Against the assumption that forest fires in Alaska, Canada and Siberia warm the climate, scientists have discovered that cooling may occur in areas where burnt trees allow more snow to mirror more sunlight into space.
This finding suggests that taking steps to prevent northern forest fires to limit the release of greenhouse gases may warm the climate in northern regions. Usually large fires destroyed forests in these areas over the past decade. Scientists predict that with climate warming, fires may occur more frequently over next several centuries as a result of a longer fire season. Sunlight taken in by the earth tends to cause warming, while heat mirrored back into space tends to cause cooling.
This is the first study to analyze all aspects of how northern fires influence climate. Earlier studies by other scientists have suggested that fire in northern regions speed up climate warming because greenhouse gases from burning trees and plants are released into the atmosphere and thus trap heat.
Scientists found that right after the fire, large amounts of greenhouse gases entered the atmosphere and caused warming. Ozone（臭氧）levels increased, and ash from the fire fell on far-off sea ice, darkening the surface and causing more radiation from the sun to be taken in. The following spring, however, the land within the area of the fire was brighter than before the fire, because fewer trees covered the ground. Snow on the ground mirrored more sunlight back into space, leading to cooling.
“We need to find out all possible ways to reduce the growth of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.” Scientists tracked the change in amount of radiation entering and leaving the climate system as a result of the fire, and found a measurement closely related to the global air temperature. Typically, fire in northern regions occurs in the same area every 80 to 150 years. Scientists, however, found that when fire occurs more frequently, more radiation is lost from the earth and cooling results. Specifically, they determined when fire returns 20 years earlier than predicated, 0.5 watts per square meter of area burned are soaked up by the earth from greenhouse gases, but 0.9 watts per square meter will be sent back into space. The net effect is cooling. Watts are used to measure the rate at which energy is gained or lost from the earth.
1. According to the new findings, taking steps to prevent northern forest fires may _______.
A. result in a warming climate B. cause the forest fires to occur more frequently
C. lead to a longer fire season D. protect the forests and the environment there
2. Earlier studies about northern forest fires ________.
A. analyze all aspects of how northern fires influence climate
B. indicate that forest fires will pollute the atmosphere
C. suggest that people should take measures to protect environment
D. suggest that the fires will speed up climate warming
3. The underlined phrase “soaked up” in the last paragraph most probably means ________.
A. released B. absorbed C. created D. disturbed
4. From the text we can draw a conclusion that forest fires in Alaska, Canada and Siberia may ______.
A. warm the climate as the assumption goes
B. allow more snow to reflect more sunlight into space and thus cool the climate
C. destroy large areas of forests and pollute the far-off sea ice
D. help to gain more energy rather than release more energy
In our culture, the sources of what we call a sense of “mastery” — feeling important and worthwhile — and the sources of what we call a sense of “pleasure”— finding life enjoyable — are not always the same. Women often are told “You can’t have it all.” Sometimes what the speaker really is saying is: “You choose a career, so you can’t expect to have closer relationships or a happy family life.” or “You have a wonderful husband and children — what’s all this about wanting a career?” But women need to understand and develop both aspects of well-being, if they are to feel good about themselves.
Our study shows that, for women, well-being has two aspects. One is mastery, which includes self-respect, a sense of control over your life, and low levels of anxiety and depression. Mastery is closely related to the “doing” side of life, to work and activity. Pleasure is the other aspect, and it is made up of happiness, satisfaction and optimism. It is tied more closely to the “feeling” side of life. The two are independent of each other. A woman could be high in mastery and low in pleasure, and vice versa（反之亦然）. For example, a woman who has a good job, but whose mother has just died, might be feeling very good about herself and in control of her work life, but the pleasure side could be damaged for a time.
The concepts of mastery and pleasure can help us identify the sources of well-being for women, and correct past mistakes. In the past, women were encouraged to look only at the feeling side of life as the source of all well-being. But we know that both mastery and pleasure are important. And mastery seems to be achieved largely through work. In our study, all the groups of employed women were valued significantly higher in mastery than women who were not employed.
A woman’s well-being is developed when she takes on multiple roles. At least by middle adulthood, the women who were involved in a combination of roles — marriages, motherhood, and employment — were the highest in well-being, in spite of warnings about stress and strain.
1. It can be inferred from the first paragraph that ________.
A. for women, a sense of “mastery” is more important than a sense of “pleasure”
B. for women, a sense of “pleasure” is more important than a sense of “mastery”
C. women can’t have a sense of “mastery” and a sense of “pleasure” at the same time
D. a sense of “mastery” and a sense of “pleasure” are both necessary to women
2. The author’s attitude towards women having a career is________.
A. negative B. positive C. indifferent D. realistic
3. One can conclude from the passage that if a woman takes on several social roles, ________.
A. it will be easier for her to overcome stress and strain
B. she will be more successful in her career
C. her chances of getting promoted will be greater
D. her life will be richer and more meaningful
4. Which of the following can be considered as a source of “pleasure” for women?
A. Family life B. Multiple roles in society
C. Regular employment D. Freedom from anxiety
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Box Office Instructions |
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Discounts/ Service charges: We offer children (12 and under), seniors (65 and over) and students (student ID card required) discounts on all seats. Please call the Box Office to know about any other possible discounts. |
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Returns/ Exchanges: We are happy to offer returns or exchanges of tickets purchased up until the close of the last business day before the show with a $3.00 per ticket fee for this service. The box office must be informed directly in order to exchange tickets to another date (this service is not available online). |
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Friendly reminders: Latecomers will not be permitted to enter the hall until a suitable break in the performance. Children must be seated where they can be looked after by parents. Please show consideration for other audiences by not talking during the performance, and please encourage children to do the same. Cameras and recording equipment are not allowed to be used in our theatre. Please turn off all cell phones while enjoying the performance. |
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Will call: Please tell us at the time of booking if you would like your tickets mailed to you, otherwise they will be held for pickup at the box office. |
1. We can learn from the passage that exchanges of tickets purchased ________.
A. are free of charge B. are not available until the last business day
C. will not be given a big cash discount D. need to contact the box office directly
2. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Latecomers will not be permitted to enter the theatre.
B. There is a special area for children in the theatre.
C. The audience is not allowed to take photos in the theatre.
D. Children can talk in a low voice during the performance.
3. According to the passage, the audience ________.
A. can receive their tickets by mail B. can see the performance online
C. can’t take cell phones to the theatre D. can’t return tickets in any case
第三部分: 阅读理解 (共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分)
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项A、B、C和D中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
When I stepped out the plane from Miami into Charlotte, North Carolina, airport for a connecting flight home, I immediately knew something was wrong. Lots of desperate people crowded the terminal. I quickly learned that flights headed to the Northeast were called off because of a storm. The earliest they could get us out of Charlotte was Tuesday. It was Friday. A gate agent stood on the counter and shouted, “Don’t ask us for help! We cannot help you!”
I joined a crowd that ran from terminal to terminal in search of a flight out. Eventually, I found six strangers willing to rent a van with me. We drove through the night to Washington, where I took a train the rest of the way to Providence.
The real problem, of course, is that incidents like this happen every day, to everyone who flies, more and more often. It really gets to me, though, because for eight years I was on the other side, as a flight attendant for Trans-World Airlines (TWA).
I know the days are gone when attendants could be written up if we did not put the lines napkins with the TWA logo in the lower right-hand corner of the first-class diners’ trays. As are the days when there were three dinner options on flights from Boston to Los Angeles in economy class. When, once, stuck on a tarmac（机场停机坪）in Newark for four hours, a planeload of passengers got McDonald’s hamburgers and fries by thoughtfulness of the airline.
I have experienced the decline of service along with the rest of the flying public. But I believe everything will change little by little, because I remember the days when to fly was to soar (翱翔). The airlines, and their employees, took pride in how their passengers were treated. And I think the days are sure to come back one day in the near future.
1..Many people crowded the terminal because ________.
A. they were ready to board on the planes
B. something was wrong with the terminal
C. the flights to the Northeast were canceled
D. the gate agent wouldn’t help the passengers
2. How did the writer get to Providence at last?
A. by air B. by van
C. by train D. by underground
3. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. Incidents happened to those who fly quite often.
B. The writer used to be a flight attendant for Trans-World Airlines.
C. Even a small mistake might cause complaints from passengers in the past.
D. McDonald’s hamburgers and fries were among regular dinner options.
4. What can be implied from the passage?
A. The writer lived in Charlotte, North Carolina.
B. The writer thought the service was not as good as it used to be.
C. The writer with other passengers waited to be picked up patiently.
D. Passengers would feel proud of how they were treated on the plane.
第二节：完形填空（共20小题；每小题1分，满分20分）
请认真阅读下面各题，从题中所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
The Conservative Party leader David Cameron has been elected British Prime Minister. Labor Party’s Gordon Brown, the 36 Prime Minister, had to 37 the tears as he said his goodbyes outside of 10 Downing St. And Cameron is the youngest UK prime minister in almost 200 years.
According to electoral rules, the leader of the party that wins a majority in Parliament becomes the new prime minister and forms the new government. If no party wins a majority, a coalition (联合) government 38 several parties may be formed. The head of the coalition party that 39 most seats in parliament probably becomes the new prime minister.
In Britain’s May 6 parliamentary 40 , Cameron’s Conservative Party won the most seats, but did not get a majority. After negotiations, with an agreement 41 between the Conservatives and the third-placed Liberal Democrats, a governing coalition was formed.
Cameron has grown 42 a shy primary school student with 43 school reports into a famous political 44 . He is reportedly a 45 of King William IV (1765 –1837). Cameron studied at the elite Eton College, for centuries the school 46 the choice for the nation’s wealthiest people to send their male children to. He went 47 to Oxford University, where he graduated with a degree in philosophy, politics and economics.
Once at primary school, Cameron had the poorest school report in the class. At Eton, Cameron was a problem boy. In 1983, he was suspected of taking drugs. He was punished, and 48 ordered to copy 500 lines of Latin text. He 49 the incident and worked harder.
Cameron was very 50 at Oxford. He captained the tennis team there. He was a member of a dining society. After graduation, he 51 politics. In 2001 Cameron became a member of Parliament and in 2005, at the age of 38, was elected the leader of the Conservative Party.
Now he has been elected the head of a country 52 deep economic troubles. At least 1.3 million people have been 53 in the serious financial crisis. British voters will be looking to see 54 the program his party has proposed to deal with the problem 55 do anything to help.
36. A. latest B. current C. former D. latter
37. A. hold back B. hold off C. hold on D. hold out
38. A. is made up of B. consisting of C. is composed of D. makes up of
39. A. holds B. takes C. includes D. contains
40. A. selection B. election C. conference D. negotiation
41. A. reached B. arriving at C. coming to D. establishing
42. A. with B. of C. from D. for
43. A. excellent B. poor C. average D. outstanding
44. A. people B. character C. image D. figure
45. A. son B. grandson C. relative D. descendent
46. A. is B. has been C. had been D. being
47. A. on B. up C. down D. out
48. A. otherwise B. therefore C. nevertheless D. however
49. A. survived from B. recovered from C. benefited from D. changing from
50. A. silent B. positive C. active D. enthusiastic
51. A. took to B. toot after C. took off D. took over
52. A. faced B. facing with C. faced with D. faces
53. A. laid off B. laid down C. laid aside D. laid out
54. A. that B. what C. if D. how
55. A. can B. should C. must D. need
. --- Have you heard that the pop star was charged with taking illegal drugs?
--- It’s difficult for a fun like me to accept that. _________.
A. He has to kill the fatted calf. B. He has feet of clay.
C. He must be the apple of his parents’ eye. D. He must be the salt of the earth.
