Nowadays, the increase in the prices of agricultural products is one of the greatest concerns of the people and the government. The government has announced a series of policies(政策) to prevent the prices from rising further. Rising housing prices is still a big concern for the people, but since farm products are needed every day, the increase in their prices has made life very difficult for them.
Many people may think the increase will help farmers. But have higher prices of farm products really benefited the farmers? 
Take the increase in vegetable prices in the first half of this year for example. Though natural disasters such as droughts and spring frost did not cause the prices of farm products to increase greatly—in fact, prices of some products did not increase at all—vegetables have become dearer by as much as 20 percent compared to that of last year. This means only a small part (or even none) of the extra money that city people have paid to buy farm products has gone to the farmers. The extra cost actually has gone to middlemen.
As the fact shows, just increasing prices of farm products will have negative influence on the entire economy. On one hand, the price increase has created some abnormal phenomena, which hurts farmers’ interests. On the other hand, resources will enter the agriculture because of the high price of farm products, which would finally create negative effect on the whole economy.
In such a case, it would be better to leave the market to decide the prices instead of raising farm products’ prices to protect the interests of farmers. Actually, such a way will be better for farmers in the long run.
【小题1】What does the author mainly want to tell us by writing the passage? 

 (辽宁省沈阳二中2008届第四次模拟考试E篇)

When you choose a freezer, remember it’s probably going to be with you for a long time. So it’s important to know which freezer is right for your needs.

   First, decide if you want an upright or chest model. Uprights are more convenient. Their storage space is more accessible and they take up less floor area. However, chest models are more energy-efficient because less cold air escapes when they are open.

   If you are buying an upright, you’ll have to choose between frostless(无霜) or manual （手动的）defrost(解冻). Chest freezers are always manual. Frostless freezers automatically defrost at present intervals（每隔一段时间） and remove the water. Manual models must be defrosted by hand every few months or whenever frost pile up to about a quarter of an inch.

   To help your freezer reach a ripe old age, try to find a spot that’s cool, dry, and away from drafts(精棉). Drafts and heat will raise the freezer’s cabinet temperature, which makes it work harder to keep cool. That means wasted energy. That means wasted energy and a shortened life.

   Dry air is important because high humidity (湿气) can cause the freezer to rust outside and frost up inside. With proper care, a freezer can serve you for 15 years or more. Regular cleaning and simple maintenance will help it maintain a zero-degree temperature and keep it smelling fresh and looking almost new.

   Frostless models requires less care than manual defrost freezers. The inside of a frostless unit should be washed periodically with warm water and baking soda or a mild soap, rinse, and dried.

  Good habits go a long way toward a freezer that runs efficiently. To get the most from your freezer, check regularly to make sure it’s providing a true zero-degree temperature.

  Keep the freezer at least three-quarters full. The emptier it get, the more energy is wasted. If more than three pounds of food per cubic foot of storage space is added every 24 hours, the resulting high or low temperature can damage the food.

 72. What can we learn from this passage?

  A. It is more important to keep the freezer at the temperature of zero-degree.

  B. It is an easy task to have your freezer serve you for 15 years.

  C. You don’t have to worry about defrosting if you choose a chest freezer.

  D. The opening of freezers has nothing to do with energy-saving.

73. According to the passage, choosing the best place for your freezer means_____.

   A. putting it in an unheated garage if possible

   B. locating it near a stove if it is a manual-defrosted model

   C. trying to keep it away from heat, drafts, and humidity

   D. locating it as close as possible to the kitchen door

74. In order to get the best results, you should______.

   A. use cool water to wash the inside of frostless models

   B. keep the freezer at least 75% full

   C. add three pounds of food every 24 hours

   D. put your freezer in a garage with a strong floor

75. Which statement best describes the main idea of the passage?

   A. It tells the most economical ways to use a freezer.

   B. It explains how to defrost a manual-defrosted freezer.

   C. It introduces the advantages and disadvantages of two kinds of freezers/

   D. It gives useful advice on how to choose and maintain a freezer.

GENEVA, Feb.11 (Xinhua) ―The current La Nina weather phenomenon may just be a partial cause of south China’s freeze-up at the start of 2008, said the United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Monday.

The latest La Nina pattern, which began in the third quarter of 2007, has picked up strength in the past three months, with sea surface temperatures now about 1. 5 to 2 degrees Celsius（摄氏度）colder than average over large parts of the eastern and central equatorial Pacific Ocean, said the latest report issued by the WMO.

Presenting the Geneva-based body’s report, Rupa Kumar Killi, a WMO climate expert, said the recent month-long snow and ice-storms in China’s central, southern and eastern regions could be connected with the La Nina phenomenon, the climatic opposite of El Nino（厄尔尼诺现象）.

However, he said China’s freeze-up was a result of several causes combined and was partly caused by a cold surge from the north and west.

He also said the present La Nina cycle may last at least until mid-2008 and it is also possible, if less likely, that the cycle could stretch into the third quarter.

La Nina is a large pool of unusually cold water in the equatorial Pacific that develops every few years and influences global weather. It is the climatic opposite of El Nino, a warming of the Pacific, and both have been associated with extreme weather around the globe.

Since Jan. 10, snow, sleet and low temperatures have swept China’s southern regions, a rare occurrence for the area.

51. What partially caused south China’s freeze-up at the beginning of 2008?

A. La Nina.           B. El Nino.                 C. Typhoon.       D. Frost.

52.When did the latest La Nina weather phenomenon begin?

A. In the spring of 2007.                    B. In the summer of 2007.

C. In the fall of 2007.                        D. In the winter of 2007.

53. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

A. Due to the La Nina, sea surface temperatures become colder over the eastern Pacific Ocean.

B. The La Nina phenomenon is the climatic opposite of El Nino.

C. There were several causes which brought about China’s freeze-up.

D. The present La Nina cycle may last until spring in 2008 and disappear.

54. What can we learn from the sixth paragraph?

A. La Nina does not happen every year but it influences global weather.

B. La Nina happens every year and influences global weather.

C. La Nina happens every year but seldom influences global weather.

D. La Nina happens every few years and brings about warm and wet weather.

55. What is the best title of the passage?

A. La Nina May Be a Partial Cause of China’s Freeze-Up.

B. La Nina and El Nino.

C. What Causes the La Nina Weather Phenomenon?

D. How La Nina Destroys the Whole World’s Weather?   

   When you choose a freezer, remember it’s probably going to be with you for a long time. So it’s important to know which freezer is right for your needs.

   First, decide if you want an upright or chest model. Uprights are more convenient. Their storage space is more accessible and they take up less floor area. However, chest models are more energy-efficient because less cold air escapes when they are open.

   If you are buying an upright, you’ll have to choose between frostless(无霜) or manual （手动的）defrost(解冻). Chest freezers are always manual. Frostless freezers automatically defrost at present intervals（每隔一段时间） and remove the water. Manual models must be defrosted by hand every few months or whenever frost pile up to about a quarter of an inch.

   To help your freezer reach a ripe old age, try to find a spot that’s cool, dry, and away from drafts(精棉). Drafts and heat will raise the freezer’s cabinet temperature, which makes it work harder to keep cool. That means wasted energy. That means wasted energy and a shortened life.

   Dry air is important because high humidity (湿气) can cause the freezer to rust outside and frost up inside. With proper care, a freezer can serve you for 15 years or more. Regular cleaning and simple maintenance will help it maintain a zero-degree temperature and keep it smelling fresh and looking almost new.

   Frostless models requires less care than manual defrost freezers. The inside of a frostless unit should be washed periodically with warm water and baking soda or a mild soap, rinse, and dried.

  Good habits go a long way toward a freezer that runs efficiently. To get the most from your freezer, check regularly to make sure it’s providing a true zero-degree temperature.

  Keep the freezer at least three-quarters full. The emptier it get, the more energy is wasted. If more than three pounds of food per cubic foot of storage space is added every 24 hours, the resulting high or low temperature can damage the food.

 72. What can we learn from this passage?

  A. It is more important to keep the freezer at the temperature of zero-degree.

  B. It is an easy task to have your freezer serve you for 15 years.

  C. You don’t have to worry about defrosting if you choose a chest freezer.

  D. The opening of freezers has nothing to do with energy-saving.

73. According to the passage, choosing the best place for your freezer means_____.

   A. putting it in an unheated garage if possible

   B. locating it near a stove if it is a manual-defrosted model

   C. trying to keep it away from heat, drafts, and humidity

   D. locating it as close as possible to the kitchen door

74. In order to get the best results, you should______.

   A. use cool water to wash the inside of frostless models

   B. keep the freezer at least 75% full

   C. add three pounds of food every 24 hours

   D. put your freezer in a garage with a strong floor

75. Which statement best describes the main idea of the passage?

   A. It tells the most economical ways to use a freezer.

   B. It explains how to defrost a manual-defrosted freezer.

   C. It introduces the advantages and disadvantages of two kinds of freezers/

   D. It gives useful advice on how to choose and maintain a freezer.

When you choose a freezer, remember it’s probably going to be with you for a long time . So it’s important to know which freezer is right for you needs.

First, decide if you want an upright or chest model. Uprights are more convenient. Their storage space is more accessible （可进入的） and they take up less floor area . However, chest models are more energy-efficient because less cold air escapes when they are open .

If you’re buying an upright , you’ll have to choose between frostless （无霜）or manual , defrost （解冻）. Chest freezers are always manual . Frostless freezers automatically defrost at present intervals and remove the water . Manual models must be defrosted by hand every few months or whenever frost pile up to about a quarter of an inch.

To help your freezer reach a ripe old age , try to find a spot that’s cool , dry , and away from drafts （精棉）. Drafts and heat will raise the freezer’s cabinet temperature , which makes it work harder to keep cool . That means wasted energy and a shortened life .

Dry air is important because high humidity （湿气） can cause the freezer to rust outside and frost up inside . With proper care , a freezer can serve you for 15 years or more . Regular cleaning and simple maintenance （保养） will help it maintain a zero-degree temperature and keep it smelling fresh and looking almost new .

Frostless models require less care than manual defrost freezers. The inside of a frostless unit should be washed periodically with warm water and baking soda or a mild soap , rinse , and dried .

Good habits go a long way toward a freezer that runs efficiently. To get the most from your freezer, check regularly to make sure it’s providing a true zero-degree temperature .

Keep the freezer at least three-quarters full. The emptier it gets , the more energy is wasted.  If more than three pounds of food per cubic foot of storage space is added every 24 hours, the resulting high or low temperature can damage the food .

1．Why are uprights more convenient as suggested by the passage ?

       A．Because they defrost automatically .

       B．Because they occupy less floor area .

       C．Because they always keep the right temperature .

       D．Because they can serve you for 15 years .

2．What can we learn from this passage ?

       A．It is more important to keep the freezer at the temperature of zero-degree .

       B．It is a challenging task to have your freezer serve you for 15 years or more .

       C．You don’t have to worry about defrosting if you choose a chest freezer .

       D．The opening of freezers has nothing to do with energy-saving .

3．According to the passage , choosing the best place for your freezer means         .

       A．putting it in an unheated garage if possible

       B．locating it near a sink if it is a manual-defrosted model

       C．trying to keep it away from heat , drafts , and humidity

       D．locating it as close as possible to the kitchen door

4．In order to get the best results, you should         .

       A．use cool water to wash the inside of frostless models

       B．keep the freezer at least 75% full

       C．add three pounds of food every 24 hours

       D．put your freezer in a garage with a strong floor

5．Which statement best describes the main idea of the passage ?

       A．It tells the most economical ways to use a freezer .

       B．It explains how to defrost a manual-defrosted freezer .

       C．It introduces the advantages and disadvantages of two kinds of freezers .

       D．It gives useful advice on how to choose and maintain a freezer .