The noise that affects sea creatures comes from a number of human activities. It is caused mainly by industrial underwater explosions, ocean drilling, and ship engines. Such noises are added to natural sounds. These sounds include the breaking of ice fields, underwater earthquakes, and sounds made by animals themselves.

Decibels(分贝)measured in water are different from those measured on land. A noise of one hundred and twenty decibels on land causes pain to human ears. In water, a decibel level of one hundred and ninety-five would have the same effect.

Some scientists have proposed setting a noise limit of one hundred and twenty decibels in oceans. They have observed that noises at the level can frighten and confuse whales.

A team of American and Canadian scientists discovered that louder noises can seriously injure some animals. The research team found that powerful underwater explosions were causing whales in the area to lose their hearing. This seriously affected the whales’ ability to exchange information and find their way. Some of the whales even died. The explosions had caused their ears to bleed and become infected.

Many researchers whose work depends on ocean sounds object to a limit of one hundred and twenty decibels. They say such a limit would mean an end to important industrial and scientific research.

Scientists do not know how much and what kinds of noises are harmful to ocean animals. However, many scientists suspect(认为……是可能的)that noise is a greater danger than they believed. They want to prevent noises from harming creatures in the ocean.

1. According to the passage, which of the following is increasingly dangerous to sea creatures?

A. The man-made noises.

B. The noises made by themselves.

C. The sound of earthquakes.

D. The sound of ice-breaking.

2. As to the influence of noises on whales, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. They are deaf to noises.

B. Noises at a certain level may hurt them.

C. They are easily confused by noises.

D. Noises will limit their ability to reproduce.

3. We can know from the passage that many scientists think that the noise limit of one hundred and twenty decibels would  　　　　　　 .

A. prevent them from doing their research work

B. benefit them a lot in their research work

C. do good to their health

D. increase the industrial output

4. According to the passage, what will scientists most probably do in the future?

A. They will try their best to decrease noise.

B. They will work hard to cut down noise pollution.

C. They will study the effect of different noises.

D. They will protect animals from harmful noises.

    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. 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. 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 one-line e-mail, even if they are nowhere near a computer.

1. The growing demand for paper in recent years in 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 paper 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

Apple’s new computers are much faster and more powerful than its earlier models. The improved Mackintosh is able to run programs that previously were impossible to run on an Apple PC, including IBM compatible programs. This compatibility feature illustrates(show)computer manufacturers’(producer)new attitude of giving customers the features they want. Making Apple Computers capable of running IBM software is Apple’s effort at making the Mackintosh compatible with IBM computers and thus more popular in the office, where Apple hopes to increase sales. Users of the new Apple can also add accessories to make their machines specialize in specific uses, such as engineering and writing.

The new computers represent a big improvement over past models, but they also cost much more. Company officials do not think the higher price will slow down buyers who want to step up to a more powerful computer. Apple wants to stay in the high-price end of the personal computer market to finance research for even faster, more sophisticated computers.

Even though Apple and IBM are major competitors, both companies realize that their competitor’s computers have certain features that their own models do not. The Apple line has always been popular for its sophisticated color graphic，whereas the IBM machines have always been favored in offices. In the future, there will probably be more compatibility between the two companies’ products, which no doubt will require that both Apple and IBM change marketing strategies.

1. According to the passage, Apple Computer, Inc. has introduced the Mackintosh Ⅱ and the Mackintosh SE because　　　　　　   .

A. IBM is changing its computer models continuously

B. it wants to make its machines specialize in specific uses

C. it wants to stay ahead of IBM in the competitive computer

D. it expects its major competitor IBM to follow its example

2. Apple hopes to increase Mackintosh sales chiefly by　　　　　　   .

A. making its new models capable of running IBM software

B. improving the color graphics of its new models

C. copying the marketing strategies of IBM

D. giving the customers what they want

3. It can be inferred from the passage that both Apple and IBM try to gain a competitive advantage by 　　　　　　   .

A. copying each other’s technology

B. incorporating features that make their products special

C. making their computers more expensive

D. making their computers run much faster

4. The best title for the passage would be　　　　　　   .

A. Apple’s Efforts to Stay Ahead of IBM

B. Apple’s New Computer Technology

C. Apple’s New Personal Computers

D. Apple’s Research Activities

E-mail makes it easy to work at home, which is where I now spend most weekends and evenings. My working hours aren’t necessarily much shorter than they once were but I spend fewer of them at the office. This lets me share more time with my young daughter than I might have if she’d been born before electronic mail became such a practical tool.

The Internet also makes it easy to share thoughts with a group of friends. Say you do something funny—see a great movie perhaps—and there are four or five friends who might want to hear about it. If you call each one, you will get tired of telling the story.

With e-mail, you just write one note about your experience, at your convenience, and address it to all the friends you think might be interested. They can read your message when they have time, and read only as much as they want to. They can reply at their convenience, and you can read what they have to say at your convenience.

E-mail is also an inexpensive way to stay in close touch with people who live far away. More than a few parents use e-mail to keep in touch, even daily touch, with their children off at college.

We just have to keep in mind that computers and the Internet offer another way of staying in touch. They don’t eliminate(排除)any of the old ways.

1. The purpose of this passage is to　　　　　　   .

A. explain how to use the Internet

B. describe the writer’s joy of keeping up with the latest technology

C. tell the merit(价值)and usefulness of the Internet

D. introduce basic knowledge about computers and the Internet

2. The use of e-mail has made it possible for the writer to　　　　　　   .

A. spend less time working

B. have more free time with his child

C. work at the office on weekends

D. work at a speed comfortable to him

3. According to the writer, e-mail has an advantage(优势)over the telephone because it can　　　　　　   .

A. reach a group of people at one time conveniently

B. keep one’s communication as personal as possible

C. pass on much more information

D. get in touch with one’s friends faster

4. The best title for this passage is　　　　　　   .

A. Computers: New Technological Advances

B. Internet: a New Tool to Keep Friendship

C. Computers: Machines to Make Life Easier

D. Internet: a Convenient Tool for Communication

So what has made the richest man in the world to channel his resources so heavily into one interest? Gates believes that“the equality of opportunity”in which Americans take such pride needs to extend to other nations around the world. Improving the health of the populations, he says, has proven to be an essential(基本的)method in helping poor countries to be financially successful. “National borders allow inequalities. ”said Gates. “We all need to take a more global view, rather than just saying my country is doing well. We have to step up these health issues, knowing how few resources are going into them. ”

Gates said that both his parents set up an example for him as a child. His father, William H. Gates, was the head of the local Planned Parenthood, and his mother, Mary, volunteered for the Untied Way. As he gathered his fortune, Gates knew he would eventually want to give back as well, but he didn’t expect to devote himself whole-heartedly to one project until he was about 60.

However, Gates, 47, began to question his ability to wait that long. “It seemed there was a real time urgency, ”Gates said. “I started to think, How many lives could I save before then?”

1. Bill Gates will give away his vast fortune to　　　　　　   .

A. improve the health of population in America alone

B. improve the health of population all over the world

C. avoid leaving his children too much money

D. spare the American government the burden of health care

2. Bill Gates believes that one important way of developing poor countries is　　　　　　   .

A. to set up more foundations for them

B. to aid them with natural resources

C. to put more effort into the health issues(问题)in them

D. to help them take a more global view

3. It can be learned from the text that Bill Gates thinks　　　　　　   .

A. Americans should care about people in other countries

B. Americans should treat fellow citizens well

C. Americans should devote themselves to certain projects

D. Americans can be world-famous by giving away vast fortune

4. Bill Gates gave away his vast fortune earlier than he had expected because of　　　　　　   .

A. his weakening health condition

B. his parents’ suggestions

C. his great success in business

D. his concerns for suffering people

“Couples are now inclined(倾向)to arrange their weddings on line while business people are changing strategy(策略)by working together with marriage websites to generate(产生)profits(利润), ”said Lin Zhen, assistant to the chief executive officer (CEO首席执行官)at 51marry. com, the city’s only marriage website.

Some newlyweds-to-be(快要结婚的人)get satisfied with its convenience(方便)and high quality. Most young couples who are busy with their own work may feel it troublesome to care about every detail. “I felt a bit dizzy trying to make all my wedding arrangements on my own, ”said Zhang Jianbin, a young white-collar worker who is planning to turn to website for his October wedding.

“I can enjoy a favorable price that is 30 percent lower than in the off-line market, ”Zhang added.

On the other hand, some wedding photo studios, hotels, wedding costume(服装)producers and travel agencies also seize the opportunity to cooperate with the website: They think that the website’s large database(资料库)can bring them more customers and increase their profits.

51marry. com has now attracted 900 couples since it began to operate in February this year. People expect more websites targeting (把……作为目标)the marriage market.

1. The website 51marry. com is mainly to　　　　　　   .

A. provide you with a pleasant lover

B. help people to make friends with each other

C. make on-line wedding arrangements for people

D. help young couples to make dates

2. Couples like to arrange their weddings on line because　　　　　　   .

A. they have not enough time to care about every detail

B. they are not satisfied with their marriages

C. they have not enough money

D. they want more people to attend their weddings

3. Which of the following is NOT true?

A. It’s easy to ask the wedding websites for wedding arrangements.

B. It doesn’t cost much money to arrange wedding on line.

C. Besides 51marry. com, there are other marriage websites in the city now.

D. 51marry. com began to operate less than one year ago.

4. From the passage it can be inferred that　　　　　　   .

A. the price will be much higher

B. more marriage websites will come forth

C. couples won’t care about their weddings any longer

D. the website will provide you with a pleasant lover instead of arranging weddings

Katherine Hachinski, who had been knocked off her chair by the blast of heat exploding from the neighboring tower, was one of those. Despite her 70 years of age, Ms. Hachinski, and architect working on the 91st floor of 2 World Trade Centre, the south tower, went for the stairs. Twelve floors above her, Judy Wein, an executive, screamed and set off too.

But others up and down the 110 floors, many without clear views of the damage across the way and thus unclear about what was happening, were not so sure.

Amid the uncertainty about what was the best thing to do, formal announcements inside the sound tower instructed people to stay put, assuring them that the building was sound and the threat was limited to the other tower.

Some left, others stayed. Some began to climb down and, when met with more announcements and other cautions to stop or return, went back up. The decisions made in the those instants proved to be of great importance, because many who chose to stay were doomed when the second jet crashed into the south tower, killing many and stranding many more in the floor above where the jet hit.

One of those caught in indecision was the executive at Fuji Bank USA.

Richard Jackbs of Fuji Bank left the 79th floor with the other office workers, but on the 48th floor they heard the announcement that the situation was under control. Several got in the lifts and went back up, two minutes or so before the plane crashed into their floor.

“I just don’t know what happened to them, ”Mr. Jacobs said.

1. From the passage, we know that the south tower was hit by the plane 　　　　　　   .

A. at 8: 30

B. 18 minutes earlier than the north tower

C. at around 9: 06

D. at 8: 48

2. The underlined words “stay put” mean 　　　　　　   .

A. stay in the building　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  B. leave at once

C. put everything back and then leave　　　　　　　　　　    D. keep silent

3. Which floor was hit by the second jet?

A. The 91st floor. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  B. The 103rd floor.

C. The 60th floor. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  D. The 79th floor.

4. Fewer people would have died if 　　　　　　   .

A. more announcement had been made

B. people hadn’t used the lifts

C. the incident had happened on a weekend

D. the people had obeyed the office rules

Firstly, these players came from places that have had famous stars in the past—the players that a young boy can look up to and try to imitate. In the history of soccer, only six countries have ever won the World Cup, three from South America and three from Western Europe. There has never been a great national team, or a really great player, from North America or from Asia. Secondly, all these players have had years of practice in this game. Alfredo Di Stefano was the son of a soccer player, as was Pele. Most players begin playing the game at the age of three or four.

Finally, many great players came from the same kind of neighborhood(地方), a poor, crowded area where a boy’s dream is not to become a doctor, lawyer, or businessman, but to become a rich, famous athlete or entertainer(演员). For example, Liverpool, which produced the Beatles, had one of the best English soccer teams in recent years. Pele practiced in the street with a “ball” made of rags(破布). And George Best learned the tricks that made him famous by bouncing(使球跳) the ball off a wall in the slums(贫民窟) of Belfast.

All great players have a lot in common, but that doesn’t explain why they are great. Hundreds of boys played in those Brazilian streets, but only one became Pele. The greatest players are born with unique(独一无二的) quality that sets them apart from all the others.

1. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?

A. Millions of people all over the world are playing soccer, but only six countries have ever had famous stars.

B. Only six countries have ever had great national teams.

C. Soccer is popular all over the world, but truly great players are rare.

D. Soccer seems least popular in North America or Asia.

2. The underlined word “imitate” is closest in meaning to 　　　　　　   .

A. copy　　　　　　　　　　    B. respect　　　　　　　　　　 C. admire　　　　　　　　　　　　  D. adore

3. Liverpool and Brazilian streets are two geographic terms used to illustrate(例证)　　　　　　   .

A. where soccer players get their way

B. why they can have great soccer teams

C. what a poor, crowded area can provide a future soccer player with

D. how the environment in a poor, crowded area affects a soccer player’s success

4. To become a great soccer player, a series of factors(因素) are directly mentioned, expect 　　　　　　   .

A. age and birth　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   B. personality(个性) and character

C. training and practice　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    D. family and neighborhood

The researcher organized an experimental tournament including four youth teams. Each match lasted an hour, divided into three periods of 20 minutes during which different referees were in charge.

Observers noted down the referees’ errors, of which there were 61 over the tournament. Converted to a standard match of 90 minutes, each referee made almost 23 mistakes, a remarkable high number.

The researcher then studied the videotapes to analyze the matches in detail. Surprisingly, he found that errors were more likely when the referees were close to the incident. When the officials got it right, they were, on average, 17 meters away from the action. The average distance in the case of errors was 12 meters. The research shows the optimum distance is about 20 meters.

There also seemed to be an optimum speed. Correct decisions came when the referees were moving at a speed of about 2 meters per second. The average speed for errors was 4 meters per second. If FIFA, football’s international ruling body, wants to improve the standard of refereeing at the next World Cup, it should encourage referees to keep their eyes on the action from a distance, rather than rushing to keep up with the ball, the researcher argues. He also says that FIFA’s insistence that referees should retire at age 45 may be misguided. If keeping up with the action is not so important, their physical condition is less critical.

1. The number of refereeing errors in the experimental matches was 　　　　　　   .

A. slightly above average

B. higher than in the 1998 World Cup

C. quite unexpected

D. as high as in a standard match

2. The findings of the experiment show that 　　　　　　   .

A. errors are more likely when a referee keeps close to the ball

B. the farther the referee is from the incident, the fewer the errors

C. the more slowly the referee runs, the more likely will errors occur

D. errors are less likely when a referee staying in one spot

3. The word “officials”(Line 5, Para. 4) most probably refers to 　　　　　　   .

A. the researchers involved in the experiment

B. the inspectors of the football tournament

C. the referees of the football tournament

D. the observers at the site of the experiment

4. What is one of the possible conclusions of the experiment?

A. The ideal retirement age for an experienced football referee is 45.

B. Age should not be the chief consideration in choosing a football referee.

C. A football referee should be as young and energetic as possible.

D. An experienced football referee can do well even when in poor physical condition.

Thursday, March 13, 2003

Hundreds of Japanese fans at Bangkok’s National Stadium fell into silence when the referee whistled on Wednesday dusk, ending Kashima Antlers’ struggle to change their 3-4 failure to China’s Shanghai Shenhua.

“This time the luck isn’t on us, ”said the Kashima Antlers coach Toninho Cerezo.

“But it’s an exciting match, ”said an anonymous official of the Asia Football Confederation(AFC) after the match.

If only judged by the number of shots, the match between Antlers and Shenhua was really an exciting one, which witnessed the most shots of seven in the AFC Champion League 2002/2003 quarter-final Group A.

The shot of Chinese player Yang Guang in two minutes seemed to predict the high frequency of shooting at this game.

In less than 10 minutes, Shenhua’s Chinese international Zhang Yuning scored one more goal for Shenhua.

Under the swift attack of Shenhua, Antlers’ Takuya Nozawa pulled one goal back at the 25th minute, while Shenhua’s Martinez Ascel scored the third goal in the 32nd minute.

The game grew more and more intense in the second half after Antler scored one more goal at the 14th minutes.

Wishing to draw the rival, Antlers beefed up its attack, while the match was interrupted several times by controversial whistles.

But Shenhua’s Martinez found the opportunity in about 80 minutes to have his second successful shoot, which almost set the result of the game.

Antlers’ desperate efforts brought them one more goal a few minutes before the end, but it was too late and the game ended at 4-3.

In a later game, Thailand’s BEC beat South Korea’s Taejon Citizen 2-0. BEC and Antlers, which drew on Monday’s match, will fight against Shenhua and Citizen respectively on Friday. Shenhua lost to Citizen by 1-2 on Monday.

1. What time did the match between Kashima Antlers and Shanghai Shenhua come to an end?

A. In the morning. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　   B. At noon.

C. Before daybreak. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   D. In the dusk.

2. What kind of match was it between Kashima Antlers and Shanghai Shenhua? It was 　　　　　　   .

A. a match in Chinese series A league

B. a match in the AFC Champion League 2002/2003 quarter-final Group A

C. a match between Japanese teams

D. a match between Italian teams

3. An anonymous man is a person who 　　　　　　   .

A. didn’t want anybody else to know who he is for some reason

B. didn’t like to tell anybody else about his team

C. a referee who doesn’t like to tell out the result of the match

D. a coach who doesn’t like to meet the journalists

4. How many goals did Martinez shoot?

A. 1. 　　　　    B. 2. 　　　　　　 C. 3. 　　　　　　　　   D. 4.