单选题Machines and foreign competition will replace millions of American jobs. But work will be plentiful for people trained in the occupations of the future. The Labor Department predicts a net increase of 25 million new jobs in the United States in 1995 with service-industry jobs growing three times as rapidly as factory jobs. "Work will shift its emphasis from the fatigue and monotony of the production line and the typing pool to the more interesting challenge of the electronic service center, the design studio, the research laboratory, the education institute and the training school," predicts Canadian economist Calvert. Jobs in high-tech fields will multiply fastest, but from a low base. In terms of actual numbers, more mundane occupations will experience the biggest surge: custodians, cashiers, secretaries, waiters and clerks. Yet much of the drudge work will be taken on by robots. The number of robots performing blue-collar tasks will increase from 3,000 in 1981 to 40,000 in 1990, says John E. Taylor of the Human Resources Research Organization in Alexandria, Va. Robots might also be found on war zones, in space- even in the office, perhaps making coffee, opening mail and delivering messages. One unsolved problem, what to do with workers displaced by high technology and foreign competition. Around the world "the likelihood of growing permanent unemployment is becoming more accepted as a reality among social planners," notes David Macarov, associate professor of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Meantime at the percentage of time people spend on the job is likely to continue to fall. Robert Theobald, author of Avoiding in 1984, fears that joblessness will lead to increasing depression, bitterness and unrest. "The dramatic consequences of such a shift on the Western psyche, which has made the job the way we value human beings, are almost incalculable," he comments. Because of the constantly changing demand for job skills, Ron Kutschner, associate commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, offers this advice for today' s high school students: "Be prepared with a broad education, like the kind pre-college students get--basic math. science and English. Prepare yourself to handle each new technology, as it comes down the road. Then get technology training for your first job. That is the best stepping stone to the second and third jobs./

单选题The result of the increasing costs in natural disasters is

单选题{{B}}Part B{{/B}} Until about two million years ago Africa's vegetation had always been controlled by the interactions of climate; geology, soil, and groundwater conditions; and the activities of animals. The addition of humans to the latter group, however, has increasingly rendered unreal the concept of a fully developed "natural" vegetation-- i. e. , one approximating the ideal of a vegetational climax. (41) _____________________. Early attempts at mapping and classifying Africa's vegetation stressed this relationship: sometimes the names of plant zones were derived directly from climates. In this discussion the idea of zones is retained only in a broad descriptive sense. (42) _____________________. In addition, over time more floral regions of varying shape and size have been recognized. Many schemes have arisen successively, all of which have had to take views on two important aspects: the general scale of treatment to be adopted, and the degree to which human modification is to be comprehended or discounted. (43) _____________________. Quite the opposite assumption is now frequently advanced. An intimate combination of many species--in complex associations and related to localized soils, slopes, and drainage--has been detailed in many studies of the African tropics. In a few square miles there may be a visible succession from swamp with papyrus,, the grass of which the ancient Egyptians made paper and from which the word "paper" originated, through swampy grassland and broad-leaved woodland and grass to a patch of forest on richer hillside soil, and finally to juicy fleshy plants on a nearly naked rock summit. (44) _____________________. Correspondingly, classifications have differed greatly in their principles for naming, grouping, and describing formations: some have chosen terms such as forest, woodland, thorn bush, thicket, and shrub for much of the same broad tracts that others have grouped as wooded savanna (treeless grassy plain) and steppe (grassy plain with few trees). This is best seen in the nomenclature, naming of plants, adopted by two of the most comprehensive and authoritative maps of Africa's vegetation that have been published: R. W. J. Keay's Vegetation Map of Africa South of the Tropic of Cancer and its more widely based successor, The Vegetation Map of Africa, compiled by Frank White. In the Keay map the terms "savanna" and "steppe" were adopted as precise definition of formations, based on the herb layer and the coverage of woody vegetation; the White map, however, discarded these two categories as specific classifications. Yet any rapid absence of savanna as in its popular and more general sense is doubtful. (45) _____________________. However, some 100 specific types of vegetation identified on the source map have been compressed into 14 broader classifications. [A] As more has become known of the many thousands of African plant species and their complex ecology, naming, classification, and mapping have also be e0me more particular, stressing what was actually present rather than postulating about climatic potential. [B] In regions of higher rainfall, such as eastern Africa, savanna vegetation is maintained by periodic fires. Consuming dry grass at the end of the rainy season, the fires burn back the forest vegetation, check the invasion of trees and shrubs, and stimulate new grass growth. [C] Once, as with the scientific treatment of African soils, a much greater uniformity was attributed to the vegetation than would have been generally accepted in the same period for treatments of the lands of western Europe or the United States. [D] The vegetational map of Africa and general vegetation groupings used here follow the White map and its extensive annotations. [E] African vegetation zones are closely linked to climatic zones, with the same zones occurring both north and south of the equator in broadly similar patterns. As with climatic zones, differences in the amount and seasonal distribution of precipitation constitute the most important influence on the development of vegetation. [F] Nevertheless, in broad terms, climate remains the dominant control over vegetation. Zonal belts of precipitation, reflection latitude and contrasting exposure to the Atlantic and Indian oceans and their currents, give some reality to related belts of vegetation. [G] The span of human occupation in Africa is believed to exceed that of any other continent. All the resultant activities have tended, on balance, to reduce tree cover and increase grassland; but there has been considerable dispute among scholars concerning the natural versus human-caused development of most African grasslands at the regional level.

完形填空Read the following text carefully and then translate the underlined segments into Chinese. Your translation must be written neatly on ANSWER SHEET 2. (10 points) 　　I shall mention two or three matters in which the need for cooperation between philosophy and science is especially intimate. 46 )Since scientific method depends upon first-hand experimentally controlled experiences, any philosophic application of the scientific point of view will emphasize the need of such experiences in the school, as over against mere acquisition of ready-made information that is supplied in isolation from the students'' own experience. So far, it will be in line with what is called the "progressive" movement in education. But it will be an influence in counteracting any tendencies that may exist in progressive education to slight the importance of continuity in the experiences that are had and the importance of organization. 47 ) Unless the science of education on its own ground and behalf emphasizes subject-matters which contain within themselves the promise and power of continuous growth in the direction of organization, it is false to its own position as scientific. 48 ) In cooperation with a philosophy of education, it can lend invaluable aid in seeing to it that the chosen subject-matters are also such that they progressively develop toward formation of attitudes of understanding the world in which students and teachers live and toward forming the attitudes of purpose, desire and action which will make pupils effective in dealing with social conditions. 　　Another point of common interest concerns the place in the schools of the sciences, especially the place of the habits which form scientific attitude and method. The sciences had to battle against powerful enemies to obtain recognition in the curriculum. In a formal sense, the battle has been won, but not yet in a substantial sense. For scientific subject-matter is still more or less isolated as a special body of facts and truths. 49) The full victory will not be won until every subject and lesson is taught in connection with its bearing upon creation and growth of the kind of power of observation, inquiry, reflection and testing that are the heart of scientific intelligence. Experimental philosophy is at one with the genuine spirit of a scientific attitude in the endeavor to obtain for scientific method this central place in education. 　　Finally, the science and philosophy of education can and should work together in overcoming the split between knowledge and action, between theory and practice, which now affects both education and society so seriously and harmfully. 50 )Indeed, it is not too much to say that institution of a happy marriage between theory and practice is in the end the chief meaning of a science and a philosophy of education that work together for common ends.

完形填空Today, some 30% of small business owners don't have a Web presence at all, while the vast majority who do are watching their sites sit stale, waiting and wanting for business. Where did things go wrong? There are common principles followed by those whose dreams of online success have become reality. 41 Build your site around your customer: Thinking of your site as your online storefront, built around delivering the highest-quality customer experience from the moment your customer steps through the 'door'. 42 Just because you built it doesn't mean they'll come: If you aren't seeing a large volume of targeted traffic to your site, it's time to up the ante. 43 Integrate customer loyalty programs and promotions: Methods contain discounts, news, or friendly service reminders. Use discount promotional offers to stay in touch with past visitors to your site. 44 Justify your monthly spending through product bundling: While pay-per-click Internet advertising is much more cost-effective than traditional media channels, bundling products together will not only increase your sales revenue, but also enable you to get more out of your per-click ad rates. 45 Measure your progress: Your site may be live, but how is it performing? Armed with these simple lessons, vow to make your business realize the true promise of the Internet. A. A manufacturing company selling $50 items was having trouble justifying the cost of online keyword ads. By bundling products to create packages of $100 or more and advertising to wholesale customers looking to buy in bulk, the manufacturer dropped its sales representative agencies and focused on large-volume buyers, such as Wal-Mart and Target. Needless to say, the company had no trouble exceeding its yearly sales quota. B. One of my past clients had a well-designed physical storefront, solid prices, and quality offerings. However, he wasn't able to drive enough store traffic despite targeted advertising efforts in print publications and other offline venues. We decided to shift those ad dollars to an online pay-per-click campaign—in which the advertiser pays whenever someone clicks on its entry posted during the course of a site search based on keywords relevant to his business. The immediate impact was staggering. Online revenue soared tenfold to $1 million from $100,000 within only a few months. C. With today's technology, your return can be easily measured. If you rely on your Web site as a sales tool, you can't afford not to invest in site analytics. Make sure your Web solution includes an easy-to-use reporting tool that presents this information in a clear, concise format. After all, while metrics are a critical part of the Web equation, you don't have the time to spend hours digging through reams of data. D. Years ago, I worked with a woman who sold purses online through a home-built site that lacked critical e-commerce components. After a simple redesign including product descriptions, comprehensive navigation, and a secure, user-friendly ordering system, her revenue increased fivefold. And she began receiving rave reviews from customers impressed with the ease and convenience of the online shopping experience. E. Online success demands more than simple presence. Your Internet investment should pay for itself with new customers and increased sales. Find a trusted partner who can help you navigate today's (and tomorrow's) technology and who understands the bottom-line realities of your business. F. One villa rental company had a Web site that generated very few calls and online bookings. I helped the company set up a 'last minute deals' distribution list. By subscribing, site visitors would receive weekly e-mails offering 11th-hour discounts on villa rentals. As a result, the company captured contact information for thousands of possible customers, reduced its unused inventory to almost zero, and increased revenue significantly.

完形填空 A. Check in with your supervisor regularly B. Get in a professional mindset C. Limit distractions D. Set a schedule and stick with it E. Communicate with your colleagues F. Go the extra mile G. Get a professional suit How to Land and Rock a Remote Internship? Internships are wonderful opportunities for increasing your work experience and boosting your résumé. But, when you are balancing a full class schedule and a college social life, it can be hard to find time for a conventional internship. Remote internships, on the other hand, allow you the freedom to work flexible hours from your dorm room while still gaining valuable experience. With the help of sophisticated technology, companies these days can hire interns from anywhere, often saving themselves the costs of housing an additional employee. You can find a remote internship in almost any field; you just need to do some research. But after you are given the offer, how can you manage it successfully? Here are some tips: 41 It's vital to set a work schedule for your internship and commit to it. This allows your employer to know when to expect your work. A schedule will also help you balance the demands of school and your internship, without sacrificing sleep or social events. Cramming regular late-night work sessions into your busy week can lead to feeling overwhelmed, while also jeopardizing your health and your grades 42 Working online means that you need to deal with a lot of temptation, especially from social media. If you allow yourself to be sidetracked by your friends' photos, instant messages, online games, and interesting news articles, it will take you twice as long to finish your work. To maintain your focus, use apps that block certain websites for a set amount of time for all devices. A timer can also be helpful. Set the timer for 15 minutes and work intensely until it goes off. Once the 15 minutes is up, reward yourself with a 5-minute break. Repeat as necessary. 43 Internships are unique because they are designed to help students learn and grow, as well as network with people in their desired field. Interns should be in continual communication with their employer. 'Make sure communication is the best thing,' Yohan Jacob, CEO of Retailbound says. 'With remote employees or interns, it's easy to feel isolated. With regular, two-way communication, both the manager and the intern know what's going on. The interns that worked out the best for us were the ones who over-communicated or were quick to respond.' He expects weekly check-ins from his interns but is also impressed by those who check in through e-mail, chat or quick phone calls more frequently. 44 Think the best part of a remote internship is working in your pajamas? Think again. Several psychology studies suggest that the clothes we wear can influence how we think and act. Dress career casual, just as you would for an on-site internship. Getting dressed and looking professional allows you to get in the work mindset. Along with dressing professionally, communicate professionally. E-mails to your supervisor and other employees should be more formal and more thoughtful than a tweet or Facebook post. 45 With an internship, just showing up to work every day isn't really enough. Instead, when employees put in more effort than is required, they make an impression on employers. 'Interns who show initiative rate very high with us,' says Jacob. 'We like interns who know how to 'connect the dots' and are able to go beyond what the intern job description states on paper.'

完形填空The relation of language and mind has interested philosophers for many centuries. 61 ) The Greeks assumed that the structure of language had some connection with the process of thought, which took root in Europe long before people realized how diverse languages could be. Only recently did linguists begin the serious study of languages that were very different from their own. Two anthropologist-linguists, Franz Boas and Edward Sapir, were pioneers in describing many native languages of North and South America during the first half of the twentieth century. 62) We are obliged to them because some of these languages have since vanished, as the peoples who spoke them died out or became assimilated and lost their native languages. Other linguists in the earlier part of this century, however, who were less eager to deal with bizarre data from "exotic" language, were not always so grateful. 63)The newly described languages were often so strikingly different from the well studied languages of Europe and Southeast Asia that some scholars even accused Boas and Sapir of fabricating their data. Native American languages are indeed different, so much so in fact that Navajo could be used by the US military as a code during World War II to send secret messages. Sapir''s pupil, Benjamin Lee Whorf, continued the study of American Indian languages. 64 ) Being interested in the relationship of language and thought, Whorf developed the idea that the structure of language determines the structure of habitual thought in a society. He reasoned that because it is easier to formulate certain concepts and not others in a given language, the speakers of that language think along one track and not along another. 65 ) Whorf came to believe in a sort of linguistic determinism which, in its strongest form, states that language imprisons the mind, and that the grammatical patterns in a language can produce far-reaching consequences for the culture of a society. Later, this idea became to be known as the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, but this term is somewhat inappropriate. Although both Sapir and Whorf emphasized the diversity of languages, Sapir himself never explicitly supported the notion of linguistic determinism.

完形填空A. The culprit is climate change, caused by society's burning of fossil fuels. When it comes to global warming, farmers who are more attuned to weather patterns than most people—may be the proverbial canaries in the coalmine. The weather, of course, has never been exactly dependable—farmers have always been at the mercy of the vagaries of sun and rain. But general weather patterns have at least been broadly predictable, allowing farmers to know when to sow their seeds, when to transplant, when to harvest. As weather patterns become less reliable, growers will be tested to develop new rhythms and systems for growing crops. B. Most keyboard jockeys would die for the view from Orin Martin's office window: apple trees in blossom, lines of citrus, dozens of varieties of flowers and neat rows of peppers and potatoes. Martin is a farmer in Santa Cruz, Calif., where for the last 30 years he has been an instructor at the University of California's agro-ecology program, one of the nation's oldest organic agriculture curriculums. C. What all agriculture experts agree on is that farmers need to start preparing today for climate change. Growers ought to be thinking about what warmer temperatures, fluctuations in precipitation, and an increase in extreme weather events will mean for their farms, and how they can respond. 'This is change; it's not necessarily disaster,' says Grubinger. 'The disaster will come if people aren't prepared.' D. In recent years, however, something has been wrong in his idyllic setting. The weather is changing in strange ways. From New England to the Midwest to California, farmers and scientists are noticing that once-dependable weather patterns are shifting. E. Among farmers and researchers, there is disagreement about which types of growers climate change will impact most—large agribusiness growing operations, or smaller, family-run farms. Some agriculture industry observers say that the bigger farmers will have an advantage in coping with weather changes, as they will have more resources to switch to new crops. Others say that since family farms usually grow a wider range of crops, their biological diversity will make it easier to cope with whatever changes occur. F. There is a misconception that the scientific community is in a state of disagreement about global warming. In fact, there is virtually no serious disagreement on the central points. The misconception of disagreement is actually an illusion that has been deliberately fostered by oil coal companies. These companies want to prevent any new policies that would interfere with their current business plans that rely on the massive unrestrained dumping of CO2 into the Earth atmosphere every day. G. Too much rain at the wrong time can make it difficult to plant or harvest crops. Above-average rainfall also contributes to fungi and insects that can dramatically reduce crop yields. Too much warmth is equally problematic. Some plants require a certain number of frost days each year in order to thrive the following spring. As temperatures warm, farmers may find themselves having to either shift to different crops or actually move their operations to new locales. Unreliable weather will make it harder for farmers to be as productive as we have come to expect. Order: 41 → 42 → 43 → 44 →E→ 45

完形填空Growing cooperation among branches of tourism has proved valuable to all concerned. Government bureaus, trade and travel association, carriers and properties are all working together to bring about optimum conditions for travelers. 41 They distribute materials to agencies, such as journals, brochures and advertising projects. 42 Tourist counselors give valuable seminars to acquaint agents with new programs and techniques in selling. 43 Properties and agencies work closely together to make the most suitable contracts, considering both the comfort of the clients and their own profitable financial arrangement. 44 45 Carriers are dependent upon agencies to supply passengers, and agencies are dependent upon carriers to present them with marketable tours. All services must work together for greater efficiency, fair pricing and contented customers. A. The same confidence exists between agencies and carriers including car-rental and sight-seeing services. B. They offer familiarization and workshop tours so that in a short time agents can obtain first-hand knowledge of the tours. C. Travel operators, specialists in the field of planning, sponsor extensive research programs. They have knowledge of all areas and all carrier services, and they are experts in organizing different types of tours and in preparing effective advertising campaigns. D. As a result of teamwork, tourism is flouring in all countries. E. Agencies rely upon the good services of hotels, and, conversely, hotels rely upon agencies, to fulfill their contracts and to send them clients. F. In this way agents learn to explain destinations and to suggest different modes and combinations of travel—planes, ships, trains, motor coaches, car-rentals, and even car purchases. G. Consequently, the agencies started to pay more attention to the comfort of travel.

完形填空 Government officials reported three new cases of mad cow, bringing the total so far this year to 99. Last year, France recorded just 31 cases of the mad cow disease. The rising numbers are in part 1 a new testing program that focuses on cows that are most 2 . That program has 3 39 cases. But still 60 new cases were identified in the usual way, 4 were found in 1999. Many scientists 5 that this year, five years after safety precautions were 6 , the number of cases would be 7 . The rise in cases has 8 some scientists to question whether the disease can be transmitted in ways not yet understood. Scientists are still 9 the disease, first recognized in cows in 1986. It appears that it is not caused by a bacteria, virus or fungus, but 10 infectious particles called prion, perhaps 11 a virus or other agent. The disease kills cells in the brain, 12 it spongy and full of holes. France has taken more steps to 13 safety than most European countries, 14 refusing to take English beef 15 the European Union. But some scientists believe that France has not been 16 in imposing the ban on feed that 17 animal parts. Some French officials hope that the sudden interest in mad cow disease will mean that French consumers will become educated about it, thereby recognizing that French beef is actually 18 controlled. Every cow is given a passport at birth, and extensive information about its parentage and 19 it was raised must be 20 to any slaughterhouse. When a diseased animal is found, the entire herd is destroyed.

完形填空At the start of the 20th century

完形填空 41 Conflicts: If you do get a place in the student dormitory, it is likely that you will have to share your living space with one other student. While having an American roommate will help you to learn more about American ways, there will probably be many times that discomfort or conflict will arise due to cultural differences. 42 Sex: With regard to sex in general, American behavior is quite different from the norms found in China. 43 Relationship Between Teachers Students: On the campus, particularly where classes are small, I found a strange informality that characterized the relationship between students and their professors. 44 Gifts: In my interaction with American friends, I noticed that the concept of a gift is quite different here. Many things we give to each other in China are not called 'gifts' but are considered to be a reflection of ordinary duties and mutual obligations. Accustomed as we are to using the word 'gift' to refer to something valuable given on special occasions, it comes as a surprise to see how often the word is used in America. In the United States, 'gifts', given on many different occasions, are only services. 45 Social Intercourse. When you do enter American homes, you will have an opportunity to observe different ways of greeting people. On the whole, Americans tend to be far more physical than we in their greetings. A. I was astonished, for example, when a friend told me that he was offering to care for his younger brother and sister so that his father could take a vacation for his birthday--this was a gift to him. For us, this would be considered duty rather than a gift. Even between friends gestures of this sort might be considered 'gifts' here. B. While many students do call their professors, 'Professor' so and so or 'Dr. ' so and so, some professors prefer to be called familiarly by their first names. And in the spirit of informality, many professors may invite students to their homes or can be seen chatting with students over a meal or a cup of coffee in the school cafeteria. A good number of instructors even request that students fill out class evaluation forms which assess the content and presentation of the course. C. My roommate was very sociable and had many boyfriends who came to visit often very late. One night, after midnight, I had to stay in the bathroom for an extra 40 minutes because I had heard a man's voice in my room. My roommate did not realize how awkward I would feel meeting a man while I was in my nightgown. You see, American students tend to be much more casual about these matters. D. On many occasions, for instance, close friends or sometimes even casual acquaintances embrace or kiss each other on the cheeks in greeting or bidding farewell. It may even happen that where couples are close friends, the two husbands will kiss the other man's wife! E. In the United States, for example, if a student wants to invite his teacher to a dinner party, the invitation should be sent a week or so before the party date. If the invitation is extended only three or four days before the party date, the teacher will feel he is not highly regarded. F. For example, many American students seem to like to listen to popular and sometimes loud music while studying in their rooms. Sometimes they will even leave the music on when they leave the room. For some reason, many will tell you, music helps them to relax and concentrate, an idea which other foreign students and I found very strange and disturbing. We'd like to study quietly without any disturbance.

完形填空 What's your earliest childhood memory? Can you remember learning to walk? Or talk? The first time you heard thunder or watched a television program? Adults seldom 1 events much earlier than the year or so before entering school, 2 children younger than three or four 3 retain any specific, personal experiences. A variety ofexplanations have been 4 by psychologists for this 'childhood amnesia', One argues that the luppocampus, the region ofthe brain which is 5 for forming memories, does not mature until about the age of two. But the most popular theory 6 that, since adults don't think like children, they cannot 7 childhood memories. Adults thinkin words, and their life memories are like stories or 8 —one event follows another as in a novel or film. 9 , when they search through their mental 10 for early childhood memories to add to this verbal life story, they don't find any that fit the 11 . It's like trying to find a Chinese word in an English dictionary. Now psychologist Annette Simms of the New York State University offers a new 12 for childhood amnesia. She argues that there simply aren't any early childhood memories to recall. According to Dr. Simms, children need to learn to use someone else's spoken 13 oftheir personal 14 in order to turn their own short-term, quickly forgotten 15 of them into long-term memories. 16 , children have to talk about their 17 and hear others talk about them—Mother talking about the afternoon 18 looking for seashells at the beach or Dad asking them about their day at Ocean Park. Without this 19 reinforcement, says Dr. Simms, children cannot form 20 memories oftheir personal experiences.

完形填空Whatever else historians say about the Copenhagen talks on climate change, they may be remembered as a time when the world concluded that it must protect forests, and pay for them. In the Kyoto Protocol of 1997, forests were a big absentee: that was partly because the nations like Brazil were unwilling, at any price, to accept limits on their freedom to fell. All that is history. 41 Over the past two years, skillful campaigning by pro-forest groups has successfully disseminated the idea that trees cannot be ignored in any serious deliberation on the planet's future. Most people at the summit accepted the case that is endlessly made by friends of the forest: cutting down trees contributes up to 20% of global greenhouse emissions, and avoiding this loss would be a quick, cheap way of limiting heat-trapping gases. 42 On December 16th six rich nations gave advocates of that view a boost when they pledged $ 3.5 billion as a down payment on a much larger effort to 'slow, halt and eventually reverse' deforestation in poor countries. The benefactors—Australia, France, Japan, Norway, Britain and the United States—endorsed tree protection in terms that went beyond the immediate need to stem emissions. 43 Impressive as it was, the rich nations offer did not settle the questions that need resolving in any global forest deal. 44 The most ambitious proposals called for a 50% reduction in deforestation by 2020 and a complete halt by 2030. But forested nations were unwilling to accept those ideas until they saw what the rich world was offering. The other question was how so much money will be ladled out, how it will be raised and who would receive it: national governments, regional authorities or local people, including the indigenous. Any plan that did not give local people cause to keep their trees standing would surely fail. Tony La Vina, the chief negotiator on the UN initiative known as 'Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD)' was optimistic, as of December 16th, that the issues left to settle were 'manageable.' The question of how much money to raise from government transfers, and how much from carbon trading, is not merely of concern to radical greens. Some Europeans fear that throwing forests into the carbon market will depress the price; but for America's Congress, a healthy market in offsets may be the only thing that makes payment to protect forests palatable. Supporters of REDD say it offers performance-related finance for saving forests on a far larger scale than ever before. It aims to ensure rigorous verification. 45 These may come from inflated national baselines for deforestation, or allowances that permit some sorts of tree-felling to be ignored. Sceptics also claim that REDD ignores some causes of deforestation, like the demand for soy, beef, palm oil, and timber which tempts people to act illegally. A. The proposal's critics insist that a superficially good deal could prove terrible because of loopholes in carbon accounting. B. As the UN talks went into their second week, trees looked like being one of the few matters on which governments could more or less see eye to eye. C. One was whether or not to include timetables and targets. D. Keeping trees standing would protect biodiversity and help development of the right sort, they said. E. In the longer term, Copenhagen's decisions may do a lot more to make the forests lucrative in themselves. F. The fact that REDD has been broadened to include rewards for countries that have conserved their forests (as opposed to repentant sinners) is an encouraging sign. But that does not mean the problems are negligible. G. Unless forests are better protected, so their argument goes, dangerous levels of climate change look virtually inevitable.

完形填空 Science has now proved humans can't help talking about themselves. It just feels too good. In a new study, Harvard University researchers conducted a series of experiments to 1 how much people liked talking about themselves and why. In one study, they scanned people's brains 2 those people either revealed personal information about themselves or 3 the opinions of others. In another experiment, researchers tested whether people preferred to answer questions about themselves, other people or 4 facts—participants got differing levels of monetary compensation 5 on the question they chose. No matter the test, the researchers found the results pointed the same way: humans get a biochemical excitement from 6 . That's 7 we spend almost 40% of conversation talking about ourselves, says the study—our brain chemistry 8 us to do it. In the first experiment, researchers found that sharing personal information led to 9 in the reward areas of the brain—the same ones that are 10 in response to rewards like food. Talking about other people did not 11 the circuits as much. In the second experiment, people were willing to 12 17% of their earnings in order to answer questions about themselves. The researchers also noted that people 13 enjoyed self-disclosure if they knew other people were listening. When people were given a choice to share their responses with others or to keep them 14 , they sacrificed 25% of their potential earnings in order to 15 the personal information. Previously, humans' 16 for talking about themselves was thought to be caused by a desire for 17 with others, a way to open up to people and get them to trust us 18 in hopes of setting the foundation for friendship. 19 this appears to be the first study to 20 that people talk about themselves mainly because they like the way it feels.

完形填空A. Is there still a place for the tiddlers? 'That's an explicit yes,' says Bob Shea of NACUBO, 'but do there need to be mergers and acquisitions? That's an unequivocal yes as well.' Many small colleges serve niche markets, including a large faith-based one. 'Many students wouldn't go to college at all or would be lost in a large one,' says Ms. Brown. B. Part of the problem, at least for small liberal arts institutions, is that parents and would-be students are questioning the value of the liberal arts. They want a solid return, in the form of a well-paying job, for their four-year investment. There are still an awful lot of small places: about 40% of degree-granting colleges have fewer than 1,000 students. But enrolment at these institutions has fallen by more than 5% since 2010, while the student population has increased overall. C. Some tiny colleges rely on donations to save the day. Alumni are concerned about the value of their own degree if the college closes, but donors can grow weary. Marlboro, meanwhile, is using its endowment to offer scholarships to one student from each state in an effort to expand its usual pool from New England and to open up new student pipelines. It saw success straight away. It increased its student population by 6% this academic year, after years of falling enrolment. D. Visitors stand out at Marlboro College's pastoral campus in the woods of Vermont, but not because they are special or even unexpected. With 190 enrolled students and just a few dozen faculty and staff, everyone knows everyone. The student-faculty ratio is five to one, about the lowest in the country. The college administration has worked hard to stay small: the student population has rarely topped 350. But in the years since its founding after the Second World War, Marlboro has often skirted financial ruin. In 1993 it had only a few payrolls left in the bank. It was rescued by a foundation. Today it is looking for ways to save itself and already seeing some success. E. To attract students, some colleges are reducing their sticker price, but this is not sustainable for colleges without healthy endowments. According to the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), 49% of independent colleges and universities give discounts, up from 38% a decade ago. F. Alice Brown, a former head of the Appalachian College Association, a network of tiny colleges in the Appalachian Mountains, thinks more must merge or close. The Berklee College of Music (4,371 students) and the Boston Conservatory (730 students) merged in June. Small colleges often share accountants or laboratories already. G. Marlboro is not alone in facing revenue and enrolment pressures. Burlington College (70 students), also in Vermont, shut its doors over the summer. Sweet Briar, a well-regarded women's college in Virginia, nearly closed to its 245 students last year. A last minute bout of fundraising by alumni saved it, for now. Moody's, a credit-ratings agency, said in 2015 that the pace of closures and mergers will accelerate and could triple from an average of five per year over the next few years. Dennis Gephardt of Moody's says closures and mergers will be concentrated among the smallest colleges. D→ 41 → 42 → 43 → 44 → 45

完形填空A. Created 150 years ago, the Periodic Table (元素周期表) is a triumph of form and function. Now this design classic has been updated for the 21st century—and opened up to a new audience. It's a vital part of chemistry teachers' educational content. With its array of digits and chemical abbreviations, it appears everywhere, from pencil cases to posters. B. So why are we still so interested in the periodic table? 'The standard physicists' criticism of chemists is that they are stamp collectors,' says periodic table expert and 'The Elements' creator Theodore Gray. 'That's because physicists think they study the fundamentals of what makes everything work. In their view, chemists just collect all of these manifestations of physics—the physical properties of elements-and don't concern themselves with what makes these things the way they are.' C. But scientists, always eager to eke out a closer model of the truth, have been trying to improve it for 150 years. Amateur enthusiasts obsessed by the table's design, have transferred Mendeleyev-inspired charts onto T-shirts, even toy elephants. It's no coincidence that iPad champion-in-chief Stephen Fry has described the new 'Elements' iPad App as alone worth the gadget's retail price. Released in Britain last month, the App's creators hope this country will take to it like the Americans, who have already bought 30, 000 copies. D. Whether you love chemistry or not, the modern periodic table, first successfully mapped out by Russian academic Mendeleyev in 1869, occupies a space in science-lovers' psyches. This traditional chart has persisted because of its efficient systematisation of a disparate array of elements. E. Mendeleyev's brain wave in fact followed on from hundreds of years of scientific research. In 1862 a French geologist, Alexandre de Chancourtois, had written a list of elements on a piece of tape, which he then wound around a cylinder. He noticed that chemically similar elements came below one another-in other words, the elements were 'periodic'—and that as they grew in size, their properties repeated with regularity. F. 'But stamp collecting is a very popular hobby. It's fun to collect things. And the periodic table has a nice number of elements: around 100. It's a good number, and fits well with, say, a collection of beer or vegetables, which people have categorised using the periodic table's principles online. Also, people love it because it's universally known. It's like the Nike logo—everyone is familiar with its shape.' G. Around this time, in Russia Mendeleyev was throwing his intellectual heft behind the problem too. He wrote each of the elements on a different piece of card, along with their atomic weight and the formula (分子式) of their compound with oxygen (their 'oxide'). He arranged the cutouts in order of weight, putting similar oxides in rows. Order: A→ 41 → 42 → 43 → 44 → 45 →G

完形填空 A. Plan for the Financial Transition B. Examine Your Investment Portfolio C. Contribute to an IRA D. Save Before You Spend E. Max Out Your Retirement Plans F. Set a Retirement Savings Goal G. Review Your Own Retirement Plan Take Time to Review Your Retirement Game Plan One month into the new year, it's time to check in on your promises to yourself to start saving more for retirement. Fully 70 percent of Americans are concerned about not having enough money for a comfortable retirement, a recent Fidelity Investments study found. Here are strategies to boost your retirement savings in 2007. 41 'Pay yourself first, and find ways to invest automatically,' says Heather Dzielak of Lincoln Financial Group. 'Get in the discipline of setting aside money for your retirement.' Many companies will let you automatically deposit part of your paycheck into savings or investment accounts. 42 Most Americans are counting on individual retirement accounts (IRA) to help fund their retirement. But as of 2004, only 29 percent of families owned an IRA or Keogh, with a median value of ＄30,000, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI). The deadline for making a 2006 contribution to a tax-advantaged IRA is April 17, the date your federal tax return is due. 43 Be sure to contribute enough to get your employer's full match. 'The way to really do well,' says Ed Slott, author of Your Complete Retirement Planning Road Map, 'is to keep putting more money in as much as you can. I try to fund all the retirement accounts I can to the max.' You should also account for all 401 (k) plans you've had at previous employers and consolidate them in your current employer's plan or transfer them into a rollover IRA, says Dallas Salisbury, EBRI president. Rolling a 401 (k) over into an IRA allows you to avoid most fees and penalties. 44 Only 4 in 10 workers have actually calculated how much they need to save for retirement, according to EBRI. And many of those created their own estimate or guessed. It's a good idea to sit down with a financial adviser or use an online calculator or retirement worksheet. You should review your retirement accounts annually to make sure you are getting a good return on your investments. 'Over the long term, diversified stocks and bonds should return you 7 percent,' says Jonathan Pond, the author of You Can Do It! The Boomer's Guide to a Great Retirement. 'The average investor makes about 4 percent.' Pond recommends constructing a diversified portfolio and regularly monitoring it. 45 You'll need a plan to convert retirement savings into a stream of income. 'It's the way you take it out that will determine how much you and your family keep and how much goes to the government,' says Slott. 'If you take it out the wrong way, it all goes back to the government.' A financial adviser can help you determine the most tax-advantaged way to withdraw money from retirement accounts. You'll also want to double-check the beneficiary forms on all your retirement accounts. Says Slott: 'Most people think that somebody else took care of this The beneficiary form is the key document that's going to determine who gets all this money you've saved.'