What will power your house in the future？Nuclear，wind，or solar power？According to scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US，it might be leaves — but artificial (人造的) ones.
Natural leaves are able to change sunlight and water into energy. It is known as photosynthesis (光合作用)．Now researchers have found a way to imitate this seemingly simple process.
The artificial leaf developed by Daniel Nocera and his colleagues at MIT can be seen as a special silicon chip with catalysts (催化劑)．Similar to natural leaves，it can split water into hydrogen and oxygen when put into a bucket of water. The hydrogen and oxygen gases are then stored in a fuel cell，which uses those two materials to produce electricity，located either on top of a house or beside the house.
Though the leaf is only about the shape of a poker card，scientists claimed that it is promising to be an inexpensive source of electricity in developing countries. “One can imagine villages in India and Africa not long from now purchasing an affordable basic power system based on this technology,” said Nocera at a conference of the American Chemical Society.
The artificial leaf is not a new idea. The first artificial leaf was invented in 1997 but was too expensive and unstable for practical use. The new leaf，by contrast，is made of cheap materials，easy to use and highly stable. In laboratory studies，Nocera showed that an artificial leaf prototype (原型) could operate continuously for at least 45 hours without a drop in activity.
The wonderful improvements come from Nocera's recent discovery of several powerful，new and inexpensive catalysts. These catalysts make the energy transformation inside the leaf more efficient with water and sunlight. Right now，the new leaf is about 10 times more efficient at carrying out photosynthesis than a natural one. Besides，the device can run in whatever water is available；that is，it doesn't need pure water. This is important for some countries that don't have access to pure water.
With the goal to “make each home its own power station” and “give energy to the poor”，scientists believe that the new technology could be widely used in developing countries，especially in India and rural China.
【小題1】Which of the following orders correctly shows how the artificial leaf is used to produce electricity?
a．a(chǎn)rtificial leaves split water into hydrogen and oxygen
b．the hydrogen and oxygen gases are stored in a fuel cell
c．the artificial leaves are put in water
d．the fuel cell uses hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity

A．c，a，b，d	B．c，b，a，d
C．b，c，a，d	D．c，a，d，b

【小題2】The purpose of the scientists at MIT in developing the new artificial leaf is to________.

A．build up more power stations in the world

B．provide cheaper energy for developing countries

C．offer people in developing countries access to pure water

D．gain a deeper understanding of the photosynthesis process

【小題3】The main idea of this passage is ________.

A．a(chǎn)n introduction to the history of artificial leaves

B．a(chǎn) mixture of water power and solar energy

C．giving energy to the poor

D．a(chǎn)n invention copying photosynthesis

Air pollution is one of the hottest topics at present because poor air quality is an important factor in both the incidence and cause of respiratory(呼吸道) diseases.
Zhong Nanshan, a deputy to the NPC and a member of the CAE, said recently when the concentration of PM2.5 rises by 10 micrograms per cubic meter, hospitalization may rise by as much as 3.1 percent. Meanwhile, when the concentration of PM2.5 rises from 25 mgs per cubic meter to 200, the average daily death rate may rise to 11 percent.
Zhi Xiuyi, a leading expert in lung cancer treatment and also vice-president of the CATS, said medical authorities used to focus on tobacco control as a primary means of preventing lung cancer. "But in fact, air pollution is no less harmful than smoking and our research team released a report earlier this year showing that the cancer rate in Beijing is closely related to industrialization," he said.
The report, conducted by the Beijing Institute of Cancer Research, shows that the number of cancer patients in China has increased markedly during the past ten years. Chaoyang District, the city's main area of industrialization, has the highest incidence of cancer, almost double that of Yanqing, an area on the outskirts of the city. About four out of 1000 Chaoyang residents have some form of the disease, with lung cancer at the top of the list.
"The risk of having cancer largely depends on the length of exposure and the concentration of noxious gases(有毒氣體的濃度)," said Zhi. In response to the doubt whether seven years' exposure to poor air quality will almost result in cancer, Zhi said the time scale was taken from research overseas that suggested the rate of incidence generally peaked in the seventh year of exposure to a heavily polluted environment.
【小題1】 What is the passage mainly about?

A．Medical researches on environment.

B．The disadvantages in big cities.

C．The only reason for the lung cancer.

D．Poor air quality contributing to lung cancer.

【小題2】What can you conclude from the 3^rd paragraph?

A．Compared with smoking, air pollution is more harmful.

B．Air pollution is as harmful as smoking.

C．It is very important to prevent people from smoking.

D．People realize the importance of keeping healthy.

【小題3】If there were 3,000,000 people in Chaoyang District, how many would have respiratory diseases?

A．16000

B．12000

C．8000

D．7500

【小題4】What can you infer from the passage?

A．Industrialization has its weakness as well as strengths.

B．The average death rate rises with different ages and places.

C．The air in Beijing is much more polluted than that in the other cities.

D．The more heavily-polluted air you breathe in, the sooner you’ll have cancer.

Barack Obama, Lady Gaga and Steve Jobs—what do they have in common? They are, of course, all Americans. And according to a survey by social networking site badoo. com, they all best illustrate(舉例說明) the word “cool”.

But just what does it mean to say someone is “cool”? Most would answer that it is something to do with being independent-minded and not following the crowd.
Yale University art professor Robert Farris Thompson says that the term “cool” goes back to 15th century West African philosophy(哲學(xué)).  “Cool” relates to ideas of grace(優(yōu)雅) under pressure.
“In Africa, ” he writes, “coolness is a positive quality which combines calmness, silence, and life.”
The modern idea of “cool” developed largely in the US in the period after World War II. “Post-war ‘cool’ was in part an expression of war-weariness (n. 厭戰(zhàn)情緒)
. . . it went against the strict social rules of the time,” write sociologists Dick Pountain and David Robins in Cool Rules:Anatomy of an Attitude.
But it was the American actor James Dean who became the symbol for “cool” in the hugely successful 1955 movie Rebel without a Cause.  Dean plays a tough guy who disobeys his parents and the authorities. He always gets the girl, smokes cigarettes, wears a leather jacket and beats up bullies(欺凌弱小者). In the movie, Dean showed what “cool” would mean to American young people for the next 60 years.
Today the focus of “cool” has changed to athletics (體育運動) stars. Often in movies about schools, students gain popularity on the athletics field more than in the classroom. This can be seen quite clearly in movies like Varsity Blues and John Tucker Must Die.
But many teenagers also think being smart is cool. Chess and other thinking games have been becoming more popular in schools.
“Call it the Harry Potterization of America—a time when being smart is the new cool,” writes journalist Joe Sunnen.
【小題1】Barack Obama, Lady Gaga and Steve Jobs are mentioned in the first paragraph to ________.

A．introduce the topic	B．draw our attention
C．tell us what they have in common	D．tell us what is “cool”

【小題2】If you were considered “cool” in Africa in the 15th century, you ________.

A．thought and acted differently from the majority

B．had a calm and quiet attitude towards life

C．didn’t observe rules and authorities

D．had all kinds of “bad” manners

【小題3】The heroes in Varsity Blues and John Tucker Must Die are likely to be those who ________.

A．do very well in their studies

B．a(chǎn)re very skilled at sports

C．a(chǎn)re good at chess and other thinking games.

D．have supernatural powers like Harry Potter

【小題4】Which of the following is NOT true according to the article?

A．It is generally considered “cool” to be independent-minded and not to follow the crowd.

B．“Cool” was used as early as the 15th century.

C．Disobeying one’s parents and the authorities is considered “cool” among American young people nowadays.

D．Getting the first place in an exam can also be considered “cool”.

【小題5】What does the article mainly talk about?

A．The origin of the word “cool”.

B．The kinds of people who are “cool”.

C．The changing meaning of the word “cool”.

D．How to be a “ cool” person.

Most people know precious gemstones (寶石) by their appearances. An emerald flashes deep green, a ruby seems to hold a red fire inside, and a diamond shines like a star. It’s more difficult to tell where the gem was mined, since a diamond from Australia or Arkansas may appear the same to one from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, recently, a team of scientists has found a way to identify a gemstone’s origin.
Beneath the surface of a gemstone, on the tiny level of atoms and molecules（分子）, lie clues (線索) to its origin. At this year’s meeting of the Geological Society of America in Minneapolis, Catherine McManus reported on a technique that uses lasers (激光) to clarify these clues and identify a stone’s homeland. McManus directs scientific research at Materialytics, in Killeen, Texas. The company is developing the technique. “With enough data, we could identify which country, which mining place, even the individual mine a gemstone comes from,” McManus told Science News.
Some gemstones, including many diamonds, come from war-torn countries. Sales of those “blood minerals” may encourage violent civil wars where innocent people are injured or killed. In an effort to reduce the trade in blood minerals, the U.S. government passed law in July 2010 that requires companies that sell gemstones to determine the origins of their stones.
To figure out where gemstones come from, McManus and her team focus a powerful laser on a small sample of the gemstone. The technique is called laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. Just as heat can turn ice into water or water into steam, energy from the laser changes the state of matter of the stone. The laser changes a miniscule part of the gemstone into plasma, a gas state of matter in which tiny particles（微粒）called electrons separate from atoms.
The plasma, which is superhot, produces a light pattern. (The science of analyzing this kind of light pattern is called spectroscopy.) Different elements（元素）produce different patterns, but McManus and her team say that gemstones from the same area produce similar patterns. Materialytics has already collected patterns from thousands of gemstones, including more than 200 from diamonds. They can compare the light pattern from an unknown gemstone to patterns they do know and look for a match. The light pattern acts like a signature, telling the researchers the origin of the gemstone.
In a small test, the laser technique correctly identified the origins of 95 out of every 100 diamonds. For gemstones like emeralds and rubies, the technique proved successful for 98 out of every 100 stones. The scientists need to collect and analyze more samples, including those from war-torn countries, before the tool is ready for commercial use.
Scientists like Barbara Dutrow, a mineralogist from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, find the technique exciting. “This is a basic new tool that could provide a better fingerprint of a material from a particular locality,” she told Science News.
【小題1】We learn from Paragraph 1 that __________________.

A．a(chǎn)n emerald and a ruby are names of diamonds.

B．it’s not difficult to tell where the gem was mined.

C．a(chǎn)ppearances help to identify the origin of gemstones.

D．diamonds from different places may appear the same.

【小題2】Why did the U.S. government pass law that requires companies selling gemstones to determine the origins of their stones?

A．To look for more gemstones.

B．To encourage violent civil wars.

C．To reduce the trade in blood minerals.

D．To develop the economy.

【小題3】Which of the following facts most probably helps McManus and her team in identifying the origin of stones?

A．Heat can turn ice into water or water into steam.

B．Gemstones from the same area produce similar light patterns.

C．Laser can changes a miniscule part of the gemstone into plasma.

D．Materialytics has already collected patterns from thousands of gemstones.

【小題4】From the last two paragraphs, what can be inferred about the laser technique?

A．It is ready for commercial use.

B．People can use the new tool to find more gemstones.

C．It can significantly reduce the gemstones trade in blood minerals.

D．It will bring about a revolutionary change in identifying the origin of minerals.

【小題5】The author wrote this passage mainly to ________.

A．tell us how to identify the origin of diamonds.

B．introduce a laser technique in identifying a stone’s origin

C．prove identifying the origin of gemstones are difficult

D．a(chǎn)ttract our attention to reducing trade in blood minerals

Statistically, air travel is by far the safest way to travel, and you can make flying even safer, just by following these simple rules. As your chances of being involved in an air accident are practically nil (零), many of these tips concern what you should and shouldn't do to make your journey safer when you are airborne (升空的).
Fly on non-stop routes
Most accidents occur during the takeoff, climb, descent and landing phases of a flight, so flying non-stop reduces your exposure to these complex procedures.
Choose larger aircraft.
Although small aircraft have very good safety records, those with more than 30 passenger seats are designed to comply (遵守) with much stricter regulations and are tested more regularly to make sure they still comply. Also, in the unlikely event of a serious accident, larger aircraft provide a better opportunity for passenger survival.
Pay attention to the pre-flight safety briefing
The information may seem repetitious , but it's worth listening to the flight attendants. And even if you've flown before, it doesn't mean you know everything about the aircraft you're on, such as the location of the closest emergency exit.
Store things safely
Never put very heavy articles in the overhead storage bins. They may fall out when someone opens the bin and cause injury. Also, the bin may not be able to hold heavier objects during turbulence (氣流).
Keep our seat belt fastened while you are seated
Cabin crew always tell you this, but it's important. You would be seriously injured if the plane hits unexpected turbulence. Always fasten your seat belt if you are told to. The general rule of flying is this: If you are told to do something, do it first and ask questions later.
Let the flight attendant pour your hot drinks
Flight attendants are trained to handle hot drinks like coffee or tea in a crowded aisle on a moving aircraft, so allow them to pour the drink and hand it to you. Never ask to take a coffee pot from one of them.
【小題1】What is the overall reason for these air safety tips?          

A．What to do in the event of a crash.

B．How to avoid turbulence.

C．How to improve safety while you are flying.

D．How to avoid injury.

【小題2】The underlined word "those" in the second tip refers to _______.     

A．smaller planes

B．passengers

C．larger aircraft

D．safety records

【小題3】The underlined phrase "The general rule" in the fifth tip refers to _______.   

A．a(chǎn)nything the flight staff tell you to do

B．general safety advice

C．walking around the plane

D．pouring hot drinks

【小題4】Which of the following is NOT true?                 

A．Larger planes have more safety checks and are safe in an accident.

B．Take-offs are safer on non-stop flights than landings.

C．Every aircraft is different, so the safety procedures may be different.

D．Seat belts should be worn to protect against turbulence.

【小題5】The best title of the passage should be _______.       

A．The Safest Way to Travel	B．Air Safety Tips
C．Non-stop Routes	D．How to Fly a Plane

techniques , but he admitted there would be difficulties in meeting his goal .
“ For example , if you run out of ink while printing on paper , you will throw that paper away . But you cannot throw half-completed buildings away if your material gets stuck , ” he said . Although the printed house is not available to visit , there is a chance for people in Shanghai to see items printed in 3D.
The Belgium-based company Materialise NV held a 3D printing exhibition in Shanghai that started in late 2012 and ended in the middle of 2013 . The company is eager to show Asia what is possible with 3D printing .
“ All the pieces shown here are what cannot be made through traditional techniques . A good example of this customization is hearing aids . More than 10 million people already use 3D printed hearing aids, all made according to the size of their ears , ” said Wim Michiels , executive vice-president at Materialise NV .
“ You can produce anything whenever and wherever you like . You don’t need to set up production lines for pieces that only need a limited amount of products . Setting up a production line is a lot of work . It takes a long time and is very expensive for a limited number of pieces , ” said Michiels .
Kim Francois , managing director of Materialise China , said their European and American clients have already taken the next step toward additive manufacturing with small series production such as hearing aids .
【小題1】What is mainly talked about in the text ?
A. The development of 3D printing .
B. A 3D printing show in Shanghai .
C. Varieties of items printed in 3D .
D. The company Materialise NV .
【小題2】According to Behrokh Khoshnevis , what is the main difficulty in printing buildings ?

A．Time .

B．Technique .

C．Space .

D．Material .

【小題3】The example of 3D printed hearing aids was mentioned to show that ______________ .

A．these items used to be impossible to make

B．3D printing has a large market share

C．3D hearing aids help people hear better

D．people need different sized hearing aids

【小題4】According to the text , 3D printing is suitable for ___________ .

A．mass production

B．making small items

C．small series production

D．reducing production costs

Redwood trees are the tallest plants on the earth，reaching heights of up to 100 meters．They are also known for their longevity，typically 500 to 1000 years，but sometimes more than 2000 years．A hundred million years ago，in the age of dinosaurs，redwoods were common in the forests of a much more moist and tropical North America．As the climate became drier and colder，they declined to a narrow strip along the Pacific coast of Northern Califomia．
The trunk of redwood trees is very strong and usually forms a single straight column．It is covered with a soft bark．This bark can be pretty thick，well over two feet in the more mature trees．It gives the older trees a certain kind of protection from insects，but the main benefit is that it keeps the center of the tree harmless from moderate forest fires because of its thickness．This fire resistant quality explains why the giant redwood grows to live that long．While most other types of trees are destroyed by forest fires，the giant redwood actually prospers because of them．
Moderate fires will clear the ground of competing plant life，and the rising heat dries and opens the ripe fruit of the redwood，releasing many thousands of seeds onto the ground below．
New trees are often produced from shoots，little baby trees，which form at the base of the trunk．These shoots grow slowly，fed by the root system of the “mother’’ tree．When the main tree dies，the shoots are then free to grow as full trees，forming a “fairy ring” of trees around the original tree．These trees，in turn，may give rise to more shoots，and the cycle continues．
【小題1】Why were redwood trees easier to find in the forests of North America millions of years ago?

A．The trees were taller and stronger．

B．The soil was softer for seeds to develop．

C．The climate there was warmer and wetter．

D．The temperature was lower along the Pacific coast．

【小題2】Which of the following is a function of the tree bark as mentioned in the passage?

A．It allows redwood trees to bear seeds．

B．It prevents redwood trees from attack by insects．

C．It helps redwood trees absorb water in the air．

D．It makes redwood trees more beautiful and appealing．

【小題3】Why do redwood trees grow to live that long according to the passage?

A．They have heavy and straight tree trunks．

B．They are properly watered and catered to．

C．They are more resistant to fire damage than other trees．

D．They produce many young trees to maintain their life cycle．

【小題4】How does a “fairy ring’’ form according to the passage?

A．By killing an old tree．	B．By connecting root systems．
C．By inserting holes into old trees．	D．By surrounding a mature tree．

Televisions were among the most talked about items at the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show last week in Las Vegas, Nevada. Some employed the most advanced technology ever.
Some of the TVs used a new technology called Organic Light Emitting Diodes, or OLED. They were thinner, lighter, offered better color and were brighter than traditional LEDs. Smart TVs this year were smarter. Many offered technology that let users have a more personalized experience. One such TV from the electronics company TCL uses sensors and voice recognition to determine who is watching. It then offers programming based on the specific user. Another TV from Panasonic offers a similar personalized user experience.
In addition to television technology, size also played a major part in CES 2013. Televisions varied in size from big to bigger, with at least two companies — Samsung and HiSense — exhibiting TVs measuring 110 inches.
The yearly Consumer Electronics Show is the biggest technology trade show in North America and one of the biggest in the world.
Gary Shapiro is president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association, the group that organizes CES. He gave one of the keynote speeches on opening day.
“Now you know that CES is more than a trade show. It’s a gathering of the brightest minds and the top leaders from many industries and those seeking a glimpse into the future.”
That glimpse into the future included a look at digital health and fitness devices, which were also big at CES 2013. There were devices that track your activity and others that measure blood pressure, heart rate and weight. There was even a fork that tells you when you are eating too fast.
Cars, smart-phones, tablet computers and PCs also made news. And a 27-inch table computer drew quite a bit of attention.
CEA President Gary Shapiro says there was much to see but not nearly enough time to see it all. “You cannot see the show in the four days that you have. We have over 3200 different industries showing over 20,000 new products. It’s absolutely incredible.”
【小題1】At the 2013 CES, which item drew the most attention?

A．Cars.

B．Smart-phones.

C．Computers.

D．Televisions.

【小題2】From the text, we can know that the TV from Panasonic _________.

A．is bigger than the others	B．uses the technology of OLED
C．offers a personalized experience	D．can track your activity

【小題3】What can we know from Gary Shapiro?

A．CES is only a big trade show.

B．CES offers a glimpse into the future.

C．CES lasts only four days in all.

D．He thinks little of the new products’ quality.

【小題4】At the CES, the biggest TV in size might be from ______.

A．HiSense

B．Panasonic

C．TCL

D．CEA

【小題5】From the passage we can infer that__________.

A．the CES is held every 4 years

B．a(chǎn)t the 2013 CES, the TV section was crowded

C．if you watch TV every day, you needn’t see a doctor

D．tablet computers drew more attention at the 2013 CES

The art of reading fiction is largely a matter of inferring meanings. To infer means to understand facts which are not directly stated---only suggested. Inference is one of the commonest ways of knowing things: a child holds his knee and cries; this action implies his feeling; an observer infers that the child is hurt. To infer accurately in everyday life requires caution in observing; to infer skillfully in fiction requires caution in reading; both require disciplined imagination.
The short-story reader can expect to find certain basic elements in any story. For example, all stories involve a person or persons, in a particular setting, faced with a demand for a response. The response called for may be a physical action, such as defeating an adversary(對手) or escaping from a danger; or it may be a mental action, such as adjusting to others or within oneself. In either case, the short story is a description in two ways: first, it shows the motives for a given human action; second, it makes a point about the general human situation. Such descriptions, however, rather than being stated directly, usually are implied by the elements of the story.
When the reader of a story understands all the facts and their interrelationships, he is ready to infer the significance of the story as a whole---its comment on the human situation. This comment, or theme, is the seed from which the story grew. It is also the idea by which all the separate elements of the story are governed, while these in turn further shape and modify the theme. In addition to action, character, and setting, these elements include structure, mood, tone, and point of view.
Fiction reading requires an awareness of all the ways in which a story communicates. It also requires attention to detail. What the author provides is a network of points which serve as clues to his meaning. He invites the reader to develop the meaning by inference, actually to create much of the story himself and so make it part of his own experience.
【小題1】According to the author, "infer" means ________ .

A．knowingfactsbeyondthestatement

B．lookingformoreevidencesforthestatement

C．findingoutadifferentmeaningfromthestatement

D．a(chǎn)ddingsomefactstothestatement

【小題2】What is inferring in fiction based on?

A．Readers’guessing.

B．Thebasicelementsofthestory.

C．Thesettingofthestory.

D．Theinterrelationshipsbetweenpeopleinthestory.

【小題3】What is the implied meaning of the last sentence?

A．Inferringcanreallyhelpthereaderdevelopimaginationandenrichhimself.

B．Inferringcanhelpthereaderwriteastoryofhisown.

C．Thereadershouldlookforanexperiencedescribedinthestoryhereads.

D．Theexperiencedescribedinthestorywillleaveagreatimpactonitsreader.

【小題4】What is the main idea of this passage?

A．Inferringisanartofwriting.

B．Inferringisaneedinfictionwriting.

C．Inferringisthebasicskillinreadingfiction.

D．Inferringiscommoninreading.

It's going to be a chaotic(混亂的)day. How do I know? It’s Monday. OK, joking. But, I do predict that today will be filled with the normal last-minute tasks, fire drills, and unforeseen events. So, how do you keep yourself from being swept away in the stream of chaos? How do you remain calm while others are rushing and panicking? There's a problem… Panic! When things don't go as planned, how do you react? Are you the calm one who works to fix things? Or the one running around like Chicken Little screaming that the sky falling? Getting upset or alarmed can seem like natural reactions to a problem.
Here are a few tips to kelp you remain calm in the face of the storm:
? Don't Panic  You are better able to find a solution if you   aren't panicking. If you can keep your head when others are losing theirs, you will be able to make a dear decision in the chaos.
? There Aren't Many True Emergenaes   My time as a Naval Officer taught me a­bout true emergencies. In the military, when there is a problem, people can get hurt or die. This is not usually the case when the office copier or email server goes down. Keep things in perspective. There are very few true emergencies in life.
? Avoid the "Fight or Flight"   When you are stressed, your body will want to go into "fight or flight." Your body was designed to keep you safe from danger, but its natu­ral reflexes aren't always the best solution against a project gone away. Keep your emotions in check and ensure that your physical reflexes don’t make bad decisions for you.
? Head Into The Problem    While everyone else is running away, true leaders walk into a problem. Sticking your head in the sand only makes things worse. Instead of trying to ignore the situition, get to the heart of the issue as soon as possible. Only then can you address it
How Will You React? When you find yourself ready to lose it, take a step back. Ask, "In this truly an emergcncy?" Keep your head when others are losing theirs. And you'll find that you are that much closer to a solution.
【小題1】The author writes the first paragraph in order to______.

A．describe a chaotic day

B．a(chǎn)dvocate a way of life

C．introduce a topic

D．make a joke

【小題2】In order to make a wiser decision in the chaos, you should _____.

A．low your head

B．keep your head

C．shake your head

D．stick your head

【小題3】The example of the author's time as a Naval Officer is used to illustrate_____.

A．there are seldom true emergencies in life

B．there are many true emergencies in life

C．some emergencies are really urgent

D．some emergencies can't be predicted

【小題4】What would the best title for the passage?

A．Fight or Flight

B．True emergencies

C．Less Talking, More Doing

D．Keep calm in the face of the storm