C
Could the solution to world future energy needs lie in the ocean? It’s possible.
We are not talking about oil, but another potential untapped energy resource called “methane hydrates”.
Methane hydrates are hard, ice-like white solids that form naturally in deposits (沉积物) on ocean floors. They arecomposed of water and highly concentrated methane produced by the microorganisms living in the deposits.
The remarkable thing is that you can hold a flame to a piece of methane hydrate and it will catch on fire. It’s been called “burning ice.”
Methane hydrates are spread around the world. These deposits may in the future become a very important fuel resource. One researcher calculated that a small area off the Southeastern coast of America may contain methane hydrates equal to 30 times the annual U.S. consumption of natural gas.
Right now there are very significant technical and financial challenges facing us before we could exploit this as a resource. Scientists around the world are studying these challenges. One big issue is how to get these methane hydrates off the ocean floor, causing undersea landslides and tidal waves.
Another issue is how to handle the matter after it is brought up. It’s also unclear whether it would make more sense to “mine” solid hydrates or tap the gases found with them. And many deposits may occur in low concentrations with no commercial potential.
Japan, which has no oil supplies of its own, has thrown itself into burning ice research because it has deposits off its shores which could make Japan less dependent on foreign suppliers of oil.
The U.S. Department of Energy and Congress are also supporting research. However, the US administration’s energy policy is focused on traditional fossil (化石) fuels. And at least for now, developing burning ice into a fuel source isn’t high on the energy industry’s list. But if natural gas continues to rise in price, exploiting burning ice might become economically practical.
59. What’s the meaning of the underlined word in Paragraph Two?
A. not existed              B. Unseen         C. available but not used              D. unreal
60. What can you learn from the text?
A. Burning ice has been used in some countries.
B. Applying burning ice tops the energy list in America.
C. Burning ice exists in few countries.
D. There are still some problems in developing the burning ice
61. Why has Japan already begun to develop the burning ice?
A. It is a developed country.  B. They want to help other countries.
C. It lacks oil supplies of its own. D. America asked Japan to do so.
62. Which one is the best title of the text?
A. World Energy Shortage           B. Burning Ice Holds Hope as Fuel Source
C. Methane Hydrates               D. Methane Hydrates Spread around the World

B
Particles from car exhausts generate more persistent clouds but less rain, new research suggests. Furthermore, putting more of these particles into the atmosphere reduces the low-level winds, which could reduce the amount of wind power available in very polluted regions. The dry but populated regions may therefore suffer a triple blow as a result of vehicle pollution：less water, less hydropower and less wind energy.
Scientists studied the effects of aerosol（浮质）pollution from cars and industry. They correlated satellite data on wind speeds and the amount of aerosol particles in the atmosphere above the South Coast Basin in California and above China. Results showed that higher concentrations of aerosols were closely associated with slower ground winds. Scientists then used computer models to support the idea that there was a cause and effect relationship behind this correlation.
Particles floating in the atmosphere block energy from the Sun, preventing it from warming the surface of the Earth. Cooler surface temperatures during the day means the low—level and slow moving air does not rise up and mix with the faster winds at higher altitudes. Slower winds also induce less evaporation from oceans, rivers and lakes. And finally, once clouds have formed, they store less moisture in the form of rain. This is because raindrops form around small particles— dust, for instance, or pollution. With more particles in the atmosphere, it takes longer for enough water to condense（凝结）onto a particle to form a raindrop. And if the cloud of fine droplets（小滴）moves to a drier area before its would-be rain can rail, the moisture evaporates once more and the cloud disappears.
Scientists note their new work does not contradict previous findings that suggest global warming might lead to more tropical storms, because there is far less particulate（微粒的）pollution over the oceans.
60. The first paragraph mainly talks about        .
A. the results of vehicle pollution
B. an introduction to particles from car exhausts
C. less wind energy in polluted regions
D. less water caused by vehicle pollution
61. From this passage we can learn that        .
A. scientists supported their idea by using material models
B. the new study is contrary to the previous findings
C. if there are more particles in the atmosphere, there will be more raindrops
D. there is a cause and effect relationship between wind speeds and particle pollution
62. The underlined word “induce” in Paragraph 3 most probably mean       _ .
A. reduce         B. persuade           C. cause             D. produce
63. What’s the best title for the passage?
A. Pollution and Global Warming          B. Car, Wind and Rain
C. Industry Pollution                    D. How Rain Forms

D
Some people may be born happy, while others are genetically negative, scientists have suggested in a study published late February in a British journal.
Earlier research had already established that the gene known as 5-HTTLPR plays a key role in determining how the neurotransmitter (神经传递素) serotonin works within the brain. Serotonin, a hormone (荷尔蒙), passes chemical messages between nerve cells. It has been closely linked to mood. Several anti-depressant (抗抑郁) drugs regulate serotonin levels.
Scientists had also identified three variants (变体) of the gene. Two so-called “short” variants were linked to a higher risk of depression and suicide (自杀) attempts. Unlike the two “short” variants, the “long” variant of 5-HTTLPR showed a clear dislike of negative images, such as fierce animals, and a clear liking for positive ones, such as flowers.
Researchers from the University of Essex in Britain showed participants a series of images, which were divided into three kinds: negative ones aimed at inspiring fear or stress such as a snake or person about to commit suicide, pleasant ones and neutral (中性的) ones.
The participants who had the long variant of the 5-HTTLPR gene “showed a clear dislike of negative material alongside a careful attention for positive material,” the researchers found. They paid close attention to the pretty pictures, and ignored the frightening ones. On the other hand, the short variant groups had the opposite reaction.
In January, the Australian government organized “happiness workshops”, teaching government staff how to be happy. The department that held the “happiness workshops” said unhappy staff weren’t productive staff.
Australian political opposition parties have argued that the “happiness workshops” are probably a waste of money and couldn’t increase productivity as intended. However, whether the workshop will have a happy or disappointing result, we will have to wait and see.
71. Various kinds of images were shown to the participants to        .
A. draw their attention
B. cater to their different tastes
C. find out about their reactions
D. teach them to improve their artistic appreciation
72. The “short” variants of 5-HTTLPR differ from the “long” variants of 5-HTTLPR in that_____.
A. the former is connected with positive mood while the latter negative
B. the former is connected with negative mood while the latter positive
C. the former has a greater effect on one’s mood than the latter
D. the latter has a greater effect on one’s mood than the former
73. Which of the following statements is true about “happiness workshops”?
A. Most people believe that they are a waste of money.
B. They will be beneficial in the long run.
C. The purpose of “happiness workshops” is to teach all Australians to be happy.
D. They are organized in the belief that happy staff can work more efficiently.
74. It can be learned from the article that        .
A. drugs can be used to control people’s serotonin levels
B. happiness is more important than sadness
C. nothing can affect our mood
D. people with the short variant of 5-HTTLPR prefer a flower to a snake
75. The article is mainly about        .
A. the reason for the foundation of “happiness workshops”
B. the link between people’s mood and their gene
C. the study on people’s likes and dislikes
D. the differences in people’s attitude towards life

C
A new age is coming. Call it what you will: the service economy, the information age, the knowledge society. It all translates to a fundamental change in the way we work. Already we’re partly there, the percentage of people who earn their living by making things has fallen dramatically in the Western World. Today the majority of jobs in America, Europe and Japan are in the service industry, and the number is on the rise. More women are in the work force than ever before. There are more part-time jobs. More people are self-employed. But the range of the economic transformation can’t be measured by numbers alone, because it also is giving rise to important new way of thinking about the nature of work itself. Long-held ideas about jobs and careers, the skills needed to succeed, even the relation between individuals and employers — all these are being challenged.
We have only to look behind us to get some sense of what may lie ahead. No one looking ahead 20 years possibly could have foreseen the ways in which a single invention, the chip, would transform our world thanks to its applications in personal computers, digital communications and factory robots. Tomorrow’s achievements in biotechnology, artificial intelligence or even some still unimagined technology could produce a similar wave of dramatic changes. But one thing is certain: information and knowledge will become even more valid, and the people who possess it, whether they work in manufacturing or services, will have the advantage and produce the wealth. Computer knowledge will become as basic a requirement as the ability to read and write. The ability to solve problems by applying information instead of performing routine tasks will be valued above all else. If you cast your mind ahead 10 years, information service will be superior. It will be the way you do your job.
66. A characteristic of the new age mentioned in the passage is that        .
A. the service industry mainly relies on females
B. manufacturing industries are steadily increasing
C. more people are in the service industry than before
D. the work in the service industry is more comfortable than that in manufacturing industry
67. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. People’s traditional concepts about jobs need changing.
B. The relation between employees and employers is becoming tense.
C. More women than men are in the work force.
D. Part-time jobs are more welcome than full-time jobs.
68. By mentioning the invention of “the chip”, the author means to say that       .
A. we haven’t paid enough attention to the importance of high technology
B. the chip is the most important invention today
C. the power of science and technology is beyond our imagination
D. it’s a great challenge to apply new inventions to our life
69. We may draw a conclusion from the passage that        .
A. information will play a greater role in people’s work and daily life in the future
B. we can foresee the future if technology develops fast enough
C. the ability of performing routine tasks gives you an advantage in work
D. robots will replace people to do all the work both in manufacturing and service industries
70. The author’s attitude to the coming age is        .
A. doubtful         B. enthusiastic           C. satisfied        D. Uncertain

D
The oldest forms of medicine are enjoying a comeback. Modern holistic medicine is an approach that treats the whole patient, not just the disease. It is a way to maintain good health rather than cure illness. The most important influences on today’s holistic medicine are ancient Chinese medicine and Indian Ayurvedic medicine, both of which promoted whole body health.
Holistic medicine usually combines diet, physical exercise and meditation, together with other alternative techniques such as massage(按摩) and acupuncture(针炙). Herbal treatment, a practice of treating illness by using plants, is influenced by the writings of Culpeper as well as Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. Homeopathy(顺势疗法) is one of the forms of holistic medicine which is widely practiced in Europe and the USA. Homeopathy began in Germany in the early 1800s, when Samuel Hahnemann described how very tiny doses(剂量) of a drug had an effect on his patients. According to Hahnemann, the more the drug was diluted(稀释), the stronger its effects. The substance selected would produce similar effects to the disease itself if given in large doses. In the UK homeopathy is regarded as a non-traditional but just about acceptable treatment.
Meditation and contemplation have an important role in holistic medicine. They were brought to Europe by Indian teachers who combined Indian Ayurvedic medicine with Western beliefs. Transcendental meditation(超脱静坐) is one of the best known of these techniques. People repeat words inside their head to reach a state of deep relaxation.
The holistic movement has made many doctors look at the whole patient, not just the disease. Life-style, emotional problems and diet are just some of the factors that can affect a person’s health. Holistic medicine emphasizes good diet, exercise and fresh air, all of which contribute to health. Some clinics now offer holistic medicine along with traditional treatments, so that their patients can choose a combination of treatments that suits them. One problem with holistic medicine is that it is difficult for people to be sure a doctor is reliable. To solve this, many countries want alternative doctors to form professional bodies.
51．Modern holistic medicine centres upon        .
A．curing a disease                                          B．herbal treatment
C．continuous development                          D．keeping patients healthy
52．Which of the following does NOT belong to holistic medicine?
A．massage                                                     B．meditation
C．a balanced diet                                       D．a knee operation
53．The principle of homeopathy is that        .
A．the large doses of medicine that will not be harmful will take better effect
B．the disease will be cured sooner by taking larger doses of medicine
C．a small thinner dose of medicine will be more effective
D．the doses of medicine depend on how serious the illness is
54．Which of the following titles best sums up the passage?
A．Holistic Medicine                                       B．Traditional Medicine Returns
C．History of Medicine                                D．Combination of Treatments Works
55．What can we infer from the passage?
A．Relaxation is the key of holistic treatment.
B．Holistic medicine needs to become more trustworthy.
C．Holistic treatment is more beneficial than traditional treatments.
D．Holistic medicine will become the most welcome treatment soon.

Two Earthquakes in Two Months:
Comparing the Quakes in Haiti (海地) and Chile (智利)
Overview (概要) How do the earthquakes in Chile and Haiti compare? Here, students perform a gallery walk to learn more about the earthquakes from a specific point, and then do a specific research and presentation project or response activity. Finally, they seek answers to their unanswered questions.
Materials Print copies of photographs, charts, documents and other visuals to display, as described below; computer (s) with Internet access (optional), research materials, handouts.
Warm-up Choose and prepare a “gallery” of photographs, graphics, news reports and other materials to display around the room to enable students to consider the 2010 earthquake in Chile.
Depending on course program, choose materials for the gallery that provide a window on the two quakes, through one of the following specific points, or the focus of your choice:
Earthquakes through History Putting the 2010 Chilean and Haitian quakes into historical view related to other earthquakes, including the 1960 Chilean quake and the 2004 Asian earthquake and tsunami.
Rescue and Aid Considering domestic and international response to the disasters by militaries, governments and aid organizations, including rescue and recovery as well as efforts to provide food, water, health care and shelter to those affected.
Related The article Underwater Plate Cuts 400 Mile Gash compares several earthquakes:
Mr. Lin figured that the quake on Saturday was 250 to 350 times more powerful than the Haitian quake.
But Paul Caruso noted that at least on land, the effects of the Chilean tremor (震动) might not be as bad. For one thing, he said, the quality of building construction is generally better in Chile than in Haiti. And the fact that the quake occurred offshore should also help limit the destruction. In Haiti, the rupture (断裂) occurred only a few miles from the capital, Port-au-Prince. The rupture on Saturday was centered about 60 miles from the nearest town, Chillan, and 70 miles from the country’s second-largest city, Concepción.
Read the article using the following questions.
Questions For discussion with others and reading comprehension:
How does the 2010 Chilean earthquake compare to the 1960 Chilean earthquake?
Why do scientists believe that the 2010 Chilean earthquake will not cause the same level of damage as January’s Haitian earthquake did?
How does the 2010 Chilean earthquake compare to the 2004 Indonesian earthquake?
What reasons do scientists give to explain why the Indonesian quake caused so much more damage than the recent Chilean earthquake?
64. Which of the following shows one of the reasons for slighter losses in Chile than in Haiti?
A. Position:
     
B. Power:

65. We can infer that the article Underwater Plate Cuts 400 Mile Gash includes ________.
A. the causes of the 2010 Chilean earthquake and the 1960 Chilean earthquake
B. the comparison between the 2010 Haitian and the 2004 Indonesian earthquakes
C. the reason for the 2010 Chilean quake being more powerful than January’s Haitian earthquake
D. the reason for less damage in the 2010 Chilean quake than in the 2004 Indonesian earthquake
66. What is the passage most likely to be?
A. A program for research.                                   B. A guide to earthquake study.
C. An advertisement for students.                             D. An introduction to quakes.

第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分 40分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
A university math tutor has discovered the science behind “singledom”, finding that our chances of finding the perfect partner are just 1 in 285,000. Peter Backus, a tutor at the University of Warwick, published his “Why I Don’t Have a Girlfriend” paper after a three-year love drought.
His unconventional study uses a famous math formula called The Drake Equation(德雷克等式), which was first used to estimate the existence of extra-terrestrial(地球以外) life.
The results don't look promising for British singles. 30-year-old Mr. Backus found that out of the 30 million women in the UK, only 26 would be suitable girlfriends for him.
The dull equation takes into account the number of women aged 24 to 34, living in his home city of London, and who are single, meaning his chances of meeting his dream woman on a night out are slim.
The economics expert said: “There are 26 women in London with whom I might have a wonderful relationship. So, on a given night out in London there is a 0.0000034% chance of meeting one of these special people. That’s a 1 in 285,000 chance, so it’s not great.”
The puzzling Drake equation reads: N =" R*" x Fp x Ne x Fi x Fc x L, and helped pioneering scientist Professor Drake to predict that there could be 10,000 civilizations in our galaxy.
Mr. Backus simply replaced the original equation with his own criteria for a dream date, which included the percentage of women likely to find him attractive, and the number of girls aged 24-34 in London. He said: “The research may sound depressing to people looking for love, but the good news for singles is, it’s probably not your fault!”
56. Mr. Backus’ discovery in this passage is mainly concerned about ______.
A. whether there exists life out of our planet
B. the possibility of his being able to find love
C. how to get rid of singledom
D. what math can do to serve our daily life
57. What does Mr. Backus think of the result of his research?
A. Optimistic.     B. Depressing.      C. Unrealistic.     D. Exciting.
58. What can we learn from the first paragraph?
A. Mr. Backus’ major research field is “singledom”.
B. Mr. Backus found a girlfriend three years ago.
C. Mr. Backus’ new thesis will surely be well received.
D. Mr. Backus has been searching for love for long.
59. By “the good news for singles” in the last sentence, Mr. Backus probably mean _____.
A. you don’t have to blame yourself for remaining single
B. maybe the discovery is not reliable at all
C. the result was based on his own criteria
D. there might be more dream date out of London
60. Which of the following statements is true?
A. This passage could be published in a scientific magazine.
B. The passage intends to prove there are other civilizations.
C. The passage writer doesn’t really understand the Drake equation.
D. Most women in London are not suitable for university teachers.

Force other than damaging winds are also at work inside tornadoes. Sometimes, as the turning, jumping funnel(漏斗) passes over a house, the walls and ceiling burst apart as if a bomb had gone off inside. This explosion(爆炸) is caused by the low air pressure at the center of a tornado.
The pressure at the center of a tornado is usually 13 pounds per square inch. However, inside the house the air pressure is normal, about 15 pounds per square inch. The difference of 2 pounds per square inch between the inside and outside pressure may not seem like much. But suppose a tornado funnel passes over a small building that measures 20 by 10 by 10 feet. On each square inch of the building, there is 2 pounds of pressure from the inside that is not balanced by air pressure outside the building. On the ceiling, that adds up to an unbalanced pressure of 57,600 pounds. The pressure on the four walls adds up to 172,800 pounds.
If windows are open in the building, some of the inside air will rush out through them. This will balance the pressure inside and outside the building. But if the windows are shut tightly, the great inside pressure may cause the building to burst.
　　Unfortunately, heavy rain happens in thunderstorms that later produce tornadoes. So, people often shut all windows to protect their property. This may cause far worse damage later.
63. Which of the following is the main topic of the passage?
A. Where tornadoes are formed. 　　      B. When tornadoes usually occur.
C. How tornadoes can be prevented.　　     D. Why tornadoes cause so much damage.
64. According to the passage, tornadoes can destroy building because the _____.
A. force of a tornado increases the air pressure in a building
B. air pressure at the center of a tornado is over 172,000 pounds
C. weight of a tornado can crush a building’s roof when it passes overhead
D. air pressure inside a tornado is less than the air pressure inside a building
65. According to the passage, the pressure on a building during a tornado can be reduced　　　　by _____.
A. closing the windows 　　　　　        B. opening the windows
C. using an electric fan 　　　　          D. making the roof and walls stronger

Many of the world’s pollution problems have been caused by the crowding of large groups of people into the cities. Supply for the needs of the people leads to further pollution by industry. If the rapid increase of world population in countries continues at the present rate, there may be much greater harm to human beings. Some scientists speak of the increase in numbers of people as “population pollution.”
About 2,000 years ago, the world population was probably about 250 million. It reached a billion in 1850. By 1930 the population was two billion. It is now three and a half billion. It is expected to double by the year 2,000. If the population continues to grow at the same rate, there will be 25 billion in the world a hundred years from now.
Man has been using the earth’s resources more and more rapidly over the past years. Some of them are almost used up. Now many people believe that man’s greatest problem is how to control the growth of the population. The material supplies in the world will be far from enough to support the human population, in time to come, if the present rate of increase continues. Already there is overcrowding in many cities and starvation in some countries. Should man’s population keep on growing so rapidly as before? Many people believe that human survival in the future depends on the answer to this question.
59. The rapid increase in population is considered to be __________.
A. the increase of resources          B. population pollution
C. the development of mankind       D. the present rate
60. The world population will be _________ by the year 2,000.
A. 7 billion                  B. 250 million       C. 25 billion      D. 3.5 billion
61. If the present rate of increase continue, ________________.
A. the world is going to end
B. the earth won’t be able to support the growing population in the future
C. pollution has nothing to do with the rapidly increasing population
D. there would be four billion in the world a hundred years from now
62. Which of the following is WRONG according to the passage?
A. In 1850 the world population reached a billion.
B. Man must fight a battle against population pollution.
C. The world’s population is increasing with years.
D. All of the earth’s resources are gone now.

An Australian company, Smart Car Technologies, has developed a system that lets drivers know when they’re speeding．When the technology becomes commercially available, it could help lead-footed drivers avoid tickets and also save lives．The company that developed the product hopes to convince Australian government agencies to put the technology into use in their automobile fleets.
The product, called Speed Alert, links real-time location data and speed obtained with the help of GPS(全球定位系统) to a database of posted speed limits stored in a driver’s PDA or programmable mobile phone．The setup of the product does not need to be hooked(钩住) up to a car’s speedometer．In fact, it is entirely portable．It will also work with newer phones and PDAs that have built-in GPS receivers．If a driver exceeds（超过） the speed limit, the speed is shown and an alert sounds.
Michael Paine, an Australian vehicle design engineer and traffic safety consultant, was hired to analyze the product．He told Live Science  that his colleagues in the road safety field are “very enthusiastic” about what they’re now calling “intelligent speed alert.” Other research, according to Paine, shows that 40 percent of all traffic deaths involve speeding．There is also a potentially future use: “Since the system is so portable, it would be easy to make it a requirement for teenage drivers to always use a speed alert device when driving,” Paine said．“The system even has the function to record speeding violations(违背), so parents can monitor their teenage drivers.”
The product will soon go on sale in Sydney.
41．What’s the purpose of the new product_______.
A．To inform us of the new car system.     B．To introduce some improvement in cars.
C．To limit certain drivers to safe driving.   D．To popularize the built-in car system.
42．Lead-footed drivers refer to the ones        .
A．who drive too carelessly   B．that drive extremely fast
C．who are partly disabled     D．that drive too slowly
43．The second paragraph mainly talks about        .
A．the project of the built-in product     B．why the system becomes popular
C．the functions of GPS in cars       D．how the product is programmed
44．Which of the following is true of Speed Alert according to Michael Paine?
A．Most of the traffic deaths can be avoided. 
B．Speeding violations can be easily found out.
C．The system will excite some teenage drivers.
D．The product will not be available for adults.