Special trees that grow faster, fight pollution, produce better wood, and even sense chemical attacks are being planted by scientists in the US．
When 40 per cent of Hawaii's US$14 million-a-year papaya （木瓜）industry was destroyed by a virus five years ago, work began on creating genetically engineered（转基因的）trees．
Researchers successfully introduced seeds that were designed to resist the virus．Since then, more and more people have been testing genetically engineered trees．Some researchers put special bacteria into trees to help them grow faster and produce better wood．Others are trying to create trees that can clean polluted soil．Meanwhile fruit farmers are looking for trees that are strong enough to resist worms, and paper companies want trees that produce more wood and therefore more paper．
The Pentagon （五角大楼） even gave the researchers US$500,000 this year after they developed a pine tree that changes its colours if it senses a chemical attack．So far, the poplar, eucalyptus （杨树与桉树）, apple and coffee trees are among those being engineered．All this can be done today because we have a better understanding of tree genomes （基因组）．
However, some people fear that the genetically engineered trees will cause dangerous results．They are worried that the new trees will breed with natural species and change the balance of the forest environment．
“It could be destructive,” said Jim Diamond, an environmentalist. “Trees are what is left of our natural environment and home to many endangered species.”
But researchers insist that science could give nature a fighting chance against both natural and man-made dangers．They hope to answer the critics by stopping the new trees from breeding, so their effect on the environment can be controlled．
1.Which kind of tree is not the ones that scientists are planting in the US?
A．Trees that worms can't hurt．
B．Genetically engineered trees．
C．Trees that can resist wind better．
D．Trees that can protect themselves at a chemical attack．
2.What caused the American scientists to work on special trees?
A．Tree genomes are mapped out so scientists know how to improve trees．
B．Great numbers of trees have been lost due to attacks by viruses．
C．Researchers successfully introduced seeds designed to resist the virus．
D．They think science could give nature a fighting chance against both natural and man-made dangers．
3.Which of the following was probably the first kind of trees being engineered?
A．Papaya． B．Pine． C．Apple． D．Poplar．
4.Why did critics think engineered trees dangerous? Because ________．
A．these trees can destroy the balance of nature
B．everything except trees has been genetically engineered
C．trees are home to many endangered species
D．these trees may affect normal trees
Putting Movies on Mobiles
Movies in the theater get their recognition at awards ceremonies such as the Oscars．But how about movies for phones? They are getting their turn at MoFilm — the first mobile film festival.
The first MoFilm competition received 250 entries from more than 100 countries．Entries were restricted to films that were five minutes or less in length — ideal for viewing and sharing on mobile phones．An independent jury then selected a shortlist of five film-makers．The winner was chosen from the shortlist by an audience voting using their phones.
New Platforms
The
awards highlight the increasing impact that mobile phones are making in the
entertainment industry．Many grassroots filmmakers start out with short films．They are thwarted by the lack of opportunities to screen
their work．Therefore, mobile phones are increasingly
being seen as a new platform for these short works.
It is a good place for anyone who wants to express themselves and find a way to have that expression be seen by a wide audience．Just think about how many people have mobile phones in the world!
New Technology Advances
MoFilm is pioneering content for mobile and online services that is a world away from Hollywood．The majority of films made for mobiles are now short in length, taking into account the screen size．However this could be overcome as technology advances.
In the near future, longer films will likely be seen on the mobile phone．And there are mobile companies creating phones where users can watch movies at higher quality．
Wherever you see movies, one thing is certain: the quality of work, the simple ability at story telling, and the thing that inspires someone to tell a story can really come from anywhere.
1.At the first MoFilm, ________．
A．movies in the theater got their recognition
B．more than 100 countries took part in the competition
C．ideal films were five minutes or less in length
D．the winner was chosen by experts’ voting
2.They are thwarted by the lack of opportunities to screen their work．The underlined word means “________”．
A．disappointed B．surprised C．frightened D．encouraged
3.Nowadays the majority of films made for mobiles are short in length because of ________．
A．online services B．the mobile phone C．technology advances D．the screen size
The first time I saw Carlos I would never have believed he was going to change my life. I had my arms full of books and I was tearing into the classroom when 1 ran into something solid. It was Carlos.
“My God, you’re tall,” he said.
Of course, the class began to laugh. Angry. I walked to my seat without a word.
I glanced back to see if Reed Harrington was laughing with the rest. That would be the last straw. But Reed was studying chemistry and did not seem to be aware of anything else. I didn’t know why I considered Reed my friend. Maybe just because he was a good two inches taller than I. Anyway, every time I blew out my birthday candles and made a wish, it was for a date with Reed Harrington.
“Take that seat，” Mr. McCarthy told the cocky newcomer Carlos，pointing to the only empty one，in the back of the room.
Carlos grinned,“But I need a couple of dictionaries.”Again the class laughed, but now they were laughing with Carlos，not at him. He had been here only 10 minutes and already he had them on his side.
It was the school elections that made me think of Carlos again. Reed Harrington was voted president and Carlos vice-president. “How come?”I kept asking myself,“How come this shrimp who’s only been in town for a little over a month gets to be so popular?”
So that morning，I stopped Carlos and said，“It doesn’t seem to bother you — being short.”He looked up at me , “Of course I mind being short. But there isn’t anything I can do about it. When I realized I was going to have to spend my life in this undersized skin，I just decided to make the best of it and concentrate on being myself.” “You seem to get along great,”I admitted, “But what about me? Nobody wants to date a girl taller than he is.” “The trouble with you is you’re afraid to be yourself. You’re smart. And you could be pretty. In fact, you might be more than pretty.” I felt myself turning red…
1.The author was angry because ________.
A．the class made fun of her B．Carlos was too rude to her
C．she had to carry many books D．Reed Harrington didn’t date her
2.Which of the following about Carlos is NOT TRUE?
A．He was popular. B．He was new in the school.
C．He was shorter than the author. D．He was chosen president in the school elections.
3.We can infer from the passage that ________.
A．Carlos and the author have become good friends
B．the author will be more confident
C．Carlos always encouraged the author
D．the author was tall
4.What’s the best title of the passage?
A．How to be popular B．A tall girl
C．Be yourself D．Something about Carlos
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
When Winston Churchill was a young man, his father concluded that Churchill was “unfit for a career in law or politics” because he did so badly in school.
When Charles Darwin was getting ready to 1on his five-year expedition on The Beagle, his father was extremely 2. he thought his son was falling into a life of sin and idleness.
George Washington’s mother was a complaining, 3woman by all accounts. She thought little of Washington’s achievements and didn’t 4at either of his presidential inaugurations（就职典礼）. She was always complaining that her 5overlooked her and she was especially angry when her son George ran off to 6the army for the American Revolution. She 7believed it was his duty to stay home and take care of her.
In his youth, the 8Leonard Bernstein, one of the most talented and successful composers in American history, was continually pressured by his father to give up his 9and do something worthwhile, like help out in his family’s beauty-supply business. After Leonard became 10, his father was asked about that, and he answered, “Well, how was I supposed to know he was the Leonard Bernstein?”
People may criticize you or make fun of your ideas or actively try to 11you. Often their efforts are only attempts to protect you from 12. But obviously failure is only a possibility if you stop. If you keep 13, a “failure” is just another learning 14. Besides, giving up on a heartfelt goal is worse than failing. “Many people die”, said Wendell Holmes, “ 15their music still in them.” That’s true tragedy.
So listen 16to the worries and criticisms of your friends and family, and do your best to put their 17at ease, but then carry on. Listen last to your own heart. You 18yourself better than anyone on earth. Make sure your song is 19.
Listen to your own heart. Don’t let your music 20with you.
1.A．set sail B．take charge C．set free D．take off
2.A．excited B．pleased C．disappointed D．affected
3.A．self-centered B．self-confident C．kind-hearted D．cold-blooded
4.A．show off B．show up C．pick out D．pick up
5.A．parents B．neighbors C．students D．children
6.A．fight B．beat C．command D．attend
7.A．foolishly B．secretly C．bravely D．honestly
8.A．late B．latter C．former D．later
9.A．strength B．music C．wealth D．faith
10.A．proud B．steady C．independent D．famous
11.A． advise B．suggest C．stop D．keep
12.A．success B．failure C．poison D．laziness
13.A．stopping B．starting C．going D．coming
14.A．method B．experiment C．schedule D．experience
15.A．with B．beyond C．without D．during
16.A．politely B．rudely C．thoroughly D．roughly
17.A．homes B．minds C．businesses D．efforts
18.A．trust B．believe C．know D．doubt
19.A．finished B．completed C．written D．sung
20.A．live B．die C．sound D．play
If _______, I bet, Milinski will burst into tears.
A. praising B. praised C. being praised D. having praised
He was quick and smart, and his brother ______ silly and clumsy.
A. as well B. as long C. as much D. as many
