I must a__________ (道歉) for calling you so late.

In ancient times, the most important exams were spoken, not written. In the schools of ancient Greece and Rome, testing usually consisted of saying poetry or giving speeches.

In the European universities of the Middle Ages, students who were working for advanced degrees had to discuss questions in their field of study with people who had made a special study of the subject. This custom exists today as apart of the process testing candidates for the doctor’s degree.

Generally, however, modern exams are written. The written exam, where all students are tested on the same questions, was probably not known until the 19^th century. Perhaps it came into existence with the great increase in population and the development of modern industry. A room full of candidates for a state exam timed exactly by electric clocks and carefully watched over by managers, resembles a group of workers at an automobile factory. Of course, during exams, teachers and students are expected to act like machines.

One type of test is sometimes called an “objective” test. It is intended to deal with facts, not personal opinions. To make up an objective text, the teacher writes a series of questions, each of which has one correct answer. Along with each question, the teacher writes the answer and also three statements that look like answers to students who have not learned the material properly.

72. In the Middle Ages, students_________.

A. took objective tests                 B. specialized in one subject

C. were timed by electric clocks  D. seldom wrote exams

73 The main idea of the third paragraph is that_______.

A. workers now take exams               B. the population has grown

C. there are only written exams today  D. exams are now written and timed

74. The kind of exams where students must select answer are______.

A. personal    B. objective    C. spoken    D. written

75. Modern industry must have developed_____.

A. before the Middle Ages      B. around the 19^th century

C. in Greece or Rome            D. machine to take tests

The teaching of physics in schools is in danger of dying out unless urgent action is taken to deal with a serious lack of teachers, the government is warned today.

    The number of students taking physics at A-level has fallen 38% since 1990, according to a research. At the same time the number of mew physics teachers has dropped sharply while the shortage is likely to worsen as older teachers retire.

 Britain’s leading scientists and engineers expressed alarm over the findings, which they say are part of the problems in science education generally. Lord May of Oxford, president of the Royal Society, the UK’s National Academy of Science, said, “The problems facing science at A-level are well beyond physics. We have over and over again noted the general downward trend of students studying the sciences beside biology and math at A-level. If we fail to deal with this then we may lose the ability to train the next generation of scientists, technologists and engineers.”

      Alan Smithers and Pamela Robinson, who did the research in 432 schools and colleges in England and Wales, said that since 1990, the number of physics students had fallen by 38%, from 45,334 to 28,119. Nearly 10% of state schools now do not offer A-level physics, and of those that do 39.5% had five students or fewer taking it this year.

     Over the same period, the research discovered,  the number of people who are allowed to become physics teachers dropped from about a third of the science total to 12.8%. The supply of physics teachers is not renewing itself, with nearly twice as many aged over 50 as 30 or younger. Another danger is the redefinition of science subjects to “general science”.

     Professor Smithers and Dr Robinson warn that the subject is in danger of dying out in schools.” Physics in schools and colleges is at risk through redefinition and lack of teachers with expertise in the subject,” they said. “If physics is to survive in schools, both as basic education and as a platform for higher level study and research, there is a need for immediate action.”

68. From what Lord May of Oxford said, we can learn that____________.

   A. he worries about the future of science education.      

B. the top scientists have not noticed the problem until recently.     

C. the UK has lost the ability to train scientists and engineers

D. biology and math do not face the same problems as physics.

69. Five students or fewer take A-level physics this year in _______.  

    A. 432 schools and colleges in England and Wales      

B. nearly 35.6% of the state schools  

C. 39.5% of state schools   

D.90% of state schools offering the course  

70. The underlined word “renewing” is closest to _______in meaning.      

A. continuing     B. offering   C. saving        D. replacing

71. What is the best title for the passage? 

  A. Lack of Physics Teachers Causes Trouble.         B. How Important the Physics Is!    

  C. Physics Is Dying Out in Schools.                       D. Why Do We Study Physics?  

Publishing on paper will draw up to an end in the next 30 years. That’s what some high-tech experts have said ever since computers began appearing in everyone’s workplace. If you have ever read a newspaper online, you have experienced a tiny part of what paperless future look like.

       New technology will certainly continue to revolutionize written communication. But will the use of paper in our everyday lives really disappear anytime soon? Well, don’t give up on paper just yet.

       Paper, an ancient Chinese invention, has dominated(主宰) written communication for centuries. Cai Lun, an official in the Chinese Imperial Court, is well-known for inventing paper in A.D. 105. This invention changed the world forever.

       Today, surprisingly, it seems the digital age has actually strengthened the importance of paper. Studies show that paper use has doubled in the last 20 years. People still like to print their longer documents and e-mails. But today’s technology is rapidly improving. And efforts toward a paperless world continue.

       The Internet is clearly one giant step. Many of the publications have created Web sites that offer everything in their paper editions―and even more. Their Web sites can be continually updated as news happens. Other types of material have also fit well into the digital age. Dictionaries and other reference books actually work better in a paperless format. Information published on a Web site or CD-ROM can be kept more current.

       In addition publishers have begun to produce e-book version of their best sellers. New e-book readers---a simple computer about the size of a paperback book―can store nearly a hundred books. But e-books haven’t gained a large following. Reading from a computer is simply uncomfortable and paperback books are easier to carry around.

64. Which of the following is not true according to the passage?

     A. The invention of paper revolutionized written communication.

     B. Publishing on paper will disappear in the next decade.

     C. Most books will continue in paper for now.

     D. Digital books are read on a computer screen.

65. What surprises us today is that the digital age makes people realize ______________.

A. the importance of the use of paper         

B. the importance of paperless workplace

       C. the paperless future will come sooner or later     

D. how important paper has been in the last 20 years

66. What is not included as a resource of paperless material in the passage?

       A. e-books                                      B. CD-ROM

C. a newspaper online                      D. dictionaries and other reference books

67. “The Internet is clearly one giant step” implies that __________.

       A. It offers you an opportunity to experience a part of paperless future.

       B. This new technology fits well into the digital age.

       C. A substitute for paper might someday be a reality.

       D. For now the world will continue to stick with what works.

Save Grain Campaign

Like other heavily populated nations, India is trying to find new ways to produce more food to feed its ever increasing population. But one of the methods India recently has taken is as old as the Upanishads. It's called simply storing grain. Today in India, they are calling it the "Save Grain Campaign" and it seems to be working. By planning ahead, the country has opened more land and increased grain production from 51 million tons in 1995.India can now depend on its own grain supply. To reduce post-harvest losses, estimated at 9.33 percent of the nation output, the Indian Ministry of Food has taken several steps to let more people know more about scientific methods of grain storage. The "Save Grain Campaign", a pilot program in 1965, now is gaining popularity. There are 17 campaign offices across India. Campaign workers work closely with provincial governments to teach farmers scientific methods of storing food and pest control.

60. What do the Indian do to have more food?
   A. Increase its population                                                   B. Open more farmland
   C. From 17 campaign offices in every province                    D. Buy more food from foreign countries.
61. The "Save Grain Campaign" is a program_____________
   A. popular since 1965      B. popular since 1951
   C. widely known now      D. dealing with pest control
62 If there were no post-harvest losses, maybe the total output of grain in India would be___________
   A. over 9 percent more     B. 51 million tons
   C. 192 million tons           D. 243 million tons
63. The scientific methods of grain storage have to be taught because______
   A. a lot of grain is wasted after the crop harvests
   B. a lot of grain is wasted during the crop harvests
   C. a lot of farmland is wasted
   D. farmers know nothing about the "Save Grain Campaign"

This story took place a long time ago. But it has been repeated time and time again. Everyone is moved by the true story.

  An old man was knocked down by a car and was taken to hospital. He was badly hurt, and during his few returns to consciousness, he repeatedly called for his son.

  None knew where his son was. A dirty letter was found in his pockets. The nurse learned that his son was a solider in North Carolina.

  The hospital called the Red Cross offices to find the young man. The young solider was rushed to the airport in time to catch the plane.

  It was evening when the young solider walked into the hospital. A nurse took him into the bedsides of the old man.

  “Your son is here,” she said to the man. She had to repeat the words several times before the old man’s eyes opened. He dimly saw the young man and got great comfort. He reached out his hand. The young solider held the old man’s hand and offered words of hope.

  All through the night the young solider sat besides the bed. The nurse offered to watch instead of him for a while. He refused.

  At dawn the old man died. The nurse started to comfort him but the solider asked her, “Who was that old man?”

  “He was your father,” she answered.

  “No, he wasn’t. I never saw him before.”

  “I knew right away there was a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn’t here. I realized I was needed. So I stayed.”

56. What is true about the old man?

  A. He was seriously injured and would die soon.

  B. He knew quite well what had happened to him.

  C. He once and again wanted to call his son.

  D. He was knocked dead near a hospital.

57. How did people get to know something about his son?

  A. They guessed from the old man’s anxious expression on the face.

  B. They found him from the address on the letter.

  C. They found someone who knew the father and son.

  D. They asked for the help from the Red Cross.

58. When the old man and the young man met, ________.

  A. the old man wished the young man good luck in the future

  B. the young man said something to comfort the old man

  C. the doctors and nurses felt it hopeful to save the old man

  D. they both recognized each other at once

59. We know from this passage________.

  A. the Red Cross is something for people to find persons

  B. the young man knew he was wrongly called when he got on the plane

  C. the hospital had meant to save the old man with the young man’s coming but failed

  D. the young man might have the same name as the old man’s son

 I tried to explain the problem to Mary, but she was so angry that she ___________listen.

     A. couldn’t    B. shouldn’t   C. wouldn’t   D. might not

_______ the station, he found his wife _____to meet him.

    A. On reaching; waiting for   B. On arriving at; waiting

    C. Getting; to be waiting       D. Arriving in; to wait

It will cost a lot of time. _______, I think we shall need it and it will certainly be useful to us ________.

    A. What’s more; sooner or later   B. As a result; now and then

    C. After all; here and there            D. At the same time; more or less