单选题This was an unexceptionally brutal attack.

单选题Her life is becoming more diverse .

单选题{{B}}第三篇{{/B}} {{B}} Sleepless at Night{{/B}} It was a normal summer night. Humidity (湿气) hung in the thick air. I couldn't go to sleep, partly because of my cold and partly because of my expectations for the next day. My mum had said that tomorrow was going to be a surprise. Sweat stuck to my aching body. Finally, I gathered enough strength to sit up. I looked out of my small window into the night. There was a big bright moon hanging in the sky, giving off a magic light. I couldn't stand the pressure anymore, so I did what I always do to make myself feel better. I went to the bathroom and picked up my toothbrush and toothpaste. I cleaned my teeth as if there was no tomorrow. Back and forth, up and down. Then I walked downstairs to look for some signs of movement, some life. Gladiator, my cat, frightened me as he meowed (喵喵地唱出) his sad song. He was on the old orange couch (长沙发), sitting up on his front legs, waiting for something to happen. He looked at me as if to say, 'Tm lonely, pet me. I need a good hug (紧抱)." Even the couch begged me to sit on it. In one movement I settled down onto the soft couch. This couch represented my parents' marriage, my birth, and hundreds of other little events. As I held Gladiator, my heart started beating heavily. My mind was flooded with questions: What's life? Am I really alive? Are you listening to me? Every time I moved my hand down Gladiator's body, I had a new thought; each touch sang a different song. I forgot all about the heat and the next day's surprise. The atmosphere was so full of warmth and silence that I sank into its arms. Falling asleep with the big cat in my arms, I felt all my worries slowly move away.

单选题We almost Uran into/U a Rolls-Royce that pulled out in front of us without signaling.

单选题{{B}}第二篇{{/B}} {{B}}Some Things We Know about Language{{/B}} Many things about language are a mystery, and many will always remain so. But some thingswe do know. First, we know that all human beings have a language of some sort. There is no race of men anywhere on earth so backward that it has no language, no set of speech sounds by which the people communicate with one another. Furthermore, in historical times, there has never been a race of men without a language. Second, there is no such thing as a primitive language. There are many people whose cultures are undeveloped, who are, as we say, uncivilized, but the languages they speak are not primitive. In all known languages we can see complexities that must have been tens of thousands of years in developing. This has not always been well understood; indeed, the direct contrary has often been stated. Popular ideas of the language of the American Indians will illustrate. Many people have supposed that the Indians communicated in a very primitive system of noises. Study has proved this to be nonsense. There are, or were, hundreds of American Indian languages, and all of them turn out to be very complicated and very old. They are certainly different from the languages that most of us are familiar with, but they are no more primitive than English and Greek. A third thing we know about language is that all languages are perfectly adequate. That is, each one is a perfect means of expressing the culture of the people who speak the language. Finally, we know that language changes. It is natural and normal for language to change; the only languages which do not change are the dead ones. This is easy to understand if we look backward in time. Change goes on in all aspects of language. Grammatical features change as do speech sounds, and changes in vocabulary are sometimes very extensive and may occur very rapidly. Vocabulary is the least stable part of any language.

单选题It was no match that his car was {{U}}seen{{/U}} near the bank at the time of the robbery. A. coincidence B. convention C. certainty D. complication

单选题The Forbidden Apple New York used to be the city that never sleeps. Theses days, it"s the city that never smokes, drinks or does anything naughty (at least, not in public). The Big Apple is quickly turning into the Forbidden Apple. If you wanted a glass of wine with your picnic in Central Park, could you have one? No chance. Drinking alcohol in public isn"t allowed. If you decided to feed the birds with the last crumbs (碎屑) of your sandwich, you could be arrested. It"s illegal if you went to a bar for a drink and a cigarette, that would be OK, wouldn"t it? You can"t smoke in public in New York City. What"s going on? Why is the city that used to be so open-minded becoming like this? The mayor of New York is behind it all. He has brought in a whole lot of new laws to stop citizens from doing what they want, when they want. The press is shocked. Even the New York police have joined the argument. They recently spent $100,000 on a "Don"t blame the cop" campaign. One New York police officer said, "We raise money for the city by giving people fines for breaking some very stupid laws. It"s all about money." The result is a lot of fines for minor offences. Yoav Kashida, an Israel tourist, fell asleep on the subway. When he woke up, two police officers found him because he had fallen asleep on two seats (you mustn"t use two seats in the subway). Elle and Serge Schroitman were fined for blocking a driveway with their car. It was their own driveway. The angry editor of vanity Fair magazine, Graydon Carter, says, "Under New York City law it is acceptable to keep a gun in your place of work, but not an empty ashtray." He should know. The police came to his office and took away his ashtray (烟灰缸). But not all of the New York"s inhabitants are complaining. Marcia Dugatty, 72, said, "The city has changed for the better. If more cities had these laws, America would be a better place to live," Nixon Patricks, 38, a barman, said, "I like the new laws, if people smoked in here, we"d go home smelling of cigarettes." Recent figures show that New York now has fewer crimes per 100,000 people than 193 other US cities. And it"s true-it"s safe, cleaner and more healthy than before. But let"s be honest-who goes to New York for its clean streets?

单选题Her interest in redecorating the big house kept her {{U}}occupied{{/U}} for a whole week.

单选题A Carrot a Day Keeps Cancer Away Among all the malignancies, lung cancer is the biggest killer: more than 100,000 Americans a year die of the disease. Giving up smoking is one of obvious way to reduce the risk, but another answer may lie in the kitchen. According to a new report, even heavy smokers may be protected from developing lung cancer by a simple dietary measure: a daily portion of carrots, spinach or any other vegetable or fruit containing a form of vitamin A called carotene. The finding, published in the British medical journal The Lancet, is part of a long-range investigation of diet and disease. Since 1957 a team of American researchers has monitored the dietary habits and medical histories of 2,000 middle-aged men employed by the Western Electric Co. in Chicago. Led by Dr. Richard Shelelle of Chicago's Rush-Presbyterian, St. Luke's Medical Center, the researchers recently began to sort out the links between the subjects' dietary patterns and cancer. Other studies of animals and humans have suggested that vitamin A offers some protection against lung cancer. The correlation seemed logical, since vitamin A is essential for the growth of the epithelial (上皮的) tissue that lines the airways of the lungs. Vegetables: But the earlier research did not distinguish between two different forms of the vitamin. "Preformed" vitamin A, known as retinol, is found mainly in liver and dairy products like milk, cheese, butter and eggs. But vitamin A is also made in the body from carotene, which is abundant in a variety of vegetables and fruits, including carrots, spinach, squash, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and apples. In the Western Electric study, Shekelle and his colleagues found little correlation between the incidence of lung cancer and the consumption of foods containing preformed vitamin A, but when they examined the data on carotene intake, they discovered a significant relationship. Among the 488 men who had the lowest level of carotene consumption, there were. fourteen cases of lung cancer; in a group of the same size that ate the most carotene, only two cases developed. The apparent protective effect of carotene held up even for longtime smokers but to a lesser degree. Further studies will be necessary before the link between lung cancer and carotene can be firmly established. In the meantime, researchers warn against taking large numbers of vitamin A pills, because the tablets contain a form of the chemical that can be extremely toxic in high doses. Instead, they advise a well-balance diet that includes foods rich in carotene. For a smoker, a half-cup of carrots every day might possibly make the difference between life and death.

单选题What preparations did Thomas make before he started his business?

单选题Dogs are not {{U}}permitted{{/U}} into the office.

单选题{{U}}Mounting{{/U}} evidence indicates that acid rain is damaging historic sites in Boston and Philadelphia.

单选题Will Hillary Be the Next American President? Back in 1969, US President Richard Nixon confidently predicted: "In the next 50 years, we shall see a woman president, perhaps sooner than you think." Today, not too far off Nixon's deadline, America is looking at that possibility. Over the weekend, Hillary Rodham Clinton, wife of former president Bill Clinton, announced her run for 2008 presidency. US polls indicate that Americans feel comfortable with a female president. A New York Times survey found nearly all Americans saying they would vote for president if she were qualified. However, accepting the theoretical notion of a female leader is quite different from voting an actual woman. In fact, there is still widespread distrust of a woman in the top position. This is partly due to the biased thinking that women are weak on national security, though they might be strong on education and health care. This damages their prospects as a presidential contender. "There's still an inherent nervousness on the part of voters putting a woman in as the ultimate decision-maker. Control of the army and border security are sorts of traditionally male jobs," commented Amy Walter, an American campaign analyst. "That's where I think voters consciously or unconsciously have difficulties with women candidates." Women have held the top job in other major Western countries. In 1979, Britain elected Margaret Thatcher prime minister. Last year, Germany made Angela Merkel its first female chancellor. In the US, no woman has succeeded in being nominated as a presidential candidate. One woman did make the attempt: Elizabeth Dole. In 1999, she tried to get the Republican Party nomination. But Dole could only raise $5 million for her bid, compared with the $56 million George W. Bush raised. So barriers lie ahead for Hillary if she wants to make history by becoming the first female US president. With the Iraqi war underway, she'll find it even harder. "I don't feel that our society is ready for a woman president. The enemy we face does not respect females the same way we have come to see them as equals, if we were not in this war, I would support a woman president," said Chris Dildy, a computer engineering student.

单选题 下面的短文后列出了7个句子，请根据短文的内容对每个句子做出判断：如果该句提供的是正确信息，请选择A；如果该句提供的是错误信息，请选择B；如果该句的信息文中没有提及，请选择C。 {{B}} Fairy Tales for All the World{{/B}} This year, the world is marking the 200th anniversary of Danish author Hans Christian Andersen with a wide range of events, Andersen's tales have attracted millions of readers for more than a century, They continue to be among the best-known works of world literature. "The Ugly Duckling (小鸭)" and "The Little Mermaid (美人鱼)" are among the most famous. He was born on April 2, 1805, in the slums of Odense, Denmark. His father was a shoemaker and his mother worked as a washer-woman. Andersen received very little education, but his fascination with fairy tales inspired him to compose his own stories and arrange puppet (木偶) shows. His father died when he was 11. He was forced to go to work, first as an apprentice to a weaver and tailor and then in a tobacco factory. At the age of 14, he moved to Copenhagen to try a career as a singer, dancer and actor. He sang in a boy's choir (~ []), but he made very little money. He also tried the ballet, but his awkwardness made this impossible. Finally, when he was 17, Jonas Collin, a director of the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen discovered Andersen. After hearing Andersen read a play;, Collin realized that he had talent. And he got money from the king for Andersen's education. In 1828, 'Andersen passed the entrance examinations to the university in Copenhagen. His writings were first published in 1829. in 1833, he received grant money for travel, which he used to visit Germany, France, Switzerland, and Italy. These journeys were recorded in his travelogues (旅行见闻). In 1835, Andersen published "Fairy Tales for Children," which contained four short stories. He eventually wrote around 168 fairy tales. They achieved success in his life-time and were widely published and translated. Unhappiness also found its way into many of his tales which were not meant merely for children but for adults as well. He used very simple language and style to disguise the moral teachings of his tales. Andersen also wrote novels, plays and poems. He died at his home in Rolighed on August 4, 1875.

单选题At that time, we did not fully grasp the significance of what had happened.

单选题 阅读下面的短文，文中有15处空白，每处空白给出了4个选项，请根据短文的内容从 4个选项中选择1个最佳答案。 {{B}} Charter Schools{{/B}} American public education has changed in recant years. One change is that increasing numbers of American parents and teachers are starting independent public schools{{U}} (51) {{/U}}charter schools (特许学校). In 1991, there were no charter schools in the United States. Today, more than 2,300 charter schools{{U}} (52) {{/U}}in 34 states and the District of Columbia. 575,000 students{{U}} (53) {{/U}}these schools. The students are from 5 years of age through 18 or older. A charter school is{{U}} (54) {{/U}}by groups of parents, teachers and community (社区) members. It is similar in some ways{{U}} (55) {{/U}}a traditional public school. It receives tax money to operate just as other public schools do. The{{U}} (56) {{/U}}it receives depends on the number of students. The charter school must prove to local or state governments that its students are learning. These governments{{U}} (57) {{/U}}the school with the agreement, or charter that permits it to operate. Unlike a traditional public school,{{U}} (58) {{/U}}, the charter school does not have to obey most laws governing public schools. Local, state or federal governments cannot tell it what to{{U}} (59) {{/U}}. Each school can choose its own goals and decide the ways it wants to{{U}} (60) {{/U}}those goals. Class sizes usually are smaller than in many traditional public schools. Many students and parents say{{U}} (61) {{/U}}in charter schools can be more creative. However, state education agencies, local education-governing committees and unions often{{U}} (62) {{/U}}charter schools. They say these schools may receive money badly{{U}} (63) {{/U}}by traditional public schools. Experts say some charter schools are doing well while others are struggling. Congress provided 200 million dollars for{{U}} (64) {{/U}}charter schools in the 2002 federal budget (预算). But, often the schools say they lack enough money for their{{U}} (65) {{/U}}. Many also lack needed space.

单选题Grouping of students within the classroom occurs primarily at the elementary level. This organizational arrangement places students together in two or more groups in the classroom to improve the learning conditions for those students. Grouping in reading places students of the same achievement level together to enable the teacher to more easily work with them. Grouping, however, is becoming more popular in other subjects, and for other purposes. Cooperative (协作的) learning groups, for example, place students of different abilities in the same group, and the students within that group help each other on assignments. These programs have been shown to he effective in raising students' achievement as well as improving their social skills and attitudes toward one another. Students of the same achievement level are grouped together so thatA. they can help each other on assignments.B. they can improve their social skills.C. they can improve their attitudes towards one another.D. the teacher can work easily with them.

单选题When did you first encounter these difficulties?

单选题{{B}}第三篇{{/B}} {{B}} A Minor Microsurgery{{/B}} Last year, Sean Martinovich, from Whitianga, had life-saving surgery when a golf-sized tumor was removed from his brain stem. But the operation left half his face paralysed. He talked with a slur, sometimes dribbled out of the side of his mouth and could not close his eye properly. Although he could run around with the other boys in the playground, when they laughed he could not laugh with them. Without a smile, he could suffer psychologically and emotionally. Last week, 6-year-old Sean had seven hours of microsurgery that should give him back his smile. Doctor Bartlett removed a nerve from the back of one of Sean's legs and transplanted it into his face. On the normal side of his face the nerve divides into lots of little branches. "We'll cut those nerve branches and then we'll take a nerve graft from one leg and tunnel it across his face from one side to the other and join that on to the nerve that's been cut on the good side of his face. " Doctor Bartlett said, before the operation. "If this was not fixed he could face physical and emotional problems as he got older," Doctor Bartlett said. "Socially people can become quite withdrawn because of the face paralysis. It's easy for people, especially children, to become rather emotionless because they prefer the flatness of no movement on either side to the weirdness of an asymmetry of smiling on one side and having this twisted face. " Scan is not smiling yet. Over the next six months the nerves will grow across the face to the damaged side and after that movement will hopefully come back. Sean's parents, Steve and Wendy Martinovich, said they had been through a year of hell. But their son was a determined boy who just got on with it, said Mrs Martinovich. They are amazed at the technology that they hope will restore the cheeky smile they love so much. For Doctor Bartlett the microsurgery is almost routine. For Sean's parents, it is a miracle.

单选题 Adaptation of Living Things Certain animals and plants develop characteristics that help them cope with their environment better than others of their kind. This natural biological process is called adaptation. Among the superior characteristics developed through adaptation are those that may help in getting food or shelter, in providing protection, and in producing and protecting the young. That results in the evolution of more and more organisms that are better fitted to their environments. Each living thing is adapted to its way of life in a general way, but each is adapted especially to its own distinct class. A plant, for example, depends upon its roots to fix itself firmly and to absorb water and inorganic chemicals. It depends upon its green leaves for using the sun's energy to make food from inorganic chemicals. These are general adaptations, common to most plants. In addition, there are special adaptations that only certain kinds of plants have. Many animals have adaptations that help them escape from their enemies. Some insects are hidden by their body color or shape, and many look like a leaf or a little branch. The coats of deer are colored to mix with the surroundings. Many animals have the ability to remain completely still when an enemy is near. Organisms have a great variety of ways of adapting. They may adapt in their structure, function, and genetics; in their development and production of the young; and in other respects. An organism may create its own environment, as do warm-blooded mammals, which have the ability to adjust body heat exactly to maintain their ideal temperature despite changing weather. Usually adaptations are an advantage, but sometimes an organism is so well adapted to a particular environment that, if conditions change, it finds it difficult or impossible to readapt to the new conditions.