Part IV Writing （45 marks）
Section A （10 marks）
Directions: Read the following passage．Fill in the numbered blanks by using the
information from the passage.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
The X- Factor (英国偶像), Britain's got talent（英国达人）, American Idol（美国偶像）and Super girl, TV talent shows are popular all over the world.
There are many reasons for that. To start with, the show can make the contestant(选手) famous overnight. Susan Boyle was an ordinary English woman before she appeared on Britain’s Got talent, in which she sang “I Dreamed a Dream”. The video clip (片段) of her performance was viewed more than 50 million times within a few weeks. Second, the show offers a good opportunity to display one’s talents. Third, everybody has a fair chance to be involved in the show regardless of the age and background. Even if you can’t perform in the show, you can vote for your favorite contestant through cell phones and the Internet. Fourth, the fun and humorous style also appeals to young people. Last but not least, the modern media such as TV and the Internet contributes greatly to its rapid popularity.
However, many people express concerns about TV talent shows. They argue that the TV talent show misleads the young people and makes them believe that they can become famous overnight. Some think the show only creates entertainers rather than artists, because many winners have little idea about real music and acting. What’s worse, some judges even humiliate (羞辱) and laugh at contestants. One contestant from American Idol committed suicide because she couldn’t stand the rejection and humiliation. Even the winners suffer. Susan Boyle suffered a nervous breakdown soon after the show, because she was unable to deal with the pressure.
Many countries have realized the problems and taken some steps to regulate the show. The UK requires that contestants younger than 16 not be allowed to participate. China bans TV talent shows to be broadcast during the prime time. In the USA, some insulting judges are punished.
A scientist turns out to be able to see the future by offering each of some four-year-olds a piece of candy and watching how he or she deals with it. Some children reach eagerly for the treat they see. Some last a few minutes before they give in. But others are determined to wait until the last moment.
By the time the children reach high school, something remarkable has happened. A survey found that those who as four-year-olds had enough self-control to hold out generally grew up to be more popular, adventurous, confident and dependable. The children who gave in to temptation(诱惑) early were more likely to be lonely, easily frustrated and inflexible(顽固的)．
Actually, the ability to delay reward is a sign of emotional intelligence which doesn't show up on an IQ test.
The hardware of the brain and the software of the mind have long been scientists' concerns. But brain theory can't explain what we wonder about most, like the question why some people remain upbeat in the face of troubles that would sink a less resistant soul.
Here comes the theory of Daniel Goleman, writer of Emotional Intelligence: when it comes to predicting people's success, brain ability measured by IQ may actually matter less than the qualities of mind once thought of as “character”．
EQ is not the opposite of IQ. What researchers have been trying to understand is how they work together; how one's ability to handle stress, for instance, affects the ability to concentrate and put intelligence to use. Among the ingredients (要素) for success, researchers now generally agree that IQ counts for about 20%; the rest depends on everything from social class to luck.
While many researchers in this relatively new field are glad to see emotional issues finally taken seriously, some few fear EQ causes misuse.
1.The experiment with the four-year-olds makes it clear that ________.
A. the age of 4 is a proper time for scientific experiment
B. emotional intelligence won't show up until adolescence
C. the ability of self-control plays a role in personal success
D. candy can be used to measure a person's emotional intelligence
2.Which of the following is TRUE of EQ and IQ according to the text?
A. There is no link between EQ and IQ.
B. The higher a person's IQ is, the higher his or her EQ is.
C. Some people can be blessed with lots of both, but some with little of either.
D. Scientists are trying to discover the way in which EQ and IQ work together.
3.The underlined word “upbeat” in Paragraph 4 probably means “________”.
A. kind B. floating
C. excited D. optimistic
4.Why does the author mention the experiment at the beginning of the text?
A. To amuse both the children and readers.
B. To prove the scientist’s wisdom.
C. To introduce the topic of the text.
D. To show us how to do an IQ test.
5.What is most likely to be written in the paragraph that follows?
A. Information about famous people with high EQ.
B. Examples showing the opposite voice about EQ.
C. Some reasons why EQ is relatively new field.
D. Strong demands for basic emotional education.
If you’re thinking about reaching for another biscuit to get you through the working day, think again. Eating unhealthy snacks at your desk makes you pile on almost half a stone a year, a survey has revealed. The waistlines of women suffer the most, with the average female putting on 6lb 3oz – the equivalent of a whole dress size – while men see their weight increase by 5lb 2oz.
The report into our eating habits found that, on average, we eat at least two snacks a day, with 30 per cent of us tucking into three or more. Women admit eating more than men, with a further 13 per cent of ladies scoffing four or more snacks a day. The research, by The Village Bakery, found biscuits are the most common vice, with 42 per cent regularly opening a pack, closely followed by chocolate (38 per cent), crisps (32 per cent) and cakes (13 per cent).
And office workers are worse than most. Cakes and biscuits brought into work by colleagues are one of the main temptations office staff give in to. In addition, 33 per cent admit reaching for nibbles to cope with stress and 22 per cent say they need a sugar rush to perk them up in the afternoon.
Simon Staddon, of The Village Bakery, said: “We were aware time-poor office workers can find it difficult to easily access a nutritional lunch. But we were really shocked by the extent to which ‘quick fix' lunches are affecting weight gain and general wellbeing. Popular mid-afternoon pick-me-ups such biscuits, chocolate and cakes are high in calories, fat and full of sugar, all of which affect your blood sugar levels and ultimately lead to weight gain.”
The survey of 2,000 British men and women suggests we are often ashamed of our unhealthy eating. Twenty-four per cent of Britons admit lying about how many snacks they eat with 33 per cent of women lying, compared to 20 per cent of men. Unfortunately, it's not as if we are likely to do anything positive to counteract the sweet treats.
1.According to the passage, women usually put weight on first ________.
A. on the face B. on the legs
C. on the feet D. in the middle
2.What’s the main reason of eating snacks in office?
A. Colleagues eat them to save money.
B. Staff use them to cope with their lunch.
C. Colleagues often bring them to office.
D. Bosses invite staff to eat them.
3.Why do office workers eat a “quick fix” lunch?
A. Because it has much of nutrition.
B. Because it has little effect on weight gain.
C. Because it has little effect on general wellbeing.
D. Because they have short time to have their lunches.
4.It can be inferred that British women are ________.
A. less likely to lie on snacks than men
B. more likely to lie on snacks than men
C. more ashamed of eating snacks than men
D. less ashamed of eating snacks than men
5. What does the underlined word possibly mean?
A. act against B. appeal to
C. cope with D. get in
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
