The word “conservation” has a thrifty meaning. To conserve is to save and protect, to leave what we ourselves enjoy in such a good condition that others may also share the enjoyment. Our forefathers had no idea that human population would increase faster than the supplies of raw materials: most of them, even until very recently, had the foolish idea that the treasures were “limitless” and could “last forever”. Most of the citizens of earlier generations knew little or nothing about the complicated and delicate system that runs all through nature, and which means that, as in a living body, an unhealthy condition of one part will sooner or later be harmful to all the others.
Fifty years ago, nature study was not part of the school work; scientific forestry was a new idea; wood was still cheap because it could be brought in any quantity from distant woodlands; soil destruction and river floods were not national problems; nobody had yet studied long-term climatic cycles in relation to proper land use; even the word “conservation” had nothing of the meaning that it has for us today.
For the sake of ourselves and those who will come after us, we must now set about correcting the mistakes of our forefathers. Conservation should be made part of everybody’s daily life. To know about the water table in ground is just as important to us as a knowledge of the basic math formulas. We need to know why all watersheds (上游集水区) need the protection of plant life and why the running current of streams and rivers must be made to give their full benefit to the soil before they finally escape to the sea. We need to be taught the duty of planting trees as well as of cutting them. We need to know the importance of big, grown trees, because living space for most of man’s fellow creatures on this planet is figured not only in square measure of surface but also in cubic (立方体的) volume above the earth. In a word, it should be our goal to restore as much of the original beauty of nature as we can.
1.The author’s attitude towards the use of natural resources is _________.
A. positive B. uninterested C. optimistic D. critical
2.According to the author, the greatest mistake of our forefathers was that _________.
A. they had no idea about scientific forestry
B. they had little or no sense of environmental protection
C. they were not aware of the importance of nature study
D. they had no idea of how to make good use of raw materials
3.To avoid repeating the mistakes of our forefathers, the author suggests that _________.
A. we plant more trees
B. natural sciences be taught to everybody
C. environmental education be directed toward everyone
D. we return to nature
4.How can you understand the underlined sentence in the last paragraph?
A. Our living space on the earth is getting smaller and smaller.
B. Our living space should be measured in cubic volume.
C. We need to take some measures to protect space.
D. We must preserve good living conditions for both birds and animals.
According to the United States government, people are classified as homeless if they have no place to stay and no expectation of finding a place for the next thirty days. Although technically accurate, that is an impersonal assessment of an enormous and very human problem.
The homeless population represents all of us Americans. It includes men and women, the elderly, children, and infants. Its members are from all ethnic groups. What they have in common is poverty.
Currently in the U.S., thirty-nine million people live in poverty. When money is really tight, paying the rent or buying food often becomes a choice. Government assistance in the form of food stamps does help but, as one homeless man explains, you can’t pay the rent with food stamps.
With no money for rent, the streets and homeless shelters become the alternative.
Although men make up the largest group within the homeless population, homeless women with children are rapidly joining them. In fact, one quarter of the homeless people in the U.S. are teenagers and young children.
People may become homeless for numerous reasons. However, there are certain factors that many of these individuals have in common. They include a lack of adequate education and job skills. A majority of the teenagers and adults have not completed high school.
The abuse of alcohol and drugs is also a common factor. One third of the adult homeless population abuses alcohol, while one quarter of the same group uses drugs.
Some members of this population suffer mental health problems. Within the past several years many institutions for the mentally ill have been closed and their patients sent “home”. Unfortunately, a number of those people have no home to go to and they are unable to adequately look after themselves.
Job loss in today’s economy has also become a real factor in the loss of people’s homes. The breakup of families through abandonment and divorce is also contributing factors, particularly when there are children involved. The parent who is left to care for the kids with inadequate income may be forced to depend on the homeless shelters to put a roof over their heads.
1.The writer thinks that the U.S. government’s definition for the homeless shows _________.
A. an insincere attitude toward the homeless
B. an unbearable attitude toward the homeless
C. an uncivilized attitude toward the homeless
D. an unsympathetic attitude toward the homeless
2.The U.S. government helps the homeless by _________.
A. giving them homeless allowance B. giving them food stamps
C. finding jobs for them D. finding residence (a place to live) for them
3.People become homeless for all the following reasons EXCEPT _________.
A. the lack of adequate education
B. the abuse of alcohol and drugs
C. the closure of institutions for the mentally ill
D. the poor performance of economy
4.The breakup of families is likely to lead to homelessness because a parent with kids may _________.
A. lose his or her job in today’s economy
B. be unable to look after the kids
C. not have enough income
D. find residence at a homeless shelter
What will we be eating in the future? Here are the top factors that will be affecting the food that ends up on our tables in the new century.
Genetically engineered food Many crops are already genetically engineered, often to produce more food, fight against pests or improve nutrition. But concern is growing over the lasting effects of changing nature. While existing research has found little harm in genetic engineering, a recent study found the flower powder of a genetically engineered corn can kill the normal butterfly. This finding made many people nervous and brought attention to the topic.
Dining out Americans are increasingly eating meals away from home, both in sit-down restaurants and in fast food outlets. In the last decade alone there was a 14 percent decrease in the number of meals eaten at home. At the same time, restaurants are just beginning to really open their doors on the Internet. Websites exist to make restaurant reservations (预约), view menus, and get tips from your favorite chefs. The dining out trend and the demand for high-quality, chef-prepared food have encouraged chefs to spend time out of the kitchen — teaching classes, appearing on TV, and writing cookbooks.
Eating in Eating in doesn’t always mean cooking. Ready-made meals and frozen food sold in supermarkets taste better all the time. Restaurants are offering neatly packaged “food to go”, and meals can be ordered over the Internet. Cooking is not as much as a necessity, as it is a hobby or a special treat.
Agriculture Although American farmers have been hit hard recently by bad weather, low prices and decreasing government help, they can increase grain production not using old farming methods.
1.Which of the following is the main reason for genetically engineered crops?
A. To lead to more food and better nutrition. B. To kill the normal butterfly.
C. To reduce the harm done by insects. D. To change the nature of the crops.
2.From the passage, we learn that _________.
A. eating out is not popular among the old people in USA
B. it is now easier for people to get information about eating out
C. it is popular for restaurants to send out information on the Internet
D. the trend of eating out is causing many chefs to give up their jobs
3.In the future, cooking at home will probably _________.
A. still be the job of most housewives
B. take up most of people’s free time
C. bring much joy to more people
D. lead to many restaurants closing down
4.According to the passage, farmers should _________ to get a higher grain production.
A. turn to better farming methods B. ask for the support of the government
C. raise the prices of crops D. not care about the effects of bad weather
It happened to me recently that I was telling someone how much I had enjoyed reading Barack Obama’s Dreams from My Father and how it had changed my views of the current US president. The person I was talking to agreed with me that it was, in his words, “a wonderfully written book”. However, he then proceeded to talk about Mr. Obama in a way that suggested he had no idea of his background at all. I sensed that I was talking to a book liar.
And it seems that he is not the only one. Clearly two thirds of people have lied about reading a book which they haven’t. In the World Book Day survey, Dreams from My Father is at number 9. The survey lists top ten books, and various authors, which people have lied about reading. As I’m not one to lie too often, I’ll admit here and now that I haven’t read the entire ten books. But I am pleased to say that I have read the book at number one, George Orwell’s 1984. I think it’s absolutely outstanding.
Asked why they lied, the most common reason was to impress someone they were speaking to. This could be difficult if the conversation became more in depth!
The World Book Day survey also has some other interesting information in it. It shows that many people lie about having read classical works by Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Charles Dickens and so on. But when asked which authors they actually enjoy, they named J.K. Rowling, Jilly Cooper, and Stephen King (ah, the big sellers, in other words). Forty-one percent of people asked admitted they turned to the back of the book to read the end before finishing the story.
So which books have you lied about reading — if any — and which is your favourite?
1．The main reason why people lie about reading is to _________.
A. make fun of the listener B. impress the listener
C. please the listener D. interest the listener
2．The underlined word “proceeded” in the passage probably means “_________”.
A. wanted B. happened C. continued D. stopped
3．What does the World Book Day survey show?
A. Nearly half of the people surveyed didn’t read through a whole classical book.
B. People don’t like Dreams from My Father and George Orwell’s 1984.
C. Few people lie about having read classical works by Jane Austen.
D. People usually enjoy reading books by Charles Dickens.
4．What is the best title for the passage?
A. Are You a Book Liar? B. Readers Are All Liars
C. World Book Day D. Dreams from My Father
完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
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，选出可以填入的最佳选项。
It was a cold winter morning. Half asleep at the train station, I stared into the distance, 31 for the train to take me to my 32 in Boston. The world was quiet. The very few people on the street kept to themselves, 33 their steaming cups of coffee.
Reaching into my pocket as the 34 was approaching, my numb hand searched for the $ 20 bill to pay my fare. The pocket was 35 ! I searched through my bag and then I felt 36 . Unless the money dropped from the sky, I’d be 37 there.
“What’s the matter?” A short, elderly man stood before me.
“Oh, nothing…Well, I 38 my money and now I can’t pay for the ticket. I’m going to 39 my math class and the train is leaving.”
“Here, use this.”
The man held a $ 20 bill. I looked up, 40 . People just didn’t do that any more. Everyone worried about their own 41 , rarely stopping to think about others, especially teenage strangers.
“Thank you, but no, I can’t.”
“ 42 it—go!” The man pushed me 43 the train. I bought a round-trip ticket, and he refused the change I 44 to give him back. I did not know what to say — a million thoughts raced through my mind, yet I stood 45 .
For the train ride I was silent. I began to see the world through 46 eyes. That man made a difference with such a simple 47 .
A week later I was at the train station again, with an extra $20 48 I saw the man. And there he was.
“Excuse me, sir, I believe I owe you this.” I 49 the money into his hand.
Failing to refuse, he said, “Just remember to do the same for someone in your shoes some day.” I smiled, 50 .
The elderly man is my hero. For many, heroes are famous, but my hero is a giving stranger who taught me a lesson in life. I will never forget his kindness.
1.A. watching B. looking C. reaching D. arranging
2.A. home B. class C. office D. factory
3.A. serving B. carrying C. minding D. making
4.A. chance B. crowd C. driver D. train
5.A. deep B. empty C. messy D. tight
6.A. hopeless B. useless C. relieved D. dissatisfied
7.A. blocked B. drawn C. stuck D. tied
8.A. wasted B. counted C. spent D. lost
9.A. miss B. skip C. fail D. stop
10.A. frightened B. disturbed C. surprised D. concerned
11.A. problems B. complaints C. positions D. challenges
12.A. Seize B. Get C. Catch D. Take
13.A. in B. beyond C. toward D. on
14.A. offered B. managed C. happened D. attempted
15.A. unconsciously B. silently C. seriously D. uncomfortably
16.A. curious B. changed C. bright D. widened
17.A. task B. act C. example D. performance
18.A. so that B. even if C. now that D. in case
19.A. dropped B. pushed C. pressed D. placed
20.A. content B. scared C. annoyed D. numb
The disaster-stricken village was inaccessible ___________ by helicopter, and the storm added to the rescuers’ difficulty.
A. instead of B. other than C. rather than D. regardless of
