Tragedy at the Circus
In yesterday’s circus（马戏团）show, a tiger suddenly attacked its trainer and had to be shot dead. As the circus packed up and left, circus officials said the show would go on, even without tigers.
However, the officials cann’t simply turn a blind eye to the ethical（道德的） problems left behind. Even before this tragedy(悲剧), animal rights activists protested（抗议） against keeping wild animals in unnatural conditions and forcing them to suffer for the profit(利润)of circus organizers.
It is now time for us to take effective steps to make sure that circus animals are treated properly.
*******************************
Circus Safe for Animals
Our circus recently suffered a most tragic event in its history. While we are thankful for the pity from the public, we are also astonished by the opinion expressed in “Tragedy at the Circus. ”
First, our performing animals are not taken from the wild. As to the ethical problems. we always believe humans and animals can—and should—live together nicely. To us, the performing animals are representatives of their species(物种), and our circus is one of the only places left willing to support this special role of performing animals in the existence of the species. Those who argue that circus life is harmful to animals show little knowledge of these facts. Life in the “wild” is unsafe, but a continuous struggle for existence. To overlook these realities is the greatest fault against the animal kingdom.
This circus has proven that animals are stronger and smarter than we could imagine. Within the circus is a joyful atmosphere for both animals and humans: people are educated, and species saved. What is the main purpose of the first passage?
| A．To show pity for the performing animals. |
| B．To express worries about animal trainers' safety. |
| C．To deal with the difficult situations of the circus. |
| D．To call for action to protect circus animals. |
What will the circus most probably do?
| A．Take no notice of the tragedy. |
| B．Continue its performances. |
| C．Use fewer wild animals. |
| D．Limit its profit. |
What does the circus think of its performing animals?
| A．They are as clever as human beings. |
| B．They struggle continuously with human beings for existence. |
| C．They are helpful in saving their species. |
| D．They have equally natural living conditions as wild animals. |
What is the most probable relationship between the two passages?
| A．A public request and a newspaper report. |
| B． A newspaper article and a reply to it. |
| C．Two parts of a newspaper article. |
| D．Two newspaper reports. |
第二部分阅读理解（共20小题，每小题2分，满分40分）
A
China news, Beijing, Feb. 9 – Housing price in China has always aroused heated discussions among property developers and ordinary Chinese. To many property developers and local government officials, housing price in China is still low compared with many developed countries. However, the average housing price in the United States is only 8,000 yuan per square meter, while in China, it is even higher than in the United States. This shows that there are some bubbles(泡沫) in Chinese real estate (房地产) market, the International Finance News reported.
Although the average price of residential houses in the United States, after converted to Renminbi, is about 8,000 yuan per square meter, the houses in US are not sold in terms of building area, as most Chinese property developers do when they sell their houses. If US property developers sell their houses according to the building area, then the housing price will be even lower than 8,000 yuan per square meter. In most big Chinese cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, houses are sold a
t a price even higher than those in the US.
The high housing sales price in large cities in China proves that Chinese real estate market does have some bubbles. Moreover, Chinese houses can not be compared with houses in US in terms of building quality, environment and supporting facilities. Furthermore, it should be noted that American people’s average income is several dozen times higher than that of Chinese people. How can the Chinese afford to buy a house which is even more expensive than that sold in US?
At the beginning of 2007, Chinese government issued a set of policies that aimed to benefit the public. Now in order to reduce the high housing prices, the government can regulate (控制) the real estate market by raising tax on property industry and controlling the release of loans and lands to property developers. At the same time, the government should allow people to build more houses through various fund-raising channels, such as funds collected from buyers or raised by working units. By applying these multiple means, it is expected that the high housing prices can be lowered.
56．Which of the following does NOT support the idea that the average housing price in China is even higher than in the United States?
A．Chinese houses can not be compared with houses in US in terms of building quality, environment and supporting facilities.
B．American people’s average income is several dozen times higher than that of Chinese people.
C．The houses in US are not sold in terms of building area, as most Chinese property developers do when they sell their houses.
D．There are more people who need houses in China than in the United States.
57．What is the main idea of this passage?
A．The Chinese government should do something to control the housing price.
B．There are some bubbles in Chinese real estate market.
C．The average housing price in China is even higher than in the United States.
D．The Chinese government issued a set of policies that aimed to benefit the public.
58．How many measures are mentioned in the last paragraph in order to reduce the high housing prices? A．Four B．Three C．Five D．Two
Critics of cloning often repeat the question related to the controversial(有争议的) science “Just because we can, does it mean we should?” The closer we come to being able to clone a human, the hotter the debate over it grows. For all the good things cloning may achieve, opponents say that it will do just as much harm. Another question is how to governing cloning process.
There is federal official law banning cloning in the United States, but several states have passed their own laws to ban the practice. The US Food and Drugs Administration(FDA), has also said that anyone in the United States attempting human cloning must first get its permission. In Japan, human cloning is a crime that is punished by up to 10 years in prison.
While laws are to ban cloning at this time, some scientists believe that the technology is not ready to be tested on humans. Ian Wilmut, one of the co-creators of Dolly, has even said that human cloning projects would be an irresponsible crime. Cloning technology is still in its early stages, and nearly 98% percent of cloning efforts end in failure. The embryos are either not suitable for implanting into the uterus(子宫) or they die shortly after birth.
The clones that do survive end up suffering from deadly or problematic genetic abnormalities(畸形). Some clones have been born with faulty heart, lung problems and blood vessel problems. One of the most famous cases was a cloned sheep that was born with but malformed arteries(畸形动脉) leading to the lungs.
Opponents of cloning will point out that we can enthanize(安乐死) these faulty clones of other animals, but they ask what if a human clone is born with these same problems. Advocates of cloning respond that it is now easier to pick out faulty embryos even before they are implanted into the mother. The debate over human cloning is just beginning, but as science advances, it could be the biggest moral dilemma of the 21st century.
68. Which word in the text is the opposite of the underlined word “opponents”?
A. critics B. advocates C. scientists D. co-creators
69. The writer writes this passage mainly to ________________.
A. support passing laws to ban human cloning
B. list problems with human cloning
C. introduce critics’ ideas about human cloning
D. state the debate over human cloning
70. Which of the following will Ian Wilmut probably NOT agree with?
A. Cloning technology is in its early stages.
B. Human cloning should be made illegal.
C. Very few cloning efforts are successful.
D. Cloning technology is ready to be tested on humans
There was once a beautiful nymph called Echo. But Echo had one failing; she was fond of talking, and whether in chat or argument, would have the last word. As she was good company , she and Zeus became good friends. However，Zeus’ wife, Hera, became jealous. She followed Zeus to the earth to find out what he was doing and Zeus asked Echo to distract Hera until he could escape. Later when Hera discovered she had been tricked, she became very angry. She turned on Echo and said, “You shall lose the use of your tongue because you cheated me. You’ll have the last word, bur no longer have the power to speak first.” So from that moment on, Beautiful Echo was hardly able to hold a conversation because she could only repeat the last words of those around her. She became very embarrassed and hid herself deep in the woods.
One day a handsome young man called Narcissus came into the woods. He had been hunting deer and lost his way. However, the moment Echo saw him, she fell in love with him. She followed him, wishing to tell him but unable o begin a conversation. Oh, how she wished she could speak first. Unfortunately, Narcissus was far too busy worrying about where his companions might be and how he could find his way home.
Eventually Narcissus, with Echo following behind along, came to a pool of water in the middle of the woods. Feeling thirsty, Narcissus bent down to drink. As he did so, he saw a beautiful creature in the water staring up at him. . He immediately bent over and said to him, “I love you!” Echo, nearby, and seeing her chance, immediately responded “…. I love you!” But it was too late. Narcissus was already in love, with himself.
` The stranger seemed to rise up closer to Narcissus who was so involved that he entirely failed to notice Echo. “I want to stay and look at this beautiful sight forever,” he whispered dreamily to himself.”… Forever,” repeated Echo sadly. “Come her,” called Narcissus to his reflection as he moved his head and the creature seemed to move away. “…Here.” responded Echo. Narcissus bent back down to see his reflection more clearly. “So beautiful! I’ve never seen anything so beautiful!” “….So beautiful!” responded Echo truthfully.
Narcissus remained by the water refusing all Echo’s silent offers of food and drink until he died. Where he had been, a flower grew in his place, as beautiful as Narcissus himself. As for Echo, from that time forward, she also didn’t eat or drink till she turned to rocks and all that was left was her voice. Even now you can still hear Echo trying to attract Narcissus’ attention by repeating his words and still see Narcissus as a beautiful flower growing near a pool.
63. Why was Echo unable to let Narcissus know she loved him?
A. Because she had lost the ability to speak. B. Because she was too shy to speak first.
C. Because Hera had taken away her ability to speak first.
D. Because Narcissus took no notice of her.
64. “The stranger” in paragraph 4 refers to ______.
A. Echo B. A fairy in the woods. C. Hera. D. Narcissus himself.
65. Which of the following kinds of person can be described as a “Narcissus”?
A. A person who loves and admires himself or herself.
B. A person who’s afraid of being separated from companions.
C. A person who is too shy to have a chat with other people.
D. A person who loves to admire beautiful water flowers.
66. Which of the following is the correct order of the events?
a) Hera wouldn’t let Echo start a conversation.
b) Narcissus fell in love with his reflection in the water.
c) Echo saw Narcissus and fell in love at the first sight.
d) Echo distracted Hera to help Zeus escape.
e) Narcissus became a flower and Echo a rock.
A. a-b-c-d-e B. d-a-c-b-e C. d-a-b-c-e D. c-d-a-b-e
67. What’s the best title of this passage?
A. Echo’s sacrifice. B. Echo and Hera.
C. Echo and Narcissus. D. Narcissus’s self-love.
Some of the United States’ biggest banks have closed their doors to students at community colleges, for-profit universities and other less competitive schools, even as they continue to extend government-backed loans to students at eh nation’s top universities.
Citibank has been among the most active in rebuilding the list of colleges it serves. JPMorgan Chase, PNC and SunTrust say have not dropped whole loan plans, but are cutting colleges. Some less-selective four-year colleges, like Eastern Oregon University and William Jessup University, say they have been dropped by some lenders.
The practice suggests that if the credit crisis and poor conditions in the student loan business continue, some of the nation’s neediest students will be hurt most. The difficulty of borrowing money may keep them from attending school or force them to take a semester（学期） off. For those who have got student loans, they will end up with less attractive terms and may run a greater risk of dropping out if they have to change lenders in the middle of their college year.
Tuition and loan amounts can be quite small at community colleges. But these institutions, which are a stepping stone to other educational programs or to better jobs, often draw students from the lower ranks of the economic classes. According to the most recent data, about a third of US graduates took out loans, a majority of them guaranteed by the government.
“If put too many obstacles in their way to get a loan, they ’ll take a third job or use a credit card,” said Jacqueline K. Bradley, assistant director for financial aid at Mendocino College. “That almost guarantees that they won’t be as successful in their college career.”
Some loan companies have stopped the students loan business entirely, viewing it as unprofitable in the current environment. Students attending first-class, expensive, public and private four-year universities can expect to remain plentiful. The banks generally say these loans are bigger, more profitable, and less risky, perhaps in part because the banks expect graduates from these universities to earn more.
So far, financial aid administrators say they have been able to find some lenders that students can switch to, but this is costly to students--- in money and time.
59. Who will be the most upset at the news?
A. A poor students at a top university. B. A poor students at a community university.
C. A bank clerk dealing with student loan business.
D. A teacher from a for-profitable university.
60. With too many obstacles in their way to get a loan, students will probably __________.
A. switch to top universities B. cancel their credit cards
C. fail in their exams D. win a scholarship
61. When they say something is “government-backed”, you mean it is ___________.
A. guaranteed by the government B. dropped by the government
C. against government D. for government
62. What is the best title for the passage?
A. The students loan business in America. B. Banks and universities in America.
C. Student loans start to drop colleges. D. Credit crisis starts to affect loans.
……
This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight’s about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She is a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election, except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.
She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons, because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.
And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America: the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.
At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.
When there was despair in the Dust Bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.
When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.
She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "we shall overcome." Yes we can.
A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.
America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there’s so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves, if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?
(From Obama’s victory speech, 2008 )
56. What can be inferred from the passage?
A. Ann Nixon Cooper was once a slave. B. Ann Nixon Cooper is a black woman.
C. Ann Nixon Cooper knows Obama and his family very well.
D. Ann Nixon Cooper contributed much to the changes of America.
57. What does the underlined part“cast her ballot”in the first paragraph probably mean?
A. expressed her happiness B. worked for Obama
C. voted in the election D. celebrated the victory
58. What message does this part of Obama’s speech mainly send?
A. Ann Nixon Cooper has experienced the best time and the darkest hours of America in the last century.
B. America has undergone great development in the last century and is looking forward to more great changes.
C. Ann Nixon Cooper has witnessed the development and democracy of America.
D. This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations.
粤公网安备 44130202000953号