We can see how the product life cycle works by looking at the introduction of instant coffee. When it was introduced, most people did not like it as much as "regular" coffee and it took several years to gain general acceptance (introduction stage). At one point, though, instant coffee grew rapidly in popularity and many brands were introduced (stage of rapid growth). After a while people became attached to one brand and sales leveled off (stage of maturity). Sales went into a slight decline when freeze-dried coffees were introduced (stage of decline).
　　The importance of the product life cycle to marketers is this: different stages in the product life cycle call for different strategies. The goal is to extend product life so that sales and profits do not decline. One strategy is called market modification. It means that marketing managers look for new users and market sections. Do you know, for example, that the backpacks that so many students carry today were originally designed for the military?
　　Market modification also means searching for increased usage among present customers or going for a different market, such as senior citizens. A marketer may re-position the product to appeal to new market sections.
　　Another product extension strategy is called product modification. It involves changing product quality, features, or style to attract new users or more usage from present users. American auto manufacturers are using quality improvement as one way to recapture（夺回） world markets. Note, also, how auto manufacturers once changed styles dramatically from year to year to keep demand from falling.
46. According to the passage, when people grow accustomed to one particular brand of a product, its            sales will ______.                       
A. decrease gradually                                 B. become unstable
C. improve enormously                            D. remain at the same level
47. The first paragraph tells us that a new product is _____ .
　A. usually introduced to satisfy different tastes
　B. often more expensive than old ones
　C. often inferior to old ones at first
　D. not easily accepted by the public
48. Marketers need to know which of the four stages a product is in so as to _____ .
　A. work out marketing policies                   B. promote its production
　 C. increase its popularity                                      D. speed up its life cycle
49. The author mentions the example of "backpacks"(Line 4, Para.2 ) to show the importance of             _______ .
　 A. increasing usage among students       B. pleasing the young as well as the old
　 C. exploring new market sections             D. serving both military and civil needs
50. In order to recover their share of the world market, U.S. auto makers are _______ .
　 A. improving product feature                     B. making their products better
C. modernizing product style                    D. increasing product quantity

Without the air to hold some of the sun’s heat,the earth at night　　　 .

A.would be freezing cold　　　　　　　B.will be freezing coldly

C.would be frozen cold　　　　　　　　D.can freeze coldly

完形填空

　　I like to be near water--sea, lake or river. That is probably 1 I was born in a village by the sea, and have lived most of my life close to water of 2 . When I am in some place which is 3 lake, river and sea. I am 4 and always feel that there is something missing 5 it is sometimes hard for me to decide what it is.

　　Of course, the sports I like are ones which 6 water--sailing, rowing and swimming, It is 7 to swim in small swimming-pools, but rowing and sailing are impossible 8 a lot of water. Rowing is best on a river, 9 sailing on the sea or a big lake, but 10 can do some sailing on a river, and one can 11 row on a lake or the sea when the weather is good.

　　Of the three sports--swimming, rowing and sailing, I like 12 best, because it is the easiest to 13 during the winter, when the water is too cold for 14 swimming and the sea is often too rough for sailing. 15 on the coldest days one can row: only hard 16 on the water, or thick fog stops one. Sometimes it is so cold when I go out rowing that 17 of water freeze wherever they fall. In such 18 , it is not very pleasant to swim: one cannot stay in the water very long; 19 , when one is rowing, one gets warmer the 20 one goes on.

1．

[　　]

A．why　　　　　　B．because

C．whether　　　　 D．how

2．

[　　]

A．some kind　　　B．the sea

C．the lake　　　　D．the river

3．

[　　]

A．close to　　　 B．nearby

C．on top of　　　D．far from

4．

[　　]

A．careless　　　B．restless

C．fearless　　　D．hopeless

5．

[　　]

A．in case　　　　B．as long as

C．even though　　D．as if

6．

[　　]

A．avoid　　　　　B．give

C．keep　　　　　 D．need

7．

[　　]

A．possible　　　B．uncomfortable

C．exciting　　　D．impossible

8．

[　　]

A．with　　　　　B．without

C．in　　　　　　D．on

9．

[　　]

A．and　　　　　　B．so

C．for　　　　　　D．when

10．

[　　]

A．they　　　　　 B．those

C．one　　　　　　D．it

11．

[　　]

A．suddenly　　　B．hardly

C．possibly　　　D．certainly

12．

[　　]

A．swimming　　　B．rowing

C．sailing　　　　D．skiing

13．

[　　]

A．practise　　　　B．exercise

C．carry　　　　　D．keep

14．

[　　]

A．fast　　　　　 B．slow

C．comfortable　　D．free

15．

[　　]

A．However　　　　B．Although

C．While　　　　　D．Even

16．

[　　]

A．wood　　　　　B．ice

C．boats　　　　　D．work

17．

[　　]

A．drops　　　　　B．plenty

C．lots　　　　　　D．pieces

18．

[　　]

A．air　　　　　　B．ways

C．weather　　　　D．manners

19．

[　　]

A．indeed　　　　 B．so

C．again　　　　　D．however

20．

[　　]

A．harder　　　　B．longer

C．better　　　　 D．slower

Scientists who try to predict earthquakes have gotten some new helpers recently—animals.
　　That’s right, animals. Scientists have begun to understand what farmers have known for thousands of years. Animals often seem to know in advance that an earthquake is coming, and they show their fear by acting in strange ways. Before a Chinese quake in 1975, snakes awoke from their winter sleep early only to freeze to death in the cold air. Cows broke their halters (缰绳) and tried to escape. Chickens refused to enter their cage. All of this unusual behavior, as well as physical changes in the earth, warned Chinese scientists of the coming quake. They moved people away from the danger zone and saved thousands of lives.
　　One task for scientists today is to learn exactly which types of animal behavior predict quakes. It’s not an easy job. First of all not every animal reacts to the danger of an earthquake. Just before a California quake in 1977, for example, an Arabian horse became very nervous and tried to break out of his enclosure. The Australian horse next to him, however, remained perfectly calm. It’s also difficult at times to tell the difference between normal animal restlessness and “earthquake nerves”. A zoo keeper once called earthquake researchers to say that his cougar had been acting strangely. It turned out that the cat had an upset stomach.
　　A second task for scientists is to find out exactly what kind of warnings the animals receive. They know that animals sense far more of the world than humans do. Many animals can see, hear, and smell things that people do not even notice. Some can sense tiny changes in air pressure, gravity, or the magnetism of Earth. This extra sense probably helps animals predict quakes.
　　A good example of this occurred with a group of dogs. They were shut in an area that was being shaken by a series of tiny earthquakes. (Several small quakes often come before or after a large one.) Before each quake a low booming sound was heard. Each boom caused the dogs to bark wildly. Then the dogs began to bark during a silent period. A scientist who was recording quakes looked at his machine. It was acting as though there were a loud noise too. The scientist realized that the dogs had reacted to a booming noise. They also sensed the tiny quake that followed it. The machine recorded both, though humans felt and heard nothing.
In this case there was a machine to monitor what the dogs were sensing. Many times, however, our machines record nothing extraordinary, even though animals know a quake is coming. The animals might be sensing something we measure but do not recognize as a warning. Discovering what animals sense, and learning how they know it is a danger signal, is a job for future scientists.
【小题1】Through the passage the writer hopes to explore __________.

It’s the Year of the Rat!

Millions of people crowded onto trains and buses across China on Wednesday. They were hurrying home to be with their families for the country’s most important holiday, the Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival. Thursday marked the end of the Year of the Pig, and the beginning of the Year of the Rat. But for a while, it looked as if severe winter weather in some regions of China would put a deep freeze on the celebrations. Due to dangerous conditions, airlines, railways and highways across the country were forced to shut down for the past few weeks. Many travelers were worried that they would not make it home for the holidays. Luckily, the crisis started winding down just in time for some roads and railways to reopen on Lunar New Year’s Eve.

More than one billion people worldwide celebrate the Lunar New Year. In China, people from Beijing to Guangzhou enjoy a holiday. Businesses and government offices are closed. Many people go to temples to pray for good fortune for the future. The Lunar New Year is celebrated at the second new moon after the winter solstice（冬至）.

On Lunar New Year’s Eve, the Chinese celebrate with fireworks, family gatherings, and festivals. One of the most popular ways to celebrate the holiday is with the lion dance. The lion is considered a holy animal. During celebrations, dancers dressed as lions（or holding up elaborate paper lions in the air）perform to bring good luck to the people they visit at their homes or businesses. People often wear red, which symbolizes fire. Legend has it that fire can drive away bad luck. The 15-day New Year season is celebrated with firecrackers, dragon dances and visits to friends and families. The celebrations end with the Lantern Festival, when brightly colored lamps are hung in parks around China.

49. When the Spring Festival comes, trains and buses are usually crowed because________.

A. millions of people hurried to go abroad for travelling

B. millions of people are hurrying home to get together with their folks

C. at this time the transportation cost is at the lowest point

D. million of people hurried to send firecrackers to their home

50. Why were many travellers worried whether they would go home for the Year of the Rat?

A. Because a deep freeze hit some regions of China.

B. Because many transportation companies have a holiday

C. Because some roads and railways won’t reopen in a long time.

D. Because businesses and government offices are closed.

51. Where do people usually go to beg for their good luck?

A. Government offices                      B. Business offices

C. Temples                                             D. Beijing

52. In order to bring good luck to the people they visit, dancers dress themselves________.

A. as lions to have a dance  　　B. as tigers to have a dance

C. as rats to have a dance   　　D. as cats to have a dance