Imagine an eco-conscious city where rooftops have been transformed into fertile, green gardens. It's a place where every home is equipped with a system that recycles valuable water resources. In this town, protecting the planet is a way of life. That's how Abby Sharp, 14, Wyatt Peery, 13, and Tom Krajnak, 14, saw their city of tomorrow. The vision won the eighth-graders from Bexley, Ohio, first prize at the 2009 National Engineers Week Future City Competition.
The annual design competition challenges middle school students to use engineering to deal with issues that affect the earth. This year the competition focused on water conservation. Participants had to come up with ways to improve water use in the home. Kids from 38 middle schools across the country competed in the finals. The event took place from February 17-18 in Washington, D.C. More than 30,000 students entered the competition.
Abby, Wyatt and Tom call their winning city Novo Mondum. The name means "new world" in Latin. Novo Mondum sits on the coast of Iceland. The group chose the spot for its wealth of clean energy resources, such as geothermal（地热的） energy and hydropower. Both sources use the power of nature to generate electricity. Geothermal energy draws heat from deep inside the Earth. Hydropower gets energy from flowing water. "Our city is very globally aware," Abby told TFK.
Students team up with a teacher and a volunteer engineer mentor（顾问）to develop their cities. Each group creates a fictional city on SimCity 4 Deluxe, a computer game that allows players to build virtual towns. Then they construct tabletop models of the cities and write essays describing their project. The models must be made using recycled materials and cost no more than $100 to build. What’s the main feature of the city designed by the three winners?
| A．Making full use of water resources. |
| B．Turning rooftops into green gardens. |
| C．Protecting our home — the earth. |
| D．Costing no money to build |
It can be inferred that water conversation is __________.
| A．one of the problems that influence the Earth. |
| B．the main theme of 2009 Future City Competition. |
| C．one of the issues for the participants to deal with abroad. |
| D．an easy topic for all the students to design. |
According to the passage, Abby, Wyatt and Tom are _____.
A. ninth-graders from Bexley, Ohio.
B. second prize winners at the 2009 Future City Competition.
C. lucky to get the first prize at the 2009 Future City Competition.
D. eighth-graders from Washington, D.C.The underlined word “hydropower” means ______________.
| A．electric power from burning oil. |
| B．electric power from burning coals. |
| C．electric power from deep inside the earth. |
| D．electric power from moving water. |
What’s the main idea of the last paragraph?
| A．The process of developing a Future City. |
| B．How teachers instruct the students in the competition. |
| C．The process of building virtual towns. |
| D．What materials should be used in the competition. |
Decision-thinking is not unlike. It often matters not only what you think, but also what others think you think and what you think they think you think. The mental process（过程） is similar. Naturally, this card game has often been of considerable interest to people who are, by any standards, good thinkers.
The great mathematician John von Neumann was one of the founders of game theory. In particular, he showed that all games fall into two classes; there are what he called games of 'perfect information', games like chess where the players can't hide anything or play tricks; they don't win by chance, but by means of logic and skills. Then there are games of 'imperfect information', like poker, in which it is impossible to know in advance that one course of action is better than another.
One mistaken idea about business is that it can be treated as a game of perfect information. Quite the reverse, business and life itself are games which we must normally play with very imperfect information. Business decisions are often made with many unknown and unknowable factors（因素）, as best poker players. But few business people find it comfortable to admit that they are taking a chance, and many still prefer to believe that they are playing chess, not poker.
49．The subject discussed in this text is _________.
A．the process of reaching decisions
B．the difference between poker and chess.
C．the secret of making good business plans
D．the value of information in winning games
50．An important factor in a game of imperfect information is ___________.
A．rules B．luck C．time D．ideas
51．Which of the following can be used in place of "Quite the reverse"?
A．Quite right. B．True enough.
C．Most unlikely. D．Just the opposite.
52．In the writer's opinion, when making business decisions one should ___________ .
A．put perfect information before imperfect information
B．accept the existence of unknown factors
C．regard business as a game of chess
D．mix known and unknown factors
The easy way out isn't always easiest. I learned that lesson when I decided to treat Doug, my husband of one month, to a special meal. I glanced through my cookbook and chose a menu which included homemade bread. Knowing the bread would take time, I started on it as soon as Doug left for work. As I was not experienced in cooking, I thought if a dozen was good, two dozen would be better, so I doubled everything. As Dong loved oranges, I also opened a can of orange and poured it all into the bowl. Soon there was a sticky dough（面团）covered with ugly yellowish marks. realizing I had been defeated, I put the dough in the rubbish bin outside so I wouldn't have to face Doug laughing at my work, I went on preparing the rest of the meal, and, when Doug got home, we sat down to Cornish chicken with rice. He tried to enjoy the meal but seemed disturbed. Twice he got up and went outside, saying he thought he heard a noise. The third time he left, I went to the windows to see what he was doing. Looking out, I saw Doug standing about three feet from the rubbish bin, holding the lid up with a stick and looking into the container. When I came out of the house, he dropped the stick and explained that there was something alive in out rubbish bin. Picking up the stick again, he held the lid up enough for me to see. I felt cold. But I stepped closer and looked harder. Without doubt it was my work. The hot sun had caused the dough to double in size and the fermenting yeast （酵母）made the surface shake and sigh as though it were breathing. I had to admit what the 'living thing 'was and why it was there. I don't know who was more embarrassed（尴尬）by the whole thing ,Doug or me?
44．The writer's purpose in writing this story is ___________
A．to tell an interesting experience
B．to show the easiest way out of a difficulty
C．to describe the trouble facing a newly married woman
D．to explain the difficulty of learning to cook from books
45．Why did the woman's attempt at making the bread turn out to be unsuccessful?
A．The canned orange had gone bad.
B．She didn't use the right kind of flour.
C．The cookbook was hard to understand.
D．She did not follow the directions closely.
46．Why did the woman put the dough in the rubbish bin?
A．She didn't see the use of keeping it
B．She meant to joke with her husband.
C．She didn't want her husband to see it .
D．She hoped it would soon dry in the sun.
47．What made the dough in the rubbish bin make the noise?
A．The rising and falling movement.
B．The strange-looking marks.
C．Its shape.
D．Its size.
48．When Doug went out the third time, the woman looked out of the window because she was ______________.
A．surprised at his being interested in the bin
B．afraid that he would discover her secret
C．unhappy that he didn't enjoy the meal
D．curious to know what disturbed him
第二部分 阅读理解（共两节；满分50分）
第一节阅读短文（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）
New York, 10 November 5：27pm, yesterday. Biggest power failure in the city's history.
*Thousands of people got stuck in lifts. Martin Saltzman spent three hours between the 21st and 22nd floors of the Empire State Building. "There were twelve of us. But no one panicked. We passed the time telling stories and playing word games. One man wanted to smoke but we didn't let him. Firemen finally got us out."
* "It was the best night we've ever had.," said Angela Carraro. who runs an ltalian restaurant on 42nd Street. "We had lots candles on the tables and the waiters were carrying candles on their trays. The place was full and all night, in fact, for after we had closed, we let the people stay on and spend the night here."
* The zoos had their problems like everyone else. Keepers worked through the night. They used blankets to keep flying squirrels and small monkeys warm. While zoos had problems keeping warm, supermarkets had problems keeping cool. "All of our ice cream and frozen foods melted," said the manger of a store in downtown Manhattan. "They were worth $50,0000."
* The big electric clock in the lobby（大厅） of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in downtown Manhattan started（滴答） again at 5：25 this morning. It was almost on time.
41．Throughout the period of darkness, Martin Saltzman and the eleven others were _________.
A．nervous B．excited C．calm D．frightened
42．In what way was the night of November 9 the best night for Angela Carraro ?
A．She had a taste of adventure.
B．Burning candles brightened the place.
C．Business was better than usual.
D．Many people stayed the night in her restaurant.
43．How long did the power failure last?
A．Nearly 12 hours. B．More than 12 hours.
C．Nearly 24 hours. D．More than 24 hours.
Fitness Center timetable
| Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
Sunday |
|
| 7:15 a.m. |
Body Power |
Aerobics |
Body Stretch |
|
Aerobics |
Body Burn |
Body Stretch |
| 10:30 a.m. |
Beginner Aerobics |
|
Beginner Aerobics |
|
Aerobics |
Body Stretch |
|
| 12:30 p.m. |
Body Stretch |
Body Burn |
|
Aerobics |
Beginner Aerobics |
|
Body Burn |
| 3:00 p.m. |
|
Beginner Aerobics |
|
Body Stretch |
Body Burn |
Beginner Aerobics |
|
| 4:45 p.m. |
Body Burn |
Aerobics |
Aerobics |
Body Power |
Body Power |
Body Stretch |
|
| 5:30 p.m. |
Aerobics |
Body Power |
Body Power |
Body Burn |
Body Stretch |
|
Body Power |
| 6:30 p.m. |
Aerobics |
Body Burn |
Body Burn |
Beginner Aerobics |
|
Body Power |
|
| 7:30 p.m. |
Beginner Aerobics |
Body Stretch |
Beginner Aerobics |
Aerobics |
|
|
|
Body Power: This class uses weights and aerobic movements (a form of very active physical exercise) to increase strength while burning fat. It is suitable for all levels for fitness.
Aerobics: This is a low to middle level of difficulty in aerobic class. It is good for beginner to average levels of fitness.
Beginner Aerobics: This class has a low level of difficulty and simple aerobic movements. It is mainly for people who have not exercised before or who are just returning after a long break of injury.
Body Stretch(hold your arms or legs out straight and tighten your muscles): This is a relaxation class which stretches all the muscle groups. It is suitable for all levels of fitness. People who exercise regularly or have a stressful (压力)lifestyle would also greatly improve their health in this class.
Body Burn: This is a high level of difficulty in aerobic class that mainly aims at fat burning. It is only for those people with a very high level of fitness.
On Wednesday the fitness class at 6: 30 p. m. is ___
| A．Aerobics | B．Body Power | C．Body Burn | D．Beginner Aerobics |
The two classes that are suitable for all levels of fitness are___.
| A．Aerobics and Body Power | B．Body Power and Body Stretch |
| C．Body Burn and Aerobics | D．Body Stretch and Beginner Aerobics |
Lena wants to go to the City Gym on Saturday. She has not exercised for a long time. The best time for her to go would be ___.
| A．3:00p.m. | B．5:30p.m. | C．7:15a. m. | D．7:30p.m. |
The main goal of the Body Burn is to___.
| A．reduce stress | B．reduce fat | C．increase strength | D．increase muscle size |
A new study says one part of the human brain may become smaller as the result of a condition known as jet lag. Jet lag results from flying long distances in an airplane. People with jet lag may feel extremely tired for several days. They may also have problems thinking clearly and remembering.
Recently a researcher at the University of Bristol in Britain reported the findings of his jet lag study, which involved twenty young women who worked for international airlines. They had served passengers on airplanes for five years. These flight attendants flew across many countries and at least seven time zones. In the study, the flight attendants had different amounts of time to recover from jet lag. Half the women spent five days or fewer in their home areas between long flights The other half spent more than fourteen days in their home areas.
The researcher took some saliva from the women's mouths to measure levels of a hormone(荷尔蒙) that increases during stress (紧张). He tested them to see if they could remember where black spots appeared on a computer screen. And he took pictures of their brains to measure the size of the brain's temporal lobes (脑叶).
It was found that the women who had less time between flights had smaller right temporal lobes. This area of the brain deals with recognizing and remembering what is seen. The same group performed worse and had slower reaction times on the visual memory test. And their saliva samples showed higher levels of stress hormones.
The researcher believes the brain needs at least ten days to recover after a long trip. He says airline workers told him their ability to remember got worse after working on planes for about four years. Other studies have shown that increased feelings of stress can cause a loss of cells in the part of the brain that controls memory.
Scientists say more tests are needed to study the effects of jet lag on the brain. They want to find out if too much jet lag could permanently (永久性的) affect memory.According to the text, jet lag _________.
| A．can cause difficulties in speaking |
| B．can make people feel tired for a few weeks |
| C．can be only found in flight attendants |
| D．can be caused by flying over several time zones |
It can be inferred from the text that _________.
| A．the conclusion is refused by many scientists |
| B．scientists fear that this research is not done properly |
| C．every scientific conclusion needs the support from many tests |
| D．the women who were examined in the research were not healthy |
From the result of the research we can see that _________.
| A．the women who have longer rest at home show better memory |
| B．the women who fly in short time have smaller right temporal lobes |
| C．the women who have longer flights fail the memory test |
| D．the women who rest more than 14 days produce less hormones |
What is the subject discussed in the text?
| A．The cause of jet lag. | B．A story of a group of flight attendants. |
| C．The importance of having enough rest after flights. | |
| D．A research about the effects of jet lag on the brain. |
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