资源简介

2011届高考复习最新6年高考4年模拟分类汇编
第三章 阅读理解
第六节 科普知识类
第一部分 六年高考题荟萃
2009、2008、2007、2006、2005年高考题
Passage 1
(09·上海C篇)
“Get your hands off me, I have been stolen,” the laptop, a portable computer, shouted. That is a new solution to laptop computer theft: a program that lets owners give their property a voice when it has been taken.
The program allows users to display alerts on the missing computer’s screen and even to set a spoken message. Tracking software for stolen laptops has been on the market for some time, but this is thought to be the first that allows owners to give the thief a piece of their mind.
Owners must report their laptop missing by visiting a website, which sends a message to the model: a red and yellow “lost or stolen” sign appears on its screen when it is started. Under the latest version（版本）of the software, users can also send a spoken message.
The message can be set to reappear every 30 seconds, no matter how many times the thief closes it.” One customer sent a message saying,’ You are being tracked. I am right at your door’,” said Carrie Hafeman, chief executive of the company which produces the program, Retriever.
In the latest version, people can add a spoken message. For example, the laptop’s speakers will say: “Help, this laptop is reported lost or stolen. If you are not my owner, report me now.”
The Retriever software package, which costs $29.95 but has a free trial period, has the functions of many security software programs .Owners can remotely switch to an alternative password if they fear that the thief has also got hold of the access details.
If a thief accesses the internet with the stolen laptop, Retriever will collect information on the internet service provider in use, so that the police can be alerted to its location.
Thousands of laptops are stolen every year form homes and offices, but with the use of laptops increasing, the number stolen while their owners are out and about has been rising sharply.
Other security software allows users to erase data remotely or lock down the computer.
72. The expression “to give the thief a piece of their mind “can be understood as “_______”
A. to give the thief an alert mind
B. to express the owners’ anger to the thief
C. to remind the thief of this conscience
D. to make the thief give up his mind
73. Different from other security software, Retriever can .
A. record the stealing process B. help recognize the lost laptop
C. lock down the computer remotely D. send a spoken message
74. One function of the program is that it allows the owner to at a distance.
A. change some access details for switching on the laptop
B. turn on the laptop by using the original password
C. operate the laptop by means of and alternative password
D. erase the information kept in the stolen laptop
75. Which of the following can best summarize the main idea of the passage
A. With no Retriever, thousands of laptops are stolen every year.
B. A new soft ware provides a means to reduce laptop theft.
C. Retriever has helped to find thieves and lost computers.
D. A new program offers a communication platform with the thief.
答案 72.B 73.D 74.A 75.B
Passage 2
(09·安徽C篇)
Sometimes, the simplest ideas are the best. For example, to absorb heat from the sun to heat water, you need large, flat, black surfaces. One way to do that is to build those surfaces specially, on the roofs of buildings. But why go to all that trouble when cities are rub of black surfaces already, in the form of asphalt （柏油） roads
Ten years ago, this thought came into the mind of Arian de Bondt, a Dutch engineer. He finally persuaded his boss to follow it up. The result is that their building is now heated in winter and cooled in summer by a system that relies on the surface of the road outside.
The heat-collector is a system of connected water pipes. Most of them ran from one side of the street to the other, just under the asphalt road. Some, however, dive deep into the ground.
When the street surface gets hot in summer, water pumped through the pipes picks up this heat and takes it underground through one of the diving pipes. At a depth of 100 metres lies a natural aquifer （蓄水层） into which several heat exchangers （交换器） have been built. The hot water from the street runs through these exchangers, warning the ground-water, before returning to the surface through another pipe. The aquifer is thus used as a heat store.
In winter, the working system is changed slightly. Water is pumped through the heat exchangers to pick up the heat stored during summer. This water goes into the building and is used to warm the place up. After performing that task, it is pumped under the asphalt and its remaining heat keeps the road free of snow and ice.
64. Which of the following is true according to the first two paragraphs
A. Arian de Bondt got his idea from his boss.
B. Large, flat, black surfaces need to be built in cities.
C. The Dutch engineer's system has been widely used.
D. Heat can also be collected from asphalt roads.
65. For what purpose are the diving pipes used
A. To absorb heat from the sun.
B. To store heat for future use.
C. To turn solar energy into heat energy.
D. To carry heat down below the surface.
66. From the last paragraph we can learn that __
A. some pipes have to be re-arranged in winter
B. the system can do more than warming up the building
C. the exchangers will pick up heat from the street surface
答案 64.D 65.D 66.B
Passage 3
(09·安徽E篇)
A rainforest is an area covered by tall trees with the total high rainfall spreading quite equally through the year and the temperature rarely dipping below l6℃. Rainforests have a great effect on the world environment because they can take in heat from the sun and adjust the climate. Without the forest cover，these areas would reflect more heat into the atmosphere，warming the rest of the world. Losing the rainforests may also influence wind and rainfall patterns，potentially causing certain natural disasters all over the world.
In the past hundred years，humans have begun destroying rainforests in search of three major resources（资源）：land for crops，wood for paper and other products，land for raising farm animals. This action affects the environment as a whole. For example，a lot of carbon dioxide（二氧化碳）in the air comes from burning the rainforests. People obviously have a need for the resources we gain from cutting trees but we will suffer much more than we will benefit.
There are two main reasons for this. Firstly，when people cut down trees，generally they can only use the land for a year or two. Secondly，cutting large sections of rainforests may provide a good supply of wood right now，but in the long run it actually reduces the world’s wood supply.
Rainforests are often called the world’s drug store. More than 25％ of the medicines we use today come from plants in rainforests. However，fewer than l％of rainforest plants have been examined for their medical value. It is extremely likely that our best chance to cure diseases lies somewhere in the world’s shrinking rainforests.
72. Rainforests can help to adjust the climate because they .
A. reflect more heat into the atmosphere
B. bring about high rainfall throughout the world
C. rarely cause the temperature to drop lower than l6℃
D. reduce the effect of heat from the sun on the earth
73. What does the word “this” underlined in the third paragraph refer to
A. We will lose much more than we can gain.
B. Humans have begun destroying rainforests.
C. People have a strong desire for resources.
D. Much carbon dioxide comes from burning rainforests.
74. It can be inferred from the text that
A. we can get enough resources without rainforests
B. there is great medicine potential in rainforests
C. we will grow fewer kinds of crops in the gained land
D. the level of annual rainfall affects wind patterns
75. What might be the best title for the text
A. How to Save Rainforests
B. How to Protect Nature
C. Rainforests and the Environment
D. Rainforests and Medical Development
答案 72.D 73.A 74.B 75.C
Passage 4
(09·北京C篇)
How Room Designs Affect Our Work and Feelings
Architects have long had the feeling that the places we live in can affect our thoughts, feelings and behaviors, But now scientists are giving this feelings an empirical（经验的, 实证的）basis. They are discovering how to design spaces that promote creativity, keep people focused, and lead to relaxation.
Researches show that aspects of the physical environment can influence creativity. In 2007, Joan Meyers-Levy at the University of Minnesota, reported that the height of a room’s ceiling affects how people to think. Her research indicates that the higher callings encourage people to think more freely, which may lead them to make more abstract connections. Low ceilings, on the other hand, may inspire a more detailed outlook.
In addition to ceiling height, the view afforded by a building may influence an occupant’s ability to concentrate. Nancy Wells and her colleagues at Cornell University found in their study that kids who experienced the greatest increase in greenness as a result of a family move made the most gains on a standard test of attention.
Using nature to improve focus of attention ought to pay off academically, and it seems to, according to a study led by C. Kenneth Tanner, head of the School Design ＆Planning Laboratory at University of Georgia. Tanner and his team found that students in classrooms with unblocked views of at least 50 feet outside the window had higher scores on tests of vocabulary, language arts and maths than did students whose classrooms primarily overlooked roads and parking lots.
Recent study on room lighting design suggests that dim（暗淡的）light helps people to loosen up. If that is true generally, keeping the light low during dinner or at parties could increase relaxation. Researchers of Harvard Medical School also discovered that furniture with rounded edges could help visitors relax.
So far scientists have focused mainly on public buildings. “We have a very limited number of studies, so we’re almost looking at the problem through a straw（吸管）, ”architect David Allison says. “How do you take answers to very specific questions and make broad, generalized use of them That’s what we're all struggling with. ”
64. What does Joan Meyers-Levy focus on in her research
A. Light
B. Ceilings
C. Windows
D. Furniture.
65. The passage tells us that____.
A. the shape of furniture may affect people, s feelings
B. lower ceilings may help improve students’ creativity
C. children in a dim classroom may improve their grades
D. Students in rooms with unblocked views may feel relaxed
66. The underlined sentence in the last paragraph probably means that _______.
A. the problem is not approached step by step
B. the researches so far have faults in themselves
C. the problem is too difficult for researchers to detect
D. research in this area is not enough to make generalized pattens
67. Which of the following shows the organization of the passage
CP: Central Point P: point Sp: Sub—point（次要点）C: Conclusion
答案 64.B 65.A 66.D 67.C
Passage 5
(09·湖北B篇)
Three years ago, five parrots were set free in a wild place of Arizona, thousands of miles from the Channel Islands in Jersey sher they had been looked after by zookeepers. No evolutionary strategies informed them how to behave in this new Landscape of mountainous pine forest unoccupied by their king for 50 years. To the researchers’ surprise, they failed to make contact with a group of wild parrots imported from Mexico and set free at the same time. Within 24 hours the reintroducing ended in failure, and the poor birds were back in cages, on their way to the safety of the Arizona reintroduction programme.
Ever since then, the programme has enjoyed great success, mainly because the birds now being set free are Mexican birds illegally caught in the wild, confiscated （没收） on arrival north of the border, and raised by their parents in the safety of the programme. The experience shows how little we know about the behaviour and psychology（心理） of parrots, as Peter Bennett, a bird researcher, points out:” Reintroducing species of high intelligence like parrots is a lot more difficult. People like parrots, always treating them as nothing more than pers or valuable ‘collectables’. ”
Now that many species of parrot are in immediate danger of dying out, biologists are working together to study the natural history and the behaviour of this family of birds. Last year was an important turning point: conservationists founded the World Parrot Trust, based at Hayle in Cornwall, to support research into both wild and caged birds.
Research on parrots is vital for two reasons. Forest, as the Arizona programme showed, when reintroducing parrots to the wild, we need to be aware of what the birds must know if they are to survive in their natural home. We also need to learn more about the needs of parrots keot as pets, particularly as the Trust’s campaign does not attempt to discourage the practice, but rather urges people who buy parrots as pets to choose birds raised by humans.
55. What do we know about the area where the five parrots were reintroduced
A. Its landscape is new to parrots of their king.
B. It used to be home to parrots of their kind.
C. It is close to where they had been kept.
D. Pine trees were planted to attract birds.
56. The reintroducing experience three years ago shows that man-raised parrots ______.
A. can find their way back home in Jersey
B. are unable to recognize their parents
C. are unable to adapt to the wild
D. can produce a new species
57. Why are researches on parrots important according to the passage
A. The Trust shows great concern for the programme.
B. We need to knows more about how to preserve parrots
C. Many people are interested in collecting parrots.
D. Parrots’ intelligence may someday benefit people.
58. According to the passage, people are advised_______.
A. to treat wild and caged parrots equally
B to set up comfortable homes for parrots
C. not to keep wild parrots as pets
D. not to let more parrots go to the wild
答案 55.B 56.C 57.B 58.C
Passage 6
(09·四川E篇)
All too often, a choice that seems sustainable(可持续的)turns out on closer examination to be problematic. Probably the best example is the rush to produce ethanol(乙醇) for fuel from corn. Corn is a renewable resource —you can harvest it and grow more, almost limitlessly. So replacing gas with corn ethanol seems like a great idea.
One might get a bit more energy out of the ethanol than that used to make it, which could still make ethanol more sustainable than gas generally, but that’s not the end of the problem. Using corn to make ethanol means less corn is left to feed animals and people, which drives up the cost of food. That result leads to turning the fallow land –including, in some cases, rain forest in places such as Brazil—into farmland, which in turn gives off lots of carbon dioxide (CO) into the air. Finally, over many years, the energy benefit from burning ethanol would make up for the forest loss. But by then, climate change would have progressed so far that it might not help.
You cannot really declare any practice “sustainable” until you have done a complete life-cycle analysis of its environmental(环境的) costs. Even then, technology and public keep developing, and that development can lead to unforeseen and undesired results. The admirable goal of living sustainably requires plenty of thought on an ongoing basis.
57. What might directly cause the loss of the forest according to the text
A. The growing demand for energy to make ethanol
B. The increasing carbon dioxide in the air
C. The greater need for farmland
D. The big change in weather.
58. The underlined word “it” in the second paragraph refers to “ ”
A. the energy benefit B. the forest loss
C. climate change D. burning ethanol
59. The author thinks that replacing gas with corn ethanol is .
A. impractical B. acceptable C. admirable D. useless
60. What does the author mainly discuss in the text
A. Technology B. Sustainability
C. Ethanol energy D. Environmental protection
答案 57.C 58.A 59.A 60.B
Passage 7
(09·天津D篇)
Next time a customer comes to your office, offer him a cup of coffee. And when you’re doing your holiday shopping online, make sure you’re holding a large glass of iced tea. The physical sensation（感觉） of warmth encourages emotional warmth, while a cold drink in hand prevents you from making unwise decisions—those are the practical lesson being drawn from recent research by psychologist John A. Bargh.
Psychologists have known that one person’s perception（感知） of another’s “warmth” is a powerful determiner in social relationships. Judging someone to be either “warm” or “cold” is a primary consideration, even trumping evidence that a “cold” person may be more capable. Much of this is rooted in very early childhood experiences, Bargh argues, when babies’ conceptual sense of the world around them is shaped by physical sensations, particularly warmth and coldness. Classic studies by Harry Harlow, published in 1958, showed monkeys preferred to stay close to a cloth “mother” rather than one made of wire, even when the wire “mother” carried a food bottle. Harlow’s work and later studies have led psychologists to stress the need for warm physical contact from caregivers to help young children grow into healthy adults with normal social skills.
Feelings of “warmth” and “coldness” in social judgments appear to be universal. Although no worldwide study has been done, Bargh says that describing people as “warm” or “cold” is common to many cultures, and studies have found those perceptions influence judgment in dozens of countries.
To test the relationship between physical and psychological warmth, Bargh conducted an experiment which involved 41 college students. A research assistant who was unaware of the study’s hypotheses（假设）, handed the students either a hot cup of coffee, or a cold drink, to hold while the researcher filled out a short information form: The drink was then handed back. After that, the students were asked to rate the personality of “Person A” based on a particular description. Those who had briefly held the warm drink regarded Person A as warmer than those who had held the iced drink.
“We are grounded in our physical experiences even when we think abstractly,” says Bargh.
51. According to Paragraph 1, a person’s emotion may be affected by ______.
A. the visitors to his office
B. the psychology lessons he has
C. his physical feeling of coldness
D. the things he has bought online
52. The author mentions Harlow’s experiment to show that ______.
A. adults should develop social skills
B. babies need warm physical contact
C. caregivers should be healthy adults
D. monkeys have social relationships
53. In Bargh’s experiment, the students were asked to ______.
A. evaluate someone’s personality
B. write down their hypotheses
C. fill out a personal information form
D. hold coffee and cold drink alternatively
54. We can infer from the passage that ______.
A. abstract thinking does not come from physical experiences
B. feelings of warmth and coldness are studied worldwide
C. physical temperature affects how we see others
D. capable persons are often cold to others
55. What would be the best title for the passage
A. Drinking for Better Social Relationships.
B. Experiments of Personality Evaluation.
C. Developing Better Drinking Habits.
D. Physical Sensations and Emotions.
答案 51.C 52.B 53.A 54.C 55.D
Passage 8
(09·浙江C篇)
Plants can’t communicate by moving or making sounds, as most animals do. Instead, plants
Produce volatile compounds, chemicals that easily change from a liquid to a gas. A flower’s sweet
smell, for example, comes from volatile compounds that the plant produces to attract insects such as
Bugs and bees.
Plants can also detect volatile compounds produced by other plants. A tree under attack by
Hungry insets, for instance, may give off volatile compounds that let other trees know about the
Attack. In response, the other trees may send off chemicals to keep the bugs away ---- or even
Chemicals that attract the bugs’ natural enemies.
Now scientists have created a quick way to understand what plants are saying: a chemical
Sensor（传感器）called an electronic nose. The “e-nose” can tell compounds that crop plants make
When they’re attacked Scientists say the e-nose could help quickly detect whether plants are being
Eaten by insects. But today the only way to detect such insects is to visually inspect individual
Plants. This is a challenging task for managers of greenhouses, enclosed gardens than can house
Thousands of plants.
The research team worked with an e-nose than recognizes volatile compounds. Inside the
device, 13 sensors chemically react with volatile compounds Based on these interactions, the
e-nose gives off electronic signals that the scientists analyze using computer software.
To test the nose, the team presented it with healthy leaves from cucumber, pepper and tomato
plants, all common greenhouse crops. Then scientists collected samples of air around damaged
leaves from each type of crop, These plants had been damaged by insects, or by scientists who made
holes in the leaves with a hole punch（打孔器）.
The e-nose, it turns out, could identify healthy cucumber, pepper and tomato plants based on
The volatile compounds they produce, It could also identify tomato leaves that had been damaged.
But even more impressive, the device could tell which type of damage ---- by insects or with a hole
Punch ---- had been done to the tomato leaves.
With some fine-tuning, a device like the e-nose could one day be used in greenhouses to quickly spot harmful bugs, the researchers say. A device like this could also be used to identify fruits that are perfectly ripe and ready to pick and eat, says Natalia Dudareva, a biochemist at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. who studies smells of flowers and plants. Hopefully, scientists believe, the device could bring large benefits to greenhouse managers in the near future.
49. We learn from the text that plants communicate with each other by____.
A. making some sounds B. waving their leaves
C. producing some chemicals D. sending out electronic signals
50. What did the scientists do to find out if the e-nose worked
A. They presented it with all common crops.
B. They fixed 13 sensors inside the device.
C. They collected different damaged leaves.
D. They made tests on damaged and healthy leaves.
51. According to the writer, the most amazing thing about the e-nose is that it can___.
A. pick out ripe fruits
B. spot the insects quickly
C. distinguish different damages to the leaves
D. recognize unhealthy tomato leaves
52 We can infer from the last paragraph that the e-nose_____.
A. is unable to tell the smell of flowers
B. is not yet used in greenhouses
C. is designed by scientists at Purdue
D. is helpful in killing harmful insects
答案 49.C 50.D 51.C 52.B
Passage 9
(09·重庆C篇)
Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature .However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your sport of choice might have great influence on the environment.
Some sports are resource-hungry. Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water. Besides, all sorts of chemicals and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses（球场） in good condition. This causes major environmental effects. For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf is often held responsible for serious water shortage in some local areas.
There are many environment-friendly sports. Power walking is one of them that you could take up today. You don’t need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes; and you don’t have to worry about resources and your purse. Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit. If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones. Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and have better weight control.
Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials. But the final goal should be “green gyms”. They are better replacements for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers. Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces. There is no special requirement for you to start your membership. And best of all, it’s free.
　64. Which of the following is the author most probably in favor of
　　A. Cycling around a lake.
　　B. Motor racing in the desert.
　　C. Playing basketball in a gym.
　　D. Swimming in a sports center.
　65. What do we know about golf from the passage
　　A. It is popular in Portugal and Spain.
　　B. It causes water shortages around the world.
　　C. It pollutes the earth with chemicals and wastes.
　　D. It needs water and electricity to keep its courses green.
　66. The author uses power walking as an example mainly because______.
　　A. it is an outdoor sport
　　B. it improves our health
　　C. it uses fewer resources
　　D. it is recommended by experts
　67. The author writes the passage to_______.
　　A. show us the function of major sports
　　B. encourage us to go in for green sports
　　C. discuss the major influence of popular sports
　　D. introduce different types of environment-friendly sports
答案 64.A 65.B 66.C 67.B
Passage 10
(09·重庆E篇)
A recent study, while showing a generally positive attitude toward science, also suggests a widespread worry that it may be “running out of control”, This idea is dangerous.
　　Science can be a force for evil as well as for good. Its applications can be channeled either way, depending on our decisions. The decisions we make, personally or collectively, will determine the outcomes of science. But here is a real danger. Science is advancing so fast and is so strongly influenced by businesses that we are likely to believe whatever decisions we come to will make little difference. And, rather than fighting for the best possible policies, we may step back and do nothing.
　　Some people go even further. They say that despite the moral and legal objections(反对), whatever is scientifically possible will be done-somewhere , sometime. They believe that science will get out of control in the end. This belief is dangerous too, because it fuels a sense of hopelessness and discourages then from making efforts to build a safer world.
　　In our interconnected world, the lack of agreement in and out of the world of science can lead to the failure to control the use of science. Without a common understanding, the challenges of “controlling” science in this century will be really tough. Take human cloning for example. Despite the general agreement among scientists on its possible huge impact(影响) on traditional moral values, some countries still go ahead with the research and development of its related techniques. The outcomes are hard to predict.
　　Therefore, discussions on how science is applied should be extended far beyond scientific societies. Only through the untied efforts of people with hope, can we be fully safe against the misuse of science and can science best serve mankind in the future.
　　72. What can we conclude from the recent study
　　A. People think highly of science.
　　B. People hold mixed opinions about science.
　　C. Science is getting dangerously out of control.
　　D. Science is used for both good and bad purposes.
　　73. According to the passage , what will happen if we hold that science is getting beyond control
　　A. The development of science will hopelessly slow down.
　　B. Businesses will have even greater influence on science.
　　C. The public will lose faith in bringing about a bright future.
　　D. People will work more actively to put science under control.
　　74. The discussion should reach beyond scientific societies because_______
　　A. scientists have failed to predict the outcomes
　　B. the ties between different areas need strengthening
　　C. united efforts are necessary for the development of science
　　D. people need to work together to prevent the bad use of science
　　75. What is the main idea of the passage
　　A. Science and its applications bring us many dangers.
　　B. The development of science mostly lies in people's attitudes.
　　C. Mankind can largely take control of science with their efforts.
D. The future of science will be influenced by the dangerous ideas.
答案 72.B 73.C 74.D 75.B
Passage 11
(09·福建D篇)
Find Which Direction Is South
Do you have a good sense of direction If not, please take with you a compass. But if you forget to take a compass, you can still find your way.
It’s never a good idea to imagine that the family member who was entrusted（委托）with the job of map-reading actually knows where the family is. You can tell by the slightly confused load on their faces that nothing on the ground seems to match the map. Never mind. The shu is shining and it’s still morning. If you don’t know the exact time, you can still find out where south is, but you’ll need to be patient.
①Find a straight sick and put it in the ground in a place where you can mark its shadow.
②Try to position the stick as vertically（垂直）as you can. You can check this by making a simple plumb line （铅锤线）with a piece of string and weight. You haven’t got any string OK, use a thread from your clothes with a button tied at the end to act as a weight.
③Mark the end of the shadow cast by the stick.
④Wait approximately half an hour and mark the end of the shadow again.
⑤Keep doing this until you have made several marks.
⑥The mark nearest the stick will represent the shortest shadow, which is cast at midday, when the sun is highest in the sky and pointing to the exact south.
⑦Pick a point in the distance along the line between the shortest shadow and the stick.
⑧That point is south of where you are.
⑨Now you can turn the map, like you did before, and find which way you should be travelling.
68. To find the direction, we ought to be patient probably because
A. it is not easy to find a proper stick B. it is not easy to position the stick
C. it takes hours to make the marks D. it takes about half an hour to make the marks
69. The passage would probably be most helpful to .
A. those who draw maps B. those who get lost
C. those who make compasses D. those who do experiments
70. Which of the following pictures best shows the way of finding the direction of south
71. The author presents this passage by .
A. telling an interesting story B. describing an activity in a lively way
C. testing an idea by reasoning D. introducing a practical method
答案 68.C 69.B 70.A 71.D
Passage 12
(09·湖南C篇)
People diet to look more attractive. Fish diet to avoid being beaten up, thrown out of their social group, and getting eaten as a result. That is the fascinating conclusion of the latest research into fish behavior by a team of Australian scientists.
The research team have discovered that subordinate fish voluntarily diet to avoid challenging their larger competitors. “In studying gobies we noticed that only the largest two individuals, a male and female, had breeding （繁殖） rights within the group,” explains Marian Wong. “All other group members are nonbreeding females, each being 5-10% smaller than its next largest competitor. We wanted to find out how they maintain this precise size separation.”
The reason for the size difference was easy to see. Once a subordinate fish grows to within 5-10% of the size of its larger competitor, it causes a fight which usually ends in the smaller goby being driven away from the group. More often than not, the evicted fish is then eaten up.
It appeared that the smaller fish were keeping themselves small in order to avoid challenging the boss fish. Whether they did so voluntarily, by restraining how much they ate, was not clear. The research team decided to do an experiment. They tried to fatten up some of the subordinate gobies to see what happened. To their surprise, the gobies simply refused the extra food they were offered, clearly preferring to remain small and avoid fights, over having a feast.
The discovery challenges the traditional scientific view of how boss individuals keep their position in a group. Previously it was thought that large individuals simply used their weight and size to threaten their subordinates and take more of the food for themselves, so keeping their competitors small.
While the habits of gobies may seem a little mysterious, Dr. Wong explains that understanding the relationships between boss and subordinate animals is important to understanding how hierarchical （等级的） societies remain stable.
The research has proved the fact that voluntary dieting is a habit far from exclusive to humans. “As yet, we lack a complete understanding of how widespread the voluntary reduction of food intake is in nature,” the researchers comment. “Data on human dieting suggests that, while humans generally diet to improve health or increase attractiveness, rarely does it improve long-term health and males regularly prefer females that are fatter than the females’ own ideal.”
65. When a goby grows to within 5-10% of the size of its larger competitor, it .
A. faces danger B. has breeding rights
C. eats its competitor D. leaves the group itself
66. The underlined words “the evicted fish” in Paragraph 3 refer to .
A. the fish beaten up B. the fish found out
C. the fish fattened up D. the fish driven away
67. The experiment showed that the smaller fish .
A. fought over a feast B. went on diet willingly
C. preferred some extra food D. challenged the boss fish
68. What is the text mainly about
A. Fish dieting and human dieting.
B. Dieting and health.
C. Human dieting.
D. Fish dieting.
答案 65.A 66.D 67.B 68.D
Passage 13
(09·湖南D篇)
Andrew Ritchie, inventor of the Brompton folding bicycle, once said that the perfect portable bike would be “like a magic carpet…You could fold it up and put it into your pocket or handbag”. Then he paused: “But you’ll always be limited by the size of the wheels. And so far no one has invented a folding wheel.”
It was a rare — indeed unique — occasion when I was able to put Ritchie right. A 19th-century inventor, William Henry James Grout, did in fact design a folding wheel. His bike, predictably named the Grout Portable, had a frame that split into two and a larger wheel that could be separated into four pieces. All the bits fitted into Grout’s Wonderful Bag, a leather case.
Grout’s aim: to solve the problems of carrying a bike on a train. Now doesn’t that sound familiar Grout intended to find a way of making a bike small enough for train travel: his bike was a huge beast. And importantly, the design of early bicycles gave him an advantage: in Grout’s day, tyres were solid, which made the business of splitting a wheel into four separate parts relatively simple. You couldn’t do the same with a wheel fitted with a one-piece inflated （充气的） tyre.
So, in a 21st-century context, is the idea of the folding wheel dead It is not. A British design engineer, Duncan Fitzsimons, has developed a wheel that can be squashed into something like a slender ellipse （椭圆）. Throughout, the tyre remains inflated.
Will the young Fitzsimons’s folding wheel make it into production I haven’t the foggiest idea. But his inventiveness shows two things. First, people have been saying for more than a century that bike design has reached its limit, except for gradual advances. It’s as silly a concept now as it was 100 years ago: there’s plenty still to go for. Second, it is in the field of folding bikes that we are seeing the most interesting inventions. You can buy a folding bike for less than 1,000 that can be knocked down so small that it can be carried on a plane — minus wheels, of course — as hand baggage.
Folding wheels would make all manner of things possible. Have we yet got the magic carpet of Andrew Ritchie’s imagination No. But it’s progress.
69. We can infer from Paragraph 1 that the Brompton folding bike .
A. was portable
B. had a folding wheel
C. could be put in a pocket
D. looked like a magic carpet
【答案】A
【解析】逻辑推理题。从文章第一段Andrew Ritchie, inventor of the Brompton folding bicycle, once said that the perfect portable bike would be “like a magic carpet…ou could fold it up and put it into your pocket or handbag”.
70. We can learn from the text that the wheels of the Grout Portable .
A. were difficult to separate
B. could be split into 6 pieces
C. were fitted with solid tyres
D. were hard to carry on a train
71. We can learn from the text that Fitzsimons’s invention .
A. kept the tyre as a whole piece
B. was made into production soon
C. left little room for improvement
D. changed our views on bag design
72. Which of the following would be the best title for the text
A. Three folding bike inventors
B. The making of a folding bike
C. Progress in folding bike design
D. Ways of separating a bike wheel
答案 70.C 71.A 72.C
Passage 14
(09·江苏A篇)
When women sit together to watch a movie on TV, they usually talk simultaneously（同时的）about a variety of subjects, including children, men, careers and what' s happening in their lives. When groups of men and women watch a movie together, the men usually end up telling the women to shut up. Men can either talk or watch the screen -- they can' t do both -- and they don' t understand that women can. Besides, women consider that the point of all getting together is to have a good time and develop relationships -- not just to sit there like couch potatoes staring at the screen.
During the ad breaks, a man often asks a woman to explain the plot and tell him where the relationship between the characters is going. He is unable, unlike women, to read the subtle body language signals that reveal how the characters are feeling emotionally. Since women originally spent their days with the other women and children in the group, they developed the ability to communicate successfully in order to maintain relationships. For a woman, speech continues to have such a clear purpose: to build relationships and make friends. For men, to talk is to relate the facts.
Men see the telephone as a communication tool for sending facts and information to other people, but a woman sees it as a means of bonding. A woman can spend two weeks on vacation with her girlfriend and, when she returns home, telephone the same girlfriend and talk for another two hours.
There is no convincing evidence that social conditioning, the fact that girls' mothers talked them more, is the reason why girls talk more than boys. Psychiatrist Dr Michael Lewis, author Social Behaviour and Language Acquisition, conducted experiments that found mothers talked to and looked at, baby girls more often than baby boys. Scientific evidence shows parents res the brain bias of their children. Since a girl' s brain is better organized to send and receive speech ,
we therefore talk to them more. Consequently, mothers who try to talk to their sons are usually pointed to receive only short grunts in reply.
56.While watching TV with others, women Usually talk a lot because they
A. are afraid of awkward silence with their families and friends
B. can both talk and watch the screen at the Same time
C. think they can have a good time and develop relationships
D. have to explain the plot and body language to their husbands
57. After a vacation with her girlfriend, a woman would talk to her again on the phone for hours in order to .
A. experience the happy time again B. keep a close tie with her
C. recommend her a new scenic spot D. remind her of something forgotten
58. What does the author want to tell us most
A. Women' s brains are better organized for language and communication
B. Women love to talk because they are more sociable than men.
C. Men do not like talking because they rely more on facts.
D. Social conditioning is not the reason why women love talking.
59. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage
A. Women Are Socially Trained to Talk B. Talking Maintains Relationships
C, Women Love to Talk D. Men Talk Differently from Women
答案 56.C 57.B 58.A 59.C
Passage 14
(09·江苏D篇)
Have you ever noticed the colour of the water in a river or stream after a heavy rainfall What do you think caused this change in colour It is soil that has been washed into the river from the riverbank or from t}le nearby fields．
Components of Soft
Soil is made up of a number of layers（层），each having its own distinctive colour and texture．The upper layer is known as the litter．It acts like a blanket．limiting temperature changes and reducing water loss．The topsoil layer is made up of small particles of rock mixed with rotten plant and animal matter called humus（腐殖质），which is black and gives the topsoil its dark colour．This layer is usually rich in nutrients，oxygen，and water．Below the topsoil is the subsoil，a layer that contains more stones mixed with only small amounts of organic matter．This layer is lighter in colour because of the lack of humus．Beneath the soil lies a layer of bedrock．
Soil forms from the bottom up．Over time bedrock is attacked by rain, wind，frost, and snow．It is gradually broken down into smaller particles in a process called weathering．Plants begin to grow，and rotten materials enrich the topsoil．Most of the soil in Eastern Canada．for example．Was formed from weathered rock that was exposed when the ice disappeared l2．000 years ag0．
Water Beneath the Soil
Surface water collects and flows above the ground in lakes．ponds．and rivers．Once in the soil or rock，it is called groundwater．Gravity pulls groundwater through the soil in a process called percolation（渗透）．Eventually the water reaches a layer called the water table．Under this is bedrock through which water cannot percolate．
As water percolates downward，it dissolves organic matter and minerals from the soil and carries them to deeper layers．This causes a serious problem because plants require these nutrients for growth.
Soil pH
Soil can be acidic．neutral．or basic．The pH of the soil is determined by the nature of the rock
from which it was formed．and by the nature of t}le plants that grow and rot in it．
The acidity of rain and snow can lower the pH of the groundwater that enters the soil．By burning fossil fuels such as coal，oil and gasoline，humans have been contributing to higher levels of acidity in many soils．When fossil fuels are burned．gases are released into the air and then fall back to earth as acid rain．Acid soil increases出e problem of carrying nutrients to lower soil levels．As nutrients are removed，soil is less fertile．Plants grow more slowly in acidic soil，and also become easily attacked by diseases．
67．The layer of soil that provides necessary nutrients for plant growth is called．
A．1itter B．topsoil C．humus D．subsoil
68．According to the text．which of the following is NOT true
A．Soil forms from weathered rock on the earth surface．
B．The deeper layer of soil is darker in colour than t}le surface soil．
C．Air pollution is partially responsible for acid soil．
D．Groundwater tends to carry away nutrients for plant growth．
69．We can infer from the passage that the water table lies ．
A．between the topsoil layer and the subsoil layer
B．in the subsoil layer above bedrock
C．between the subsoil layer and bedrock
D．in the bedrock layer beneath the subsoil
70．The underlined word “dissolve” is used to express the idea that organic matter and minerals from soil are ．
A．rushed away into the river
B．cleaned and purified by water
C．destroyed and carried away by water
D．mixed with water and become part of it
答案 67.B 68.B 69.C 70.D
Passage 16
(09·江西B篇)
The surprising experiment I am about to describe proves that air is all around you and that it proves down upon you. Air pressure is a wonderful force. When you swim underwater, you can feel water push down your body. The air all around you does the same. However, your body is so used to it that you do not notice this. The pressure is caused by a layer of air called the atmosphere. This layer surrounds the Earth, extending to about five kilometers above the Earth’s surface.
The following experiment is an easy one that you can do at home. But make sure that you are supervised, because you will need to use matches. Now foe the experiment！
What you need
·A hard-boiled egg without the shell
·A bottle with a neck slightly smaller than the egg
·A piece of paper
·A match
Metheod
1） Check that the paper will sit firmly on the neck of the bottle.
2） Tear the paper into strips and put the strips into the bottle.
3） Light the paper by dropping a burning match into the bottle.
4） Quickly sit the egg on the neck of the bottle.
Result
Astonishingly, the egg will be sucked into the bottle. Your friends will be amazed when you show them the experiment. But be careful when you handle matches.
Why it happened
As the paper burns, it needs oxygen and uses up the oxygen （air） in the bottle. The egg acts as a seal in the neck of the bottle, so no more air can get inside. This reduces the air pressure inside the bottle. The air pressure must equalize, so more air from outside must enter the bottle. The outside air pressure against the egg and then the egg is pushed into the bottle! The proves that air is all around and that it is pressing down on it.
60. Why is there the need to take care when you are doing the experiment
A. The bottle could break.
B. You need to light the paper with a match.
C. The egg needs to be shelled.
D. The egg has to be perfectly placed on the neck of the bottle.
61. In the experiment, the burning inside the bottle can___.
A. equalize the air pressure inside and outside
B. make a seal in the neck of the bottle
C. finish up the oxygen inside the bottle
D. produce more oxygen inside the bottle
62. How did the egg put into the bottle？
A. The oxygen inside the bottle sucked the egg in.
B. It became salt without the shell.
C. The neck of the bottle was wide enough.
D. The outside air pressure forced it into the bottle.
63. The experiment is carried cut to prove ______.
A. water pushes on your body when you swim underwater.
B. the earth is surrounded by a layer of air called the atmosphere.
C. the pressure of air around us has a powerful force.
D. the air pressure is not equalized around us.
答案 60.B 61.C 62.D 63.C
Passage 17
(09·辽宁C篇)
A volcanic eruption in Iceland has sent ash across northern Europe. Airlines have stopped or changed the flights across the Atlantic Ocean, leaving hundreds of passengers stuck in airports. Grirmsvom is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Europe. What makes Grimsvom different is that it lies under a huge glacier（冰川） of ice up to 12 maters thick. The hot volcano heats up the ice above it, which then forms a layer（层）of water between the glacier and the volcano This layer of water puts pressure on the volcano, keeping it stable, As the water flows out from under the glacier, the pressure lifts. The lava（岩浆） from the volcano then comes up to the surface. This is exactly what happened today.
Now, airlines have to make changes to their flights so as not to fly through the clouds of volcanic ash. According to KLM. one of Europe’s biggest airlines, airplanes cannot go under the cloud or over it. Going through the cloud can result in ash getting stuck in the airplane’s engines, causing damage to the plane. The eruption has also caused problems for animals in Iceland. The volcano left ash and sharp. Glass-like rocks all over the countryside. Farmers are keeping their animals inside to stop them from eating ash- covered grass to the sharp object.
64. What makes Grimsvom different from other volcanoes
A. It is below ice. B. It lies under the seaC. It is the largest volcanoD. It is lava affects the airlines
65. What keeps Grimsvotn still
A. The slow flow of waterB. The low water temperatureC. The thick glacierD. The water pressure
66. Which of the following is the result of the volcanic eruption
A. People stop traveling in EuropeB. Airlines suffer from the loss of planesC. It becomes dangerous for animals to eat outsideD. Farmers have lost many of their animals
67. This text is most probably taken from_
A. a research paperB. a newspaper reportC. a class presentation
D. a geography textbook.
答案 64.A 65.D 66.C 67.B
Passage 18
(09·全国ⅡC篇)
GUATEMALA CITY （Reuters） – A fish that lives in mangrove swamps（红树沼泽）across the Americas can live out of water for months at a time, similar to how animals adapted（适应）to land millions of years ago, a new study shows.
The Magrove Rivulus, a type of small killifish, lives in small pools of water in a certain type of empty nut or even old beer cans in the mangrove swamps of Belize, the United States and Brazil. When their living place dries up, they live on the land in logs（圆木），said Scott Taylor, a researcher at the Brevard Endangered Lands Program in Florida.
The fish, whose scientific name is Rivulus marmoratus, can grow as large as three inches. They group together in logs and breathe air through their skin until they can find water again.
The new scientific discovery came after a trip to Belize.
“We kicked over a log and the fish just came crowding out,” Taylor told Reuters in neighboring Guatgemala by telephone. He said he will make his study on the fish known to the public in an American magazine early next year.
In lab tests, Taylor said he found the fish can live up to 66 days out of water without eating.
Some other fish can live out of water for a short period of time. The walking catfish found in Southeast Asia can stay on land for hours at time, while lungfish found in Australia, Africa and South America can live out of water, but only in an inactive state. But no other known fish can be out of water as long as the Mangrove Rivulus and remain active, according to Patricia Wright, a biologist at Canada’s University of Guelph.
Further studies of the fish may tell how animals changed over time.
“These animals live in conditions similar to those that existed millions of years ago, when animals began making the transition（过渡）from water onto land,” Wright said.
49. The Mangrove Rivulus is a type of fish that _______.
A. likes eating nuts
B. prefers living in dry places
C. is the longest living fish on earth
D. can stay alive for two months out of water
50. Who will write up a report on Mangrove Rivulus
A. Patricia Wright B. Researchers in Guatemala
C. Scientists from Belize D. Scott Taylor
51. According to the text, lungfish can________
A. breathe through its skin
B. move freely on dry land
C. remain alive out of water
D. be as active on land as in water
52. What can we say about the discovery of Mangrove Rivulus
A. It was made quite by accident
B. It was based on a lab test of sea life
C. It was supported by an American magazine
D. It was helped by Patricia Wright
答案 49.D 50.D 51.C 52.A
Passage 19
(08·宁夏、海南、全国ⅠB篇)
More than 10 years ago, it was difficult to buy a tasty pineapple．The fruits that made it to the UK were green on the outside and, more often than not, hard with an unpleasant taste within．Then in 1996, the Del Monte Gold pineapple produced in Hawaii first hit our shelves．
The new type of pineapple looked more yellowy-gold than green．It was slightly softer on the outside and had a lot of juice inside．But the most important thing about this new type of pineapple was that it was twice as sweet as the hit-and-miss pineapples we had known．In no time,the Del Monte Gold took the market by storm, rapidly becoming the world’s best-selling pineapple variety,and delivering natural levels of sweetness in the mouth,up until then only found in tinned pineapple．
In nutrition (营养) it was all good news too．This nice-tasting pineapple contained four times more vitamin C(维生素C)than the old green variety．Nutritionists said that it was not only full of vitamins,but also good against some diseases．People were understandably eager to be able to buy this wonderful fruit．The new type of pineapple was selling fast,and the Del Monte Gold pineapple rapidly became a fixture in the shopping basket of the healthy eater．
Seeing the growing market for its winning pineapple, Del Monte tried to keep the market to itself．But other fruit companies developed similar pineapples. Del Monte turned to law for help,but failed．Those companies argued successfully that Del Monte’s attempts to keep the golden pineapple for itself were just a way to knock them out of the market．
60．We learn from the text that the new type of pineapple is ________．
A．green outside and sweet inside
B．good-looking outside and soft inside
C．yellowy-gold outside and hard inside
D．a little soft outside and sweet inside
61．Why was the new type of pineapple selling well
A．It was rich in nutrition and tasted nice．
B．It was less sweet and good for health．
C．It was developed by Del Monte．
D．It was used as medicine．
62．The underlined word“fixture”in Paragraph 3 probably refers to something________．
A．that people enjoy eating B．that is always present
C．that is difficult to get D．that people use as a gift
63．We learn from the last paragraph that Del Monte________．
A．allowed other companies to develop pineapples
B．succeeded in keeping the pineapple for itself
C．tried hard to control the pineapple market
D．planned to help the other companies
答案 60.D 61.A 62.B 63.C
Passage 20
(08·宁夏、海南C篇)
Do’s and Don’ts in Whale(鲸) Watching
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has developed guidelines for whale watching in Johnstone Strait,where killer whales are found on a daily basis each summer．It is strongly recommended that vessel(船只) operators follow these guidelines for all kinds of whales．
Approach whales from the side,not from the front or the back．
Approach no closer than 100 metres,then stop the boat but keep the engine on．
Keep noise levels down—no horns,whistles or racing of engines．
Start your boat only after the whales are more than 100 metres from your vessel．
Leave the area slowly,gradually moving faster when you are more than 300 metres from the whales．
Approach and leave slowly,avoiding sudden changes in speed or direction．
Avoid disturbing groups of resting whales．
Keep at low speeds and remain in the same direction if travelling side by side with whales．
When whales are travelling close to shore,avoid crowding them near the shore or coming between the whales and the shore．
Limit the time spent with any group of whales to less than 30 minutes at a time when within 100 to 200 metres of whales．
If there is more than one vessel at the same observation spot,be sure to avoid any boat position that would result in surrounding the whales．
Work together by communicating with other vessels,and make sure that all operators are aware of the whale watching guidelines．
64．For whom is this text written
A．Tour guides． B．Whale watchers．
C．Vessel operators． D．Government officials．
65．When leaving the observation areas,the vessel should _____．
A．move close to the beach B．increase speed gradually
C．keep its engine running slowly D．remain at the back of the whales
66．When going side by side with whales, the vessel should ．
A．keep moving in the same direction
B．surround the whales with other boats
C．travel closer and closer to the shore
D．take a good viewing position
67．What is the shortest safe distance from the whales
A．400 metres． B．300 metres． C．200 metres． D．100 metres．
答案 64.C 65.B 66.A 67.D
Passage 21
(08·江苏B篇)
We experience different forms of the Sun’s energy every day.We can see its light and feel its warmth.The Sun is the major source of energy for our planet.It causes the evaporation (蒸发) of water from the oceans and lakes.Sunlight also provides the energy used by green plants to make their own food.These green plants then provide food for all organisms(生物) on the Earth.
Much of the energy that comes from the Sun never reaches the Earth’s surface.It is either reflected or absorbed by the gases in the upper atmosphere.Of the energy that reaches the lower atmosphere,30% is reflected by clouds or the Earth’s surface.The remaining 70% warms the surface of the planet,causes water to evaporate,and provides energy for the water cycle and weather.Only a tiny part,approximately 0.023%,is actually used by green plants to produce food.
Many gases found in the atmosphere actually reflect heat energy escaping from the Earth’s surface back to the Earth.These gases act like the glass of a greenhouse in that they allow energy from the Sun to enter but prevent energy from leaving.They are therefore called greenhouse gases.
When sunlight strikes an object,some of the energy is absorbed and some is reflected.The amount reflected depends on the surface.For example,you’ve probably noticed how bright snow is when sunlight falls on it.Snow reflects most of the energy from the Sun,so it contributes to the low temperatures of winter.Dark-coloured surfaces,such as dark soil or forest,absorb more energy and help warm the surrounding air.
59.According to the passage,the root cause for weather changes on the Earth is .
A.the atmosphere surrounding the Earth
B.water from oceans and lakes
C.energy from the Sun
D.greenhouse gases in the sky
60.Only a small part of the Sun’s energy reaches the Earth’s surface because
most of it is .
A.absorbed by the clouds in the lower atmosphere
B.reflected by the gases in the upper atmosphere
C.lost in the upper and lower atmosphere
D.used to evaporate water from the oceans and lakes
61.We learn from the passage that .
A.all living things on the Earth depend on the Sun for their food
B.a forest looks dark in winter because it absorbs solar energy
C.only 0.023% of the energy from the Sun is made use of on the Earth
D.greenhouse gases allow heat energy to escape from the Earth’s surface
答案 59.C 60.C 61.A
Passage 22
(08·北京B篇)
Domestic (驯养的) horses now pull ploughs, race in the Kentucky Derby, and carry people. But early horses weren’t tame (驯服的) enough to perform these kinds of tasks. Scientists think the first interactions humans had with horses were far different from those today.
Thousands of years ago, people killed the wild horses that lived around them for food. Over time, people began to catch the animals and raise them. This was the first step in domestication.
As people began to tame and ride horses, they chose to keep those animals that had more desirable characteristics. For example, people may have chosen to keep horses that had a gentle personality so they could be ridden more easily. People who used horses to pull heavy loads would have chosen to keep stronger animals. Characteristics like strength are partly controlled by the animals’ genes. So as the domesticated horses reproduced, they passed the characteristics on to their young. Each new generation of horses would show more of these chosen characteristics.
Modern-day horse breeds come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. This variety didn’t exist in the horse population before domestication. The Shetland horse is one of the smallest breeds—typically reaching only one meter tall. With short, strong legs, the animals were bred to pull coal out of mine shafts (矿井) with low ceilings. Huge horses like the Clydesdale came on the scene around 1700. People bred these heavy, tall horses to pull large vehicles used for carrying heavy loads.
The domestication of horses has had great effects on societies. For example, horses were important tools in the advancement of modern agriculture. Using them to pull ploughs and carry heavy loads allowed people to farm more efficiently. Before they were able to ride horses, humans had to cross land on foot. Riding horses allowed people to travel far greater distances in much less time. That encouraged populations living in different areas to interact with one another. The new form of rapid transportation helped cultures spread around the world.
59. Before domestication horses were ______.
A. caught for sports B. hunted for food
C. made to pull ploughs D. used to carry people
60. The author uses the Shetland horse as an example to show ______.
A. it is smaller than the Clydesdale horse
B. horses used to have gentle personalities
C. some horses have better shapes than others
D. horses were of less variety before domestication
61. Horses contributed to the spread of culture by ______.
A. carrying heavy loads B. changing farming methods
C. serving as a means of transport D. advancing agriculture in different areas
62. The passage is mainly about _______.
A. why humans domesticated horses
B. how humans and horses needed each other
C. why horses came in different shapes and sizes
D. how human societies and horses influenced each other
答案 59.B 60.D 61.C 62.D
Passage 23
(08·辽宁D篇)
Far from the land of Antarctica (南极洲), a huge shelf of ice meets the ocean. At the underside of the shelf there lives a small fish, the Antarctic cod.
For forty years scientists have been curious about that fish. How does it live where most fish would freeze to death It must have some secrets. The Antarctic is not a comfortable place to work and research has been slow. Now it seems we have an answer.
Research was begun by cutting holes in the ice and catching the fish. Scientists studied the fish’s blood and measured its freezing point.
The fish were taken from seawater that had a temperature of -1.88℃ and many tiny pieces of ice floating in it. The blood of the fish did not begin to freeze until its temperature was lowered to -2.05℃. That small difference is enough for the fish to live at the freezing temperature of the ice-salt mixture.
The scientists’ next research job was clear: Find out what in the fish’s blood kept it from freezing. Their search led to some really strange things made up of a protein(蛋白质) never before seen in the blood of a fish. When it was removed, the blood froze at seawater temperature. When it was put back, the blood again had its antifreeze quality and a lowered freezing point.
Study showed that it is an unusual kind of protein. It has many small sugar molecules(分子) held in special positions within each big protein molecule. Because of its sugar content，it is called a glycoprotein. So it has come to be called the antifreeze fish glycoprotein,or AFGP.
68. What is the text mainly about
A. The terrible conditions in the Antarctic. B. A special fish living in freezing waters.
C. The ice shelf around Antarctica. D. Protection of the Antarctic cod.
69. Why can the Antarctic cod live at the freezing temperature
A. The seawater has a temperature of -1.88℃.
B. It loves to live in the ice-salt mixture.
C. A special protein keeps it from freezing.
D. Its blood has a temperature lower than -2.05℃.
70. What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 5 refer to
A. A type of ice-salt mixture. B. A newly found protein.
C. Fish blood. D. Sugar molecule.
71. What does “glyco-” in the underlined word “glycoprotein” in the last paragraph mean
A.Sugar. B. Ice. C. Blood. D. Molecule.
答案 68.B 69.C 70.B 71.A
Passage 24
(08·湖北E篇)
Downing the last drop of an expensive famous brand H2O as well as remembering to throw the empty bottle in the recycling bin, makes you feel pretty good about yourself, right It shouldn’t.Even when the bottles are recycled, there are all kinds of other consequences of swallowing bottled water, says Melissa Peffers, the air-quality program manager for Environmental Defense.
The containers are often filled in faraway lands, then shipped from abroad, and stored in refrigerators at your local pare that with the influence on environment of turning on your tap, filling a glass, and drinking up!
Anyone who is choosing bottled water for health reasons is misguided, says Peffers, “Most bottled water is just tap water.” And what comes out of your tap is carefully monitored to follow the strict rules.Consider another fact that bottled water is surprisingly expensive, especially when compared with the alternative, which is almost free, and

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