阅读理解

　　Who taught you to speak English? Your parents, while you were a young child Your teachers at school? Perhaps even the BBC as a grown－up. Whoever it was, somehow you have developed an understanding of what is rapidly becoming a truly global language.

　　There are now about 376 million people who speak English as their first language, and about the same number who have learnt it in addition to their mother tongue. There are said to be one billion people learning English now and about 80% of the information on the Internet is in English.

　　Is this a good thing, or a bad thing? Should we celebrate the fact that more and more of us can communicate, using a common language, across countries and cultures(文化)? Or should we worry about the dangers of “mono－culturalism”, a world in which we all speak the same language, eat the same food and listen to the same music?

　　Does it matter if an increasing number of people speak the same language? On the contrary (相反), I would have thought－although I have never accepted the argument that if only we all understood each other better, there would be fewer wars. Ask the people Of India (where many of them speak at least some English) and Pakistan (the same situation with India)…

　　If we all speak English, will we then all start eating McDonalds burgers? Surely not. If English becomes more dominant(占主导地位的), it will kill other languages? I doubt it. When I travel in Africa or Asia, I am always surprised by how many people can speak not only their own language but often one or more other related languages, as well as English and perhaps some French or German as well.

　　When we discussed this on Talking Point a couple of years ago, we received a wonderfully poetic e－mail from a listener in Ireland. “The English language is a beautiful language. Maybe it's like a rose,” he said. “But who would ever want their garden just full of roses?”

　　Well, I love roses, and I think they make a beautiful addition to any garden. But the way I see it, just by planting a few roses, you don't necessarily need to pull out everything else. If more and more people want to plant English roses, that's fine by me.

1．By saying “Ask the people of India… and Pakistan” (in Paragraph 4), the author is trying to show that ________.

[　　]

A．speaking the same language doesn't necessarily bring peace

B．wars can destroy the relationship between two countries

C．English doesn't kill other languages

D．English is widely used in the world

2．What does “garden” in the last two paragraphs stand for?

[　　]

3．The author would probably agree that ________.

[　　]

A．it's very hard to plant many kinds of flowers in a garden

B．it's good for people from other countries to learn English

C．more and more people like to plant roses in their gardens

D．English is easier to learn than other languages

4．This passage is mainly about ________.

[　　]

A．why English has become a global language

B．how many people in the world speak English

C．how people in the world learn English as a foreign language

D．whether we need to worry about English being a world language

阅读理解

　　John Milton, the most learned poet, is the greatest writer of the seventeenth century and one of the giants(巨人) of English literature as a whole. He was greatly influenced(影响) by two historical movements of Renaissance(文艺复兴) and Reformation(宗教改革). Like Spenser and Shakespeare, he was also one of the Renaissance giants not only in England but also in the whole world. Almost all later poets in English literature respected Milton highly. Milton towers over his age as Shakespeare towers over the Elizabethan age, and as Chaucer towers over the medieval period(中世纪).

　　John Milton was born in London in 1608. His education began at St. Paul's School, where he was very hard－working, where he showed wonderful gifts as a student of languages mastering Greek, Latin, Hebrew and many modern European languages. He also received very good home education under the influence of his father who was a puritan(清教徒) and a lover of music and literature. He attended Christ's College, Cambridge University, where he was very popular because of his handsomeness and talent, where he explained the true aim of knowledge as making the spirit of man “reach out far and wide, until it fills the whole world and the space far beyond with the expansion(扩大) of its greatness”, where he graduated with

　　B. A. in 1629 and M. A. in 1632.

1．According to the passage all of the following are TRUE except that ________.

[　　]

A．John Milton was one of the giants of English literature

B．John Milton was a most learned poet

C．Spenser and Shakespeare were the Renaissance giants in England

D．Spenser, Shakespeare and John Milton had the friendly relationship among them

2．The underlined word “towers” in the first paragraph most probably means ?“________”.

[　　]

A．is better than others in ability and quality

B．looks like a tall building

C．builds a tall building like a tower

D．likes to visit towers

3．Which of the following statements is NOT true about John Milton's education?

[　　]

A．He was a clever boy so he didn't take pains, but got good results.

B．He was very good at learning languages and he mastered several foreign languages at school.

C．He was interested in literature.

D．He graduated from Cambridge University.

4．What was Milton's opinion to the true aim of knowledge?

[　　]

A．To think about what we don't know.

B．To make the character of man strong and great.

C．To research the whole world and space.

D．To make the spirit of man reach out far and wide with the expansion of the greatness of knowledge.

阅读理解

　　Many experts complain that media too often take advantage of the science fiction(幻想) aspects of nanotechnology(纳米技术). Reports of nanotechnology often refer to K. Eric Drexler's book Engines of Creations, which predicts an age full of dominant molecular(分子的) manufacturing and a world without material scarcity. Whatever humans need will one day be built cheaply with microscopic self－replicating machines(微细自我复制机) that put atoms together to create copies of anything alive in the world－from trees to human bodies.

　　In fact, the scientific community is deeply divided over whether self－replicating machines are possible. If they are, major dangers could exist. Mr Drexler himself thought that self－repli－cating machines could probably go out of control. He writes in his book that man－made

　　“plants” with “leaves no more efficient than today's solar cells could win over real plants, crowding the earth with leaves that are not suitable to be eaten. Tough bacteria' could be more competitive than the real bacteria: They could spread everywhere, replicate swiftly, and reduce the earth to dust in a matter of days.”

　　Critics of nanotechnology have made use of such images, calling for a delay on commercial nanotechnology until regulations are established(建立规则). They also point to the possible military(军事的) uses of nanotechnology. Bill Joy, the cofounder of Sun Microsystems, wrote in a Wired magazine essay in 2000 that if nanotechnology falls into the wrong hands, it could bring dangers to society.

　　Opponents(反对者) say Mr Joy is overreacting. “In a way, calling for bans(禁止) on research into molecular manufacturing is like calling for a delay on faster－than－light travel because no one is doing it,” says Glenn Reynolds, a University of Tennessee law professor.

　　Professor Reynolds says it is a good idea to regulate nanotechnology, but in ways the government would regulate any products that could be dangerous. Export controls and certification systems for nanotechnology companies are examples. US lawmakers have put forth four bills(法令) on nanotechnology research and development.

1．K. Eric Drexler in his book predicts a future world with sufficient material, because ________.

[　　]

A．man－made plants could replace real plants and grow more quickly

B．plants produced by nanotechnology would be as efficient as today' s solar cells

C．man－made bacteria would be widespread and capable of self－replicating

D．humans could create copies of anything alive with high technology

2．To call for a delay on commercial nanotechnology, critics of nanotechnology make use of ________.

[　　]

A．current social problems

B．science fiction descriptions

C．disagreements in the scientific community

D．the fact that no one is doing molecular manufacturing

3．Opponents of Bill Joy would NOT agree to ________.

[　　]

A．control nanotechnology export

B．ban nanotechnology research to avoid any possible dangers

C．put forth four bills on nanotechnology research and development

D．establish a certification system for nanotechnology companies

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

[　　]

A．Nanotechnology should not be put into wrong use in the military field.

B．The government should regulate products that could be dangerous.

C．Nanotechnology regulations should be established in spite of the divided opinions.

D．The media should not take advantage of the science fiction aspects of nanotechnology.

阅读理解

　　Time spent in a bookshop can be most enjoyable. Whether you are a book-lover or merely you are there to buy a book as a present. You may even have entered the shop just to find shelter from a sudden shower. Whatever the reason, you can become totally unaware of your surroundings. The desire to pick up a book with an attractive dust-jackets is irresistible, although this method of selection ought not to be followed, as you might end up with a rather dull book. You soon become engrossed in some book or other, and usually it is only much later that you realize you have spent far too much time there and must dash off to keep some forgotten appointment－without buying a book, of course.

　　This opportunity to escape the realities of everyday life is, I think, the main attraction of a bookshop. There are not many places where it is possible to do this. A music shop is very much like a bookshop. You can wander round such places to your ears'content. If it is a good shop, no assistant will approach you with inevitable greeting:“Can I help you, sir?” You needn't buy anything you don't want. In a bookshop an assistant should remain in the background until you have finished browsing. Then, and only then, are his services necessary. Of course you may want to find out where a particular section is, but when he has led you there, the assistant should retire carefully and look as if he is not interested in selling a single book.

　　You have to be careful not to be attracted by the variety of books in a bookshop. It is very easy to enter the shop looking for a book on ancient coins and to come out carrying a copy of the latest interested you up until then. This volume on the subject, however, happened to be so well illustrated and the part of the text you read proved so interesting that you just had to buy it. This sort of thing can be very dangerous. Apart from running up a huge account, you can waste a great deal of time wandering from section to section.

1．“Dust-jacket” in the first paragraph probably means ________.

[　　]

A．a kind of clothes

B．protecting paper cover of a book

C．book cover full of dust

D．title of a book

2．You may spend too much time in a bookshop because ________.

[　　]

A．the dust-jackets of some books are very attractive

B．you start reading one of the books

C．it keeps reading outside

D．you have to make sure you don't buy a dull book as a present

3．In a good bookshop ________.

[　　]

A．nobody takes any notice of you

B．the assistant greets you in a friendly way

C．you feel as if you are in a music shop

D．you find yourself satisfied with browsing

4．An assistant's help is needed ________.

[　　]

A．as soon as you have entered the shop

B．before you start browsing

C．only when you have finished browsing

D．when you have determine your choice

5．Picking up books that vaguely interest you can be dangerous because ________.

[　　]

A．you may forgot about the book you plan to buy

B．you have to give up the best-selling book

C．it makes you break your appointment

D．it costs you too much money and time

阅读理解

　　When someone says, “Well, I guess I'll have to go to face the music”, it does not mean he is planning to go to a concert. It is something far less pleasant, like being called in by your boss to explain why you did this or that, and why you did not do this or that. Sour music, indeed, but it has to be faced.

　　The phrase “to face the music” is familiar to every American, young and old. It is at least 100 years old. Where did the expression come from?

　　The first information comes from the American writer James Fenimore Cooper. He said－in 1851－that the expression was first used by actors while waiting in the wings to go on stage. After they got their cue to go on, they often said, “It's time to go to face the music.” And that is exactly what they did－face the orchestra(管弦乐队) which was just below the stage.

　　An actor might be frightened or nervous as he moved on to the stage in front of the audience that might be friendly or perhaps unfriendly, especially if he forgot his lines. But he had to go out. So, “to face the music” came to mean having to go through something, no matter how unpleasant the experience might be, because you knew you had no choice.

　　The other explanation comes from the army. Men had to face inspection(视察) by their leader. The soldiers worried about how well they looked. Was their equipment clean－shiny enough to pass inspection? Still, the men had to go out, and face the music of the band, as well as the inspection. What else could they do?

1．According to the passage, the word “music” means ________.

[　　]

A．your boss's criticism(批评)

B．your leader's inspection

C．something unpleasant to be experienced

D．pop music

2．The phrase “to face the music” was first used by ________.

[　　]

A．all the Americans

B．the American writer James Fenimore Cooper

C．some American actors

D．the American orchestra

3．An actor might feel frightened or nervous when going on stage. One of the reasons is that ________.

[　　]

A．his performance might not satisfy most of the audience

B．he might not remember what he should say on stage

C．he had to face the unfriendly audience

D．most of the audience might be his friends

4．“To face the music” is also used to mean that soldiers were not willing ________.

[　　]

A．to be examined about their equipment

B．to be found weak

C．to show themselves up in public

D．to be inspected by their leader

5．The passage is mainly about ________.

[　　]

A．the meaning of the phrase “to face the music”

B．how to deal with something unpleasant

C．the origin(起源) of the phrase

D．how to go through difficulty

阅读理解

　　Excused from recycling(回收利用) because you live in a high rise with a rubbish chute(垃圾道)? You won't be for long. Miami's Mark Shantzis has made it simple for those living in tall buildings to use the chute and recycle too.

　　In Shantzis' Hi-Rise Recycling System, a chute leads to a pie-shaped container with six boxes that can turn around when operated. The system, which fits in the same space as the chute and container now in use, enables glass, plastic, paper, metal, and other rubbish to go into separate boxes.

　　The system is controlled from a board fixed next to the chute door. The board has a button for each class of recycling materials (as well as for unrecyclables). At the press of a button, a microcomputer locks all other floors' chute doors and sets the recycling container turning until the right box comes and gives a signal by phone when the box is full. And a particular piece of equipment breaks up the nonrecyclables.

　　Sorting(分类) recyclables before they are collected saves the use of expensive materials recovery equiqment which otherwise has to do the sorting. Such equipment often makes recycled materials very expensive, so expensive that tons of recyclables remain wasted. Shantzis believes his system could help recycled materials become more cost-effective.

1．The purpose in writing this text is ________.

[　　]

A．to encourage people to recycle their rubbish

B．to introduce a recycling system for high rises

C．to describe the use of computer technology in recycling

D．to explain the need for rubbish collection in high rises

2．When he says “You won't be for long” the writer means that ________.

[　　]

A．you'll soon be living in a cleaner building

B．rubbish chutes will become out of date before long

C．you won't wait long for your turn to recycle rubbish

D．it won't be long before you'll have to recycle your rubbish

3．Before dropping rubbish into the chute you have to ________.

[　　]

A．lock the other floors' chute doors

B．check if the container is full

C．press the correct button

D．break up the rubbish

4．The biggest advantage of this new system is that ________.

[　　]

A．it reduces the cost of recycling

B．it saves time and space

C．it saves money for people living in high rises

D．it makes better use of the existing recovery equipment

阅读理解

　　In the 19th century Americans from the eastern states moved out west to settle in the rich new lands along the Pacific Coast. The most difficult part of their trip was crossing the “Great American Desert” in the western part of the United States by horse and wagon.

　　The western desert can be very dangerous. There is little water and there are few trees. But the desert also has scenery of great beauty. Tall towers of red and yellow stone rise sharply from the flat, sandy valley floor. The scene has been photographed many times and often appears in movies and in TV.

　　In Arizona, man-made dams across the Colorado River have made two large lakes in the middle of the dry desert country. At lake Powell, the red stone arch(拱状) of Rainbow(彩虹) Bridge rises high above the blue lake.

　　There are few roads. Many areas of Lake Powell's shore can only be reached by boat or on foot. But hikers in this empty desert land sometimes find very old native American pictures; painted on the rocks.

　　In Death Valley California, the summer temperature rises to 130 - 165 degrees Fahrenheit(华氏的). There is less than two inches of rain each year. Death Valley is the lowest place in America－925 metres below sea level. In 1800s, many travellers died when they tried to cross this waterless valley in the terrible heat.

　　Although the desert is dry and seems empty, there is plenty of life if you look closely. Small insects, snakes, and rats have learned how to live in the desert heat. They live underground and come out at night, when it is cool. Plants such as cacti(仙人掌) need very little water. When it does rain in the desert (sometimes only once or twice a year), plants grow quickly, and flowers open in a single day. For a short time, the desert is covered with brilliant colours.

1．In the 19th century, Americans moved from the east to the west because they ________.

[　　]

A．enjoyed the trip

B．wanted to make their home there

C．wanted to find new grassland there

D．had no water to drink

2．From the passage, we can conclude that ________

[　　]

A．the western desert is a good place for people to live in

B．there is little water but there are many trees in the desert

C．the desert is dangerous but it is full of beauty

D．till now, people know little about the desert

3．If you want to find some old native American pictures painted on the rocks you must travel ________.

[　　]

4．In the 1800s many travellers died in Death valley because of ________.

[　　]

5．In the desert, animals will die ________.

[　　]

A．if they move about

B．if they drink much water

C．if they come out at night

D．if they can't make holes underground

阅读理解

　　Location

　　The University is in Princeton, New Jersey. It is an hour's train ride south of New York City and an hour's train ride north of Philadelphia.

　　Students

　　There are 4,600 undergraduates(本科生). There are also 1, 900 graduate students, but Princeton is unusual among universities in having a student body made up largely of undergraduates.

　　Faculty

　　Princeton has about 700 full-time faculty members(教员). There are another 300 or so part-time and visiting faculty. All faculty members at Princeton are expected to teach and research.

　　Degrees

　　Princeton offers two undergraduate degrees: the bachelor(学士) of arts (A. B.) degree and the bachelor of science in engineering (B. S. E.) degree.

　　Academic Year

　　All academic year runs from September to late May and lasts two terms (fall and spring). A normal course load is four or five courses per term, although many students take extra courses.

　　Residences

　　Princeton provides housing for all undergraduate students. Freshmen and second-year students are required to spend their first two years in one of five colleges. Each college has its own dining hall, common moms and computer centers.

　　Fees and Expenses (Academic Year 2004-2005)

　　Tuition(学费): $ 29, 910

　　Room and board: $ 8, 387

　　Other expenses (books, telephone, etc.): $ 3,083

　　Total: $ 41,380

1．How many kinds of faculty members are there in Princeton University?

[　　]

2．In Princeton University, an undergraduate will pay at least ________ for the Academic Year 2004-2005 besides tuition.

[　　]

3．In what way is Princeton University different from other American universities according to the text?

[　　]

A．It has five colleges.

B．Its students are mainly undergraduates.

C．It provides housing for all undergraduate students.

D．All the faculty members at Princeton are expected to teach and research.

4．Which of the following is NOT true?

[　　]

A．Princeton offers two undergraduate degrees.

B．An academic year lasts about nine months in Princeton University.

C．Undergraduates should spend their first two years in one of five colleges.

D．It's about an hour's train ride from Princeton University to the north of New York City.

阅读理解

　　Sydney Airport International Terminal-Arrivals Area

　　SPECIALITY RETAIL

　　Newlink：Two separate Newslink stores cater to all your reading needs including newspapers, magazines and the latest bestsellers.

　　Downtown Duty Free：Make sure you shop at Downtown Duty Free for great savings on a range of items including perfume, alcohol, skincare and cigarette. It's your last chance before customs!

　　Beach Culture：A must for those into the latest in beach clothing. Top surf, street and fashion labels including Mambo, Stussy and Quicksilver, including children's sizes.

　　DINING

　　Blue Sky Cafe：Speedy service leaves you time to keep an eye on the arrivals gate. Morning pastries, fresh juice, breakfast rolls and coffee while you wait.

　　McDonald's：Hamburgers, fries, drinks, muffins and shakes－all your family favorites. Breakfast served until 10:30.

　　SERVICES

　　ATM：ATMs are conveniently located throughout Arrival and Departures. Dollars, pounds, francs and RMB are all available(可通用的).

　　Vodafone Rentals：This communications center offers the very latest technology for mobile phone rentals, sales and servicing.

1．Where is this passage likely to appear?

[　　]

2．The underlined phrase “cater to” probably means ________.

[　　]

3．If you want to have some coffee while waiting for your flight, you can go to ________.

[　　]

4．At Beach Culture you can buy ________.

[　　]

A．newspapers and magazines

B．skincare and cigarette

C．Mambo and Stussy

D．fresh juice and breakfast rolls

5．Which of the following is true according to the text?

[　　]

A．You can have breakfast at McDonald's at 11: 00 am.

B．You'll save money if you buy alcohol or perfume at Downtown Duty Free.

C．You'll not find any beach clothing for your seven-year-old boy in Beach Culture.

D．There is only one ATM throughout Arrivals and Departures.

阅读理解

　　At one time, computers were expected largely to remove the need for paper copies of documents(文件) because they could be stored electronically. But for all the texts that are written, stored and sent electronically, a lot of them are still ending up on paper.

　　It is difficult to measure the quantity of paper used as a result of use of Internet-connected computers, although just about anyone who works in an office can tell you that when e-mail is introduced, the printers start working overtime. “I feel in my bones this revolution is causing more trees to be cut down,” says Ted Smith of the Earth Village Organization.

　　Perhaps the best sign of how computer and Internet use pushes up demand for paper comes from the high-tech industry itself, which sees printing as one of its most promising new markets. Several Internet companies have been set up to help small businesses print quality documents from a computer. Earlier this week Hewlett-Packard Co. announced a plan to develop new technologies that will enable people to print even more so they can get a hard copy of a business document, a medical record or just a on-line e-mail, even if they are nowhere near a computer. As the company sees it, the more use of the Internet the greater demand for printers.

　　Does all this mean environmental concerns(环境问题) have been forgotten? Some activists suggest people have been led to believe that a lot of dangers to the environment have gone away. “I guess people believe that the problem is taken care of, because of recycling(回收利用)?” said Kelly Quirke, director of the Rainforest Action Network in San Francisco. Yet Quirke is hopeful that high-tech may also prove helpful. He says printers that print on both sides are growing in popularity. The action group has also found acceptable paper made from materials other than wood, such as agricultural waste.

1．The growing demand for paper in recent years is largely due to ________

[　　]

A．the rapid development of small businesses

B．the opening up of new markets

C．the printing of high quality copies

D．the increased use of the Internet

2．Environmentalists believe one possible way of dealing with the situation is ________.

[　　]

A．to encourage printing more quality documents

B．to develop new printers using recycled paper

C．to find new materials for making paper

D．to plant more fast-growing trees

3．Hewlett-Packard Co. has decided to develop new technologies because ________.

[　　]

A．people are concerned about the environment

B．printers in many offices are working overtime

C．small companies need more hard copies

D．they see a growing market for printers

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

[　　]

A．Computers and Printers

B．E-mail and the Business World

C．Internet Revolution and Environment

D．Modern Technology and New Markets

5．We can infer that ________ according to last paragraph.

[　　]

A．people don't care about environmental problems

B．a lot of dangers to the environment don't exist

C．high-tech may change the difficult situation

D．recycling can solve the environmental problem