How would you feel if someone gave you an envelope with a description of every one of your genes? Supposing this information could tell you what illnesses you were likely to get, or even what illness you might die of, would you open the envelope?

It's a difficult question to answer. But the fact is that scientists have already begun to discover how certain genes influence us. And in the next decade, they will learn a lot more.

We have known for a long time that many of our physical characteristics are inherited. For example, our eye colour and certain diseases are decided by our genes. As long as you have a good diet, scientists can predict your height by looking at your parents' heights. And we now know that the need to wear glasses has a genetic cause. Our eating habits also appear to be decided by our genes!

With other characteristics, things are not so clear. Certainly, scientists have now shown that some traits are strongly influenced by our genes. Do you prefer getting up early or late? To a great extent, it's your genes that decide, Do you enjoy dangerous sports such as car racing? There is a gene that influences how much excitement we need.

But with most psychological characteristics, scientists are learning that both our genes and our environment affect us. This is true of things such as how violent we are, and how well we get on with other people. So, even though scientists may soon be able to describe our genes in detail, it does not mean they will be able to predict our future with any real success.

Nonetheless, the fact is that scientists will be able to "read" our genes in the near future. This will create new problems. To give a few examples, insurance companies may not want to insure people whose genes predict certain illnesses. Employers may not want to employ people who have a gene for violence. One thing is already clear -- with these new developments, life is going to become even more complicated!

56. Which characteristics is mostly likely to be inherited?

A. Eye color.   B. Interest.    C. Future.   D. Ability.

57. What kind of problem will these new developments create?

A. You may die of a certain illness described in the envelope.

B. There will be an increased number of violent people.

C. People may take part in dangerous sports such as car racing.

D. Insurance companies may refuse to insure people with a gene for certain disease.

58. Why won’t scientists be able to tell us a lot about our future?

A. Because we’re affected not only by our genes but also by our environment.

B. Because scientists will not able to read our genes in the near future.

C. Because life in the future will be more complicated.

D. Because scientists can’t describe our genes in detail.

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   How could we possibly think that keeping animals in cages in unnatural environments-mostly for entertainment purposes-is fair and respectful?

   Zoo officials say they are concerned about animals. However, most zoos remain “collections” of interesting “things” rather than protective habitats (棲息地). Zoos teach people that it is acceptable to keep animals bored, lonely, and far from their natural homes.

    Zoos claim (聲稱) to educate people and save endangered species(物種), but visitors leave zoos without having learned anything meaningful about the animals’ natural behavior, intelligence, or beauty. Zoos keep animals in small spaces or cages, and most signs only mention the species’ name, diet, and natural range(分布區(qū)). The animals’ normal behavior is seldom noticed because zoos don’t usually take care of the animals’ natural needs.

    The animals are kept together in small spaces, with no privacy and little opportunity for mental and physical exercise. This results in unusual and self-destructive behavior called zoochosis. A worldwide study of zoos found that zoochosis is common among animals kept in small spaces or cages. Another study showed that elephants spend 22 percent of their time making repeated head movements or biting cage bars, and bears spend 30 percent of their time walking back and forth, a sign of unhappiness and pain.

     Furthermore, most animals in zoos are not endangered. Captive breeding(圈養(yǎng)繁殖)of endangered big cats, Asian elephants, and other species has not resulted n their being sent back to the wild. Zoos talk a lot about their captive breeding programs because they do not want people to worry about a species dying out. In fact, baby animals also attract a lot of paying customers. Haven’t we seen enough competitions to name baby animals?

     Actually, we will save endangered species only if we save their habitats and put an end to the reasons people kill them. Instead of supporting zoos, we should support groups that work to protect animals’ natural habitats.

64. How would the author describe the animals’ life in zoos?

A. Dangerous.        B. Unhappy.          C. Natural.            D. Easy.

65. In the state of zoochosis, animals _________.

A. remain in cages                                     B. behave strangely

C. attack other animals                               D. enjoy moving around

66. What does the author try to argue n the passage?

A. Zoos are not worth the public support.   

B. Zoos fail in their attempt to save animals.

C. Zoos should treat animals as human beings.

D. Zoos use animals as a means of entertainment.

67. The author tries to persuade readers to accept his argument mainly by _____.

A. pointing out the faults in what zoos do           B. using evidence he has collected at zoos

C. questioning the way animals are protected           D. discussing the advantages of natural habitats

68. Although he argues against zoos, the author would still agree that _______.

A. zoos have to keep animals in small cages       

B. most animals in zoos are endangered species

C. some endangered animals are reproduced in zoos

D. it’s acceptable to keep animals away from their habitats

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How would you like     if you didn’t see me for two or three days?

A.meB.itC.thatD.them

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Some years ago I was offered a writing assignment that would require three months of travel through Europe.I had been abroad a couple of times, 36 I could hardly claim to know my way around the continent.Moreover, my  37 of foreign languages was  38 to a little college French.
I  39 .How would I,unable to speak the language and totally  40 with local geography or transportation systems,  41 interviews and do research? It seemed  42 ,and with much regret I sat down to write a letter begging  43 .Halfway through,a thought ran through my mind:you can’t learn if you don’t  44 .So I accepted the assignment.
There were some bad news. But by the time I had  45 the trip I was an experienced 46 .And ever since,I have never hesitated to  47 for even the most remote places,without guides or even  48 bookings,confident that somehow I will  49 .
The point is that the new,the  50 ,is almost by definition scary.But each time you try 51 ,you learn,and as the learning piles up,the world  52 to you.
I’ve  53 to ski at 40,and flown up the Rhine River in a balloon.And I know I’ll go on doing such things.It’s not because I’m  54 or more daring than others. I’m not. But I’ll accept anxiety as another name for  55 and I believe I can accomplish wonders.

【小題1】
A.thoughB.a(chǎn)ndC.butD.since
【小題2】
A.knowledgeB.viewC.targetD.experience
【小題3】
A.forcedB.limitedC.reducedD.increased
【小題4】
A.leftB.doubtedC.pausedD.hesitated
【小題5】A. occupied     B. unfamiliar    C: mixed    D. popular
【小題6】
A.get upB.put upC.set upD.cheer up
【小題7】
A.impossibleB.possibleC.easyD.disturbing
【小題8】
A.a(chǎn)wayB.downC.offD.for
【小題9】
A.a(chǎn)skB.tryC.practiceD.a(chǎn)ccept
【小題10】
A.finishedB.startedC.reservedD.cancelled
【小題11】
A.travelerB.reporterC.writerD.thinker
【小題12】
A.takeB.headC.makeD.change
【小題13】
A.carefulB.freeC.professionalD.a(chǎn)dvanced
【小題14】
A.loseB.winC.manageD.remember
【小題15】
A.differentB.sameC.oldD.bad
【小題16】
A.nothingB.somethingC.a(chǎn)nythingD.everything
【小題17】
A.sticksB.comesC.opensD.drinks
【小題18】
A.learnedB.hopedC.forgottenD.a(chǎn)ttempted
【小題19】
A.weakerB.braverC.worseD.luckier
【小題20】
A.troubleB.failureC.victoryD.challenge

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I recently heard a story about a famous scientist who had made several very important medical breakthroughs(突破). He was being interviewed by a reporter who asked him    1   he thought he was able to be so much more    2   than the average person.
He responded that it all came from a(n)   3   with his mother that occurred when he was about 2. He had been trying to   4  milk from the fridge when he    5   the slippery(光滑的) bottle, its contents running all over the kitchen floor.
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Indeed, he did. After a few minutes, his mother said, “Robert, whenever you make a mess like this, eventually you have to restore everything to its proper order. So, how would you like to do that? We could use a sponge(海綿), a towel or a mop. Which do you prefer?” He chose the sponge.
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【小題1】
A.whyB.whatC.whenD.how
【小題2】
A.capableB.a(chǎn)bleC.creativeD.original
【小題3】
A.coincidenceB.experienceC.incidentD.conflict
【小題4】
A.carryB.bringC.removeD.fetch
【小題5】
A.fellB.lostC.escapedD.dropped
【小題6】
A.rather thanB.instead of C.other thanD.in place of
【小題7】
A.pictureB.massC.mapD.mess
【小題8】
A.rarelyB.happilyC.frequentlyD.a(chǎn)ngrily
【小題9】
A.gotB.sufferedC.done D.received
【小題10】
A.jumpB.play C.enjoyD.lay
【小題11】
A.failedB.successfulC.fantasticD.painful
【小題12】
A.strongB.tinyC.thinD.weak
【小題13】
A.get itB.put itC.try itD.make it
【小題14】
A.controlled B.possessedC.occupiedD.grasped
【小題15】
A.exampleB.teachingC.lessonD.instruction
【小題16】
A.a(chǎn)nxiousB.nervousC.fearfulD.a(chǎn)fraid
【小題17】
A.situationsB.opportunitiesC.occasionsD.turns
【小題18】
A.a(chǎn)fter allB.a(chǎn)bove allC.first of allD.in all
【小題19】
A.doB.finishC.goD.work
【小題20】
A.worthyB.costlyC.valuableD.interesting

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科目:高中英語 來源:2010—2011學年福建省福州八縣(市)高二下學期期中聯(lián)考英語卷 題型:閱讀理解

My wife passed away a few years ago, and I went through the worst time in my life. I even wanted to kill myself. Just for my kids, I had to continue to live and work as a small town doctor at my medical clinic in Hawaii. My kids had gone to live on the mainland, and I was alone. Then they asked me to have a family trip.
On our trip, we turned on the TV at the motel and saw the second plane crash into the World Trade Center. Seeing it falling down, I said to my kids:“ I'm going to Afghanistan.”And a few weeks later, International Medical Corps sent me to set up 20 clinics in provinces where people had no health care. In these field clinics surrounded by frightening shoots or deadly bombs ,we were eventually serving 27,000 patients a month in a very busy schedule.Tired and nervous, I gradually had a sense of achievement, a sense of purpose, and my depression went away.
In the years to follow, I went to Indonesia after the tsunami (海嘯), Pakistan after the earthquakes, Sudan after the civil war, and Iraq after more and more bombs. Each time after disasters one after another, hundreds of people were killed, wounded and many more had to flee. We once set up movable clinics in an area with 19,000 refugees,_and it was supposed to hold 13,000 originally. Flu broke out, one of the biggest killers of kids in refugee camps, and it spread like wildfire. Water and food were also serious problems. “Adventure or not?”I often asked myself.
When my wife passed away, I thought my life was gone. But in reality, it was just getting started. At the end of her life, she went unconscious. I held her head in my hands and told her of all the places we would visit and the exciting adventures we would have.
I thought about the moment many times during my“adventures”. I didn't know how predictive those words would be,but I knew that she was still with me.
【小題1】Where has the doctor been in the past few years?

A.Some countries where he could set up clinics.
B.Some African countries where flu broke out.
C.The places where the earthquakes happened.
D.The places that the horrible disasters struck.
【小題2】How would the doctor describe his life after he had worked in Afghanistan?
A.Tired and troublesome.B.Busy and risky.
C.Meaningful and helpful. D.Frightening and depressing.
【小題3】The underlined word“ refugees” means people________.
A.who are robbed, killed, or woundedB.who suffer from flu in movable clinics
C.who like to take adventuresD.who have lost homes because of disasters
【小題4】Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.The doctor's wife encouraged him to work in foreign countries.
B.What the doctor said to his wife before her death became reality.
C.The doctor's adventures made him understand the love of his wife.
D.With the true love of his wife, the doctor started to change his life.

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