Trees are useful to man in three important ways: they give him wood and other useful things, they give him cool places, and they help to stop drought and flood.
Unluckily, in many parts of the world, man has not found that the third of these points is the most important. Man wants to make money from trees, so he has cut them down in large numbers, only to find that without them he has lost the best friends he had. And also, he is usually too careless to plant and look after new trees. So the forests slowly disappear.
This does not only mean that man will have fewer trees. The results are even worse: for where there are trees, their roots break up soil-make the rain in-and also bind the soil, thus stopping it from being washed away easily; but where there are no trees, the rain falls on hard ground and flows away, causing floods and carrying away the rich top-soil. When all the top-soil is gone, nothing is left but useless desert.
【小題1】The most important points of trees to man is ________.

A．they help him to make money

B．they give him cool

C．they give him wood and other things

D．they help him to stop drought and floods

【小題2】In many places forests slowly disappear because ________ .

A．many trees have been cut down by man

B．new trees are not well looked after

C．man has not paid enough attention to planting trees

D．a(chǎn)ll the above

【小題3】Land becomes desert after all trees are cut down because ________ .

A．roots of trees break up the soil

B．there are too many rainfalls

C．strong winds bring a lot of sand

D．there are no longer trees to keep the rain and protect the top-soil.

【小題4】Which title best fits the passage?

A．Trees and Man

B．The Function of Tree Wood

C．How do People do with Trees?

D．The Usage of Tree Roots

Some of Man's closest relatives in the animal kingdom are under serious threat because of human activity, according to a recently published report.
Almost one in three of all apes and monkeys are now considered to be in danger of dying out and disappearing from our planet, if action is not taken soon.
The report, which was produced for the World Conservation Union (WCU), shows that 114 of the world's 394 kinds could be lost forever, and the main reason they are threatened is the continuing loss of forests where most of these animals live. In addition, illegal wildlife trade, climate change and commercial（商業(yè)的）hunting for meat are also endangering them.
What's more, the problem is getting worse. The number of species on the organization’s Red List has increased by 3 to 25 since 2005.
Russell Mittermeier, the main researcher of the WCU report, said, "You could fit(安置) all the surviving members of these 25 species in a single football stadium. So the problem is obviously urgent."
The scientists, who drew up the Red List, believe that the situation is now so bad that if action is not taken immediately, it will result in primate(靈長(zhǎng)目動(dòng)物) species dying out - something which has not happened in over a century.
The loss of habitat caused by the clearing of forests for wood, farmland and fuel continues to be the main reason for the decreasing number of primates, according to the report, and the problem was most severe in Asia.
The loss of forest trees is also responsible for 20 percent of all greenhouse gases - more than all the cars, trucks, trains and airplanes in the world combined.
【小題1】What is the main subject of the report discussed in the text?

A．Climate change.	B．Loss of animal habitat.
C．Animal protection.	D．Endangered animals

【小題2】How many animals were on the Red List in 2005?

A．22

B．19

C．25.

D．28.

【小題3】The spokesman refers to 'a football stadium' in paragraph 5 to stress that ______.

A．the animals enjoy playing sports

B．these animals should be placed there for protection

C．there are not many of these animals left

D．the report was announced there

【小題4】What is the main cause of the greenhouse gas problem according to the text?

A．Airplanes.	B．Loss of trees.
C．Factory pollution.	D．Road vehicles.

Do you know how it is when you see someone yawn and you start yawning too? Or how hard it is to be among people laughing and not laugh yourself? Well, apparently it's because we have mirror neurons (神經(jīng)元）in our brains.
Put simply, the existence of mirror neurons suggests that every time we see someone else do something, our brains imitate (模仿)it, whether or not we actually perform the same action. This explains a great deal about how we learn to smile, talk, walk, dance or play sports. But the idea goes further: mirror neurons not only appear to explain physical actions, they also tell us that there is a biological basis for the way we understand other people.
Mirror neurons can undoubtedly be found all over our brains, but especially in the areas which relate to our ability to use languages, and to understand how other people feel. Researchers have found that mirror neurons relate strongly to language. A group of researchers discovered that if they gave people sentences to listen to (for example: "The hand took hold of the ball"), the same mirror neurons were triggered as when the action was actually performed (in this example, actually taking hold of a ball).
Any problems with mirror neurons may well result in problems with behavior. Much research suggests that people with social and behavioral problems have mirror neurons which are not fully functioning. However, it is not yet known exactly how these discoveries might help find treatments for social disorders.
Research into mirror neurons seems to provide us with even more information concerning how humans behave and interact (互動(dòng)). Indeed, it may turn out to be the equivalent (相等物)for neuroscience of what Einstein's theory of relativity was for physics. And the next time you feel the urge to cough in the cinema when someone else does—well, perhaps you'll understand why.
【小題1】Mirror neurons can explain _________.

A．why we cry when we are hurt

B．why we cough when we suffer from a cold

C．why we smile when we see someone else smile

D．why we yawn when we see someone else stay up late

【小題2】The underlined word "triggered" in the third paragraph probably means “_________”.

A．set off

B．cut off

C．built up

D．broken up

【小題3】We can learn from the passage that mirror neurons _________.

A．relate to human behavior and interaction

B．control human physical actions and feelings

C．result in bad behavior and social disorders

D．determine our knowledge and language abilities

【小題4】What is the passage mainly about?

A．Ways to find mirror neurons.	B．Problems of mirror neurons.
C．Existence of mirror neurons.	D．Functions of mirror neurons.

GU Zhaodi, 60, had taken water for granted for years. In fact, no one in the beautiful lake city of Wuxi, Jiangsu Province had bothered to spare a thought on water.
But all that changed dramatically overnight last month when taps in the city ran dry. Due to a blue-green algae(藻類)  outbreak in Taihu Lake, China’s third largest freshwater lake and the source of drinking water for 4 million Wuxi residents(居民),water from the city’s taps became dark and smelly.
“I can’t believe there is no water for drinking, let alone cooking and washing,”said Ｇu.
The lake was blanketed with the algae, giving off a strong smell of rotting meat. A stone thrown into it took a long time to sink. Experts said that algae usually boom because of hot water and rich chemicals like phosphor(磷)in the water.
“High temperature and a lack of rain in the past few months helped the growth of algae,”said Zhang Lijun, an official from the State Environment Protection Administration. “However, pollution from human activity should be most blamed for the disaster.”
Taihu Lake is surrounded by many small factories, whichsprang up in the 1980s.Inthe 1990s,many foreign-funded(外資的) companies joined in. The industries prospered(繁榮)，Wuxi has grown into one of the wealthiest cities in East China.
But that came at the price of pollution. The lake was treated like a waste dump(垃圾堆)，with factories emptying industrial waste and untreated sewage(污水)into it.
Although, after the government's effort, life in the city has gone back to normal, the one-week crisis（危機(jī)）rang a bell for the government and local people.“It's time to rebuild the beauty of nature, or our lives will be at risk,”said Gu.
“A safe environment comes first. Economic growth will be nothing without fresh water to drink and clean air to breathe.” said China Daily.
【小題1】The following can not help the blue green algae grow______

A．high water temperature	B．rich chemicals in the water
C．a(chǎn) lack of rain	D．plentiful water and sunshine

【小題2】What can we learn from the passage?

A．The one-week disaster has made the local people realize the importance of building a beautiful city.

B．It is human activity rather than the algae that is to blame for the water pollution.

C．Only when the environment is safe and friendly can man live a better and healthier life.

D．Environment should be taken into consideration first if a city plans to develop its economic.

【小題3】According to the passage ,Taihu Lake________

A．is the third largest lake in China.

B．is surrounded by many foreign-funded factories and companies.

C．used to be a waste dump.

D．suffered from industrial waste，untreated sewage and algae.

【小題4】The underlined phrase “sprang up” in the sixth paragraph means______

A．develop quickly	B．produce goods quickly
C．come to life	D．grow up

We have designed all our bank cards to make your life easier.
How to use your NatWest Servicecard .
As a Switch card, it lets you pay for all sorts of goods and services, wherever you see the Switch logo. The money comes straight out of your account, so you can spend as much as you like as long as you have enough money ( or an agreed overdraft (透支) to cover it. It is also a cheque guarantee for up to the amount shown on the card. And it gives you free access to your money from over 31,000 cash machines across the UK.
How to use your NatWest Cashcard
You can use your Cashcard as a Solo card to pay for goods and services wherever you see the Solo logo. It can also give you access to your account and your cash from over 31,000 cash machines nationwide. You can spend or withdraw what you have in your account, or as much as your agreed overdraft limit.
Using your cards abroad
You can also use your Servicecard and Cashcard when you’re abroad. You can withdraw cash at cash machines and pay for goods and services wherever you see the Cirrus or Maestro logo displayed.
We take a commission charge (手續(xù)費(fèi)) of 2.25% of each cash withdrawal you make. . We also apply a foreign-exchange transaction fee of 2.65%.
How to use your Nat West Credit Card
With your credit card you can do the following：
* Pay for goods and services and enjoy up to 56 days interest-free credit.
* Pay in over 24 million shops worldwide that display the Mastercard or Visa logos.
* Collect one AIR MILE for every￡20 of spending that appears on your statement（結(jié)算單）.
（This does not include foreign currency or traveller’s cheques bought，interest and other charges.）
【小題1】If you carry the Servicecard or the Cashcard , ________.

A．you can use it to guarantee things as you wish

B．you can draw your money from cash machines conveniently

C．you can spend as much money as you like without a limit

D．you have to pay some extra money when you pay for services in the UK

【小題2】If you withdraw￡200 from a cash machine abroad, you will be charged ________.

A．￡4.90

B．￡4.5

C．￡5.25

D．￡5.3

【小題3】Which of the following is TRUE about using your NatWest Credit Card?

A．You have to pay back with interest within 56 days.

B．You will be charged some interest beyond 56 days.

C．You can use the card in any shop across the world.

D．You will gain one air mile if you spend ￡20 on traveller’s cheques.

【小題4】The purpose of the passage is to show you how to ________.

A．play your cards right

B．use your cards abroad

C．draw cash with your cards

D．pay for goods with your cards

This dictionary tells you about English words and how to use them in reading, writing and speaking English. It not only gives the meaning of words, it can also help you with spelling, word-building, grammar and pronunciation.
To use your dictionary correctly, you need to understand how the dictionary works. At the front of the book, you will find some exercises to help you make the most use of your dictionary.
If you look up the word “colour”, you will find two spellings for this word. “Colour” is used in British English, while “color” is used in American English. When there are differences between British and American spelling, the dictionary shows it with the word “BrE” for British English and “AmE” for American English.
The dictionary also helps you pronounce words correctly. We use a special alphabet (特殊字母) to show pronunciation. If you turn to the inside back face, you will see all the phonetic letters (音標(biāo)) with some words to show you how they are pronounced. Just look at the inside back cover when you’re not sure how to say a word.
The most important reason for using a dictionary is to find out the meaning of a word—its definition
In this dictionary, the definitions have been written using only 2000 words. This means that the definitions of even the most difficult words are simply explained and easy to understand.
When a word has more than one meaning, read all the meanings until you find the one that correctly tells the use of the word you are looking for.
Most of the words in this dictionary can be used by people in all parts of the world.
【小題1】The AmE spelling of the Chinese word “顏色” in this dictionary is ________.

A．colour

B．colar

C．color

D．corner

【小題2】The phonetic alphabet help you ________ each word correctly.

A．understand

B．write

C．say

D．know

【小題3】The underlined word ‘definition’ means__________

A．詞性

B．詞條

C．詞義

D．詞庫(kù)

【小題4】The dictionary explains ________.

A．some of the difficult words

B．a(chǎn)ll the words in the dictionary in a simple way

C．a(chǎn)ll easy words

D．the words with two meanings

About ten men in every hundred suffer from color blindness in some way. Women are luckier; only about one in two hundred is affected in this matter. Perhaps, after all, it is safer to be driven by a woman!
There are different forms of color blindness. In some cases a man may not be able to see deep red. He may think that red, orange and yellow are all shadows of green. Sometimes a person cannot tell the difference between blue and green. In rare cases an unlucky man may see everything in shades of green － a strange world indeed.
Color blindness in human beings is a strange thing to explain. In a single eye there are millions of very small things called “cones”. These help us to see in a bright light and to tell difference between colors. There are also millions of “rods”, but these are used for seeing when it is near dark. They show us shape but no color.
Some insects have favorite colors. Mosquitoes prefer blue to yellow. A red light will not attract insects, but a blue lamp will. In a similar way human beings also have favorite colors. Yet we are lucky. With the aid of the cones in our eyes we can see many beautiful colors by day, and with the aid of the rods we can see shapes at night. One day we may even learn more about the invisible colors around us.
【小題1】The passage is mainly about _____________.

A．color and its surprising effects.

B．women being luckier than men

C．danger caused by color blindness

D．color blindness

【小題2】According to the passage, with the help of the “cones”, we can_______________.

A．tell different shapes	B．see in a weak light
C．kill mosquitoes	D．tell orange from yellow

【小題3】Why do some people say it is safer to be driven by women?

A．Women are more careful.

B．There are fewer color-blind women

C．Women are fonder of driving than men.

D．Women are weaker but quicker in thinking.

【小題4】Which of the statements about the color- blind is true?

A．Not all of them have the same problem in recognizing color.

B．None of them can see deep red.

C．None of them can tell the difference between blue and green.

D．All of them see everything in shades of green.

【小題5】We can attract and kill mosquitoes by using a _____________.

A．red light

B．yellow light

C．blue light

D．green light

An experimental treatment that causes AIDS patients to develop a dangerously high fever has shown promise as a way of prolonging and improving the patients’ life.Called the Biologic-HT System, the new treatment lets doctors extract the blood of a patient and heat it before circulating it back into the body. The heated blood causes the patient’s body temperature to rise above 42 degrees Celsius. In people with AIDS, that increase in temperature kills some heat-sensitive HIV, the virus, most doctors say, causes AIDS.
Heating the blood of AIDS patients has been tried before, say doctors. But during previous attempts, the treatment induced deadly chemical changes in the blood. The Biologic-HT System prevents those changes from happening, allowing the heat to kill viruses with few ill side effects.
The new heat treatment cannot be considered a cure for Aids, says president of the company that makes the system. He says the treatment doesn’t kill all traces of the virus. However, it kills enough virus particles to give a patient’s immune system a reprieve in its deadly duel with HIV.
Tests of the Biologic-HT treatment began on 36 patients earlier this year. The treatment takes about four hours, and the patient normally feels well enough to leave the hospital or clinic the following morning.
So far, the patients who have had the treatment say they feel better and have developed no new opportunistic infections—disease that strike people with damaged immune systems. The patients also have experienced about a 50 percent increase in the number of T cells in their bodies. T cells are key disease-fighting cells of the immune system and the main target of HIV.
【小題1】This passage is mainly concerned with ____________.

A． a way for treating AIDS

B． a heat-sensitive virus

C． the immune system of the human body

D． the function of high temperature

【小題2】The blood of the patient___________.

A． is heated with a single injection

B． is heated by being circulated at a higher rate

C． is taken out from the body and then circulated through a heating system.

D．is taken out from the body, heated outside and then put back into the body.

【小題3】The previous attempts to use high temperature for treating AIDS failed because they_________.

A．caused chemical changes

B．could not kill HIV effectively

C．resulted in deaths

D．killed both HIV and healthy cells

【小題4】According to the passage, the new treatment___________.

A．can kill all the HIV viruses

B．cannot eliminate the viruses completely

C． can double the number of disease-fighting cells

D．can reconstruct the patient’s immune system.

【小題5】The result of the experiment seems to be ___________.

A．disappointing

B．incomplete

C．successful

D．surprising

The Peppered Moth, a kind of insect(昆蟲), is found in England. It is light brown in colour and likes to settle(棲息) on trees which are also light brown. This makes the moth difficult to be seen and birds are less likely to notice and eat it.
But with the development of industry(工業(yè)) , smoke from factories began to reach the trees where the moth settled. It made the trees blacker. Then something very strange took place: in industrial areas, the Peppered Moth began to change colour. It became darker as well. Though the change took several years, some scientists soon notice that newly-born moths were a little darker than usual.
A scientist with the name Kettlewell decided to make a careful study of this phenomenon(現(xiàn)象). He marked some of the light moths and some of the darker ones, and set them free in the woods near Bermingham, an industrial city. Later, he recaptured(重新捕獲) as many as the marked moths as possible. The results were as follows.

	light moths	darker moths
Moths set free	201	601
moths recaptured	34(16%)	206(34%)

Kettlewell's research (研究) was done in the early 1950s. Soon afterwards Britain introduced new laws to reduce smoke and factory pollution.
Can you imagine what would happen to the Peppered Moth as the air became cleaner again?
【小題1】The Peppered Moth began to change its colour in industrial areas because         .

A．it itself liked to

B．it could be like the colour of its living-place

C．it had to keep the balance of nature

D．it was usually dark brown

【小題2】From the results of Kettlewell's research, we can see that       .

A．many more of the light moths were killed or eaten

B．more than one-fifth of the light moths was not killed

C．three times as many dark moths were kept safe as light ones

D．more dark moths were killed in industrial areas

【小題3】As the air became cleaner,        .

A．the number of the light moths became larger

B．the total number of the light moths remained unchanged

C．there were more of the darker moths and fewer of the light ones

D．the darker moths changed into the light ones suddenly

One of the world's richest men has taken a close interest in one of man’s most basic functions: visiting the toilet．Bill Gates’s charitable organization, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is looking for inventors to design the loo of the future, which, they hope, would improve sanitation for millions of people around the world．
So, what's wrong with the traditional flush toilet? Firstly, it wastes a huge amount of potential drinking water．Secondly, they are more likely to cause pollution．This is a real problem in many areas of the developing world, where, according to United Nations estimates, unsafe sanitation causes half of all hospitalizations．Younger people are particularly at risk．Illnesses which cause diarrhea are responsible for the deaths of about 1.5 million children a year．Finally, standard lavatories simply aren’t practical in remote areas．
The challenge set by Bill Gates was to come up with a latrine which works without running water, electricity or aseptic tank(化糞池)．It also needed to operate for less than 5 cents．28 designs were displayed at the recent Reinvent the Toilet Fair in Seattle, USA．Among them was one which turned human waste into electricity using microwaves, another which converted human waste into charcoal, and yet another which used urine for flushing．
But the winner was a solar-powered design which generated hydrogen gas and electricity.The team from the California Institute of Technology（CIT）picked up a prize of $ 100,000.
But clearly Bill Gates doesn’t feel he’s flushing money down the toilet．After the Seattle event he said, “We, couldn’t be happier with the response we’ve gotten,” Gates has even pledged $370m more to the future toilet project．They hope to field test more prototypes over the next three years．
【小題1】Why is Bill Gates paying people to invent new toilets?

A．Because he wants to test people’s sense of creativity．

B．Because he wants to improve sanitation for many people．

C．Because he thinks the traditional ones are out of fashion．

D．Because he can’t design this kind of things himself．

【小題2】Which of the following is NOT a problem with the traditional flush toilet?

A．They waste too much water．

B．They might cause diseases．

C．They are not always practical．

D．They are too complicated to use.

【小題3】The underlined word “l(fā)atrine” in the third paragraph might have similar meanings to the word “__ ”n the text．

A．Loo

B．sanitation

C．diarrhea

D．prototype

【小題4】The team from CIT won the prize because their design        .

A．can change human waste into electricity

B．can turn human waste into charcoal

C．can produce power with solar energy

D．can use urine for flushing

【小題5】If someone “flush money down the toilet”, they are       .

A．showing off their wealth

B．being angry with their work onditions

C．wasting money for nothing

D．expressing their great determination