A recent study, while showing a generally positive attitude toward science, also suggests a widespread worry that it may be “running out of control”．This idea is dangerous．

       Science can be a force for evil as well as for good．Its applications can be channeled either way, depending on our decisions．The decisions we make, personally or collectively, will determine the outcomes of science．But here is a real danger．Science is advancing so fast is so strongly influenced by businesses that we are likely to believe whatever decisions we come to will make little difference．And, rather than fighting for the best possible policies, we may step back and do nothing．

       Some people go even further．They say that despite the moral and legal objections （反对）, whatever is scientifically possible will be done ——somewhere, sometime．They believe that science will get out of control in the end．This belief is dangerous too, because it a fuels sense of hopelessness and discourages them from making efforts to build a safer world．

       In our interconnected world, the lack of agreement in and of the world of science can lead to the failure to control the use of science．Without a common understanding, the challenges of “controlling” science in this century will be really tough．Take human cloning for example．Despite the general agreement among scientists on its possible huge impact （影响） on traditional moral values, some countries still go ahead with the research and development of its related techniques．The outcomes are hard to predict．

       Therefore, discussions on how science is applied should be extended far beyond scientific societies．Only through the united efforts of people with hope, can we be fully safe against the misuse of science and can science best serve mankind in the future．

What can we conclude from the recent study?

       A．People think highly of science．

       B．People hold mixed opinions about science．

       C．Science is getting dangerously out of control．

       D．Science is used for both good and bad purposes．

According to the passage, what will happen if we hold that science is getting beyond control?

       A．The development of science will hopelessly slow down．

       B．Businesses will have even greater influence on science．

       C．The public will lose faith in bringing about a bright future．

       D．People will work more actively to put science under control．

The discussion should reach beyond scientific societies because __________．

       A．scientists have failed to predict the outcomes

       B．the ties between different areas need strengthening

       C．united efforts are necessary for the development of science

       D．people need to work together to prevent the bad use of science

What is the main idea of the passage?

       A．Science and its applications bring us many dangers．

       B．The development of science mostly lies in people’s attitudes．

       C．Mankind can largely take control of science with their efforts．

       D．The future of science will be influenced by the dangerous ideas．

D

Life has changed in Mexico City．Streets normally filled with people are empty．One of the most popular professional soccer teams recently played a game in an empty stadium that can seat more than100,000 people．It's swine （猪）flu that has made life in Mexico City grind to a halt （慢慢停了下来）．

Seemingly out of nowhere, swine flu has caused confirmed deaths in 12 countries as of April 30．It has sent a wave of alarm around the world．Governments are trying to find ways to prevent further out-breaks．The World Health Organization has raised its swine flu global threat level to five out of six．

People may be familiar with bird flu, but they know little about swine flu．Swine flu is a contagious（传染性） respiratory（呼吸的）disease in pigs．It is caused by a type-A influenza virus．

Humans can also catch swine flu．The virus causes regular outbreaks in pigs, but people usually do not catch it．However, there have been cases of the virus spreading to people, and then from one person to another．

The symptoms of swine flu are similar to the common flu．They include fever, lethargy （无精打采）, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea（恶心）, and vomiting （呕吐）．The high proportion of young adults among the deaths is one of several mysteries about this virus．Most of the dead had lung damage．What caused it is not yet known．

The virus spreads the same way the common flu does．When an infected person coughs or sneezes around another person, the latter is put at risk．People can get the disease by touching something with the flu virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes．

There are medicines to treat swine flu．Doctors suggest using anti - viral drugs．They keep the virus from reproducing inside the body．

And there are vaccines for it now, several everyday steps can also help prevent the spread of the virus: washing hands frequently; avoiding close contact with people who are sick; and avoiding touching surfaces that might have the virus on it．

People may worry that they will get swine flu from eating or preparing pork．In fact, you cannot catch the virus from pork products if they have been properly prepared and cooked．Cooking food at temperatures of 71℃ kills the virus．

69．What is the main idea of the passage?

       A．It mainly tells us how swine flu broke out in Mexico City．

       B．It presents the reader with some information concerning swine flu．

       C．It tells us the differences between swine flu and bird flu．

       D．It mainly tells readers the dangers caused by swine flu．

70．The following tips can protect us from swine flu EXCEPT _________．

       A．keeping us away from other people

       B．washing hands frequently

       C．avoiding close contact with sick people

       D．avoiding touching surfaces that might have the virus on them

71．What's the main idea of the first paragraph?

       A．Mexico City is really a place of horror now．

       B．People in Mexico City like staying at home．

       C．People in Mexico City don't like soccer．

       D．Swine flu has seriously affected people's life in Mexico City．

72．What can we infer from the passage?

       A．At present there still aren't effective vaccines for swine flu．

       B．Swine flu is preventable，controllable and curable．

       C．From now on, people can't eat pork if they want to be safe．

       D．All of the dead killed by swine flu had lung damage．

A new study has found no evidence that sunscreen, commonly used to reduce the risk of skin cancer, actually increases the risk.

Researchers from the University of Iowa based their findings on a review of 18 earlier studies that looked at the association between sunscreen use and melanoma (黑素瘤)．They said that they found faults in studies that had reported associations between sunscreen use and higher risk of melanoma.

Most health experts believe that by protecting the skin from the harmful effects of the sun, sunscreen helps prevent skin cancer, which is increasing in incidence (发生率) faster than any other cancer in the United States.

But questions has been raised about sunscreen and whether it may has opposite effect, perhaps by allowing people to remain exposed to the sun longer without burning.

The researchers said that among the problems with some earlier studies is that they often failed to take into account that those people most at risk for skin cancer--- people with fair skin and freckles (雀斑), for example--- are more likely to use sunscreen．As a result, it may appear that sunscreen users get cancer more often.

The studies, which generally relied on volunteers to recall their sunscreen use, were also unable to prove how well the products had been applied, said the new study.

People with fair skin and freckles          .

       A．seldom use sunscreen             

       B．are more in danger of skin cancer

       C．can be free from the harm of the sun  

       D．often expose themselves to the sun

We can learn from the passage that          .

       A．sunscreen users get skin cancer more often

       B．the volunteers have proved the effect of sunscreen

       C．the new study was based on the experiences of volunteers

       D．the number of skin cancer patients is increasing in America

Which of the following can be the best title for this passage?

       A．Sunscreen to Prevent Skin Cancer   

       B．Sunscreen to Increase Skin Cancer

       C．Skin Cancer Caused by Sunscreen   

       D．Skin Cancer Caused by Freckles

A

If you and your friends wish to share a secret, you can write it in code, and no one else will be able to read it. Codes are one way of writing in secret. Ciphers (密码) are another. In a code each word is written as a secret code word or code number. In a cipher each letter is changed.

Codes and ciphers have played an important role in the history of the world. Julius Caesar, the Roman ruler who defeated almost all the countries in Europe about 2, 000 years ago, used a cipher when he sent secret messages to his troops. During the American Revolution, George Washington's spies used a kind of code to send him information about the enemy before his military action. In World War Ⅱ, the Americans "broke", or figured out, Japan's most important naval codes and got enough information to destroy a powerful Japanese fleet(舰队).

Storekeepers use codes to mark their goods. The codes show how much was paid for the goods or when they were added to the stock. Businessmen use codes to hide plans from their business enemies. Sometimes personal letters or diaries are written in code. Many people enjoy figuring out codes and ciphers simply as a hobby.

In the 16th century, codes and ciphers were very popular among scientists. They wrote messages to each other in code so that no one else would learn their secrets. Geronimo Gardano, an Italian astrologer(占星家), mathematician, and doctor, invented the trellis cipher. He took two sheets of paper and cut exactly the same holes in each one. Then he sent one sheet, which he called a trellis, to a friend and kept the other for himself. Whenever he wanted to write a message, he put his trellis over a clean sheet of paper and wrote the secret message through the holes. Then he removed the trellis and filled the rest of the paper with words that would make sense. When his friend received it, he put his trellis over the writing and read the secret message.

What does the underlined word "trellis"mean?

A. A piece of paper with many small holes.          B. A machine with a lot of small holes.

C. A letter with unreadable words and sentences.   

D. A sheet of paper with groups of Arabic figures.

Which of the following statements is true?

A. Ciphers can be broken or figured out more easily than codes.

B. You could read some words in Geronimo' s letter without his trellis.

C. The first person who ever used a cipher in history was Julius Caesar.

D. Fondness of using codes was the hobby of the scientists in the 16th century.

The best title of this passage is________.

A. Codes and Ciphers                  B. Differences between Codes and Ciphers

C. History of Codes and Ciphers         D. Inventors of Codes and Ciphers

With the theme "Cherishing the earth's resources, transforming the mode of development and living a low-carbon lifestyle," China's Ministry of Land and Resources held a ceremony this Thursday to mark the 41st World Earth Day, aims to generate new ideas of resource-saving, especially among the younger generation. In fact, Chinese young urbanities are turning to the seemingly trendy low-carbon lifestyle.

But for the country as a whole to achieve a low-carbon economy, it could mean ordinary people paying more for electricity, water, gas or simply every purchase. Of necessity, a low-carbon economy would be the basis of China's economic growth, yet it comes with a high price tag. Everybody longs for fresh air, clean water and healthy surroundings. But, who is going to pay for that?

For those who are still working hard for the basic necessities of life, sharing the cost of a greener environment can be taxing. For those who are already victimized by environmental pollution, additional expenditure for saving the environment is hard to bear. Behind all the lofty goals and loaded phrases of climate change negotiations, in everyday terms, the Chinese want to know whether companies will make them pay the cost of saving energy or whether government would come up with new levels.

They have reasons to worry. The recent hike in the charges of utilities, such as natural gas, water and electricity, have led to widespread public grievance(抱怨,牢骚), for the increases were imposed without proper public hearing. Besides the practice of monopoly State-owned enterprises raising prices at will does not seem to bode well for a low-carbon economy.

The government has a responsibility to strengthen regulation of utility charges and make the pricing mechanism more transparent. In the age of the low-carbon economy, the Chinese government needs to strike a new balance between public welfare and business competitiveness.

How far the initiatives toward a low-carbon economy succeed depends on whether they truly benefit ordinary people and is accepted by them. The majority cannot sacrifice their life to build a greener world for the few.

The author probably agrees to call on ____________.

A. more and more citizens to devote themselves to the “Low-carbon economy” for the sake of our earth immediately

B. the rich to generally pay for the bill, which aims at saving our planet.

C. our government to take proper measures to make the “Low-carbon economy” benefit more people

D. all the big enterprises to reduce their prices to build a greener world

According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT TRUE?

A. Some people can’t afford their everyday expenses, let alone pay for a better environment.

B. Putting forward the “Low-carbon economy” costs much.

C. The balance between public welfare and business competitiveness in China now is not that good for the “Low-carbon economy”.

D. Now that it’s hard for us to make the “Low-carbon economy” into practice, our government should put it to an end.

The “Low-carbon economy” __________.

A. is beneficial only to the rich people

B. has led to widespread public grievance

C. can be realized when pigs fly in the sky

D. cannot be called success before it has been fully considered

What’s the best title of the passage?

A. China reaches out for younger generation to promote low-carbon lifestyle.

B. Low-carbon economy, acceptable or not?

C. Who will get the most benefit from the Low-carbon economy?

D. Put forward the new policy and save the world.