Net friend from South Africa

B．the Internet can help us to do business

C．some people prefer surfing the Internet to watching TV

D．the Internet can make our life more convenient

【小題2】To avoid getting addicted to the Internet,we should     .

A．watch TV more hours a day instead

B．limit our time in front of the screen

C．communicate with people face to face

D．entertain ourselves in other ways

【小題3】From the passage,we can infer that the writer        .

A．has once been addicted to the Net

B．is completely against surfing the Net

C．knows how to surf the Net efficiently

D．thinks the Net brings bads and goods

【小題4】The text is most probably taken from       .

A．a(chǎn) health book	B．a(chǎn) geography magazine
C．a(chǎn) life magazine	D．a(chǎn) computer technology book

Taking the train is a wonderful way to see America.In the 19th century,train routes appeared from coast to coast,carrying both people and goods Today,a long-distance Amtrak train trip is a different way to experience the United States.
The long-distance Amtrak trains have lots of room.Coach seats have lots of leg room and wide aisles(走廊),sightseeing lounges(休閑室) have large windows,and sleeping areas can provide a good night’s rest.On a train trip,there’s time to talk,play cards or board games,and read to one another.On a car trip,parents have to drive while on a train,parents can sit back and watch the scenery go by.Unlike an airplane,traveling by train is not the quickest way to arrive at your destination;the train is the destination in itself.
Amtrak manages long-distance trains that run through the United States.Routes have different names,such as Empire Builder,California Zephyr,Sunset Limited and Southwest Chief.The long-distance trains have double-decker cars(Superliners), sightseeing lounges, and a real dining car.On shorter trains,such as from New York to Washington.DC,the cars are single level and only have a snack bar.In the Superliner trains,the sightseeing lounge is lined with windows on the second level while on the lower level a snack bar and tables can be found.In the evening,videos are shown in the lounge car—either entertaining movies or documentaries.
Tip:As delays are common on Amtrak trains,always call the station before you go there.Otherwise,you may be cooling your heels(腳后跟) for hours.
【小題1】What’s the advantage of seeing America by train?

A．There are more services on the train than any other

B．Traveling by train is the quickest way to reach your destination.

C．Traveling by train gives people more time to see and do things.

D．The trains like Amtrak allow people to enjoy the journey cheaply.

【小題2】Which of the following can be found on short-distance Amtrak trains?

A．Sleeping areas.	B．Snack bars.
C．Sightseeing lounges.	D．Coach seats.

【小題3】.What does the underlined sentence in the last paragraph mean?

A．You will have to wait.	B．You make your heel cool.
C．You will have no place to stand on the train.	D．Your feet will be hurt on the train.

【小題4】.Which of the following about Superliners is true?

A．There are lines of windows on the lower level.	B．The snack bar is on the higher level.
C．A sightseeing lounge is on the upper level.	D．Both levels are equipped with videos.

As we all know sewing-machine(縫紉機(jī)) repair is one of the fastest growing businesses in the world today.Newspapers,women’s magazines,high schools and colleges are all encouraging millions of American women to do their own sewing,not only to make their own shirts and sweaters,but also to make nice clothes for their husbands,sons,or boyfriends.The lates figures(數(shù)字) show that over 89 million American women,because of the high costs of ready-to-wear clothing are now making almost all of their families’ clothes.Most of these women get great satisfaction from making the family clothes on their own sewing machines.So it is natural that the demand(要求) for excellent service of sewing machines is growing.
Think of it! 89 million or more sewing machines,not including another 10 million sewing machines in schools of all kinds,need service at least once a year,and quite possibly four or more times each year.I know some women who return their sewing machines to repairmen time after time to get them fixed properly.I’ve seen sewing machines come out of repair shops in worse condition than they were when they went in.
So I’ve decided to write an introduction book to sewing-machine repair and teach people how to repair their own sewing machines at home.It’s not that difficult.In the book,I will teach you everything you need to know about how to repair your sewing machine.
【小題1】The author wrote the passage to       .

A．teach women to repair their sewing machines.

B．explain his or her purpose in writing the book

C．introduce the reasons for doing one’s own sewing

D．tell us that sewing-machine repair is a fast-growing business

【小題2】American women make clothes by themselves because       .

A．they cannot buy the clothes they see in magazines

B．their husbands or boyfriends want them to do so

C．ready-to-wear clothes cost a great deal of money

D．they can’t get great satisfaction from buying clothes

【小題3】We learn from the passage that sewing machines       .

A．a(chǎn)ren’t very difficult to be repaired

B．cannot work well after one year

C．don’t easily get broken

D．need service 4 times a month

【小題4】It can be inferred from the passage that       .

A．the book will also show you how to make nice clothes

B．there are not enough sewing-machine-repair shops in America

C．over 99 million sewing machines need service at least once a year

D．the demand for excellent service of sewing machines grows the fastest in America

Can you imagine exchanging the pleasure of city life for a quiet life in the countryside?
Many people want to move from the country to the city because they think that life in the city is more exciting and better than that in countryside,especially young people who like new,modern things.People like popular things and feel that they can only find the latest styles in the city.
However,it is possible to enjoy the higher quality of country life and still enjoy some of the advantages of living in the city.
Nowadays,traveling is fast and easy,and information can be found on the Internet,so many people are able to do their work in home offices.Because they have e-mail and personal computers,they don’t have to be in big cities to manage their businesses.It is not important where they actually work because the results of their work can be sent everywhere with e-mails.Therefore,there is no need to put up with all of the disadvantages of the city.Now they can escape busy city life to enjoy the quiet country life and still be able to have successful jobs.
Other people are interested in technological things and high-tech jobs and think they can only find them in big cities.If they want to find a job,especially a good position in a company,they think that they have to live in a city.For these jobs,they are willing to put up with many of the disadvantages of city life,such as crime,heavy traffic,and pollution.
【小題1】The main idea of this passage is that         .

A．life in the city is different from life in the countryside

B．people prefer living in the city to living in the countryside

C．cities have more disadvantages than the countryside

D．more and more people like living in the city

【小題2】With the development of      ,people can enjoy life in the countryside as comfortably as they can in the city.

A．e-mail technology	B．personal computers
C．transportation and computers	D．business

【小題3】According to the passage,what does the countryside have but cities don’t have?

A．Technology.

B．Traffic.

C．Education.

D．Natural environment.

【小題4】What is the author’s attitude towards city life?

A．He is for it.

B．He is against it.

C．He likes neither.

D．He shows no opinion.

Stepping into a pool of water is common enough, but who could ever imagine stepping into a pool of fish? In February of 1974, Bill Tapp, an Australian farmer, saw a rain of fish that covered his farm. How surprised he must have been!
What caused this strange occurrence? This is a question that had long puzzled people who study fish. The answer turned out to be a combination of wind and storm.
When it is spring in the northern part of the world, it is fall in Australia. Throughout the autumn season, terrible storms arise and rains flood the land. The strong winds sweep over Australia like huge vacuum cleaners (吸塵器), collecting seaweed, pieces of wood, and even schools of fish. Strong winds may carry these bits of nature for many miles before vacuum dropping them on fields, houses, and astonished people.
Although they seem unusual, fish-falls occur frequently in Australia. When Bill Tapp was asked to describe the scene of fish, he remarked, “They look like millions of dead birds falling down.” His statement is not surprising. The wonders of the natural world are as common as rain. Nature, with its infinite wonders, can create waterfalls that flow upward and fish that fall out of the sky.
【小題1】 What is this passage about?

A．A sad story.	B．Australia’s northern part.
C．A rain of fish.	D．The damage done by floods.

【小題2】 Fish-falls occur in Australia __________.

A．quite often	B．on large farms
C．only in winter	D．when the air is calm

【小題3】The underlined word “infinite” is closest in meaning to “__________”.

A．easy

B．difficult

C．countless

D．dangerous

A sign can be found in the front yard of a house in the US. The people living here want to let their dog play outside and ensure it won’t run into the street. So, they hire a company to set up an “invisible fence”, an electric wire buried in the ground around the yard. The dog wears a special collar and when it walks near to the “fence”, the wire will send out a small shock. The dog quickly learns to stay away from the edge of the yard. As it says at the bottom of the sign, the fence will keep your dog “safe” (away from the street) and “at home” (contained inside the yard).
The small word “BRAND” printed in blue means that “Invisible Fence” is registered as the company’s brand name. Similarly, the “TM” printed after “your dog safe at home” stands for “trade mark”, a slogan registered specifically to one company.
【小題1】 The people set up an “invisible fence” _________.

A．to let their dog play outside their house

B．to keep their dog away from the edge of the yard

C．to keep their dog inside their yard

D．to warn others not to enter their house

【小題2】 Which is NOT true about the “invisible fence”?

A．The fence does not exist at all.

B．The “Invisible Fence” is the name of a company.

C．Without the special collar, the fence won’t work on the dog.

D．Science and technology play an important part in it.

【小題3】