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. 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 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 clear: 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 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 in this book.
1.We learn form the text that Wilson cares most about ______.
A. the environment for plants B. the biodiversity of our earth
C. the wastes of natural resources D. the importance of human values
2.How many species 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
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Holiday News Vacancies (空位) now and in the school holidays at a country hotel in Devon. This comfortable, friendly home-from-home lies near the beautiful quiet countryside, but just a drive away from the sea. The food is simple but good. Children and pets are welcome. Reduced prices for low season. |
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The Snowdonia Center
The Snowdonia Center for young mountain climbers has a mountain 1068.The beginners’ costs are ￡57 for a week, including food and rooms. Equipment is included except walking shoes, which can be hired at a low cost. You must be in good health and prepared to go through a period of body exercises. This could be the beginning of a lifetime of mountain climbing adventure.
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The World Sea Trip of a Lifetime Our World Sea Trip of 2008 will be unlike any holiday you have ever been on before. Instead of one hotel after another, with all its packing and unpacking waiting and traveling, you just go to bed in one country and wake up in another. On board the ship, you will be well taken care of. Every meal will be first-class and every cabin like your home. During the trip, you can rest on deck(甲板), enjoy yourself in the games rooms and in the evening dance to our musical team and watch our wonderful play. You will visit all the places most people only dream about – from Acapulco and Hawaii to Tokyo and Hong Kong. For a few thousand pounds, all you’ve ever hoped for can be yours. |
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 sport 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 ￡57 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 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 quickly. If the hook is too deep or hooked in the stomach, cut the line and leave the hook in. The hook left inside will cause no serious problem to the fish.
—Take good care of the fish by 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 of the test?
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. 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 1966, 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 it was all good news too. This nice tasting pineapple contained four times more vitamin 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 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 developed by Del Monte. D. It was used as medicine.
3.The underlined word “fixture” in Paragraph 3 probably refers to something _________.
A. that people enjoy eating B. that is always 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. slowed 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 new place and meet his friends.
My earliest memories of my father are a tall, handsome, successful man devoted to his work and his family, but uncomfortable with his children. As a child I loved him. He seemed unhappy with me unless I got straight A’s and unhappy with my boyfriends 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 café. We talked 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 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 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 closer 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 me 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 weekend, 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 café owner
The passengers on the bus watched with sympathy as Susan made her way carefully up the steps. She paid the driver and then, using her hands to 36 the seats, settled in one of them.
It had been a year since Susan became blind. As the result of an accident she was suddenly thrown into a world of 37 . Susan’s husband Mark watched her 38 into hopelessness and he was 39 to use every possible means to help his wife.
Finally, Susan felt ready to 40 to her job, but how would she get there? She used to take the bus, but she was now too 41 to get around the city by herself. Mark 42 to ride the bus with Susan each morning and evening 43 she could manage it by herself.
For two weeks, Mark 44 Susan to and from work each day. He taught her how to rely on her other 45 , specifically her hearing, to determine where she was and how to adapt to her new 46 .
At last, Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip 47 . Monday morning arrived. Before she left, she hugged her husband 48 , her eyes filled with tears of gratitude（感激）. She said good-bye and, for the first time, they went their 49 ways. Each day went perfectly, and a wild excitement 50 Susan. She was doing it!
On Friday morning, Susan took the bus to work 51 . As she was getting off the bus, the driver said, “Miss, I sure 52 you.” Curious, Susan asked the driver 53 .
“You know, every morning for the 54 week, a fine-looking gentleman in a military uniform has been standing across the corner watching you until you enter your office building safely,” the bus driver said.
Tears of happiness poured down Susan’s cheeks. She was so lucky for he had given her a gift more powerful than 55 . That is the gift of love that can bring light where there is darkness.
1.A. touch B. grab C. count D. feel
2. A. weakness B. sickness C. darkness D. sadness
3.A. run B. sink C. jump D. step
4.A. inspired B. determined C. honored D. pleased
5.A. return B. adjust C. contribute D. stick
6.A. dread B. astonished C. depressed D. frightened
7.A. volunteered B. attempted C. continued D. struggled
8.A. when B. as C. until D. after
9.A. drove B. directed C. accompanied D. sent
10.A. feeling B. organs C. skills D. senses
11.A. position B. environment C. status D. role
12.A. on her own B. in person C. to her benefit D. on foot
13.A. politely B. calmly C. briefly D. tightly
14.A. opposite B. separate C. fixed D. lonely
15.A. took charge of B. took place of C. took advantage of D. took hold of
16. A. as usual B. as a rule C. as well D. as a consequence
17.A. respect B. envy C. know D. support
18. A. what B. how C. why D. who
19.A. past B. same C. first D. next
20.A. courage B. will C. sight D. wisdom
