According to the US government, wind farms off the Pacific coast could produce 900 gig watts of electricity every year. Unfortunately, the water there is far too deep for even the tallest windmills(see picture)to touch bottom. An experiment under way off the coast of Norway, however, could help put them anywhere.
The project, called Hywind, is the world’s first large-scale deepwater wind turbine(渦輪發(fā)電機(jī)).Although it uses a fairly standard 152-ton,2.3-megawatt turbine, Hywind represents totally new technology. The turbine will be fixed 213 feet above the water on a floating spar(see picture),a technology Hywind’s creator, the Norwegian company StatoilHydro, has developed recently. The steel spar, which is filled with stones and goes 328 feet below the sea surface, will be tied to the ocean floor by three cable(纜索)；these will keep the spar stable and prevent the turbine from moving up and down in the waves. Hywind’s stability(穩(wěn)定性)in the cold and rough sea would prove that even the deepest corners of the ocean are suitable for wind power. If all goes according to plan, the turbine will start producing electricity six miles off the coast of southwestern Norway as early as September.
To produce electricity on a large scale, a commercial wind farm will have to use bigger turbines than Hywind does, but it’s difficult enough to balance such a large turbine so high on a floating spar in the middle of the ocean. To make that turbine heavier, the whole spar’s to design a new kind of wind turbine, one whose gearbox(變速箱) sits at sea level rather than behind the blades (see picture )
Hywind is a test run, but the benefits for perfecting floating wind-farm technology could be extremely large. Out at sea, the wind is often stronger and steadier than close to shore, where all existing offshore windmills are planted. Deep-sea farms are invisible from land, which helps overcome the windmill-as-eyesore objection. If the technology catches on, it will open up vast areas of the planet’s surface to one of the best low-carbon power sources available.
【小題1】
The Hywind project uses totally new technology to ensure the stability of _______.

A．the cables which tie the spar to the ocean floor

B．the spar which is floating in deep-sea water

C．the blades driven by strong and steady sea wind

D．the stones filled in the spar below the sea surface

【小題2】
To balance a bigger turbine high on a flatting spar, a new type of turbine is to be designed with its gearbox sitting ____________.

A．on the sea floor	B．on the spar top
C．a(chǎn)t sea level	D．behind the blades

【小題3】
Wide applications of deepwater wind power technology can ____________.

A．solve the technical problems of deepwater windmills

B．make financial profits by producing more turbines

C．settle the arguments about environmental problems

D．explore low-carbon power resources available at sea

We know the famous ones—the Thomas Edisons and the Alexander Graham Bells —but what about the less famous inventors? What about the people who invented the traffic light and the windshield wiper(雨刮器)？Shouldn’t we know who they are?
Joan Mclean think so. In fact, Mclean, a professor of physics at Mountain University in Range, feels so strongly about this matter that she’s developed a course on the topic. In addition to learning “who” invented “what”, however, Mclean also likes her students to learn the answers to the “why” and ”how” questions. According to Mclean,” When students learn the answers to these questions, they are better prepared to recognize opportunities for inventing and more motivated to give inventing a try.”
So, just what is the story behind the windshield wiper? Well, Mary Anderson came up with the idea in 1902 after a visit to New York City. The day was cold and stormy, but Anderson still wanted to see the sights, so she jumped aboard a streetcar. Noticing that the driver was struggling to see through the snow covering the windshield, she found herself wondering why there couldn’t be a built-in device for cleaning the window. Still wondering about this when she returned home to Birmingham, Alabama, Anderson started drafting out solutions. One of her ideas, a lever(操作桿)on the inside of a vehicle that would control an arm on the outside, became the first windshield wiper.    
Today we benefit from countless inventions and innovations，It’s hard to imagine driving without Garrett A. Morgan’s traffic light. It’s equally impossible to picture a world without Katherine J. Blodgett’s innovation that makes glass invisible, Can you picture life without clear windows and eyeglasses?
【小題1】
By mentioning “traffic light” and “windshield wiper”, the author indicates that countless inventions are      .

A．beneficial, because their inventors are famous

B．beneficial, though their inventors are less famous

C．not useful, because their inventors are less famous

D．not useful, though their inventors are famous

【小題2】
Professor Joan McLean’s course aims to_____.

A．a(chǎn)dd colour and variety to students’ campus life

B．inform students of the windshield wiper’s invention

C．carry out the requirements by Mountain University

D．prepare students to try their own invention

【小題3】
Tommy Lee’s invention of the unbreakable umbrella was _________.

A．not eventually accepted by the umbrella producer
B．inspired by the story behind the windshield wiper	C．due to his dream of being caught in a rainstorm
D．not related to Professor Joan McLean’s lectures

【小題4】
Which 0f the following can best serve as the title of this passage?
A  How to Help Students to Sell Their Inventions to Producers?
B  How to Design a Built-in Device for Cleaning the Window?
C  Shouldn’t We Know Who Invented the Windshield Wiper?
D  Shouldn’t We Develop Invention Courses in Universities?  

Researchers in Britain are driving the environmental movement to a new level. A team from the University of Warwick has built what it calls the world’s first completely environmentally friendly Formula Three racing car.
The car is made mainly of renewable materials, like plants and vegetables. The structure around the car is made from natural plant fibers and potatoes. The steering wheel(方向盤) is made from root vegetables like carrots. The engine uses bio-fuel made from vegetable oil and waste chocolate.
The new racing car is extremely fast. The car has a top speed of two hundred fifteen kilometers an hour. And it can go from zero to ninety-five kilometers an hour in just two and a half seconds. The racing car meets all of the Formula Three racing requirements except for its biodiesel(生物柴油) engine.
Automobile racing is one of the most widely watched sports in the world. But it is also considered one of the least friendly sports to the environment. Racing cars burn a lot of fuel, and create a lot of air pollution. In recent years, the racing industry has taken steps to protect the environment. More racing companies are now producing cars that use less energy. These cars produce less pollution than cars that depend on traditional fuel, like gasoline.
Last month, the new racing car was set to run in its first competitive race at the Formula Three Championship Final at Brands Hatch. It would have been the first biodiesel-powered car to race at Formula Three. Current Formula Three rules let only gasoline-powered car to compete. Officials needed permission from all of the Formula Three racers for the biodiesel-powered car to compete. They were unable to contact one of the drivers, so the new racing car didn’t appear in the event. In test runs, the new racing car was the fifth fastest among the Formula Three race cars. Supporters are hoping to have the fuel problem solved in time to compete in the next season.
【小題1】. What’s the second paragraph mainly about?

A．What materials the new racing car is made of.

B．Why researchers built the new racing car.

C．The characteristics of the new racing car.

D．The process of the new racing car being designed.

【小題2】.According to the passage, the _________ of the new racing car doesn’t meet the Formula Three racing
requirements.

A．speed

B．a(chǎn)ppearance

C．weight

D．engine

【小題3】. It can be inferred from the passage that __________.

A．the new racing car is the first environmentally friendly car

B．a(chǎn)utomobile racing could be forbidden in the near future

C．many people like to watch automobile racing

D．the new racing car will be allowed to compete in the next season of Formula Three racing

【小題4】. In recent years, racing companies are producing cars that __________.

A．burn more fuel	B．go more quickly
C．produce less pollution	D．cost less money

【小題5】.Why didn’t the new racing car compete at the Formula Three Championship Final last month?

A．Because the new racing car still needs testing.

B．Because officials needed each racer’s permission but failed to contact one.

C．Because there’re some technical problems to be solved.

D．Because few drivers think it is fast enough.

Do you know how to prepare for and survive a major earthquake? According to Department of Conservation scientists, it is important to have the right answer to that question.
How to Be Prepared
Electricity, water, gas and telephones may not be working after an earthquake. The police and fire departments are likely to be tied up. You should be prepared to fend for yourself at least three days,preferably for a week. You’ll need food, water and so on. It’s also a good idea to decide ahead of time how and where your family will reunite if separated during a quake. You might choose an out-of-the-area friend or relative that family members can call to check on you.
________
If you’re indoors, stay there. Get under a desk or table. The kitchen is a particularly dangerous spot. If you’re in an office building, stay away from windows and outside walls and do not use the elevator. If you’re outside, get into the open. Stay clear of buildings, power lines or anything else that could fall on you. If you’re driving, move the car out of traffic and stop. Avoid parking under or on bridges or overpasses.
After an Earthquake
Check for fire. If you smell gas, shut off the main gas valve(閥). If there’s sign of damage to electricial wiring, shut off the power at the control box. If the phone is working, only use it in case of emergency(緊急情況). Avoid driving if possible to keep the streets clear for emergency vehicles. Be careful that things may fall out of cupboards when the door is opened, and also that chimneys can be weakened and fall with just a touch. Listen to the radio for important information and instructions. Remember that aftershocks, sometimes large enough to cause damage in their own right, generally follow large quakes. If you leave home, leave a message telling your friends and family your location.
【小題1】
The underlined phrase“tend for’’ in the second paragraph probably means“ ________’’

A．look for

B．take care of

C．be proud of

D．think of

【小題2】
Which of the following would be the best subtitle for the third paragraph?

A．Before an Earthquake	B．After Making Preparations
C．While Staying at Home	D．During an Earthquake

【小題3】
What should you do when an earthquake happens?

A．You should stay away from the kitchen.

B．You should drive on a bridge.

C．You should turn off the power.

D．You should listen to the radio frequently.

【小題4】
What will probably happen after a big earthquake?

A．The local people’s life will return to normal in a week.

B．There will be more earthquakes in a short time.

C．There won’t be any earthquakes in a short time.

D．The local people will stay at home waiting for help.

The iPhone, the iPad, the iPod, each of apple's products sounds cool and has become a pad (一時(shí)的風(fēng)尚). Apple has cleverly taken advantage of the power of the letter “i”，-- and many other brands are following suit. The BBC’s iPlayer —which allows Web users to watch TV programs on the internet—adopted the title in 2008. A lovely bear—popular in the US and UK—that plays music and video is called “iTeddy”.A slimmed-down version of London’s Independent newspaper，was launched last week under the name “i”.
In general，single-letter prefix have been popular since the 1990s，when terms such as e-mail and e-commerce first came into use.
Most “i”products are targeted at young people and considering the major readers of the Independent’s “i”，it’s no surprise that they’ve selected this fashionable name.
But it’s hard to see what’s so special about the letter “i”.Why not use “a”，“b”or “c”instead？According to Tony Thorne，head of Language Center at King’s College，London，“i”works because its meaning has become ambiguous .When Apple uses “i”，no one knows whether it means internet，information，individual or interactive，Thorne told BBC magazines “even when Apple created the iPod，it seems it didn’t have one clear definition，”he says.
“However，thanks to Apple，the term is now associated with portability （輕便）， ”adds Thorne.
Clearly the letter “i”also agrees with the idea that the Western World is centered on the individual. Each person believes they have their own needs，and we love personalized products for this reason.
Along with “Google”and “blog”，readers of  BBC magazines voted “i”as one of the top 20 words that have come to define the last decade.
But as history shows，people grow tired of fads. From the 1900s to the 1990s，products with “2000”in their names became fashionable as the year was associated with all things advanced and modern. However，as we entered the new century，the trend inevitably disappeared.
【小題1】
We can infer that the Independent’s “i”is aimed at _______.

A．young readers

B．old readers

C．fashionable women

D．engineers

【小題2】

Some weight-loss camps, which are rare in China just a few years ago, have sprouted in Beijing, Qingdao, Shenzhen, and other cities. Today about 15 percent of adults, or 200 million Chinese, are reportedly overweight. Of these, 90 million—about 7 percent—are obese（極肥胖的）.
Experts say the obesity epidemic is spreading to children, though more slowly than in adults. The trend, they say, will have a huge impact on the health of China’s citizens and economy. “We’re seeing a very large proportion of children and adolescents who are quite heavy and aren’t moving much,” said Barry Popkin, a nutrition professor. Popkin carries out an ongoing health-and-nutrition survey of 16,000 households in China. He says more kids today are overeating and putting on weight “quite quickly.” In just ten years, China’s childhood obesity rate has doubled, with the greatest gains coming in urban areas. “In big cities it’s a big problem.” 
Some experts blame the extra fat on a range of factors, many of them tied to China’s rapidly changing economy and culture. The diets of Chinese adults and children are far higher in calorie-laden meats, fish, eggs, dairy products, fats, and sugars than ever before. In addition, kids—especially city dwellers—are more sedentary today and spend more time indoors in front of homework, television, computer games, and the Internet.
Shuwen Ng, a health economist, says that kids in China now have pocket money, and they spend a portion of it on junk food. Ng adds that advertising and peer groups influence kids’ food choices. Certain foods, such as new candies or fast food, have attractive features.
China’s childhood obesity rate still lags that of the United States, where some 15 percent of kids are said to be obese. But the long-term effects are equally serious.
【小題1】According to the passage we know _____.

A．weight-loss camps have been very popular in China six years ago

B．a(chǎn)bout 290 million Chinese are overweight in China in all

C．in China childhood obesity rate in rural areas is lower than that in major cities

D．America’s childhood obesity rate is lower than China’s

【小題2】 Which of the following is NOT the reason of China’s childhood obesity?

A．Advertising on some new candies	B．High quality diets
C．Playing computer games for long time	D．Having pocket money

【小題3】 The underlined word “sedentary” in the second paragraph probably means _____.

A．a(chǎn)ttentive

B．earnest

C．a(chǎn)bsent

D．inactive

【小題4】 According to the passage we can infer _____.

A．obesity explosion in China will affect the United States

B．there is great difference in kids’ food choices now

C．junk food contributes to childhood obesity

D．city children eat more than rural children

【小題5】What’s the best title for the passage?

A．Chinese Childhood Obesity Explosion

B．Weight-loss Camps in China

C．Obesity Explosion’s Impacts On Chinese Economy

D．Obesity Explosion In China And America

  Drawings of human colonies on other planets often picture the entire community under a glass or plastic bubble. The bubble is intended to create an atmosphere with adequate oxygen and other essential elements. But similar bubble-like structures have also been constructed on earth. One of the most famous, and controversial, is a site in the Arizona desert.
Biosphere 2, as it is called, was built not far from Tucson in 1984 and is now run by Columbia University. This huge（7,200,000-cubic-foot）glass and steel construction contains several separate ecosystems, including a desert, a rain forest, and a 900,000-gallon “ocean.” The climatic conditions-humidity, temperature, air quality-are regulated by sensors and can be adjusted as needed or desired. For example, a rainstorm can be created to increase the humidity. The adjustable features of Biosphere 2 make it an ideal location to perform experiments to help determine the effects of such climatic changes as global warming.
The current conditions at Biosphere 2 are vastly different from those in 1993, when eight people who had moved into the environment with great fanfare two years earlier moved out in failure. Though promising to be self-sufficient（自足的）, these “colonists” had so much trouble regulating the environment that they reportedly had food smuggled into them. Oxygen levels became dangerously low; most plants and animals died. In taking over the unsuccessful site, Columbia hopes to erase its notorious past by focusing on small research projects that gradually answer some of Biosphere 1’s — that is, Earth’s most basic environment questions.
【小題1】This passage primarily deals with _________.

A．conditions of life in Biosphere 2

B．building controlled environments on other planets

C．why Biosphere 2 failed in the past

D．what makes a good biosphere colonist

【小題2】Biosphere 2 is now run by _________.

A．a(chǎn) group of eight colonists

B．Columbia University

C．the city of Tucson

D．scientists who hope to establish Biosphere 3

【小題3】The passage suggests that earlier colonists of Biosphere 2 _________.

A．did not like living in a controlled environment

B．found it very difficult to live in a controlled environment

C．still are involved with Biosphere 2

D．have now left the country in disgrace

【小題4】The writer helps you understand what Biosphere 2 is like by _________.

A．comparing its features with those of an outer space biosphere

B．explaining the process by which it was constructed

C．referring to an interview with one of former inhabitants

D．describing its appearance and conditions

【小題5】In paragraph 3 the word “notorious” means _________.

A．well known for something good	B．well known for something bad
C．very dangerous	D．quite interesting

I am sure that everybody in his/her life has used computers. Nowadays you can feel their presence everywhere at home，at school，at work and they certainly make life easier．On the other hand，there are people who can’t work with them．
Anyway，I believe their presence is a good thing. Life with them seems easier, less difficult and more comfortable You can use them to choose your meal，to withdraw your money, and also save your time，because these operations are all controlled by computers. Therefore you can hardly imagine the modern world without them；the whole planet seems to be one big computer society．
Nevertheless，problems can often appear in this area, too．To have a computer means you have to be quite well－off and have the necessary skills to use it．However，think about questions like “Are computers so available for everyone, or rich and poor people，for people from villages and people from cities. Aren’t they too expensive？Is everyone able to learn how to use them and not everyone has the chance to access and work with them，how could everything in the future be dependent on them？”Therefore，I think our society will be split into two parts．One part will work with them and enjoy the benefits that computers can bring and the other part will be pushed out and will actually be far behind the other group．
Another question that bothers me is，on the one hand，computers are important  and good things in our life，but they aren’t everything．They are good as a help at school，quite often as entertainment，especially for young people，as an necessary tool to help in research etc，but I think we shouldn’t be so dependent on them，because computers are only machines and machines can’t feel anything be human and sympathetic，and every action performed by computer can be interfered with another person，which could cause these machines to crash or work badly．
In conclusion，I would like to say I am not against computers．I use computers，too，but people should be wary all the time．
【小題1】By saying “wary”（In the last paragraph）,the writer is trying to say “People should_______.

A．be strongly for the use of computers because of its convenience

B．be careful with computers that will also cause problems

C．master more necessary computer skills

D．not do something that causes computers to work badly

【小題2】Which of the following best shows the structure of the passage？

【小題3】 In the third paragraph，the author presents his idea by________

A．a(chǎn)sking questions for people to think about

B．giving examples to support his argument

C．raising questions and answering them

D．expressing his opinion directly

【小題4】 The writer’s main purpose in writing the passage is__________

A．to encourage us to use computers in our society

B．to advise us to say no to computers from now on

C．to remind us to care about the problems that computers bring.

D．to inform us that the computer has become a necessary part of our life

★The regular use of text messages and e-mails can lower the IQ more than twice as much as smoking marijuana(大麻). Psychologists say that sending/receiving messages or looking through the many menu options your mobile phone has, lowers a person’s IQ by almost 10 points. British researchers have named this situation “infomania”. Instead of fixed on what they are doing, people’s minds are constantly focused on reacting to the technology surrounding them. This means they don’t pay full attention to the work they are paid to do. The report also added that the brain can not do so many things at once. If you try to do too many things, mistakes begin to occur. And while modern technology can have huge benefits, too much use can be damaging not only to a person’s mind, but to their social life.
★The more televisions 4-year-old children watch, the more likely they are to become bullies later on in school, a newest U.S. study said. At the same time, children whose parents read to them, take them on outings and just generally pay attention to them are less likely to become bullies, said the  report from the University of Washington. Researchers also found gaps in learning and understanding such things as social skills early in life makes it more difficult for children to relate with other children. Watching violence on television leads to aggressive behavior.
★You could soon be able to add your favorite perfume to your e-mails. UK net provider Telewest Broadband is testing a system to let people send e-mails over the Internet with sweet smell. It has developed a kind of hi-tech air freshener that plugs into a PC and sprays a smell linked to the message. Telewest says it could be used by supermarkets to attract people with the smell of fresh bread or by holiday companies seeking to stir up images of sun-kissed beachers.
【小題1】.
What does “infomania” refer to according to the first part of the text?

A．A situation in which a person uses his mobile phone too much.

B．A situation in which a person has his IQ lowered using his mobile phone.

C．A situation in which a person performs badly at work..

D．A situation in which a person lowers his IQ using his mobile phone improperly.

【小題2】.
According to the second part of the text, _____ are less likely to become bullies.

A．children whose parents care about them

B．children whose parents give them more freedom

C．children whose parents direct them over watching TV

D．children whose parents stop them watching TV

【小題3】.
The children who watch TV  frequently will not ______.

A．be aggressive

B．be likely to become bullies

C．have difficulty in communicating with other children

D．understand socially skills as easily

【小題4】.
The new system provided by Telewest Broadband can _____.

A．be used as a kind of air freshener

B．make people have imagination of sun kissed beachers

C．make people smell fresh bread

D．make e-mails smelly over the Internet

The pupils of the remote Beau-Roc primary school in Haiti are chanting (singing the same words again and again)．One of them plays a guitar made from an empty oil tin．Their headmistress, Emile Jean-Noel, is one of the few women school headteachers in the country．
Today, over 70% of Haitian population live without proper food, water, schools, or housing． To reduce the hunger that prevents learning and to encourage parents to send their children to school, meals are provided by the World Food Programme．
"We are so cut off that we have many difficulties," comments Emile, adding that finding chalk, school books and other materials is practically impossible．Emile tries to encourage people around her to make use of available resources．Her efforts are bearing fruit．One of her successes was convincing local women to contribute to their children' s schooling and increase their income by selling embroidery（刺繡） and other handicrafts．
Recent political instability（不穩(wěn)定）has meant that the country has not invested （投資） in education for ten years．Only 44% of children go to school and less than half of them finish primary school. Less than a third of these children go on to secondary school．In rural areas it is not rare to find 17 and 18 year olds in primary school- Beau-Roc has only 4 teachers for 260 pupils．Emile works constantly to improve her pupils' environment．Under her direction, a local worker is now constructing a store house for the food delivered regularly by the WFP．
Not only is Emile' s salary small, but she receives it irregularly．For her, transport is a real headache．She lives five kilometers away and has to take the tap tap, a privately-owned bus, costing more than she can afford．
"The decision to be a rural teacher in Haiti should not be taken lightly" , Emile comments． "With all the sacrifices and risks it requires, only those who are really cut out for teaching should do it．" However, Emile loves her job．"I always feel at home with the children and, because the parents understand what I'm doing, I try to give my best．"
【小題1】Which of the following is extremely difficult for Beau-Roc primary school?

A．Teaching the women how to make embroidery and other handicrafts．

B．Persuading local women to care about their children' s education．

C．Encouraging people around to use those available resources．

D．Finding chalk, school books and other materials．

【小題2】In the last paragraph, "those who are really cut out for teaching" refer to people who are _____．

A．dismissed from teaching	B．unfamiliar with teaching
C．qualified for teaching	D．cautious about teaching

【小題3】What topic is presented in this passage?

A．Hardship for teachers．	B．Devotion to education．
C．Politics and children．	D．Love and beauty．