44. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A. The owner of the house. 　　　　 B. The possible cause of the fire.

C. The person who called the firefighters. 　

D. The relationship between Seals and Garcia.

43. What is probably the best title for the passage?

A. Improve Pennsylvania Potato Industry

B. Lead Pennsylvania in Potato Production

C. Potatoes More Resistant to Diseases　　　　

D. Potato Research Funding Increased

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C★★

When Chato’s barking didn’t stir Jerrica Seals, the recently-adopted dog tried nibbling (轻咬) on the teenager’s leg, to get the girl out of her burning home.

No one was hurt. Fort Myers firefighters responded at about 7 a.m.

“(Seals) called me screaming,” said Leticia Vega, 36, the sister of Seals’ boyfriend, Javier Garcia, 23, who owns the home. She said the dog woke her up barking, jumped on the bed and bit her on the leg.

Vega also said that Garcia’s brother Gabriel brought Chato home several weeks ago after the animal wandered onto a Lehigh Acres construction site. Since then Chato had been mostly quiet-until it mattered. “He doesn’t usually bark. He’s really friendly.”

Five people live in the Garcia home. That was neighbor Janice Hamilton’s main concern when she looked out of her window Friday and saw the flames. “I just threw my pants on to run outside and make sure they knew how many people lived there,” Hamilton said. “It was scary.”

Possibly, the fire started because of an inadequate extension cord(电缆) used on a window air conditioner, Deputy fire Chief Steve Clyatt said.

More than half of the home was burned down, Clyatt said. There is extensive smoke and water damage in the remainder of the structure, he said. Estimates for repair costs were unavailable.

“I’d say it’s unlikely they will recover this, but I’ve been surprised before,” Clyatt said.

42. According to Wolff, ____.

A. most potato growers have voted against the new fee

B. the new fee will be decided by Wolff

C. the new fee won’t officially start until July 1, 2007

D. the results of the referendum will be announced on July 1, 2007

41. How much did Pennsylvania potato growers most probably fund the research program in 2005?

A. $ 31, 000, 000.　　　　 B. $ 44, 000.　 C. $ 55, 000. D. $ 26, 000.

40. Which of the following is NOT true about the Pennsylvania Potato Research Program?

A. It has existed for less than a century.

B. It helps to produce better and more potatoes.

C. It has brought more money to potato growers.

D. It is completely owned and financed by the government.

39. Who is probably in charge of the arrangement of the Shannon’s dance show?

A. Lori Kellett.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. Katrina Flynn.　　　　　

C. Georgina Samuels.　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. The Shannon Irish dancers.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　 B★★

　　　 Pennsylvania potato growers have voted to increase funding for a producer-financed research program that will help improve potato quality, production and profitability, Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff said.

　　　 The members voted to increase the Pennsylvania Potato Research Program’s annual assessment from $4-per-acre(英亩) to $5-per-acre.

　　　 “This investment in research will help growers remain competitive and produce more high-quality potatoes,” Wolff said. “Thanks to this program, potato growers will have new information on production techniques, allowing them to generate higher yields (产量) and enjoy greater economic benefits.”

　　　 Wolff, a member of the panel (评判小组), said the new fee will take effect on July 1, 2007. The Department of Agriculture has administrative responsibility for the program and has listed the results of the referendum (公民投票) in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Affected growers have been informed, in accordance with the law.

For 2007, potato research includes a $24, 249 grant (补助金) from Penn State University’s germplasma evaluation program to develop more weather and disease resistant potatoes and a $2, 000 Cornell University grant to continue developing new varieties for Pennsylvania potato chip growers.

Pennsylvania harvested 11,000 acres　 of potatoes in 2005, valued at more than $31 million. Erie, Schuylkill and Cambria counties lead Pennsylvania in potato production. The Agricultural Commodities Marketing Act of 1968 established the Pennsylvania Potato Research Program.

38. The underlined word “featuring” in Paragraph 3 probably means “_______”.

A. including... as an important part　　　　　　　 B. making up

C. shown in the theater 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. bringing up

37. What do we know about Shannon’s show team?

A. They went to Sardinia for the international dance festival four times last year.

B. They achieved four first places in the international dance festival last year.

C. They are from the Yorkshire Coast School of Ballet and Rowlies Academy.

D. They appear on ITV1’s Grease Is The Word on Saturdays.

36. According to the passage, the Shannon dance show ____.

A. will be watched for free　　　　　　　　　 B. will be held to choose the 12 girls

C. will begin with no empty seats　　　　 D. will be performed on Thursday evening