Part III Reading Comprehension （30 marks）
Directions: Read the following three passages, Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements．For each of them there are four choices marked A, B,C and D．Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage.
A
Humans aren’t the only ones getting a buzz from coffee. Caffeine can improve memory among honeybees and lead to better pollination(授粉). According to a recent study published in the journal Science.
The study was conducted by a team of researchers at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom. They found that the nectar(花蜜) of some flowers, such as those from grapefruit and lemon plants, as well as certain coffee flowers, contains low doses of caffeine. To get bees to feed on these flowers, the team trained the insects to associate food with the smell of the flowers. They also trained another group of bees to feed on nectar from flowers that were sweetened with a sugar, but did not contain caffeine. After 24 hours, the bees trained on caffeinated flowers returned to these plants three times as often as those trained on the sweetened flowers returned to the uncaffeinated plants.
Professor Geraldine Wright led the researchers. “Remembering floral traits (花部特征) is difficult for bees to perform at a fast pace as they fly from flower to flower and we found that caffeine helps the bee remember where the flowers are,” Wright said in a statement.
Improved memory led to the better pollination. That’s because once bees sip the caffeine nectar, they continue to look for more coffee plants to pollinate. This also suggests that caffeine plays a role in improving the bees’ ability to search for food.
Researchers found that caffeine’s effect on the bee brain is similar to its effect on mammals. “The change is similar to that produced by caffeine in neurons (神经元)”associated with learning and memory in the rat brain,” Wright said.
Bee populations have declining since 2007. The dramatic drop in the insects’ numbers has serious effects for ecosystems and the farming industry. Bees are needed in the reproduction of crops and spreading wild flower species. Understanding what keeps bees buzzing could help to make sure that the insects are able to remember and pollinate their favorite flowers.
1.Which of the following is mentioned in the passage?
A. Caffeine has no effect on the rat brain.
B. Bee population has been increasing.
C. The nectar of lemon plants contains caffeine.
D. Bees dislike nectar from sweetened flowers.
2.After reading the passage, John, who works in the farming industry, will probably feel ________.
A. annoyed B. angry C. nervous D. excited
3.Which of the following relationship is correct according to the passage?
A. improved memory — caffeine nectar — better pollination
B. caffeine nectar — improved memory — better pollination
C. improved memory — better pollination — caffeine nectar
D. caffeine nectar — better pollination — improved memory
4.We can know from the passage that ________.
A. the rat is a mammal
B. caffeine has nothing to do with memory
C. bees are good at remembering floral traits
D. Geraldine Wright did the research on his own
5. What section of a newspaper may this passage be taken from?
A. Science B. Education
C. Culture D. Sports
Directions: Complete the following passage by filling in each blank with one word that best fits the context.
Belgian architect Luc Schuiten thinks that modern society is driving 1._______into environmental doom, 2.________ our fuel-burning, sea level-raising ways that are gradually sweeping away countries from the map.3.________ solution to such a huge problem, he believes, 4.________ be equally huge — nothing short of a complete rebuilding of how we build cities.
In Schuiten’s opinion, blocks of concrete and glass buildings are replaced with sprouting plant (发芽植物) structures shaped 5.________ trees and lotus flowers. Schuiten calls his nature-inspired cities “vegetal cities”.
Many features in these fantastical cities are modeled after creatures like flowers and vegetables. For example, the “city of the waves” is designed to grow 6._______ the shores of a lake. It is built onto the shores of a lake. It is built onto the connective roots, 7.________ grow on trees in tropical forests. Habitats are built into these trees using materials that pattern upon silkworm cocoons(蚕茧). 8.________ you need to run to the store for groceries, you can use a network of bridges hanging from tree to tree.
Directions: For each blank in the following passage there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D．Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.
It was a hot summer day. My dad and I were ready to go out for a ride on the motorcycle with my friend Katie and the dog the phone call came, a call that made that bright, beautiful day a cold, dark, one.
I had just put on my suit, shorts, and tank top(无袖紧身背心), and packed my bag with sunscreen and else I would need for the day. I ran into my parents’ room to find Dad. When I saw him on the phone, he was crying. I’d never seen my dad cry before. My heart . what possibly could have happened?
“Max, I’m so sorry,” I heard him say. That’s when it me. I knew that Suzie had died. Max has been my dad’s best friend for years. Suzie, his daughter, had a rare disease that mainly affected her body. Her brain was OK. She knew what was ; she knew that she had problems and was different from other kids. Once she told her dad that she wished she could die and be born in a different body. Yet although she couldn’t live a normal life, she was still happy.
When Suzie and I were little, we spent quite a bit of time together. As we grew up, we grew . She lived in New York, and I lived in the Midwest. When Suzie was ten, she had to live in a in Virginia. About eight months before she died, Max gave us her number at the hospital and we talked on the phone at least twice a week the end. In a way, she lived through me. After we found out about her , we made our plans to go to New York for the funeral. When she was alive, I sent her a Beanie Baby and she sent one back to me. I had her another one but never had the chance to send it to her, so I took it to put in her casket(棺材).
To be honest, I learned so much from her. She gave me far more than I could ever give to her. I will never forget her or the talks we had. I now know that I must never anything for granted, especially my health and the gift of life.
1.A. when B. after C. once D. while
2.A. glaring B. gorgeous C. glamorous D. gloomy
3.A. anything B. something C. everything D. nothing
4.A. sank B. dropped C. fell D. lowered
5.A. surprised B. hit C. attracted D. beat
6.A. getting on B. going on C. working on D. running on
7.A. tall B. strong C. apart D. pretty
8.A. kindergarten B. nursery C. clinic D. hospital
9.A. until B. in C. since D. by
10.A. condition B. survival C. situation D. death
11.A. borrowed B. made C. bought D. sew
12.A. get B. take C. enjoy D. own
It is a great honor to be invited to the evening party, thus _________ me to feast my eyes on your excellent performance.
A. to allow B. to have allowed
C. allows D. allowing
—How long would you like me to heat the oil?
—Heat it till it ________ to smoke.
A. would start B. starts
C. will start D. start
With the bridge ________next year, it will be easier to come to and go from the village.
A. to build B. to be built C. built D. being built
