US bees operation keeping groups have been attacked seriously by so called Colony Collapse Disorder (蜂群衰竭失調(diào))．Almost 1/2 of their worker bees have vanished during the past season．This disorder has also been reported in Israel, Europe and South America．Bees fly away from the hive and never return．Sometimes they are found dead; other times they are never found．Many crops and trees depend on pollination--- by bees to help them grow． 
A new report says a virus may be at least partly responsible for the disorder in honey bee colonies in the United States．This virus is called Israeli acute paralysis virus．It was first found in Israel in 2004．Lan Lipkin at Columbia University in New York and a team reported the new findings in Science Magazine．Doctor Lipkin says the virus may not be the only cause．He says it may work with other causes to produce the collapse disorder．
The team found the virus in colonies with the help of a map of honey bee genes that was published last year．They examined thirty colonies affected by the disorder．They found evidence of the virus in twenty-five of them, and in one healthy colony．The next step is further testing of healthy hives．
The researchers suggested that the United States may have imported the disorder in bees from Australia．They say the bees may carry the virus but not be affected．
The idea is that unlike many American bees, the ability of Australian bees to fight disease has not been hurt by the varroasis mite．This insect attacks honey bees, which could make the disorder more likely to affect a hive．Australian bee producers object to these suspicions．
And some researchers suspect that bee production in the United States is down mainly because of the weather．Honey bees gather nectar from flowers and trees．The sweet liquid gives them food and material to make honey．But cold weather this spring in the Midwest reduced the flow of nectar in many flowers．Many bees may have starved．Dry weather in areas of the country could also be playing apart．
Wayne Esaias is a NASA space agency scientist who keeps bees in his free time．He lives in central Maryland, where he has found that flowers are blooming a month earlier than they did in 1970, which may be partly responsible for the disorder. Wayne Esaias is organizing a group of beekeepers to document nectar flow around the country.
小題1:What is the author’s attitude toward the cause of this disorder?

A．Doubtful

B．Neutral

C．Supportive

D．Negative

小題2:The passage is mainly developed by            .

A．presenting the effect and analyzing its causes

B．making comparisons between two countries

C．providing data and examples

D．following the time order

小題3:How many possibilities may be involved in the bee disorder according to the passage?

A．Three

B．Four

C．Five

D．Six

小題4:From the passage we can infer that           .

A．American bees are more likely to defend themselves against hurt from other insects than Australian ones

B．A collection of plants production in the U.S may be influenced by the bee disorder

C．Israeli acute paralysis virus should be responsible for the disorder

D．The solution to the disorder will be found eventually

As a professor at a large American university, there is a phrase that I often hear from students: “I’m only a 1,050.” The unlucky students are speaking of the score on the Schoolastic Aptitude Test (SAT), which is used to determine whether they will be admitted to the college or university of their choice, or even if they have a chance to get a higher education at all. The SAT score, whether it is 800, 1,100 or 1,550, has become the focus at his time of their life.
It is obvious that if students value highly their test scores, then a great amount of their self-respect is put in the number. Students who perform poorly in the exam are left feeling that it is all over.The low test score, they think, will make it impossible for them to get into a good college. And without a degree from a prestigious university, they fear that many of life’s doors will remain forever closed.
According to a study done in the 1990s, the SAT is only a reliable indicator of a student’s future performance in most cases. Interestingly, it becomes much more accurate when it is set together with other indicators--like a student’s academic proficiency(學(xué)業(yè)水平).They will never be able to test things like confidence, efforts and willpower, and are unable to give us the full picture of a student’s potentialities. This is not to suggest that we should stop using SAT scores in our college admission process. The SAT is an excellent test in many ways, and the score is still a useful means of testing students. However, it should be only one of the many methods used.
小題1: The purpose of the SAT is to test students’ _________.

A．strong will

B．a(chǎn)cademic ability

C．full potentialities

D．confidence in school work

小題2: Students’ self-respect is influenced by their_______.

A．scores in the SAT

B．a(chǎn)chievements in mathematics

C．job opportunities

D．money spent on education

小題3:“ A prestigious university” in para.2 is most probably _______.

A．a(chǎn) famous school

B．a(chǎn) technical school

C．a(chǎn) traditional school

D．a(chǎn)n expensive school

小題4: The passage is mainly about_______________.

A．how to prepare for the SAT

B．stress caused by the SAT

C．American higher education

D．the SAT and its effects

小題5: What is the writer’s attitude towards the SAT?

A．Subjective

B．Objective

C．Critical

D．Approving

Most Americans have great respect for their flag and every school day begins with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Stars and Stripes. Written in 1892, this pledge is recited in schools before classes begin and it serves as a sign of unity and identity for the various groups of people who have come from so many different lands and cultures.
Students stand at attention with their right hand over their heart, face the flag which is displayed in the classroom before them and begin, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.” Even the immigrants who come from distant lands must recite this pledge to the flag when they become eligible for citizenship.
The American flag is also known as “Old Glory” and over the years has evolved to its present form of fifty stars and thirteen stripes. The stars represent the fifty states and the stripes stand for the original thirteen colonies.
The first version of the flag with its stars and stripes appeared in 1777, but only had thirteen stars. As each new state joined the union, a new star was added. The last star to be added was in 1960 after Hawaii became the fiftieth state. In the future if another state joins the Union, another star will be added to the field of blue. The number of stripes, however, remains consistent and never changes.
The design of the flag may have altered over the years, but the colors, red, white and blue, have remained constant. In 1782 the Congress of the United States proclaimed that red stood for hardiness and courage, white stood for purity and innocence, and blue for justice and perseverance.
It was the flag which inspired the creation of the national anthem: “The Star Spangled Banner” in 1812. President Wilson in 1916 and later President Coolidge in 1927 suggested in proclamations to fellow countrymen that a special day be set aside to honor the flag. In 1949 the American Congress gave official recognition of June 14 as Flag Day.
小題1:According to the passage which of the following statements is NOT true?

A．The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892.

B．Another name of the American flag is “Old Glory” or “The Stars and Stripes”.

C．The design of the flag has stayed the same over the years.

D．June 14 was set aside as Flag Day to honor the flag from 1949 on.

小題2:What is the purpose of the Pledge of Allegiance?

A．It opens the school day.	B．It is recited in all schools.
C．It is a sign of unity and nationalism.	D．It makes someone eligible for citizenship.

小題3:What do the fifty stars on the flag represent?

A．Purity and innocence.	B．Truth and honesty
C．Bravery and courage	D．The fifty states.

小題4:The colors of the American flag ________.

A．have changed from time to time.	B．have always been red, white and blue.
C．used to be only red and white.	D．used to be red and blue.

小題5:The best title of the passage would be ________.

A．“Old Glory”: the American Flag	B．The Pledge of Allegiance
C．American National Anthem	D．Flag Day

The Mystery of the Flashing Fireflies
During summer nights fireflies flash in the darkness. They look like bright spots of light dancing on the breeze. Catching them in a jar for a few minutes can be fun. Fireflies are not really flies, though. They are winged beetles. Scientists are using these special beetles to learn more about our world.
The reason a firefly flashed its light is to find a mate. There are around two thousand species, or kinds, of fireflies. Fireflies mate only with their own species. Each kind of firefly has its own flash pattern. It is important that fireflies recognize this pattern. That way they can find bugs of their own kind. The male firefly flies around in the sky while the female firefly stays close to the ground.
For many years, how a firefly flashes its light was a mystery. Scientists now know that a firefly’s light is a cold light. It gives off all of its power as light. It does not produce heat. A normal light bulb gives off only ten percent of its power as light. The rest of the power is wasted as heat. That is why a light bulb that has been on for a while is very hot. The firefly’s light does not feel hot like a light bulb.
Scientists have also learned that fireflies have a small built-in lantern. This special lantern is located inside a firefly’s body. To create light, a gas flows through tiny tubes. This causes the firefly to light up. A firefly can also turn its light on and off quickly. This puzzled scientists. They learned that short bursts of this gas make the firefly glow. When the gas fades, the light goes out. This process happens very quickly.
Scientists know that what they learn from fireflies will be important. Medical studies using fireflies are helping scientists fight illnesses in human beings. They have made new medicines from the chemicals used by fireflies to make light. Fireflies have also helped with new discoveries. New flashlights and flares have been made based on fireflies. These new flashlights and flares produce a cold light like a firefly. This way all the power makes the light shine. This little bug may be a pleasure to watch, but it is also an important part of our lives.
小題1:Why did the author most likely include Paragraph 4?

A．To explain how fireflies make light.	B．To describe different kinds of fireflies.
C．To show how much power fireflies use.	D．To describe why fireflies make light.

小題2:Which of these is the best choice for a heading for Paragraph 5?

A．The Cool Light of Fireflies	B．Watching Fireflies Flash
C．Understanding the Patterns	D．Learning from Fireflies

小題3:According to the passage, a firefly’s light is different from a light bulb’s light because the firefly’s light _______.

A．shines brighter

B．does not fade

C．lasts longer

D．is not hot

小題4:A reader asks this question about the passage: “ How many different kinds of fireflies are there?” Which paragraph from the passage answers the question?

A．Paragraph 2

B．Paragraph 3

C．Paragraph 4

D．Paragraph 5

小題5:The author most likely wrote this passage in order to __.

A．tell why fireflies light up	B．give facts about fireflies
C．show how fireflies help doctors	D．compare a firefly to a light bulb

It is natural that children are curious (好奇的) about the world around them. For example, they want to know how their hearts beat. They want to know why the ocean water tastes salty.
　　As children grow up, they become curious about different kinds of things. When they are babies, they are interested in the parts of their bodies and in the smiles of their mothers. They become interested in the physical world around them: the plants, the animals, the sky. Later, they become interested in the things that people have made: wheels, bicycles, cars. And when they are adults, their curiosity continues. Sometimes this curiosity leads to a career (生涯、職業(yè)) in science.
　　Scientists spend their lives trying to find out about the world. Those who work with the earth sciences study the earth, the oceans, and the skies. Other scientists who study living things work with the biological sciences. A third group of scientists study the physical sciences, e. g. physics, chemistry .
　　These scientists have already discovered a lot about our world. For example, they tell us why your heart beats fast when you run. They say that when you are quiet, your heart normally beats sixty-five or seventy-five times a minute. Your heart is a pump (泵) that pumps blood to all parts of the body. The blood carries oxygen and nutrition. When you run, your muscles work very hard and use the nutrition that the blood carries to them. The muscles need oxygen, too . So your brain sends a signal to the heart. The signal means that the muscles need more nutrition and oxygen. Then the heart beats fast and sends blood quickly to the muscles. It may beat 90 to 140 times a minute.
　　Of course, scientists cannot answer all of our questions. If we ask, “Why does the ocean water taste salty” scientists will say that the salt comes from rocks. When a rock gets very hot or very cold, it cracks. Rain falls into cracks. The rain then carries the salt into the earth and into the rivers. The rivers carry the salt into the ocean. But then we ask , “What happens to the salt in the ocean? The ocean does not get saltier every year.” Scientists are not sure about the answer to this question.
　　We know a lot about our world, but there are still many answers that we do not have, and we are curious.
小題1:According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?

A．People are curious in the same way.

B．People in different countries are interested in different things.

C．Men and women are curious about different things.

D．People of different ages are interested in different things

小題2:Scientists who work with the biological sciences study____.

A．the earth , the oceans and the sky	B．man-made things
C．plants and animals	D．ocean water

小題3:When you run, your muscles need ____.

A．more nutrition and oxygen	B．more signals
C．more salt	D．water

小題4:A rock cracks _____.

A．in wet regions	B．in dry regions
C．a(chǎn)t very high or very low temperatures	D．when salty water falls in

小題5:People are always curious because ____.

A．they cannot explain many things	B．they know nothing about the world
C．they know little about the world	D．they want to be scientists

More parents are looking to cellphones to help keep their children safe.  But mom and dad should be careful: Kids who talk on a cellphone may be more likely to step into traffic. Children should learn to end phone conversations before they prepare to step into traffic.
While research shows that older kids and more experienced users also don’t navigate(穿行于) streets as well while on a cellphone, younger children tends to find the small tools more distracting(令人分心的).
“Kids of this age are just learning to cross the street on their own, ”says David-Schwebel, a co-author of the study. “They’re beginners. ”
Kids don’t need to be stopped from chatting on the phone when outside,
however. Instead, parents simply should instruct them to finish their conversations before crossing the street.        
“I don’t think this means parents should take phones away from their kids, ”says Schwebel. “I encourage families to get cellphones for their children.  They’re more helpful than harmful,  if they’re used in a safe way. ”
Other distractions, such as conversations with friends, listening to music,  and text messaging, may also cause problems for children in this age group.  The researchers expect to study the effect of those types of distractions in the future.
Experts in child safety approved the cellphone study. “If you’re talking on a cellphone,  you’re not paying much attention to the environment around you, ” says Susan Baker, a professor.
Brooke Carlson, a 44-year-old mom, has noticed how riveted her 9-year-old son is when he’s talking on the cellphone. Although she’d never thought of the dangers of crossing traffic while on the phone, Carlson says, “Now that I know about it, it makes total sense. ”She plans to have a chat with her child about cellphones and street safety.
For younger kids, parents might consider purchasing a phone with a plan that only allows the child to call up his or her parents. That way the cellphone can be used for emergencies, but not for chatting with friends for hours.
小題1:In Schwebel’s opinion, _____ .

A．kids are still too young to walk on the street alone

B．kids don’t know how to use cellphones appropriately

C．kids have little experience in crossing the street alone

D．kids are not experienced cellphone users

小題2: Which of the following is Schwebel in favor of?

A．Children shouldn’t be allowed to have a cellphone.

B．Children should be forbidden to chat on the phone when outside.

C．Cellphones do more harm to children than other distractions.

D．Parents should teach kids about cellphones and street safety.

小題3: The underlined word “riveted” may mean“_____”.

A．confused	B．a(chǎn)bsorbed
C．dangerous	D．excited

小題4: According to the passage, what does Mrs Carlson know?

A．There are dangers of crossing streets while on the phone.

B．Her 9-year-old son is not interested in talking on the phone.

C．Cellphones are more helpful than harmful to children.

D．Kids don’t pay attention to the environment when talking on the phone.

小題5: The purpose of writing this passage is to _____.

A．a(chǎn)dvise parents not to buy cellphones for children

B．introduce a phone that only allows kids to call up parents

C．expect kids not to talk on cellphones while on the street

D．expect people to use cellphones less in daily life

閱讀下列短文, 從每題所給的選項(xiàng)（A、B、C和D）中，選出最佳選項(xiàng)，并在答題卷上將該項(xiàng)涂黑。
B 
　Two experts did some experiments on two groups of people — one who tended to sleep less than the
people around them and the other group more.
According to their report that the “short sleepers” had been more or less average in their sleep needs until the men were in their teens. But at about age 15 or so, the men automatically began to cut down their nightly sleep time because of pressures from school, work, and other activities. These men tended to view their nightly periods of unconsciousness as bothersome interruptions in their daily routines.
　　 In general, these “short sleepers” appeared with ambition, active, energetic, cheerful, and conformist (不動(dòng)搖) in their opinions, and very sure about their career choices. They often held several jobs at once, or even worked full time while going to school. And many of them had a strong urge to appear “acceptable” or “outstanding” to their friends and associates.
　　When asked to recall their dreams, the “short sleepers” did poorly. More than this, they seemed to prefer not remembering them. In similar fashion, their usual way of dealing with psychological problems was to deny that the problem existed, and then to keep busy in the hope that the trouble would go away.
　　The experts also stated that those “l(fā)ong sleepers” were quite different indeed. They reported that those men had been lengthy sleeps since childhood. They seemed to enjoy their sleep, protected it, and were a bit concerned when they were occasionally deprived of their desired 9 hours of nightly bed rest. They tended to recall their dreams much better than the “short sleepers did.
　　Many of the “l(fā)ong sleepers” were shy, anxious, introverted (內(nèi)向), inhibited (壓抑), passive, mildly depressed, and unsure of themselves (particularly in social situations). Several openly express it that being asleep was a good escape from their daily problems.
All in all, proper time of sleeping should be admired, not too long, neither too short.
小題1:According to the report, ______.

A．many “short sleepers” need less sleep just by nature

B．many “short sleepers” are obliged to reduce sleep time by work

C．long sleepers sleep a longer period of time during the day

D．many “l(fā)ong sleepers” formed sleeping habit during childhood

小題2: Many “short sleepers” are likely to hold the view that ______.

A．sleep is a very efficient escape from the reality

B．sleep is just an item which should be denied by them

C．sleep might be a disturbing thing for their daily business

D．sleep is the best way to deal with psychological troubles

小題3: It is stated in the forth paragraph that “short sleepers” ______.

A．a(chǎn)re ideally energetic under the pressures of life

B．often ignore the ill effect of not enough sleep

C．do not know how to relax themselves properly

D．a(chǎn)re more unlikely to run into mental problems

小題4:Which of the following is nearest to the meaning of “… were a bit concerned” in the fifth Para?

A．a(chǎn)ppeared troubled	B．became energetic
C．felt dissatisfied	D．were much depressed

小題5:Which of the following is NOT correct according to the passage?

A．If one sleeps improperly, his performance suffers and his memory is weakened

B．The sleep patterns of short sleepers are the same as those shown by “l(fā)ong sleepers”

C．Long and short sleepers differ in their attitudes towards sleep

D．Short sleepers may have been better off if they have more rest

“Who is Gogo?” Almost every pupil in Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan and Thailand will tell you: “Gogo is from outer space and is teaching children to speak and read English.”
Gogo has visited Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand and Korea. Now he is in China’s mainland—“Gogo has Adventure with English” has been published by Addison Wesley Longman China Ltd (AWL).
The six level English course, full of exciting stories, educates and delights children at the same time. Gogo learns English from his friends, Tony and Jenny. The children will learn along with Gogo, enjoying all the fun he produces. Gogo has a warm place in every young learner’s heart wherever he goes.
A presentation (介紹) about Gogo was given by Beijing AWL Information Centre last November. All the pupils in Huijia School attended the presentation. A foreign teacher at Huijia later said, “The children were attracted by Gogo after only a 45-minute presentation. They remember a song taught by Gogo seven weeks later. Parents often ask me how they can help their children learn English and now there’s a programme I can direct them to.”
Clive Sawkins, Paul Price-Smiths and Gregg Schroeder worked closely at AWL to make sure that Gogo will become an easily recognized symbol (標(biāo)志) of learning English wherever English is studied. “Gogo is our baby,” said Gregg. “It is very easy to get children going with Gogo.”
小題1: What is the passage mainly about?

A．Gogo visits Asian countries.	B．Gogo receives high praise.
C．Children love to learn with Gogo.	D．AWL introduces Gogo.

小題2: It can be learned from the passage that Gogo is       .

A．a(chǎn)n English teacher	B．a(chǎn)n English boy
C．a(chǎn)n English textbook?	D．a(chǎn) character in an English textbook

小題3: In what way is Gogo a great help to young learners?

A．He teaches them English through songs.

B．He teaches them English through adventure stories.

C．He helps them to remember English words.

D．He makes English lessons full of fun.

There is a definite possibility that the climate of the world may be changing. Some scientists imagine that this could even mean the beginning of another ice age. The effects of such a change in climate on the human population of the world would be startling（驚人的）.
Recent research suggests that the general warming trend of the past hundred years or so may be coming to an end. During the past ten years, meteorologists tell us the average temperature of the Earth has dropped about one degree Fahrenheit. This does not seem like much, but it could have effects on wind and rain patterns which influence the overall weather picture. If these patterns change a lot, it could mean that certain regions of the world may continue to have long droughts while others will possibly suffer from widespread flooding.
What regulates（調(diào)節(jié)）the climate is not exactly known. Meteorologists believe that clouds may be an important factor in regulating the amount of solar heat held by the Earth, which in turn determines the temperature of the planet. Another possibility is that man’s industrial and agricultural methods may be affecting the natural weather patterns. However, the weather is not understood well enough for scientists to say for certain what is happening to the climate and what side effects this will actually have on the world’s population.
小題1:According to the passage, the climate of the world seems to    .

A．be getting colder	B．be getting warmer
C．remain the same in the past ten years	D．have good effects on the world’s population

小題2:Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Man’s activities have no effect on the climate.

B．Another ice age will come soon.

C．People don’t care about the changing climate.

D．Scientists are not yet sure about the reason for the changing climate.

小題3:A meteorologist is a person who        .
reads weather forecasts on radio or television 
B. thinks there will be another ice age
C. studies and knows about the weather       
D. believes there will be widespread flooding
小題4: Which of the following may be the factor(s) that affect(s) the natural weather patterns?

A．Clouds.	B．The amount of heat the Earth receives.
C．Man’s industrial and agricultural methods.	D．All of the above.

小題5:The best title for the passage would be         .

A．Droughts and Floods.	B．Meteorologists
C．The Changing Climate	D．Solar Heat

Broken rubber bands and flat tires requiring replacement could soon be a thing of the past．
French researchers have developed a new kind of rubber that can repair itself when broken．The new rubber is made from widely available materials including vegetable oil and a common industrial chemical．All the materials are considered safe to the environment and can be easily reused．
The best part is that the new rubber can be repaired and used again and again without losing its strength or ability or stretch．When cut, the rubber can be made new again, simply by pressing the two broken ends back together．
The product can be repaired at room temperature, around twenty degrees Centigrade；other self-healing materials require higher temperatures for repair．
Traditionally, rubber substances are made from huge molecules（分子）connected by strong chemical links, or bonds．The new rubber is made of smaller molecules．The molecules are linked together using hydrogen bonds．When connected in this way, the molecules act like one long molecule, forming what is called supramolecular networks（超分子網(wǎng)）．When the rubber is cut, the molecules attempt to connect with whatever molecule is near them．When pressed together, the molecules are able to repair themselves at the molecular level, making the repaired rubber like new．
However, time is an important element in the process．If the broken ends are not brought together quickly, a repair is not possible．This is because molecules will form bonds with molecules on their own side．The inventors say the surfaces of the rubber can be repaired within a week of being separated．
The rubber is the creation of scientists at the Industrial Physics and Chemistry Higher Education Institution in Paris．The organization is part of France’s National Center for Scientific Research．The new material is described in greater detail in the research publication Nature．
小題1:According to the introduction, which of the following is NOT the advantage of the new rubber?

A．It can be made as easily as common rubber．

B．It is environmentally-friendly．

C．It can repair itself at room temperature．

D．It is made of smaller molecules．

小題2:What does the 5th paragraph mainly tell us?

A．Why the new rubber is unique．

B．Why the new rubber can repair itself．

C．The new rubber is made from huge molecules．

D．The new rubber is different from the common rubber．

小題3:If we want to know more about the technology of this kind of new rubber, where can we get the information?

A．In the researchers’ diary．

B．In a guide book．

C．In a research magazine．

D．In a newspaper．