单选题Moreover, even with the federal stimulus money, school districts will still get the bulk of their funding from state and local coffers(资金) ,which haven't been this low in decades. As Randall Moody, manager of federal advocacy(支持，拥护) for the National Education Association, says, When you have 40 states with serious budget issues and that's where schools get the bulk of their money, naturally there's going to be a problem. School districts will get most of their funding fromA. the federal stimulus money.B. loans from banks.C. state and local governments.D. from the National Education Association.

单选题A Country's Standard of Living The "standard of living" of any country means the average person's share of the goods and services the country produces. A country's standard of living, (51) , depends first and (52) on its capacity to produce wealth. "Wealth" in this sense is not money, for we do not live on money (53) on things that money can buy: "goods" such as food and clothing, and "services" such as transport and "entertainment". A country's capacity to produce wealth depends upon many factors, most of (54) have an effect on one another. Wealth depends (55) a great extent upon a country's natural resources. Some regions of the world are well supplied with coal and minerals, and have fertile soil and a favorable climate; other regions possess none of them. Next to natural resources (56) the ability to turn them to use. China is perhaps as well-off (57) the USA in natural resources, but suffered for many years from civil and external wars, and (58) this and other reasons was (59) to develop her resources. Sound and stable political conditions, and (60) from foreign invasions, enable a country to develop its natural resources peacefully and steadily, and to produce more wealth than another country equally well favoured by nature but less well ordered. A country's standard of living does not only depend upon the wealth that is produced and consumed (61) its own borders, but also upon what is directly produced through international trade. (62) , Britain's wealth in foodstuffs and other agricultural products would be much less if she had to depend only on (63) grown at home. Trade makes it possible for her surplus manufactured goods to be traded abroad for the agricultural products that would (64) be lacking. A country's wealth is, therefore, much influenced by its manufacturing capacity, (65) that other countries can be found ready to accept its manufactures.

单选题{{B}}第二篇{{/B}} Kobe Bryant After 10 seasons wearing the No. 8 on his back, Kobe Bryant will become No. 24 next season. The reason for the surprising decision by the Los Angeles Lakers super guard last week has become a hot topic for debate. Bryant wore No. 24 when he was in early high school, but he changed to No. 33 in his senior year. He switched to No. $ when he was selected by the Lakers in 1996, and has not been changed since. Bryant has refused to explain the decision until the end of the play-offs(季后赛). So guessing Bryant's motive has become a popular game among NBA fans and newspaper columnists (专栏作家). There are all kinds of speculations. Many say that Bryant wants to leave the past behind and have a fresh start. He has often been criticized for playing to benefit himself and not the team as a whole. Others say that he may be trying to compare himself to Michael Jordan. Jordan was famous for his No. 23 jersey(运动衫). Some, such as NBC Sport columnist Michael Venter, argue that it is "all about money". Bryant will make more money by selling New Jerseys to his fans. Some speculations are more about fun. For example, there is an opinion that Kobe is actually just a diehard(非常执著的) fan of the popular TV drama "24". All this talk has turned the number change into a major issue. It seems that there is a lot of fuss (大惊小怪) over something that should be pretty simple. Jersey numbers have their own special significance in American sports, especially basketball. Players choose their number when they join a team and they usually stick with that number for the rest of their career. When a great player retires, his team will honor him by retiring his number. TO Some extent, the jersey is the player, and the player is the jersey. Thus, when you see the famous No. 23 for the Chicago Bulls, you immediately think about Michael Jordan. A No. 32 Miami Heats jersey recalls the image of Shaquille O'Neal, and the Houston Rockets' No. 11 belongs only to Yao Ming. Lots of stories are behind players' jersey number selections. Jordan said that he chose No. 23 because it was roughly half of 45. Jordan's elder brother wore the No. 45 in college. Yao Ming once revealed that the No. 11 stands for two people in love-meaning him and his girlfriend Ye Li.

单选题While typing, Helen has a habit of stopping {{U}}once in a while{{/U}} to give her long and flowing hair a smooth. A. occasionally B. simultaneously C. eventually D. promptly

单选题Cell Phones: Hang Up or Keep Talking? Millions of people are using cell phones today. In many places it is actually considered unusual not to use one. In many countries, cell phones are very popular with young people. They find that the phones are more than a means of communication-having a mobile phone shows that they are cool and connected. The explosions around the world in mobile phone use make some health professionals worried. Some doctors are concerned that in the future many people may suffer health problems from the use of mobile phones. In England. there has been a serious debate about this issue. Mobile phone companies are worried about the negative publicity of such ideas. They say that there is no proof that mobile phones are bad for your health. On the other hand, why do some medical studies show changes in the brain cells of some people who use mobile phones? Signs of change in the tissues of the brain and head can be detected with modern scanning(扫描)equipment. In one case, a traveling salesman had to retire at a young age because of serious memory loss. He couldn't remember even simple tasks. He would often forget the name of his own son. This man used to talk on his mobile phone for about six hours a day, every day of his working week, for a couple of years. His family doctor blamed his mobile phone use, but his employer's doctor didn't agree. What is it that makes mobile phones potentially harmful? The answer is radiation. High-tech machines can detect very small amounts of radiation from mobile phones. Mobile phone companies agree that there is some radiation, but they say the amount is too small to worry about. As the discussion about their safety continues, it appears that it's best to use mobile phones less often. Use your regular phone if you want to talk for a long time. Use your mobile phone only when you really need it. Mobile phones can be very useful and convenient, especially in emergencies. In the future, mobile phones may have a warning label that says they are bad for your health. So for now, it's wise not to use your mobile phone too often.

单选题Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Before 1933, and particularly during the period 1929—1933, bank failures were not uncommon. 1 a bank overextended itself in creating credit or if several of its important loans could not be 2 , depositors in the bank would frequently become panicky and begin to make large withdrawals. 3 the bank had only a small number of its deposits backed by currency, the bank would soon be unable to meet withdrawals, and most depositors 4 their money. Most frequently a bank merely needed time to improve its cash position by 5 some of its loans and not making additional ones. In 1933, the number of bank failures 6 a peak, forcing the federal government to intervene and 7 the banks temporarily. To help restore the public"s confidence 8 banks and strengthen the banking community, Congress passed legislation setting up the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. 9 corporation, an agency of the federal government, now insures over 90 percent of all mutual savings and commercial bank deposits for 10 $100,000 per deposit. The FDIC has 11 its insurance fund by charging member institutions one-twelfth of 1 percent of their total deposits. As a result of the protection provided by the FDIC and through other kinds of supervision, bank failures have been 12 to a few isolated instances. When deposits are federally insured, people 13 rush to withdraw their money if they 14 the financial condition of their bank. The delay gives the banks the necessary time to adjust their cash credit balance, and this action helps to reduce the 15 of bankruptcy.

单选题The explosion scattered a flock of birds roosting in the trees.

单选题If I made a mistake, I will try to {{U}}remedy{{/U}} it.

单选题Not all member states abided by the principle they had agreed on previously.

单选题The Cold Places The Arctic is a polar region. It surrounds the North Pole. Like Antarctica, the Arctic is a land of ice and snow. Antarctica holds the record for a low temperature reading—125 Fahrenheit below zero. Readings of 85 degrees below zero are common in both the Arctic and Antarctica. Winter temperatures average 30 degrees below zero in the Arctic. At the South Pole the winter is about 73 degrees below zero. One thing alone makes it almost impossible for men to Jive in Antarctica and in parts of the Arctic. This one thing is the low temperature—the killing chili of the far North and the polar South. To survive, men must wear the warmest possible clothing. They must build windproof shelters. They must keep heaters going at all times. Not even for moment can they be unprotected against the below-zero temperature. Men have a way of providing for themselves. Polar explorers wrap themselves in warm coats and furs. The cold makes life difficult. But the explorers can stay alive. What about animals? Can they survive? Do we find plants? Do we find life in the Arctic and the Antarctica? Yes, we do. There is life in the oceans. There is life on land. Antarctica, as we have seen, is a cold place indeed. But this has not always been the case. Expedition scientists have discovered that Antarctica may have been much like our own. Explores have discovered coal in Antarctica. This leads them to believe that Antarctica at one time was a land of swamps and forests. Heat and moisture must have kept the trees in the forests alive.

单选题The advertising company was surprised by the adverse public reaction to the poster A. delayed B. quick C. positive D. unfavorable

单选题Mary {{U}}gets up{{/U}} at the same time every morning. A. arises B. raises C. arrives D. stands up

单选题He becomes famous for his coverage of significant events during the war.

单选题All information reported to or {{U}}likewise{{/U}} obtained by the commission is considered confidential. A. in a similar way B. in another way C. in a direct way D. in an unauthorized way

单选题Modest and easy to {{U}}approach{{/U}}. Prof. Rosch soon put every one of us completely at ease.

单选题The new technological revolution in American newspapers has brought increased issue {{U}}volume{{/U}}, a wider range of publications and an expansion of newspaper jobs. A. manipulation B. reproduction C. circulation D. penetration

单选题The room is dim and quiet.

单选题At the age of 77,computer pioneer Grace Hopper was awarded the military {{U}}rank{{/U}} of commodore by President Ronald Reagan.

单选题Sex change surgery guidelines drafted China is set to its first clinical guideline on sex-change Surgery, according to a notice put on the website of the Ministry of Health yesterday. The ministry is now soliciting public and professional 1 on the draft guideline. The coming guideline aims to regulate and standardize sex reassignment surgery, part of a treatment for gender identity disorder in transsexuals. Experts 2 nearly 2,000 Chinese have undergone sex-change surgery while 100,000 to 400,000 are still considering it. However, no official number is available. In the draft, the MOH sets minimum 3 for both surgical candidates and medical institutions. Candidates for the surgery must be older than 20 and single, the draft guideline said. They are also required to prove a persistent 4 for a sex change, to live for at least five consecutive years full-time in the new gender role, and to engage in mental therapy for at least one year. Before surgery can take place, a candidate must receive a recommendation for the operation from a 5 after an appropriate series of therapy sessions. Also, several legal requirements must be met 6 the procedure. The candidate must provide proof from police that he or she has does not have any criminal 7 in the past. Police must also agree to change the sex status on the identity card of the receiver before the 8 can take place. The advent of such a guideline is believed to show that the government is concerned 9 the needs of a relatively small number of people who want to change sex. But doctors also warn 10 all stakeholders, including the hospital and prospective receivers, should be highly cautious about this surgery. The operation is more than a medical 11 due to its-huge social and legal consequences. Doctors should make it clear to those 12 sex-change surgeries that the option always remains to continue to live in the original role. The guideline 13 surgeons to tell patients about other options such as hormone therapy, They are also required to explain the 14 involved, and underlying social barriers including discrimination, and administrative recognition and approval. For the candidates, the surgery itself is not the 15 issue in the long run. The real issue is the kind of life he or she will have to lead afterward.

单选题The Forbidden Apple New York used to be the city that never sleeps. These 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? Er... no. 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 fined 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 here, we"d go home smelling of cigarettes." Recent figures show that New York now has fewer crimes per 100,000 people than other U.S. cities. And it"s true—it"s safer, cleaner and more healthy than before. But let"s be honest—who goes to New York for its clean streets?