1. Why did the scientists work hard at mapping the human genome?

A. Because the human genome can destroy many illnesses.

B. Because the human genome's completion can help them get rid of many diseases.

C. Because they wanted to be better known than others.

D. Because the human genome can provide a lot of chances of work.

3. C。主旨题。既然台湾发生了地震，那当然是没有预料到的灾害。A、B、D三项内容离题太远。

(2)

June 26, 2000 - the Human Genome(基因组) Project, a great $3 billion, 15-year task aimed at drawing the genetic(遗传的) map of humans, is now more than 90 percent completed. The scientific and medical communities(团体) are very excited about the chances genetic research provides for getting rid of diseases and prolonging(延长) human life. But those communities and policy(政策) makers also are careful about the scientific door they are opening as the project uncovers the mysteries of life.

For the last few years, the genetic advances in the developing field of biotechnology(生物技术) have provides material for all kinds of work, but the developments of modern science in unlocking the secrets of the human genetic code(密码) have opened a world of possibilities for human health, as well as for the popular imagination.

While European and Japanese researchers are making rapid progress in decoding(解码) human DNA, the leading organization for genetic research is in the United States, which began in 1990, is “unlocking the code” of the human body to learn how to defeat fatal(致命的)diseases. Already, the Human Genome Project has become widely known and praised for finding the genes(基因) connected with terrible diseases as yet(迄今), and making progress toward separating the genes that show a sign of breast cancer or AIDS.

Once these genes are found and studied, researchers can develop new ways to attack infections(传染), and genetic diseases. Medical companies are very interested in mapping the human genome, as they expect to develop a lot of new drugs for these illnesses.

2. D。判断题。从第3段的几个关键词safely…successful 可知A项错误；B项内容在文中没有提及，可排除；而神舟三号为无人飞船，故不会有科学家在太空中做实验，可排除C；既然神舟三号无人飞船已安全着陆，那肯定是已成功发射了。

1. C。判断题。皇太后死的时候有其女儿伊利莎白皇后在身边，排除A项；皇太后没有从政，排除B项；皇太后是在睡觉的时候死去的，D项也排除。所以答案选C。

3. The third news mainly talks about the _______ in Taiwan.

A. political matters　　 　　　　　　　　　　　 B. social problems

C. unexpected damage　　 　　　　　　　　 D. construction workers

[答案解析]

这是 3 篇新闻报道。第 1 篇是关于英国皇太后死亡的消息；第 2 篇是关于中国发射神舟三号无人飞船的消息；第 3 篇是关于台湾发生 7.5 级强烈地震的消息。

2. It can be inferred that _______.

A. the craft landed in central Inner Mongolia unexpectedly

B. it took the craft at least 2 hours to orbit the earth once

C. the Chinese scientists did a lot of experiments in space

D. China was successful in sending an unmanned spacecraft into space

1. Which of the following statements is true according to the news?

A. The Queen Mother died on Easter Monday alone.

B. The Queen Mother was an attractive person in her political life.

C. The British people felt sorry for the death of the Queen Mother.

D. The Queen Mother was suffering a lot when she was dying.

3. D.细节题。根据 And in isolated arctic regions explorers have reported being free from colds until coming into contact again with infected people from the outside world by way of packages and mail dropped from airplanes 可知北极地区探险者是因为与外界接触后才得感冒的，故选 D.

2. C.细节题。 根据 One explanation offered by scientists is that people tend to stay together indoors more in cold weather than at other times, and this makes it easier for cold viruses to be passed on 可知人们得感冒不是因为喜欢呆在家里，而是因为经常呆在一起病毒更容易感染，故选 C.