On the Olympic flag, the rings appear on a white background. The flag reinforces the idea of the Olympic Movement’s universality（廣泛性）, as it brings together all the countries of the world.

Pierre de Coubertin, the father of the modern Olympic Games, explains the meaning of the flag: “The Olympic flag has a white background, with five interlaced(交錯(cuò)的) rings in the centre: blue, yellow, black, green and red. This design is symbolic; it represents the five continents of the world, united by Olympism, while the six colors are those that appear on all the national flags of the world at the present time.” (1931)

Combined in this way, the six colors of the flag (including the white of the background) represent all nations. It is wrong, therefore, to believe that each of the colors corresponds to a

certain continent!

At the Olympic Games, the flag is brought into the stadium during the opening ceremony. Since the 1960 Games in Rome (Italy), it has been carried horizontally by a delegation of athletes or other people well known for their positive work in society.

After its arrival, the flag is hoisted up the flagpole. It must fly in the stadium during the whole of the Games. When the flag is lowered at the closing ceremony, it signals the end of the Games.

The mayor of the host city of the Games passes the Olympic flag to the mayor of the next host city of the Games.

In the history, even though Pierre de Coubertin intended the Olympic Games to be an international event from the time of their re-establishment in 1896 in Athens (Greece), it was only at the 1912 Games in Stockholm (Sweden) that, for the first time, the participants came from all five continents. One year later, in 1913, the five rings appeared at the top of a letter written by Pierre de Coubertin. He drew the rings and colored them in by hand. He then described this symbol in the Olympic Review of August 1913．It was also Coubertin who had the idea for the Olympic flag. He presented the rings and flag in June 1914 in Paris at the Olympic Congress.

The First World War prevented the Games from being celebrated in 1916 in Berlin (Germany) as planned. It was not until 1920 in Antwerp (Belgium) that the flag and its five rings could be seen flying in an Olympic stadium.

The universality conveyed by the rings and the flag was a new idea at the beginning of the 20th century. Nationalism was very strong and tension between certain countries was high. It was in this climate, however, that Coubertin proposed a symbol which aimed to encourage world unity.

60．The author mentioned       Olympic Games except the one in 1916 in the passage.

       A．2                        B．3                        C．4                        D．5

61．Which of the following agrees with the passage?        .

       A．Pierre de Coubertin contributed a lot to the Olympics

       B．Each of the colors corresponds to a certain continent

       C．The flag is aimed at promoting the world economy.

       D．When the flag is brought into the stadium, it signals the beginning of the Games

62．Which statement is NOT TRUE according to the author?        .

       A．The flag reinforces the idea of the Olympic Movement’s universality

B．It was not until 1920 Games in Antwerp (Belgium) that, for the first time, the participants came from all five continents.

C．The universality of the flag was a new idea at the beginning of the 20th century

D．The flag must fly in the stadium during the whole of the Games

63．Which of the following can be used as the best title of the passage?        .

A．One world, One dream

B．Green Beijing, Greet Olympics

C．The Father of the Modern Olympic Games

D．The History of the Olympic Flag                         

Scientists have long believed one way to stop the Earth’s atmosphere from warming is by planting more trees. The idea is that more trees take in or absorb some of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a gas released by cars, factories and other human activities. The gas traps heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, which warms the planet. However, two new studies have found that trees may not be as helpful in reducing carbon dioxide as had been thought.

The first study was done at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. Researchers pumped extra carbon dioxide into a test area where pine trees were growing. The trees grew thirty-four percent faster during the first three years. However, in time, the trees slowed to about their normal growth rate. The scientists say this is because trees need other nutrients, such as nitrogen.

In the second study, researchers from Duke and Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine examined the soil around trees. They discovered that as the leaves broke down into the soil, all the carbon was not trapped in the soil. Much of it was released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.

Forest planting has been a part of negotiations on a world agreement to reduce greenhouse gases that scientists believe cause global warming. The United States, Canada, Japan and some other industrial countries have supported the idea. But this new research suggests the idea is not as effective as environmental activists had thought. Scientist Ram Oren of Duke University led the study on tree growth. He says that earlier estimates on the ability of forests to absorb carbon dioxide were overly hopeful.　　

Some scientists not involved in the studies say the research provides some of the first evidence on how trees react to carbon dioxide. Other scientists say the research disputes（對(duì)……質(zhì)疑） a belief among some coal and power companies. The companies say that rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will not create harmful global warming. Instead, they say it will increase forests and other plants.

56．What is the purpose of this passage？

   A．Introduce some new opinions about the relationship between trees and carbon dioxide.

      B．Introduce recent condition of global industrial pollution.

      C．Call on people to plant more trees to reduce greenhouse gases.

   D．Point out that power companies should be responsible for the rising levels of carbon dioxide.

57．Why did the researchers do the TWO studies?

A．To prove that trees may not be as helpful in reducing carbon dioxide as had been thought.

B．To get more oxygen from these trees.

C．To evaluate the maximum carbon dioxide the trees can absorb

D．To see the growth rate of these trees.

58．What happened to the leaves falling from the trees in the second study？

A．They broke down and the main parts turned into oxygen.

       B．They broke down and the carbon content had mainly turned into carbon dioxide.

C．They broke down and the carbon dioxide content was mainly absorbed in the soil.

       D．They absorbed more carbon dioxide.

59．The word “it” in the last paragraph probably refers to           .

       A．carbon dioxide                                     B．nitrogen              

       C．a(chǎn)tmosphere                                          D．coal

By the time she got the box open, Nancy was so excited that she could hardly  36  herself. Eagerly she  37  the cotton surrounding the small object inside the box, and  38  it up to the light. It glittered and sparkled（閃耀）――made alive by the bright sunlight  39  through the large picture window.

    Nancy  40  the object slowly in her hands, first this way and then that way. It continued to sparkle and shine  41  it had a light of its own. She let out a little squeal(尖叫) of  42  .Her diamond engagement ring had been found and returned to her, just as the woman on the phone had     43  .

    For two weeks, Nancy had  44 gone mad after  45  the ring on the subway. She had placed ads in the newspapers and over the radio,  46  a reward for the return of the ring. And she had almost _47  hope when the telephone call  48  .

    A kind, elderly female voice  49  her that she had found the ring wedged(擠塞)in a seat cushion. She had called, she said, to  50  the exact address and had promised to return the ring by insured mail the next day. And then she added sweetly:

   “There is no need to send a  51  either. I lost my engagement ring once when I was young, and _52  kind, unknown person returned it to me the next day. I feel I’m only  53  an old debt of gratitude.”

Nancy had thanked the finder again and again and asked her name, but the other woman had said that it wasn’t  54   .

    And now, here was the ring once again in her hand. She slipped it once again on her finger and  55  a huge sigh of relief

By the time she got the box open, Nancy was so excited that she could hardly  36  herself. Eagerly she  37  the cotton surrounding the small object inside the box, and  38  it up to the light. It glittered and sparkled（閃耀）――made alive by the bright sunlight  39  through the large picture window.

    Nancy  40  the object slowly in her hands, first this way and then that way. It continued to sparkle and shine  41  it had a light of its own. She let out a little squeal(尖叫) of  42  .Her diamond engagement ring had been found and returned to her, just as the woman on the phone had     43  .

    For two weeks, Nancy had  44 gone mad after  45  the ring on the subway. She had placed ads in the newspapers and over the radio,  46  a reward for the return of the ring. And she had almost _47  hope when the telephone call  48  .

    A kind, elderly female voice  49  her that she had found the ring wedged(擠塞)in a seat cushion. She had called, she said, to  50  the exact address and had promised to return the ring by insured mail the next day. And then she added sweetly:

   “There is no need to send a  51  either. I lost my engagement ring once when I was young, and _52  kind, unknown person returned it to me the next day. I feel I’m only  53  an old debt of gratitude.”

Nancy had thanked the finder again and again and asked her name, but the other woman had said that it wasn’t  54   .

    And now, here was the ring once again in her hand. She slipped it once again on her finger and  55  a huge sigh of relief

They decided to go on holiday for a week, all the task ____ ahead of time.

     A．had been finished   B．were finished    C．finished          D．been finished

――We must thank you for taking the trouble to cook us a meal.

――____.

       A．With pleasure                                   B．It doesn’t matter 

       C．By all means                                    D．It was no trouble at all

Storms most commonly occur ______ a warm air mass and a cold air mass touches each other.

     A．in case               B．in which            C．unless               D．where

_______, the dancers practise hard to make their dreams come true.

     A．Instead of being disabled             B．Being disabled

     C．Disabled as they are                   D．In case of being disabled

When we worked in the same office, we ______ often have coffee together.

     A．would                B．should               C．could                D．ought to

In 1778, Banks was selected _____ president of ____ Royal Society, _____ position he held for 42 years.

     A．/; /; a                B．/; the; a             C．the; /; a             D．the; the; the