阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项。

　　Why should mankind explore space? Why should money, time and effort be spent exploring and researching something with so few apparent benefits? Why should resources be spent on space rather than on conditions and people on Earth? These are questions that, understandably, are very often asked．

　　Perhaps the best answer lies in our genetic makeup(基因构成)as human beings．What drove our ancestors to move from the trees into the plains, and on into all possible areas and environments? The wider the spread of a species, the better its chance of survival．Perhaps the best reason for exploring space is this genetic tendency to expand wherever possible．

　　Nearly every successful civilization has explored, because by doing so, any dangers in surrounding areas can be identified and prepared for．Without knowledge, we may be completely destroyed by the danger．With knowledge, we can lessen its effects．

　　Exploration also allows minerals and other potential(潜在的)resources to be found．Even if we have no immediate need of them, they will perhaps be useful later．Resources may be more than physical possessions．Knowledge or techniques have been acquired through exploration．The techniques may have medical applications which can improve the length or quality of our lives．We have already benefited from other spin－offs including improvements in earthquake prediction, in satellites for weather forecasting and in communications systems．Even non－stick pans and mirrored sunglasses are by－products(副产品)of technological developments in the space industry!

　　While many resources are spent on what seems a small return, the exploration of space allows creative, brave and intelligent members of our species to focus on what may serve to save us．While space may hold many wonders and explanations of how the universe was formed or how it works, it also holds dangers．The danger exists, but knowledge can help human being to survive．Without the ability to reach out across space, the chance to save ourselves might not exist．

　　While Earth is the only planet known to support life, surely the adaptive ability of humans would allow us to live on other planets．It is true that the lifestyle would be different, but human life and cultures have adapted in the past and surely could in the future．

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阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项。

　　The garden city was largely the invention of Ebenezer Howard(1850－1928)．After immigrating from England to the USA, and an unsuccessful attempt to make a living as a farmer, he moved to Chicago, where he saw the reconstruction of the city after the disastrous fire of 1871．In those days, it was nicknamed "the Garden City", almost certainly the source of Howard's name for his later building plan of towns．Returning to London, Howard developed his design in the 1880s and 1890s, drawing ________ on ideas that were popular at the time, but creating a unique combination of designs．

　　The nineteenth－century poor city was in many ways a terrible place, dirty and crowded; but it offered economic and social opportunities．At the same time, the British countryside was in fact equally unattractive： though it promised fresh air and nature, it suffered from agricultural depression(萧条)and it offered neither enough work and wages, nor much social life．Howard's idea was to combine the best of town and country in a new kind of settlement, the garden city．Howard's idea was that a group of people should set up a company, borrowing money to establish a garden city in the depressed countryside; far enough from existing cities to make sure that the land was bought at the bottom price．

　　Garden cities would provide a central public open space, radial avenues and connecting industries．They would be surrounded by a much larger area of green belt, also owned by the company, containing not merely farms but also some industrial institutions．As more and more people moved in, the garden city would reach its planned limit－Howard suggested 32, 000 people; then, another would be started a short distance away．Thus, over time, there would develop a vast planned house collection, extending almost without limit; within it, each garden city would offer a wide rang of jobs and services, but each would also be connected to the others by a rapid transportation system, thus giving all the economic and social opportunities of a big city．

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阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项。

　　Winners Club

　　You choose to be a winner!

　　The Winners Club is a bank account specially designed for teenagers．It has been made to help you better manage your money．The Winners Club is a transaction account(交易账户)where you receive a key－card so you can get to your money 24/7－that's 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

　　It's a club with impressive features for teenagers：

　　●No account keeping fees!

　　You're no millionaire so we don't expect you to pay large fees．In fact, there are no account keeping or transaction fees!

　　●Excellent interest rates!

　　You want your money to grow．The Winners Club has a good rate of interest which gets even better if you make at least two deposits(储蓄)without taking them out in a month．

　　●Convenient

　　Teenagers are busy－we get that．You may never need to come to a bank at all．With the Winners Club you can choose to use handy tellers and to bank from home using the phone and the Internet … You can have money directly deposited into your Winners Club account．This could be your pocket money or your pay from your part－time job!

　　●Mega magazine included

　　Along with your regular report, you will receive a FREE magazine full of good ideas to make even more of your money．There are also fantastic offers and competitions only for Winners Club members．

　　The Winners Club is a great choice for teenagers．And it is so easy to join．Simply fill in an application form．You will have to get permission from your parent or guardian(so we can organize that cool key－card)but it is easy．We can't want to hear from you．It's the best way to choose to be a winner!

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阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项。

　　“Mum, what does it mean when someone tells you that they have a skeleton(骨骼)in the closet(衣橱)?” Jessica asked．“A skeleton in the closet?” her mother paused thoughtfully, Well, it's something that you would rather not have anyone else know about．For example, if in the past, someone in Dad's family had been arrested for stealing a horse, it would be ‘a skeleton in his family's closet’．He really wouldn't want any neighbor to know about it．”

　　“Why pick on my family?” Jessica's father said with anger．“Your family history isn't so good, you know．Wasn't you great－great grandfather a prisoner who was transported to Australia for his crimes?” “Yes, but people these days say that you are not a real Australian unless your ancestors arrived as prisoners．” “Gosh, sorry I asked．I think I understand now,” Jessica cut in before things grew worse．

　　After dinner, the house was very quiet．Jessica's parents were still quite angry with each other．Her mother was ironing clothes and every now and then she glared at her husband, who hid behind his newspaper pretending to read．When she finished, she gathered the freshly pressed clothes in her arms and walked to Jessica's closet．Just as she opened the door and reached in to hang a skirt, a bony arm stuck out from the dark depths and a bundle of white bones fell to the floor．Jessica's mother sank into a faint(晕倒), waking only when Jessica put a cold, wet cloth on her forehead．She looked up to see the worried faces of her husband and daughter．

　　“What happened? Where am I?” she asked．“You just destroyed the school's skeleton, Mum,” explained Jessica．“I brought it home to help me with my health project．I meant to tell you, but it seemed that as soon as I mentioned skeletons and closets, it caused a problem between you and Dad．” Jessica looked in amazement as her parents began to laugh madly．“They’re both crazy,” she thought．

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Directions：Read the following three passages．Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements．For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D．Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage．

　　A rccent study of anclent and modern clcphants has come up with the uncxpeclcd conclusion that the african elcphant is dividcd into two disinct(不同的)species

　　The discovery was made by researchers at yod and haycard yniwersities when they were examining the genetid relinship between the ancient woolly manmmth and mastodon to modern ckephants ins asoan alepnant a feoan forest elephant and afcican sannna clephant

　　Once they obfantcd DNA sequences{序列}from two fossils{化石}，mammothd and mastodons the team comparcd them with dna form ，modcrn eleohants they found to their amazement that modern forest and sabanna elephants are as distinct from cach other as asian elephants and manmoths he scientists used detailed genetic anatysis to proce that the african savanna clelhants hace been distinct species for several million years the divcrgonce of the ttwo species took place around the time of the of the dicergcncc of asian clephants and woolly mammoths this result amazed all the scienitsts

　　There has long been debate in the scientific community that the two might be separespecies but this is the most convincing scientinfic evidence so far that they are anded difforent species

　　Preci many naluralists believed that afrjcan savanna elephants and airican forest were two plpulations of the same apecies despite the clcphants signigice\ant sizw differences the sac\vanna elelphant has an average shouldcr height of 3.5metres while the forest slsphant has an average shouldcr height of 2.5metres the sacanna laphant welghs belween six anp secedn tons roughly double the weight of the forest elephant but the fact that they look so different does not neccssarily mean they are different species howecer the prooflay in the analysis of th DNA

　　Alfred roca allisant professor in the dcoamment of animal scienccs at the unicerstiu of said “wu now nave to reat the forest and savanna elephants at two diffcrcnt units for consrrbation pucpooses since 1950 all african ele[hants are two cery distinctice animals the forest ele[hant shoule become a bigger prioity(优先)for conscrvation puruose”

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Directions：Read the following three passages．Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements．For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D．Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage．

　　My father was Chief engineer of amere hant ship, which was sunk in Word War II, The book Night of the U－boats told the story．

　　Mcmories

　　In September, 1940, my mother, sister and I went to Swansea, where my father's ship was getting ready to sail．We brought him a family photograph to be kept with him at all times and keep him sale．

　　Then I remember my mother lying lace down, sobbing．She had heard from a friend that the ship had been sunk by a torpcdo(鱼雷)．

　　I can remember the arrival of the telegram(电报), Which in those days always brought had new．My grandmother opened it．It read,” Safe,, Love Ted．”

　　My most vivid memory Is being woken and brought douwn to sit o my father's knee, his arm in a bandage．

　　He was judged unfit to return to ea and took a shore job in Glasgow for the rest of the war．For as long as I can remember, he had a weak heart Mother said it was caused the tome does．He said it was because of the cigarettes, Whichever, he died suddenly in his ealy 50s．

　　Ten years later I read Night of the U－bouts and was able to complete the story．

　　Torpedo

　　One torpedo struck the ship, Father was in the engine room, where the third engineer was killed．He shut down the engines to slow the ship making it easier for it to be abandoncd．

　　By the time he got on deek(甲板)he was alone．Every lifeboat was gone except one which had stuck fast．When he tried to cut it free it swung againse the ship, injuring his hand and arm．He had no choice but to jume－still with the photogeaph in his pecket．

　　Three days later, he and other survivors were safe in Glasgow．All 23 with him signed the back of the photograph．

　　In my room is the book and the photograph．Often, glass in head, I have wondered how I would have dealt with an explosion, a sinking ship, a jump into a vast ocean rind a wait for rescue? Lest(以免)we forget, I have some more whisky and toast the heroes of the war．

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Directions：Read the following three passages．Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements．For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D．Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage．

　　When first entered, Vanak Restaurant does not look like much of a restaurant, but once the plcasant smells of kabob(烤肉串)hit the penses, you are incapable of calling it anything less．

　　Owned by a local couple, this Persian restaurant has an inbiting, homelike atmosphere that many restaurants lack．

　　The space is small with only a few dining tables and nearly no decoration, but thenvironment is truiy charming．

　　Lying in a hardly noticeable steet corner, the restautant still attracts all customee especially those eperienced in the delights of Middle Eastem cooking．

　　A common sight is that of old Persian men sitting in the conrner talking loudly about world topics, watching news events on TV, drinking a black tea known as Persian chai, an reading local Persian newspapers all the while trying to finish off their plate? Piled with food．

　　The variety of food at the restaurant is limited, but the amount of each dish is fairl large．Most of the meals can serve two people and are under ＄10, so not only is it affordable but practicla as well．

　　The food, especially appeals to health－conscious eaters because each dish is very healthy, made with limited fat and oil and served straight off the grill(烤肉架)．

　　The main dish that the restaurant is popular for is its kabobs, which are different style of grilled meat．

　　One delicious and extremely healthy dish is the Joojeh Kabob, which is made of grille chicken pieces served with cither rice or bread．Another great kabob is the Cbelo Kabob, kabob consisting of grilled beef．

　　Although the restaurant is small, the atmosphere and the food is delicious．It is a place that should not be overlooked．

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阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项。

　　Friendship Day in India falls on the first Sunday of August every year．It is celebrated with many activities．

　　Young people in India spend the day with their closest friends and have fun together．Most youngsters in India plan a movie or have a meal with their friends．Many friends may go on a drive to tourist places or make a plan for camping．Some friends go to the supermarket to do some shopping．On Friendship Day, most stores offer discounted prices for customers and it is the perfect day to buy something for friends．

　　Some friends go to parties that are organized by many restaurants in order to attract youngsters．Such parties are very enjoyable．You can get food at a discounted price．Some friends just decide to meet up at someone's home and talk about their happy time．The time good friends spend sitting together and talking over a cup of coffee is precious and unforgettable．

　　Long－distance friends call up each other on this day and wish each other with warm feelings．Some of them even plan to meet up on this particular day．Yet some others plan a surprising visit just to see their friend scream in shock!

　　In 2012, Friendship Day in India falls on August 5 th．So don't forget to celebrate it with your friends．

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阅读下列材料，从A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳答案。

　　Snow can be very beautiful．When snow covers everything around you, the world looks like a “Winter Wonderland” ．That is the name of a very popular song about winter．Richard Smith and Felix Bernard wrote the song in 1934．

　　But winter is not always such a beautiful and happy time．It is cold outside．The wind blows and makes it even colder．The days are shorter and darker．The sun rarely shines．The leaves on the trees are brown or have fallen to the ground．The flowers are mostly gone．It is not surprising that some people are sad in winter．And some people dream about being somewhere else where it is warm and pretty－like the state of California．The Mamas and the Papas recorded their famous song, “California Dreaming” in 1965．

　　During the 1960s, many other famous rock groups sang songs about winter．Here is a song by Simon and Garfunkel called “A Hazy Shade of Winter” ．They sing about life and hope．

　　In 1968, the group Blood, Sweat and Tears recorded this gentle, sad song about winter．They sing about a lost love and forgotten memories in “Sometimes in Winter”．

　　Gordon Lightfoot wrote and recorded another sad and lovely song about winter in 1975．Sarah McLachlan recorded “Song for a Winter's Night” for an album(专辑)in 2006．She sings about reading a love letter and wishing the writer were with her．

　　Finally, on a lovely note, we leave you this sad song by Wayne．

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阅读下列材料，从A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳答案。

　　We were the only family with children in the restaurant．Suddenly, my baby Erik became excited．I looked around and saw an old man with old clothes and dirty old shoes．His hair was unwashed．He was waving to my Erik．

　　“He might hurt my Erik,” I thought．Everyone in the restaurant looked at us and then at the man．Then we decided to leave．My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him outside．The old man sat between the door and me．

　　As I walked closer to the man, I turned my back．Suddenly, Erik leaned(倾斜)over my arms, reaching with both arms in a baby's “pick－me－up” position．Before I could stop him, Erik had escaped from my arms to the man's．At the moment a very old smelly man and a very young baby developed a kind of friendship．

　　Erik, in the act of total trust and love, laid his tiny head upon the man's shoulder．The man closed his eyes, and I saw tears under his lashes(眼睫毛)．His aged hands were full of pain and hard labor, but he held my baby so gently．A moment later, the old man opened his eyes, passed me my baby and said, “God bless you, madam．You’ve given me the most precious(珍贵的)gift．”

　　I cried, with my face burning hot．A child saw a soul(心灵), but a mother saw only a suit of clothes．

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