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. 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

The competition among producers of personal computers is essentially a race to get the best, most innovative products to the marketplace. Marketers in this environment frequently have to make a judgment as to their competitors’ role when making marketing strategy decisions. If major competitors are changing their products, then a marketer may want to follow suit to remain competitive. Apple Computer, Inc.  had introduced two new, faster personal computers, the Mackintosh Ⅱ and Mackintosh SE, in anticipation of the introduction of a new PC by IBM, one of Apple’s major competitors.

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

Personal computers and the Internet give people new choice about how to spend their time. Some may use this freedom to share less time with certain friends or family members, but new technology will also let them stay in closer touch with those they care most about. I know this from personal experience.

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

Microsoft founder Bill Gates said that he planned to give away almost all of his vast fortune(财产), largely to the cause(事业)of global health, during the course of his lifetime. With an estimated(估计)worth of more than $40 billion, according to Forbes, the project will be no small feat(功绩)for Gates. Having already provided the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with $24 billion to address global health issues, Gates said that eventually(最终地)his entire fortune will be put towards the cause except “a few percent left for the kids”.

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

Make a few mouse clickings and one of the most important things in your life can be perfectly settled. Though the web may not provide you with a pleasant lover, it can make all the wedding arrangements for you.

“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

New York: when the first jet struck World Trade Center at 8: 48 a. m. on Tuesday, the people in 2 World Trade Center with a view of the instant damage across the divide had the clearest sense of what they, too, must do: get out fast.

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

Soccer is played by millions of people all over the world, but there have only been a few players who were really great. How did these players get that way, was it through training and practice, or were great players “born, not made”?

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

Speakers of different languages not only describe the world differently but think about it differently too, according to a new study.

Researchers used a cartoon cat to study how language was reflected(反映)in the gestures people made.

Dr. Sotaro Kita of the University of Bristol’s Department of Experimental Psychology(心理学), showed the cartoon to a group of native English, Japanese and Turkish speakers and then watched their gestures as they described the action they had seen.

He found speakers of the three different languages used different gestures to describe the same event, which appeared to reflect the way the structure of their languages expressed that event.

For example, when describing a scene where the cat swings(摇摆)on a rope, the English speakers used gestures showing an arc(弧形)orbit and the Japanese and Turkish speakers tended to use straight gestures showing the motion but not the arc.

Dr.  Kita suggests this is because Japanese and Turkish have no proper verb to express the English meaning “to swing”.

While English speakers use the arc gesture as their language can readily express the change of location and the arc-shaped orbit, Japanese and Turkish speakers cannot as easily express the idea of movement with an arc orbit so they use the straight gesture.

Dr.  Kita said, “My research suggests that speakers of different languages make different images of the same event in a way that matches the expressive possibilities of their own language. In other words, language influences spatial(空间的)thinking at the moment of speaking. ”

1. What is mainly discussed in the text?

A. Different languages describe things differently.

B. Some languages have their limits of describing things.

C. Cartoon cats are always described differently.

D. Language influences the way people think.

2. Researchers watch the gestures people make because they think　　　　　　   .

A. gestures can reflect the way people think

B. people make the same gesture to express the same idea

C. gestures can show what people have seen

D. people often make gestures when they can’t speak a certain language

3. After watching the gestures of the speakers of the three different languages, Dr. Kita concluded that　　　　　　   .

A. Japanese and Turkish people can not express the meaning of “swing”

B. English is obviously better than Japanese and Turkish

C. no word in Japanese and Turkish can express the idea of “moving in an arc orbit”

D. every language has its own special way to describe things

4. The word “orbit” most probably means　　　　　　   .

A. a path traveled by an object which is moving around another

B. all the things that are happening in a place, and the effect or situation they cause

C. the regular way from one place to another used and can be shown on a map

D. a general idea about what something is like, or general understanding of something

Many countries of the world have natural parks. These parks provide the public with the opportunity to view animals in surroundings as near as possible to their natural habitat(栖息地).

With this in mind, Hong Kong opened Ocean Park in 1977. The park lies in a site which juts(突出)out into the South China Sea. It is one of the largest ocean parks in the world. The park has two parts: the Lowland site and the Headland site, linked by a cable car system. The Lowland site shows all kinds of plants and a large number of animals and birds. Education is the main aim of the attractions in this part of the park. Much can be learned about the animals by watching them and attending the shows that take place at set times each day.

The Headland site shows marine(海洋的)life. There are all kinds of fish here. At Wave Cove, where a machine creates waves up to one meter high, visitors can observe marine birds and animals living together. The greatest attraction, however, is the Ocean Theatre. In a large show pool, trained dolphins, sea lions and a killer whale delight people with a variety of tricks.

1. According to the passage, we can see Hong Kong opened Ocean Park in order that　　　　　　   .

A. people can view animals near their home

B. it has a natural park as many other countries

C. people can view wild animals in Hong Kong

D. people can have the opportunity to view animals in surroundings as near as possible to their natural habitat

2. The Lowland site shows　　　　　　   .

A. all living things　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    B. marine birds and fish

C. animals, plants and birds　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  D. wild animals

3. The shows in the Lowland site take place　　　　　　   .

A. in spare time　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   B. at fixed times

C. at free time　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. at times each day

4. The main aim of the attractions of the Lowland site is　　　　　　   .

A. watching animals　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    　　   B. enjoying all kinds of plants

C. education　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   D. attending the show

The plan: turn Mars into a blue world with streams and green fields, and then fill it with creatures(生物)from the earth.

This idea may sound like something from a science fiction(科幻小说), but it is actually being taken seriously by many researchers. This suggested future for the “red planet” will be the main topic for discussion at an international conference hosted by NASA(美国宇航局)this week. Leading researchers as well as science fiction writers will attend the event. It comes as NASA is preparing a multibillion-dollar Mars research programme.

“Turning Mars into a little earth has long been a topic in science fiction, ” said Dr. Michael Meyer, NASA's senior scientist for astrobiology(太空生物学). “Now, with scientists exploring the reality, we can ask what the real possibilities of changing Mars are. ”

Most scientists agree that Mars could be turned into a little earth, although much time and money would be needed to achieve this goal.

“We are destroying our own world at an unbelievable speed and now we are talking about ruining another planet, ” said Paul Murdin, of the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge, UK.

Over the past months, scientists have become increasingly confident they will find Martian life forms. Europe and America’s robot explorers have found proof that water, mixed with soil, exists in large amounts on the planet.

1. Those who agree to turn Mars into a little earth　　　　　　   .

A. are short of confidence

B. will gain the support of NASA

C. realize their dream needs lots of time and money

D. are asking for advice on how to carry it out

2. The author took Paul Murdin as an example to show he　　　　　　   .

A. is for the idea of exploring Mars

B. is active in saving the earth

C. is against the idea of turning Mars into a little earth

D. cares about environmental protection

3. Science fiction writers will attend the international conference to be held by NASA to　　   .

A. inspire their interests

B. set more details for them to write with

C. join in the discussion

D. collect money for Mars research programme

4. Turning Mars into a little earth　　　　　　   .

A. is no longer a topic of science fiction stories

B. is now under way

C. is a project whose possibility is being explored

D. is against human interests