As the railroad and the highways shaped the American west in the past centuries, a new electrical
generating (發(fā)電) and transmission (輸送) system for the 21st century will leave a lasting mark on the
West, for better or worse. Much of the real significance of railroads and highways is not in their direct
physical effect on the scenery, but in the ways that they affect the surrounding community. The same
is true of big solar plants and the power lines that will be laid down to move electricity around.
     The 19^th century saw land grant (政府撥地) offered to railroad companies to build the transcontinental
railroads, leaving public land in between privately owned land. In much of the West, some of the railroad
sections were developed while others remained underdeveloped, and in both cases the landownership has
presented unique challenges to land management. With the competition of the interstate highway system,
many of the small towns which sprang up as railway stops and developed well, have lost their lifeblood
and died.
     Big solar plants and their power lines will also have effects far beyond their direct footprint in the West.
This is not n argument against building them. We need alternative energy badly, and to really take advantage
of it we need to be able to move electricity around far more readily than we can now.
     So trade-offs will have to be made. Some scenic spots will be sacrificed. Some species (物種) will be
forced to move, or will be carefully moved to special accommodations. Deals will be struck to reduce the
immediate effects.
     The lasting effects of these trade-offs are another matter. The 21st century development of the American
West as an ideal place for alternative energy is going to throw off a lot of power and money in the region.
There are chances for that power and money to do a lot of good. But it is just likely that they will be spent
wastefully and will leave new problems behind, just like the railroads and the highways.
     The money set aside in negotiated trade-offs and the institutions that control it will shape the West far
beyond the immediate footprint of power plants and transmission lines. So let's remember the effects of the
railroads and the highways as we construct these new power plants in the West.

1. What was the problem caused by the construction of the railways?

A. Small towns along the railways became abandoned.
B. Some railroad stops remained underused.
C. Land in the West was hard to manage.
D. Land grants went into private hands.

2. What is the major concern in the development of alternative energy according to the last two paragraphs?

A. The transmission of power.
B. The use of money and power.
C. The conservation of solar energy.
D. The selection of an ideal place.

3. What is the author's attitude towards building solar plants?

A. Cautious
B. Approving
C. Doubtful
D. Disapproving

4. Which is the best title for the passage?

A. How the Railways Have Affected the West
B. How Solar Energy Could Reshape the West
C. How the Effects of Power Plants Can Be Reduced
D. How the Problems of the Highways Have Been Settled

     More than 10 years ago, it was difficult to buy a tasty pineapple. The fruits that made it to the UK were
green on the outside and, more often than not, hard with an unpleasant taste within. Then in 1996, the Del
Monte Gold pineapple produced in Hawaii first hit our shelves.
     The new type of pineapple looked more yellowy-gold than green. It was slightly softer on the Outside
and had a lot of juice inside. But the most important thing about this new type of pineapple was that it was
twice as sweet as the hit-and-miss pineapples we had known. In no time, the Del Monte Gold took the
market by storm, rapidly becoming the world's best-selling pineapple variety, and delivering natural levels
of sweetness in the mouth, up until then only found in tinned pineapple.
     In nutrition (營養(yǎng)) it was all good news too. This nice-tasting pineapple contained four times more vitamin
C (維生素C) than the old green variety. Nutritionists said that it was not only full of vitamins, but also good
against some diseases. People were understandably eager to be able to buy this wonderful fruit. The new type
of pineapple was selling fast, and the Del Monte Gold pineapple rapidly became a fixture in the shopping basket
of the healthy eater.
     Seeing the growing market for its winning pineapple, Del Monte tried to keep the market to itself. But other
fruit companies developed similar pineapples, Del Monte turned to law for help, but failed.Those companies
argued successfully that Del Monte's attempts to keep the golden pineapple for itself were just a way to knock
them out of the market.

1. We learn from the text that the new type of pineapple is _____.

A. green outside and sweet inside
B. good-looking outside and soft inside
C. yellowy-gold outside and hard inside
D. a little soft outside and sweet inside

2. Why was the new type of pineapple selling well?

A. It was rich in nutrition and tasted nice.
B. It was less sweet and good for health.
C. It was developed by Del Monte.
D. It was used as medicine.

3. The underlined word "fixture" in Paragraph 3 probably refers to something _____.

A. that people enjoy eating
B. that is always present
C. that is difficult to get
D. that people use as a gift

4. We learn from the last paragraph that Del Monte _____.

A. allowed other companies to develop pineapples
B. succeeded in keeping the pineapple for itself
C. tried hard to control the pineapple marker
D. planned to help the other companies

     What is Bay? The simple answer is that it is a global trading platform where nearly anyone can trade
practically anything. People can sell and buy all kinds of products and goods, including cars, movies and
DVDs, sporting goods, travel tickets, musical instruments, clothes and shoes-the list goes on and on.
     The idea came from Peter Omidyar, who was born in Paris and moved to Washington when he was
still a child. At high school, he became very interested in computer programming and after graduating
from Tuft University in 1988, he worked for the next few years as a computer engineer. In his free time
he started Bay as a kind of hobby, at first offering the service free by word of mouth. By 1996 there was
so much traffic on the website that he had to upgrade (升級) and he began charging a fee to members.
Joined by a friend, Peter Skill and in 1998 by his capable CEO, Meg Whitman, he has never looked back.
Even in the great.com crashes of the late 1990s, eBay has gone from strength to strength. It is now one
of the ten most visited online shopping websites on the Internet.
     eBay sells connections, not goods, putting buyer and seller into contact with each other. All you have
to do is uploading an e-photo, writing a description, filling out a sales form and you are in business: the
world is your market place. Of course for each item (商品) sold eBay gets a percentage and that is great
deal of money. Every day there are more than sixteen million items listed on eBay and eighty percent of
the items are sold.

1. We learn from the text that eBay provides people with _____.

A. a way of buying and selling goods
B. a website for them to upgrade
C. a place to exhibit their own photos 
D. a chance to buy things at low prices

2. Why did Peter create eBay after graduating from university?

A. For fun
B. To make money
C. For gathering the engineers
D. To fulfill a task of his company

3. From "he has never looked back" in Paragraph 2 we learn that peter _____. 

A. did not feel lonely
B. was always hopeful
C. did not think about the past
D. became more and more successful

4. How does eBay make money from its website?

A. By bringing callers together
B. By charging for each sale
C. By listing items online
D. By making e-photos

     Which are you more likely to have with you at any given moment-your cell phone or your wallet? Soon
you may be able to throw your wallet away and pay for things with a quick wave of your smart phone over
an electronic scanner.
     In January, Starbucks announced that customers could start using their phones to buy coffee in 6,800
of its states. This is the first pay-by-phone practice in the U.S., but we're likely to see more wireless payment
alternatives as something called near field communication (NFC) gets into America's consumer electronics.
Last December some new smart phones which contain an NFC chip were introduced to the public.
     Already in use in parts of Asia and Europe, NFC allows shoppers to wave their phones a few inches above
a payment terminal-a contact-free system built for speed and convenience. But before NFC becomes widely
adopted in the U.S., a few problems need to be worked out, like who will get to collect the profitable transaction
(交易) fees. Although some credit card providers have been experimenting with wave-and-pay systems that
use NFC-enabled credit cards, cell phone service providers may try to muscle their way into the point-of-sale
(POS) market. Three big cell phone service providers have formed a joint venture (合資企業(yè)) that will go into
operation over the next 15 months. Its goal is "to lead the U.S. payments industry from cards to mobile
phones."
     The other big NFC issue, apart from how payments will be processed, is security, for instance, what's to
stop a thief from digitally pick-pocketing you? "We're still not at the point where an attacker can just brush
against you in a crowd and steal all the money out of your phone," says Jimmy Shah, a mobile-security
researcher." Users may also be able to set transaction limits, perhaps requiring a password to be entered for
larger purchases.
     Still uneasy about this digital-wallet business? Keep in mind that if you lose your smart phone, it can be
located on a map and remotely disabled. Plus, your phone can be password protected, your wallet isn't.

1. What is predicted to happen in the U.S.?

A. The expansion of cell phone companies.
B. The boom of pay-by-phone business.
C. The disappearance of credit cards.
D. The increase of Starbucks sales.

2. The NFC technology can be used to _____.

A. ensure the safety of shoppers
B. collect transaction fees easily
C. make purchase faster and simpler
D. improve the quality of cell phones

3. Three cell phone service providers form a joint venture to _____.

A. strengthen their relationship
B. get a share in the payments industry
C. sell more cell phones
D. test the NFC technology

4. According to the passage, what can users do if they lose their smart phones?

A. Stop the functioning of their phones.
B. Set up a password.
C. Get all the money out of their phones.
D. Cancel large purchases.

     Imagine reading one day that you had been a subject in a risky science experiment without knowing it.
At school, you had been fed cereal laced with radioactive chemicals so scientists could learn more about
the digestive system. Because the food was radioactive, scientists could easily trace its path through the
body.
     Scientists now know that exposure to large amounts of radiation can cause cancer, a group of diseases
in which bodily cells grow wildly out of control. Some people who were part of the radiation studies later
developed cancer and blame the radiation for causing the cancer. Others are worried the radiation will
someday make them sick.
     Some doctors say that, in many cases, such fears are unjustified because the radiation doses (劑量) used
in the experiments were too small to cause harm. They also say that since the dangers of radiation were less
well understood then than they are now, even researchers who used high doses of radiation didn't do anything
wrong.
     Some critics claim that no excuse is acceptable for not informing subjects about the nature of an experiment
and giving them a chance to refuse to participate. Today, government rules require such informed agreement
whenever a study uses people.

1. The passage is mainly about _____.

A. what kinds of experiment cannot be done on people
B. whether it is moral to experiment on people without telling them
C. what result can be obtained in a radioactive experiment
D. how radiation studies are conducted

2. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Human cells can be excited by the radiation to grow wildly out of control.
B. As long as the danger of radiation has not been proved, high doses of it can also be acceptable.
C. Most cancers are caused by radiation.
D. Any exposure to radiation will surely cause cancer.

3. The government rules demand _____.

A. to stop all experiments harmful to people
B. to prohibit all the experiments on humans
C. to licence all the tests related to human beings
D. to protect people's human right not to be tested without permission

4. Which of the following words best describes the author's attitude towards the government decision?

A. negative
B. indifferent
C. critical
D. favourable

     The U.S. government has repeatedly made it clear that it would welcome China's entrance into the world
arena as a power. However, a series of issues since the beginning of this year, particularly Washington's
stance on the U.S.-South Korean joint military exercises and the South China Sea issue have made the world
think: Is the United States ready to recognize China as a power on the world stage?
     It is easier said than done for the United States to adapt itself to China's development. Lip service is far
from enough to boost the development of Sino-U.S. relations. If Washington cannot find a way to recognize
and accept China's peaceful rise onto the world stage, bilateral (雙邊的) ties will be like a roller coaster full
of ups and downs. However, no one would like to see the negative effects rocky relations would bring to
China, the United States and possibly to the world as a whole.
     U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged China to play a greater role in solving the world's
economic, environmental and political problems. She said global issues could not be solved by the United
States or China alone, but without participation of the two countries, no problems would likely be solved.
Washington has realized that the United States' global interest can be maintained only through changing the
way it deals with China.
     The Obama administration released positive signals in its relations with China, which have been interpreted
as the United States showing its intention to change the traditional strategy of engagement and containment
(遏制政策 ). As a matter of fact, the general direction of Sino-U. S. relations provides a foundation on
which the United States can base its foreign policies and is more complicated than an adjustment in real
conditions. Issues such as arms sales to Taiwan, Google censorship, RMB exchange rates as well as finger-
pointing about economic responsibility show Washington still seems confused and impatient about relations
with China.
     The relationship between China and the United States is the most important and complicated bilateral
relationship in the world this century. The development of Sino-U.S. relations will affect world peace and
stability, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. Ian Bremmer, an American political scientist specializing in
U.S. foreign policy, said, "America and China will have more than ever to gain from closer political and
commercial ties, and must take steps to avoid a Cold War, or worse."
     In that circumstance; the United States needs both wisdom and determination to recognize and accept
China, a country that is totally different from its own, as a power on the world stage.

1. We learn from the passage that ____.

A. RMB exchange rates are much higher than that of last year
B. there will surely be a Cold War between the USA and China
C. there are many differences between the USA and China
D. it is wise for the U. S. government to sell arms to Taiwan

2. From what the U. S. Secretary of State said in Para. 3,we may draw a conclusion that ____.

A. the U.S. government has recognized China as a power
B. the U.S. government has realized the importance of China
C. Washington are afraid of China both in economy and politics
D. the United States is ready to accept China as a power

3. The underlined word"stance" in the first paragraph probably means ____.

A. information
B. opinion
C. ignorance
D. criticism

4. Which of the following might be the hest title for the passage?

A. Is it clear that China has become a world power?
B. Is U.S. ready to recognize China as a world power?
C. Is U.S. still the most powerful country in the world?
D. Is Sino-U.S. relationship the most important and complicated in the world?

     The government may control prices when there is a problem such as rapidly increasing rents or a rise in
the cost of living. When the government controls prices, there is no longer a normal relationship between the
price of a product and the quantity consumers will buy. Government controls may help in an emergency.
However, some economists believe that the controls can have negative effects over a long period of time.
     In cities with rent control, the city government sets the maximum rent that a landlord can charge for an
apartment. Supporters of rent control argue that it protects people who are living in apartments. Their rent
cannot increase; therefore, they are not in danger of losing their homes. However, the critics say that after
a long time, rent control may have negative effects. Landlords know that they cannot increase their profits.
Therefore, they invest in other businesses where they can increase their profits. They do not invest in new
buildings which would also be rent-controlled. As a result, new apartments are not built. Many people who
need apartments cannot find any. According to the critics, the end result of rent control is a shortage of
apartments in the city.
     Some theorists argue that the minimum wage law can cause problems in the same way. The federal
government sets the minimum that an employer must pay workers. The minimum helps people who generally
look for unskilled, low paying jobs. However, if the minimum is high, employers may hire fewer workers.
They will replace workers with machinery. The price which is the wage that employers want decreases.
Thus, the critics claim, an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment. Some poor people may
find themselves without jobs instead of with jobs at the minimum wage.
     Supporters of the minimum wage say that it helps people keep their dignity. Because of the law, workers
cannot sell their services for less than the minimum. Furthermore, employers cannot force workers to accept
jobs at unfair wages.
     Economic theory predicts the results of economic decisions such as decisions about farm production, rent
control, and the minimum wage. The predictions may be correct only if "other things are equal". Economists
do not agree on some of the predictions. They also do not agree on the value of different decisions. Some
economists support a particular decision while others criticize it. Economists do agree, however, that there
are no simple answers to economic questions.

1. There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may ____.

A. cause a shortage of apartments
B. worry those who rent apartments as homes
C. increase the profits of landlords
D. encourage landlords to invest in building apartments

2. The problem of unemployment will arise ____.

A. if the minimum wage is set too high
B. if the minimum wage is set too low
C. if the workers are unskilled
D. if the maximum wage is set

3. The passage tells us ____.

A. the relationship between supply and demand
B. the possible results of government controls
C. the necessity of government controls
D. the urgency of getting rid of government controls

     Nothing says love like a dozen long-stemmed roses on Valentine's Day. More than a million roses will
be sold during this festival for lovers, the biggest day of the year for the nation's rose industry. It's going
to remain the most popular flower because love never goes out of style.
     Yes, a rose is a rose. But selling them is no longer a beautiful experience for traditional flower shops.
Supermarkets now offer convenience to the busy and discount rose shops help those hopelessly in love
save money. Roses Only is a good example of a discount rose retailer that was transformed from a
traditional shop to answer the challenge in the 90's.
     Inside this store on Sixth Avenue near 40th Street, contemporary white furniture and wall-to-wall
mirrors give it an expensive look. Customers move about freely among the counters, looking eagerly at the
roses in more than 50 colors from shelf to shelf. Some customers say it's the high quality of the roses that
attracts them there. "I spent ＄20 but the flowers looked like I paid 60 or 70 dollars," says one customer.
     Studies show more people are buying roses in ones, twos and threes these days. In fact, more than half
of all roses are sold in bunches of fewer than a dozen. But Roses Only's low prices encourage people to
spend. Even on Valentine's Day, when the price of a dozen roses and delivery can soar as high as $150, 12
of Roses Only's most expensive flowers sell for just ＄35. The company's key to success is to hold prices
down by controlling every link in the rose chain. It grows its own roses in the sunshine of the Andes
Mountains. In addition, the company also sells other items such as balloons and stuffed animals.
     While discount rose retailers are witnessing their business bloom, U.S. rose growers aren't able to
compete with the fierce foreign competition. More than 57% of roses sold in the USA are grown in other
countries. The biggest foreign producers are Colombia and Ecuador, which accounted for almost 90% of
the total imported last year. The trend has hurt domestic rose growers such as Johnson Flowers of California,
considered to be this country's leading producer.
     Now, instead of fighting overseas rivals, the Johnsons are trying to work with them. "We have a few
big fighting overseas rivals, the Johnsons are trying to work with them. We may also widen our business
to include the service area and be a representative for overseas flower producers."
     As a result of severe competition, those in the rose business long for the good old days, whereas ordinary
people benefit from the low price.

1. What is the central theme of this text?

A. The US rose business is going from bad to worse in spite of the efforts made.
B. The rose will remain the most popular flower as love never goes out of date.
C. The rose business is trying to meet the challenges in the market to succeed.
D. The rose industry plays an important role in American economy.

2. How does Roses Only obtain success in the discount rose retailing field?

A. By setting up more chain stores across the country.
B. By selling roses in supermarkets.
C. By selling high quality roses at a low price.
D. By selling roses by the dozen.

3. Which of the following shows the structure of the passage? (① to ⑦represent paragraphs l to 7)

A.  B.  C.  D.

4. After reading the passage,we learn all of the following EXCEPT _____.

A. selling roses is no longer as easy for traditional flower shops as it was
B. almost 90% of roses sold in US are imported from Colombia and Ecuador
C. US rose growers are faced with intense foreign competition
D. the Johnsons are trying to co-operate with foreign competitors instead of fighting them

     Detroit is convinced that small, stylish, and fuel-efficient cars are what American drivers want. But are
automakers right?
     For years, the auto industry's critics have been calling for Detroit to roll out small cars that they say
Americans are demanding for. The question is, do we really want to drive small cars? The answer, according
to some analysts, is already clear. "Domestic auto companies feel forced to offer smaller vehicles because of
pressure from the government." says John Wolconowicz, an auto analyst for IHS Global Insight.
     Whether we want the vehicles or not, automakers are devoted to a small-car sales strategy. General Motors
is unveiling (推出) three new small cars-the Chevrolet Cruze, a small car due next year; the Spark, a minicar
due in 2011; and the Chevy Aveo, a compact. Mike DiGiovanni, executive director of the global market notes
that GM is presuming a return to high oil prices that will cause the market to shift to smaller vehicles.
     At Ford, there are no plans to abandon production of big trucks. But the company is making small cars a
priority, launching the Ford Fiesta and the C-MAX, a compact car with sliding doors and three rows of seats,
in 2011. "We can't even think about growing our market share without having a strong pressure in the small-
vehicle market" George Pipas, Ford's chief U.S. sales analyst says.
     Not everyone is so big on Americans going small. This seems to be evident on dealer lots (停車場). Jack
Kain, a Ford dealer in Versailles, Ky., said the F150 truck remains his bigger seller. He predicts trucks will
continue to outsell small cars, at least in his area "People won't give up the safety and comfort of the larger
cars," he says.
     But Ford's Pipas is confident that many will embrace the industry's new focus. Detroit's big hopes, he
admits, are riding on the future of small cars.

                                                        Title: Big Hopes on 1.________

     Thousands of people living in the Chinese capital will celebrate the start of the Chinese New Year by
heading for the ski resorts (滑雪場). Never mind that Beijing's dry weather seldom produces snow. It is
cold enough in winter for snow-making machines to make a covering for the hills north to the capital.
And the rapid growth of a pleasure-seeking middle class has formed the basis for this new craze (熱潮).
     Since Beijing's first ski resort was opened ten years ago, the sport has enjoyed an Astonishing increase.
There are now more than a dozen resorts. Clothes markets in the city have added bright colored ski suits
to their winter collections. Mr Wei, a manager of a newly-opened ski resort in Beijing, sees the growth of
an industry that could soon lead Chinese to head for the ski resorts of Europe. In recent years ski resorts
offering natural snow have opened in China. But many are in faraway areas of the country and can't really
match the equipment and services of some ski resorts in Europe.
     Beijing's skiing craze is partly a result of the recent increase in private (私有的) cars. This has led to
the growth of a leisure industry in the capital's suburbs, which until the late 1990s were unreachable to
ordinary people. According Mr Wei, about 40% of the visitors to his resorts come in their own cars. The
rest are bushed in by schools, businesses or government offices.
     The problem is making money. Starting ski resorts requires quite a lot of money: hiring land from the
local government, preparing the hills, buying snow machines, making sure there are enough water and
electricity to run them, and buying ski equipment for hiring out to customers. The ski resort where Mr
Wei works cost nearly $4m to set up. And as so often in China when someone comes up with a good idea,
many others rush in and price wars break out. Beijing now offers some of the cheapest ski training classes
in the world, though with most people rather new to the sport, expecting a few more doing the same job.

1. What does this text mainly talk about?

A. Convenience for skiers brought about by private cars.
B. Skiing as a new way of enjoying one's spare time.
C. Things to be considered when starting a ski resort.
D. A sudden increase of ski training classes in Beijing.

2. Why are some Chinese likely to go skiing in Europe?

A. To visit more ski areas.
B. To ski on natural snow.
C. For a large collection of ski suits.
D. For better services and equipment.

3. The underlined words"leisure industry" in Paragraph 3 refer to _____.

A. transport to ski resorts
B. business of providing spare time enjoyments
C. production of family cars
D. part-time work for people living in the suburbs

4. What is the main problem in running a ski resort?

A. Difficulty in hiring land.
B. Lack of business experience.
C. Price wars with other ski resorts.
D. Shortage of water and electricity.