（2011·湖南卷）完形填空

   Directions: For each blank in the following passage, there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.

   People in communities have slowly been pushed apart through the years, mostly because people simply aren’t taking the time to say a simple “hello,” After considering this phenomenon, I decided I was going to   36   the way I was doing things.

   My   37   came one morning when I was in the community library. I passed by a girl who   38   her books out of her locker .Thinking like most that someone else would help her pick them up, I continued my way. However, when I had to   39   because I stupidly forgot my book, I noticed she had just finished packing them up by herself he one had stopped to   40   her.

   “OK,” I thought to myself, “this is where I should have changed.”

   My best opportunity came a few days later when I saw a man   41   by himself waiting for the library to open ,so I sat down next to him and began a   42  .It was difficult to get started ,and even when I had to say goodbye, almost every   43   from my new friend had a tone (语气) of doubt in it ,And who could blame him?

   People aren’t used to making an   44   chat with a stranger. But a change, no matter how   45   it is needed, doesn’t just happen. It takes people like us to make it possible. I    46    you to take a small step out of your comfort zone and try to make someone’s day a little brighter, Together, we can really make   come   47    as a whole.

36. A. change        B. explain      C. learn         D. show

37. A. trouble        B. doubt       C. wish         D. opportunity

38. A. took          B. dropped     C. got           D. pulled

39. A. come out      B. stand by     C. go back       D. turn up

40. A. please        B. greet        C. help          D. praise

41. A. sitting        B. walking      C. riding        D. running

42. A. discussion     B. lesson       C. report        D. conversation

43. A. joke          B. response     C. cry          D. story

44. A. unchangeable  B. unprepared   C. unforgettable   D. unfinished

45. A. desperately    B. frequently    C. simply        D. widely

46. A. allow         B. warn        C. order         D. advise

47. A. tater          B. straighter    C. closer        D. slower

　

（2011·湖南卷）C

A recent study of ancient and modern elephants has  come up with the unexpected conclusion that the African elephant is divided into two distinct (不同的) species

The discovery was made by researchers at York and Harvard universities when they were examining the genetic relationship between the ancient woolly mammoth and mastodon to modern elephants—the Asian elephant, African forest elephant and African savanna elephant

Once they obtained DNA sequences (序列) from two fossils (化石)，mammoths and mastodons the team compared them with DNA from modern elephants. They found to their amazement that modern forest and savanna elephants are as distinct from each other as Asian elephants and mammoths.

The scientists used detailed genetic analysis to prove that the African savanna elephants and the African forest elephants have been distinct species for several million years. The divergence of the two species took place around the time of the divergence of Asian elephants and woolly mammoths. This result amazed all the scientists.

There has long been debate in the scientific community that the two might be separate species but this is the most convincing scientific evidence so far that they are indeed different species.

Previously, many naturalists believed that African savanna elephants and African forest elephants were two populations of the same species despite the elephants’ significant size differences. The savanna elephant has an average shoulder height of 3.5metres while the forest elephant has an average shoulder height of 2.5metres. The savanna elephant weighs between six and seven tons, roughly double the weight of the forest elephant. But the fact that they look so different does not necessarily mean they are different species. However, the proof lay in the analysis of the DNA.

Alfred Roca, assistant professor in the department of Animal Sciences at the University of Minois, said, “We now have to treat the forest and savanna elephants as two different units for conservation purpose. Since 1950 all African elephants have been conserved as one species. Now that we know the forest and savanna elephants are two very distinct animals, the forest elephant should become a bigger priority (优先)for conservation purpose .”

66. One of the fossils studied by the researchers is that of ________.

A. the Asian elephant                  B. the forest elephant

C. the savanna elephant                D. the mastodon elephant

67. The underlined word “divergence” in paragraph 4means “________”

A. evolution        B. exhibition       C. separation         D. examination

68. The researcher’s conclusion was based on a study of the African elephant’s ____________

A. DNA           B. height          C. weight            D. population

69. What were Alfred Roca’s words mainly about?

   A. The conversation of African elephants.      

B. The purpose of studying African elephants

   C. The way to divide African elephants into two units

   D. The reason for the distinction of African elephants

70. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

   A. Naturalist’s Belief about Elephants.        B. Amazing Experiment about Elephants

   C. An Unexpected Finding about Elephants    D. A Long scientific Debate about Elephants

（2011·湖南卷）B

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

Memories

       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 torpedo(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 down to sit o my father’s knee, his arm in a bandage.

       He was judged unfit to return to sea 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 by the torpedoes. He said it was because of the cigarettes. Whichever, he died suddenly in his early 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 abandoned.

       By the time he got on deck (甲板) he was alone. Every lifeboat was gone except one which had stuck fast. When he tried to cut it free it swung against the ship, injuring his hand and arm. He had no choice but to jump—still with the photograph in his pocket.

       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 hand, 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.

61. We can infer that the mother and children went to Swansea ________.

A. to meet a friend

B. to see the father off

C. to take a family photo

D. to enjoy the sailing of the ship

62. What did the author learn about the father from the telegram?

A. he was still alive.

B. His knee was broken.

C. His ship had been sunk.

D. He had arrived in Glasgow.

63. The underlined word “it” in Paragraph 6 refers to the father’s ________.

A. weak heart

B. taking a shore job

C. failure to return to sea

D. injury caused by a torpedo

64. What can we know about the author’s father after his ship was attacked?

A. He lost his arm

B. He repaired the engines.

C. He managed to take a lifeboat.

D. He was the last to leave the ship.

65. What is the passage mainly about?

A. A group of forgotten heroes

B. A book describing a terrifying battle.

C. A ship engineer’s wartime experience.

D. A merchant’s memories of a sea rescue.

  

（2011·湖南卷）A

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

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

The space is small with only a few dining tables and nearly no decoration, but the environment is truly charming.

Lying in a hardly noticeable street corner, the restaurant still attracts all customers, especially those experienced in the delights of Middle Eastern cooking.

A common sight is that of old Persian men sitting in the corner 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 plates piled with food.

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

56. When first entering the restaurant, one can find that it ________.

A. is splendidly decorated

B. has pleasant smells of kabobs

C. is crowded with dining tables

D. looks like a common restaurant

57. What activity is also mentioned apart from dining in the restaurant?

A. Watching news events on TV.

B. Drinking a kind of black coffee.

C. Reading local English newspapers.

D. Discussing world topics in low voices.

58. The food of the restaurant ________.

A. is served in small amounts

B. is rather expensive

C. is rich in variety

D. is very healthy

59. What is the dish Joojeh Kabob mainly made of?

A. Rice         B. Chicken      C. Bread        D. Beef

60. It can be inferred from the passage that the restaurant ________.

A. occupies a large space

B. owns a favorable location

C. is popular for its special food

D. has a quiet environment inside

John's success has nothing to do with good luck . It is years of hard work _____ has made　

him what he is today. (2010 湖南卷）

A. why　　 B. when　 C. which　 D. that