(每题3分，共45分) 1、 第一篇 Endangered Species
Endangered species are plants and animals that are in immediate danger of extinction. Extinction is actually a normal process in the course of evolution. Since the formation of the earth, many more species have become extinct than those exist today. These species slowly disappeared because of change of climate and their failure to adapt to such conditions as competition and predation(捕食). Since the 1600s, however, the process of extinction has greatly accelerated as a result of both human population growth and technological encroachment (侵犯)on natural ecology systems. Today the majority of the world’s environments are changing faster than the ability of most species to adapt to such changes through natural selection.
Species become extinct or endangered for number of reasons, but the primary cause is the destruction of natural habitats(栖息地). Drainage of wetlands(沼泽地), cutting and clearing of forests, growth of cities, and highway and dam construction have seriously reduced available natural habitats. As the various surroundings become fragments, the remaining animal population crowd into smaller areas, causing further destruction of natural surroundings. Species in these small “islands” lose contact with other populations of their extinction.
Some private and government efforts have been organized to save declining species. Laws were made in some countries in the early 1900s to protect wild animals from commercial trade and killing. International endeavors are shown in the convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, approved by 51 nations. Its purpose is to restrict exploitation of wild animals and plants by regulating and restricting trade in certain species. How effective such laws will be in various countries, however, depends on enforcement(实施)and support by the people and the courts. Because of lack of law enforcement, the willingness of some segments of society to trade in endangered species, the activities of people who catch and kill animals illegally and dealers who supply the trade, the future of many species is in doubt in spite of legal protection.

1According to the passage, which of the following is the most important factor causing the rapid extinction of many species since the 17th century?

A.Human beings are not aware of the importance of preserving endangered species

B.Some endangered species have already reached the end of their life span in evolution

C.The development of human society has greatly affected natural ecology systems

D.The world’s climate has changed greatly that most species cannot survive

2In the last sentence of the second paragraph, the word “islands” refers to

A.the lands that are completely surrounded by water

B.the wild animals’ breeding grounds protected by law

C.the pieces of land separated by modern buildings and roads

D.the small and isolated areas inhabited by certain species

3This passage mentions all of the following causes for the extinction of many species EXCEPT

A.natural selection of species

B.various natural disasters

C.commercial trade and killing

D.destruction of natural surroundings

4How does the author feel about the prospect of protecting endangered species from being extinct?

A.Worried

B.Optimistic

C.Indifferent

D.Confident

2、 第二篇 Light Night, Dark Stars
Thousands of people around the globe step outside to gaze at their night sky. On a clear night, with no clouds, moonlight, or artificial lights to block the view, people can see more than 14,000 stars in the sky, says Dennis Ward, an astronomer with the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) in Boulder, Colo. But when people are surrounded by city lights, he says, they''re lucky to see 150 stars.
If you''ve ever driven toward a big city at night and seen its glow from a great distance, you''ve witnessed light pollution. It occurs when light from streetlights, office buildings, signs, and other sources streams into space and illuminates the night sky. This haze of light makes many stars invisible to people on Earth. Even at night, big cities like New York glow from light pollution, making stargazing difficult.
Dust and particles of pollution from factories and industries worsen the effects of light pollution. "If one city has a lot more light pollution than another," Ward says, "that city will suffer the effects of light pollution on a much greater scale."
Hazy skies also make it far more difficult for astronomers to do their jobs.
Cities are getting larger. Suburbs are growing in once dark, rural areas. Light from all this
new development is increasingly obscuring the faint light given off by distant stars. And if scientists
can''t locate these objects, they can''t learn more about them.
Light pollution doesn''t only affect star visibility. It can harm wildlife too. It''s clear that artificial light can attract animals, making them go off course. There''s increasing evidence, for example, that migrating birds use sunsets and sunrises to help find their way, says Sydney Gauthreaux Jr. , a scientist at Clemson University in South Carolina. "When light occurs at night," he says, "it has a very disruptive influence." Sometimes birds fly into lighted towers, high-rises, and cables from radio and television towers. Experts estimate that millions of birds die this way every year.

1When can people see 14,000 stars?

A.When they have a fairly good telescope

B.When they are in a large city

C.When the night sky is clear of clouds, moonlight and artificial lights

D.When the night sky is without haze and fog

2Which of the following statements is NOT related to light pollution?

A.A haze of light is formed from artificial lights such as streetlights and building lights

B.Lights from different sources in the city stream into space and illuminate the night sky

C.The night sky is illuminated by the lights from big glowing cities in the night

D.Stargazing becomes difficult because there is a layer of haze in the air

3Does the writer think growing cities affect astronomers'' work？ Why does he think so？

A.Yes. Because the once dark rural areas are polluted by lights

B.No. Because they can still see stars in rural areas

C.Yes. Because rural areas are not a good place for astronomers to study stars

D.No. Because faint light given off by stars can still be seen on a clear night

4How does light pollution affect wildlife.9 Which of the following is NOT correct？

A.Animals may go off course due to the attraction of artificial lights

B.Animals might be attracted by artificial lights to go into cities

C.Artificial lights at night may make migrating birds lose their way

D.Attracted by artificial lights, birds fly into lighted buildings

5Which of the following is closest in meaning to the title "Light Night, Dark Stars" ?

A.The night sky is light colored and stars are black

B.Lights appear at night and stars are seen in the dark

C.City lights illuminate the night sky and make stars invisible

D.City lights at night illuminate stars in the sky

3、 第三篇 Electric Backpack
Backpacks are convenient. They can hold your books, your lunch, and a change of clothes, leaving your hands free to do other things. Someday, if you don''t mind carrying a heavy load, your backpacks might also power your MP31 player, keep your cell phone running, and maybe even light your way home.
Lawrence C. Rome and his colleagues from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia2 and the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole3, Mass. 4, have invented a backpack that makes electricity from energy produced while its wearer walks. In military actions, search-and-rescue operations, and scientific field studies, people rely increasingly on cell phones, global positioning system (GPS)5 receivers, night-vision goggles, and other battery-powered devices to get around and do their work. The backpack''s electricity-generating feature could dramatically reduce the amount of a wearer''s load now devoted to spare batteries, report Rome and his colleagues in the Sept. 9 Science6.
The backpack''s electricity-crew, ring powers depend on springs used to hang a cloth pack from its metal frame. The frame sits against the wearer’s back, and the whole pack moves up and down as the person walks. A gear mechanism converts vertical movements of the pack to rotary motions of an electrical generator, producing up to 7.4 watts.
Unexpectedly, tests showed that wearers of the new backpack alter their gaits in response to the pack''s oscillations, so that they carry loads more comfortably and with less effort than they do ordinary backpacks. Because of that surprising advantage, Rome plans to commercialize both electric and non-electric versions of the backpack.
The backpack could be especially useful for soldiers, scientists, mountaineers, and emergency workers who typically carry heavy backpacks. For the rest of us, power-generating backpacks could make it possible to walk, play video games, watch TV, and listen to music, all at the same time. Electricity-generating packs aren''t on the market yet, but if you do get one eventually, just make sure to look Both ways before crossing the street!

1 Backpacks are convenient because

A.they can be very large

B.they can hold as many things as you want to carry

C.your hands are freed to do other things

D.you do not have to carry things with you

2What is the most important feature of the backpack invented by Lawrence C. Rome and his colleagues?

A.It produces electricity for electronic devisees while the wearer walks

B.It can be used as cell phones, GPS in the military actions or field studies

C.It is small and convenient

D.It is light and easy to carry

3The word "springs" in Paragraph 3 means

A.a small stream of water flowing naturally from the earth

B.the season of the year, occurring between winter and summer

C.the act or an instance of jumping or leaping

D.a length of metal wound around, which returns to its original shape after being pushed

4According to Paragraph 4, what does Rome plan to do?

A.To make the backpack more comfortable for the wearer

B.To put the backpack on the market

C.To test the advantage of the backpack

D.To promote the backpack in a newspaper or on television

5What is implied in "if you do gut one eventually, just make sure to look both ways before
crossing the street!"?

A.You will Be too excited to watch the traffic

B.Enjoying electronic devices while walking may invite traffic accidents

C.It is not possible for you to get such a backpaek

D.It is wise of you to have such a backpack

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