Some years ago industries had more freedom than they have now，and they did not need to be as careful as they must today. They did not need to worry a lot about the safety of the new products that they developed. They did not have to pay much attention to the health and safety of the people who worked for them. Often new products were dangerous for the people who used them; often conditions in the work place had very bad effects on the health of the workers.
Of course sometimes there were real disasters which attracted the attention of governments and which showed the need for changes. Also scientists who were doing research into the health of workers sometimes produced information which governments could not ignore. At such times, there were inquiries into the causes of the disasters or the problems. New safety rules were often introduced as a result of these inquiries; however, the new rules came too late to protect the people who died or who became seriously ill.
Today many governments have special departments which protect customers and workers. In the U.S., for example, there is a department which tests new airplanes and gives warnings about possible problems. It also makes the rules that aircraft producers must follow. Another department controls the foods and drugs that companies sell. A third department looks at the places where people work, and then reports any companies that are breaking the laws which protect the health and safety of workers. Of course, new government departments and new laws cannot prevent every accident or illness, but they are having some good results. Our work places are safer and cleaner than before. The planes and cars which we use for travel are better. Producers are thinking more about the safety and health of the people who buy and use their products.
51. The main topic of the passage is ______.
A. conditions in the work place B. the freedom of industries in the past
C. changes in industrial production D. the safety and health of workers and customers
52. It can be inferred from the passage that in the past ______.
A. workers often got ill because of the poor working conditions
B. companies were free to put out any products they wanted to
C. many people were killed by dangerous products
D. industries were as careful in management as they are today
53. It is implied in the passage that ______.
A. governments and companies had different opinions about the safety of products
B. in the past no safety laws were introduced by governments
C. government officials often did not listen to scientists
D. governments paid no attention to the safety of products at all
54. From the passage, we know that some years ago safety rules ______.
A. were put forward due to scientists’ recommendations
B. came into being as a result of the workers’ demands
C. were introduced because quite a number of people were killed or seriously injured
D. were effective enough to protect workers and customers
55. The special departments protect customers and workers in many ways EXCEPT by ______.
A. testing new products B. controlling the sale of products
C. designing new products D. inspecting work places
A California family drives a car that could help protect the environment. When Jon and Sandy go to the store or to their daughters’ soccer games, they drive in high-tech style. They drive a $1 million, fuel-cell-powered car. It may be the world’s most expensive car and one of the most environmentally friendly cars. The FCX is the first fuel-cell-powered car to be used by a family anywhere in the world. The FCX uses hydrogen and oxygen for fuel. Car makers have been working to develop vehicles that are better for the environment. They are developing cars that use fuel other than gasoline. And then what is fuel cell technology? Fuel cell technology works by changing the chemicals hydrogen and oxygen into water. This process produces electricity, and water vapor which comes out of the exhaust pipe. Most cars release dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Many scientists say these gases are major contributors to global warming. “The FCX is driven just like any other vehicle on the road, but without the gases which pollute the environment,” scientists say. Fuel cell technology has been around since the 1800s, but scientists have yet been to perfect it. They say it may take years before the technology is ready for widespread use. Another earth-friendly car is already on the market. Hybrid cars use both gasoline and an electric motor. They are becoming more popular with customers because they cut pollution and improve fuel efficiency.
46. Which of the following about the FCX is not true?
A. It may be the most expensive car in the world.
B. It is one of the most environmentally friendly cars.
C. It releases dangerous gases to pollute the air.
D. It uses hydrogen and oxygen for fuel other than gasoline.
47. According to the passage, what is the major cause for global warming?
A. Gases from FCX. B. Water vapor from cars.
C. Hydrogen and oxygen. D. Gases from cars.
48. From the passage, we know that fuel cell technology ______.
A. works by water B. has a history for over two hundred years
C. works by electricity D. has been widely used since the 1800s
49. We can infer from the passage that ______.
A. future cars will be environmentally friendly
B. there will be no gasoline for cars
C. people can’t afford to buy cars in the future
D. global warming has been stopped
50. Hybrid cars are popular because ______.
A. they are the fuel-cell-powered cars
B. they are energy-saving and cut pollution
C. they are perfect cars in the world
D. they produce no gases to pollute the environment
Ⅲ阅读(共两节，满分40分)
第一节阅读理解(共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分)
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Learning English is a great challenge, but with a little help from technology it can be as easy as a piece of cake.
As well as the classroom, teachers and textbooks, the Internet, TV and radio programs can play an active role in helping learn English. The Internet is full of rich and up-to-date information. English learners might wish to try http://www.in2english.com.cn. This website is co-established by the British Council, the BBC World Service and Central Radio and TV University. It provides cultural information about Britain and has an example of the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) that students can use for practice. Different levels of grammar tests can also be found.
Make friends online
Another useful website for middle school students and teachers is. Besides reading 21st Century School Edition online, students are also invited to put their views on different topics up on the website.
Users have the opportunity to make friends with people who share their interests.
In the teaching and learning section, there are reading and vocabulary tips for students.
Compared with the Internet, TV programs have their own advantages: one does not have to sit at a computer and the audio and visual effects can even be relaxing.
One popular English-learning program is called "Modern English". This focuses on oral English in practical situations such as taking photos and shopping.
The short dialogues and useful phrases may help students to express themselves if they go abroad or meet foreigners in China. More than 50 TV stations in about 300 cities have aired the program.
Word to World
If you watch Beijing Television Channel 8, you might see a program titled "Study Abroad". On this show Professor Wang Qiang from New Oriental School hosts "From Word to World".
He selects words with a deep cultural background and teaches useful phrases related to that word. Cartoons are also used to explain how to use the word in daily life. Listening to the radio may not be a new way to learn English but it is easy.
China Radio International airs a program called "Studio Classroom" at 6:30 a.m. every day. This 25-minute program is aimed at middle school students and covers subjects from current news to travel and history, all in simple language.
41. This passage ______.
A. introduces some new websites and TV and radio programs
B. focuses on advantages and disadvantages of different medium forms
C. recommends technological help in learning English
D. aims at advertising various English courses
42. If you want to read an English newspaper and make comments on different topics, you try_____.
A. www.in2english.com.cn. B. www.21se.com.cn.
C. Modern English D. Studio Classroom
43. One can practise oral English in everyday situations in _____.
A. Studio Classroom B. From Word to World
C. Study Abroad D. Modern English
44. According to the author, one superiority of TV programs over the Internet is that they ____.
A. offer more English learning resources
B. cost you nothing
C. have better audio and visual effects
D. have English courses available whenever you need them
45. The author wants the readers to know that learning English ______.
A. is difficult
B. is easy
C. is neither easy nor difficult
D. can be made much easier with a little help of modern technology
第二节语法填空(共10小题；每小题l 5分．满分l5分)
阅读下面短文，按照句子结构的语法性和上下文连贯的要求，在空格处填入一个适当的词或使用括号中词语的正确形式填空，并将答案填写在答题卡标号为31—40的相应位置上。
It is difficult for parents of nearly every family to teach their children to be responsible for housework, 31 with one of the following suggestions, you really can get your children to help at home.
If you give your children the 32 (impress) that they can never do anything quite right, then they will regard 33 as unfit or unable persons. 34 children believe they can succeed, they will never become totally independent.
My daughter Carla’s fifth grade teacher got every child in her class 35 (feel) special. When students received less than a perfect test score, she would point out 36 they had mastered and declared firmly they could learn what they had missed.
You can see the same technique when you evaluate your 37 work at home. Don’t always scold and give lots of praise 38 . Talk about what he has done right, not about what he hasn’t done. If your child completes a difficult task, reward him 39 a Sunday trip or a ball game with Dad. Learning is a process of trying and failing and trying and 40 . If you teach your children not to fear a mistake of failure, they will learn faster and achieve success at last.
第二节读写任务（共1小题，满分25分）
阅读下面短文，然后按照要求写一篇150词左右的英语短文。
The Guangzhou Children’s Palace and Urbanities Growing magazine last week published the results of survey about how children and parents view thankfulness. 84% of parents think that today most children do not feel a sense of thankfulness toward their parents. 90% of the parents said that the key to teaching children to be thankful toward their parents is for parents to set a good example themselves. If parents expect their kids to be more thankful to them, they themselves should be thankful toward their kids as well as toward others.
How do children understand the idea of being thankful? Most children think that being thankful means repaying those who have supported them. 44% of the children think that they should be grateful to those who once helped them or brought them happiness; 36% of the children think that if someone helped them before, then they should do something for him or her in return; and 20% said that they should be grateful to their parents for bringing them up. No kids think that being thankful was something out of date.
[写作内容]
1. 以约30个词概括短文的要点；
2. 以约120个词就 “对父母的感谢” 这个主题发表自己的看法，包括以下要点：
你认为子女是否应该对父母表示感谢并指出原因；
你通常以怎样的方式对自己的父母表示感谢。
[写作要求]
1. 可以参照阅读材料的内容，但不得直接引用原文中的句子；
2. 标题自拟。
[评分标准] 概括准确，语言规范，内容合适，篇章连贯。
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第四部分：写作（共两节，满分40分）
第一节基础写作（共1小题，满分15分）
假设有一些外宾要来你的家乡参观，村子要求你在欢迎仪式上介绍家乡发生的巨大变化。请你按以下要求写一篇发言稿。
[写作内容]
我的家乡发生了巨大的变化：
修建了“村村通”乡村公路，运输农产品到全国各地很方便；
取消了“农业税”，人均年收入达3000多元；
基本上每家都装上了电话，还有安装因特网的；
适龄儿童免费接受九年义务教育。
[写作要求]
只能使用5个句子介绍所给的全部内容；
开头和结尾已经给出，但不计入必写的5个句子内。
参考词汇：取消: cancel 农业税: agricultural tax
义务教育:compulsory education
[评分标准] 句子结构准确，信息内容完整，篇章结构连贯。
The Ladies and Gentlemen,
Welcome to our village!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Such is the introduction of our village.
Thank you!
