阅读理解

　　Researchers at San Diego Zoo have been studying what has been described as the “secret language” of elephants．They have been monitoring communications between animals that cannot be heard by human ears．

　　The elephant's call will be familiar to most people, but the animals also give out growls(低吼)．Their growls, however, are only partly audible(听得见的); two-thirds of the call is at frequencies that are too low to be picked up by our hearing．To learn more about the inaudible part of the growl, the team attached(附在……上面)a microphone sensitive to these low frequencies and a GPS tracking system to eight of the zoo's female elephants．The researchers could then relate the noises the animals were making to what they were doing．Matt Anderson, who led the project, told BBC News, “We’re excited to learn how they interact and contact with one another．”

　　The team has already learned that pregnant females use this low frequency communication to announce to the rest of their long gestation(妊娠期)of over two years, in the last 12 days we see the low part of the growl, which we can't hear．This we believe is to announce to the rest of the herd that the baby is upcoming, ” said Dr Anderson．

　　The researchers believe that this also warns the elephants to look out for coming danger．“You may think that a baby calf of about 300 pounds would not be as open to predation(捕食)as other species, ” he says．“But packs of hyenas(袋狼)are a big threat in the wild．”

　　Female elephants are only in season for around four days every four years and these calls can be heard by males more than two miles away．

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

阅读理解

　　Driving a car at high speed along a highway seems to be fun．You need only to follow the bright traffic(交通)signs beside the highways and it will take you to where you wish．

　　But to a London taxi driver, driving is not an easy job．A taxi driver has to have not only good driving skills but also a good knowledge of the city of a London, from the smallest lane(小巷)to the most popular bar(酒吧)around．He has to be at the service of all kinds of passengers at all times．

　　A certain London taxi driver told of his job as follows．

　　During the night it is quite usual for him to stop two or three times for some refreshments(提神)．He said．“I never drink when I'm working-I would lose my license．”

　　He normally goes home between 2 and 3 O’clock in the night．There are times he has to stay longer and try to make more runs．He said, “That's the worst thing about working for yourself．If you don't make the money, no one is going to give it to you．”

　　London taxi drivers not only 'take’ but also ‘give’．Every summer hundreds of children from London will go for a day at the sea-by taxi! Their rides are paid by the taxi drivers, and these fares(车费)all go to the ‘London Taxi Fund for Underprivileged Children．’ At the sea, they are met by the mayor, and a lunch party is also held in honour of the taxi drivers and the children．After a happy day running around the sea beaches and visiting the market, the children go home again-by taxi, and free of charge, of course!

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

阅读理解

　　Walt Whitman was born in eighteen nineteen in New York City．During his long life, he watched America grow from a young nation to the strongest industrial power in the world．Whitman was influenced by events around him．But his poetry speaks of the inner self．He celebrated great people like President Abraham Lincoln．He also celebrated common people．

　　As a young man, Whitman worked as a school teacher, a printer and a newspaper reporter．He was thirty-six years old when his first book of poetry was published．He called it Leaves of Grass．It has only twelve poems．The poems are written in free verse．The lines do not follow any set form．Some lines are short and some are long．The words at the end of each line do not have a similar sound．They do not rhyme．

　　One of America's greatest thinkers and writers immediately recognized the importance of Leaves of Grass．Ralph Waldo Emerson praised Whitman's work．But most other poets and writers said nothing or denounced it．

　　The America's Civil War began in eighteen sixty-one．During the war, Whitman worked without pay at army hospitals．He helped care for the wounded and dying soldiers．He sat beside these men for hours．He brought them food and wrote letters for them．After the Civil War, Whitman worked for government agencies．He watched the United States try to heal itself and increase democracy．To Walt Whitman, democracy was more than a political system or idea．It was a natural form of government for free people．Whitman believed democracy was meant to honor the rights of every person and the equality of all people．

　　In eighteen seventy-three, Walt Whitman suffered a stroke．He spent the last few years of his life in Camden, New Jersey and wrote more poems．Whitman was poor and weak during the last few years of his life．He died in eighteen ninety-two．

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

阅读理解

　　Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22nd．Take some time to find out about how one man, who was determined to change the way we treated our planet, didn't stop until he had made a difference．

　　In 1963, Senator Gaylord Nelson wasn't happy with the earth's condition．He wanted to clean up the planet, solve pollution and environmental problems．A senator(参议员)is someone US citizens choose to help make laws, so Gaylord had a lot of power．He went to John F．Kennedy, the President at the time, with his ideas．The President agreed that the planets’ environment was a serious issue, so President Kennedy went around the country on a five-day tour to promote the idea of cleaning up the planet．People began making small changes but it wasn't enough．

　　A few years later, Senator Nelson decided to put one day aside every year for the cause of saving the planet．On April 22, 1970, the first Earth day was celebrated．More than 20 million people took part in Earth Day activities in 1970．Since them, Earth Day has become an international holiday．People all over the world are doing something to make the earth a cleaner, better place．

　　A rock band named Dramarama wrote a song about Earth Day in 1993 called What are We Gonna Do．Encouraging your family to recycle on a regular basis is a good way to help the earth．

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项。

　　Many psychologists in the early twentieth century believed that humans use only 10 percent of their brains, and even the great Albert Einstein once wrote that most people use only a small portion of the grey matter between their ears．It's a theory that has often been put forward in television documentaries; magazines, advertisements and books over the past century．

　　But nearly all scientists now agree the 10 percent theory is completely unfounded．In fact, they question how this figure was ever arrived at in the first place and what areas of the brain are supposed to be unneeded．The theory supposes that if 90 percent of the brain were removed, a person would Still be able to function normally, while in reality it is known that damage to even a small area of the brain can result in extremely serious physical injury different activities and that many areas of the brain are used at the same time for some complex activities or thought processes．

　　Throughout the course of one day, most．areas of the brain are active at some time, even during sleep．The 10 percent theory suggests that certain areas o' the brain are not used, but scans slow activities throughout the entire brain and not in any separate part．The final argument against the 10 percent theory is the fact that doctors carefully map the brain before removing brain cancers so that they don't affect other essential areas．

　　From an evolutionary point of view, it's highly unlikely butt our comparatively larger brains would have evolved from our ancestors if the extra areas were not needed．In fact, there is absolutely no evidence support the 1p percent theory．

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项。

　　The dirty, homeless man sat on the pavement, staring at the atones．He thought back more than twenty years to when he was a boy living in a small red brick house on this very street．He recalled the flower garden, the swing his dad made, and the bike he had saved up for months to buy．

　　The man shrugged impatiently, for the brightness of those pictures hurt him, and his memory travelled on another ten years．He had a job by then, plenty of friends and started to come home less．He did not really want to remember those years, nor the day when, because o' debts, he had gone home planning to ask for money．He felt embarrassed, but he knew exactly where his dad kept the money．When his parents stepped out of the room, he took what he wanted and left．

　　That was the last time he had seen them．Ashamed, he went abroad, and his parents knew nothing about the years of wandering or time in prison．But locked in his cell he often thought of home．Once free, he would love to see his parents again, if they were still alive, and still wanted to see him．

　　When his prison time was up, he found-a job, but couldn't settle．Something was drawing him home．He did not want to arrive penniless, so he hitchhiked most of the long journey back．But less than a mile from his destination he started to feel sick with doubt．Could they ever accept this man who had so bitterly disappointed them?

　　He spent most of that day sitting under a tree．That evening he posted a letter which, although short, had taken him hours to write．It ended with：

　　I know it is unreasonable of me to suppose you want to see me．．．so it's up to you．I'll come early Thursday morning．If you want me home, hang a white handkerchief in the window of my old bedroom．If it's there, I'll come in; if not, I'll wave good-bye and go．

　　And now it was Thursday morning and he was sitting on the pavement at the end of the street．Finally he got up and walked slowly toward the old house．He drew a long breath and looked．

　　His parents were taking no risks．________________

　　The man threw his head back, gave a cry of relief and ran straight through the open front door．

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项。

　　When movie star Scarlett Johansson was photographed naming in Los Angeles recently, she attracted a lot of attention; for the 27-year-old actress was wearing Vibram FiveFingers, so called because they look more like gloves than shoes, with a space for each toe．

　　Strange though they may look, these so-called barefoot shoes, which reproduce the effect of barefoot running but with less pain, are just one brand in a range of minimalist footwear．These super-thin sports shoes are causing a stir in the world of running and fitness．Why? Because some experts believe they could make you a better, more efficient runner and that traditional trainers could be doing you more harm than good．

　　"Wearing a shoe that has lots of cushioning and support affects the way your body naturally moves and studies suggest that this carries a higher risk of injury, " explains Matt Wallden, an athlete performance expert．"But with barefoot shoes, the foot can actually feel the firmness and shape of the ground, which allows your body to respond effectively．'"

　　But before you rush out to invest in minimalist footwear, be careful．These kinds of shoes are not meant for everyone, or at least not straight away．

　　"Ordinary sports shoes with support are good for beginners whose bodies are not used to the impact of running, " explains Patrick Davoren, former Olympic athlete．"It you are not in great condition, then running in minimalist footwear may cause injuries and will turn a lot of people off exercise and running．

　　If you are currently injured, and figures show that in any given year 65％ of all runners are, it can be tempting to try anything that promises to get you back on the road, trail, or beach．But barefoot running is not a method of treating injury nor is it a magical way of suddenly turning you into a great athlete．

　　Even if you're used to running, when you start using minimalist shoes you should build up your distance gradually．Start off'by doing just 10％ of what you'd normally run and increase the distance by no more than 10％ every week．And a word of warning-you may never have soft feet again

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项。

　　Beatrix Potter was a great English writer and artist, best known for her children's books featuring animal characters such as in the children's classic-The Tale of Peter Rabbit．

　　Beatrix was born into a rich London-based family where she was tutored by very strict private teachers and so spent her youth isolated from other youngsters．

　　During her youth she had a lot of pets and spent vacations in Scotland and also the Lake District．It was at the Lake District that she developed a love of wildlife．She studied the area's natural wonders carefully and painted them continuously．But her old-fashioned, Manchester-born parents discouraged her intellectual improvement, thinking it inappropriate for a young lady．However, her study and watercolour paintings of wild mushrooms made her widely respected within the field of biology．

　　In her 30's, Beatrix Potter wrote the remarkably successful kid's book, The Tale of Pew Rabbit．Close to that time she became secretly engaged to her publisher Norman Warne．This caused a great disagreement with her parents, who did not approve of Beatrix getting married to somebody of lower social status．Sadly, Warne died before the marriage ceremony．

　　Ultimately Beatrix Potter began writing and also illustrating(绘图)kid's books full-time．Using profits from her books, Beatrix grew to become economically independent of her parents and was eventually in a position to buy Hill Top Farm in the Lake District．She extended the property with additional purchases of neighbouring land over time．In her 40's, Bestrix married William Heelis, a local lawyer．She ended up becoming a sheep breeder and farmer while continuing to publish as well as illustrate books for children．In all she authored 23 publications．

　　Beatrix died on December 22, 1943, and left the majority of her property to the National Trust．Her books carry on selling well globally, in many different languages．Her stories have been retold in numerous formats including a ballet, movies, and cartoons．

　　Such is her reputation, and that of the characters from her publications, that many Beatrix Potter statues have been created．These tiny Beatrix Potter statues which include pretty much all the actual characters in her publications have become highly valued by art collects and fans of her literature throughout the world．

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

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。

　　Paul was a good athlete when he was a middle school student．He liked running and jumping and won some medals at the sports meetings．So he was tall and strong．Suddenly war broke out and the young man joined the army．He was sent to the front and killed several enemy soldiers．Two years later, he returned to his home town and found a job at the police station．People had known about his bravery by then and they all liked the polite young man．

　　One day a few young men had drunk too much before they came in a cinema．They danced and sang there and the film couldn't be shown．Paul was ill that day and went to the hospital．When he was passing there, the young men were beating an old man．He went to stop them and they began to fight．He caught them all and sent them to the police station．Since then all the bad men in the town were afraid of the brave policeman．

　　It was a summer evening．The weather was hot and few people could stay indoors．Paul was on duty and sat by the telephone．Suddenly in rushed a beautiful girl with a book in her hand．She stood there, shaking in her shoes．

　　“What's the matter, Madam? ”asked Paul．

　　“I wish you could protect me, Sir, ”answered the girl．

　　“Protect? ”Paul said in surprise．“For what? ”

　　The girl showed the book to Paul．The young man understood at once： it was a

book about Ghosts(鬼)!

(1)

(2)

(3)

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。

　　Robert was born in a small town in England．His father has a farm and can supply him enough money to finish university where he's studying law．The young man studies hard and hopes to be a famous lawyer．

　　Last Monday their term was over．Robert said to his father on the telephone that he was going to travel in a small country during his summer holiday．His father agreed to his plan and posted some money to him．So he started four days ago．Their plane landed at the only airport of the country safely．He took a taxi and got to a hotel in the center of the capital．He felt hungry and tired．So he had a dinner and then a good sleep．This morning he was all right and was going to visit some places of interest．He met an English visitor while he was having breakfast and the man told him to be careful of thieves．

　　Robert thanked the man and left．But he thought he was smart(机灵的)and strong and he decided to have a try．He brought out a piece of paper and wrote on it, “A pig has stolen my wallet(钱包)! ”Then he put the note into his empty wallet．After that he put the wallet into a pocket and set off．He did all carefully and hoped to find out who would steal it．

　　“Everything went well, ”Robert thought to himself after he had returned to the hotel．He brought out his wallet and put his money into it again．He had a look at the note．To his surprise, it was rewritten．It said, “Your uncle has touched your wallet! ”

(1)

(2)

(3)