It's no secret that many children would be healthier and happier with adoptive parents than with the parents that nature dealt them. That's especially true of children who remain in abusive homes because the law blindly favors biological parents. It's also true of children who suffer for years in foster homes (收养孩子的家庭) because of parents who can't or won't care for them but refuse to give up custody (监护) rights.
Fourteen-year-old Kimberly Mays fits neither description, but her recent court victory could eventually help children who do. Kimberly has been the object of an angry custody baffle between the man who raised her and her biological parents, with whom she has never lived. A Florida judge ruled that the teenager can remain with the only father she's ever known and that her biological parents have "no legal claim" on her.
The ruling, though it may yet be reversed, sets aside the principle that biology is the primary determinant of parentage. That's an important development, one that's long overdue.
Shortly after birth in December 1978, Kimberly Mays and another infant were mistakenly switched and sent home with the wrong parents. Kimberly's biological parents, Ernest and Regina Twigg, received a child who died of a heart disease in 1988. Medical tests showed that the child wasn't the Twiggs' own daughter, but Kimt only was, thus sparking a custody battle with Robert Mays. In 1989, the two families agreed that Mr. Mays would maintain custody with the Twiggs getting visiting fights. Those rights were ended when Mr. Mays decided that Kimberly was being harmed.
The decision to leave Kimberly with Mr. Mays rendered her suit debated. But the judge made clear that Kimberly did have standing to sue ( 起诉) on her own behalf. Thus he made clear that she was more than just property to be handled as adults saw fit.
Certainly, the biological link between parent and child is fundamental. But biological parents aren't always preferable to adoptive ones, and biological parentage does not convey an absolute ownership that cancels all the rights of children.
36. What was the primary consideration in the Florida judge's ruling?
A. The biological link. B. The child's benefits.
C. The traditional practice. D. The parents' feelings.
37. We can learn from the Kimberly case that
A. children are more than just personal possessions of their parents
B. the biological link between parent and child should be emphasized
C. foster homes bring children more pain and suffering than care
D. biological parents shouldn't claim custody rights after their child is adopted
38. The Twiggs claimed custody rights to Kimberly because
A. they found her unhappy in Mr. Mays' custody B. they regarded her as their property
C. they were her biological parents D. they felt guilty about their past mistake
39. Kimberly had been given to Mr. Mays
A. by sheer accident B. at his request C. out of charity D. for better care
40. The author's attitude towards the judge's ruling could be described as
A. doubtful B. cautious C. critical D. supportive
第二节简答题（共3小题；每小题1.5分，满分4.5分）
Tsunamis (海啸) are a series of huge waves created by an underground movement such as an earthquake or a volcanic eruption (火山喷发) . A tsunami can travel hundreds of miles per hour in the open ocean and hit the land with huge waves.
From the area where the tsunamis come, waves travel in all directions. Once the waves approach the coast, they will become more than 100 feet in height. The topography (地形) of the coastline and the ocean floor will influence the size of the wave. There may be more than one wave and the latter one may be larger than the one before. That is why a small tsunami at one beach can be a huge wave a few miles away.
All tsunamis are dangerous, even if they may not damage every coastline they strike. A tsunami can strike anywhere along most of the US coastline. Many harmful tsunamis have occurred along the coasts of California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Hawaii.
A movement of the ocean floor, caused by earthquakes, most often causes tsunamis. If a tsunami occurs close to a coast, the first wave could reach the beach in a few minutes, even before a warning is given. Areas are at greater risk if they are less than 25 feet above sea level and within a mile of the coastline. Drowning is the most common cause of death during a tsunami. Tsunami waves are very harmful to buildings. Other dangers include floods, pollution of drinking water, and fires from gas lines.
An accurate prediction (预报) system will allow authorities (官方) to issue timely warnings and save lives in the event of a shore-bound tsunami. But forecasting tsunamis accurately is very difficult because the ocean is usually calm before they strike land.
65. What can cause tsunamis according to the passage? ( 回答词数不超过6个 )
______________________________________________________________________________
66. What harm can a tsunami bring besides killing people and damaging buildings? ( 回答词数不超过15个 )
______________________________________________________________________________
67. Why is it very difficult to forecast tsunami accurately ? ( 回答词数不超过9个 )
______________________________________________________________________________
There are many American expressions about insects--- like bees, for example. Bees are known as very hard workers. They appear to be busy, moving around their homes, or hives (蜂窝). So you might say you were as busy as a bee if you spent your weekend cleaning your house. In fact, you might say your house was a beehive of activity if your whole family was helping you clean. You also might say you made a beeline for something if you went there right away. When we go to see a movie, my friend always makes a beeline for the place where they sell popcorn (爆米花) .
Here is an expression about bees that is not used much any more, but we like it anyway. We think it was first used in the 1920s. If something was the best of its kind, you might say it was the bee’s knees. Now, we admit that we do not know how this expression developed. In fact, we do not even know if bees have knees!
If your friend cannot stop talking about something because she thinks it is important, you might say she has a bee in her bonnet (女帽). If someone asks you a personal question, you might say “that is none of your beeswax”. This means none of your business.
Speaking of personal questions, there is an expression when their children ask, “Where do babies come from?” Parents who discuss sex and reproduction (生殖) say this is talking about the birds and bees.
Butterflies are beautiful insects, but you would not want to have butterflies in your stomach. That means to be nervous about having to do something, like speaking in front of a crowd. You would also not want to have ants in your trousers. That is, to be unable to sit still.
1. If you make a beeline for something, you ______ .
A. are as busy as a bee B. go quickly and directly towards it
C. always go to the same place D. buy something at a certain place
2. The underlined expression “ it is the bee’s knees” _______ .
A. is not used at all now B. was first used in the 1820s
C. reminds us that bees have knees D. means “it is very good”
3. If you ask your American friend Jack “How old is your wife?” he may say “______.”
A. It is none of your beeswax B. You have a bee in your bonnet
C. It is the bee’s knees D. You are talking about the birds and bees
4. When you have butterflies in your stomach, you ______ .
A. are too sick to sit still B. have ants in your trousers
C. are nervous about something D. have a stomachache
5. The passage mainly tells us _______.
A. some interesting and useful insects B. some expressions about insects
C. the way of learning expressions D. some newly-invented expressions
Junelle Lynch knocked on more than 200 doors in the Gayln Manor neighborhood of Brunswick in recent weeks. Her aim is to collect food for Brunswick Food Bank.
“I like helping people a lot,” said Junelle, who celebrated her 11th birthday in July.
With the support of her parents, Junelle walks along the streets with an orange bag. Her mother follows her by car
, so Junelle can empty her bag when it becomes heavy. Isabella always accompanies(陪伴) her daughter.
Neighbor Lynda Mallory dropped noodles and canned soup, vegetables and fruit into Junelle’s bag. After visiting the last house, Junelle said she felt good about what she had achieved with the help of her neighbors.
Working an hour a night three times per week, she has collected more than 400 pounds of canned and boxed food. This isn’t the first year she has collected food. Junelle started nearly three years ago, at 8 years old, when she saw a collection box at a grocery store and decided to be a volunteer. In her first year, she collected 80 pounds of food in the undeveloped neighborhood, and 214 pounds the next year. The food helped feed many poor families. Her parents couldn’t be prouder of their daughter.
The Brunswick Food Bank volunteer manager Sandy Cox said, “I find her to be an amazing young lady. I don’t think I’ve seen someone that young who cares about the needs of other people so much. I wish other people would follow her.”
1. According to the passage, the Brunswick Food Bank is probably _____ .
A. a bank for people to save and draw money
B. a place to store food and give it out when the market is short
C. an organization to help the poor by collecting food for them
D. an organization which collects food and then sells it
2. Isabella usually helps her daughter by _______.
A. asking the neighbors for food B. following her and letting her empty the bag
C. offering her food for free D. putting canned and boxed food in the car
3. What do we know about Junelle’s food collecting?
A. She spends several hours doing it each week.
B. She did it following her parents’ advice.
C. She believes she can collect much more food next year.
D. She did it because she wanted to work for the grocery store.
4. What do we know from the passage?
A. Junelle has collected food for more than three years.
B. Junelle often collects food with her father.
C. Junelle started collecting food when she was 11.
D. In Junelle’s parents’ opinion, she is a very good girl.
5. Why does Sandy Cox wish that other people would follow Junelle?
A. Because Junelle cares about what other people need.
B. Because Junelle has collected more food than other people.
C. Because neighbors are willing to help Junelle.
D. Because the Brunswick Food Bank needs more food.
第三部分：阅读理解（共16小题：每小题1.5分，满分24分）
第一节 阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。（共13个小题，每小题1.5分，满分19.5 分）并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Our little boy came up t
o his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was preparing supper, and handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on. After his mom dried her hands on her apron (围裙) , she read it, and this is what was said:
For going to the store for you $2.
For cutting the grass in the garden $3.
For cleaning up the yard this week $2.5.
For cleaning up my room this week $2.
For setting the table for meals this week $1.
For baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping $1.5.
For getting a good school report $5.
Total owed: $17.
His mother looked at him, who was standing there with expectation. Memories flashed through her mind. Then she picked up a pen, turned over the paper he had written on, and wrote:
For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me, No Charge(收费) .
For all the nights that I’ve sat up with you and taken care of you, No Charge.
For all the problems and troubles that you’ve caused through the years, there is No Charge.
When you add it all up, the cost of my love is No Charge.
For all the nights that were filled with fear and for the worries I knew were ahead, No Charge. For the toys, food, clothes, and even wiping up your nose? There is No Charge. And when you add it all up, the full cost of real love is, No Charge, Son.
Well, friends, when our son finished reading what his mother had written, there were big tears in his eyes, and he looked straight up at his mother and said, “Mom, I sure do love you..” And then he took the pen and in great letters he wrote, “ PAID IN FULL.”
1. What might the mother be doing when the boy came into the kitchen?
A. Getting the dishes ready. B. Repairing the cooker.
C. Washing dirty dishes. D. Laying the table for dinner.
2. According to the boy’s bill, his mom owed him ______ for his helping with the house work.
A. $7.50 B. $10.50 C. $12.00 D. $17.00
3. This story tries to tell us that ________.
A. real love is priceless B. housework is endless C. the mother is wise D. the boy is selfish
The young people who talk of the village as being “dead” are talking nothing but nonsense, as in their hearts they must surely know.
No, the village is not dead. There is more life in it now than there ever was. But it seems that “village life” is dead. Gone for ever. It began to decline about a hundred years ago. When many girls left home to go into service in town many miles away, and men also left home in increasing numbers in search of work, and home was where work was. There are still a number of people alive today who can remember what “village life” meant in the early years of the present century. It meant knowing and being known by everybody else in the village. It meant finding your entertainment in the village of within walking distance of it. It meant housewives tied to the home all day and every day. It meant going to bed early to save lamp oil and coal.
Then came the First World War and the Second World War. After each war, new ideas, new attitudes, new trades and occupations were revealed（展现）to villagers. The long-established order of society was no longer taken for granted. Electricity and the motorcar were steadily operating to make “village life” and “town life” almost alike. Now with the highly developed science and technology and high-level social welfare（福利）for all, there is no point whatever in talking any longer about “village life.” It is just life, and a better life.
Finally, if we have any doubts about the future, or about the many changes which we have seen in our lives, we have only to look in at the school playground any mid-morning; or see the children as they walk homeward in little groups. 0bviously these children are better fed, better clothed, better educated, healthier, prettier and happier than any generation of children that ever before walked the village street.
1．By saying that village is not dead, but “village life” is dead, the writer suggests that_______ .
A．those young people who talk of the village as being “dead” are wrong
B．the two statements are against each other
C．“village life” today is rather uninteresting
D．“village life” today is no longer like what it used to be
2．As is suggested in paragraph 2, villages in the past______________.
A．lived a simpler life than villagers today
B．knew fewer people than villagers today
C．found it difficult to enjoy themselves
D．like to wash themselves with cold water
3．The expression “…there is no point whatever in talking about…” in paragraph 3 means that______________.
A．there is no end to the talking about …
B．it is harmful to talk about …
C．it is not meaningless to talk about …
D．there is no reason for talking about …
4．What does the writer think of the “village life today”?
A．Dead. B．Worse C．Better. D．Unclear.
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