Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan sees an epidemic (流行病) sweeping across America’s farmland. It has little to do with the usual challenges, such as flood, rising fuel prices and crop-eating insects. The country’s farmers are getting older, and there are fewer people standing in line to take their place. National agricultural census (普查) figures show that the fastest-growing group of farmers is the part over 65. Merrigan is afraid the average age will be even higher when the 2012 statistics are completed.

   Merrigan, a former college professor, is making stops at universities across the country in hopes of encouraging more students to think about careers in agriculture. Aside from trying to stop the graying of America’s farmers, her work is made tougher by a recent blog posting that put agriculture at No. 1 on a list of “useless” college degrees. Top federal agriculture officials are talking about the posting, and it has the attention of agricultural organizations across the country.

   “There couldn’t be anything that’s more incorrect,” Merrigan said. “We know that there aren’t enough qualified graduates to fill the jobs that are out there in American agriculture.”

   In addition, a growing world population that some experts predict will require 70% more food production by 2050, she said.

   “I truly believe we’re at a golden age of agriculture. Global demand is at an all-time record high, and global supplies are at all-time record lows,” said Matt Rush, director of the Texas Farm Bureau. “Production costs are going to be valuable enough that younger people are going to have the opportunity to be involved in agriculture. “

   The Department of Agriculture has programs aimed at developing more farmers and at increasing interest in locally grown food. The National Young Farmers’ Coalition has also been pushing for state and federal policy changes to make it easier for new farmers.

   Ryan Best, president of Future Farmers of America, has been living out of a suitcase, traveling the country and visiting with high school students about careers in agriculture. The 21-year-old Best hopes his message --that this is a new time in agriculture-- will motivate the next generation to turn around the statistics. “Never before have we had the innovations (创新) in technology which have led to agriculture in this country being the most efficient it has ever been,” he said. “There’s really a place for everybody to fit in. “

1.What is the new challenge to American agriculture?

   A. Fewer and older farmers.          B. Higher fuel prices.

   C. More natural disasters.           D. Lower agricultural output.

2.Why is Merrigan visiting universities across the country?

   A. To draw federal agriculture officials’ attention.

   B. To select qualified agriculture graduates.

   C. To clarify a recent blog posting.

   D. To talk more students into farming careers.

3.According to Matt Rush, American agriculture will provide opportunities for younger people because ________.

   A. the government will cover production costs

   B. global food supplies will be even lower

   C. investment in agriculture will be profitable

   D. America will increase its food export

4.What do the underlined words “to turn around the statistics” in the last paragraph mean?

   A. To re-analyze the result of the national census.

   B. To increase agricultural production.

   C. To bring down the average age of farmers.

   D. To invest more in agriculture.

Young people looking for a job with good pay, flexible hours and job security should consider working in health care, according to a list of the top 15 best jobs in the US for young people.

   Health care is the fastest growing sector of the US economy and nearly half of what are considered the top jobs for young people are in the sector, Forbes.com said.

   With a medium annual salary of $33,470, dental assistants topped the ranking, while medical assistants, who earn about $28,860, came in No. 3, followed by physical therapist assistants who make a medium salary of nearly $50,000 and health aides who earn $20,560.

   Teachers of self-enrichment courses such as pottery and art, were the only non-health job in the top five.

   "Almost every one of these requires physical contact," Laurence Shatkin, the author of the book "150 Best Jobs for Your Skills," told Forbes. com. "You have to show up to do them, so you're not being shipped overseas, and they can't be done by a robot."

   Shatkin studied which jobs have the highest concentration of 16 to 24 year olds, pay well and have opportunities for entry level positions. He based the ranking on annual salary and openings and projected growth. Many of the jobs do not require a college degree.

   Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors, pharmacy technicians and surgical technologists were also among the top 10 jobs for young people.

   Because many of the jobs can be done on a part-time basis, they offer the flexibility for people to continue their education while doing them. Some of the jobs offer career prospects and advancements.

   "Young people may not have figured out what their priorities are yet," Shatkin told Forbes.com.   "They may use these jobs to discover what they like and where they fit in."

1.From the passage, we know that health care is a sector where people in the USA can ________.

  A. work the shortest time

B. make the most money

  C. enjoy its safest working conditions

D. experience its fastest development

2.After reading the passage, we can infer that _________.

  A. teachers of self-enrichment courses are No.2 among the top five jobs

  B. dental assistants are listed as the best job due to their highest salary

  C. people still need to go to college to get a good job

  D. good jobs are those that can be done part-time

3.What can be the best title for the passage?

  A. Health Care among Top Jobs for Young People

  B. Factors for People to Consider while Seeking Jobs

  C. Results from Forbes.com on Best Jobs

  D. The Higher the Pay Is, the Better the Job Is

For almost two months Dominic York, a 23-year-old hairdresser, wandered about hospitals all night, wearing a white coat and pretending he was a doctor. Yesterday he proudly claimed in court that despite his complete lack of medical experience or qualifications, he had saved several people’s lives. He had even been allowed to assist a surgeon during an emergency operation on a patient who was about to die on something she had swallowed.

   “I watched one of those TV dramas about a hospital and suddenly I felt like playing one of the roles myself. So I put on a white jacket and a stethoscope(听诊器)and walked around one of the biggest hospitals in London. At first I just watched. Once you learn how doctors talk to patients, nurses and others doctors, it’s easy to take people in,” he said.

  One of the patients he treated was Laura Kennan. She had been knocked down by a car and fainted. When she came into hospital, York was standing over her.

  “He looked very professional. He told me his name was Doctor Simon. Then he gave me some sort of injection,” she said. And then he suddenly cleared off when a nurse asked who he was. She didn’t think there was anything wrong. “I would never have realized he was a fake if a policewoman hadn’t showed me his photograph a week later. When the policewoman told me who he really was, I could hardly believe my ears.”

   Judge Raymond Adams told York that he was “shocked and horrified” that he got away with his deceiving for so long, and then sentenced him to eighteen months in a special prison for criminal with mental disorders.

“I can only hope that this will not lead to further problems. After all, you will have considerable opportunity to study the behaviour of the psychiatrists(精神科医生)who will look after you while you are there. If you try to persuade people that you yourself are a psychiatrist after you are set free, I shall make sure that you are given a much longer sentence.” Judge Adams warned York.

1.York was proud of the fact that _________.

   A. a surgeon let him watch an operation.

   B. he could perform some duties of a doctor

   C. he had cheated doctors for so long

   D. people thought he could become a real doctor

2.York learned how to behave like a doctor by ________.

    A. watching other doctors work                       

B. talking to doctors and nurses

    C. getting some training and experience              

D. observing doctors while he was a patient

3.Why was Laura Kennan in hospital?

   A. She had swallowed something and almost died.

   B. She had to have and emergency operation.

   C. She had been injured in a road accident.

   D. She had lost consciousness while driving.

4.The judge’s remark implied that York would be more severely punished if he ________.

   A. pretended to be a psychiatrist                     

B. tried to get away from prison

   C. was proud of what he had done                      

D. studied the behaviour of the psychiatrist

Nancy had just got a secretary’s job in a big company to work in the sales department. Monday was the first day that she went to work, so she was very 　35    . She got up very early and arrived at the office at twenty to eight. She   36　 the door open and found nobody there. “I am the first to arrive.” She thought and came to her desk   37   she was surprised to find a large bunch of flowers on it. They were   38  . She picked up the flowers from the desk and smelled them. “Oh, how lovely!” Nancy cried joyfully. She then   39   for a vase to put them in. “Somebody has sent me flowers the   40   first day!” She thought happily. “But who could it be?” She began to wonder.

The day passed very   41　 and Nancy did everything   42   great interest and enthusiasm. For the following days of the week, the first thing Nancy did was to change water for the flowers. And then she __ 43　 herself in her work.

Then came another Monday. When she came near her desk, she was overjoyed to see a new bunch of flowers there. She quickly put them in the vase, replacing the old ones. The same thing happened again the next Monday. Nancy felt it strange and this time she began to think of ways to find out the 　44　.

On Tuesday afternoon, she was sent to   45　 a plan to the general manager's office. She had to stay for a while at his secretary's desk   46   his directives. She happened to see on the desk a big notebook 　47   with “Records of managers' meetings”, and   48   the half-opened pages. Suddenly her eyes fell on these words, “In order to keep the secretaries in high spirits, the company       49    that every Monday morning a bunch of fresh flowers should be sent to each secretary's desk.”

Later, she was told that their general manager was a wise man with the Bachelor of Psychology in Business.

1.A. depressed   B. excited    C. encouraged   D. surprised

2.A. pushed        B. forced    C. turned       D. knocked

3.A. that          B. which      C. there     D. where

4.A. old           B. fresh   C. good        D. sweet

5.A. looked up  B. looked at  C. looked around  D. looked down

6.A. happy  B. very C. funny                 D. quite

7.A. slowly   B. normally    C. quickly                D. hardly

8.A. at            B. in               C. for                     D. with

9.A. devoted       B. focused          C. buried                  D. made

10.A. sender  B. receiver         C. manager                D. waiter

11.A. send for      B. hand out  C. try out    D. hand in

12.A. asking for    B. waiting for   C. looking for  D. searching for

13.A. marked       B. given             C. used                D. signed

14.A. glanced at   B. stared at         C. glared at           D. looked at

15.A. has ordered   B. has said    C. has decided    D. has demanded

---I’m going to San Francisco for a couple of days

---_________.I wish I could get away for a while.

A. It doesn’t matter.  B. Forget it.          

C.I really envy you.    D.I can’t agree more.

It's no good ________ here. Let's go home.

A. to wait　　　　  B. waited　　　　　　C. waiting　　　　 D. being waited

In no country other than Britain, it has been said, ________ experience four seasons in the course of a single day.

   A. people can       B. you can           C. can it           D. can one

Lucy is a girl of great musical _________, and I’m sure she will become a well-known musician sooner or later.

A. ability          B. sense            C. value            D. potential

Why do we have to _________ Sue’s selfish behavior? We have to teach her to care for others.

A. keep up with      B. put up with    

C. catch up with          D. come up with

It is reported that the children from the earthquake-stricken areas are in _________ need of love and attention.

   A. typical        B. concrete        C. desperate        D. actual