People want action on noise, a recent public meeting in Brisbane showed , Some want technical improvements such as quieter air conditioners or better sound barriers around major roads. Others want tougher laws to restrict noise from building sites or to require owners to take responsibility for barking dogs. But the highest priority was a noise complaints system that works.

The meeting found the present regulatory（立法的）system strange. The departments which are responsible for noise problem can lie with the Council, the Environment Protection Authority, one of three government departments or even the police. So they are getting run-around．When the people at the forum were asked to vote for changes, the strongest response was for a 24-hour noise hotline to be the first call for all complaints.

The forum also favored regulatory measures, such as tougher minimum standards for noise in appliances like air conditioners. Other measures were wider buffer（缓冲）zones around noisy activities and controls to keep heavy traffic away from residential areas.

But there are obvious conflicts. Many people like to have a bar within walking distance if they feel like a drink, but they don’t want a noisy pub keeping them awake when they want an early night. Most people want to live near a major road providing good access to other parts of the city, but they don’t want the problem of road noise.
There was strong support for measures to reduce traffic: better public transport, cycleways and footpaths, even charges for road users. Many people

optimistically thought industry awards for better equipment would stimulate（刺激）the production of quieter appliances. It was even suggested that noise from building sites could be reduced if Brisbane adopted daylight saving, thus shifting the working day and providing longer, quieter evenings.

1．“A noise complaints system” here most probably refers to ______.

A．technical appliances                                   B．a 24-hour noise hotline

C．the Environment Protection Authority          D．adopting daylight saving

2．“They are getting run-around” in the second paragraph means ______.

A．they take turns to deal with noise problem

B．they work together to deal with noise problem

C．each side counts on the others to deal with the problem

D．they are busy going here and there to deal with the problem

3．Which of the following is NOT true according to the text?

A．Convenience and noises often exist side by side.

B．Reducing noise of air conditioners is a technical improvement.

C．By adopting daylight saving, we can make days shorter.

D．The Council may be a regulatory organization.

4．Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A．Forum About Noise Pollution                  B．How To Reduce Noise Pollution

C．A Public Meeting In Brisbane                  D．Problems In Dealing With Noise

Special trees that grow faster, fight pollution, produce better wood, and even sense chemical attacks are being planted by scientists in the US.

    When 40 per cent of Hawaii's US$14 million-a-year papaya (木瓜)industry was destroyed by a virus five years ago, work began on creating genetically engineered(转基因的) trees.

    Researchers successfully introduced seeds that were designed to resist the virus. Since then, more and more people have been testing genetically engineered trees.

    Some researchers put special bacteria into trees to help them grow faster and produce better wood. Others are trying to create trees that can clean polluted soil.

    Meanwhile fruit farmers are looking for trees that are strong enough to resist worms, and paper companies want trees that produce more wood and therefore more paper.

    The Pentagon (五角大楼) even gave the researchers US$500,000 this year after they developed a pine tree that changes its colours if it senses a chemical attack..

    So far, the poplar, eucalyptus (杨树与桉树), apple and coffee trees are among those being engineered. All this can be done today because we have a better understanding of tree genomes(基因组).

    However, some people fear that the genetically engineered trees will cause dangerous results. They are worried that the new trees will breed with natural species and change the balance of the forest environment.

"It could be destructive," said Jim Diamond, an environmentalist. "Trees are what is left of our natural environment and home to many endangered species."

    But researchers insist that science could give nature a fighting chance against both natural and man-made dangers.

    They hope to answer the critics by stopping the new trees from breeding, so their effect on the environment can be controlled.

What trees are NOT the ones that scientists are planting in the US?

A. Trees that worms can't hurt.   

B. Trees that can protect themselves at a chemical attack.

C. Trees that can resist wind better.    

D. Trees that can improve soil conditions.

What caused the American scientists to work on special trees?

A. They think science could give nature a fighting chance against both natural and man-made dangers.

B. Great numbers of trees have been lost due to attacks by viruses.

C. Researchers successfully introduced seeds designed to resist the virus.

D. Tree genomes are mapped out so scientists know how to improve trees.

Which of the following was probably the first kind of trees being engineered?

A. Papaya.                    B. Pine.                 C. Apple.               D. Poplar.

The best title of the passage is         .

A. The improvement of environment

B. The side-effects of special trees

C. The development of special trees

D. the program of genetically engineered trees

Special trees that grow faster, fight pollution, produce better wood, and even sense chemical attacks are being planted by scientists in the US.
When 40 per cent of Hawaii's US$14 million-a-year papaya (木瓜)industry was destroyed by a virus five years ago, work began on creating genetically engineered(转基因的) trees.
Researchers successfully introduced seeds that were designed to resist the virus. Since then, more and more people have been testing genetically engineered trees.
Some researchers put special bacteria into trees to help them grow faster and produce better wood. Others are trying to create trees that can clean polluted soil.
Meanwhile fruit farmers are looking for trees that are strong enough to resist worms, and paper companies want trees that produce more wood and therefore more paper.
The Pentagon (五角大楼) even gave the researchers US$500,000 this year after they developed a pine tree that changes its colours if it senses a chemical attack..
So far, the poplar, eucalyptus (杨树与桉树), apple and coffee trees are among those being engineered. All this can be done today because we have a better understanding of tree genomes(基因组).
However, some people fear that the genetically engineered trees will cause dangerous results. They are worried that the new trees will breed with natural species and change the balance of the forest environment.
"It could be destructive," said Jim Diamond, an environmentalist. "Trees are what is left of our natural environment and home to many endangered species."
But researchers insist that science could give nature a fighting chance against both natural and man-made dangers.
They hope to answer the critics by stopping the new trees from breeding, so their effect on the environment can be controlled.

1. 1.

   What trees are NOT the ones that scientists are planting in the US?

   1. A.
      Trees that worms can't hurt.
   2. B.
      Trees that can protect themselves at a chemical attack.
   3. C.
      Trees that can resist wind better.
   4. D.
      Trees that can improve soil conditions.
2. 2.

   What caused the American scientists to work on special trees?

   1. A.
      They think science could give nature a fighting chance against both natural and man-made dangers.
   2. B.
      Great numbers of trees have been lost due to attacks by viruses.
   3. C.
      Researchers successfully introduced seeds designed to resist the virus.
   4. D.
      Tree genomes are mapped out so scientists know how to improve trees.
3. 3.

   Which of the following was probably the first kind of trees being engineered?

   1. A.
      Papaya.
   2. B.
      Pine.
   3. C.
      Apple.
   4. D.
      Poplar.
4. 4.

   The best title of the passage is         .

   1. A.
      The improvement of environment
   2. B.
      The side-effects of special trees
   3. C.
      The development of special trees
   4. D.
      the program of genetically engineered trees

Last week my youngest son and I visited my father at his new home in Tucson, Arizona. He moved there a few years ago, and I was eager to see his now place and meet his friends.

My earliest memories of my father are of a tall, handsome, successful man devoted to his work and family but uncomfortable with his children. As a child I loved him; as a school girl and young adult(成年人)I feared(害怕) him and felt bitter about him He seemed unhappy with me unless I got straight A’s and unhappy with my boy friends if their fathers were not as “successful” as he was. Whenever I went out with him on weekends, I used to struggle to think up things to say, feeling worried.

On the first day of my visit, we went out with one of my father’s friends for lunch at an outdoor cafe. We walked along that afternoon, did some shopping, ate on the street table, and laughed over my son’s funny facial expressions. Gone was my father’s critical(挑剔的)air and strict rules. Who was this person I knew as my father, who seemed so friendly and interesting to be around? What had held him back before?

The next day my dad pulled out his childhood pictures and told me quite a few stories about his own childhood. Although our times together became easier over the years, I never felt closer to him at that moment. After so many years, I’m at last seeing another side of my father. And in so doing, I’m delighted with my new friend. My dad in his new home in Arizona is back to me from where he was.

63. Why did the author feel bitter about her father as a young adult?

A. He was silent most of the time        B. He was too proud of himself

C. He did not love his children          D. He expected too much of her

64. When the author went out with her father on weekends, she would feel_______.

   A. nervous        B. sorry          C. tired              D. safe

65. What does the author think of her father after her visit to Tucson?

   A. More critical  B. More talkative  C. Gentle and friendly D. Strict and hard-working

66. The underlined words “my new friend” in the last paragraph refer to ________.

   A. the author’s son B. the author’s father C. the friend of the author’s father D. the cafe owner

D

A quarrel at home may result in you falling ill. Don’t laugh, it’s true. Family matters including living habits and even the way we speak have a big effect on our health, doctors say.

Wang Xiaoyu, a Senior 2 girl from Xichang, Sichuan Province, fainted (晕倒) in class when she heard her classmates quarrel at the top of their voices. Quarrels between her parents also put the girl into a coma. It is because she is suffering from depression (抑郁症), caused by bad relations at home, doctors explained.

“We don’t get sick or stay well by ourselves,” says Dr Robert Ferrer from the US. Ferrer shows that family forces may explain up to a quarter of health problems, in his recent research. The genes you get from your family may cause illness. If one of your parents has a heart attack, your risk of being affected may double. But effects on health are not only written in our DNA.

Unrelated people who live under the same roof also get similar problems. Diet, lifestyle and environment affect our health, too. Ferrer’s research also found that if teenagers feel they are ignored or unimportant at home they are more likely to get sick.

We may never fully understand all the effects that families have on our health. But just as individual (个别的) problems can have effects on others, a small improvement can have big benefits, Ferrer said.

67. Which of the following can best explain why Wang Xiaoyu fainted in class?

A. Because her classmates often quarreled in class.

B. Because her parents used to quarrel.

C. Because of her depression caused by bad family relations.

D. Because her classmates shouted loudly at her.

68. According to Dr Ferrer, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. We get sick or stay well by ourselves.

B. Only the genes we get from our family have a big effect on our health.

C. Our health has nothing to do with diet, lifestyle and environment.

D. Teenagers who are ignored at home get sick more easily than those who are not.

69. The underlined word “coma” in Paragraph2 probably means ________.

A. surprise                 B. faint        C. tiredness        D. sadness                   

70. The best title for this passage is ________.

A. Family relations.                 B. The reasons why we get sick.

C. Family---- another cause to health    D. A research about health.