C
Patients and doctors alike have long believed in the healing (治療) power of humor. It is claimed that humor not only affects patients’ moods, but can actually help them recover faster.
Several studies seem to support this. Patients in better spirits are known to have higher immune cell counts. Some have even claimed to have healed themselves of serious illnesses by reading comics and watching comedies.
Despite all this, many researchers are not convinced. They point out the fact that many sufferings have been known to disappear naturally, with or without a daily dose of laughter. They also say that while optimism in general does seem to be related to better health, it is hard to tell which comes first.
Humor in times of stress, however, clearly makes us feel better. On one level, it takes our minds off our troubles and relaxes us. On another, it releases powerful endorphins, a chemical produced by your body that reduces pain.
There are cases where the appreciation of a good joke is indeed directly related to a person’s health. It can show, for example, whether a person has suffered damage to one particular area of the brain: the right frontal lobe (額葉).
Scientists confirmed this by having people read jokes and asking them to choose the funniest endings from a list. Subjects with normal brains usually chose endings that were based on a relatively complex synthesis (綜合) of ideas. Subjects with specifically located brain damage, however, responded only to slapstick (鬧劇) endings, which did not depend on a particular context. When pressed, the brain-damaged subjects saw the logic in the correct endings. They simply did not find them funny.
Of course, humor is largely an individual matter. Next time your friend does not get one of your jokes, there is no need to accuse him of being a lamebrain. However, you might suggest that he lighten up—for the health of it.
63. We can infer from the passage that ________.
A. all researchers have agreed on the healing power of humor
B. people seldom accuse their friends of not understanding jokes
C. the author holds a positive attitude to the healing power of humor
D. reading comics will surely become a popular way of treating diseases
64. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. Many researchers are not convinced of the healing power of humor.
B. Patients in bad moods are known to have higher immune cell counts.
C. Optimism in general does seem to be related to better health.
D. People should try their best to cheer up for their good health.
65. Scientists had some people read jokes and asked them to choose the funniest endings from a list to confirm that ________.
A. the brain-damaged people are different from those with normal brains
B. a person with a normal brain usually responds to slapstick endings
C. a person suffering certain brain damage doesn’t appreciate a good joke
D. humor takes our minds off our troubles by releasing powerful endorphins
66. Which would be the best title for the passage?
A. Which comes first, humor or health?             B. Humor can cure different illnesses
C. People need humor in times of stress        D. Humor contributes to good health

C
Arthritis, stroke, osteoporosis(骨關(guān)節(jié)炎), heart disease and dementia are what we’ve got to look forward to in old age. But conditions like these don’t have to be impossible to avoid, says New Zealand cook Robyn Martin. She firmly believes that we are what we eat and we can choose to consume foods that can slow the aging process and even prevent certain illnesses. That’s why her latest cookbook is devoted to recipes that use ingredients with a large number of anti-aging benefits. Stop the Clock—the Anti-Aging cookbook looks at a variety of health problems—from brain decline and joint aches and pains to heart disease and high cholesterol(膽固醇)—then lists foods that can improve or prevent them and offers a selection of recipes using those ingredients. “I wrote this book so I can offer people lots of information about foods that can give them a better old age.”
Six foods that can help slow the aging process:
1. Lentils
The important substance included in lentils is the one that can help you avoid the unpleasant symptoms of menopause(更年期), like mood swings.
2. Blueberries
Blueberries slow and, in some cases, reverse damage in aging brains. They are also rich in some chemicals which keep your looking young and help relieve arthritic(關(guān)節(jié)炎的) pain.
3. Carrots
Carrots have high levels of beta-carotene, which changes to vitamin A in the body. So they may help with memory, do good to the skin and are also thought to lower cholesterol.
4. Oats
The protein, calcium and phosphorus in oats all help build strong bones and connective tissue. The fibre they contain helps lower cholesterol and high blood pressure.
5. Spinach
Spinach is a good source of two important substances involved in protecting the DNA in our cells from oxication(氧化). It not only helps to strengthen the memory and turn off genes that can step up aging, but also can help improve the symptoms of osteoarthritis.
6. Soy
Soy products help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels and are rich in phytoestrogens, which can help prevent hormone-related cancers. Soy can also be helpful to the skin, making it firm and youthful.
Did you know? Tomatoes contain a powerful substance which is not only useful for preventing problems in the heart, and lungs, but also prevents diseases like cancer. To gain the most benefit, tomatoes should be cooked.
64. If memory often fails you, which of the following combination will be good to you?
A. soy and carrots                                            B. oats and soy
C. lentils and blueberries                                          D. carrots and spinach
65. This passage mainly deals with _____.
A. foods and ingredients  B. foods and health  C. foods and nutrition     D. foods and diseases
66. The passage is written _____.
A. to tell the readers recipes play an important role in keeping healthy
B. to advertise the foods mentioned in the passage
C. to tell the readers how to slow the aging process
D. to tell the readers how to cure some diseases by taking right foods

 
C
New York City was dealing with a growing public health threat Sunday after tests confirmed (證實(shí)) that eight students at a private Catholic high school had contracted（感染）the same strain of the AH1N1 flu that has ravaged (重創(chuàng)) Mexico . Some of the school’s students had visited Cancun on a spring break trip two weeks ago .
Officials reported 68 U.S. cases of AH1N1 flu in five states so far , with the latest in Ohio and New York . Unlike in Mexico , cases in the United State have been mild – and U.S. health authorities can’t yet explain why .
In New York City , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that there were 45 cases , Mayor Michael Bloomberg said .
About 100 students at St. Francis Preparatory School complained of flu-like symptoms(癥狀) ; further tests will determine how many of those cases are AH1N1 flu. St. Francis is the largest private Catholic high school in the nation , with 2, 700 students . The school canceled classes on Monday and Tuesday in response to the outbreak .
Bloomberg stressed that the New York cases were mild and many are recovering , but said that some family members of students also had flu symptoms .
In Mexico , health officials say a strain of AH1N1 flu has killed up to 160 people and sickened over 2, 000 . New York officials said the flu strain discovered in the patients here is the same strain as in Mexico , though all the New York cases are mild .
AH1N1 flu is a respiratory (呼吸道) disease of pigs caused by type A flu viruses . Human cases are uncommon but can occur in people who are around pigs . It also can be spread from person to person . Symptoms include a high fever , body aches , coughing , sore throat and respiratory congestion .
49.The passage seems to suggest that _________ .
New York City hasn’t done enough to prevent the disease
the AH1N1 flu in the U.S. likely came from Mexico
people appear to have immunity (免疫力) to the virus
children are likely to be infected with the AH1N1 flu
50. What did St. Francis do in response to the outbreak ?
A. The school called off courses .
B. The school handed out masks to every student .
C. The school planned another trip to Cancun .
D. The infected students were required to stay at home .
51.Compared with cases in the U.S. cases in Mexico are _________ .
A. milder      B. more typical     C. more severe      D. more gentle
52. Which is the main idea of the article ?
A. AH1N1 flu is spreading quickly globally .
B. Many people died of AH1N1 flu in Mexico
C. How does AH1N1 flu spread ?
D. AH1N1 flu is confirmed in New York City

C
The Tasmanian devil is a rare marsupial(有袋動(dòng)物)that lives only on the Australian island state of Tasmania. The doglike animal is rapidly disappearing. The Tasmanian state government estimates that the number of devils has dropped from around 150,000 in the mid-1990s to between 20,000 and 50,000 at the end of 2007.
The devil was declared an endangered species last week. It is being wiped out by a rare cancer called devil facial tumor(腫瘤)disease(DFTD). It spreads like a cold or flu from animal to animal. The disease is passed when one devil bites another. When the marsupial is infected with DFTD, large tumors develop around its mouth and neck. These growths make it impossible for the devil to eat. Many finally die from starvation within six months of being infected. As the name implies, the disease occurs only in Tasmanian devils and cannot be passed to humans.
You’ve got to remember that devils are scavengers(清掃工). They search through garbage for food. Throughout Tasmania people maintain outdoor dumps. If somebody threw out a carcass(獸類尸體), then the devils might actually consume quite large quantities of it.
The disease has not yet appeared in the devil population that lives in the northwest region of Tasmania. Conservationists have captured some of the healthy devils and sent them to a new home on the mainland of Australia. They hope these DFTD-free marsupials can be used to start a captive-breeding population. Once there are more disease-free devils, they can then repopulate the areas of Tasmania where the species are being wiped out.
Tasmanian devils play an important role in keeping the state’s ecosystem in balance. They keep the population of other predators, such as foxes and wild cats, in check. Ray Nias, head of World Wildlife Federation—Australia’s conservation program, says all Tasmanian wildlife will suffer if the devil becomes extinct. “If the devils go and the foxes and cats increase, it would be all over for a good dozen or more species of mammals, many of which are unique to Tasmania.”
46. It can be inferred that the Tasmanian devil is __________.
A. a hard-working street-cleaner                        B. a grass-eating animal
C. a meat-eating marsupial                                D. A DFTD origin
47. What’s the reason for making the Tasmanian devil endangered?
A. A rare disease called DFTD occurs in Tasmanian devils.
B. Dogs like to attack Tasmanian devils.
C. Tasmanian people try to wipe out Tasmanian devils.
D. The region of Tasmania is becoming hard for Tasmanian devils to breed.
48. To which question does the last paragraph give the answer?
A. How should people protect the devils?
B. What do the Tasmanian people do with the devils?
C. What happens if the devils disappear?
D. Which animal is closely related to the devils?
49. What measures do Tasmanian people take to stop the devils from being wiped out?
A. Trapping disease-free devils in a new place to breed more young devils.
B. Searching the cause of the disease and finding an effective treatment.
C. Developing new chemicals for the infected animals.
D. Moving all the devils to a new home on the mainland of Australia.
50. What’s true about DFTD?
A. It’s a disease that can be spread to human beings.
B. It’s a cold that occurs only in Tasmanian devils.
C. It’s a flu that Tasmanian devils get from their companions.
D. It’s a cancer that can be passed from one Tasmanian devil to another.

D
To what degree can a computer achieve intelligence (智力)? The answer to this question may lie in a newly-developed US computer program called Smarter Child and the Internet．
If you ran into Smarter Child online , you would be surprised at this kid’s huge memory．It can recite many facts． For example , Smarter Child knows every baseball player in every team this season．
He knows every word in the dictionary and the weather in every major city areas across the US．However , if you ask Smarter Child other questions , you get stranger answers．A question about Smarter Child’s age returns． “One year, 11 days, 16 hours, 7 minutes, and 47 seconds!” Asking where he lives gets , “In a clean room in a high-tech building in California．”
Smarter Child uses the vast information on the World Wide Web as his memory bank．To answer questions about spelling , for instance , Smarter Child goes to American Heritage Dictionary online．For the weather , he visits www．intellicast．com．
Some scientists believe that by joining the many systems of the Internet , an artificial being with the combined knowledge of , say , Albert Einstein, Richard Nixon and Britney Spears could be born．However if Smarter Child wants to think and learn on his own like the boy-computer David in the movie A．I．, Artificial Intelligence , he must overcome two problems．
The first is that computers find it difficult to read web pages because the files are labeled in different ways．That’s why programmers need to tell Smarter Child where to look for the weather．It would be a much more difficult task to let him find it himself．
Another problem is that while Smarter Child can process (處理) information more exactly and faster than any human , he lacks common sense—a basic grounding of knowledge that is obvious to any young child．
67．From the text we can infer that www．intellicast．com is a website___________．
A．which is specially designed to help Smarter Child
B．where we people can find Smarter Child
C．where weather forecasts are made
D．which is about artificial intelligence
68．It is probably most difficult for Smarter Child to_______．
A．tell us how to spell a difficult word
B．tell us how the American government is run
C．provide us with a famous poem by Shakespeare
D．learn how to tell right behaviors from wrong ones。
69．Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?
A．Smart Child has his own memory bank big enough for all kinds of information．
B．A．I．Artificial Intelligence is probably the name of a film about a boy-computer．
C．Smart Child can recognize different files and find information needed on his own．
D．We have similar product now which has the knowledge of Einstein , Nixon and Spears．
70．Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A．A New Web Child      B．Smarter Child
C．The Future of Internet    D．Intelligence Development

As many as 60,000 people worldwide die each year from too much sun, but simple safety steps could prevent many deaths, according to a World Health Organization report.
The report, released on Wednesday, was treated as the first overall look at the global health burden from UV radiation, which is linked to up to 90 percent of melanoma（惡性黑色素瘤） and other skin cancers. UV radiation can also cause sunburn, more rapid skin aging, eye diseases, and reactivation of the herpes（皰疹） virus that causes cold sores, and pterygium, a fleshy growth on the surface of the eye.
“We all need some sun, but too much sun can be dangerous—and even deadly,” said Dr Maria Neira, the director of WHO’s agency of public health and the environment, who released the report.
To prevent cancer and other diseases linked to UV radiation, the agency recommends that people:
— Limit time in the midday sun.
— Use shade wisely and seek shade when UV rays are most intense.
— Wear protective clothing, hats and sunglasses.
— Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor 15+.
— Avoid sunlamps and tanning parlours.
People under age 18 should not use them at all.
“The application of sunscreens should not be used to prolong sun exposure but rather to protect the skin when exposure is unavoidable,” the report warned.
The report also noted that the ground’s surface can make a difference:
— Fresh snow reflects as much as 80 percent of ultraviolet light.
— Sea foam reflects about 25 percent.
— Dry beach sand reflects about 15 percent.
Small amounts of exposure to the sun help the skin to produce vitamin D.
48. The report was highly spoken of mainly because ____.
A. it had listed up to 60,000 deaths from UV radiation
B. it related the deaths to UV radiation
C. it showed the advantages and disadvantages of UV
D. it found out the approaches to preventing deaths from UV radiation
49. According to Dr Maria Neira, which of the following is TRUE?
A. In fact we need only a small amount of sunlight.
B. Receiving large amounts of sunlight will cause deaths.
C. Midday sunlight has stronger UV radiation.
D. Melanoma will disappear if we follow the report’s advice.
50. As a construction worker, it is strongly recommended that ____.
A. he should stay inside the building                 B. he spread sunscreen on the face
C. he should wear good sunglasses                           D. he be equipped with sun protection
51. Which of the following can be the headline of the passage?
A. UV—A Deadly Killer From The Sun               B. Melanoma Can Be Prevented Today
C. UV—A Great Need For Vitamin D                   D. Teenagers Mustn’t Stay Outside

Violent gangs. Bar fights. Broken bones. No, we aren’t talking about a late night in Downtown Chico; we’re talking about the things that come to many people’s minds when the word, motorcycle, is mentioned.
Many Chico State students have learned of the convenience of small motorcycles and scooters when it comes to parking on or near campus. Motorcycle parking is something that is available when compared to the amount of vacant automotive parking—something especially valuable when running a bit late for class. Motorcycle-riding students have also learned to appreciate the 50 to 80 average miles per gallon, especially today when it seems as if gasoline prices are shooting up faster and more often than a back alley addict.
Still, some people are reluctant to ride the steel horse. Marc Lewis, a 24-year-old Chico State anthropology student, is one of those people. “I’ve had motorcycles in the past. I know what they’re about. I want another one, for recreational purposes,” Lewis said. The only things holding Lewis back are insurance costs and what he refers to as “unsafe drivers”. Safety and insurance costs certainly are important factors.
Chris Kelley, employee of Cost-U-Less Insurance Center at 166 Cohasset Road, Suite 3, admits that motorcycle insurance can get pricey. The average price per month for Chico State students in their 20s is about $100, Kelley said. “The most expensive rate I’ve ever charged was something like $32,000 a year,” Kelley said. “The guy had a horrible record.”
If a motorcycle is something that you’ve always been curious about but have been frightened by the dangerous image it is often given, try rethinking your position. Motorcycling is one of the most diverse activities in existence. Consider the information you find here a brief introduction to several of the more popular aspects of motorcycle riding.
44. When it comes to motorcycles, one tends to think of ____.
A. a late night in Downtown Chico           B. the horse made of steel
C. the money paid for insurance               D. a horrible image motorcycles give
45. According to the second paragraph, which of the following is NOT true?
A. It is very convenient for students to ride motorcycles.
B. The campus has enough parking place for motorcycles.
C. Students are often late for class riding motorcycles.
D. Motorcycles consume less gasoline.
46. Why are some people unwilling to ride the steel horse?
A. Because they often have their bones broken.
B. Because they are worried about the costly insurance and safety problems.
C. Because they have to pay for the pricey gasoline.
D. Because they don’t want to ride it for entertainment.
47. The writer intends to tell us in the last paragraph that ____.
A. we shouldn’t buy a motorcycle due to the danger it causes
B. many people are frightened by the dangerous image
C. we shouldn’t be curious about the motorcycle any more
D. motorcycles are still popular regardless of the disadvantages

E
Although we already know a great deal about flu, and although the World Health Organization is constantly collecting detailed information from its chain of flu reference laboratories throughout the world, it is extremely difficult for epidemiologists, who study infectious diseases, to predict when and where the next flu epidemic will occur, and how serious it will be. 
There are three kinds of flu virus, known as A, B and C. Flu C virus is relatively stable and causes mild infections that do not spread far through the population. The A and B types are unstable, and are responsible for the epidemics that cause frequent concern. Following any virus attack, the human body builds up antibodies （抗體） which can be changed into immunity to that type of virus but a virus with the ability to change its character is able to bypass this protection. Variability（可變性） is less developed in the flu B virus, which affects only human beings. Flu B virus may cause a widespread epidemic but will have little effect if introduced into the same community soon afterwards, since nearly everyone will have built up antibodies and will be immune. The flu A virus, which affects animals also, is extremely unstable and is responsible for some of the worst outbreaks of the disease, such as the world epidemic, of 1918 and 1919, when about half the world’s population were infected and about twenty million people died, some from pneumonia caused by the virus itself and some from secondary complication caused by bacteria. Accurate prediction is difficult because of the complication of the factors. A particular virus may be related to one to which some of the population have partial involved immunity. The extent to which it will spread will depend on factors such as its own strength, or virulence （病毒性）, the ease with which it can be transmitted and the strength of the opposition it encounters （遇到）. Scientists, however, have a reliable general picture of the world situation. 
72. Which of the following is the most appropriate title for the passage? 
A. Symptoms of Flu                                                       B. Man VS Flu Virus 
C. WHO: The Major Organization against Flu Virus       D. Variability of Flu Virus 
73. What does the author say about the flu B virus? 
A. B Virus is relatively stable and causes mild infections that do not spread far through the population. 
B. B Virus is unstable, and is responsible for the epidemics that cause frequent concern. 
C. B virus is extremely unstable and is responsible for some of the worst outbreaks of the disease. 
D. B virus has a very developed variability, and it affects only human beings. 
74. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a factor contributing to the extent to which a virus spreads?
A. The strength of the virus.               B.The ease with which the virus can be transmitted.
C. The strength of the opposition. D.The immunity the virus can bring about.
75. This article is quite probably ________.
A. a piece of news                                    B. a special science report
C. an introduction to a disease             D. a scientific fiction 

第三部份：閱讀理解（共兩節(jié)，滿分50分）
第一節(jié)，閱讀下列短文，從每題所給的四個(gè)選項(xiàng)（A、B、C、D）中，選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)，并在答題卡上將該選項(xiàng)涂黑。（共20小題，每小題2分，滿分40分）
A
Here is how your health risks increase at different BMIs(體重指數(shù)) if your waist circumference（腰圍） is higher than 40 inches（102 cm） in men and 35 inches （88 cm） in women:
·If your BMI is in the 18.5 to 24.9 range, or “Normal”, then a larger waist that is near or greater than 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women can indicate that you are at “increased” risk.
·If your BMI is in the 25 to 29.9 range, or “Overweight”, then a larger waist (less than or equal to 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women) can indicate that you are at “increased” risk. Above these sizes,the risk is considered “high”.
·If your BMI is in the 30 to 34.9 range, or “Obese(肥胖癥)I”, then a larger waist (less than or equal to 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women) can indicate that you are at “high” risk. Above these sizes, the risk is considered “very high.”
·If your BMI is in the 35 to 39.9 range, or “Obese II”, then a larger waist (less than or equal to 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women) can indicate that you are at “very high” risk. Above these sizes, the risk is still considered “very high”.
·If your BMI is or in the 40 + range, or “Obese III”, then a larger waist (less than or equal to 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women) can indicate that you are at “extremely high” risk. Above these sizes, the risk is still considered “extremely high”.
41．People’s BMIs fall into ______ ranges.
A．3      B．4       C．5       D．6
42．How can we judge a man’s health risk according to the passage?
A．By his BMI.
B．By his waist circumference.
C．From neither his BMI nor his waist circumference.
D．From both his BMI and his waist circumference.
43．If a woman’s BMI is 35 and her waist is 34, we can consider her health risk is _____.
A．normal     B．high  C．very high  D．extremely high
44．The best title for this passage might be _____.
A．What Having a Bigger Belly Means.
B．High Risks.
C．Measuring Belly Fat.
D．Are You at High Risk?

Cancer researchers urged people on Wednesday to take more vitamin D to lower risk of cancer, saying studies showed a clear link. “Our suggestion is for people to increase their intake (吸入，攝入), through diet or a vitamin supplement,” Dr. Cedric Garland said in a telephone interview.
Garland's research team reviewed 63 studies, including several large long-term ones, on the relationship between vitamin D and certain types of cancer worldwide between 1966 and 2004. “There's nothing that has this ability to prevent cancer,” he said, urging governments and public health officials to do more to fortify (增強(qiáng)) foods with vitamin D. Garland is part of a University of California at San Diego Moores Cancer Center team that published its findings this week online in the American Journal of Public Health. Vitamin D is found in milk, as well as in some fortified orange juice, yogurt and cheeses, usually at around 100 international units（IU）a serving. “People might want to consider a vitamin supplement to raise their intake to 1000 IUs per day” Garland said， adding that it was well within the safety guidelines established by the National Academy of Sciences.
The authors said that taking more vitamin D could be especially important for people living in northern areas, which receive less vitamin D from sunshine.
“African Americans, who don't produce as much of the vitamin because of their skin colour, could also benefit significantly from a higher intake,” the authors said.
61. According to the passage, people are advised to take more Vitamin D, because__.
A. it is nutritious             B. it can‘t harm people’s health
C. it can lower cancer risk      D. it is not taken enough every day
62. Which of the following can not help people get more Vitamin D?
A. Have some sunshine        B. Have more meat
C. Have more fortified cheese   D. Have a vitamin supplement
63.Who can Garland probably be?
A. A health researcher        B. A doctor   
C. A scientist               D. A public health official
64.Which of the following food can lower people‘s chance of getting cancer?
A. Milk                    B. Fortified orange juice
C. Fortified yogurt           D. All of the above
65.People from which area should take more Vitamin D according to the passage?
A. Asian people               B. African people 
C. American people            D. European people