Using too much water or throwing rubbish into our rivers are clear ways that humans can put our water supply in danger, but we also affect our water supply in less obvious ways. You may wonder how paving(鋪砌) a road can lead to less usable fresh water. A major part of the water we use every day is groundwater. Groundwater does not come from lakes or rivers. It comes from underground. The more roads and parking lots we pave, the less water can flow into the ground to become groundwater.
Human activity is not responsible for all water shortages(短缺). Drier climates are of course more likely to have droughts(干旱) than areas with more rainfall, but in any case, good management can help to make sure there is enough water to meet our basic needs.
Thinking about the way we use water every day can make a big difference, too. In the United States, a family of four can use 1.5tons of water a day! This shows how much we depend on water to live, but there's a lot we can do to lower the number.
You can take steps to save water in your home. To start with, use the same glass for your drinking water all day. Wash it only once a day. Run your dishwasher only when it is full. Help your parents fix any leaks (泄露、漏洞)in your home. You can even help to keep our water supply clean by recycling batteries instead of throwing them away.
【小題1】Which of the following is most likely to lead to less groundwater?

A．Using river water.	B．Throwing batteries away.
C．paving parking lots.	D．Throwing rubbish into lakes.

【小題2】The meaning of the underlined word mans          .

A．water on the ground	B．water from a well(井)
C．water from the deep earth	D．water from lakes or rivers

【小題3】What can be inferred from the text?

A．All water shortages are because of human behavior.

B．It takes a lot of efforts to meet our water needs.

C．There is much we can do to reduce family size.

D．The average family in America makes proper use of water.

【小題4】The last paragraph is intended to            .

A．show us how to fix leaks at home

B．tell us how to run a dishwasher

C．prove what drinking glass is best for us

D．suggest what we do to save water at home

【小題5】The text is mainly about _____________.

A．why paving roads reduces our water.

B．how much we depend on water to live.

C．why droughts occur more in dry climates.

D．how human activity affects our water supply.

What will people die of 100 years from now? If you think that is a simple question, you have not been paying attention to the revolution that is taking place in bio­technology. With the help of new medicine, the human body will last a very long time. Death will come mainly from accidents, murder and war. Today's leading killers, such as heart disease, cancer, and aging itself, will become distant memories.
In discussion of technological changes, the Internet gets most of the attention these days. But the change in medicine can be the real technological event of our times. How long can humans live? Human brains were known to decide the final death. Cells are the basic units of all living things, and until recently, scientists were sure that the life of cells could not go much beyond 120 years because the basic materials of cells, such as those of brain cells, would not last forever. But the upper limits will be broken by new medicine. Sometime between 2050 and 2100, medicine will have advanced to the point at which every 10 years or so, people will be able to take medicine to repair their organs. The medicine, made up of the basic building materials of life, will build new brain cells, heart cells, and so on—in much the same way our bodies make new skin cells to take the place of old ones.
It is exciting to imagine that the advance in technology may be changing the most basic condition of human existence, but many technical problems still must be cleared up on the way to this wonderful future.
【小題1】According to the passage, human death is now mainly caused by ________.

A．diseases and aging	B．a(chǎn)ccidents and war
C．a(chǎn)ccidents and aging	D．heart disease and war

【小題2】In the author's opinion, today's most important advance in technology lies in ________.

A．medicine

B．the Internet

C．brain cells

D．human organ

【小題3】Humans may live longer in the future because ________.

A．heart disease will be far away from us

B．human brains can decide the final death

C．the basic materials of cells will last forever

D．human organs can be repaired by new medicine

【小題4】How long can humans live in the future according to the passage?

A．Over 100 years.	B．More than 120 years.
C．About 150 years.	D．The passage doesn't tell us.

【小題5】We can learn from the passage that ________.

A．Cells aren’t the basic units of all living things any more

B．humans have to take medicine to build new skin cells now

C．much needs to be done before humans can have a longer life

D．we have already solved the technical problems in building new cells

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

A．weight­loss camps have been very popular in China six years ago

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

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

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

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

A．Advertising on some new candies.

B．ignorance of weight-control.

C．Playing computer games for long time.

D．Having pocket money.

【小題3】The underlined word “sedentary” in the third paragraph probably means________.

A．confident

B．patient

C．energetic

D．inactive

【小題4】According to the passage we can infer________.

A．obesity explosion in China will affect the United States

B．there are great difference in kids' food choices now

C．junk food leads to childhood obesity

D．city children eat more than rural children

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

A．Chinese Childhood Obesity problem

B．Weight­loss Camps in China

C．Obesity problem's influence on Chinese Economy

D．Obesity problem in China and America

Pigs are always considered dirty animals because they roll in mud．But in fact they prefer  being quite clean．They cover themselves with mud to help stay cool．During cooler weather,  they prefer to stay clean．So do elephants, who also cover themselves in dust or mud to keep cool．When they find a place with clean water they will take a bath，using their long noses to give  themselves—or each other—a nice shower
Some animals use dust to get clean．Chinchillas (南美洲栗鼠) have very fine fur． They don’t like to take water baths because water is not warm enough for them．So, instead, they roll  around in fine dust．The dust helps to keep their fur and skin dry．This protects them from disease
Usually, a small bird is a light meal for a crocodile．But when a crocodile wants its teeth  cleaned．it lies on the ground with its mouth open．The crocodile bird goes in and picks out any  parasites(寄生蟲)between the crocodile’s teeth or under its tongue．The crocodile gets its mouth cleaned，and the crocodile bird gets dinner．
You wouldn’t think fish would need baths．But some undersea parasites live under the  fish’s skin．“Cleaner” fish，like the wrasse(隆頭魚)，help take them away．The wrasse stands on its head and dances to signal a big fish that it is ready to go into the cleaning business．The big fish will stop moving and open its mouth wide so the wrasse can swim inside and pick out  parasites and bits of food．
【小題1】The passage is mainly about how animals __________．

A．stay clean

B．help each other

C．get their food

D．take baths

【小題2】What can we learn from the first paragraph about pigs?

A．They can help each other take baths．

B．They are dirtier during cooler weather．

C．They prefer taking baths to rolling in mud．

D．They like to stay cool and clean．

【小題3】Chinchillas use dust to get clean for the following reasons EXCEPT that ________．

A．dust can dry their fur and skin	B．They are not good at swimming
C．Water is too cold for them	D．Dust is good for their health

【小題4】From Paragraphs 3 and 4，we can know that __________．

A．Some animals can get clean from others’ help

B．Most animals are friendly to each other

C．Small animals couldn’t get food from big ones

D．All of the animals prefer to stay clean

Hello! My name is Lisa, and I am a lioness. I live on the open grasslands of Africa with my family. Lions living in a group are called a pride.
My father is strong and powerful. He and his cousin are the leaders of our pride. The other members are my mother, her sisters, and their children.
The area where a pride lives is big! We roar (咆哮) to tell each other where we are and to warn strangers to stay away.
Come to meet my new baby brother. His name is Leon. See the spots on his fur? We lions are born spotted or striped (有條紋的). As we grow older, the spots gradually disappear.
Lionesses usually spend their entire lives with their birth pride, but Leon will leave when he is about three years old. He’ll run around with a male (雄性的) friend or relative for a few years until they take over a pride of their own.
But for now, we have lots of fun together. We often play and fight for hours, which can help us practice skills that we will need for hunting.
We lions keep ourselves very clean. Just like a house cat, I clean my fur with my tongue. We clean for each other, too, to show we’re friends.
Lions like to sleep for most of the day. We hunt in the cool evening. Female (雌性的) lions hunt more often than male lions. We work together as a team. At the right moment, we attack and kill our prey. Then we share it. Male lions usually eat first. Females eat next. Baby lions are the last to eat. The smallest one gets the least food.
Since we are full, it’s time to go to find a nice place for a sleep. Bye!
【小題1】From the text, we can learn that Lisa comes from______.

A．Asia

B．Africa

C．Europe

D．America

【小題2】The underlined word “prey” in the passage probably means _____.

A．the animal that is hunted

B．the animal that is dangerous

C．the animal that is powerful

D．the animal that is ill

【小題3】Which of the following is NOT true?

A．Lions sometimes clean their fur for each other.

B．Lions also develop their skills of hunting by having fun.

C．Lions usually hunt for food in the evening.

D．Baby lions are often the first to get food in their group.

【小題4】The passage is written for _____.

A．doctors

B．political leaders

C．children

D．hunters

【小題5】According to the passage, Leon _____.

A．hunts more often than his sisters

B．will have spots on his fur for the whole of his life

C．will leave his birth pride when he is about three

D．will take over his birth pride when his father dies

The earth is the only planet that scientists think has life. Why does the earth have life while the other planets (行星) don't? For one thing, the earth is just the right temperature. As the_third_planet from the sun, the earth seems to be just the right distance away. The planets which are closer to the sun are hot that their surfaces bake (烘烤) in the sun. The farthest planets are cold balls.
When the earth developed — which scientists believe may have happened about 4 billion years ago — many gases covered the earth. The gases caused the earth to be hot. But something wonderful happened. The temperature was just right for thick clouds to form. It rained very hard for a very long time. This gave the earth its oceans. Water made it possible for plants to grow. The plants created oxygen in the atmosphere. Oxygen is the gas that humans and animals breathe.
Only one other planet in the solar system seems to be something like the earth. That planet is Mars (火星). Mars is smaller than the earth, and it is quite a bit cooler. But it is not too cold for humans. On some days, the temperatures are as low as a winter day in the northern United States. If you wore a special space suit, you could walk around on Mars. You would have to bring your own air to breathe, the air on Mars is too thin to breathe.
Mars has the largest volcano (火山) in the solar system. It is sixteen miles high. The highest volcano on the earth is five miles high. The most unexpected (未預(yù)測(cè)到的) sight on Mars is dried up river beds. Scientists believe that Mars was once much better than it is now. Does this mean there could have been living things on Mars? Scientists are not sure, but there has been no sign so far.
【小題1】Which of the following is NOT the reason that the earth has life?

A．The earth is just the right temperature.

B．The volcanos on earth are lower than those on Mars.

C．There is oxygen in the atmosphere of the earth.

D．The earth seems to be just the right distance away from the sun.

【小題2】The underlined phrase “the third planet” in the first paragraph refers to ________.

A．the Sun	B．the Moon
C．the Earth	D．the Mars

【小題3】Which of the following about the Mars is NOT true?

A．There could have been living things on Mars.

B．Mars has the largest volcano in the solar system.

C．There is almost no oxygen in the air on Mars.

D．Mars is smaller than the earth, and it is quite a bit cooler.

If English means endless new words，difficult gramrnar and sometimes strange pronunciation，you are wrong．Haven’t you noticed that you have become smarter since you started to learn a language?
According to a new study by a British university，learning a second language can lead to an increase in your brain power，Researchers found that learning other languages changes grey matter．This is the area of the brain which processes information．It is similar to the way that exercise builds muscles．
The study also found the effect is greater，the younger people learn a second language.
A team led by Dr Andrea Mechelli，from University College London，took a group of Britons who only spoke English．They were compared with a goup of “early bilinguals．’’who had learnt a second language before the age of five，as well as a number of later learners．
Scans showed that grey matter density(密度)in the brain was greater in bilinguals than in people without a second language．But the longer a person waited before mastering a new language，the smaller the difference.
“Our findings suggest that the structure of the brain is changed by the experience of learning a second language，”said the scientists.
It means that the change itself increases the ability to learn．
Professor Dylan Vaughan Jones of the University of Wales has researched the link between bilingualism and maths skills. ‘‘Having two languages gives you two windows on the world and makes the brain more flexible，”he said．“You are actually going beyond language and have a better understanding of different ideas．”
The findings were matched in a study of native Italian speakers who had learned English as a second language between the ages of 2 and 34. Reading，writing，and comprehension were all tested．The results showed，that the younger they started to learn，the better．“Studying a language means you get an entrance to another world，’’explained the scientists．
【小題1】The main subject talked about in this passage is         

A．language can help brain power

B．man's ability of learning a second language

C．science on learning a second language

D．language learning and maths study

【小題2】In the second paragraph，the writer mentions “exercise” in order to     

A．say language is also a kind of physical labor

B．make people believe language learning helps grey matter work well

C．show the importance of using the language when you learn the language

D．prove that one needs more practice when he(she)is learning a language

【小題3】The underlined word‘‘bilinguals”in Paragraph 4 probably means       

A．people who can speak two languages

B．second language learners

C．researchers on language learning

D．a(chǎn)ctive language learners

【小題4】We may know from the scientific findings that        

A．the experience of learning a second language has bad effect on people’s brain

B．there is no difference between a later second language learner and one who doesn’t know a second language

C．the earlier you start to learn a second language，the higher the grey matter density is

D．the ability of learning a second language is changing all the time

【小題5】In the last two paragraphs，the author wants to tell us that      

A．learning a second language is the same as studying maths

B．Italian is the best choice for you as a second language

C．you’d better choose the ages between 2 and 34 to learn a second language

D．early learning of a second language helps you a great deal in studying other subjects

Today just as technology changed the face of industry, farms have undergone an “agricultural revolution”. On the farm of today, machines provide almost all the power.
One of the most important benefits will be the farm computer. A few forward-looking farmers are already using computers to help them run their farms more efficiently. The computers help them keep more accurate records so they can make better decisions on what crops to plant, how much livestock to buy, when to sell their products, and how much profit they can expect. Many computer companies have been developing special computer programs just for farmers. Programs are being written for hog producers, grain farmers, potato farmers, and dairy farmers. In the future, farmers will be able to purchase computer programs made to their needs. Because of the growing importance of computers on the farm, students at agricultural colleges are required to take computer classes in addition to their normal agricultural courses. There can be no doubt that farmers will rely on computers even more in the future. While the old-time farm depended on horse power, and modern farms depend on machine power, farms of the future will depend on computer power.
Another technological advance which is still in the experimental stage is the robot, a real “mechanized hired hand” that will be able to move and, in some ways, think like a human being. Agricultural engineers believe that computer-aided robots will make startling changes in farming before the end of the century. Unlike farmers of the present, farmers of the future will find that many day-to-day tasks will be done for them. Scientists are now developing robots that will be able to shear sheep, drive tractors, and harvest fruit. Even complex jobs will be done by robots. For example, in order to milk their cows, farmers must first drive them into the barn, then connect them to the milking machines, watch the machines, and disconnect them when they are finished. In the future, this will all be done by robots. In addition, when the milking is completed, the robots will automatically check to make sure that the milk is pure. The complete mobilization of the farm is far in the future, but engineers expect that some robots will be used before long.
【小題1】According to the passage, computers can NOT help farmers decide _______.

A．what livestock to raise

B．whether to plant a certain kind of crop

C．how much money they can earn from their products

D．when to sell their products

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

A．Farmers in the future will depend totally on computers.

B．Both computers and robots have been in use on today’s farms.

C．Farmers mainly use machines on their farms at present.

D．Students at agricultural colleges must take computer classes because they can do nothing without the help of computers on today’s farms.

【小題3】According to the engineers, _______will be done by robots in the near future.

A．a(chǎn)ll farm work	B．milking cows
C．most of the farm work	D．some farm work

【小題4】What is the best title for the whole passage?

A．Computer, Farmers’ Best Friend

B．The Agricultural Revolution

C．Farmers in The Future

D．Computers and Robots

Why is pink or purple a color for girls and blue or brown for boys?
The answer depends largely on cultural values as well as personal experiences. To the Egyptians, green was a color that represented the hope and joy of spring, while for Muslims, it means heaven. Red is a symbol of good luck in many cultures. In China, children are given money in a red envelope to bring good fortune in the New Year. For many nations, blue is a symbol of protection and religious beliefs. Greek people often wear a blue necklace hoping to protect themselves against evils（災(zāi)禍）.
People’s choice of colors is also influenced by their bodies’ reactions （反應(yīng)）toward them. Green is said to be the most restful color. It has the ability to reduce pain and relax people both mentally and physically. People who work in green environment have been found to have fewer stomach aches.
Red can cause a person’s blood pressure to rise and increase people’s appetites（食欲）. Many decorators will include different shades of red in the restaurant. Similarly, many commercial websites will have a red “Buy Now” button because red is a color that easily catches a person’s eye.
Blue is another calming color. Unlike red, blue can cause people to lose appetite. So if you want to eat less, some suggest that eating from blue plates can help.
The next time you are deciding on what to wear or what color to decorate your room, think about the color carefully.
【小題1】Muslims regard green as a symbol of heaven mainly because of their        .

A．cultural values

B．commercial purposes

C．personal experiences

D．physical reactions to the color

【小題2】Why will many commercial websites have a red “Buy Now” button?

A．To relax people physically.

B．To increase people’s appetites.

C．To encourage people to make a purchase.

D．To cause a person’s blood pressure to rise.

【小題3】What color might help lose weight according to the text?

A．Red

B．Green.

C．Blue.

D．Purple.

【小題4】Which of the following would be the most proper title for the text?

A．Colors and Human Beings

B．The Cultural Meaning of Color

C．Colors and Personal Experiences

D．The Meaning and Function of Color

Cold weather can be hard on pets, just like it can be hard on people. Sometimes owners forget that their cats are just as used to the warm shelter as they are. Some owners will leave their animals outside for a long period of time, thinking that all animals are used to living outdoors. This can put their pet in danger of serious illness. There are things you can do to keep your animal warm and safe.
Keep your pets inside as much as you can when the weather is bad. If you have to take them out, stay outside with them. When you’re cold enough to go inside, they probably are too. If you must leave them outside for a long time, make sure they have a warm, solid shelter against the wind, thick bedding, and plenty of non-frozen water.
If left alone outside, dogs and cats can be very smart in their search for warm shelter. They can dig into snow banks or hide somewhere. Watch them closely when they are left outdoors, and provide them with shelter of good quality. Keep an eye on your pet’s water. Sometimes owners don’t realize that a water bowl has frozen and their pet can’t get anything to drink. Animals that don’t have clean and unfrozen water may drink dirty water outside, which may contain something unhealthy for them.
【小題1】The word shelter in paragraph one means:

A．warm clothes

B．a(chǎn) hiding place

C．proper temperature

D．diet food

【小題2】What do we learn about pets from Paragraph one?

A．They are often forgotten by their owners.

B．They like to stay in warm places.

C．They build their own shelters.

D．They are used to living outdoors.

【小題3】Why are pet owners asked to stay with their pets when they are in cold weather?

A．To keep company.

B．To keep them from eating bad food

C．To help them find shelters.

D．To know when to bring them inside

【小題4】If pets are left on their own outdoors in cold weather, they may ______.

A．run short of clean water	B．dig deep holes for fun
C．dirty the snow nearby	D．get lost in the wild

【小題5】What is the purpose of the text?

A．To solve a problem

B．To give practical advice

C．To tell an interesting story

D．To present a research result.