Fifty years from now the world’s population will be declining, with no end in sight. Unless people’s values change greatly, several centuries from now there could be fewer people living in the entire world than live in the United States today. The big surprise of the past twenty years is that in not one country did fertility (生育能力) stop falling when it reached the replacement rate（出生率）—2.1 children per woman. In Italy, for example, the rate has fallen to 1.2. In Western Europe as a whole and in Japan it is down to 1.5. The evidence now indicates that within fifty years or so world population will peak at about eight billion before starting a fairly rapid decline.
Because in the past two centuries world population has increased from one billion to nearly six billion, many people still fear that it will keep “exploding” until there are too many people for the earth to support. But that is like fearing that your baby will grow to 1,000 pounds because its weight doubles three times in its first seven years. World population was growing by two percent a year in the 1960s; the rate is now down to one percent a year, and if the patterns of the past century don’t change completely, it will head into negative numbers. This view is coming to be widely accepted among population experts, even as the public continues to focus on the threat of uncontrolled population growth.
As long ago as September of 1974 Scientific American published a special issue on population that described what demographers (人口统计学家) had begun calling the “demographic transition” from traditional high rates of birth and death to the low ones of modern society. The experts believed that birth and death rates would be more or less equal in the future, as they had been in the past, keeping total population stable after a level of 10-12 billion people was reached during the transition.
56. Which of the following statement is NOT true according to the passage?
A. The world’s population in the future will be reducing endlessly.
B. When the earth population reaches 8 billion, it will see a rapid decrease.
C. In modern society the birth and death rates will be more or less equal in the future.
D. The public now pay little attention to the threat of uncontrolled population growth.
57. What’s reason for the sharp increase of world population in the past two centuries?
A. Because people fear that the world will explode.
B. Because the world’s replacement rate keeps falling.
C. Because people’s values has greatly changed.
D. The passage doesn't mention it.
58. The expression “demographic transition” (Paragraph 3) probably means _______.
A. high death rate to the low one
B. high birth rate to the low one
C. high rates of birth and death to the low ones
D. low rates of birth and death to the high ones
59. We can learn from the passage that _______.
A. in the near future there will be a rapid decline of the world population
B. the birth and death rates of modern society will be unequal in the future
C. there would be the same population living in the world than it in the US today
D. in Western Europe the replacement rate has declined to a negative number
When we asked Oprah to pick the 10 books she’s read in the past decade that have mattered to her most, she was momentarily stumped. For someone who describes herself as ―inspired, challenged, and sustained by books, it was almost impossible for Oprah to stay within our limit of 10. Still, she offered up the following, but she emphasized that it was only a sampler of delightful titles that have also managed to teach her — and all of us — a few things．
1. Discover the Power Within You
By Eric Butterworth
256 pages; Harper One
Advice from the internationally known spiritual teacher．
2. A New Earth
By Eckhart Tolle
316 pages; Plume
There’s a reason Oprah picked this for her Book Club in 2008 — and that she gave audience members Post-it pens along with their copies．So much wisdom, so little time! A real-life guide to living your best life．
3. The Poisonwood Bible
By Barbara Kingsolver
576 pages; Harper Perennial
This novel is about a family involved in the political trouble of postcolonial Africa. It established Kingsolver as one of our wisest observers of history, politics, and human nature．
4. Night
By Elie Wiesel
120 pages; Hill and Wang
A memoir（回忆录） of a childhood suffered in concentration camps during the Holocaust. It’s horrific butuplifting. ―I gain courage from his courage,‖ Oprah says．
5. A Fine Balance
By Rohinton Mistry
624 pages; Vintage
A Dickensian novel about India during the Emergency. Like the aftermath of September 11, it teaches us about cultures we haven’t understood. “It takes us out of our own little shell and exposes us to a whole other world out there.” Oprah say．
6. East of Eden
By John Steinbeck
608 pages; Penguin
This classic is about good and evil as played out in a late-19th-century California ranch family. If you didn’t read it in high school, read it now. If you did, reread it!
7. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
By David Wroblewski
576 pages; Harper Collins
A kind of Hamlet on the prairie, this is the wrenching（令人痛苦的） story of a mute boy and his dog． Oprah compares it to East of Eden and To Kill a Mickingbird．
8. The Pillars of the Earth
By Ken Follett
973 pages; Penguin
About the challenges of building cathedrals in 12th-century England. This novel couldn‘t be more different in setting, time, and plot from the author‘s breakthrough success, Eye of the Needle. Oprah declares it simply “great”．
9. The Bluest Eye
By Toni Morrison
224 pages; Penguin
How to choose among the great Morrison‘s novel? Start with this one about a girl who thinks she has to have blue eyes to be beautiful. Oprah considered it one of the best in a crowded Morrison field．
10. The Known World
By Edward P. Jones
400 pages, Harper Collins
When this book was published in 2003, it shocked everybody with its description of slave-owning blacks before the Civil War. A daring, unusual examination of race．The passage is mainly about _______．
| A．ten books that have made greatest difference to Oprah |
| B．an inspiring , challenging and sustainable woman |
| C．Oprah’s picks from what has taught her a few things |
| D．the unwillingness of Oprah to share books within a limit of 10 |
Why did Oprah add A Fine Balance to her list?
| A．She gained courage from it． |
| B．It tells about wisdom of human nature． |
| C．It’s a guide to living a best life． |
| D．Culture of a different world is exposed． |
What makes Oprah declare The Pillars of the Earth great?
| A．The advice on discovering the power． |
| B．The story of a mute boy and his dog． |
| C．The challenges of building cathedrals． |
| D．The good and evil in a California family． |
In which book the story was set before the Civil War?
| A．In The Bluest Eye. | B．In East of Eden. |
| C．In A New Earth. | D．In The Known World. |
Qixi Festival, the Chinese equivalent of Valentine’s Day that fell yesterday, was not only a disappointment for forgotten lovers, but also for businessmen left with empty pockets．
The cold reception has prompted cultural experts to seriously worry that the lovers’ festival, marked for generations since the Han Dynasty（206 BC-AD 220），is dying out． Some have even called for legislation to make the festival a legal ―Chinese Lovers’ Day, which falls on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar year．
But the effectiveness of such a measure is in doubt, although efforts to preserve traditional festivals deserve highly praise．
A growing number of traditional Chinese festivals, such as the Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn
Festival, share the same fate of the Qixi Festival．
Young people are showing less interest in traditional culture as symbolized by these festivals．Even if all traditional festivals are finally made legal, the risk of them becoming purely formalized celebrations with little meaning is not removed．If the younger generation fails to identify with the cultural significance of these holidays, there is little that can be done．
While complaining about traditional festivals’ fading appeal, decision-makers should reflect on cultural protection. Undeniably, our country has done a bad job of preserving culture and traditional festivals, compared to neighbouring Japan and the Republic of Korea（ROK）．
The 2,500-year-old Dragon Boat Festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. The traditional customs and ceremonies of the occasion, which originated in China, have been better preserved in the ROK．
Only a few years ago did China begin to realize the significance of preserving intangible（无形的）cultural heritage when the ROK planned to apply to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to list its version of the Dragon Boat Festival as an important example of intangible culture．
Concern about the traditional holidays also reminds people of the growing influence of foreign cultures as the country opens wider to the outside world. With traditional festivals becoming less important and imports such as Christmas and Valentine’s Day gaining widespread popularity, the public including cultural professionals have tended to measure traditional Chinese festivals in economic terms．
Business rather than culture has begun to play a dominant role. More and more people are preoccupied with how much money can be made during the holidays．
In fact what makes traditional festivals unique and what keeps them alive is their cultural elements. After all, it is unique culture that contributes to the world’s diversity with globalization．What makes Chinese cultural experts worry that the lovers’ festival is dying out?
| A．The disappointment for both businessmen and lovers． |
| B．The cold reacting of the public to Qixi Festival． |
| C．The failure to make traditional Chinese festivals legal． |
| D．The action to preserve culture and traditional festivals． |
The public look at the effectiveness of the legalization of the Qixi Festival with a(n） _______ attitude．
| A．indifferent | B．positive | C．doubtful | D．hopeful |
From Paragraph 5 we can learn that _______．
| A．traditional festivals are thought more highly of by the young people |
| B．legal celebrations reduce the risk of disappearing of traditional culture |
| C．the significance of traditional festivals should be more identified with |
| D．young people value traditional culture more while they can do little |
It is implied by the writer that traditional Chinese festivals should be measured _______．
| A．by legal decision | B．in economic ways |
| C．by professional rules | D．in cultural terms |
The writer’s purpose for writing this article is to _______．
| A．remind us that the cultural elements make traditional festivals live on |
| B．complain that Japan and ROK do a better job in preserving culture |
| C．inform the public of the dying out of traditional Chinese festivals |
| D．warn people against business role in celebrating traditional festivals |
In a world with limited land, water and other natural resources, the harm from the traditional business model is on the rise. Actually, the past decade has seen more and more forests disappearing and the globe becoming increasingly warm. People now realize that this unhealthy situation must be changed, and that we must be able to develop in sustainable ways. That means growth with low carbon or development of sustainable products. In other words, we should keep the healthy while using its supply of natural resources.
Today, sustainable development is a popular trend in many countries. According to a recent study, the global market for low-carbon energy will become three times bigger over the next decade. China, for example, has set its mind on leading that market, hoping to seize chances in the new round of the global energy resolution. It is now trying hard to make full use of wind and solar energy, and is spending a huge amount of money making electric cars and high-speed trains. In addition, we are also seeing great growth in the global markets for sustainable products such as palm oil(棕榈油), which is produced without cutting down valuable rainforest. In recent years the markets for sustainable products have grown more than 50%.
Governments can fully develop the potential of these new markets. First, they can set high targets for reducing carbon emissions(排放) and targets for saving and reusing energy. Besides, stronger arrangement of public resources like forests can also help to speed up the development. Finally, governments can avoid the huge public expenses that are taking us in the wrong direction, and redirecting some of those expenses can accelerate the change from the traditional model to a sustainable one.
The major challenge of this century is to find ways to meet the needs of a growing population within the limits of this single planet. That is no small task, but it offers abundant new chances for sustainable product industries.The traditional business model is harmful because of all the following EXCEPT that .
| A． it makes the world warmer |
| B． it consumes natural resources |
| C． it brings severe damage to future |
| D． it makes growth hard to continue |
What can we infer from Paragraph 2?
| A． China lacks wind and solar energy. |
| B． China is the leader of the low-carbon market. |
| C． High-speed trains are a low-carbon development. |
| D． Palm oil is made at the cost of valuable forests. |
To fully develop the low-carbon markets governments can ______.
| A． cut public expenses |
| B． forbid carbon emissions |
| C． develop public resources |
| D． encourage energy conservation |
We can learn from the last paragraph that businesses have many chances to _______.
| A． develop sustainable products |
| B． explore new natural resources |
| C． make full use of natural resources |
| D． deal with the major challenge |
What is the main purpose of the passage?
| A． To introduce a new business model |
| B． To compare two business models |
| C． To predict a change of the global markets |
| D． To advocate sustainable development |
Big Brothers Big Sisters is based on the simplicity and power of friendship. It is a program which provides friendship and fun by matching vulnerable young people (ages 7-17) with a volunteer adult who can be both a role model and a supportive friend.
Volunteer tutors come from all walks of life—married, single, with or without children. Big Brothers and Big Sisters are not replacement parents or social workers. They are tutors: someone to trust, to have fun with, to talk and go to when needed.
A Big Sister and Little Sister will generally spend between one and four hours together three or four times each month for at least twelve months. They enjoy simple activities such as a picnic at a park, cooking, playing sport or going to a football match. These activities improve the friendship and help the young person develop positive self-respect, confidence and life direction.
Big Brothers Big Sisters organizations exist throughout the world. It is the largest and most well-known provider of tutor services internationally and has been operating for 25 years.
Emily and Sarah have been matched since March 2008. Emily is a 10-year-old girl who has experienced some difficulties being accepted by her schoolmates at school. "I was pretty sure there was something wrong with me.”
Emily’s mum came across Big Brothers Big Sisters and thought it would be of benefit to Emily by "providing different feedback(反馈) about herself other than just relying on schoolmates to measure her self-worth. ”
Sarah wanted to get involved in a volunteer program. "I paid close attention to it and found out how to be a part of it. I thought it would be fun for me to get involved in making time to do something because sometimes it’s all work and no play. ”
Big Brothers Big Sisters has been of great benefit and enjoyment to both Emily and Sarah. They love and look forward to their time together and the partnership has certainly helped Emily be more comfortable in being the wonderful, happy and unique girl she is!What is the aim of Big Brothers Big Sisters?
| A． To offer students public services. |
| B． To provide partnership and fun for young people. |
| C． To organize sport activities for young people. |
| D． To help students improve their grades. |
A volunteer is usually expected to work within a year for at least .
| A．24 hours | B． 72 hours | C．48 hours | D． 36 hours |
According to Emily’s mother, this program may provide Emily with .
| A． a new way to assess herself |
| B． advice from her teachers |
| C． a new way to judge her schoolmates |
| D． more comments from her schoolmates |
Why did Sarah want to get involved in the program?
| A． She used to be a volunteer. |
| B． She felt a bit bored with her life. |
| C． She needed a part-time job. |
| D． She wanted to get a challenging job. |
According to the passage, ‘vulnerable young people’ underlined in Paragraph1 are probably those who are .
| A． popular at school |
| B． rather weak physically |
| C． easily hurt emotionally |
| D． confident in themselves |
In the fall of 1985, I was a bright-eyed girl heading off to Howard University, aiming at a legal career and dreaming of sitting on a Supreme Court bench somewhere. Twenty-one years later I am still a bright-eyed dreamer and one with quite a different tale to tell.
My grandma, an amazing woman, graduated from college at the age of 65. She was the first in our family to reach that goal. But one year after I started college, she developed cancer. I made the choice to withdraw from college to care for her. It meant that school and my personal dream would have to wait.
Then I got married with another dream: building my family with a combination of adopted and biological children. In 1999, we adopted our first son. To lay eyes on him was fantastic and very emotional. A year later came our second adopted boy. Then followed son No. 3. In 2003, I gave birth to another boy.
You can imagine how fully occupied I became, raising four boys under the age of 8. Our home was a complete zoo—a joyous zoo. Not surprising, I never did make it back to college full-time. But I never gave up on the dream either. I had only one choice: to find a way. That meant taking as few as one class each semester.
The hardest part was feeling guilty about the time I spent away from the boys. They often wanted me to stay home with them. There certainly were times I wanted to quit, but I knew I should set an example for them to follow through the rest of their lives.
In 2007, I graduated from the University of North Carolina. It took me over 21 years to get my college degree！
I am not special, just single-minded. It always struck me that when you’re looking at a big challenge from the outside it looks huge, but when you’re in the middle of it, it just seems normal. Everything you want won’t arrive in your life on one day. It’s a process. Remember: little steps add up to big dreams.When the author went to Howard University, her dream was to be _____.
| A． a writer | B． a teacher |
| C． a judge | D． a doctor |
Why did the author quit school in her second year of college?
| A． She wanted to study by herself. |
| B． She fell in love and got married. |
| C． She suffered from a serious illness. |
| D． She decided to look after her grandma. |
What can we learn about the author from Paragraphs 4 and 5?
| A． She was busy yet happy with her family life. |
| B． She ignored her guilty feeling for her sons. |
| C． She wanted to remain a full-time housewife. |
| D． She was too confused to make a correct choice. |
What does the author mostly want to tell us in the last paragraph?
| A． Failure is the mother of success. |
| B． Little by little, one goes far. |
| C． Every coin has two sides. |
| D． Well begun, half done. |
Which of the following can best describe the author?
| A． Caring and determined. |
| B． Honest and responsible. |
| C． Ambitious and sensitive. |
| D． Innocent and single-minded. |
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