When 18th-century scientists first came across Australia’s platypus(鸭嘴兽), they thought it was a trick. It is not surprising that the platypus made people confused. This funny-looking animal has feet and is a kind of warm-blooded mammal.
While other mammals usually keep their blood at around 37 degrees, the platypus has a lower body temperature of 32 degrees. As to its appearance, the platypus’mouth is not really like ducks’at all; its mouth actually looks a bit soft. The platypus closes its eyes when swimming. It uses its mouth to pick up outside information made by the creatures underwater.
Strangest of all, the platypus is a mammal that can lay eggs. And there is only one other kind of mammal that can lay eggs, the echidna (针鼹鼠) of Australia. Both the platy-pus and the echidna lay soft-shelled eggs, and both feed their young with their own milk that comes out of their skin. These animals also walk in a way that is similar to crocodiles(鳄鱼), with legs on the sides of their bodies rather than under them.
Though pretty, in a special way, the platypus is actually one of the few mammals that are poisonous. A male platypus has knife-like bones on its back legs which have enough poison to kill a dog.
The platypus has the honor of being one of the oldest mammals in the world. Until the early 20th century, it was hunted for its fur, but the situation has changed. Although the platypus is easily affected by pollution, it is not under any immediate threat. What can we learn about the platypus according to the text?
| A．It has a lower body temperature than other mammals. |
| B．It only closes its eyes when underwater. |
| C．It’s the only poisonous mammal in the world. |
| D．It feeds its young on wild animal meat. |
Which of the following is NOT used as a comparison with the platypus in the text?
| A．The crocodile. | B．The echidna. | C．The duck. | D．The dog. |
The following characteristics of the platypus have been described in the text EXCEPT ________.
| A．its natural enemy | B．its appearance |
| C．its walking pose | D．its daily diet |
We can infer from the last paragraph that the platypus _______.
| A．is hunted for its meat | B．is in danger of extinction |
| C．is endangered by air pollution | D．is well-protected now |
Which of the following would be the best title for this text?
| A．Platypus, a Trick? |
| B．Platypus, the Only Warm-Blooded Mammal |
| C．The Characteristics of Platypus |
| D．The Strange Mammal —Platypus。 |
How do you feel after you've stayed up late to finish schoolwork? Or the day after a slumber party? Scientists now say that your answers to these questions may depend on your genes.
Genes are stretches of DNA that work like an instruction manual for our cells. Genes tell our bodies and brains what to do. People have about 40,000 genes, and each gene can have different forms. So, for example, certain forms of some genes make your eyes blue. Other versions of those genes make your eyes brown.
In a similar way, new research suggests that a gene called period3 affects how well you function without sleep. The discovery adds to older evidence that period3 helps determine whether you like to stay up late or get up early.
The period3 gene comes in two forms: short and long. Everyone has two copies of the gene. So, you may have two longs, two shorts, or one of each. Your particular combination depends on what your parents passed on to you.
Scientists from the University of Surrey in England studied 24 people who had either two short or two long copies of period3. Study participants had to stay awake for 40 hours straight. Then, they took tests that measured how quickly they pushed a button when numbers flashed on a screen and how well they could remember lists of numbers.
Results showed that the people with the short form of period3 performed much better on these tests than the people with the long form did. In both groups, people performed worst in the early morning. That's the time when truck drivers and other night-shift workers say they have the most trouble concentrating.
After the first round of experiments, participants were finally allowed to sleep. People in the group that performed well on the tests took about 18 minutes to nod off.
People with the long period3 gene, by contrast, fell asleep in just 8 minutes. They also spent more time in deep sleep. That suggests that people with the long form of the gene need more and deeper sleep to keep their brains working at top form.
We can know from the passage that genes can not ________.
| A．tell our bodies and brains what to do |
| B．make our eyes blue or brown |
| C．decide how well you work without sleep |
| D．ensure whether you’re good at driving |
Which of the following statements about the period3 is wrong?
| A．It affects whether you like to stay up late or get up early. |
B．It comes in two forms: short and long. |
C．One has either two longs or two shorts of it. |
D．Your parents determine what particular combination you have. |
People with the short form of period3__________.
| A．need to go to bed early and get up early |
B．can work better than the people with long form of period3 without sleep |
| C．take less time to fall asleep after they stay up late | |
| D．need more and deeper sleep to keep their brains working at top form |
What’s the best title of the passage?
| A．The Period3 Gene | B．The Function of Genes |
| C．Wake up, Sleepy Gene | D．Stay up Late or Get up Early? |
“I’ve changed my mind. I wanted to have a telescope, but now I want my dad back.” Lucien Lawrence’s letter to Father Christmas, written after his father had been knifed to death outside his school gate, must have touched everyone’s heart. Lucien went on to say that without his father he couldn’t see the stars in the sky. When those we love depart from us, we cannot see the stars for a while.
But Lucien, the stars are still there, and one day, when you are older and your tears have gone, you will see them again. And, in a strange way, I expect that you will find your father there too, either in your mind or heart. I find that my parents, who died years ago, still linger (留连) in many of my dreams and that I think of them perhaps more than I ever did when they were alive. I still live to please them and I’m still surprised by their reactions. I remember that when I became a professor, I was so proud, or rather so pleased with myself that I couldn’t wait to cable my parents. The reply was a long time in coming, but when it did, all my mother said was “I hope this means that now you will have more time for the children!” I haven’t forgotten. The values of my parents still live on.
It makes me pause and think about how I will live on in the hearts and minds of my children and of those for whom I care. Would I have been as ready as Philip Lawrence has been to face the aggressors（入侵者）, and to lay down my life for those in my care? How many people would want me back for Christmas? It’s a serious thought, which gives me pause.
I pray silently, sometimes, in the dead of night, that ancient cry of a poet “Deliver my soul from the sword and my darling from the power of the dog.” Yet I know death comes to us all, and sometimes comes suddenly. We must therefore plan to live together, but live as if we will die tomorrow. We live on, I’m sure, in the lives of those we loved, and therefore we ought to have a care for what they will remember and what they will treasure. If more parents knew this in their hearts to be true, there might be fewer knives on our streets today. According to the whole text we can see that the first paragraph ___________.
| A．puts forward the subject of the text |
| B．shows the author’s pity on the kid |
| C．serves as an introduction to the discussion |
| D．makes a clear statement of the author’s views |
In the second paragraph the author mainly wants to explain to us____________.
| A．how much he misses his parents now |
| B．why his parents often appear in his dream |
| C．when Lucien will get over all his sadness |
| D．how proud he was when he succeeded in life |
What feeling did the author’s mother express in her reply?
| A．Proud. | B．Happy. | C．Disappointed. | D．Worried. |
In the author’s opinion, the value of a person’s life is _____________.
| A．to leave a precious memory to the people related |
| B．to have a high sense of duty to the whole society |
| C．to care what others will remember and treasure |
| D．to share happiness and sadness with his family |
What does the writer mean by the sentence taken from an old poem?
| A．Call on criminals and murderers to lay down their guns. |
| B．Advise parents stay with their children safely at home. |
| C．Spend every day meaningfully in memory of death. |
| D．Try to keep violence and murder far away from society. |
The USA, New York—Whales and dolphins are facing increasing threats from climate change, according to a new report published by WWF and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society （WDCS）．
The report "Whales in hot water?" draws attention to the growing impacts of climate change on whales．They range from changes in sea temperature and the freshening of the seawater because of the melting of ice and increased rainfalls, to a sea level rise, loss of icy polar habitats and the decline of krill populations in key areas．Krill, a tiny shrimp that is dependent on sea ice, is the main source of food for many of the great whales．
The speeding up of climate change adds greatly to trouble from other human activities, such as chemical and noise pollution, which kills some 1000 whales every day．
"Whales and dolphins have an ability to adapt to their changing environment," said Mark Simmonds, International Director of Science at WDCS．"But the climate is now changing at such a fast pace that it is unclear to what extent whales and dolphins will be able to adjust．"
Climate change impacts are currently greatest in the Arctic and the Antarctic．According to the report, cetaceans that rely on polar, icy waters for their home and food resources are likely to be greatly affected by the reduction of sea ice cover．
WDCS and WWF are urging governments to cut global production of C02 by at least 50 percent by the middle of this century．The latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change showed it was possible to stop global warming if the world's emissions start to decline before 2015．Which of the following is the most important for whales and dolphins?
| A．Rainfall | B．Krill | C．Sea ice cover | D．High sea level |
From the passage, we can learn that whales mainly feed on _____．
| A．dolphins | B．krill | C．sea horses | D．sharks |
The underlined word "decline" in Paragraph 2 means _____．
| A．increase | B．control | C．protection | D．fall |
In what place is climate change greatest?
| A．The Pacific Ocean | B．Asia． |
| C．Two polar areas． | D．Equator． |
Which of the following is not right according to the passage?
| A．Climate change will lead to the changes in sea temperature． |
| B．Climate change will result in the freshening of the sea water． |
| C．Climate change will have a bad effect on human activities and whales． |
| D．Human beings will forever have no ability to stop global warming． |
New friends. Fresh lifestyle. Better career opportunities… Those are attractions of overseas study for young people in China. “Start early, finish strong,” some of them say.
More than 300 universities from 27 countries and regions were represented at last weekend’s international education exposition.
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The US
The US has always been oft the top destination list for Chinese students, with its high education standards and enough scholarships．Good news: It's easier to get a US student visa nowadays．Last year, the refusal rate was only 20 to 30 percent, much lower than a few years before, according to US embassy．
Concerns: There're a lot to prepare The TOFEL, GRE… It's longer time to apply to US universities than schools in the UK or Australia．
Useful link: www．Usemhassy．org．cn
|
Easier access to visas and international environment are the UK's great attractions for Chinese students．
Good news: There are many new scholarships this year, both from the government and universities, such as the Scotland International Scholarship．
Concerns: Money．Money．Money．It's expensive to study in the UK, with an average cost of 200, 000 to 300, 000 yuan a year．
Useful link; www．educationuk．org．en
|
Canada
Canada's multicultural environment is good for students' studies and careers．Good news: Students are allowed to take off-campus part-tim'e job's during their studies from last year．It'll help pay living expenses．
Students can get two-year work permits after graduation．
Concerns: Only a limited number of scholarships are available．
They rarely cover the full cost of a study program．
Useful link; www．studycanada．en
|
Australia
Good climate, high quality education and favorable immigration policy—these make Australia one of the most popular choices among Chinese students．Good news: A new E-visa policy ensures a quick application process （four weeks compared with 12 weeks before）．
Concerns: Tuition fees have risen in past years．The total cost is about 200, 000 yuan to attend a university located in big cities like sydney or Melbourne．
Useful link; www．students, idp．corn
| A．Canada | B．the UK | C．the US | D．Australia |
Many young people go to study in the US because _____．
| A．it is very difficult for them to get a student visa |
| B．it is easier for them to pass the TOFEL or GRE |
| C．they don't spend much time applying to US universities |
| D．they think they can receive good university education |
If you want to go on staying in the country after you finish studying there, you will choose ______．
| A．Australia or the UK | B．Canada or Australia |
| C．the US or the UK | D．Canada or the UK |
In which of the following countries may money be the most concern while studying abroad?
| A．The US &- the UK． | B．The UK &- Canada． |
| C．The UK &- Australia． | D．Canada &- the US． |
The passage is intended to give _____．
| A．information for foreign study |
| B．advice on job seeking |
| C．suggestions on traveling abroad |
| D．tips on getting-visas |
When I was born, my parents immediately noticed something wrong. My feet were deformed (畸形的), pointing inward and curling under. I wore casts (石膏) and foot braces (支架) in my first two years to correct the problem. Yet I learned to balance and walk in casts. Soon after the last set of casts came off，Mom enrolled me in dance classes as therapy for my feet. I, however，quickly decided to try something else. Not far from my house was an ice rink (溜冰场) in the mall. There，local skaters would perform ice shows. I wanted to try skating.
I started taking group skating lessons. Performing on ice came naturally. For me，skating has never been about beating others. It’s been about being my personal best. I progressed through various levels rapidly and gave my first ice performance at age seven. Soon I started winning local and regional competitions. That’s because being on the ice has always been the one place I can truly express my emotions. The ice is like home.
I began seriously training when I was nine years old. After graduating from girls’ high school，I moved to Canada. Saying goodbye to my family and friends made me homesick，but I knew deep down that I had to leave and train full－time to give my dreams a chance at reality.
I went to compete in the Olympic Games in 1992.I was the first of the final six skaters on the ice. My long performance started well，but I slipped while landing one of my easiest triple jumps，and my hand touched the ice. I didn’t want to make two mistakes in a row，so next I did a jump with just two spins to play it safe. As I neared the end，I had one more jump. I landed it perfectly.
When medals were awarded，I found myself on the top step，the gold hanging around my neck and America’s national anthem playing. Words can’t describe the overwhelming mixture of emotions I felt.The author was enrolled in dance classes to________.
| A．meet her interest |
| B．improve her dancing skills |
| C．help treat her feet |
| D．prepare her for skating |
When the author says “The ice is like home”，she really means she________.
| A．can express herself through her performance on ice |
| B．can beat others in local and regional competitions |
| C．can overcome her difficulty in walking |
| D．has realized her dream to perform on ice |
The author moved to Canada after graduating from girls’ high school because________.
| A．she could get better treatment of her feet there |
| B．she would do full－time training there |
| C．that was where the Olympics would hold |
| D．she wanted to have further study there |
What do we learn about the author’s performance in the 1992 Olympic Games?
| A．She completed it without any mistake. |
| B．She made one mistake on the final landing. |
| C．She did it quite well except for one mistake. |
| D．She made more than one mistake. |
By her own experience，the author intends to tell us________.
| A．we can realize our dream if we have the courage to pursue it |
| B．even the disabled can take part in the Olympic Games |
| C．sports can help people heal both body and mind |
| D．sports events are not about winning only |
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