Until recently, the "science of the future" was supposed to be electronics and artificial intelligence. Today it seems more and more likely that the next great breakthroughs in technology will be brought through a combination of those two sciences with organic chemistry and genetic engineering. This combination is the science of biotechnology.
Organic chemistry enables us to produce marvelous synthetic materials. However, it is still difficult to manufacture anything that has the capacity of wool to conserve (保存) heat and also to absorb moisture. Nothing that we have been able to produce so far comes anywhere near the combination of strength, lightness and flexibility that we find in the bodies of ordinary insects.
Nevertheless, scientists in the laboratory have already succeeded in "growing" a material that has many of the characteristics of human skin. The next step may well be "biotech hearts and eyes" which can replace diseased organs in human beings. These will not be rejected by the body, as is the case with organs from humans.
The application of biotechnology to energy production seems even more promising. In 1996 the famous science fiction writer, Arthur C. Clarke, many of whose previous predictions have come true, said that we may soon be able to develop remarkably cheap and renewable sources of energy. Some of these power sources will be biological. Clarke and others have warned us repeatedly that sooner or later we will have to give up our dependence on non-renewable power sources. Coal, oil and gas are indeed convenient. However, using them also means creating dangerously high levels of pollution. It will be impossible to meet the growing demand for energy without increasing that pollution to catastrophic (灾难性的) levels unless we develop power sources that are both cheaper and cleaner.
It is attempting to think that biotechnology or some other "science of the future" can solve our problems. Before we surrender to that temptation we should remember nuclear power. Only a few generations ago it seemed to promise limitless, cheap and safe energy. Today those promises lie buried in a concrete grave in a place called Chernobyl, in the Ukraine. Biotechnology is unlikely, however, to break its promises in quite the same or such a dangerous way.According to the passage, the science of the future is likely to be ________.
| A．electronics | B．biotechnology |
| C．genetic engineering | D．nuclear technology |
The materials produced with organic chemistry are ________.at present.
| A．as good as wool |
| B．as good as an insect's body |
| C．better than natural materials |
| D．not as good as natural materials |
According to the passage, it may soon be possible ________.
| A．to transplant human organs |
| B．to make artificial hearts and eyes |
| C．to produce drugs without side effects |
| D．to make something as good as human skin |
In 1996, Arthur C. Clarke predicted that_______.
A. the Chernobyl disaster would happen in two years
B. we will never stop using non-renewable power sources biological
C. oil, gas and coal could be repeatedly used in the future
D. power sources would be put into use soonWhat do we learn from the last paragraph?
| A．Biological power will keep all its promises. |
| B．Biological power is cheaper than nuclear power. |
| C．Biotechnology can solve all our future energy problems |
| D．Biological power may not be as dangerous as nuclear power |
So long as teachers fail to distinguish(区别, 辨认) between teaching and learning, they will continue to undertake to do for children that which only children can do for themselves. Teaching children to read is not passing reading on to them. It is certainly not endless hours spent in activities about reading. Douglas insists that“ reading cannot be taught directly and schools should stop trying to do the impossible”.
Teaching and learning are two entirely different processes. They differ in kind and function. The function of teaching is to create the conditions and the climate that will make it possible for children to devise the most efficient system for teaching themselves to read. Teaching is also public activity. It can be seen and observed.
Learning to read involves all that each individual does to make sense of the world of printed language. Almost all of it is private, for learning is an occupation of the mind, and that process is not open to public observation.
If teacher and learner roles are not interchangeable ,what then can be done through teaching that will aid the child in the quest（探索）for knowledge? Smith has one principal rule for all teaching instructions. “Make learning to read easy, which means making reading a meaningful, enjoyable and frequent experience for children. ”
When the roles of teacher and learner are seen for what they are, and when both teacher and learner fulfill them properly, then much of the pressure and feeling of failure for both is eliminated(除去, 剔除). Learning to read is made easier when teachers create an environment where children are given the opportunity to solve the problem of leaning to read by reading.The problem with the reading course as mentioned in the first paragraph is that _______.
| A．it is one of the most difficult school courses | B．students spend endless hours in reading |
| C．reading tasks are assigned with little guidance | D．too much time is spent in teaching about reading |
The teaching of reading will be successful if _______________.
| A．teachers can improve conditions at school for the students |
| B．teachers can enable students to develop their own way of reading |
| C．teachers can devise the most efficient system for reading |
| D．teachers can make their teaching activities observable |
According to the passage, learning to read will no longer be a difficult task when ______________.
| A．children become highly motivated |
| B．teacher and learner roles are interchangeable |
| C．teaching helps children in the search for knowledge |
| D．reading enriches children’s experience |
The main idea of the passage is that ______________.
| A．teachers should do as little as possible in helping students learn to read |
| B．teachers should encourage students to read as widely as possible |
| C．reading ability is something acquired rather than taught |
| D．reading is more complicated that generally believed |
A caring mother is the single most important factor in preventing teenagers from abusing(滥用)drugs and alcohol，researchers said on Friday. An international study showed that teenagers living with both parents are less likely to suffer from alcohol and drug problems，and a strong maternal bond is the most effective way to fight against them.
“These findings suggest that living with both parents may prevent drug use．”said Dr.McArdle，of Newcastle University in northern England, who led the study. “They also suggest that attachment(感情眷念)，particularly to mothers，is a more effective factor and that this is truly across cultures and substances.” The report, which is published in the journal Addiction, involved nearly 4,000 teenagers in England，Ireland，Italy，Germany and the Netherlands. They were questioned about their use of several kinds of drugs and alcohol. The teenagers also filled in questionnaires about their relationship with their parents and grandparents, how well they were supervised(监护)after school and whether they were allowed to meet friends at home.
“Both the quality of family relationships and the structure of families have significant influences on youth drug use,” McArdle said in a statement. But he added that a strong maternal bond offered the greatest protection against developing drug habits. The rate of drug abuse among teenagers living with both parents and who had a good relationship with their mother was 16.6 percent. If either fact
or was missing, the drug abuse rate rose to 32 percent．More than 42 percent of teenagers living in one parent families who did not have a strong bond with their mother used drugs．
Drug prevention campaigns in British schools and on television warn teenagers about the danger of drugs and alcohol but McArdle said no one is dealing with the problem of their parents’ responsibility The phrase“maternal bond” appears twice in this passage. Guess its meaning__________．
| A．物质的奖励 | B．母亲的约束 | C．法律的制裁 | D．学校的指导 |
According to McArdle,which is most likely to have the drug abuse problem_________?
| A．16-year-old Tom from a happy big family |
| B．17-year-old Kate supervised by her single mother． |
| C．18-year-old Juliet living with her single father． |
| D．19-year-old Mark cared by his parents. |
Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage__________?
| A．Teenagers with both parents won’t have the drug use problem. |
| B．Teenagers from several countries filled in the questionnaire. |
| C．Teenagers were asked about their relationship with parents． |
D．Teenagers in British schools are warned against drug s abuse. |
The last paragraph suggests that________.
| A．schools should answer for the drug problem |
| B．television and media are to blame |
| C．parents and the society are responsible for the drug problem |
| D．mothers are the cause of youth drug use． |
One of the big challenges that students face in applying to universities abroad is writing the application essay．
The essay topics all have something in common. They attempt to get at what type of person you are, what motivates you，and what you feel passion for. In a single 500-word piece of writing，
admissions officers(招生负责人)attempt to gather all about you. So your task is of your personality on the essay and make yourself special.
You can try and guess what the admissions officers like. But that won’t work．The essay will sound empty and become another dull piece of writing，which admissions officers get thousands of each year．
It is true that admissions officers aren’t exactly looking for anything. The answer is just as open-ended as the question itself. If they ask for someone who has inspired you, it could be anyone. It could be a grandmother, a teacher, or even a character from a movie. A lot of people will say their dad. But since you really feel it, you’ll have a lot to write about.
There are some important things to remember．These admissions officers want good writers. You don't have to be Ernest Hemingway, but you have to be able to form an interesting story．That means revision(校对)and editing，cutting out stupid grammar mistakes，reading it over several times，leaving it for a few days and looking at it again. Whatever you do, make sure the essay is as good as possible.
Also，you should use exciting language and really make the reader feel the same passion as you do. It also means finding something unique about your point of view, something that other people might not think of．For example，if you want to write about your dad, you can focus on a specific anecdote(趣闻)about him .Admissions officers love personal stories that ring true．The purpose of the passage is to give advice on how to_________.
A. choose an essay topic B. read the officers’ minds
C. be a good writer D write an effective applicationThe underlined part of paragraph 2 suggests that you__________.
| A．stick enough stamps before posting your application essay |
| B．write something unique in an essay to impress the readers |
| C．take the task of showing off yourself seriously |
| D．pay attention to your personal essay |
When admissions officers ask who has inspired you，they mean to________.
| A．know about your family members | B．understand you better |
| C．find out what your father does | D．discover your personal affairs |
According to the writer, it is wise to produce an essay with__________.
| A．500 beautiful words | B．many funny things | C．truthful specific stories | D．indirect answers |
When something goes wrong，it can be very satisfying to say，”Well, it’s so-and-so’s fault.” or “I know I’m late，but it’s not my fault；the car broke down.” It is probably not your fault，but once you form the habit of blaming somebody or something else for a bad situation，you are a loser. You have no power and could do nothing that helps change the situation. However, you can have great power over what happens to you if you stop focusing on whom to blame and start focusing on how to remedy the situation. This is the winner’s key to success.
Winners are great at overcoming problems. For example, if you were late because your car broke down, maybe you need to have your car examined more regularly. Or, you might start to carry along with you the useful phone numbers, so you could call for help when in need. For another example, if your colleague causes you problems on the job for lack of responsibility or ability, find ways of dealing with his irresponsibility or inability rather than simply blame the person. Ask to work with a different person, or don’t rely on the person. You should accept that the person is not reliable and find creative ways to work successfully regardless of how your colleague fails to do his job well.
This is what being a winner is all about—creatively using your skills and talents so that you are successful no matter what happens. Winners don’t have fewer problems in their lives; they have just as many difficult situations to face as anybody else. They are just better at seeing those problems as challenges and opportunities to develop their own talents. So, stop focusing on “whose fault it is.” Once you are confident about your power over bad situations, problems are just stepping stones for success.According to the passage, winners .
| A．deal with problems rather than blame others | B．meet with fewer difficulties in their lives |
| C．have responsible and able colleagues | D．blame themselves rather that others |
The underlined word remedy in Paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to .
| A．avoid | B．accept | C． improve |
D．consider |
When your colleague brings about a problem, you should .
| A．blame him for his lack of responsibility | B．find a better way to handle the problem |
| C．tell him to find the cause of the problem | D．ask a more able colleague for help |
When problems occur, winners take them as
| A．excuses for their failures | B．barriers to greater power |
| C．challenges to their colleagues | D．chances for self-development |
Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
| A．A Winner’s Problem. | B．A Winner’s Secret. |
| C．A Winner’s Opportunity. | D．A Winner’s Achievement. |
Do you know of anyone who uses the truth to deceive (欺骗)? When someone tells you something that is true, but leaves out important information that should be included, he can give you a false picture.
For example, some might say, “I just won a hundred dollars on the lottery (彩票). It was great. I took that dollar ticket back to the store and turned it in for one hundred dollars!”
This guy’s a winner, right? Maybe, maybe not. We then discover that he bought $200 worth of tickets, an
d only one was a winner. He’s really a big loser!
He didn’t say anything that was false, but he left out important information on purpose. That’s called a half-truth. Half-truths are not lies, but they are just as dishonest.
Some politicians often use this trick. Let’s say that during Governor Smith’s last term, her state lost one million jobs and gained three million jobs. Then she seeks another term. One of her opponents(对手) says, “During Governor Smith’s term, the state lost one million jobs!” That’s true. However, and honest statement would have been, “During Governor Smith’s term, the state had a net gain of two million jobs.”
Advertisers(广告商) will sometimes use half-truths. It’s against the law to make false statements so they try to mislead you with the truth. An advertisement might say, “Nine out of ten doctors advised their patients to take Yucky Pills to cure toothache.” It fails to mention that they only asked ten doctors and nine of them work for the Yucky Company.
This kind of deception happens too often. It’s a sad fact of life: Lies are lies, and sometimes the truth can lie as well.How much did the lottery winner lose?
| A．One hundred dollars. | B．Two hundred dollars. |
| C．Three hundred dollars. | D．Four hundred dollars. |
We may infer (推断) that the author believes people should _______.
| A．buy lottery tickets | B．make use of half-truths |
| C．not trust anything without careful thoughts | D．not trust the Yucky Company |
What do the underline words “net gain” in Paragraph 5 mean?
| A．big advantage. | B．large share. | C．total loss. | D．final increase. |
What can we know from the example of the Yucky Pill advertisement?
| A．False statements are easy to see through. | B．Half-truths are often used to mislead people. |
| C．Doctors like to act in advertisements. | D．Advertisements are based on facts. |
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