Sitting on the peaceful coast of Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, watching the sun move quietly into the sea, you shouldn’t forget that Charles Darwin (1809-1882) arrived here in 1835. He stayed on the islands for five weeks, observing various animals. This finally inspired his famous work, On the Origin of Species. You can certainly follow Darwin’s footsteps and enjoy a trip from four to seven days to the islands.
The islands are certainly a paradise (天堂) for wildlife, as there are no natural killers on the islands and the number of boats and visitors is under government control. Though you cannot walk freely as Darwin did about 200 years ago, each day is as impressive as it could be.
The most well-known animals of the Galapagos is the giant tortoise，which can be seen moving slowly around Santa Cruz, the second largest island in the archipelago(群岛). Some of these creatures are so old that they might have been in their youth by Darwin himself.
Despite strict control over activities and timing, your stay on the Galapagos will be remembered as a chain of incomparable pictures; diving with sea lions that swim and play within inches of you; feeling small sharks touch your feet as you swim; and most magically, seeing a whale and her baby surface with a great breath of air.
Travelling between the islands and observing the wildlife that so inspired Darwin, you will feel as though you are getting a special view of an untouched world. At night you will sleep on board the ship, leaving the wildlife in complete occupation of the islands, which are as undisturbed now as they have been since the beginning of time. What do we know about Darwin’s visit to the islands?
| A．He studied different creatures on the islands |
| B．He completed his famous book on the islands |
| C．He was touched by the geography of the islands |
| D．He was attracted by well-known animals of the islands |
Which of the following plays a role in making the islands “a paradise for wildlife”?
| A．Animals on the islands feed on grass. |
| B．Local government forbids killing wildlife. |
| C．People cannot visit the islands as they wish. |
| D．Tourists are not allowed to touch the animals. |
Your stay on the islands will be most impressive mainly because of .
| A．the beautiful sea views | B．Darwin’s inspiring trip |
| C．a closer view of animals | D．various daring activities |
How many kinds of animals are mentioned in this passage?
| A．2 | B．3 | C．4 | D．5 |
Which of the following would be the best title for the passage ？
| A．A Unique Attraction for wildlife Lovers |
| B．Calapagos as a Paradise for Adventures |
| C．Charles Darwin as a symbol of Galapagos |
| D．A successful Example of wildlife protection |
An 80-year-old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45-year-old highly educated son.
Suddenly a crow（乌鸦）perched on the tree near their window.
The father asked his son, “What is this? ”
The son replied, “It is a crow.”
After a few minutes, the father asked his son the 2nd time, “What is this?”
The son said, “Father, I have just now told you It’s a crow’. ”
After a little while, the old father again asked his son the 3rd time, “What is this? ”
“It’s a crow, a crow, a crow.” said the son loudly.
A little after, the father again asked his son the 4th time, “What is this?”
This time the son shouted at his father, “Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again? ‘IT IS A CROW’. Are you not able to understand this?”
A little later the father went to his room and came back with an old diary, which he had kept since his son was born. On opening a page, he asked his son to read that page. When the son read it, the following words were written in the diary:
“Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa when a crow was sitting on the window. My son asked me 23 times what it was, and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question again and again for 23 times. I did not at all feel annoyed; I rather felt affection for my innocent child. ”In what tone did the son say to his Father “It’s a crow, a crow, a crow.”?
| A．impatient | B．excited | C．hurried | D．surprised |
Why did the Father ask the same question again and again?
| A．Because he wanted to make his son angry. |
| B．Because he was too old to remember anything. |
| C．Because he couldn't understand what his son said. |
| D．Because he wanted to see how patient his son would be. |
How old was the old man when his son asked him 23 times “What is this”?
| A．35 years old. | B．38 years old. |
| C．45 years old. | D．80 years old. |
What is the most suitable title for the passage?
| A．A crow. | B．Father's love. |
| C．An old dairy. | D．An old man. |
A Cornell University sleep researcher has some advice for people who run high schools: Don’t start classes so early in the morning. It may not be that the students who nod off at their desks are lazy. And it may not be that their parents have failed to enforce(确保) bedtime. Instead, it may be that biologically these sleepyhead students aren’t used to the early hour.
“Maybe these kids are being asked to rise at the wrong time for their bodies,” says Mary Carskadon, a professor looking at problem of adolescent (青春期的)sleep at Cornell’s School of Medicine.
Carskadon is trying to understand more about the effects of early school time in adolescents. And, at a more basic level, she and her team are trying to learn more about how the biological changes of adolescence affect sleep needs and patterns(方式).
Carskadon says her work suggests that adolescents may need more sleep than they did at childhood, no less, as commonly thought.
Sleep patterns change during adolescence, as any parent of an adolescent can prove. Most adolescents prefer to stay up later at night and sleep later in the morning. But it’s not just a matter of choice—their bodies are going through a change of sleep patterns.
All of this makes the transfer(迁移)from middle school to high school—which may start one hour earlier in the morning—all the more difficult, Carskadon says. With their increased need for sleep and their biological clocks set on the “sleep late, rise late” pattern, adolescents are up against difficulties when they try to be up by 5 or 6 a.m. for a 7:30 a.m. first bell. A short sleep on a desktop may be their body’s way of saying. “I need a timeout.”Carskadon suggests that high schools should not start classes so early in the morning because______.
| A．students work so late at night that they can’t get up early |
| B．students are so lazy that they don’t like to go to school early |
| C．it is really tough for parents to enforce bedtime |
| D．it is biologically difficult for students to rise early |
The underlined phrase “nod off” most probably means “_______”.
| A．turn around | B．fall asleep |
| C．agree with others | D．refuse to work |
What is the test mainly about?
| A．Adolescent heath care. |
| B．Adolescent sleep difficulties. |
| C．Changes in adolescent sleep needs and patterns. |
| D．Problems in adolescent learning. |
When did you last see a polar bear? On a trip to a zoo, perhaps? If you had attended a winter activity in New York a few years ago, you would have seen a whole polar bear club. These “Polar Bears” are people who meet frequently in the winter to swim in freezing cold water. That day, the air temperature was 3℃, and the water temperature was a bit higher. The members of the Polar Bear Club at Coney Island, New York are usually about the age of 60. Members must satisfy two requirements. First, they must get along well with everyone else in the group. This is very important because there are so many different kinds of people in the club. Polar Bears must also agree to swim outdoors at least twice a month from November through February.
Doctors do not agree about the medical effects of cold-water swimming. Some are worried about the dangers of a condition in which the body’s temperature drops so low that finally the heart stops. Other doctors, however, point out that there is more danger of a heart attack during summer swimming because the difference between the air temperature and water temperature is much greater in summer than in winter.
The Polar Bears themselves are satisfied with the benefits (or advantages) of cold-water swimming. They say that their favorite form of exercise is very good for the circulatory system（循环系统）because it forces the blood to move fast to keep the body warm. Cold-water swimmers usually turn bright red after a few minutes in the water. A person who turns blue probably has a very poor circulatory system and should not try cold-water swimming.
The main benefits (or advantages) of cold-water swimming are probably mental. The Polar Bears love to swim year-round; they find it fun and relaxing. As one 70-year-old woman says, “When I go into the water, I pour my troubles into the ocean and let them float away.”The members of the Polar Bear Club must meet the following requirements except that ______.
| A．they must reach the age of 60 |
| B．they should be easy to make friends with |
| C．they must swim outdoors at least 8 times in the four cold months |
| D．they must agree to swim outdoors from November through February |
What do we know about doctors?
| A．They encourage people to take part in cold-water swimming actively. |
| B．They have different ideas about the medical effects of cold-water swimming. |
| C．They point out the possible danger of blood illness during cold-water swimming. |
| D．They believe swimming is helpful both in winter and in summer. |
The Polar Bears like to swim all the year round, for _______.
| A．they can remain young |
| B．it’s an easy way to keep the body warm in winter |
| C．they might meet fewer troubles in life |
| D．they find it enjoyable and interesting |
It can be inferred from the passage that _______.
| A．the water temperature is always lower than the air temperature |
| B．a heart attack is connected with the drop of body’s temperature |
| C．cold-water swimming prevents the blood moving fast |
| D．all people should try cold-water swimming |
European Day of Languages falls on 26 September. BBC News Online reported the attitudes across several European Union countries to languages.
Tamsin Smith, Rome, Italy
Italians place very high importance on learning languages, particularly English. Twenty years ago it was quite difficult to find an English speaker here but today it is quite easy. The strong influence of American and English culture helps young people to learn the English language. They often become familiar with it through “Harry Potter” books or Disney movies. English schools, where Italian children are taught all their lessons in English, are also becoming popular among rich Italians.
Lucien Libert, Paris, France
Languages are very important in France. A good knowledge of the English language is necessary for many Frenchmen to get a good job and the more languages you can learn, the better. English is the first language you learn in school and you start very young. Most people have at least eight years of learning English at school. Learning German or Spanish comes next and Latin is also taught in most schools. While French people learn languages, there is also a movement to protect the French language.
James Helm, Dublin, Ireland
The English language predominates(占优势) in Ireland, but the ancient Irish language is a lasting source of pride and interest, and it remains a living tongue that is used in several areas. School are required to teach ancient Irish, and most students learn it as part of the subjects. There is a continuing discussion about how to protect the language best. In recent years some primary schools have introduced foreign language classes for younger students, and the Irish government has tried to encourage schools to offer more languages such as French, Spanish, German and Italian.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to Tamsin Smith?
| A．English learning in Italy has been popular for more than a century. |
| B．Some popular books and movies help young Italian people with their English a lot. |
| C．Only children from rich families like to learn English in Italy. |
| D．More and more Italian children have given up learning their mother tongue. |
What can help you get a better job in France?
| A．Studying abroad for at least one year. |
| B．Learning English at younger ages. |
| C．Knowing another language but French. |
| D．Learning several languages well. |
In Ireland most students ______.
| A．like learning English instead of the ancient Irish |
| B．are asked to learn many other foreign languages |
| C．have to spend time learning the ancient Irish |
| D．have no idea how to protect the English language |
Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
| A．European Language Day. |
| B．BBC News Online. |
| C．Attitudes to Languages in Europe. |
| D．Three Foreigners in Europe. |
Modern life is comfortable. Meanwhile, it is costly. As price and building costs keep rising, the do-it-yourself (DIY) trend (趋势) in the U.S. continues to grow.
“We need furniture for our living-room,” says John Ross, “and we just didn’t have enough money to buy it. So we decide to try making a few tables and chairs.” John got married six months ago, and like many young people these days, they are struggling to make a home at a time when the cost of living is very high. The Rosses took a 2-week course for $280 at a night school. Now they build all their furniture and make repairs around the house.
Jim Hatfield has three boys and his wife died. He has a full-time job at home as well as in a shoe-making factory. Last month, he received a car repair bill for $420. “I was deeply upset about it. Now I’ve finished a car repair course. I should be able to fix the car by myself.”
John and Jim are not unusual people. Most families in the country are doing everything they can to save money so they can fight the high cost of living.
If you want to become a “do-it-yourselfer”, you can go to DIY classes. And for those who don’t have time to take the course, there are books that tell you how you can do things yourself.We can learn from the second paragraph that ______.
| A．many young people have difficulty building a house |
| B．many newly married people take DIY courses for fun |
| C．John and his wife make or repair things to save money |
| D．John and his wife build their furniture to improve the quality of life |
When the writer says that Jim has a full-time job at home, he means Jim ______.
| A．keeps house and looks after his children |
| B．does extra work at night |
| C．does his own car and home repairs |
| D．makes shoes in his home |
Jim Hatfield decided to become a do-it-yourselfer when ______.
| A．he had to raise the children all by himself |
| B．his car repairs cost too much |
| C．he could not possibly do two jobs |
| D．The car repair class wasn’t helpful |
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