C

The announcements by the NASA，in the form of several Web site postings and a video posted on YouTube，were in response to worries that the world will end on Dec．21，2012．

The doomsday(末日) rumour reached a high point with the release of the new movie “2012”，directed by Roland Emmerich．In the movie，Yellowstone blows up, showering the continent with black ash．Tidal waves wash over the Himalayas，where the governments of the planet have secretly built a ship which a select 400，000 people can ride out the storm．There are hundreds of hooks devoted to 2012，and millions of Web sites，depending on what combination of“2012”and“doomsday”you type into Google．All of it，astronomers say, is nonsense．“Most of what's claimed for 2012 relies on wishful thinking and ignorance of astronomy．”Ed Krupp， an expert on ancient astronomy，wrote in an article in the November issue of Sky＆Telescope．

“I get angry at the way people are being influenced and frightened to make money,” Morrison said．“There is no right to frighten children to make a buck．”suggested David Morrison，an astronomer at the NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field，Calif．He said he had been getting about 20 letters and e—mail messages a day from people as far away as India scared out of their wits．Morrison said he did not blame the movie for all this，as much as many other supporters of the Mayan prediction．But then，he said，“my doctorate is in astronomy，not psychology．”

In an e—mail exchange, Krupp said：“We are always uncertain about the future，and we always consume representations of it．We are always attracted by the romance of the ancient past．”A NASA spokesman，Dwayne Brown，said the agency did not comment on movies，leaving that to movie critics．But when it comes to science, Brown said, “we felt it was careful to provide a resource．”

If you want to worry，most scientists say，you should think about global climate change or nuclear war．But if ancient prophecies(预言)get you going，here are some things Morrison and the others think you should know．

64．Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Dr．Morrison blamed the Movie“2011”for the panic it aroused in the public around the world．

B．People who watched the movie were seared and firmly believed that the end of the world was coming．

C．In terms of science it was better to provide evidence and theory at the same time．

D．Dr．Morrison thought it was not right to make money by frightening people．

65．It can be inferred from the text that         ．

A．astronomers think that doomsday is likely to happen in the near future

B．the reason why the NASA posted web site postings was to make people interested in astronomy

C．scientists think we shouldn't worry about doomsday but show concern about environment protection

D．most astronomers agree that the world is not ending—at least anytime soon

66．Which of the following would be the best title?

A．A New Movie“2012”             B．Is Doomsday Coming?

C．End-of-the-World Stories          D．Astronomers Comment on Movies

67．What would the author probably discuss in the paragraph that follows?

A．Evidence that the Mayans thought something special would happen in 2012．

B．What will really happen in 2012．

C．The reason why there is no need to worry about doomsday．

D．Ancient stories about the end of the world．

A fit and healthy teenage rugby player died 12 hours after taking treatment for acne(粉刺)，an officer，Mary Hassel，said today. She said Shaun Jones，14，died "as a result of complications(并发症)of medical treatment".

Shaun，who was described by his mother as "vain" about his appearance，saw Dr Jones，his family doctor，about spors on his back and shoulders after learning his friends had been given medication to deal with similar problems.

The boy，who had previously used Clearasil to treat the spots，was diagnosed with mild acne and given a prescription. But when he went to his local chemist's with his mother，he was told the drug was not available. They said they had contacted Dr Jones(in fact they didn't)，and  Shaun could be given different pills which were the same as the drug originally prescribed.  Mrs. Jones noriced there was no safety instructions included in the box，but thought nothing of it at the time.

Shaun took the drug just before going to bed at 10：30 pm. Little more than an hourlater， he complained of shortness of breath and tighmess in his chest. Mrs. . Jones initially contacted an out―of―hours GP service but was told no doctor was available. When Shaun's condition  became worse，he was rushed to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital by ambulance in the early hours of the next morning.

Despite treatment there，and at the University Hospital of Wales，Cardiff，where he was transferred，Shaun died at 10：40 am the following day. Doctors at the hospital believe an unusual reaction to the acne drug could have caused his death.

Hassel said she would write a report to the Lord Chancellor's office imdedining the impor-tailce that "doctors prescribe drugs and doctors make adjustments and patients receive drugs with the correct information attached".

56. Shaun Jones decided to take the treatment for acne because______________.

A. he thought he was fit and healthy

B. his friends advised him to take it

C. his mother gave him the suggestion

D. he wanted to improve his appearance

57. Which of the following is true of the drug Shaun took?

A. It was previously named Clearasil.

B. It was not the one in the prescription.

C. It should not be taken before going to bed.

D. It Was forbidden for people at Shaun's age.

58. We can learn from Paragraph 4 that ______________.

A. Shaun began to feel uncomfortable at 11：00 P. m

B. Shaun's parents called their family doctor at first

C. Ms. Jones called all out―hours GP service at first

D. Shaun's parents drove him to Royal Glamorgan Hospital

59. The reason why Shaun was transferred to the University Hospital of Wales was that______________

A. there were no doctors available at his local hospital

B. his family doctor suggested he be transferred there

C. he was expected to get better treallment at the hospital

D. the doctors in Royal Glamorgan Hospital were too busy

60. It call be inferred from the passage that Mary Hassel______________.

A. would report the event to the Lord Chancellor's office

B. could help mole people become more careful about drugs

C. would tell people the importance of correct prescription

D. could help more patients attach correct information to drugs

There is a fine line between a parent who is active and open-minded and one that doesn’t know when to let go （放手）. As my daughter, Nicole, prepares to leave home for college, I’m discovering how hard it is to stay on the   1   side of this line. When I hold   2   the apron strings （围裙带） connecting us, Nicole, eager to   3   independence, tries to loosen my grasp. What results is a （an）   4   mother-daughter, push-me, pull-you kind of tango.

For the past two years, it’s gone like this:

Mother’s question: “Have you thought of taking an advanced placement class （高阶课程） so that you can earn college credit?”

Daughter’s   5  : “No, I’m not interested in that.”

………

I bit my lip a few times and Nicole shot me a few glares.

Two months ago, she was   6   to a great university. However, I was still the mother having a   7   time letting go. The night before the introductory meeting of the university, I had read the course catalog carefully and  8   courses which I thought looked good. We met on the campus the next afternoon, and Nicole’s face   9   with excitement. “I have had my entire schedule figured out,” she said. “Already?” I was astonished,   10   she should have discussed it with me. I examined the schedule. Nicole hadn’t taken a （an）   11   one of the courses I had suggested. Every course she had chosen   12   suited her interests. Just then I saw a mature, capable young woman with a   13   mind and the ability to shape her future. She no longer needed her mother   14   every decision she made. I felt proud, though still a bit   15  .

I   16   the lessons carefully. Nicole has struggled to learn over the past 18 years:   17  , sympathy, and hard work. There have been a few holes along the way.   18  , she is well-equipped and eager to   19   the future. The next step, I recognized, was mine to take: giving my daughter and myself the   20   we both needed.

1．A．left                       B．right                    C．either                  D．each

2．A．onto                     B．up                       C．back                   D．out

3．A．keep                     B．refuse                 C．taste                   D．bear

4．A．awkward              B．relaxing               C．lively                   D．beautiful

5．A．comment              B．word                   C．concept               D．response

6．A．received                B．invited                 C．treated                D．accepted

7．A．good                     B．great                   C．hard                    D．easy

8．A．taken                    B．underlined            C．offered                D．emphasized

9．A．lit up                     B．built up                C．turned up            D．made up

10．A．imagining            B．thinking               C．hoping                D．adding

11．A．only                    B．just                     C．even                   D．single

12．A．mostly                B．hardly                 C．exactly                D．slightly

13．A．sharp                  B．normal                C．different              D．typical

14．A．encouraging         B．evaluating            C．disagreeing          D．agreeing

15．A．anxious               B．excited                C．sad                     D．tense

16．A．reviewed             B．observed             C．checked              D．studied

17．A．competence         B．creativity             C．responsibility       D．confidence

18．A．Therefore            B．Instead                C．Still                     D．Besides

19．A．embrace              B．discover              C．determine            D．control

20．A．character             B．strength               C．relief                   D．independence

There is a fine line between a parent who is active and open-minded and one that doesn’t know when to let go （放手）．As my daughter, Nicole, prepares to leave home for college, I’m discovering how hard it is to stay on the __1__ side of this line．When I hold __2__ the apron strings （围裙带） connecting us, Nicole, eager to __3__ independence, tries to loosen my grasp．What results is a （an） __4__ mother-daughter, push-me, pull-you kind of tango．

For the past two years, it’s gone like this:

Mother’s question: “Have you thought of taking an advanced placement class （大学预修课程） so that you can earn college credit?”

Daughter’s __5__: “No, I’m not interested in that．”

………

I bit my lip a few times and Nicole shot me a few glares．

Two months ago, she was _6__ to a great university．However, I was still the mother having a __7_ time letting go．The night before the introductory meeting of the university, I had read the course catalog carefully and __8__ courses which I thought looked good．We met on the campus the next afternoon, and Nicole’s face _9__ with excitement．“I have had my entire schedule figured out,” she said．“Already?” I was astonished, __10__ she should have discussed it with me．I examined the schedule．Nicole hadn’t taken a （an） __11__ one of the courses I had suggested．Every course she had chosen __12__ suited her interests．Just then I saw a mature, capable young woman with a __13__ mind and the ability to shape her future．She no longer needed her mother __14__ every decision she made．I felt proud, though still a bit __15__．

I __16__ the lessons carefully．Nicole has struggled to learn over the past 18 years: __17__, sympathy, and hard work．There have been a few holes along the way．__18__, she is well-equipped and eager to __19__ the future．The next step, I recognized, was mine to take: giving my daughter and myself the _20__ we both needed．

1．A．left　　　　 B．right　　　 C．either　　　 D．each

2．A．onto　　　　 B．up　　　　　 C．back　　　　 D．out

3．A．keep　　　　 B．refuse　　　 C．taste　　　 D．bear

4．A．awkward　　　 B．relaxing　　 C．lively　　　 D．beautiful

5．A．comment　　　 B．word　　　　 C．concept　　 D．response

6．A．received　　 B．invited　　 C．treated　　 D．accepted

7．A．good　　　　 B．great　　　 C．hard　　　　 D．easy

8．A．taken　　　　 B．underlined　 C．offered　　 D．emphasized

9．A．lit up　　　 B．built up　　 C．turned up　 D．made up

10．A．imagining　 B．thinking　　 C．hoping　　　 D．adding

11．A．only　　　　 B．just　　　　 C．even　　　　 D．single

12．A．mostly　　　 B．hardly　　　 C．exactly　　 D．slightly

13．A．sharp　　　 B．normal　　　 C．different　 D．typical

14．A．encouraging B．evaluating　 C．disagreeing D．agreeing

15．A．anxious　　 B．excited　　 C．sad　　　　 D．tense

16．A．reviewed　　 B．observed　　 C．checked　　 D．studied

17．A．competence　 B．creativity　 C．responsibility　　　　　 D．confidence

18．A．Therefore　 B．Instead　　 C．Still　　　 D．Besides

19．A．embrace　　 B．discover　　 C．determine　 D．control

20．A．character　 B．strength　　 C．relief　　　 D．independence

William Stone, a spokesman of one of the biggest import & export companies in Yorkshire, Britain, was making an angry speech at a business conference in Berlin for seeking a complete solution to the problem of so called “Mad Cow Disease”, which had been spreading quickly throughout the country and was regarded as a direct cause of the death of a 12-year-old schoolgirl who was said to have eaten some well-done beef and died two weeks later. The death caused great fear among beef-eaters all over the world.

“We don’t believe it since until now I haven’t received even a smallest piece of paper reporting the real cause of the death,” said Mr Stone excitedly facing the thirty representatives from at least twenty countries that had been the biggest import countries of the British beef but now refused to have it. When he saw no signs of anybody being willing to speak out, Mr Stone got madder, adding, “You will have to eat beef every day, won’t you? In the past, to get our beef, you ordered in advance, as much as you could, saying in your thank-you letter, … without the British beef we can’t imagine what a colorless sight would be on our countrymen’s dinner tables.”

“But now, gentlemen, you say ‘Mad Cow Disease…Death frightening … sorry to stop enjoying your beef for the moment!’” Mr Stone let out a shout and then seized a handful of paper out from a paper bag lying beside the microphone, “Here, here … What you are thinking about is all here. Have a look at your telegram, gentlemen!”

His audience looked at each other, still expressionless. “Well, let our beef rot away,” Mr Stone continued. “And let your men go hungry—they’ll be mad one day. Thank you!” He took his handkerchief out of his pocket, wiping off sweat while walking down back to his seat. All of the listeners stayed silent for seconds, then laughter burst out.

They, including Mr Stone himself, laughed so much that the chairman of the conference announced a rest of ten minutes.

1．From Mr Stone’s speech we know that ________.

A．the British beef had been widely enjoyed by people out of the country

B．the British beef had once been widely praised by the people of the country

C．the British beef caused the so-called disease

D．Mr Stone often received letters of thanks from beef-eaters

2．Mr Stone thought that since his government didn’t prove that the death of the girl had been caused by the disease, the countries of which representatives were listening should agree to import __________.

A．beef without disease                                   B．some other beef

C．a kind of beef as he suggested              D．as much British beef as before

3．The underlined word “mad” means “___________” on Mr Stone’s side, but “________” on the listeners side.

A．hungry; angry         B．bad; good 

C．angry; ill in mind     D．ill in mind; hungry

4．The laughter made by both the speaker and the listeners showed _________.

A．the problem of the “Mad Cow Disease” would be solved in an easy manner

B．both sides felt something funny

C．the listeners were making fun of the British speaker, Mr Stone

D．Mr Stone’s speech was a successful one