Edward Wilson is America’s, if not the world’s, leading naturalist. In The Future of Life, he takes us on a tour of the world’s natural resources(资源). How are they used? What has been lost? What remains and is it able to continue with the present speed of use? Wilson also points out the need to understand fully the biodiversity(生物多样性) of our earth.
Wilson begins with an open letter to the pioneer in environment(环境) protection Henry David Thoreau. He compares today’s Walden Pond with that of Thoreau’s day. Wilson will use such comparisons for the rest of the book. The problem is clean man has done great damage to his home over the years. Can the earth, with human help, be made to return to biodiversity levels that will be able to support us in the future?
Biodiversity, Wilson argues, is the key to settling many problems the earth faces today. Even our agricultural crops can gain advantages from it. A mere hundred species (物种) are the basis of our food supply, of which but twenty carry the load. Wilson suggests changing this situation by looking into ten thousand species that could be made use of, which will be a way to reduce the clearing of the natural homes of plants and animals to enlarge farming areas.
At the end of the book, Wilson discusses the importance of human values in considering the environment. If you are to continue to live on the earth, you may well read and act on the ideas.
1.We learn from the text that Wilson cares most about .
A. the environment for plants
B. the biodiversity of out earth
C. the waste of natural resources
D. the importance of human values
2.How many specie are most important to our present food supply?
A. Twenty. B. Eighty
C. One hundred. D. Ten thousand.
3.Wilson suggests that one way to keep biodiversity is to .
A. learn how to farm scientifically
B. build homes for some dying species
C. make it clear what to eat
D. use more species for food
4.We can infer that the text is .
A. a description of natural resources B. a research report
C. a book review D. an introduction to a scientist
Holidays
 |
1.What can you do if you like to go on holidays with pets?
A. Choose the holiday in Devon. B. Go to the Snowdonia Centre.
C. Join the World Sea Trip of 2008. D. Visit Acapulco and Hawaii.
2.In what way is the Snowdonia Centre different from the other two holidays?
A. It provides chances of family gatherings.
B. It provides customers with good food.
C. It offers a ports lesson.
D. It offers comfortable room.
3.What is special about the World Sea Trip of 2008?
A. You can have free meals on deck every day.
B. You can sleep on a ship and tour many places.
C. You will have chances to watch and act in a play.
D. You have to do your own packing and unpacking.
4.At the Snowdonia Centre, the beginners’ costs of 157 do not cover .
A. food B. rooms C. body exercises D. walking shoes
It is often necessary to release a fish, that is, set it free after catching, because it is too small, or you just don’t want to take it home to eat. In some cases, releasing fish is a good measure that will help keep fish variety and build their population size. The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) encourages fishermen who practice catch-and-release fishing to use a few simple skills when doing so. The advice provided below will help make sure that the fish you release will survive (存活) to bite again another day.
－When catching a fish, play it quickly and keep the fish in the water as much as possible. Don’t use a net in landing the fish and release it quickly to prevent it from dying.
－Hold the fish gently. Do not put your fingers in its eyes. Don’t wipe the scales(鱼鳞) off the fish because it might cause it to develop a disease and reduce its chance of survival
－Remove your hook(鱼钩) quickly. If the hook is too deep or hooked in the stomach, cut the line and leave the hook or the hook left inside will cause no serious problem to the fish.
－Take good care of the fish a moving it gently in water. Release the fish when it begins to struggle and is able to swim.
－Do not hold fish in a bucket or some other containers and later decide to release it. If you are going to release a fish, do so right away.
With a little care and by following the suggestions given above, you can give the released fish a better chance of survival.
1.People sometimes set a fish free after catching it because they .
A. don’t want it to die B. hope it will grow quickly
C. don’t want to have it as food D. want to practice their fishing skills
2.Which of the following will probably make a fish ill?
A. Taking the hook off it. B. Removing its scales.
C. Touching its eyes. D. Holding it in your hand.
3.A proper way to release a fish is to .
A. move it in water till it can swim B. take the hook out of its stomach
C. keep it in a bucket for some time D. let it struggle a little in your hand
4.What is the purpose or the text?
A. To show how to enjoy fishing. B. To persuade people to fish less often.
C. To encourage people to set fish free. D. To give advice on how to release fish.
More than 10 years ago, it was difficult to buy a tasty pineapple (菠萝). The fruits that made it to the UK were green on the outside and, more often than not, hard with an unpleasant taste within. Then in 1996,the Del Monte Gold pineapple produced in Hawaii first hit our shelves.
The new type of pineapple looked more yellowy-gold than green It was slightly softer on the outside and had a lot of juice inside. But the most important thing about this new type of pineapple was that it was twice as sweet as the hit-and-miss pineapples we had known. In no time, the Del Monte Gold took the market by storm, rapidly becoming the world’s best-selling pineapple variety, and delivering natural levels of sweetness in the mouth, up until then only found in tinned pineapple.
In nutrition(营养) it was all good news too. This nice-tasting pineapple contained four times more vitamin C (维生素C) than the old green variety. Nutritionists said that it was not only full of vitamins, but also good against some diseases. People were understandably eager to be able to buy this wonderful fruit. The new type of pineapple was selling fast and the Del Monte Gold pineapple rapidly became a fixture in the shopping basket of the healthy eater.
Seeing the growing market for its winning pineapple, Del Monte tried to keep the market to itself But other fruit companies developed similar pineapples. Del Monte turned to law for help, but failed. Those companies argued successfully that Del Monte’s attempts to keep the golden pineapple for itself were just a way to knock them out of the market.
1.We learn from the text that the new type of pineapple is .
A. green outside and sweet inside
B. good-looking outside and soft inside
C. yellowy-gold outside and hard inside
D. a little soft outside and sweet inside
2.Why was the new type of pineapple selling well?
A. It was rich in nutrition and tasted nice.
B. It was less sweet and good for health.
C. It was develop by Del Monte.
D. It was used is medicine
3.The underlined word “fixture” in Paragraph probably refers to something .
A. that people enjoy eating B. that is a ways present
C. that is difficult to get D. that people use as a gift
4.We learn from the last paragraph that Del Monte .
A. allowed other companies to develop pineapples
B. succeeded in keeping the pineapple for itself
C. tried hard to control the pineapple market
D. planned to help the other companies
Last week my youngest son and I visited my father at his new home in Tucson, Arizona. He moved there a few years ago, and I was eager to see his now place and meet his friends.
My earliest memories of my father are of a tall, handsome, successful man devoted to his work and family but uncomfortable with his children. As a child I loved him; as a school girl and young adult(成年人)I feared him and felt bitter about him He seemed unhappy with me unless I got straight A’s and unhappy with my boy friends if their fathers were not as“successful”as he was. Whenever I went out with him on weekends, I used to struggle to think up things to say, feeling on guard.
On the first day of my visit, we went out with one of my father’s friends for lunch at an outdoor cafe. We walked along that afternoon, did some shopping, ate on the street table, and laughed over my son’s funny facial expressions Gone was my father’s critical(挑剔的) air and strict rules. Who was this person I knew as my father, who seemed so friendly and interesting to be around? What had held him back before?
The next day my dad pulled out his childhood pictures and told me quite a few stories about his own childhood. Although our times together became easier over the years, I never felt closet to him at that moment. After so many years, I’m at last seeing another side of my father. And in so doing, I’m delighted with my new friend. My dad in his new home in Arizona is back to mc from where he was.
1.Why did the author feel bitter about her father as a young adult?
A. He was silent most of the time B. He was too proud of himself
C. He did not love his children D. He expected too much of her
2.When the author went out with her father on weekends, she would feel .
A. nervous B. sorry C. tired D. safe
3.What does the author think of her father after her visit to Tucson?
A. More critical B. More talkative
C. Gentle and friendly D. Strict and hard-working
4.The underlined words“my new friend”in the last paragraph refer to .
A. the author’s son B. the author’s father
C. the friend of the author’s father D. the cafe owner
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）出可以填入空白的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
After the birth of my second child, I got a job at a restaurant. Having worked with an experienced 1for a few days, I was 2to wait tables on my own. All went
3that first week. When Saturday night came, I was luckily 4the tables not far from the kitchen 5,I still felt it a little hard to carry the heavy trays (托盘).
Before I knew it, the 6was full of people, I moved slowly 7, every step. I remember how 8I was when I saw the tray stand net the tables, it looked different from the one I was 9on, It had nice handles(手柄)，which made it 10to move around. I was pleased with everything and began to 11I was a natural at this job.
Then, an old man came to me and said,“Excuse me, dear, my wife and I loved 12you work . It seems your tray stand has been very 13to you, but we are getting ready to 14now , and my wife needs her 15back.”
At first his 16did not get across. “What was he talking about!” Then, I got it. I had set my trays on his wife’s orthopedic walker(助步器)，I stood frozen as ice, but my face was 17. I wanted to get into a hole and
18.
Since then, I have leaned from many mistakes such as the one I just 19.I have learned to be more 20and not to be too sure of myself.
1.A. manager B. assistant C. cook D. waitress
2.A. promised B. invited C. allowed D. advised
3.A. well B. quickly C. safety D. wrong
4.A. left B. given C. brought D. shown
5.A. Therefore B. However C. Otherwise D. Finally
6.A. kitchen B. street C. restaurant D. table
7.A. minding B. changing C. taking D. saving
8.A. angry B. calm C. sad D. happy
9.A. fixed B. trained C. loaded D. waited
10.A. slower B. lighter C. quieter D. easier
11.A. believe B. agree C. regret D. pretend
12.A. letting B. making C. watching D. having
13.A. useful B. familiar C. unusual D. interesting
14.A. rest B. order C. eat D. leave
15.A. bag B. walker C. tray D. coat
16.A. idea B. praise C. message D. need
17.A. cold B. full of joy C. pale D. on fire
18.A. lie B. hide C. defend D. stay
19.A. repeated B. discovered C. corrected D. described
20.A. careful B. patient C. honest D. practical
