How far would you be willing to go to satisfy your need to know? Far enough to find out your possibility of dying from a terrible disease? These days that’s more than an academic question, as Tracy Smith reports in our Cover Story.

There are now more than a thousand genetic（基因的）tests, for everything from baldness to breast cancer, and the list is growing. Question is, do you really want to know what might eventually kill you? For instance, Nobel Prize-winning scientist James Watson, one of the first people to map their entire genetic makeup, is said to have asked not to be told if he were at a higher risk for Alzheimer’（老年痴呆症）.

“If I tell you that you have an increased risk of getting a terrible disease, that could weigh on your mind and make you anxious, through which you see the rest of your life as you wait for that disease to hit you. It could really mess you up.” Said Dr. Robert Green, a Harvard geneticist.

“Every ache and pain,” Smith suggested, could be understood as “the beginning of the end.”“That ’s right. If you ever worried you were at risk for Alzheimer’s disease, then every time you can’t find your car in the parking lot, you think the disease has started.”

Dr. Green has been thinking about this issue for years. He led a study of people who wanted to know if they were at a higher genetic risk for Alzheimer’s. It was thought that people who got bad news would, for lack of a better medical term, freak out. But Green and his team found that there was“no significant difference”between how people handled good news and possibly the worst news of their lives. In fact, most people think they can handle it. People who ask for the information usually can handle the information, good or bad, said Green.

71.The first paragraph is meant to__________.

A. ask some questions                        B. introduce the topic

C. satisfy readers’ curiosity                 D. describe an academic fact

【答案】B

【解析】通过两个问题引出话题。

72.Which of the following is true of James Watson？

A. He is strongly in favor of the present genetic tests.

B. He is more likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.

C. He believes genetic mapping can help cure any disease.

D. He doesn’t want to know his chance of getting a disease.

【答案】D

【解析】根据第二段Nobel Prize-winning scientist James Watson, one of the first people to map their entire genetic makeup, is said to have asked not to be told if he were at a higher risk for Alzheimer’。“James Watson要求如果他的基因表明他有很高的老年痴呆症的可能不要告诉他。”

73.According to Paragraphs 3 and 4, if a person is at a higher genetic risk, it is__________.

A. advisable not to let him know          B. impossible to hide his disease

C. better to inform him immediately      D. necessary to remove his anxiety

【答案】A

【解析】根据这两个自然段可知，如果你提前被告知你将来可能患某种可怕的疾病会mess you up。

74.The underlined part“freak out”in Paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to“_________”.

A. break down                     B. drop out            C. leave off            D. turn away

【答案】A

【解析】根据下文But的转折，以及no significant difference可知，freak out的意思是A（精神垮掉）。

75.The study led by Dr. Green indicates that people__________.

A. prefer to hear good news         B. tend to find out the truth

C. can accept some bad news              D. have the right to be informed

【答案】C

【解析】根据第五段内容 In fact, most people think they can handle it可知答案选C.

It was the first snow of winter – an exciting day for every child but not for most teachers. Up until now, I had been old enough to dress myself, but today I would need some help. Miss Finlayson, my kindergarten teacher, had been through first snow days many times, but I think she may still remember this one.

    I managed to get into my wool snow trousers. But I struggled with my jacket because it didn’t fit well. It was a hand-me-down from my brother, and it made me wonder why I had to wear his ugly clothes. At least my hat and scarf were mine, and they were quite pretty. Finally it was time to have Miss Finlayson help me with my boots (靴子).

    In her calm, motherly voice she said, “By the end of winter, you will all be able to put on your own boots.” I didn’t realize at the time that this was more a statement of hope than of confidence (信心).

    I handed her my boots and stuck out my foot. Like most children, I expected grown-ups to do all the work. After much pushing, she managed to get the first one into place and then, with a sigh, worked the second one on too.

    I announced, “They’re on the wrong feet.”

    She struggled to get the boots off and went through the joyless task of putting them on again.

    “They’re my brother’s boots, you know,” I said. “I hate them!”

    Somehow, from long years of practice, she managed to act as though I wasn’t an annoying (烦人的) little girl, She pushed and pushed, less gently this time. With a greater sigh, seeing the end of her struggle with me, she asked, “Now, where are your mittens (连指手套)?”

    I looked into her eyes and said, “I didn’t want to lose them, so I hid them in the toes of my boots.”

The little girl was more satisfied with her_________.

A. trousers    B. jacket     C. boots     D. hat

Miss Finlayson had difficulty with the girl’s boots mainly because________.

A. the girl got them from her brother B. the girl put something in them

C. they were on the wrong feet                 D. they did not fit the girl well

Why does the author say Miss Finlayson would remember that first snow day?

    A. Because the little girl was in her brother’s clothes.

B. Because it was the most exciting day of the winter.

C. Because the little girl played a trick on her.

D. Because the little girl wore a pretty scarf.

We can learn from the text that Miss Finlayson_________.

A. was losing confidence in the little girl

B. gradually lost patience with the little girl

C. became disappointed with the little girl

D. was getting bored with the little girl

 

It was the first snow of winter — an exciting day for every child but not for most teachers. Up until now, I had been old enough to dress myself, but today would need some help. Miss Finlayson, my kindergarten teacher, had been through brst snow days many times, but I think she may still remember this one. 

I managed to get into my wool snow trousers. But I struggled won my jacket because it didn’t fit well. It was a hand-mc-down from my brother, and if made me wonder why I had to wear his ugly clothes, At least my hat and scarf were mine, and they were quite pretty. Finally it was time to have Miss Finlayson help me with my boots（靴子）. 

In her calm, motherly voice she said, “By the end of winter, you will all be able to put on your own boots.” I didn’t realize at the at the time that this was more a statement of hope than of confidence（信心）. 

I handed her my boots and stuck out my foot. Like most children, I expected grown-ups to do all the work. After much pushing, she managed to get first one into place and then, with a sigh, worked the second one on too. 

I announced, “They’re on the wrong feet.”

She struggled to get the boots off and went through the joyless task of putting them on again. 

 “They’re my brother’s boots, you know,” I said. “I hate them”. 

Somehow,  from long years of practice,  she managed to act as though I wasn’t an annoying（烦人的） little girl,  She struggle with me, she asked, “Now, where are your mittens（连指手套）？”

I looked into her eyes and said, “I didn’t want to lose them, so I hid them in the toes of my boots. 

1.The little girl was more satisfied with her_____.

A. trousers     B. jacket      C. boots     D. hat

2.Miss Finlayson had difficulty with the girl’s boots mainly because_____.

A. the girl got them from her brother     B. the girl put something in them

C. they were on the wrong feet        D. they did not fit the girl well

3.Why does the author Miss Finlayson would remember that first snow day?

A. Because the little girl was in her brother’s clothes. 

B. Because it was the most exciting day of the winter . 

C. Because the little girl played a trick on her. 

D. Because the little girl wore a pretty scarf. 

4.We can learn from the text that Miss Finlayson____.

A. was losing confidence in the little girl. 

B. gradually lost patience with the little girl. 

C. became disappointed with the little girl. 

  D. was getting bored with the little girl. 

 

It was the first snow of winter – an exciting day for every child but not for most teachers. Up until now, I had been old enough to dress myself, but today I would need some help. Miss Finlayson, my kindergarten teacher, had been through first snow days many times, but I think she may still remember this one.

    I managed to get into my wool snow trousers. But I struggled with my jacket because it didn’t fit well. It was a hand-me-down from my brother, and it made me wonder why I had to wear his ugly clothes. At least my hat and scarf were mine, and they were quite pretty. Finally it was time to have Miss Finlayson help me with my boots (靴子).

    In her calm, motherly voice she said, “By the end of winter, you will all be able to put on your own boots.” I didn’t realize at the time that this was more a statement of hope than of confidence (信心).

    I handed her my boots and stuck out my foot. Like most children, I expected grown-ups to do all the work. After much pushing, she managed to get the first one into place and then, with a sigh, worked the second one on too.

    I announced, “They’re on the wrong feet.”

    She struggled to get the boots off and went through the joyless task of putting them on again.

    “They’re my brother’s boots, you know,” I said. “I hate them!”

    Somehow, from long years of practice, she managed to act as though I wasn’t an annoying (烦人的) little girl, She pushed and pushed, less gently this time. With a greater sigh, seeing the end of her struggle with me, she asked, “Now, where are your mittens (连指手套)?”

    I looked into her eyes and said, “I didn’t want to lose them, so I hid them in the toes of my boots.”

1. The little girl was more satisfied with her_________.

A. trousers    B. jacket     C. boots     D. hat

2.Miss Finlayson had difficulty with the girl’s boots mainly because________.

A. the girl got them from her brother   B. the girl put something in them

C. they were on the wrong feet                 D. they did not fit the girl well

3.Why does the author say Miss Finlayson would remember that first snow day?

    A. Because the little girl was in her brother’s clothes.

B. Because it was the most exciting day of the winter.

C. Because the little girl played a trick on her.

D. Because the little girl wore a pretty scarf.

4.We can learn from the text that Miss Finlayson_________.

A. was losing confidence in the little girl

B. gradually lost patience with the little girl

C. became disappointed with the little girl

D. was getting bored with the little girl

 

阅读下面的短文，掌握其大意，然后从26－45各题所给的四个选项（A，B，C，D）中选出最佳选项。

On my first day of the sixth grade, I noticed one little girl called Amy on the school bus. “Don’t __26__ her,” Lauren said, who sat beside me. “Or they will make fun of you.”

Amy had many __27__ differences — lots of reasons for other kids to make fun of her. Her eyes weren’t straight. Her glasses were an inch thick. And she had really ugly teeth.

Every day __28__ we drove to and from school, kids would shout insults (侮辱) at Amy. “God, what a (n) __29__ face! Stop looking at me!” “Mr. Rolland (the driver)! Amy took off her __30__, and now her eyes are __31__ me! Make her put them back on!” For a while I shouted my share of insults, just so I’d fit in (合群). __32__, I didn’t want them to treat me the same way they treated Amy.

But while I was insulting her, my heart __33__ for the girl. I could see that the insults were making her look __34__, because she was so ashamed (羞愧) and alone. Then I wanted to __35__ her. I just didn’t know how to stop my schoolmates __36__ the night of our class roller-skating party.

Our whole class was there, including Amy. Amy didn’t know how to __37__, but I could see how much she wanted to __38__ like the rest of us. So I skated over to her and took her by the hand; we began the journey together around the skating rink (溜冰场). She just smiled, and sometimes she would laugh in __39__.

On the school bus the next morning there was much news about Amy and me __40__ together, __41__ nobody insulted her or me. And they didn’t do that for the rest of the year.

After graduation, I never __42__ Amy again. However, I never forget her and I’ve always __43__ if I changed her life for the better. But I know for sure she changed my __44__. After becoming her friend, I no longer tried to impress (给……留下印象) people by trying to __45__ like them. I became myself.

26. A. laugh at     B. ask about    C. talk to      D. be afraid of

27. A. common       B. small        C. social       D. physical

28. A. as           B. though       C. after        D. before

29. A. pretty       B. strange      C. ordinary     D. lovely

30. A. glasses     B. coat        C. shoes       D. hat

31. A. frightening  B. interesting  C. encouraging  D. injuring

32. A. Instead      B. After all    C. If so        D. Therefore

33. A. beat         B. lost         C. ached        D. opened

34. A. happier      B. taller       C. prettier     D. uglier

35. A. give in to   B. deal with    C. stand up for D. believe in

36. A. until        B. except       C. before       D. after

37. A. stand        B. skate        C. play         D. walk

38. A. catch up     B. have fun     C. sit down     D. fall over

39. A. fear         B. surprise     C. comfort      D. joy

40. A. talking     B. chatting     C. skating      D. travelling

41. A. so          B. because     C. but         D. still

42. A. wrote to     B. laughed at   C. heard from   D. made fun of

43. A. hoped        B. wondered     C. thought     D. considered

44. A. life         B. mind         C. interest     D. friend

45. A. study       B. fight        C. act         D. play