Drawings of human colonies on other planets often picture the entire community under a glass or plastic bubble. The bubble is intended to create an atmosphere with adequate oxygen and other essential elements. But similar bubble-like structures have also been constructed on earth. One of the most famous, and controversial, is a site in the Arizona desert.
Biosphere 2, as it is called, was built not far from Tucson in 1984 and is now run by Columbia University. This huge（7,200,000-cubic-foot）glass and steel construction contains several separate ecosystems, including a desert, a rain forest, and a 900,000-gallon “ocean.” The climatic conditions-humidity, temperature, air quality-are regulated by sensors and can be adjusted as needed or desired. For example, a rainstorm can be created to increase the humidity. The adjustable features of Biosphere 2 make it an ideal location to perform experiments to help determine the effects of such climatic changes as global warming.
The current conditions at Biosphere 2 are vastly different from those in 1993, when eight people who had moved into the environment with great fanfare two years earlier moved out in failure. Though promising to be self-sufficient（自足的）, these “colonists” had so much trouble regulating the environment that they reportedly had food smuggled into them. Oxygen levels became dangerously low; most plants and animals died. In taking over the unsuccessful site, Columbia hopes to erase its notorious past by focusing on small research projects that gradually answer some of Biosphere 1’s — that is, Earth’s most basic environment questions.
小題1:This passage primarily deals with _________.
A．conditions of life in Biosphere 2
B．building controlled environments on other planets
C．why Biosphere 2 failed in the past
D．what makes a good biosphere colonist
小題2:Biosphere 2 is now run by _________.
A．a(chǎn) group of eight colonists
B．Columbia University
C．the city of Tucson
D．scientists who hope to establish Biosphere 3
小題3:The passage suggests that earlier colonists of Biosphere 2 _________.
A．did not like living in a controlled environment
B．found it very difficult to live in a controlled environment
C．still are involved with Biosphere 2
D．have now left the country in disgrace
小題4:The writer helps you understand what Biosphere 2 is like by _________.
A．comparing its features with those of an outer space biosphere
B．explaining the process by which it was constructed
C．referring to an interview with one of former inhabitants
D．describing its appearance and conditions
小題5:In paragraph 3 the word “notorious” means _________.
A．well known for something goodB．well known for something bad
C．very dangerousD．quite interesting

小題1:A
小題1:B
小題1:B
小題1:D
小題1:B
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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Are some people born clever and others born stupid? Or is intelligence developed by our environment and our experiences? Strangely enough, the answer to both questions is yes.To some extent our intelligence is given to us at birth, and no amount of special education can make a genius out of a child born with low intelligence. On the other hand, a child who lives in a boring environment will develop his intelligence less than one who lives in rich and varied surroundings. Thus the limits of a person’s intelligence are fixed at birth, but whether or not he reaches those limits will depend on his environment. This view, now held by most experts, can be supported in a number of ways.
It is easy to show that intelligence is to some extent something we are born with. The closer the blood relationship between two people, the closer they are likely to be in intelligence. Thus if we take two unrelated people at random (隨意地) from the population, it is likely that their degrees of intelligence will be completely different. If on the other hand we take two identical twins, they will very likely be as intelligent as each other. Relations like brothers and sisters, parents and children, usually have similar intelligence, and this clearly suggests that integigence depends on birth.
Imagine now that we take two identical twins and put them in different environments. We might send one, for example, to a university and the other to a factory where the work is boring. We would soon find differences in intelligence developing, and this indicates (表明) that environment as well as birth plays a part. This conclusion is also suggested by the fact that people who lives in close contact with each other, but who are not related at all, are likely to have similar degrees of intelligence.
小題1:Which of the following best describes the writer’s point in Paragraph One?
A．To some extent, intelligence is given at birth.
B．Intelligence is developed by the environment.
C．Some people are born clever and others born stupid.
D．Intelligence is fixed at birth, but is developed by the environment.
小題2:In the first paragraph,“no amount of special education can make a genius out of a child born with low intelligence” suggests that       .
A．no environment can change the least able into the most able
B．the difference in men’s intelligence depends on the amount of their education
C．if a person is born clever, he is certain to be a genius
D．if a person is born stupid, nothing can change him into an educated person
小題3:The last paragraph mainly shows       .
A．the importance of education
B．the relationship between environment and birth
C．the writer’s final conclusion
D．the relationship between intelligence and environment
小題4:The best title for this passage would be       .
A．Dependence on EducationB．Intelligence
C．SurroundingsD．Effect of Education
小題5:Which statement about the passage is true?
A．All twins have similar degrees of intelligence.
B．A man who is educated in university must make greater achievements than a man who works in a boring factory.
C．Proper education can change one’s intelligence at some degree.
D．Education can’t make a child born with low intelligence cleverer.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Blind imitation (模仿)is self-destruction.To those who do not recognize their unique worth. Imitation appears attractive: to those who know their strenghth. Imitation is unacceptable.
In the early stages of skill or character development, imitation is helpful. When I first learned to cook, I used recipes (菜譜) and turned out some tasty dishes. But soon I grew bored. Why follow someone else’s way of cooking when I could create my own? Imitating role models is like using training wheels on a child’s bicycle; they help you get going, but once you find your own balance, you fly faster and farther without relying on them.
In daily life, imitation can hurt us if we subconsciously (下意識地) hold poor role models. If, as a child, you observed people whose lives were bad, you may have accepted their fear and pain as normal and gone on to follow what they did. If you do not make strong choices for yourself, you will get the results of the weak choices of others.
In the field of entertainment, our culture glorifies celebrities. Those stars look great on screen. But when they step off screen, their personal lives may be disastrous. If you are going to follow someone, focus on their talent, not their bad character or unacceptable behaviors.
Blessed is the person willing to act on their sundden desire to create somrthing unique.Think of the movies,books,teachers,and friends that have affected you most deeply.They touched you because their creations were motivated by inspiration,not desperation.The world is changed not by those who do what has been done brfore them,but by those who do what has been done inside them.Creative people have an endless resource of ideas.The problem a creator faces  is  not running out of material;it is what to do with the material knocking at the door of imagination.
Syudy your role models,accept the gifts they have given,and leave behind what does not server.Then you can say,”I stand on the shoulders of my ancestors”tragedies and  tory ,and know that they are cheering on.
小題1:Imitation proves useful when you        .
A．know you are unique
B．lose the bslance of life
C．begin to learn something new
D．get tired of routine practice
小題2:To avoid the bad result of imitation, we should________.
A．forget daily fear and pain
B．choose the right example
C．a(chǎn)sk others for decisions
D．stay away from stars
小題3:Acording to the author. The world moves on because of those who are          .
A．desperate to intruence others with their knowledge
B．ready to turn their original ideas into reality
C．eager to discover what their ancestors did
D．willing to accept others’ideas
小題4:The trouble a creator faces is          .
A．the lack of strong motivation
B．the absence of practical ideas
C．how to search for more materials
D．how to use imagination creatively
小題5:What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage?
A．To highlight the importance of creatively.
B．To criticize the characters of role models.
C．To compare imitation with creation.
D．To explain the meaning of success.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Researchers in Britain are driving the environmental movement to a new level. A team from the University of Warwick has built what it calls the world’s first completely environmentally friendly Formula Three racing car.
The car is made mainly of renewable materials, like plants and vegetables. The structure around the car is made from natural plant fibers and potatoes. The steering wheel(方向盤) is made from root vegetables like carrots. The engine uses bio-fuel made from vegetable oil and waste chocolate.
The new racing car is extremely fast. The car has a top speed of two hundred fifteen kilometers an hour. And it can go from zero to ninety-five kilometers an hour in just two and a half seconds. The racing car meets all of the Formula Three racing requirements except for its biodiesel(生物柴油) engine.
Automobile racing is one of the most widely watched sports in the world. But it is also considered one of the least friendly sports to the environment. Racing cars burn a lot of fuel, and create a lot of air pollution. In recent years, the racing industry has taken steps to protect the environment. More racing companies are now producing cars that use less energy. These cars produce less pollution than cars that depend on traditional fuel, like gasoline.
Last month, the new racing car was set to run in its first competitive race at the Formula Three Championship Final at Brands Hatch. It would have been the first biodiesel-powered car to race at Formula Three. Current Formula Three rules let only gasoline-powered car to compete. Officials needed permission from all of the Formula Three racers for the biodiesel-powered car to compete. They were unable to contact one of the drivers, so the new racing car didn’t appear in the event. In test runs, the new racing car was the fifth fastest among the Formula Three race cars. Supporters are hoping to have the fuel problem solved in time to compete in the next season.
小題1:. What’s the second paragraph mainly about?
A．What materials the new racing car is made of.
B．Why researchers built the new racing car.
C．The characteristics of the new racing car.
D．The process of the new racing car being designed.
小題2:.According to the passage, the _________ of the new racing car doesn’t meet the Formula Three racing
requirements.
A．speedB．a(chǎn)ppearanceC．weightD．engine
小題3:. It can be inferred from the passage that __________.
A．the new racing car is the first environmentally friendly car
B．a(chǎn)utomobile racing could be forbidden in the near future
C．many people like to watch automobile racing
D．the new racing car will be allowed to compete in the next season of Formula Three racing
小題4:. In recent years, racing companies are producing cars that __________.
A．burn more fuelB．go more quickly
C．produce less pollutionD．cost less money
小題5:.Why didn’t the new racing car compete at the Formula Three Championship Final last month?
A．Because the new racing car still needs testing.
B．Because officials needed each racer’s permission but failed to contact one.
C．Because there’re some technical problems to be solved.
D．Because few drivers think it is fast enough.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Ants have a reputation for strength,organization and teamwork.But researchers have now discovered that a key secret to the success of ants is their ability to identify the importance of age in the work place.
A study of Gentral American leaf-cutter ants has shown that the younger and stronger members are give the toughest job of cutting therough the leaves they harvest.Their sharp youn teeth do this job effectively,but as they get older their teeth become relatively worn and blunt.
But rather than being retired or abandoned by the group,the ageing ants are given a new role more suyted to their physical abilities.They become carriers and teansport the leaves back to the kingdom where they are harvested for food.
The findings by researchers from the University of Oregon and the Oregong State University support previous research showin the survival of a leaf-cutter kingdom depends on the efficiency(效率）of is workers.
“Cuting leaves is hard work,”said Dr.Robert Schofield,who led the research team.“Much of the cutting is done with a V-shaped blade(刀片）between teeth on their jaws.This blade starts out as sharp as the sharpest razor blade that humans have developed.”But over rime the teeth become blunter and the cutting job slows down.The team estimated that,because of this age-related wear,a colony(蟻群)spent twice the energy cutting leaves than it would if all the ants had sharp blades.Its findings support the idea that wear and break can be significant problems for insects as well as largre animals.
Like humans,leaf-cuttre ant recognize that older members of the group can still make a worhwhile contribution to society.“This study shows an advantage of social living that we are familiar with,”said Dr.Schofield.
小題1:The younger and stronger ants do the toughest job because      .
A．they can teansport the leaves effectively
B．they have a sharp blade to cut leaves
C．other members are busy with other work
D．they can finish the job in a better organized way
小題2:The undrelined word“blunt”in the second paragraph can be replaced by      .
A．quite looseB．less sharp
C．quite fragileD．more dirty
小題3:What happens to the ants when they become old?
A．They no longer hve work to do.
B．They keep doing the same work.
C．They have to leave and live on themselves.
D．They are given a new worthwhile job.
小題4:It can be learned from the passage that       .
A．Dr.Schofield is the first to research leaf-cuttre ants
B．older ants are more powerful in carrying leaves
C．large animals can also suffer from some kind of wear
D．leaf-cutter ants are the most lever ants in the world
小題5:What can be the best title for the passage?
A．The key secret to the success of ants
B．The developed structure of ant colony
C．The most challenging job for leaf-cutter ants
D．No V-shaped blade,no success of ants

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

“There is an out – of – date idea that children grow up and leave home when they’re 18,and the truth is far from that,” says Mr．Larry Bumpass of the University of Wisconsin．Today unexpected numbers of young adults are living with their parents．“There is a great change in the middle class,” declares Allan Schnaiberg of Northwestern University, whose son, 19, moved back in after an absence of eight months．
Scientists show a number of reasons for this return to the nest．The marriage age is rising, a condition that makes home and its pleasantness particularly attractive to young people．A high divorce （離婚） rate and a low remarriage rate make some differences．For some, the expense of an away - from - home college education has become so great that many students now attend local schools．Even after graduation, young people find their wings tied by terrible housing costs．
Living at home, says Knighton, a school teacher, continues to give security （安全保衛(wèi)） and moral（道義的） support．Her mother agreed．“Its strange for the kids to pay all that money for rent．It makes sense for kids to stay at home．” But sharing the family home requires changes for all．There are the hassles over bathrooms, telephones and privacy．Some families, however, manage the careful balancing act．But for others, it proves too difficult．Michelle Del Turco, 24, has been home three times and left three times．“What I considered a social drink, my dad considered an alcohol （酒精） problem,” she explains．“He never liked anyone I dated, so I either had to hide away or meet them at friends' houses．”
Just how long should adult children live with their parents before moving on? Most scientists feel lengthy homecomings are a mistake．Children, can end up with a sense of defeat and failure．And aging parents, who should be enjoying some freedom, find themselves stuck with too many things．Many agree that brief visits, however, can work well．
小題1:According to the author, there was once a trend in the U．S．________．
A．for young adults to leave their parents and live separately
B．for middle class young adults to stay with their parents
C．for married young adults to move back home after a lengthy absence
D．for young adults to get jobs nearby in order to live with their parents
小題2:Which of the following does not lead to young adults returning to the nest?
A．Young adults find housing costs too high．
B．Young adults are not old enough．
C．Young adults look for parental comfort and support．
D．Quite a number of young adults attend local schools．
小題3:The underlined word “hassles” in the passage probably means _________．
A．a(chǎn)greements B．worries
C．disadvantages D．quarrels
小題4:According to the passage what is the best for both parents and children?
A．They should share the family expenses．
B．Children should leave their parents when they are grown up．
C．Adult children should live away from their parents and visit their parents from time to time．
D．Parents should support their adult children when they are in trouble．
小題5:．One of the disadvantages of young adults returning to slay with their parents is that ______．
A．there will certainly be inconveniences in even-day life
B．most parents find it difficult to keep a bigger family going
C．the young adults try to be overprotected by their parents
D．public opinion is against young adults staying with their parents

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Every pet owner loves his pet .There is no argument here.
But when we asked our readers whether they would clone their beloved animals , the responses were split(分裂) almost down the middle . Of the 228 readers who answered it ,108 would clone, 111 would not and nine weighed each side without offering an opinion .
Clearly, from readers’ response, this is an issue that reaches deeply into both the joy and eventual (最終的)sadness of owning a pet. It speaks, as well, to people’s widely differing expectations over the developing scientific procedure (步驟)
Most of the readers who favored the idea strongly believed it would produce at least a close copy of the original; many felt the process would actually return an exact copy. Those on the other side, however, held little hope that clone could truly recreate a pet; many simply did not wish to go against the natural law of life and death.
Both sides expressed equal love for their animals. More of them owned “the best dog/cat in the world”. They thought of their pets as their “best friend” or “a member of the family”. They told moving stories of pets’ heroism, intelligence and selfless devotion.
No wonder the loss is so disturbing---and the cloning so attractive. “People become very close to their animals, and the loss can be just as hard to bear as when a friend or family member dies,” says Gary Kowalski, author of goodbye, Friend: Healing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has Ever Lost a Pet. “For me, cloning feels like an attempt to turn death away…It’s understandable. Death is always painful. It’s difficult to deal with. It’s hard to accept.”
But would cloning reduce the blow? This question seems to be at the heart of this problem.
小題1:
As far as the cloning of pets is concerned, a recent survey shows that, of all pet owners,     .
A．a(chǎn) lot more of them are for itB．a(chǎn) lot more of them are against it
C．very few of them are willing to tell their opinions
．		D．a(chǎn)bout half of them are for it and the other half against it
小題2:
The expression “eventual sadness of owning a pet.” (in paragraph 3) refers to       .
A．the death of one’s pet
B．the final ownership of a pet
C．the troubles one has to deal with in keeping a pet
D．the dangers involved in the cloning of a pet
小題3:
In spite of their differences on the problem of cloning, it seems that     .
A．a(chǎn)ll pet owners love their pets very much
B．a(chǎn)ll pet owners try to go against the natural law of life and death
C．people who support cloning love their pets more
D．people who dislike cloning love their pets more
小題4:
From what Gary Kowalski says, we can know that he     .
A．has never thought about the problem of cloning
B．thinks it hard to accept the idea of cloning pets
C．is in favor of the idea of cloning pets
D．is all against the cloning of pets

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

The pupils of the remote Beau-Roc primary school in Haiti are chanting (singing the same words again and again)．One of them plays a guitar made from an empty oil tin．Their headmistress, Emile Jean-Noel, is one of the few women school headteachers in the country．
Today, over 70% of Haitian population live without proper food, water, schools, or housing． To reduce the hunger that prevents learning and to encourage parents to send their children to school, meals are provided by the World Food Programme．
"We are so cut off that we have many difficulties," comments Emile, adding that finding chalk, school books and other materials is practically impossible．Emile tries to encourage people around her to make use of available resources．Her efforts are bearing fruit．One of her successes was convincing local women to contribute to their children' s schooling and increase their income by selling embroidery（刺繡） and other handicrafts．
Recent political instability（不穩(wěn)定）has meant that the country has not invested （投資） in education for ten years．Only 44% of children go to school and less than half of them finish primary school. Less than a third of these children go on to secondary school．In rural areas it is not rare to find 17 and 18 year olds in primary school- Beau-Roc has only 4 teachers for 260 pupils．Emile works constantly to improve her pupils' environment．Under her direction, a local worker is now constructing a store house for the food delivered regularly by the WFP．
Not only is Emile' s salary small, but she receives it irregularly．For her, transport is a real headache．She lives five kilometers away and has to take the tap tap, a privately-owned bus, costing more than she can afford．
"The decision to be a rural teacher in Haiti should not be taken lightly" , Emile comments． "With all the sacrifices and risks it requires, only those who are really cut out for teaching should do it．" However, Emile loves her job．"I always feel at home with the children and, because the parents understand what I'm doing, I try to give my best．"
小題1:Which of the following is extremely difficult for Beau-Roc primary school?
A．Teaching the women how to make embroidery and other handicrafts．
B．Persuading local women to care about their children' s education．
C．Encouraging people around to use those available resources．
D．Finding chalk, school books and other materials．
小題2:In the last paragraph, "those who are really cut out for teaching" refer to people who are _____．
A．dismissed from teachingB．unfamiliar with teaching
C．qualified for teachingD．cautious about teaching
小題3:What topic is presented in this passage?
A．Hardship for teachers．B．Devotion to education．
C．Politics and children．D．Love and beauty．

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

ERATH WEEK---A DIARY OF THE PLANET
Enduring Storms
Several more rounds of severe storms, tornadoes and flash flooding struck many parts of the American Midwest and Northeast as bad weather continued across the US for a second month.   

Monsoon Storms
A south-west monsoon has caused havoc in parts of Sri Lanka. Government meteorologists said that unexpected monsoonal winds blew directly across the country from the Southern Hemisphere at about 100km/h, producing several rounds of stormy weather. Nearly 250 houses in the capital Colombo were damaged.
Mt. Etna Erupts
Sicily’s Mount Etna volcano erupted shortly after midnight on July 1, shooting “bombs” of lava nearly 1.5 meters in diameter on the eastern side of the mountain. The 30-minute eruption could be seen for several miles, but did not threaten any nearby villages.
Hurricane
Hurricane Blas lost strength as it moved over cooler waters in the Pacific Ocean to the west of Mexico. Blas formed off southwest Mexico during the previous week, but squalls on the outer fringes of the storm lashed western Michoacan State, killing four people when their wood and cardboard home collapsed.
Monkey Repellent
After years of unsuccessful attempts to keep crop-eating monkeys out of Japanese fields, a Tokyo research team believes that it may have finally found a way to prevent the damage caused by the monkeys. Animal raids on crops were successfully prevented by shooting chilli powder into the air, irritating the eyes and noses of monkeys that passed in front of carefully-placed warning sensors. “We’ve tried al kinds of preventive measures, but the monkeys are smart enough to outwit the tricks, “said Toshiaki Wada, Director of the Tokyo Forestry Experiment Station in western Tokyo.
小題1:.
. According to the information, which of the following statements is TURE?
A. The eruption of Mt. Etna lasted thirty days.
B. Hurricane Blas was formed off the coast of Italy.
C. The American Midwest had fine weather throughout July 1998.
The eruption of Mt. Etna did not destroy local villages.
小題2:.
. According to the information, the monkeys in the Japanese fields ________.
A．destroy cropsB．kill unsuspecting humans
C．spread eye diseases to humansD．stop farmers from working
小題3:.
. The information in the “Earth Week” diary _______.
A．predicts future weather patterns
B．gives advice on dealing with monsoons
C．shows that weather can be unpredictable
D．shows the effects that storms have on animals

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