三：閱讀理解（共25小題；每小題2分，滿分50分）  
Eye Facts
There are many commonly held beliefs about eyesight that are not proven facts. For example, some people believe that wearing glasses too soon weakens the eyes. But there is no evidence to show that the structure（結(jié)構(gòu)）of eyes is changed by wearing glasses at young age. Wearing the wrong glasses, however, can prove harmful. Studies show that for adults there is no danger, but children can develop loss of sight if they have glasses unsuitable for their eyes.
We have all heard some of the common myths about how eyesight gets bad. Most people believe that reading in weak light causes poor eyesight, but that is untrue. Too little light makes the eyes work harder, so they do get tired and strained. Eyestrain also results from reading a lot, reading in bed, and watching too much television. However, although eyestrain may cause some pain or headaches, it does not damage eyesight in the long term.
Another myth about eyes is that they can be replaced, or transplanted from one person to another. There are close to one million nerve fibers（神經(jīng)纖維）that connect the eyeball to the brain; as of yet, it is impossible to connect them all in a new person. Only certain parts of the eye can be replaced. But if we keep clearing up the myths and learning more about the eyes, someday a full transplant may be possible!
1. This passage is mostly about __________.
A. different types of eye problems        B. myths about eyesight
C. beliefs of eye doctors           D. eye transplants
2. One cause of eyestrain mentioned in the passage is __________.
A. wearing glasses too long      B. suffering from pain or headaches
C. reading in poor light         D. reading before going to bed
3. From the passage we can conclude that __________.
A. doctors are still learning things about eyesight
B. wearing wrong glasses is less harmful to adults
C. eye transplants have been performed successfully
D. people should not wear glasses at young age

It was late Wednesday night when the dreadful phone call reached our home . I rememeber laying in my bed trying to fall asleep when I heard the phone ring . Interested in who would be calling so late I sat up, so I could hear the phone call better . To my surprise , I heard my mom burst into tears , “ Get the car , dear ! Andrea has been in a car accident .”
We ran every red light on the way to the hospital and our tires screeched(發(fā)出刺耳聲) around every corner . We got to the hospital , but were not allowed to see Andrea . The next morning , after wearing masks , we were allowed to go to the ICU to see Andrea . Well , the least I could say was that everything was injured in her body and she lost all of her memories . It was a fatal car accident .
Over the next two months , I lived more at the hospital than I did at my house . I watched as Andrea worked so hard to gain back everyday motor skills . She never once complained or pitied herself , and her determined spirit was shining through . After two weeks in the ICU and two months of regular hospital treatment , Andrea came home . She missed several months of school , so it was hard for her to catch up . Andrea had many tasks to accomplish , and no matter how hard it was , she stuck to it until the job was done . Though she was busy dealing with the pain and the therapy , she always found time to love and play with me .
I’ll never forget the impact that this incident made on my life . I admire my sister for her strong-willed personality and her determined spirit . Today she is perfectly normal , despite the scars and the pins holding her leg in place . I couldn’t ask for a better sister or a hero in my life .
1. The writer wanted to hear the call better , because_______.
A. he sensed that something terrible had happened
B. he might be curious about who would phone so late
C. he wanted to scold the person who phoned so late
D. he wasn’t sure whether the telephone concerned him
2. From the underlined sentence in the second paragraph , we can learn that________.
A. the family didn’t obey the traffic rules
B. the writer’s father wasn’t good at driving
C. the whole family were anxious to see Andrea
D. their house was very far from the hosptial
3. It was mainly________that made the author’s sister recover from the car accident .
A. the family’s encouragement        B. Andrea’s strong will
C. the treatment                    D. the eagerness to study
4. What would be the best title for the passage ?
A. A Miracle Happening to My Sister   B. My Sister—the Hero in My Life
C. An Accident Changed My Sister     D. An Incident Which Influenced Me Much

Since its invention 100 years ago, plastic , the superstar of the technological age, has become ugly and ungreen . But that’s about to change. An exhibition at London’s Science Museum this week could put it back on the cutting edge of science.
Have you ever hesitated in donating blood? The invention of “plastic blood” might make you feel better.
British scientists are working on the artificial blood as a replacement for real blood in emergency situations. It is made of plastic molecules(分子 ) and can join oxygen and transport it around the body. As a red, honey-like glue , plastic blood can be carried around conveniently . You just add water to make as much blood as you need.
The cells  of our body are strict about what molecules the let in and out . For example , if we inject protein or DNA  directly into the body, our immune ( 免疫 ) SYSTEM WILL DESTROY IT BEFORE IT REACHES THE CELLS.
To get around this , a British scientist has created drug-carrying plastic balls that fool the body into thinking they are natural. Once inside the cell, their contents are spread out through a small controlled explosion.
Skin transplants  are widely done these days. But removing a piece of skin from, say , the bottom to plant it on the face  can hurt and be troublesome.
The British company, Celltran, is working on plastic skin. Using plastic, they plan to take a small piece of the patient’s skin and grow it into an extra lay of skin on top of the plastic. a
The plastic  feels similar to skin, so skin cells like to grow on it. The plastic then gradually disappears, without any reaction or infection .
1. What would be the best title for the text?
A. The superstar of technological age
B. An exhibition at London’s Science Museum
C. No more “white pollution”
D. Plastic takes on a new life
2. Which of the following will be on display at the exhibition at London’s Science Museum?
A. Plastic cells               B. Plastic skin
C. Plastic molecules           D. Plastic transplants
3. The phrase “get around “ in Paragraph 5 means closest to ______.
A. overcome  B. end    C. ensure     D. pass
4.Which of the following is true according to the text?
A. Plastic blood will be injected into the body in drug-carrying plastic balls
B.The plastic skin will remain a part of the new skin
C. Plastic blood will take the place of real blood
D. Plastic blood contains a lot of water

第三部分閱讀理解（共20小題；每小題2分，滿分40分）
Burns can be caused by fire, the sun, chemicals, heated objects or fluids, and electricity. They can be minor problems or life-threatening emergencies. Distinguishing a minor burn from a more serious burn involves determining the degree of damage to the tissues of the body. If you are not sure how serious the burn is, seek emergency medical help.
First-degree burns are those in which only the outer layer of skin is burned. The skin is usually red and some swelling (腫大) and pain may occur. Unless the burn involves large portions of the body, it can be treated at home.
Second-degree burns are those in which the first layer of skin has been burned through and the second layer of skin is also burned. In these burns, the skin reddens intensely and blisters (水泡) develop. Severe pain and swelling also occur. Second-degree burns require medical treatment.
Third-degree burns are the most serious and involve all layers of skin. Fat, nerves, muscles, and even bones may be affected. Areas may be charred black or appear a dry white. If nerve damage is substantial, there may be no pain at all. These burns require emergency medical attention.
Follow these steps when treating minor burns at home:
1) If the skin is not broken, run cool water over the burn for several minutes.
2) Cover the burn with a sterile (消過毒的) bandage or clean cloth.
3) Take aspirin to relieve any swelling or pain.
Seek emergency treatment immediately for major burns. Before an emergency unit arrives, follow these steps:
1) Remove the person from the source of the burn (fire, electrical current, etc.).
2) If the person is not breathing, begin mouth-to-mouth resuscitation (人工呼吸) immediately.
3) Remove all clothing to stop further burning. If the clothing is stuck to the burn, do not attempt to remove it.
4) Cover the burned area with a cool, moist, sterile bandage or clean cloth. Do not place any creams, ointments (藥膏) or ice on the burned area or break blisters.
5) Monitor the patient for signs of shock, and treat accordingly.
1. The underlined sentence in the first paragraph probably means “______”.
A. They can be dangerous if you don’t treat them seriously
Ｂ. They range from slight burns to deadly ones
C. They seldom cause deaths even if not treated properly
D. They usually cause deaths if not treated properly
2. Burns are divided into different degrees according to _______.
A. what kind of treatment they need
B. what kind of tissue of the body is damaged
C. whether there is pain and what degree of pain there is
D. which layer of skin is burned
3. From the passage we learn that _______.
A. if there is severe pain, then you need medical treatment
B. first-degree burns don’t require medical treatment
C. burns without pains can be treated at home
D. the larger the swelling is, the more serious it is
4. It can be inferred from the passage that ______.
A. you shouldn’t cover the burn with a bandage or cloth if it is severe
B. you shouldn’t move the person unless you know how to do first aid
C. you shouldn’t run cool water over the burn if the skin is broken
D. you shouldn’t place any wet towels on the burned area
5.where do you probably find the passage?
A.a fashion magazine     B.a guide book
C.a book on first aid      D.a section about culture in the newspaper

Europeans should try to stay indoors if ash from Iceland's volcano starts settling, the World Health Organization warned Friday as small amounts fell in Iceland, Scotland and Norway.
WHO spokesman Daniel Epstein said the microscopic(微小的) ash is potentially dangerous for people when it starts to reach the Earth because inhaled(吸入) particles can enter the lungs and cause respiratory problems. And he also said Europeans who go outside might want to consider wearing a mask.
Other experts, however, weren't convinced the volcanic ash would have a major effect on peoples' health and said WHO's warnings were "hysterical." They said volcanic ash was much less dangerous than cigarette smoke or pollution. Volcanic ash is made of fine particles of fragmented volcanic rock. It is light gray to black and can be as fine as talcum powder. During a volcanic eruption, the ash can be breathed deep into the lungs and cause irritation even in healthy people. But once it falls from a greater distance — like from the cloud currently hovering above Europe — its health effects are often minimal, experts say.
"Not all particles are created equal," said Ken Donaldson, a professor of respiratory toxicology at the University of Edinburgh, "In the great scheme of things, volcanic ash is not all that harmful." And he said most Europeans' exposure to volcanic ash would be negligible and that only those in the near districts of the Icelandic volcano would likely be at risk.
Dr. Stephen Spiro, a professor of respiratory medicine and deputy chair of the British Lung Foundation, said the further the particles travel, the less dangerous they will be. "The cloud has already passed over northern Scotland and we haven't heard of any ill effects there," he said. Spiro said to wear masks or stay indoors to avoid volcanic ash was "over the top" and "a bit hysterical."
1. The text is mainly about         .
A. the effect of volcanic ash  
B. the health risk of volcanic ash
C. the disadvantages of volcanic ash
D. the opinions on health risk of volcanic ash
2. Which one is true according to Paragraph3?
A. The volcanic ash’s effects on Europeans were little.
B. The ash caused irritation even in healthy people.
C. Other experts thought WTO’S warnings were useful.
D. The volcanic ash was more dangerous than cigarette smoke or pollution.
3. The underlined word “hysterical” in Paragraph4 most probably means        .
A. amazing          B. practical        C. valuable            D. overstated
4. What can we learn from the passage?
A. The volcanic ash wouldn’t be harmful to people.
B. All experts thought the volcanic ash did great harm to our health.
C. People close to the volcano would likely be at risk according to some experts.   
D. Europeans should stay indoors because Iceland's volcano starts settling.

Let's pretend we're sailing down the Rhine River on a pleasure boat. The Rhine is one of the main waterways of Germany, and the river traffic is heavy. It's interesting to watch the many boats going up and down the river. But the river traffic is not nearly so interesting as the beautiful scenery along the banks and hillsides. The boat is passing many old castles. We can see people working in the vineyards (葡萄園) on the hillsides. There are vineyards as far as the eye can see. Wine from the Rhine Valley is famous all over the world.
Suddenly our boat slows down and begins to turn a little. We are coming to a sharp bend in the river. On our right we can see a rocky cliff over 400 feet high. At first it looks quite ordinary, but there is nothing ordinary about it. There are many stories, poems, and songs about the cliff. We are looking at the Lorelei.
The someone on the boat begins to sing in German, the song of the Lorelei. It is a song about a beautiful siren (美女) who has lured many sailors to their deaths.
The siren is supposed to sit on the rock combing her long golden hair and singing. The sailors who hear her forget to steer, and the current of river hurls their boats on the rocks and dashes them to pieces.
Soon other people on the boat begin to sing. The beautiful song adds to special magic to the moment, and you begin to realize why so many people have made this trip down the Rhine to see the rock of the Lorelei.
1.The more interesting thing to those who are sailing down the Rhine River on a pleasure boat is      .
A. to watch many boats going up and down the river
B. to see the beautiful scenery along the banks and hillsides
C. to hear a song about beautiful siren
D. to see a beautiful siren combing her golden hair
2. Which of the following is famous all over the world?
A. The Rhine River.                   B. The River Traffic.
C. Wine from the Rhine Valley.          D. The Lorelei.
3. We can see a rocky cliff over 400 feet high      .
A. on our right when coming to a sharp bend       B. on the Rhine hillsides
C. from the Rhine Valley                 D. on the boat
4. The song of the Lorelei is about      .
A. The Rhine wine                   
B. a rocky cliff
C. the beautiful scenery along the Rhine River 
D. a beautiful and dangerous woman genie

It’s been claimed that playing a musical instrument makes you smarter．
New research suggests that regularly playing a musical instrument changes the shape and power of the brain, and may be used in therapy (療法) to improve cognitive (認(rèn)知) skills．
Experts say there is growing evidence that musicians have brains that are structurally and functionally different from those of non-musicians, especially in the areas of the brain used in processing (處理信息)
The parts of the brain that control motor skills, the storage of audio information, hearing and memory become larger and more active when a person learns how to play an instrument and can apparently improve the alertness (警覺) and planning．
Lutz Jancke, a psychologist at the University of Zurich, said, “Leaning to play a musical instrument has great benefits and can increase IQ by seven points in both children and adults．We found that even people over the age of 65, after four or five months of playing an instrument for an hour a week, had strong changes in the brain.” The parts of the brain that control hearing and memory, and the part that controls the hands, among others, all become more active.
“Of course music isn’t the only answer, but I do believe that it should be used in addition to other things.”
Mr．Jancke also said that learning a musical instrument could also make it easier to learn foreign languages and make one more sensitive to understanding the emotions of others．“So not only does this make it easier to pick up other languages and have a better memory of one’s own, we have also seen musicians are able to pick out exactly what others are feeling just by the tones of their voices—sympathy, disappointment, that kind of things.”
He added, “Several studies indeed show that playing music increases memory and language skills, but more research is needed.”
1．What is the passage mainly about?
A．How to use musical instruments.
B．How music affects the brain.
C．How playing music makes people smarter.
D．The development of research into music.
2．Compared with non-musicians, __________.
A．musicians are better at foreign languages
B．musicians are more active in sports
C．musicians have stronger emotions
D．musicians’ brains work differently in processing
3．Which of the following is NOT a benefit of playing an instrument?
A．It makes it easier for one to pick up foreign languages.
B．It allows one to show his feelings more exactly to others．
C．It gives one a better memory in one’s own language．
D．it makes one understand others’ feelings better．
4．From Luz Jancke we lean that _________．
A．playing an instrument benefits children more than adults
B．playing an instrument has no benefits for people over 65
C．some studies show playing music can increase memory
D．he will do more research into brain development and music

第三部分：閱讀理解（共20小題，每小題2分，滿分40分）
As China’s women’s gymnastics team enjoyed the glory of winning the country’s first team Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games，the young gymnasts took the opportunity to remind the world that they are old enough to compete．
Weeks before the Beijing Games, some international media raised questions about the ages of some of the members of China’s gymnastics team, particularly He Kexin and Jiang Yuyuan. They said the girls might be younger than 16, the minimum age for the Olympics. But the Chinese Gymnastics Association quickly provided copies of the gymnasts’ ID cards and passports, proving they are indeed old enough to compete.
In the final, He Kexin gave a clean performance on her favorite uneven bars（高低杠）, earning the second highest score after falling from the bars during qualification. “Although I fell down in the qualification, I became more confident today to make up for my mistake and I finally made it.”She said. It was a great moment for head coach Lu Shanzhen. “Our team made history today and proved to the world that we are the best.” the coach said, “The gold medal is not only for the gymnastics team，but also for the whole Chinese delegation at the Beijing Games.”
The coach owed the team’s success to a series of reforms. The Chinese team used to train a 1ot, but competed less, which led to poor results in international competitions. To improve their ability to compete and to strengthen their psychological power, the Chinese team sent more team members to compete abroad, so they could bring a competitive spirit back to the team. All six gymnasts in the Olympic team final were selected from fierce competition, and they proved themselves today.
1. Before the Beijing Games started，some international media doubted whether ________.
A. Chinese women gymnasts could win the team gold medal
B. He Kexin would fall from the bars during qualification
C. Chinese women gymnasts could make history at the Beijing Games
D. some Chinese women gymnasts were old enough for the Games
2. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. The international media’s doubts proved to be true.
B. He Kexin’s fall in the qualification had no bad effect on her performance in the final competition.
C. Chinese women gymnasts’ success at the Beijing Games proved that the reforms did work.
D. Each team is made up of 6 members to compete for the team gold medal in women gymnastics.
3. In the opinion of Lu Shanzhen, the key to achieving success for athletes is to________.
A. practice harder than ever                    B. experience more competitions abroad
C. have strong psychological power                    D. have a competitive spirit
4. The main purpose of the text is to________.
A. tell a story     B. provide evidence           C. give a report            D. compare opinions 

NEW YORK （Reuters Health）--Two years after New York City declared war on artificial trans fats（人造反式脂肪酸）, nearly all city restaurants had successfully cut the fats from their menus, health officials reported Monday.
In December 2006, the city’s Board of Health decided to launch a gradual trans-fat phase-out （逐步淘汰）from all licensed eating establishments--including restaurants, school cafeterias and street vending spots. Then many cities like Washington, San Francisco and Philadelphia, reflected it actively.
By November 2008, more than 98 percent of city restaurants had stopped using artificial trans fats for cooking, frying and baking, researchers with the city’s health department report in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Trans fats have become notorious because they not only raise so-called “bad” LDL cholesterol （膽固醇）, as the fats in animal products do, but also lower levels of so-called “good”HDL cholesterol.
While some meats and dairy products naturally contain trans fat, most trans fats in people’s diet are artificial; they are formed when manufacturers add hydrogen to vegetable oil to make it become solid. These so-called partially hydrogenated oils were main products in foods, like crackers, cookies and pastries, and widely used by restaurants in cooking, frying and baking.
When the restriction was first adopted, the researchers note, some critics claimed it was an Orwellian measure, while others worried that restaurants would have a tough time finding suitable trans-fat replacements.                                                     
However, the transition has been smooth, Angell’s team writes, declaring that trans-fat restriction “is now a largely unnoticed part of New York City life.”
Ridding the food supply of trans fats, the researchers write, could potentially improve the cholesterol levels of millions of people.
1. In which city the local health department first decide to stop artificial trans fats?
A. Washington.    B. San Francisco.     C. Philadelphia.      D. New York.
2. We can learn from the third paragraph that ________.
A. in the city most people still use artificial trans fats
B. only a few restaurants still use trans fats and the decision win most people’s support
C. the city’s decision proves to be useless
D. many people think using artificial trans fats is not so bad
3. The underlined word “notorious” in the fourth paragraph means ________.
A. having a very bad reputation          B. having a very good reputation
C. nutritious                         D. delicious
4. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. New York restaurants are nearly all trans-fat-free （無……有）
B. None of the restaurants in the U.S can use trans fats.
C. Most of the restaurants still use trans fats once in a while.
D. Trans fats are bad for health.

Fresh flowers actually continue to grow while in a vase．So in order to keep flowers fresh, you need to consider what the flowers need to grow and stay healthy．Flowers need water, light, and food．Besides, you need to be aware of a few precautions to take．
Distilled water（蒸餾水） is the best kind of water to use for fresh flowers, because there are no chemicals in it．Change the water for your fresh flowers every day or no less than every 2 days to prevent bacteria（細(xì)菌） building up．Cut the stems under water again before putting them back in the vase, so that they will be able to draw water up easily．
Keep your fresh flowers out of direct sunlight．At night, put them in the fridge．This will prolong their life．Adding commercial flower food to good water is probably the best method of keeping flowers fresh．Some people put sugar in the water for food．That is OK, but commercial flower food has bacteria-killing ingredients, which can make the water more acidic（酸性的）．If you want a more natural food for your fresh flowers, try water that has been specially treated．That solution will also give the water acidity, sugar, and bacteria-killing ability．
Keep your fresh flowers away from fruit．Fruit gas, or ethylene, will reduce the life of your fresh flowers, making them get older faster．Ethylene is what makes fruit ripen．It is given off by dead flowers, too, so be sure to remove them．
If you follow these tips, your fresh flowers will last a long time and beautify any room in which you put them．
1．What does the underlined word precautions in Paragraph 1 mean?
A．problems that happen to flowers． B．a(chǎn)dvantages of having flowers．
C．measures taken to prevent problems．   D．preparations to grow flowers outside．
2．The fact that distilled water is most beneficial for fresh flowers indicates that ______．
A．distilled water is perfect for people to drink
B．running water shouldn’t be used to water flowers
C．it takes great efforts to keep flowers fresh
D．fresh flowers aren’t used to certain chemicals
3．In order to prolong the life of fresh flowers, you should ______．
A．protect them from direct sunlight during the daytime
B．put them in a damp place at night
C．put them in a fridge all the time
D．put them near water during the daytime
4．Which of the following is the best method of keeping flowers fresh?
A．Cutting the stems under water before putting them back．
B．Using distilled water and commercial flower food．
C．Keeping them away from fruit gas．
D．Watering them with water which contains sugar．