–What’s the noise ? It sounds as if it comes from upstairs.  

   --______. It must be the window-cleaner working , next door.         

A. I’m not sure      B. I hope not        C. I’d rather not      D. I don’t think so

The president promised to keep all the board members _________ of how the negotiations were going on.

A. inform          B. informing        C. be informed        D. informed   

After studying in a medical college for five years, Jane _______ her job as a doctor in the countryside.

A. set out          B. took over         C. took up           D. set up  

By the time he realizes he ____ into a trap, it’ll be too late for him to do anything about it.

A. walks          B. walked           C. has walked         D. had walked 

Occasions are quite rare ____ I have the time to spend a day with my kids.

A. who           B. which            C. why              D. when   

--- They are quiet, aren’t they? --- Yes. They are accustomed __________ at meals.

A. to talk               B. to not talk         C. to talking               D. to not talking 

They huddled （挤在一起） inside the storm door – two children in dirty old coats.

“Any old __36___ , lady?”

I was __37__ with my household budget (预算). I wanted to say no --- until I looked down at their __38__ . Thin little sandals (凉鞋), __39__ through. “Come into the front room and I’ll make you a cup of hot __40__ .” There was no conversation. Their wet sandals left __41__ upon the hearthstone (壁炉的石头).

I __42__ them cocoa and bread with jam (果酱) to __43__ against the cold outside. Then I went back to the kitchen and started __44__ on my household budget.

I __45__ the silence in the front room and looked in. The girl held the empty __46__ in her hands, looking at it. The boy asked in a flat voice, “Lady ... are you rich?”

“Am I rich? No!”

The girl put her cup back in its saucer (碟子) – __47_ . “Your cups __48__ your saucers.” Her voice was old, with a __49__ that was not of the stomach.

They left then, holding their newspapers __50__ the wind. They hadn’t said __51__ . They didn’t need to. They had done more than that. Plain blue pottery cups and saucers. __52__ they matched. I tasted the potatoes and stirred (搅拌) the gravy (肉汁). Potatoes and brown gravy, a roof over our heads, my man with a good steady job – these things matched, too.

I moved the chairs back from the fire and cleaned the living room. The muddy prints of small sandals were __53__ wet upon my heart. I let them be. I want them there __54__ I ever forget again how very__55__ I am.

1.A. cups         B. newspapers       C. food         D. clothes

2.A. worried       B. excited          C. sad          D. busy

3.A. dress         B. faces            C. feet         D. socks

4.A. wet          B. cold             C. worn        D. broken

5.A. cocoa        B. soup             C. gravy        D. tea

6.A. snow         B. water            C. raindrops     D. marks

7.A. made         B. served           C. offered       D. sent

8.A. protect       B. warm            C. fight         D. beat

9.A. then         B. off               C. again        D. over[来源:学&科&网]

10.A. hated        B. wondered         C. found        D. noticed

11.A. spoon        B. cup              C. bowl         D. plate

12.A. carelessly     B. carefully          C. hurriedly     D. heavily

13.A. suit          B. fit               C. match        D. complete

14.A. hunger       B. hope             C. sound        D. anger

15.A. with         B. against           C. in           D. along

16.A. thank you   B. goodbye         C. nothing        D. sorry

17.A. Though     B. As              C. So            D. But

18.A. still        B. even             C. once          D. ever

19.A. because     B. even though       C. in case        D. as if

20.A. kind        B. happy            C. serious        D. rich

Humanity uses a little less than half the water available worldwide. Yet occurrences of shortages and droughts (干旱) are causing famine and distress in some areas, and industrial and agricultural by-products are polluting water supplies. Since the world's population is expected to double in the next 50 years, many experts think we are on the edge of a widespread water crisis.

　 But that doesn't have to be the outcome. Water shortages do not have to trouble the world---if we start valuing water more than we did in the past. Just as we began to appreciate petroleum more after the 1970s oil crises, today we must start looking at water from a fresh economic perspective. We can no longer afford to consider water a virtually free resource of which we can use as much as we like in any way we want.

　 Instead, for all uses except the domestic demand of the poor, governments should price water to reflect its actual value. This means charging a fee for the water itself as well as for the supply costs.

　 Governments should also protect this resource by providing water in more economically and environmentally sound (健康的) ways. For example, often the cheapest way to provide irrigation water in the dry tropics is through small-scale projects, such as gathering rainfall in depressions (凹地) and pumping it to nearby cropland.

　 No matter what steps governments take to provide water more efficiently, they must change their institutional and legal approaches to water use. Rather than spread control among hundreds or even thousands of local, regional, and national agencies that watch various aspects of water use, countries should set up central authorities to coordinate (调整) water policy.

1.What is the real cause of the potentials water crisis.

　　A. Only half of the world's water can be used.

　　B. The world population is increasing faster and faster.

　　C. Half of the world's water resources have been seriously polluted.

　　D. Humanity has not placed enough value on water resources.

2.As is indicated in the passage, the water problem _________ .

A. is already serious in certain parts of the world.

B. has been exaggerated by some experts in the field

　　C. poses a challenge to the technology of building reservoirs(水库)

　　D. is underestimated by government organizations at different levels

3. According to the author, the water price should _______ .

　　A. be reduced to the minimum        B. stimulate domestic demand

　　C. go with its real value             D. take into account the occurrences of droughts

4.In order to raise the efficiency of the water supply, measures should be taken to ______ .

　　A. guarantee full protection of the environment

　　B. centralize the management of water resources

　　C. increase the sense of responsibility of agencies at all levels

D. encourage local and regional water resources

 Federal regulators(调整者) Wednesday approved a plan to create a nationwide emergence alert (警报) system using text messages delivered to cell phones.

Text messages have exploded in popularity in recent years, particularly among young people. The wireless industry's trade association, CTIA, estimates（估计） more than 48 billion text messages are sent each month.

The plan comes from the Warning Alert and Response Network Act, a 2006 federal law that requires improvements to the nation's emergency alert system. The act tasked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with coming up with new ways to alert the public about emergencies.

"The ability to deliver accurate and timely warnings and alerts through cell phones and other mobile services is an important next step in our efforts to help ensure that the American public has the information they need to take action to protect themselves and their families before, and during, disasters and other emergencies," FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said following approval of the plan.

Participation in the alert system by carriers –telecommunications companies is voluntary, but it has received solid support from the wireless industry.

The program would be optional for cell phone users. They also may not be charged for receiving alerts.

There would be three different types of messages, according to the rules.

The first would be a national alert from the president, likely involving a terrorist attack or natural disaster. The second would involve "approaching threats," which could include natural disasters like hurricanes or storms or even university shootings. The third would be reserved for child abduction (绑架) emergencies, or so-called Amber Alerts.

The service could be in place by 2010.

1.What is the purpose of the approved plan?  

A. To warn people of emergencies via messages.

B. To popularize the use of cell phones.

C. To estimate the monthly number of messages.

D. To promote the wireless industry.

2.The improvement to the present system is in the charge of ____. 

A. CTIA     B. the Warning Alert and Response Network

C. FCC      D. federal regulators

3.The carriers’ participation in the system is determined by _____. 

A. the US federal government      B. mobile phone users

C. the carriers themselves         D. the law of the United States

4.Which of the following would be the best title for the text?  

A. Cell Phone Alerts Protecting Students   B. Cell Phone Alerts by Wireless Industry

C. Cell Phone Alerts of National Disasters  D. Cell Phone Alerts Coming Soon

While all my classmates seem to be crazy about a one-way ticket to Mars, I'd rather say Mars is totally unsuitable for human existence. People won’t have enough food supplies there, and the terrible environment would make it impossible for them to live a long life. Besides, the journey won't be safe. Can anybody explain to me just why people would go to Mars, never to return?  Steve Minear, UK

Here are the things you can think of: the desire to explore a foreign and unique environment, the excitement of being the first humans to open up a new world, the expectation of fame and glory┅. For scientists there is another reason. Their observations and research will probably lead to great scientific achievements.  Donal Trollop, Canada

There are already too many people on the Earth. I think that something before the end of the century, there will be a human colony on Mars. It will happen when people finally realize that two-way trips to the red planet Mars are unnecessary. Most of the danger of space flight is in the launches and landings. Cutting the trip home would therefore reduce the danger of accidents, save a lot of money, and open the way to building an everlasting human settlement in another world. Enough supplies can be sent on ahead, and every two years more supplies and more people will be sent to the new colony. Mars has all the materials for a colony to produce or make everything it needs, and Mars is far more pleasant than the other planets in the outer space.   Paul Davies, USA

1.The main purpose of Steve Minear's writing is_________.    .

    A. to report his classmates' discussion    B. to invite an answer to his question

C. to explain the natural state of Mars    D. to show his agreement on going to Mars

2.Which of the following best states Donal Trollop's ideas?  

    A. There is a plan to send humans to Mars

B. There are many reasons for going to Mars

 C. Scientists become famous by doing research on Mars 

D. It is possible to build an Earth-like environment on Mars

3. Paul Davies points out that______.  

    A. humans need only a one- way ticket to Mars    

    B. two-way trips to mars will be made safe soon

    C. It is easy to reduce the danger and cost of flights to Mars

    D. It is cheap to build an everlasting human settlement on Mars

4.What does Paul Davies think of human existence on Mars? 

    A. Humans will have to bring all they need from the earth

    B. Humans will find Mars totally unsuitable for living

    C. Humans can produce everything they need

    D. Humans can live longer in the colony on Mars