阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

　　FreeRice．com is a non-profit website run by the United Nations World Food Program(UNWFP)．It aims to provide education to everyone for free and help end world hunger．Join us and have fun with our vocabulary game．For each vocabulary word you get right, we donate free rice through UNWFP to those hungry people．

　　How do you play the vocabulary game?

　　Click on the answer that is closest in meaning to the word．If you get it right, you get a harder word．If wrong, you get an easier word．For each word you get right, we donate 20 grains of rice to UNWFP．

　　How does the vocabulary game help you?

　　This game may make you smarter．While learning new vocabulary, it can help you：

　　★Present your ideas better

　　★Write better papers, e-mails and business letters

　　★Speak more accurately and influentially

　　★Read faster because you understand better

　　★Get better grades in high school and college

　　★Perform better at job interviews

　　★Be more effective and successful at your job

　　After you have done FreeRice for a couple of days, you may notice a phenomenon．Words that you have never consciously used before will begin to pop into your head while you are speaking or writing．You will feel yourself using and knowing more words．

　　How does the FreeRice vocabulary program work?

　　FreeRice has a database containing thousands of words at different levels of difficulty．There are words proper for people just learning English and words that will challenge the most learned professors．In between are thousands of words for students, business people, doctors, truck drivers… everyone!

　　FreeRice adjusts to your level of vocabulary．It starts by giving you words at different levels of difficulty and then, based on how you do, designs a proper starting level for you．When you get a word wrong, you go to an easier level．When you get three words in a row right, you go to a harder level．There are 60 levels in all, but it is rare for people to get above Level 50．

　　Sign up now and you will have fun as well as help end world hunger．

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请认真阅读下列短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

　　The law says women should have the chance of doing the same jobs as men and earn the same as them．The reality is very different．Women lose because, 25 years after the Equal Pay Act, many of them still get paid less than men．They lose because they do lower-paid jobs which men just won't consider．And they lose because they are the ones who interrupt a career to have children．All this is reported in an independent study ordered by the Government's women's unit．The biggest problem isn't equal pay in workplaces such as factories．It is the sort of work women do．

　　Make a list of low-paid jobs, then consider who does them．Try nurses, secretaries, cleaners, clerks, teachers in primary schools, dinner ladies and child-care helpers．Not a lot of men among that group, are there? Yet some of those jobs are really important．Surely no one would deny that about nurses and teachers, for a start．So why do we reward the people who do them so poorly? There can be only one answer-because they are women．This is not going to be put right overnight．But the government, which employs a lot of them, and other bosses have to make a start．

　　It is disgraceful(可耻的)that we have gone into the 21st century still treating women like second-class citizens．

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请认真阅读下列短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

　　Your body, which has close relations with the food you eat, is the most important thing you own, so it needs proper treatment and proper nourishment(营养)．The old saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” is not as silly as some people think．The body needs fruit and vegetables because they contain vitamin C．Many people take extra vitamins in pill form, believing that these will make them healthy．

　　But a good diet is made up of nourishing food and this gives all the vitamins you need．The body doesn't need or use extra vitamins, so why waste money on them?

　　In the modern western world, many people are too busy to bother about eating properly．They throw anything into their stomachs, eating hurriedly and carelessly．The list of illnesses caused or made worse by bad eating habits is frightening,

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请认真阅读下列短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

　　As a young girl growing up in the 1930s, I always wanted to fly a plane, but back then it was almost unheard of for a woman to do that．I got a taste of that dream in 2011, when my husband arranged for me to ride in a hot air balloon for my birthday．But the experience turned out to be very dull．Around that time, I told my husband that I wanted to skydive．So when our retirement community(社区)announced that they were having an essay competition and the topic was an experience of a lifetime that you wanted to have, I decided to write about my dream．

　　In the essay, I wrote about my desire to skydive, stating George Brush Sr．did it at age 80．Why not me? I was just 84 and in pretty good health．A year went by and I heard nothing．But then at a community party in late April 2009, they announced that I was one of the winners．I just couldn't believe it．Inspired by this．I decided to realize my dream, even though some of my family members and my doctor were against it．

　　On June 11, 2009, nearly 40 of my family and friends gathered in the area close to where I would land while I headed up in the airplane．My instructor, Jay, guided me through the experience．The plane was the noisiest one I had ever been in, but I wasn't frightened-I was really just looking forward to the experience．When we reached 13, 000 feet, Jay instructed me to throw myself out of the plane．When we first hit the air, the wind was so strong that I could hardly breathe．For a second I thought, “What have I gotten myself into? ” But then everything got calmer．We were in a free fall for about a minute before Jay opened the parachute(降落伞), then we just floated downward for about five minutes．Being up in the clouds and looking at the view below was unlike anything I have ever felt-much better than the hot air balloon．I was just enjoying it．

　　Skydiving was really one of the greatest experiences of my life．I hope other people will look at me and realize that you don't stop living just because you are 84 years old．If there's something you want to experience, look into it．If it's something that is possible, make it happen．

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请认真阅读下列短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

　　One warm September night, Mira had come down to the beach to enjoy the night air．She closed her eyes and listened to the waves．Suddenly, she could hear another sound, so she opened her eyes and looked down at the sand．It was moving! All of a sudden she could see a tiny head coming out．Then a turtle(龟)appeared! One by one they struggled out of their underground nests．Mira looked in surprise at the baby turtles．

　　Mira knew the turtles should head towards the waves and swim away, so she was puzzled when they began to pull themselves towards the dunes(沙丘)．Suddenly, she remembered something her grandmother had told her．“Sea turtles bury their eggs on the beach every year in April and in September．Those baby turtles hatch(孵出)and head back down to the sea．But some of them never make it．Sometimes they die going across the dunes, trying to find those bright lights on the houses．Every day there are more houses being built on the dunes．That means more and more lights to confuse the sea turtles．”

　　Mira looked out across the dunes at her house．Mira saw her mother and father, sitting on the porch(门廊)．She could see them because her house had two bright lights that lit up the porch．

　　Mira began to run to her house and shouted, “The turtles are hatching! We have to help the turtles! ” With these words, Mira ran into the house and turned off the bright porch lights．

　　In a rush she was off running down the dunes with her whole family following her．They reached the beach just in time to see the tiny turtles slipping silently into the waves．Mira watched as the last turtle entered the water．As the turtle swam away, it looked back at Mira．In the moonlight, Mira thought she saw it smile．

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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。

　　There is a big question making the rounds among the parents at my daughter's class．Should the kids refer to the parents’ friends as “Mr．Jones” or “Mrs．Smith”, rather than using their first names? I was quite shocked, having come from a home where it would have been unheard of to refer to one of my parents’ friends by their first names．This was reserved for only the closest of family friends and relatives, and even they always had “Aunt” or “Uncle” in front their name．

　　Respect is something that is earned．Unlike many of the other virtues we try to nurture(培养)in our kids, respect is a bit more complicated．It is not only necessary when dealing well with others, but the virtue of self-respect is critical for kids to succeed and feel good about themselves and their choices throughout their lives．

　　There are several factors that can have a big impact on kids and their ability to be respectful．The first one to consider is manners．Calling adults by their surnames, setting proper examples during sporting events and while driving, and how we talk to each other in our homes all can have an enormous effect on a child's concept of respect and how important it is．Many of these seemingly trivial(微小的)ideas have become almost outdated, but one should seriously consider the value of these ideas before casting them aside．It is easy to become unaware of these behaviors．Try to keep track of how often your child is subjected to this kind of disrespect．

　　The media, as you may have guessed, plays a large part in the increase in disrespect．Movies are equally to blame, with a PG movie often containing an abundant amount of profane language．

　　These factors and others all contribute to an alarming increase in disrespect in society．If we don't step in and change course, we will find living in a morally respectful culture unlikely．

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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。

　　Social networking isn't only for the under 40s．More than 25 percent of Americans 50 years and older stay connected using sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, according to new research．

　　“The latest data tells us that more and more social networking is becoming a part of everyday life for Americans 50 plus, ” said Kevin Donnellan, the chief communications officer at AARP, which released the report．

　　Nearly a quarter of older Americans are on Facebook and 73 percent said they use it to stay in touch with relatives, but not just their children and grandchildren．“They are using the Internet to keep up with the world and the people who are important to them, ” said Jean Koppen, the author of the report．She added that older adults are also on Facebook to stay connected, not only with their family, but with their friends and those in the same age group．Almost 50 percent of older adults were introduced to the social networking sites by a family member, mainly a child or grandchild．“Just under one-fifth of adults aged 50 and older say they do not use the Internet, ” according to the report．

　　The findings are based on a telephone survey of 1, 863 adults．In addition to keeping up on Facebook and Twitter older adults are aware of the latest technology．Eighty-three percent had heard about the Apple iPad and 11 percent intended to buy one．

　　Despite the popularity of the Internet among the over 50s, they still mostly go to print newspapers and magazines for news．Only one percent said they followed blogs．

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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。

　　Recently we’ve observed an increasing request from disadvantaged and regional schools for attending one of our zoo areas at no cost or partly paid some organizations．Zoos Victoria believes that all children should have the opportunity to have an early memory of visiting the zoo, and gain an understanding of the wild and natural world that humans share with animals．Zoos Victoria wins the support of the Ian Potter Foundation to help achieve this goal．

　　Funding available for schools to enter an educational program at Zoos Victoria in 2012

　　Applications are open from November 23, 2011 to February 12, 2012．

　　Children from disadvantaged and originally isolated schools are provided with the opportunity to visit the zoo and attend an interactive education experience at no charge．

　　The program objectives are：

　　·To start developing “environmentalists” within low social and economic groups．

　　·To support the youth from disadvantaged backgrounds to have greater awareness of wildlife and have ongoing opportunities to get relevant information about animals and the environment through the zoos’ website．

　　What is covered under the program?

　　·Travel to the zoo-transport costs will be partly or fully paid back to the school on the basis of the number of children applied for the program．

　　·Student entry to one area of Zoos Victoria and an educational experience．

　　Which schools are able to take part in the program?

　　·Open to schools in Victoria．

　　·Consideration will be given to schools that have not previously been able to enter one of our zoo areas, list as “disadvantaged” ones or come from regionally isolated areas．

　　·Able to visit an area of Zoos Victoria within the 2012 school year．

　　·Applications must be supported by the school principal．

　　·Able to complete a short evaluation of the program．

　　How to apply for the program?

　　·Download the application forms．

　　·Complete all the details, including a signature from your principal and attaching a quote for transport costs．

　　·Return the application forms to Margaret Harwood at Zoos Victoria by email to mharwood@zoo．org．au or by post to PO Box 74, Parkville, VIC 3052．

　　·Please contact Margaret Harwood at 03 9285 9462, if there are any further questions．

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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 passengers on the subway who caught a glimpse of me may have thought I was strange．In particular a gentleman sitting opposite me was always staring at me, looking at the cheese bread on the floor in front of me and then staring back at me．A passenger probably dropped it by mistake and got off at a previous stop, but the gentleman might not think so．“Next stop, St．Patrick Station”-my stop was quickly coming up．I had few minutes to either take the cheese bread, which nobody else was claiming, or left it there．

　　In those few minutes I felt my pride getting in the way．“What would others on the subway think of me if I took the cheese bread? Would they think that I was poor and hungry? Would they think that I was stealing? ” The ignorant thing to do was say “yes” to any of those self-imposed questions．Actually, they were just my own thoughts．Though I would leave the subway, walk a block to my office, get settled at my desk, and sit comfortably in my office for the whole day, I couldn't get rid of the enormous sense of guilt and regret．

　　My thoughts once pushed me towards pride and ignorance, but finally I had to admit I was wrong．This missing cheese bread could be a gift for a homeless person who suffered from cold and hunger．So why not overcome a little bit of my pride and pass along so much kindness?

　　Just as the doors opened at my stop, I grabbed the cheese bread and left the subway．It felt awesome, but I didn't care if people were looking at me or what they were thinking．Instead of going directly to my office as usual, I walked a few more blocks up to Queen's park, where I often saw a homeless man sitting outside．I always wanted to give him something, but only today I walked toward him, who wrapped himself in a sleeping bag．I was full of satisfaction, and so did the homeless man, I thought．

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阅读下列四篇短文，从每小题后所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

　　Have you ever noticed when your sweat dries it will leave marks on your T-shirt? The marks are tiny bits of salt．If you go to the seaside, you will know that seawater does the same to your clothes, because it also has a lot of salt in it．

　　Water evaporates from the surface of the sea but the salt remains．Have you ever thought about whether the seas will keep getting saltier? The answer is no．The oceans have stayed at about 3.5 percent salt content for hundreds of millions of years．It keeps a constant level of salt in different ways．

　　Pick up a seashell and weigh it in your hand．It is heavy．All animals need sodium to live and most need calcium to build bone an shells．The seashell, like all sea animals, gets its sodium and calcium from seawater．When animals die, their salt is locked up in bins and shells, which drop to the bottom of the sea．

　　Seawater and rocks react with each other not just in one way．Sea salt not only reacts with rocks, but also reacts with the rocks of the ocean crust(壳)and volcanic lava．The reactions take some of the salt in seawater away from the sea．

　　The outer hard crust of the earth is made up of about a dozen hard plates that drift on very hot, soft rock like floating islands on a sea．The heat within the earth is not the same everywhere and the plates move because of the heat．When an ocean plate knocks into a land plate, the thinner land plate floats over the ocean one．The ocean floor gets pushed under and its salty rocks, shells and bones, are lost deep within Earth．

　　So, that's why the seas are salty but don't get any saltier．

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