单选题We must abide by the rules.

单选题California-a Land of Variety and Contrast Calfornia is a land of variety and contrast. Almost every type of physical land feature, sort of arctic ice fie|ds and tropical jungles can be found within its borders. Sharply contrasting types of land often lie very close to one another. People living in Bakersfield, for instance, can visit the Pacific Ocean and the coastal plain, the fertile San Joaquin Valley, the arid Mojave Desert, and the high Sierra Nevada, all within a radius of about 100 miles. In other areas it is possible to go snow skiing in the morning and surfing in the evening of the same day, without having to travel long distance. Contrast abounds in California. The highest point in the United States (outside Alaska ) is in California, and so is the lowest point (including Alaska). Mount Whitney, 14,494 feet above sea level, is separated from Death Valley, 282 feet below sea level, by a distance of only 100 miles. The two areas have a difference in altitude of almost three miles. California has deep, clear mountain lakes like Lake Tahoe, the deepest in the country, but it also has shallow, salty desert lakes. It has Lake Tulainyo, 12,020 feet above sea level, and the lowest lake in the country, the Sahon Sea, 236 feet below sea level. Some of its lakes, like Owens Lake in Death Valley, are not lakes at all: they are dried up lake beds. In addition to mountains, lakes, valleys, deserts, and plateaus, California has its Pacific coastline, stretching longer than the coastlines of Oregon and Washington combined.

单选题Water Resource Humanity uses a little less than half the water available worldwide. Yet occurrences of shortages and droughts (干旱)are causing famine and distress in some areas, and industrial and agricultural by-products are polluting water supplies. Since the worlds population is expected to double in the next 50 years, many experts think we are on the edge of a widespread water crisis. But that doesn't have to be the outcome. Water shortages do not have to trouble the world—if we start valuing water more than we have in the past. Just as we began to appreciate petroleum more after the 1970s oil crises, today we must start looking at water from a fresh economic perspective. We can no longer afford to consider water a virtually free resource of which we can use as much as we like in any way we want. Instead, for all uses except the domestic demand of the poor, governments should price water to reflect its actual value. This means charging a fee for the water itself as well as for the supply costs. Governments should also protect this resource by providing water in more economically and environmentally sound ways. For example, often the cheapest way to provide irrigation (灌溉)water in the dry tropics is through small-scale projects, such as gathering rainfall in depressions (凹地) and pumping it to nearby cropland. No matter what steps governments take to provide water more efficiently, they must change their institutional and legal approaches to water use. Rather than spread control among hundreds or even thousands of local, regional, and national agencies that watch various aspects of water use, countries should set up central authorities to coordinate water policy.

单选题Business-method Patents Over the past decade, thousands of patents have been granted for what are called business methods. Amazon.com received one for its "one-click" online payment system. Merrill Lynch got legal protection for an asset allocation strategy. One inventor patented a technique for lifting a box. Now the nation"s top patent court appears completely ready to scale back on business-method patents, which have been controversial ever since they were first authorized 10 years ago. In a move that has intellectual-property lawyers abuzz, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said it would use a particular case to conduct a broad review of business-method patents. In Bilski, as the case is known, is "a very big deal", says Dennis D. Crouch of the University of Missouri School of Law. "It has the potential to eliminate an entire class of patents." Curbs on business-method claims would be a dramatic about-face, because it was the Federal Circuit itself that introduced such patents with its 1998 decision in the so-called State Street Bank case, approving a patent on a way of pooling mutual-fund assets. That ruling produced an explosion in business-method patent filings, initially by emerging internet companies trying to stake out exclusive rights to specific types of online transactions. Later, move established companies raced to add such patents to their files, if only as a defensive move against rivals that might beat them to the punch. In 2005, IBM noted in a court filing that it had been issued more than 300 business-method patents despite the fact that it questioned the legal basis for granting them. Similarly, some Wall Street investment films armed themselves with patents for financial products, even as they took positions in court cases opposing the practice. The Bilski case involves a claimed patent on a method for hedging risk in the energy market. The Federal Circuit issued an unusual order stating that the case would be heard by all 12 of the court"s judges, rather than a typical panel of three, and that one issue it wants to evaluate is whether it should "reconsider" its State Street Bank ruling. The Federal Circuit"s action comes in the wake of a series of recent decisions by the Supreme Court that has narrowed the scope of protections for patent holders. Last April, for example, the justices signaled that too many patents were being upheld for "inventions" that are obvious. The judges on the Federal Circuit are "reacting to the anti-patent trend at the Supreme Court", says Harold C. Wegner, a patent attorney and professor at George Washington University Law School.

单选题The expedition reached the summit at 10:30 that morning.A. bottom of the mountainB. foot of the mountainC. top of the mountainD. starting point

单选题Grouping stars by constellations is a handy way of mapping the sky.A. niceB. funnyC. manualD. convenient

单选题He will Uconsolidate/U his power.

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：如果该句是正确信息，请选择A；如果该句是错误信息，请选择B；如果该句的信息文中没有提及，请选择C。 Earthquake How does an earthquake start? What makes an earthquake happen? The rock of the earth's crust (地壳) may have a fault, a kind of break in the surface. The blocks which make up the earth move, and sometimes this may cause the sides of the fault to move up and down or lengthways (纵向地) against each other. When one piece of rock starts to rub on another with great force, a lot of energy is used. This energy is changed into vibrations (振动) and it is these vibrations that we reef as an earthquake. The vibrations can travel thousands of kilometers and so an earthquake in Turkey may be felt in Greece. What to do during an earthquake? At school As soon as the earthquake starts, students should get under the desks immediately and wait until the teacher tells them it is safe to come out. The teacher should, at the same time, go immediately to the teacher's desk, get underneath (在……下面) it and stay there till the danger is over. Students must not argue with the teacher or question instructions. As soon as the tremors (震动) stop, all students should walk towards the exit and go straight to the school playground or any open space such as a square or a park. They must wait there until the teacher tells them it is safe to go. At home If you are at home when the earthquake occurs, get immediately under the table in the living room or kitchen. Choose the biggest and strongest table you can find. You must not go anywhere near the window and don't go out onto the balcony (阳台). Once the tremors have stopped, you can come out from under the table but you must leave the building straight away. You should walk down the stairs and should not use the lift—there may be a power cut as a result of the earthquake and you could find yourself trapped inside the lift for hours. In the street If you are in the street when the earthquake takes place, do not stand near buildings, fences or walls—move away as quickly as possible and try to find a large open space to wait in. Standing under trees could also be dangerous.

单选题 第三篇 How does Organisms Ward off Invaders The livelihood of each species in the vast and intricate assemblage of living things depends on the existence of other organisms. This interdependence is sometimes subtle, some times obvious. Perhaps the most straightforward dependence of one species on another occurs with parasites, organisms that live on or in other living things and derive nutrients directly from them. The parasitic way of life is widespread. A multitude of microorganisms (including viruses and bacteria, and an army of invertebrates or creatures lacking a spinal column (including crustaceans, insects, and many different types of worms) make their livings directly at the expense of other creatures. In the face of this onslaught, living things have evolved a variety of defense mechanisms for protecting their bodies from invasion by other organisms. Certain fungi and even some kinds of bacteria create substances known as antibiotics into their external environment. These substances are capable of killing or inhibiting the growth of various kinds of bacteria that also occupy the area, thereby eliminating or reducing the competition for nutrients. The same principle is used in defense against invaders in other groups of organisms. For example, when attacked by disease—causing fungi or bacteria, many kinds of plants produce chemicals that help to ward off the invaders. Members of the animal kingdom have developed a variety of defense mechanisms for dealing with parasites. Although these mechanisms vary considerably, all major groups of animals are capable of detecting and reacting to the presence of "foreign" cells. In fact, throughout the animal kingdom from sponges to certain types of worms shellfish, and all vertebrates (creatures possessing spinal column), there is evidence that transplants of cells or fragments of tissues into an animal are accepted only if they come from genetically compatible or closely related individuals. The ability to distinguish between "self" and "non-self", while present in all animals, is most efficient among vertebrates, which have developed an immune system as their defense mechanism. The immune system recognizes and takes action against foreign invaders and transplanted tissues that are treated as foreign cells.

单选题In judging our work you should take into consideration the fact that we have been very busy recently.

单选题The special-effects revolution began in the mid-1980s with Star Wars.

单选题We all consider him a man of dynamic personalities. A. dangerous B. doubtful C. active D. easy

单选题In a bullfight, it is the movement, not the color, of objects that arouses the bull.A. confusesB. excitesC. scaresD. satisfies

单选题I was astonished at the news of his escape. A. amused B. amounted C. amazed D. approached

单选题Department Store A mainstay of retailing in the United States is the department store, a large-scale retailing instituting that has a very broad and deep product assortment(分类), tires not to compete on the basis of price, and provides a wide array or customer services. Traditional department stores offer a greater variety of merchandise and services than does any other type of retail store. They feature both"soft goods" —such as apparel, sheets, towels, and bedding (寝具)—and "hard goods" —including furniture, appliances, and consumer electronics. Department stores also attract— and satisfy—consumers by offering many customer services. The combination of destinctive, appealing merchandise and numerous customer services is designed to allow the stores to maintain the manufacturers'suggested retail prices. That is, department stores strive to charge" full" or "nondiscounted" (不打折扣的) prices. Department stores face mounting problems, however, Largely due to their prime locations and customer services, their operation expenses are considerably higher than those of most other kinds of retail business. Many manufacturers'brands that used to be available exclusively thorough department stores are now widely distributed and often carry discounted prices in other outlets. And the quality of personal service, especially knowledgeable sales help, has deteriorated in some department stores. Intense horizontal competition is also hurting department stores. Other types of retailers are aiming at consumers who have long supported department stores. Speciality stores, off-price retailers, and even some discount houses have been particularly aggressive in trying to lure shoppers sway from department stores. To varying degrees retail chains compete against department stores. Consequently, many department stores have modified their target markets or elements of their marketing mixes. The May Department Stores Company has targeted middle-income consumers, rejecting high-priced European designer lines and instead concentrating on fashionable apparel with moderate prices. Penney's dropped three lines of hard goods—home electronics, sporting goods, and photographic equipment. Penney's, Ward's, and Sears are all converting their very large stores into a collection of limited-me "superstores". Some department stores are also trying to be more price-competitive. Most notably, in 1989 Sears abandoned its practice of promoting temporarily reduced prices and adopted a strategy of "everyday low prices". With this policy, prices will always be lower than or as low as competitors.

单选题下面有3篇短文，每篇短文后有5道题，请根据短文内容，为每题确定1个最佳选项。 {{B}}第一篇{{/B}} The beginning of American literature American has always been a land of beginnings. After Europeans " discovered" America in the fifteenth century, the mysterious New World became for many people a genuine hope of a new life, an escape from poverty and persecution, a chance to start again. We can say that, as a nation, America begins with that hope. When, however, does American literature begin? American literature begins with American experiences. Long before the first colonists arrived, before Christopher Columbus, before the Northmen who found America about year 1,000, Native Americans lived here. Each tribe's literature was tightly woven into the fabric of daily life and reflected the unmistakably (不会弄错的) American experience of lining with the land. Another kind of experience, one filled with fear and excitement, found its expression in the reports that Columbus and other explorers sent home in Spain, French and English. In addition, the journals of the people who lived and died in the New England wilderness (荒野) tell unforgettable tales of hard end sometimes heartbreaking experiences of those early years. Experience, then, is the key to early American literature. The New World provided a great variety of experiences, and experiences demanded a wide variety of expressions by an even wider variety of early American writers. These writers included John Smith, who spent only two- and-a-half year. on the American continent. They included Jonathan Edwards and William Byrd, who thought of themselves as British subjects, never suspecting a revolution that would create a United States of America with a literature of its own. American Indians, explorers, Puritan ministers, frontier wives, plantation owners — they are all the creators of the first American literature.

单选题Riches and Romance From France"s Wine Harvest September is harvest time. And with bunches of grapes swinging (摇摆) in the wind, the vineyards of southern France are getting ready to celebrate it. The yearly wine festival is held in honour of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine. It"s a fun time with parties, music, dancing, big meals and, of course, lots of wine. French wine-making began more than 2,500 years ago. The world"s oldest type of vine grows in France and always produces a good quality wine. Today France produces one-fifth of the world"s wine, and some of the most famous varieties. The top wine-producing areas are Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Loire Valley. Champagne, a drink used in celebrations, is named after the place where sparkling (有气泡的) wine was first produced in 1700. Wine is made from the juice of freshly picked grapes. It is the sugars that turn into alcohol. Traditionally, people used to take off their shoes and crush the grapes with their bare feet to bring out the juice. Nowadays, this practice is usually carried out by machines. Each wine producing region has its own character, based on its type of grapes and soil. The taste of wine changes with time. Until 1850, all French champagne was sweet. Now, both wine and champagne taste slightly bitter. The drink has always been linked with riches, romance and nobleness. Yet the French think of it in more ordinary terms. They believe it makes daily living easier, less hurried and with fewer problems. "All its links are with times when people are at their best; with relaxation, happiness, long slow meals and the free flow of ideas," wrote wine expert Hugh Johnson.

单选题The sea was calm and still.A. quiteB. quietC. yetD. rough

单选题Don"t Count on Dung Conservationists (自然保护主义者) may be miscalculating the numbers of the threatened animals such as elephants, say African and American researchers. The error occurs because of a flaw in the way they estimate animal numbers from the piles of dung (粪) the creatures leave behind. The mistake could lead researchers to think that there are twice as many elephants as there really are in some regions, according to Andrew Plumptre of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in New York. Biologist Katy Payne of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, agrees. "We really need to know elephant numbers and the evidence that we have is quite indirect," says Payne, who electronically tracks elephants. Counting elephants from planes is impossible in the vast rainforests of Central Africa. So researchers often estimate elephant numbers by counting dung piles in a given area. They also need to know the rate at which dung decays. Because it"s extremely difficult to determine these rates, however, researchers counting elephants in one region tend to rely on standard decay rates established elsewhere. But researchers at the WCS have found that this decay rate varies from region to region depending on the climate and environment. Using the wrong values can lead the census astray (离开正道). says Plumptre. He and his colleague Anthony Chifu Nchanji studied decaying elephant dung in the forests of Cameroon. They found that the dung decayed between 55 and 65 per cent more slowly than the dung in the rainforests of neighbouring Gabon. If researchers use decay rates from Gabon to count elephants in Cameroon, they would probably find more elephants than are actually around. This could mean estimates in Cameroon are at least twice as high as those derived from decay rates calculated locally, says Plumptre. "However accurate your dung density estimate might be, the decay rate can severely affect the result." Plumptre also says that the dung-pile census should be carried out over a region similar in size to an elephant"s natural range. The usual technique of monitoring only small, protected areas distorts numbers because elephants move in and out of these regions, he says. "If the elephant population increases within the protected area, you can not determine whether it is a real increase or whether it is due to elephants moving in because they are being poached (入侵偷猎) outside." Plumptre says that similar problems may also affect other animal census studies that rely on indirect evidence such as nests, tracks or burrows (地洞).

单选题In the western United States one can still find posts to which nineteenth-century cowboys hitched their horses.