And of course in Britain listeners and viewers can tune in to two BBC television channels,five BBC national radio services and dozens of local radio stations.They are brought sport,comedy,drama,music,news and current affairs,education, religion, parliamentary coverage,children's programmes and films for an annual licence fee of 83 per household.?

　　It is a remarkable record,stretching back over 70 years—yet the BBC's future is now in doubt.The Corporation will survive as a publicly?funded broadcasting organization,at least for the time being,but its role,its size and its programmes are now the subject of a nation-wide debate in Britain.?

　　The debate was launched by the Government,which invited anyone with an opinion of the BBC—including ordinary listeners and viewers—to say what was good or bad about the Corporation,and even whether they thought it was worth keeping.The reason for its inquiry is that the BBC's royal charter runs out in 1996 and it must decide whether to keep the organization as it is,or to make changes.?

　　Defenders of the Corporation—of whom there are many—are fond of quoting the American slogan “If it ain't broke,don't fix it”.The BBC “ain't broke”,they say,by which they mean it is not broken(as distinct from the word “broke”,meaning having no money),so why bother to change it??

　　 Yet the BBC will have to change,because the broadcasting world around it is changing. The commercial TV channels—ITV and channel 4—were required by the Thatcher Government's Broadcasting Act to become more commercial,competing with each other for advertisers,and cutting costs and jobs.But it is the arrival of new satellite channels—funded partly by advertising and partly by viewers subscriptions—which will bring about the biggest changes in the long term.?

1.The world famous BBC now faces _______.?

A.the problem of news coverage?

B.an uncertain prospect?

C.inquiries by the general public?

D.shrinkage of audience?

2.In the passage,which of the following about the BBC is not mentioned as the key issue??

A.Extension of its TV service to Far East.?

B.Programs as the subject of a nation?wide debate.?

C.Potentials for further international cooperation.?

D.Its existence as a broadcasting organization.?

3.The BBC's “royal charter”(Line 4,Paragraph 4) stands for _______.?

A.the financial support from the royal family?

B.the privileges granted by the Queen?

C.a contract with the Queen?

D.a unique relationship with the royal family?

4.The foremost reason why the BBC has to readjust itself is no other than_______ .?

A.the emergence of commercial TV channels?

B.the enforcement of Broadcasting Act by the government?

C.the urgent necessity to reduce costs and jobs?

D.the challenge of new satellite channels?

Some scientists believe that birds do sing some of the time just because they are happy. However, they sing most of the time for a very different reason. Their singing is actually a warning to other birds to stay out of their territory.?

　　Do you know what a “territory” is?A territory is an area that an animal, usually the male, claims（声称）as its own. Only he and his family are welcome there. No other families of the same species（物种）are welcome. Your yard and house are your territory where only your family and friends are welcome. If a stranger should enter your territory and threaten you, you might shout. Probably this would be enough to frighten him away.

If so, you have actually scared the stranger away without having to fight him. A bird does the same thing. But he expects an outsider almost any time, especially at nesting（筑巢）season. So he is screaming all the time, whether he can see an outsider or not. This screaming is what we call a bird's song, and it is usually enough to keep an outsider away.?

　　Birds sing loudest in the spring when they are trying to attract a mate and warn others not to enter the territory of theirs.?

　　You can see that birds have a language all their own. Most of it has to do with attracting mates and setting up territories.?

1.Some scientists believe that most of the time birds singing is actually　　 .?

A.an expression of happiness　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B.a way of warning?

C.an expression of anger　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　D.a way of greeting

2.What is a bird's “territory”??

A.A place where families of other species are not accepted.?

B.A place where a bird may shout at the top of its voice.?

C.An area for which birds fight against each other.?

D.An area which a bird considers to be its own.

3.Why do birds keep on singing at nesting season??

A.Because they want to invite more friends.?

B.Because their singing helps frighten outsiders away.?

C.Because they want to find outsiders around.?

D.Because their singing helps get rid of their fears.

4.How does the writer explain birds' singing??

A.By comparing birds with human beings.

B.By reporting experiment results.?

C.By describing birds' daily life.

D.By telling a bird's story.

　　 She took up skating at age 85,made her first movie appearance at age 114,and held a concert in the neighborhood on her 121 birthday.?

　　 When it comes to long life,　Jeanne Calment is the world's record holder.　She lived to the old age of 122.So is 122 the ?upper? limit to the human life span（寿命）?If scientists come up with some sort of pill or diet that would slow aging,　could we possibly make it to 150 or beyond??

　　 Researchers don't entirely agree on the answers.　“Calment lived to 122,so it wouldn't surprise me if someone alive today reaches 130 or 135,”says Jerry Shay at the University of Texas.?

　　 Steve Austad at the University of Texas agrees.　“People can live much longer than we think,”　he says.　“Experts used to say that humans couldn't live past 110.When Calment blew past that age,　they raised the number to 120.So why can't we go higher?”?

　　 The trouble with guessing how old people live to be is that it's all just guessing.　“Anyone can make up a number,”　says Rich Miller at the University of Michigan.　“Usually the scientist who kicks the highest number gets his name in Time Magazine.”?

　　 Won't new anti－aging techniques keep us alive for centuries?　“Any cure,”　says Miller,　“for aging would probably keep most of us kicking until about 120.”Researchers are working on treatments that lengthen the life span of mice by 50 percent at most.　So,　if the average human life span is about 80 years,　says Miller,　“adding another 50 percent would get you to 120.”?

　　 So what can we conclude from this little disagreement among the researchers?　“That life span is flexible（有弹性的）,but there is a limit,”　says George Martin of the University of Washington.　“We can get flies to live 50 percent longer,”　he says.　“but a fly's never going to live 150 years.”　“Of course,　if you became a new species,　one that ages at a slower speed,　that would be a different story,”　he adds.?　　 Does Martin really believe that humans could evolve their way to longer life? “It's pretty cool to think about,”　he says with a smile.?

1．What does the story of Jeanne Calment prove to us?

A.People can live to 120.?

B.Old people are creative.?

C.Women are sporty at 85.?

D.Women live longer than men.

2．According to Steve Austad at the University of Texas,__________.

A.the average human life span could be 110?

B.scientists cannot find ways to slow aging ?

C.few people can expect to live to over 150 ?

D.researchers are not sure how long people can live

3. Who could agree that a scientist will become famous if he makes the wildest guess at longevity?

A. Jerry Shay.?

B. Steve Austad.?

C. Rich Miller.?

D. George Martin.

4. What can we infer from the last three paragraphs?

A. Most of us could be good at sports even at 120.?

B. The average human life span cannot be doubled.?

C. Scientists believe mice are aging at a slower speed than before.?

D. New techniques could be used to change flies into a new species.

To the west and off the European Continent, there are several thousands of islands on the continental shelf（大陆架）.They are generally called the British Isles. Of all these isles, the largest one is called Great Britain. For convenience's sake, it is often shortened to Britain. Still further the west of Great Britain is the second largest island known as Ireland. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland （U.K.） is made up of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, and a number of smaller islands around them.The total area of the country is some 240 000 square kilometers with a population of about 57 million.?

Great Britain runs nearly 1000 kilometers from south to north and extends, at the widest part, bout 500 kilometers from west to east. Its area is some 230 000 square kilometers. Great Britain is traditionally divided into three parts, or countries：England in the south, Scotland in the north, and Wales in the southwest. There are discernible（可辨别的） differences between them even now.?

England is the largest and most developed of all the three. Its area, about 130 000 square kilometers, takes up nearly 60% of the whole island. Its population is more than 46 million which makes up 85% of the country's whole population. The importance of England is so great in Britain that some foreigners just say “England” when they mean Britain. The same is true of the custom of speaking of the British people as the English who are the majority in the United Kingdom.?

　　Scotland is the second largest both in area and population. It has an area of about 78 760 square kilometers, less than 30% of the whole island and with a population of 5 million, less than one tenth of the whole population.?

Wales is the smallest of the three both in area and population. In area,20 700 square kilometers, it makes up less than 9% of the total area while its population,2.7 million, does not exceed 5% of the whole.?

1.The British Isles is made up of　　 .?

A.the European Continent and Great Britain?

B.the U.K.and the Republic of Ireland?

C.England,Scotland and Wales?

D.several thousands of islands to the west and off the European Continent?

2.Which of the following figures shows the correct position of Great Britain??

?

3.From the third paragraph we can infer that Great Britain has a population of about　　million.?

A.54　　　　　　　　　　　　　　B.46　　　　　　　　　　 C.60　　　　　　　　　　　　　　D.57?

4.Which of the following figures shows the correct area of Great Britain?

5.Which of the following statements is TRUE??

A.England is six times larger than Wales in area.?

B.England is six times larger than Scotland in area.?

C.Scotland is six times larger than Wales in area.?

D.The UK is six times larger than Wales in area.

　　Now it's true that the human body has developed its millions of nerves to be highly aware(知觉的) of what goes on both inside and outside of it.This helps us adjust(适应) to the world.Without our nerves—and our brain,which is a bundle of nerves—we wouldn't know what's happening.But we pay for our sensitivity(敏感).We can feel pain when the slightest thing is wrong with any part of our body.The history of suffering pain is based on the human body being open to pain.?

　　But there is a way to handle pain.Look at the India fakir(苦行僧) who sits on a bed of nails(钉子).Fakirs can put a needle right through an arm,and feel no pain.This ability that some humans have developed to handle pain should give us ideas about how the minds can deal with pain.?

　　 The big thing in withstanding pain is our attitude toward it.If the dentist says,“This will hurt a little,”it helps us to accept the pain.By staying relaxed,and by treating the pain as an interesting sensation(知觉),we can handle the pain without falling apart.After all,although pain is an unpleasant sensation,it is still a sensation,and sensations are part of life.?

1.From the passage,the writer seems to tell us　　　　　　 .?

A.that we needn't pay more attention to pain?

B.that pain is good for us?

C.how to avoid pain at the dentist's?

D.how to handle pain?

2.The result of pain is to　　　　 .?

A.help us get more sensations

B.keep us sensitive?

C.let us know what's going on

D.help us change the world?

3.The sentence “we pay for our sensitivity” in Paragraph 2 most probably means ______.?

A.we suffer because of being sensitive?

B.we are lucky to have developed our senses?

C.our sensitivity costs us a great deal?

D.we have to pay the dentist for his making us sensitive to pain?

4.The underlined word “withstanding” in the last paragraph could be best replaced by “_____”.

A.fighting

B.handling?

C.suffering

D.accepting?

5.According to the passage,we should ______ to deal with the pain.?

A.make ourselves less sensitive?

B.do something to avoid danger?

C.treat it as an interesting sensation?

D.do what the India fakirs do

Evolution（进化）is mostly to blame. It has designed mankind to deal with lack ,not plenty .People are perfectly fit to store energy in good years to see them through lean ones. But when bad time never comes ,they are stuck with that energy ,stored around their expanding bellies.?

　　Thanks to rising agricultural productivity ,lean years are rarer all over the globe . According to the UN ,the number of people short of food fell from 920 m in 1980 to 799 m 20 years later ,even though the world's population increased by 1.6 billion over the period .This is mostly a cause for celebration .Mankind has won what was ,for most of his time on this planet ,his biggest battle：to ensure that he and his offspring had enough to eat. But every silver lining has a cloud ,and the result of prosperity is a new trouble.?

Fatness is the world's biggest public-health topic today—the main cause of heart disease ,which kills more people these days than AIDS ,malaria（疟疾）,war; the major risk factor in diabetes（糖尿病）；heavily connected with cancer and other diseases .Since the World Health Organization labeled fatness an “epidemic（流行病）”in 2000,?reports on its fearful results have come thick and fast.?

　　 Will public-health warnings ,combined with media pressure,persuade people to get thinner ,just as they finallyput them off tobacco? Possibly .In the rich world ,sales of healthier foods are booming and new figures suggest that over the past year Americans got very slightly thinner for the first time in recorded history .But even if Americans are losing a few ounces ,it will be many years before the country solves the health problems caused by half a century's dining to overload .And ,everywhere else in the world ,people are still piling on the pounds .That's why there is now an agreement among doctors that governments should do something to stop them.?

1.What's the main idea the writer intends to tell us in this passage??

A.It's harmful to have enough to eat.?

B.It's better to be thin than fat.?

C.Fatness is the greatest danger in the world.?

D.Fatness has become a great health problem.

2.It can be inferred from the passage that the biggest problem in history is_______.

A.people were thin?

B.people smoked heavily?

C.there was not enough food to eat?

D.people stored energy in good years

3.Why does the author compare smoking with the fat problem in this passage??

A.Because they are both difficult problems to be settled.?

B.Because they both lead to the same diseases.?

C.Because they are both bad habits.?

D.Because they are both harmful to health.

4.Which of the following is TRUE according to this passage??

A.Man has got rid of lean years by increasing agricultural productivity.?

B.Though fatness is a difficult problem ,man may break away from it.?

C.Fatness may cause many diseases such as heart disease ,AIDS and cancer.?

D.The fat problem won't be settled until governments take measures.

Lawyers can specialize in “elder law”,which covers everything from trusts and estates（资产） to nursing-home abuse（虐待） and age discrimination（歧视）.Businessmen see huge opportunities in the elder market because the baby boomers,74 million strong,are likely to be the wealthiest group of retirees in human history.“Any students who combines an expert knowledge in gerontology with,say,an MBA or law degree will have a license to print money,”one professor says.?

　　Margarite Santos is a 21-year old senior at USC.She began college as a biology major but found she was “really bored with bacteria”.So she took a class in gerontology and discovered that she liked it.She says,“I did volunteer work in retirement homes and it was very satisfying.”?

1.“Old is suddenly in”(paragraph.1) most probably means.?

A.America has suddenly become a nation of too many old people?

B.gerontology has suddenly become popular?

C.more elderly professors are found on American campuses?

D.American colleges have been full of old students?

2.Why can businessmen make money in the growing elder market??

A.Retirees are more willing to spend money.?

B.They can employ more gerontologists.

C.The elderly have a great purchasing power（购买力）.?

D.There are more elderly people working than before.?

3.Who can make big money in the new century according to the passage??

A.Retirees who are willing to spend money.?

B.The volunteer workers in retirement homes.?

C.College graduates with an MBA or law degree.

D.Professionals（专业人员） with a good knowledge of gerontology.?

4.It can be seen from the passage that the increase of America's elderly population ______.

A.will provide good job opportunities in many areas?

B.will be just an unbearable burden on society?

C.may lead to nursing home abuse and age discrimination?

D.will lead to more students entering universities.?

　　The Internet is a computer network that uses the telephone system to link together millions of computers around the world.?

　　Maybe that doesn't sound exciting，but once you're connected to the Internet，there are lots and lots of different things you can do.You can send electronic messages or “E-mail” to your friends(as long as they're on the Internet too)，or you can sort(挑出，拣出) through all sorts of information on something called the World Wide Web.?

　　You don't need to know how the Internet works in order to use it，but if you understand the basics，it may help you solve any technical problem you have—and of course you can impress your friends with your Net knowledge!?

　　 You may think that your telephone is just for talking.But as long as you have the right equipment，you can use a telephone line to transmit computer data(数据) as well as sounds.If you plug your computer into the telephone system it can receive information from and send information to other computers(as long as they are plugged into the telephone system too).?

　　Computer data is made up of electronic signals(讯息).A computer language called TCP/IP(which stands for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol，if you like to know these things) is used to move computer data around the Internet.Many of the links，for example，those which send out computer data across the Atlantic Ocean，are special fiber optic cables(光导纤维电缆)，fiber optic cables use light to send out information.They can carry a lot more data than an ordinary telephone line and they send it a lot faster!

1.Which of the following is true??

A.The passage tells us something about the Internet.?

B.The passage tells the reader how to use telephone line.?

C.If we want to use the Internet，we must know how it works.?

D.E-mail has no use.

2.If your telephone is for talking，but you want to go on the Internet.What should you do??

A.Nothing.?

B.To have the right equipment，then use a telephone line to send out computer data as well as sounds.?

C.Ask your friend for help.?

D.Persuade someone not to use the telephone.

3.If you have some basic knowledge of the Internet working，the writer of the text would most probably consider it _______.?

A.possible

B.useless

C.unimportant

D.helpful

4.The underlined word “transmit” means _______.

A.send out

B.give away

C.give up

D.leave out

5.What isn't mentioned in the passage??

A.What the Internet is.

B.How big the Internet is.?

C.Where you'd better go on the Internet.

D.What the E-mail is.

1.Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage??

A.You can always get help from the specialists.?

B.It is common sense that is the most important when choosing a dog.?

C.You should decide what kind of dog you want.?

D.Size and characteristics of the dogs should be considered too.

2.What is mentioned as a consideration in buying a dog??

A.The color of the dog.?

B.The price of the dog.?

C.Whether the dog will fit the environment.?

D.Whether the dog will get along with the other pets in the house.

3.Why does the writer say a dog is a more demanding pet than a cat??

A.It must be trained so that it won't bite.?

B.It demands more food and space.?

C.It needs more love and care.?

D.It must be looked after carefully.

4.Why is it advised to buy a baby dog under three months old??

A.It'easier to buy a baby dog under three months old.?

B.They are less likely to be shy with human beings.?

C.They are less likely to run away.?

D.It'easier for them to form a relationship with their masters.

　　You can find the answer in Changchun，Jilin. At the No.1 Middle School of Changchun's First Automobile Factory，students are doing fine without a head teacher.?

　　From April 6，all 18 Junior 2 classes at the school have not had head teachers.The school hopes students will learn to take care of themselves this way.?

　　“It seems like no one is taking care of us，“said Li Huanyu from Class 9.?

　　But the 14-year-old girl said she wasn't worried at all.?

　　“Now we know it's up to us to look after our own class.”?

　　 Li's class now has a student committee（委员会）of nine students.The committee made some new rules for the class.?

　　 Some students often copy others' homework.So one rule says that if people let others copy them，they will be punished，not the people who copy.The rule has worked well，and now students do their own homework.?

　　 In Class 2,students talk about how they can help their classmate Xiaohua，because he doesn't learn as quickly as others do.The class committee asks everyone to write him a letter to encourage him.?

　　“We do best when people don't push us，“said Zhou Bing，the head of the committee.Head teachers aren't in the classroom anymore，but they still aren't far away.In fact，some say they feel closer to the kids than ever.Many kids go to them for advice，and they talk like friends.?

　　 “They're growing up and learning to be responsible（负责任的）,”said Zhang Jiashen，a teacher at the school.?

1.The school has stopped using head teachers because they 　　 .?

A.hope to take on fewer teachers

B.want the students to take care of themselves?

C.are not happy with the work of head teachers?

D.want to punish the students?

2.Which of the following is Not mentioned in the story??

A.If people let others copy their homework，they will be punished.?

B.Students have to wear school uniforms every day.?

C.The student committee takes care of the class.?

D.Students can also ask their teachers for help.?

3.By taking care of themselves，students learn to 　　 .?

A.be independent　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B.be responsible?

C.work with others　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　D.all of the above??