Laptop computers are popular all over the world. People use them on trains and airplanes, in airports and
hotels. These laptops connect people to their workplace. In the United States today, laptops also connect
students to their classrooms.
     Westlake College in Virginia will start a laptop computer program that allows students to do schoolwork
anywhere they want. Within five years, each of the 1500 students at the college will receive a laptop. The
laptops are part of a ＄10 million computer program at Westlake, a 110-year-old college. The students with
laptops will also have access to the Internet. In addition, they will be able to use e-mail to "speak" with their
teachers, their classmates, and their families. However, the most important part of the laptop program is that
students will be able to use computers without going to computer labs. They can work with it at home, in a
fast-food restaurant or under the trees-anywhere at all!
     Because of the many changes in computer technology, laptop use in higher education, such as colleges
and universities, is workable. As laptops become more powerful, they become more similar to desktop
computers. In addition, the portable computers can connect students to not only the Internet, but also libraries
and other resources. State higher-education officials are studying? how laptops can help students. State
officials are also testing laptop programs at other universities, too.
     At Westlake College, more than 60 percent of the staff use computers. The laptops will allow all teachers
to use computers in their lessons. As one Westlake teacher said, "Here we are in the middle of Virginia and
we're giving students a window on the world.They can see everything and do everything."

1. The main purpose of the laptop program is to give each student a laptop to _____.

A. use for their schoolwork
B. access the Internet
C. work at home
D. connect them to libraries

2. Why is the word "speak" in the second paragraph in quotation marks (引号)?

A. They don't really talk.
B. They use the computer language.
C. Laptops have speakers.
D. None of the above reasons is correct.

3. Which of the following is true about Westlake College?

A. All teachers use computers.
B. 1500 students have laptops.
C. It is an old college in America.
D. Students there can do everything.

4. A window on the world in the last paragraph means that students can _____.

A. attend lectures on information technology
B. travel around the world
C. get information from around the world
D. have free laptops

5. What can we infer (推断)from the passage?

A. The program is successful
B. The program is not workable.
C. The program is too expensive.
D. We don't know the result yet.

     Most people feel lonely sometimes, but it usually only lasts between a few minutes and a few hours. This
kind of loneliness is not serious. In fact, it is quite normal. For some people, though, loneliness can last for
years. Now researchers say there are three different types of loneliness.
     The first kind of loneliness is temporary (暂时的). This is the most common type. It usually disappears
quickly and does not require any special attention. The second kind, situational loneliness, is a natural result
of a particular situation-for example, a family problem, the death of a loved one, or moving to a new place.
Although this kind of loneliness can cause physical problems, such as headaches and sleeplessness, it usually
does not last for more than a year. The third kind of loneliness is the most severe. Unlike the second type,
chronic (长期的) loneliness usually lasts more than two years and has no specific cause. People who
experience habitual loneliness have problems socializing and becoming close to others. Unfortunately, many
chronically lonely people think there is little or nothing they can do to improve their condition.
     Psychologists are trying to find ways to help habitually lonely people for two reasons: they are unhappy
and unable to socialize and there is a connection between chronic loneliness and serious illness such as heart
disease. While temporary and situational loneliness can be a normal, healthy part of life, chronic loneliness can
be a very sad, and sometimes dangerous condition.

1. How would you treat temporary loneliness according to the passage?

A. Talk to friends.
B. Just ignore it.
C. Go to see a doctor.
D. Ask your teachers for guidance.

2. "It" in the last sentence of the second paragraph refers to _____.

A. temporary loneliness
B. situational loneliness
C. a new place
D. sleeplessness

3. The topic of the 4 paragraph is that_______.

A. one problem of loneliness is a person's social contacts
B. we depend on various people for different reasons
C. lonely people don't have many social problems
D. lonely people don't have many friends

4. Why do psychologists want to help chronically lonely people?

A. Chronic loneliness can cause family problems.
B. Chronic loneliness can cause serious illness.
C. Chronic loneliness can not be overcome.
D. Such people are harmful to society.

5. What is the best title for the passage?

A. Three kinds of loneliness
B. Loneliness and Diseases
C. Loneliness and Social Contacts
D. Chronic Loneliness

     In some children who go blind, certain parts of the brain that normally control vision appear to switch jobs
and focus instead on sound, a new study has found. 
     The study, by researchers at the University of Montreal, involved 7 adults who could see and 12 adults who had lost their vision when they were children. Each participant sat in a room with 16 loudspeakers at different
locations. The room was designed so that there were no echoes. During the experiment, the speakers irregularly produced sounds. Participants had to point to where the sounds were coming from. Meanwhile, the researchers monitored blood flow in the brains of the participants to see which brain structures were working during the
task.
      The results showed that five of the blind participants were very good at pointing to where sounds were
coming from. In these people, blood flow increased in the visual cortex- an area at the back of the right side of
the brain. This part of the brain is usually associated with vision.
     The other seven blind participants showed no increase in activity in the visual cortex. These people didn't
do very well at picking out where sounds were coming from. Now, the researchers are looking at whether these people have gained an enhanced sense of touch instead of sound to replace their lost vision.
     The scientists say that their study shows how adaptable parts of the brain can be.

1. The purpose of the experiment described in the passage is to find whether _____.

A. blind children can regain their sight
B. blind people have a better sense of sound
C. the sense of touch is better among blind people
D. blood flow in the brains of blind people is slower

2. The participants of the experiment were asked _____.

A. to tell the difference between 16 sounds
B. to take down the time each sound lasted
C. to identify the direction the sound came from
D. to detect the number of the loudspeakers.

3. During the experiment, blood flow in the brains of the participants was measured in order to _____.

A. learn about the way they react to echoes
B. look for the way of enhancing hearing ability
C. find which parts of the brain were functioning
D. expose the relationship between seeing and touching

4. Which of the following statements best summarizes the main idea of the passage?

A. Most blind people have a well-developed sense of touch.
B. People go blind because of the breakdown of their visual cortex.
C. Most blind people have a better sense of sound than normal people.
D. Human brains can adjust themselves after the loss of a certain function.

     An ancient Egyptian mummy thought to be that of Pharaoh Ramses I (法老一世) has returned home after
more than 140 years in North American museums. The body was carried off the plane in Cairo in a box
covered in Egypt's flag.
     The Michael Carlos Museum gave it back after tests showed it was probably that of the man who ruled
3,000 years ago. The US museum acquired it three years ago from a Canadian museum, which in turn is
thought to have bought it from Egyptian gave robbers in 1860.The mummy was welcomed back home with
songs and military band music during a ceremony at the national museum in Cairo.
     Zahi Hawass, head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities (文物最高委员会), traveled from the US
with the body and said it would be moved next year to the Luxor Museum in southern Egypt."We are not
100% sure that mummy is that of Ramses I," said Mr. Hawass."But we are 100% sure that it is of a king."
     Atlanta's Michael Carlos Museum acquired the mummy in 1999, but offered to return it after hi-tech
scanning equipment indicated it was likely to be that of Ramses I. The museum website said it had been
acquired from the Niagara Falls Museum. It is thought a Canadian collector bought the mummy for the
Niagara Falls Museum around 1860 from an Egyptian family which had came across a tomb filled with royal
mummies at a site near Luxor.
     Mr.Hawass praised the handover as"a great, civilized gesture". And he appealed to other world museums
to return Egypt's antiquities, particularly the Rosetta Stone in the Britain Museum and the Bust of Nefertiti in
the Berlin Museum.

1. Where was Ramses mummy kept in just before the handover?

A. the Luxor Museum
B. the Michael Carlos Museum
C. the Niagara Falls Museum
D. a Canadian Museum

2. Which is the correct order of the following events according to the passage?
a. The mummy returned home.
b. The mummy was kept in the Niagara Falls Museum.
c. Egyptian grave robber sold he mummy.
d. A Canadian collector bought the mummy.
e. The mummy was kept in the Michael Carlos Museum.

A. c-d-e-b-a
B. c-b-e-d-a
C. a-d-c-b-e
D. c-d-b-e-a

3. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A. All the Egypt's antiquities have returned home after the handover.
B. Niagara Falls Museum is an American museum.
C. Buying the mummy from the Egyptian family was a civilized gesture.
D. Ramses Mummy had been kept in Canada for more than a century.

4. What would be the best title for the passage?

A. The history of Ramses mummy.
B. The handover ceremony of Ramses mummy from Canada.
C. The returning of Ramses mummy to its homeland Egypt.
D. The history of the royal family of Ramses.

     It's not entirely true that kids learn a second language easily, but it's still the best time to learn. Babies are
basically equipped to hear and distinguish every possible language and dialect, but once they reach 6 months
old, they begin to focus on the particular sounds that exist in the languages that they're exposed to. In this
way, kids will naturally and automatically be bilingual (双语的) if they hear multiple languages on a daily
basis when they are still babies..
     One lady told me of her son who grew up in a very multi-cultural community working at a resort. He
would naturally and easily switch from Dutch, to French, to Italian, German and English depending on who
he was talking to. Of course that's an extreme case, but it's completely possible and easy.
     It' s not true that they will get mixed up by learning multiple languages. They may mix them up purposely
simply because certain words or expressions are easier, but they won't develop any permanent language
disabilities. Quite the contrary, bilingual children have been shown to be as much as a year more advanced in
learning ability development for 2 and 3 years olds.
     Some kids who simply aren't gifted at learning languages, just as some aren't gifted at sports or music,
will find it difficult to continue schooling in a foreign language. In that case, it may be better not to continue
with the foreign language school. Still, it will have been an excellent opportunity for Grade One. Perhaps for
Grade Two you could try a bilingual school.
     In any case, learning even a small amount of a foreign language, maintaining the ability to hear and
pronounce it by listening to music and movies will keep a foundation for later learning. Knowing a second
language can be a great benefit for gaining employment.

1. What's the main idea of the first paragraph?

A. It's difficult for kids to learn a second language.
B. Kids are able to learn multiple languages.
C. Kids should be exposed to the native language.
D. Kids enjoy all kinds of different dialects.

2. What did the lady tell us about her son?

A. He could speak five kinds of languages.
B. He was learning some different languages.
C. He could talk with many people at the same time.
D. He was working in a multi-community.

3. In which way can learning multiple languages benefit kids according to the text?

A. Mixing up different languages.
B. Distinguish different dialects.
C. Developing learning ability.
D. Developing language disabilities.

4. What should you do if your kids are not good at learning language?

A. Ask them to turn to sports or music.
B. Encourage them to remain in Grade One
C. Let them remain in the foreign language school.
D. Send them to a bilingual school later.

     Scientists in the United States say plant life has increased on Earth in the past twenty years and that in every
area of plant growth the increase is the result of weather conditions.
     Eight scientists from across the United States did the study. The space agency NASA and the Department
of Energy paid for it. The findings were published in the magazine Science.
     The researchers spent one and a half years examining weather satellite information. The information was
recorded from 1982 to 1999.That period was one of the warmest on record. Researchers found that rainfall
generally increased during that time.
     The satellites measured the number of leaves on plants and the amount of sunlight taken in. The scientists
used that information to estimate what is called net primary production. This is total amount of carbon stored
in land plants.
     The scientists report a 6% increase in stored carbon since 1982.They say gains were high in equatorial
areas, especially around the Amazon River in South America. The area alone had a 1% increase in the net
primary production.
     Ramakrishna Nemani of the University of Montana in Missoula headed the study. He says reduced cloud
cover led to growth in Amazon area. He also says the lack of clouds allowed more sunlight to get through.
More sunlight meant increases in photosynthesis (光合作用).That is the process by which plants use energy
from sunlight to produce the chemicals they need to grow.
     Northern Canada, the north-central United States and northern Europe were second in increased plant
growth.Ramakrishna Nemani says a rise in temperature helped plants there.
     All together, the report says 25% of areas of plant life on Earth experienced increases. But the scientists
also note increase in the number of people on Earth and carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Ranga Myneni
of Boston University in Massachusetts, another study scientist says humans use about half the net primary
production on Earth. And he notes that the world population grew by 36% during the period of time studied.

1. Which of the following is in charge of the study?

A. The space agency NASA of the US.
B. The Department of Energy of the US.
C. Ramakrishna Nemani in Missoula.
D. Ranga Myneni in Massachusetts.

2. What's the main cause of the plant growth put forward by the study?

A. Growth in population.
B. Regional features.
C. Seasonal variation.
D. Weather conditions

3. Why do scientists believe that reduced cloud cover has led to the plant growth in the Amazon area?

A. Because plants could take in more sunlight.
B. Because plants could get more rainfall.
C. Because plants could enjoy cooler air.
D. Because plants suffer less from natural disasters.

4. Which of the following descriptions about the years from 1982 to 1999 is TRUE?

A. It was the warmest on record.
B. Rainfall decreased little by little.
C. World population grew by 25%.
D. Stored carbon increased by 6%.

     A teacher of English as a second language is the 2004 Teacher of the Year in the United States. Kathy
Mellor of Rhode Island will spend the next year as an international spokeswoman for education. President
Bush and his wife, Laura, honored her during a ceremony (仪式) at the White House last week.
     For the past nineteen years, Kathy Mellor has taught English as a second language at Davisville Middle
School in North Kingstown, Rhode Island,in the northeastern United States.She redesigned the program for
E.S.L students at her school to provide each student with one to three periods per day in classes for English
learners. How much instruction the students get depends on their level of skill in listening,speaking, reading
and writing. The amount of time they spend in these classes in reduced as their level of English increases.
     A teacher describes this as the most successful E.S.L. program in North Kingstown. She also praises
Kathy Mellor for providing help to students and their families by forming a local parents group for speakers
of other languages.This improved their ability to help their children.
     Kathy Mellor earned a master's degree in education from Rhode Island College. She studied teaching
English as a second language.
     She was chosen for the national honor of Teacher of the Year from among top teachers in each of the
fifty states. As Teacher of the Year, Kathy Mellor will travel around the United States and to other countries.
She will talk about the importance of education and the work of teachers.

1. This passage is mainly about _____.

A. Teacher of the Year 2004 in the United States
B. Ms Mellor's English teaching instruction
C. Ms Mellor's teaching skills of learning English
D. praises to Ms Mellor from other teachers

2. What does "E.S.L." in the passage stand for?

A. English study learners.
B. English speaking and listening.
C. English special learners.
D. English as a second language.

3. From this passage we can learn that _______.

A. middle school teachers from each state are honored Teachers of the Year
B. middle school teachers in the USA have to get master's degrees
C. Ms Mellor's students have no problems in learning English
D. the American government pays much attention to education

     I believe that animals possess greater intelligence than most people think But plants? I've never considered
the possibility of plant intelligence. The idea seems absurd.
     Yet I've had friends argue that plant intelligence might exist. "What are the differences between plants and
animals?" they ask, and then they argue about certain species that seem to share the intelligence of both plants
and animals.
     New research suggests that plants communicate via "networks". Plant communication is not idea, and
cannot indicate that it is a kind of intelligence, but it is still interesting.
     Recent research from Vidi researcher Josef Stuefer at the Radboud University Nijmegen shows that plants
have their own chat systems that they can use to warn each other. Therefore plants are not boring and passive
organisms that just stand there waiting to be cut down or eaten up; many plants form internal communication
networks and are able to exchange information networks and are able to exchange information efficiently.
     Many herbal plants such as strawberries and clovers (三叶草) naturally form networks. Individual plants
remam connected with each other for a certain period of time by means of runners (plant stems that grow
along the ground and put down roots to form new plants). These connections enable the plants to share
information with each other via intemal channels. They are therefore very similar to computer networks. But
what do plants chat to each other about?
     Recently Stuefer and his colleagues were the first to prove that clover plants warn each other via the
network links if danger is nearby. If one of the plants is attacked by caterpillars (毛虫), the other members of
the network are warned via an internal signal. Once warned the intact (完好无损的) plants strengthen their
chemical and mechanical (机体的) resistance so that they are less attractive to advancing caterpillars. Thanks
to this early warning system, the plants can stay one step ahead of their attackers. The research has shown that
this significantly limits the damage to the plants.
     Again, I don't believe this reflects intelligence, but it's certainly fascinating.

1. The author thinks that the plant communication _____.

A. is absolutely a new idea 
B. is a sign of plant intelligence
C. is related to animal communication
D. is interesting and fascinating

2. Clover plants warn each other when danger is nearby by _____.

A. making sounds
B. releasing chemicals
C. strengthening mechanical resistance
D. sending internal signals

3. Which of the following statements about the research is NOT true?

A. Most plants have no chat system and are passive organisms.
B. Individual plants can also remain connected with each other.
C. The communication between clover plants can protect them from damage.
D. The research is the first to show how clover plants warn each other.

4. The author's attitude towards plant intelligence is _____.

A. unconcerned
B. doubtful
C. positive
D. hopeful

5. What's the best title for the passage?

A. Does Plant Communication Really Exist?
B. Some Discoveries About Clover Plant.
C. Does Plant Communication Imply Intelligence?
D. A New Study on Plant Communication.

     Why should I teach my children history? That sounds like a stupid question to even ask. But, as I hear
different home schooling teachers discuss history, I get the idea that there may be different reasons for
teaching history. Let me briefly explain the three good reasons for studying history and two bad reasons
for studying history.
     The major reason I see for studying history is that we can learn from the past. I am convinced that the
world would be a much better place if more people understood the successes and failures of the past and
the things that made these successes and failures. However, as the unfortunately true statement goes "the
one thing we seem to learn from history is that we don't seem to learn from history." Perhaps at least in
teaching history, to my children I can do a small part in changing this.
     A second major reason for studying history is that it is hard to understand the current political climate
in the absence of an understanding of its historical context. We can- not even understand why we are and
where we are without history, much less (更不必说) try to figure out where we are going or how we
should get where we want to be.
     I teach my children history, for one more reason. I purchased a set of historical audio (录音机) tapes
for our children. My seven-year-old son listened to them over and over. It was my hope that he would
become inspired by the accomplishments of people like the Wright brothers to accomplish things by
himself. I think that it is good that we celebrate the accomplishments of people like Martin Luther King Jr.
if, in doing so, young people are called on to stand for the principles that he stood for and accomplish what
he accomplished. I also think that by studying people like Adolph Hitler, people can learn to stand against
the things that he stood for.

1. What message can we get from the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2?

A. Many people aren't clever enough to learn well from the past.
B. Many people fail to make good use of history and make the same mistakes.
C. Many people feel it hard to understand history.
D. Many people have no interest in studying history.

2. In Paragraph 3, the author shows that history is useful because _______.

A. it makes the current political situation go smoothly
B. it helps us realize the importance of historical events
C. it helps us understand why things are the way they are
D. it helps people accept the present situation where they live

3. What would be talked about in the following paragraph?

A. How to teach history effectively.
B. Some negative reasons for studying history.
C. How to get more people to study history.
D. Some bad historical figures.

4. The main purpose of this passage is to _______.

A. inspire the parents to teach their children history
B. show the importance of history in politics
C. explain the reasons why children study history
D. introduce the writer' s own way of teaching history