The twentieth century saw greater changes than any century before: changes for the better, changes for
the worse; changes that brought a lot of benefits to human beings, changes that put man in danger. Many
things caused the changes, but, in my opinion, the most important was the progress in science.
     Scientific research in physics and biology has vastly broadened our views. It has given us a deeper
knowledge of the structure of matter and of the universe; it has brought us a better understanding of the nature
of life and of its continuous development. Technology m the application of science m has made big advances
that have benefited us in nearly every part of life.
     The continuation of such activities in the twenty-first century will result in even greater advantages to
human beings: in pure science-a wider and deeper knowledge in all fields of learning; in applied science-a more
reasonable sharing of material benefits, and better protection of the environment.
     Sadly, however, there is another side to the picture. The creativity of science has been employed in doing
damage to mankind. The application of science and technology to the development and production of weapons
of mass destruction has created a real danger to the continued existence of the human race on this planet. We
have seen this happen in the case of nuclear weapons, Although their actual use has so far occurred only in the
Second World War, the number of nuclear weapons that were produced and made ready for use was so large
that if the weapons had actually been used, the result could have been the ruin of the human race, as well as
of many kinds of animals.
     William Shakespeare said, "The web of our life is of a mingled yarn (纱线), good and ill together. ''The
above brief review of the application of only one part of human activities-science-seems to prove what
Shakespeare said. But does it have to be so? Must the ill always go together with the good? Are we biologically
programmed for war?

1. Which of the following best shows the structure of the passage?

2. From the fourth paragraph, we can infer that ______.

A. a great many nuclear weapons were actually used for war
B. a large number of nuclear weapons should have been used for war
C. the author is doubtful about the ruin of human beings by nuclear weapons
D. the author is anxious about the huge number of nuclear weapons on the earth

3. The underlined word "mingled" in the last paragraph most probably means ______.

A. simple
B. mixed
C. sad
D. happy

4. What do you think the author is most likely to suggest if he continues to write?

A. Further application of science to war.
B. More reading of William Shakespeare.
C. Proper use of science in the new century.
D. Effective ways to separate the good from the ill.

     While IQ (Intelligence Quotient) tells you how smart you are, EQ (Emotional Quotient) tells you how well
you use your smartness. Professor Salovery, the psychologist who created the term, EQ, says that it is IQ
that gets you hired but it is EQ that gets you promoted.
     Supported by his research, he suggested that when predicting future successes, a person's brainpower, as
measured by IQ tests, might actually matter less than a person's character, or EQ. Professor Salovery may be
correct. For example, have you ever wondered why some of the best and smartest students in your class end
up failing exams? Perhaps it is because of their EQ. People often make the mistake of thinking that EQ is the
opposite of IQ. It is not. Although it is hoped that people have both high EQs and IQs, there is little doubt that
those with low EQs have a hard time surviving in life.
     For a long time, researchers discussed if a person's IQ could be raised. The geneticists said no, while the
social scientists said yes. Furthermore, the social scientists said that it was possible to improve a person's EQ,
particularly in terms of "people skills", such as understanding and communication.
     Recently, a professor released the findings of a study on senior high school students. When some normal
students were introduced to some disabled students, they found that afterwards they were more willing to help
people in difficulty. At the same time, there was a marked change in the disabled students' attitudes. They
became more positive about their disabilities and were more eager to try new things. People with high EQs
often have positive attitudes towards life and are open to different ideas, so they tend to be more creative in their
thinking. Please remember that having a high IQ is helpful but having a high EQ might even be more helpful.

1. According to Professor Salovery, what factor matters the most in predicting whether a person will be successful or not?

A. How a person tests his/her brainpower.
B. A person's character.
C. How smart a person is.
D. A person's IQ.

2. The second paragraph tells us that ____.

A. people who have a high IQ always have a high EQ
B. EQ is the opposite of IQ
C. people who have a low EQ tend to have a hard life
D. people who have a high EQ always have a high IQ

3. What did the professor find from his study of normal students being introduced to some disabled children?

A. Students with disabilities were not open in trying new things.
B. There was no change in the normal students.
C. The disabled students became more positive and more eager to try new things.
D. The disabled students were more willing to help others.

4. Which of the following is the writer's attitude toward EQ and IQ?

A. IQ is more helpful to people than EQ.
B. IQ can be raised by understanding and communication.
C. EQ can get people hired.
D. A high EQ is of great benefit in getting people promoted.

5. Which of the following would be the best title of this passage?

A. A person's brainpower.
B. IQ, EQ and success.
C. IQ and a person's character.
D. A person's IQ and EQ.

      Robots are smart. With their computer brains, they help people work in dangerous places or do difficult
jobs. Some robots do regular jobs. Bobby, the mail carrier, brings mail to a large office building in Washington,
D.C. He is one of 250 mail carriers in the United States.
      Mr. Leachim, who weighs two hundred pounds and is six feet tall, has some advantages as a teacher. One
is that he does not forget details. He knows each child's name, the parents' names and what each child knows
and needs to know. In addition, he knows each child's pets and hobbies. Mr. Leachim does not make mistakes.
Each child goes and tells him his or her name, then dials an identification (身份证明) number. His computer
brain puts the child's voice and number together. He identifies the child with no mistakes. Then he starts the
lesson.
      Another advantage is that Mr. Leachim is flexible. If the children need more time to do their lessons they
can move switches. In this way they can repeat Mr. Leachim's lesson over and over again. When the children
do a good job he tells them something interesting about their hobbies. At the end of the lesson the children
switch Mr. Leachim off.

1. The first paragraph of the passage tells us ______.

A. human beings are not as smart as robots
B. robots will take the place of man to rule the earth
C. we can only use robots to do some regular jobs
D. robots can help people in many different ways

2. Mr. Leachim's ______ makes him a good teacher.

A. knowledge
B. appearance
C. advantage
D. energy

3. What is the most important thing Mr. Leachim can do in his lessons?

A. To meet the needs of each student.
B. To talk to the students in different languages.
C. To keep everyone's interest in his lesson.
D. To introduce more hobbies to the children.

4. The word "flexible" in the last paragraph means ______.

A. not strict
B. not hard
C. suitable
D. changeable

5. Which of the following statements may be true according to the passage?

A. There are 250 robot teachers in the United States.
B. Mr. Leachim is run and controlled by electricity.
C. Bobby works in a large office building in Washington D. C.
D. The lessons taught by Mr. Leachim are given on a TV set.

     The first breath-taking pictures of the Earth taken from space showed it as a solid ball covered by brown
land masses and blue- green oceans. We had never seen the Earth from that distance before. To us, it appeared
as though the Earth had always looked that way and always would. Scientists now know, however, that the
surface of the Earth is not as permanent as we had thought.
     Scientists explain that the surface of our planet is always moving. Continents moves about the Earth like
huge ships at sea. They float on pieces of the Earth's outer skin. New outer skin is created as melted rock
pushed up from below the ocean floor. Old outer skin is destroyed as it rolls down into the hot area and melts
again.
     Only since the 1960s have scientists really began to under- stand that the planet Earth is a great living
machine. Some experts have said this new understanding is one of the most important revolutions in scientific
thought. The revolution is based on the work of scientists who study the movement of the continents-a science
called plate tectonics.
     The modern story of plate tectonics begins with the German scientist Alfred Wegener. Before World War
One, Wegener argued that the continents had moved and were still moving. He said the idea first occurred to
him when he observed that the coastlines of South America and Africa could fit together like two pieces of a
puzzle. He proposed that the two continents might have been one and then split apart. 
     Wegener was not the first person to wonder about the shape of the continents. About 500 years ago,
explorers thought about it when they made the first maps of Americas. The explorers noted the east coast of
North America and South America would fit almost exactly into the west coast of Europe and South Africa.
What the explorers did not do, but Wegener did, was to investigate the idea that the continents move.

1. What does the writer mainly tell us in the passage?

A. The first breath-taking pictures of the Earth taken from space.
B. Human's recognition of the earth's surface.
C. The German scientist Alfred Wegener.
D. The early explorers' discovery.

2. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. We didn't see the Earth from far away until we saw the picture taken in the space.
B. Our ancient thought that the surface of the earth is still.
C. Alfred Wegener was not the first person to investigate the idea that the continents move.
D. The coastlines of India and Africa fit together.

3. The last word of the third paragraph "tectonics" means "____".

A. study of construction
B. study of architecture
C. earth surface
D. structural geology

     Man is a land animal, but he is also closely tied to the sea. Throughout history the sea has served the needs
of man. The sea has provided man with food and a convenient (便利的) way to travel to many parts of the
world. Today, nearly two thirds of the world's population live within 80 kilometers of the sea coast.
     In the modern technological world, the sea offers many resources to help mankind survive (=continue to
live). Resources on land are beginning to be used up. The sea, however, still can be hoped to supply many of
man's needs.
     The list of riches of the sea yet to be developed by man's technology is impressive. Oil and gas explorations
(探险) have been carried out for nearly 30 years. Valuable amounts of minerals exist on the ocean floor ready
to be mined (开采).
     Fish farming promises to be a good way to produce large quantities of food. The culture of fish and shellfish
(贝类动物) is an ancient skill practised in. the past mainly by Oriental people.
     Besides oil and gas, the sea may offer new sources of energy. Experts believe that the warm temperature
of the ocean can be used in a way similar to the steam in a steamship. Ocean currents (水流) and waves offer
possible use as a source of energy.
     Technology is enabling man to explore (勘探) ever more deeply under the sea. The development of strong,
new materials has made this possible.
     The technology to harvest the sea continues to improve. Experts believe that by the year 2020 the problems
that prevent us from exploiting fully the food, minerals, and energy sources of the sea will be largely solved.

1. The major things that the sea offers man are ____.

A. fish and oil
B. minerals and oil
C. warm temperature and ocean currents
D. the food, energy sources, and minerals

2. We can conclude from this passage that ____.

A. the sea resources have largely been used up
B. the sea, in the broad sense, has not yet been developed
C. the problems that prevent us from using the food, minerals, and energy sources of the sea have already been solved
D. by the year 2000, the technology will be good enough to exploit all the sea resources

3. The best title for this passage is ____.

A. Sea Harvest
B. Sea Food
C. Technology for Exploiting the Sea
D. Man and the Sea

     Technology is the application (应用) of knowledge to production. Thanks to modern technology, we have
been able to increase greatly the efficiency of our work force. New machines and new methods have helped
cut down time and expense while increasing overall output. This has meant more production and a higher
standard of living. For most of us in America, modern technology is thought of as the reason why we can have
cars and television sets. However, technology has also increased the amount of food available to us, by means
of modern farming machinery and animal breeding techniques, and has extended our life span via (通过)
medical technology.
     Will mankind continue to live longer and have a higher quality of life? In large measure the answer depends
on technology and our ability to use it widely. If we keep making progress as we have over the past fifty years,
the answer is definitely yes. The advancement of technology depends upon research and development, and the
latest statistics (统计) show that the United States is continuing to pump billions of dollars annually (每年) into
such efforts. So while we are running out of some scarce resources (稀有资源) we may well find technological
substitutes (代用品) for many of them through our re- search programs.
     Therefore, in the final analysis the three major factors of production (land, labor and capital) are all influenced
by technology. When we need new skills, on techniques in medicine, people will start developing new technology
to meet those needs. As equipment proves to be slow or inefficient, new machines will be invented. Technology
responds to our needs in helping us maintain our standard of living.

1. What is the best title for the passage?

A. The way of technology.
B. Modern technology.
C. The application of technology.
D. The development of technology.

2. Which is the main idea of the passage?

A. Modern technology is the key to the improvement of standard of living.
B. The three major factors of production(land, labor and capital) are all influenced by technology.
C. Technology is the response to our needs.
D. The United States is making great efforts to advance its technology.

3. According to the passage, people can live a long life with the help of _____.

A. higher quality of life
B. medical technology
C. modern farming machinery
D. technological substitute

     Language learning begins with listening. Children are greatly different in the amount of listening they do
before they start speaking, and later starters are often long listeners. Most children will "obey" spoken
instructions some time before they can speak, though the word "obey" is hardly accurate as a description of
the eager and delighted cooperation usually shown by the child. Before they can speak, many children will
also ask questions by gesture and by making questioning noises.
     Any attempt to study the development from the noises babies make to their first spoken words leads to
considerable difficulties. It is agreed that they enjoy making noises, and that during the first few months one
or two noises sort themselves as particularly expressive as delight, pain, friendliness, and so on. But since
these can't be said to show the baby's intention to communicate, they can hardly be regarded as early forms
of language. It is agreed, too, that from about three months they play with sounds for enjoyment, and that by
six months they are able to add new words to their store. This selfimitation (模仿) leads on to deliberate (有意
的) imitation of sounds made or words spoken to them by other people. The problem then arises as to the point
at which one can say that these imitations can be considered as speech.
     It is a problem we need to get out teeth into. The meaning of a word depends on what a particular person
means by it in a particular situation and it is clear that what a child means by a word will change as he gains
more experience of the world. Thus the use at seven months of "mama" as a greeting for his mother cannot be
dismissed as a meaningless sound simply because he also uses it at other times for his father, his dog, or
anything else he likes. Playful and meaningless imitation of what other people say continues after the child has
begun to speak for himself, I doubt, however whether anything is gained when parents take advantage of this
ability in an attempt to teach new sounds.

1. Before children start speaking _____.

A. they need equal amount of listening
B. they need different amounts of listening
C. they are all eager to cooperate with the adults by obeying spoken instructions
D. they can't understand and obey the adult's oral instructions

2. Children who start speaking late _____.

A. may have problems with their listening
B. probably do not hear enough language spoken around them
C. usually pay close attention to what they hear
D. often take a long time in learning to listen properly

3. A baby's first noises are _____.

A. an expression of his moods and feelings
B. an early form of language
C. a sign that he means to tell you something
D. an imitation of the speech of adults

4. The problem of deciding at what point a baby's imitations can be considered as speech _____.

A. is important because words have different meanings for different people
B. is not especially important because the changeover takes place gradually
B. is one that should be properly understood because the meaning of words changes with age
D. is one that should be completely ignored (忽略) because children's use of words is often meaningless

     Flying over a desert in an airplane, two scientists looked down with trained eyes at trees and bushes.
After an hour's flight one of the scientists wrote in his notebook, "Look here for probable metal." Walking
across hilly ground, four scientists reported, "This ground should be searched for metal." From an airplane
over a hilly wasteland a scientist sent back by radio one word "Uranium".
     None of the scientists had X-ray eyes: they had no magic powers for looking down below the earth's
surface. They were merely putting to use one of the newest methods of locating minerals in the ground-using
trees and plants as signs that certain minerals may lie under the ground on which the trees and plants are
growing.
     This newest method of searching for minerals is based on the fact that minerals deep in the earth may
affect the kind of bushes and trees that grow on the surface.
     At Watson Bar Creek, a mineral search group gathered bags of tree seeds. Boxes were filled with small
branches from the trees. Roots were dug and put into boxes. Each bag and box was carefully marked. In a
scientific laboratory the parts of the forest trees were burned to ashes and tested. Each small part was
examined to learn whether there were minerals in it.
     Study of the roots, branches and seeds showed no silver. But there were small amount of gold in the roots
and a little less gold in the branches and seeds. The seeds growing nearest to the tree trunk had more gold
than those growing on the ends of the branches.
     If the trees indicated that there was no gold in the ground, the scientists wouldn't spare money to pay for
digging into the ground.

1. Scientists were flying over a desert or a hilly wasteland or a mountain region to ____.

A. train their eyes
B. study the trees
C. look for gold
D. search for minerals 

2. The study of trees, branches and roots indicated that ____.

A. there were larger amounts of gold in the branches far from the tree trunk than in the seeds
B. there were smaller amounts of gold in the tree roots deep in the ground than in the branches
C. there were larger amounts of gold in the seeds growing closer to the tree trunk than in the seeds farther
    from it
D. there were larger amounts of gold in the branches than in the leaves on the ends of the branches

3. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as part of a tree that can help the searchers?

A. Leaves.
B. Roots.
C. Branches.
D. Seeds.

4. Which of the following might be the best title for this passage?

A. Scientists searching for treasure with special equipment.
B. New methods of doing geological study.
C. Gold could be found in trees and plants.
D. A new method of searching for minerals.

     The mobile phone has been a part of our lives since the 1980s. It enables us to stay in contact with our
family and friends at all times and in most areas. However, because of the quick acceptance and extensive
usage of mobiles in our lives, we have missed out on an important step, namely, the appropriate (恰当的)
use.
     Driving a car
     Do not use your phone while you are driving! You could concentrate on your conversation and forget
to look where you are going, or you could take your eyes off the road to look at the phone's display or to
press in a number. Either way, you could cause a terrible accident.
     In a restaurant
     There is probably nothing more annoying than a diner receiving or making a call near you when you are
in a restaurant. The icy glares (冷眼) you receive should be warning enough that it is not appreciated. Turn
your phone off and use your message service to return calls after you leave.
     At the cinema
     Do not give way to the desire to call a friend if the film is boring, or if you want to find out what happens.
You could become the target of all the angry cinema customers.
     At the theatre
     There is no more icy glare than that of a theatre goer who has paid a lot of money to see a show and hears
your phone playing a tone. It goes without saying that you will be seen as a socially unacceptable person in
this situation.
     In hospitals
     This is probably the most important place to make sure your phone is switched off. Your phone can disturb
life-saving electronic equipment in hospitals, so it is necessary that your phone is switched off before you
enter.
     On planes
     Your phone might disturb navigational equipment and cause a horrible accident so you should switch it off
before boarding a plane.

1. According to the passage, the most annoying thing in a restaurant is that _____.

A. you receive icy glares
B. a nearby diner is answering a phone call
C. you have to use the message service
D. you can not return calls until after you leave

2. Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A. Theatre goers will not give you icy glares when they hear your phone.
B. When switched on in hospitals, mobile phones could endanger patients' lives
. C. Passengers should switch off the phones before getting on a plane.
D. Pressing in phone numbers when driving could lead to traffic accidents.

3. The passage mainly describes _____.

A. different functions of mobile phones
B. the overuse of mobile phones on some occasions
C. some areas where message service is forbidden
D. the proper use of mobile phones in some public places

4. What does the underlined word "concentrate on" mean in the article? It means _____.

A. make something stronger
B. carry on
C. pay particular attention
D. think something clearly

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

1. The passage is mainly about _____.

A. color and its surprising effects
B. women being luckier than men
C. danger caused by color blindness
D. color blindness 

2. According to the passage, with the help of the "cones",we can _____.

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

3. Why do some people 8ay it is safer to be driven by women?

A. Women are more careful.
B. There are fewer color-blind women.
C. Women are fonder of driving than men.
D. Women are weaker but quicker in thinking.

4. Which of the statements about the color-blind is true?

A. Not all of them have the same problem in recognizing color.
B. None of them can see deep red.
C. None of them can tell the difference between blue and green.
D. All of them see everything in shades of green.

5. We can attract and kill mosquitoes by using a _____.

A. red light
B. yellow light
C. blue light
D. green light