Believe it or not, optical illusion(错觉) can cut highway crashes.
Japan is a case in point. It has reduced automobile crashes on some roads by nearly 75 percent using a simple optical illusion. But stripes, called chevrons(人字形), which are painted on the roads make drivers think that they are driving faster than they really are, and thus drivers slow down.
Now the American Automobile Association Foundation(基金会) for Traffic Safety in Washington D.C. is planning to repeat Japan’s success. Starting next year, the foundation will paint chevrons and other patterns of stripes on selected roads around the country to test how well the patterns reduce highway crashes.
Excessive (too great) speed plays a major role in as much as one fifth of all serious traffic accidents, according to the foundation. To help reduce those accidents, the foundation will conduct its tests in areas where speed-related danger are the greatest curves, exit slopes, traffic circles, and bridges.
Some studies suggest that straight, horizontal bars painted across roads can cut the average speed of drivers in half at the beginning. However, traffic often returns to full speed within months as drivers become used to seeing the painted bars.
Chevrons, scientists say, not only give drivers the impression that they are driving faster than they really are but also make a lane appear to be narrower. The result is a longer lasting reduction in highway speed and the number of traffic accidents.
1. On roads painted with chevrons, drivers tend to feel that ______.
A. they should avoid speed-related hazards
B. they are driving in the wrong lane
C. they should slow down their speed
D. they are coming near to the speed limit
2. The advantage of chevrons over straight, horizontal bars is that the former ______.
A. can keep drivers awake
B. can cut road accidents in half
C. will look more attractive
D. will have a longer effect on drivers
3. The American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety plans to ________.
A. try out the Japanese method in certain areas
B. change the road signs across the country
C. replace straight, horizontal bars with chevrons
D. repeat the Japanese road patterns
4. The passage mainly discusses ________.
A. a new way of highway speed control
B. a new pattern for painting highways
C. a new way of training drivers
D. a new type of optical illusion
The USA, New York —Whales and dolphins are facing increasing threats from climate change, according to a new report published by WWF and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society（WDCS）.
The report “Whales in hot water?” draws attention to the growing impacts of climate change on whales. They range from changes in sea temperature and the freshening of the seawater because of the melting of ice and increased rainfalls, to a sea level rise, loss of icy polar habitats and the decline of krill populations in key areas. Krill, a tiny shrimp that is dependent on sea ice, is the main source of food for many of the great whales.
The speeding up of climate change adds greatly to trouble from other human activities, such as chemical and noise pollution, which kills some 1000 whales every day.
“Whales and dolphins have an ability to adapt to their changing environment,” said Mark Simmonds, International Director of Science at WDCS. “But the climate is now changing at such a fast pace that it is unclear to what extent whales and dolphins will be able to adjust.”
Climate change impacts are currently greatest in the Arctic and the Antarctic. According to the report, cetaceans that rely on polar, icy waters for their home and food resources are likely to be greatly affected by the reduction of sea ice cover.
WDCS and WWF are urging governments to cut global production of CO2 by at least 50 percent by the middle of this century. The latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change showed it was possible to stop global warming if the world’s emissions start to decline before 2015.
1. From the passage, we can learn that whales mainly feed on ______.
A. dolphins B.krill C. sea horses D. sharks
2. Which of the following has the same meaning as the underlined word “decline” (in Para 2)?
A. produce B. develop C. fall D. increase
3. In what place is climate change greatest?
A. Two polar areas. B. Asia.
C. The pacific ocean. D. Equator.
4. Which of the following is not true according to the passage?
A. Climate change will lead to the changes in sea temperature.
B. Climate change will result in the freshening of the sea water.
C. Climate change will have a bad effect on human activities and whales.
D. Human beings will forever have no ability to stop global warming
Five million people visit Grand Canyon in the US every year. For the purpose of helping protect Grand Canyon for your fellow visitors and future generations, please follow the guidelines below.
Camping
To protect the park, camping is allowed only within permitted campgrounds. Permits are required for overnight camping at the North Rim. Advance booking can be received by mail. Please write: Information Center, P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
Fires
Because of the extreme fire danger, campfires are not allowed except at Mather and Desert View campgrounds. Collection of firewood is not allowed either.
Hiking
Please stay on permitted paths. Otherwise you may destroy desert plants. Pack out what you pack in, so you leave no signs of your visit. It is important to keep in mind that you are in a national park where wildlife exists.
Weather
The weather at Grand Canyon can change very quickly. With so much rock, lightning causes a particular danger during sudden summer storms. These storms also frequently bring floods inside valleys, a danger to hikers. Watch the skies and check daily weather reports.
Wildlife
Do not feed park wildlife. There have been a few cases at Grand Canyon National Park where deer were purposely shot because they ate plastic bags that left them sick and weak. Hungry deer can be a danger and have kicked and bitten visitors at Grand Canyon. Some other animals will also beg and bite. For your own safety and the well-being of the animals, please do not feed wildlife, no matter how gentle they may appear.
1. What can you do first if you want to go camping?
A. Book campgrounds in advance.
B. Know the permitted paths.
C. Make sure not to make a fire.
D. Stop at Mather and Desert View.
2. What do the underlined words “Pack out what you pack in” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?
A. keep everything out of campgrounds
B. look after your personal belongings
C. carry all the necessary food
D. take away everything you bring in
3. Why were some deer killed on purpose at Grand Canyon?
A. They begged food from visitors.
B. They were a danger to other gentle animals.
C. They ate wrong things and became very ill.
D. They kicked and bit visitors.
4. What is the main purpose of the text?
A. To report some recent news.
B. To provide travel information.
C. To teach tourists hiking skills.
D. To introduce the wildlife.
第三部分 阅读理解 （共20小题；每小题2分，满分40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。
Even at school there had been an unhealthy competition between George and Richard.
“I’ll be the first millionaire in Coleford!” Richard used to boast. “And you’ll be sorry you knew me,” George would reply “because I’ll be the best lawyer in the town!”
George never did become a lawyer and Richard never made any money. Instead both men opened bookshops on opposite sides of Coleford High Street. It was hard to make money from books, which made the competition between them worse.
Then Richard married a mysterious girl. The couple spent their honeymoon on the coast—but Richard never came back. The police found his wallet on a deserted beach but the body was never found. He must have drowned.
Now with only one bookshop in town, business was better for George. But sometimes he sat in his narrow, old kitchen and gazed out of the dirty window, thinking about his formal rival(竞争对手). Perhaps he missed him?
George was very interested in old dictionaries. He’d recently found a collector in Australia who was selling a rare first edition. When the parcel arrived, the book was in perfect condition and George was delighted. But while he was having lunch, George glanced at the photo in the newspaper that the book had been wrapped in. He was astonished—the smiling face was older than he remembered but unmistakable! Trembling, George started reading.
“Bookends have bought ten bookstores from their rivals Dylans. The company, owned by multi-millionaire Richard Pike, is now the largest bookseller in Australia.”
1. George and Richard were ______ at school.
A. roommates B. good friends C. competitors D. booksellers
2. How did George feel about Richard after his disappearance?
A. He envied（嫉妒） Richard’s marriage.
B. He thought of Richard from time to time.
C. He felt lucky with no rival in town.
D. He was guilty of Richard’s death.
3. George got information about Richard from ______.
A. the wrapping paper of a book
B. the latter’s rivals Dylans
C. a rare first edition of a dictionary
D. a dictionary collector in Australia
4. What happened to George and Richard in the end?
A. Both George and Richard became millionaires.
B. Both of them realized their original ambitions.
C. George established a successful business while Richard was missing.
D. Richard became a millionaire while George had no great success
第二节 完形填空 （共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分 30分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后所给各题的四个选项（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。
Several years ago, while attending a communication course, I experienced a most unusual process. The instructor asked us to list 41 in our past that we felt 42 of, regretted, or incomplete about and then read our lists aloud.
This seemed like a very 43 process, but there’s always some 44 soul in the crowd who will volunteer. The instructor then 45 that we find ways to 46 people, or take some action to correct any wrong doings. I was seriously wondering how this could ever 47 my communication.
Then the man next to me raised his hand and volunteered this story: Making my 48 , I remembered an incident from high school. I grew up in a small town. There was a Sheriff who 49 of us kids liked. One night, my two buddies and I decided to play a 50 on him.
After drinking a few beers, we climbed the tall water tank in the middle of the town, and wrote on the tank in bright red paint: Sheriff Brown is a s.o.b.(畜生). The next day, almost the whole town saw our glorious 51 . Within two hours, Sheriff Brown had us in his office. My friends told the truth but I lied. No one 52 found out.
Nearly 20 years later, Sheriff Brown’s name 53 on my list. I didn’t even know if he was still 54 . Last weekend, I dialed the information in my hometown and found there was a Roger Brown still listed. I tried his number. After a few 55 , I heard, “Hello?” I said, “Sheriff Brown?”Paused. “Yes.” “Well, this is Jimmy Calkins.”
“And I want you to know that I did it.” Paused. “I knew it!” he yelled back. We had a good laugh and a 56 discussion. His closing words were: “Jimmy, I always felt bad for you 57 your buddies got it off their chest, but you were carrying it 58 all these years. I want to thank you for calling me...for your sake.”
Jimmy inspired me to 59 all the items on my list within two years, and I always remember what I learned from the course: It’s never too late to 60 the past wrongdoings.
41.A.something B. anything C. somebody D. anybody
42.A. ashamed B. afraid C. sure D. proud
43.A. private B. secret C. interesting D. funny
44.A. foolish B. polite C. simple D. brave
45.A. expected B. suggested C. ordered D. demanded
46.A.connect with B. depend on C. apologize to D. get across
47.A. improve B. continue C. realize D. keep
48.A. notes B. list C. plan D. stories
49.A. any B. most C. none D. all
50.A. part B. game C. trick D. record
51.A. view B. sign C. attention D. remark
52.A. also B. even C. still D. ever
53.A. appears B. considers C. presents D. remembers
54.A. angry B. happy C. doubtful D. alive
55.A. words B. rings C. repeats D. calls
56.A. cold B. plain C. nervous D. lively
57.A. in case B. unless C. so long as D. because
58.A. around B. out C. on D. away
59.A. build up B. make up C. clear up D. give up
60.A. regret B. forgive C. right
— You should apologize to her, Barry.
—______, but it’s not going to be easy.
A. I suppose so B. I feel so C. I do so D .I like to
