A new study shows that fat people in the United States suffer direct economic and social effects because of their size. The findings are from an 8-year study of about 100,000 people. The people who were studied were between the age of 18 and 24 when the research began.
The researchers who carried out the study say they consider the people fat if they are in the top of 5% of the measurement in which weight is linked to height. For example, fat women in the study were about 160 centimeters tall and weighed about 90 kilograms. Fat men in the study were about 175 centimeters tall and weighed 100 kilograms. The researchers say that more than 1,000,000 Americans are that big. The researchers found that fat young women were from wealthy families. The fat women also were 20% less likely to get married and they earned an average of about $6,700 a year less than other women. The study showed less severe effects on fat men. They earned an average of about $3,000 a year less than other men. Fat men also were 11% less likely to get married.
【小題1】
The passage mainly tells us __________.

A．the standards of fat people	B．the number of fat Americans
C．fat people have fewer advantages	D．how long is the study

【小題2】
From this study we know fat people in America __________.

A．were respected	B．earned less
C．were more likely to get married	D．earned more

【小題3】
. The underlined word "severe" here means __________.

A．economic

B．social

C．good

D．serious

【小題4】
The researchers consider the people fat if __________.

A．they eat lots of food and do less exercise

B．they are fatter than others

C．they are in the top of 5% of the measurement of weight

D．they are in the top of the measurement in which weight is linked to height.

On the day Apple debuted the often-delayed white-colored iPhone 4, the company’s marketing department gave a nod to the product’s troubled history.
“Finally.” read the big headline Thursday above a picture of the white phone on the homepage of Apple. com.
The white model was supposed to ship alongside the black one at the iPhone 4’s launch（推出） last June. But design and manufacturing complications delayed the process by 10 months, catching Apple off guard, executives say.
As CNN reported last month, earlier test models of the white iPhone 4 produced unclear photos, especially when the flash（閃光燈） was used. Its whiteness confused the proximity sensor （距離傳感器） , which detects when the phone is held next to someone’s head and turns off the touch screen to save battery life.
These problems weren’t present in older iPhones that came in white because they didn’t have flash photography; the proximity sensor was unaffected because the front side of previous models was black.
“We thought we were there a year ago, or less than that, when we launched the iPhone 4, and we weren’t,” Philip Schiller, Apple’s chief marketing executive, said in an interview. “It’s not as simple as making something white. There’s a lot more that goes into both the material science of it —how it holds up over time…but also in how it all works with the sensors. “
Ticonderoga Securities analyst Brian White predicts that the white model could help drive sales of Apple’s phones. He says Apple could sell 1 million to 1. 5 million every three months until the next iPhone model is unveiled, which is expected to be this fall.
Forty-five people were lined up at Apple’s flagship New York store Thursday morning to buy white iPhones, according to a CNN Money report.
【小題1】
The reason why white-colored iPhone 4 was delayed by 10 months is that _______.

A．it’s always sold out due to its popularity

B．it met some problems concerning design and manufacture

C．it lacked white manufacturing materials

D．its proximity sensor can’t save battery life

【小題2】
According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A．There are multi-colored models of iPhone 4.

B．The same design problems were also found in older white iPhones.

C．IPhone4 will be launched this fall.

D．Originally designers thought they could solve the problems before iPhone 4 was launched.

【小題3】
What would be the best title for this passage?

A．Why the White iPhone 4 Took So Long

B．The History of iPhone 4

C．The Attraction of White iPhone 4

D．The Design and Manufacture of iPhone 4

【小題4】
What does the underlined word “unveil” in the last paragraph mean?

A．to remove one’s mask from his face

B．to remove a cloth from something, especially as part of a ceremony

C．to show to the public for the first time

D．to disappear from the public for the first time

When Gretchen Baxter gets home from work as a New York City book editor, she checks her Blackberry (黑莓手機) at the door. ‘I think we are attached to these devices in a way that is not always positive,’ says Baxter，who’d rather focus at home on her husband and 12-year-old daughter. ‘It’s there and it beckons (召喚). That’s human nature (but)…we kind of get crazy sometimes and we don’t know where it should stop.’
Americans are connected at unprecedented (前所未有的) levels一93% now use cell phones or wireless devices；one third of those are ‘smart phones’ that allow users to browse the Web and check e-mail，among other things. The benefits are obvious: checking messages on the road，staying in touch with friends and family，efficiently using time once spent waiting around. The downside：often，we’re effectively disconnecting from those in the same room.
That's why，despite all the technology that makes communicating easier than ever，2010 was the Year We Stopped Talking to One Another. From texting at dinner to posting on Facebook from work or checking e-mail while on a date，the connectivity revolution is creating a lot of divided attention，not to mention social anxiety. Many analysts say it's time to step back and reassess.
‘What we’re going to see in the future is new opportunities for people to be plugged in and connected like never before,’ says Scott Campbell. ‘It can be a good thing，but I also see new ways the traditional social fabric (社會結(jié)構(gòu)) is getting somewhat torn apart.’
Our days are filled with beeps and pings·----many of which pull us away from tasks at hand or face-to-face conversations. We may feel that the distractions are too much，but we can’t seem to stop posting，texting or surfing.
‘We're going through a period of adjustment and rebalancing,’ says Sherry Turkle and she wants to remind people that technology can be turned off.
‘Our human purposes are to really have connections with people,’ she says. ‘We have to reclaim it. It’s not going to take place by itself.’
【小題1】What can be the best title for the passage?

A．2010: The year technology developed quickly.

B．2010: The year technology sped up our life pace.

C．2010: The year technology replaced talking.

D．2010: The year technology made communicating easier.

【小題2】According to Paragraph l，Gretchen Baxter thinks_________.

A．the new technology always influences people’s life in a positive way

B．the new technology is so tempting that she could even put her daughter and husband behind

C．it is encouraging to see progress on the new technology every year

D．people are too dependent on the new technology to let go

【小題3】Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．The wide use of mobile devices has nothing to do with the ‘traditional social fabric’.

B．Mobile devices play a less important part in American life.

C．Mobile devices create a lot of divided attention and social anxiety.

D．Many analysts speak highly of the wide popularity of mobile devices.

【小題4】What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．Something must be done to get connection with people in reality again·

B．Using mobile services can help people get connection with each other.

C．Mobile services have a strong impact on people’s life.

D．The connection with people can happen naturally.

In general, it seems reasonable to suppose that we should prefer peace and quiet to noise. And yet most of us have had the experience of having to adjust to sleeping in the mountains or the countryside because it was initially “too quiet”, an experience that suggests that humans are capable of adapting to a wide range of noise levels. Research supports this view. For example, Glass and Singer (1972) exposed people to short bursts of very loud noise and then measured their ability to work out problems and their physiological reactions to the noise. The noise was quite disruptive at first, but after about four minutes the subjects were doing just as well on their tasks as control subjects who were not exposed to noise. Their physiological reactions also declined quickly to the same levels as those of the control subjects.
But there are limits to adaptation and loud noise becomes more troublesome if the person is required to concentrate on more than one task. For example, high noise levels affect the performance of subjects who were required to monitor three dials at a time, a task not unlike that of a plane pilot or an air-traffic controller. Similarly, noise did not affect a subject’s ability to track a moving line with a steering wheel, but it did affect the subject’s ability to repeat numbers while tracking (Finkelm and Glass 1970).
Probably the most significant finding from the research on noise is that its predictability is more important than how loud it is. We are much more able to “tune out” long-lasing background noise, even if it is quite loud, than to work under circumstances with unexpected disturbance of noise. In Glass and Singer’s study, in which subjects were exposed to bursts of noise as they worked on a task, some subjects heard loud bursts and others heard soft bursts. For some subjects, the bursts were spaced exactly one minute apart (predictable noise); others heard the some amount of noise overall, but the bursts occurred at random intervals (unpredictable noise). Subjects reported finding the predictable and unpredictable noise equally annoying, and all subjects performed at about the same level during the noise portion of the experiment. But the different noise conditions had quite different after-effects when the subjects were required to proofread written material under conditions of no noise. The study shows that the unpredictable noise produced more errors in the later proofreading task than predictable noise; and soft unpredictable noise actually produced slightly more errors on this task than the loud predictable noise.
Apparently, unpredictable noise produces more fatigue than predictable noise, but it takes a while for this fatigue to take its toll on performance.
【小題1】When talking about people’s difficulty in sleeping in the mountains, what can be inferred in the passage?

A．They usually do not prefer peace and quiet to noise.

B．They may be exposed to short bursts of very strange sounds.

C．They prefer to hear a certain amount of noise while they sleep.

D．They may not have adapted to a higher noise level in the city.

【小題2】What did Glass and Singer find in their noise experiment?

A．Problem-solving is much easier under quiet conditions.

B．Physiological reactions prevent the ability to work.

C．Bursts of noise hardly disturb problem-solving in the long term.

D．The physiological reactions of the control subjects declined quickly.

【小題3】Researchers discovered that high noise levels are not likely to affect the __________.

A．successful performance of a single task

B．tasks of pilots or air traffic controllers

C．a(chǎn)bility to repeat numbers while tracking moving lines

D．a(chǎn)bility to monitor three dials at once

【小題4】 What does “take its toll on performance” in the passage probably mean?

A．Destroy the performance completely.

B．Have a negative effect on the performance.

C．Improve the performance greatly.

D．Have a positive influence on the performance.

Blind imitation (模仿)is self-destruction.To those who do not recognize their unique worth. Imitation appears attractive: to those who know their strenghth. Imitation is unacceptable.
In the early stages of skill or character development, imitation is helpful. When I first learned to cook, I used recipes (菜譜) and turned out some tasty dishes. But soon I grew bored. Why follow someone else’s way of cooking when I could create my own? Imitating role models is like using training wheels on a child’s bicycle; they help you get going, but once you find your own balance, you fly faster and farther without relying on them.
In daily life, imitation can hurt us if we subconsciously (下意識地) hold poor role models. If, as a child, you observed people whose lives were bad, you may have accepted their fear and pain as normal and gone on to follow what they did. If you do not make strong choices for yourself, you will get the results of the weak choices of others.
In the field of entertainment, our culture glorifies celebrities. Those stars look great on screen. But when they step off screen, their personal lives may be disastrous. If you are going to follow someone, focus on their talent, not their bad character or unacceptable behaviors.
Blessed is the person willing to act on their sundden desire to create somrthing unique.Think of the movies,books,teachers,and friends that have affected you most deeply.They touched you because their creations were motivated by inspiration,not desperation.The world is changed not by those who do what has been done brfore them,but by those who do what has been done inside them.Creative people have an endless resource of ideas.The problem a creator faces  is  not running out of material;it is what to do with the material knocking at the door of imagination.
Syudy your role models,accept the gifts they have given,and leave behind what does not server.Then you can say,”I stand on the shoulders of my ancestors”tragedies and  tory ,and know that they are cheering on.
【小題1】Imitation proves useful when you        .

A．know you are unique

B．lose the bslance of life

C．begin to learn something new

D．get tired of routine practice

【小題2】To avoid the bad result of imitation, we should________.

A．forget daily fear and pain

B．choose the right example

C．a(chǎn)sk others for decisions

D．stay away from stars

【小題3】Acording to the author. The world moves on because of those who are          .

A．desperate to intruence others with their knowledge

B．ready to turn their original ideas into reality

C．eager to discover what their ancestors did

D．willing to accept others’ideas

【小題4】The trouble a creator faces is          .

A．the lack of strong motivation

B．the absence of practical ideas

C．how to search for more materials

D．how to use imagination creatively

【小題5】What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage?

A．To highlight the importance of creatively.

B．To criticize the characters of role models.

C．To compare imitation with creation.

D．To explain the meaning of success.

Human remains of ancient settlements will be reburied and lost to science under a law that threatens research into the history of humans in Britain, a group of leading archeologists (考古學(xué)家) says. In a letter addressed to the justice secretary, Ken Clarke, 40 archaeologists write of their “deep and widespread concern” about the issue. It centers on the law introduced by the Ministry of Justice in 2008 which requires all human remains unearthed in England and Wales to be reburied within two years, regardless of their age. The decision means scientists have too little time to study bones and other human remains of national and cultural significance.
“Your current requirement that all archaeologically unearthed human remains should be reburied, whether after a standard period of two years or a further special extension, is contrary to basic principles of archaeological and scientific research and of museum practice,” they write.
The law applies to any pieces of bone uncovered at around 400 dig sites, including the remains of 60 or so bodies found at Stonehenge in 2008 that date back to 3,000 BC. Archaeologists have been granted a temporary extension to give them more time, but eventuallly the bones will have to be returned to the ground.
The arrangements may result in the waste of future discoveries at sites such as Happisburgh in Norfolk, where digging is continuing after the discovery of stone tools made by early humans 950,000 years ago. If human remains were found at Happisburgh, they would be the oldest in northern Europe and the first indication of what this species was. Under the current practice of the law those remains would have to be reburied and effectively destroyed.
Before 2008, guidelines allowed for the proper preservation and study of bones of sufficient age and historical interest, while the Burial Act 1857 applied to more recent remains. The Ministry of Justice assured archaeologists two years ago that the law was temporary, but has so far failed to revise it.
Mike Parker Pearson, an archaeologist at Sheffield University, said: “Archaeologists have been extremely patient because we were led to believe the ministry was sorting out this problem, but we feel that we cannot wait any longer.”
The ministry has no guidelines on where or how remains should be reburied, or on what records should be kept.
【小題1】According to the passage, scientists are unhappy with the law mainly because ______.

A．it is only a temporary measure on the human remains

B．it is unreasonable and thus destructive to scientific research

C．it was introduced by the government without their knowledge

D．it is vague about where and how to rebury human remains

【小題2】Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A．Temporary extension of two years will guarantee scientists enough time.

B．Human remains of the oldest species were dug out at Happisburgh.

C．Human remains will have to be reburied despite the extension of time.

D．Scientists have been warned that the law can hardly be changed.

【小題3】What can be inferred about the British law governing human remains?

A．The Ministry of Justice did not intend it to protect human remains.

B．The Burial Act 1857 only applied to remains uncovered before 1857.

C．The law on human remains hasn’t changed in recent decades.

D．The Ministry of Justice has not done enough about the law.

【小題4】Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?

A．New discoveries should be reburied, the government demands.

B．Research time should be extended, scientists require.

C．Law on human remains needs thorough discussion, authorities say.

D．Law could bury ancient secrets for ever, archeologists warn.

Humpback whales

Humpback whales are sometimes called performers of the ocean. This is because they can make impressive movements when they dive. The name “humpback”, which is the common name for this whale, refers to the typical curve shape the whale’s back forms as it dives. Sometimes the humpback will dive with a fantastic movement, known as a breach. During breaching the whale uses its powerful tail flukes to lift nearly two-thirds of its body out of the water in a giant leap. A breach might also include a sideways twist with fins stretched out like wings, as the whale reaches the height of the breach. A humpback whale breathes air at the surface of the water through two blowholes which are located near the top of the head. It blows a double stream of water that can rise up to 4 meters above the water. The humpback has a small dorsal fin located towards the tail flukes about two-thirds of the way down its back. Other distinguishing features include large pectoral fins, which may be up to a third of the body length, and unique black, and white spots on the underside of the tail flukes. These markings are like fingerprints: no two are the same. Humpback whales live in large groups. They communicate with each other through complex “songs”.	Quick Facts
	Size:	14m~18m in length 30~50 tons in weight
	Living environment:	Open ocean and shallow coastline waters
	Migration:	From warm tropical (熱帶的) waters, where they breed, to cold polar waters, where they eat.
	Diet:	Shellfish, plants and fish of small size
	Hunting:	Sometimes in groups, in which several whales form a circle under the water, blowing bubbles that form a “net” around a school of fish. The fish are then forced up to the surface in a concentrated mass.
	Current state:	Endangered: it is estimated that there are about 5000~7000 humpback whales worldwide.

 
【小題1】According to Quick Facts, a humpback whale ______.

A．cannot survive in waters near the shore	B．doesn’t live in the same waters all the time
C．lives mainly on underwater plants	D．prefers to work alone when hunting food

【小題2】To make a breach, a humpback whale must ______.

A．use its tail flukes to leap out of the water	B．twist its body sideways to jump high.
C．blow two streams of water	D．communicate with a group of humpbacks.

【小題3】From the passage we can learn that a humpback whale ______.

A．has its unique markings on it tail flukes	B．has black and white fingerprints
C．gets its name from the way it hunts	D．is a great performer due to its songs

Skeptics are a strange lot. Some of them refuse to admit the serious threat of human activities to the environment, and they are tired of people who disagree with them. Those people, say skeptics, spread nothing but bad news about the environment. The “eco-guilt” brought on by the discouraging news about our planet gives rise to the popularity of skeptics as people search for more comforting worldviews.
Perhaps that explain why a new book by Bjorn Lomborg received so much publicity. That book, The Skeptical Environmentalist, declares that it measures the “real state of the world” as fine. Of course, another explanation is the deep pockets some big businesses with special interests. Indeed, Mr. Lomborg’s views are similar to those of some Industry-funded organizations, which start huge activities though the media to confuse the public about issues like global warming.
So it was strange to see Mr. Lomborg’s book go largely unchallenged in the media though his beliefs were contrary to most scientific opinions. One national newspaper in Canada ran a number of articles and reviews full of words of praise, even with the conclusion that “After Lomborg, the environmental movement will begin to die down.”
Such one-sided views should have immediately been challenged. But only a different review appeared in Nature, a respected science magazine with specific readership. The review remarked that Mr. Lomborg’s “preference for unexamined materials is incredible (不可信的)”。
A critical (批判的) eye is valuable, and the media should present information in such a way that could allow people to make informed decisions. Unfortunately, that is often inaccessible as blocked by the desire to be shocking or to defend some special interests. People might become half-blind before a world partially exhibited by the media. That’s a shame, because matters concerning the health of the planet are far too important to be treated lightly.
【小題1】 According to the passage, which of the following may be regarded as “skeptics”?

A．People who agree on the popularity of “eco-guilt”.

B．People who disbelieve the serious situation of our planet.

C．People who dislike the harmful effect of human activities.

D．People who spread comforting news to protect our environment.

【小題2】Which of the following can be a reason for the popularity of Lomborg’s books?

A．Some big businesses intend to protect their own interests.

B．The book challenges views about the fine state of the world.

C．The author convinces people to seek comforting worldviews.

D．Industry–funded media present confusing information.

【小題3】The author mentioned the review in Nature in order to_____.

A．voice a different opinion

B．find fault with Lomborg’s book

C．challenge the authority of the media

D．point out the value of scientific views.

【小題4】What is the author’s main purpose in writing the passage?

A．To encourage the skeptics to have a critical eye.

B．To warn the public of the danger of half–blindness with reviews.

C．To blame the media’s lack of responsibility in presenting information.

D．To show the importance of presenting overall information by the media.

Getting rid of dirt, in the opinion of most people, is a good thing. However, there is nothing fixed about attitudes to dirt.
In the early 16^th century, people thought that dirt on the skin was a means to block out disease, as medical opinion had it that washing off dirt with hot water could open up the skin and let ills in. A particular danger was thought to lie in public baths. By 1538, the French king had closed the bath houses in his kingdom. So did the king of England in 1546. Thus began a long time when the rich and the poor in Europe lived with dirt in a friendly way. Henry IV, King of France, was famously dirty. Upon learning that a nobleman had taken a bath, the king ordered that, to avoid the attack of disease, the nobleman should not go out.
Though the belief in the merit of dirt was long-lived, dirt has no longer been regarded as a nice neighbor ever since the 18^th century. Scientifically speaking, cleaning away dirt is good to health. Clean water supply and hand washing are practical means of preventing disease. Yet, it seems that standards of cleanliness have moved beyond science since World War Ⅱ. Advertisements repeatedly sell the idea; clothes need to be whiter than white, cloths ever softer, surfaces to shine. Has the hate for dirt, however, gone too far?
Attitudes to dirt still differ hugely nowadays. Many first-time parents nervously try to warn their children off touching dirt, which might be responsible for the spread of disease. On the contrary, Mary Ruebush, an American immunologist(免疫學(xué)家)，encourages children to play in the dirt to build up a strong immune system. And the latter position is gaining some ground.
【小題1】The kings of France and England in the 16^th century closed bath houses because        .

A．they lived healthily in a dirty environment.

B．they thought bath houses were to dirty to stay in

C．they believed disease could be spread in public baths

D．they considered bathing as the cause of skin disease

【小題2】Which of the following best describes Henry IV’s attitude to bathing?

A．Afraid.	B．Curious.
C．Approving.	D．Uninterested.

【小題3】How does the passage mainly develop?

A．By providing examples.

B．By making comparisons.

C．By following the order of time.

D．By following the order of importance.

【小題4】What is the author’s purpose in writing the passage?

A．To stress the role of dirt.

B．To introduce the history of dirt.

C．To call attention to the danger of dirt.

D．To present the change of views on dirt.

According to a survey released by the Nielson Company on Thursday, China has become a global tourist attraction after the Beijing Olympics.
The survey said the Olympics not only built up China’s image but also served as an advertisement for China’s tourism.
The online survey was conducted on consumers in 16 countries and regions before Games’ opening ceremony and after the closing.
About 80 percent of the respondents had not been to China before the events and 50 percent of them expressed hopes of visiting China after the Games.
According to the survey, 70 percent of the respondents felt Beijing was more modern and scientific than what they had thought.
The most interested respondents were from Singapore, India, Mexico, South Africa and the Republic of Korea, as well as China’s Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Pan Wen, in charge of Chinese tourism research of the Nielson Company, said the World Tourism Organization predicted that China would become the largest tourist attraction in the world with 137 million foreign tourists every year.
“This figure would be realized earlier with the aid of the Beijing Olympics,” Pan said.
【小題1】When was the online survey conducted?

A．During the Olympics

B．Before Games’ opening ceremony and after the closing

C．After the Olympics’ closing

D．We don't know

【小題2】Which countries were the most interested respondents from?

A．Singapore, India, Mexico	B．South Africa and the Republic of Korea
C．China’s Hong Kong and Taiwan	D．All of the above

【小題3】Which country did the World Tourism Organization predict would become the largest tourist attraction in the world?

A．China

B．Japan

C．South Africa

D．Hong Kong

【小題4】Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．About 80 percent of the respondents expressed hopes of visiting China during the Games

B．The online survey was conducted on consumers in 16 countries

C．137 million foreign tourists have come to China every year

D．The Beijing Olympics greatly speed up China’s tourism