Lots of people have hobbies. Some people collect old coins or foreign stamps; some do needlework; others spend most of their spare time on a particular sport.

A lot of people enjoy reading. But reading tastes differ widely. Some people only read newspapers or comics, some like reading novels, while others prefer books on astronomy, wildlife, or technological discoveries.

If I happen to be interested in horses or precious stones, I cannot expect everyone else to share my enthusiasm. If I watch all the sports programs on TV with great pleasure, I must put up with the fact that other people find sports boring.

Is there nothing that interests us all? Is there nothing that concerns everyone—no matter who they are or where they live in the world? Yes, dear Sophie, there are questions that certainly should interest everyone. They are precisely the questions this course is about.

What is the most important thing in life? If we ask someone living on the edge of starvation, the answer is food. If we ask someone dying of cold, the answer is warmth. If we put the same question to someone who feels lonely and isolated, the answer will probably be the company of other people.

But when these basic needs have been satisfied—will there still be something that everybody needs? Philosophers think so. They believe that man cannot live by bread alone. Of course everyone needs food. And everyone needs love and care. But there is something else—apart from that—which everyone needs, and that is to figure out who we are and why we are here.

Being interested in why we are here is not a “casual” interest like collecting stamps. People who ask such questions are taking part in a debate that has gone on as long as man has lived on this planet. How the universe, the earth, and life came into being is a bigger and more important question than who won the most gold medals in the last Olympics.

1. This text is most probably taken from __________. 

A. a research paper                 B. a course schedule

C. a personal letter                    D. a book review

2. Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage?

A. Philosophical questions are as interesting as collecting stamps.

B. Thinking about philosophical questions is a serious interest.

C. Figuring out who we are and why we are here is man’s basic needs.

D. Philosophy has universal appeal and concerns everybody in nature.

3. The author believes that __________.

A. no existing subject can interest everyone in the world

B. different people may have different interests and concerns

C. everyone has to figure out who we are and why we are here

D. people in modern society pay more attention to philosophical questions

Lots of people have hobbies. Some people collect old coins or foreign stamps; some do needlework; others spend most of their spare time on a particular sport.
A lot of people enjoy reading. But reading tastes differ widely. Some people only read newspapers or comics, some like reading novels, while others prefer books on astronomy, wildlife, or technological discoveries.
If I happen to be interested in horses or precious stones, I cannot expect everyone else to share my enthusiasm. If I watch all the sports programs on TV with great pleasure, I must put up with the fact that other people find sports boring.
Is there nothing that interests us all? Is there nothing that concerns everyone—no matter who they are or where they live in the world? Yes, dear Sophie, there are questions that certainly should interest everyone. They are precisely the questions this course is about.
What is the most important thing in life? If we ask someone living on the edge of starvation, the answer is food. If we ask someone dying of cold, the answer is warmth. If we put the same question to someone who feels lonely and isolated, the answer will probably be the company of other people.
But when these basic needs have been satisfied—will there still be something that everybody needs? Philosophers think so. They believe that man cannot live by bread alone. Of course everyone needs food. And everyone needs love and care. But there is something else—apart from that—which everyone needs, and that is to figure out who we are and why we are here.
Being interested in why we are here is not a “casual” interest like collecting stamps. People who ask such questions are taking part in a debate that has gone on as long as man has lived on this planet. How the universe, the earth, and life came into being is a bigger and more important question than who won the most gold medals in the last Olympics.
【小题1】 This text is most probably taken from __________. 

How ______ universe came into being is a puzzle to ______ scientists of all generations.

A. the; 不填    B. an; the    C. a; 不填    C. 不填；the

As we approach the 21st century，it is clearer than ever that science and technology are changging the way we live and work．The breakthroughs in bioengineering science are helping to reveal the mysteries of life，holding out new hope for lifesaving cures to some of our most dreaded diseases．

    In 1997，the great news shocked the whole world that the British scientists created a lamb, named Dolly from a single cell．Miraculously，the cell had been taken from the under of an adult sheep，which marks the first time an adult animal had been successfully cloned．

    But it soon caused worldwide concern over its ethical，social，and scientific implications．Cloning is especially controversial because it raises the prospect of“making”humans genetically idenfical to an existing man or woman．Some people claim attempting to use these cloning techniques to actually clone a human being is untested and unsafe and morally unacceptable．

    How to look upon this new technique?When it comes to a discovery like cloning,we must move with caution，care and deep concern about the impact of our actions．First，cloning should be greatly esteemed and great thanks should be given to its inventors．Meanwhile，great efforts should be made to place this technique under strict control．Especially we should adopt a document against human cloning since past experience tells us a new invention may cause troubles if it is misused．

60．What are changing the way we live and work?

    A．Cloning．                       B．Life saving．

    C．Science and technology．           D．The mysteries of life．

61．Some people claim attempting to use these cloning techniques to actually clone a human being is ___________.

A．untested                         B．unsafe         

C．morally unacceptable               D．above of all

62．How should we look upon cloning?

    A．Cloning is terrible．

    B．Cloning must be moved with caution，care．

    C．Cloning will cause troubles．

    D．Cloning is a disease．

63．According to the passage，what should be given to cloning’s inventors?

    A．Strict control． B．Great thanks．   C．Care．          D．Caution．

As we approach the 21st century，it is clearer than ever that science and technology are changging the way we live and work.The breakthroughs in bioengineering science are helping to reveal the mysteries of life，holding out new hope for lifesaving cures to some of our most dreaded diseases.
In 1997，the great news shocked the whole world that the British scientists created a lamb, named Dolly from a single cell.Miraculously，the cell had been taken from the under of an adult sheep，which marks the first time an adult animal had been successfully cloned.
But it soon caused worldwide concern over its ethical，social，and scientific implications.Cloning is especially controversial because it raises the prospect of“making”humans genetically idenfical to an existing man or woman.Some people claim attempting to use these cloning techniques to actually clone a human being is untested and unsafe and morally unacceptable.
How to look upon this new technique?When it comes to a discovery like cloning,we must move with caution，care and deep concern about the impact of our actions.First，cloning should be greatly esteemed and great thanks should be given to its inventors.Meanwhile，great efforts should be made to place this technique under strict control.Especially we should adopt a document against human cloning since past experience tells us a new invention may cause troubles if it is misused.

1. 1.

   What are changing the way we live and work?
   

   1. A.
      Cloning.                      
   2. B.
      Life saving.
   3. C.
      Science and technology.          
   4. D.
      The mysteries of life.
2. 2.

   Some people claim attempting to use these cloning techniques to actually clone a human being is ___________.

   1. A.
      untested                        
   2. B.
      unsafe         
   3. C.
      morally unacceptable              
   4. D.
      above of all
3. 3.

   How should we look upon cloning?
   

   1. A.
      Cloning is terrible.
   2. B.
      Cloning must be moved with caution，care.
   3. C.
      Cloning will cause troubles.
   4. D.
      Cloning is a disease.
4. 4.

   According to the passage，what should be given to cloning’s inventors?
   

   1. A.
      Strict control.
   2. B.
      Great thanks.  
   3. C.
      Care.         
   4. D.
      Caution.