A：Have you ever been to our neighbouring city Le Shan?

B：Yes，I have．But   61  

A：I'm going there with some friends for a holiday this weekend．Can you tell me what it is like there?

B:   Well，it is a very wonderful place．  62

A：Really ? It is good to hear that．  63  

B：Well．uh… what else would you like to know?

A：  64   

B：The tofu(beancurd) dish with fish there is hot but tasty ,very inviting indeed．And in my  pinion，the people there are warm and kind．

A：It sounds amazing．

B：It is．  65  

A．What about you'?

B．It is probably one of the most exciting places I know．

C．Why?

D．Can you tell me some more about it?

E．How about the food and the people?

F．I hope you will visit it some day．

G．I’m sure you’1l have a good time there．

    To live forever was the dream of many emperors in ancient China．People were ordered to call them Wansui，which means 10，000 years，but no human could live that long．How long can humans really live? According to the latest scientific discovery，humans are able to live up to the age of 120 or perhaps even longer．

    Several recent studies showed that our life span(壽命)can be extended(延長)far beyond normal limits．Cynthia Kenyon，a professor at the University of California in San Francisco doubled the life of a worm from two weeks to a month．By changing the function of a single gene，known as daf-2，the scientist not only added extra days to the worm’s life but also kept it a healthy as worms which were half its age．

    There are two similar genes in the bodies of mammals．By changing the function of on gene，scientists extended the life of a mouse by 1 8 per cent(or 4．5 months)．Another gene is called IGF-1．Researchers still don’t know how it affects our body．But by reducing its functions the life of a mouse increases by 33 per cent for 8．6 months)．The average life span of a mouse is 26 months．

    In the experiment of extending life，an ancient saying，“you are what you eat.” also seems to  be true．Vegetables contain fewer calories than meat，and help to prolong life，scientists say. Research has found that taking in fewer calories affects our lives in a similar way to reducing IGF-1．

    US biologist John Phelan suggests low calorie diets could increase human life span，but there is no proof yet．

    Researchers are still waiting for the results of a study started in 1987．Monkeys are fed with low calorie food to see what happens．A monkey’s typical life span is 40 years，so there is a little while to wait．

    In China，average，life expectancy(預(yù)期壽命)has now reached 70，double that of 1949. Increasing the length of our lives may bring us closer to the dreams of our ancient emperors．But it may also cause social problems such as housing and employment，social scientists have warned．

57．Which of the following is TRUE about statement of life span?

      A．A few emperors in ancient China could live up to 10，000 years．

      B．Creatures aren’t able to lives up to 120 years．

      C．The dream of living forever is coming true．

      D．In China，the average life span is twice as long as it was half a century ago．

58．What can we learn from paragraph 37

      A．A mouse is able to live up to two years and a half．

      B．A mouse can live for 34．6 months by reducing its gene．

      C．Scientists are trying to work out how the IGF-1 gene affects our body．

      D．The two similar genes have the same functions in the bodies of animals．

59．In paragraph 4，“you are what you eat,”probably means        

      A．the more you eat，the longer you will lives

      B．the better you eat，the greater IGF-l’s functions are

      C．the healthier food you eat，the healthier you are

      D．the fewer calories you take，the happier life you’ll live    

60．What is the main idea about this passage?

       A．We are able to live longer．

       B．The genes affect life span of human beings．

       C．A balanced diet prolongs our life．

       D．Extending life span has caused terrible social problems．

    A 500 kg．three-meter-tall ape(猿)lived alongside humans for more than a million years，according to a new study．

    Fortunately for early humans，the huge primate’s(靈長類動(dòng)物)diet consisted mainly of bamboo．

  Scientists have known about Gigantopithecus(巨猿)since some of its teeth were discovered on sale in a Hong Kong pharmacy about 80 years ago．The idea of a giant ape aroused the interest of scientists around the world，but It remained unclear when this beast became extinct．

    Now Jack Rink，a geochronologist(地質(zhì)年代學(xué)家)at McMaster University in Canada，has used a high-precision absolute-dating method to determine that this ape－the largest primate ever―roamed Southeast Asia for nearly a million years before the species died out 100，000 years ago．By this time，humans had existed for a million years．

    “Gigantopithecus is a primate that co-existed with humans at a time when humans were undergoing a major evolutionary change，”said Rink．

      Some of Gigantopithecus fossils(化石)were found in Guangxi．It is the region where some believe the modem human race originated．a(chǎn)ccording to Rink．Scientists have been able to piece together a description of Gigantopithecus using just a handful of teeth and a set of jawbones．

    “The size of these specimens―the crown of the molar，for instance，measures about an inch (2．54 cm)across―helped us understand the extraordinary size of the primate，”Rink said．

    Scientists can only guess at what killed off a beast this size．Some scientists believe that a diet of bamboo combined with increasing competition from more nimble humans eventually led to its extinction．

    While most scientists agree that Gigantopithecus died out long ago，some people―Big-foot(大足怪)and Yeti(喜馬拉雅雪人)enthusiasts in particular－believe that this ape is the source of tales of giant，hairy beasts living in the woods．

    Even though mainstream scientists dismiss these claims，it isn’t impossible．The coelacanth a type of fish thought to have died out millions of years ago-was discovered swimming off the coast of Africa in 193&

53．We can gain some information about Gigantopithecus EXCEPT      ．

A．their diet                                                  B．their appearances        

C．their habitats                                             D．their language(s)

54．What’s the best title for the passage?

    A．The Death of the Largest Primate                 B．The Huge Ape Appears Again

    C．The New Findings of Giant Apes                 D．A Yeti．500 kg＆3-Meter-Tall

55．What can we learn from the third & the fourth paragraphs of the passage?

    A．Great apes lived along with ancient men．

    B．Jack Rink is the greatest geochronologist．

    C．The largest apes once lived in Southeast Asia for nearly 1 00，000 years．

    D．The largest apes had existed as long as human beings．

56．Which of the following description about the huge apes is right?

    A．They died from the bad habitats．            

    B．They died out long time ago．

  C．They died of hunger．                               

    D．These giant hairy beasts，living in the frost，are legends．

    Stress caused by a slowing economy，shrinking retirement accounts(退休津)and rising unemployment rates is driving some American smokers to increase the habit or delay quitting，according to a new survey．

    A quarter of smokers who are worried about the economy said fretting over it has driven them to smoke more each day，while another 13 percent said they have delayed quitting．

“The turbulent(動(dòng)蕩的)global stock markets have caused virtually every American a certain level of stress．Those who also struggle with an addiction to tobacco products are at an increased disadvantage．Quitting smoking under normal circumstances  is one of the most difficult things you can do．”Cheryl Healton，the president and CEO of the American Legacy Foundation，said in a statement．

     The Washington．D．C．-based anti-smoking advocacy group commissioned(委托) Harris Interactive to conduct the online poll of 2，375 Americans l 8 years old and older．Women smokers were more likely to smoke more due to worries about the economy，with 3l percent reporting they did．compared to 17 percent of men．

    A higher percentage(38 percent)of lower―income smokers―those with a household income of $ 35，000 or less--reported that they smoke more cigarettes per day due to the economy，the survey showed．

    Unemployed smokers were also more likely to boost smoking due to the financial crisis，with 29 percent smoke more compared to 17 percent of employed smokers．Former smokers are also not immune to the trend．The survey showed that seven percent of current smokers said their anxiety about the economy had driven them to start smoking again．while nine percent of former smokers were tempted to resume(重新開始)the habit．

    But hard times have also encouraged smokers to be more thrifty．One fifth of smokers who ore stressed about the economy said they switched to a cheaper brand to save money．

49．What is the main idea about this new survey?

      A．Smoking does great harm to our health

      B．American economy has slipped into decline

      C．The rate of American unemployment is rising

      D．Hard times prompt American to increase smoking

50．Which of the following is true according to this survey?

      A．9 percent of former smokers have started smoking again．

      B．20 percent of women smokers have lowered their cigarette brand．

      C．38 percent of lower．income smokers smoke more cigarettes per day

      D．31 percent of smokers ore worried about being out of work

51．The underlined words“thrifty”in the last paragraph probably means        ．

      A．confident                                                B．using money carefully and wisely

      C．generous                                                D．diligent

52．From this passage we can infer that            ．

  A．American people are anxious about the increasing number of smokers

  B．The retirement accounts of American people are getting smaller

  C．The government will encourage cigarette growth to meet the rising needs

  D．The go-slow in American economic growth has affected their living

 HOLIDAYS

 The Bay Hotel．

    It’s a quiet．comfortable hotel overlooking the bay in an uncommercialised Cornish fishing village on England’s most southerly point．If pop music is no longer your strong point，and you are considering a relaxing holiday where the scenery is breathtaking and the sound of the sea is

live music to your ears．come and stay with us．For adults only．Sssh! Don’t tell everyone !01326 280464

Willapark Manor Hotel.

    Peaceful situation in 1 4 acres of separated gardens and woodland，overlooking picturesque

 bay．Close to coastal path and beach．Excellent cuisine．Our excellent service brings our guests

 back year after year. children (reductions) and pets welcome. 01840 770782

The Country Garden Hotel．

    Delightful hotel set in lovely gardens；calm Island of Wight near Tennyson Downs．Great

 food! Garden，sea view and ground floor rooms．Please call for brochure(服務(wù)指南)and sample

 menu．Adults only and pets welcome．0800 980 1943

Boscastle.

Romantic 17th Century farmer’s cottage in countryside with splendid coastal views．Well equipped．Sleeps 5．Regret no pets／smoking．Garden with furniture．Brochure：01633 450417

Godshill．

    4 star self-served units．Non smoking．Sleeps 2-4．Open all year. Good walks．Close to pubs．

Peaceful．Cosy．No pets．Brochure：01983 840371

The Blakeney Hotel．

Overlooking harbor, traditional privately owned friendly hotel with 60 bedrooms，lift，heated indoor pool，spa bath and saunas．Relax，walk，sail，play golf, explore the Norfolk villages，countryside and coast．Special seasonal midweek price for aged citizens．01263 740797

 S W France.

    Rural setting near Cordes．Two beautifully repainted old houses，sleep 4／5 and 6．Gardens，

woodland，pool，views，excellent walks．Available all year round．Outstanding．01962 776967

45．All of the following hotels are close to the sea EXCEPT    ．

    A．S W France                                              B．The Blakeney Hotel

    C．Willapark Manor Hotel                                D．The Country Garden Hotel

46．If you want to take your children and your dog with you on holiday, you can choose      ．

    A．The Country Garden Hotel                           B．Willapark Manor Hotel

    C．The Bay Hotel                                            D．Boscastle

47．This passage is most likely to found in             ．

    A．a(chǎn) daily paper                                             B．a(chǎn) holiday advertisement

    C．a(chǎn) travel                                                     D．a(chǎn) news report

48．As with your holiday, if you still want to enjoy the good food，you should choose         ．

    A．The Blakeney Hotel & S W France

    B．Boscastle & Godshill

    C．The Bay Hotel＆Willapark Manor Hotel

    D．Willapark Manor Hotel & The Country Garden Hotel

Hawking Fever Hit China

    Hawking has left much for Chinese to think about．

    British physicist Stephen Hawking，possibly the world’s most famous scientist after Albert Einstein，gave lectures in Zhejiang and Beijing in August．

    An illness left him unable to move any part of his body except for the three fingers．But his continuing efforts in the field of science have made many young people take him as their idol．

    His books，such as A Brief History of Time，become bestseller in Chinese bookstores．

“Hawking helps people expand their horizons and become interested in science，”said Pan Yunhe，president of Zhejiang University．

    Indeed，experts don’t think it likely that Hawking’s lectures and profound(深?yuàn)W的)ideas will be easily understood by the average persons．But he has certainly sowed the seeds of science among many young people．

    And the “Hawking fever” cause by his visit has made people ask：How can China produce more top scientists like Hawking?

    “Nurturing(培養(yǎng))top scientists will take as much as work to change society as to educate the scientists themselves，”said Zhang Fan．Zhang has studied in the UK since 1999 and will be a sophomore(大學(xué)二年級(jí)學(xué)生)at Trinity College in October．

    In Britain，Zhang said，teacher inspire students to have a general understanding of the subjects they are interested in．a(chǎn)nd they encourage students to develop new ideas，which helps them to nurture their creativity．

    In China，the Ministry of Education has encouraged schools to provide quality education to tap(開發(fā))students’ potential．

“I hope teachers will pay more attention to helping us use our imaginations and solve problems on our own，”said Lu Jie，a Junior Three student in Sanfan Middle School in Beijing．

41．Many young people take Hawking as their idol because or           ．

      A．his continuing efforts in the field of science

      B．his disability in body

      C．his book with the title of A Brief History of Time

      D．his profound idea

42．Which of the following is true?

      A．Nurturing top scientists like Hawking is an easy matter in China．

      B．Nurturing top scientists is not an easy matter．

      C．Hawking’s theory can be far away easily understood by average persons．

      D．Hawking fever is a new kind of disease．

43．From the last three paragraphs，we can conclude that        ．

      A．In China．education isn’t in the least changing

      B．In China，students aren’t receiving quality education

      C．In China，more students are to benefit from quality education

      D．In China．quality education is different from that in Britain

44．The main idea of the passage is about          ．

      A．Hawking’s visit to China make people think about much

      B．Hawking’s life and his research

      C．A Brief History of Time

      D．the comparison between English and Chinese education systems

    Not many people talk to my son．It isn’t that they don’t want to．My son is two years old，and he’s  21 ．I used to become   22  when strangers stared at US when we had conversations．But embarrassment soon became pride when I  23  that people were only staring because they thought our language was  24  And indeed it is．He can  25  more with his face and  26  than most children of his age can say with their voices．To me，nothing is more beautiful than a child’s small hands  27  “I love you” or “Mama，hold me”．

    People will  28  up to us，sometimes embarrassed and nervous，sometimes shy，but always 29  about this beautiful language we use．And when we do meet someone who “speaks” his language，it’s a  30  and wonderful gift．Last week the whole family went to a nearby Zuka Juice．I  31  many people watching me sign with Noah．

    Near the front door were two missionaries(傳教士)．One of them was  32  our conversation，and  33  at Noah．Noah waved back and smiled．What the young man did next made my heart  34  and tears come to my eyes．

    I watched with  35  as his hands formed the signs for “You are beautiful”．I controlled my tears and watched him do it   36  ．Noah turned and looked at me，his eyes huge， 37  to say, “MOM，DID YOU SEE THAT?!” The young man then signed to Noah，“How are you?” Noah did a few baby signs back，and  38 

His  39  ．with my son was like a my of sunshine．Even now when I  40  to what he said， it brings tears to my eyes．There aren’t many moments like that for Noah，and it’s a memory I’ll treasure forever．

When Madam Curie did the science experiment again，she was more careful         she had made a mistake．

    A．when                   B．how                    C．what                      D．where

That long airplane ride，the sudden change of climate，was     she could take．It’s my fault that she’s in hospital now．

    A．other than            B．rather than           C．more than              D．less than

There is no        in trying to talk him into joining us．He enjoys being alone．

    A．doubt                  B．wonder                C．hope                      D．point